15 Hits of 2015 (Part 3 of 3)

The final installment of my 15 Hits of 2015...let's talk about one of my favorite topics - makeup!! *insert kilig girly scream*

Ok so I cheated a bit in this post. Normally, I would have just 5 products but I'm including the "runner-ups" in this post as well. Too many nice discoveries, too little space to talk about everything. Lol.

For the last 5 of my 15 Hits of 2015, *drumroll please*

...1) MAC Lightful Powder Foundation
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the biggest fan of MAC powders. Its Studio Fix variant broke me out in the past although it's just fair to say it has amazing coverage. So trying out the MAC Lightful powder foundation was a huge risk for me. I was sold when the lovely MAC MUA, Isabelle, tried this on me. The powder is finely milled and gives the skin a nice glow, it's neither flat matte nor overly glowy, so I'd say this is good for oily skin. Best part? It doesn't break me out! Woohoo! If you're due for a new powder foundation, I highly recommend going to a MAC store and trying this on. You just might have found your next buy. :)

...2) Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

We all went cray with face masks and now we even have hand and foot masks. So why not take care of our lips too, which is by the way very sensitive to weather changes. I got this as a free sample. It's a teeny pot but since you won't need a lot of product, I feel like this will last me for quite some time. It has a pleasant scent and glides smoothly like lip butter on the lips. This one really helped moisturize my lips and even get rid of dead skin even with just one application. Bye-bye flaking skin, hello soft lips! 

...3) Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer
LOVE love love this one! Full coverage, matte finish, and waterproof. What's not to love?!❤️ Best of all for me, it didn't break me out. Yay. So I'm completely sold. 'Nuff said. Take my money! Lol.

...4) Mary Kay Concealer
I have a confession to make: undereye concealing used to be one of my frustrations. I really found it difficult to conceal my eyebags even with the best brands. WHYYYYY. Until I stumbled into the Mary Kay concealer. I bought it months ago intending to use it on blemishes but never really liked it because it irritated my pimples and so it went to the back of my makeup drawer. Fast forward to several months after and a super destash session, I picked this up and swatched it. For a shade that's named Ivory, I thought the color looked a little too yellow. I had the crazy idea of trying it on my undereye area and, boom, I found the perfect match for my eyebags! They don't completely disappear but I love how just a small amount of the concealer brightens it and makes me look so much more well-rested. It's very blendable too!

...5) Innisfree Skinny Microcara
This stuff is Holy Grail Material. When I first tried it, I went "Holy, what is this sorcery?!". Your Asian lower lashes (code for short and sparse) will definitely love this. The skinny brush (they're not kidding when they said skinny) is able to coat my lashes without transferring mascara to my undereye area. Yay! It doesn't smear also throughout the day so double win. The only downside for me is that it's not available locally (boohoo), I picked this up in Bangkok and I can only wish now that I got more tubes for backup. Huhu. Oh well, I'll be stocking up on this the next time I get to an Innisfree store.

And the runner-ups...

...1) Happy Skin Feeling Sculptacular Face Contour Kit

Once you contour, it's gonna be so hard to go without it. Taas kamay ng mga nakaka-relate!😂 I recommend the Happy Skin Contour Kit for those days when you have little time and need something fool-proof. It has soft tones so this will be nice for heavy-handed users and it lasts throughout the day. 

...2) Heavy Rotation Powder Eyebrow and Nose Shadow
This is my go-to powder eyeshadow kit to match my colored hair. It's easy to apply, pigmented just the way I want it to be, and can also double as contour powder for the noseline and crease. For gals with colored hair (light brown shades), I recommend to pair this up with Heavy Rotation's eyebrow mascara. Sobrang plakado ng kilay.

...3) MAC Pro Longwear Concealer
It took me long to try this as I haven't had the best skin experience with MAC. My previous experience with it years ago left me with unfortunate breakouts. So I was a little skeptical when I sat down in the MAC makeup chair and had Isabelle (RP Manila branch, she's really good!) work her MAC magic on me. The coverage is good, matte in finish, and stays throughout the day. Sounds like MUFE, no? The only difference for me would be the texture - this one is more liquid. Thankfully, this one didn't break me out! 

...4) Eden's Paradise Lip Majikku
This is my quick-pick-me-up for my lips, providing moisture and a cooling sensation. It has Sakura extracts, Vitamins A, C, and E as ingredients. These skin-loving ingredients leave my lips soft and pinkish, perfect for tamad no-makeup days. I ordered mine in Instagram, check out @edensparadiseloyola.

...5) Dermacol Make-Up Cover
For full heavy coverage, I certainly recommend the Dermacol Make-Up Cover. Plakadong-plakado ang coverage! A little certainly goes a VERY long way. For days when you need good coverage and with very little time on your hands, this is a good option. Although, I don't really recommend this to oily-skinned gals because of its very creamy texture. Should you really want to try it, make sure to set with a good setting/mattifying powder.

