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.

Primer: e.l.f. Mineral Infused Face Primer

  What is a primer? Do I need it?

  A primer preps the skin making it easier to apply foundation and blend it over the skin.  Depending on the type of primer, this may help fill in lines, keep oilies at bay or even help makeup last longer.

  Several brands offer this type of product but these are usually high end brands.  I'm a bit hesitant to shell out thousands of bucks just for an everyday use primer so I've been on the lookout for an inexpensive alternative.  Glad that I chanced upon this product from e.l.f. which is their Mineral Infused Face Primer (PhP 399.75).