All posts filed under: Reviews

Sample Stash Sunday: NARS Orgasm Illuminator

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When I purchased my first NARS Eyeshadow Trio (Ramatuelle) and my favoritest lipstick (Vendanges), the SA gave me a bunch of samples, one of which was a “re-potted” bit of their Illuminator in Orgasm. I’m a big fan of the blush version, and I shied away from the Multiple pretty much because of intimidation, but I did not even consider the Illuminator until that sample. The NARS Orgasm Illuminator is categorized as a “multi-use” product. NARS claims that it acts as a highlighter, applied all over the face, or mixed with foundation. It is “deceptively sheer” and “decidedly luminous.” Reading that, I feel like it’s something designed to make me glow. NARS Orgasm Illuminator swatches. L: unblended, R: blended Orgasm is a peachy pink with a lot of shimmer. The blush version is practically everyone’s favorite blush, with but a few naysayers who dislike it because of all the shimmer (and the hype, I suppose). When I first saw the Illuminator, I was so intimidated by the glitter. It was so gold, I ended up …

Drugstore Finds: Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter

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Every time I explore the vast world of beauty blogging, I chance upon random things that people seem to always rave about. One such thing is the Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter. (Sidenote: Between purchasing two Revlon Lip Butters and writing this, I have actually encountered another brand of lip butter—Korres! So now, what I’m wondering is who came up with it first? Also, is it a “thing,” like lipstick or lip gloss is a “thing,” or is it a “thing” like NARS Soft Touch Shadow Pencils are a “thing”? Another thing: is lip butters the proper plural form?) Last Sunday, the Revlon counter was on sale, so my sister and I were picking out products. She had been looking for “Pink in the Afternoon,” which is apparently a Hepburn shade from Breakfast at Tiffany’s or something like that. And I was just nosing around and looking for a lip butter because I’d seen someone on YouTube rave about it. Lip Butter is sort of a lipstick balm, an in betweener in the land of tinted …

MLBB Find: NARS Lipstick in Pago Pago

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Ever since I got my first NARS sheer lipstick (Vendanges! ♥) about a year or so ago, I meant to go back for another. It took me a while, huh? I remember learning about Pago Pago from fleurdeforce‘s YouTube video and vowed to look for it the next time I found myself at a NARS counter. NARS Pago Pago is named after the capital of American Samoa. It’s a somewhat frosty coral pink neutral and is part of NARS Sheer Lipstick line. There’s not a lot I can say in terms of pigmentation, but I do think it brightens up my lips in a really great way. NARS describes it as a “shimmering pink,” which is pretty accurate. I bought this without swatching it, because it was the last tube at the NARS counter, where they had no testers for it anymore. It’s not a limited edition shade (it was introduced in the Fall 2011 collection, I believe), so I don’t know why I didn’t just make myself wait for a restock. But, because I …

Drugstore Finds: Fanny Serrano Eyeshadow + a Bonus Blush

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Before I became really interested in makeup, my exposure to it was limited to trips to department stores and The Body Shop. The only brands I knew were drugstore brands, with the exception of some higher end brands like Chanel which ran a bunch of Rouge Coco ads I saw a lot on a trip to Hong Kong. Now, I prefer to buy a little bit more on the expensive side (because of overall quality), but every now and then I find that I can’t say ‘no’ to cheaper brands. My mom’s been a fan of Fanny Serrano’s makeup, especially the eyelash curler which is reportedly a pretty good Shu Uemura dupe. When I was on an eyeshadow kick, during which I bought two quads and a twenty-shade mineral set in one go, I couldn’t help but pick up a few of these. At Php 195 a pop (aka four grams), these are quite a steal. Fanny Serrano Eyeshadow Swatches, L-R: Beach Sand, Honey Glitter, Potter Clay, Mulberry Wine Beach Sand is the first shade …

Sample Stash Sunday: Laneige Multi Cleanser & Lip and Eye Remover

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Sample Stash Sunday is a day in which samples will be given center stage. I always have a bunch of samples that I end up using only once or twice, a waste much to the earth’s dismay. This is an attempt to actually use the products, review them, and maybe discover something great. This week, I’ll be talking about the Multi Cleanser and the Lip and Eye Remover by Laneige. Sarie got 4 samples from a Laneige event, and I’ve so far tried 2 of the 4. Laneige is a Korean brand with a French name (“neige” is “snow”). The Laneige Multi Cleanser is “papain enzymes-based multi cleanser with 4 functions of removing makeup, removing sunscreen, exfoliating, and cleansing.” It offers a mild & thorough cleansing and claims to provide clear and bright skin after everyday use. It’s also suited for all skin types. I normally use Shu Uemura’s cleansing oil, but I stopped using it for about four days for this review. The Laneige Multi Cleanser is opaque with a cream-like consistency and exfoliator …

Karl Lagerfeld for Shu Uemura: Rouge Unlimited Lipstick

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One of my personal favorite Holiday 2012 Collections has been Shu Uemura’s collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld. I’ve reviewed part of my haul already (see: Prestigious Bordeaux Eye and Cheek Palette, Blackish Satin Purple Painting Liner), but now here’s a look at the three out of the four lipsticks I managed to snag. I got Celebrity Beige and Luxe Burgundy, while my beautiful sister Isabel got Mon Shu Red. Before all of the swatches and samples, I think we ought to take a moment to fawn over this limited edition collection’s super cute packaging. Is it annoying if I call it kawaii? Because it totally is. The top half, where the transparent cap goes, has the Shu Uemura logo on its silver body, with a bunch of red dots circling the perimeter. I love Shu Uemura’s transparent caps on lipsticks because it’s very very easy to tell what lipstick you’re reaching for with just one look. As for the bottom half… It’s Mon Shu Girl, the red-eyed wonder! I know some people (namely those who don’t …

MAC Paint Pot in Rubenesque

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For a while now, I’ve been encountering “paint pots” referred to in beauty blogs and videos, and I’ve always wondered what they were. On MAC’s website website, Paint Pots are described as: A highly pigmented eye colour that goes on creamy but dries to an intense, vibrant finish. Long-wearing, colourfast. Creates seamless coverage without weight or caking. Blends smoothly over the lids. Cream-based, can be mixed with M·A·C shadows and liners. I’d been jonesin’ for one of these pots of magic for quite a bit of time, but running into a color called Rubenesque sealed the deal. “Rubenesque” is a term that pertains to Baroque artist, Peter Paul Rubens, though it doesn’t directly refer to him. This is what he looks like: Rather, the term was applied to the ladies he was known to paint: very plump and curvy. These women were considered to be the epitome of beauty at the time. The Three Graces by Peter Paul Rubens Venus at a Mirror If you notice, there is a pinkish tinge to these Rubenesque women’s …