Happy 3rd Anniversary House of Flair!

  House of Flair is turning 3 this September and to celebrate they will launch a promo starting on Monday, September 24, 2012.

 For more details, please visit http://houseofflair.multiply.com.  Thank you! =) xoxo

Unspeakably Yours: The Underarm Monologues

  Are you proud of your underarms?  Are you comfortable enough to flaunt them in public?  Or are you like me, avoiding sleeveless tops for as long as I can remember and still searching for some miracle that perhaps will lift the curse that's underneath my sleeves?  =P

  Sorry for sounding too melodramatic but I've always treated my armpits like it's some kind of taboo.  If you feel the same way about your "kili-kili" then you'd want to check this out:       

  Dove Deodorant, in cooperation with Upstart Productions, present "Unspeakably Yours: The Underarm Monologues".  A comedic take on women's love-hate relationship with their underarms.  Starring Caisa Borromeo, Mayen Bustamante-Cadd and Angela Padilla.  Written by Joel Trinidad and Cathy Azanza-Dy, and directed by Cathy Azanza-Dy and Jenny Jamora.  Showing on the 10th of October, 2012 at the Teatrino, Promenade Greenhills.

  For more details, LIKE Dove on Facebook and follow on Twitter.

  P.S. Please watch out for my upcoming review on Dove's latest product, Dove Ultimate White Deodorant.  =) xoxo  

Haul: Revlon Photoready Airbrush Foundation

  Since the very first Revlon Photoready foundation came out I've been avoiding it like the plague.  =P  Honestly, the liquid foundation is just too shimmery for my oily skin.  Then, the cream version came out and I actually got one for my mom.  It works great on really dry skin but sadly it's still not suitable for me.  Then they came up with the Photoready Airbrush foundation.  Of course, I did my homework.  Read a lot of mixed reviews.  It wasn't really in my to-buy list.  But when I saw it in person I just gotta have it!  Oh, it's like a curse!  I hate visiting makeup counters because they make me purchase stuff on a whim! =P

So to make the long story short, I bought this foundation out of curiosity.  It retails at PhP 925 and it's available in most drugstores and department stores.  I got it in the color 060 Golden Beige.

UAAP Series: UE Red Warriors

"Go Fight Red and White!"

  Next in my UAAP series is the UE (University of the East) Red Warriors.  I don't know much about this university apart from it being my mother's alma mater.  =P  It is found within the university belt in Manila near my university.  Famous sports personalities from UE are mostly basketball players.  The first person who popped in my head is James Yap.  (Now where did that come from? hehehe =P)  Also, learned PBA's "The Living Legend" and one of their 25 greatest players of all time came from the same school.  If you're a fan of Ginebra San Miguel then you probably know Robert Jaworski.

  Okay, on to the look.  The team colors are red, black and white (correct me if I'm wrong).  Quite excited to do this look because red is my favorite color but I have been delaying this post due to lack of inspiration.  =P  Finally, I woke up one day and just randomly did this look.  =P  My eye was so watery that day the red bled into the white thus turning it to pink.  Sorry for that.  =(  

              

  Oh well, hope you guys like it.  My eyebrows remind me so much of red velvet cupcakes.  =P xoxo

P.S. Did I mention that my brother-in-law and his sister also went to this university? =)  

Haul: My 2nd Revlon Just Bitten Kissable purchase

  Okay, so I bought another one.  =P  Well, I said I'll be checking out the lighter shades just to see how it goes on the lips and if it performs exactly the same as the more pigmented shades.  I've already reviewed my first Revlon Just Bitten Kissable in "Sweetheart/Valentine" and I love it!  So I went to the nearest Revlon counter and checked out the lighter shades available.  Unfortunately, my lips are so pigmented that most of the lighter shades don't really show up well on my lips.  There were a couple that I liked but my budget restricted my options to just one and so I chose "Charm/Charme" (PhP 575). =)
  

UAAP Series: DLSU Green Archers & ADMU Blue Eagles

  Today's looks are inspired by two very famous and prominent universities.  The tension and sports rivalry is felt every time these two meet at the basketball court.  I know UST and DLSU have also been rivals at the court but there is nothing compared to an Ateneo vs. De La Salle game.

