Beauty Loot: Stuff I've Been Using

Since it has been a while since I've been blogging regularly, I thought I'd do a post on stuff I've been using. I haven't really been buying much makeup -- I've just been trying to use up my current stash, but every now and then, something catches my eye and I get it. All my recent loot has been drugstore stuff, actually. Here's the list, and what I think of them.

Makeup Madness: First Look - Firestarter Cosmetics

When Laura from Firestarter Cosmetics emailed to tell me that they were sending over stuff, I was beyond excited. I've always been curious about indie makeup, and now I finally get to try some! When the package from Firestarter headquarters in Thunder Bay, Canada arrived, I just ripped through it immediately. Here's my first look at the loot.

Eyeshadow pots + a bonus shadow sachet + a tube of lip balm, yay!

Makeup Madness: Up Close - Maybelline Color Elixir in Glam 13 [My Favorite My-Lips-But-Better Lipstick]

Hello! This is a sort of Flashback Friday post because I've had this product for a while but for some reason, never wrote it up. (It was part of my mini haul back during the holidays.) I've been using it way too much though, so it's about time I did a post on it.

I like strong colors when it comes to lipstick, but I have discovered the benefits of a good my-lips-but-better shade. It's all thanks to Maybelline Color Elixir in Glam 13. I have no idea what the actual name of the shade is because Maybelline names products differently in Asia, but if I have to hazard a guess it would be either Caramel Infused or Intoxicating Spice. I've had my-lips-but-better lipsticks before, but it easily became my new favorite. Here's why.

The Product

The Color Elixirs first captured my fancy because of the brilliant packaging. It's like a lip gloss with a brush and all, but it looks like a lipstick at the same time. 

Makeup Madness: Up Close - Tanya Burr Lip Gloss and Nail Polish

When my friend asked me if I wanted her to buy stuff for me in London, Tanya Burr Cosmetics immediately came to mind. Tanya Burr was one of the first YouTube beauty gurus that I started watching, and her new makeup line was something I really wanted to try. The thing is, it's only available in select stores in the UK. I can't get it here in the Philippines, so I jumped at the chance to get my hands on some of her stuff. Thank you so much Sheva!

Tanya Burr makeup is really pretty and girly. There are a lot of pinks and nudes in the collection, and I liked that because I don't have enough pinks and nudes in my life. I decided to go for one lip gloss and one nail polish so I could try something from each of Tanya Burr's two product lines. I chose the Afternoon Tea lip gloss and the Bright and Early nail polish. (Aren't the names adorable?) Here's what I think of them. [Warning: Long review up ahead!]

Bright and Early + Afternoon Tea

Makeup Madness: My Summer Base

It is already starting to rain, which means summer will be ending in no time. I predict that we will have a few more hot days though, so until then, I'll be making the most out of the makeup base I've been using all summer.

When summer hit, I had to change bases quickly. I don't wear too much makeup in the summer because it feels stuffy and it just melts off my face. I wanted a light base with SPF that I could just dab on and pair with a swipe of eyeliner or eyeshadow plus a dash of lipstick. Luckily, I chanced upon a good combination of products. These were a part of my Summer Beauty post, but I figured these warranted a proper TLDR, makeup geek-out entry too.

L'Oreal True Match Skin Idealizing BB Cream, Essence Mattifying Compact Powder, Elf Professional Total Face Brush 

Beauty Barrage: Summer Beauty - Products for the Hot Hot Heat

A lot of the world is just getting their first taste of spring, but here in the tropics where there are only two seasons, we're smack dab in the middle of an insanely hot summer. When the heat started coming in, I knew some of my makeup and beauty products wouldn't cut it anymore. I always have to change up what I'm using when the seasons change. Just as I have my cold weather friends, I have my summer stash with products that I can rely on to keep up with the scorching temperatures. Most of these are travel-sized because I like the convenience of getting to throw them into a purse, a beach bag or a travel bag whenever a summer event comes up. I got it all down in one post, but brace yourself! It's a long list.

Makeup Madness: Up Close - Wet n Wild ColorIcon Eyeshadow in Sweet As Candy

Hello! I haven't played with makeup in a while so I did today. It's about time I got some makeup reviews on here again anyway. I'm starting off this comeback to makeup love with Wet n Wild's ColorIcon Eyeshadow Palette in Sweet As Candy, which was from my collective beauty haul back in December.

