I was going to post a comparison of Clinique Moisture Surge and Moisture Surge Intense, but it's Christmas Eve, and damnit I want to write about eyeshadow. This is Pauline's fault, because all makeup and blogging related stuff is Pauline's fault. 

So this post is a little (read: massive) love letter to the pinks and the champagnes, and the shades in between. It also doubles as a Christmas Eve post as I will be using a bunch of these later when I get ready to go out to church and dinner. Might post a selca later if all goes well (never" selfie", because I've been taking selcas before "selfie" was even a word).


The Unidentified Dior 5 Couleours Palette

Forgive me for not knowing the name for this, but this is one of those things I inherited from my mother and this was the condition it was in when she gave it to me. Name or no name, it's one of my favorite palettes because of how gorgeous the punch pink shade on the lower left and the pink-gold beige on the lower right. Great texture and super pretty together. The shade on the top left was my mom's favorite shade (notice how she hit pan?) It's a bronze-toned rose gold that is a good crease shade. The pastel pink in the middle is pretty too, but not something I use a lot.

Too Faced Natural Eye Neutral Eye Shadow Collection

How many times have I talked about this palette? It's a definite favorite and I will probably never get enough of it. Silk Teddy is a b-e-a-utiful shimmery baby pink and it's my go-to eyeshadow, because it's great in the day and at night you only need to thicken your eyeliner and slap on a bit of Push-Up, which is a darker and more shimmery pink. Nude Beach is quite similar to Silk Teddy, except it has a ton of larger glitters in it. Great for a night out, not so much for the day because you see all the glitter falling out on the tops of your cheeks.

(Top to Bottom - Silk Teddy, Nude Beach, Push-Up)

Bourjois Effet Lumiere Trio D'Ombres à Paupiérs in #48 Prune Royale 

I've had this palette forever and I love using it all together. I use the lightest shade as a base, the middle one on the crease, and the darkest shade on the outer V. The color pay-off isn't as great as it once was, but it's great when I want a subtler look and am afraid that I might apply it heavy handed. They all have a very light shimmer and are a bit more on the burgundy-pruney pink side.

The Face Shop Baked Shimmer All-Over Illuminator in #05 Gold Nuance

I was just about ready to get rid of this highlighter block then I swatched the shades separately and thought they'd look amazing as eyeshadows. I only really use the two at the top because they're great as base shades. I mostly use this in the day if I want to cheat brighter eyes without looking like I have shadow on. The shimmer is only just visible and most people seem to think I only have mascara on those days.

MAC Next to Nothing and Paradisco

Next To Nothing is part of my Tempting Quad and it was my HG eyeshadow before I went on a pinker, shimmery-er route with Silk Teddy. This and the palest shades from the Bourjois Effet Lumiere, Dior 5 Couleurs, and The Face Shop Illuminator are incredibly similar, but the texture and lasting power of Next To Nothing is undeniably better. I bought Paradisco along with Esspresso earlier this year and have not gotten around to using them. Paradisco is so pretty I keep wanting to save it. It's a coral shade with gold shimmer and I cannot get over how beautiful it is.

Urban Deacy Naked 1 Palette

Virgin, Sin, Sidecar, and Toasted are the shades that really drew me to this palette. I use Sin and Toasted the most. On my Too Faced palette, Silk Teddy is sort of a lighter version of Sin and Toasted is a lighter version of Push-Up. I have the same fallout problem with Sidecar as I do with Nude Beach and consequently, don't use them as often. Along with the Paradisco-Esspresso duo, I just tend to swatch and stare lovingly at these eyeshadows.  All the women in my family have this habit of saving good stuff for later and sometimes they get old in the process. So call it a New Year's resolution: I WILL USE THESE EYESHADOWS IN 2015. 

(Top to Bottom - Virgin, Sin, Sidecar, Toasted)

NYX  Retractable Eye Liner in #08 Silky Cashmere

Lastly, I wanted to include this rose gold eyeliner. Originally, I thought I could use it on my lower waterline (which I do sometimes) or as an aegyo-sal shimmer (which I don't do), but my favorite use for it has been as a second eyeliner to go where a black line has ended along the eyelid. A sort of eyeliner for my eyeliner. It's also great as an eyeshadow if you blend it in before it dries. It's very long-lasting because it is a waterproof eyeliner, but if you don't apply it evenly it does get bumpy. 

I have far too many pink or pink-toned eyeshadows. I don't understand why, but I've been drawn to them for almost as long as I've been wearing makeup. I once had a photoshoot with my friend Sephie of Strawberry Bunny when we were High School seniors and she let me use her makeup. When it was time to shoot she wondered where I got pink eyeshadow because she did not have any and I didn't bring any makeup. I told her I used what turned out to be her blush. 

The champagne shades came a little later when I discovered how into pearly eyeshadows I was and that grew into a fixation in its own right. I love me a light gold glittery eyeshadow. It's right in between being subtle and standout. No story to go with this, just grabby hands reaching for them whenever I could.

