Lullabies and Lippies: 2012

I realize it's been forever since my last post but I've really been insanely busy ever since I got back from my HK trip with friends. I've been attending school events (graduation practice and Blue Roast) and running errands for my parents. My family and I are actually leaving for Europe this Thursday (I am SO SO SO EXCITED!!) and although I'm sick and should be really resting up for my trip, I didn't want to leave without posting a new entry.

Hence, I decided to post my makeup haul from HK!

When I was a child, going to HK only meant going to the ginormous Toys R Us store and picking up a new Barbie doll or a new Polly Pocket for my collection. But as I grew up, I traded my dolls for makeup. And I came to know HK as makeup heaven. :) (Shallow, I know.) Makeup in HK is actually cheaper than anywhere else in Asia. (I'm told this is because makeup is not taxed in HK. I'm not entirely sure, I could be making that up, so please don't quote me!) I haven't been to HK in over 3 years, so you can just imagine the excitement and anticipation I felt.

BUT. (And here's the but) I was on a self-imposed makeup-buying ban. Late last year, I realized that I really had too too too much makeup and that I needed to cut down on buying and just enjoy using up what I had in my collection. BUT (and here's the but again) when was I going to go back to HK, right? So I justified that buying only a few products aside from the things that I really needed would be okay. :D Hehe

Here's my loot!

1. Skin79 BB Cream

Buying this product was exempted from the makeup-buying ban simply because it was something I really needed. I was completely out of tinted moisturizer and BB cream and so I decided to pick this one up since I've heard so many good things about it. I hear it's formulated for oily skin which is perfect for me. And isn't the packaging just so adorable?! So sue me- I'm a sucker for cute packaging. Skin79 is not available in the Philippines but I hear they will soon be. Still trying this one out. Will be sure to post about it! :)

2. Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes

This was also excluded from my make-up-buying ban since it was something I desperately needed. I was completely out of makeup wipes and this is the absolute best one I've tried (Sorry, MAC!) This is also sadly not available in the Philippines so it was definitely on my to-buy list going to HK. :) I bought two packs - one for me and one for my BFF Daryl because I know she was on the hunt for good makeup wipes. :)

3. YSL Touche Eclat

Now, this one is an 'extra buy,' or so I would like to call it. The YSL Touche Eclat is probably one of the most well-known products in the beauty world. Many love this. I even read somewhere that YSL sells one of these every 10 seconds. INSANITY! I admit this product is pricey, but I let myself have it because I know it was going to be waaay more expensive if I were to buy it elsewhere. Plus, I don't buy products this expensive everyday anyway. Hehehe

4. MAC Tendertone in Tread Gently

Extra buy #2! If you're as crazy as me and have been following MAC collections, you will know that everyone was so so so excited for the MAC Shop + Cook collection mainly because they would be repromoting the Tendertones. Tendertones were first released about three or four years ago and have not been out since. They're these amazingly smooth lip balms with SPF12 in them. They come in many different colors and smell like strawberry kiwi! I had already accepted that they would be sold out everywhere and that I would not be able to get a hold of these babies. So when I was at SOGO in Causeway Bay and saw that they had all four colors still available, I knew I had to get one. I picked Tread Gently which is a shimmery yellowy green color just because it's so unexpected. Everything about it - the color, the smell, the SPF, how it feels on your lips - just screams summer to me. If you ever chance upon Tendertones, definitely pick some up. You won't regret it. :)

5. Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

Extra buy #3. I just had to. It's mascara. And for my bottom lashes or lack thereof? Sold.

6. Shiseido Lipstick

This one is also exempted from my makeup-buying-ban as I bought this one as a present for my mom. :) I don't know what shade it was, though my mom said she loves it! Yay! :D

I think I did pretty good, didn't I? Cheers to self-control! :)

Spain and Portugal, be ready! :D

♥ ,

Nicole

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I must confess: I'm the worst packer I know. My friends and family know this. I always, always, always bring more than what I need. I began packing for my Hong Kong trip with some friends this afternoon (We're leaving this coming Sunday, woohoo!) And I thought I'd show you all my travel make-up. Of course, these items would vary depending on the duration of the trip, the weather of the places we'll be going to (if it's going to be cool and dry or hot and humid), and the activities we'll be doing (if it's shopping, sight-seeing, or if we'll be going bar-hopping, etc.)

Not really make-up, but still considered part of the family. HK weather at this time will be quite cold. As my skin tends to get dry in cold weather, I brought along a bottle of Vaseline body lotion. I just borrowed this one from my mom. The main reason why I picked this one out of the bajillion other bottles of lotion we have here is that it has SPF in it. I tend to be more conscious of the sun when I'm traveling -- I don't know why. The one to the left is a travel-size Clinique Dramatically Different moisturizing lotion. I use this one for my face at night.

