‘Tis the Season to be SEPHORA Glammin’

The holidays are finally upon us, and I'm sure by this time you're set to attend Christmas party or two, may it be with a group of friends you haven't seen for a long time, or with people at the office. Imo, these parties are a great way to experiment and try out bolder, more done-up make-up looks versus the easy, everyday base-mascara-lip balm combo. 

I've finally started wearing my red lipsticks outside the house so I'm more than happy to share a look that I would actually wear out without feeling too self-conscious. It features a warm, golden eye and your signature festive red lip. You can never go wrong with this combination as its classy, elegant, but definitely do-able! 

This is actually very similar to the look I wore last Saturday when I saw my friends. We ate Korean BBQ to our hearts content - this is our only requirement to have fun, really (maybe Soju). 

Here's a complete collage of all the products I want for this look. More than a year ago this would have been impossible, but with Sephora PH its finally a possibility to get great quality makeup easily!

Base 

I wanted the base to be very skin-like but in a more perfected way. Its how I normally wear my base and I honestly like that it isn't overly perfect that it screams 'caked makeup!'. There is never a season for that!

This calls for primer with a certain amount of silicone to allow foundation to glide on better and to make the skin look smoother. I opted for the Benefit Porefessional mixed with a bit of my moisturizer, but for drier skins I'd recommend the Becca Backlight Primer.

I used one of my older favourites, the Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation (Shade 123) to get a skin-like finish. It lasts well on my oily skin but its definitely luminous enough for anyone with slightly drier skin to mine. I find that it also doesn't give any flashback, making it great for photos which you'll surely have a lot of for your parties!

Pair with a high coverage concealer to cover any spots, an illuminating, light-reflective concealer for any darkness around the eyes and face, and finish with powder if needed to make the base last through the day or night! Feel free to also use a setting spray to make the base almost indelible.

Eyes

Eye primer is essential for this look to have your eye make-up last all day. Its also very humid here in the Philippines even during December, so primer cannot be skipped. I used my ever-reliable Too Faced Shadow Insurance (don't mind the older packaging of mine in the picture above!).

To the star of the show - the Zoeva Cocoa Blends Palette. Ever since I ordered this in June from Sephora PH, I've used this for 98% of my eye looks (2% trying to wean myself off the palette didn't work in the slightest). I did a gold eye with a hint of cranberry at the outer corners (featuring Pure Ganache, Substitute for Love, Freshly Toasted, Beans are White, and Warm Notes), which is still festive without looking too predictable. Don't forget to add an inner corner highlight!

Its insane how long my lashes look in this shot. Also, I really went skinny with this liner!

Go as minimal or as bold with the eyeliner as you please! I opted for a thin line as I find this more flattering on my eye shape. It also allows the eyeshadow to stand out more without forgetting to define the eyes. Good example for this would be the Eyeko Skinny Liquid Liner, which will let you modify the thinness or thickness of the line depending on your preference. Don't forget a waterproof mascara to keep your eyes fallout and smudge-free!

Cheeks and Lips

The eyes are on the warmer side so any warm neutral blush would do. A little peachy-ness wouldn't hurt, so a shade like the Too Faced Love Flush in Baby Love would do nicely, as the shade brings a lot of life to the face without competing with the eyes and lips, which are the main focal points of this look. 

Go overboard with the highlighter, I'm serious! Now and New Year's Eve might be the only time during the year that you can do so. I personally skip highlighter due to my oily skin producing its own sheen for me, but something the like famous Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector would be ideal.

If you're seeking a bit of definition, don't forget to contour! I personally just used a taupe matte eyeshadow, but I have been very curious about the Cover FX Contour Kit for a while now. Maybe you'll see it here in the future as a gift to myself? Teehee!

And finally for the lips, any red lipstick will do! You can go as orangey red, classic red, or dark red, whatever your heart desires. There are no set rules for the holidays! A great holiday red in my humble opinion would be the cult classic Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 01 Always Red. You can never go wrong with a shade like this!

Tools

Never forget that great make-up can also be achieved with good tools! I love using the BeautyBlender but you can use a buffing brush like the one from Real Techniques in their Core Collection as well. I also love my Zoeva Brushes (namely the Luxe Sheer Cheek and the Luxe Petit Crease brush) that I got in my Sephora PH haul as they are not only amazing quality, but apply product and blend quickly.

