Lights and Shades

Finally, an update!

2009-08-17T05:51:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, I've slipped to a lethargic blogging state again. I've been busy with grad school, moving my ginormous load of trash (we're temporarily moving to a unit across ours while our place undergoes renovation), and occasional shoots. Also, my grandfather and a childhood friend passed away last week. The latter being brutally murdered, his killer still at large. I pray that his death be given justice.

Anyway, here are a couple of pics from a shoot last week held at Pacific Village Alabang.

Photographer: Chico Limjap
Model: Phoebe Rutaquio

For the above looks, I used the following products:

Face:
mix of MAC studio fix fluid in NC20 and NC45
Kryolan Camouflage Creme in D4 1/2
MAC blush in Eversun
Coastal Scents contour palette
The Body Shop Sparkle & Shimmer Powder in Sunset Peach
Art Deco Camouflage Fixing Powder

Eyes:
PAC quad eyeshadow
Gino McCray eyeshadow in blue
MAC fluidline in blacktrack
Maybelline Vivid and Smooth eyeliner in Forest

Lips:
MAC in freckletone
Nyx gloss in Cafe Latte

In other news, I decided to join the Elf pool organized by fellow GT member September.

I have been intrigued on the E.L.F. studio line ever since its launch. I was surprised that our local stores already carry the studio line but only the brow powder and the concealer. So I decided to order the following items:

Complexion Brush
Bronzer in Golden
Eyebrow Treat & Tame in Dark
Blush & Bronzer compact

The Studio Line is currently on sale so I got it for 75% off. Estimated date of arrival will be mid October. So for those interested, the order pool is open til tomorrow for the Studio Line and til August 25 for the mineral and regular line. :)

Yet another blogger giveaway!

2009-06-18T10:08:00.000-07:00

wow! a lot of bloggers have been generous these past few days, holding contests and giveaways for their readers. Anyways, PINKFISH PIE is holding one herself and it involves these fabulous giveaways.

2 shades of Barbara Daly for Tesco Concealers (Choose 2 between fair. medium or warm)

A Sleek-i-Divine Palette Original
A mini BAD Gal lash by Benefit

CLICK HERE TO JOIN :)

PCD Doll Domination 09

2009-06-15T09:26:00.001-07:00

I was lucky enough to watch the PCD concert front row (well almost, save for a few heads in front of us). The concert was held at the SM Mall of Asia grounds, which meant we would be standing the entire time. I got 2 VIP tickets and 3 gold tickets. I ended up inviting two friends, my mom and my sister. I tried to video the entire concert but ended up with punch-drunk videos due to the camera shake, save for one which I think is bearable to watch. LOL.

Another Blogger Giveaway!

2009-06-15T08:54:00.001-07:00

Get a chance to win this fabulous giveaway courtesy of My Sweet Fix.

Giveaway includes:

Beauty Credit Greentea Yellow Soil Mousse Pack and Lipgloss (good dupe for MAC Dazzleglass)
Lush soap in Snowcake
Half of the full size jar of MAC Mutiny Pigment
French Manicure Set

+ A Surprise MAC product and other makeup/skincare related items!

CLICK HERE TO GET A CHANCE TO WIN THIS AWESOME GIVEAWAY! :)

MAC Giveaway

2009-06-08T02:51:00.000-07:00

Want to be one of the 3 lucky winners to get one of these lovely MAC products?

MAC Dazzleglass in Baby Sparks
Brand NEW
Very pretty pink with violet sparkles

MAC Blush Pro Pan in Sincere
It's matte and very versatile. Other than subtle blush it can be used for contouring

MAC Style Warrior Lipglass in Gold Rebel
Brand NEW

Check out Narita's blog.

Goodluck!

Contest Entry - Being Filipino

2009-06-04T10:02:00.000-07:00

Mszcheysser is having a contest just for her Philippine readers. I decided to enter since the concept is interesting plus I've nothing better to do because it's been raining crazy the past two days. Anyways, on to the contest...

5 things about being Filipino. You are Filipino if...

1. You have strong family ties

You know the saying that blood is thicker than water? Well it certainly rings true to Filipinos. Filipinos, in general, have strong family ties. One household may include the father, mother, children, grandmother and grandfather. In some cases, even siblings of grandparents, or even the aunt or uncle. In the province, your grandparents will probably tell you that you are related to about every person you meet there.

2. “Mano po”“Mano” is a basic Filipino custom to show respect to the elders done by placing the back of the hand of the elder to the forehead of the one paying respect.

