Month: November 2012

Playlist: MAC Paint Pot (Rubenesque) & bareMinerals Satin Plum

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I lifted my makeup ban and got a MAC paint pot yesterday, which I had been meaning to for a while. Paint Pots are essentially cream eyeshadows that you can wear alone or as a base for your eyeshadows. I don’t know if they have other functions, but I think that alone is pretty cool in itself. I got it in Rubenesque, which is a beautiful peach bronze that has hints of rose at some turns. Anyway, I’ll review this some other time, but all you really need to know is that I really freaking love it so much. In the middle of uploading work stuff, I decided to play with my new paint pot and one of the shades that came with bareMinerals’ A Vision in Velvet, which let’s face it, really swatched pretty horribly. Not one to give up on underperforming things—and also things that cost me $80—I was eager to try and make a few looks with some of the shades. This is the first look I’ve tried in literally three minutes, …

Counter Swatch: NARS x Andy Warhol

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I dropped by the NARS counter yesterday and took a few quick swatches of their holiday collection, which is a collaboration with Andy Warhol. Sarie asked Robbie, the SA, to hold an Edie Set for me, but I wanted to look at some of the other products, too. The sets are rather pretty. The two collections that are not exclusive to Sephora seem to be available here, except for the polishes. TV Party, an orange shade, is the only individual polish that seems to be available in Manila. The Larger Than Life Lipglosses (Php 1450) are the first ones I swatched. In order, from the top: Viva, Penny Arcade, International Velvet, Candy Says, and Holly Woodlawn. The formulation is rather nice, though sticky. I was turned off by gloss a few years ago, and this is the first one I’ve tried—and liked—since “going off” of glosses. The Soft Touch Shadow Pencils are a tricky subject, something I’m willing to try, but perhaps not right now. Top to bottom, Calabria (not part of this collection, but …

FOTD & OOTD: November 6

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Behold, my Face of the Day! Get it? No? Oh, okay. I was rushing out of the house so I only had time to swipe a light wash of bareMinerals’ The Happy Place over my lids, put on NARS blush in Orgasm, and Guerlain Météorites in Perles d’Azur. I had to put my lipstick (Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited in Celebrity Beige) on in the car, on the way to the MRT. Sometimes I wonder how much easier life would be if the public transport system in the Philippines was better. I think about that a lot, especially when I am in the train cars, fearing for my life and my possessions. It was a pretty busy day, so I’m glad I wore comfy things, but before I move on, please check out my necklace. It’s a release by ofakind and Brvtvs, and ever since I got it, I have rarely left the house without it. If you care, dress is from Asos, shoes are from Muji, Chambray shirt is a Sarie hand-me-down. My bag is …

Maison Martin Margiela with H&M

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Here is a pretty cool, pretty creepy film for a new H&M—which I have now just learned stands for “Hennes and Mauritz”—collaboration. As per what the YouTube description says: The collaboration with H&M presents a re-edition of iconic Maison Martin Margiela garments and accessories for men and women. Each piece is specifically labeled with a unique tag indicating the season from which its originated, spanning 23 years since the Maison’s funding. The most representative pieces of Maison Martin Margiela are reproduced in updated shapes and materials and offered to the broad public as an exclusive synopsis of their history. The Maison Martin Margiela with H&M collection will be available in selected stores and online at http://www.hm.com/maisonmartinmargiela November 15th. The shapes are quite interesting, though I don’t know about the wearability of these, especially here in Manila. Which, I guess makes sense that we don’t actually have an H&M store here. I don’t think I’ve ever caught a collaboration/collection release at H&M except for the Lana del Ray stuff. Anyway, it’s a cool film, though I …

Guerlain Turandot Eyeshadow Palette

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Turandot is a 4-shadow palette (Écrin 4 Coueleurs Eyeshadow) from Guerlain’s 2012 Holiday Collection, Liu. Named after the Asian heroine Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot, as well as the classic Guerlain scent, Liu explores and visualizes the themes of passion and femininity, tied off with a heavy dose of Orientalism. Because I might as well be a grubby little mole hermit, I went on to Nordstrom and ordered a palette for myself. It’s easily the most I’ve spent on a quad, alas, it was too pretty to pass up. Also, I didn’t know if this would hit Manila shores. The SA I talked to when I went to get my météorites said that it would be a while before it was available here. Thankfully, the shades are easily worn, and I do intend to wear the frak out of this palette. (When I checked Nordstrom for a specific link, I couldn’t find it anymore, so I guess I made the right call. No? Oh, okay.) Turandot features a light yellow-orangey gold (good for a base, highlighting and …

NARS x Andy Warhol Counter

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I was a sick over the long holiday (lucky me!), so Sarie took a photo of the NARS x Andy Warhol counter for me. I will try and swatch them tomorrow, and maybe pick up a few things, too. My makeup ban is lifted if there are a) special GOOD DEAL sales, and b) limited edition items that I must acquire. I can’t wait to see these for myself tomorrow. (!) I will update you guys with another edition of a Counter Swatch, or if I’m lucky, a Real Review!

Made-Up History: Liberty Leading the People

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Made-Up History (get it?) will be a series of translations of art (for now) onto makeup. It merges two growing loves, one old and one new, which is why I have resolved to do it. In the process, I hope to get better at both, but I guess this really works out my makeup muscle more. This is the first installment, for which I have decided to use Eugène Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People, or as they say call it in France, “La Liberté guidant le peuple.” “And if I haven’t fought for my country at least I’ll paint for her.” — Eugene Delacroix Liberty Leading the People is arguably Delacroix’s most famous work. You have probably seen it on a Coldplay album cover, or in the Louvre if you’ve gone there at some point in your life. It depicts the “July Revolution” of 1830, during which the people of France overthrew Charles X, who had been in power at the time. Delacroix chose to personify Liberty as a woman of the people—robust, bold, fearless, …