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ILIA Beauty - Multi-Stick, Tinted Lip Conditioner, Lipstick, Mascara, Lip Crayon

ILIA Roundup

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ILIA Beauty, a “green beauty” brand, has steadily become one of my favorites these past few months. After first trying out the Multi-Stick and the mascara, I have somehow accumulated five of their tinted lip conditioners, three lipsticks, and a lip crayon. I don’t know how that happened either.

ILIA Roundup - Femme Fatale, Funnel of Love, Ink Pot, Bang Bang, Blossomy Lady, Crimson and Clover, Dizzy, Shell Shock, Dress Me Up, All of Me, Shadow of a Doubt

Because I purchased them so quickly, I don’t think I have been able to really speak about them, besides the standard “I like ’em!” This isn’t really going to be a full-length review on every single one of them (mostly because I’m not in the mood to wax poetic), rather a sort of overview of each of the items I have managed to try. Read More

Ellis Faas Skin Veil* & Concealer*

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While I was away on holiday, I received two base products from Ellis Faas. Previously, I’d tried three of their Hot Lips* and loved them (review) so I was pretty keen on trying their bases, too.

Ellis Faas - Skin Veil, Concealer

First up is the Skin Veil*, a liquid foundation. It has active ingredients such as Vitamin E and a special selection of natural minerals, and is suited for all skin types. There is no scent, parabens, or animal testing. (!)

Product description: “With an exceptional balance of high-quality ingredients, Skin Veil glides on in a thin layer, blending into the skin. A foundation that illuminates the skin without feeling or appearing like a mask.

To achieve a porcelain, even skintone. Skin Veil minerals diffuse light across the skin’s surface, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. ELLIS FAAS foundation incorporates moisturising ingredients which nourish and protect the skin.”

The texture is quite dense and not runny, though it is very easy to distribute all over the face and blends in beautifully. The recommended method is to apply Skin Veil on the T-zone and spread it outwards, resulting in a natural-looking coverage. A second layer may be added to build up coverage, too.

The Skin Veil comes in a frosted glass bottle (1.014 fl. oz.), but it also comes in the signature pen housing that Ellis Faas products typically come in, (.237 fl. oz. with a refill). I somehow feel like the glass bottle is the better packaging for liquid foundation, but that’s just me. The pen is pretty handy to bring around, however. Read More

5 Things Friday: YouTubers

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For this week’s 5 Things Friday, I have a list of some of the people I think you guys might like to check out. Some are pretty popular, but nowhere near the levels of Estée, Ingrid, Anna, et al. I was going to include some bloggers I’d been enjoying recently, too, but I thought it was better to go with videos for now, just because it might be a bit of an overload. Anyway, I hope you enjoy!

Karima McKimmie
I found Karima McKimmie (or Shameless Fripperies) through a tutorial for the SUQQU Sumiredama quad, which I linked below, and have been hooked ever since. Her looks are beautiful and elegant—she calls them “conceptual”—and she favors luxury brands and her makeup taste is on the pricier, hard-to-find side. I love all her looks and her face is stunning! Subscribe

Lustrelux
I’m not even sure how I found Katy, but I really enjoy watching her videos. Her type of makeup is a little bit more heavy-handed and adventurous than what I would normally wear, but they’re fun to watch as she’s pretty silly but also informative. Subscribe

EppColine
OK, so here’s the kicker: I don’t understand any of her videos. That’s because Coline is French. I found her when I was looking for video reviews for Kjaer Weis, and I was pretty much hooked. (I studied a bit of French in college… so I understand very, very little.) Her style is cool & effortless and I WANT TO BE HER. Subscribe

tadelesmith
OK, so. LOL. Taylor doesn’t technically make “beauty videos,” but her tutorials—”Friendzone Tutorial” or “Feminist Makeup Tutorial”—are hilarious. “Then, using the ashes of the bridge you’re burning, create an elongated cat eye shape that follows the natural contours of your eye.” They’re pretty useful, too, to be honest. Subscribe

Makeup TIA
Ashley’s videos are well-edited, thorough, and informative. Her style and demeanor is really, really mellow, but I like her taste for everyday, work-appropriate makeup, with a mix of high-end, drugstore, and natural/green products. Subscribe

What beauty channels have you been enjoying lately?

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FOTD: Boyish

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I know, I know: this is the most boring Face of the Day in all the land. The thing is… I kind of really like it? I really like the base, at least. Here’s what I did:

EllisFaas - Skin Veil, Concealer - Face

Skin Care: Indie Lee Squalane Oil, La Roche-Posay Redermic R Eye Corrector

Base: Le Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Complexe (Shade 2), Ellis Faas Skin Veil (S103L)*, Ellis Faas Concealer (S204)*, Le Métier de Beauté Eye Brightening and Setting Powder (Refresh), Le Métier de Beauté Anti-Aging Pressed Powder (Shade 2)

Cheeks: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder (Radiant Light), Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush (Mood Exposure), MAC High-Light Powder (Crew)

