What I Bring in my Makeup Bag

I personally don't like touching up through out the day. It takes time and EFFORT from me to do so. haha And I also don't like the feeling of piling makeup on my face either. The combination of oil+sweat+another of layer of makeup is not nice.

That's why I don't bring a lot of makeup in my makeup bag. Just some basics and some options for when I have to go somewhere unprepared.

Makeup bag that I use...

Kate Spade Pencil Case turned into my makeup bag! haha

What's inside at random...

MAC Sheertone Blush in Pinch O' Peach (1)

All time favorite blush for day engagements. It's something I opt for everyday.

MAC 129SE Brush (2)

A short handled blush brush that'll fit any makeupbag. Got it from a MAC collection a long time ago.

Etude House Dr. Oil Solution Oil Control Pact (3)

Powder I use to diminish the shine on my face. It really works but I think its already discontinued or will be discontinued. Please tell me. So sad.

Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express Waterproof (4)

I don't wear mascara everyday but I bring one for when I want an instant eye opener. This is my option for some not so dramatic lashes from a drugstore brand. For daily use!

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler (5)

A very trusty lash curler. I've had this for years and I think I need to replace the rubber the soonest. haha

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Sweetheart (6)

One of my fave shades from the new Balm Stain line of Revlon. It gives moisture and color to my  lips. 

Benefit Garden of Good & Eva EDT (7)

Antoher fave EDT from the Benefit EDT Line. Do you remember my Benefit Ring My Bella in my Most Worn Things Tag?

Hygienix Antibacterial Hand Spray (8)

Gotta have some antibacterial everywhere I go. :)

The Optical Shop Eyeglass Cleaner in Lemon (9)

Something I use to remove dirt from my spectacles. This isn't makeup but I just stash it in my makeup bag. haha

Hair Pins (10)

I'm growing out my bangs because I can't stand having them anymore. haha

MAC Lipstick in Chili (11)

Gotta have that red lippie for an emergency on the go glammer. You know what I mean! ;)

Lovelies, what's in your makeup bag? 

Love,

Anna

Lime Crime Lipsticks Review + Swatches

Are you one of the brave gals who love to sport BOLD lipstick colors?

We'll this is the brand for you, Lime Crime! 

Developed by the  Makeup Artist and Unicorn Queen, Doe Deere.  Their mission is to create "fashion-forward shades with unmatched color payoff" (which I can testify to!). Currently, they have 15 shades of opaque lipsticks to choose from that will fit your every mood & fantasy. haha Transform your look from a doll with Great Pink Planet shade to a Goth with Styletto Shade. That's how wide and quirky the choices are.

The packaging is, something your eyes will not miss in a pool of lipsticks. This matches their mascot, a unicorn, serves as a symbol of individuality and freedom of expression.

From Lime Crime Website...

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Say goodbye to sliding, fading and sheer-ness with our best-selling opaque lipsticks. Recklessly loaded with pigment for maximum impact, these beauties offer unparalleled coverage in a rainbow of statement-making shades. Creme formula is smooth, non-drying and lasts for hours. Each lipstick comes encased in the signature purple tube adorned with a sparkling unicorn.

TIPS & TRICKS

Apply directly from the tube or with a brush. Due to high pigment load and creamy texture, these lipsticks are softer and more delicate than others, please keep them away from heat and be gentle when applying.

CONTENT

3.5 g / 0.12 oz

INGREDIENTS

Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Diisostearyl Malate, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Trioctyldodecyl Citrate, Castor Isostearate Succinate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Ozokerite, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Polyethylene, Microcrystalline Wax, Phenoxyethanol, Vanillin, Capryl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vegetable Oil, BHT. [+/-] Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Yellow 5 Lake (CI19140), Red #7 Lake (CI45410, CI15850), D&C Red #6 (CI15850), Blue #1 Lake (CI42090), Yellow #6 Lake (CI15985). 

VEGAN & CRUELTY-FREE

As an animal-friendly company, we take great care to ensure that the products you buy from us are cruelty-free, never tested on animals, and most even vegan (i.e., devoid of any animal products including beeswax). Look for a 'Vegan' sign on our product pages! Lime Crime donated a portion of proceeds in 2010 to a non-profit animal shelter, Bideawee.

Swatch Time...

