I’ve been in quite the beauty rut lately, despite the seemingly endless supply of new makeup products in the mail. New makeup products that I bought with my money… so it’s definitely not an endless supply. It just seems like it is because they’re coming all at once!
Since I was in a beauty rut, this is going to be a short list this month, I think. I also did not go out all that much in January (hermit alert), so I’m really at some sort of loss, I suppose. Nevertheless, here are my January Favorites! There are some great products that I was able to try and use late into the month.
1. Le Métier de Beauté Sheer Brilliance Lip Gloss in Bondi Beach (Review — $32; Nordstrom)
I would say that the biggest “beauty rut” I was in last month concerned lip products! I didn’t know what to use. I got so tired of “dark, berry lips,” and it never felt quite right. I would finish a look and then add a lip color that never seemed to work out. So, I reached for this one quite a lot. It’s a beautiful, healthy-looking nude gloss and I just loved it so much, I would use it for a number of days in a row.
2. Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in La Distinguée ($34 I think; airport)
I did have an “old favorite” in the mix, which is this lipstick by Chanel. La Distinguée is in my most favorite Chanel lipstick formula—Rouge Allure Velvet—and this one is a beautiful nude peachy color that brightens up a face instantly. My tube looks a little worse for wear with chips and such, but I think it’s really just because I like it so much.
3. Snoe Beauty Beso Balm (free from January BDJ Box; Php 149 from Snoe Beauty) *
My favorite lip balm as of late! The Beso Balm has a very tingly minty sensation upon application, which is probably going to be the most “divisive” thing about this product. I personally love it. It’s minty cool and soothing. The balm itself feels a little soft and mushy, which I’m not a fan of but can live with.
The best part about this product, really, is how well it works. It keeps my lips smooth and hydrated. Often, I would have lip balms moisturize my lips fine, but when I woke up the next morning, they would be parched again. The Beso Balm requires two applications for me (once in the day and once at night) and I’m set. I love this so much.
4. Etude House Apricot Stick in 3 or Apple (Php 198; Watsons)
A tinted lip balm-y sort of product that I decided to try out, just because I found the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Stains too expensive here. (Php 575? Really?) It’s a great product to just always have with you because it has a decent moisturizing effect, though it doesn’t all that well. I feel like this would be a great travel companion just because it’s a fuss-free, fairly moisturizing product that brightens up your face with color and is easy to use on the go.
Plus, this shade smells like apples!
5. NARS Blush in Sin (Review — Php 1,450; Rustans)
And, making a comeback in to my life—SIN! Well, the blush at least. It’s a beautiful plummy blush with a golden iridescence that just makes me swoon. It was part of my November favorites, and I momentarily forgot about it when I got more rosy blushes. Ah, I don’t know how to explain how great this blush is, because it just looks like a bruised up, greying grape in the pan. Just try it on and see for yourself.
6. Chanel Joues Contraste in Frivole ($43; Neiman Marcus)
My newest blush acquisition, a corally peach—Frivole! Ah, well, let me tell you. This is a beautiful blush that gives you such a warm radiance. It’s perfect for the Summer, IMHO, even though it was released by Chanel for the Spring. We don’t really have seasons here in Manila—just hot and humid or cold and rainy—so I can pretty much wear whatever without looking off. This is a great everyday blush, though I do have to note that it smells slightly of grandma perfume.
7. bareMinerals Mineral Veil ($20; Bare Escentuals)
I dislike powder compacts. Those have never really gone well with me. I had a mineral finishing powder by Max Factor when I was in college (and trying to look more well-kept haha) but it sparkled, so I did not get so much mileage for that one. However, I do like this product very much. It does a great job of making you look fresh, even though you just speed-walked from the train station to your meeting place.
I am not a fan of the packaging, just because I am terribly, terribly clumsy. But I love the product, and I suppose that’s really what matters always.
8. bareMinerals READY 8.0 Eyeshadow in The September Issue ($32; Bare Escentuals)
My “Be More Adventurous” palette! So far, I have been using Tres Chic and Ensemble the most, but I do plan on “branching” out and using the more daring of these colors. For the record, bareMinerals’ READY line is fricken’ fantastic. Please do check it out if you can.
9. Marionnaud Pointed Eyeshadow Brush (Php 90; Watsons)
And lastly, my newest favorite brush, the Pointed Eyeshadow Brush by Marionnaud! This picks up eyeshadow so well and it’s pretty cheap. The bristles are so soft, and the brush itself does not look cheap. It looks quite similar to the MAC brushes (smooth black handle, silver ferrule) that I have and IDK man, this is such a good brush. I used it to apply the eyeshadows from my Prestigious Bordeaux palette and they applied like a dream.
