FOTD: Everyday Post-Holiday Season Makeup

It's rare that I get to post FOTDs here considering how much set-up it requires for me to be able to get a few good shots! Regardless, I thought I'd share with you this (relatively) easy look that I've been going for these days.

Base and Blush

My base has been pretty much the same for the past four months or so. I find that this gives me the most flawless, smooth base that doesn't fade awkwardly or patchily. I use the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer for my t-zone and the areas beside my nose to achieve a poreless look, and use Max Factor's Facefinity All Day Primer for the rest of my face. It seems a bit tedious to use two primers, but that's just me being fussy. 

The Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation has been my go to for so long because it builds to a pretty solid medium coverage and lasts well throughout the day. I use the L'oreal Lumi Magique Concealer for my under eyes, dark areas, and just below where I would put my contour for subtle definition and illumination. 

I'm pretty much obsessed with my new Colourpop Blush in Aphrodisiac as it gives the perfect hint of colour on the cheeks while being slightly cool in tone to contour. I tried using brushes but found that patting it on with my fingers and blending with my foundation brush is the best method for me. I set everything with the Bourjois Healthy Mix Powder and Skindinavia Oil Control Setting Spray (if I'm going to be somewhere without air-conditioning) and I'm good to go!

Eyes

After doing very elaborate and defined eye looks for the holidays, I've embraced my usual blend-and-go product, the Maybelline Color Tattoo Leather in Creamy Beige. It does well in adding something to the eyes without too much work. A quick curl and coat with the Fairydrops Platinum Waterproof Mascara is more than enough for me. Finally, I add a bit of the NYX Brow Mascara in Espresso to the inner and outer portions of my brow, to make my brows appear neater and more pronounced without adding too much. 

Highlight and Lips

I normally don't do highlight, but the Colourpop Highlighter in Butterfly Beach is too beautiful to resist. It's slightly pink in tone so it really livens up the face, and the lack of any visible shimmer or glitter really allows it to blend into the skin well. 

I've been going for two lip options, though I've been really into browny nudes in the form of the Etude House Dear My Blooming Lips Talk Chiffon in BE109. If I want something more sophisticated and comfortable to the lips however, then I go for the Chanel Rouge Coco in Mademoiselle.

The end result is something pretty simple, but still incorporates the essential make-up I love the most which is a perfected base. What do you think?

Friday, February 03, 2017

FOTD: Everyday Post-Holiday Season Makeup

By Pauline Read More

2016 Make-Up Favourites

Slightly delayed, but as they say, better late than never!

I acquired a lot of make-up in 2016 and discovered a few old favourites as well, so this is all a good mix of old and new. I'm pretty proud to say that I've become a lot more comfortable with how I do my make-up and I can say that I can get the look that I really want without too much fiddling.

Hopefully this means less disappointing and unnecessary purchases in 2017? Not sure about unnecessary, because I do have a tendency to shop when I'm sad, but we can always try. 

I did a lot of streamlining to have one product per category as much as possible, be proud!

Primer

The Hourglass Mineral Veil is easily the best primer I've tried by far. I get compliments on my skin every time I wear this, no joke! Half a pump or less is all I need to get that smooth, poreless-looking base that makes all the other products I put on top last for hours longer. It's expensive and my heart broke when I paid for it, but the results are well-worth it! I'd imagine this bottle would last me a good two years!

Foundation

I've dreamed of the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation for years, and I'm so happy to call this my top favourite! I love the Serum version for colder weather, but for everyday use in this hot, humid country, the regular formula is amazing! Blended with a brush, I get a medium coverage that's even, light on the skin, and stays for a good six hours before fading. I haven't found a base I've loved this much since the Fairydrops BB Cream!

Concealer

I know that highlighting concealers are more of an extra step, but wow do they make a difference! The L'oreal Lumi Magique in particular is an affordable but very effective concealer that does well in cancelling (moderate) dark circles while really brightening the under eye area. I also really like it underneath contour to make it more prominent.

