What I Currently Lug around In Makeup Bag

Recently, I have been invited to more and more unplanned gatherings and impromptu outings, and for someone like me who is surprisingly very low key with touch ups and maintenance with makeup, it's time to step up my usual basic makeup bag or lack thereof, up until a few months ago I usually just trot around with a couple of lipsticks and blotting sheets. Then when I saw how makeup just disappears on my face after work, time to bring back the big guns, I thought.

I got this Makeup bag from VMV Hypoallergenics a couple of years back, It's nice and roomy but quite a pain to maintain since it;s white.

I currently bring along these things at the moment.

Blotting Powder

An oily skinned girl's ESSENTIAL.

NARS Creamy Radiant concealer

High Coverage, blends like a dream, and reliable.

Estee Lauder Cyber White Powder

Not really a favorite but it's pretty enough to whip out for touch ups and the powder is average so no complaints here, but I basically just trying to use it up.

Happy Skin Lippies

In shades Under the sheets, a deep nudy Kylie Jenner would go for this color and Hold my Hand, "a louder and warmer, leaning-to-red-pink-but-not-quite shade" according to my previous post about this. Both shades are good for either day or night when really expertly applied.

Nivea Lip Balm

Since my lips can get so dry sometimes, lipstick moisture is not enough,

ELF Blush Brush

My favorite whatever brush

Happy Skin Shut Up & Kiss Me Moisturizing Lippie Beauty In Bloom Duo in Bride to Be and Hold My Hand

And we are now officially half way into 2015, school's back and the rainy season has come. So many things happen simultaneously in June. And what else happens in June? Wedding season. Ever heard of a June bride? June is actually the most popular month for weddings, And that's the first thing that came to mind when Happy Skin launched the Beauty in Bloom collection. 

Price: P1099

Description:

Nature is the ultimate beauty queen. Unleash the beauty from within and blossom into your most beautiful with the prettiest, natural lippie hues!

Celebrate a healthy honey-toned glow and rekindle the warmth of love with Hold My Hand.

Be luminous and natural all at once and channel the pink rosy radiance of a Bride-to-Be.

This Happy Skin Shut Up & Kiss Me moisturizing lippie is sure to help you make that smackin' statement. This lip-loving moisture stick is loaded with Shea butter and collagen to get fans to line up for a taste of those supple, hydrated, and ultra-kissable lips. High-pigmented, moisture-packed, this lippie glides on irresistibly smooth (without the stickiness!) and leaves behind a rich, creamy pout that's way tempting to kiss.

This collection release is a tad different for Happy Skin since they usually release lippies in threes going on with a theme of a pink, a red and a nude-y shade. But this time it's a natural pink duo. Which I am loving at the moment. I think with each collection they release a new lippie they get more and more moisturizing and refined. I find I don't even need lip balm before putting these on since I

Bare Lips

 Excuse my bare lips, looking as pale as ever. How I envy girls with naturally healthy, reddish lips.

Bride to Be

Bride to Be, a name that sends wedding bells to my ears, I'm wondering how many brides will actually be putting this shade on their wedding day, since it's such a natural warm pink that screams naturally pretty on lips. Great for everyday or for a special event. Matches well with heavy eye looks or just mascara. It's more wearable than Just say yes as it is a touch warmer and darker to the point that it has a mauve tinge to it.

Hold My Hand

Hold my Hand is a louder and warmer, leaning-to-red-pink-but-not-quite shade. Something you can sport when you want to keep things simple but still focused on your lips. Really gives back life to your face especially when you feel that your look lacks warmth.

No doubt Happy has done it again with these lippies, Definitely two lovely colors that deserve a place in your makeup bag as old reliable natural lip colors.

Happy Skin All Eyes On Hue Eyeshadow Palette

If you've read my previous posts, this palette was a gift, so I basically received this on March. I don't post  lot of eye shadow palette reviews, mostly due to the fact that I don't have many of them. I think I only have around 4? But lugging around giant palettes like the UD Naked palette would be such a pain right? So a compact everyday neutral shadow palette like this would be great for the girl on the go!

