Orange Love: in2it Moisture Intense Lipstick in Juice

Got this on sale 2 months ago at Watson's, and I am loving it! This is the my 2nd orange lipstick; the first one I had was more on the conservative, peachy side; while this one is loud, pigmented, and just so out-there. Here's my review and lip swatch:

Shade: Juice (orange-red color)

Pigmentation: 4/5 (you need at least 2 coats to get a nice, opaque finish)

Moisturizing Effect: 5/5

Staying Power: 3/5 (comes off after a meal), intensity fades a bit after 3-4 hours of wear

Finish: Slightly glossy

Packaging: 5/5 Looks nice, plus product is securely held inside 

Price: Php 375

Where to Get: Watsons/department stores

You'll like this if:

• You like moisturizing formulas
• You want a slightly glossy finish
• You don't mind wearing attention-grabbing shades
• You like products with sleek packaging

You won't like this if:

• You're looking for a matte finish
• You prefer neutral shades
• You like products that come in girly/cutesy packaging

Have you tried other In2it lipsticks too? What other shades would you recommend? :)

Etude House VIP Girl lipstick in PK007

One word- LOVE!!!! I super love this color (even though I don't exactly look great in it haha). There's just something about cool-toned pinks that I really like. Maybe it's because they're not exactly everyday colors? Unless you're Gaga or Nicki that is...

Consistency and Staying Power:
Creamy, hydrating, easy to apply. Comes off after a meal.

Color: 
It's a very pale, cool-toned pink. Pretty much a whitish lilac with a hint of pink. Really close to the hand swatch and how it looks like in the tube, except for the finish- it looks matte in the tube but it's creamy when applied.

Packaging: 
Comes in a girly-girl hot pink case.

Scent:
Has a very faint sweet bubblegum scent; but don't worry, it isn't irritating to the nose.

A few looks on me... Not exactly my best color, but I still love it!

You'll like this if:

• You like pale shades
• You want something a little bit "different"
• You like cutesy product packaging
• You don't mind looking a bit washed out 
• You love Lady Gaga/Nicki Minaj (ehem, me)

You won't like this if:

• You prefer more "traditional" shades of pink
• You prefer minimalist product packaging

Where to Get:

Etude House, for Php 428. Or shop their online site here http://www.etudehouse.ph/.

Review: Elf Studio Lipstain in Birthday Suit

After a few months of wanting to try ELF's lipstain, I finally got one. And being the pink addict that I am, I got it in a bubblegum pink shade, Birthday Suit. I was excited to try it on my lips, because the color swatched beautifully on my hand. But my initial excitement of about 2 two minutes suddenly went downhill when I put it on my lips, because that's when I realized what a crappy product this was.

Consistency of Stain and Gloss: 2/5

   So this contains two products in one stick. One side contains the lipstain, while the other side holds the clear gloss. The lipstain was streaky upon application, especially if you use a bit more product. I tried using a lipbrush, but it still didn't help. It takes about 3 minutes to completely dry and achieve a matte finish. For those who want a glossy look, ELF has so generously provided a gloss that basically erases the first layer of product you put on your lips.

Color Pay off: 2/5

Looks pigmented on the tube, on your hand, but not on the lips. This is fine for those who prefer more natural-looking pinks, but I was expecting a bright, bubblegum pink.

A bit difficult to apply at first, gets streaky if you put too much

At 1 minute: partially dry

After 3 minutes: completely dry, color isn't as pigmented when freshly applied

Staying Power: 3/5

Won't disappear if you don't eat or do heavy smooching. But if you do, expect half-eaten lip color at the end of your meal.

Packaging: 2/5

Looks ok, but the quality? I dropped it once when my makeup kit fell out of my bag (on the same day I bought it no less) and the damn think broke. I know it's my fault but it's kind of disappointing that out of all the lip stuff I had in there, this was the only thing that got broken.

Smell: 1/5

Smells plastic-y, almost reminds me of Mighty Bond. Thankfully, the scent doesn't linger for long.