3. Using the term “Comfort Room” instead of Restroom

A funny thing happened to me. I was shopping with my cousins at Macy’s and I badly needed to go to a restroom. I approached one of the sales clerks and asked where the ‘comfort room” was. The lady stared at me blankly, looking confused. I asked again, this time using the term “rest room” and she burst out laughing, telling me that she was already thinking that I was referring to some weird place.

4. You have the biggest luggage in your flight, and may even include a humongous carton box called the "balikbayan box"

What can I say? Filipinos are very, very crafty. Since airlines have certain baggage allowances, what better way to take home your "pasalubong" or presents than to fit it all in a carton box. You'll be surprised how much stuff can fit in that box. Haha.

5. You eat “balut”

Unfortunately, I haven’t eaten one yet. But a balut is a Filipino delicacy which is an undeveloped duck egg.

And to end this entry is my look consisting of the Philippine flag's colors

Photoshoot: Bridal and Arabic Eyes and Contest!

2009-05-31T10:10:00.000-07:00

Last week, my friend from makeup school asked me if I wanted to have a shoot. Being the jobless person that I am, I agreed. We got two photographers, John Tepaurel and Stanley Ong. We've worked with John before. I was surprised that my friend was able to get Stan. I looooove his works! They were both really nice to work with. :)

Anyways, here are some pictures from the shoot (though I'm still waiting for John's pictures).

Model: Macy Olazo
Photographer: Stanley Ong

Model: Maru Ventura
Photographer: Plivia Alaba

For the last look, I was inspired by Renren's dramatic arabic eyes. :)

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GIVEAWAY!

Mayaari is having a very cool blog giveaway!

Giveaway Pack 1

Giveaway Pack 2

Want to join? Simply click here!

Maquillage Professionnel now offers Module 5: Bridal Make Up for Professional Artists

2009-05-27T09:18:00.000-07:00

I got this in my mail today. If I only had funds. LOL.

Contemplating on my experience in makeup school and etc.

2009-05-17T10:58:00.000-07:00

I know I've neglected blogging since my makeup school finals. I was so stressed out during my finals day that I went on lethargic mode for a week and then the following weeks were just crazy. But before I go into details, I'd like to share the outcome of my finals day.

They're not much, I'm not really satisfied with what I did. I know I could've done better but I kid you not, that day was probably one of the most stressful days of my life. Anyways, makeup school went by so fast. I can't believe its really over. I miss my teacher and classmates. :(

Right now, I'm still trying to figure out what I really want to do. haha. I quit work since I'm planning to go to graduate school (a decision which was made primarily by my parents). But I'm contemplating if I made the right move because the pay that came with my work was a vital part of my life.

As of the moment, I keep myself busy with my makeup gigs. I keep accepting the offers despite the fact that most of it are xdeals since I'm still trying to build my portfolio. Over the past weeks, I've realized that I need a traincase with wheels. It gets reaaaaaaaaaaaally tiring lugging around my heavy traincase, going from one gig to another. Also, I've revamped my personal multiply account to accommodate my portfolio since I didn't want to manage another account. Lol. You can check it out at

http://www.steppo.multiply.com

Yes, shameless plug! Haha. So there. I'm still not sure if I really want to pursue doing makeup but I'm enjoying it so far. :)

Update and Contest!

2009-05-06T22:13:00.001-07:00

It's been long since I updated my blog. I had my finals in makeup school last Sunday. It was both stressful and fun. So stressful that I went on lethargic mode for a couple of days.

The outcome? I was a bit disappointed since I know I could've done better. But hey, it was quite an experience.

A few things I learned from it:

Never leave your stuff scattered and unattended. Chances are you'll lost em. haha. (I ended up losing a necklace, a brush and my MAC fluidline, which I fortunately recovered from the makeup box of my seatmate lol)

Red lipstick, if not applied properly, can bleed crazy!

Anyways, contest time!!!

GET A CHANCE TO WIN A MIKA HEART SHU BRUSH SET

wait there's more! Also get a chance to win...

Jurlique Maintain Balance Introductory Set

Visit HTTP://BEAUTYFORALIVING.BLOGSPOT.COM to know details of the contest. :)

Crown Brushes

2009-04-21T09:50:00.000-07:00

I first heard of Crown brushes from Vanessa's blog. The reviews I've read on the internet say that their brushes are cheap and have good quality. So the sucker that I am, I ordered a few brushes to try out.

Studio Series
Taklon Liner #2
Round Contour
Large Foundation #1
Bent Liner

Italian Badger Series
Round Tapered Crease
Deluxe Crease

Luna Series
Blending Fluff
Round Crease
Mini Lash Fan
Sable Eyeliner

And I finally got my order today!