And that's it for me! I hope you enjoyed this post and the rare pictures of my face. Portrait shots are a lot of work for me, especially with the sudden onslaught of gloomy weather. Hope it (the weather, not my self-portraits, haha!) doesn't ruin your holiday parties!

What are you wearing to your holiday parties? I'd love to see pictures down in the comments section!

Shop more make-up products on Sephora PH here!

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

‘Tis the Season to be SEPHORA Glammin’

By Pauline Read More

October and November Favourites

You're probably getting tired of hearing (rather, reading) me say that my lack of time has not allowed new additions to my make-up routine, but this still holds true. I do realize, however, that the lack of time has made me test and choose products that require little to no effort to look perfect. I've also gone with relatively the same look, with variations only in eyeshadow and lip colour. Those are the easiest things to change up, after all!

The goal these past two months was too look bright and awake even with my lack of sleep. I've really grown to rely and appreciate these three (three!!) products, so discussing them now says a lot about how good they are.

Milani Baked Blush (Luminoso)

An impulse buy! I've heard a lot of hype around this blush, claiming it imparted a colour and luminosity that could not be rivaled. I was initially skeptical when I got this in the mail, as it looked too light and peachy in the pan. Weeks later, I've found that I've been reaching for this blush every time I wear make-up! It appears a bit darker on the skin versus the pan, and really brings a lot of life to the face without looking ridiculous.

Benefit Watts Up Highlighter

I'm not sure if I ever mentioned this in a previous favourites post, but I should have! This is a champagne highlighter that I find to suit my skin really well versus white and pink-toned highlighters. I use it on the tops of my cheekbones, inner eye corner, and on my cupids bow; the result is instantly brighter skin sans glitter.

Heroine Make Long and Curl Mascara

I've been trying this out for around 3 months now before forming an opinion. While it isn't anything close to my Fairydrops Platinum Mascara, it does a good job at lengthening the lashes in a subtle way. I think this is what people consider a 'weekend mascara' - it adds something without going over the top. I like that this really makes a difference in making my eyes look wider and more awake. While definitely worth a try, its not everyone's cup of tea.

There you have it! What about you guys - what have you loved within the past two months? Christmas is coming up (and my semester break - finally!) so hopefully there will be more posts on my blog from then on. If you have any comments or even suggestions for posts, I would love to hear about them below!

P.S. Also realized that this is the last bi-monthly favourites of the year! Its crazy how fast time has gone! :o

Friday, November 27, 2015

October and November Favourites

By Pauline Read More

FOTD: Gold Eyes and Dark Red Lips

Before I go into this week's post, I'd like to apologize for the phone-quality photos for this and the next few posts. My SD card for my camera broke just as I finished shooting several posts, resulting to me using my phone instead. Ah, all that wasted time. :(

But yes you read that right - this is a 'Face of the Day' post! My friends from uni had a sleepover and photoshoot a few weeks ago, and I wanted to share with you the look I wore for that shoot! It was really fun as it was Harry Potter-themed, and being a huge fan of Harry Potter, it was easy to say I enjoyed not only planning, but participating as well. 

I was sorted into Slytherin - yes, we did go into that much detail for a sleepover + photoshoot - so I knew that I wanted to wear a dark red lip. It was meant to be an evening look so I didn't hesitate in having heavier eye makeup and (gasp!) contour. These were the products I used (save for the powder, as I borrowed Alex's Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder, which I need to get for myself) at the time.

Yes, no primer and yes, false lashes! I really want to get into wearing false lashes because they add such drama to eye make-up. Sometimes, I find that the Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation applies better on bare skin as it fades evenly and breaks apart less after a few hours. I applied a bit of face mist prior to foundation and it gave a very skin-like, glowy finish. I applied a bit of Maybelline Master Conceal (review here) and set my base with powder.

After priming my eyes with Too Faced Shadow Insurance, I applied my Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in My Two Cents which is a coppery-bronze cream shadow. I put a bit of Strapless and Chocolate Cookie from the Too Faced Natural Matte Palette (review here) on my crease and blended. I added a bit of Sexpresso from the same palette to the outer portion of my eye to create a bit more depth. I then lined my eyes with Clio Kill Brown Waterproof Brush Liner (post about it here) and applied my favourite Fairydrops Platinum/Scandal Queen Waterproof Mascara (review here). I wasn't after neatness for this eye look, but more for the warm gold & browns. I didn't do it in this recreation, but I added 3 lashes per eye at the corners to give a more fluttery lash look. I then added a bit of the K-Palette Real Lasting Two Way Eyebrow Pencil to fill in any gaps to my brows (review here). 

