Review on MAC paint pots

I have 3 MAC paint pots and so far, these babies are part of my makeup essentials. I swatched them above: Bare study-Champagne gold. Constructive: Medium Taupe and Rubenusque: Copper gold.

  Bare study: this is a champagne gold color. If you are fair to medium fair, this will appear as invisible to your skin but will reflect light. So its great as highlight. If your a bit tan or dark, this is a great eyeshadow highlight. I even use this on top of my lpstick so it catches light.

This shade looks like its hard to wear but really, its not. Wear it as an eyeshadow base, wear it alone or top if off your eyeshadow to create highlight and shimmer to your eyeshadow. I will do a tutorial for these paint pots and show how to use them for everyday or for a special event.

I use these paint pots even for my brides as highlight, eyeshadow base and even as lipstick (combined with other lipstick) They are smudgeproof, water resistant/waterproof  and long wearing. You need a makeup remover for waterproof makeup to remove it.

This shade is great for base for neutrla eye design, smokey eyes and contouring. It looks matte but it has a subtle sheen to it reflects light. This means if you have crepey eyelids (common to women above 50) this might emphasize your wrinkles.

Over all, these are not really something you need if your budget is low or you dont even wear makeup everyday. But invest on just one and see the many uses and glam things it can do to your otherwise plain "look "

To sum up its many uses:

1.Eye shadow base and eyeshadow primer
Apply this before your regualr powder eyeshadows to avoid creasing and make your eye shadow last longer. Even if you sweat or got rained on, cry, trust me, these babies will still be there.


This can intesify your eyeshadows as well and make it appear more saturated ( pigmented) and vibrant.
Example: I usually apply the Rubensque before a gold eyeshadow to make it look more vibrant.

2.Highlight
Apply this after foundation, before you set it with powder and you will see a nice glow. I reccomend the bare study if your fare or medium tan. The Rubenusque is soo lovely on the skin, collar bone when your a bit darker. Well I wore this on the beach and It felt like I was a golden goddess. LOL.

3.Contouring
There are matte versions of these paint pots that can be used as contour shades as well, depending on your skin color.

5.Add pizzaz to your dull lip color
Just make sure your lipstick is a bit creamy and not super matte because it does not have any moisturizer so it has a tendency to dry the lips.  So of course, you dont wear this alone.

Jan 2012 Great Makeup Finds

Foundations I adore!

I already did a review for these products but its nice to line them up here and discuss them further. My readers and attendees of workshops almost always ask me what Liquid foundation is best. I always say, the best is the one suited for your skin. What works for me might not work for you.

But nevertheless, these are my  current favorite brands. Laura mercier liquid foundation, I have the lighter and darkets shade available. I just customize the shade for clients. Personally, I use the creme foundation below (my shade is cashew beige) 

In terms of blendability, both foundations are best blended by hands especially the creme foundation. 

Coverage: the liquid foundation is already very good for everyday and if you want something very light. The creme has more coverage and since its waterbased, is also great for those with oily skin.

Shade wise-here in Manila, Rustans does not carry the complete shades.I find their darkest shade still light for some clients that has deep tan skin tones.

The Makeup forever mat velvet is also great in fact I use to wear this all the time. Unfortunately, there are times when I feel like its too drying for me. It does not feel as silky as the  Laura foundations.

But I use this for clients with very oily tzone.

Makeup forever powder foundation is what I used to set my foundation. When I use this, I rarely retouch. It certainly absorb excess oils. This product is great for those with very oily skin or skin with slight puckmarks because it has heavy coverage.

Some other foundations I use:

Mac Studio Fix-Great for normal to oily skin.

Smashbox liquid foundation-has great coverage as well.But the one I have has been discontinued and I havent bought the new formulation yet.

Bodyshop mineral cream to powder: Light coverage, still needs to be set with translucent powder but great for those with dry sensitive skin.

Foundations I would like to try out:

Hopefully I can get these babies and give you guys a review!

