Long time no see!

I thought I'd start the year right by getting right back into blogging and what better way to do that than by showing you new some new acquisitions.

Some time in October, I went to Tokyo and I picked up a bunch of stuff. Most of them I'd given away as presents, but I kept these two for myself. I've been using the Rimmel Cream Cheek in 004 Sunkissed Cherry a lot and I really like how the formula toes the line between a liquid tint and a cream. It is quite sheer, but buildable, and the color is something like maraschino cherry syrup.

I also picked up the Canmake Gokubuto Mascara. I was in need of something new as my Fairydrops one had dried out and I picked this up because it had a sticker on it that says it won awards from Cosme. I've used it a couple of times and while I'm not a fan of a waterproof formula (too difficult to remove), I like how defined and nicely separated my lashes looked.

These Crabtree & Evelyn Nail Polishes in 801761 Apple/Rouge Sublime and 801721 Pomegranate/Prune and this Pomegranate, Argan & Grapeseed Hand Cream was gifted by an aunt of mine and it came in the cutest tin too! I haven't tried any of them yet though so I'll have to see before saying anything.

Not too long ago, Kiko Cosmetics opened their first store here in Hong Kong (quite possibly their first store in Asia).The prices were reasonable and I've only ever heard good things about Kiko, so I decided to give their stuff a go. I bought their Universal Fit Hydrating Foundation in Warm Beige 15 and two of their Creamy Color Comfort Lip Liners in 303 and 305. I'm waiting for the weather to get warmer before I give you my thoughts on the foundation. However, I have tried the red lip liner and it is very pigmented and long lasting.

They had the entire Rebel Romantic collection on display at the Kiko store and I just had to have this lipstick. You might remember the Intensely Lavish Lipstick in 01  Lusty Peony from my wishlist. It is absolutely gorgeous. I keep taking and out and staring at it and playing with the *gasp* magnetic lid. More on this as I get some use out of it.

I bought a few other pieces for some of my friends while I was at Kiko and my bill was something just over HK$330. The lady at the cashier told me I could pick out any item from the store with a star on it as a gift with purchase. I chose the Lucious Cream - Creamy Lipstick in 512 Plum which retailed for HK$79 and I got it for free. Great deal and a nice way to get people interested in their brand.

Over Christmas, I was in California with my family and I was given this cute set of mini eyeshadows from Bare Minerals in the shades Cultured Pearl (an incandescent pink), Blissful Pearl (a shimmery sand color), and Magnificent Pearl (a pearly taupe). I've never tried mineral makeup or loose eyeshadows so they should be very interesting.

I finally picked up my first real eye brow product! This is the Anastasia Brow Wiz in Chocolate. I've used it twice now and I've been liking it so far. It's hard to go overboard with this because the nib is so small. I particularly like the spoolie at the end that has very short bristles. Brilliant for blending in brow products.

 

These were a few small things I thought would be useful somewhere down the road. The Fresh Roll-on Perfume in Brown Sugar smells sweet, as you would expect, but not cloyingly so. It smells of something like cotton candy with an undertone of something fruity. I bought a Real Techniques Setting Brush for my friend and ended up getting one for myself. It's a great size and shape for under the eyes and for applying highlighter.

Hands down, the most extravagant thing I bought is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit. This limited edition goes for US$80 + tax, but how pretty is this palette? I know I do not need three powders and I do not even use bronzer. I had every intention of ignoring it an chalking up my interest to all the hype and attention this baby got from all the bloggers and vloggers, but it was too beautiful. I went to Sephora thrice on my trip and each time, this baby called out to me with its siren song of marbled blushes, illuminating powders, and sleek chic packaging. It didn't help at all that the powders were so finely milled and the blushes were that pigmented. I fully intend to get my money's worth out of this and so help me I will hit pan!

Here's to hoping I blog more regularly this year (and I get lots of use out of all of this stuff haha). I also hope your year will turn out beautifully and that only good things come your way.

