Hello everyone!

Today I wanted to go into my skin care routine. This was brought about by the particularly good skin days I’ve been having and I think (hope and pray) they’re here to stay. 

My current cleanser of choice is the QV Face Gentle Cleanser. I’d been using this for years and years and I find the formula a little heavier and more moisturizing than something like Cetaphil. Once a week, I use the Ren Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial after I wash my face at night. This stuff is amazing, it leaves the skin looking really healthy and feeling very smooth. It can be a bit tightening though and I'm not sure I'm a fan of that. 

The Skin Food Black Sugar Mask is supposed to be for the face, but I find it a little too strong on me. However it does make a really good body scrub and I’ve really enjoyed using this in the shower. It melts away after you scrub and smells amazing. Most days though I just use the fish-shaped silicone exfoliator. It’s softer than it looks so it does a good job of removing dead skin without being too rough.

On the face, I’ve been using Laneige Water Bank Essence_EX whenever I’ve needed moisturizing. I also like patting it into my skin over my foundation for extra moisture and a light glowing look. The Nature Republic Aloe Vera Soothing Gel is a little too thick and it doesn’t absorb so well on my face, but it is perfect for the body especially in the summer. I especially love using it after I shave my legs or exfoliate as it leaves everything feeling very supple.

When I feel like having a mask, I use a sheet mask or the Ren Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask. Not super fond of the smell, but it’s very good at making skin look plump, healthy, and glowy. When I don’t feel like using something as precious and expensive, I mix honey with olive oil (at a ratio of 2:1). It’s rejuvenating and really moisturizing and cheap, cheap, cheap.

I use the Murad Essential-C toner for days when I have break outs, making sure I only run it over the areas where the pimples and pigmentation are. My skin tends to get dry and patchy if I use this all over. This is more of a night-time thing as it does have vitamin C. I use Bioderma Créaline H2O to remove makeup. I used to use the Sensibio, which was too strong for me (read the review here). Shifted to the Créaline, loved it. I’m on my second bottle now!

Lastly, and I really felt this was worth a mention, is the Muji Cotton Puffs. To be perfectly honest, this was a splurge-y purchase (not all that expensive, but more than I would pay for cotton anyway). It is just cotton, but this is just so soft. I’ve had cotton pads that have felt abrasive when I rubbed them on my face, I don't have that problem with these. I justify this by thinking, “well, it’s 129 pieces and they’re soft af.”

Here's to more good skin days~

Hello Everybody,

Finally writing my review for these products since getting them however long ago. I have to start off by saying these two products have been frequently made their way into my makeup kits and makeup routines for the better part of the year. They were designed by Alexa Chung for Eyeko and she has often talked about how Eyeko really is her go-to brand for her signature sixties liner and lashes look. That said there are drawbacks, but before I get carried away, on to the review!

Name: Eyeko Alexa Chung Eye Do Liquid Eyeliner

Net Weight: 0.8 ml/0.3 oz.

Shade: Carbon Black

*Gifted

Like many people, I'd been lusting after this eyeliner after I saw it used in Lisa Eldridge's video with Alexa Chung. She's even gone on to say that this is one of the eyeliners she cannot live without. A friend of mine gave me these as a present and I've been using it on and off for six months. 

The formula itself is very good. It stays on the whole day and does not fade. I drew a line on my hand and ran it under a tap to test its first claim and it did not budge when the water hit it. However, the water made it easy to rub the eyeliner off. This can be a good thing or a back thing: if you have sweaty lids and are prone to rubbing your eyes, this will smudge. On the other hand, this means that this eyeliner is not difficult to remove at the end of the day.

 

The lash-enhancing claim lies in application: If you apply it right on the lashline, you will create the illusion of fuller lashes (thank you, captain obvious ><). Now about it being carbon black: I have to agree that it is a very deep dark black. It has a shiny finish, but this doesn't translate so obviously on the eyes. So it is not matte, but it will not look too glossy on the eye.

Moving on to the nib of the eyeliner. I've never been a fan of sponge-tip eyeliners. Sadly, the Eyeko Eye Do Eyeliner did not change my mind about this. Like all sponge-tips, the point dried out after just a few weeks of use making it much harder to create a flick and do the ends of the line. On top of that, because of the width of the sponge, making a very fine line is near impossible. Although, this might be easier to use for beginners or people who aren't as adept at applying eyeliner as sponge-tips don't require a super steady hand.

Because it is a sponge tip, in as much as it dispenses product, it absorbs some of the products you've applied to your eye. Unlike a brush-tip, you cannot simply scrape off the bits of solidified eyeliner, eyeshadow, and etc. that have clung to the sponge. These bits clog the pores of the sponge which disrupts the distribution of the eyeliner from the tip to your eyelid. This makes the line patchy and uneven.

On the whole, not super happy with this. I have nothing but high praise for the formula: it lives up to its claims and has lasting power to boot. It really is a shame that it has a sponge-tip applicator otherwise this could have been perfect. That said, I won't be repurchasing this when I run out.

Name: Eyeko Alexa Chung Eye Do Mascara

Net Weight: 8.00 ml/0.22 oz.