  Heavy traffic going to the venue is always anticipated.  This is one of those times I've seen so many nice cars in a single event.  =P  Very prominent people, celebrities, politicians and very good looking people attend this game which is really a feast for the eyes.  =P  

  So, without any further ado, here's my DLSU (De La Salle University) Green Archers and ADMU (Ateneo de Manila University) Blue Eagles eye looks.

Makeup Remover Part II: The Face Shop Oil Specialist Brightening Cleansing Oil

  The very first cleansing oil I've tried is Shu Uemura's.  I got samples of some of their variants from a personal makeup session they sponsored.  At first I was skeptical because I already have very oily skin and I wasn't comfortable with the idea of putting more oil on my skin.  =P  Glad I finally gave it a try and I loved it.  Unfortunately, the samples I got lasted only a few applications.  So I tried purchasing a full size cleansing oil but I backed out when I found out how expensive they are.  =P  (I'm such a cheapskate hehehe).

  So I sort of forgot about cleansing oils and moved on to other products available in the market.  Then suddenly Korean cosmetic brands became so popular new stores started popping up like mushrooms.  I got curious and checked out The Face Shop.  (Actually got intrigued by the name and thought it was a competitor of The Body Shop =P)  And boy oh boy, look what I found...

UAAP Series: UST Growling Tigers

   "Black Gold, Black White... Black Gold, Black White..."

  It's UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines) season and I'll be doing eye makeup inspired by the team colors.  If you're studying or have studied here in the Philippines chances are you are familiar with this annual sports event.  For those who have no idea what UAAP is, it is an inter-university sports association.  Each year the member universities compete in various sports including basketball (most popular), volleyball, swimming, etc.  

  To start it off, I created this look inspired by the colors of my alma mater the University of Santo Tomas.  I love UAAP season and have been part of the pep squad during my college years.  Also, I've been part of the Judo varsity team from high school to college.  (A major motivation was the exemption from CAT/PE)  =P  Sorry, I'm not doing a step-by-step procedure on this one as this is not really a wearable look =P  

  P.S. Excuse my long and unruly eyebrows as I'm trying to grow them out =P xoxo

Haul: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable

  Doesn't this look a lot like Clinique's Chubby Stick?  I've been waiting for our local Revlon counters to stock up on their latest lip product, Just Bitten Kissable.  Primarily because I'm intrigued by it and also it is more affordable than a Chubby Stick.  =P  I don't have a Chubby Stick yet... (not sure if I'm going to get one =P) so I can't really compare the two.  The label indicates it is a balm stain and it seems to me this product is a mixture of the stain and balm of the original Revlon Just Bitten.  (Didn't get the original one though because the felt tip marker does not look appealing to me.)

  I got it in the shade "Sweetheart/Valentine" from Watson's (SM City Sucat) at PhP575.  Just want to give a quick shoutout to Revlon's Beauty Advisor, Angelica Besa, who assisted me last Sunday afternoon.  Thank you =)  

Taken indoors using natural light

Makeup Remover Part I: Pond's Cold Cream

  I saw this product a long time ago (around the '90s) and nope it wasn't a female who was using it then =P  It was my cousin, Kuya Arnold.  He was very particular with his skin care routine and each night I'd see him rubbing his face with this white lemon-scented cream.  I had no idea what it was but I know I love it's scent =P (It reminded me so much of Nivea cream in the blue tin can.)

  Kinda forgot about it and life happened.  Later on I learned what it was and what it's for when we started doing our own cold cream in my Pharmacy lab class in college.  

  It dawned on me that there's such a thing as makeup remover.  =P  I used to clean my face with just a bar of soap (had a long time affair with Neko and it was very effective... I wonder if it's still available in the market...)

House of Flair Clearance Sale!!!

  House of Flair is having a clearance sale with up to 50% off on their onhand items.  Please check them out.  =) xoxo

  P.S. This is within the Philippines only.

