1.31.2015

January Wallet Damage

 Ahhh the first month of the year, and it calls for new makeup. And I knew I had to finally cross off somethings on my long long makeup wish list. Like things I can buy in stores right here in town.


I love Happy Skin, proudly a Filipino brand, and I am all for local support, hahaha and the quality is no joke. Though a bit pricey, rest assured no expense was spared for the creation of their quirky products. Actually I have a few more things I want to get from them, but my wallet isn't so forgiving so I'll get them in the near future. And I love the Balm, so I think I'll also be taking a look at more things in their selection.

Happy Skin Feeling Sculptacular Face Contour Kit (P1299) 

Happy Skin Shut Up and Kiss Me in Under the Sheets (P549) 

The Balm Instain Blush in Argyle (P895)

Expect reviews for these soon!




1.25.2015

Snoe SABSTANCE High Intensity Blush in X8 Love Review

This is my first makeup product from Snoe, a local brand here in the Philippines, to be honest I didn't care for local brands since I was very much into Western and other Asian brands in the market, mostly because Snoe products are actually priced higher than these foreign brands. But I wanted to give it a try. And it was not a mistake starting with their blushes.

Price: P899

Description:
A woman of SABS-tance is a woman of power, a woman of positive influence and a woman of meaning! Express yourself with SABS-tance High Intensity Powder Blush which gives a burst of color that gives the cheeks a fresh and glowing look all day! Wear it alone or pair it with other Snoe blush-on products for a multi-dimensional effect.
Content: 8 g

Sabs Hernandez from The Makeup Maven, a professional makeup artist and blogger collaborated with Snoe to create her own line of blushes inspired from her most favorite shades and blushes in her collection.
And together they created these beautiful pigmented, semi matte blushes that are incredibly long wearing. It is very finely milled as well, soft powder packed with color, here, according to one swipe.

I chose X8 Love since it is a lovely lilac pink which I adore since it really gives a truly natural flushed pink cheek, which just makes you look so healthy plus I wanted a good dupe for Estee Lauder's Electric pink and Dior's rosy glow blush. And this is a fine alternative for those.


Only a tap is needed to give a healthy flush to the cheeks, and the scent is nice, for me, it's an extra point since I love nicely scented products. 

Without

Applied to cheek

This is just with one tap, I don't like to over do it since it is very pigmented. And I don't want to looked like I got slapped silly. 

I would love to buy more of these spectacular blushes since they have 8 g of product, quite a lot for a blush, it means it will last really long since you're using so little at a time.

I should say there is nothing bad about this blush at all, except for the packaging maybe, it could be classier? I mean to say this in the kindest way possible, though, yes pink is a very girly color, but I would have preferred a more subdued style. Maybe white or black? But those are just my personal preferences.

Hope you found this helpful, I for one will pick up more of these shades in he near future. Thanks for reading!



1.24.2015

2014 Favorites: Skin Care

2014 has equally been as good to me in skincare, with new discoveries and trusted loyalty to some products that have been kind to me. This pretty much sums up my skin care routine as well which I rotate from time to time. But my basic routine is pretty much Cleanse, Tone, Moisturize and Treat.



Etude House Real Art Cleansing Oil - My Holy grail cleansing oil, removes all makeup thoroughly and quickly for nights and days when I just want to take it all off as quickly as possible, so I use oil for that. It has a nice fragrance and doesn't feel as thick as other cleansing oils I've tried. I'll definitely repurchase a refill in the near future.

Cleansing Research AHA cleanser -  Alpha hydroxy acids from fruits usually help clear up skin with exfoliation which increases skin renewal, This cleanser is packed with that and gives a good refreshed clean feeling as well especially after using cleansing oil. This is recommended for acne prone skin.

Etude House Every month Cleanser in 7 Aloe - I love this line of Etude Cleansers, it is so fun choosing variants, I had Green Tea before but I prefer Aloe more, due to its gel consistency and amazing scent which just relaxes me, I use this usually on mornings.

VMV Hypoallergenics Illuminants Face Body and Hand Lotion - Hyperpigmentation and acne go hand in hand, and to combat that I use this as my moisturizer to help. It has done improvement overtime and I wouldn't mind using this on scars on my body as well. It's quite multipurpose.

VMV Hypoallergenics Superskin 3 Toner Monolaurin + Mandelic Acid - This is a toner which treats acne.

Derma E Scar Gel - I use this to speed up the healing process of acne scars and other injuries on my body as it contains Allantoin which improves wound healing.

