Highlighters In My Kit

  I have in this video the highlighters or illuminators in my kit.  These are used on my clients and on myself as well.  It consists of liquids, cream and powders that give a subtle glow to the skin.

Please continue reading to see the swatches.

Mother's Day Makeup Tutorial

  It's been a year since I last posted here.  I've been quite busy plus got some pretty rough months last year that I never got the chance to blog or at least got inspired to do something wonderful.

  Anyway, I'm trying to get my regular self back and found it quite timely as it is Mother's Day this weekend.  My Mom loves getting her makeup done especially by me =)  And we filmed a makeup tutorial in celebration of this special occasion.  Please give my video a thumbs up, subscribe to my YouTube channel and share the love and/or my video  =)  

  Read on to see the list of products used in this video.

  P.S. I am a freelance hair and makeup artist based in Metro Manila, Philippines.  For inquiries, please send me an email at makeupbyanna888@gmail.com.

Airbrush Makeup and Half Updo for Katrina

  It's been quite a while since I last posted an entry here and for the most part I have been very busy with work.  Aside from that I have been getting more freelance hair and makeup jobs during the weekends.  So, yay! =)

  Earlier this year I have given my niece a makeover and if you want to see how it went please continue reading.  =) 

Before the makeover

June 2014 Sigma Discount Code Alert!!!

  Now is the time to stock up on your favorite Sigma products or get your hands on their latest items.  Use discount code JUNE10 at Sigma Beauty valid from June 1-30.  Take advantage of the $10 off a $100 purchase or more sitewide.

***Disclosure: I am a Sigma affiliate.

October Discount Code Alert!!!

  Use discount code FALL2013 at Sigma Beauty valid from the 1st of October until the 31st.  Take advantage of the 10% discount to get their latest brushes and limited edition makeup.  =)

***Disclosure: I am a Sigma Affiliate 

Discount Code Alert!

  Sigma is giving a 10% off for purchases from September 1 to 30.  Use code LJW2013.  Happy shopping!  =)

***Disclosure: I am a Sigma Affiliate

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.

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 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

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).   

Haul Sneak Peek!

What happens when I go to the mall?

This happens.  =P

And because I was so frustrated with my previous pictures, I got this as well c/o my hubby.  :)

Will do separate posts on each item.

BTW, the pouch is for size reference.  Thank you to my cousin, Ate Mia, for giving me Clinique goodies!  :)  xoxo

EOTD: Smoky Black/Purple

I woke up today thinking of doing an EOTD and this is what I came up with.  Smoky eyes are my all time favorite because it is dramatic and makes the eyes interesting.  Normally, a smoky eye is just a singular color preferably dark or intense applied darkest at the lash line blended upwards making the "smoky" effect.

This look is more of a modified/modern smoky eye wherein a combination of colors are used and the smoky effect is at the crease.

Keep on reading for the steps to get this look.

My very first travel palette: Lancôme Absolu Voyage

  I got this palette two years ago when I went to Singapore for a few days of training.  Funny that I got this on board Singapore Airlines on my way back to the Philippines when I actually visited Sephora at Ion Mall.  I could've gotten myself some Urban Decay stuff which I regret not buying at the time as I was too busy checking out the entire store.  I was lost in la la land =P.

  I ended up testing everything at Sephora to my heart's content but didn't notice they were closing down the store lol.  So to make the long story short, I ended up empty handed but still blissful after playing in wonderland.

  Fast forward to my flight back home, I was checking out their duty free catalog tucked in front of my seat and found the cosmetics section.  There were other palettes in the catalog including Dior travel palettes which are very pretty.  But what made me choose this one other than it being cheaper than Dior is that it does not only contain eyeshadows or lipstick, it has everything for the face.

Welcome to my blog!

  Everyday I make sure I visit all my favorite blogs and YouTube channels (will make a separate post on this) to keep me inspired throughout the day.  And all of these are beauty related blogs made by either local or international bloggers.  (Can't get enough of the word "blog" =P)

  Each time I read a post I say to myself "why not start my own beauty blog and share what I've learned so far?" and I keep on putting off the idea until now.