Skin Care: Eyliplex-2 Eye Lift + Circle Reducer

  Poor diet, lack of sleep, working the graveyard shift and ageing...  I find these are causing me to have dark circles and fine lines under my eyes.  =(

  They weren't really that noticeable before and I didn't really mind.  I usually get away with the coverage I get from my foundation.  But since I started working the night shift for more than two years now, I now look like I aged ten times faster.  And it's because my eyes always looked tired.  My under eyes now look ashy with foundation on.  I know this can be corrected and concealed but I don't want to just cover them up.  I need a permanent solution!!! hehehe =P

Palette: Stila In The Moment Sample Palette

  I got my hands on a sample of Stila In The Moment palette which looks like this:

  It is a folded page of cardboard containing ten of Stila's award-winning eyeshadows.  I apologize for the "bent" look.  This palette came as is and it probably got squished during transit.  But nonetheless, the products inside remained intact.

  Inside, the shadows were protected with a clear plastic but were removed during the review.  The top half contains two of the looks that can be created using the eyeshadows.  I find this useful especially for beginners because these are step by step instructions on how to achieve each look.  The bottom half contains the eyeshadows in sample amounts which I think can last up to 3 applications.    

My Very First Brush Set

  I never really took makeup seriously then.  My routine was just simple and did not include the use of brushes.  But as I got more interested and passionate with makeup artistry I found that one cannot live on sponges alone hehehe =P

  It took a long while before I decided which brushes to get and a major factor is the price.  In between comparing different brands and sets vs. individual brushes, I found myself buying some cheap individual brushes to start with.  But this did not keep me from wanting more brushes. =P  So after some careful thought, I got myself the Charm Pro Brush Set.

EOTD: Basic Way of Wearing Colorful Eyeshadow

  To most of us, it is not very easy to pull off colorful eyeshadow especially if this is to be worn during the day or at the office.  There's nothing wrong with wearing neutrals but it could get boring sometimes.

  I love wearing colorful eyeshadows but sometimes I need a whole lot of confidence to wear one at the office or when I'm out during the day.  =P  Good thing I learned a neat way of making colorful eyeshadow more wearable.
  

Freebie: Laura Geller Spackle Tinted Under Make-up Primer

  In my recent purchase, I mentioned that I got a free item from Carefreeshopper.  I didn't really expect a freebie but yay! Thank you, Armie.  =)  I love it!

  What I got is the Laura Geller Spackle Tinted Under Make-up Primer in Bronze.  I first saw this in Cora's (Vintage or Tacky) Spring Makeup Reviews video in YouTube.

Haul: Real Techniques Brushes

  WARNING:  This post is picture heavy!  =P

  I'm currently doing a lot of hauls because I am still building my kit.  Doing it little by little so it doesn't hurt my wallet that much =P  Anyway, I believe that brushes are an investment and might be one of the most expensive items in a makeup artist's kit.  Also, I'll need a variety of brushes and backups so apart from my first brush set, Charm Pro, I bought the Real Techniques Brushes from Armie via her Multiply site Carefreeshopper.

  This is not my first transaction with her.  I'm so glad I came across her online store.  Transactions were a breeze.  She responds promptly to her clients' queries and never fails to deliver.  =)

  Now, onto my brushes.  They arrived on a holiday via LBC which just made my day.  Yay!  Never knew LBC ships on holidays.  So, they arrived looking like this.  Very happy with the bubble wrap because not only does it keep my lovely brushes safe but also I have a lot of bubbles to pop! =P

EOTD: Happy Independence Day!

    June 12 is our Independence Day.  And in line with the celebration I have created this look earlier.  This EOTD is inspired by the colors of the Philippine flag.  I have tweeted this a while ago.  Sorry for the poor picture quality, my mobile phone camera is not that good.  However, I've taken some pictures using my DSLR while I was doing my makeup for this post.  These pictures should be decent enough to illustrate how I came up with the look.

Haul: Beauty Pro Cosmetics Crazy Colour Palette

  This is the second Beauty Pro Cosmetics Palette that I got from Digital Traincase.  This is aptly called the Crazy Colour Palette.  It is a collection of bright and colorful eyeshadows.

