Softly Sometimes

Latest Posts

A Blog Birthday: Some Thoughts on Makeup & Beauty

Published by Carina

Hello everyone!

If you couldn’t tell from the title, my beauty blog just turned a year old! 🙂

There have been a lot of changes regarding how I regard makeup, beauty, and accumulation. A lot of the ways in which I think and approach cosmetics and this aspect of beauty in my life has changed. I hope you don’t mind if I share them with you. 🙂

Overall, I have cultivated an awareness that was most definitely not there before. I think that’s natural when you learn more about something over time, but that’s the big glaring difference.

Using shu uemura x Karl Lagerfeld’s Prestigious Bordeaux Palette. LOL.

I am more aware of which types of products work best for my skin tone, skin type, and features. I am more aware of how to actually apply the makeup. (Consider the photos to your left, in which I used the same palette in Nov 2012 & Sept 2013.) I am more aware of what colors suit me better and what things to consider when reviewing and purchasing products. More importantly than all of that, I am more aware of the ingredients in the products I put on my face. I am more aware of the ethical and environmental implications of my own consumption of makeup.

This beauty thing is something that I am strangely passionate about (as a hobbyist) and I had been someone who was so enraptured by the beauty and the possibilities that the products represent. I was carried away by my curiosity, and I really failed to examine the reasons why I want things, often mistaking this strong desire for a need.

Ultimately, I honestly don’t think I need any of these products. I can function properly without them. However, beauty is something that makes me feel good—to participate in, to geek out over, to share with others. I do think that it should be done, not at the expense of others as much as possible, which explains the cruelty-free (or CF) route that I am hoping to undertake and have been more conscious of.

One of the biggest lessons for me is that cruelty-free beauty is possible, and I suppose that is also something that I’ve struggled with. The fact remains that animal cruelty is not necessary to create good quality products. I know that there is legislation that, at times, requires the company to test on animals. However, I do know that it is also possible to say ‘no’ to that, and reject the market that requires this inhumane practice. There have been a number of companies who have courageously pulled out of countries that still rely on animal testing when there are other alternatives available, even at the expense of lower sales.

I still receive some non-CF items from time to time, and occasionally, I will forget to check if an item is cruelty-free. But this shift is a work in progress, so I hope you understand. 🙂

Of course, I can’t forget about you guys, who have been with me on this weird “journey.” It’s incredibly lame to get sappy about things like this (no, it isn’t!), but I just want you guys to know that I am extremely grateful for everything, so far. This experience wouldn’t be half as fun as it is without each and everyone of you. 🙂 I appreciate all of the comments and most of the emails, so thank you again for speaking with me, and not making me feel like a weirdo for liking makeup so much.

Here’s to another year in the beauty blogging world, and I hope you stick around, too. 🙂 I’ll be flying out on a couple of trips later this week, but I have a few posts lined up and I’ll be posting on Instagram. Thanks again for sharing this experience with me.

Love,
Carina

Make That Face: Everyday Look with 3 Lip Options

Published by Carina

I’ve been using the TONYMOLY Backstge Gel Liner on and off for the past few weeks, and I thought of a great way to use it for three different looks that’s “everyday-friendly,” just by changing up the lip color. Obviously, what you wear from day-to-day is up to you, but if you have a strict work environment or something, this is a good and easy makeup look to try. 🙂

EYES: Okay, this look is so easy that calling this a “tutorial” is kind of pointless. So don’t knife me, okay?

Apply LUSH Cream Shadow in Sophisticated all over the lid, blending the color out a little bit past the crease.

Add TONYMOLY Backstage Gel Liner in #11 Diva Gray* to upper lash line. Curl lashes.

AND THAT’S IT FOR THE EYE MAKEUP. I have these two awesome products to thank because they are perfect for lazy people like me who still want to look nice.

Okay, now for the rest of the makeup. I’ll list the products that I used that aren’t lip products.

FACE:
— Verikos Ultra Matte Velvet Primer*
— Graymelin CC Base Cream*

CHEEKS:
— Maybelline Cheeky Glow in Peachy Sweetie*

EYEBROWS:
— K-Palette Real Lasting Eyebrow 24H in 01

And now, for the lip options! Here are 3 awesome routes to use for everyday that aren’t (too) over-the-top and office-inappropriate, in my opinion. Again, fool-proof combinations for lazy people like me.