Type: Lengthen & Strengthen

*Gifted

Getting right to it, this mascara has a slightly wet formula that coats the lashes very well. It is very lengthening and defining as you will see below. It also claimed to be strengthening, which I can attest to. I've found that my lashes do not fall off as much as they used to with this formula. This probably has to do with how comparatively easy it is to remove. It is a waterproof formula, but it comes off even with just Micellar cleansing water so I've never needed to use an oil-based remover.

Oddly though, for a waterproof mascara, it does not hold a curl all day. On the other hand, if you apply it zig-zagging upwards, it boosts (?) lashes up making it look like you've curled them. Layering this mascara is not a problem. It's buildable and it does not flake off or smudge.

 

Top-Bottom: No Mascara, 1-2 coats, 5 coats

Left: Curled Lash, Right: Uncurled Lash

This comes with a very large brush which dispenses a lot of product. You will need to wipe off a bit of the product before applying it to avoid clumps, particularly the tip. It can get clumpy so you may need to comb through your lashes with a clean spoolie or a lash comb. Because the applicator is straight and slightly curved outward in the middle, I often get the product on my eyelid by accident. To prevent this, Eyeko included a "Shield" (read: Guitar Pick) so you can get right to the roots of your lashes. I prefer to use the shield after I've applied the mascara when I'm combing through with a spoolie to better separate and distribute the product.

I was not as excited about the mascara as I was about the eyeliner when I first got these products. On the Lisa Eldridge video they didn't look like anything special, however this impression was quickly turned on its head. I really love this mascara so much so that it has become my go-to mascara for most days. Will definitely repurchase this.

TL:DR

Eyeko Alexa Chung Eye Do Liquid Eyeliner

+ Long-lasting, does not fade, waterproof, easy to remove, very black, not overly glossy, easy to use for beginners (does not require a super steady hand)

- Point dries out quickly, not easy to make wings and fine lines, sponge pores get clogged with other eye makeup, line becomes patchy and uneven

Eyeko Alexa Chung Eye Do Mascara

+ waterproof, coats the lashes very well, lengthening, defining, strengthens lashes, comparatively easy to remove, buildable, does not smudge, does not flake

- does not hold a curl, brush dispenses too much product, can get clumpy, product gets on the eyelid because of brush shape

Hello Everyone!

A few weeks ago my friends and I spent the weekend together on a Harry Potter inspired getaway. We went to an amusement park and later our friend's house where we played games based on the books and movies. We were sorted into houses, "conjured" Patronuses, and collected Horcruxes every time we won a game. I was sorted into Slytherin~ very happy to say that my team was the overall champion! We all had a lot, lot, lot of fun and towards the end of the event, we had a Yule Ball photoshoot (even though it was technically still summer haha).

(photo: A. Aquino post-processing: T. Rosario)

We made the decision to make sure that Slytherin streamlined and we had a unified look. The end result was very "Old Hollywood" with the warm defined smokey eye and red lips.

For my base, I did my usual routine with the Bourjois 10-hour Sleep Effect Foundation in #72 and the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone on my cheekbones and down the bridge of my nose. I also used my new Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in 15 Fair under my eyes and mixed in with my foundation to cover blemishes. On my cheeks, I used my YSL Blush Variation in 3 Camel. 

On the day itself, I had Danie of That Nugu, do my brows, but here I used the Majolica Majorca Lash & Brow Colorist in BR555 Maroon Brown. On my eyes, I started with the Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze all over the lid and layered on more in the outer V. I deepened that with Erotica, a cool-toned dark glittery brown from the Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette. I took the warm gold Honey Pot shade onto the center of my eye. I blended everything in with Cocoa Puff, which is a warm glittery chocolate brown. Everything applied with fingers and blended with my BYS Synthetic Domed Shadow Brush.

 Then I went in with the Nichido/Precise Eye Pencil in Black Ebony in light dots and small strokes right on the lashline for subtle definition. I used the NYX Retractable Eyeliner in #08 Silky Cashmere on my lower waterline and on the inner part of my lower lashline (not on the tear duct!) I put a line of the Jessica Automatic Lip & Eye Liner Pencil in #22 Metallic Brown winged out slightly parallel to the lashes to elongate the eye. To further elongate the eye, I used my Eyeko Alexa Chung Lengthen & Strengthen Mascara, combing them up and out toward the sides and on the lower lashes. I also used some Andrea Individual Falsies right on the outer lashes. 

Finally on the lips, I prepped with Fresh Sugar Treatment in Rosé. On the day itself, I used Pauline's Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Mandore. To re-create that, first I stained my lips with L'Occitane Lipstick in #0141 Améthyste, then I mixed my Covergirl Queen Collection Lipstick in #Q415 Tawny Port and the VDL Expert Lip Color Lip Cube EX in #502 Hello Stranger.

(photo: A. Aquino)

Pauline (in blue & white) wanted to do a dark red lip (she's also done a post about this look here), Bella (in white) wanted a brown-toned smokey eye, and I wanted to use bronze-gold shades. We even put some bronze and brown shadows on Niño (in blue), which gave a nice sheen and some definition. I'm really happy with how everything came together and we all looked pretty damn good :)) The decision to have similar elements really paid off.

On this shoot, I also got to do makeup for five of my friends and they were all quite happy with how they turned out (especially my friend Marty who tried contouring for the first time XD) This has gotten me really excited for future photoshoots and I hope I get to do another one soon~

P.S. #SlytherWIN