  I love this palette because majority of the eyeshadows are matte and the color selection is so pretty!  Each pan of color is crazy pigmented that I only need to use a little to get a very nice color payoff.  These also remind me of Make Up For Ever, Lime Crime and Sugarpill eyeshadows.  Can't stress enough how bright and intense the colors are.              

Haul: Beauty Pro Cosmetics Sweet and Smokey Palette

  Here are the last two palettes I got from the Superb Super Sale Bazaar.  These are the Beauty Pro Cosmetics Palettes by  Brigitte who is a makeup artist herself.  I got these babies via Digital Traincase.  I actually met Paul and would like to thank him for the discount and for shipping the Crazy Colour palette as they don't have this one at the bazaar.

Haul: Catwalk Cosmetics Palette

  I have another wonderful palette for my kit.  This is the Catwalk Cosmetics palette by Makeup by Marj Sia.  This is part of my haul from the recently held Superb Super Sale Bazaar at SMX.  I actually met Marj who was at her booth that time and may I say she's so pretty! :)  I don't know if I came across as somewhat weird during that time because I kept on coming back to her booth.  I was just so overwhelmed of all the kikay stuff that I can't think straight that day.  Actually I was just trying to control myself or else I would've end up broke that day hehehe =P

  Anyway, here is the palette.  It is a nice mix of bright and neutral colors.  It actually consists of 15 eyeshadows and 3 blushes but I think I can also use them as eyeshadow as well.  The blushes are the three colors at the last column to the right.   

Haul: Sleek Makeup Goodies!

  If you've been watching beauty/makeup-related videos in YouTube chances are you've heard of this brand from the UK.  I first heard of Sleek Makeup from Pixiwoo.  This is a drugstore brand but of very good quality according to numerous online reviews of their products.  Never thought I'd be able to get my hands on these since they are not locally available until I learned of Updated Trends which is the official distributor of Sleek Makeup here in the Phils.

  They were at the recently held Superb Super Sale Bazaar at SMX where I met Smile, the proprietor of Updated Trends/Sleek Makeup Ph.  She is lovely, btw.  =)  She helped me pick the right shade of foundation and also had a little chat about the brand and makeup in general.

  After spending several minutes swatching their testers I decided to get two powder blushes and their creme foundation.        

Haul: James Cooper Jazzy Collection

  Got myself some James Cooper cosmetic products and these are part of the Jazzy Collection.  If I'm not mistaken, James Cooper is a well known celebrity hairstylist/makeup artist here in the Philippines who also came up with his own cosmetics line much like Fanny Serrano.  Not sure who started first but I've been seeing JC products at SM Department Store in the past few years.  Never really got the chance to try them until now.  Not sure why but probably I was too caught up with other well known brands then =P

  Glad I got to finally try them and for the first time I am wowed by a local brand.  Bought the liquid mineral blusher (PhP 399) and aqua cream eyeshadow (PhP 299) at the SM Mall of Asia Department Store.
      

Haul: Goodies from Superb Super Sale Bazaar

  This is just a sneak peek of the things I got from the Superb Super Sale Bazaar (except the James Cooper Jazzy Collection items which I bought from the mall on the same day).  Glad I went there even if it's the last day.  It was last May 27 at SMX.  I remember I met up with a colleague at Megamall to get my backup laptop for work and went straight to SMX afterwards.  My back hurt so bad that night because I had my laptop in my backpack the whole time I was at the bazaar.  But I forgot how tired I was when I started playing with my new toys =P

Will do separate posts for each brand.  =) xoxo 

Liebster Blog Award

  I got another award yey!!!  Thank you so much to Natalie for nominating me.  I think this is a great opportunity to discover blogs out there.  So, like the previous award I will have to follow the mechanics to keep the ball rolling.
        

The rules of the Liebster Award are:
1. Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog
2. Link back to the blogger who presented the award to you
3. Copy and paste the blog award on your blog
4. Present the Liebster Blog Award to 5 blogs of 200 followers or less who you feel deserve to be noticed (see below)
5. Let them know they have been chosen by leaving a comment at their blog.