I don't know why I ordered mostly eyeliner and crease brushes. I should have at least tried other face brushes. I still have to wash it but my first impression is that the brushes are soft. If there's one brush in the lot that I can't wait to try, it would be the Italian Badger Deluxe Crease brush. It's head is kind of similar to MAC 217. (I just washed the 217 brush that's why it looks like that)

I can't really say much about the brushes because I have yet to try it. But this purchase definitely made me a happy camper. (Most of the brushes cost around $1 -3, except for the large foundation brush which costs $6) :)

Crown Brushes are available online. I'm not so sure though if they ship internationally.

BKK haul: Gino McCray eyeshadows and blush

2009-04-19T06:20:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine went to Bangkok the other week so I googled for makeup brands I can try. I went to Bangkok once but back then, I wasn't that interested as I am interested in makeup now. One brand that called my attention was Gino McCray. I only found a couple of reviews about it but it was enough to pique my interest to try it. I decided to have my friend buy me 4 eyeshadows and 1 blush. I only gave him the number codes, which I wasn't really sure if it was the colors I wanted. I originally wanted a shade in white, yellow, brown and blue. Apparently the number codes that I gave my friend corresponded to brown, gold, black and blue. Not bad, though.

So I got the following:

Gino McCray Benefique Blusher in 06 Lush Raspberry
Gino McCray Pro Make-up Eyeshadow in 02 Black Charcoal
Gino McCray Pro Make-up Eyeshadow in 03 Deep Sky Blue
Gino McCray Pro Make-up Eyeshadow in 10 Wheat Gold
Gino McCray Pro Make-up Eyeshadow in 12 Golden Brown

What the products say:

Gino McCray Benefique Blusher

Gino McCray Benefique Blusher offers the best way to give cheeks color that look natural and fresh. This luxurious blusher glides on smoothly and effortlessly for a soft, youthful glow.

Gino McCray Pro Make-up Eyeshadow

A soft and sily formula that illuminates your eyelids and enhances your natural eyecolor. Gino McCray Pro make-up eyeshadow brings back dimension to your eyes so they look refreshed all day long.

My verdict:

The Blusher is a nice sheer shade of raspberry with a hint of shimmer. I like it because as what the product claims, it glides smoothly and gives a natural glowy finish. I am definitely interested in the other shades.

As for the eyeshadows, I was surprised on how pigmented they were, especially the blue one! The eyeshadows are shimmery and unlike cheap brands, it is not powdery. The colors glide smoothly and are easy to blend. I love it! I just wish I got to try the yellow and white eyeshadows.

Swatches:

L-R Blusher in Lush Raspberry, Eyeshadows in Golden Brown, Wheat Gold, Deep Sky Blue and Black Charcoal

All in all, this was a good buy for the 135 Baht (Php 183) blush and 148 Baht (Php 200) eyeshadows, which all go a long way by the way.

Gino McCray products are available at Cosmeda Shops in Bangkok.

On Makeup Schools

2009-04-12T09:35:00.000-07:00

Since Crystal asked me regarding make-up school, I decided to make a post about it. I know its frustrating researching and choosing the right school for you. Believe me, I've been there. I actually think that I was not able to know enough about the different schools offering make-up artistry classes here in Manila. Lol. But before I go into details, let me just clarify that the contents of this post are solely based on my opinion. I do not intend, in any way, to advertise or even criticize other schools.

I wanted to take make-up classes since about a year and a half ago. My dad, who I am expecting to shoulder some of my expenses, disapproved of it. I think it was primarily because he had the notion that make-up application should be left to the salon or what not. Anyway, I was so frustrated then because I really wanted something to keep me busy. So I decided to take fashion photography classes, which my dad was more than happy to sponsor. I had fun. It kept me busy for awhile but at the back of my head, I knew I still wanted to take the artistic make-up classes. Bottom line is I was able to convince my dad to help me with my expenses in makeup school.

One of the photoshoots I did
Model: Hazel Reyes
MUA: Tricia Roxas
Designer: Mr. Danilo Franco

So my next dilemma was where to enroll. I did a bit of research and ended up with a short list of schools offering Make-up artistry classes here in Manila:

1. Lasalle College International

- 7 sessions, held every Saturday
- provides OJT / apprenticeships

Location: Penthouse, G.C. Corporate Plaza, #150 Legazpi St., Legaspi Village, Makati City
Contact Number: 840-1543
Tuition Fee: 14,500, exclusive of materials
Teacher: Rb Chanco

2. Center for Aesthetic Studies (CAS)

- formerly Franck Provost
- 108 hours, they have Saturday classes, estimate of 3 months duration

