Hello everyone! This is a bit early, because I really, really wanted to have my favorites up before I left for Japan! 🙂 Here are a couple of favorites from this month, and I tried to add a couple of non-beauty things in there, too.
For nobody’s benefit. Anyway, here we go!
Beauty
Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette ($50, 20% off)
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I remember my friend Zaxx selling me one of her extra Naked 2 Palettes (she got them for Christmas, I think), and I said I wasn’t interested because The Internet said they were for cool-toned folk.
My lesson in all of this is: Screw the rules! I don’t think I’m cool-toned, and I love this more than the “warmer” Naked Palette. I seriously love every single color in this palette. I’m so tempted to take it with me to Japan, but some of the pans are reportedly a bit loose. I’m sure I can survive a week without this palette. I’m sure of it.
NARS And God Created the Woman Set ($59)
I know you should use “love” sparingly when you are talking about products, but holy hell. This was such a great buy. I’m so glad I listened to my inner “You Need That” monster because she got it on the mark on this one. It’s such a versatile, portable little thing. I kind of want to buy a backup but I don’t want to be a crazy hoarder lady. You people see enough of that on YouTube!
MAC x Archie’s Girls Pearlmatte Powder in Veronica’s Blush (Php 1,725)
This is an all-over the face powder, but I mostly use it as a highlight. Since it’s for use on the entire face, the highlighting effect is subtle, but no less pretty. Veronica’s Blush is a combination of the Play It Proper powder and Frankly Scarlet blush.
bareMinerals All Over Face Color in Warmth (Php 400, pre-loved sale)
Heard about this from Karen. It’s basically a bronzer that literally just warms your face right up in the most natural way.
bareMinerals x Jonathan Adler Original Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15 in Medium Beige & Handy Buki Brush ($60)
I literally could not help myself. I am weak-willed, and this is the full review.
MAC 217 Brush (Php 1,000+)
One of my most favorite brushes. This blends the shit out of everything. You may think “Well, so does this brush,” but nope. All the blending brushes I’ve tried (not that there are very many) are not as good as this one. I know that might be a snooty thing to say, but I only say so because I have looked high and low for dupes and I couldn’t find any that performed as well as this. Using other brushes makes me realize how awesome this brush is.
Urban Decay Primer Potion (free sample)
You know how when people constantly rave about something, you kind of learn to ignore it? Well, let’s just say that I am glad I bought full-sizes of this primer. It’s excellent.
OCC Lip Tar in Lydia ($18)
Such a beautiful Spring-y color! It’s a pretty lilac/mauve with a slight pink tone to it. I do like the lip tars, but they are not the most long-wearing lip colors, which is a shame because they take a bit more effort to apply.
Makeup Store Creme Lipstick in Redwood (Php 1,000+)
Redwood is a beautiful nude pink. This is my first Make Up Store lipstick, and I’m glad I lucked out!
St. Ives Moisturizing Olive Cleanser (Php 249.75)
I’ve been using this for my face, but I recently discovered that it works wonders for my brushes, too! I wanted to deep clean my brushes, because they were feeling a bit dry after I had been spot-cleaning them for about two months. I used J&C brush cleaner, which is good, but tends to dry out the natural brushes. I didn’t have baby shampoo and read that olive oil was good for conditioning brushes, so I tried it and I liked it so much! So, yay.
Non-Beauty Favorites
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
One of my all-time favorite shows. I did my thesis on Buffy, Veronica Mars, and My So-Called Life. My thesis was not very good, but all of those shows are, so if you are looking for new shows to watch, definitely try any of the three.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
I loved Hugo, so I immediately bought the book it was based on when I found it in stores. This is one of the first books I bought in a long-ish time, and it’s pretty amazing. I’m working on a full review and I’ll post it somewhere when it’s done!
The Lizzie Bennet Diaries
The Lizzie Bennet Diaries is a modern-day adaptation of Pride & Prejudice. It’s a fictional vlog account of one Lizzie Bennet, and it is awesome. I thought to add it to this month’s favorites list as it has, sadly, wrapped up.