FOTD-Boyish

Eyes: K-Palette 24H Real Lasting 2-Way Eyebrow (G101)*, Urban Decay Primer Potion, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil (Roach), Rimmel ScandalEyes Kohl (Nude), Le Métier de Beauté eyeshadows (Naked, Tamarack, Corinthian, Noir), Le Métier de Beauté Anamorphic Lash Mascara (Midnight Blue)

Lips: Chanel Rouge Coco Shine (Boy)

I know I’ve spoken about Chanel’s Boy a lot in the past, but I don’t think I’ve created a post to show just how pretty it really is. Boy is part of the Rouge Coco Shine range and is quite shiny… it almost looks wet! I really dig it. It reminds me of the juicy finish of most Japanese lipsticks. I haven’t worn this in a while, distracted by all my hoarding the new lipsticks, and I was happy to break it out once again. It really is a great everyday, low-maintenance lipstick.

And to end this post, a photo of my currently, very flippy hair:
FOTD-Boyish2

Any ideas on how to tame it? I’ve been thinking of growing it out to Karlie Kloss length (I refuse to call it the “l” word…) to see how I like it, but it’s taking so long, lol.

On another note, shortly after this is published, I shall be en route to Korea! I know, crazy, right? If you want to keep up to date with my Seoul Shenanigans, please feel free to follow my Instagram: @presidents. I welcome any and all suggestions for stuff to do, places to see, things to eat, and crap to buy!

* PR Sample

New on my Radar: Beauty MNL

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NOTE: I was going to post this later during the week, but they have a 20% off your first purchase promo (if you register) until November 8, so I thought to let you guys know sooner.

OK, so this isn’t technically new, but Beauty MNL is an off-shoot site of Taste Central, a retail website here in the Philippines that’s partnered with Deal Grocer. Beauty MNL is where they basically re-stationed all of their beauty and style items.

I’ve shopped quite a bit before at Taste Central, getting everything from Truffle Oil to my first Aesop purchase, and I thought I’d give a poke around the site to see what they had. They have such a great range of products, but understandably, I didn’t really need anything in particular, so I settled for something I’d actually been meaning to get (a konjac sponge) and cheap things I’d been wanting to try (Red Cherry Lashes; I like #747S on me, and #43 IS SO FREAKING HILARIOUS).

Shipping within Metro Manila is about Php 50 or a little over $1, and it is quick. The items came in the little Beauty MNL Ziploc-type bag.

They also have a little section called Meet the Gurus, which is a magazine of sorts.

My main problem is the markup on some of the already high-priced items, and the lack of variety in some brands. I do understand that the overhead of bringing in some items might be too much, so I’m not too torn up about it, but let’s just say I’m not going to drop Php 4,685 on Suqqu for a brow kit. GIVE ME THE EYESHADOWS.

I do like that they stock brands like MAC and NARS because it makes it easier to buy some essentials like Tinted Moisturizer or Foundation when you run out, instead of having to go to the store.

All in all, I’m pretty happy with my purchase and I’m extremely happy this exists. This is probably the local online store that stocks my favorite range of brands. I like places like Make Up Pro, but I can’t get over the fact that I have to go to the bank to deposit my payment. I’m a huge fan of automated payments.

Anyway, have you tried Beauty MNL?

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Unboxing: Le Métier de Beauté Beauty Vault VIP September and October 2014

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I’ve been running behind on unboxing posts for the Le Métier de Beauté Beauty Vault VIP, a monthly subscription box for the brand. (Not that anyone looks forward to these, amirite?) They are on their second year of the program, and I’ve got to admit that it just keeps getting better!

For a subscription program that requires subscribers to pay upfront for the entire year, expectations are understandably high. Luckily, we’ve been getting awesome products (see other unboxing posts here), the only hitch being their sometimes slow and inadequate responses to customer service queries.

For September, the second month of the sub as shipments start getting mailed out in August, the product is the Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Complexe, a tinted base that provides “sheer natural-looking coverage for instant smoothing and perfecting.” It can be used as a standalone (very sheer!) foundation or as a luminous base under other foundations. Read More

Preview: new in the mail

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Occasionally, I’m lucky enough to receive some products from companies to try and test out for you guys. (And for me, too. Hehe.) This is a selection of the items I got in the mail since arriving back home, a.k.a. my backlog. I’ll be hopefully reviewing some of them in the days to come. 🙂 So, this is kind of a haul, but I hate it when people include gifts or PR samples in their “hauls,” so this isn’t technically a haul. You know what I mean.

Too Cool for School

From the always-fun Korean brand, Too Cool for School, I received 3 of their new bestsellers: the Kiss Time Ice Beam (a moisturizing lip gloss with a “dual jelly system” that ensures vivid color expressions and gives the illusion of a lipstick, Php 435), the Max in Pocket (pocket-sized lip balm for always vital and moist lips, Php 605), and the Smoky Nude Lip (a soft nude lipstick to show off dark smoky makeup, Php 715).

They have a new kiosk at SM Megamall Fashion Hall, so be sure to visit them. You can also go online at toocoolforschool.com.ph. Read More