Saving Grace:
As mentioned several times before, I don't like wasting (crappy) makeup. So what I did, I saved whatever was left of the stain and transferred it into a small plastic jar. I never use the stain by itself; I use it instead as a lip mattifier (sorry, I know that's not even a word but I can't of think of anything apt). I usually layer it on top of creamy/glossy lipsticks when I want a matte finish. It works best with pinks, but I also like to layer it on top of darker colors to get a nice new shade.

Would I repurchase?

Definitely not this shade, but I read from other reviews that the others (like Bombshell and Red Carpet) have better color payoff.

Where to Get:

ELF counters, for Php 249

Etude House Dear My Blooming Lips in PK 001

And so the search for the replacement HG pink lipstick continues. This is from Etude House, from the Dear My Blooming Lips line. Shade PK 001

Love this cute heart embossed on the lipstick itself

lip swatch

What I Like:

Cute packaging! It almost looks like a toy

I love the color, it's a creamy Barbie-pink

Great color pay-off

Very moisturizing

Decent staying power (5 hours, without eating)

What I don't Like:

Nothing :)

How I Wore:

Wore it with a bare face (courtesy of Etude House Precious Minerals All Day Strong BB Cream #1) and light brows (Etude House Color My Brows in #2)

Would I repurchase?

Yes!

Where to Get: 

Etude House stores, for Php 378

Plum or Pink?

When I was a teenager, the only thing I felt comfortable enough to put on my lips on a daily basis were lip balms and lip glosses. Lipsticks (especially dark-hued ones) were saved for dressier occasions and the very few parties that I were allowed to attend. Very manang right?

Today, I got two lipsticks that looked like throwbacks to high school days. I got them from lines actually targeted for teens. One is a deep, dark, plum (which my mother would have banned me from using 10 years ago) while the other is a nice, pale pink (mom-approved for high school me).

First up is Avon's Simply Pretty Colorbliss Lipstick in Pure Plum. I actually discovered this from a friend- I took one look at her plum-colored lips and fell in love. I had to have one. I didn't know that Avon made dark shades like these for their teens' line; and what's even better is that it's such a steal at only Php 109!

I got the 4U2 lipstick in Pink 02 while browsing through the department store's beauty section. The cute, girly packaging caught my eye. It's small, pink, with polka dots, super girlaloo! All of the shades are in Pink (from 1-6) and since they had no testers, I had to rely on the swatch on the front of the packaging to select a color. I got number 2, the lightest among all the shades (number 1 wasn't available anymore).

Super dark, pigmented, with a very slight glossy finish if you apply it without blotting. I tried blotting it out with a tissue and I was left with a very deep, dark matte berry stain on my lips- it looked like what I'd imagine a vampire would look like after drinking blood haha.

In contrast to the more mature and vampiric quality of Very Plum, this pale pink lipstick just evokes innocence and youth. It has a glossy finish which kind of reminds me of Maybelline Watershine lipsticks, only less greasy- looking. I like this a lot and I think the shade is very wearable for young girls.

Individual Reviews:

Avon's Simply Pretty Colorbliss Lipstick in Pure Plum

What I like:

• Super pigmented and doesn't smudge. 
• Staying power is good, 6-8 hours if you don't eat/drink/do anything with your mouth; and if you do something with your mouth, it still manages to leave a nice, berry stain. 
• Feels hydrating, doesn't dry out my lips even after hours of wear
• It's also very affordable at only a Php 109. There are 2 other colors from this particular line (Valentine Colorbliss Collection) so do check them out if you like pinks more than plums.

