November Favorites

Another month had passed and now I’m ready to show you my favorites for the month of November! I know its a lot but definitely worth sharing. I’m not affiliated with any of these companies mentioned, I bought all the products myself. If you want me to review something, email me.

Here are the following products I’ve been using a lot for the month of November.

Urban Decay Palette

Book of Shadows Vol III

This is my fourth palette from Urban Decay. It is inspired by the big apple featuring collage of iconic new york city statue of liberty, yellow tax cab, buildings, city life. The shadows are hidden in a drawer. It consists of 16 shimmering shadows, two 24/7 glide-on pencils and eye primer potion. I always recommend Urban Decay because its highly pigmented and good quality eyeshadows. You can never go wrong with the book of shadows. I love this!
(Sephora)


Painted Love Lipstick Set
by Kat Von D

I love these six miniature lipsticks. Its perfect to throw in your purse at any occasion. The lipsticks are rich and long lasting. It includes 2 reds, 2 pinks and 2 neutrals. And the set is only $28.00, you’re like buying drugstore makeup with the quality you’ll be confident to wear at anytime.
(Sephora)


Stila Lip Glaze Set

Finally, I found the perfect lip gloss for me. This set includes awesome colors and smells, great choices for the holidays. It includes eight luscious lip glaze in Stila’s clickable pens that will add splash of color and shine into your lips this holidays. From eight colors, I love Majesty, Blush, Apricot and Merry Merry. Great product to include in your makeup collection!
(Sephora)


Make up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation
This foundation gives a great coverage while remaining invisible in the spotlight. Yes, it can withstand bright and harsh lighting, so this is good for photoshoots. It leaves your complexion with such a flawless finish. Its kinda expensive but definitely worth it.(Sephora)


Eve Pearl Eye Palette Diva Eyes
Six radiant eye shadows, very compact to throw in your purse. From upper left corner: sugar plum, cinnamon, desert rose. On lower left corner:black frost, midnight blue, emerald green. I use this whenever I’m in a hurry. I use midnight blue on my lid, and apply sugar plum or cinnamon on my crease. Then I love using black frost on the outer right corner of my eyes. I bought mine at Hautelook but you can check it out on their website.(Evepearl)


Powder Blush in Her Blooming Cheeks by MAC
Part of MAC Tartal Tale holday Collection. This Powder blush is perfect for this holiday. Very bright iridescent blue pink, when applied thinly on your cheeks goes a a long way. Very natural looking and stay longer. (MAC)


MAC Tinted lip conditioner SPF15
This tinted balm is formulated with SPF15, thats why I love this. Its sheer and all-natural, it conditions lips especially on cold weather. Very moisturizing, I apply this before applying a lipstick and locks in the moisture. I love this for years and I’m using Plum Perfect! (MAC)


Benefit Eye Bright Pencil
This works magic to brighten and make your face feel more awake. I use this pink pencil stick on the inner corner of my eyes, under my brow to highlight. Very handy, good to go for afternoon touch-ups. (Sephora)


Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb
This fragrance is very sweet, one spray goes a long way. Check this out and my my favorite fragrances in my previous post. I love the packaging and its very feminine.
(Sephora)


MAC Wipes
This is by far my favorite makeup remover. It smells good, swipes away your makeup easily-- smudges, dirt and grime, name it! I bought the 100 sheets. This cleanser is infused with protective vitamin E that hydrates and nourishes your skin, leaving your skin clean, and refreshed. Totally addicting! The packaging is sturdy, re-sealable, and ready to go!
(MAC)


Shea Cashmere hand cream and body cream by Bath and Body works
I love Bath and Body works. So far, I’m in love with these cream for hand and body. Its super moisturizing, smells great too, like creamy vanilla and cupcake. I always thought of oven, baking when I smell this. Its addicting. I will definitely buy this again, kinda expensive that the rest but worth it. Its amazing how it leaves your skin smooth and silky.
(Bath and Body Works)