Powder

I think out of all the products in my Europe Beauty Haul, the Bourjois Healthy Balance Powder has to be my favourite. It's compact, blends into the skin well, controls oil, and can be used for flash photography. Easily the best compact powder I've used, knocking my old favourite (the NARS Translucent Crystal Setting Powder) out of the water. I just wish it was more readily available!

Eyeshadow Palette

I knew I would love the Zoeva Cocoa Blend Palette as soon as I saw it, but I underestimated how much. I've pretty much ignored all my other palettes in favour of this and would gladly take it anywhere with me as it can create so many looks that I love. The shadows are so pigmented and vibrant that it makes Urban Decay look quite sad, if I'm honest! Now I know why everyone has professed their long lasting love to this!

Single Eyeshadow

I knew that Makeup Geek Cosmopolitan was beautiful but damn! Every time I put it on I'm so surprised with how unique and yet so well formulated this eyeshadow is. I wore this non-stop during those stressful thesis months that I was away from the blog and its usually my first recommendation to anyone who wants to try Makeup Geek. 

Eyeliner

Well, isn't this embarrassing. I usually keep my makeup in as near to mint condition as possible, but it goes to show just how much I still love the Clio Kill Brown Brush Liner. This has been my favourite for a good three years now because its still the most pigmented, long-lasting eyeliner (both on the eyes and usage-wise) I've tried.

Mascara

Honestly, why did I even bother to stray from the Fairydrops Platinum Waterproof Mascara? It holds a curl, lengthens my lashes like no other, separates beautifully while providing a bit of thickening and doesn't flake or smudge. It's been the only mascara that truly makes me happy, and while it is difficult to find (only in Sasa HK it seems!), I am still more than willing to get it.

Also thank you as always to Alex for getting this when I ask. <3

Blush

I've reached for the Milani Rose Blush in Romantic Rose 9 out of 10 times that I do my makeup. It's brightening without being too loud, and neutral enough that it goes with most of the looks that I wear. It's also not overly pigmented that you'll get clown cheeks, and the design is still so. pretty. My only qualm is the scent, but for what it gives me, it can be easily overlooked!

Contour

While I loved my Too Cool for School Contour Powder, I found that cream contours like the L'oreal Infallible Sculpt works infinitely better for me. The shade of this contour in particular is a bit cooler, so it appears more like a shadow on my face than anything else. I love that it's a cream as well and is pigmented enough while being buildable. Great affordable option that I reach for always!

Everyday Lipstick

Honestly...this was the hardest for me because I loved a lot of lipsticks in 2016. From the Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips in Secret Salma, to the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet, to the Etude House Chiffon Lipstick. Really difficult time. I'm becoming a lipstick hoarder.

But usage-wise, the Chanel Rouge Coco in Mademoiselle wins by a long shot, so much so that the Chanel engraving has been used! This has been my dream lipstick for as long as I can remember, and whenever I need a classy but elegant lipstick, this is always my go to. The formula is also very good to the lips as its non-drying and feels so comfortable. If I had to get rid of all my lipsticks and keep this one, I would still be very happy.

Red Lipstick

You might be calling 'cheater!' at this point but wait! Late 2016 was the time that I finally, finally had the balls to wear red lips out without feeling overly self-conscious. While I do love all the reds I own, the Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in La Fascinante is such a beautiful, versatile red. It's that red lipstick you can always rely on as the shade works for both casual and more formal situations. I also find it quite comfortable for something marketed as a matte.

And there you have it! If you reached this point, thank you for joining me in my excitement for my favourites and for being with me the entire 2016. Hopefully this 2017 we can make more memories and reach greater heights!

What about you - what were your favourites for 2016?

Sunday, January 15, 2017

2016 Make-Up Favourites

By Pauline Read More

Whats in My Travel Makeup Bag (Ireland/England Edition)

As I write this, I am currently fighting jet lag and waiting for dinner in Ireland. As it is the summer for most of the northern hemisphere, I thought it would be helpful for you all to see what I brought to Ireland with me on this month-long trip. It's the longest I've been away from home and I knew that makeup-wise, I had to bring products that I knew I could rely on and were multi-purpose.