Price: P1299

Availability: Happy Skin Counters Nationwide

Description:

Their "Look Cheat sheets"

from L-R Oatmeal, Biscuit, Hazelnut, Espresso

The palette comes with four shades, three on the shimmery side, one on the matte side. All are very finely milled and velvety to touch but nonetheless pigmented. 

Oatmeal is a shimmery off white which is fine and lovely on its own on the lids as it gives a light sheen and light. Great for the inner corner as well. In fact , this is my most used shade of the bunch if you see it in it's current form.

Biscuit is a matte pink which is not too pigmented, more like a watercolor effect pink. Quite sheer to give just hints of color on the eyes.

Hazelnut is a nice shimmery warm brown perfect for a more defined look on the eyes.

Espresso is a deep shimmery taupe-y violet.good for the lash lines to add extra definition in lieu of eyeliner.

Bare Lids

Tried the Red Carpet look

Excuse my horrendous brows at the moment. On the photo above I tried the runway look, which uses the shades: Oatmeal, Biscuit and Espresso. Oatmeal gives a nice highlight on the brow bone and the inner corner.

Left (Red Carpet), Right (Date Night)

On the photo above I tried the Date night look which uses a gradient of all the shades, if you'd think it would be too much, it is actually a very subtle eye look. For a more stark look Red carpet is definitely your game.

Date night on your Right

Date night is for a more dainty feel for well, date night. As it just gives definition.Nothing over the top.

Red Carpet on Both eyes

Me trying on the Red Carpet look

Overall this palette preformed well in terms of pigment and longevity without primer. But i would have personally preferred two mattes and two shimmery shades for it to be more versatile but I'm not complaining as shimmer shadows are great for on the go as they won't look too bad even when not blended properly. and by the way the shimmer is very fine, not stark chunks of sparkle and I've experienced little to no fall-out on my part too. But a mirror would have been helpful but since the cheat sheet is plastered in, I guess they wouldn't know where to put it. But the lighter colors are so workable I'd think you could get away with applying it sans miroir. 

Thanks for reading!

The Balm Instain Blush in Lace and Argyle

I was never a blush girl, but now I find myself lusting after blushes the most these days, these were my first products from The balm, and I was thoroughly satisfied. 

Price: P895

Availability: Beauty Bar stores

Content: 6.5g

A year ago, I wouldn't even touch blush, here I am now building up my blush wishlist. And if you're doing that as well. this is a great addition to your collection, or any shade or blush from The balm for that matter,

A little background on my skin, I have an oily, warm and pale complexion. I need a blush that can withstand oil and can give a lovely flush. What intrigued me about his blush is the fact that it promises 16 hours on skin. And gives meaning to a little goes a long way, just one tap on the brush for that pretty feminine flush. 

The shades that really interested me was a bright cool pink and a natural peachy pink. Because thinking about it on a financial level, a blush that is very pigmented with last for a very long time since it is used sparingly on skin. So you saved money to buy other makeup products (wink wink). 

An interesting thing about the Instain blush is that it has shades specified for skin tones. The other shade I bought, Lace is actually for darker skin tones but who cares really? If you think it works for you, get it. 

As you can see Argyle is a light,warm and peachy pink as Lace is a Pop out Barbie Cool pink.

Argyle (though this was applied generously so you can see the color clearer)
Apologies for the bitchy face here Hahahaha. I was going for that expressionless look. 

Argyle is great for fairer skin tones since it is not too pigmented that you might be mistaken for someone who had an allergy.

Lace

Take note again, both blushes were applied generously for photo clarity, I would never put on this much blush hahaha. It really does have a great contrast on warm skin. The pigment is so strong a singular tap with a blush brush is sufficient for each cheek or sometimes both.

Lace on the Left, Argyle on the Right

And I can vouch for its lasting power but this could also depend on you choice of base. But it does stay for a very long time due to its magic ingredient, Mica, which has oil absorbing properties.The finish is beautiful when it really sinks in you skin an hour after application. All the shades are matte and long lasting. The blush itself is not so finely milled it feels like velvet but pretty good. No scent and I believe, cruelty-free.