Bath and Body works anti-bacterial hand gel
I never run out of these hand sanitizer. Isn’t it obvious, hahaha. The first row are from their holiday collection. Its handy and works perfectly. Its even safe for the kids to use but do not swallow!, lol. Its only 68% alcohol and decreases bacteria on hands. It moisturizes and comes with different scents. I love it! Great as stocking stuffers!
(Bath and Body Works)


Bath and Body works & Yankee Candles
Yes, I love scented candles. I love to put them everywhere inside the house. They smell amazing. I even use essential oil diffusers, plugins and spray. But lately, Im hooked into candles. When BBW and Yankee is on sale, I stashed them away! I love caramel at yankee and I’m using now Autumn of Bath and Body works. I think its a great gift for holidays.
(Bath and Body Works)(Yankee)

Holiday Look

Sparkle this holiday season! Iridescent shadows when concentrated on the ball of the lid, along the brow bone, or in the inner corners of the eye make more impact in your holiday look.








Here’s one look to wear with those red lips for the holidays!
Face:
MAC Prep + Prime Skin Base Visage – (MAC)
MAC Select SPF 15 Foundation - NC37 (MAC)
Cover FX - M40 (Sephora)
Set Powder - Porcelain (MAC)
NARS Bronzer - Laguna (Sephora)
Sephora Blusher in pink included in the palette -
(Sephora)

Eyes:
Sephora Palette in silver and gray (Sephora)
Elf flirty eyelash pallets - (ELF)
Buxom Eyeliner - Insider Eyeliner (Sephora)
Covergirl Mascara - Very Black (CVS)
Sephora eye-glitter - Eyeliner Strass (Sephora)

Lips:
L-Oreal Lip crayon petite - Burgundy - (CVS)
MAC Satin Lipstick - Retro (MAC)
Stila Lip glaze - Apricot (Sephora)

how to: STEP 1: Prime your face using MAC Prep + Prime Skin Base Visage – (MAC), conceal dark areas using Cover FX - ‘M40’ (Sephora), put MAC Select SPF 15 Foundation - ‘NC37’ (MAC) and set your canvas by using MAC Set Powder - ‘Porcelain’ (MAC). Contour your face using NARS Bronzer - ‘Laguna’ (Sephora) and then use Sephora Blusher in ‘pink’ included in the palette - (Sephora) STEP 2: Using the first sub palette of Sephora Palette in silver and gray (Sephora), pat ‘silver’ eyeshadow on the lid, then use ‘gray’ on the crease and ‘glittery black’ at the outer corner of the eyes. Apply Buxom Eyeliner - ‘Insider Eyeliner’ (Sephora) along the lash line. Add your Elf ‘flirty eyelashes’ - (ELF) and apply the ‘very black’ mascara using covergirl (CVS). Put Sephora ‘silver eye-glitter’ - Eyeliner Strass (Sephora) on the inner corner of the eyes towards the upper lash line. Then apply white eyeshadow on the lower inner corner of the eyes. STEP 3: After exfoliating or moisturizing your lips, line and fill your lips using L-Oreal Lip crayon petite - ‘Burgundy’ - (CVS). Apply MAC Satin Lipstick - ‘Retro’ (MAC) over your lips followed by lip glaze in Stila - ‘Apricot’ (Sephora).

Disclaimer: Each of these products I’ve
mentioned were purchased with my own money
and was not sponsored by any companies.

Holiday Nail Polishes

Holiday is about glitters & sparkles. Color your nails with these glittery and shimmery polishes to create stunning party looks that look shiny and bright as the ornaments on a tree. Picture on left, combination of Brown by Forever 21 love & beauty and This is it by Sinful colors.

Leaf Him at the Altar

Looks like Rain, Dear

NL Z18 BY OPI



What's your Point-settia by OPI

Merry Me by OPI

Favorite Fragrances

I love collecting different fragrances. It does not only make me smell good, but reminds me also of time and places that brings out the memories in my life. For instance, when I smell Dune by Christian Dior, I instantly remember the time when I used to work in Toyota at Manila way back in College for internship or let say Tribu by Benetton when I started working on my first job. Fragrance is invisible. Finding the right fragrance is like finding a great outfit or fantastic hairdo. When you have it, you feel good about yourself knowing you smell good and everybody with whom you come into contact picks up on it as well. It announces, hey I am a woman, see me, hear me, smell me, feel my presence! The following fragrances are my top favorites for 2010.