This blog will tell you that I'm a lipstick girl, and not an eyeshadow kind of girl. A lot of days, I just put base on and then swipe some color onto my lips, and I'm good to go. Eyeshadow for me is for days when I have the time and the energy to make an effort. This is why I haven't really invested much in eye makeup, but I do have some go-to drugstore eyeshadow palettes that I should really get more use out of.

The Product

I have three Wet n Wild ColorIcon Eyeshadow Trio Palettes in my makeup kit, and they're definitely on my must-use-more-before-they-expire list. I like them because they have great color combinations and they make eyeshadow application easy. Each handy palette comes with three eyeshadow shades, marked Eyelid, Crease, and Eyebrow. Like the Wet n Wild site says, it takes the guesswork out of eyeshadow application. It's easy. I already used one of the palettes before -- Walking On Eggshells -- in a look post. [See A Neutral Experiment, and A Neutral Experiment Products.] My most recent Trio acquisition is Sweet As Candy, because I realized I didn't have sweet, pink eyeshadow.

What drew me to it is how girly the color combination is. It's for those times when I want a break from neutrals, but I still don't want strong eyes. 

Makeup Madness: Up Close - Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous

Summer's here! I will probably keep saying that until the rainy season comes because I love this season! The heat is horrific, as usual, but everything else about this season makes me happy -- the sunshine, the ice cream, the bright colors... I can go on and on. This season also means I can wear orange lip color 24/7. It gets me in the mood for sheer but bright makeup, and there's no better time than now to have orange lips.

In the Lipstick Tag, I mentioned the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous a few times. That's because it has taken the place of what used to be my everyday orange lipstick -- Revlon Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti. I use it at least a couple of times a week, and I'm using it even more these days because it's summer, but I never wrote about it here. Finally, here's a proper post on it.

The Product

This lipstick comes in a retractable crayon form. It makes application fun, and packs quite a bit of product in the tube. It's supposed to be a moisturizing and softening balm with color that applies as a stain.

Makeup Madness: The Great Lipstick Destashing Project

Ever since the Lipstick Tag I've been meaning to do this post. I recently faced the daunting task of trimming down my lip color collection, and I talked about it a little bit in that entry.

How many lipsticks do you own?
I currently have 32 lip products (including balms, creams, scrubs, and gloss) in my makeup stash. I think it's a pretty well-rounded collection. I have enough to keep me from being bored, but I also don't have too many that I don't get around to using it all. I just let go of 32 though, so before yesterday, I had 64. I realized that it was too much for me, heh.

I've been a lippie addict for as long as I can remember, but after a while, I felt like I had too many products just sitting around not being used. I love lipstick for the pop of color it brings to my face and its ability to transform a look, but it's no good when they're just sitting in my makeup collection, looking pretty. I got rid of 32 tubes/tubs/palettes because I have either used them up, or they have expired, or they simply weren't good to begin with.

 Destashed!

I'm not going to let them go without talking about them though. Some of them were well-loved, while some have been languishing in my makeup box for a while, pitifully ignored. I figured I'd post a rundown of everything, and what I think of them. Check out lip stuff from Fresh and Lush to Etude House and Forever 21. I've included mini-reviews as well as some swatches.

Makeup Madness: Girly Date with Berrymix and the NARS Workshop with Janice Daoud

Instagram pic from that day

Last Friday, I had a girly date with my friend Sheva of Beauty by Berrymix at Shang. We had lunch at Watami and attended the NARS Workshop organized by Rustan's. It was fun and a half! Here's how the day went.

Makeup Madness: Up Close - Smith's Rose & Mandarin Lip Balm

I have always had dry lips. They're always cracked and peeling no matter what I put on them. This is probably why lip balm is one of the products I consider essential. I always have it lying around, on our nightstand, in my bag (as seen in almost all of my Purse Peek posts), and even in the fridge (hello, EOS).

The thing is, I keep buying them but never use them up. I just have too many, that's all. I am obsessed with finding the perfect lip balm for me -- one that absorbs quickly, keeps my lips smooth and moisturized, has great flavor, and doesn't feel thick or sticky. I've found many that I really liked over the years -- The Body Shop's flavored balms, Maybelline Baby Lips, Burt's Bees, and EOS are top contenders -- but I'm still obsessed with lip balms. It's just my thing and I don't think I'll ever stop trying out new ones.

The latest lip balm I tried is Smith's Rose & Mandarin Lip Balm from my mini weekend haul several days ago. Smith's Rosebud Salve has been on my must-try list for ages, as it is a cult favorite, especially among beauty editors. I didn't know that it was available here though until I found it on the counter at PCX. I was so thrilled, I went off with it as soon as I saw it.