MLBB: Le Métier de Beauté Moisture Stain Colour Core Lipstick in Bondi Beach

Pretty much cannot go wrong with this option. The lipstick I picked is quite mauve-y, but I do think that it’s an “amped up” version of my lips’ natural pigmentation.

NUDE GLOSS: Le Métier de Beauté Kaleidoscope Lip Kit in Bauhaus (shade: Criterion)
RED: Le Métier de Beauté Hydra Crème Lipstick in Signature

A nude gloss is a pretty obvious, pretty safe choice. I think the shiny gloss adds the amount of complexity that this simple look needs. As for the red—I think it’s quite a bold but still office-appropriate choice.

I hope this post has been helpful. I know it’s a little tricky to match certain parts of your makeup to others. I actually tried a coral/orange-y lip and it was hideous.

Anyway, thanks for reading!

* Items marked were given by companies for editorial consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.

LUSH, Le Métier de Beauté, TONYMOLY, and K-Palette are cruelty-free.

Sephora Birthday Haul

Published by Carina

In my last Makeup No Buy post, I mentioned getting a few things for my birthday. The box arrived yesterday, on Saturday, and I’m fairly excited. 🙂 I only got two sets, but there was a fair amount of samples.

First up is the Urban Decay Ocho Loco 2, which won out over the Vice 2 palette and the Shattered Face Case, just because a) I have too many eyeshadows, and b) I’ve never tried Urban Decay eyeliners before. I know, right? Anyway, I’ve only play-tested them out, but I’m pretty happy about all of the colors, and the quality. 🙂

Next, I got a Best of BECCA Set, which includes a Beach Tint (Grapefruit), Eye Tint (Baroque), and travel-sized Shimmering Skin Perfector (Opal), Resurfacing Primer, and The Ultimate Mascara (Black). I can’t wait to try them out, although Grapefruit is quite similar to Guava, which I already have, and Baroque is super sheer.

I got a few samples, too. Squee! There’s the Benefit Birthday Set, which has sample sizes of Watt’s Up! and the They’re Real mascara. There’s also a YSL Glossy Stain sample card that has 3 colors, a BECCA Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector, a NARS Pro-Prime Pore Refining Primer, and a YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat liquid foundation and YSL Touché Eclat.

I’m pretty excited!

Here’s an out-of-focus photo of the Benefit samples, just because they are SO. CUTE. I hope you enjoyed this haul! I know it’s not much, but as you know, I’m cutting back significantly on the shopping. 🙂 Have a great week!

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram

Le Métier de Beauté Hydra-Crème Lipstick in Signature Red

Published by Carina

Okay, this red lipstick is frakking beautiful, man. No joke. I was a little scared and apprehensive because a) it’s a new formulation from Le Métier de Beauté, and b) it’s a really dark red. Again, with most things, my initial fears and gut instincts were wrong and it was love at first swipe with Signature Red.

Before they announced their new line, LMdB sent this shade out to their Beauty Vault VIP subscribers as a nameless, mystery red sans name and information. The ones being released next month are housed in a silver bullet that looks similar to the housing of the silver kaleidoscopes.

Signature Red is a “matte garnet red,” and is quite blue-based and cool. I’ve read about comparisons to MAC’s Ruby Woo, which I don’t have. (I know, SHOCKER.) It’s quite an easy red to wear, surprisingly. If you didn’t already know, I’m not one for straight up red lipstick, but this one, I loved right away.

The new Hydra-Crème Lipstick formula has reportedly been three years in the making. The formula is so creamy and easy to apply, but it is pretty much a true matte. It is not really drying and doesn’t accentuate dry patches as much as you would think. There is a bit of drag upon application, but to be honest, I think that’s to be expected of matte formulas. There is significant transfer as well.

All in all, I have enjoyed my tube of LMdB’s Hydra-Crème Lipstick. I’m a big fan of the original Moisture Stain Colour Core Lipsticks, so I’m pleased to find out that these are just as good as those. The Hydra-Crème line is due out this month, retailing for $25 each. There are 16 shades in the new line.

Le Métier de Beauté is cruelty-free.

Nosy Beauty Vol. 16: Macy

Published by Carina

Guess what? Macy sent in her answers for this Nosy Beauty feature right after I posted Tellie’s (in which, if you recall, I said I didn’t have any features for the coming week). Talk about a life-saver! 🙂 Thanks, Macy!

