I admit. I admit! I really love high end brands. I feel that my skin is safe with them, at least. But that’s just my mentality, so please don’t judge me. I don’t usually go below 800 PhP specially for a liquid foundation because I believe that my complexion is already as “complex” as it is ( hahaha! ), and my skin, being not so nice, deserves something good. I can get even a low-priced lip product, but for foundation, I’m not taking any risks. If you ask me what my favorite foundation brands are – may they be liquid or in powder form, I would have to say Lancome, Clinique and Coverfx. There are even other high end liquid foundations that feel so heavy on the skin, that I don’t really like them, even. These top three loves of mine feel really light, look natural, and have crazy nice light diffusers that create the illusion of really flawless skin.

As alot of my readers are asking me about budget makeup finds, I am really, really trying my best and am constantly on the lookout for the best budget finds, and I must admit that sometimes I find it hard to find good budget foundation. The reason would be my skin is far from perfect. I have large pores, I have depressed scars, and I recently explained to a friend of mine that I need a skin care that is water-based that can prevent oily skin and banish my breakouts, but also cannot be too matte that it would magnify my pores, and show my depressed scars. My skin is so weird – it needs to be balanced and dewy – just right, just the way my skin wants it. Same goes for liquid foundation – I’m really really particular about it, that I’ve thrown away alot of foundations that I thought of giving a try, but end up disappointing me. Alot of good-skinned gals have found their loves with really affordable foundation brands ( even below 500 – you’re really lucky! ) and as for me, I’m having a hard time. I was able to find my favorite foundations in high end brands, but it’s a good day today, that I’m about to share to you one of the great exceptions, and one really good budget find for foundation!

It’s the L’Oreal Lucent Magique Two-Way Cake Foundation

Light. Translucent. Fair. The 1st skin luminating Tri-powder foundation for a seamless lit-from-within skin complexion. A finest quality powder foundation with seamless trace coverage. Infused with 3 powder finish: Luminating Pink Tourmaline, Translucent Light Pearls and Vitamin C whitening Complex.

Skin is transformed with the lit-from-within skin finish. Sensorial upon touch with the light as a feather texture that lets your skin breathe. Suited for the young modern woman.

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Two weeks ago, Sample Room Partner Bloggers were given a treat to an afternoon of beauty pampering, and makeover, courtesy of Shiseido Philippines. We all met up at SM Makati, at their current pop-up store at the ground floor, near the SM Department Store there. We were given a chance to try Shiseido’s newest breakthrough product that promises you that your dark spots will be erased, and what would be left, is only beautiful, even, bright, beautiful skin.

Shiseido White Lucent The Ultimate Whitening Pair works hand in hand, as the Shiseido White Lucent Spot Targeting Serum+ crushes all the hardened melanin on our skin ( our dark spots caused by aging, sun exposure, and even hormones ), and Shiseido White Lucent Power Brightening Mask ejects all the existing crushed melanin.

This is the Shiseido pop-up store at SM Makati. There, they offer free consultation ( no purchase required ), and makeovers and facials with a minimum purchase. There, you can also see Shiseido makeup that you can actually swatch and check for your perfect shade!
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“Retouching Powders instantly make your skin look better — yet they’re completely undetectable.”
– Bobbi Brown

Bobbi Brown…did not just claim…that this new product is magic! It’s such a bold claim. But, I believe in it! How could I not? Her under eye concealers did just that to me – magic! Seriously!

Can I be more joyful in reporting to you this new product from Bobbi Brown? As a super Bobbi Brown girl that I am, I love her products because Bobbi Brown’s pegs for makeup are more on natural, elegant, and sophisticated. They aim to make you look your best version of you, and not changing a thing or getting it overdone. I am just so in sync with her philosophy and her products!

As for finishing powders, I LOVE them with all my heart. When you have oily skin, first thing you should know is that you’re not supposed to blame it on your liquid foundation, or pressed foundation if they don’t control oil and make your skin like an oil mine. For me, that job goes to your primer that is worn before makeup, and the finishing powder worn after all makeup is applied, to “finish” and “set” the look. Two products that “sandwich” the foundation will definitely make all that difference.
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Ahhhh. The New Year brings about so much promises. Fresh beginnings. Promises of a better you. I think we’ve all used up the last few days of 2012 to reflect, and see how we can do better the following year. Agree?

I’ve always been a big believer of beauty kits. I do, actually have two of them inside my bag sometimes! I feel that really unprepared for battle sort of vibe whenever I fail to bring my beauty kit, as I always want to look my best whenever I go out for work or for play. It’s important to feel secure, knowing that you have backup products with you whenever you go!

