Year: 2012

Makeup Raves from the Unlikeliest Or, Why This Blog Exists

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I have had apprehensions about this descent into makeup madness, especially about actually writing about cosmetics and other girly things. It’s partly because it was a foreign sort of obsession, in that it was far removed from things I usually liked. Also, I didn’t really know all that much about it yet, so I didn’t know if I “deserved” to talk about it like I was an expert. Mainly though, I shied away from the idea because there’s a certain stigma associated with “frivolous” endeavors like this. I suppose things that focus on physicality and vanity, instead of “nobler pursuits” like literature, culture, art or whatever else people think falls in that category. I finally put this blog up less than a month ago because makeup made me happy. That’s the simplest reason there is. It made me happy to talk about it and to share the great and not-so-great things I’ve tried. I liked writing about makeup and discovering new things about it. Since it’s not a conversation staple with people I hang out …

Tips & Tricks: Zap That Zit with Tea Tree Oil!

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I grew up pretty zit-free, so whenever I got the occasional pimple, I just had to wait it out for a bit and it would disappear. As I got older, my face got oilier, and the zits now came in twos and threes. This year, I found the magic solution—a natural spot treatment that was just under my nose all these years! Presenting—The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Oil! Sarie said this got rid of pimples, and I’ve tried it on the first blemish sightings and away they go. Bigger, pus-filled (sorry) pimples are harder to get rid of with this, but it helps dry those out, too. I’ve noticed it’s best used on the beginnings of a pimple and blemishes. Tea tree oil is a byproduct of the distillation of Melaleuca alternifolia leaves, a plant native to Australia. It has had a long aboriginal history of healing wounds and cuts. There are various other uses for tea tree oil, including getting rid of athlete’s foot. Here is a list I got from Care2, on the …

A Tiny Lament: bareMinerals’ Ready 8.0 in The Playlist

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Ever since I swatched a couple of bareMinerals’ Ready 2.0 shadows, I have been increasingly obsessed at looking at swatches and thinking of what to buy next (lol, I know), but holding off until December 15, which is when my makeup ban will be lifted. I think I’ve been pretty good at keeping it, faltering only once for a MAC Paint Pot, and lipstick and gloss from NARS. (My new Revlon sale stash doesn’t count because it was from my mom!) ANYWAY. My obsessive self checked the bareMinerals website again today and the 8-pan palette I was eyeing—bareMinerals Ready 8.0 in The Playlist—was nowhere to be found! Panic-stricken, I found it on Amazon, but with an added $5 for shipping to the US and only 6 stocks left. Why do I want it so much? Introducing an extraordinary limited-edition palette, featuring 8 pure, intense, provocative shades in a glitzy gold case. An innovative new solid mineral technology that delivers spectacular stay-true color with seamless blendability and anti-aging benefits. I had the bright idea of checking …

FOTD + OOTD: Transition

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What I wore to my mom’s exhibit: Shirt from Primark, skinnies from Zara, Clarks Desert Grace, leather bag from a market. Super light FOTD: Mac Paint Pot (Rubenesque), NARS eyeshadow duo (Paramaribo), NARS blush (Orgasm), Karl Lagerfeld for Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Lipstick (Celebrity Beige), Guerlain Météorites (Perles d’Azur). Photos by Sarie Cruz

Drugstore Finds: Fanny Serrano Eyeshadow + a Bonus Blush

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Before I became really interested in makeup, my exposure to it was limited to trips to department stores and The Body Shop. The only brands I knew were drugstore brands, with the exception of some higher end brands like Chanel which ran a bunch of Rouge Coco ads I saw a lot on a trip to Hong Kong. Now, I prefer to buy a little bit more on the expensive side (because of overall quality), but every now and then I find that I can’t say ‘no’ to cheaper brands. My mom’s been a fan of Fanny Serrano’s makeup, especially the eyelash curler which is reportedly a pretty good Shu Uemura dupe. When I was on an eyeshadow kick, during which I bought two quads and a twenty-shade mineral set in one go, I couldn’t help but pick up a few of these. At Php 195 a pop (aka four grams), these are quite a steal. Fanny Serrano Eyeshadow Swatches, L-R: Beach Sand, Honey Glitter, Potter Clay, Mulberry Wine Beach Sand is the first shade …

Sample Stash Sunday: Laneige Multi Cleanser & Lip and Eye Remover

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Sample Stash Sunday is a day in which samples will be given center stage. I always have a bunch of samples that I end up using only once or twice, a waste much to the earth’s dismay. This is an attempt to actually use the products, review them, and maybe discover something great. This week, I’ll be talking about the Multi Cleanser and the Lip and Eye Remover by Laneige. Sarie got 4 samples from a Laneige event, and I’ve so far tried 2 of the 4. Laneige is a Korean brand with a French name (“neige” is “snow”). The Laneige Multi Cleanser is “papain enzymes-based multi cleanser with 4 functions of removing makeup, removing sunscreen, exfoliating, and cleansing.” It offers a mild & thorough cleansing and claims to provide clear and bright skin after everyday use. It’s also suited for all skin types. I normally use Shu Uemura’s cleansing oil, but I stopped using it for about four days for this review. The Laneige Multi Cleanser is opaque with a cream-like consistency and exfoliator …

FOTD: Chilis!

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Today, I just had a meeting with Toff about a project he and I are working on. Kept it simple with the two middle shadows from Shu Uemura’s Prestigious Bordeaux Eye & Cheek Palette (shimmery lilac & light satin brown), a pearly pink Fanny Serrano blush, and NARS sheer lipstick in Vendanges. Put on a little medium brown brow powder from The Body Shop, too. What do you think? 🙂 A funny little tooth is peeking out!