The Product

Smith's Rose & Mandarin Lip Balm is the brand's newest flavor. I chose it because hey, it's orange-flavored, and I adore anything rose-flavored as well. I considered getting the original one first, but this won out.

Beauty Loot: Mini Weekend Haul 03.09.14

This is a quick post to talk about a couple of items I picked up over the weekend. As mentioned in this blog, I haven't been buying much makeup, mainly because I want to save money as well as be able to use up the products in my stash first so that nothing goes to waste. I don't always have that much willpower and self-control though! While I try to stick to the essentials, I sometimes indulge in something nice. I think I'm doing good in balancing my obsession with makeup and being practical though.

The beauty loot I got this weekend is one example of what I'm talking about. One product is a necessity, while the other is a product I've always wanted to try.

• Maybelline The Rocket Volume Express Mascara - I've been using Origins mascara, but it has been with me a while and while it hasn't gotten clunky or funky, I decided to trash it. Mascara only has a shelf life of a few months, so I really needed a new one. I got Maybelline The Rocket because I've been seeing it in YouTube beauty guru channels so much, it must be good. Hopefully, it helps my stubborn straight eyelashes keep their curls.
• Smith's Rose & Mandarin Lip Balm - I've always wanted to try Smith's Rosebud Salve because it's kind of a cult product and a lot of beauty editors swear by it. I had no idea that the brand has arrived in our shores though, until I found it at PCX. It was totally a case of I-had-to-get-it. I'm a sucker for lip balm and I always have a zillion lying around so this was a no-brainer. There were a lot of variants and I was torn between getting the original or Rose & Mandarin. The latter won out because I really can't resist anything orange, and the addition of rose -- which I also love -- made it even more enticing to me. It's also Smith's latest flavor for Spring 2014. 

Can't wait to try these and do a post on them!

For past beauty hauls, check out this tag: Beauty Loot.

Makeup Madness: My Wedding Makeup

Hi! This blog has been quiet this week because I've been busy with work and the wedding blog, That Happy Day. I've started writing about our wedding details over there, just trying to get things done.

This is going to be a "when worlds collide" kind of post. I thought I'd share some things from there that are relevant to The BluePurse, like the What We Wore entry I did in the past. Today is all about the makeup! We chose to go with Japanese brand Shu Uemura for the wedding. I need everything that was used that day in my life! That Happy Day has all the happy details. Here's a sneak peak:

 Product love!

Makeup Madness: The Lipstick Tag

When my friend Sheva tagged me this morning to do the Lipstick Tag, I got really excited. I LOVE LIPSTICK. I can leave the house without any makeup on except lipstick. It's also the perfect time to do this post because I just finished organizing my lipstick stash and unloading the ones that I haven't been using and those that have expired.

This is a chance to talk about my favorite beauty product -- even more so than usual! I decided to spice it up and include some pics, since this is essentially a geek-out post over the makeup I get the most obsessive about. Without further ado, here is my lipstick story.

Me wearing NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in San Paulo

Makeup Madness: Products I've Been Using For a While

You may have noticed from my most recent blog entries that I've been busy getting to posts I've forgotten about. This is another one of those posts. 

There are some products I've been using for a while that I simply haven't posted about. Consider this as a sort of beauty loot entry, with makeup I've already finished up, and ones that I'm still using. 

• Clinique Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad in Black Honey - I've had this palette for a while but I've only been using it more frequently recently. I haven't made up my mind on it, but it's definitely not like any other eyeshadow palette I have. 
• Origins Mascara in Black - I'm tossing this out because mascara goes bad after a few months, and it has been in my makeup bag unused and expired for a while. I got a lot of use out of it though.
• Origins Liquid Lip Color Duo in Pink Sands and Sangria Shimmer - I didn't quite finish this up but I need to toss it out because it's lip gloss and I've had it for a long time. It's hard to let it go though because I loved it. I actually used it in the look, A Neutral Experiment. 

I'll be posting reviews of these soon. They deserve some love since I've had them for a long time.  

Makeup Madness: Up Close - NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Beige

I've had the NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Beige for a while now, but I just found these pics in my computer and realized I totally neglected to do the review on it! My bad. I should be more organized!

