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. 

I was not sure if I wanted to do a year end favorites post and ultimately I decided against it. It takes me a while to update my favorites, which is why I cannot do them monthly. Also, I thought it would feel like a giant rehash. As much as I love the Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette, I don't think there is anything new I can say about it that you will not have already gleaned from the 7346832 times I have mentioned it haha. Instead, I thought it would be nice to showcase some newer items (some new-new and some newly reacquired,) which would make it perfect for the (wait for it...) new year!

This is a haul post of all the makeup and skincare products I have amassed from my birthday and from Christmas (err Boxing Day sales.) It is big-ish considering I haven't gotten my hands on so many new products that were just for me since I went wild in Seoul back in 2012. For reference, everything with a black background was a birthday present or purchased in November and everything with the linen blanket background was a Christmas present or purchased in December.

I have used the Bourjois 10 Hour Sleep Effect Foundation in shade 72 everyday since I bought it. I have never been one to use foundation, but this was irresistible. It's light and very fluid. It also provides light to medium coverage. I fully expected this to be sheer, but I don't even need concealer after I put on another layer or two on dark circles. The finish is a bit dewy (not semi-matte like it says on the bottle.) 

Another product I've been using a lot is the Murad Essential-C Toner. I've bought a full sized one because I've loved the hell out of the sample (and now I can refill it for travel!) It is pricey, but given the pollution I've been exposed to and will continue to be exposed to, I feel like my skin could use something good that fights free radicals and "damage due to environmental exposure."

Repurchased the legendary Nature Republic Soothing & Moisture Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel recently as my first tub is almost empty. I'm not a fan of this for using on my face, but I really love using it on my elbows, knees, and on my heels (it took me a few minutes to remember the word for it haha in Tagalog it's called the sakong.) 

Danie of That 누구  gave me the Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder on my birthday because I'd been complaining that my skin was getting oilier. I haven't used it yet, but I'm definitely looking forward to testing out it's claims. My biggest concern right now though is that it's a loose powder and may make bringing it around difficult.

This Etude House My Lash Serum is also from Danie. She remembered that I was a big fan of the Dr. Lash Serum from Etude a few years back because it did a great job of elongating my lashes. This isn't a lengthening serum, but I hope it helps strengthen my eyelashes now that I use mascara on a near-daily basis.

Picked up this Keihl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate because Pauline of Catpacking made it too irresistible (and yes, we do mention each other in almost every post). She made me swatch it after we went out for tea and I quite liked it. I swatched it again with my mom and she liked it too. Evidently, if I don't end up sharing this with my mother, she will find a way to borrow it permanently.

Also Pauline's fault is this Nature Republic Snail Solution Eye Cream that she recommended recently. Right off the bat I think I'm going to like it because it is not in a tub and will make using it that much more hygienic. 

Reacquired this C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine in Ultra No. 1122 as a gift. It is a makeup bag staple for me and I've said as much in a past favorites post. I was at such a loss without it when I left it at a friend's house. I am happy that I have another one in stock for when I inevitably run out or lose mine. Super moisturizing and the mint in it works wonders on my dry, flakey lips.

I mentioned the Laneige Water Bank Essence in my 2014 Wishlist and I managed to get my hands on it while I was in Hong Kong last November. In an interesting twist, my cousin saw my wishlist and for Christmas she got me the Water Bank Essence _EX, which is the newer formulation. I'm not sure as to whether or not there is a major difference, but at least I have another bottle for when I use one of them up.

Believe it or not this cute teardrop-shaped thing is a mirror that is thinner than a coin. A friend of mine got it for me in Seoul and I love how it takes up virtually no space. Definitely going in my wallet for those times I leave my makeup bag at home. 

I finally picked up a new red eyeliner. I figured having a blog named The Red Eyeliner, that I should have a good one. I used to use one of the Etude House 10 Proof ones, but mine was such a disappointment because they gave me old stock that was watery and had lumps. I've had my eyes on this Clio Gelpresso Waterproof Pencil Gel Liner in #15 Bloody Devil since it was launched a year or two ago AND NOW I HAVE IT! Definitely going to use this at the next party I attend.

My mom surprised me with this Happy Skin Brush 'Em Off Girl set and I was eccstatic. I'd first seen this with my friend Sonya from OfAllSeasons and her sister, Flo, talked about the brand at length on her blog as well. They are incredibly soft and look gorgeous. I am also a very big fan of the big beautiful makeup bag they came in. Everything fits in there and it was really useful on my last trip.

I had to buy another BYS Synthetic Domed Shadow Brush because one blending brush is never enough! I still really love this brush and it is my go-to eye makeup brush because of how small it is and therefore perfect for my tiny asian eye socket.

Lastly the pièces de résistance of this haul! Both were gifts from my aunt and they are arguably some of the most glamorous things I own.

This is a teeny weenie mini of Chloé au de Parfum Chloé. Chloé is a perfume my mom owns and I always sneak a spritz or two right before going to a job interview. The scent is quite floral (Peony, Freesia, and Litchi being the top notes) and is very feminine, but not in a saccharine, Barbie-girl way. It is a very elegant scent and altogether very lady-like. Really glad I have my own (albeit small) sample of it so my mom won't worry about me using all of hers up.

My mom and her sisters are big fans of the Dior Addict Lipglosses and now I have my own in the shade #533 Princess. It comes out quite sheer and shimmery. The texture is a bit sticky, but it's not too bad. You only really need a small amount of this in the center of your lips. It's also moisturizing without making the flakey bits of my lips come off in chunks.

Looking forward to using all of these products, learning more about them, and of course blogging about them. Take a good look at these babies, because there is a big chance that they will make comebacks on this blog as the year progresses. Of course thanks are in order to all the friends and family that gifted me with one of these items or influenced the decision to purchase them. I feel incredibly lucky to have such lovely people around me who support my obsession with makeup and skincare (perhaps begrudgingly sometimes haha). I'm also very grateful on the whole just to have such fantastic people in my life. Thank you so much for being part of this year and I hope your holidays went well and that the new year brings only wonderful things for you.

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!