Spring Fever FOTD

Hey ladies! My heartfelt apologies for being MIA for quite some time. Hopefully I can have a steady stream of posts soon.

Quick FOTD of the day which I call Spring Fever. Yep, how original, right? Lol. This is actually my second spring-inspired look and this time I used turquoise as accent.

Products used:
FACE
1. Too Cool for School Watery Skin BB Foundation Lunch Box
2. K-Palette Okuma Concealer
3. Palgantong Theatrical Powder

EYES
4. Étude House Easy Brow Pencil in 1
5. Étude House Color My Brows in 2
6. ELF Eye Primer
7. Étude House Look at My Eyes in BL603
8. Essence Long Lasting Eye Pencil in Tu-Tu-Touquoise
9. Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara

CHEEKS:
10. Revlon Beyond Natural Blush & Bronzer in Peach
11. Fanny Serrano Two-Way Cake in Rajah (for contour)

LIPS:
12. Petroleum Jelly
13. Avon Ultra Moisture Rich Rose Lipstick in Apricot Nectar Rose

How do you feel about turquoise for your eyes? :)

Attempt: Asian Doll

Pansin ko lang na very much in ngayon ang Asian look. Bilang true-blue Asian naman talaga ako, why not i-attempt ang Asian doll peg?! Very much Korean/Chinese doll ang peg ko in my mind while doing this look.

My intent is to capitalize on my Chinese heritage. Sige, check natin kung achieve ba in the end.

For fresh-looking skin kahit wiz masyadong tulog and todo ang breakouts:
1. The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil cover stick
2. K-Palette Okuma Cover Control Concealer
3. Physician's Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Face Powder
4. Palgantong Theatrical Powder


More photos after the jump!

What's in My Kikay Kit

Another kikay post for this week!  

What's in My Kikay Kit

Makeup kits always fascinate me; there's something about a vanity pouch that piques my curiosity. It used to be the ubiquitous floral pouches with plastic coverings back in my childhood. If memory serves me right, the popular brand then was 'Kara Nina' (or sounds like that) which I still see around SM Department Stores. Today I'll be sharing the contents of my own kit which I bring with me everyday. It contains only the most basic products I use - mostly for touchups or for when I am running late and have no choice but to put on makeup in the office instead of at home.

My silver Avon kikay kit! (compared with my Avon Manzzini bag for size reference)

I love this pouch as it has a wide base so you can put quite a lot of stuff inside. Since the Manzzini bag is not so wide, I need to 'flatten' my pouch a bit to make it thinner in width but this is no problem because of the kit's softness. *thumbs up*

Read on after the jump about the products housed inside my faux croc kit. :D

FOTD: Stepping out of my Comfort Zone (11.09.2012)

Hello everyone! I'm trying to blog everyday. ;)

It's definitely TGIF day today! As I trade my slacks and collared blouses for a casual top and jeans, I got a little inspired to do something more playful with my makeup. I usually just use browns and neutral shades for my eyes because:

        1. I'm no expert in eye makeup and neutrals are almost fool-proof.

        2. The office setting calls for subdued makeup.

If I botched today's FOTD, please be kind. :D I attempted to use lovely shades of turquoise and blue from ELF and Etude House. Heehee. The result? Ta-Da! Read after the jump for the products that I used.

FOTD: November 8, 2012

Short FOTD post. :)

Products Used:
* Face *
1. Kuma Cover Concealer in 01 - to conceal dark circles and stubborn pimples
2. MAC Studio Fix in NC30
3. Palgantong Theatrical Powder - to set everything
4. Avon Ideal Luminous Blush in Rose Lustre

* Eyes *
1. ELF Eyelid Primer
2. ELF Beauty Book Neutral Eye Kit
3. K-Palette 24-hr Tattoo Eyeliner - seriously loving this and using it everyday! :)
4. Role Rose Eyeshadow

FOTD: October 1

Sharing with you today's FOTD featuring pale greens and sweet pinks.

Very fresh-looking. Nothing too overpowering.

