What I like about it...
* inexpensive
* pigmented but the highlighter isn't (2)
* pretty colors
* easy to blend
* the shimmer is just right
* the colors didn't fade (I was wearing it for 8 hours)
* it's not powdery / chalky
* didn't experience any irritation

What I don't like...
My Rating: 4 / 5
I didn't really plan on buying this quad but I really liked the orange and green shade (1 & 3), plus it was really affordable and it's my very first L'oreal product. I'm just glad I wasn't disappointed.

I've used this palette for quite a number times now ever since I got it and I'm loving it.  I've already created several different looks for both day and night time with this palette alone, which makes it even more worth it.

The "Autumn Leaves" shade has pretty neutral colors too,  I would recommend this product especially for those who are into Neutrals.

Share your thoughts on this, have you used this product?
If so, what's your favorite shade?

I hope this review helps. Advance Happy New Year Everyone!
God Bless and stay safe.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

I've been wanting to buy Rimmel London Lipsticks for a while now, ever since I saw it on one of xteener's youtube videos. I've also read a lot of very good reviews about this product.  It's one of the most popular drugstore makeup in the US.

I actually purchased 5 shades but I only kept the Azteque shade because I gave the rest as Christmas presents to my girl friends. I just fell in love with this lipstick. I've been using it non-stop ever since I got it.

What I like about it...
* inexpensive
* awesome color payoff, very pigmented
* soft and creamy
* glides easily
* has a very mild scent
* does not make my lips dry
* I didn't feel any itch or irritation
* lasts long (for more than 5 hours)
* cute packaging (it has a shimmery dark violet color)

What I don't like...
* none, I absolutely love this stuff!

My Rating: 5/5

I will definitely recommend this.  It's a great everyday lipstick and the shades they offer are very pretty. There's no doubt that I will buy more Rimmel London Lasting Finish lipsticks.

I hope you all had a great time last Christmas.
Happy Holidays everyone!

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

This is the first time that I've really splurged on makeup. I bought several items as gifts for my girlfriends and for myself.  I've been doing so much online shopping this month because I received some $ payments from my online clients through paypal.

I don't want to spend the salary I get from my regular job on makeup since it all goes to household expenses and needs for my little boy. So, I do some freelance work online and spend my online earnings on makeup and beauty stuff.


I bought most of the items from http://www.ebay.ph/ .  The Elf products were purchased from SM City Cebu Department Store or Ayala Center Cebu Metro Department Store.

Here is my December Haul makeup list:

Sassy Magnifying Mirror
Generic Powder Brush
Nichido Glitter Powder in white
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Almost Nude
L'oreal Wear Infinite Quad in Landscape
Jordana White eyeliner
Jordana Bronze lipliner
Cover Girl Clean make up Foundation in Buff Beige
Cover Girl Multiplying Mascara in Black
Rimmel London Powder Blush in Berry
Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstic in Azteque
Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstic in Bordeaux
Maybelline Mineral Power Illuminator in Peach
Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipliner in Nude
Maybelline Shine Seduction Lipcolor in Nude Glow
elf Brightening eye color in Butternut
elf Brightening eye color in Pretty n' Pink
elf Duo Eyeshadow in Black Licorice
elf Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara
elf All Over Color Stick in Pink Lemonade

There are several products which I didn't include here in my haul since I will be giving them to my girlfriends as Christmas Presents.

How bout you, share your recent Hauls...

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

I know that everybody is having a hard time with choosing the right foundation. I'm even still searching for the right foundation shade myself.  A makeup foundation is basically one of the most essential tools for achieving a beautiful and radiant looking face.  It evens up skin color and lightly covers unwanted scars, blemishes, and pimples.  The sole purpose of a foundation is to even out your skin color.  Concealers are made to cover or conceal your scars, blemishes, pimples and other unwanted dark spots.

I'm not sure if there really is a perfect shade of foundation, but I've learned from various makeup artists, that they mix two different shades of  foundation to get the perfect shade they want.  As for me, if I use a foundation with a lighter shade, I just apply a slightly darker finishing powder to get the shade that is closest to my skin tone. (or the other way around)

I am not an expert but I did a little research. (sources from google.com)

Step 1: Recognize your skin type.

Normal Skin
- Complexion is even
- Surface is neither too oily nor too dry
- Face is supple with few lines, creases and wrinkles
- Face has few breakouts

Oily Skin
- Face has all over shine
- Shine happens quickly
- Pores are large and/or open
- Face suffers from frequent blemishes (blackheads and/or whiteheads)

Dry Skin
- Pores are undetectable
- Face looks and feels tight and dry
- Cheeks and/or chin are flaky and dry
- Face has lines and wrinkles around the eyes and mouth

Combination Skin
- has an oily T-Zone and dry elsewhere.

Sensitive Skin
- Face has distinct dry/red patches
- Skin is delicate or thin
- Face has sensitivity to products (burning or flushing)
- Face has Rosacea (Rosacea is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition which principally affects the face. Rosacea causes facial redness and produces small, red, pus-filled pustules (bumps). It is often mistaken for acne or eczema, or some other skin allergy.

Step 2:  Determine your skin undertone.

You must know whether you look good in Warm or Cool undertones.
Here's a simple trick I've learned from beauty gurus.
Look under your forearms, if your veins are mostly Green, that means you look good in foundations with  Warm undertones.  If your veins are mostly Blue, you will look good in foundations with Cool undertones. If it's combination of green and blue then you will look good in foundations with Olive undertone.

Warm undertone 
- these are for people who are dominantly yellow or has a golden skin tone.