I met Macy, as I meet all of my friends apparently, over the Internet. 🙂 We followed each other’s journals, I think as far back as high school for me, and I watched her grow up and forge a successful career for herself. 😀 I finally met her in person a few weeks ago!

Hello, I’m Macy. I work as Candymag.com‘s managing editor and I also bake on the side for Macy’s Fields. I’ve been a citizen of The Internet for as long as I can remember. So in the past 16 years or so, I’ve left a trail of abandoned blogs and websites. So far, I’ve managed to keep updating thebestkindofnice.blogspot.com, where I write about the things I love: food, words, and things I make with my hands.

I don’t usually have a kikay kit in my bag. I prefer to do my makeup at home and I can’t be bothered to touch up anything except maybe my lipstick if I even wear any. My kit is a gift from one of my kabarkadas. It used to house travel size body wash and lotion. It has a matching mirror!

I hate wearing foundation, but I’ve been using CC cream lately. I’m partial to BB and CC creams, because they kind of just absorb into your skin and it doesn’t feel too heavy. I use these four on rotation: Revlon Photoready BB cream in Light Medium, Revlon Absolute Radiance CC Cream, Laura Mercier Foundation Primer (which I got for “free” when I bought Vogue Girl Korea at an airport), and Tony Moly Whipped BB Cream.

For face powder, I have two. I’ve been using Avon’s Simply Pretty (hahaha, I know this is for teens), because I like that it matches my skin whether or not I’m tan. I use this when I use the Revlon BB cream. More recently, I tried using the Revlon Absolute Radiance Foundation in Shell.

I love eye makeup and most of my kit is filled with eye things. I’ve only recently learned to use primer and after finishing my Revlon Photoready primer, I switched to this Makeup Factory one. I have a Dolly Wink eyebrow pencil (although I haven’t been using it since I had my bangs cut) and eyeliner both in brown. My friend Stephie was the one who got me curious about Dolly Wink and all these Japanese and Korean makeup brands. Before Dolly Wink, I was using Etude House’s Proof 10 Auto Pencil in brown.

I got this MAC Kohl Liner from a press kit and I like how it goes on so smoothly. I was always a fan of pencil eyeliners until I tried this Hyperliner one from Maybelline. It’s got the thinnest brush tip so it’s easy to use without ending up with panda eyes! The colored eyeliners (I have a blue and a green one) are for when I want a pop of color but don’t want to use eye shadow.

I use a Shu Uemura eyelash curler, but it’s not in the photo because it’s old and not at all photogenic, haha. For mascara, I’m partial to comb applicators but this Tony Moly Cats Wink Mascara is not bad! I’m finishing it so I can try the Canmake one. The Tony Moly Makeup Eraser is the best thing ever. Sometimes I get a bit of mascara on my lid and just a quick swipe with this pen and it’s gone!

For eye shadow, I only really use the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette now. Also in the photo are two blush trios—one from Revlon and another from Estee Lauder, which is my mom’s (which also means it’s old. Should I stop using it? Hehe).

I have three other blush options: a pink one from Covergirl, a cream blush from Canmake (my current fave!), and an orangey Puff de Cheek from Majolica Majorca.

For the lips, I always have some sort of balm on hand. I really love the smell of this eos one. And I like that the MAC one has SPF (it smells super good!). I like sheer lipstick that you can build on for more color.

My favorites are Revlon Lip Butter in Sugar Plum (which I learned from you, Carina!) and Benefit’s Tutti Cutie (which seems like my MLBB shade even though it’s actually kind of orangey!). I also love stuff you don’t need to reapply like these Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains in Rendezvous and Lovesick.

If I’m feeling a little more bold with lipstick, I’ll go for Maybelline Colorsensational Very Cherry, Tony Moly Kiss Lover Lipstick in RD02 (the only reds that seem to look nice one me), CK Creme Lipstick in Rose Rush, or Max Factor in Bewitching Coral.

These don’t fit in my kikay kit, but just thought I’d put it here too. I use ZA Total Hydration Dewy Moisturizer before putting on makeup. For removing eye makeup, I’m on my second bottle of Muji’s Eye Makeup Remover. Etude House’s Lip and Cheek Remover (hehe) also works. This cute bunny mist is supposedly for setting your makeup, but I almost always never remember.

I’ve always been fascinated by makeup. I remember playing with a palette for kids (glitter! pastel! shimmer!) that my mom got me years ago. I always looked like I timewarped from the ’80s, but I loved putting on eye makeup! Years later, I learned how to use makeup properly when I joined the UP Streetdance Club in college. We had to do our own makeup for shows and competitions, so I slowly learned by trial and error.