Laura Mercier oil-free primer and oil-free tinted moisturizer, as always. These are just travel-sized ones. I can tell there's not much left. I'm hoping it'll last me the trip, though! The tinted moisturizer is not as full-coverage as a foundation, but much more lightweight and gives me just enough coverage to even out my skin. I skip the Clinique DD moisturizing lotion for my face in the morning. Instead, I just use this -- moisturizer, sunscreen, and light foundation in one! :) The primer is just to make sure the rest of my make-up lasts the entire day.

Make-up wipes from Bench to get my make-up off at night. I prefer to bring make-up wipes as opposed to make-up remover when I'm traveling. There's only probably two pulls left in there, which is fine because I'm picking up a pack of Neutrogena make-up remover cleansing towelettes at the Watsons there anyway. (Best make-up wipes. Ever. Sadly, you can't get these in the Philippines.)

Clockwise from top: Revlon Skinlights concealer/highlighter duo, MAC Studio Finish concealer, MAC Studio Fix powder.

MAC Studio Fix powder - Brought this in case I do not feel like using tinted moisturizer. It's pretty full-coverage, too. I can also use this to set my tinted moisturizer for an extra kick of coverage, or just to make sure it lasts throughout the day.

Revlon Skinlights concealer / highlighter duo - I got this when I was in Taiwan last year. I use this for my undereye area and around my nose.

MAC Studio Fix concealer - I use this for any blemishes or discoloration on my face. Covers up absolutely anything. Has SPF35 in it too.

For my cheeks.

Stila Sun bronzing powder for days when I feel I just need a little more warmth on my face.

Plus points again for the SPF content!

NARS Multiple in Orgasm. Cream-to-powder finish. Blends easily. Goes with everything. Makes your skin look glowy and dewy and healthy! I prefer cream blushes in cold weather just because a powder blush might make my skin look all the more drier.

Of course I brought my Shu Uemura eyelash curler and mascara with me. Must-bring items, for sure! The mascara I'm using right now is the Maybelline One By One mascara. I've been liking it a lot (maybe even more than the Maybelline Falsies, ssh don't tell!) Separates my lashes and volumizes them really well. What I especially like about this is that it's super, super, super black. :) Oh, and it's waterproof. I always bring a waterproof mascara whenever I travel. I also brought my MAC eyebrow pencil and ELF clear brow gel just if I want to look a little bit more put-together. I also brought two eyeliners -- one blue, one white. The white one is MAC eye kohl in Fascinating. I doubt I'll use this during the trip though. But I just like to bring it in case I look extra sleepy or tired that day. Running this on my waterline makes me look extra awake. The blue eyeliner is just an alternative to the white one. Blue eyeliner can make your eyes look whiter and brighter, too. This one is MAC Powerpoint eyeliner pencil in Prussian. What's especially nice about this is that it's waterproof, so you don't have to worry about it smudging or smearing throughout the day.

Just one lip product. MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner in Petting Pink. No to chapped, dry, sunburnt lips!

I'm only bringing two brushes with me: a blush brush and a kabuki brush for my Studio Fix powder.

Although this might still be too much for non-make-up junkies, I think this is the least I've ever brought with me on a trip. I'm quite proud of myself. YAY, me!

♥,
Nicole

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Let me share with you some pictures of celebrities whose make-up I absolutely adore!

1. Kim Kardashian

She obviously already has some amazing cheekbones, but I think the contouring and highlighting just made her face look all the more define, sculpted, and just more put-together. I mean, seriously. Just look at those cheekbones!

This is probably my favorite shot of her. Aside from those amazing cheekbones, she had on soft, smokey eyes with tons and tons and tons of mascara and liner. And of course, her signature pinky-nude lip (I hear her favorite pinky-nude lip combo is MAC Angel + NARS Turkish Delight!) I love that she made her eyes (and lashes) the focal point of this look by keeping the rest of her face very simple.

Queen of the Smokey Eye. I tell you, she gets it right every single time!

2. Blake Lively

She always looks so glowy and sunkissed! And if anyone can pull off the messy beachwaves, it's her.

Loving her sunkissed complexion! I'm also a huge fan of highlighting the inner corners of your eyes with a light, shimmery color to make your eyes appear wider and brighter. That peachy-pink blush also picks up really well on her blonde hair.

In this picture, she has her hair up, but she's still got that beachy-effortless look going on.

