Makeup Review: Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base

photo from bobbi brown cosmetics

This face base is recommended to be used as an alternative to your moisturizer.  It made my face smooth and it has a very nice scent to it.  I was able to apply my liquid foundation without any problems like flaking.  From the look of the cream you would think that it's greasy but surprisingly, it wasn't greasy at all.  I had to blot my face a few times during the day but I really didn't mind.  It is rather expensive for the size but you get a good product and even the packaging is nice.  Glass jar with embossed logo on the lid.  It has that durable 'look and feel' to it.
If price is  not an issue for you then this is definitely an item to add to your collection.
Thanks for reading.  See you next time!

Makeup Review: Smashbox Under Eye Brightener

photo from sephora.com

Smashbox describes this product as a brush-on brightening cream.  It has a shimmery peach color and for me cannot be used alone.  Either my under eye circles are just too dark or the product is just not as effective.  I tried using it alone and what came out was shimmery under eye circles! :( I had to use a concealer under for it to work.  For it not to go to waste I use it as a highlighter on my cheeks or on my brow bone instead.  For those with a lighter skin tone than me or a lighter under eye circle, this might just work for you.  Although I love the brand I will definitely not repurchase this particular item.  Sorry Smashbox.

Hope this helps.  See you next time!

Makeup Review: Smashbox O-Glow Intuitive Cheek Color

photo from sephora.com

Smashbox O-Glow Intuitive Cheek Color is a blush in gel form.  According to Smashbox it is an intuitive blush that turns cheeks the exact color you blush.  I don't really think this is accurate, not on  me though.  But it does turn your cheeks into a shade of pink, depending on the amount of product that you use.  I believe it is best used over a cream or liquid foundation and blended right after application as it dries quickly.  When it is applied over a powder foundation you can guess what the effect is .... yup, for experimental  purposes I tried it...epic failure.

Have you tried any of Smashbox's O series? Your thoughts?

Thanks for stopping by.  See you next time!

Beauty Tip: The Essentials to take with you inside the plane

photo from google images

Good afternoon (morning in Manila)! Just came back from the Mother ship and I finally decided to buy the Boscia Tinted Moisturizer to pair it with the Oil-free Hyrdation Cream that I bought earlier. I'm excited to use it tomorrow night for my flight home. Speaking of plane rides, there are certain things you need to take with you especially when you're 36,000ft up there where the air is dry and your skin gets ultra dehydrated.

1. Lip balm- get the one that is super hydrating

2. Face spritzer/mist- to freshen up your face once in a while

3. Listerine breath spray-this is a treasure find, it gives your breath a minty buzz

4. Make-Up- powder, lipstick and maybe blush too for touch ups before landing

5. Toothbrush/toothpaste- though they do give you one

Why your Make Up deserves to be on the same flight as you

Long title right? You'll see why. Never ignore the airlines when they tell you to be at the airport 3 hrs before your flight or down-sizing your toiletries to a certain amount and putting it in a ziploc bag. I did just the opposite and the rest is history and literally it (my toiletries) was history after that. I got to the airport 30 min before the flight was to take off. So I ran towards the counter and checked in. Not knowing what was to come.... I put my handcarry in the xray machine and that was when shit hit the fan. The technician saw my toiletry kit with huge bottles of my shampoo, conditioner, toner, foundation, cologne, etc. She then told me I couldn't bring them because it's against airline regulations. I started looking at her like she was talking to me in Chinese or something. So my bubble thought was " Why don't you just kill me right now?! " It's either I mail it to myself or leave it behind. Both options didn't exactly make me do the dance of joy so I pleaded with her to allow me to take it. For one, I didn't have time to mail it anymore and secondly, leaving it was a mortal sin. If your toiletry kit is not in your bag then what's the use of the bag right? But I had to make a painful choice, I left them ALL.:((( Because of this experience, I've learned to follow them and save some mullah. Most importantly it avoids being separated from your friends in the future. :)))

Makeup Review: Benefit One Hot Minute

photo from benefit cosmetics

Benefit's One Hot Minute is a loose powder with a rose-gold tint to it.  You can use it as a finishing powder, a bronzer, a highlighter or a blush....so,  a very multi functional item if you ask me.  According to Benefit, you can also use it on your decollete...which is a plus.  But I mainly use it as a bronzer and then a blush on top of it.  One Hot Minute gives you a radiance that is quite different from other bronzers.  It almost has that 'just been to the beach' kind of look.  Perfect if you actually have a tan to match! :)

When you're in a hurry and you only have a few minutes to get ready,  you can just pop this on your cheeks and voila, contour and blush at the same time.