Hello everyone! Long time no see~ A bit of time has passed and we've gone from Spring to Summer in a flash. April has been a very busy month for what with me doing the work of four people on the weekdays. Plus I’ve been out every weekend of the last month as well to keep myself happy and sane. That said I really should apologize for the lack of activity on here, but I made it a point to post this twice this week to make up for it. 

In lieu of a favorites post this month (because really, I'm still using all the same stuff and it isn't so fun talking about it over and over again >_<) I thought I would show you the makeup look I'm trying out this season. It's just a quick post today, but I promise you I have something scheduled that's going up on this blog real soon!

It's a pretty simple look that's really light and the focus is really on looking fresh-faced. We're already well into the summer here and it goes up to 40° C or 104° F. Crazy hot! Even if you're just staying indoors, you really feel how high the temperature is is. Everyone feels oily, sticky, and more than a bit gross. This is why it was important to me to at least look like I felt fresh.

 

(please excuse the light >< nothing can make it look less warm when the sun is that strong #TheCurtainIsMyFilter)

After doing my base with my Borjois 10-hour Sleep Effect foundation in #72, I  mixed my Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone with some foundation for concealing my under eye circles. I also put it on the tops of my cheeks, the bridge of my nose, and on my brow bone. I powdered everywhere, especially on my temples, down the sides of my nose, and along my hairline using the Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder with a Real Techniques Powder Brush to dispel greasiness in those areas.

Tided up my brows a bit with the Tony Moly Delight Circle Lens Mascara. I lined my eyes (mostly tight-lining and in between lashes) with my Dolly Wink Eyeliner and put on two coats of Eyeko Eye Do Mascara for definition and to wake up the eyes. I also put a bit of the bronzey shade from my unidentifiable Dior palette in the outer V with a BYS Synthetic Domed Shadow Brush.

For a bit of color I used my trusty Borjois Cream Blush in #04. And on my lips I layered Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick in #37 L’Exubérante (borrowed from aunt haha) over my C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine.

Aside from looking fresh, the point was to look glowing not greasy.So for this look, I put very little on the eyes and spent more time bringing light and fighting shine on my face. To add a teeny bit of interest I popped on a bright lip color that was very warm and summery, but had enough cool notes in it to balance the warmth of the skin and the golden sheen from the highlighter and the eyeshadow. 

This look stays on the whole day for me. I've gone to concerts and out walking with this on and it still looks decent come night-time even if I applied this in the late morning. That said I still haven't found a way to beat the heat. Any tips besides air-conditioning and cold drinks? Stay cool this summer!

My first makeup bag post! Makeup bag posts and videos are one of my favorite things to read about and watch. I like riffling through other people's makeup bags as most of my friends already know.

This is something I've been pretty excited about for a while. Though I have to say at the get-go that my makeup bag is not at all very exciting. Still, if there is anything I have learned from rummaging through my friends' makeup bags, it's that you learn a lot about what's most important to them in the realms of makeup and skincare by what they absolutely need to bring with them. I suppose I wanted to share a bit of what I really valued here. 

The Makeup Bag

The bag I keep my makeup in was an old Ermenegildo Zegna Flight Kit. It is supposed to be for men, but I couldn't help but like it. What drew me to it initially was how the fabric wouldn't get dirty easily. A lot of light colored makeup bags can look grubby with time. I also really like that you can open it up all the way and it lays down flat. 

It also has pockets on both sides that serve as dividers and help keep the bits and bobs inside organized. It saves me from having to dig around a pouch where things tend to jostle around or collect at the bottom. Since it is made of fabric, it's expandable and perfect for when I have lots of stuff. 

Powder 

Powder is a must for makeup bags especially in hot and humid cities like mine. This Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder does live up to it's name as it has managed to control shine and oiliness. (Big thank you to Danie of That Nugu)

However, I am not a fan of loose powders for travel. I've managed to keep messiness to a minimum by leaving half the sticker on where the powder comes out and lifting it up only when I need it. I also use the puff to keep the powder from going everywhere. 

