The Lip Series: Lip Crayons Part 1

Hello there!  Again, long time no post.  Sorry for that, but hey, I'm back with a long-ass, photo-filled  post for all of you.  Because I have this "resolution" to finish up my existing makeup before buying new ones, I just "shopped" from my existing collection to be reminded of what I have and what I haven't been using.  Turns out, I have a  lot of lip crayons already!  So, like my Brow Series, this is going to be My Lip Series.  I hope you're as excited as I am.


This is going to be part 1 of 2 for Lip Crayons.  I believe the lip crayon trend started with Clinique's chubby sticks and then other companies like Revlon followed suit.  If you look at it, there's nothing really revolutionary about these lip crayons, but they're really much easier to use compared to a regular lipstick, especially those that are really balm-like.

L-R:  Happy Skin Shut Up And Kiss Me (SUAKM) in 1.  Summer Crush, 2.  Sunset Kiss, 3.  The Morning After, 4.  Victoria's Secret Beauty Crush Glossy Lip Tint (the beige one) and the 5.  (violet one) , Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Color Balm in 6.  16 Voluptuous Violet, 7.  04 Mega Melon, and 8.  Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm in Radiant Rose
Before we start, let me show you my natural lip color sans any lip product. 



You might have seen my post about these Happy Skin lippies already.  Basically, the three shades have identical consistency (like that of a lipstick but not drying), staying power (great unless touched), and pigment (high pigmentation).  In the swatches above, I only had to swatch it lightly for the color to come out.  But here they are again in photos.
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On Sale! + Mini Reviews

Here's a little back story for you guys.  My father worked in Saudi Arabia and we were fortunate enough to be with him there for some time.  That time, there wasn't really much to do because of all the constraints.  A lot of my childhood was (I feel) spent in malls.  I didn't feel like I was missing out though.  I loved it!  The sales were really great!

When our family came back to the Philippines, I really felt bad because the sales here weren't as appealing.  So, years passed and I accepted that our dear country might not pick up on the shopping goodness.  But the sales last December and this January really impressed me.  Maybe its because I haven't recently stayed in Manila during December and January.  Maybe its the influx of a lot of international brands and new malls.  Nonetheless, I was very pleased.

This sale season, I actually held back on my makeup purchases as I intend to use up my current ones and keep it fairly simple from now on.  Well, you know how this goes... I couldn't resist two purchases.  One is the L'Oreal Paris Lucent Magique Light-Infusing Foundation, which is probably the Asian version of the Lumi Magique range L'Oreal has.  Its original price was Php 859.  After the discount it was Php 429.50.
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Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette (with Swatches)

My birthday was last month, November.  I don't think I could let my birthday pass by without me treating myself to something nice.  This year that something nice was the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette ($ 58).  My friend was kind enough to get it for me when she was in the States.
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2015 - Ready!

Here comes that time of the year when we're supposed to reflect and review the year that has just ended.  2014 had its highlights and this post would be quite long if I listed them all down.  Rather, I'd like to focus on 2015, the year ahead.


I'm really happy that planners, journals, and notebooks still exist even if they could easily be replaced by tabs and whatnot.  For 2015, I chose The Daykeeper Datebook.  This is their 2nd year producing a planner.  I was too late to order one last year so I made sure I was early this year.  This year, I really want to absorb everything that will happen to me and be in the moment, rather than moving from one event to another so quickly.


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You could see its really pretty and has a lot of photos, which is a dilemma for me.  I don't want to ruin it!  I love though how there's one page that's just for the "things that made me smile today".

Just in case I end up getting the urge to just wreck my planner with my oh-so-lovely (sarcastic tone right here) writing, I drank enough coffee to get the lavender "The Giving Journal" of Coffee Bean.  There's just this irreplaceable satisfaction that you get from crossing out tasks from your to-do list.

I wish everyone the best for 2015! :)  Remember, resolutions don't have to start in the beginning of the year.
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Makeup I Loved in 2014

Hello!  Welcome to my year-end round up of makeup I loved in 2014!  Its not a lot (I think), and you might even be familiar with some of these if you've been visiting my blog, but these are the products I really enjoyed this year.


This is going to be fairly short since you already know I like these.  I'm probably just going to highlight why I like the products.  Let's start with the two eye products:
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My Most Repurchased Makeup Product

I have one product that I've repurchased a few times already.  I think I've bought five tubes of it already.  It's one of my first makeup products, going back high school.  And this time of the year, its usually on sale at Php 395 from Php 795 or its bundled with another makeup product of their's.

It's the Body Shop Lip and Cheek Stain.  I remember it was called a "tint" rather than a "stain" and I used to have such a hard time saying it.  The first time I bought this, it was even in their old rough / frosted looking plastic that was quite plain looking, but actually looked more generous.  The formula has remained the same though and I really enjoy it to the point where it looks really beat up.


If you're after that "I-just-got-pinched" look or that "blushing-because-you're-embarrassed" look, then this could be your go-to product.  Its really easy to apply, either with a brush or fingers.  It will stain your fingers as well though.  This is probably comparable to some of Benefit's tints, but this comes with a doe foot applicator compared to Benefit's nail polish-like brush.



Basically, if you apply this on your cheeks, you just need to dot the apples of your cheeks.  Then, you blend with either your fingers or a brush.  Here's how your fingers would look like after though.


I usually use my fingers as its the fastest way.  A tip though is to not rub it in and strategically dot it then pat and leave to dry.  If you rub it all away the color would be a little faint.  Same goes if you apply it on the lips.  What I do is, I'll add one layer, let it dry, then add another for that pink "just-bitten" look.