Look at how much that costs, too. If you’re looking to build your brush collection but can’t bear the thought of dropping $20 or more on higher-end brushes, give this brand a try. You won’t regret it.
Anyway, that’s it! Those are my favorites for January. I hope you enjoyed reading through all of that.
I don’t think I’ll be making any more major purchases until early April, which is when I’ll be going to Japan! Fingers crossed I get a tourist visa. I plan to buy hard-to-get things and explore more brands there, so I’m extremely excited for that trip.
I have a couple of things~ to review as well, so I don’t think this blog is going to die between my makeup diet and Japan. I want to focus more on some series like Made-Up History, too. It’s going to be an awesome challenge, trying to keep this up without hauls and stuff, so I’m a little nervous but more excited than anything.
Thank you for looking! 🙂
Products marked with an asterisk (*) were sponsored.
Softly Sometimes 
Love Chanel Lipsticks and i have Sin by NARS too
Chanel is my first lipstick love, and yay for Sin! 🙂
I’m a huge bareMinerals fan too. Great picks!
– KW
musthaveboxes.com
Nice picks! Oh but pls do try Revlon Just Bitten even if it is a bit pricey for a balm stain, I swear it’s worth every penny! I am in love with it. Hehe. 🙂 The darker shades last longer than the lighter ones. 🙂
Lemme think about it! Any recommendations for shades? 🙂
Honey is a good everyday shade. 🙂
Aw, I can’t seem to find Honey anywhere! I’ll try to look for it. I Googled swatches and you’re right, it’s the one I would love the most. Haha!
Yeah it’s out of stock! I’ve been meaning to buy it because I’m out of it haha. It lasts a looong time talaga and doesnt stain my mugs/cups when I drink. Haha I’m so amazed abt that part :p
Yeah, Revlon’s great with “ColorStay.” Have you tried their liquid lipsticks? Those things don’t budge!!
Ah really, I haven’t! Will do, googling their shades now! 🙂
Ah, I have Supreme Siena, Top Tomato, and Premier Plum (my favorite) 😀 LOL they tend to transfer to the teeth if I don’t “blot” them properly, though. Haha but they’re a good bunch to pick up the next time Revlon goes on sale 😀
I like Premier Plum on you! I think I saw a photo you posted! 🙂 Ooh, I am swinging by Landmark pa naman later…oh noes haha
The pointed eyeshadow brush is such a steal 🙂 The marionnaud powder brush is pretty nice too but their liquid foundation brush isnt that great (streaky).
The Revlon balm stains (but theyre so much cheaper in the states and online) Romantic is a really nice red.
Yeah I heard about their foundation brush being bad! 😦 I tried looking for them online and I got a few shades to try. 🙂
That eyeshadow palette looks delightful! Ugh. Love it!
Also, I’m impressed by how “clean” your makeup products look in all the photos. Once I’ve used my makeup a few times, I can never again get the packaging to look shiny and lovely like new.
Thanks, Danielle! I just use my microfibre pad thing to clean the outsides 😀 I try to take a picture of the pans before I use them and then just accumulate them until I’ve tried the product 🙂
Just bought that brush also! Awesome no? 🙂 I also like that it’s relatively short that I can put it in my make-up bag.
I know! 🙂 It’s fricken cheap pa. I don’t understand hahaha but I’m happy!
Haha. Most of my brushes (that I like) kasi have long handles. Hassle lang dalhin. :))
Ah, I meant I don’t understand how it’s so cheap but so good! Grabe, do you do makeup full-time na? 🙂
LOL okay ako yung di nakaintindi :))) Sadly, no. 😦 I don’t have the time and resources. Haha.
i wouldn’t go outside if i didn’t have to. LOL i’m a lazy hermit. actually i quite like being around people and doing things but i also like to not move, eat and sleep. some people may call me a lizard. LOLOL
LOL I’ve actually been called a log. High five for hermits!
woo! log is way more normal than lizard haha
I love the name of your blog, I think it embodies my blog since i don’t really have a set niche.
Your bare minerals pallette looks so pretty the colours are so gorg.
hope you’re having a lovely day xx Karen
ps: following your awesome blog now 🙂
Aw , thank you so much Karen. 🙂 Following back!