Products Used:
1. Etude House Precious Mineral Bright Fit BB Cream
2. MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation
3. Tony Moly Baby Doll Pot Concealer
4. Majolica Majorca Puff de Cheeks in Peach Macaron
5. The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Concealer
6. ELF Essentials Tone Correcting Concealer
7. Majolica Majorca Brow Colorist
8. Majolica Majorca Lash King (this I gotta review!)
9. Nichido Lip Liner in Rosette
10. Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm in Smoothing Cherry
11. Avon Ultra Moisture Rich Lipstick in Blushing Bride Rose (one of my favorites!)
12. Avon Ultra Moisture Rich Lipstick in Amour Rose
13. Nichido Eye Pencil in Chestnut (not in photo)
14. Etude House Look at My Eyes Banana Latte (not in photo)
15. Etude House Look at My Eyes Star Mint (not in photo)

Til the next FOTD! :)

Birthday Look

So many beautiful blessings on my birthday. Indeed, God is very good (and generous). I'll be writing a separate post on that; this short post is on today's look and which is something I'm thankful for - getting the hang of eye makeup.

To put it bluntly, I suck in doing eye makeup. I can never seem to get the right blending, it always creases, I mess up just when I'm about to finish lining my lid, and all other eye makeup emergencies. So when I had lunch with a good friend today and she commented how 'nice' my eye makeup was today, it made me feel a little bit 'kilig' inside. :) I'm glad that this is the second time that I've received compliments on it. I guess practice will make it perfect someday. :p

Let's skip the blah blah blahs and get down to today's look.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="458"] Thank you pd & co. for today's beautiful top.[/caption]

Products Used

August Favorites: Maybelline, Avon, VMV, TonyMoly, Palgantong

The thing with this passion for cosmetics: it comes with a constant desire to test new products. There is one and every product for each need and want imaginable. I liken it to getting to know oneself; along the way of every product try is a chance to discover really good ones that raise our confidence a wee bit higher.

While we're at the half of September, I thought I'd run through a couple of products that were in my mental 'Favorites' list for the month of August. These are products which I have tested last month and found to be very effective.

Without further ado, these are my 'hit' products for August:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="403"] Photo credit to Maybelline Philippines Facebook fan page[/caption]

1. Maybelline Baby Lips Cellular Repair Balm in Smoothing Cherry

The kikay girl in me has been a sucker for lip balms since I was 10. I've gone from cult favorite Chapstick to Nivea to Blistex and back but I've never really been very satisfied with it. It tended to make my lips peel and a bunch of other effects which left me wondering when whether lip balm was really as essential as many beauty gurus point out. But this one from Maybelline really works for me.

True to its promise of supple, smooth and hydrated baby soft lips, this is my HG lip balm. No more peeling and rough-to-the-touch lips! :) 

Plus points for not having a chemical taste to it and the yummy scent of cherry. ♥ 

FOTD: Trying out Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner

Late post of FOTD: Trying out Maybelline's Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner. :)

I tried to experiment a little bit more with my eyes as I am a complete noob (not to mention klutz!) when it comes to eye makeup. Tried on cream eyeliner for the first time; a little bit of useless information: it's always the liner (especially liquid) that ruins the look for me courtesy of my shaky hands.

Products used:

FACE

• Majolica Majorca Skin Lingerie Pore Cover


• Avon Healthy Makeup Hydrating BB Cream

Getting Tagged: 5 Random Facts

What's up, people of the universe? ;) I'm trying to be more diligent with my blog posts (hehe!) so as to, well, share (not bore!) with you tidbits of the Curious Cat's blessed life. Here we go with the 5 Random Facts tag; shout out to fellow blogger Michelle of All About Being Glam! :) Follow her blog, she's really nice and her posts always inspire me!

**Special note: She's having a huge birthday giveaway as she turns 19 this month! Head on over to this link to join; lots of nice stuff await! :)

5 Random Things about the Curious Cat

 

1. The Ever-Nervous Adventure Seeker

In my mind, I play myself out to be a Dora the Explorer type minus the purple backpack and China doll bangs. Can I say that I delude myself that I'm an adventurous person? Sometimes, haha. And it frequently ends in bouts of nervousness.

Case in point:

Bohol 2012 - Crossing the Hanging Bridge

I was so game to cross the bridge and was even encouraging a friend of mine who had a fear of heights and was understandably nervous about the whole thing to go for it. The chicken that I am, I gulped when I saw the river under the bridge and came face to face with the bridge itself. In the end, I was so slow in walking that I had to be overtaken. Haha!

