Hello Everybody! 

I really like playing with my makeup. While I do have my staple looks and I do own way too many neutral eye shadows, I've always had fun experimenting with color particularly on my eyes. Partly because it's easy enough to get away with, but mostly because it's out there, but not totally esoteric.

I am extremely pleased that colored eyeliner has come back on the runways and magazines for this year. I have always been a huge fan of colored eyeliner (if my blog title didn't make that plenty obvious haha) and as a result of this I've amassed a bit of a collection. It has dwindled down somewhat after I gave away a few pieces and threw out old ones, but today I want to show you some of what has remained. 

A few of these are from my mom's collection as well because I tend to borrow a lot of them. The colored eyeliner look I tend to go for is the one my mom and her sisters wore all throughout my childhood and continue to do now. It's the two-layer eyeliner: first layer is a black all around the eyes with a flick, the second layer is a sort of out-line or eyeliner for your eyeliner with a colored liner

I won't talk about all of them because that would make this a very lengthy post indeed, but I will tell you a little about my absolute favorites.

Jessica Automatic Lip & Eye Liner Pencil in #18 Dewberry

Starting off with something that has been featured many, many times before on this blog (almost to the extent that it should be called The Dewberry Eyeliner). It is a reddy violet shade that is still a little too blue to be burgundy. It always looks incredibly polished on it's own, but looks even better when worn with a golden eye shadow or liner.

NYX Retractable Eye Liner #08 in Silky Cashmere

Another frequently featured favorite is this gorgeous rose gold eyeliner. This was a really good purchase as I have found multiple uses for it. It makes a great eyeliner for your eyeliner especially for a very simple chic look. It also looks really good along the waterline or in the inner corners for brightening your eyes. If you move quickly enough, it also makes a lovely eyeshadow when blended with fingers and it sets really fast.

Clio Gelpresso Waterproof Pencil gel Liner in #15 Bloody Devil

A new love for me. I bought this in Hong Kong a while back and it was in my New Year New Things post. I bought this after I threw out a red liquid eyeliner that had gone lumpy. I wasn't such a fan of the glitter or the formula at first, but oh my god it is gorgeous. It really adds drama to a simple liner look, but you will need a black liner along your lashline first. 

Peripera Saturday Night Liner in #4 Thursday Ocean

I am a big fan of a solid blue cat eye (especially for going to parties) and this was just the thing to use. You get so much more precision for a cat eye with a liquid liner than a pencil. It was a great going-out-makeup item because when it sets it stays on for HOURS. I've also used it above a black cat eye and in the inner-v with a bronze cat eye. I love the shade as well, it's a metallic neon blue and it gives of an Aztec feel when paired with gold shades.

Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer in #230 Deep Ocean

Speaking of solid blues, this is a drop dead gorgeous sapphire blue shade that I love stealing from my mom. It looks amazing and really brings out the brown in my eyes. Like the Peripera, it goes really well with golden liners and shadows, but is incredibly chic on its own. With a blue this dark, you don't really need a black line to define the lashes or much else really. It also looks good on most complexions as blue brings out the best in a skin tone.

It's amazing how many new colors and formulas are out there for eyeliner. Lots of companies from the road brands to the high end have really gone out of their way to broaden their range of hues. So I am very sure there is a shade or two or five out there for everybody. What are your favorites?

Hello, everybody! This May Makeup Bag has been a long time coming. Sephie of Just Sephie Rojas was one of the first people I approached about this project. We finally got to talk about it after several failed attempts (read: we would meet up, remember we should talk about it, then get distracted haha). Sephie and I have been friends for ten years and I have to say that in that time she does not look like she has aged a day. She has always had a bright and youthful look and I got to learn more about how she maintains and achieves this.

Sephie really is not into putting on lots and lots of makeup. "Cleansing and moisturizing are what I normally focus on. I think if you have a good base, you don't need to put much gunk on to make yourself look 'prettier.'




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Skin matters so much, and looking naturally younger is the main goal. I have been blessed with a youthful look which I am incredibly grateful for, and I make sure to stay within the boundaries I'm given. Like I said, I'm a huge fan of the 'no makeup' makeup look and looking fresh, because I know that's what suits me best.









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Aside from the Maybelline Pressed Powder, Sephie really doesn't bring any base makeup with her. Choosing instead to make room for moisturizers and skincare.

Nature Republic Soothing & Moisture Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel (Decanted)

-     "I don't really think it's sticky. Actually I think it's easily absorbed into my skin after a few rubs, which is why I love applying layers of it onto my elbows and knees.  I do prefer gel formula over cream or liquid formulas since gel doesn't necessarily feel sticky. Creams usually feel oily and sticky when they dry. Liquids tend to spill and evaporate too fast so I get to consume it too much too fast and that gets pretty expensive in the long run.