3. Lauren Conrad

Lauren Conrad's make-up reminds me a lot of Blake Lively's. Prolly because she's got the same beachy, boho chic vibe going on.

If you haven't already guessed, I'm super loving her thick, lush lashes! And her skin always looks so sunkissed and glowy and dewy. Ah, love!

4. Leighton Meester

Her make-up on Gossip Girl is always so so simple, yet classy. She always looks so polished and put-together. I think she looks like a porcelain doll. :)

See what I mean? Her make-up here reminds me of Marilyn Monroe's classic pin-up girl look. A more subtle version!

This one, however, reminds me of The Joker. Hahaha I'm just kidding! But seriously, I don't know what her make-up artist was thinking at that time. Oh well!

5. Taylor Swift

Who could forget Taylor Swift's signature girl-next-door look? And her signature winged-out liner? And signature curls?

Cat eye make-up never looked so good on anyone! And I love her peachy-pink glossy lips!

Straight hair looks really, really good on her too! I love how her eyes still stand out in this photo despite almost being covered by her bangs. Her eyes did all the work as the rest of her face was kept very understated.

❤,

Nicole

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Mascara is, by far, my favorite beauty item. I tell you, during hell weeks in school, I can totally skip my everyday make-up routine (which is really not a lot anyway), but not mascara. Even with unbelievably dark undereye circles and a multitude of zits on my face, I can just throw on some mascara and go out the door. Especially when you have not had enough sleep, curling your lashes and putting on some mascara can instantly open up your eyes and make you look more awake. It's definitely my 'desert-island' beauty product!

The thing about mascaras is that there are so many brands and kinds. There's high-end, then there's low-end. There's waterproof, smudgeproof, lengthening, defining, volumizing, curling, and regular. Then you get to the wands -- there are long, skinny wands, then you have ones which are thick, then you have curled wands, then you have really ginormous, rubbery wands. It all gets reaaaaally confusing. But I'll let you on a little secret: you do not need to spend your money on high-end masacaras!

Here's why:

You need to replace your mascaras every three to six months. (Mascara tubes are a breeding ground for bacteria. Replacing it every three to six months will ensure that you always have a fresh tube on hand. Expired mascara is NOT good, especially for contact lens wearers. Trust me. I was so hesitant to throw out a mascara which I really liked, so I continued to use it. Wrong move. My eyes stung and got all watery.)
Aside from the bacteria problem, if you don't replace your mascara regularly, it's going to dry out anyway. And your lashes will look crunchy, stiff, and flaky. Not pretty!
Replacing your mascara every three to six months can be quite costly. And it's really not practical to spend so much money on something that you're just going to throw out after six months.
Drugstore mascaras are just as good as high-end ones! Sometimes, even better. (My favorite mascara happens to be from the drugstore. It's the Maybelline Falsies and it only costs PhP449!)
Sometimes, you can even score really good deals on drugstore brands, like a 20% off or something.

Although I think drugstore mascaras are just as good as high-end ones, I do like to splurge and treat myself sometimes. My favorite high-end one is Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash. It gives you the thickest, darkest lashes ever! I believe I got this when I was in Hong Kong, so it was considerably cheaper than it is here. (I believe it runs for around PhP1,700-1,900 a tube here.) Although I really, really liked it, that is crazy expensive for a mascara! Which is why I never bought another tube of it.

My long-time favorite was the CoverGirl LashBlast Volume in Waterproof. I've probably gone through about five or six tubes of it. (Mascara junkie alert!) I find that it defines my lashes really well and volumizes them amazingly. As for lengthening.. meh, it's okay. Nothing spectacular, but alright. I also prefer the waterproof to the regular version because it holds up the curl a lot better (Waterproof mascaras have more wax in them, thus they hold up the curl a lot better than the regular versions.)

However, my CoverGirl LashBlast has been replaced (Sshh, don't tell!) by the Maybelline Falsies in Waterproof. I first got my hands on these about a year ago when I was shopping in Duty Free. I had already heard so many great things about it on YouTube and was so excited to see that they had it in Duty Free (At that time, Maybelline Philippines was not yet carrying this particular product.) At first, I thought the formula was a little too wet. So I gave it around two weeks to dry up a bit, and I loved it! The Maybelline Falsies gave me long, thick, fluttery lashes! When I started using this mascara, my friends would always ask me if I had false lashes on. There was one day when I had three different people (one was a complete stranger) ask if I had false lashes on. And my best friend always, always, always asks what mascara I have on whenever I use this. Amazing! The best part of it is that it can easily be bought from the drugstore, yay!

Here's what the tube looks like.