I'm pretty good at packing the essentials (clothes-wise) so I had a bit more room for beauty products such as skin care, hair care, and make-up. I separated the items as follows: face, eyes, and lips. I've written my lists over and over again until I finally cut it down to a more or less acceptable number for each category. It may seem either too few or too excessive, but I find that I'm neither restricted nor overwhelmed with what I brought.

Face

Gasp! One primer, one foundation, and one powder? I was strictest with these items because I was going to buy tons while I was here. I also tend to bring too much whenever I travel, so I wanted something I was sure would work no matter what climate. 

The Etude House Good Bye Pore Ever Primer Essence has been a long time favourite of mine and is something I always come back to. It also pairs beautifully with the Jouer Matte Moisture Tint as it provides a layer of hydration and makes the tinted moisturizer look even more seamless and skin-like. The Maybelline Master Conceal while lacking in high coverage, makes up for it by blending beautifully and easily into the skin. Finally, the NARS Translucent Crystal Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder won't run out! I do prefer it as its finely milled but doesn't take the dimension away from the face when applied. It's also much easier to travel with a compact powder versus a loose powder, so definitely no spills with this! Lastly, I wanted to test how well the Skindinavia Makeup Setting Spray (Oil Control) fared in cooler climates. It'll also be useful when I'm going around for the whole day as I need to worry less about my makeup melting.

I only took one blush and my contour powder, since I was planning to buy a cream blush anyway (more on that later). The NYX Powder Blush in Pinched is perfect for the summer because of its coral and pink tones, which also works well with nearly all of the lipsticks that I bought. I decided to bring the Too Cool for School Createur du Contour as my face tends to bloat a lot whenever I travel. It's something I've noticed in all the pictures of me from past trips, and I'm determined not to look like a ball this time around!

Eyes

I was a little more lenient with eyes because most items are very small and compact. Of course I brought the Zoeva Cocoa Blend Palette because I want to test its versatility in creating multiple looks. I also brought a single Makeup Geek Eyeshadow in Cosmopolitan because I am obsessed with the colour and I knew it would pair well with the other eyeshadows in the Cocoa Blend palette. I also brought along the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Creamy Beige in case I won't have time to do anything fancy. The Urban Decay Primer Potion is of course a must, because I do want my eyeshadows to last all day and not crease (something that still happens even when I'm in cold countries). 

I find that eyeliner makes such a big difference whenever I wear it, so I brought both the K-Palette Real Lasting Eyeliner Micro and the Clio Kill Brown Brush Liner for variety and ease of use. The Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara (Waterproof) still hasn't gone bad on me, though if it does, I'm definitely going to pick up a new mascara while I'm here.

Lips

I remember asking Alex from The Red Eyeliner on the acceptable amount of lip products to bring while traveling, and she answered four including lip balm. Not going to lie, surprising answer considering how much she likes her lipsticks! I managed 5 lip products including lip balm (not featured due to embarrassingly beat-up packaging), though I did pick up the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment during my layover in Singapore (oops). 

I brought along the Golden Rose 2000 Lipstick for a nice red in case needed, along with the Etude House Play 101 Pencil in 21 as they pair well together. The MAC Lustre Lipstick in See Sheer goes everywhere with me now because it goes beautifully with warm eyeshadows, and isn't too stark like most corals. Finally, the Chanel Rouge Coco in Mademoiselle is my go-to lipstick on lazy days, or for when I want to look a little more presentable. 

And that's it for me! I hope you all enjoyed this monster of a post. What about you guys - what do you usually bring on trips? Is there anything I should have brought that you recommend?

Friday, July 01, 2016

Whats in My Travel Makeup Bag (Ireland/England Edition)

By Pauline Read More

The new lipstick favourite: Chanel Rouge Coco in Mademoiselle

I never realized how difficult it was to do a comeback post after being gone for a considerable amount of time. I've already rescheduled two posts and deleted two, thinking they weren't fit as a topic to ease everyone back into the blog. Eventually, I thought I'd share with you something that was easily love at first wear - the Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick in Mademoiselle. 