GUILTY By Gucci
I love this perfume! Now on my top 5! This fragrance is sheer, floral oriental. Eminently wearable, stylish, sexy and sensual. I love the packaging too, very elegant and stunning.

VIVA LA JUICY BY JUICY COUTURE

This enticing scent is a combination of wild berries and mandarins, honeysuckle, gardenia, and jasmine. To round it out, amber, caramel, vanilla, sandalwood, and praline add just the right touch of sweetness. It's bottled in a bold gold decanter decorated with Juicy charms. The scent is tantalizing, teasing and tempting. I love this!

VERY HOLLYWOOD BY MICHAEL KORS

Talking about glamour, Very Hollywood does it all. I love its packaging and color, pinkish and glittery. My top fragrance for the month of October.
Seductive. Captivating. Luxurious. I love this!

FLOWERBOMB BY Victor & Rolf

Floral & Oriental, this fragrance will remind you of your own secret garden. Fresh & feminine, Im sure every girl would love this!It's not cheap but it's well worth it. Just one spray is enough for your whole body, and it will last the whole day. What I do is I spray it on the space in front of me, then I walk into it. Packaging says it all, smells floral in a bottle that looks like a bomb!

ACQUA DI GIOIA BY Giorgio Armani
This fresh, aquatic fragrance, whose name means, "water of joy," captures the simple happiness one can experience. Mixes of Mint, sugar, lemon, Jasmine, Peony, pepper, Cedar Wood, its joyous and aquatic. Great for everyday wear. I love this!

BEAUTIFUL BY Estee Lauder
I remember wearing this fragrance for decades. This is my first favorite perfume when it came out in 1985. It is composed of fresh cut flowers, rose, jasmine, and carnation...accompanied by fruity notes of fresh citrus, melons, peaches and plum. A timeless classic for any woman. I heart Beautiful!

SO HOOKED ON CARMELLA BY Benefit
Finally, a fragrance under my name! Don’t ask and tell, a light touch of this will cast you under my spell. Just kidding. Very sweet, enticing and sensual. I would definitely wear this vanilla-caramel scent on cooler days and would last in a day. I love Carmella, smell me:))

BE DELICIOUS BY DKNY
I love the packaging, sleek metal and glass bottle shaped like an apple. This fruity fragrance is refreshing and free-spirited. Good for everyday work, its a blend of exotic flowers, woods and apple. I like this!

TWILIGHT WOODS BY Bath & Body Works
My second bottle! Hypnotic fragrance inspired by a romantic walk in enchanted woods. That’s Twilight Woods! It came out when movie Twilight came out in the screen. I use it for everyday work. I received lots of compliment from this fragrance. You could be generous with spraying this scent its cheaper yet stays all day. I definitely recommend this in your collection. Voted #1 at Bath and Body works!

CODE By Armani for women
I had this at the beginning of 2010 and I also received a lot of compliments. It is seductive and alluring. Reveal and unlock the secret code of women’s seduction. One spray comes a long way! I love this!

MOON SPARKLE By Escada
If really sweet girly scents are your thing, you'll definitely enjoy this. Great for summer but I also use it in colder days! Light fruity and floral plus its cheaper, you wouldn’t tell the difference from the expensive ones.

REDCURRENT BASIL by Fresh
This is fresh sweet lemony scent that I often used all summer but would never get tired of it. This is citrusy fragrance with a kick. I can’t imagine loosing this fragrance in my collection. The light, airy, breezy and yummy smell that is just strong enough without overpowering. If someone gets bothered by strong perfumes, this is just perfect. I love this!

RUSH By Gucci
I got compliments from people whom you wouldn’t expect to like this cheaper fragrance and yet a fantasy for everyday use, unique yet addicting. A sensual burst unlike any other. A must-have in your collection! I heart this!