Corregidor 2012 - Bumpy Boat Ride

I guess the waves weren't so very cooperative that day and I got seasick after my first 10 minutes in the boat. :)) I was so enthusiastic about the whole thing and so optimistic that I wouldn't get sick when J warned me about the possibly bumpy ride. So yeah, that's why I became a regular office worker and not a maritime person. Hehe. :D

Sagada 2012 - Caving and Spelunking

There had been a lot of warnings about the whole caving and spelunking thing to be difficult and of course I had to pay no heed to all of it. My headstrong self still wanted to prove everyone wrong. I guess it's quite obvious how it all ended - not even halfway through the cave, our guide told us that the girls in the group cannot proceed with the tour as we were not 'physically prepared' for it. Too bad, I still plan to come back sometime in the future and explore the whole cave! :D (never say die, they say, haha)

Some more random things about the Curious Cat!

Haul Post: VMV and Tony Moly Cosmetics

What I'm loving right now: VMV and Tony Moly Cosmetics! :)

Workwear Essentials: Avon Multiway Cowlneck Dress and Manzzini Carry-All

Quick trivia: The Curious Cat has been a member of the Philippine labor force since 2009. Yup, fresh out of graduation! Never had a long vacation after 4 years of college life and couldn't afford to take a break anyway. :)

I am now at my third job and have realized the sore lack of office clothes in my wardrobe. Must be due to the informal nature of my two previous jobs. But as I get to realize more and more the value of appropriate dressing (especially in the work setting),  I should really start building my key pieces.

The usual instinct would be to buy first a good pair of work trousers or slacks but I find myself getting drawn to dresses partly because it takes me forever to find a well-fitting pair. Something to do with my hips and tummy, hehe.

You know the ubiquitous LBD (little black dress) that keeps cropping up in the 'must have' lists? Well, I must have about 3 of that now - in different cuts, texture, and fit. Allow me to share one of them with you together with the perfect complement to it, a simply gorgeous black carry-all.

I present to you: Avon Multiway Cowlneck Dress and Avon Manzzini Carry-All :)

Can this be love I'm feeling right now? <3

Review: Avon Healthy Makeup Hydrating BB Cream SPF30+/PA+++

One of the perks of being an Avon Lady, and also why I absolutely love being one, is being able to have first dibs in new products. I try to test as much of the products as I can to be able to make honest recommendations to my clients. ;)

With all the hype about BB creams, it is now a staple in every girl's kikay kit and you should have at least tried one by now. Honestly, I used to be skeptical of BB creams not made by Korean companies. The only non-Korean BB cream currently in my kit is the new and improved BB cream of Avon cosmetics.

I present to you: Avon Healthy Makeup Hydrating BB Cream :)

So did it convert me into a believer or did I remain the skeptic that I am?

Spring Garden Beauty

I've never experienced spring season but I fancy thinking that I will enjoy it with pretty flowers in bloom and unmistakable crispness in the air. Taking off from my spring fantasies, I came up with this green and pink combo. Think carnations and pink roses in bloom. I like pink and green because it's girly and gives off a fresh look.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="288"] Feels like spring! :)[/caption]

Products used:

FACE

1. Avon Ideal Luminous concealer in Almond

2. Avon Ideal Luminous Pressed Powder in Neutral

3. Fanny Serrano Powder Blush in Silky Coral

EYES

4. ELF Makeup Clutch

5. ELF Shimmer Eyeliner Pencil

6. Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Plus

LIPS

7. Avon Simply Pretty Colorbrights Lipstick in Pampering Pink

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="288"] Swatches for you.[/caption]

Some tips in applying eyeshadow:

1. You might want to use a primer especially if you have oily lids.

2. ELF shadows are not very pigmented when applied dry. Applied with a light hand, the effect is quite sheer. I discovered that to have more color and to bring out the pigment, I can wipe my ELF eyeshadow brush (yes, ELF too!) with a baby wipe then dip the brush into the palette. It works! :) (newbie ko, 'no?:P)

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="288"] The "tools" - with and without flash[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="288"] Pampering pink - for pretty in pink lips :)[/caption]

What color combination would you use for spring vibes? :-)