What I don't like:

• I'm not exactly a fan of its packaging
• Some Avon stocks are pretty limited, so it might take some waiting time to get your order if they ran out of stocks

Would I repurchase? Yes

Where to get: Your nearest Avon lady/outlet

 4U2 lipstick in Pink 02

What I Like:

• The packaging! It's practically the reason why I bought it in the first place
• The finish- what I had hoped for in Maybelline Watershine (but had failed to deliver)
• The versatile color, great for daily use

What I don't like:

• They don't have product testers, so if it's your first time buying this and if there's no sales lady around, you wouldn't be able to know how the actual shade looks like, and if it's matte/shimmery/glossy
• Limited shades available, only pinks (great for pink addicts)
• Affordable at only Php 154

Would I repurchase? Maybe not. Ok product over all, but I find it a tad bit mediocre. Nothing special, and at that price point there are so many other better lipsticks out there available which I would rather buy (NYX, Wet n Wild, Ever Bilena)

Where to Get: 4U2 counters at Watsons and SM Department Stores

So which one do you prefer? Are you more of a pink girl? A plum girl? Or both? Feel free to drop me a line! :)

Of Marriage and Make up

As a 22 year old single girl, marriage may very well be the farthest thing from my mind. But not for some of my friends, as there are already quite a few who got hitched or are getting engaged! Sometimes I go into panic mode and start thinking that I should find myself a boyfriend fast, if I don't want to end up sad and alone forever haha.

But since that's not bound to happen anytime soon, I'll stick to attending my friends' weddings which is just the perfect excuse to getting all dressed and made up.

My good friend from college, Q got married a couple of weeks ago in Bacolod City. I took the first trip out to Bacolod on the day of the wedding, and because I woke up late I wasn't able to do my make up before leaving the house and I had to do it in the ferry during the hour-long trip (good thing I didn't have seatmates, haha). I also did my friend J's make up.

The wedding was very nice and intimate, held in a small chapel away from the city. It was just the bride and groom's family members and a few close friends. It was followed by a garden reception held at their residence. If I were to get married someday, peg ko talaga ang wedding ni Q! Hehe.

The wedding dress, designed by Q herself...

Pictures from the reception...

The lovely bride, Q

And the very happy couple... Mr and Mrs. G!

 So now on to the kikay part of this post... If you want to see how J and I look like sans make up, check out this photo:

@ Cafe Bob's

For myself, I chose to do a neutral eye and a bold lip:

Face:

First, I primed my face using Loreal's Base Magique primer to make sure my make up stays put until nighttime. Concealed under eye circles using Coastal Scents Camouflage Palette. I then applied Maybelline Aqua Gel Foundation in Natural Beige all over the face with a foundation brush.

Eyes:

I applied a pale gold shade from lids to browbone, then used a soft matte brown eyeshadow to countour along the crease. After doing the eyeshadows, I put Elf Eyeliner in Brown, following a thin to thick pattern as I went along from the inner part to the outer part of the eye. Curled my lashes then added 2 coats of Estee Lauder More Than Mascara. To define my brows, I just used a dark brown eyeshadow and a slanted brow brush to fill in and shape.

Cheeks:

With a slanted blush brush, I used the Soft Pressed Powder Pink Blush from Clinique's Color Surge Eyeshadow duo on the apples of my cheek. Didn't do any contouring at all; I just wanted a nice, soft glowing look.

Lips:

I exfoliated my dry, flaky lips with a toothbrush, then filled in the entire lip area with Stila Lip Liner in Contour no. 2, which is a deep red shade with brown undertones. I layered Wet n Wild Lipstick in 522 A (Dark Wine), which has a silk finish, on top to offset the super matte look of the lipliner. 

J, who is averse to all things girly and is practically allergic to make up (and i mean that figuratively), just wanted to enhance her over-all look. She didn't want strong colors, just something that didn't require so much products.

Face:

I used Celeteque moisturizer for J's dry spots (the areas around her nose) then applied Maybelline Aquagel Foundation in Natural all over her face using a wedge sponge just to give her sheer coverage, while covering problem spots.

Eyes:

I used a fleshy matte shadow from lids to browbone, then a shimmery brown gray shadow to contour. I lined her eyes with Elf Liquid Eyeliner in Black. I curled her lashes and used 2 coats of Maybelline Great Lash Mascara for enhanced but natural-looking lashes. For her brows, I just filled in the sparse spaces using Etude House's Drawing Eyebrow.