BUTTERFLY By Hanae Mori
The bottle’s top is delicately shape like a folded wings of a butterfly. The fragrance is rare blend of berries, rose, jasmine, ylang-ylang, almond, sandalwood and praline. Modern and festive. It gives the impression of vanilla, my first fragrance bought at Sephora. It was recommended this to me while I look for a sweet scent. I like this!

LAUREN BY Ralph Lauren

My fragrance for more than a decade. My first R&L perfume. Its a classic, soft and romantic.
I wanna keep this in my collection!

LAUREN STYLE by Ralph Lauren
This scent is light, modern, fresh, floral, and crisp. It lasts very well. Because of its quality, it doesn't take very much, and so buying a bottle of this, almost becomes equivalent or cheaper to buying bottle after bottle of cheap discount store sprays which you end up having to apply much more product every time you use it. So I highly recommend RL products.

Overall, I love fragrances under woody (oriental), floral or floral oriental. How about you, beauties, what’s your favorite fragrances?

October Favorites

Here are my Favorites for the month of October from Facial cleanser to Perfume. These are the items I frequently used last month and been loving up to now. Hope you’ll like it too. Share also your October Favorites and comment below. Thanks!

URBAN DECAY NAKED PALETTE
Includes 12 best selling eyeshadows with newest shades like Buck, Darkhorse, and Virgin. Great for everyday look from bronzy, sultry smokey,or grey-hued shade combos. You’ll also get double-ended version of 24/7 eye pencil in zero(black) and whisky(warm brown) with mini genie bottle of eyeshadow primer potion. I love this!
Price $44.00


KIM KARDASHIAN’S SMOLDERING LIPS AND EYE COLOR COMPACT
Includes 3 eyeshadows for smokey effect, lip gloss/lip color and one cream blush. Perfect for creating smokey eye effect. It also comes with instructions and brushes. I bought this with kim’s perfume in a gift set. Unfortunately, I don’t like her perfume. I love this!


VERY HOLLYWOOD BY MICHAEL KORS
Seductive. Captivating. Luxurious.
Great for night outs, glamorous and fabulous Very hollywood classic. too nice for work! I love this!
Price $ 85.00


AVEENO CLEAR COMPLEXION DAILY CLEANSING PADS
The big cleansing pads are pre-moistened with salicylic acid and moisture-rich Soy extracts. It has has two sides, one smooth and the other side for gently exfoliating sensitive skins. After using, you will feel your face is so clean, moisturized and smooth.
Price $7.29


LIPSTICKS BY VICTORIA’S SECRET AND MAC
These are the lipsticks I frequently used last October.
From left: Perfect Lipstick by VS in Adored
Middle: Amplified Lipstick by MAC in Violetta
Right: Amplified Lipstick by MAC in Blankety
From the three, I used blankety more often if Im wearing smokey-eye look, its nude and pink beige. I love these lipsticks!
Price $12.00 | 15.50 | 14.50


ALMAY ONE COAT DIAL UP MASCARA
The first mascara I bought with dialer. The adjustable dial allows you to control the level of lash fullness from 1 to 3, and 3 as being the heaviest coat. I use it only in one coat and it gives me the look I wanted. I love this mascara!
Price $8.49


SMOKEY EYE WAND BY PIXI
I use this on top of my eyeshadows, to create smokey eyes. I also use it alone when I’m in a hurry. The wand comes with a sponge tip applicator at the top and when you take off the cap, the tip is loaded with eyeshadow in Black Silver, very handy! I bought it Hautelook.com but I saw one at Target.
Price $19.99

Back to Basics

Keeping your skin beautiful is the real secret to a great makeup. The better the base, the less there is to hide. Getting enough sleep, drinking lots of water and healthy diet, with a good face cleanser can do wonders for your complexion.

After cleansing, toning, moisturizing and priming my face(make foundation or concealer last longer), here are few steps and tricks I do everyday to give my look a boost!

1. Create a background for you to apply make-up on which is choosing the right foundation, or if you want a basic look, use concealer.

FOUNDATION

• Choose a color that will even out your skin tone:
  
• Fair skin can choose foundation that is a shade brighter.
• Darker complexions can choose a tone darker than their natural skin colour.
• Whitish skin can go in for one tone darker or one tone fairer.
• Test the foundation on the inner side of the wrist since this is the part of the skin, which is least exposed to sunlight.
• Match the shade by testing the shade on the chin, front tip of the nose and cheek bones.
  