Thanks for reading and see you next time!

Wish List July 2010

Hello ladies.  This post is just my way of thinking out loud and hoping that the angels will hear me.....or, for my husband to have an idea on what to give me on my birthday, or any day in case he gets a glimpse of this (I'm crossing my fingers).... and it's my way of helping you guys complete your shopping lists.

Foundation: Make up Forever Matt Velvet +( I tried it and true to its name, it's matte and  velvety); Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup (might work since I have acne prone skin);

Eyeshadow: Urban Decay's Naked palette (I am currently obsessed with neutral eye shadows; Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Eye Palette ( looks very fun to wear although it is no longer available); MAC Paint Pot in Painterly or Soft Ochre ( I heard some people say that it works as a primer/base)

Blush - Laura Mercier Cream Blush in Canyon; MAC Cream Blush in Virgin Isle; Tarte Cheek Stain; Benefit Sugar Bomb; or any blush that has a light purple shade

Mascara - Chanel Inimitable Mascara; Shiseido Perfect Mascara; Benefit Bad Gal Lash

Lipstick - Urban Decay in Trainwreck; any lipstick that is in the magenta/red violet shade


What is it that you are wishing for right now?   Thanks for reading and see you next time!

Makeup Review: Ebay Eyeshadow Palettes

Another alternative to expensive eyeshadows is an eyeshadow palette that you can buy from Ebay.  There is an assortment of these palettes, from blush palettes, eyeshadow palettes, lip palette and a combination of all 3.  What I have are the original 88 eyeshadow palette, 88 warm palette and the 28 neutral palette (picture posted as enumerated)
Pros:

• You get a whole range of colors

• Very affordable

• Very pigmented

• Some of the shades are similar to MAC shadows

Cons:

• Shipping takes about 2 weeks or more

• Some colors are unusable unless you do theater makeup or you're a makeup artist (some are just too bright for everyday)

• Size of individual eyeshadows are rather small (88 palette)

• Shipping costs more than the makeup itself

• No guarantee that it will not be damaged while being shipped (just like what happened to my order but the good thing is the seller did not charge me for it. yey!)

Overall, it is a good palette to have especially for those who enjoy experimenting with different colors of eyeshadows and for those who don't mind that it has no brand.  You get a great value for money when you purchase these makeup products.
If you are interested in buying a palette, do send us a comment below.
Thanks for reading.  See you next time!

Make Up Brush Review: ELF Foundation Brush

I'm so thankful I did not spend so much on a foundation brush. This one just takes the cake and the price is unbelievable ($1). You might think the quality is also worth $1 but I tell you it's not. It's definitely no MAC but it will definitely do its job. I followed the instructions at the back on how to get the best effect (using upward strokes) and there it was, the 9th wonder of the world...no streaks and it covered my face evenly!!! Who knew??? Now I want to hoard just in case...

Skin care review: Boscia Oil-free Daily Hydration SPF 15

My new discovery in the skincare department. It's a moisturizer that hydrates the skin, controls shine, minimizes pores and provides sun protection all in one tube. I've checked other brands but this one I like because of the natural ingredients and none of those chemicals. It wasn't long ago I was singing praises for the Smashbox Anti-shine but I can't help but love this product too. I decided to use it as a primer before my foundation and it worked. Today, I tried to wear it alone then just covered it with powder, the effect was still ok. I just wanted to give my skin a break from all that foundation and blush action. So In case you come across this product, give it a try. I'm sure it won't disappoint. Good Day Ladies....

