I actually don’t really get why I haven’t done proper individual reviews for K-palette items because I use them to every liquid pen’s death, both for eyes and brows.  It just occurred to me that I’ve repeatedly thrown the 1Day Tattoo brow and liquid  eyeliners into a handful of favorites and what’s-in-my-travel-bag posts but there hasn’t been a day when I’ve given them the individual spotlight…I was too busy well…using them LOL.  Well, today is still not the day (even though I’ve been sent the new formula) only because a K-Palette newborn is still grabbing my attention.  Say hello to the 1Day Tattoo Automatic Pencil Eyeliners, now available for Php795 at Beauty Bar!  Hats off to you guys these nibs say.  I got so excited when these arrived that I opened them and swatched them immediately the evening I got them, but I did shoot the stuff for this post just this morning.

What’s lovely about these pencils are 1 they are automatic so no sharpening required, and the small nibs ensure no matter how far down you go you can always still draw nearly sharp flicks, 2 They go on smoothly dark, not drag-gy like some cheaper longwearing eyeliners, and 3 They set waterproof but give you a window of about 15 seconds to smudge them if you like before they set!  They’re also way more easy to smudge in the first few seconds than the standard gel pencil liners most of which give yucky blend quality, not these, though.

What I like about working with supreme makeup pencil products like these is they’re more forgiving for the less skilled lining hand, maybe for some of you who hate working with liquid liner.    This makes it especially easy when doing seemingly impossible flicks on hooded eyes like mine.  Read more for extra photos, details, and the professional video tutorial I referred to online in order to achieve this feline cat look.

The longevity of these pencils is also pretty good. Well, I tested these these swatches on my arm…overnight in bed. I’ve also washed my hands, taken a shower again, and soaped these while in the shower. This is what remains from yesterday after all that. I conclude you need an oil based cleanser or true makeup remover to be rid of it.

I was inspired to do a Feline Cat Flick eye with these automatic pencils the way the great MUA Charlotte Tilbury does her signature eye look. That lady makeup artist is Wonderwoman with the use of cosmetic pencils, for me she’s the best with them.

With pencils you also get also a softer, visually velvety stroke that amps the sophistication of  any eye look instantly, it’s not as papercut harsh as liquid liner can tend to be sometimes.  These K-Palette 1Day Tattoo Automatic Eyeliner pencils are available at Beauty Bar for Php795! Check out the reference video by Charlotte Tilbury I followed to do this eye look at the bottom of this post.

The video below is where Charlotte Tilbury shares how to do her Feline Cat Flick, this is the video I used as a reference when I did my eyes here.  Charlotte is not using a K-Palette pencil but the technique she uses (even on herself) is immediately applicable with this wonderful Japanese product.  After watching this check out her channel for more videos.  I am an official fangirl of Lisa Eldridge and Charlotte Tilbury who happen to be “industry batchmates” following the legendary batch of celebrity makeup artists like Mary Greenwell (their mentor), Francois Nars, Laura Mercier, Kevyn Aucoin…and more.  Watch this embedded video.

I don’t own a ton of MAC eyeshadows. I only had Brule and Club to my name and now this one which makes 3. I was in search of a wearable eyeshadow that could work the lid scene on its own and not darken the situation. Something you could apply evenly with a single ring finger for both lids…something like the ultimate workhorse champagne beige hue. Behold MAC All That Glitters eyeshadow which ironically isn’t all that glitters…

MAC All That Glitters isn’t at all nearly gold enough to be called rose gold. It’s a true rosy champagne beige with a satiny sheen. It’s kind of like MAC Cosmetics’ version of Stila’s Kitten eyeshadow which is pretty,too, but Stila’s Kitten is so soft and crumbly and with too much fallout for a rush job Vivianna of Vivianna Does Makeup raved about this eyeshadow as the sort that gets people commenting even though sometimes they can’t find the words to describe what’s on your lids. It’s also an obviously wearable bridal shade. I got mine for Php900 from the Rockwell MAC Cosmetics outlet.… Read the rest

I’ve been using this for over a year and as I said have never given it the spotlight ’till today.  People often ask what i use to achieve a practically perfect and graphic kitty flick despite my hooded eye folds.  This one by K-Palette is the one.  I needn’t go on and on about it to show how easy it is to use…the results speak for themselves.

What I loved about the original formula is even though it wasn’t marked “waterproof” yet, this black liquid liner was already resistant to smudging even in humid conditions (as long as you didn’t rub violently).

The pointed brush tip pen which reminds me of the ones used for calligraphy helps in creating perfect smooth lines and points.This new formula is special because it’s more water resistant but NOW (ironically) using warm enough water it’s easier to wash off at the end of the day without all the bad rubbing. It also (after several seconds), won’t easily transfer to your upper lid later in the day if you’ve got hooded or oriental eyes.

I tried wearing this last week at the LTO while getting my driver’s license. I was there for at least 5-6 hours from morning till afternoon sweating…it didn’t fail me. I do honestly suggest using this directly on the lid without foundation or moist primer underneath because it won’t go on as well. It’s better directly on skin or over lids that have eyeshadow already. My only con is this pen runs out hmmm, I’d say kind of surprisingly quickly. If I thickly line my eyes daily or almost daily I’ll run out of it in about 18-20 days I’d say. However in the end…overall, no other liquid liner pen helps me make thick or thin perfect liner looks as K-Palette’s 1Day Tattoo Eyeliner pen…always a keeper. Umm…I recall purchasing my first one from Beauty Bar awhile back for about Php800++? This improved one was supplied by K-Palette Philippines for review.

Today is all about makeup kit weight loss, sticking with stuff that works and what you need. Capsule kits are king this spring/summer because of all the holidays people will be taking and college girls are about to start school again this June. The makeup pouch, kit, sack…whatever… is what always ends up a burgeoning mess halfway out the door for girls who care (like myself) simply because we’re finicky and like trying different things. People are talking about paring down the kit but to make things easier for the variation among you I’m doing a 2-part series. First for today a bare minimum 5 products (excluding tools) for those who need to look done and don’t fuss as much and then a more trooper-esque 10 products next time for the hopelessly devoted. Bear in mind this is not as much about the branded products presented as it is essentially 5 general cosmetic items you will need to put a fresh, lightly done face on. This Part 1 post will also be segmented two ways. It will begin with the “5 to Survive” for makeup noobs (easy to use products with minimal tools) and then the 5 to survive for the part-time “pros” with more skill. Please note that these are recommendations and you can of course substitute different brands that offer the same sort of product. The mixes may or may not work for you but I’m free to present why I think they should work .

THE MAKEUP NOOB’S FIVE TO SURVIVE

So you need to primp and you don’t care as much as the rest of the female population ( And that’s okay, we are born in variants) but you need to keep staples on hand at all times to put a face on as needed. You may or may not be an athlete, social worker, a nurse, a spy (who sees you) or maybe a mother of 10 but whatever the case you do have more important pursuits than fussing with your face. You loathe needing skills to use different brushes other than a powder brush and the idea of using multiple eyeshadow and blending forever recycles itself…binned at the back of your mind. Maybe this lot is for you. I sacrificed eyeliner because mascara works for me at a bare minimum. If you can’t live without eyeliner add to the 5 and make it 6, no one’s stopping you hehe.

CLOCKWISE: 1.) A foundation or base product that can be built to conceal (Shiseido Perfect Refining foundation SPF 24), 2.) A lip and cheek product (Benefit ChaCha Tint), 3.) A volumizing waterproof mascara (L’Oreal False Lash Telescopic this is the non-waterproof , my WP one is already ugly to look at lol), 4.) A liquid brow pen (K-palette 1DayTattoo Eyebrow pen I cheated and used the eyeliner for the photo, but it looks the same), 5.) A mineral compact setting powder (MakeUp Factory Mineral Compact, you can also use MAC MSF Natural but that doesn’t have a mirror)

TOOLS FOR THE MAKEUP NOOB – See no worries, just the Shu Uemura lash curler and a retractable powder brush. My brush is an Ecotools one but you can locally get premium ones by Charm makeup brushes.