Cool undertone
- these are for people who appears to have a pink or beige skin tone.

Olive undertone
-  these are for people who appears to have a slightly green-brown skin tone.


Step 3: Choose the proper formulation.

- Cream Foundation is ideal for: Normal, combination and dry skin. It is especially well suited for women with uneven pigmentation, or those requiring a heavier coverage.

Hey ladies, I just wanted to share with you my makeup collection. I know it's not much, but I do use all of them. That way they don't go to waste or reach expiry date.  I'm still saving up for a decent makeup train case because they are so pricey.  I would be so lucky if somebody gives me a train case this Christmas. (wishful thinking...lol)

Anyway, I'm just using this plastic organizer which I bought from Ace Hardware for Php 75.00 pesos each.

Here are the NYX swatches as promised!  I decided to show swatches on the lips so that you can really see the color when worn.  I forgot to let my husband take a picture for my NYX Lips in Bravo, so I did it myself but its blurry...What color you see in the tube is what you really get. They are so pigmented.

This is my very first NYX haul! I was so excited to try these lippies out when I got them.  I originally ordered 6 NYX lippies but forgot to take a picture of the other one (it's in a separate image below). Here they are!



From the left: NYX Megashine Lipgloss in Sunrise, Megashine Lipgloss in Silver Plum, NYX Round lipstick in Tea Rose, Doll and Topaz.

So excited to share this with you girls.  I've been wanting to do makeup for my friends and I finally had the chance to do a makeover for them.  My friends called me and asked to do their makeup for Stream's (cebu) Fashion-ish Christmas Party held at Waterfront Cebu and I was so happy that they did.

I went to Robinson's Place here in Cebu last week, and had no plans on buying any makeup.  My husband and I were just window shopping and decided to visit the Perfect Savers shop.  (it's a store that sells imported products)  We went in particulary for the chocolates, and found the LA Colors products by accident since it was right beside the cashier. I couldn't resist and had to buy one...lol.

I bought my Maybelline Watershine lipstick in B22 a week ago.  Maybelline cosmetics is on sale for 30% off.  Got mine at SM City Cebu.

Retail price: Php 299.00 sale price Php 209.00

This is actually my second tube of watershine lipstick. The first one I had was in "natural" which was already discontinued.  The B22 was the closest color I could get. I am a fan of nude lippies that's why I like this stuff.

What I like about it...
* inexpensive
* very creamy and easy to apply
* doesn't dry out my lips, it's very moisturizing
* it has no scent
* pretty aqua blue packaging

What I don't like...
* doesn't last long
* not so pigmented
* I have to keep reapplying

My Rating : 4 / 5

I actually use this more as a "lip balm" or "lip gloss" and not a lipstick.  It's not that pigmented and you'll really have to use several layers to get some color.  I love to use this after I apply my matte lipstick. That way, my lips don't feel dry.  If you're looking for color and staying power I won't recommend this. Otherwise, go get it.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

Christmas is coming and I know you will be invited to a lot of Christmas party engagements.  So, I though of doing a subtle smokey eye look which doesn't look too dramatic.  I will be using 3 eyeshadow colors to make it easier for you.  This look is inspired by my favorite beauty guru xteener.

Before putting on any makeup, make sure to
moisturize,
put on foundation,
conceal any dark spots, pimples, blemishes and etc.
and lock it with a loose powder.


Don't forget to fill your brows. After I filled my brows with either brown or black eyeshadow , I applied a brow gel to groom it in place. In this case I'm using the elf eyebrow gel. (see image above)
 

Before applying your eyeshadow, prime your lids using an eye primer OR use your preferred light cream eyeshadow base. In this case I'm using ELF studio line eye primer. Apply all over your lid using either a concealer brush or your fingers.

Use a fluffy eyeshadow brush and dip it on to a matte white eyeshadow. Pat on your brow bone and also near the tear duct area. I'm using L.A. Colors Eyeshadow Trio in White Ice.


Fill the inner half of your eyelid with a non-shimmery white eyeliner, I'm using a matte white eyeliner from Fashion 21.  I applied a shimmery white eyeshadow from my Maybelline palette over the white eyeliner. This will help your white eyeshadow become more vivid.


Using an eyeshadow brush, pack the outer half of your lid with a matte black eyeshadow and blend it upwards slightly above your crease and into the white eyeshadow using a blending brush. I'm using the Everbilena single eyeshadow in Cleo.

Using my fluffy blending brush, I applied a dark brown (burgundy-ish) color from my Maybelline palette slightly above the crease area to give the smokey look a warm touch.


Using my crease brush, I applied a matte black eyeshadow on the outer corner which is also the outer "V" of my eye to give more definition.  It really depends on you on how dark you wanted it to be.  I used my blending brush to soften the harsh edges.

The key in creating a smokey eye is to always BLEND BLEND BLEND !

I applied the elf cream eyeliner on the upper lash line and applied a black eyeshadow on the outer part of my lower lash line (you can use any black eyeliner you have). Then I lined the remaining part of my lower lash line with the matte white eyeshadow. I used a dark brown eyeliner pencil to line my waterline.

Use your eyelash curler to curl your lashes and then apply black waterproof mascara to both the upper and lower lashes.


You are now done with your eye makeup.

TIPS:
When putting on your blush color, remember to use a matte blush-on if your eyes are already shimmery.
(it is best to use one shimmer at a time, it is not advisable to use shimmery makeup all over your face)
On the lips, I prefer to use nude lipstick colors, since I already have a dark eyeshadow color.  This way you'll look classy and sexy.

Have fun girls!

Cheerios!
***Hollie***