And here are my nominees:

Shuikaybb
the bridal hairstylist
My Kichay Kit
Kikay na Athlete
mylipstickbullets

xoxo =)

EOTD: Thessa's Request

  A dear friend of mine sent me a message a month ago via Facebook regarding this makeup look from krissysings.  She inquired particularly on the eye makeup as seen below.  (Images were captured from their YouTube video for reference.) 
    

  Although it is quite difficult to actually see the eye makeup, I did my best to recreate it.  I also had to do some adjustments to adopt the look to my eye.  I have hooded eyes so it is not really ideal.  I believe this will look best on deep set eyes or those with not so droopy crease like mine.  Anyway, here's my take on this look.

Lips: NYX Smokey Look & Circe

  Lately I've been favoring "peachy" colors and made sure I have enough "peach" products.  =P  So I got myself Smokey Look (lip gloss) and Circe (lipstick) from NYX.  Smokey look is a translucent peach lip gloss with some gold glitters.  Circe is a creamy, peachy-nude lipstick.  Both can be worn on it's own or can be layered on top of each other for a more pronounced lip color.  These two go very well with dramatic eye makeup especially smokey eye looks.
    

Smokey Look

Circe

  Individual swatches (Left) and layered (Right):

Palette: Wet 'n Wild Color Icon "Walking on Eggshells"

  Wet 'n Wild has been in the Philippines for quite a while now but never really got the chance to check them out until now.  Had fun learning about their products and swatching their eyeshadows.  At first I thought their palettes were not worth buying but when I got to swatch a few I was blown away.  I find the eyeshadows and eye pencils very pigmented.  I also love the color range.  However, I just noticed the products available here are limited compared to what's available abroad.

  I was checking out their Color Icon Trio palettes and this particular one caught my attention.  The eyelid color reminds me so much of Stila's famous eyeshadow, Kitten.  This palette is just so pretty.  =)

  When I got to play with this at home I had this nagging feeling that I've seen these colors before.

Primer: NYX HD Studio Photogenic Primer

  I have been using foundation primers for the last 5 years or so and the main reason why I use it is to make my makeup last longer.  Being in the corporate world means less time for touch ups and more time in front of the computer.  At least for me.  =P

  My very first primer was the Smashbox Photo Finish Light and I finished the whole bottle after 3 years.  Since then I have tried other brands and that's when I learned that there are different types of primers for different needs/purposes.

   Primers prep the skin prior to foundation application.  I believe I have mentioned some of the benefits of using a primer in my review of e.l.f.'s Mineral Infused Face Primer.

  So I got this new primer from NYX which is the HD Studio Photogenic Primer and it reminded me so much of Make Up For Ever's HD Primer.  Thought they might be the same at a fraction of the price.  Gave it a chance and brought it home with me.  =) 

Earn while you surf!

Guys join churpchurp now! Get rewarded for your social networks! It's really cool! ph.churpchurp.com #phchurpchurp

P.S. I think this works in the Philippines only.

Versatile Blogger Award

  So, I've been nominated twice for the Versatile Blogger Award and didn't really know what it's all about.  Checked out Emma's and Chelsea's blog to find out how it works.  And here it goes:

So here is what you have to do:

1. Nominate fellow bloggers who may be new to blogging or you're following regularly
2. Let them know you have nominated them.
3. Share 7 random facts about yourself.
4. Thank the bloggers who have nominated you.
5. Add the versatile blogger picture to your post. 

 The Bloggers I nominate are:

KARLAmel Syrup

emilyfierce

Nic ooh la la

super purdy!

Lipsticked Louise 
Pixiwoo
Jangsara
Tanya Burr
Makeup and Beauty Blog
Makeupgeek
Makeup By TiffanyD
Misschievous
MACNC40
GossMakeupArtist
Temptalia

7 random facts about me: 

1. I'm a double degree holder.

2. I have two dogs.

3. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.

