44 Days

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... (one of my favorite classic Christmas songs) oh well because it's only 44 days to go before Christmas! It's no surprise the weather is getting kinda chilly these days. I thought about having a "kris kringle" at home for the sake of my eight-year-old niece so she'll feel the Christmas spirit a little and have something to look forward to, you know how kids get excited over gifts right? I promised her a bicycle if she gets good grades and I hope she's working on it. 

I'm still not over with my makeup shopping I thought this is the best time of the year to pamper myself so I recently got myself a makeup palette from Victoria Secret called the Mega Makeup Kit. It's actually my first time to own such a huge makeup kit, it's pretty hefty because it comes with tons of eyeshadows, blush and lip gloss to choose from for different occasions. The packaging is really nice although it doesn't come with the original box and brushes anymore. An officemate who sold this to me said that his aunt never used it and that it was just a gift so I got it at a discounted price from Php1,900 ($38) to 1,200 ($24) which is not bad because the new one cost anywhere from $500 - $240 (Php24k-11k+) in Amazon.com and the cheapest offer is around $99 (Php4k+). I guess the leather case made it so expensive? I really don't know but I think it's way too costly for a makeup kit. I haven't tried using this yet I just tried a few swatches of the eyeshadows and lip gloss I'm hoping that the price is all worth it. A friend of mine once gave me a VS Ultimate Shadow Trio and to be honest I don't use it that much because I noticed that VS eyeshadows are not pigmented enough it's kinda loose even if I use a primer compared to less expensive brands but like what said I still have to give this a shot and it's a good addition to my makeup collection.  

Victoria Secret Mega Makeup Kit

106 must-haves for eyes, cheeks, and lips

Aside from this makeup kit I also bought a Kylie Lip Kit True Brown K from an officemate for only Php200. I know, it's way cheaper for a KLK which cost around Php1,400+ (about $29 on the website) so you know for sure that it's fake and it's unfortunately sold everywhere. Just like any liquid lipstick, this is super matte once it dries up but the thing is we really don't know what it's made of so this kinda bothers me a lot, the health hazards and all.


I still don't encourage buying fake stuff although the quality may be just as good as the authentic ones, I still suggest going for dupes instead

Kylie Lip Kit True Brown K

So how do you spot a fake KLK? Watch this video.

MakeUp and More

Hello November, G'bye October!

Hey, I'm back! I've been busy with work, that's all. Hello November! This is it, we're getting close to the most awaited holiday of the year so better be done with your wishlist. I still prefer online shopping because I find it really convenient since I don't have time to go out and shop around  plus I'm not the type of person who has a lot of patience shopping especially during the "sale season" where everybody is heading to the mall I'd rather catch up on sleep and stay home. So, I bought some makeup and thought I'd share with you some feedback on these products which might help if you're a makeup addict like me.

Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lip Color's Touch of Spice and Clay Crush 

(Watsons, SM Department Store / Php199 each)

Maybelline's Creamy Matte "Touch of Spice" 
(top left) and "Clay Crush" (bottom right)

When I saw this article on my Facebook feeds about month ago that there are Kylie Lip Kit dupes on sale from Maybelline, my sister and I tagged along to check out these creamy matte lippies for just P199 from its original price of P299. In case you're wondering why it's called creamy matte since there's no such thing as matte and creamy lipstick in a lady's point of view,  it's simply because it looks matte yet it doesn't leave your lips feeling dry, it's creamy formula glides on smoothly. I have a thing for dark shade lippies but for a change, I bought the nude shade of pink called "Touch of Spice" whilst my sister got herself the even nude-er shade "Clay Crush" which is kind of like a pale shade of brown and orange to me. These nude shades are perfect to wear during the day or if you just want to sport a "no makeup look." I've only used this product twice and so far what I like about it is that I don't need to apply too much because it's visible enough. To be honest, I'm not a fan of tube lipsticks anymore when I started using liquid to matte because I find it long-wearing and requires little to no touch ups unless you eat something oily. I think Maybelline's Creamy Matte is a good addition to my lipstick collection and I recommend it especially to ladies who prefer a more natural look.

Dose of Colors in SAND 

(Php200)

Dose of Colors for only P200+? You gotta be kidding me right? My answer is nope. When my sister told me that she bought a DOC liquid lipstick from a makeup kiosk at a local mall I knew for sure that it's not the real thing because I bought mine online for P600+ about a year ago. I've been thinking of buying another DOC lippie and SAND is on my list so when my sister hands me her fake DOC I tried it on my lips immediately, I still get excited a lot when it comes to makeup, may it be the real thing or not. For comparison's sake, you can hardly tell the difference just by looking at the packaging but what I noticed is that there's quite a difference in the label font and the original bottle is heavier, unlike the fake one which is very lightweight. The US authentic DOC I own is Berry Me which has a thick finish compared to this but just as matte and long wearing so if you just want to join the liquid lipstick bandwagon thingy and just got curious of DOC you just might buy the fake one instead of the original.  