(1) Airborne Unicorn
(2) Centrifuchsia
(3) Chinchilla
(4) Coquette
(5) Cosmopop
(6) Countessa Flourescent
(7) D' Lilac

After vigorously wiping with my Etude House Cleansing Towelettes.
(on my arm for about 10mins)

(8) Glamour101
(9) Great Pink Planet
(10) Mint To Be
(11) My Beautiful Rocket
(12) No She Didn't
(13) Retrofuturist
(14) Styletto

After vigorously wiping with my Etude House Cleansing Towelettes.
(on my arm for about 10mins)

H I T S :

• INSTENSE color pay-off.
• Less touch-ups needed as they last on your lips for a good 4-6 hrs.
• In some shades, a little swipe goes a long way.
• Super cute packaging.
• They ship worldwide.

M I S S E S :

• If you will buy directly from the website, this is a bit expensive than MAC Lipsticks($15). 
• Packaging is a bit bulky looking.
• If you wan to apply a different lipstick within the day, this may require makeup remover as various shades really stain.

Each lipstick retails for $15.99 from the Limecrime Website exclusive of shipping and tax duties.  And good news, they do international shipping. But if you want to get yours hassle-free, please check Starmaine Cay on Facebook. 

If you are unsure which shade will fit you, please refer to the Lime Crime Visual Lipstick Guide. 

DISCLAIMER: Yes, Starmaine Cay's owner is my one and only sister love. I won't hide this from you. This does not solely mean I am promoting her shop and products purely for business. As I am only promoting products I believe in, something that's worth writing a review for. I personally own 2 shades of these lipsticks bought with my own money. The lipsticks I reviewed are personally owned by my sister lent to me for swatching purposes. 

Love,

Anna

and PS...

Starmaine Cay is having a CLEARANCE SALE right now (inlcudes NYX, Barry M, Lime Crime, etc.). Grab the opportunity to purchase your most wanted stuff for a fairly low, low price. Happy Shopping!

Should I review the Lime Crime Carousel Glosses?

New MAC Counter at Eastwood Mall + Mini MAC Haul

So I went to Eastwood to have coffee and to hangout a while ago. And what greeted me when I entered Eastwood Mall is a MAC Counter. I always go there but it was my first time seeing it. Tweeted about this MAC Counter and a friend asked where in Eastwood it is because she was there yesterday and didn't saw one. I think its MAC's first day at Eastwood Mall. It's just a temporary counter but the SA told me that they're fixing some stuff for their permanent store there. 

MAC is at Eastwood Mall and it's there to stay. :)

I took the chance to browse and bought some stuff, a blush and two lipsticks that I'm meaning to get a for loooong time ago. I don't know why I just didn't bother checking on MAC when I go to Rustan's. I usually check other brands. And of course, the lazy me just preorder stuff online and have it delivered to my doorstep. haha

So much of the ramble, here's my mini haul...

MAC Sheertone Blush in Pinch O' Peach

I have seen this blush from beauty guru, Allison (Amarixe in Youtube). From then, I started reading reviews and the swatches I saw were really nice. This is a dark peachy pink.

MAC Lipstick in Half 'n Half

Half 'n Half has an amplified finish.

So far this is the best nude lipstick I have found that suits my skintone very well (by the way, I am an NC27-30). It's very hard to find a good nude lipstick that won't make you look like a corpse and I guess this is the one for me. 

MAC Lipstick in Chili

Chili has a matte finish.

Comparison of MAC Chili (left) and Ruby Woo (right)

This shade is very similar to MAC Ruby Woo. Only difference is that Ruby Woo has a bluish undertone and Chili has a brown undertone. If you have a cool skintone, Ruby Woo will pop on your skin and if you have a warm undertone, Chili will suit you better. For us (morena girls), I think Chili will complement our skin tone. 

That's it! I'm sorry I wasn't able to take a picture of the MAC Counter at Eastwood Mall. Anyway, its just a temporary counter. You can find it at the main entrance of the mall and it's near Beauty Bar. The temporary counter's area is decent and not too small so you will not miss it. I'll update you when the permanent store opens.

If you want me to review any of these, please reach me at the comment section below. 

At what MAC Counter do you shop (where I mean) ? ;)

Love,

Anna

4U2 Dreamgirl Love Pink Haul

I know there a lot of cosmetic brands in Watsons. But I wasn't aware about 4U2. When I drop by, the counters that i usually check are that of Revlon, L'Oreal, Maybelline and Majolica Majorca. Sometimes Ever Bilena and Nichido too. I learned through MyLucidIntervals blog. Donna was raving about this BB Powder from the DreamGirl Love Pink line. I visited Watsons to get this raved powder.