Nature Republic Aqua Peeling Gel - I exfoliate about once a week, sometimes with a scrub but I prefer these gommage peeling gels more, It is so interesting to see dead skin just rolling off your face (not a good mental image) however very satisfying to see gunk just get removed. I would repurchase if I can find a seller.

Sunplay Watery Sunscreen - In lieu of the pricey Biore sunscreen, I decided to use a more budget friendly and easily sourced sunscreen which I can just find in department stores. This is quite affordable, no horrid sunscreen smell and has a very thin consistency. This is the consistency which makes me want to put on SPF everyday,

Thanks for reading!  If you have any recommendations for skin care please do share in the comments below~!





NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer Review

I used to have 10 concealers in my collection, different consistencies, brands and coverage. Now I have narrowed it to 4, but the main ones I use are only really 2, One for blemishes and another for under eye circles. This is one of them, but I use this for blemishes.


Price: P1650 (from online seller) 



1.22.2015

2014 Favorites: Makeup

Finally back and free to blog, I've recently passed the Pharmacist Licensure Exam and am totally ecstatic to be back to do activities I love, and blogging is one of them. And starting off 2015 with 2014 Favorites.


It's always been hard to choose my favorite things, since variety and diversity of products are so rampant. But after careful consideration and indecisiveness here are my top picks of 2014, in no particular order since they all belong in different categories.


Real Techniques Nic's Picks Collection, easily one my best purchases this year, spending good money on quality brushes is never a bad idea, and has easily made applying makeup much more satisfying, and that means that I'll be purchasing more makeup brushes in the future.

The Balm Nude Tude Palette - My first official Eyeshadow palette and not a disappointment in the least, richly pigmented and wearable colors, And I bought mine for a good price.


Happy Skin Shut Up and Kiss me Lippies - I love supporting local brands, though my collection says otherwise ,so I'm so happy that Happy Skin is a home grown brand with great quality products. And their lipsticks, great colors for Filipinas ranging from light pink to tawny mauves and dangerous reds. I believe I'll see myself collecting more and more of their products.

Mary Kay HD Powder - Translucent powder is a must for me, but most of the time they are severely overpriced for such little product, but this is just right, 11 g for P800. It does have some shimmer but a subdued one. I love this for flash photography paired with the MUFE HD Foundation.


The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzer - I have had an aversion for bronzers, but 2014 was the year for cheeks, my collection of bronzers and blushes have considerably increased and I could never be happier.


L'Oreal Miss Manga Mascara - I've never cared for mascara until I saw how much of a difference it can make, 2014 was truly a year of new and renewed opinions, This mascara just intensifies what little lashes I have, but I would love a Waterproof version (Which there is) but I have not been able to get a hold of it.

Etude House Face Designing brightener - Loved time and time again, not too shimmery but has a refined glow not a crushed glitter on the face at all!

Jazzy Collection Brow Gel - An inconvenience to dying your hair is needing to match your brows, not all worry about this, but I do since it looks just to unnatural in my eyes, the hair and brow color must be at least in the same color family. So I was on the look for a good brow gel and this local product was quite a pleasant surprise. I'd repurchase again and again!


MUFE HD Foundation - My go to foundation when flash photography is employed. It just makes you look flawless and glowing on camera, A foundation I personally though was over hyped, but it fulfills its promise of being HD on and off camera, Not to mention good riddance to the ghostly pale face on photos.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer - Hype is the first word that comes to mind since almost every Youtuber I subscribe to has featured and loved this product to bits, a little impulse brought me this baby. And yes the Hype is real. High coverage with a creamy and thick consistency, but blendable and does not accentuate dry spots like healing acne. A reliable concealer indeed.

Snoe SABSTANCE Blush - Another local brand which I am getting into. though a bit pricey at times, they spare no expense for quality, this blush is extremely pigmented.Smells pleasant and is packed with tons of skin loving ingredients. Planning to purchase more of the colors in the near future.



12.31.2014

The Last Haul of the Year

 2014 has been another roller coaster, and my last post of the year, well ends with a haul, by January I'm going to take the Pharmacy Licensure Exam, hopefully I'll pass. Anyway, here are a few things I picked up during Etude House's 20% off sale.




Finally bought that cute nail polish set I've been  eyeing, my favorite nail polish, another shade of Color lips fit and finally a good eyeliner, since I'm trying to improve my skills.


Got a lemon mask and some samples as well!

Thanks for reading! Sorry for such a boring post, but Happy new year anyway!



12.27.2014

Real Techniques Nic's Pick's Collection Review

Happy Holidays! Sorry for the lack of posts. But here is a review for one of my best purchases of the year.

