Month: September 2013

Makeup No-Buy Update: Four Month Mark

Published by

We have reached another end of the month of my Makeup No Buy, which is a personal torture challenge that I’ve put myself on to curb my desire for more makeup. This started on May 22 and I’ve been documenting my monthly progress via blog posts. You can track my progress here. This No-Buy is meant to last until December first, but to cut to the chase I have been buying makeup here and there. It’s a small fraction of what I used to buy (and I do mean a tiny, tiny fraction), so it’s no big deal. Here’s what I ended up buying this month: — Flower Cosmetics Color Play Crème Shadows in Orchid-ing Around and Vines of the Times — Flower Cosmetics Kiss Stick in Ginger Lily And, paid for by my dad: — y.e.t. Eyeshadow Sticks in Nude Pink and Bronze — y.e.y. Fill it Up Primer And that’s it. I think that’s pretty good. So far, in the last four months, I purchased: — e.l.f. Liquid Eyeliner — essence Stay All-Day …

Quickie: Urban Decay Primer Potion Original & Sin

Published by

The Urban Decay Primer Potion is perhaps the best eye primer I’ve tried. It’s right above the NARS Pro-Prime Smudgeproof Base (which I can’t get to work on my lids, strangely), the Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer, Benefit’s Lemon Aid (which is great upon application but creases as well), and tons of other eye bases like cream shadows and such. This is just the best, basic one for me. I do like the MAC Paint Pots also, but the ones I have are shimmery, and if I want a neutral base, my go-to is the UDPP. A great thing about this is also its applicator. No doe-foot unsanitariness here! I bought the PP twin pack in Original and Sin from a Friends and Family Sale eons ago, and I realized I haven’t spoken about these wonders yet. The original looks like an opaque pinky cream here, but it blends out into an invisible base. Sin is a beautiful champagne color with a finish that reminds me of LUSH’s Sophisticated. Here, I am wearing UDPP …

Stash Shopping No. 4

Published by

Hello everyone, here’s this week’s edition of Stash Shopping! I accidentally posted the concealer post early (for those of you who saw it—sorry!), but this is actually what I had planned to post today. Like I did with the last S.S. post, I will post photos of some looks throughout the week. P.S. For the past three weeks, I started posting these editions on Tuesdays, now I’m moving them to Monday, so it’s not so confusing. 🙂 Tuesday, Meeting + Book Launch: Chanel Ombres Fleuries (Délicatesse) over LUSH Cream Shadow (Sophisticated). NYX Powder Blush (Raisin) as a contour; Smashbox Whipped Blush (Dusty Rose) as a blush. Maybelline Lipstick (Chestnut), MAC Lipglass (Flight of Fancy) on center of lips + L’Oreal Lucent Magique Liquid Foundation (N5), Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder (Luminous Light), K-Palette Real Lasting Eyeliner, The Body Shop Brow & Liner Kit (02) Wednesday, Brunch: Shiro (Victory Road) + Chanel Ombres Fleuries (Délicatesse, Purple shade) over LUSH Cream Shadow (Sophisticated). Smashbox Whipped Blush (Dusty Rose); Revlon Mineral Blush (Roseberry) over it. Maybelline Lipstick (Chestnut) + …

Drugstore Finds: Flower Beauty Color Play Crème Shadows in Orchid-ing Around and Vine of the Times

Published by

I’ve been eyeing the Flower Beauty line (yes, Drew Barrymore’s makeup collection!) for the longest time, but I finally decided to bite the bullet a couple of weeks ago when I saw some lipstick swatches that looked remarkably like MAC’s Betty Bright. That turned out to be a dud dupe, but a great lipstick by itself. The Color Play Crème Shadows were always high up on my list of things to try, so I bought two of them as well: Orchid-ing Around, a blackened orchid shade, and Vine of the Times, a pretty light green. Both have shimmer in them, though the green looks like a cream. Swatches, L-R: Orchid-ing Around and Vine of the Times First up is Orchid-ing Around. Although it probably looks scarier, it’s actually the “safer choice,” since it’s close to being a black. As mentioned, it is a blackened orchid with quite a bit of glitter/shimmer, though it’s not anything chunky. I thought this would be an interesting base color to layer some lighter shades on top of. These cream …

Sample Stash Sunday: Decanting my Shiro Samples

Published by

If you’ve purchased from Shiro Cosmetics before, you’d know that they send candy and sometimes, sample baggies out with your order. I’ve had these for a while, but have never gotten around to transferring them into little pots until recently. I thought it would be a messy affair, but it was quite easy and fuss-free. I’d write up a tutorial, but you just literally pour out the contents into a small container (like this mini pot or an old contact lens case) and that’s that. For easier cleanup, do this with a paper towel over your desk. Shiro also seals each baggie with a circular sticker of the eyeshadow name, with ingredients and an indication of whether or not the shade is lip-safe. A+! I don’t have a lot of containers, so I’ve only decanted three eyeshadows so far. From L-R, we have Everything is Bears, which was a Color of the Month, Victory Road, and Badger. I bought all the shades except Victory Road. Everything is Bears is a “Rich, dark brown packed with …

Nosy Beauty Vol. 10: Regina

Published by

Can you believe I’ve bugged ten people for this already? Time flies so fast when you are a creeper! For this week’s installment of Nosy Beauty—an excuse to nose around people’s belongings—we have Regina Belmonte, who is the associate beauty editor for Cosmopolitan Philippines, and a lifestyle/beauty columnist for the Philippine Star. As what usually happens with my friendships, I met Reggie online and then met her for real in college, as we were part of the same org. I truly think she is one of the most beautiful people, with such a unique face. She told me to feel free to edit her since she tends to ramble about makeup, but you know me: I’m totally all for that. I bolded general statements and things I generally agree with (lol), but the words after the next photo are all her own. Check out what’s in her bag!

Top Five Eyeshadow Brands (Cruelty-Free)

Published by

I’m a big eyeshadow fiend, which I think is pretty obvious by now. Here are some of my favorite cruelty-free eyeshadow brands, in case you want to start wearing eyeshadow also, but don’t know where to start. Please note that by cruelty-free, I mean brands that do not themselves test their products and ingredients on animals. For that reason, I have included cruelty-free brands that are owned by parent companies who test. I will state which ones are owned by whom. 1. Le Métier de Beauté Le Métier de Beauté is a beautiful brand from New York City. They make small quantities of their exquisite inventions, which makes me want to buy them ASAP. One thing I have a hard time saying ‘no’ to is their limited edition Kaleidoscope Eye Kits ($95), four-tiered eyeshadow palettes that are especially designed to be layered on. Sometimes, the pigmentation of these shadows leave a lot to be desired, but they blend like a dream. I never really understood how “blendability” can affect how much you love an eyeshadow …