This Top 5 set I put together keeping in mind that people without the skill or any plan to add to what they can do with their hands should have convenient options. You can apply the foundation with your hands beginning at the center of your face. This Shiseido one I chose is as thin as a tinted moisturizer, comes in a dinky convenient dropper bottle and offers medium to full coverage so you can add more in certain areas to conceal more. While the foundation is still moist add the cheek tint, the one I chose by Benefit quickly stains which is why you have to massage it onto the apples of your cheeks immediately once applied. Fill in sparse areas of your brows with the brow pen and and perfect the tail. Proceed to powder the T-zone and chin with the Makeup Factory mineral compact. Lastly, curl your lashes and apply mascara thickly at the base of the roots and thinner at the tips. Read more to see the Five to Survive set I chose for part-time makeup pros.

For the next set say HELLO to the hopelessly devoted. We know a little bit more just because it’s our “thing”. Some of us don’t actually know how we suddenly got to knowing this much but there’s always room for slashing the kit when needing to travel light.

THE PART-TIME MAKEUP PRO’S FIVE TO SURVIVE

When it comes to beauty you know more than most, whether it’s because you took a class, pour over blogs and vlogs daily, or maybe because it’s your job…whatever the reason you basically know a lot more about cosmetics. You know things like makeup with next to none or no SPF looks better in photos and you can do your brows properly YOUR WAY with an angled brush and eyeshadow, you can also line them the same way. You know what the pantone color of the year is, most of the time anyway and like products that are easy to use but can still give you room to customize. The relevance of the word CREASE matters to you and you get goosebumps if someone hasn’t taken their base down their neck. These are my 5 picks for the part-time makeup pro.

CLOCKWISE: 1.) A mineral or matte setting powder (MakeUp Factory Mineral Compact #6 = NC35 in MAC), 2.) A neutral eyeshadow palette with light base colors and smoky colors that can be used on brows also (NARS And God Created the Woman palette), 3.) A foundation you can build for heavier coverage. (Koh Gen Do Moisture Foundation), 4.) A lipliner shade close to your lipcolor for defining and reshaping (Makeup Factory Lip Definer Pencil #80), 5.) A truly volumizing but not messy mascara (L’Oreal Telescopic Lash Mascara)

As you can see I made a few more tools available and these “5 to survive” products offer more possibilities for the intermediate makeup consumer. Make sure that a few hours or the night beforehand you’ve pre-moisturized your face and prepped your lips with balm. You can begin the look by applying a buildable foundation outward from the center of the face, Koh Gen Do Moisture without SPF is my current fave, if this is too pricy for you try L’Oreal True Match liquid or MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation (tube) . Dab more product over areas that need more coverage. If you like, apply an oil-free sunscreen beforehand or substitute this base for a BB Cream. Using the lip pencil make a few gentle but visible strokes on your cheeks and massage in to create a as apop of color (I’ve tried this). With an angled brush fill in your brows with an appropriate brow shade from your eyeshadow palette. Set your base lightly with mineral powder along the T-zone and chin. Take the lip pencil again to define and fill your lips this time, this will look more natural and last longer during the day than a full-on lipstick. Apply eyeshadow from the palette always beginning with the shade closest to your skintone or lighter, pat all over the lid blend edges. Smoke it in the outside corners or crease of the eye with a natural brown or darker shade if it’s an evening look. Up to you if you want to line your eyes by dampening the angled brush and taking darkest eyeshadow shade along the lashline. Curl your lashes and rock the mascara from the roots upwards, do bottom lashes if you like.

I’ll have to update this post with the finished looks for both Top 5 sets. Next up will be my Trooper Ten selection for a more full on complete arsenal for those who can’t live without a little of everything. Sorry I couldn’t put the face shots in today. If you follow me you already know I’ve been consumed by our dog being ill and confined twice in 2 weeks…he has a liver prob and pain from spinal compression and I’ve been caring for him and have been so sleepy. He’s our older but not so old dog so I do expect him to get better…I’ve just been emotionally put out by seeing Jack in so much pain and refusing to eat. Hoping and praying he gets well soon.

To be honest, Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof, the popular US drugstore mascara, was my very, very first purchase on Ebay 4 years ago. I made the mistake of purchasing the BIG washable variant, that one really wouldn’t stay on the whole day but prior to that first purchase I had already tried a tube of the waterproof one and that worked well for me. The thing is, the waterproof variant holds curl exceedingly well. Here it is in updated packaging with the white “Waterproof” stamp near the bottom.

I happen to think that what turns people off is the screwy wand which doesn’t do much for big lashes, it’s fine for smaller eyes like mine…I find it easy to art direct my lashes with, but that’s me…it might not work for you. I think this is why some people prefer to get the curved waterproof variant which comes with a denser curved brush…wait a minute does that variant still exist? I only see the curved washable one on the site. Anyway…Great Lash waterproof also happens to be the mascara that Regine Velasquez used on her wedding day, the day she made herself up. I saw the behind the scenes photos. So why is it popular among artists locally? I personally noticed it has excellent curl holding power for women like myself with smaller eyes and less dense lashes and it doesn’t make lashes look spidery.

The volume Great Lash gives is not vavavoom volume, it’s everyday wearable volume that’s noticeable. I like putting this on if I don’t want to look too made up but aim to look better than what I look like fresh out of bed. I slept overnight with just this on to test it (only I’m allowed lol) and it lasted without smudging everywhere. Waterproof mascara variants always hold curl better as I have observed. I’ve seen this for a fact having used L’Oreal False Lash Telescopic in both the waterproof and regular versions, the regular one didn’t hold curl for more than 5 minutes. It’s possible that the same chemical that prevents mascara pigment from smudging when wet also holds lash curl longer. There’s also a slim possibility that Great Lash works and looks better in humid climates than in dry climates, I haven’t met a hater here locally just yet but there are so many beauty insiders who hate this mascara online in Europe and in the U.S., the opinion abroad is pretty split up. This one is pretty popular among makeup artists here, I see it in their kits and well it works for me. I also like that it’s one of the more affordable working drugstore mascaras for myself, it only costs about $6 from US drugstores like Walgreens OR if you’d like to get it locally check out @thebeautystudioPH : a style and beauty store on Instagram and on Facebook here. They’ve got other cool things as well.

*product provided by @thebeautystudioph on Instagram for review

Beach days are slowly floating away, but these rich colors are here to stay.  Some of my blogger friends wondered why I didn’t keep my previous Shiseido Eyecolor Trio “Pink Sands”…well for one, I wanted to give something special to you guys for Spring, so I gave it away, and 2 because I preferred the palette in this colorway, RD 299 Beach Grass…reminiscent of those tropical summer sunsets.

If you’ve ever found yourself giving up on shimmer in your thirties (yea, watch me embrace my big three oh! lol) or even your late twenties that’s because many shimmery eyeshadow compacts out there are haphazardly bad to work with.  They’ve often got tons of fallout and knockout chunks of sparkle that on occasion may not be sophisticated or even enhance wrinkles and fine lines.  It’s all forgivable to just sit on those shimmer shades and slap on everything matte to be safe but let me throw this curve-ball at you.  There’s actually nothing like a bit of properly placed, high quality satin shimmer to draw out a bit of youth around those weary eyes.  Lisa Eldridge hardly ever holds back on shimmer in her tutorials on herself, and she’s in her early 40s!  The key is to use an eye primer you don’t get fall out, find the sort of eyeshadow shimmer texture that will not fail you and not put it beyond a certain point, and do your base AFTER your eyes so you can clean up around the eye.  Read more to sort of (coz it’s not video…meh) see this eyecolor trio in action!

