All posts tagged: cosmetics

Feelin’ Fancy

I’m not really that fussy or picky with my things—usually—but I do recognize the power that something fancy holds. When I put on something just a little fancier than my normal wares, I feel my mood perk up a little bit. Call it superficial, but it’s the truth! (Perhaps I am just a superficial person? Cue another existential crisis for Carina.) I don’t really rely on much makeup for pick-me-ups, though I do have to hand it to Guerlain Rouge G L’Extrait in Orgueil for making me feel like the HBIC and not a tiny, awkward mouse. I also feel a little bit better about myself when I pull out the Dior Addict Lip Glow to moisturize my lips, which was given to me by Laala from our swap! Recently, I’ve taken it upon myself to spritz on some perfume, something I used to do a lot in high school, but have outgrown now that I’m actually at an age when perfuming yourself is the norm. For extra fancy fumes, I use Diptyque’s Vetyverio. Normally, …

FOTD: A Failed Minimalist

I was going for another 5 Product Face… but things got out of hand. I wore this to an IMAX screening of Guardians of the Galaxy (dying so much) and I thought it looked cute. Oh, bee tee dubs, I cut my hair again. The next time you see me, I’ll greet you as a baldy. Half-kidding. Face: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (Ginger), Le Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Pressed Powder (Shade 2) Cheeks: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush (Diffused Heat) Lips: Maybelline PinkAlert By ColorSensational (POW2)* Eyes: K-Palette 24H Real Lasting 2-Way Eyebrow Liner (G101)*, MAC Paint Pot (Groundwork), Makeup Geek Eyeshadows: Unexpected in the crease, extending past the outer corner, Cinderella and Bleached Blonde all over the lid, Mocha and Twilight in the outer ‘v’, Rockstar on the inner corner; KATE Super Sharp Liquid Liner (Black) And that’s that! I hope you guys like this look. 🙂 Tellie asked me about my “eyeshadow diagram,” so I’m working on that… probably to be posted later this week or early next week. I’ll keep you …

Just Sheer with Kjaer Weis Cream Foundation

For months, I hemmed and hawed, thinking about whether or not I’d spring for this $68 foundation. Yes, $68. It’s kind of ridiculous—jk, it’s really ridiculous—but I’m kind of ridiculous, so there’s that. I have a few face bases already, but I wanted to try out Kjaer Weis because it’s pretty known in the green beauty world (and otherwise). The reason for the hefty price tag is the hefty compact, I’m guessing. All the Kjaer Weis products come in a “Refillable Make-Up System” that feature really heavy cases that remind me of my Guerlain Rouge G lipsticks and refillable compacts. In theory, there’s less waste and you can elect to go case-less if you really want to go minimal. There’s a refreshingly short list of ingredients for this cream foundation: Sweet Almond Seed Oil, Capylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coconut Oil, Corn Starch, Cera Alba, Carnauba Wax, Jojoba Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Diiososterate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Mica, Titanium Diocide, and some iron oxides for the pigment. It’s certified organic, too! The texture of this foundation is fairly light for a …

Unboxing: BDJ Box July 2014* & Some Thoughts on “Value”

On the last day of July, BDJ sent me the month’s box, which may explain why this is late. BDJ is one of the top subscription boxes in the Philippines, if you’re not familiar, and it only costs Php 580 (or a little over $13) each month. Here’s what’s inside the BDJ July 2014 Box*: To be honest, I was contemplating on not posting about this box because I didn’t really find it too exciting. Thought I’ve been sent these boxes for a few months (maybe even a year now), I was never required to write these posts. I usually find BDJ boxes to be quite OK, if not great… Good enough to post about anyway. BDJ has built a reputation for itself as a kind of reliable subscription box with thoughtful picks for boxes. This box was so dull to me that I didn’t even want to post about them, but going through each item, I had a thought (more on that later) and ended up writing up a post anyway. Here are the …

Nosy Beauty Vol. 33: Danika

Hello, and welcome to another installment of Nosy Beauty. 🙂 Today, we’ll be peeking into the makeup life (and bag!) of one of my friends from college and church, Danika. She probably doesn’t know this, but she was one of the first people in school that I noticed wearing not-so obvious makeup and it made me want to try it back then. I was really surprised with what she sent (you’ll see!), but then again, I wasn’t because she was always going the extra mile, even when we were in school. • Hello! My name is Danika, 25, creative director at Classified and Nava Boutique (MNL), letterer and style blogger at Hello-Rio.com. 🙂 Whenever I use makeup, I always try to go for the “natural look”. Just enough is always the right amount. I don’t like putting too much on. Actually, I think I can even live without cosmetics! Cause sometimes I do leave the house barefaced and feel perfectly comfortable. But, you know, for the sake of looking presentable and appropriate for my job, …

July Favorites & August Beauty Goals

Hey everyone, it’s time for my Beauty Favorites this July! I made a point to pay attention and actually take note of the things I’ve been loving this month (at least for half of it), and these are the items that came to mind. — NARS Sheer Glow (Punjab): I bought a primer with a high SPF so I could keep using this (I hadn’t been since it is SPF-less) and I reminded of why I loved it so much. — MAC Paint Pot (Groundwork): This is probably the eye base/primer that I reached for the most in July, switching out Painterly, since it looked really pale and ashy against my summer tan~ — shu uemura Eyeshadow (ME medium brown 885): One of my top 5 eyeshadow singles, this is a great all over the lid color if you truly can’t be bothered. — Urban Decay Primer Potion: A rediscovery as I’ve been using paint pots and using up my NARS eye primer (yech). This stuff is amaaaazing, my absolute favorite eye primer. — Le …

5 Product Face No. 1

bareMinerals Liner Shadow (Bark) / MAC Paint Pot (Rubenesque) / Le Métier de Beauté Anamorphic Lash Mascara in (Midnight Blue) / Ilia Multi-Stick (All of Me) / Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder (Mood Light) I purchase a lot of makeup, but I don’t really like putting a lot of effort into my everyday looks, especially when I’m in a hurry. I thought I’d do a five-product face series in which I feature “full looks” using only five products. I used bareMinerals’ Bark for my eyebrows and my eyeliner and my MAC Paint Pot in Rubenesque as an all-over lid shade. I then curled my lashes and added mascara. I used the Ilia Multi-Stick in All of Me as my blush and lip color (over a balm, as it’s a bit dry), and dusted my face off with the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Mood Light… for no reason. I usually use them as a finishing powder, but I like wearing those on their own, though. I feel like they add a glow to the skin or …