Till my new post, stay beautiful!

My Current favorites, August 2011

This make-up remover is so gentle on the skin it feels like your applying cold water on your skin.
One time, I was wearing my contact lenses and I accidentally transfered some of the product into my eyes ( the cotton was soaked) stupid I know but I was soo sleepy at that time. Good thing, I did not feel a thing! Great right???


Amazingly enough, it does remove waterproof makeup, although you have to use the proper tools. Since it does not work like the other makeup removers that are partoil/part liquid, the technique is to use cotton bods for removing waterproof eyeliners on your waterline and lash line. Although price is P600++, Over all rate, its a five for me.

 This toner is my super favorite these days. It helps lighten my pimple marks. How do I know? Im not using any whitening cream but I observe that after only 2 weeks, my pimple marks, even the big ones, seem to dissapear. I know that pimple marks really fade thru time, but this product helps speed up the process. Also, it feels so gentle on the skin. It does not sting, in fact it leaves your skin feeling so refreshed.

This is a recent discovery. I rarely buy perfumes because I always get perfumes as a gift. But I fell in love with the scent. So I bought the body scrub as well. Although price is not cheap ( P2,500++ for the edt and P1,600++ for the scrub) overall, the scent smells like powder after 3-4 hours and reminds me of my moms powders, perfumes, her  dresser and even her clothes. I remember going over her toiletries and smell her powders, perfumes. This scent takes me back to those time, my childhood.

For my last featured product, Bodyshop's Vit E setting spray. After you apply your powder foundation or matte face powders, spray this on to give your face a dewy finish. Also, during the day, freshen your face with this.

Hope you can try some of these products. :-) will post more reviews soon!

Makeup Forever Duo matte Powder Foundation

I bought several Makeup forever products recently and one of them is their Duo matte powder foundation. I used one before and this is my second one. Usually, I use MAC studio fix powder because it gives just the right coverage for me, but this powder is just as good if not better.

There is of course a downside, but let me discuss the good ones first. I love this product because it gives medium to full coverage. The trick with powder foundations is that, you conceal your imperfections first, before you apply it on, contrary to liquid foundation application.

You can wear this foundation for several hours, even outdoors and will still give you that matte finish. I wore this for 7 hours and I did not even need to reach for my oil blotter.The product absorbs oil and give you a matte finish, thus the name.

If you want a more  natural looking finish, use a brush. The way to do it is to use a medium paddle powder brush & swirl it unto the pan to pick up the product. If you use a big powder brush, it might be too messy. Tap the excess as usual.

If you choose to use a sponge or velour puff, pat the powder on and do not sweep it across your face.

But  if you do it this way, do not overdo the application because it will make you look cakey. This product is good but like any other product, if applied wrong, will not give good results.

Downside, I find it expensive. Mac studio fix is about P1,900 the last time  I bought one ( still not cheap) this one is P2,200.

Apart from that, I will recommend this product to those who has oily, combination skin. If you have dry skin, avoid any powder foundations.

Christmas gift suggestions 2010

My Favorite Makeup Remover and short review

Currently, my favorite makeup remover by far is from  Elianto. This is my 3rd bottle already.As you can see in the picture, its totally used up. Now  I like this product because, A. It removes waterproof mascarra easily without tugging my skin.

B.It has promegranate extract which is a powerful anti-oxidant, so it cleanses my skin & makes  smoother at the same time. and C. I love the scent of this product. Plus t P399.00 for 100 ml is not that expensive & it's totally worth it.

Second product I want to talk about is Body shop's Camomile "gentle makeup remover for eyes & lips.  I "use to love" this product, note the "past tense" in that sentence. Its because, when I recently bought it again, I regret buying it. Im quite ashamed because I really endorse this product..but when I used it recently, it gave me this Burning feeling on my skin & it did not remove my waterproof mascarra as well as before.The price for 250ml is P550.00 which is even cheaper than Elianto if you think about it. But, this product totally failed me.I use it occassionally but not on my eyes-which defeits the purpose really.