Lovelight BB Powder PA++, 194php

Product Description

I didn't expect much from this one. Given its a powder that only costs 194pesos. Packaging is of course on the budget side but not too tacky looking. Nor does the compact parts open and close wobbly. Sturdy enough! The pink compact case has cute doodles of some sweets on it.  Inside is a small mirror and a small flimsy sponge. 

Now on to the product itself. I got No.1 which is the lightest shade of the 3 variants available. Find it quite odd for me to get the lightest shade because I'm not fair. But fair girls don't fret, the powder is forgiving and can easily blend into your skin. Medium and Morena girls rejoice because I think this is made for us! The shading best fits those with yellow undertones. Application is no hassle at all since powder glides smoothly. It can slightly even your skintone and cover light blemishes. Can also give you that natural looking finish and subtly reduces oil production. You do have to blot and retouch from time to time if you have an oily skin like mine. For dry skin, no problem at all. Smells like an ordinary powder would.

Coverage wise, it is at par with the Maybelline Clear Smooth Powder  Foundation. But I prefer this one. This looks more natural when applied. Maybe because its a BB Powder and not a foundation.

THIS IS SO WORTH YOUR BUCKS! :)

And because I am all too happy with this purchase, I went ahead and got myself some other products to explore from the line. 

Here's my haul...

Forever Liquid Foundation in No.1 Beige, 194php 

Nozzle Opening

A sheer coverage foundation that finishes off with a dewy effect. Packed in a squeeze tube and comes out from a nozzle. Compact and nice for keeping with you on travels. Great for an everyday foundation if you're on a tight budget but still want to look good for 194php. :) Though I'm not sure about the ingredients. I'm worried that it might break my skin out. Scent is that of a sunscreen. Comes in two shades. :)

Faith BB Cream (Universal Color), 184php

Nozzle Opening

I prefer the Lovelight BB Powder over this BB Cream, if I had to choose a BB. Claims to be universal in color, applicable for all skintones. Maybe because its too sheer to appear on the skin. This has no coverage at all!  Totally not worth buying even for its 184peso price. Plus it has a funky scent I can't explain.

L-R: Faith BB Cream and Forever Liquid Foundation

As you can see from the swatches, the Forever Liquid Foundation is lighter than the Faith BB Cream. 

Twilight Concealer (Universal Color)

Doe foot applicator

Another big NO! Tried applying on my dark circles and voila, nothing was covered. Just left an ashy cast under my eye. haha Didn't even bother to swatch it.

Twist and Shout Full Color Lipstick in No.2, 174php 

Twist and Shout Full Color Lipstick in No.3, 174php

Twist and Shout Full Color Lipstick in No.4, 174php

All these lipsticks have sheer coverage and satin finish. If you have pretty pigmented lips, you may want to skip these. These will definitely not show. If you have pale lips, these are just perfect to add a bit of color. I should also mention that these don't stay for long on your lips and has a fruity scent. Comes in 6 shades. :)

Lipstick Swatches (L-R: No.2, No.3 and No. 4)

So these are what caught my eye. You might be wondering why I haven't purchased any blusher or eyeshadow. They have a great selection that comes in individuals and palettes but I think I already have those shades on my vanity. And for the others like mascara, eyeliner, makeup remover,lip balm, eyebrow pencil; these stuff you can find from other local brands for a cheaper price. ;)

Over all, I am happy with the Lovelight BB Powder and the Forever Liquid Foundation.

I'll be giving away these Lovelight BB Powder in No.1 & a Dreamgirl Mirror to a lucky commenter on this post, at random. ;)

- Comment on this post to earn you an entry, 1 entry per person only.
-Follow my blog, its FREE! haha

- Giveaway is open till Aug 3, 2012; 11:59PM. Winner be announced on August 4, 2012.

- Open to Philippine Residents only (MM and Provincial). Free shipping.

- Winner will be generated through random.org.
-NOT SPONSORED! :)


Please bear with my photos as I am still configuring my camera. Got a new lens to work with. 


Love,

Anna

Wearing the Lovelight BB Powder and Forever Liquid Foundation. Guess you can't really see, photo was taken with my laptop's camera. :)

Favorite Red Lipsticks

Nothing looks classy than a red lipstick. The sophistication and elegance it brings is timeless. 

Here are my fave reds...