The Luminizing Satin Trios by Shiseido have the sort of quality you need if you’d like to take a leap of faith with some sparkle.  If the purple scares you, you needn’t even use the purple during the daytime.  The texture is silky, pigment strength is medium, and the powder product is not too crumbly so it’s pretty firm in the pan.  Fall out is nearly next to none, I’d say minimal to be safe and very, very fine, not grainy at all.

What drew me to this palette was not the purple but the rosy gold desert shade and the vanilla shade which together is one of the BEST daytime makeup combinations in eyeshadow (for light medium to tan skin) I’ve seen in a good long while.  The vanilla shade is perfect on a medium to fair browbone and the rose gold desert shade all over the lid is sooo pretty.

My big camera for some strange reason couldn’t catch the satin finish too well today.  So check the next photo taken with my mobile, lower resolution but it shows the satin finish the way it looks in real life.

See?  That’s all you really need in the daytime, it’s the sort of look that lots of women who’ve asked me want to achieve, the almost-nothing-but-something-there look.  You get lift beneath the brow and a pretty sheen over the lid.  Then if you’d like to deepen the look for a not too intense evening look work in the warm purple in the crease and blend it outward.

Worn with Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse foundation in Sand Beige, Anastasia Brow duo compact, and Majolica Majorca Lash Expander mascara. I also took some of the vanilla shade from the Eyecolor Trio down the bridge of my nose with a MAC 217 brush.

One of the keys to working with shimmer shades and colored eyeshadow if you’re a beginner is to gently build it up not aggressively pack it on ’till you see something happening because all you’ll have is a mess that way.    Check out how beautiful blogger Evonne puts these to use along with the rest of the Luminizing Satin range here at this link (I got all googly eyed over her Luminizing Satin blush in OR308…omg, a tender ORANGE!  They don’t seem to have that blush shade here!).

The Luminizing Satin Eyecolor Trio eyeshadow compacts by Shiseido are a very forgiving introduction to color if you’re interested to venture out beyond taupe, bronze, and chocolate shades for your eyes.  They’ve got that sophisticated shimmer sheen to give your eyes a bit of lift.  They’re premium products from a premium house so yes, they’re not cheap, but if you don’t want to be be disappointed and happen to be a makeup person with no commitment issues and are a one-product-til’-I-hit-pan person might as well try this out and get your money’s worth.  It’s about Php1350 if I’m not mistaken.  It also comes in another colorway, Pink Sands which Evonne blogs about here.

*product provided for review by SHISEIDO Philippines

Benefit Cosmetics have been making lots of nice changes within their range and have been launching a handful of new beauty “swoonworthy” items this year.  I attended the exclusive hardhat pre-launch celebration of their upcoming branch at SM Mall of Asia just the other day and came away with these to show you!  Almost all here are shown beside the packaging swag they come suited up in.

CLOCKWISE: Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow Php1100 (Always a Bridesmaid…huhu lol), Benefit Hydrating Fake Up Concealer about Php1100, Benefit Cha Cha Go-Go, about Php1000 (Portable Tint + Gloss), Benefit Ultra Plush Lipgloss Php900 (Kiss You), Benefit Gimme Brow (Light/Medium) Brush-on Tint (about Php900), Benefit Longwear Shadow Php1100 (Nude Swings)

In a nutshell, this is awesome…

…this is now smoother and cuter (it feels like it doesn’t dry up as quickly)…

…this is smoother than most…

…this is pretty with no sticky…

 …and this powder eyeshadow is very basic beauty.  The one I don’t have a closeup photo of is the Cha-Cha Go Go tint+gloss tube, it’s basically Cha Cha Tint in a more handy form plus a clear gloss.  I’m loving the Art Deco-ish take on the repurposed reusable packaging some of the products come in, like the eyeshadow boxes.

There are some other new products being launched as well so keep up with the updates via @benefitbeautyph on Instagram and on the Benefit Cosmetics Philippines FB page.  I was told that the SM Mall of Asia branch would be officially open on July 26, some were thinking July 25 on the Benefit Cosmetics page but I believe as of today they might still be doing some pretty polishing in the new branch so it would be best to check it out for sure in a day or two .  Stand alone reviews on some of these goodies are upcoming of course .

The super pigmented delights that are the Shawill makeup products more often than not catch my interest when I hover over Watsons SM beauty floors.  The products are alarmingly affordable which may lead you to question the ingredients but the blushes I bought almost 2 years ago never broke me out and I was almost always drawn to their undoubtedly chrome-y metallic, velvety eyeshadow ranges.  Once in awhile I do like to have a dig in the department store beauty floors, simply because it’s a vast well of dupes for more expensive items waiting to be discovered.  Several months back I came across a local blog, if you’re reading this forgive me but I forgot to write your URL down (leave it in the comments), that mentioned a Shawill Mono Eyeshadow dupe for MAC cosmetics’ popular Club eyeshadow which I’ve reviewed before over here.  She wasn’t kidding, the MAC Club duochrome’s close dupe is Shawill’s Mono Eyeshadow #006 and #002 is a close dupe for MAC’s Warming Trend or Satin Taupe.  Take note, they’re successfully mirroring the mentioned MAC eyeshadows at a delightful Php69.00 each and are available at select SM Watsons beauty floors.  Both have a finish that’s a cross between a MAC veluxe pearl and satin.

Both shots, Left to Right: Shawill Mono Eyeshadow in 002 and 006

The eyeshadow texture is a velvet, pigmented consistency that glides smoothly over skin, however beware that if you drop this it is soft enough to crumble and break apart.  You can see how the Shawill #006 transformation from the first photo to the next proves it’s a successful MAC Club dupe.  The way 006 shifts from khaki to a deep chocolate brown depending on the angle copies MAC Club almost exactly, the green aspect of MAC Club is more teal than a medium khaki.  The simple taupe shade that is 002 seems to be pretty close to either MAC Satin Taupe or the once available shade that is Warming Trend.

  I’ve only got a proper example today of Shawill #006 on my eye, the other photos were not worthy of posting due to bad lighting.  What I love about the effect that mimics MAC club is it does happen to be one of the most easy to use single eyeshadows for parties out because it makes it look like you’ve put on not one but two colors.  See how #006 appears brown in the crease and khaki over the lid?  That’s value for Php69.00 I must say.  By the way, sometime this weekend or next I’ll be browsing through new, fresher themes and layouts for the blog.  I’ve just been too much of a coward to take the leap, backup my data and face the possible kinks that might involve giving this blog a makeover, but it’s been way beyond the due date for one so I’d better get to it.  Don’t worry the layout will still stay minimal, white and fresh still with a right sidebar…I just need it to give it a bit more room to breathe, new typefaces, and revamp it a little for everyone’s sake.  I’ll put up a post noting when I’ll be “renovating” so anticipate intermittent downtime once I do, and please pray nothing goes wrong, thanks.  Meanwhile, before my cautionary post goes up and I finally sit on a layout I like…onward with the features and keep reading!