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Etude House Aloe Moistful Misturizing Cream

-     "Since my skin type is combination-dry (dry U-zone + oily T-zone), it gets kinda challenging to strike the right balance of makeup used on my face. My skin is also pretty sensitive so I was really happy to finally find my moisturizer that doesn't stings my face, nor irritates it, but it still does its job well."

-     "Epiduo is my 'go away pimple' cream. it's really strong so it has to be prescribed by a derma for you to use.




 I use it twice a day especially on inverted pimples since it's that strong, it tends to dry my skin if used too much too often.








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Maybelline The Falsies Mascara

Though Sephie really is all about the skin, she does not shy away from products that help enhance her natural beauty. "I limit myself with eyeliner, mascara, naturally defined eyebrows, and lipstick. I'm a huge fan of the 'no makeup' makeup look.




 Less is definitely more for me.









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-     "I used to love doing gradient lips, and the Etude House Rosy Tint Lips (in Before Blossom) is a pretty nice item to use to achieve just that. But gradient lips tend to take so much longer to apply, so nowadays I just do a full lip look instead.








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Etude House Perfect Brow Kit

-     "I like using powder since it's easier to build up than with light strokes of a pencil. I use an angled brush to make more defined but still natural-looking feathered strokes using the brow powder that doesn't look too strong and gives my brows a natural softer finish than what a pencil could give.








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MAC Black Track Gel Liner

-     "Tips for applying gel liner? I prime my eyes with eye primer first, then wait for 30 secs before applying powder over my eye lids and blending it properly so it doens't look weird or cakey.
 As for actual application of the liner: First, I draw the wing tip on both outer corners of my eyes. This way, it's easier to see if they're balances and aligned properly."

      Next, I know they said you shouldn't do this, but I still do it (lightly/with not much pressure), I close my eye then stretch the outer corner so my eyelid is stretched, then with the use of the gel liner brush, I do small back and forth strokes starting from the middle part of my lash line towards the outer corner of my eyes, then from the middle part again towards the inner corners. Although I don't completely line till my inner corner, I usually feather it lightly so its ends will blend properly at the inner 1/3 of my eyes. Then I connect the inner wing tip to the lash line for either a cat's eye or a puppy eye look.








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In Sephie's book, makeup is less of the key point and more of an "accessory." She goes on to say that, "It's not supposed to be the main attraction to your overall look, but it can make or break your look when done right or wrong. Makeup is supposed to enhance your natural beauty."

I have tried experimenting with different makeup looks. I tried falsies, shadows, liners, lipstick shades, etc., in the end, I realized that what works for me doesn't necessarily work for everyone else and vice versa. Like with fashion, just because it's a trend now doesn't mean it's for everyone.









" I completely agreed with this point. Sephie's makeup philosophy really boils down to knowing how to keep it simple, knowing your face, and knowing what looks good on you. And really, when you keep that in mind, you cannot go wrong.

P.S. Sephie and I with a couple of our friends at a birthday party from way back when.

 Hello, hello, hello! This month I’m featuring my lovely cousin, Kim! She’s studying to be a nurse and then a doctor (best of all, she wants to be a dermatologist and has promised me discounts haha!) 

She also does hospital duty as a nurse-in-training. At the hospital her makeup looks are more subdued and natural. After hours she amps up everything from the big lashes, to the red, red blush, to the bold vampy lips. While she was at my house we had a long chat about the contents of her makeup bag and which products she felt she had to have with her, on-duty and off. 

Lips

I use Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain in LA Exclusive and Parisian. They’re very longlasting. LA isn’t as longwearing as Parisian though, maybe because it’s a lighter color. It’s moisturizing, glossy, but not sticky. I can’t wear Parisian when I do hospital duty though, because the patients get surprised. I don’t want to give them heart attacks.

When I have extra time, I gradate the Etude House Play 101 Pencil in #23. It’s really good for the gradated lip look. It’s not drying and stays on for a long time so you don’t need to reapply it too often. It’s a bit expensive for me at over Php 300 for a pencil from a Korean road makeup shop. When I do the gradated lip, the boys in my class ask, “May kinain ka ba?” (Did you eat something?) Boys don’t get it.

I use the EOS Lip Balm (in Sweet Mint) every night after I do my skincare routine. It’s great because in the morning you feel your lips get really moisturized. Afterwards, I just scrub and apply my lip products. The scent is relaxing as well. I’ve been using it for a year and there’s still a lot of product. The only thing I don’t like is that it gets sticky and you can’t use it over lipstick because it will stain the EOS.