Anyway, this gloss was part of my Mini Lippie Haul some time ago. I'm actually not into lip gloss that much because it's sticky, it gets in my hair, it vanishes quickly, it feels thick on the lips, and it's simply just too high maintenance compared to lipstick. Once in a while though, I find a gloss with a color that I absolutely cannot resist, and the NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Beige is one such gloss.

The Product

It's everything a straight-up lip gloss is. It's sticky, it gets in my hair, it vanishes quickly, and it feels thick on the lips. It's supposed to give your lips some shine and also moisturize and soften them at the same time.

Makeup Madness: Up Close - Wet n Wild Mega Last Lip Color in Coral-ine

I've been using Wet 'n Wild Mega Last Lip Color in Coral-ine for months now (see my October - December 2013 haul), and it has now become one of my favorite lipsticks of all time. I actually chose it only because of its name, which reminds me of one of my favorite Neil Gaiman books, Coraline. Now I'm glad I chose it because it's such a great lipstick.

The Product

This is a semi-long-wearing lipstick. It has a semi-matte finish and a creme formula that should keep your pucker fresh for up to four hours. It's also hydrating, with a cushion-like feel, and won't bleed, cake, or smear.

Beauty Loot: Mini Drugstore Haul from the Holidays

Happy New Year! I'm back from the holiday break. Goodbye 2013! Hello 2014! I'm so ready for everything this year has to offer.

Let's start with a makeup haul, shall we? The holidays were beyond hectic for me, but I was able to pick up some makeup I've been wanting in the midst of all the craziness. Here's the story and my first impressions.

• Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Collection in Petal Pusher - The Wet n Wild counters have disappeared from SM Department Stores for some reason, so I have gone back to the original place where I get my Wet n Wild fix - Pure Beauty in Serendra. We were in a rush to buy things for our New Year's celebrations but I just had to drop by. I realized during that visit that I didn't have a Color Icon Eyeshadow Collection palette yet. I only have the small trio palettes which have less than half the number of shadows in the Eyeshadow Collection palettes, so I picked one up. The Petal Pusher set has really attractive colors, and I don't have most of these shades in my makeup kit yet. The shadows look pigmented and they look pretty festive too, which I need for party makeup. The palette I got looked a little battered, but it was the only one left at the store and it was the palette I liked the most out of the palettes there, so I got it anyway. 
• Maybelline Color Elixir in Glam 13 - I love this lip color! I've been wanting the Color Elixirs since they were announced, so I just had to stop by the Maybelline counter at Watson's after a long day of Christmas shopping to get one. (Maybelline calls them "Lip Polish" here though. I really have no idea why they need to have different products for Asia.) First off, the packaging is simply clever and cute, which hooked me in right away. I thought the colors were really unique too, and now I want all the shades. I actually started using the one I got immediately -- even ended up using it all throughout the holidays -- but I'll reserve my thoughts for a proper review. To be honest, I have no idea what shade I got. The color name wasn't anywhere in the packaging and the sales assistant didn't have a clue either. I just looked at swatches online and decided Caramel Infused was my best bet. I need to get more colors. This lip gloss is just too good.

That's it for my mini haul. Reviews to come soon.

For past beauty hauls, check this tag: Beauty Loot.  

Makeup Madness: Up Close - Rimmel London Showoff Lip Lacquer in Luna

The Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquer in Luna (also known as Apocalips) was part of my mini lippie haul back in September. The thing is, I haven't really used it a lot since then.

My first impression of it was that it would be a delicate sort of orange, which is why I got it in the first place. I have a ton of strong orange lipsticks, and I thought one in a lighter shade would be a nice change. I was right. It's a pale shade of orange indeed -- a cheery, peachy-apricot color. It's different, which I like because it throws people off, heh. Some people might find it too strange to wear though.

Makeup Madness: Up Close - Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr Eyeshadow in Audacious Asphalt

I acquired the Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr Eyeshadow in Audacious Asphalt awhile back, but I somehow never got around to posting a review of it. Well, I'm getting to it right now.

The Maybelline Color Tattoos are creamy eyeshadow pots that are long-wearing and highly pigmented. The name says it all, actually. Wearing them is like tattooing your eyes with color for 24 hours. I've never tried wearing eyeshadow for 24 hours straight, but so far the Color Tattoos have never faded or smeared on me even after hours of wear. My first Color Tattoo was Bad to the Bronze, and I loved it so much that I got more shades.

Audacious Asphalt is a silvery gray shadow. It's shimmery, dark, and looks like it's really meant for smokey eyes. It looks intense in the pot, but gets lighter when applied.