I just added a bit of the Too Cool for School Createur du Contour as the last of my face make-up, and finished everything off with two layers of the NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Mandore, blotting in between layers to give a darker colour. I absolutely love this lip pencil now and I'll definitely be using it more in the coming months!

Here's the finished look! I tried doing the eyebrow raise, but its hard to look mean in a floral shirt haha! I hope you guys liked this look, and let me know if you want to see more FOTDs in the future!

Friday, August 21, 2015

FOTD: Gold Eyes and Dark Red Lips

By Pauline Read More

Birthday Make-Up

Another surprise! This is a little late, but I thought I'd share with you the make-up I wore for my birthday last week. Its currently the intersession semester at my uni, and my birthday unluckily fell on the day of a presentation. I only had about half an hour to freshen up and get ready for dinner after, so I think I was able to do my makeup under 10 minutes! This is already pretty quick for me because I normally take 20-30 minutes to do makeup, just because I find it very relaxing and also because I like my base make-up looking very perfected.

Base: Etude House Goodbye Pore Ever Primer Essence + Jouer Matte Moisture Tint + Benefit Watts Up

Yes, this primer is back! My skin is much drier than a month ago (yay ;u;) and because the Jouer TM can emphasize dryness, I thought the primer would be good to counteract that and still bring a bit of hydration to the face. The result is very natural-looking skin that doesn't get too shiny even at the 6 hour mark! I couldn't be bothered with concealer because if I did, I would have never left the house.

Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion + Innisfree Mineral Single Cream Eyeshadow (04 Romance Burgundy) + Urban Decay Naked 2 - Chopper + Fairydrops Platinum/Scandal Queen Waterproof Mascara

I wanted to focus more on the eyes for this look (not that you can see my eyeshadows very well because of my hooded lids) so I tried out my new Innisfree cream shadow for the first time! I only used a small amount so instead of coming out as burgundy, it appeared more like a copper with red undertones and gold shimmer. I toned it down even more with Chopper from my Naked 2 palette, and it would have been perfect if I had the time to apply a matte brown in the crease like Strapless from the Too Faced Natural Matte palette. Adding some mascara to my top lashes also helped balancing the eyeshadow out.

Lips: Nivea Med Protection Lip Balm SPF 15 + MAC See Sheer (Lustre)

I really like this new lip balm (purchased because of Danie from That Nugu's review) because it hydrates my lips even as the balm fades. I paired the eyes with See Sheer because I thought it would look more harmonious with the copper-y eye.

And that's it for my makeup! What about you - what do you guys plan to wear on your birthday? Feel free to share that with me below! :D

P.S. Bonus picture of the rainbow cake I had (Yes I am a grown-up)!

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Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Birthday Make-Up

By Pauline Read More

Baguio May 2015 Travel Make-Up Bag

Surprise! I have not done a post like this ever, but I took some decent pictures of the make-up I brought to my last trip, and I thought I'd show you what I brought with me! You'll be seeing a lot of new things as well as old. If I'm being honest, I brought a bit too much. I rationalized while packing that I liked having options, but found that I had a small time frame to do my makeup and wanted to go with one look anyway.

Missing: Clio Kill Brown Waterproof Brush Liner

Base: Benefit Porefessional + Jouer Matte Moisture Tint (Nude) + Maybelline Master Conceal (Light-Medium) + Benefit Watts Up!

This has been my go-to base since I got the Jouer Matte Moisture Tint. It's not as heavy as using foundation (though my Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation is pretty lightweight) and it requires less upkeep. Having a primer plus a matte tinted moisturizer made my base last for a good 8+ hours which is great by my standards. And if you noticed, yes I didn't bring powder!

Color: NYX Powder Blush (Pinched) / Milani Baked Blush (Bella Rosa)

I'm the kind of person that matches their blush to their lip colour because I find that it looks more put together. I also wanted to have options, but found it unnecessary for this trip because I didn't bother wearing a blush at all. I'll definitely still bring two blushes for future trips - hopefully I'll have time to do my make-up then!