Since my last favorite L’Oreal False Lash Telescopic mascara is on its way out past the 6 month mark (you should see how horrid the tube looks, peeling to bits) I picked up the locally available NEW Revlon Lash Potion Mascara in the waterproof variant (often, non-waterproof mascaras don’t hold lash curl).  I’m quite the sucker for cute packaging and I think Revlon went really smart and magical with the colorway of this tube, I like having it in my pouch.  The performance catch most great mascaras have in exchange for photogenic lashes is the stiff brittle texture on lashes.  Last year I raved about Maybelline Full N’ Soft waterproof mascara which isn’t available here.  That was a good all-around daily mascara that wasn’t clumpy for me, held curl well, and didn’t make my lashes completely feel like they’d passed through a deep fryer.  This one by Revlon is a comparably similar conditioning, intensifying formula that still leaves behind detectably attractive wisp and flutter on those lashes without the clumps.  Someone commented on my recent Benefit Gimme Brow review asking what mascara I was using because my lashes were more natural looking and I suppose they were also still noticeably bold and out there.  This was what I had on.  It’s my very first Revlon mascara purchase and I’ve never tried the original Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara in the green tube which the Pixiwoo sisters on Youtube use quite a lot so I won’t be making a comparison between this and that.  Basically, Revlon’s Grow Luscious mascara range combines a nourishing lash treatment formula with mascara.  The treatment does not cause lashes to grow but discourages breakage with strengthening proteins as lashes repopulate.

“Magically transform lashes to lush, long and lustrous. A potion with strengthening proteins drenches lashes for volume. Triple-groove wand combs through for clump-free length.”

Volume and length provided by this mascara is moderate but noticeable.  So if you don’t want to go over the top this is great.  Note that you can build thickness with this beautifully so if you want to “Go bold or go home” this can do that for you if layered twice or thrice properly.  If you’ve been wondering about Maybelline Full N’ Soft in the U.S. Revlon Lash Potion  is extremely similar, it just comes with a bigger more traditional brush instead of plastic wand that separates lashes nicely for me, but I do wish the brush was tapered smaller at the tip  like the original Revlon Grow Luscious wand.  My only peeve about this brush is for small to medium eyes (especially Oriental lids) application can be a bit messy against the edge of the eyelid because of the size of the brush, but for more than medium to large eyes you will love this.  My eye size is right smack in the middle so I’m fine working with it.  The way this mascara makes my lashes appear and feel more wispy instead of crispy is totally worth the once in awhile small smudges I get upon application.  The waterproof variant, which is what I have, lasts well throughout the day without smudging along the top lashline, on the bottom lashline it’s not as effective, it smudges just a wee bit but doesn’t make a huge mess.  Ergo it may not be the best bottom lash mascara so use it sparingly along there.  For the waterproof varian there is some strong resistance to makeup remover but not a whole lot to cause a headache.

At the moment I’ll throw in a “better together” mention with the Kevyn Aucoin lash curler.  Compared to the Shu lash curler the KA curler (red silicon pad), which Lisa Eldridge uses alternately sometimes, gives a different  effect.  It doesn’t give a tight “C” showbiz sort of curl across all lashes, it gives a more gentle forwardly flared out curl that looks more natural as you’ll see in the photos I’ve just posted.

Just as I hate corkscrew curls that aren’t brushed out after a curling iron I cannot stand over-curled lashes that bend back on themselves.  For majorly stubborn lashes though that uncurl on their own I still recommend the Shu Uemura curler for a super tight perm because the “C” will uncurl slightly to give that natural effect  if your lashes are stubborn.  I like how the KA curler works for me in the sense that it flares the lashes at the outer eye corner enhancing the wispy effect of Revlon Lash Potion mascara even more.  I purchased the Kevyn Aucoin lash curler for Php1,000 via Pure Beauty at Serendra (2nd floor above Mamou then walk right)  Note to buyers, for the Revlon Lash Potion mascara it’s not one of the cheaper mascaras locally, it’s about Php750…which is practically double the U.S. price ($7.99/Php360+) but it’s nonetheless here, within reach in leading department stores and PCX plus Watsons boutiques.

Before I get to Bad Gal WP just wanted to share, I’m sure some of you probably wondered why I haven’t reviewed Benefit’s OTHER super popular They’re Real Mascara.  That one is a marvelous lengthening big lashes sort of mascara but I have one huge peeve regarding it, it doesn’t hold curl or give curl for girls with straight lashes especially in a country as humid as ours.  They’re Real mascara works superbly for girls of Indian, Latin, or Afro descent who already have curled lashes because it gives them definition, bigness, and length, but if you’re like me with stick straight lashes it’s a no-lift story.  Sorry to my Benebabe friends over at Benefit, I’m being HONEST JULIA here, I know you’re like super promoting They’re Real, but other than providing volume and length it doesn’t work for me in the curl department, there I’ve said it.  I still encourage girls to try it because for some girls it works really well and they like it, but for me it doesn’t work as well.  I set up to shoot and review They’re Real in the past TWICE, and after curling my lashes on both occasions and applying the mascara, the product would uncurl my lashes even before I could take a decent snapshot and I ended up giving up and wiping it off.  Check how the same thing happened to my friend, Liz of Project Vanity when she tried They’re Real here.  Here’s what I totally, TOTALLY don’t understand, must be a global marketing restraint thing, why doesn’t Benefit locally promote an even better mascara I totally overlooked in their stores, which is Benefit’s BAD GAL WATERPROOF Mascara, take note, yes, the waterproof variant.  It’s the same price as They’re Real and sales are sales, right?  This mascara is…according to ME…THE BOMB because lashes totally go BOOM without looking crispy.  This so far is my TOP choice for a high end (Php1200) mascara, it’s the same price as They’re Real but for me is even better.  The tube is delightfully more chic and as slim as a fine cigar.

The wand is I think also partly the key to why this mascara is great, it’s got a similar shape and size to the They’re Real wand but it uses traditional densely packed bristles to coat lashes.

HELLO??!!?  See my point?  Big, black, bold volume and EVEN some added length. Check the huge difference on my bottom lashes, too, in the before & after shot.

I didn’t use as much of the mascara here, but it’s nice to know you can choose to layer it sparingly or more generously.  You can still sort of see from this mobile photo that in spite of dark eyeliner the lashes are still noticeable.

I just…gee, I don’t even need to say too much, the pictures say it all and that curl I’m boasting in the profile shot is still going strong as I type this and they don’t feel crispy.  This mascara even makes my lashes feel as soft as they do when I’m using Maybelline’s Full N’ Soft Mascara.  Remember, any mascara’s waterproof variant is usually the more dependable when it comes to curl hold because usually waterproof mascaras contain more tar (remember what Noah used to waterproof the ark?  Yup…).  I’m not even sure if the regular Bad Gal variant will be as fabulous as this waterproof version when it comes to curl hold.  Some people don’t like waterproof mascaras because they can be a pain in the butt to remove, but I’m the sort of person who cannot part with eternal curl and would rather make an effort to remove it when the day is done than have stick straight lashes that might smudge.  Benefit Bad Gal Waterproof mascara is available at Benefit boutiques for Php1200.  This was my personal take away purchase after teaching two full-house workshop batches for Benefit Cosmetics at Greenbelt 5 yesterday.  Once in awhile, for variety, girls like to try high-end mascaras, you may want to give this a go.  Don’t just take my word for it, bring your own lash curler and test this mascara in-store and spend the day at the mall to see how it works for you.

In case you didn’t notice or hear about it, Bobbi Brown PH’s team have lovingly created the Bobbi Brown Gift of Glam Giveaway App via Facebook at this link here.  The app is simple and well designed, just go to the link, make your wishlist, fill in your details and enter daily to check if you’ve won something (my friend, Shen, won something today), I didn’t win today, but I’ll sure be checking in tomorrow :).  It started yesterday (where was I, Alderaan? I must’ve been tired) and they’re accepting daily entries until December 16.  Plus at the end of all that, there’s an even bigger prize for everyone who signed up.