Application:

• Look for areas that are discolored or need evening out.
• Use flat foundation brush, a wedge sponge or your fingers and lightly dab a small amount of the product in the center of these areas taking care to cover dark circles. Spread it evenly over your cheeks, chin, forehead and the tip of nose.
• Blend the color into your skin working in downward and outward strokes so that fine hairs on the skin lie smoothly in the direction of their growth.
• Apply concealer over foundation.
• Set it with a loose powder or compact so that it lasts longer.
  

CONCEALER

• Choose a color that will even out your skin tone. Concealers are used to cover under-eye circles, blemishes, redness, or appearance of broken blood vessels on the skin. You can opt to mix two different shades to find the perfect color for your skin tone. Stay clear of very light tones which will accentuate dark patches.
  

Application:

• Using a fine, densely bristled brush, apply a small amount to the inner corner under the eye
• Draw a crisscross over any redness or discoloration that needs to be covered. Cover the top of a pimple rather than the area around it.
• Using your index finger, blend with a light tapping motion. Don’t rub the concealer from side to side which will actually remove the product from the skin. Pat it gently.
• Keep concealer away from the outer corners of the eyes, where it can highlight fine lines.
  

2. Curl and Open up your eyes. If you want a basic look, brush on some mascara. If you want to give it with a boost, sweep on some eye shadow.

MASCARA
Application:

• Use first an eye curler to make your lashes appear longer and your eyes larger.
  
• Delicately apply thin coats of mascara to the top lashes until you get the desired effect. Make sure you wait for the first coat to dry before applying a new one.
  

EYE SHADOW

• Prime your eyes.
• Tap of the excess and apply the color from the lash line to just slightly above the crease.
  
• Blend the color on the rest of the lid, brushing horizontally.
• Make sure the color fades as it moves toward the inner corner of the eye, so that the shadow creates contour.
• For more dimension, sweep the same color under the bottom lashes, one-third of the way in from the outside corner of the eye.
• If you’re using just one color, don’t apply it up to the brow bone. Apply lightest shade to this area.
• Add a color. If you want a basic look, apply lipstick or lip gloss. If you want a boost, add a blush on.
  

LIPSTICK
Application:

• Using lipstick, start at the center of both the lower and upper lips, moving out to the corners.
• Press your lips together lightly and rub each other to distribute the color and help absorb the pigment.
• To provide longer lasting effect, apply a second coat.
• Or you can dab a powder onto your lips and apply the stick.
  

LIP GLOSS
Application:

• If you want tinted or translucent, lipgloss can add a little bit of sexy glamour to your face.
  
• To get that perfect sexy pout, apply it in the center lower part of your lips and press your lips together.
• If you want more glossy type of lips, apply it both on your lower or upper lips.
  

BLUSH-ON
Application:

• Choose a blush color that looks naturally on your skin tone, that rosy flush you get when you blush naturally. Or opt for color that gives radiance after a sunny day, cheek color that can instantly make you glow and look healthy.
• Smile so you can see the apples of your cheeks. Starting there, use medium dome brush to apply a powder blush in a light circular motion blending back toward the temples.
• Using whatever remains on the brush, gently dab color on your chin.
  

Remember, less is more. Opt for barely there makeup that brings out your best features yet keeping your face looking natural and fresh. It only takes 5 minutes to achieve this look.