It's also not the quickest thing to use because I have to sprinkle the powder onto the lid every time I want to use it. I'd really like to invest in a pressed powder for my makeup bag and keep this at home.

Mirror

Everyone needs a mirror in their makeup bag. I got this for free on my trip to Sephora in Singapore. It's a pretty standard mirror with one regular side and one 5x magnifying side (great for doing eyeliner and checking lip lines). 

Lipsticks 

I have found it impossible to leave the house with only one lipstick. I tend to do my lips in the car or when I get to work so unless my makeup look is particularly lip-centric that day, color choice is always left to the last minute. As a result of this I bring my favorites with me everywhere. 

Pictured here are my Covergirl Queen Collection Lipstick in Tawny Port for my red shade, my VDL Tint Bar Tripleshot in Triple Burgundy for my everyday pinky berry shade, and my Rimmel Lasting Finish Kate Moss lipstick in #08 for my MLBB.  I've managed to whittle this down quite a bit because I used to bring six around with me and many of them were essentially the same color and finish (oops!)

Eyeliner

Admittedly, this is not something I bring every day as I make it a point to finish doing all my eye makeup before I leave the house. On the days when I am in a terrible rush or when I know I am going  to primp a bit after work, I've been opting to bring this rather old Tony Moly Easy Touch Eyeliner in #02 Brown.

Moisturizers

A definite must for me. I need to have moisturizers because I get dry patches in the weirdest places. My lips chap easily so I need an extra strong product that counteracts that. I've talked about this C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine in Ultra No. 1122 before in my recent haul and I meant it when I said it was a makeup bag staple. 

I have really loved this Nature Republic Hand & Nature Avocado Hand Cream. So much so that I've bought my third (and fourth because it comes in a 1+1 deal) tube. I really like the light fresh and fruity scent is has. Avocado has a lot of benefits for your skin as well (lightens scars, skin, and spots, prevents wrinkles, is an antioxidant, prevents breakouts, and is a natural sunscreen). The texture is not too heavy either, so it does not make your hands sticky for too long.

Brush

I used to prefer puffs for applying powder products until I realized how much product a puff packs on. I picked up this Body Shop Blush Brush a few months back and I've been using it to apply the Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder. I love that it's retractable because not only is it great for travel, it also means you can control how densely packed the bristles are. In effect it becomes a powder brush for applying product onto larger areas and a mini domed buffing brush for applying product onto corners and under the eyes.

Sprays

These next two sections are really just tiny bits I feel I need to bring with me all the time and fit conveniently into my makeup bag. I always need to bring a hand sanitizer with me, which in this case is rubbing alcohol in an atomizer. I also carry around a few perfume samples whenever I get my hands on them. Here I have samples of Victoria's Secret Angel Dream and Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet.

 For Emergencies

My family and I absolutely swear by Axe Brand Universal Oil. It's one of those brilliant Chinese ointments that does everything. I've used it for headaches, nausea, insect bites, muscle pain, and as a decongestant. You will not believe how many times this has come in handy (it is a godsend on road trips out of town).

I also pack a lot of bandaids. I use them less for cuts and scrapes and more for when my shoes rub me the wrong way.  Better to have it and not need it than to need it an not have it.

Back in school I'd have a mascara, cream blush and sometimes two colored eyeliners in addition to the three extra tubes of lipstick. Aside from that I had wet wipes, medicine, and at one point a shoe mitt. For work though, I saw the need to get it down to the essentials.

Evidently, my makeup bag philosophy of late has more to do with practicality than anything else. I put a lot of stock in having things that I know will be useful. Each item usually addresses certain needs and I tend to save the fun stuff (pink eyeliner, purple lip tar, blue mascara, and the like) for nights out on the weekends. 

I do make an exception for my lip products. I packed three lipsticks and a lip treatment - four products dedicated to just one area to me says a lot about what I find important. Because lips are very, very, important.

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All of this aside what this post really way for was to make an announcement and serve as a starting point for this new project. Ladies and ladies, I am very happy to announce the launch, shall we say, of The Makeup Bag Series! Every month I will feature a makeup bag I've riffled through and the makeup philosophy of the beautiful person who owns it. 