Every signed in account is automatically listed for the raffle to win a final grand prize of Php10,000 worth of makeup separate from the daily prizes.  Happy Holidays!  Click here http://bbrwn.co/GiftofGlamPH to go to the Facebook app.… Read the rest

I actually picked this BYS Cosmetics Guilty Pleasures palette up a month ago without any notion that it might be similar to a luxury palette.  While it wouldn’t be 100% similar in perhaps finish, the tones of 5 shades in this palette made me take notice.  The 5 shades quite nearly match that Chanel Holiday 2013 Nuit Infinie “Charming” palette that scores of women are going kinda cray-cray for abroad.

BYS 01 Guilty Pleasures 10-pc Eyeshadow palette (matte & satin textures) Php499

With the exception of the finish of Chanel’s glittery bronze (the BYS shades are satin) the palette nearly nails it in a slightly warmer, very slightly less neutral way plus the texture is just in my opinion perfect, pigmented and smooth but not crumbly, I even think these textures are better than the Wild & Wild ones that crumble so easily.  Let’s have a look at the similarity of the 5 shades I spotted in my BYS palette versus the palette of the Nuit Inifinie de Chanel collection.  Read and click “more” to make the jump to the full post and see the similarities…with Lisa!

This is the Chanel Nuit Infinie “Charming” palette, but this is a graphic press image…

The more accurate visual as opposed to the Chanel press image is the screenshot of Lisa holding it.  Notice the similarity of the murky violet in both palettes and the order of shades.  The trending of that Chanel Nuit Infinie “Charming” palette worldwide is thanks to Lisa Eldridge who claims that ever since she was sent the collection way in advance the Charming palette has been her personal go-to palette for normal days and even the many socials she’s been attending.  She even shared via Twitter how gutted she was when she accidentally left hers on a trailer van during a shoot.

Now what I did next is I blocked/greyed out the irrelevant shades in the photo of the BYS palette to highlight the 5 shades that are comparable.  They’re not 100% exact but it’s the same hue and tone selection which is beige, gold, taupe, and violet.  Plus, check out my swatches :). With the exception of a sparkly bronze I’m lacking these are pretty decent!

As soon as I swatched these at home I concluded that BYS drugstore eyeshadow palettes are such good value for money.  I’m prepared to call them our own local counterpart of Sleek eyeshadow palettes but they have even better satin and matte shades.  Fall-out amount isn’t awful, it’s moderate.  Some of the matte textures are also comparable to INGLOT eyeshadow.  The palette cost me about Php499 from Watsons, Greenbelt.  BYS isn’t in all Watsons outlets, they’re in SM Aura, Greenbelt, and Megamall, too if I’m not mistaken.

Today, I wanted to do a post where I didn’t have to think too much, but this will still be somewhat lengthy because Hello, it’s a list and not of press stuff I received or purchases either.  This is pretty much the “One can dream…” point and pick party of items that appeal to me and am happy to recommend them for people with similar taste.  We’ve  trimmed down on the extravagance and labor that goes into Christmas parties this year or cut out our company Christmas parties altogether in respect of Storm Haiyan’s victims.  Most of us are aware and we’ve gladly done our share to help. That also means more people can focus more on gift giving.  Whenever I make this wishlist annually please know that I don’t shamelessly email it to family and friends okay?!  These are mostly available locally (don’t be mad if I throw in a few aspirational gifts) and I’ll do the fair mix of high and low for you.  Mmm, I’ll make this a list of 5 beauty and 5 nearly non-beauty buys for the sake of variety…I’ll even throw in one or two things you can eat. Let us begin.  For fun, I’ll alternate the beauty and non-beauty bits.  This post is going to turn into fruitcake.

1.) INGLOT Single Eyeshadow- I’ve got the palettes you place them in, so surprise me with any single eyeshadow shade from a huge array of colors to choose from at their store.  They come dinky and boxed…the size of candy.  (Php375 from the INGLOT boutique at Glorietta 5)

 

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2.) Canon EOS 700D Entry level DSLR – From tiny gift to big gift we go, the reason why I’ve got my eyes set on this is I’ve never owned a DSLR ever and this is a lower level camera than the 60D, also costs less than that 100D one AND it’s a newer release than the 600D.  The 600D was the entry level DSLR of 2-3 years ago, this is the next step up.  I like that unlike the 650D it has a varicam angle flip screen which is a blogger’s blessing if you want to check what the scene looks like while shooting yourself. I’m also very much in need of a DSLR for decent true to life before and after photos of my makeup clients.

3.) Bloom Eye Brow Duo (Brow Gel & Pencil) – Now, I’m not sure if Beauty Bar stocks all of Bloom’s latest products (or if they still stock Bloom at all, shame on me, I’ll confirm), but this is what’s on the Bloom website.  My cousin’s wife, Sam, loves their automatic brow pencils and while I’m not sure that this is the same one, this is what got me interested from the site, one end is a brow gel, the other is a brow definer.  Just know that Sam and I know brows and according to her Bloom’s brow stuff is better than good.  READ MORE to see all 10 on my wishlist…click “more”.

4.) The Yulo’s Strawberry Shortcake (photo link: movingcouchpotato.blogspot.com) – In my wildest imagination of strawberry fields forever nothing compares to this tall shortcake.  It is absolutely delectable, not too sweet or rich, just…fresh, fruity, spongy, creamy and right and if you love berries or strawberries, you gotta have this cake and eat it, too.  Try this landline number to order and see if you still can ‘coz frankly this is the most difficult time of the year to squeeze in an order, Address: PICK-UP is at 19 Kawayan St., North Forbes, Makati City, Contact Numbers: 810-8078, 812-4961, Bestseller: Strawberry Shortcake (P1,500) THEY DON’T DELIVER.

5.) Maybelline Color Show Brocades in “Knitted Gold” UK/ “Gilded Rose” US – I first saw Estee of EssieButton on YouTube in this video here wearing this over here and I was like “I need me some o’ that sparkle-y…”  it’s different than normal glitter, and it is ALSO different from that Deborah Lippmann glitter as you can see from the screenshot of Estee’s hand, she layered it over BarryM Jelly polish in Lychee.  It’s just gorgeous and for around $4 from practically any US drugstore, too.  I’m pretty sure we don’t have this collection here.  Maybelline, just swat me with a foam mallet if I’m being an uninformed blogger.

6.) ISAW (Filipino barbecued meat innards/intestine/offal, pork or chicken, photo: platedheaven.blogspot.com) – I don’t care if you disagree with me, but if anyone hands me a hefty bouquet of these somewhat unhealthy, tasty twisty bits of offal or pork or chicken innards speared by sticks and jammed into a cup of spicy vinegar…that person will have hit an unlikely soft spot of mine.  Isaw is sort of like the Philippine street version of Yakitori.  The only orange version I trust is the one from the stand within my alma mater U.P. Diliman.  While isaw is a regular delicacy for many I only have it once or twice a year.  That’s because depending on where you source it from there’s a moderate risk for food poisoning if you don’t make sure you know who prepares it.  Whenever it’s there though, I get weak in the knees and nearly can’t resist.

7.) Diptyque Holiday 2013 Ltd. Edition Candle in “Pine Bark” - How dare you, Julia, line up a Diptyque candle beside isaw?!  I smelt this forest-in-a-flame in Rustan’s and was immediately transported to what Baguio was like once upon a time, but I couldn’t land that much money on myself just for a candle of this size (nearly Php4000…for 6.5 oz, eeps).  If money were no object I’d be jolly to receive this, but I’d tell everyone not to get it locally LOL it is way too overpriced.  So why would I want it?  I want my room to smell like a REAL forest, that’s why.