4. Citronella is my favorite reed diffuser scent.

5. Big Bang Theory is one of my favorite TV series.

6. I am Filipino.

7. And I love both coffee and tea =)

  Whoah!  It took me several minutes to write down those facts about me  =P  This is fun.  =)  Thank you, again, to Emma (Lipsticked Louise) and Chelsea (super purdy!) for nominating me.  =) xoxo

P.S. I had to add some more nominees because apparently there should be 15 according to the Versatile Blogger Award site.

Foundation: NYX Stay Matte But Not Flat Liquid Foundation

  So I got this foundation a few weeks back and have been using it since then.  Got it in the shade SMF05 Soft Beige which is a good match.
       

  The packaging indicates the ff.:

• Oil Free
• Water Based
• Full Coverage
• Mineral Enriched
• Matte Finish

  I have checked the ingredients and although it has aqua (water) in it, it still has dimethicone which is a silicone polymer.  So I'm quite confused.  Although it contains dimethicone the consistency of the product is quite runny and feels lightweight on the skin.  But what really intrigued me and caused me to buy this product is the name itself.  What does "stay matte but not flat" mean?  Plus, it says it offers full coverage and I need all the coverage I can get to hide my acne scars.  So I bought it and put it to the test.

EOTD: My take on Sophie-I

  A few months back, Illamasqua announced their support for the Sophie Lancaster Foundation which hopes to "stamp out intolerance and discrimination in society" (Illamasqua).  In relation to this, they did the Sophie-I look which makes use of a penciling technique. 

  I love the look plus the fact that it is for a good cause.  However, I find the Sophie-I look works best for those who have deep set eyes with more lid space.

  My eyes are hooded so I made some adjustments to the make the look work for me.  Plus I added my own twist on the look.  This was supposedly an entry to their contest but I was not able to submit on time.  Anyway, I'll just share what I did here in my blog.

Haul: Sumrise in Bali

  NYX products are really addicting!!!  I started with their lip creams then jumbo eye pencils.  Next thing I know I got myself some base products and some more lip products.  =P

  My latest acquisition is their Bronzer & Blusher Combo in "Sunrise in Bali" which I sometimes call "Summer in Manila" just because... =P  Got this again from Pretty Goddess' store in Trinoma which I happened to pass by when I went to meet my family a few weeks ago.  Bought some lip creams for my sister and cousin then I saw this.  I just thought it was too pretty so it has to come home with me =P

Haul: Inexpensive Brushes

  It was a very stressful week and a huge part of it is due to work.  But since I've solved the issue that's been bugging me for weeks I can now continue blogging.  Yay! 

  I think it is also due to stress that I've unintentionally ruined my foundation brush, I must be releasing my tension while cleaning it that it started shedding a whole lot.  This is really bad news for me because I use my Charm Pro Foundation brush every time I apply foundation.  Major bummer...

  Last Sunday I chanced upon a couple of inexpensive brushes while at SM Supercenter Pasig.  Hubby and I had a few hours to spare while waiting for our dogs get groomed at Tiendesitas so we decided to check out the nearby mall.  Plus, it was sweltering hot that I grabbed the chance to stay in an airconditioned environment =P

EOTD: An Eye For Spring

  This EOTD is supposedly my entry for a weekly challenge but failed to submit on time.  Didn't want to waste my effort so I thought of posting it here instead.

  The theme is spring colors and although we don't have spring in the Philippines I just thought of colors that reminded me of flowers.   

  This look makes use of pastel colors.  I kept the makeup looking fresh and delicate.  Made sure it is not over the top, just simple and pretty.  

Haul: NYX therapy for a depressing Sunday at the mall...

  I was so sad the last few days because my service laptop gave up on me while I was on shift last Friday.  To make matters worst, I got a client call.  Good thing we have a secondary resource to back me up.  But what's really depressing is that I haven't backed up my data and I just lost almost 2-year's worth of email and notes.  =(

  Went to meet a colleague last Sunday at Trinoma to get a spare laptop and while waiting for him I chanced upon Pretty Goddes' store at the 2nd level near Starbucks.  The sight of all those NYX products surely perked me up =)

  I got a few items from the store and even got the chance to meet the owner.  Their collection is overwhelming and I'm so happy they have testers.  Testers are important especially when picking out foundation because it is a must to properly match the color and also it gives me an idea with regards to finish and coverage.  Also, the thought of testing out all those products is a sure way to combat my depression. =P 

  I have yet to test these out and will do a more detailed review once I get to use these more.  Products that went home with me are the HD Studio Photogenic Primer (PhP 600), Stay Matte But Not Flat Liquid Foundation (PhP 600), Round Lipstick in Circe (PhP 150) and Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Smokey Look (PhP 220).

