Lip balm of the Day : Revlon Just Bitten Kissable balm in Darling

Color Description: Purplish Pink

Review: Your standard lip balm with a twist! Good color pay off and leaves a stain that last for 6-8 hours even after eating and drinking. The color may scare you a bit but once on the lips, this gives you a pretty pink my lips but better color. It leaves your face a fresh, just bitten kissable lips (hence the name). It gives a bit of a gloss and has a strong minty feel that tingles but wears off a few minutes after. These is a better alternative for "no lipstick days" but you still want color to brighten up your face. Wear it on its own or can be topped with your favorite gloss or lipstick for a more dramatics color impact on your puckers. :)

Price: Php 575 @ SM Department Stores

Lipstick of the Day : Ever Bilena Matte Lipstick in Scarlet

Color Description: Red orange that appears to be semi- matte

Review: The formula of this particular shade appear to be less drying/matte and glides on so smoothly you might think it is in a cream form. It appears to be a lot more orange in daylight and could pass as a dupe for MAC Lady Danger if it were more matte. 

Price: Php 155 @ SM Watsons

Nail of the Day : Mint Green

The Face Shop nail polish

Color name: GR 501

Price: Php 90 

MAC Brow Gel in Show Off

Color Description: Dark Brown

Review: Tinted brow gel that helps set, tame and gives a hint of color to brows. This is by far my favorite brow makeup. I usually pair it up with a brown eyeshadow underneath it but, for a more natural effect I just use it alone.

Price: Php 1,000 @ Rustan’s Shang-ri La Mall

Lipstick of the Day: Ever Bilena Matte Lipstick in Off Beat Pink

Color Description: Bright Matte Barbie Pink

Review: This is could be the closest, cheapest dupe for MAC Viva Glam Nicki lipstick you may ever find in the Philippine market today. This could be on the drier side but a lip balm underneath it should fix the problem. Top it up with a clear gloss and this would turn to an even prettier pink in my opinion. (Last photo: EB Off Beat Pink topped with Essence XXXL Shine in Nude Kiss)

Price: Php 155 @ SM Watsons

Lipgloss of the Day : Essence XXXL Shine in Nude Kiss

Color Description: Light baby pink with high shine

Review: It has a delicious sweet candy scent but fades away after few minutes. Despite its high shine effect, it doesn’t feel sticky or heavy on the lips. With its soft light color, it blends well with any shade of lipstick. Lasts about 2-4 hours.

Price: Php 150 @ SM Watsons

Virginia Olsen Minerals Eye Colors

"Virginia Olsen Minerals eye colour has been produced with a high density of mineral makeup ingredients, so a little goes a long way. These natural cosmetics can be used interchangeably as eyeliner, highlighter, or eyeshadow."

-http://www.virginiaolsen.com/products/eyes

Colors: L-R 

Olive Branch (olive green with shimmers) 

Pink Diamond (bright pink w/ tiny silver glitters) 

Gold Bar (shimmery yellow gold)

Natural Lighting

(Top: With Primer, Bottom: No Primer)

With Camera Flash

                                    

I specifically like that these shadows blend so well and have great pigmentation, particularly Pink Diamond which is so lovely. Gold Bar can be a good highlight and great lid color as well. Olive Branch is good for outer corner and crease contour but I bet it can be great also as a lid color. In general, all these shadows would look great on their own.

These shadows are Php 150/1g at Virginia Olsen Minerals website, which for me are affordable considering these are natural mineral make up. Not to mention with that amount of product, it will definitely last you a long time. They have a selection of several products such as blushes/cheek color, powder foundation, concealer/correctors, and mattifying base for oily people like me. And to top it off, they have brushes/tools to help you apply these products like a Pro.

Ingredients include Mica, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and has spf 19. They are made in USA.

Overall Rating: 9/10

Inexpensive Lipsticks from Fashion 21

Pros: Inexpensive around Php120-150.

Decent Packaging.

Good color pay-off.

True to its color in in the tube.

Non-drying, moisturizing.

No funky cosmetic smell.

Cons: As this lippies have a very creamy texture, 

you won't expect them to last that long, about 2-3 hours.

Few shade selection.

Sugar Rose, Glamorous Satin, Warm Salmon

Warm Salmon

Glamorous Satin

Sugar Rose

All Time Favorite Toner: Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner

I came across this while browsing the web looking for all natural alternative to skin care products. I thought it wasn't available locally since it is made in the U.S.

I finally found out that we can purchase it at the Healthy Options store in our local malls. I bought the travel size one (less than a hundred I guess) just to try it out and to know if I am not allergic to witch hazel since some all natural products sometimes cause allergies to sensitive skin.

I went back after 2 weeks to get the bigger bottle (237ml, around P300) and you can tell how much I love it as this much was left after 3 months use. It may seem to be pricier compared to other local toners available in the market, but I don't mind as I have found my holy grail of a toner. I never experience any irritation or breakouts compared to various toners I've tried. Been using it in the morning and night as part of my skin care routine, and has been my staple skincare product since.

Here's to let you know more about the product:

"Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel natural skin care products are your solution to healthier skin. 100% natural, Witch Hazel gently removes oils and impurities leaving your skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated without harsh or confusing ingredients contained in other toners. Our formula for natural skin care products dates back 1866 and continues to be the only gentle, oil controlling toner made from entirely natural Witch Hazel.

