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Brows

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Brows 2

Brows

I think I’ve already expressed my brow frustration many times on this blog. When I try extra hard, I usually overdo them, resulting in a not-so-attractive troll face. I have a naturally unfriendly face, and if I sketch my brows into a perma-furrow, then people will really think I’m out to eat them.

I’ve always preferred to keep them natural (I don’t outline and fill in), and my current arsenal of an old favorite—a brow marker, but in a different shade—and brow powder is what gets the job done. I use the K-Palette Real Lasting Eyebrow 24H in 02 instead of 01 and The Body Shop Brow & Liner Kit in 02 together. I find that the wetness of the marker helps keep the powder in its place.

I roughly sketch out additional hairs on my brows then fill most of the shape in with light strokes of the powder (I use a MAC 266!). Sometimes, I’ll use a clear mascara, but most of the time, it’s just these two.

How do you do your brows?

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One Week NARSissist: 5 Looks

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Reviving my “One Week Series,” which I have done only twice before, using the Urban Decay Naked and Urban Decay Naked 2 palettes. In case it isn’t obvious yet, I will use an eyeshadow palette for five days, and the looks that I come up with will be cataloged here. I used to post them on five different days, but I thought that for this round, I’ll just post the looks all in one spot.

I’ve picked out the NARS NARSissist Eyeshadow Palette, which I’ve reviewed here. While I love it, part of me is also ambivalent towards it. Using it for five consecutive looks will allow me to form a more educated opinion about it, I guess. Shari has reviewed it a week ago and was not impressed.

I think this is a perfect palette for the series, though, as majority of the shades in this palette are part of NARS’ permanent offerings. If you miss out on the palette or don’t like the reviews but you see a look you’d like to recreate, the shades will be available. 🙂 Read More

Unboxing: Le Métier de Beauté Beauty Vault VIP April 2014

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Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Pressed Powder in Shade 2 - Open

The April Box for the Le Métier de Beauté Beauty Vault contained only one product—one of their newest releases, the Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Pressed Powder. I think they sent out Shade 2 for everyone. This retails for $75, while the monthly box costs about $29.

“Let’s smooth things over. Introducing a technological breakthrough in anti-aging face products, this luxuriously soft, natural-looking treatment powder seamlessly covers visible imperfections while working below the surface to enhance and improve the skin long term. Key ingredients Vital ET™, a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, and Sodium Hyaluronate, a major contributor to greater skin hydration, penetrate deeper and result in more pronounced skin improvement due to our proprietary delivery system, TPM®.

A weightless powder so silky smooth it feels almost like a cream at first touch, this formula is easily blendable and will not settle into fine lines or wrinkles. Available in 3 universally flattering shades. Ideal for all skin types; paraben free.

How to Use: Apply with a brush for sheer coverage, or with a sponge for heavier application.

Key Ingredients
— Sodium Hyaluronate: increases skin hydration
Nylon-12: works to resist settling into fine lines, provides a soft-focus effect
— TPM®: powerfully efficient delivery system for key ingredients
— Vital ET™: a bio-functional form of Vitamin E, increases elasticity and delivers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits

LMdB beauty Vault Vip April - Note
Each box has a handwritten note, pertaining to the contents of the box! Read More

Spring

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Spring Picks

Happy Easter/Resurrection Sunday/420! You know, whatever you celebrate.

I’m switching up my makeup for Spring (even though it’s decidedly summer over here), and I can’t help but reach for my pastels. It’s not that I look particularly good in them—on the contrary, some pastels can turn me quite ashy—but I just can’t help it. I feel fluttery!

A quad that I’ve looked over the past few months is this Chanel Fleuries Ombres in Délicatesse. It was a spring release last year and great to use for brightening up the eyes! For the cheeks, I have a new-ish spring offering from NARS, a powder blush called Final Cut. And for the lips, I’ve got two perfect candidates—the Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tars in Lydia, an orchid, and Annika a pale pinky peach.

What are some of your spring makeup picks?

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Weekend Spa Session: Dermal Collagen Essence Masks*

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Dermal Masks

Late last month, I received a package from Barbi Chan (!), makeup artist and editor of BDJ Box’s Beauty Ministry. You can learn more about her here. (She has a lot of helpful beauty tips.)

