It's time for another giveaway. Yay! My Birthday is coming next month and I think it's high time that I host another giveaway. I didn't do another giveaway last year because of a bad experience that I had with a couple of readers who were sour-graping about loosing. They were making up stories that I chose the winner because we were friends, which isn't true at all. Gah! enough about that infuriating memory. This time I'll take a video of me using a randomizer for evidence. LOL


This giveaway is for Philippine Residents only. One lucky reader will win all these makeup goodies as follows.

I know I should be feeling sad right now because I'm turning another year older. I will be turning 30 by April this year. huhuhu I feel so old! But on the bright side, it's another excuse for me to treat myself to more makeup. LOL


Next on my list is The Balm Instain Blush in Toile.  I have adored the shade of this blush ever since it was launched by The Balm.  The fact that it stays longer than most powder blushes makes me want to buy it even more.

I saw one of my favorite youtube beauty gurus rave about the Lorac Unzipped Palette last year (2013), and it has never left my thought since then. The shades in this eyeshadow palette are just too darn pretty! I almost feel that it’s screaming my name saying “come get me”. LOL... It is definitely my kind of neutral palette.
I was browsing the beauty section of Zalora PH and saw that they already carry premium makeup products and Urban Decay was one of them.  I was reminded how much I wanted to get the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette last year. It's just that I can see myself using this palette regularly because the shades are something I can easily blend with the rest of the eyeshadow that I already have in my collection.

Happy Wednesday everyone! It's been a few days since my last post, and I feel like I drifted again. LOL. Anyway, I realized that I haven't done a mascara review for a really long time. So, I decided to review the Bobbi Brown Extreme Party Mascara which I have been using since October 2013. It's the mascara that I've been regularly using for the past five months.


Available at Bobbi Brown counters in Rustan’s Makati (812-2507), Rustan’s Shangri-la Mall (633-4636 loc. 114), Essenses Rockwell (822-9400), Rustan's Ayala Center Cebu (+6332 231 5633) SM Mall of Asia and SM Megamall


During the opening of Bobbi Brown in Ayala Center Cebu last year, I was lucky enough to have received their Bobbi To Go set with the Smokey Neutral Eyeshadow Palette and Mini Extreme Party Mascara.

The February is about to end which means Graduation Day is just around the corner.  I know that a lot of you ladies will be graduating this coming March and I'd like to share a few tips to look fabulous on your big day.


If you are new to makeup, make sure to prepare at least one week before your graduation. That way, you can still practice.  Most makeup sold in malls are a bit pricey, so be a smart shopper and check out legit online stores like Lazada PH and get the best prices.

Makeup Essentials you will need

Face Primer. You need to prime your face in order to keep your makeup in place. It would be better if you have a face primer that already contains SPF so it can protect your skin at the same time.

Liquid Foundation. Choose a foundation that is an exact match to your skin and one that has light to medium coverage. This way, you can even out your skin tone easily and still look natural.

Concealer. Remember to apply concealer on your under eye area to cover up dark circles. This will help you look fresh and awake. If you don't have puffy eyes or dark circles, you can skip it.

Translucent Powder. This will set your foundation and help it to last longer.

Eyebrow Pencil or Powder. Fill in sparse areas on your brows with feather strokes and shape it to your preference. Well defined brows can frame our face. Make sure to blend it out with a spoolie for a natural finish.

Eyeshadow. If you don't know how to apply eyeshadow, skip it. That will save you time. But if you do want to wear eyeshadow, make sure to keep it light and neutral. I chose the Wet n Wild Trio in Silent Treatment because, it is one of those palettes that you can simply transition from day to night. Especially if you are going to a Graduation Party at night.

Eyeliner. Line your upper lash line to define your eyes. Keep it thin as much as possible. Do not use eyeliner on your lower lash line, I suggest you use a brown eyeshadow on that area for a natural look.

Mascara. Curl your lashes and apply mascara. Choose a volumizing and lengthening waterproof mascara. This will help define your lashes and makeup your eyes pop.

Blush. A flush of color is all you need on your cheeks. I would suggest using peachy pink blushes as it looks great on most skin tones.

Lipstick. Choose a natural shades for your lips and avoid bold colors for this occasion. You can opt for a tinted balm but I suggest you skip lip glosses to avoid having your hair get stuck on your lips.   You can always wear your bright and bold lipsticks on your Graduation Party but not during the ceremony.