Location: 120 Jupiter Street, Bel-Air Village Makati City
Contact Number: 897-0383
Tuition Fee: Php 26,000+ (last I was informed), inclusive of uniform
Teacher/s: Mari Wild, Jen Delica, and Bo (I'm not sure of his last name but he's the one handling the current batch)

3. Maquillage Professionel

Location: Makeup Forever, Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Contact Number: 856-5243
Tuition Fee: Php 30,000 - 33,000 (Correct me if I'm wrong, I think they have 2 modules)

* for those interested, Care is taking the course here. :)

4. School of Fashion and the Arts (SOFA)

Location: 55 Paseo de Roxas Ave, Makati City
Contact Number: 4915536
Tuition Fee: Php 15,000, exclusive of materials
Teacher: Xeng Zuleta (I think the next batch will be turned over to RB Chanco)

5. Basement Academy

Location: Basement Salon, Ground Level, Carpark Building, Shangri-la Plaza Mall, EDSA Corner Shaw Boulevard
Contact Numbers: 510.2533 / 638.2033
Tuition Fee: 18,500, inclusive of models

So there. Obviously, I chose the first school on my list. I am on my 5th session this coming Saturday. I chose LCI for the following reasons:

1. It fits my budget
2. I took my photography classes there and I liked how accommodating the staff were
3. RB Chanco handles the class. She's the first Filipino to be a certified MAC pro artist though she's not with MAC anymore.

RB, my model marga and I from our 3rd session

So how do i find my classes so far?

I am having a blast! I was lucky to be a part of the smallest batch in LCI history. They normally have a minimum of 10 enrollees in a class. It could reach up to 17 students and the school would hire an assistant for RB. We're only 6 in our batch. So that means a more focused set-up in teaching. Since we only have 7 sessions, I've already expected that lessons will be crammed in one session (but nothing you can't handle just as long as you pay attention). We do lectures and hands-on simultaneously. The 7 sessions are supposedly a whole day duration. RB decided to cut it into half and then allot the remaining hours for on-the-job-trainings / apprenticeships. So you really get to learn a lot.

As for the expenses, I guess the most painful part in this ordeal is shelling out for your materials. Haha. But what the heck, it's an investment (if you're planning to pursue makeup after). A good thing about our class is that RB suggests brands of make-up to use ranging from low, middle and high end cosmetic brands.

I have a friend who is also taking make-up classes but she's enrolled in CAS. A major advantage they have is time. Time provides them the opportunity to have a comprehensive program. (and the tuition says it all lol) According to my friend, they have classes every Saturday for one whole day. First half of the day is lecture and the second half would be hands-on.

All in all, I couldn't and wouldn't complain. RB is a great teacher. She knows how to simplify the lessons so it would be easier to take in. But I tell you, 7 sessions is a reaaaaaallly short time. It passess so quickly. I still can't believe I'm about to take my 5th session.

As for the make-up schools, I think they all provide a good program. The key is to find a school you're most comfortable with. You can actually visit and "sit in" in the classes.

I believe that it all boils down to passion in what you're doing. It's like going to college. Regardless of what school you came from (though it does add to your resume haha), the fundamentals when you go out in the real world are hardwork, passion, and heckload of experience. I do believe those are the key factors to success. :)

Trying the 4u2 palette and MAC 180 brush

2009-04-10T07:48:00.000-07:00

Since it's Good Friday and I've nothing better to do, I decided to try my 4u2 matte palette.

The eye shadows tend to be a bit powdery but not as much as the Coastal Scents palette, which I really don't mind since the color payback is great. The 4U2 palette is definitely a bang for you buck. I think I might get the Impressionist palette next time.

Now I completely forgot about my MAC haul last Saturday. I got a few stuff from a reputable seller (recommended by my teacher) who sells MAC items at a cheaper price (limited stocks). I decided to get the MAC charged water, powder blush in Eversun and the 180 brush.

I almost did not get the MAC 180 brush but my teacher highly recommended that I buy it. and she was right!

The MAC 180 brush (discontinued) is a small buffer brush good for... guess what? buffing. haha Seriously though, I was hesitant to buy this at first because I was thinking that I could just use a big fluffy brush to do the work. But alas, my teacher was right. This brush provides an excellent coverage and what's best is that it is REALLY, REALLY soft. It's so soft that I could fall asleep brushing it to my face. Lol.

The downside? None really. I would've preferred it if it didn't have white bristles but that's just a minor detail. Also, the packaging is so tacky. It comes in a thin plastic tube. I could easily sit on it. But I think the brush could fit in one of those sturdy cotton buds' tube containers.