8.) Malory Towers by Enid Blyton, Complete Hardbound Set (Books 1-6, Dean Hardbound 1990 edition) – If you can find the whole set IN THIS EDITION for me I will hug you to pieces.  I have 1 or 2 of them lying around somewhere here, but the rest went missing when we moved houses 3 times.  I didn’t have any siblings until I was 13 and I grew up not with the kids at Hogwarts but with the girls of Malory Towers.  There are 6 books in total and all the new covers that were published after this awesome 1990s Dean Hardbackedition are ugly, distastefully cartoon-y and they don’t represent the brilliant Malory Towers boarding school girls for me at all.  It’s a feat to find this edition online, I tried on ebay but they only come from separate sellers and aren’t complete.

9.) Sunday Riley Effortless Breathable Tinted Primer (Light shade) – This is all Lisa Eldridge’s fault, the Breathable Tinted Primer is not available here (think like New York and L.A.) and it’s seriously expensive, but when I saw how it worked in a subtle, sheer-ly radiant but obvious way on her face even before she applied concealer…I knew that one day I would really have to try this wonder fluid.  Sunday Riley is a brand known for its strong backbone in the realm of skincare, so any makeup that’s part of the range has soothing, skin-benefiting cosmetic formulations behind it.  To watch the video that got me thinking about this often go here to this link where Lisa demonstrates the fall look she did for the Alice Temperley show.

10.) MAKE UP FOR EVER Artisan Brush Collection (NEW) – I’ve kind of cheated for the last entry, because I was trying very hard to come up with something that was non-beauty and nothing sparked.  Well, to be kinda fair, they’re not cosmetic products, they’re cosmetic tools.  You’re not even looking at the complete collection here, this is mostly the facial brush group with a couple of the eye detailing brushes.  They’re dark wood and absolutely gorgeous, they’re expensive but for a reason, many hands were part of the process to complete this beautiful collection.  These should be available early 2014 once the MUFE boutiques have launched locally.

“MAKE UP FOR EVER proudly announces a revolution in brushes with the introduction of seventy-six cutting-edge brushes, the most expansive luxury brush collection available today.  This extensive set ranges from everyday ‘must-haves’ to highly customized tools to create the most intricate artistic effects. Notorious for its high performance, quality products, MAKE UP FOR EVER employed the most advanced technology to ensure the tools met professional standards with consumer appeal. Dany Sanz perfected each and every brush throughout a five year process that involved testing a variety of synthetic fibers that mimic the silky softness of natural hair. She consulted with renowned brush manufacturer Raphaël on the island of Mauritius to create specialized brushes that require unparalleled craftsmanship. The construction of each brush involved 25 unique stages, and was hand-crafted by a total of 30 people from start to finish.” – detailed info from Temptalia.com

I hope you enjoyed this lovely group of 10 I’ve put together.  These are random items that delight me and get me quite excited and I wanted to share them with you.  Which is pulling you in among these 10?

It’s gift giving time!  First, I’d like to thank the many brands that have supported my blog this year (there are lots of new ones) and also the brands that have been there since the beginning.  This has certainly been the blog’s biggest year ever now that I’ve collaborated with brands that I would never have imagined working with a few years back.  I’ve been given huge opportunities and have been blessed with so much!  It’s definitely that time of the year to give back with gusto!

However my biggest thank you goes out to all of you who’ve been reading this blog, I’ve even just discovered that there are some of you who’ve been reading this blog since 2010?!  That’s like totally cray (lol, ‘di bagay).   Well this one’s for you and to join you simply have to follow the steps via the Rafflecopter widget at the end of the post.  Please understand that I’ll do my best to send out the whole package before New Year, but if that doesn’t work the winner will receive the prize in January 2014.  However, before that, let’s go through the loot first, shall we?  Read more to see the individual prizes up close.

Some of you may have missed these Clinique bonus goodies last fall, we’ll here’s your chance to get them.

Clinique Bonus Can – Deluxe Mini Samples of: Moisture Surge Face Spray, Moisture Surge Overnight Mask, Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser, All ABout Eyes Eye Cream, Moisture Surge Intense Cream, Lash Power Mascara

Elizabeth Arden Visible Whitening Smooth and Brighten Emulsion – It’s a pleasant smelling radiance boosting facial emulsion that imparts a soft glow with micro-fine pearl powder, melanin inhibitors that fight the appearance of dark spots, and at the same time hydrates and nourishes with glycerin and fruit extracts.  I tested one pump on one side of my face and my skin did not react negatively in fact it feels plump and hydrated.

 Benefit’s Whole Lotta Lovin’ Holiday Glam Kit is a seasonal rave, which I’ve reviewed over here!  You’ve got a kit with a mini mascara, 3 long-wear eyeshadows, a concealer, a cream eyeshadow, and a bit of Benefit Hoola for contouring!  Plus I’ve thrown in a full size of Benefit’s They’re Real lengthening mascara

This  luxury BB cream by Shiseido, the Perfect Hydrating BB Cream, was featured on Into the Gloss when it was first launched into the BB market.  Someone in the ITG office popped it on and got the “Aren’t you looking radiant today…” compliment thrown her way.  I’ve tried it, it’s light, not sticky and instant comfort for your skin.  I’m giving away the medium shade (good enough for MAC NC35 girls) which is half a shade dark for me now but perfect for me in the summertime.

This lovely pouch by Pinay cosmetic brand, Happy Skin, sold out within a week or something when it came out as a gift with purchase.  Yes, you may have mine, and I’m not giving it to you empty.  You’ll also get a brand new tube of Happy Skin’s highly acclaimed Second Skin Creme (Silicone-Free foundation which I shall review soon), the shade I’m giving away is 1 Soft beige (fine for MAC NC30 shade girls), and the Shut Up & Kiss Me lippie in Summer Fling, my favorite peachy pink shade.  Yes I’m on point with the upcoming seasons, ladieezz.

We’ll be greeting and kissing lots of people this season, so we might as well be minty fresh.  What better mouthwash to use in the new year than OraCare’s Merrymint flavored mouthwash?  You’ll get fresh breath sans the sting!

Sometimes you just want a black eyeliner you can rely on, one that’s black and really smudge-proof.  Benefit’s Bad Gal Waterproof liner is your ticket to intense.

Many of us can do without dozens of shades to work with and sometimes a great neutral quad is all you need to glam up and go, the Make Up Factory eyeshadow quad in colorway #7 will certain give your yes a bit of “oomph” for the day without going overboard.

Last but not the least, when this festive fiasco of dinners, late parties, and gift giving is done many of us will be tired beyond imagination.  Our eyes will be screaming for a pick-me-up like this.  Olay Regenerist have come out with an eye cream and nourishing lash serum in one great product.  You have the tube of eye cream for your lids at one end and the lash serum at the other end.  The eye cream comes detached so you have to attach it like so as seen in the photo.

ONE (1) Winner will receive all these products as a complete package prize, please proceed to the Rafflecopter widget below to join by completing the 3 required steps.

I looked outside and told myself today “I’m staying in…” then I saw an IG photo of my blogger friend,  “Reluctant Stylista”, Alex V. Lapa (who professionally styles my cousin KC Concepcion), in her newly done Stylash mink lash extensions and told myself “I’m going out, I’m going out!” LOL.  Seriously, I’m heading out later to get these “lashlettes” done before the 2014 countdown, especially since Stylash  got a 50% markdown offer on lash services until January 15 (that’s Php800 from Php1600).

I’ve chatted with and interviewed Alex aka Reluctant Stylista online and she said what she had done is the Natural C-shape and the service took 1.5 hours to get done BUT these mink lashes, if you’re extra careful around the eye area for the period of having them, can last for up to a whole month and about two to three weeks for girls who accidentally rub their eyes or aren’t as careful.