Fingers crossed I will have the posts up at the end of the month every month (if I interview more people, maybe more makeup bags~ who knows?) so that by this time next year I will have featured twelve or so makeup bags. 

I'm beyond excited about this project and  I am happy to report I already have four lovely makeup bags lined up for posting. At any rate, if you've read this far thank you and I am sorry this turned into an inconceivably long post. 

The first of the -Ber months has come to an end! This month I was in and out of the country quite a bit and I did not want to carry too many products with me. At the same time, however, I really did not want to need makeup and not have it. The items I listed down below are a few of the essentials I packed with me that performed beautifully whenever I needed them.

Tony Moly Delight Circle Lens Mascara in #03 Clear Circle

It was a tough call leaving my black mascara back at home, but I decided to sacrifice mega long lashes in favor of a product with two uses. This clear mascara may not lengthen or thicken the look of my lashes, but it certainly helps keep them looking curled and defined. On top of that, this makes a pretty good clear brow gel as well. The best part about it was that I did not have to spend ages easing waterproof mascara off my lashes when I was dead tired at the end of the day.

C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine in #1122 Ultra

Don't we all get really dry lips after a flight? Mine are the worst. They peel and flake, but worst of all I get tempted to bite them, which only makes matters worse. This lip plumping gloss is the best. It has peppermint which not only tastes and smells amazing, it also helps keep my lips hydrated and full-looking. I take this with me everywhere and I always put it on right when I am just about to start putting my makeup on. So when I finally finish the rest of my face, my lips are moisturized and a lot of the gloss has sunk in and does not look gloopy and sticky.

BYS Synthetic Eye Shadow Blending Brush

This brush was an absolute steal at Php 300. It is super fluffy and the hairs do not fall out. It is also the perfect size for those of us with smaller eyes and creases because a lot of other brushes are too big and sometimes ruin the eye makeup as a result. This makes blending along the crease really easy and it is also really portable.

The Face Shop Illuminating Cushion Blusher in #02 Orange

Don't worry, I have not given up my Borjois Cream Blush yet. This is the blush I've been choosing to layer over it. It's a bright orangey pink shade. It has a little bit of shimmer in it so it is great for blush that's a little higher on the cheeks. It really helps brighten up dull skin because a little glitter makes you look fresher in the sunlight. I chose to bring this also because it had a little puff inside which meant I didn't need to bring a blush brush. (teehee)

Too Faced Natural Eye Palette

This has nine gorgeous shadows (six shimmers and three mattes) that brighten up the eyes even after a fourteen hour flight. It is a pretty versatile palette and I love the quality of the shadows. My favorite combination is Silk Teddy as an all-over color, Push Up on the outer corner and Cocoa Puff along the lash line. Velvet Revolver is great for putting in the crease and for contouring the nose as well. I avoided bringing anything too expensive because there was always the chance I would lose them, but I could not resist bringing this along.

K-Palette Real Lasting Eyeliner 24h in Natural Brown

Speaking of things I lost. I could not find the photo I took of my K-Palette eyeliner so I apologize for this stock image. Though it is a big improvement because all the text on mine has been rubbed out due to use. I'm a big fan of brown eyeliner because of how you get the definition you need without it being as ostentatious as a bold black line. I am also a fan of a brush tip because for as long as you hold it properly, it will not lose its point and become blunt or frayed. I loved using this along the lash line and for filling in spaces along the lash bed itself.

My makeup looks this time around were still a bit natural, but I definitely had a lot more shiny, glittery products on. I find that it really does help especially if your skin is a bit dry and lackluster from planes and jet lag. Nothing too fancy on this list, but I think it's a pretty good run down of what was essential to me when I'm forced to limit myself. I did not include a lipstick on this list though. I could not possibly choose from the six I brought with me, but I definitely believe it is incredibly essential as well.

 Hope you all had a good month! See you in my next post!