...6) Happy Skin Shut Up and Kiss Me lippie in Pop the Question

Shut up, kiss me, and just pop the da*n question! Lol, don't you just wish you could say that sometime to the torpe guy who always does the sweetest things for you but ca never seem to find the guts to ask you out?😂 On a more serious note, this is another Happy Skin winner in my books (I have quite a few!) because of its soft pink shade which is completely wearable (sobrang nakaka-fresh), smooth texture, and moisturizing properties. 

From this Moment: Makeup for A Morning Wedding

Hola! Squeezing in a few lines in between bites of lunch. As mentioned in my previous post, I'll try to be more active in blogging. :)

I attended a morning wedding yesterday in the Glass Garden located in Pasig. Yes, I think I've arrived at that age when friends and contemporaries slowly get married here and there. :)) Besides sharing in the joy of the newlyweds, it's also fun for me to get dressed up for occasions like this. It's a good excuse to doll up! :D

Since the wedding was in the morning, I went for light makeup. Nothing too heavy or dramatic. Just wanted to share the simple look I did which turned out pretty well, if I may say. Hehe.

Please excuse the shadow on the left photo.

Achieve ba ang fresh peg? Hehe!

My How-To:

BASE
1. Applied a light amount of Naturactor concealer in 171 (Green) to neutralize the red areas. As you can see from the right photo, I have a zit on my nose bridge. It looked worse without the Naturactor on it. Only a little amount of the concealer helped tone down the pimple's redness. :)

2. Applied Happy Skin Second Skin Creme with a damp Beauty Blender for a natural finish. I used downward strokes following the natural direction of hair growth.


3. Neutralized the darkness in my undereye area with a peachy shade from the Ben Nye Conceal-All Wheel. Brightened up the undereye area with the yellow shade from the RCMA Highlight and Contour Palette.

4. Used KO-1 from the RCMA Four Color Kit Set A to conceal whatever blemishes remain. Still using the Beauty Blender in this step. 

CHEEKS
5. Lightly swept Amber from the La Femme 12-pc Blush Palette on my cheeks using a stippling brush. Since this palette is SOOOO pigmented (not kidding!), light strokes are most recommended! I applied it on the sides of cheeks as if I would apply contour to provide some depth to the face.

EYES
6. Defined the eyebrows with MAC Fluidline Brow Gelcreme in Dirty Blonde. I used a slanted brush to apply with a light hand then blended with a spoolie. I love how this gave me soft eyebrows perfect for the light and fresh look I was gunning for.

7. Patted on a peachy-pink shadow on my eyes from the Revlon Colorstay 16-hr Eyeshadow Quad in Delightful. It doesn't show up much but it wakes up the eyes nicely.

8. Since I was going for a soft look, I used eyeshadow to line my eyes instead of liquid or gel eyeliner. My reliable choice? Espresso, a dark brown shade in the Lorac Pro Palette. There's no fall-out and it doesn't end up on my lower lids also. Since this is in the morning, I lined only my upper eyelid.

9. Curled my lashes and put on a few coats of Fairydrops Volumizing Burst Mascara on my upper and lower lashes. Never underestimate the power of mascara on your lasher lashes in opening up your eyes! Just be sure to use a non-smudging or waterproof type.

LIPS
10.  Do not forget to prime your lips before lipstick application for a smooth surface! I usually use just my toothbrush/finger to lightly exfoliate then apply a lipbalm afterwards.

11. Still in line with the soft look I wanted, I used Valentine Kiss, the new limited edition shade of Happy Skin's Shut Up and Kiss Me lippie, the shade of which is personally picked out by the Queen of Media herself, Kris Aquino. It looks fluorescent under a certain light which makes it a little intimidating to wear but it showed up quite nicely in the photo. Liz Lanuzo of Project Vanity (one of my favorite bloggers!) described this as a more wearable version of cult favorite Pink Nouveau for Asian tones.

Valentine Kiss is photo-friendly! :)

FINISHING TOUCHES
12. Set with MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation (I'm an NC 30). It has amazing coverage which looks nice on photos. :) I used a foundation brush to pat on (not swipe!) the powder on my face.

13. Dabbed on a bit of Nude, a shimmery shade from the Lorac Pro Palette, on my browbone and on top of the eyebrow arch for some definition. The shimmer creates the illusion of lifting up the eyebrows and eyes.

14. Light sweep of theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer on the inner corners of my eyes, on the nose bridge and on the cheekbones for a morning glow. ;)

15. To set everything in place, I loosely dusted on MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation on the cheek area.