Eyes & Brows: Urban Decay Primer Potion + Too Faced Natural Matte Palette + Clio Kill Brown Waterproof Brush Liner + Fairydrops Platinum Waterproof Mascara + Lioele Auto Eyebrow Pencil

Since I didn't have a lot of time, I didn't do eyeliner no matter how much I wanted to :( I also just brushed through my brows since I just threaded them at the time. I did, however, put on eyeshadow  because I was testing out the TF palette. Also, I cannot go without mascara, which saddens me because I don't have any back-ups for my Fairydrops Mascara :(

Lips: Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate (05) / NYX Butter Gloss (Strawberry Parfait) / MAC See Sheer

I originally just brought the Rimmel and MAC lipsticks because those were the ones I couldn't decide on when packing. The NYX gloss joined the line up because it was the only lip product I owned that didn't dry out the edges of my lips if used alone. I ended up using See Sheer the entire trip because I needed the warmth on my face and because it goes really well with the NYX blush. 

It surprises me how this all fit in my make-up bag. One thing I learned when packing make-up which I want to share with you is try not to bring as much as me haha! On a more serious note, it seems better to bring products that don't require brushes if you can, just to save on space.

What about you guys - what are the things you have to bring when traveling? Any tips you'd like to share?

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Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Baguio May 2015 Travel Make-Up Bag

By Pauline Read More

Products of the Day: February to March 2015

Hi everyone!

I wanted to share with you some of the products I've been using lately for uni or for when I go out with friends. Honestly, a lot of the time its rather the same, and you'll see which make-up items I can't forego no matter what. Sadly, no FOTD yet (I know, I know, I should show my face sometime) but for those of you who like looking at pictures of scattered make-up products (I know I do), this will be the post for you! I talk more about each product so feel free to keep reading below!

These were more or less what I used the most in February. For my base I've stuck with the Benefit Porefessional-Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation-Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer-Benefit Watt's Up combination, but only when I have time on my hands. The result is a smooth, bright, healthy-looking face even if I don't feel that way. I've been switching around eye primers, which is why I've been trying the Too Faced Shadow Insurance. More on this soon! Of course I had to go with a Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow for an easy swipe and go look (this one is in My Two Cents). I've really grown to appreciate the Clio Kill Brown Waterproof Brush Liner which I got in my Singapore 2014 Haul. It's still going strong, though knowing how paranoid I am about things running out, I need to get a back-up soon. My consistent mascara of choice is the Fairydrops Platinum Mascara, which is probably the best all-rounder I've encountered. Finally, I've loved the look of the NYX Butter Gloss in Strawberry Parfait for a moisturizing gloss - definitely getting more from this range!

Later in February and last week, I've appreciated the appeal of a lighter base, which is why I fell back on the Lioele Water Drop BB Cream. I usually do my eye make-up in the car whenever I went for this look (with much difficulty, mind you) but it was enough for me to look like I made a lot of effort, even when I haven't. A fail-safe wash of colour for me will always be the Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Birthday Suit, which I talk about in most of my posts...oops.

These products are for the days when I thought I had a lot of time, but took too long to do my base and had to rush everything else. Fun fact: it takes me a good 15 minutes to do base make-up. Time just seems to fly by whenever I do! And since I'm starting to slowly get into lip products (I have the lip product queens Summer and Alex to thank (or not) for that) I tried out this Tony Moly Petite Bunny Gloss Bar that my friend Ena got for me in October. Balmy but leaves a really nice tint - the range is great for those who like bright colours!

Finally, these are the products I've been wearing for the past two weeks. Yes, I do have two BB Creams, but I use more of the Lioele and mix a tiny, tiny bit of the Fairydrops Candybar BB Cream to give a little more coverage. I've also been using the It's Skin Babyface Jelly Tint in #1 which is a sheer but very brightening red. The tint gets stronger after a few applications and it never fails to make me look more awake. Now I see why lip products are such a big deal. Next stop - lip butters!

And there you have it! As you can see, base is very, very important to me. I'll go without every other product but base products. I hope this was interesting for you as it was for me to write. Also look forward to a few new series' in a few months - possibly a top 10 and a few things related to travel? Stick around and wait for my next few posts!