DOSE OF COLOR's Berry Me (top)
and SAND (bottom)

Can you tell which one is authentic?

Personally, I don't encourage buying inauthentic makeup primarily because it contains ingredients that may be harmful to the skin but because it's way cheaper compared to the real thing that's why it's becoming more and more popular. I don't want to come clean because in the past I bought fake stuff too but just out of curiosity. I remember buying an Urban Decay liquid eyeliner from an Instagram seller for only P150 who claim that her items are Singapore authentic but just as good as the US authentic ones. I was totally disappointed when I tried it on it's like water and ink mixed together it's not worth buying at all and it's also causing my eyes to water every time I use it, must be some allergic reaction or something. Another online purchase that caused a sudden breakout to my face was a fake Mac Professional Highlighting and Sculpting powder and I didn't realize that it was causing the breakout until I stopped using it. If you have sensitive skin I still suggest buying the real thing and always remember that quality makeup ain't cheap so deal with it or better yet go for original dupes.

NYX Matte Lipstick in Beauty Mark

(Php200+)

I think NYX is probably one of the most affordable makeup in the market that's why when it comes to tube lipsticks I would still prefer this brand compared to the more expensive ones. Before I fell in love with liquid lipsticks I've been collecting matte from NYX. When my sister bought "Beauty Mark" it reminded me of "Maison" just the lighter version. Just like other NYX lipstick, it has a certain smell and this one smells like chocolate, yummy!

   

NYX Matte lipstick 
in "Beauty Mark"

Colourpop Ultra Matte Lipstick - Trap

(Shopee, Php450)

Colourpop Ultra Matte's TRAP is love!

The next best thing after LA Splash "Ghoulish" is Colourpop's nude-ish pink shade called "Trap." I fell in love with this product instantly, it made me realize that nude is the new black. It's super matte but the texture is not too thick compared to the quality of LA Splash lippies so you barely feel it in your lips. Colourpop is a must have, it's definitely worth a penny.   

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil - MILK

(Shopee, Php220)

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil - Milk 
and LA Girl Pro Pressed Powder

LA Girl Pro Face HD Matte Pressed Powder 

(Shopee, Php299)

I find online shopping in Shopee such a breeze because you can shop and chat with the seller just by using one app. I also find it safer because the payment will not be released to the seller until you receive your item. I took advantage of the free shipping promo for orders over P250 last week that's why I decided to do my makeup shopping and I'm glad that I got all my orders the same week (yay!). 

I ran out of white eyeliner unfortunately that LOL brand in Watsons is out of stock so I decided to replace it with NYX jumbo eye pencil called Milk. I use a white eyeliner to line my waterline to make my eyes look bigger, it creates a more dramatic effect. This eyeliner can be used as an eyeshadow base or an eyeshadow too.

LA Girl is kind of new to me because I haven't tried any of their makeup yet but so far I'm liking the texture of this powder because it blends well with my skin tone. I usually apply the powder using a small brush when touching up but with this powder, I decided to use the sponge that came with it. I like the packaging a lot, it flips up easily, the compact mirror is nice too and there's a separate sponge keeper at the bottom of the powder with air holes so the sponge can breathe to avoid bacteria from thriving in it. I definitely recommend this powder since I like a more airbrushed look and great coverage too. 

Human Nature Perfect Finish Mineral Loose Powder - Soft Ivory

(Shopee, Php425)

Human Nature's Perfect Finish 
Mineral Loose Powder is 100% natural

I have oily skin so choosing a powder that will work for me is kind of tricky. To achieve a natural look is really important to me so I'm very picky when it comes to choosing a loose powder. It's my first time using a mineral loose powder from Human Nature so I have no clue if it will work for me but after a week of use, I think I'm loving it. This brand is locally made and 100% natural so I'm not worried about breakouts and all. This powder blends well with my makeup and Asian skin. I also like that it has a little bit of shimmer but it doesn't make my face look oily or cake too much.

W7 In the Nude Eye Color Palette

Dupe alert

This U.K. drugstore makeup will give Urban Decay a run for their money because it is a good dupe for Naked 3 Palette. My sister's officemate sold this to her for Php200 (about $4) which originally cost around $8.35 in Amazon.com. I haven't tried all the colors in this palette yet but so far, so good I like how pigmented it is I thought it's good to have and wearable for daytime makeup.

That pretty much wraps up my makeup review and before I go m.i.a. (missing in action) again, I just want to share my Halloween makeup.

Happy Halloween! 

Vamp it up! Boo... Happy trick or treat!