Easy-peasy day wedding makeup in 15 steps! Have fun with makeup, it can be washed off, after all.

Happy Monday, everyone! :)

A Review: Happy Skin Shut Up and Kiss Me Moisturizing Lippie

Among different makeup items, lipsticks have a special place in my heart. All the colors and different finishes are so fascinating! The color combinations are endless! Lipsticks mainly occupy my kit and I like changing the lipstick I wear everyday depending on the day's mood.

In a previous post, I talked about Happy Skin's Second Skin Creme foundation (which happens to be my HG foundation!). I was set on buying just the foundation because I already had enough lipsticks in my kit but the curious cat in me wasn't able to resist picking up the brand's lippie. Not one, but two! So before the year ends, let me review Happy Skin's Shut Up & Kiss Me moisturizing lippie and you be the judge if it will fill your gift stockings for the season. ;)


WHAT IT DOES: (From the Happy Skin website)

Whether torrid or tame, your lips will say it all! This Happy Skin Shut Up & Kiss Me Moisturizing Lippie is sure to help you make that smackin' statement. This lip-loving moisture stick is loaded with Shea Butter and Collagen to get fans to line up for a taste of those supple, hydrated, and ultra-kissable lips. High-pigmented, and moisture-packed, this lippie glides on irresistibly smooth (without the stickiness!) and leaves behind a rich, creamy pout that's way tempting to kiss.

Top swatch: My First Time | Bottom swatch: My First Time

I picked up two shades: My First Time, a true red, and Summer Fling, a peachy shade.
More about my first time with Shut Up & Kiss Me after the break!

FOTD: My Go-To Look

It's the weekend and only 10 days to go before Christmas! I can't believe time is going by so fast and I can hardly catch up. These days I find myself having less time in the morning to prep since I usually have to zip out of the house asap. My vanity, though, does not allow me to leave the house unmade up especially during work days.

Presenting my go-to look which does not take me forever but allows me to look polished for the day. :)

And presenting my weapons of choice...

FACE BASE:

• Max Factor CC Cream in Medium (ranks next to my Happy Skin Second Skin Creme!)
• Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics: Skin Conceal
• Ben Nye Cover All-Wheel (for effective concealing of dark undereye circles)
• Ben Nye Luxury Powder in Buff (not in photo)

EYES:

• Etude House Drawing Eye Brow
• MAC Fluidline Brow GelCreme in Dirty Blonde
• MAC Girl Boy Brow Set
• Max Factor Masterpiece Max Mascara
• Etude House Bling Eye Stick (to brighten my inner undereye area)

CHEEKS:

• MAC Bronzing Powder
• MAC Mineralize Blush in Dainty

LIPS:

• Snoe Beso Balm (my ultimate fave lip balm!)
• Happy Skin Shut Up and Kiss Me moisturizing lippie

TO FINISH:

• Ben Nye Neutral Set Colorless Face Powder (not in photo)
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus (to subtly highlight for a healthy glow!)

What's your everyday, go-to look? :)

My Skin Story: A review of Happy Skin Second Skin Creme Silicone-Free Foundation

A few days ago, I posted about what's been keeping my skin happy the past weeks and shared the first installment of My Skin Story. The second part of My Skin Story is a review of my current HG (Holy Grail) foundation. I used it in my Transition to Fall FOTD and have been using it everyday for the past weeks. I feel that this is the right and justified time to share my love for this product.

You'll be able to read in  my first Skin Story how happy I was to stumble upon Happy Skin and its Second Skin Creme foundation online just when I discovered the relatively narrow field of silicone-free cosmetics. The same week it retailed at Plains & Prints, my feet brought me to SM Mall of Asia. I picked up their two bestsellers, Second Skin Creme silicone-free foundation and Shut Up and Kiss Me Moisturizing Lippie. So how was it? :)

Photo linked from Happy Skin website

WHAT IT DOES: (from the Happy Skin website)

Level up your look every single day. With Happy Skin Second Skin Crème, you get to channel a better version of yourself—the glowing, healthy, supple kind. This is the double-letter cream that has a skin-improving, color-adjusting tinge that mimics your actual making you look like yourself, only waaay better. It instantly lends the skin a natural veil that smoothens the surface and a soft-focus powder that diffuses light and minimizes the appearance of pores. Plus, it improves skin quality with continued use. Wear it every day, all-day—at the beach, to the gym, on a date...

I picked up Shade 01: Soft Beige

So how happy did Second Skin Creme make my skin? Read after the break!

My Skin Story: Makeup and Pimples

Hi, my name is Jen. I've battled pimples since the 4th grade and here's my story. 

My Skin Story is a series of product reviews, features and sharing everything related to my skin journey. The story below will give you a glimpse of how personal this is to me.