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Saturday, March 14, 2015

Products of the Day: February to March 2015

By Pauline Read More

February Favourites

Not going to lie, I had a particularly hard time picking this month's favourites. Using mostly the same products over and over again leaves little to talk about. Nonetheless, there were a few products that snuck into my daily makeup routine without my noticing. I've talked about most of them in previous posts, so in a way they are old new favourites, save for one.

This was also the month I switched things up and went for lighter bases. Whether its the fact that putting on too much was getting tiring, or that I wanted an extra 10 or so minutes sleeping, I opted for a base that felt light but didn't make me feel too conscious about the redness in my face or my spots. If anyone has any more base recommendations, let me know!

Benefit Porefessional

I now know that I cannot go without primer - it's as essential as BB Cream/Foundation is for me. With my skin getting oilier, I knew I had to put my Etude House Primer to the side for a while since that one is a little more hydrating. I've ignored this for a good few months but now it's a staple for me and I appreciate what it does for my makeup. I learned that its best not to use a lot of this, else any base on top tends to go patchy after a few hours. It doesn't feel heavy or make me feel like my skin is suffocating under it. I guess I can see why there's so much hype around this!

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

Another recurring favourite, but I felt like I finally learned how to use this properly this month. I wore very light bases, not caring much if my redness was completely covered, but used this to hide any evil spots. You also don't need a lot to cover things up, which is probably why this has lasted for so long even after using it almost everyday since June last year. I was debating on whether or not to repurchase, and now I think I will!

Benefit Watts Up

I got this in my first impulse haul and wear this on most makeup days. Whenever I forget to wear this I feel like my skin lacks a bit of luminosity, especially in the inner eye corner. It's a very blendable, easy to apply cream champagne highlighter that you won't need much of to add some brightness to your face. Definitely repurchasing the full sized one when I run out, but it seems like a long time before I do.

NYX Butter Gloss (Strawberry Parfait)

Giving you a bit of a spoiler for my Spring/Summer haul post! This is one of the first products I picked up because of all the recommendations from several beauty bloggers. I didn't expect this to be as great as it is but as soon as I tried it on I didn't go a day without wearing it! The colour is a really nice sheer fuchsia pink and the formula is really moisturizing. Highly recommended for an everyday wash of colour on the lips. Out of all the products I think this is my ultimate favourite this month!

And there you have it! What do you think of these products? What were your favourites for this month? Let me know down in the comments! :)

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Friday, February 27, 2015

February Favourites

By Pauline Read More

2014 Favourites

Hey everyone!

I won't be having a favourites for this month in favour of the ultimate favourites post - my 2014  Favourites! This is a special kind of favourites as it also includes my favourite travel experience from this past year as well. Not going to lie, this was a pretty difficult year for me in terms of everything, but it was easily the most eventful. Restarting this blog was definitely a big part of my year, and I hope to continue being more active and sharing all these experiences and products with all of you!

Fairydrops Candybar BB Cream (Review here)

I've said this before, but this is by far the best BB cream I have ever tried. No grey cast, great colour match, lightweight, light to medium coverage, and photo-friendly! This makes me look like I have healthy, almost flawless skin, which is definitely not the case. The shade range and packaging definitely need some improvement, but I have been so happy with this overall and would highly recommend it!

Innisfree Volcanic Pore Clay Mask (Review here)

I used to use it twice a week when I first got it, but I like it better as a once a week treatment on Sunday nights to clarify my pores after wearing make-up almost the whole week. It also helps calm my acne though I don't use it as a spot treatment anymore. It also reduces the redness on my face, which is always a huge plus for me. It's easy to see why this sells so well!

Real Techniques Shading Brush

This wins as my favourite brush this year as it is the one that I didn't expect to work as well as it did. It works well to pack on colour as well as to blend harsh edges away no matter what type of eyeshadow. It also allows me a lot of control because of its small size. All in all, it's a really great multi-purpose first eyeshadow brush!

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow (Birthday Suit, My Two Cents)

These two have been my go-to for an easy wash of colour on lazy days, as well as bases to make similar colours sitting on top more vibrant. I also like how you can't find similar colours of these in the famous Maybelline Color Tattoo range, which convinces me to purchase the full-sized versions when I run out...which won't happen soon as I'm not even halfway through the tiny pots!

