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 

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.

Beauty Barrage: Up Close - Aveeno Smart Essentials Daily Nourishing Moisturizer

This is an extremely happy post because my favorite moisturizer and I are back together! My last tube of the Aveeno Smart Essentials Daily Nourishing Moisturizer expired this month, but for some reason I couldn't find it anywhere! I went to Pure Beauty, which is my go-to shop for it, but both of the Serendra and Alabang stores as well as their online shop didn't have it. I've been to several beauty stores the past couple of months looking for it, and it was nowhere to be found. The online stores I buy from didn't have it either.

I messaged my friends and asked them to let me know if they saw it anywhere. After a month, my friend Cielo found it at S&R! (Thank you so much Cie!) It's a huge relief because I really love it and I don't really feel like doing the trial-and-error thing with moisturizer again. My skin responds with forehead bumps whenever it doesn't like products, and since I've been repairing it from dryness lately, I didn't want to give it more problems.

I know this seems a little over-the-top that I'm so thrilled but discovering this moisturizer really changed my outlook on skincare. Seeing the difference it made on my skin made me want to take care of my skin more. I've talked about it in some posts before (check out Cold Weather Friends and Muji and Aveeno Loot), but I realized I have never done a full review of it. Ladies (and gentlemen), here is my story on this moisturizer.

Beauty Barrage: Up Close - The Body Shop Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream

Remember my post on my cold weather friends? The Body Shop Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream was one of the products I talked about in that entry, and I promised to post a full review after a couple of weeks of use. Well guess what? It has been about two months since I started using it, and it's time to share my thoughts.

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.

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.

Makeup Madness: Up Close - Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Strawberry Shortcake

As promised, I'm trying to get through all the reviews of the products from my most recent beauty hauls! These are way overdue so please bear with me.

I'm starting off with the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Strawberry Shortcake, because the lip butters have been out for a while. (Check out my previous posts on the shades Tutti Frutti and Wild Watermelon.) I got Strawberry Shortcake when I went drugstore beauty shopping and found the Revlon Lip Butters on sale. It was around the time when I realized that I needed some girly pink in my life because my lipsticks and eyeshadow palettes were all neutral or strong colors.

Beauty Barrage: Up Close - Lush Exfoliators Part 2: Ocean Salt

We've come to Part 2 of the Lush Exfoliators series. [Check out Part 1: Dark Angels.]

Using exfoliators has become a part of my skincare routine. Like I said before, I don't have my full skincare routine down pat yet, but I now have a handle on my facial scrubs. I try to remember to exfoliate once a week, twice at the most when I have a skin emergency like a zit or something, because I have combination, mostly dry skin. If I exfoliate more than that, my skin gets very dry and goes on complete survival mode, which makes it secrete more oil than usual, and that's not good. Those with oily skin though can exfoliate two to three times a week. I use Dark Angels only when my skin feels unusually oily or rough, or if I'm breaking out. My regular scrub is Ocean Salt.

Lush Exfoliator Number 2: Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub

Beauty Barrage: Up Close - Lush Exfoliators Part 1: Dark Angels

It's no secret that I love Lush. I love what the brand stands for, I love the smell of their stores, and I love most of their products. Our bathroom is full of Lush -- even the husband uses their Dirty line, but that's another story. I already posted about the Lush Happy Hippy Shower Gel and Lush Grease Lightning Tea Tree Cleanser before, but I figured I should talk about my favorite Lush skincare products first before moving on to other things.

Let's talk exfoliation, shall we? I don't have the best skin. It's rough, dry, and aside from the occasional breakout, I have to deal with acne scars and hyperpigmentation. I'm still trying to find the best skincare regimen for me, but I'm glad that I have at least found exfoliators that work. I'll be doing a two-part series for this because I use two kinds of exfoliating scrubs, and they're both from Lush.

Lush Exfoliator Number 1: Dark Angels Facial Cleanser 

It's amazing! I've been using it for years now and this was actually my first picture of it back in 2011. It actually doesn't look like much. In fact, it looks freaky, since it looks like a black mud cake in the container and it smells pretty sulfuric. It's a facial scrub made of charcoal, black sugar, and actual Rhassoul mud that is ideal for oily complexions because it absorbs the oil in your skin and brightens your complexion right up. You take a teensy pinch of it (you can see that when I took this pic I had already taken a couple of pinches off of it), mix it with a bit of water on your palm so it turns into a thin paste, and then you rub it all over your face. Be gentle -- it can feel pretty rough. Make sure you rinse it off really well too, since this stuff has a tendency to stay on your face. I once got out of the shower with a couple of faint black smudges on my cheeks!

I don't have oily skin -- I have combination, which means parts of it are regular oily and parts of it are dry, but I still tried this and it is awesome. When I first used it, I was breaking out on my forehead and had a zit on the nose coming on, so I used it for one whole weekend (just a couple of days) and it dried everything up! It stopped the pimple right on its tracks and the little bumps are pretty much gone. The zit went away just like that!

I wouldn't recommend this as a daily scrub though because it's so strong it can dry your skin up. I only use it when my face is feeling extra oily or when I'm getting a hint of a zit. My husband, who has very oily skin, loves it too. We treat it like a magic scrub and only break it out when we have a skin emergency.

I've been raving about this for so long in my social networks, but I had to post about this here for inclusion in my beauty product archives. It's incredible.

Makeup Madness: Up Close - Maybellline Bold Matte Lipstick in Mat2

I've been really good at trying to use up my makeup lately. I've built up quite the collection of lipsticks over time and I'm hoping that I get to make good use of it all before it's time to toss them out. I still buy the occasional one when a shade catches my attention though, and one of my most recent buys is the Maybelline Bold Matte Lipstick in Mat2.

Can you tell I already used it before taking a pic? Yeah I usually can't resist trying lipstick on immedietely after getting it.

Makeup Madness: Up Close - Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Wild Watermelon

In a past life (a very recent one, heh), I used to do beauty product reviews (among other things). It was the best job ever, since I got products to try out for free and write about them to boot. However, it was also what it was - a job. I sometimes got entire collections of products and I had to swatch them and try them all. I had to give everything that passed through my desk a fair chance.

Now though, I can do whatever I want, yay! I can just talk at length and rant and rave about one product at a time or acquire just one lipstick out of an entire line because it's the only one I want. I don't have to worry about not being too technical (cold, warm skintones and all that jazz). I can choose to write about all the components of a single look, or buy and talk about an entire collection if I want to.

So I'm starting off the makeup madness with a rave about my newest lipstick - Revlon's Colorburst Lip Butter in Wild Watermelon. It's one of the four new colors that Revlon released for the summer (along with Juicy Papaya, Sorbet, and Pink Lemonade) and I've been on the lookout for it ever since I found out about the new colors from YouTube's Missglamorazzi. When they finally arrived in the country, I took a look at the four shades and still decided on Wild Watermelon. I've recently had my fill of orange lipsticks so I've been looking for a red one for regular days. I couldn't wait to try it, so I don't have any decent pics of the lipstick in its just-unwrapped glory. I just took a couple of hurried pics in the car before putting it on.

Makeup Madness: Up Close - Maybelline Bad to the Bronze and Cover Girl Shimmering Sands

I thought I'd start off with my makeup haul from Amazon. My friend Cielo was ordering stuff from the US, and she hooked me up. (Thanks Cie!) I wanted neutral makeup for everyday, so I ordered two really popular eye shadow products - Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze and CoverGirl Eye Enhancers in Shimmering Sands.