What's left to say really? The packaging is cute but I hate the fact that is gets easily dirty since, well it is cardboard, but I also find it adorable and easy to get rid off when I hit pan. Plastic packaging can be a pain to get rid off.

So will you be getting your hands on any of these soon? The price is quite affordable and the product surely outperforms its price. A very great find for blush hoarders and a definite recommend from me.

On Face:
Isehan Sunkiller Base
Naturactor Cover Face in 140
L'Oreal Miss Manga Mascara
Maybelline Brow Mascara
Happy Skin Shut up and Kiss me Lippie in Honeymoon Glow

Isehan Sunkiller Super Lasting Base SPF50+ PA++++

Forever summer - one of the perks in living in the Philippines or in any tropical country. I once heard that the heat makes people behave more badly. But you know what makes the heat bad? Skin. Literally harmful UV rays on your skin everyday making you prone to skin cancer or melanomas and of course premature aging. Last month I bought two sunscreens since if some of you have read my last post, I am currently working at a hospital 14 km away from me and the commute (through jeepney not taxi) is just scorching. Sure I have it easy if I'm working graveyard but the hot sun on you for an hour is just a no-no. So I have been religiously putting on sunscreen everyday. 

Current Favorite Look: The Ingenue

Ever since I started my job I have had less chances to put on makeup. This is mostly due to the my schedule, mostly graveyard shifts. And even I don't have the will power or vanity to put on makeup during that time since I might fall asleep and when I get home it is ultimately a pain in the ass to remove, I would usually just drop dead on my mattress and snooze the day away. But this is my current favorite look of the moment which I wear if I go to dinner with friends, shopping or church. Inspired from Charlotte Tilbury's The Ingenue look. Sadly I don't have even one item from that brand (though I am lemming to get the film star bronze and glow kit) I have utilized the products available from my arsenal. Here's what I used to achieve this look.

The Ingenue look is a fresh bambi-eyed, blooming fair maiden feel. Just what I wanted to look like though I rarely get proper sleep and nutrition. It's no fuss as it is a simple bright eye; white shimmering cream shadow and mascara with a touch of liner.

BASE

Four things for base, first I primed using the Etude House blur cream, I literally feel no need to use a filter when I put this on. On top is my usual go-to Ettusais BB Cream. Then concealed with the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard. Then set everything with a translucent powder. 

CHEEKS

There was no contouring in the original look, but I personally felt my face need more dimension since it was rounder than the model's face. So I used the Happy Skin Sculptucular kit to add shadows. Then for that lovely blushing look, I used the The balm Instain blush in a bright cool diva pink, Lace.

EYES

Eyebrows are of utmost importance, so I used the Maybelline Fashion brow duo in brown to add shape, but I only used the powder side, and then brushed my brows with the Jazzy France Brow gel, which is a new tube by the way and is outrageously pigmented. 

Eye makeup is a simple dab of the Maybelline Color Tattoo shadows in Beige. It is really a lovely shimmering off white which does not budge through out the day or night. This could also be topped with a shimmering powder eye shadow if you want to intensify the colors. And simple brown liner as close to the lash line as possible. Then I finished with generous amounts of mascara, the one I'm using is the Etude House Waterproof Lash Perm mascara which I honestly hated before but I fully appreciate now.

LIPS

I first used the Happy Skin Lip and Cheek mousse in Swept off my feet but I found it wasn't coming off well in camera. So I put on Mac's Chatterbox lipstick to really have that punch out pink.

Photo courtesy of Charlotte Tilbury Cosmetics

Don't compare me to the beauty of this model (hahaha) as she's way out of my league.

Closer look at the eyes

And that is my current favorite look I'm rocking at the moment or actually for the past month or so. it just makes you look effortlessly fresh and well rested. Thank you for reading and have a wonderful happy Mother's day!

April Favorites

May already? It only felt like yesterday I was celebrating New year (well actually studying for boards). It still hasn't hit me that we're are nearly half a year done. And here we are with last month's favorites, which I've skipped for a month or two? I have received my first salary and bought some stuff you see here with my own money. It feels surreal. But on to the main dish.

A lot of pinks this month and I have just fallen in love with Preview magazine's April cover! Hot fuchsia pink for a change!