“It should’ve stung nga daw a bit pero for some reason that didn’t happen to me (during application)… when I went to bed that night, I was tearing up. Usually that happens when I sleep with something like mascara on.” – ALEX LAPA

What’s awesome about these is you don’t even need eyeliner to conceal them.  The only cosmetic reaction Alex got the day she had them applied was later on in the evening she told me she was tearing up just for awhile.  So I’m not sure I can recommend this for girls with sensitive eyes, especially for those of you who don’t like mascara or even pencil eyeliner that makes you tear up this service may not be for you.  Girls who love having false lashes applied though  or have tried a lash extensions service like for example “i-lash” without any problems should give these a go even just for the New Year!  If you have it done now you can reapply before the promo finishes!  Stylash offer different shapes and I certainly want to go for the “FIERCE” flared shape to lift my droopy eyes.  The GLAM shape looks like a great showstopping celebrity style.

I will have a follow up review of my own as soon as I have them done and then a conclusive interview after about 2-3 weeks.  Just decided to let you guys know about the promo now since it’s on until January 15, 2014!  Lots of celebrities abroad have been into mink lashes for awhile.  They’re the softest, most wispy, natural looking lashes in the market that are a “level up” from human lashes and the many ways they source them are cruelty-free, minks have a period of natural shedding and they can also be brushed (will double-double check of course in Stylash’s case, I will get to the bottom of that).  The only mink lashes I’ve ever mentioned here on the site in the past are those lovely certified cruely-free Velour rtw lash sets you just can’t get readily available here (without losing an arm or a leg).  Stylash’s new southern SM BF outlet is OPENING TODAY and Stylash also has an outlet counter at Landmark, Makati, and a Quezon City branch.  For inquiries their mobile contact numbers are 0917.6685042 / 0918.5918694 and they’re on Instagram @stylashmanila and on Facebook.com/stylashmanila.

Very rarely does a single eyeshadow, more uncommonly a brown shade, catch my attention on counter and actually deliver in a noteworthy way.  Newly launched brand VDL cosmetics (last December 15) caught my eye at Alabang Town Center last week.  The boutique is like a makeup candy store.  I walked away with 3 small purchases the most valued being SEPIA, this gorgeous fudge brown eyeshadow that has an inexplicably pretty plum or violet undertone.  The texture is a velvety satin-shot-with-shimmer, fall-out is moderate and the finish is just too beautiful, plus it’s only about Php475.00.

Sepia is such a pretty shade that I don’t mind wearing it on its own, I just stick a primer over my lid (I use my Shiseido Ibuki Eye cream as a primer) then shade it in with a MAC 217 brush and blending the edges with a clean fluffy brush.  Incidentally, while VDL’s  false lash sets might be somewhat expensive (Php400+) I can’t deny that they’re exquisitely natural looking and the strip is long enough to suit larger eyes, with transparent bands.

I know that there are lash sets that look like this in Divisoria that are dirt cheap, but I considered these as a present  as well to the bride who is a family friend.  I used this very pair on the last bride that I did.  The cute packaging is also what did me in.  You can’t deny that the box makes VDL lashes look more special just before you use them.

We’ve waited and waited and finally we have them here in Manila!  With a whopping 8 shades now in stores Maybelline’s Color Tattoo 24-Hr cream eyeshadow pots (which can also be used as liners) have arrived just in time for summer…and yes we will be needing serious longevity.   Call me predictable but yeah, I prefer these four, I won’t pretend.  The one that says “Color Ink” which is “Barely Branded” is the same product but probably due to shade availability they had to import from one of the other Asian countries.  I personally actually like how it disrupts the uniformity in the photo.

Inked in Pink (rose pink), Barely Branded (a champagne vanilla), Bad to the Bronze  (a warm bronze), and Audacious Asphalt (cool gunmetal grey) Php300++

I’m wearing just 3 out of the 4 shades mentioned above.  Barely Branded all over the lid (applied with fingers, concentrated in the center then softly blended around the edges), then Bad to the Bronze as expected generously in the outer V and crease with an eyeshadow detailing brush.  Then just a tiny bit of Audacious Asphalt in the outer deepest corner of the eye just to push in some depth, you can skip the third shade and the look will still work.  I also added a stroke of Bad to the Bronze on the lower lash line

When you swipe these on you have about a minute to two minutes to get your blending done before they set and become seriously waterproof.  I’m actually hoping they bring in the odd 2 or 3 matte shades that the range released abroad (Musings of a Muse mentioned them here last October) those three are limited edition but there’s also a permanent matte taupe shade I think in the US.  I actually don’t think they’ll get here, but one can always hope.  All shades in the range brought here are shimmer packed but I wouldn’t call them anywhere near “sparkle vomit”, they’re tastefully shimmery.   Read more to get close up photos of this look, swatches, and glimpses of the Maybelline Color Tattoo Launch.

When it comes to swatches, if you take these swimming with you they’ll still be on your arm for certain after a couple of hours.  Not too sure about ocean water though.  It would be nice to use them also underneath powder eyeshadow however I think the shimmery satin shades are already quite eye-catching on their own so I’m not so sure if they’d overpower the shadow you put on top.  The most usable as lid bases are Barely Branded and Audacious Asphalt.

These aren’t coming off unless you scratch, use bi-phase or oil based makeup remover, or sweat non-stop for a day and a half.  If you’re oily on the face and in the most humid situation I estimate you’ll still get 6-8 hours of wear out of this minimum if you allow it to set properly before proceeding to do any strenuous activity.  I wouldn’t be too serious about the 24hr claim on the product, it’s a case to case basis I think.

To add a bit of pizzazz to the neutral look I used Painted Purple as a liner.  It works and since purple is a combined hue of warm and cool it doesn’t jolt the softness of the warm brown eye so much.

At the launch we were invited to participate in a mini calligraphy workshop hosted by Alexis Ventura aka “@inkscribbler”.  I got too caught up in the calligraphy and forgot to have a photo with her, Alexis is truly a happy soul.  You can find her blessed work at inkscribbler.com 

A different sort of before and after using ink and gouache.

The Maybelline Color Tattoo Launch was one of the most creative events I’ve been to.  I was sneakily having too much fun, many didn’t know I just happened to have a Fine Arts degree under my belt so I was quite at home using the media given to create stuff…I even asked if I could take home several unused tubes of colored gouache paint from our table (sayang kasi) and the Maybelline team said it was totally fine.  I was also given the complete Color Tattoo cream eyeshadow set with two detailing brushes.

By the way, so you don’t get confused they don’t come sold in a box.  Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Eyeshadows are available individually at major department stores that carry Maybelline products for about Php300+ each.

I have snubbed this sort of mascara for years, and it’s always been there, sitting on local shelves.  Before however the waterproof variant wasn’t available, only the red and white tube which I loathed.  I detested the idea of 2 steps in a mascara, then an eye opener (literally speaking) was when recently a couple of UK bloggers were sent a non-Loreal mascara with 2 steps and because of the awesome results they put up with it.  After that, in my mind I began to think more loosely about the 2-step idea.  Also there at the back of my mind vlogger and pro-artist Kandee Johnson stood smiling with her pom-poms for this mascara, she absolutely loves it and has said so repeatedly.  So with one of my older mascaras approaching the 4-5month mark I decided to try this.  I just have to say the curl staying power and humidity resistance on this is too awesome not to mention and that’s not even mentioning the optional gear on volume and length.