I have wanted this lipstick since I was sixteen, before Chanel reformulated the Rouge Coco range and before I could even think of stepping near a Chanel counter. I even had the lipstick number memorized (05 pre-reformulation, 434 post). It's kind of crazy, right? I forgot where I first saw a swatch of this beautiful colour, but as soon as I did I pegged it as my dream lipstick. 

Seven years and an impulse buy later - I am an impulse buyer when stressed! - I went home with this after visiting Duty Free. I may have had to access a few extra hundred pesos to scrape it but I have never been so happy with a make-up purchase in a long time.

Mademoiselle is described by Chanel as a 'warm rosewood'. To me its a dark, rosy pink with subtle brown tones to ground it. It is a colour that exudes sophistication and elegance - something that really lives up to its name. It swatches darker than it appears on the tube, but on my lips it definitely appears as a muted, rosy dark pink. It is slightly warm so do take note if you're more partial to cooler tones!

I tried it on as soon as I photographed it (knowing I'd do this post in the future - good job past me) and knew it was going to be a lifelong affair. I've worn it on an almost weekly basis, and somedays realize that I've worn it for three or four consecutive days. That's a pretty big feat considering I do like switching my make-up daily, and a clear indicator that I've fallen hard for it!

The formula is lightweight despite multiple layers, and is non-drying even after 4 hours. My lips are usually parched and begging for lip balm at that point, so I'm always pleasantly surprised when my lips are still soft. The colour lasts about 4 hours as well, but will not withstand eating and drinking. I can't say it stains considering the colour is so close to my natural lip colour, but this was something I was prepared for anyway. 

Excuse my expression -I just came home from fixing some misunderstanding that could have possibly deterred me from graduating. Also, excuse the eyebrows! I know, I'm due for a thread soon.

I usually pair this lipstick with really simple make-up - a clean base, defined lashes, a hint of dusty rose blush and sometimes some eyeliner. I find that it also pairs well with neutral eyes both shimmery and matte. I've yet to try it with my favourite gold eye look but I'd imagine it look fantastic as well!

I purchased this for USD 32 at Duty Free. It retails for PHP 1650 at Chanel counters and USD 36 in places like Nordstrom and Chanel counters in the US. Definitely on the pricey side considering its by Chanel, but if you're looking for a rosy pink lipstick and have the opportunity to splurge, I highly recommend you check this out!

What about you - have you tried this lipstick, or other lipsticks from the Rouge Coco line? Do you know of any similar colours? I'm all ears, feel free to leave me a comment below!

Friday, June 03, 2016

The new lipstick favourite: Chanel Rouge Coco in Mademoiselle

By Pauline Read More

NEW IN: Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick (La Fascinante)

Back to back posts to make up for the lack of activity in this blog! ;A;

This isn't as 'new' as you think, since I got it around 2-3 months ago. Yes, this is some serious backlog, but I did want to form a bit of an opinion on it in case you guys are interested in the Rouge Allure Velvet line. After all, Chanel lipsticks are expensive. (_ _)

I got this from one of my great aunts when she visited a few months ago. She literally pulled it out from her bag and handed it to my mother, saying she could keep it. My mom isn't a fan of red lips (much less matte lipstick) which meant that it was mine for the taking!

The Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet line is, from what I understand, their matte lipstick range. It's definitely not the overly drying kind of matte akin to MAC's Ruby Woo. Instead, it drags less and feels a bit less moisture-draining, which I am a fan of! I can't stand getting dry, chapped lips because of lipstick formulations, so this lipstick is more than welcome.

I will say though, it is not a powder matte in terms of finish. There is a hint of shine visible, which makes you question if this is a matte at all. It's closer to a satin finish, which would be further amplified if you wore lip balm underneath the lipstick. I just wanted to give this disclaimer in case you were looking for a true matte lipstick in terms of finish.

