Best Makeup Discoveries of 2015

2015 is ending in approximately a day or two depending on your timezone. And it has been such an eye-opening year filled with such joy, melancholia, despair and hope which is pretty much every year right?

Since I figured that putting in old favorites would be too repetitive and some of you are probably tired of my yapping for my favorite products, I decided to do only new products this year.

My Festive Christmas Eve Look

Happy Christmas everyone! Hope your holiday has been well, besides the overtime shifts and the toxic lines at the malls and traffic. I have just been happy that I’ve made it this far and be with my beloved family. It has been a year to be thankful for but I’ll talk more on that on the New Year post.

Our family Christmas parties have always been intimate so I know I shouldn’t have put on too much, but since it is Christmas and I am grateful for any opportunity that allows me to doll myself up silly. Well the party agenda is always a dinner with the family and some Christmas Karaoke, despite that sounding passe I must say that I always enjoy it.

My Skin Care Routine 2015

2015 was very kind year to my skin. I had less allergies and less breakouts. I managed to find affordable and new skin care, realized that some things are worth the investment and what was frankly unnecessary. Since my routine has not really changed I don't like to do Skin care routine posts since it is far more taxing and variably more difficult since changing your skin care and seeing results is difficult to document. Sometimes it's not the products, its you. Hormones, stress, lifestyle, so many things go into account. But I'd like to think products merely improve your skin, not completely responsible but they help and at times they help A LOT.

Glowing Holiday Makeup

Holiday season! It's that time of the year where you can stuff yourself with good food, take ton of selfies and celebrate with your whole family. But whether it's with my family or squad, I love getting ready especially when I know there will be photos. So this is my choice of holiday get-together makeup at the moment.

BASE

Luminous skin is timeless. So I went for a light CC cream by Maxfactor followed by some Happy Skin corrector under the eyes then used my trusty Estee Lauder Concealer to top it all off. Though not pictured here, I applied Mary Kay translucent powder to mattify my face as I am very oily.

CHEEKS

My favorite part of my routine has shifted to cheeks. I used the Carmen Claire Powder as a bronzer and the Balm's Bahama Mama as the actual contour powder. But this is all a light dusting of pigment as I want to keep everything very glowy but defined. I whipped out my Etude House Face designing Brightener in Goddess face which is a gorgeous champagne highlighter and applied generous amounts on the highpoints of my face since I was going for that Strobed look. Then a touch of the Nars Orgasm blush. Yes when I meant glowy, I meant it. 

LIPS

On the lips are described as a deep rose shade from Carmen Claire. I love that it is a muted depp pinky brown shade that is so simple yet elegant.

EYES

Brows were defined using the dark brown shade on the tartelette palette. And my crease was defined by the Bahama mama bronzer and went with a feline flick using the Maybelline Hypersharp Eyeliner as I just feel naked without liner at the moment And my favorite pop-out touch of Maybelline cream shimmer eyeshadow in the inner corners of my eyes and set with my highlighter for it to last and to pop out more. Then a smidge of the dark brown shadow that I used for my brows on my lower outer rims of my eyes to even out the heavy liner. Then finished with several coats of Maybelline falsies mascara since I want fluttery lashes for special days or for general days I feel like bleh.

Here's the final look, and please do ignore the Brad Pitt poster.

Hope this holiday season is another one to be grateful for! Keep safe and thanks for reading!

Contour Hack: Carmen Claire Shine Patrol Powder in Tan

I don't think I talk about how much I love contouring, which has been most surprising. In just two years I have completely changed my whole makeup routine with the inclusion of more cheek and eye makeup. Well a baby can be born in 9 months, so I'm thinking it's actually long time to change my routine.

Price P290 from P410

Description:

Cheekbones for days! This summer, brush up on your contouring and bronzing skills with Shine Patrol in Tan. It's the perfect shimmerless shade to pull off that golden goddess look.

Keep oil at bay and shine in check.

The ultra-smooth formula absorbs excess oil without looking cakey or flat, while adding just a touch of sheer color. It's talc and paraben free too, so chances of a breakout are minimal. Phew!

Available in 4 shades, from lightest to darkest:

• Porcelain
• Medium-Light
• Medium
• Tan

Availability: http://www.carmenclaire.com/

I think I have been flooding your newsfeeds with Carmen Claire Products. Sorry for that, I did have a small haul from them a few weeks ago, if you follow me on instagram (@Cosmetricia) I did post about them coming in pretty little pouches.

I came across a comment form another blog stating that she had given up on contouring powders and started using darker shades of face powder since it looked like skin. So I decided to try the Carmen Claire Shine Patrol powder in Tan because it was on sale, I trust the brand and I was really itching to get one of their lipsticks.

It's stated in their website that Tan is the equivalent to MAC NC 40-42 and that the powder did not guarantee heavy coverage since it was really a pressed oil control powder after all. However true to its' description, it promises sheer color. But I assure you the pigment is strong to be used as a bronzer/contour powder.

It's not so finely milled like butter but it is a cut above other powder foundation textures. But it's amazing that it does not cake at all no matter how heavy I layer on my skin. I am overjoyed that is truly matte on skin and hypoallergenic as it is talc and paraben free too!

It was easily picked up by my Carmen Claire blush brush which I apply on my cheekbones, sides of my forehead and sides of my nose for a sculpted look.

Keep in mind I am around NC 20-25 so the pigment might appear very strong on me.

Cheekbones for days indeed! It's a lovely warm toned. so slightly reddish shade that compliments more yellowy toned skin tones. It could be a bronzer or a contour powder depending on your skin tone. Just remember that proper blending is a necessity most especially since this is a oil control powder which means it adheres to skin steadfastly. Only a light touch is needed for fairer skins but could be buildable if your skin tone is a step or two darker. I think this would be marvelous for darker skin tones as a bronzer to add a healthy sun kissed glow as it would not be too harsh.

I think this photographs so beautifully too, might be worth checking out if you're not into looking like a ghost in your holiday photos! But has this replaced my other bronzers and contour powders? Hmm... I really like this and reach for it a lot but I also enjoy the great definition more grey and cool toned contour powders I have offer, but I must say this is great for fair skins as it mimics more of a summer loving bronze rather than a Kardashian sculpt.

Overall I am quite happy with this purchase as it is a great bronzer/contour powder that did not disappoint at such a steal at the moment. Might even be giving this as a gift for a friend!

Thanks for reading and the countdown starts to Christmas!