MAC Lipstick  Ruby Woo, $14.50
FINISH: Matte

PIGMENTATION: 5/5

STAYING POWER:4/5

PACKAGING: 4/5 

Who doesn't know this popular red lipstick from MAC? Raved and loved by many from blogs to Youtube. This is a blue-based red.

http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/shaded/168/310/Lipstick/index.tmpl

Beauty UK Lipstick in Naughty, 265php
FINISH: Satin

PIGMENTATION: 4/5

STAYING POWER: 3/5

PACKAGING: 3/5

Loving the minty taste of this lipstick. That's what first got me to try it on. This is an orangey red.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=127476224052277&set=a.118134304986469.20940.113601765439723&type=3&theatr

NARS Lipstick in Jungle Red, $24 or 1250php more less at Rustan's
FINISH: Semi Matte

PIGMENTATION: 5/5

STAYING POWER: 4/5

PACKAGING: 2.5/5 (Sturdy yet easily gets dirty!)

This is a brown hued red.

http://www.narscosmetics.com/color/lips/lipstick/semi-matte-lipstick/jungle-red

Ever Bilena Lipstick in Love That Red, less than 200php?
FINISH: Matte

PIGMENTATION: 3/5

STAYING POWER: 3/5

PACKAGING: 2/5 

You can never go wrong with this brown hued red from Ever Bilena for that dirty cheap price. That's a steal! And yes a matte lipstick from a Philippine local brand. ;)

And if there is a Fave from the Faves... Chanel Rouge Allure Lipstick in L'Exuberante, $32.50 or 1650php at Rustan's
FINISH: Matte

PIGMENTATION: 5/5

STAYING POWER:4/5

PACKAGING: 5/5 (Not your usual packaging. Felt like an alien trying to open it when I first got it.)

Packaging is oozing with understated elegance!

I can't say how lux they feel. Sophistication to the finest level. This is a plumy red that feels velvety on the lips. 

http://www.chanel.com/en_US/fragrance-beauty/Makeup-Lipstick-ROUGE-ALLURE-VELVET-122517

Swatches of my faves...

L-R: MAC Ruby Woo, BeautyUK Naughty, NARS Jungle Red, Ever Bilena Love That Red & Chanel L'Exuberante

Now, I don't know why the Chanel lipstick looks hot pink on the photo. :(


Excuse my dirty brazilet, the blue ribbon tied on my wrist. It is a ribbon from Brazil that grants you 3 wishes. You tie it on your wrist and when it wears down naturally, your wishes will come true. I'll be doing a post and giveaway a new one for you lovelies. haha

Steps in rocking that Red Lipstick...

1) Prepare your lips! 

You want your lips to be all smooth and supple before putting on your lipstick. Go ahead and exfoliate first! 

Grab some brown sugar and olive oil, mix and rub on your puckers. Some use the toothbrush and petroleum jelly technique but I'm sure that doesn't taste good. haha Wipe off all that exfoliation and glide on some balm. Let your lips have some beauty rest for a few minutes. Give the balm some time to soak. 

If you're too lazy to concoct a homemade lip scrub, there are various lip scrubs in the market. Mine is the Sara Happ Lip Scrub in Vanilla Bean. Boy how I love that sweet taste and scent! ;)

Sara Happ Lip Scrub in Vanilla Bean, 1450php from Beauty Bar

http://shop.beautybar.com.ph/sara-happ-vanilla-bean-lip-scrub.html

2) Line your lips. 

Red lipsticks have the tendency to bleed. To prevent this, one popular technique is to line your lips and some also fills it in.

This is my go-to lip liner when I use red lipsticks.

NYX Lip Liner Pencil in 813 Plush Red, 90php from Starmaine Cay

http://www.facebook.com/starmaineshop?ref=hl

3)Pick the right shade of red.

All skintones can wear red! You just have to find the right shade of red for you. You may want to consider your undertone when picking your perfect red: (1) cool undertones can sport the blue and pink hues of red and (2) warm undertones can play with orange and brown hues of red. Usually ones with blue undertones are those with fair complexion. And the ones with warm undertones have medium to dark complexion. 

If you haven't found the perfect red for you, blending shades of different lipsticks might just work. ;)

4) Tone down all other makeup.

You want your red lips to POP! Now go bare minimum on your makeup. Just defined eyes and lesser blush on the cheeks will go hand-in-hand for making your lips the focal point.

5) And lastly, CONFIDENCE is the key in wearing the classy red lipstick.

Red lipsticks when worn can be overpowering. You should have the right character and poise to flaunt it.

If you've done a not so good job in painting your lips, use a concealer to sharpen and clean the outline of your lips. This technique will also make your red lips pop. ;)

Now you're all set to ROCK those red lips. 

And you Lovelies, what's your fave red? 

Love, 

Anna

“Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick.”

-Gwyneth Paltrow