Witch Hazel is a plant native to the North East with healing properties so powerful that the Native American’s used it as a topical healing solution as early as the 16^th century. Today our natural skin care products are extracted from the twigs and bark of the Witch Hazel Plant and distilled into a natural astringent that is still one of the gentlest ways to cleanse and tone the skin.

Witch Hazel is so gentle that it can be used on nearly any type of skin. People with oily skin find that Witch Hazel helps them to achieve a balance other toners can’t. Those with dry skin see the flakes leave while essential moisture remains. Our natural skin care products clean and calm sensitive skin, unclog pores and help you to achieve a balance that can only be had with Witch Hazel."

—source: http://www.dickinsonsusa.com/index

Have you tried this yet? Let me know.

NYX: Matte Lipstick in Angel and Round Lipstick in Thalia

NYX makes great selection of lipsticks with a wide variety of shades. I picked my first ones and these too seemed to impress me. I specifically like the Matte formula and does wear a bit longer than the obviously creme finish of the Round one. I got mine from Digitaltraincase.

Neat packaging as you can actually see the color of the lipsticks. For the Round one, color is at the bottom.

This is how much product you can get from each tube.

Labeling at the bottom too.

NYX Matte Lipstick in Angel

NYX Round Lipstick in Thalia

Do you have NYX lipsticks in your makeup stash, too? What do you think?

Myra Vitaglow Tinted Moisturizer

A lot of people are in search of a drugstore alternative to a popular tinted moisturizer that's so costly (Laura Mercier), they say they almost found one. Except for the shimmer that is.

Myra, as Filipinos knew, started as a supplemental Vitamin E capsule and eventually ventured to cosmetics and skincare by releasing lotions, creams, face powder, etc.

One thing I like is their moisturizer. It doesn't break me out and could it get any better if they'll release a tinted version of it. I thought I would toss away my foundation after this.

As the picture above shows, it happens to be a bit too dark for me. I understand this was made specifically for Filipinas that are a majority, beautiful Morenas. I wish it had a lighter version for us who are on the pale side. But still I could probably rock it by giving me a slightly fake tan on summer.

Problem is when you go out and hit the sun, you suddenly transform into a Twilight Vampire. What I mean is you sparkle, yes you indeed GLOW like a glitter. Being an oily-faced person, I am a fan of the matte type of cosmetics thats why this part disappointed me. A lot.

But then again I would still probably use it I but have to really brush a lot of matte powder on to my face for the shimmer to subside.

I guess the R&D team of Myra never tested these on makeup gurus or makeup enthusiasts first, so they could have known that too much glitter isn't that all flattering especially if you put it all over your face. I might just use this anyway on my legs and shoulders, giving me that needed glow where I want it to be. Now off to the beach, Gurl! :)

Repurchase? I would if they would elimitate that disturbing glitter/shimmer and add a variety of shades.

What do you think?

Revlon Lip Butters in Berry Smoothie and Tutti Frutti

Revlon Lip Butters in Berry SMoothie and Tutti Frutti

Price: 

$ 7.00-9.00 (US)

P 575 (Philippines)

Yes dear, that's all the product you can get. Not that much. Packaging was neat though. I just wish there could have been more product in it as I can't use that super nice packaging on my lips. :)

Swatches: (L) Berry Smoothie and (R) Tutti Frutti

Berry Smoothie (pinkish/berry) is so soft I thought it would melt every time I swatch it. It has  shimmers on it that I can feel on my lips like sand. Kinda weird I know.

Tutti Fuitti (orange) has quite drier formula compared to the other one which I don't know why. But these color is perfectly fluttering on pale cool toned skin.

Like others who have tried these lippies, I wish they had flavor or scent on them that compliments their cute names on it. Obviously their not long wearing but is a good alternative for pale lip blame and heavy lipsticks if you do not want to go heavy on your makeup for the day. Be sure to bring it with you and put it in your purse to re-apply within the day.

Natural Lip Color

Berry Smoothie

Tutti Frutti

AUGUST GIVEAWAY!!!

Hello lovelies!

 I am doing my first ever Giveaway this August. I am sharing my love for Human Heart Nature Products. These are all Natural products derived from our country. I thought you might want to try these out. Simply follow the instructions below so you may enter and win these fab prizes. Giveaway runs from August 1-31, 2012. Philippines only.

1 Purifying Facial Scrub (Strawberry Scent) 50 ml

1 Balancing Facial Toner 50 ml

1 Moisturizing Shampoo (Mandarin Fresh Scent) 50 ml

1 All Natural Deodorant (Pink Blossom)

1 Lip Balm (Wild Berry Flavor)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sleek i-Divine Ultra Mattes Darks

This is my very first palette from Sleek MakeUP. I am a sucker for matte eyeshadows and matte lipsticks and grabbed this as soon as I saw it on my favorite online shop Digital Traincase . It so hard to find matte eyeshadows on most palettes and knowing I could get all matte in one palette I have to grab one. 

Sleek packaging that fits in my purse.

Colors are written on the protective plastic sheet but I might throw that later on.

I suggest you write down the eyeshadow names in your notes (if you ever loose the plastic covering) just incase you might need them for a tutorial.

Below are the swatches for each colors.

From top left to bottom right:

Orbit (blue green)

Ink (Navy blue)

Highness (Purple)

Noir (dark gray w/ hint of green)

Dune (light yellow)

Pillow Talk (off-white)

Thunder (light gray)

Maple (copper/brownish red)

Flesh (peach)

Paper Bag (brown)

Villain (dark violet)

Fern (green)