All in all, the brush was definitely a good buy. :)

Wishlist: Coastal Scents Concealer Palette and Hot Pots

2009-04-09T16:50:00.001-07:00

I visited the Coastal Scents website and found items I want to add to my already long list of things I want to buy. Stress on want. I need to be scrupulous in drawing the line between what I need to buy and what I want to buy since I'm now officially unemployed. I quit work since the project I've been working on had finally come to an end plus I'm planning to take a full-time master's degree (which has yet to start this june).

Anyways, I was surprised to see a lot of new items since I've last visited the website. On top of my list are:

Coastal Scents Professional Concealer Palette

taken from CoastalScents.com

What the website says:

$16.95

Coastal Scents 10 color Camouflage and Concealer Palette has been created for us using the most commonly applied shades. All makeup artists will benefit by having this in your beauty arsenal. These are cream concealers that offer terrific coverage.

Full opaque coverage, easy to apply with a concealer brush, very blendable to create the shade you need.

Pans measure 1 3/8" in diameter (nearly 1.5 inches)

Matte black case with Silver Logo and content design on front

Measures 9" in length and 4" wide when closed

Ingredients: Squalene, Octyl Palmitate, Beeswax, Talc, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Petrolatum, Propylparaben.

May contain: Titaium Dioxide, Iron Oxides

I am curious on how this product delivers. One person made a review on the website that the lightest shade of the concealer makes a good eyeshadow base, similar to MAC paint pot in Painterly. I checked with Pearl of Dollface Cosmetics and she actually has it for Php 900. I will probably check it out at the Summer Lovin' event at the Fort on May 1 - 3, 2009 since she will be having a booth there.

Coastal Scents Hot Pots

taken from CoastalScents.com

What the website says:

Our magnetic Hot Pots make it easy to set up your 12 or 4 pc carry along palette for any occasion. Choose Blush (B) or Shadows from Matte (M), Satin and Shimmer (S).

Size: 26mm, Net Wt.: 1.3g/0.04oz

Ingredients: Talc, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Mineral Oil, Magnesium Stearate, Methylparaben. May Contain: Mica and Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Ultramarine Blue, Manganese Violet, Chromium Oxide Greens, FD&C Red No.40 Al Lake, FD&C Yellow No.5 Al Lake, FD&C Blue No.1 Al Lake

I definitely WANT to try this out. They have 38 shimmer and 23 matte eyeshadow shades available. Unfotunately, Dollface Cosmetics doesn't carry these so you have to order it online (and shipping costs are pain in the ass).

Review: 4U2 eyeshadow palette

2009-04-06T01:28:00.001-07:00

I absolutely love hunting for good cosmetics at affordable prices. That's why I love Watson's too much. One of my recent discoveries is a brand called 4U2 (Thai). I already have one of their quads (neutrals) and a single eyeshadow. I love 4U2 eyeshadows primarily because it's highly pigmented and cheap! The only problem I have is that they don't have matte eyeshadows.

...or so I thought.

Last Saturday, I passed by Watson's after class to restock on wetwipes and tissue. I passed by the 4U2 counter and was surprised to see a matte eyeshadow palette (Classic). The sales lady said it was the last one and that they seldom restock on it. But since I didn't have money with me then, I tried my luck the next day in the nearest Watson's to my place. And fortunately, they had two! So I got one for myself...

Swatches:

4U2 I-Pro Professional Eye Make-up Palette in Classic

Price: Php 994

Pros:

Highly pigmented

Affordable

Nice packaging ( i like the mirror haha)

Cons:

No other shades available

Other than the first one, I can't think of any

Overall, I think that this palette is a steal for its price. The texture is just alright, not too powdery unlike other drugstore brands. The shimmery palettes are nice too. I just want a matte palette. I especially like how the black and brown turned out. I also recommend their eyeshadow duos and quads. Really worth the price. :)

Homemade Makeup Brush Cleaner

2009-03-26T10:26:00.001-07:00

I've been searching for a good makeup brush cleaner for quite a time now. I tend to be obsessive compulsive when it comes to hygiene and sanitation. And so far, the only one I'm sure of is MAC's brush cleaner since I read that other brands tend to leave the brushes stiff and sticky. While I'm still allowing my (currently non-existent) savings recuperate from my uncanny expenses, I decided to settle with a homemade brush cleaner.

Ever since, I've been using Burt's Bees baby shampoo to clean my brushes and they work perfectly fine. They actually smell great after cleaning! My only dilemma is when we're supposed to do many faces one after another, I need something to clean and disinfect my brushes pronto. So after googling for a good recipe , I came across Koren's homemade brush cleaner.