Maybe because I am using Retinol skincare now,so my skin is really sensitive, but the Elianto makeup remover is still very gentle on my skin & did not give me that buring feeling, like this one.

The Oil of Olay makeup remover, at P699,is really steep. But I got this for free when I bought my Regenerist night cream. At first it was also great because it has anti aging  ingredients & it does remove makeup & mascarra, you just have to massage it a bit.  But, one day, when I checked the label, I saw that it has parabens & mineral oil, I got turned off because parabens & mineral oil are harmful to your skin.Its a cheap lubricant & these ingredients can clog your pores.I was so dissapointed because I love Olay products.

I also tried Shue Emura Cleansing oil, but I dont  like the "greasy" oil residue feel on my skin, though it removes waterproof makeup well. The LOREAL makeup remover is also good and its P399.00 for 100ml.

I also love Lancome makeup remover, but the price is too steep for me. So, my tip is try a small bottle of makeup remover or if they have a tester before buying a big one, because you dont want to be saddled with a product you will never use again.

My Skin Savior Products

I got asked a lot when it comes to skin care products. So I took a picture of all the skin care items I am currently using. So, this is a picture from my bathroom shelf. From the left, is my makeup remover, promegrenate from Elianto cosmetic. I like this a lot because it removes my waterproof makeup effortlessly. It removes the stain from lipsticks as well. Its good to invest on a good MU remover to avod tugging your skin & of course save time.

I also use ponds or beauty oil from Human nature ( it not shown here because its in my travel kit ) This is when i feel like massaging my face before I wash it with my fave cleaner. Just avoid putting on too much if you have oily skin or it may clog your pores.

The 2 astringents Im currently using is clean & clear & Ponds. But I am thinking of switching back to Neutrogena after I finish these two.

For Day creams-I use the Body shop whitening serum before I apply my Nivea sunscreen, spf 50. For Night, I use the Oil of Olay serum & night cream. The formulation of the night cream is a bit rich so I wait a few minutes before I go to bed to let my skin absorb the product first.

The anti-wrinkle cream is from Oil of Olay too. This fills in my fine lines so that it does not look too obvious. I also use the regenerist facial wash. Its in cream form & it has some beads to gently exfoliate the skin. It does not produce foam but I like the way it leaves my skin feeling silky afterwards.

The NU skin tinted moisturizer has SPF 15 already, and I use this everyday. I like the coverage & it gives my skin a dewy glow.

The almost used up Virgin coconut oil is for days when I feel my skin is really dry. I slather this all over my body before I take a bath.

The HELP ME retinol cream is new- I havent use this yet. Will surely do a review, once I start using it.

So thats it ladies..hope you learn something. let me know your trusted skin saviors & post your comments!

What are BB Creams??

What is BB Cream?

I ask the same question myself. And as a MUA, people expect me to know these things, and since being the curious cat that I am, I did some research.

BB Cream, aka Blemish Balm, is an innovative multifunctional product category that blends skincare and cosmetic using botanical ingredients. It started off as a soothing treatment balm dermatologists and surgeons used on patients who underwent laser skin treatment. It helps to shield\protect and regenerate delicate skin. Based on my google search, Korean actresses and stars soon started using this cream and it sparked off a huge craze in Korea due to its excellent results. Its popularity has spread from Korea to entire Asia, and the west has caught on this craze as well.

What is it? BB Creams moisturizes, covers up naturally while rejuvenating/renewing skin underneath, sun protectant. Some have whitening or wrinkle repairing properties or even a glossy shimmer. The color seeps into the skin so naturally that it hardly seems like one has makeup on (unlike foundations) yet still creating a flawless look. This is why it usually comes in one colour (the more you rub, the more it ‘seeps’ into the skin).