Here’s the products that I use for my face routine:
Products:
PRIMER - Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer SPF 15 With Dermaxyl Complex To Go
FOUNDATION - MAC Select SPF 15 Water-based Liquid Foundation
CONCEALER - Victoria’s Secret PRO Camouflage FX Concealer
LOOSE POWDER - MAC Set Powder in Porcelain
BLUSH - Victoria’s Secret Ultimate Makeup Kit (blush)
MASCARA - Almay Dial up Mascara
LIPSTICK - MAC
LIPGLOSS - MAC or Stila
EYESHADOW - MAC or Urban Decay

Tools:
EYELASH CURLER - Shu Uemura
BLUSH-ON BRUSH - Sigma Large Angled Contour - F40
LOOSE POWDER BRUSH - Sigma Large Powder - F30
FOUNDATION BRUSH - Sigma Small Duo Fibre - F55
CONCEALER BRUSH - Sigma Concealer - F70

Why Women Wear Makeup

Over the centuries, makeup has been an integral part of humankind. From burnt matches to darken eyes to berries for staining lips, women put their health at risk with many of these homemade cosmetics to improve one’s appearance-- to be more feminine and sexually appealing. Although there are many myths circulating about the dangers of cosmetic ingredients, todays multibillion dollar cosmetic industry came a long way from those days of using toxic and deadly mixtures to enhance our looks.

Today, makeups are used to express creativity, their beauty and to hide what they don’t like about themselves and accentuate what they do like about themselves. The most serious injury you’re likely to get from your cosmetics is probably an irritation or a rash from using a product that is too harsh for your skin.

But why women still wear makeup knowing the risk of using these products.

I myself is a self-confessed makeup addict. While I never started at an early age unlike girls these days, my love for makeup grew as years went by during college years onwards. Firstly, I used makeup to protect my skin from harmful ultraviolet rays that cause skin damage and aging. Most makeup nowadays have SPF which shields skin from ultraviolet exposure. And through experience, it really works for me. I have tried numerous products like foundation with SPF before I finally settled for one. Although choices are endless, products work depending on your type of skin.

Another reason why I like makeup is because I used it to hide whatever blemishes I have on my face. As you age, wrinkles, puffy eyelids, pimples or dark spots are inevitable. Makeup helps conceal and take these problem areas putting highlights on other presentable features of our face.

This is the same reason why I wear makeup is to enhance whatever best feature left on my face. If you have beautiful eyes, you need to learn few tricks with the mascara, eye shadow and eye liner to enhance your eyes. Same if you are gifted with naturally pouting lips, your makeup should enhance more luscious and kissable lips. Everyone is created by God uniquely and I firmly believe each of us is gifted with beauty. Why should we ignore it, but rather enhance and take care of it.

While possibilities and reasons are infinite, the most important thing to remember is that we should keep our makeup as naturally looking as possible and that we should wear makeup that suits our age.

For instance, if you are teenagers (15-19), use sheer, oil-free and water-based foundation to avoid acne breakouts. Use natural looking eye shadows, mascara and gel blush to get natural glow on your face. Otherwise if your skin is oily, use powder blush. Lip gloss should be lightly tinted likewise with your choice of lipstick.

If you are on your twenties (20-29), makeup should reflect the age where your womanhood blooms. So match the colors of your eyes with natural color of your skin tone or depending in the mood you are in and the foundation should also be light. Use light powder blush and lightly tinted lipstick to tone down your makeup. At this age, you can brightened the colors of your makeup for evening parties or a date, night out with your friends.

Between 30 to 39, signs of aging like crow’s feet and fine lines begin to appear. Sadly, this is my bracket. Therefore, I should start toning the palette of my makeup down. I also go a little heavy on my foundation but blushers on muted colors. Avoid frosted makeup to keep attention away from small wrinkles and fine lines.

At 40 to 49, signs of aging become more apparent at this stage. Therefore, start wearing makeup that is oil-based if your skin is dry and put base over the wrinkles of your face if you have any. Start using concealer creams more generously over dark spots and circles steering clearly from frosted or metallic eye shadow especially if you have puffy eyes. You need to use softer color for your cheeks.

Now if your are fifty and above, this is the time you should start letting yourself age gracefully. Be kind to your face and avoid makeup that are matte-based. Never opt for frosty, shiny or metallic colors for your eyes because it will highlight the puffiness and wrinkles. Keep your lipstick light and never attempt to wear blue or red colors.

Remember, each woman’s reason for wearing makeup is unique. With all the different tools, colors, and textures involved, playing around with your makeup can simply be a fun thing to do. If you mess up, its temporary and all you have to do is wash it off and start over again. Have fun and be creative.