Laneige Water Bank Essence EX

This is the newest one among all my favourites, but it is the one that has made all the difference to my rough, dehydrated skin. It does exactly as it claimed - to smoothen skin and add moisture. I also like how quickly it absorbs into the skin without leaving an icky oily feeling unlike other moisturizers. I think I found another skin care staple!

Etude House Goodbye Pore Ever Primer Essence (Review here)

I like how this adds enough moisture and has just the right amount of silicone to make the application of whatever base I apply on top smoother without making me feel like I have a film over my face as most primers tend to do. I'm happy with the price tag as well despite its availability (rather, lack of) in most Etude House branches I go to. Highly recommended for people with drier skin!

Too Cool for School Marshmallow Puff (Review here)

I was in denial for a long time on choosing this sponge over my make-up brushes, but this gives the most flawless, skin-like finish, especially when paired with cream products like my NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer! It also helps my base products to separate less when worn for a long time.  This combined with my Fairydrops BB Cream and NARS Concealer make for a (seemingly) good skin day. Another unexpected favourite, and it won't break your bank as much as the original Beauty Blender would!

Best Travel Experience

Singapore

I already consider myself lucky to have traveled overseas more than once this year, but what made my Singapore May 2014 trip better was that I got to visit a friend I hadn't seen in a long time, and experienced planning and paying for a trip all on my own. This was more of a vacation for me than my Seoul trip was, as I didn't have to stress over the itinerary and making sure my parents weren't lost. It was nice to go at your own pace and do what you wanted to do for a change. In a way, it was a semi-independent trip that I won't forget for a lifetime.

And there you have it! Feel free to share with me your own favourites for this year down in the comments below. I'd like to thank everyone who has made this year what it was, especially you guys! Here's to a happier, better 2015!

1. Laneige Water Bank Essence_EX
2. Etude House Goodbye Pore Ever Primer Essence
3. Fairydrops Candybar BB Cream
4. Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask
5. Too Cool for School Marshmallow Puff
6. Real Techniques Shading Brush
7. Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow

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Wednesday, December 31, 2014

2014 Favourites

By Pauline Read More

SPOTLIGHT: Benefit, 1028 Visual Therapy, and Urban Decay Eyeshadows

Hey, everyone!

When I was getting into make-up, one of the things I was always very hesitant with wearing was eyeshadow. In my uni, everyone is quite laid-back and majority of the people wear almost minimal to no make-up, moreso eyeshadow. I just thought it might be overboard for an everyday look but then one day, I realized I didn't really care and from then I started wearing some wash of colour on my lids.

2 palettes and 1 eyeshadow kit later, I've fully embraced and now love eyeshadows almost as much as I love bases (and that's saying a lot). I do lean to the neutrals, and I don't think that's going to change anytime soon (or ever). I've compiled a bunch of my favourite eyeshadow colours and combinations that I may have worn consecutively for at least a week because I loved it so much.

                                       

             

Chopper from the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

This is a rose gold shade and probably my favourite out of all the colours in the Naked 2 Palette. I used to ogle at this quite a bit and search for tutorials using this particular colour because I found it to be so pretty. This colour is quite uncommon for an eyeshadow (from those that I notice) and impossible to dupe. I make sure to blend this out quite well as it does have a tendency to make my eyes look a bit sick otherwise.

Half Baked from the Urban Decay Naked & Naked 2 Palettes

Gold is quite possibly my favourite colour so my love for this particular colour should be no surprise. I love how this is a neutral gold and has amazing colour pay-off which I look for particularly in gold shades. I remember using this first when I got my Naked 2 and I'll definitely be using it more in the future because of its versatility.

Shade #2 from the 1028 Visual Therapy Brownie Eyes Palette

This is still somewhat neutral but I love how it's pink without making me look like I'm sick. It also has a lovely iridescent quality to it and the most similar shade I know is the NARS Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow in Cassiopeia. I love using this either as a base colour or as an inner corner highlight.

Shade # 5 from the 1028 Visual Therapy Brownie Eyes Palette

Brown eyeshadows are so essential and this one is no exception. Out of all the brown shades I own this is probably the lightest and comes out almost as a darker version of My Two Cents from Benefit (to be mentioned below). I really like blending it in the outer-v of my eye and I've been complimented a few good times for how pretty it comes out.