Let me share with you the lovely, thoughtful gift that Closeup has sent me last December. This is a set that has been carefully picked by the best beauty editors in the country. Knowing that we beauty-loving girls already have our must-haves in our own beauty kit, these are some of the things that are pleasant add-ons just in case of beauty emergencies :
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“These palettes embrace the holiday spirit of gift giving with fun and festive shades.”
– Bobbi Brown

One thing that I love about Bobbi Brown products is that it reflects Bobbi Brown’s personality. All the releases this year made me think, “hey, this is totally functional!”, and I could definitely use all of them on an everyday basis. Bobbi Brown is all about versatility and classic beauty. All their products can be used for almost all occasions, from day to night. So this Holiday season, this is me again, all excited for Bobbi Brown’s Holiday Gift Giving Collection, because she just seems to be so thoughtful, that all her products included in this collection are 100% sure-loves to the recipient! Imagine, a really complete Bellini Lip & Eye Palette? Well-coordinated Rich Caviar and Black Pearl Palettes? Super-gorgeous Uber Nude Lip & Eye Palette? Gosh, everything is just so well thought of, and would incite the reaction, “hey, this is what I need!” or “this has everything I need!”

No further words your honor. Just one. Smitten! Continue reading

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This must be MAC Cosmetics’ grandest launch, and when they called in their special guests, everyone said yes in a heartbeat, because for one, MAC Cosmetics is a celebrity favorite, being the best bet in TV/movie makeup, and even moreso, a media favorite with having really interesting collections and collaborations! MAC Cosmetics is such a well-loved makeup brand that it deserved all the limelight it had that night!

I heart my MAC lipsticks ( too many shades to mention. Haha! ), MAC blushes, lipglasses, eyeshadows, and almost everything they have, so I was definitely present that night to support!

Stepping inside the event was like stepping into another world. Girls in retro costumes and makeup – designed by that of the same designer as Lady Gaga’s, they definitely made statements.
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A few weeks ago, I had so much fun at Shiseido’s event that was for beauty bloggers, and members of the press. At the Ampitheatre of Greenbelt 5, the guest of honor was no other than the Regional Training Manager for Asia, Ms. Angela Boh. She was there to teach us makeup tips and tricks!

Angela Boh did a makeup demo on applying makeup, the Shiseido way. What I learned from this demo, was that you need to layer foundation little by little if you want more coverage, and not slap a thick pack of it in an instant just because you need alot of coverage. She was also able to use the famed Shiseido Perfect Foundation Brush, an angled flat top brush, to apply almost everything, from liquid foundation, to applying powder foundation, and even blush on! The key is control on your hands. Apply with even, medium strokes for liquid products, and apply feather-light for powder products, and blend well. I also got a trick that for fuller, and a beautiful mascara application, while the mascara wand is on the base of the eyelashes, let it stay there for 5 seconds or so, to make the base darker, and make the eyes more well-defined. Japanese makeup is really different from Western makeup, as the key is really a flawless canvass ( the face ), and the features would merely be well-defined in the most subtle, natural manner. Don’t be fooled by the word “subtle,” as there are alot of tricks to bring out one’s features naturally!
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Ahhhhh!!! This is my most awaited event of the year!

The much, much anticipated by both the beauty, and fashion world is already here!

Karl Lagerfeld x Shu Uemura = world domination.

I attended the exclusive preview launch of the Karl Lagerfeld x Shu Uemura Collection. The red doors filled with red-clad sexy ladies just drew me in! Continue reading

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Last weekend was quite a Friday for me.

Wow, things are finally getting excited in my social life! Haha! Kidding aside, beauty blogging events = social life because beauty bloggers are good friends of mine, and I really do love hanging out with them.

Our adventure last week? Off to a “class” by Benefit!
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There are days when you just want to give your skin a free pass and skip on makeup, just like a Sunday. Well, you will have that during the morning and lunch at home, but when it’s time to go out to the mall, you just realize that you need to put in something even just really, really light. Makeup dependent much? Haha!

Well! I can only be envious of girls who have poreless, and flawless complexions who go out most of the time without makeup, and still looking really glowing and beautiful! I have long accepted the fact that I have pores, I have scars, and I have redness on my skin, that is why when I go out, I’ve always loved full coverage. But there are days when my nerves can’t take all that heaviness, and I just want to feast on light makeup that would make me look like I just have good skin.

Say hello to my new baby, the VMV Hypoallergenics Skintangible SPF 30. This was gifted to me by Jheng, the makeup guru over at Iambrigitte, while we were idly shopping inside the VMV Hypoallergenics store at Bonifacio High Street. She said it was a birthday gift for my thirty fifth birthday. What? I should already ask her for my fiftieth birthday gift! Hahaha! Anyway, she got one for herself, and one for me! Thank you so much Jheng, for the gift! You know how much I love foundations! ( and she herself loves them ) Continue reading

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