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!

Bioré Cleansing Oil Review

I love cleansing oils but I hate the prices they go for, which could range from P300 to P5000. Well, fact is cleansing oils ain't cheap. And when I found the ZA cleansing oil a couple of years ago I was happy then sad since it was always out of stock. But I was pleasantly surprised a few months ago when I found this baby in my local SM beauty dept store. I was preparing myself and my wallet for the price and to my shock it was so affordable!

Price: P299

Description: Biore Cleansing Oil effectively dissolves and removes stubborn makeup, including waterproof mascara, while lifting away dirt and impurities. Unlike other cleansing oils, it leaves no greasy film on your face and maintains the skin's natural moisture balance. It does not emulsify upon contact with water, thus maintaining its optimal cleansing performance at all times. Just apply with dry or wet hands and rinse off with water for that clean and fresh feeling!

Content: 150 mL

So in to the shopping bag it went. When I got home, I was excited to take off my makeup with this. and it works nicely. No heavy fragrances and is just as lightweight as more expensive cleansing oils from other brands, but without the worry of breaking the bank.

A little demonstration with a mish-mash of waterproof mascara and eyeliner, MAC pro long wear concealer and Etude House Baby Choux face base on the side, a number of the darkest eyeshadows in the Nude Tude palette and swatches of the Instain Lace blush for good measure.

It easily dissolves everything and emulsifies evenly with no extra greasy feeling after rinsing. It has now shot to the top of my cleansing oil favorites since it is affordable enough to keep on being regularly repurchased and gives you a total bang for your buck. 

Thank you Biore for coming to the Philippines! More Japanese brands please!

Makeup to the Pool?

For those who are heading to winter, sorry for the off season summer-y post, but this is one of the few perks of living close to the equator as a tropical country.

Last week my family and I went to the pool after maybe nearly a decade? That long, I swear. I haven't been to the beach in nearly 6 years, I just couldn't find the time, honestly. But yes I did wear makeup. Even though people roll their eyes when someone says they're wearing makeup to the beach, I don't care, I work it when I want to but I keep it on the light side.

This was the look I did. It may seem a tad dramatic for someone who just said they'd be keeping it on the light side. But it only looks like a lot of products because it looks loud. But just because it looks loud doesn't mean it's not light.

Here are the products I used to make this look.

BASE

As you can see no foundation or powder in sight. But a generous amount of sunscreen base is welcomed instead. And a little concealer for those under eye circles. Luckily it was a good skin day. Since this sunscreen was super mattifying I virtually didn't need powder and who needs it when you're going underwater? And the trusty Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer.

EYES

I need something to define my eyes, but I don't need shadows, so waterproof mascara it is! I recently picked up the Maybelline falsies which is pretty good for giving fluttery volumized lashes and just applied generous layers on my very very sad lashes. It got through fairly well through out the day. Truthfully I did put on some eyeliner but it just did not agree with the water so I just took it off halfway.

I also used the waterproof Jazzy Collection eyebrow gel (not pictured) which really stayed on and on and on.

LIPS

Ahh the main focus, MAC's Ruby Woo for the  lips to really make the pout pop. You can always trust the red lip when you want to look put together.

BODY

Can't go to the beach or pool without sunscreen. Can't go anywhere without sunscreen. I've been pretty happy with the Belo Body sun spray since I got it at half price a few months ago. It moisturizes skin well and applies on easily with no irritating smell. So this has been my go-to!

And that is pretty much it and I'm leaving you with a final picture of my feet in the pool with matching mint green nail polish.

Thanks for reading!