Finishing Spray. This is optional. But if you already have a finishing spray, use it. I'm sure you will be busy on this day and you won't have time for touch up. This will help seal all your makeup.

Your goal is to look fresh and natural on your graduation day. Just enough makeup so you won't look pale in photos. You can use my "First Date Makeup" look as a reference.

If you have oily skin, don't forget to bring blotting sheets. You will surely need them.

Lastly, remember to groom your hair and apply an anti-frizz product or hair serum. So, that when you go on stage to receive your diploma, your hair won't be in the way.

I hope this helps you ladies.

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

Good Day ladies! Finally, here it is. After so long, I now got the chance to play with my new makeup brush set from Sigma! I won one of Sigma's giveaways last year around June 2013. I Know I'm so Lucky!!! (grin) Just really wanted to let you have a closer look at the Sigma Make Me Cool Travel Kit makeup brushes.

The Mrs. Bunny Travel Kit comes with the Vegan Sigmax HD fibers while the Make Me Cool Kit doesn't. Don't get me wrong, even though the Make Me Cool Travel Kit does not come with Sigmax bristles, they are still very soft and made from high quality bristles.

Here are the comparison of each of the seven brushes, so you can see their difference.

Good Day ladies! Here's another lipstick swatch for ya. If you've read my December 2013 Haul which I posted early January, you've seen the Bobbi Brown Creamy Matte Lip Color which I received as a surprise gift from Bobbi Brown Philippines! Yeepeee ^_^

You can only imagine how excited I was when I received an email from them saying that I have a gift waiting for me at their Bobbi Brown Counter here in Cebu at Rustan's Ayala. and yes I was literally grinning as I dropped by the counter. LOL

Who’s It For
Women who want a full coverage, semi-matte lipstick

How to Use
Apply straight from the tube or with the Lip brush on clean, bare lips, or over the Lip Balm. If desired, blot with tissue for a matte finish.


How It Works
Perfect Coverage in a Single Application/Intense Color Impact
- Creamy Matte Lip Color is formulated with an exceptionally high pigment load for intense color payoff in a single application. Traditionally, matte lipsticks are not offered in such a varied shade range because the more pigment that exists within the formula, the drier it tends to be.

Moisturizes and Conditions
- Creamy Matte Lip Color provides intense moisturization to the lips. This lip color is formulated with special emollients and soft waxes that form a conditioning barrier to lock in moisture.

Long Wear
- Creamy Matte Lip Color’s unique formula is designed to slightly soften with the warmth of the lips, providing full color release. Skin comfortable film formers and an extremely high concentration of pigments contribute to advanced wear that will not transfer, smear or feather for up to 8 hours.


What I like about it...
* extremely pigmented, one swipe is all I need to get full color on my lips
* has a rich and creamy texture, so it glides like a dream. it really does, I swear.
* has mild pleasant scent, like a hint of caramel. It's almost unnoticeable.
* has a chic and sturdy packaging
* the tube twists all the way to end so it's easy to close without nicking the tip of the lipstick
* dries to a semi matte finish
* feels really light on my lips compared to typical matte lipsticks
* though it is a matte lipstick, I was surprised that it's not drying at all
* stays long on my lips, a good 5 hours before it starts to fade
* once it sets on my lips, it doesn't smear or feather even after drinking or eating
* no allergies experienced

What I don't like...
* unlike its claim, this is does transfer a bit but not as much as ordinary cream lipsticks do
* expensive, but worth it because this is the first matte lipstick I've tried that isn't drying and feels really light at the same time.

My rating: 5 / 5

Hey ladies, just one more day and it's Valentine's Day.  I realized that I haven't created any makeup look for a really long time. (sigh) Since hearts day is coming, I just thought that this soft neutral look would be perfect for a date.

Before I chose to do this makeup, I thought "What kind of makeup look would I prefer to wear for a date with Hubby?" The answer is a no-brainer. I only wanted a simple and natural look with a healthy dewy finish.
 

I received a surprise in the mail last week. I honestly forgot that I subscribed to the Jan-Feb BDJ Box, since I paid for the box around October last year (2013). hehe So here goes, unboxing time!