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Birthday Suit + YDK from the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

I talked about this combination previously in my October Favourites. Birthday Suit, an ash taupe with gold shimmer, is already a great colour on it's own and I wear this when I want a wash of colour on my lids. Combined with YDK however, its just a beautiful mix of both silver and gold that changes depending on the lighting. Because it's a powder shadow layered over a cream, it also stays on all day. Overall it's very brightening to the eyes and my favourite combination of the bunch.

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in My Two Cents + Shade #3 from the 1028 Visual Therapy Brownie Eyes Palette

This is another cream shadow that's more of a copper with gold shimmer when blended, and a little more bronze when layered. It's my favourite despite it being used least, because of the gorgeous colour. I wear it alone or with a bit of the 3rd shade from by 1028 Visual Therapy Brownie Eyes Palette to make the colour a little more bronze and wearable.

What about you guys? What are your favourite eyeshadows, palettes, or combinations? Do you like wearing eyeshadow? Let me know in the comments below!

Review for the 1028 Visual Therapy Brownie Eyes Palette

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1. Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette
2. 1028 Visual Therapy Brownie Eyes Palette
3. Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Birthday Suit & My Two Cents

Friday, December 12, 2014

SPOTLIGHT: Benefit, 1028 Visual Therapy, and Urban Decay Eyeshadows

By Pauline Read More

November Favourites

Hey everyone!

It has been a whirlwind of a month but I acquired a lot of new things that I hope to share with you soon! It was back to school for me so I tried to keep my routine fairly simple and easy to do, and I tried my best to keep my skin in the best condition possible as well to combat all the stress and late nights sleeping. Here are my favourites for this month!

Fairydrops Candybar BB Cream

A repeat of one of my July Favourites, but it just goes to show how good it is! It's that one base product I go to when I need coverage but still my skin to look like skin. The weather is getting drier so I've been using this with my Too Cool for School Marshmallow Puff and it helps making the BB cream much more seamless and natural!

Fairydrops Platinum Waterproof Mascara + Shu Uemura Lash Curler

I first used this for my first day back at uni (after 2 months without mascara) and this was love at first...wiggle (since you wiggle the mascara wand through your lashes? haha). Together with my lash curler, they are an unbeatable tag team for curled, voluminous, longer, natural-looking lashes that last all day without any fall out or smudging. This is possibly one of the best mascaras I have tried, and I'm curious to see how other famed mascaras such as the Maybelline The Falsies, Covergirl Lash Blast, and Benefit's They're Real match up.

Benefit Watt's Up Highlighter

I've been using this lately and while I like putting it at the highest point of my cheeks, I really love it as an inner corner highlight! The formula is a cream type that is easy to blend and looks very natural that you can never tell its there, even if I point it out. You also don't need a lot of product which is good news for me!

Lioele Auto Eyebrow Pencil #3

I finally had my eyebrows fixed (as they've been needing it for months...) and I've finally come to embrace my eyebrows as they are, rather than wishing I had thinner ones. I've been using this to fill in the very little gaps along with the spoolie on the other side to keep my brows looking neat. Recommended for people who have black hair!

Nature Republic Snail Solution 70 Eye Cream

I ran out of my Laneige Water Bank Eye Gel a long time ago and needed something that was hydrating, but had either brightening, depuffing, or anti-aging benefits. This one had 3 out of 4 and is also good for stressed skin, which is my current skin condition. My dark circles have been looking less apparent and it became easier for me to apply my under eye concealer. So far so good for this, but I'll definitely make a review for you guys in the coming months!

And there you go! If you guys have tried any of these, or have favourites of your own, feel free to share them with me below! I'd also love to hear about any recommendations you have so I can try them for myself :)

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Friday, November 28, 2014

November Favourites

By Pauline Read More

Impulse Buys #1

I'm never the type of person to buy a product I've never heard of or read reviews about on a whim. Given my frugal nature (though you wouldn't know from my blog) I carefully research and read everything I can on a certain product before I convince myself that it's worthy of a purchase. Usually my purchases are planned like my Seoul Haul and Singapore Haul, but when I'm stressed from school and pass by a beauty counter...sometimes one or two things come along with me when I leave. 