I just bought this Maybelline Baby Lips Electro Pop (in Mint Sheer) and it isn’t very good. It smells like Lemon Maxx candy. I expected it to smell minty. It’s very watery too and you have to blot it after applying. Unlike the EOS, you can use it over your lipstick because it’s cheaper and you won’t care out it getting stained.

I got this (Estée Lauder Pure Color #14 Rose Petal) from Mama. If I don’t do a dark lip, I use this.  I use this when I’m on hospital duty so my patients aren’t too shocked by the color. It’s like a lighter version of a berry color. It’s moisturizing too.

Blush

The Mocha MAC Powder Blush is my first MAC product. It’s called mocha, but it isn’t mocha-colored. The color is like, what is it like? Pink, but not pink? It’s mauve! That’s the word. It seems more like a sculptural blush. I use it under my cheekbones, on top of the Happy Skin powder I use to contour. It’s matte so I use it when I’m going to be under the sun. So when I’m walking to school, I won’t look oily.

I only use (Nars Blush in) Torrid for special occasions or if we’re going out at night. It’s a bit dark so you need to apply it lightly. I use a flat Etude House brush that came with a contour kit I didn’t like. I don’t like the packaging of this though. It gets dirty and end gets dented easily. So really, it isn’t okay to put it in a makeup bag unless you have partitions, but I still keep it in there in case my friends want to go out after hospital duty. For people with my coloring, instead of Orgasm, this is the shade.

Eyes

I should really throw this K-Palette (Real Lasting Eyeliner in Black) away it’s gotten so watery. I only keep it when I want to do a wing or if I’m going on a night out I don’t worry so much about it smudging.

The 3CE (Creamy Waterproof Eyeline in #1 Cats) irritates me if I use it on my waterline otherwise it’s okay because it doesn’t smudge and the color is really black and the finish is matte. I use it more for above the lashline. The finish is more natural than the glossy K-palette. Sometimes it breaks when I sharpen it though

I have the Revlon (Colorstay Eyeliner Crayon Contour in Black) for tight-lining. It’s a lot like the 3CE, but it breaks really easily. I haven’t really found the eyeliner that I really, really like. I want to try the Bobbi Brown gel liner, but it’s in a pot so I need to practice. I used the Tony Moly backstage gel liner before and I enjoyed the process of applying it so I might like the Bobbi Brown.

Maybelline the Magnum Volume Express Waterproof. This one for when I am stressed. Just this so I look more awake and so I don’t look so haggard. I like that’s waterproof. I’m oily so it’s easier for mascara to smudge. I like the brush. It reaches the lashes on the corners. The only thing is my lashes clump together so I really need to use a lash comb. It’s metal and I have a hard time cleaning it. Sometimes I get lazy and just leave the clumpy lashes.

The Oh! M’Eye Lash Top Coat is supposed to be a top coat, but I use it when I don’t want my lashes to look too done up. First of all, when my lashes are too done up, it’s hard to remove. Secondly, if you’re just in school, especially since we’re all in uniform, I don’t want to stand out too much. We’re trained as nurses not look too bold. If my makeup is too bold I might get told off by a professor. And my patients aren’t allowed to get shocked they might have heart attacks. Deadly pretty.

Powder

I used up my Makeup Forever HD powder, I’d hit pan and finished it all off.

Unlike the Makeup forever, Clinique Stay Mattte Sheer (pressed powder oil-free in 02 Stay Neutral) doesn’t make you look too matte. You still retain some dewiness. And since I have dry patches, I need certain areas to look brighter and healthier. I was supposed to get a translucent shade, but it was out of stock so this was recommended to me.

Etc.

I have Chronic Rhinitis so when I get attacks, I put Vicks VapoRub on my nose. When I have a cough I put it on my chest area and it’s soothing. I keep it my makeup bag because I need it all the time and I don’t really have a medicine bag. I keep it there so I know where to find it when I need it. It’s also the product in my makeup bag my friends borrow the most often. They dab a bit on the sides of their nose to decongest.

As a nursing student she has seen it all. From people being born to people at the end of the road and has her fair share of interesting stories and anecdotes about curious ailments. It comes as no surprise that when I asked her what she wanted to call her makeup bag, she answered, “a Myocardial Infraction Makeup Kit or a mini-heart attack kit. It won’t kill you, but it will paralyze you for life. My beauty will paralyze you.” I must agree that she is very pretty and kind of looks like Pocahontas haha. 

P.S. Kim posing as Pocahontas

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.