The Current Lip Wardrobe

As the title says. on the lips at the moment. This is pretty much what I've been slathering on my lips for the past few weeks and are the current residents of my makeup bag. So let's do some re-introductions and swatches.

The Lip Collection

It's been ages since the last post so I suppose I'll have to make up for that with a more heavy composition. And I can say with confidence that this was the most time consuming roundup but certainly the least boring. And I think that as a makeup enthusiast, lipsticks are definitely that beauty product that you can really say that "Before I knew it I had 20." It seems that every few months or weeks that the number balloons.

So I have about 25 lipsticks but not all are in active rotation, sadly. And I think I have a couple here that are nearing their limit at 2 years old. But besides that, I'm pretty happy with my collection, they're like a family. And I sadly ran out of the Etude House Lip liners, a short-lived romance but nothing a visit to Etude House can change. No lip balms here as I only have one, as listed in my Skincare Routine 2015 post, I only have the Nivea Lip Butter in raspberry. So without further ado, meet the family!

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!

CarmenClaire Cosmetics Matte Lipstick in Raindrops on Roses and Shirley Temple

I feel like cobwebs have started growing on this blog due to the lack of posts. but I'm finally here to make it feel like the owner has not yet died. Just quite tired from work.

Carmen Claire Cosmetics is a local brand which was launched in 2011 I think, if you were a loyal reader, one of my formerly popular posts from when the name of this blog was The Secret Beauty Geek was that  of their Cover Ops Concealer/Corrector Wheel, so I'm no stranger to this brand, but I  haven't bought a product from them since I had other interests and their multiply store was gone. But my mother rediscovered them on Lazada and recommended their lipsticks, to my surprise it was Carmen Claire. Such nostalgia! Like seeing an old friend. Now I'm pretty pleased to try their products after so long.

Far left: Raindrops on Roses, Near Right: Shirley Temple

Price: P305 each

Description:

Ultra-modern and luxuriously smooth, these lipsticks are long-lasting and pack a powerful punch in the color department. Apply, blot, and apply again for chic matte lips, all day long.

Availabity: www.carmenclaire.com/

Any Printed label seems to wear off 5x faster in my hands

Hello Pale Grubby lips!

 I'd recommend putting on lip balm or as Carmen Claire's recommendation, eye cream before applying if you don't have confidence in your lips that it won't emphasize dry peeling skin or flaking.

Wearing Raindrops on Roses

 Raindrops on Roses is a lovely browny pink, very similar to Happy Skin's Under the sheets but true to the name as matte. I love this kind of color that doesn't look made up but looks polished and more on the natural side. It just ties everything together! It flatters a plethora of skin tones.

Wearing Shirley Temple

Shirley Temple is a classic deep red but better for warmer tones, It makes you look sophisticated, not a tacky red at all.

Both lipsticks are very pigmented, but not the smoothest to apply given that they are truly matte. And the characteristic of matte lipsticks is long wearing application. A great find since they're affordable at P305 and you get more than what you pay for in quality.

CarmenClaire Cosmetics Top 10 Brush Collection

It's been a quiet July, but hopefully August will be making some noise in this blog. And brushes will kick off this month. I'm a sale sucker and I just could not resist 20% off from Carmen Claire with a P1000+ purchase. So from P1200 to a  price drop of P960! And for a complete brush set? Count me in.  

It comes in a classy leatherette container. Perfect for travel! And doesn't it just scream professional?

Price: P1200 but I got it for P960 since they're having a discount with a P1000 peso purchase

Availability: www.carmenclaire.com

Description:

Tuxedo black-and-white, luxurious leatherette, and ultra-soft natural and synthetic hair. 

Designed with love and engineered with precision, it's the CarmenClaire TOP 10 Brush Collection.

Each set includes:

Powder Brush (white goat hair)

Round Blush Brush (white goat hair)

Angled Blush Brush (white goat hair)

Blending Brush (white goat hair)

Large Eyeshadow Brush (ox tail hair)

Medium Eyeshadow Brush (ox tail hair)

Angled Liner Brush (synthetic hair)

Lip Brush (synthetic hair)

Lash and Brow Comb (plastic)

Foundation/Concealer Brush (synthetic hair)

The whole set in its entirety looks beautiful. The combination of black ferrules and white hairs just make me swoon. These brushes are my first experience with natural brushes and I'm quite impressed. Apparently natural brushes pick up powder products better while synthetic brushes (i.e. Real techniques) pick up cream and liquid products better.

From (L-R) Blending brush, Angled blush brush, Round blush brush, Powder brush

These brushes were made from white goat hair, but are exceptionally soft, with the slight exception of the blending brush which can be a tad scratchy but workable. They pick up pigment well and apply it subtly and beautifully especially when its a notoriously pigmented, oops-you-might-look-ridiculous-if-you-apply-too-much product. The face brushes just do a great job. But the blending brush does well too but not as great as the face brushes.

From (L-R) Foundation and concealer brush, Eyeliner brush, Brow comb, Medium eye shadow brush, Large eye shadow brush, Lip brush 

The foundation/concealer, lip and eyeliner brush are made of dense synthetic bristles, and the liner means business as it is sturdy and does not bend, perfect for gel liner. the lip brush is also precise, like making your lipstick look like liner when it applies. The brow brush is an ok but very common addition to these kinds of sets and I really can't find anything particularly bad about them but I don't use them as much as I'd like.

The Ox tail hair shadow brushes are also sturdy as well, almost synthetic to a point, I personally don't like these flat shapes for shadow application other than a light wash of pigment on lids, everything else I'd depend on a blending brush with a more domed or solid thickness or shape.

Overall these brushes are worth the money, especially for beginners who have always been curious of what natural hair brushes deliver without breaking the bank as some can go for a small fortune for one brush. However there will be shedding (for the goat hair brushes at least) which is perfectly normal for natural hair and a distinct odor which is also pretty common, so be wary of these two things, I'm pretty fine with the shedding since I don't use them roughly. Only for final finishes or powder. But if you tend to go with a heavy hand, small hairs will shed, this also goes for washing them. I also find that they dry slower than my synthetic brushes since they absorb more moisture. 

The scent can be controlled to a point, since my brush cleaner is quite fragrant. However I find that if I wash them with a foaming cleanser, the scent comes back with a vengeance, so as much as possible I would wash them with a proper brush cleaner.

Thanks for reading!