Ever since I can remember, my skin has been crazy oily, acne-prone and sensitive. My first pimple came in the 4th grade; it was a giant zit on the nose, the kind that we get at least once in our life. Suffice to say that between then and now that I'm 7 years past my teenage years, my dresser has never been empty of pimple-fighting products. It has taken me to the highs and lows of securities and insecurities.

I've seen dermatologists, gotten facials and chemical peels, had my pimples injected and tried numerous products. Some unfortunately just did not work out well (Dalacin-C + Eskinol, Obagi, Slimmer's World skincare products) while some did work for a while until my skin somehow got tired of it (Proactiv, Epiduo). There are other brands but the names  escape me at the moment. The common diagnosis of dermatologists is that this seems to be a product of hormonal imbalance. Contraceptives were never an option to me, however; the literature on its risks and side effects is enough to scare me off.
 

Upper left photo shows my skin at one of its worst state. Subsequent photos show some improvement.

My long bout with pimples (or mild acne, as one dermatologist said) has taught me the following valuable lessons:

1. My skin responds to a gentle skincare routine better than one with harsh, drying ingredients.
It does respond better though to the occasional antibiotic (which I do not want my body to get used to).

2. Makeup can cause pimples but it doesn't mean you have to stop wearing it. Yes, there is hope! :)

Linked from Wikipedia

I already had a sneaking suspicion that makeup was a contributing factor to my pimples. I was stubborn and too enthusiastic with makeup for my own good so it took me a while to piece things together.

When primers made it into the scene and was the next big thing, I joined the bandwagon. I did get the illusion of smoother skin (since primers fill your pores creating a smooth surface) but I always ended up having a new pimple at the end of the day and several more when I wake up the next morning. It was frustrating but I thought I was just probably not 'hiyang' to the brand and tried several more. The results were unfortunately still the same.

Who wouldn't want smooth, poreless skin?

I quit using primers even though I knew it would probably save my skin from its oily glory. Because of the pimples and blemishes, I couldn't not use a foundation/bb cream with decent coverage. It was the same sad story unfortunately. The more pimples I got, the more I had to cover it up with makeup but then I'd always wake up to a fresh pimple (sometimes, several cystic ones) the morning after. Frustrating is an understatement.

The tipping point was when I bought a high-end foundation (paid 3K!), used it for a friend's wedding and got great-looking skin for a day (if only for that then the price was worth it) but woke up to several pimples the next day and to several more in the days that came. It was just so wrong. I made my research and read about silicone as a common irritant. Well, well, well, now things seemed to add up. The primers I bought were all silicone-based (most are) and even the high-end foundation had silicone high up in its ingredient list. I checked all the products that broke me out the worst (there were a lot) and yes, I wasn't surprised that everything had silicone (or dimethicone or other -cones) in it. That was like a lightbulb moment for me!

Silicone (or the other -cones) is commonly used in cosmetics because it allows the product to seemingly 'float' on the skin and makes makeup flexible on the skin. There are unfortunate beings, however, who have an allergic reaction to it. ME included. Sigh.

I wasted no time googling silicone-free alternatives. While there are other options, I feel that the selection is quite narrow and mostly available abroad only. That means ordering through online sellers (which I have no problem with) and waiting for a few weeks (that I have a problem with, hehe). It was plain serendipitous that I spotted a local brand and its silicone-free foundation online two weeks after. What a happy coincidence! I'll be reviewing said foundation in the next installment of My Skin Story and will be sharing how it has made my skin happier. Yes, goodbye to acne and hello to a better version of my skin. :)

Hello to a better version of my skin thanks to this!

So to my kikay friends who get a pimple or two after using makeup, you might not have to completely stop using makeup. You just might have to identify the irritant and find a gentler alternative.

Happy skin, happy you. Happy skin, happy me. <3
What's your skin story?

My Beauty Ba-Six: Part 2

In my previous post, I wrote about My Beauty Ba-Six or what I call my magic six - the basic stuff that I need for an effortlessly polished look. Perfect for everyday or for situations when you still want to look nice but is simply pressed for time.

  Here's the continuation of my short reviews as promised. :) Click for the jump!

My Beauty Ba-Six: Part 1

Six products for a simple and easy everyday routine. Look effortlessly polished with the following without spending a heck of a time in front of the dresser. Presenting my magic six....

1. Foundation (can be replaced with tinted moisturizer or BB cream)

2. Concealer (I do use separate concealers for blemishes and undereye circles)

3. Powder

4. Eyebrow Pencil (malimutan na daw ang lahat, wag lang ang kilay. LOL)

5. Blush

6. Lip balm + color

And my personal recommendations for the magic six? Ta-da!

Why I love these products after the break.