I like this product for the following reasons:

1.  The tube lasts me almost a year!  So if you do get it at their sale price, which pops out often enough, its a steal!
2.  It gives you the most natural look, as if you didn't put anything, but you're really just blushing.
3.  You could easily top it off with liquid, cream, or powder highlighter.  I love doing this!




I'll be honest.  This post is pretty delayed, but in case some of you are still thinking of last minute gifts this Christmas, then the cheek and lip tint is a great idea! 

Enjoy the holidays! :)
Beauty
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October / November 2014 Favorites (Beauty and Home Decor)

Hi there!

I have three favorites to share with you today!  Among the several purchases from the #feelingspendy month of October and November, I've narrowed down to two make-up products and a set of trays.  Yup, you got that right - trays.  And I've got a lot of photos of them.  I'm at that point in my life where homeware is on my wishlist (i.e. a set of goblets, coasters, plants - but yeah, that's technically not home ware, etc.).  And I don't even have my own place yet.  Lol.

I know its a little late, but its timely for this season's gift buying.  :)

So, before I reveal the trays, let's get on with the makeup.

1.  Ellana Mineral Cosmetics' Intensive Blend Mineral Powder Foundation in French Vanilla Latte (Php 460).  My MAC powder foundation has hit pan already.  Whenever I have a product about to be finished, I always ask myself if I want to repurchase or try out a new product.  Well, this time, I have to admit, I had to save because I've been quite naughty with my expenses.  Also, it's a great time to try the Ellana powder foundation that everyone seems to be raving about.


2. Etude House Play 101 Eyeliner (Php 328).  I cannot get enough of these liners.  I already have four of them.  It started with a navy blue one.  Then, a black one.  Then, when Etude House had a 3 day sale, I got a purple and brown one.  They all work really well.


Lastly, we have the trays.


3.  Archipelago Chevron and Striped Print Trays (Php 679.75 and 579.75) from Our Home.  These trays just keep things neatly organized in one place.  The bigger one is square shaped and the smaller one is rectangular.





With Christmas coming up, I'm sure any makeup enthusiast would love to receive the Etude pencils.  For someone you really know who wants to try out mineral makeup, the Ellana foundation would be great.  And for aunts, your mom, or yourself, the Our Home trays is a great accessory / organizer for the home.

That's all for now. :)
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FOTD 2: Day-time "Smokey"


If you have eyes like mine, you probably won't have a problem doing a smokey eye during the day.  Tendency is it won't matter how smokey or how thick and black your eye shadow is.  Your eyelids would just engulf your whole lid and put all your eye shadow work to waste.  People would probably only know how much you've put on your eyes when they're closed or when you're looking down.  So, one day, I decided to go for a "smokey" eye look just to change things up.



For this FOTD post, I won't go into detail about some makeup items I used because I've mentioned some in my previous FOTD post or maybe even some of my previous posts.  As you can see, my eyes just seem to be a little more defined than if I didn't put anything but mascara.  It does not look like too much on the photo, but it's more obvious in person.  For the eyes I used:

1.  Etude House Play 101 Pencil in No. 1 (Black, no glitters).  To create a base for the eye shadow, I smudged a bit of this pencil to get that worn in pencil eyeliner look.  This product dries fast, so make sure to blend it right away if you're going for that look as well.

2.  Clinique Color Surge Eye Shadow Quad.  I actually don't know the name of the color, it just says that the color came from the Totally Neutral Trio.  Anyway, I used the darkest shade to cover most of the lid, then just blended the edges with a clean brush.  I went back with the pencil to line the top and bottom lash line.  I blended the bottom lash line and topped it off with eye shadow as well.

3.  Maybelline The Rocket Mascara.  This is what I used to finish the eye makeup.

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Philosophy Purity Made Simple 3-in-1 Cleanser for Face and Eyes Review

philosophy: purity is natural.  we come into this
world with all the right instincts.  we are innocent
and perceive things as they should be, rather than
how they are.  our conscience is clear, our hands
are clean and the world at large is truly beautiful.

Honestly, this is the first time I've read the whole thing completely.  Yes, I do wash my face with this every night or so and I did sort of read it when I bought it, but its truly the first time I've read the fine text.
Prior to this cleanser, I used the Pond's Deep Cleansing Facial Foam with the activated carbon as the special ingredient.  Now I'm really fine with it.  It does, for me, what a cleanser should do and at a good price too.  But, knowing that there are other cleansers to try, I just had to pass on repurchasing this when I finished my small tube of it.  

Though I have a few products on my mind for my next cleanser, I went ahead with a product I was really curious about from the start, the Purity Made Simple cleanser of Philosophy.  Philosophy, even when they were still in Beauty Bar here in the Philippines, gave me an impression of simplicity, straight-forwardness, and a touch of elegance, which was quite intimidating for a college student like me back then.  Now, Philosophy has its own kiosk at Greenbelt and I still felt the same way about it.  But, I'm not that intimidated anymore.  In fact, I gave the 90 ml bottle (Php 595) a try.  Quite pricey for a cleanser, and for that small amount, but this is the price of me wanting to try different products.  At least now I'd know if its a good buy or not.


I hope you don't get disappointed with me not posting any before and after photos, but I just didn't see much of a difference with my skin.  It was also a little bit too liquid, which makes it hard to have a hold of, especially when pouring the right amount.  When you open the cap, there's just your regular seal and when that's off, its basically open enough for the liquid to freely come out.  It has a similar consistency to Cetaphil.  So, imagine Cetaphil not having a smaller opening in its bottle cap.  Like Cetaphil, as well, it doesn't create a foam or bubble up.  Then we have the smell.  It has an "organic/natural" smell to it, which doesn't really bother me, but may bother other people quite sensitive about smell.
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