L’Oreal Double Extension CURL Waterproof is in a Purple and Silver tube here and blue and white one in the US.  It’s not cheap at Php900+ locally but in my opinion you’re paying for a more customized mascara experience.  L’Oreal Telescopic False Mascaras abroad are about Php700-800

As it turns out this just happens to be sort of a deconstructed dupe for L’Oreal’s acclaimed Telescopic  Shocking Extensions (US)/False Lash Telescopic (UK) waterproof mascara.    The foreign Telescopic mascaras achieve the same showstopping look as this with just 1 step, which is why I prefer those IF I can get them, but precisely, we don’t have those here.  This one’s great  because, you know us women, we like options, what if we don’t want BIG lashes all the time, just when we need them?  The key is this, the Step 2 black waterproof mascara on this also looks good and holds curl even WITHOUT the lengthening primer which gives us the power to choose.  If you don’t want to do two steps you don’t have to, but if you want extra oomph and length for those lashes it’s yours with an extra step!  Read more to see application and get the full review.

As always please begin with curled lashes.  I cannot understand people who curl their lashes after applying mascara, it’s such a messy thing to do, it pushes off product from the lashes and you have to clean your lash curler repeatedly as a result.  So curl lashes first.

You can begin by applying step 1 which is the flex and curling primer that helps extend and add the illusion of more lash volume.  Priming bottom lashes is optional but I like to do it if I feel like looking more doll-eyed.

If you’d like to add more perfection for the second step take your own dry spoolie brush (the makeup brush that looks like a mascara wand) and brush up those primed lashes gently after a few minutes to make sure no lashes are sticking together.  I haven’t done this this but I’m just mentioning that step for perfectionists.  Then proceed to Step 2 and apply the waterproof mascara, during application wiggle from root to tip and when refining and perfecting lash tips don’t add more mascara, use what’s left on the wand.  When both steps are used this mascara reminds me of something in-between L’Oreal Telescopic and Maybelline Volum Express Falsies waterproof.  When you don’t use Step 1 and just apply the mascara on its own the look reminds me of Maybelline Full N Soft.  There’s just a bit more clumping during application when the primer is used but not an amount that makes it a faff to work with.  If you used both steps, minimal blobbing can happen around the lash line if you have smaller eyes so keep cotton buds with makeup remover handy just in case.

Check out the eye on the other side as well, wow!  I also applied primer on the bottom lashes which is what makes both sets of lashes look more massive overall.

I shouldn’t have  ignored this for as long as I did.  L’Oreal Double Extension Curl Waterproof Mascara is a permanent product and I seriously almost could not believe my eyes after putting it on.  A funny friend at my mother’s office gasped when she saw me.  To my surprise she came straight up to me pulled my glasses off, took me excitedly by the wrist and led me to another friend, pointed at my face vigorously and said to her  “Girl, nakikita mo ba lashes nitoh?  Mascara lang daw yan…”.  That result speaks for itself.

I haven’t tried anything huge from Tarte – high performance naturals, besides one of their Amazonian Clay blushes.  The successful mid-range American cosmetics brand founded by Maureen Kelly continues to impress with its unique formulas, on point colors, and standout payoff and longevity.  Her story here is pretty amazing given that she started with no professional makeup-artistry or business background.  The range has a look that stands out, a quirky balance between feminine chic and mod ethnic.  In terms of general pricing it’s pretty comparable to Benefit Cosmetics.  A niece of mine (only 3 years younger than me) was coming home from the US and she sweetly asked if I’d like to buy anything she could bring home for me.  One huge thing loomed in my mind ever since Jane Cunningham featured it.  It was none other than Tarte’s New “Be MATTEnificent” makeup palette, a lavender/ taupe symphony of a palette, and one other item also by them which you’ll see soon.

PRICE: $36.00 from Sephora (currently sold out, check other sources)

Top row: Sand Out From the Crowd, Peach for the Stars, Two Plums Up  Second Row: Pink Outside the Box, Rose to the Occasion, View From the Taupe Bottom Row: Dream in Chocolate, Stand Out Black Blush: Elevated

TARTE’s first ever matte eye & cheek palette includes: 8 limited edition Amazonian Colored Clay Eyeshadows, 1 limited edition Amazonian Colored Clay blush (“Elevated”), and a double-ended eyeshadow brush

Formulated without: parabens, mineral oil, pthalates, triclosan, sodium lauryl sulfate, gluten…

What I picked up instantly was how smooth and silky the eyeshadow  is and how despite some fallout the payoff of the medium to lighter shades totally impressed me.  What also makes the palette so worthwhile is that they included 2 extremely essential eyeshadow shades you can use to deepen the look or line your eyes (dry or wet most likely), dream in chocolate (dark brown) and stand out black.  A bit of View From the Taupe and Dream in Chocolate can be blended together for use on brows.  Read more to see more photos and a complete look applied on myself.

Usually in eyeshadow palettes, especially matte collections, it’s usually only the deeper shades that truly deliver pops of pigment over the eyelid but here every shade up to the lightest one actually shows up on the lid on the first swipe…and actually stays on pretty well even without a primer.

Blush: Elevated  Top row: Sand Out From the Crowd, Peach for the Stars, Two Plums Up  Second Row: Pink Outside the Box, Rose to the Occasion, View From the Taupe Liner Shades: Dream in Chocolate, Stand Out Black

I actually have a funny “accidental” story that proves the longevity and staying power or “cling” of these powder shadows.  When I applied the swatches on my arm I forgot to photograph them before carrying my Himalayan Persian super fluffy cat Cloud, I hugged her tight and she struggled with her “put me down” sass as usual.  When I put her down  I realized I might have ruined the swatches but about 60-70% of the swatch pigment was intact on my arm and it hadn’t even spread across in a dirty way, each color was pretty much still in its place, they just needed a bit of retouching.  Up close I’ve never seen more finely milled matte eyeshadow that actually goes on smoother than the usual “chalky” payoff you can tend to get from other brands.  You already feel this when you rub your fingertips back and forth across the surface.  For the look I achieved below I used the dual-ended brush in the palette combined with some fingertip action.  I didn’t go for a completely purple look, my look is partly purple, partly neutral.

MY LOOK: Peach For the Stars (all over the lid), Sand Out From the Crowd (popped on the center with my fingertip and on the inner eye corners), Rose to the Occasion (in the crease),  Two Plums Up (in the outer corner V), and Don’t Stand Black to deepen the corner and softly line the eyes.

For undoubted lavender/purple eyes Pink Out of the Box, Rose to the Occasion, and Two Plums Up make the look pop.

If you don’t want purple eyes just stick to Sand Out From the Crowd, Peach For the Stars, View From the Taupe, Dream in Chocolate, and even Stand Out Black to intensify it for the evening.

By the way, I’m not wearing the blush included in the palette, sorry, something I overlooked because I was testing out something else.  I really like how wearable the shades of purple, pink, and taupe are and how well they go together.

The only major con I can point out in this palette is the fallout you may have to deal with, it’s not an annoying amount but for some people they might not like it, but I don’t care because the eyeshadow itself is a matte formula that’s a dream to blend and I’m not kidding about the fact that it actually stays on well.  If you don’t want a purple look and would rather go for the standard neutral brown smoky eye the palette still makes this possible which is why it’s so good and is already sold out on Sephora as I check now.  It’s probably available still from resellers, Amazon, ebay and other more obscure online stockists.

This was posted by Vogue on YouTube last December but I believe it’s well worth the revisit considering that many of you may not have seen this yet.  Alexa Chung is a British model, “it” Girl, TV presenter, and contributing editor at British Vogue.  Her laid back but astute sense of style often catches people’s attention.

She’s one of those trendsetters who doesn’t strive to be one which is indicative of someone with natural style.  She’s also particularly fond of the quintessential and perfectly done sixties cat eye.  Watch this simple video demo of how Alexa likes her cat eyeliner done using Eyeko products, a brand which she collaborated with for a collection.