I know a lot of people already know about this but I just have to rave about how good it is! Even my classmates loved it and we were all using it last night at the show. Here are the ingredients for the homemade brush cleaner:

1 cup distilled water

1/4 cup alcohol (70% or 90%)

1/2 tablespoon dishwashing liquid (I prefer ones with moisturizer)

1/2 tablespoon shampoo ( I use baby shampoo)

1 tablespoon leave-on conditioner (I actually added a bit more to the solution)

I mixed all ingredients in a bowl, carefully stirring to avoid forming suds. And then I transferred the solution to an atomizer and voila! I was actually hesitant to use it at first because of the dishwashing liquid but it definitely cleaned and left my brushes soft. :D

Collective Haul

2009-03-24T01:03:00.001-07:00

After buying the stuff I need for makeup school, I did a mental note to set out on a no-buy mode (which I keep telling myself to do over and over again). But who am I kidding? I always seem to find a reason to buy something (despite my meager wallet and bank account). By far, this month has been the most extravagant in terms of my spending on beauty products. Since I was in a positive mood today, I decided to take pictures of some of the stuff I got over the weekend.

1. MAC lipstick in Russian Red

Okay, so I've been looking for a good red lipstick. I found one at The Face Shop but I decided to check with MAC first thinking that I might find a better one. And I did (and its the last one they have)! I looooove the shade of red. It's matte and is on the bluish side of red. However, I've been so used to wearing nudes that I'm not too comfy wearing a red lipstick. But we'll see...

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2. MAC eyeshadow in Ricepaper

Ricepaper is a peachy gold e/s with shimmer. I decided to buy this because Mikee from MAC told us that this is a perfect shade for a highlighter. and he was definitely right! :)

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3. Maybelline Brow Definist in 02 Brown

I go to Maybelline for mascaras (hands down!). It has been my brand of choice for mascaras before I discovered The Balm Two Timer Mascara (my HG! I'll try to review this some other time). It's affordable and does its work. So as I was lurking around Landmark looking for a good and cheap eyebrow kit, I was surprised to see that Maybelline now has an eyebrow kit (and eyeshadows! LOL.) I wasn't expecting much from it but when I swatched it, I was surprised by the natural light brown color. I've been looking for a lighter and more natural shade of eyebrow kit because I wasn't satisfied with the one I bought from In2it and The Face Shop.

Anyways, Maybelline Brow Definist has two shades of brown in it. One smooth wax (darker shade) to define the brow line and one silky brow powder (lighter shade) to build intensity. I find that it easily glides and packs color to the brows.

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4. Nichido Girl's Night Out Eye Contour Pencil in Deep Blonde

What can I say. I love the shade of brown. It can be used as an eyeliner and a brow pencil. My only concern is that it smudges easily.

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5. Fanny Serrano Blush in Georgia Peach

The photo lost its quality upon upload. It looks totally different. In the picture, it looks pink but this blush is a perfect peach shade, which is a bit on the shimmery side. I bought this for my class but I think I might use it. LOL.

I have yet to try their eyeshadow quads, which I saw from Aika.

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6. My first batch of NYX round lipsticks

My mini lipstick army from Nyx. I ordered these from Nonpareilboutique about a month ago but I had to wait for my uncle to arrive to get these. I also ordered 2 round lipglosses, 1 megashine lipgloss and 1 eyeshadow trio (which I forgot to take pictures of). Anyways, I cannot stress enough how much I love these lipsticks. They're not MAC quality but they're good enough for me. They glide well and don't dry my lips. And they're cheap! I can't wait to order more!

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7. Eyeko Cream

FINALLY! After a month long of waiting, I got my order. I'm not sure though if this was my original order, or the one they re-sent (since I filed a dispute in Paypal). I love it. (and how cute is the packaging?!) It makes a good highlighter. You can even wear it alone, giving a healthy glow to your skin. I applied a thick layer for visual purposes only (I wanted it to be really visible in the picture). The smell reminds me of sunblock but oddly enough, I love the smell. LOL. The only con I can point out right now is that its in a tub and I have to dip my finger to get the product. So what I did was I bought those little containers with spatulas and transferred some to it so I don't have to get straight from the tub.

So there. I'll post the second part of my haul when I get in the mood to take pictures again.

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On Thursday, I will be joining my teacher and some of my classmates in a fashion show at Bureau (Makati). Janna, my classmate, told me that we will be doing 30 faces (SRSLY?!) for the show. But we'll only be doing the base (foundation etc.) since that's what we've mastered. I'm excited and nervous. I hope I do well... *cross fingers*

MAC Workshop

2009-03-21T06:09:00.001-07:00

We had our 2nd session for the makeup class yesterday and it was all about the Prime Look. I brought my friend Maru to model for me. My teacher's comment was that I had to practice on eyebrows. I could've made my friend look like Frida. I'm probably going to practice on my family and officemates this week. LOL.