Watch the series here. Check out the Kickstarter Campaign here, if you want to get a hold of it on DVD.
Starbucks Fox Mug
A Get Well Soon Gift from Sarie! It’s a lovely foxy mug with a tail for a handle! I haven’t deliberately used any other cup since getting it. ❤
Noah!
This little guy is turning 1 on the 31st! We are having a party for him and his siblings, lol.
And that’s it for this month’s favorites! Apologies for any mistakes in the post, or if I’ve forgotten to take some pictures of products. I’m kind of rushing stuff and finishing odds and ends before leaving, so I hope you understand. If you want some Japan updates, follow me on Twitter and Instagram!
I hope you enjoyed and that this helped you, somehow. Thanks for watching or looking.
Softly Sometimes 
Lip Tar! ❤
That lip tar…! ❤ I'm actually going to look into that one.. With IMATS coming up a dear friend was going to smuggle some goodies across the border back to Belgium, and I figured i'd pass up on the lip tars this time. Well.. you changed that. ;D Happy birthday for Noahhhh!! ❤ 😀 Have fun in Japan!! I'd love to go there some day. Some day. ^_^
Did you end up getting lip tars? 🙂 I think they’re good for a really opaque pop of color, or even stains, I just really wish they lasted longer!
He says thank you, and I say you should definitely try and visit Japan as it’s a beautiful country with kind locals and awesome food 😀
I did ask my friend to bring some yeah! ^_^ but they didn’t have all of them by the time she got to the booth. There was a super long row of people, and by the time she got there the most-loved things were sold out LOL.
You’re right about the lasting power, although I think they stay on fine as long as you don’t eat.
But I love food. Speaking of which, I definitely want to visit Japan just to try out the food. >_<
What did you end up getting, if it’s OK to ask? 🙂
I think that would be a worthy trip! Japan is the country with the most Michelin stars. 🙂
Haha then I should definitely go. What’s your favorite meal or snack? And I got Trollop and Strumpet, and then LIT glitteeers 😀 i’ll post a haul soon.
Noah looks like a Muppet puppet!! ❤
I think he secretly is!
cute dog! What breed is he?
where do you buy your beauty products?
He is a Bichon Frise/Yorkie mix. I buy them from all over the place but I haven’t been buying in Manila since I find that they tend to be more expensive here.
I. Have finally decided. To get the Naked Palette 2.
Also, I love ’em OCC Lip Tars for the color, but I agree that they’re so much effort to put on 😦
And the bareMinerals All Over Face Colour is awesome beans indeed! I think they bring in a nice spring-y/summer-y warmth, when paired with the bM luminizer.
Lastly: NOAH IS SO ADORABLE.
DO YOU LOVE IT YET?
Isn’t he, though? ❤
Out of all the things here, would you believe me if I said I envied you the most for having that Starbucks fox mug? I wanted to buy that exact one but when I was supposed to go and buy it, it was nowhere to be found. Nowhere! My boyfriend got the snake mug for me instead. It’s quite cute and all but argh, that fox mug.
Sad! 😦 I immediately regretted it when I decided not to buy it, but my gf knew better and got it for me. Try the Starbucks at Fully Booked High Street because that’s where she got it!
Japan! When I hear Japan, I think of two things, cool weather and cheap-er Shu Uemura products. Oh, I’m morena too and I love my Naked 2. (‘Feel silly that it rhymes)
Ah! Japanese cosmetics are ❤ Sooooooo good. And yay, Naked2! I don't know if I qualify as morena but I'm sure I have a warmer skintone than most. 🙂
I like the Lizzie Bennett Diaries! But I sort of got bored somehow 😦 I blame it on Internet ADD.
Did you watch it as it was happening? I got into it late so I had a lot of episodes to burn through without having to wait days in between.
I can’t believe you like the Lizzie Bennet Diaries too! (Silent reader here. Before this.)
I love love love the NARS palette too ♥
Aww, don’t be a silent reader! I love talking to and meeting people on here. 🙂 Thanks for leaving a comment. ❤