The colour itself, La Fascinante, is a red with pinkish undertones, though this undertone would only be seen if the lipstick is applied sheerly or swatched beside other lipsticks. Its very, very pretty and I'm happy to own a red like this, as I've wanted a vintage red for a while!

Swatched with other reds for comparison
L-R: Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet (La Fascinante), Etude House Minnie Kissing Lips (1 Minnie Red) (LE), NARS Audacious Lipstick (Audrey), NARS Satin Lip Pencil (Mandore), Etude House Play 101 Pencil (21)

As for lasting power, I will say that this is one of the weaknesses of this particular lipstick formulation. If applied without blotting or powdering it down to make it last, it will easily adhere to cups or mugs when drinking, and will fade when eating. It is kind of disappointing considering that this lipstick is quite expensive. I wonder if Chanel will be reformulating this line soon like they did with the Rouge Coco's.

In the end, I would say that there are better vintage reds in better formulations out there! If I was not given this, I probably wouldn't have purchased it for myself, mainly because of the mediocre staying power. If you are a fan of Chanel lipsticks though and not fussy about lasting power, this would still be worth a swatch because of the pretty colour!

What about you guys - have you tried Chanel lipsticks before? Which ones are your favourites? Feel free to let me know below!

Friday, November 13, 2015

NEW IN: Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick (La Fascinante)

By Pauline Read More

Lip Products Wishlist

I've been really getting into lip products as of late, so I thought I'd share with you some of the lip products that have really caught my attention, so much to the point that I will be purchasing them at the right time (read: on a sad day, on impulse). I categorized them according to shade just to make things more interesting. Hopefully you'll be seeing 2 or 3 of these in future blog posts!

And yes, I just noticed that I mentioned only three brands in this post. Whoops?

I have a weakness for reds. :( In looking at a new lipstick collection, my eyes will always gravitate to red first. I'm not sure why that is, but red just seems timeless to me. I have mostly reds in my current collection and I don't think it's going to stop there. For a sheer tomato red, I've been eyeing (and shamelessly swatching at counters) MAC Ladybug. It'd be great for days when I want to wear red but don't want the hassle that comes with it.  I also want more matte reds because it looks so classy and elegant, so popular drugstore reds such as the Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte by Kate in 107 and 111 would be great to add to my collection (which I hope to get this autumn).

I struggle with pinks and nudes, because majority of the most recommended shades are either too loud for me or do not suit my warm skin tone at all. I do know that I want to try the Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in Eastend Snob, which is a really pretty warm rosy pink that I could use on its own or under a nude lipstick like MAC Hug Me, which is a flesh pink and probably as nude as I would go, which isn't much. Since I started searching for more S/S appropriate lip colours, I came across MAC Lustering and fell in love with how brightening it is without being too Barbie pink or hot pink. 

Plums and mauves were colours I thought would never work on my skin tone, so when I discovered MAC Plumful, I was definitely skeptical. It wasn't until Jen from From Head to Toe mentioned it in her favourites video that I was sold. We have relatively the same skin tone, so whatever works on her usually works on me. MAC Soar is interesting because its something I'm fascinated with because of the hype, but I've never actually seen it in real life. I've asked a few MAC stores locally and they can't decide if they don't carry it in the Philippines, or if its out of stock. It seems like a versatile colour so as soon as I see it, I'm going to buy it and test it out!

As for an MLBB (my lips but better), I haven't found anything that I wanted more than the Chanel Rouge Coco in Mademoiselle. I've been pining for this lipstick for years (since I was a freshman in uni I think?) and to hear that they recently reformulated the Rouge Coco's just makes me more excited. Maybe I'll get this for myself when I graduate next year! It's either this or the Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita Palette, but that's a different story!

That's it for my wish list for now! What about you guys? Are there any lip products that you've been eyeing lately? Have you tried anything on my wish list? Feel free to leave a comment down below!

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Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Lip Products Wishlist

By Pauline Read More