All posts filed under: FOTD

FOTD: Gold-Aubergine Gradient & a Nude Lip

Hello everyone! I just thought I’d write about today’s look, just because I worked with mostly cream shadows today and that’s a first for me. 🙂 I also dug up one of my first and favorite lipsticks—MAC’s Jubilee. This is just a simple look I wore to lunch with my sister Isabel, and Sarie. My base consists of Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Liquid Foundation in Cheers to Me Champagne and bareMinerals Mineral Veil. Part of me wishes I got the Mineral Veil with SPF, so I can go out without foundation but still look polished. Ah, well. For the eyes, I patted on MAC Paint Pot in Rubenesque all over the lid. On the outer v and outer half of the crease, I applied Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner in Stiletto. To deepen said crease, I put on a little bit of Sexy from theBalm Nude ‘Tude Palette, and then I blended out any remaining harsh edges. I lined my eyes (pretty shoddily) with K-Palette 24H Real Lasting Eyeliner and did my brows using The …

Today’s Face c/o the Drugstore

I get a lot of requests to feature drugstore makeup on this blog. The reason why I haven’t been doing so is that I don’t use a ton of drugstore makeup, because it’s twice the price I would get it for in the States. I would rather buy something a little bit more expensive but higher end than spend my money on drugstore makeup that I don’t feel like I’ll get much use out of. After all, I buy 95% of the stuff on here. I’ve only received a box from BDJ Box and a Candy Cane Chapstick. There’s nothing wrong with drugstore makeup, but considering the Manila price point, I’d rather pay a little bit more for “better quality” makeup. Phew. Obviously, not all drugstore makeup is a waste of money. I was proven that point when I picked up the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains (review) and ended up loving them to bits. Today, I decided to use just drugstore products for my “color” makeup. I used Benefit’s Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow …

Faces of the Week: February 4-10, 2013

A catalog of looks for the past week. For my own reference, but I hope it may be of some use to someone out there. I decided to do this this week because it’s a rarity that I find myself out of the house—all 7 days of the week at that. I think it would be tons more interesting to see seven looks than a measly three or four. 🙂 MONDAY Meant to do some errands, which were thwarted because school offices were closed for President’s Day. Say hello to my unruly brows! Face: Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Liquid Foundation (Cheers to me, Champagne), bareMinerals Mineral Veil, K-Palette Kuma 0 Cover Control Concealer (02 Yellow Beige) Eyes: Benefit Lemon Aid, bareMinerals READY 8.0 (The September Issue: Tres Chic for lid wash, Couture for outer corner, crease, & lower lashline, Gliteratti for middle of lid and inner corner), The Body Shop Brow and Liner Kit (02) Cheeks: Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush (Natural Beauty) Lips: Chanel Rouge Allure (Captivante) TUESDAY Light, fuss-free makeup for a food …

Pinky Up with bareMinerals’ READY 8.0 eyeshadow in The Cocktail Hour

So, for my first bareMinerals haul, I got two of the eight-pan palettes from their READY line. I reviewed the first one I got (The September Issue) already, pretty extensively, over here. The other one I got (The Cocktail Hour) I wasn’t even eyeing, but the sale price was just too much to resist. At $17, down from $40, I get eight top-notch shadows in colors that–let’s face it—are actually more me. The palette comes with a full-sized mirror and a double ended brush. The colors are: Black Tie Optional — a matte grey black Icebreaker — a cool frosty pink nude with a bit of shimmer Swanky — a shimmery midtone plum with warm red undertones Spiked — a frosty pinky peach coral Elixir — a frosty pinky lavender Invite Only — a frosty metallic taupe with olive undertones Libation — a warm champagne with somewhat frosty finish with reflective shimmer Shaken Not Stirred — a deep navy with a matte finish and blue shimmers I love the story that this palette tells. To …

Playlist: Emerald 2013

Before the year ended, Pantone announced the color for the coming new year, 2013: Emerald Green! I decided to make an eye look based on this serpentine selection. You should know that I am still pretty reserved when it comes to playing with colors, so this will be a lot more subdued than the actual color. Plus, I don’t own a true emerald shade (yet) so the eye look will be a concoction of greens I have lying around, which lean more towards olive. The emerald is May’s birthsone and the mystery and history that surrounds it is mysterious and alluring. Cleopatra was known to drape herself with emeralds.Though rubies are the most obvious choice for symbolizing passionate love, emeralds offers a complexity of emotions and meanings that are perfect for a long and steadfast relationship. “Another reason that the emerald has come to symbolize a more mature love can be traced to Hindu culture. Emerald green is the color that is used to align the heart chakra, or energy point, allowing feelings of love …

Made-Up History: Untitled (Violet, Black, Orange, Yellow on White and Red)

I initially planned to do this series, Made-Up History, at least once a week. For a total of 52 looks and works of art by the time this beauty blog turned a year old. Funny how things turned out. For this installment, I want to base a look off of a work by Mark Rothko. Mark Rothko is an American artist whose abstract expressionist works—a label that he rejected—shot to fame when Modern Art gained popularity after the Second World War. I’m sure you’ve seen his works! The most famous are typically blocks of color that almost touch or sometimes run into each other. People’s reactions to the paintings are often, “I could do that,” but I will tell you now that “No, you could not.” There is a rare quality of rawness and honesty present in Rothko’s work. It is inimitable because it’s the outpouring of his soul. One of my favorite quotes by Rothko is from an interview with Will Gompertz by Interview Magazine: Somebody said to [Rothko], “Why do you paint these …

FOTD: Happy 2013!

I welcomed the new year (hello, 2013!) with this face! I was going to do an emerald eye look, but decided to keep the green on my clothes. We had our annual family portrait for my dad’s side of the family and this is the look I wore. I was planning on switching it up before 12 struck, but then I got lazy so this is technically my first look of 2013. I don’t think it’s so bad! Cheek’s flush courtesy of Shiseido Luminizing Satin Face Color (RS302/Tea Rose) with a bit of attempted (!) contouring with Physician’s Formula Healthy Wear Bronzer (Tan), which obviously wasn’t a noticeable step. Highlights (bridge of nose, cheekbones, brow bone, upper brow, chin) made with Benefit Watt’s Up! and nose slight contouring done with the lighter shade of The Body Shop Brow and Liner Kit (02). Say hello to Guerlain Rouge G L’Extrait (Gourmandise) on my lips! Say hello to this awkward close-up photo of my face. All the better to see the makeup with! As usual, brows and …