 I suppose when it came down to it, what I love most about these colors is that they can be bright and bold or beautifully understated. They take you from day to night and go with almost anything. I see myself wearing these shades at fancy get-togethers and lower key dinners. I suppose what I mean to say is they're versatile. Evidently, my love affair with these colors has yet to peak because I still find myself lusting after similar shades and trying out these colors in things like highlighter and nail polish too.

I'll end this post by saying I hope you have a nice time tonight and tomorrow at your big parties and quiet nights in. Merry Christmas!

P.S. Here's how my eye makeup turned out~ used Sin, Toasted, and a bit of Half Baked from the Naked 1 palette. I also used the Maybelline 24 Hr Gel Liner and Fairydrops Film Type Mascara

My first encounters with makeup undoubtedly had to do with my mother and the pretty things she kept in and on her dressing table. I think this may be true for many people as well. This tag was sparked by the observation that I have a lot of makeup that I (shall we say) inherited.  I’ve picked up lots of makeup from my mom’s dresser over the years (and she has taken some of mine as well) and I thought it would be fun to talk about a few of them.

1. What is your favorite “stolen” piece?

Covergirl Queen Collection Lip Color in #Q415 Tawny Port

This is definitely one of my favorite lipsticks and my favorite wine shade. It’s a deep red with a very slight plummy undertone. It creates the best stains for every day and when applied well, looks really good for evenings or days when you feel like being more dramatic. It is very moisturizing, nicely scented, and long lasting as are many of my favorite lip products. My mom and I share this one and she takes it back when I’m obsessing over another lip color and I take it back when she doesn’t bring it with her when she goes away.

2. Do you have something of hers that she doesn’t know you have taken?

Two Faced Natural Eye Neutral Eye Shadow Collection

This was in my September 2014 favorites and it is still the palette I reach for the most. Silk Teddy is the prettiest thing and very few light ashy browns have beat out Velvet Revolver as my go-to contour shade. I took this from the box where my mom keeps all the new stuff she is saving for later or going to give away. I’ve had it for about a year now and I do not think she has noticed. Shhhh.

3. What item have you taken that you have not used?

Dior 1 Couleur Powder Mono Eyeshadow in #979 Grenache

It is a vibrant, blue-toned pink eye shadow. I think I took this because I thought it was a blush. It is very pretty with fairly decent color payoff. While it is beautiful, I am not too keen on blue-toned pinks as I prefer coral and orange-toned ones. I tried to give this one back, but my mom said I could keep it. She got it as a gift from her sister and wasn’t too fond of the color either. My mom and I are more into neutral eye shadows and colored eyeliners.

4. Is there something you have been meaning to return?

NYX Lip Smacking Fun Colors Lipstick in #LSS569 Snow White

Also a dark berry or wine shade. It has more plum in it that the Covergirl one and has a satin finish and is far less moisturizing. I really cannot do any lip that isn’t even a little glossy or hydrating because my lips can get really dry. It gets really bad with satin and matte finishes. My mom and I bought this together thinking it would be a good thing to switch out for the Covergirl one. It is a good alternative if you need a darker color, but definitely not if you need something moisturizing.

5. Are there things in your collection that you think she wants to steal?

RealTechniques Powder Brush and Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Original

When I got this brush I let my mom feel how super soft and fluffy it was. For a week after that she kept asking about it and looked like she would really enjoy using it. Well, her and my aunt and my cousin, who felt it as well. My mom felt the same way about my UD Primer Potion. After I got the Naked palette from her she asked for the four samples of Primer Potion that came after it and she has been using them and testing them all out. This was months ago and she still has them. She stored them very well and only uses the smallest amounts. She prefers the Original formula to the others and put this on her Christmas list. If I found either of these missing, I would know she probably borrowed them.

6. Do you have a makeup memory with your mom that you want to share?

I was a very young kid, (I would say baby because all children under six are babies to me), and I was making a card for my mom. I think I saw a cartoon where one of the characters put on lipstick and kissed a note. I got it into my head that I wanted to do that and so I went into her dresser and picked out a bright pink lipstick. I slathered it all over my lips and kissed the card and then I used the lipstick to write, “I love you, mommy.” My mom got home and I gave her the card and she kissed me and said thank you and then later added that I should make her another one, but with crayons. Haha~

7. Who do you want to tag?

I am tagging the lovely Pauline of CatPacking. She was really excited by this tag and to be honest, I really want to see more of the stuff she has in her collection. I also want to tag anyone else who wants to try this out. Write me a comment if you did!

I probably would not have been interested in makeup at all if it were not for my mom being quite good at it. I think that from now on I might indicate if something I’ve reviewed or included in a list has been, “stolen from mom.” I had a lot of fun digging through my makeup and writing this. I have a list of all the products down below. If you are interested, I will tell you as much as I can about any of them even the (sob) discontinued ones. 