Charlotte Tilbury, world renowned makeup artist to the stars said invest in good makeup brushes because they can make all the difference, in other words, the finish will speak for itself, high end makeup will look cheap if not properly applied, and drugstore makeup can't be told apart from high end brands with the right application.

Price: P1750 on @stuffinstyle

Description:
A collection of Nic’s favorite brushes. Complete any look with this limited edition set, featuring 3 exclusive brushes specially designed to create the perfect finish.

Includes all the brushes needed to create a complete look:

  • duo-fiber face brush: for lightweight application + blending of face powder or pigments
  • cheek brush (set exclusive): evenly applies makeup across cheekbone for a more dramatic finish
  • angled shadow brush (set exclusive): perfectly cut for layering eye shadow in the crease
  • base shadow brush: applies a smooth, flawless foundation of color
  • eyeliner brush (set exclusive): firm, angled head for optimal control along lash line

I never paid much attention to makeup brushes at the start of my cosmetic life, I loved using the little applicators, which is not a mortal sin but if you want to see the real power of that eye shadow, that blush or how immaculate your skin could look with foundation without being too thick, that's where the big toys come in,.. brushes!

At first I bought cheap brushes like P100 for a kit kind, clearly they did not convince me to buy into brushes, and let's face it brushes from some Filipino brands smell horrible, so I'm sorry to be unpatriotic but I tend to gravitate towards foreign brands which proved to be too steep for my pocket but upon discovering Real techniques, I found hope. Affordable and good quality and they smell like nothing, Plus sets! Sets are definitely for people who are beginners, who have no idea what to use, my first kit was the Core collection, then the Travel essentials, now I have this kit, Nic's Picks, Nic, being one of the Pixiwoo sisters who made the brand.

Now on to the review:

These brushes have special ferrules, silver, which make them look so Pro! I believe the hairs to be made of Taklon, which is synthetic. And it comes with 3 exclusive brushes, which you can't buy anywhere but this set!

Duo Fibre Face Brush


I have been longing to try this brush for ages! Mostly because my idol, Ruth Crilly from A model Recommends, uses it a lot. and many reviews stating that this was the only good brush from the duo fibre collection which was limited edition, not wanting to spend good money on unwanted brushes, I was psyched to have this in a different set! It is unbelievably soft, and it picks up so little product which is a good thing since you can use it with a heavy hand without looking like you piled on the makeup today, this is ideal for powder products, great for translucent powder since it diffuses product so well, and very pigmented blushes and bronzers, the ones that make you look like a clown can finally be used with this brush, giving sheer layers and your choice of color build-ability! This brush is probably enough for you to get the whole set, since the other brushes are pretty nice but this has a very luxurious feel to it, no scratchiness at all, contrary to its appearance.

Cheek Brush (Set Exclusive)


This is a flat blush brush, simply put, I personally prefer a dome shaped brush for blush so the shape is not my cup of tea, but it does a good job for applying blush, it gives a soft flush. But not the best at blending in powder products, be sure you use  the tap tap tap method for applying. And if you have the expert face brush, you'll find this to be the fluffier and bigger version. I think this is actually good for setting makeup and I have even tried this for  liquid foundation and it has worked out surprisingly well, so I think this would actually be more ideal for cream or liquid cheek products.

Angled Shadow brush (Set Exclusive)


I have been severely disappointed with my RT Travel set essentials dome shadowed brush which had to be glued again, badly I might say. So I was tickled pink to have two eyeshadow brushes. Not a big eyeshadow fans, but the right tools changed my mind, I've been stuck with sucky brushes, but these changed my eyeshadow application life! Brushes do change your life. Hahaha. This is actually used for the crease, but I find myself reaching for it for concealer since it does such a good job in blending, I have used it a couple of times for eyeshadow but it's a tad big for my crease but turned the right way it can work. It is very soft, so blending in is not an irritating task.

Base Shadow Brush



This brush can be found in the Starter set, which I wanted to purchase before, but held off for this set. This brush is equally as soft as the crease brush, It can pick up shadows adequately and it is my most reached for brush for eyeshadow since it can blend well too. 

Eyeliner brush (Set Exclusive)


I have just been getting into eyeliner, but by that I just use powder eyeshadow for a softer look, since I'm merely dipping my foot in the water, I use this for a black eyeshadow or a dark brown/ But most of the time I find this is great for eyebrows, many who bought the starter set found the eyeliner brush in the set was too thick. But as I searched for pictures online, it really is compared to this one found in the set. It is a very sturdy brush so I hope to use more of this when I buy a gel liner in the future!

Overall I find that this set has good value for money, I love these brushes and I'm looking forward to purchasing more brushes from real techniques if the maintain their quality and price range. Thanks for reading and Happy almost new year!