Basic Makeup Brushes

Hi everyone!  I thought I'd write something about some makeup tools that are essential to our 'hobby' :).  I started buying MAC makeup brushes probably last year and truly believe in them.  Although they are on the pricey side you are guaranteed of quality.  I'm pretty sure there are other brands that are better but I think the MAC ones are great for people who aren't professional MUAs.  When I started getting serious with makeup I bought a small set from Essence of Beauty.  It had a powder brush, blush brush, eyeshadow brush, concealer brush and a smudge brush.  It did an okay job and to this day I still use the powder and the blush brush.  Hated the smudge brush though for it hurt my eyes every time I used it. 
After some time I thought that for me to have the makeup look I wanted I had to have the right tools.  And since a MAC set was going to put a dent on my pocket I thought of buying the Sigma Makeup Brush set instead.  The labels/numbers of the brushes were the same as

Skincare Review by Eglantine Price: Origins

Origins of Species                                                                
In the beginning God made heaven & earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. And God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day. And God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters." And God made the firmament and separated the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament. And it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.
And sometime between the 6^th and 7^th day before God rested, God created the sebaceous gland. These microscopic glands are the ones responsible for the secretion of sebum which lubricates the skin and hairs of mammals. In humans, they are found in greatest abundance on the face and scalp. And sadly on this particular human, they are found in the most superlative abundance on his God forsaken face.
When one is blessed or cursed (depends how you look at it) skin that produces oil that can rival BP’s leaking oil well, one must finds ways of trying to “plug the damn hole,” as Obama succinctly puts it. However, instead of blaming genetics for it (that means you, dad), one must attempt to experiment with various products which will eventually lead you to the right one. Others say this is trial and error, I, on the other hand, prefer to call it, that’s right spend more, screw up your face with this useless gunk and waste plenty of time. The constant pursuit of finding the perfect solution for this dilemma has been an age-old quest, kind of like the quest for the Holy Grail.

The latest from Dr. Evil.....

Yesterday was suppose to be a routine thing, I wake up, eat breakfast and go exercise. Which I did. I decided to go for a run outside so I took the car to one of the parks and ran there. After 40mins or so, as I was approaching my car, I saw this huge whole on my window!!!! Aaaaaah! I knew right away that my bag was gone and everything in it and I mean EVERYTHING. It was bad enough that I couldn't decide on a Tinted Moisturizer but now I have to recreate by Make Up kit again. So today I did just that and then some. I bought 2 lip balms, a nude lipstick, and the Neutrogena Natural Radiance Bronzer in Sunkissed. I wasn't missing a bronzer ha but I've been thinking of buying this one so might as well right? This has a combination of shades that works on multiple skin tones. L has been helping me find a bronzer similar to the Laura Mercier Illuminating one she lent me. Hopefully this one is good enough. Buti na lang sale din sya. After all of that, I went on to check out another Bobbi Brown TM recommended by my sister. This one is oil-free, lighter than the balm version and cheaper by $10. Still pricey....pffft. And to make matters worse, they had a Face base primer which I also wanted. Grrr. It's a fantastic primer/moisturizer with vitamis/shea butter plus a lovely citrus smell. Oh did I tell you it's $50? Mahihimatay na ata ako....why do they cost so much??? oh well sometimes you really have to spend if you want the best. It just takes a little bit of nudging and more cash. But I think it's more of the cash...til my next post ladies, goodnight.

Makeup Review: Eyeshadow Primer

My favorite part about applying makeup is using eyeshadow and since our weather is rarely cool I felt I had to make sure my eyeshadows don't crease in the middle of the day.  So my search started - to find a good primer that will help me achieve my goal (not to look oily at all cost).  Here are some of the primers I have tried so far.
Laura Mercier's Eye Basic - At first I thought that it was an okay product until I realized it wasn't really a primer. I believe it is more like a shadow base.  The color that I have is Wheat and it works in the sense that it evens out my eyelid shade.
Urban Decay's Primer Potion - One of the best ones out there!  It has no color and glides on smoothly. No creasing from sun up to sun down! Only thing is, it is kind of drying so I have to put an eye cream on my lids at night before I go to sleep.  Unfortunately, it is currently not available here in Manila.
MAC's Prep and Prime Eyes - Once again at first I thought it was great but after a few hours I found out that it was not so great.  Although it is much better than the eye basics I can tell u that.  It has a cream to powder like consistency and it matches my eyelid shade perfectly.  Maybe I should just use a dab so it wouldn't crease on me?  I'll experiment on this some more.
Smashbox eye lid primer - Flesh tone and a bit creamier than the eye basics but it works! Works better than the MAC and the Laura Mercier.  Available at Beauty Bar.
I have heard some people say that Mac's Paint Pots can be used as primers, have you guys tried it? Did it crease or was it able to hold it's own in our climate?

Thanks for reading.  See you next time!

Makeup Review Requests

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