Anyways, we had a MAC workshop after the class. It was actually more like a MAC demo. Mikee from MAC was the one who facilitated the group discussion and Maru (again) modeled for the class.

It was actually fun. Mikee was really entertaining. Plus we got to play around the MAC counter afterwards. I love the fact that we're only 6 in the class and that my classmates are easy to get along with. (It's a fun class!)

So I ended up buying an eyeshadow in Ricepaper and a lipstick in Russian Red (last one!). I also saw Bambi of MakeupbyBambi and she was nice enough to talk to me when I approached her and introduced myself.

Well it was a fun day and I can't wait til next Saturday. :)

Eyeko Order Dilemma

2009-03-17T14:00:00.000-07:00

http://www.eyeko.com

I ordered for an Eyeko cream last March 1, 2009. I have already been charged by Paypal but my order, according to the website, is still pending. I e-mailed Eyeko a couple of times and got no response. So I resolved to reporting it to Paypal.

Has anyone experienced this? I'm worried. It sucks coz I've been really interested in the eyeko cream. :(

My very first false eyelashes

2009-03-14T12:58:00.000-07:00

I went to The Face Shop the other week to buy a nail polish and a nail polish remover. I saw their false eyelashes and remembered Nikki's blog. I asked if they had the XLH but it was out of stock. So I ended up buying the XL falsies. I also passed by the department store and bought a 4U2 eyeshadow and an E.L.F. lipliner.

Anyways, I already have long eyelashes (since I have big eyes lol). I just wanted to try how falsies would look on me and also, I wanted to practice putting them since I intend on using one for my class (if I get a chance to do so).

So this is me without the false eyelashes

And this is after applying the false eyelashes..

See the difference?

Well I like how it makes my eyes pop out. But I doubt I'll be able to use it much since it really calls attention to my eyes.

Major Haul

2009-03-14T08:08:00.000-07:00

Today marks my biggest haul ever. I finally decided to take the makeup artistry class after months of contemplating. And it seemed to work on my part. Our class is the smallest batch our teacher ever had, which meant a more focused and personal training.

Anyways, for the tools and makeup products, our teacher recommended a variety of products ranging from low end brands to high end brands. I was so excited that I went straight to the mall to buy the stuff that I need (well most of it).

I went to the MAC store at shangri-la to buy foundations and powders. I was too busy thinking about my list that I wasn't able to double check what I bought. Turns out the SA gave me a wrong foundation and shade. I asked for a Studio Fix Fluid in NC20 and she gave me a Select SPF 15 in NC25. And she didn't even give me freebies because it was out of stock. So i have to go back tomorrow and have it replaced. As for the gel liners, I got them from a friend and my cousin.

I bought blushes and lipsticks from Ever Bilena since our teacher highly recommends it for low end brands. I wouldn't have thought of it but hey, it works. I still have tons to buy on my list and I need it by Saturday.

I'll be housing these stuff in the traincase I bought at Quiapo a couple of weeks back. I wanted to get a plain black case but I didn't like the compartments of it. So I got this instead...

I'm now officially bankrupt. I just hope I do well in school. =s

DIY hair removal wax

2009-02-12T21:36:00.000-08:00

Waxing is one of the most popular methods of hair removal. Personally, I prefer waxing because I get more ingrown hair and blotches from shaving and depilatory creams. Out of all the methods, not only do I find waxing as the most effective in hair removal, but it also takes the longest time for hair to grow back.

Over the years, I've been going to this affordable waxing salon called Lay Bare to get my waxing done. They use cold wax and I find that it is less painful than hot wax. But since I'm flat broke (and stuck at home), I opted to try the DIY wax. Thanks to my good friend, Google I found the perfect recipe for a homemade wax. For this, you will need the following:

- 1 cup brown sugar

- 1/4 cup honey

- juice of 1/2 lemon or if not available, 3 calamansi

- cornstarch / baby powder

- clean cotton cloth strips

- wooden stick or spatula

1. Combine and mix the brown sugar, honey and lemon/calamansi in one microveable glass bowl.

2. Microwave it for about 2 minutes but stop and stir your mixture every 30 seconds. The mixture should have a thick consistency.