Inside the package were 5 of the 29 “flavors” of the Dermal Collagen Essence Masks*, which have been awarded as the best facial mask in Korea. The masks are specially formulated with high quality ingredients that penetrate the skin effectively to deliver essential nutrients. The 29 different flavors moisturize, clarify, regenerate, brighten, and firm according to what your skin needs.

All flavors contain collagen and Vitamin E, which are both widely known as beneficial to the skin. The essence is a no-rinse formula. You can tissue it off before applying your makeup, or massage the remaining essence into your face before following up with your usual night cream. Using it before makeup application preps the skin. You can also use them cold (leave unopened mask in the fridge) to de-stress your skin or warm (soak unopened mask in hot water) to encourage circulation.

I’m a mask nut, and I was pleased to note that the essence of each mask is just right, in terms of amount. Often, I have to deal with spillage when tearing open a new packet. The mask stays in place, too, so you can go about your day without worrying about the mask slipping off your face if you so much as move.

I used the Gold mask before makeup application, spraying a fine mist of the Avène Thermal Spring Water before wiping off the extra essence left behind by the mask. My skin was noticeably hydrated and cool. My pores seemed to have tamed (not completely reduced, of course, but less noticeable). In the recent heat, this is a welcome added step to my pre-makeup routine.

Each mask retails for Php 70. Dermal Collagen Essence Masks are available at select Beauty Bar outlets:
— Trinoma
— Mall of Asia
— Alabang Town Center
— Lucky Chinatown
— Eastwood
— Greenbelt 5
— Gloerietta
— Rockwell
— Magnolia
— Midtown

* PR Sample. You can follow them on Instagram at @dermalkoreaph or follow the hashtags: #dermalph or #dermalphilippines. They’re on Facebook, too: Dermal Facial Mask Philippines.

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MUJI Bits I picked up last month

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MUJI bits

The MUJI beauty corner is a place I’ve always wanted to explore but never quite did. I was under the impression that they are cruelty-free, but when I went to Google and double-check, I couldn’t find my source anymore and the top hit was my blog. As such, I’ve decided to revamp my cruelty-free beauty page (it’s in the works!) and reassess my values when it comes to consumption.

I just wanted to quickly share some bits I picked up from MUJI, though. I’m not sure if they’re CF—they have a whole issue of selling shark fin soup (???) which I do not support—so please keep that in mind when reading through this post.

Because of SPF paranoia, I got myself a UV Makeup Base, which has SPF 28 PA++. That’s pretty much all I understand from the packaging, but I tested its color and it seems to be a decent match. I also got two of these Medicated Lip Creams, which were pretty cheap (around ¥ 200ish) and have SPF 12. For lip products, I grabbed this twist-up lip tint (dark pink), which offers SPF 13 PA++, and this refillable lipstick (A53) which actually feels pretty good on the lips. I surprisingly like the latter one tons better, which is kind of annoying because it’s the one that doesn’t have SPF.

To be honest, I have mixed feelings about this post. While everything I picked up was pretty great, I really, truly thought that MUJI’s beauty stuff was cruelty-free. Now, I’m conflicted! Anyway, now you know. In the full interest of keeping things transparent here and whatnot.

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Some Pixy Picks*

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Not too long ago, BDJ Box released a Pixy exclusive and it was chock-full of Pixy products. Pixy—with a 'y'—is a new Indonesian brand that's set to grace Philippine drugstores soon. It is fairly cheap, so I was obviously curious about the quality of these products.

I was sent these items, from the box, so I thought I would do a short review on some of the items. Maybe this could be a guide to the products, in case you wanted to pick any of them up when they are finally unleashed to the beauty masses.

First up, which I know y'all want to know about are… the lipsticks! I got three, each in a different finish: satin, semi-matte, and matte:

BDJ Box - April - Pixy - Lipstick Swatches

To be honest, the matte was not very matte. As you can see from the swatches, it still has a strong sheen to it. My favorite finish was the satin, followed by the matte. The semi-matte was okay, but not the best. Also, I think that the color (which I don't think suits me) didn't help its case. Sorry, semi-matte.

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