And here's a picture of me using the Maybelline Falsies.

I love how my lashes are still seen! Usually, they disappear on camera.

❤,
Nicole

P.S.
I'm currently trying out the Maybelline One By One mascara and lovin' it! Unfortunately, it's not yet available here in the Philippines. My friend Ico got it for me while she was in the States last Christmas. If you have the chance, go try it! :)

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Thought I'd start with this tag. It's a super old tag, but it seemed fitting for a first post. :)

1. LipIce -- or any sort of chapstick, really! This just happens to be my favorite.

A must-have for everyone! Keeps my lips super moist and well-conditioned! I use this first thing in the morning and before I go to bed. I also use this as sort of a primer to prep my lips before putting on lipstick. I put this on before I begin with make-up and by the time I'm ready to put my lipstick on, my lips are already super soft. :) Comes off clear, gives your lips a nice sheen, and has a nice minty-tingly feeling when you're putting it on. Has SPF15 too, which is always a good thing! My favorite is the lemon! You can get these at your local Watsons for less than PhP100.00 :) (Plus points for the good price tag!)

2. Benefit Benetint

This lip and cheek tint is perfect for lazy days! It's sometimes a pain to wear lipstick or lipgloss in this hot, humid weather. With this, you can slap it on in the morning and not worry about it smearing off. Looks incredibly natural, too! On your cheeks, it gives you that subtle five-year-old-that's-been-running-around sort of flush. On your lips, it just looks completely healthy and natural. I'm not the biggest fan of the packaging, but I guess it works. One bottle will last you forever. I've had mine for over a year and I'm barely halfway through.

* A more budget-friendly dupe would be the lip and cheek stain from Body Shop! That has more of a gel-consistency as opposed to the Benetint which is waay more watery. Works really well, too. :)

3. MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner in Petting Pink

I guess by now, you can prolly already tell that I don't like wearing lipstick or lipgloss on a daily basis. I prefer lipstains and balms just because they feel smoother. This is my favorite tinted lip balm because aside from its usual benefits (moisturizing, conditioning, etc.) it gives your lips a nice pink tint. And it has SPF12 in it too, which is always a good thing when you're going to be out. I always have this in my school bag so I can just whip it out whenever my lips are feeling dry or I'm just feeling a little blah. I got this as a present from a friend for my 20th birthday. :)

4. MAC Slimshine in Bare

First MAC lipstick I ever bought. I have already used this completely up -- the perfect MLBB shade for me. In between a lipstick and a gloss. It's not as thick or drying as some lipsticks can be. Slimshines have a high-shine finish, similar to a gloss, but have waaay more pigmentation than just a gloss. Unfortunately, MAC Slimshines have been discontinued, although they've come out with a new line of lipsticks with a similar formulation to the Slimshines (or so I've heard) -- the Sheen Supreme Lipsticks from MAC. The shade 'Bare Again' looks (and sounds!) similar.

5. Revlon Lip Butters

AMAZING! They're incredibly moisturizing as a lip butter should be, but give you intense color payoff, as well! You'd be surprised as to how pigmented these lip butters are! The downside to these are that they slide off or wear off pretty easily since they're just lip butters (not long-wearing). I find that I have to reapply or touch-up every 2-3 hours. They're a bit on the pricier side, especially for a drugstore brand, but well-worth every cent! Plus, the packaging is really sleek and classy-looking! Each color has a unique-colored lid to match the product. I think especially for those who are maybe just starting with make-up and not really comfortable with wearing lipstick yet, this is a good product to start with. :) My favorite shade is Strawberry Shortcake which is just a cute, wearable light pink color. I also really love Red Velvet -- dark, rich red with AMAZING color payoff! :)

6. MAC Lipstick in Pink Nouveau

Although I prefer lipbalms or lip butters, I do like wearing lipstick once in a while, especially if I'm going out at night. MAC Pink Nouveau is the perfect pink lipstick for going out at night! Looks crazy scary (Took me a while to get the courage to wear this out!), but you can really just dab a bit on your lips and blot, so that you get a sheerer effect. This has a Satin finish, so color payoff and staying power are both really good! :) It's a blue-toned pink, so your teeth appear whiter (Yay!). Looks incredible in photos, too! This is a nice alternative to bright red lips. I personally prefer pink to red lips any day.

*Tip: To avoid make-up meltdown (especially in the hot summer months ahead!), put on a bright lipcolor and go light on the rest of your face! A bright lip can easily make you look very put together, even with just some mascara on. :)

♥,

Nicole

P.S.
Tagging anyone and everyone who wants to do this!

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