   Until the next blog post! =) xoxo

Haul: Dollface Kaleidoscope Palette (180 Eyeshadow)

  When I started this blog I thought to myself I need to expand my makeup collection.  I've got a few palettes but I find I still lack some colors for my EOTDs.     

  I have been checking out palettes from Dollface and already got two from this brand (check previous blog posts).  But I haven't really gotten any eyeshadow palettes from Dollface before as I was undecided which to get back then.  I chanced upon another blogger mentioning the Kaleidoscope palette from Dollface and it is a 180 eyeshadow palette priced at PhP 1,450.  Thought this is a great deal so I got one, yay! :) 

Haul Part2: NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils

  The other items in my NYX haul are the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils (JEP) which cost PhP220 each (bought from Digital Traincase).  These are so versatile they can be used as eyeliner, cream eyeshadow or eyeshadow base.  I've learned about these pencils from several beauty bloggers and vloggers.  The most popular JEP is the white one aptly called "Milk".  And most of the time this is used as an eyeshadow base rather than as an eyeliner.  I got a white (Milk) and black (Black Bean) JEP.

  Main reason why I bought these pencils is I needed an eyeshadow base to help eyeshadows show up properly in photos especially when I'm using flash.  Since I'm awake mostly during the afternoons up to the wee hours of the morning, I rely heavily on my external flash when I'm taking pictures for this blog.  And flash photography washes out color so I have to use something to make colors "pop".    
                

                                           Milk                                                             Black Bean

Haul Part1: NYX Lip Products

  My husband planned to buy some PC parts at the Eton Cyberpod E-Life Bldg. 1 last week and he recalled me mentioning the store Beauty and the Geeks which happens to be in the same building.  He knows how much I love makeup and is very supportive of my cosmetic addiction so he asked me to jot down things I wished to buy and he bought them for me =)  (He even called me up when he got to the store to check if I wanted to add some more to my loot but they were all sold out so I settled with the items on my list.)

  I realized that I have too many nude/pinky brown lipsticks but lacked bright, colorful ones.  I've been eyeing a lot of NYX lippies and can't decide which to get first.  Then I came across their new lip products that seems to be a cross between lipgloss and lipstick.  I personally prefer lipglosses because I find them easier to apply when I'm out and about, no need for a mirror hehehe =P (Skill that I've learned when I'm doing a sneaky retouch)  =P

  So I ended up getting two of their Xtreme Lip Creams (Strawberry Jam, Absolute Red) and a Soft Matte Lip Cream (Milan).       

Milan - Strawberry Jam - Absolute Red

How To/EOTD: Make my eye look smaller with neutral colors

  This tutorial is quite the opposite of my previous post.  Here I have used neutral colors to illustrate how this particular technique helps in making the eyes look smaller or look less prominent.

  Again, learned this technique from Maquillage Professionnel whose instructors are from Make Up For Ever Philippines Pro Team.  This is called the "closed banana" which again pertains to the shape of the crease and the outer corner is closed off by the crease color.

  This look is quite dramatic compared to the open banana technique and can also be used for evening makeup.

How To/EOTD: Make my eye look bigger with color

  This tutorial is about having the illusion of bigger eyes.  I know there are a lot of tips/tutorials/blog posts/videos out there about this and what I find common is the use of light and neutral colors to make the eyes appear bigger.  So I thought of doing this look using colors other than neutral because I just happen to love color especially on my eye! :P

  Glad that I learned this technique in makeup school because not only can I fake a full night's sleep but this also helps recede my droopy crease.  They call this the "open banana" technique.  The banana comes from the shape of the crease which resembles the shape of a banana and the term open means the corners of the eye are not touched by the crease color.