Thanks for reading!

1. The Face Shop Illuminating Cushion Blusher in #02 Orange

2. Dior 1 Couleur Powder Mono Eyeshadow in #979 Grenache (Discontinued)

3. Urban Decay Naked 1 Palette

4. Jessica Automatic Lip & Eye Liner Pencil in #18 Dewberry

5. Jessica Automatic Lip & Eye Liner Pencil in #15 Violet

6. Boutique Lip Liner in #8

7. Yves Saint Laurent Blush Variation Fard à Joues in #3 Caramel (Discontinued)

8. Majolica Majorca Skin Remaker Pore Cover SPF PA+ in Beige Ochre 10

9. Lancôme  Rouge a Lèvres Attraction in #319 Rose Impulsion

10. Dior Solo Dior Fard à Paupiérs in #102 Gris Nuage Clouds (Discontinued)

11. Bourjois Smile Enhancing Gloss in #07 Beige Tapis Rouge

12. Boujois Smile Enhancing Gloss in #05 Framboise Hollywood

13. The Face Shop Baked Shimmer All-Over Illuminator in #05 Gold Nuance (Discontinued)

14. Majolica Majorca Shiny Highlight (Discontinued)

15. NYX Lip Smacking Fun Colors Lipstick in #LSS569 Snow White

16. Dior Rouge Diorever in #632 Actress Chestnut (Discontinued)

17. MAC Eye Shadow in Greensmoke (Lustre)

18. Dior 5 Couleurs (Name and number unknown, Discontinued)

19. Two Faced Natural Eye Neutral Eye Shadow Collection

20. Bourjois Effet Lumiere Trio D'Ombres à Paupiérs in #48 Prune Royale (Discontinued)

21. Covergirl Queen Collection Lip Color in Q415 Tawny Port

22. Majolica Majorca Skin Lingere Pore Cover

23. L'Occitane en Provence Lipstick in #0141 Améthyste (Discontinued)

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!

It’s hard to believe that July is over! This month I veered towards more natural looks versus my usual heavy eyeliner or bright lips. These products really helped achieve that and were incredibly quick and easy to apply. A definite plus since I could never wake up early enough and always rushed through my morning routine. Without any more further ado, here are my July Favorites!

Bourjois Cream Blush in #04 Sweet Cherry

I absolutely love this product. The color is gorgeous and very natural. I never used to like blush because all I had were powder blushes and they dried up the skin on my cheeks. The cream blush doesn’t cake or cause dryness, which is fantastic and a little does go a long way. I tried liquid cheek tints before too and I found them somewhat difficult to control and took too much time to apply and perfect. The Bourjois Cream Blush extremely easy to apply and blend even if I’m in a hurry or applying makeup in a car.

Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in #14 Curvy Candy

My friend Ren gave this to me a few months back and I’d been using it on and off. Recently it’s become a makeup bag staple. It’s super easy to just glide on and I like the heft of it. It’s longer than your usual lip balm and I like that it feels like a giant crayon (is that weird?) The color is sheer, but buildable and it doesn’t feel heavy or look too gloopy when you apply more.

The Face Shop Flebote White Crystal Effect Essence

I got this last February and I’ve recently reincorporated it into my makeup routine. I say makeup not skincare because I mix this with whatever base I’ve chosen for that day. It makes the consistency a lot more moisturizing and a lot thinner. I especially like mixing it in with concealer as it helps prevent it from looking cakey especially on the under-eye area. It also makes the concealer easier to blend.

VDL Tint Bar Triple Shot in #502 Triple Burgundy

I first saw this product in PONY’s Krystal Rum Pum Pum Pum makeup tutorial and I was so excited to see it at the VDL counter. I can’t be too sure, but I think this color has been discontinued. This was one of the ways I used to cheat the lip gradation look, but recently I’ve been mixing all the colors together when I use it and it makes a really nice raspberry shade. The product itself looks really unique and interesting on top of that, it smells amazing.

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

I cannot stress how much I love this palette. My friend Gaby recommended this to me after I whined about how badly I needed good neutral eye shadows. The matte neutral shades apply beautifully and are very pigmented with or without primer. I also like that there is one shimmery shade for highlighting the brow bones and the center of the eyelids. I especially love how small it is and that it comes with a mirror, which makes it incredibly travel-friendly. It does not, however come with a brush or have a brush compartment. Though this doesn’t bother me quite so much because of how easy they are to apply and blend even with just fingers.

Everything here was such a staple this month and always managed to make its way into my makeup bag and will likely remain so until the season changes. Most of these are still relatively new so they’ll last me quite a long time.

Wow! This post turned out longer than I expected. Even so, I could probably go a little more in-depth and review some of these products later on. I’m also thinking of doing a post about lip products some time soon so watch out for that!