All posts filed under: Miscellaneous

Using Dark Bases on your Eyes

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One of my weaknesses are cream eyeshadows. Most are wonderful as eye primers, though even if there isn’t much of a staying power, the many different colors of the cream shadows make for great bases, which would add subtle differences in the eye makeup. I suppose it’s the same idea behind layering eyeshadows, but sometimes the textural difference can add a little bit more complexity and depth to the look. This, for example, is a look made with the same exact shadows from the Urban Decay Naked Palette placed on top of MAC Paint Pots, a very light neutral cream called Painterly—which many use as their everyday eye base—and a warm deep brown called Constructivist: As you can see, the differences are quite subtle. Constructivist, when applied on the eyes, adds depth and tonal difference in that it makes the eye look warmer and pinker. Not a big difference, I agree, but the application of the cream was quite sheer. A fairly popular option: creamy shadow pencils such as the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil, Milk …

Poreless Perfection: Ellana Minerals Re-Launch

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I went to the Ellana Minerals Re-Launch last week, which was held at Rastro in Burgos Circle. Many thanks to Liz for inviting me. 🙂 I am afflicted with terrible shyness, so I was relieved x 1000 when I was seated next to Tellie, Tina, Shari, Bea, as well as new friend Yuki! Ellana Minerals is a local brand that has recently changed their look. They are re-launching it with packaging featuring Manila’s top lifestyle illustrator, Soleil Ignacio. You may have seen her illustrations grace the likes of Trinoma, Giordano Philippines, and Meg Magazine. See more of Soleil’s work here. Ellana’s new look—and new product offerings—redefines dependable daily wear. She made a total of five illustrations, which makes me want to catch them all. 😀 Ellana Minerals has been around for quite a while, but I never really got around to checking out their products. While I feature “traditional” makeup products here, I absolutely love using mineral makeup from time to time, though I primarily use mineral foundation these days. My Holy Grail foundation is …

Revisited: The Lip Slip by Sara Happ

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I’ve dismissed The Lip Slip by Sara Happ as overhyped once upon a time. I couldn’t bring myself to fully enjoy a $24 lip balm, though to be fair I got it at half the price. Fast forward to today and I am eating my words. This saved my lips. I had an extremely dry spell on my top lip, that felt almost like a film. Nothing helped it—not even Vaseline’s Advanced Lip Therapy, which has often been touted to be the saving grace for lips as dry as the Sahara Desert. The Lip Slip is quite heavy and emollient. I put it on in a last-ditch attempt to bring my lips back to life after obsessive treatment with aforementioned Vaseline in another heavy lip balm. I left it on overnight, just like I used to do when I first got it and when I woke up, it had worked! 🙂 I’m pretty sure it’s cruelty-free, though I’d have to double check. I know that the price tag is a bit hard to swallow but …

Nude Lip Liner: Does it Work?

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I’ve never been one to call lip liners ‘indispensable.’ In fact, I hardly ever use them. It feels a little tedious to me to have to color match your lipstick to a separate liner, doubling your efforts and your makeup inventory. I’m personally not too bothered with super-clean, razor-sharp lip lines, I decided. I stopped buying them after dabbling a little, deeming them quite unnecessary for myself. Lipstick doesn’t really bleed or feather on me, so I failed to see the point. In any case, there has been a theory on lip liners. Just a single nude liner is believed to work on every lip color imaginable. The Smashbox The Nude Lip Pencil comes in several shades of nude (mine is Light) and is marketed as the only lip pencil you will ever need. That’s a fine idea! But does it work? Here is what it looks like, swatched. It’s a pretty close match to my lips’ natural pigmentation, though it’s maybe one or two shades darker and warmer. Here, I’ve lined my lips with …

3 Product Face: An Experiment

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I first saw the 3 Product Face on Shari’s blog, but prior to that, I did a 4 Product Face. I think that we do these challenges to prove to everyone that we CAN SO live with the bare minimum, we just want a bit of fun! Then again, it could just be that so many people right now are in way too much of a hurry. Anyway, this is what I came up with. Initially, I wanted to use eyeshadow or a liner, but I opted for a base instead. As much as I love this Graymelin CC Base Cream*, I think I made a mistake! You’ll see why in a bit. Instead of eyeliner, I opted to use mascara. Everyone yammers on about how that and a bold lip are all you need to look polished so I wanted to test that theory with the Le Métier de Beauté Anamorphic Lash Mascara, which I don’t reach for for volume… but one that I feel most comfortable wearing. Then, for lips, I have MAC’s …

Stash Shopping No. 9 & The Product Directory

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I haven’t done these in a while, but I have been wanting to use some of my “forgotten” products. This week, I will be focusing my attention towards my MAC palette which has 15 eyeshadows and 3 blushes—more than plenty to get me through the week. As for lip colors, I want to use my Tom Ford lipstick in Flamingo, and my Addiction lipsticks, namely Gold Fish, Strong Woman, and Lady of the Lake, all of which need some more love, I think. I’ve also slowly been trying to not be lazy and use up some of my less-loved face primers—The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimiser and y.e.t. Cosmetics Fill It Up Primer. Just because I have way too many primers right now to not be using them. I hate wasting product also, and The Body Shop is on its last legs, so I figured I’d help it out and just use it up already. Anyway, I also wanted to post two short announcements. First, you can still donate towards relief aid for the …

Autumn Blush Picks

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I don’t usually discriminate makeup as seasonal only, but from time to time, I get swept up by the vibe of various holidays that my makeup just follows suit. Here are some blushes that I’ve been tending to reach for lately. L-R: Addiction Cheek Stick (Tea Rose), Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush (Exposed), MAC Extra Dimension Blush (Fiery Impact), NARS Blush (Sin), Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush (Blushing Bride), BECCA Beach Tint (Raspberry), Addiction Cheek Stick (Suspicious) I tend to go neutral (to pair with a vampy lip) or with plums and berries if I want to wear a nude or neutral lip. I’ve been laying off the corals and pinks right now, but I can’t say for sure if that’s due to the seasonal changes. What blushes have you reaching for lately? Is it seasonally inspired? Do share!