It also is a natural moisturizer and makes the skin feel dewy and not oily. BB Creams are made from high nutritional ingredients with anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-oxidating properties. The ingredients vary in different types of BB Creams. I got to try one, a free item for a purchase, from Face shop. I like it very much, that I tried to buy one when I used up mine but unfortunately it was out of stock at that time.

I bought a tinted moisturizer from Nu Skin instead. I have been satisfied with the product so I never got to buy a BB cream.Plus, I only need to use a little amount so its been like 4 months and its still not yet half the bottle.

But now I know the difference, I would like to try it again. Maybe do a product review as well.

I hope this helps in giving you ladies information on what BB cream is & if this is a product fro you.

thanks for taking time in reading my article & Stay Beautiful my lovelies!

Problem with wrinkles?Here are some tips..

I dont claim to be a skin expert. But being an obssessed skincare junkie, I get my knowledge from Mr.Google.:-) Thru research & experience, I get to know what is the best product for my skin..though I would love to buy these products, unfortunately, these products, except for galvanic, are not available here in the Philippines yet.

I posted pictures of the skin care products that uses the latest technology available.

Personally, I use NUSKIN galvanic spa. Lately, because of my busy schedule, I have forgotten to use it. Now, I started using it again. Frankly, I don't know what I was thinking. This product is so freaking amazing. It really gives instant results & with continuous use can really erase fine lines.

I also use Oil of Olay regenerist. Its just sad that we don't have their RX line, nor the Regenerist serum. But the one available in the market is really good too. I have been using it for a year now.

Another product I included here is Aveeno ageless vitality. It uses Biolelectric technology that talks to the skin to produce more collagen & elastin. Cool huh?

Though I don't really know if it works, I read a lot of good reviews on it. Go ahead & try these wonder products. As for me, I just hope I can get a hold of them very soon!

Stay beautiful ladies!

Product Review: Nu Skin Tinted Moisturizer

I have been using this Nu skin Tinted moisturizer for several months now & so far Im happy with this product. Unlike other tinted moisturizers that gives sheer coverage, this Nu skin product gives you a light-medium coverage, similar to a foundation, but with a lightweight feel on your skin. I like using this lately because its very light & it can cover my light blemishes. This is great when I am in a hurry in the morning & I don't have time to apply concealer all over my face.

It instantly evens out my tone & makes my skin look flawless. I just set it with loose powder. Setback is, I'm not a fan of the smell & the price is quite steep-P1,700. But since it can last you up to4-6 months, then its not that expensive.

Next on my list of tinted moisturizer is Smashbox & the BB cream from Faceshop & Skinfood my friends are raving about. If you have any tips or favorite tinted moisturizers, feel free to leave a comment.

Stay beautiful my lovelies! Till my next post..

Favorites for the month of APRIL.wmv

MAC Haul and other brands.wmv

Fushia lips anyone?? OCC LIP TAR

My new Favorite Lipcolor!! This is Anime lip tar from OCC. I was on a hunt for a vivid fushia lipstick & I have gone to almost all make up counters, from drugstore brands like Revlon, Maybelline, Covergilr, Loreal to high end brands like Mac, Make up forever, Smashbox & still, somehow, I was not satisfied with the pink lip colors that I found. Then, finally, I decided to just search the net & I found OCC Lip tar! My new best friend.

I actually put this product to the test! I put it on for an entire day, did my errands, had my meals ..and viola! its still there!!

Downside though is that, its not smear proof, so you will see my lip trail on almost anything my lip touches! My son's cheeks, my favorite coffee cup & it kinda bleeds if your not too careful. But...don't be dismayed, because, the color stays put 100% & I did'nt need to re-apply at all!! Just dab on the right amout ( do not over do it coz its really gonna bleed )

So, go ahead & purchase this on line..and have fin with it. OCC has an official website & they have a wide variety of color from black, purple,yellow, green to even white! Have fun with it, mix it up & create your own lip color!!

Stay Beautiful ladies!!!