This definitely won't be the last of my Impulse Buys as I realize now that it happens once every semester at the minimum. I've been wanting all of these products since their release or since I've heard of them (3/4 are on my top 10 list), and it was due to sales and discounts that I bit the bullet (not really) and took them home with me. 

Benefit Watt's Up Highlighter

I got this from Sumwear Co, an online seller from whom I got my Real Techniques brushes. I've always wanted to try this highlighter ever since I saw Jenn Im use it in one of her everyday make-up tutorials, but I wasn't willing to buy the full-sized one yet. I wanted a more subtle highlighter versus the famous Mary Loumanizer (which I simply cannot handle because it is too glittery for my liking) and I'm excited to try it out for Christmas!

Too Cool for School Marshmallow Puff

I've wanted an alternative to the famous Beauty Blender and this was the cheapest of the lot. I used it as soon as I bought it and I loved how it gave such a seamless finish for my BB Cream and my concealer! It also doesn't leak colour when cleaned which is a big bonus. Expect a review on this soon!

Fairydrops Platinum Mascara (Waterproof)

I have been wanting this mascara for ages ever since Alex from The Red Eyeliner raved about it to me. This is never available in Beauty Bar (where it can be purchased in the Philippines) as it's always sold out. This claims to hold a curl, give volume and length, and have 5 kinds of treatment essences to keep lashes healthy. This was for the first time, available and on sale at 50% when I went to check Beauty Bar. I'm most excited to use this out of everything I have purchased.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Audrey

I mentioned this in my post about the NARSissist Workshop with Jenny Smith that I had purchased it with a 10% discount. I've wanted this shade ever since I saw Temptalia's Review on it and I loved how it looked like a muted red with a bit of pink, which is exactly what I got. I don't regret this as my first lipstick purchase and I can't wait to use it (after I get a lip liner of course). 

And there you have it! I hope you guys enjoyed this post and hopefully there will be more (or less...not sure if I want to have a lot of these posts haha) of this series! If you guys have impulsive purchases like me, or have tried any of the products I bought above, feel free to leave me a comment below!

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Friday, November 14, 2014

Impulse Buys #1

By Pauline Read More

October Favourites

Hi everyone and Happy Halloween!

I just wanted to make a quick post to share my October Favourites with you! I didn't wear much makeup this month as I didn't have the luxury of time due to all my exams, which led to breakouts. -_- I didn't want to stress my skin further by putting on make-up so most of what I'm going to talk about here is skin care. I've also traveled twice this month so the little samples I got from my purchases before in Seoul have definitely come in handy.

Mamonde Extra Moisture Emulsion

I liked this so much, I had my friend buy me the full-sized version! Its lightweight but still gives a good amount of hydration to my skin. I've been wearing just this at home (or I add sunblock if I'm going out) and it has been enough to keep my skin from feeling tight. Only downside is that it is scented, so I wouldn't recommend this for people with extremely sensitive skin. 

Laneige Water Sleeping Pack

This has been a lifesaver for the first half of this month, as I spent it sleeping late at night and waking up quite early. It helped prevent my skin from getting dehydrated and looking dull. As this is a 'sleeping' pack, I put this on at night 2-3 times a week to keep my skin hydrated and looking a little more alive than it would have without it. It doesn't surprise me that this has been their best seller for years!

NARS Translucent Crystal Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder

I don't know about you guys but there was a big learning curve for me in putting on setting powder. Regardless, this was a great first setting powder for me as it never looked cakey no matter how much I put on, and was almost invisible on the skin. It also did a great job in making my skin look flawless and poreless, which no powder I've tried has done yet. I use this with my Real Techniques Powder Brush as a last step to my routine and I'm almost hitting pan!

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Birthday Suit + YDK (Naked 2 Palette)

This is quite a different favourite as it's more of a favourite combination of two products. Though I haven't worn a lot of makeup this month, whenever I did I would always wear the Birthday Suit alone or in combination with YDK. I love the ease of cream shadows as well as the staying power, and the multi-dimensionality (if that makes sense) of YDK. It's slightly coppery which is probably why I love it so much.

That's it for my favourites! I hope you all have a great November! If you have any products or even experiences that made your October awesome, feel free to leave a comment down below! :)

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Friday, October 31, 2014

October Favourites

By Pauline Read More