3. Let it cool to a comfortable temperature. (NOTE: Now I could not emphasize this enough. Be careful not to touch it as it is super hot. I was stupid to dip my finger to check the temperature and I ended up with a mildly burnt finger)

4. Dust the area that you want to wax with cornstarch / baby powder. (This will make the wax stick more)

5. Use the wooden stick or spatula to spread a thin layer to your desired area, in the direction of the hair growth (since I don't want to use our kitchen utensils and I can't find a wooden stick, I used the spatula included in Veet. It's plastic but it worked well. Just be sure the mixture is not too hot). I suggest you do small patches first.

6. Immediately cover the patch with a strip of cotton cloth. Briskly stroke the strip several times in the direction of the hair growth then pull the skin taut, and quickly pull the cotton strip against the direction of the hair growth.

As so you proceed with the waxing, you may opt to reheat your mixture in the microwave to keep it warm (just make sure not to overheat it as you could easily burn your skin). In my case, even if the mixture was cold, it still was able to get the hair)

I still had some leftover wax. So I stored it in a plastic container and placed it in the refrigerator. You can just heat it up to use it again. As for the cotton strips, you can reuse it by washing and hanging it to dry.

My verdict: The wax is perfect. It was not painful at all. I actually had fun doing it. Plus I think the honey left my skin soft. My only problem was that I do not know how to go about the process of waxing, so there were really small areas that I accidentally skipped and had to go back and wax. I'm pretty sure 1 or 2 tries will get me accustomed to it.

So if you're on a tight budget and have plenty of time in your hands, I suggest you try this DIY wax. You can actually have fun, while keeping yourself hair-free. :)

Review: Careline Oil Control Blush-on in Starlight Shine

2009-02-10T20:48:00.000-08:00

Over the years, I've had the biased notion that anything too cheap does not deliver well. And that it specifically rings true to makeup products.

WRONG.

Well I was proved wrong after reading reviews of cheap makeup brands that worked well for others. And that started my relentless search for good quality bargain makeup products. I can't go to a mall without rummaging through racks of makeup in Watsons or in the department stores. Don't get me wrong. It did not change completely my preference in brands. I just think that it's in a matter of finding the stuff that work for you.

Just last week, I went out with some friends. I noticed one of my friends had an unusual aura to her. I was trying to pinpoint what it was that made her look different. It could have been her complexion, it was glowing (she really had good skin btw). But what I noticed most was her blush-on. It was a nice healthy brownish shade (actually, I'm not good at describing colors. I'm thinking a mauve taupe mix?) that shimmered in a natural way. Now, let me just point out that I am not a fan of shimmery makeup. I usually want it matte. But hers just floored me. And I complimented her about it. Of course she was flattered. I asked what it was she used. I was expecting her to blurt out a high-end brand of makeup since she usually uses one. To my surprise she said:

"Oh, its Careline!"

I laughed it off at first, thinking that she was joking. But she was dead serious. And to prove it to me, she took it out of her makeup kit. And it was Careline, indeed! Careline Oil Control Blush-on in Starlight Shine.

I absolutely loved how it looked on her that I decided to try it myself.

I've used Skin Alison Raffaele Inner Glow in Charming for the longest time. And just recently, I bought the Smash Box O Glow (I'll try to make a post on this). I've also tried some minerals. But so far, I've been using the Careline blush-on everyday since I bought it. I don't have a picture of me wearing it but I swatched it for this post (which isn't exactly how it looks like in person)

Well what can I say? I love the color and so far, no breakouts whatsoever.

Pros

- the shade is so natural

- it gives a natural glow

- it comes with a small (cute) powder puff (but I still prefer using a blush brush)

- it's so cheap for Php88!

- I just love everything about it

Cons

- I have to retouch a bit after 7 hours (not bad though)

I would definitely buy it again! So there.

On a different note, I passed by some makeup counters on a trip to the mall earlier today. I've been curious about the BB cream hype so I ended up buying the Face Shop's Quick and Clean Blemish Balm for Php595. I noticed that they also carry another BB cream which sounded like super BB cream (I'm not sure). The consistency was heavier so I decided to buy the Quick and Clean BB instead because I have oily skin. I've tried the Quick and Clean Sunblock before and it kind of controlled the oiliness of my skin so I think this will do good. I also passed by Elianto and saw that they now have the BB cream too (in 3 formulas I think). Unfortunately, there were no testers. The sales lady said its a new arrival and testers are yet to be delivered.

I am now officially declaring a no-buy mode for at least a month. I am flat broke (and in debt). I have been hoarding on makeup products and tools that I can use for makeup school. I'm planning to enroll for the March class. So far, I'm waiting for a contour palette, brush and gel liners from Coastal Scents.I hope I get it in good condition.

For now, I'm crossing my fingers for me to avoid spending anymore. :(