How To: Correct and Conceal Dark Under Eyes

  Poor diet, lack of sleep and graveyard shifts contribute to my lovely under eye circles.  I'm not sure if you can see it in the picture but in person they are quite dark.  I believe the ring flash adapter I'm using helped lighten the area a bit =P  But I can't always bring with me my ring flash adapter nor a reflector hehehe So I have to find a way to hide them.

  Normally, under eye circles are concealed by using a concealer that is a bit lighter than the actual skin color.  This way it not only conceals the area but highlights it as well.  However, this technique does not work for me (or for those who really have dark under eye circles) and the result usually is ashy under eyes.  This is because of the bluish undertone that dark circles have and needs to be cancelled out.  Color theory suggests that opposing colors cancel out each other so to correct blue undertone I have to use an orange corrector.

Eyeliner: e.l.f. Liquid Eyeliner

  I have bought this liquid eyeliner along with other e.l.f. products two weeks ago.  Though my daily routine does not normally include liquid liners, I thought of getting this one for those days when I want some oomph and also for upcoming tutorials.

  Gave this a try several times but I can't get myself to wear this when I'm out and about.  Though I don't want to say bad things about this particular product, I just think it is due to it's price tag that it has limitations when it comes to performance.

I think I'm getting greedy for wanting a product that doesn't cost too much but also performs like a dream hehehe =P  Must have heard "Someone like you" by Adele that day when I picked this up at the mall and thought of her eye makeup.  She looks stunning by the way and her makeup suits her just fine.  =)

 

Palette: Dollface 20 pc. Corrective Concealer Palette

  Currently, I'm building my kit and since I am on a tight budget I try to find inexpensive but high quality products to start off my collection.  (Inexpensive is my favorite word at the moment hehehe)  One way to save money is by investing in palettes.  A palette is a great way for a makeup artist to have a variety of shades of a particular product be it cream foundation, concealer, blush, eyeshadow, etc.

  I have searched high and low for palettes and found several online (Coastal Scents, BH Cosmetics, etc.).  Glad I have found Dollface Cosmetics which is locally available.  This saves me from international shipping + possible damage during transit + getting lost in oblivion due to our poor postal system. =P

  One thing I love about Dollface Cosmetics is that they have a physical store where I can go and check out their products.  I'm a bit hesitant to buy products which I have not seen in person so this is a plus for me.  And one of my recent acquisition is their 20 pc. corrective concealer palette.  

  

EOTD: Classic Smoky Eyes, The Easy Way...

  One of my favorite eyeshadow application techniques is the smoky eye.  I find it the easiest way to do my eye makeup.  Not only does it look dramatic but it also emphasizes the eyes which is my favorite facial feature. Some people shy away from smoky eyes especially during the day but I love it that I try to pull it off anytime of the day.

  The classic smoky eye normally uses just one eyeshadow applied darkest at the lash line and blended upwards giving it a "smoky" effect.  The gradient gives the illusion of using more than one color.  Also, a smoky eye does not mean using only black or gray.  This technique can be used in applying either dark (black, gray, brown, etc.) or bright, intense, vivid colors (red, orange, blue, green, yellow, pink, etc.).  In this tutorial, I used a black eyeshadow because I love the drama.  =P

Eyeliner: e.l.f Eye Widener

  I have been on the lookout for an inexpensive creamy, white pencil that I can use as an eyeshadow base.  Another inexpensive brand came to mind but it wasn't available at that time so I opted for this pencil from e.l.f which is aptly called Eye Widener (PhP 129.75).

  At first I thought this gives off a matte finish but due to the lack of testers and knowledge of the saleslady, I bought this thinking it is matte.  Okay, I am also at fault for not checking.  The packaging simply indicates white but a deeper understanding of the instructions at the back of the carton indicates it is not matte but rather "sparkly". lol =P  (Also, just noticed "Pearl White" is engraved on the pencil hahaha!  Something about inexpensive+makeup makes me giddy and forget to read lol)

  Thought I'd get disappointed with this one but I just remembered it's name.  Eye widener.  Not that my eyes are too small but I can still use this one for it's intended purpose.