Cheeks:

For a subtle, flushed look, I just dabbed Allue (from HBC) cheek tint on her cheeks.

Lips:

She didn't want any pinks/reds so we settled for a nude lip using Ever Bilena Matte lipstick in Mauvey.

Photo credits to: J.K.V.G

Ever Bilena Matte Lipsticks

Recently, I've been wearing lipstick almost everyday (I just used lipstain before for daily use) and I don't find it practical to go through a Php 600 tube of lipstick in 3 months! So I looked around for more affordable alternatives and rediscovered Ever Bilena Matte lipsticks.

My first tube of EB matte lipstick was given by my gay bff, and it was in the shade "Skin". I immediately fell in love with it. I loved its nude color, a perfect match for black smoky eyes. And unlike other matte lipsticks I've tried before, it didn't make my lips dry.

I currently have it in 4 colors. I actually have a fifth one, Off Beat Pink, but I accidentally left it in the trunk of my car for a week so it melted and broke off :(

L-R: Skin, Mauvey, Pink Flame, Scarlet

The Shades:

L-R: Skin, Off Beat Pink, Mauvey, Pink Flame, Scarlet

On my lips:

• Skin- a nude color, great with smoky eye looks. I don't like it for everyday use, unless I do intend to look sick for that day. haha
• Off Beat Pink- a pale pink shade, top with gloss and it looks like something Nicki Minaj would wear (not included in lip swatch)
• Mauvey- a muted mauve shade, kind of looks like Skin, only with slight purple undertones
• Pink Flame- this has officially replaced my Face Shop PK102 as my everyday lipstick. A very pretty pink, perfect for when you want to feel girly
• Scarlet- on the tube, I expected it to be a true red with blue undertones, but on the lips it was actually more of a coral shade. Not what I expected, but still nice

General Notes....

What I like:

• The color selection- they have a nice selection of the basics: nudes, pinks, and reds. They carry more than 10 shades
• The consistency- doesn't dry out lips, doesn't flake even after long periods of time
• Color pay-off- they're nicely pigmented, but if you really want the colors to show up apply 2 or more coats
• The price- only Php 145 each
• It's Philippine-made :)
• You can find these practically anywhere- department stores of malls (not just SM), Watson's, Rose Pharmacy. If you need an emergency purchase or a quick beauty fix, they're so easy to find

What I don't like:

• The packaging- it looks nice, but the colored cap comes off so easily! You can either glue it on to secure it, or just remove it altogether to avoid messy mishaps in case it comes off inside your bag. 
• Minor quality issues- before you pay for your purchase, be sure to let the saleslady check if the item has no damages. Some of the lipsticks look like they could break off easily from the holder. They also easily melt in the sun, so don't leave them out too long in hot places.

Review: Maybelline Watershine Lipstick P11

Maybelline is currently having a sale on all its products, the discounts range from 20-30% off. Their items are flying off the shelves! I wanted a new pale pink lipstick, and so I headed to the nearest Maybelline counter, swatched a couple of testers, and fell in love with shade P11. Unfortunately, it was already out of stock back home (at Iloilo City); but luckily, they still have stocks here in Cagayan de Oro.

This is how it looks on my lips:

Over-all look

The good: I love the color, it's a very pretty pale pink. Exactly what I was looking for. Packaging is pretty too. Price is ok, I got it for Php 209, that's already with 20% off. Regular price is Php 299.

The bad: A bit too shiny for my taste (I know the label says Watershine Diamonds, but I didn't expect it too be sooo glossy). I hate having anything sticky on my lips, it makes me look (and feel) like I just ate lechon. I call it the "lechon look". Plus, it's pretty annoying when my hair sticks to my lips. Color pay-off is not too good, it takes me several swipes to get the color I wanted. One or two coats look very sheer on lips.

My two cents: I will only repurchase if it goes on sale again. I'm still on the look-out for the perfect baby pink. I might try Elf's lipstain next.

xoxo,

ChinChin