These days, I learn a lot by snooping around at shoots when the models are getting made up. I surf beauty blogs and Instalk (er, on Instagram) people whose makeup I like in hopes I get to see some of their beauty secrets. Haha! Also, my officemates give me some of their beauty loot to try (we get a lot of products in the office) and when I like something so much, I’ll end up buying it for myself when it runs out.

•

Thank you so much, Macy, for this week’s Nosy Beauty. 🙂 I hope you guys enjoyed this post. Remember, visit thebestkindofnice.blogspot.com for more Macy!

Nosy Beauty, for the next two weeks, will be special installments. I have busy weekends up ahead so I hope you don’t mind! For more Nosy Beauty to tide you over, click here.

Winging it out: Winged Eyeliner for Weird Fold-y Eyes

Published by Carina

After “Eye Month,” or this blog’s month-long special on eye makeup, I really felt like I had a good grasp of my eye shape and how to work with it. As I’ve detailed in this post, My Ocular Affliction, aside from typical Asian eyes (save for a monolid), I had a weird fold on one eye that didn’t match the other. This made for a difficult time when I want to wear my eyeliner a certain way.

Since then, I’ve figured out how to create a subtle wing without making myself look like an asshole. By starting the eyeliner from the middle of the eye, I can trick people into thinking that my eyeliner is even, even though it’s not:

You can add a little flick on the outer corners by angling the line upward and outward. For more definition (though this will highlight the difference in eye shape), you can also connect this upper line to a line on your lower lash line.

If you were wondering, I used the TONYMOLY Backstage Gel Liner in Dove Gray*. Normally, I would make a wing with a liquid eyeliner. 🙂

Anyway, my tip is basically to start in the middle of the eye, and then kind of concentrate everything on the outer part of your eye.

And because I felt like playing, here’s a look with gold eyeshadow (Urban Decay Half Baked), rosy cheeks (Shiseido Luminizing Satin Face Color RS302), and a red lip (Revlon Liquid Lipstick Top Tomato).

And, that’s it! Thank you for reading, and I hope that was helpful for you!

* This product was provided for free.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

TONYMOLY Backstage Gel Liner in Diva Grey*

Published by Carina

And for my next trick—a gel liner! The Backstage Gel Liner is one of TONYMOLY’s bestselling products, and I can totally see why. It applies smoothly and opaquely, and the liner itself is creamy to the touch. Once it sets, however, it won’t budge.

The color I got was #11 Diva Gray, but they have a lot of color offerings that I am keen to try once I use up a gel liner or two. #11 Diva Gray is a midtone, steely grey with a smattering of glitter. This formula is waterproof and long-wearing—definitely one of the better ones I’ve tried!

It’s a pretty dark-enough color for some definition and a little fun (hello, little wing!) but it’s not as harsh or dark as a black liner would be.

The packaging is a hit-or-miss for me, though I suppose it’s good for travel. While I don’t like the complicated, unbalanced shape (wide at the bottom, super narrow at the top), I do appreciate that the narrow end is a built-in applicator. It’s quite a good one, too. If you recall, I have uneven eye folds, so I use the thicker, flat end of the brush to line my right eye. The thin, skinny side is for the left eye. 🙂 The handle extends a little bit, too, so you can have a better grip of the product.

Another great thing about this product is that it’s affordable while being of great quality, and it’s a very accessible brand. We have TONYMOLY counters and boutiques in Manila, but if live overseas, this cult product is widespread all over eBay. 🙂

Say hello to the bntgirls official badge!

* This product was provided, free of charge, to be reviewed as part of the bntgirls’ first mission.

TONYMOLY is cruelty-free.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram

Softly Sometimes

Makeup Raves from the Unlikeliest

Years

Authors

Filter by Month

Filter by Categories

Filter by Tags

Latest Posts

A Blog Birthday: Some Thoughts on Makeup & Beauty

Make That Face: Everyday Look with 3 Lip Options

Sephora Birthday Haul

Le Métier de Beauté Hydra-Crème Lipstick in Signature Red

Nosy Beauty Vol. 16: Macy

Winging it out: Winged Eyeliner for Weird Fold-y Eyes

TONYMOLY Backstage Gel Liner in Diva Grey*

Latest Posts

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: