Etude House Color my Brows

The other day, I accompanied my friend Sheena to the beauty section of the department store. She had asked me to help her in building her basic make up kit. The beauty junkie that I am, agreed without even blinking an eye. The thought of just shopping for make up excited me (even though it's not for me haha). So I asked Sheena what her total budget was and we worked around from there.

Aside from splurging for you base makeup (Foundation, Concealer and Powder Foundation - the most important of all) , another thing worth considering is/are products for your eyebrows. Now if you're a beginner, this can become very tricky and disastrous ( Yes one wrong move or a little too much become TOO MUCH hehe). So one important thing to consider was convenience, the product needed to do the job without the case of disaster from trial and error, it needed to be easy to use. And as I was going around the beauty section, I came upon this product from Etude House:

Etude House Color My Brows
in 1: Rich Brown
PRICE: PHP328!



Here's a swatch of this color:

If you are familiar with MAC's Browset, this product from Etude house is similar to that. It also comes in a little tube and you apply the product with a spooly wand just like mascara. Although it's size is smaller and almost half to the size of MAC's it's definitely worth it for it's cheap price and the amazing quality you will get.

Here's my eyebrow, bare, untamed, shaped but needs more grooming (do forgive, I wish my eye brows looked perfect 24/7 haha).

Now here's what it looks like with just Etude House Color my Brows brushed on, no other products used or tools, this is directly from the wand of the product.

Isn't that wow? I really think this product is amazing, instant color and taming of the brow hairs in a matter of seconds! So when I saw this, I immediately asked the SA to give me 2, one for Sheena and the other for me hehe.

I decided that this product is perfect for a beginner like Sheena since:

1. Very easy to use and can be done in a matter of seconds.
2. Saves you from the horror of intimidating brow products like pencils/powders.
3. Cheap!
4. Colors your brows and shapes it all in one.

Although here are a few things to remember when using a product like this:

1. Your eyebrows must be properly groomed before using it.
2. If you have an extra spooly, use that to pick up the product from the original wand so that first application isn't too thick.
3. If you don't have an extra spooly, scrape of some of the product from the original wand on the side of the opening of the product.

Remember your eyebrows shape and frame the face, properly groomed eyebrows give an instant polish to your overall look.

Overall, I am excited that I saw this product, I give this a total of 3 thumbs up!! :) :) Such an amazing find!


Toodles! :)

Delicious Bright Pink!

Hey Girls,

Here's a delicious picture of 3 of my favorite bright pink lippies. This bright almost neon pink obsession started with none other than MAC's Candy Yum Yum. Since I only bought one, the fear of it seeing the end frightened me! Thus I looked for dupes. Here they are side by side. :)

MAC's Candy Yum yum
Sleek Makeup lipstick in Fuchsia
Lime Crime lipstick in Countessa Fluorescent

Don't they just look delicious to you?! :) Do you girls know any other dupes or any notable bright pink lippy in the market? I kinda want more hehe Girls can never have enough lipsticks. :)


Toodles! :)

Traincase up for grabs!

Hey Girls,

Happy New Year! :) Hope you all had a beauty filled Christmas season! Now that it's 2012, I have decided to slowly overhaul my equipment for work. Thus getting rid of some things that I hardly and well most probably don't use anymore. It's time to revamp the whole shebang ! :)

Do you guys remember my first ever makeup train case? :) I bought this baby back in 2009 and was so excited and giddy about this since I got it (Read story HERE). I had kept it very close to my bed and kept it clean like 24/7! haha

These are the photos taken a few days after it was purchased:


The traincase has 8 trays, 4 on each side and the bottom part is pretty deep and can hold a lot of things, even my folded make-up brush belt.

Oh gosh, that was my stash before even starting school! The days! haha

I bought this baby for PHP3500 which I haggled down from PHP4500, a pretty good deal since it had a trolley. I didn't even wear this train case out, since only after a couple of months I decided to buy a Trolley with Lights. It currently does have some signs of wear, like a few scratches here and there. I also still have some of the dividers on hand. But overall, this traincase is still in pretty much awesome shape! :)

If anyone is interested, send me and email at carla.avancena@gmail.com I am willing to give this up for a very reasonable price. I can also send current pics to those interested. However shipping for this item is not possible, only meet ups for this in agreed areas only. :)


Let me know!


Toodles! :)


Carla

I have been good: Birthday/Christmas wishlist! :)

Christmas is literally just around the corner, a time of giving and receiving. Throughout the year we always look forward to Christmas because the festive season allows us to wish and if lucky own the things we want. :) I have been so good this year! haha here's my Christmas wish list:

ZUCA for MAC

These days I hardly bring my portable makeup trolley with mirror and lights to shoots, especially when I know that the place of shoot already has a dressing room fit with mirror and lights but if otherwise I bring my trolley. The reason I hardly bring my trolley is because it is so heavy! Thus 1st on my list is this ZUCA for MAC bag. I think this is perfect, easy to lug around and it also doubles as a chair! Also for now, this is more practical than getting an assistant to help carry my things. Haha :)

Blackberry Bold 9900

I have been a crackberry since 2007 and I haven't turned back since. Blackberry is essential to my life, from emails, messaging and data. So when news came out of this Blackberry Bold, I knew I had to have it. But, my current Blackberry bold is still in perfect condition and even though I want this new Bold badly, I still can't justify spending on cellphones. Hehe this is on my list for Santa haha :)

Tory Burch Eddie Crystal Bow Ballet Flats

Pretty yes? YES. Even prettier when you try them on for yourself. Which I did, and am now thinking that I shouldn't have. I thought I wasn't gonna fall in love with this pair with me harmlessly reaching out for it and trying it on (just because it was my size). But no. It's soft leather and crystal bow glitz and oh so comfortable sole had me captured. Now I AM HAUNTED. And when I get haunted, I HAVE TO HAVE IT. Thus I promised myself, I will only buy it after all my Christmas shopping. But if anyone decides to play Secret Santa, do note that I am a size 6 for this shoe. Haha :)

Wicked The Musical in SG

Above everything that I want this Christmas TO WATCH WICKED THE MUSICAL IN SG tops my list. The story is so dear to me and I really want to watch this musical. For friends who have seen it in other parts of the world, they say that it is one of their favorite musicals. I love musicals, even though I have only seen a few in my life. I must come out to see the confused green skinned Elphaba and Best friend Glinda. I want to cry my eyes out and sing to all the songs. Wicked will be running in SG till February, and I do hope I get to catch a show. WICKED WICKED WICKED WICKED WICKED WICKED (The Secret, saying it over and over will get me there haha).


So those are the things that are on my Christmas wish list. I really hope that I can come around and get some myself or get some as gifts. Haha Anyway, Tis the season to give and to receive. But above all, Tis the season to share love and happiness. :)

Share the joy my friends! :)


Toodles! :)

My favorite neutral crease colors

Hi all, a blessed Sunday to everyone and to the girlies from Manila; A cozy snuggle-fest weather to you. :) I recently discovered my addiction to neutral colored crease eye shadow. The crease color can depend on what type of makeup look you are going for, but for me the safest way to go are neutral colors, my favorite are the mid tone brown shades.

Here are my favorite crease color shades:
From top to bottom:
Soba, Cork, Wedge

Swatches:
Soba, Cork, Wedge

From left to right:
Seedling, Moleskin, Outre

Swatch from left to right:
Seedling, Moleskin, Outre

These are my most favorite crease colors from MAC. The reason why I have a lot of crease color favorites is because, not all shadows colors go well or actually even register color on everyone. So having a number of choices is good. :)

What are your favorite crease colors? :)

Toodles! :)

Lime Crime Lipstick in Countessa Flourescent and Centrifuschia

When I saw swatches and pictures online of people wearing Lime Crime lipsticks, the first thing I that came to mind was literally "WOW", the bright lipsticks were so hard to resist that I just needed to get me at least 1. But before I usually purchase a product, especially If I have to buy it online, I do a ton of research so that I won't regret the color I'll be getting. In to my research, I was getting pretty skeptic because of the mixed reviews. So I decided to get the lippies that had the more positive things said about them, the lippies I got are:

Countessa Flourescent and Centrifuschia

Countessa Flourescent Swatch (Top)
Centrifuschia (Bottom)

From the bright swatches, there's no question that your lips will be the focus that everyone will notice right away. That's what I love about these lippies, they can stand on their own.

I decided to get Countessa Flourescent because the reviews said that this was the closest shade compared to MAC's famous Candy Yum Yum, now I love Candy Yum Yum and I'm super sad I only got 1 tube. The fear of running out of Candy Yum Yum haunts me, so I decided to get this Lime Crime dupe. It did not fail, it is as bright and as amazing as Candy Yum Yum. Even my mentor and friend RB Chanco thinks so too. :)

On the other hand I chose Centrifuschia too well, just because i thought it was a pretty color. Hehe. Again it did not fail me, it goes on so smoothly, lasts long and hardly bleeds. :)

This is me wearing Centrifuschia

I've had these lippies for a few months now and I'm pretty happy with their performance, though here are some tips to note down if you are planning to buy Lime Crime Lippies:

- Some of their lipsticks after applying settle in a funny way. This was one major consideration and one of the biggest negative review of the lime crime lipsticks that I read. Some of their lipsticks settle in the lines and look oily (my experience with Countessa Flourescent), BUT, do not fear, here are some solutions to avoid this:

a) Use a lip brush to apply, I've noticed that this way it doesn't settle
b) If you don't have a lip brush, apply lipstick directly on lips, Blot, and re-apply.

- The lippies also have a tendency to bleed, so I suggest using a lip liner first. :)

- These lipsticks last long, and have lip staining ingredients in them. So at the end of the day, give your lips a good scrub to make sure that no residue is left on your lips. :)

Hope this review helps! :)


Toodles! :)

CHALK Dec-Jan issue

Hey guys, grab a copy of CHALK Magazine December-January issue with Xian Lim on the cover. The Beauty Editorial features the trends from Fall/Winter 2011 that you can surely sport in this season's many many celebrations. :)

Makeup by yours truly and Maui, thank you once again Chalk Beauty Editor Michelle Katigbak-Alejandro for trusting and believing in us! Awesome styling by Kate Paras and photos by Dix Perez :)

Here's are the looks that I did for model Isabel Collins :)

Happy Monday all! :)


Toodles! :)

SLEEK Makeup lipsticks

Hey all, a blessed Sunday to everyone! I just got home from a quick afternoon shopping at the St. James Bazaar in Alabang. This bazaar is a yearly thing from me, you can practically find anything you want and need for yourself and presents for others. We got lucky with parking too, parked right in front of the entrance. :)

One of the surprises i saw and immediately chose from was a wide selection of SLEEK makeup. I only know of this brand from other international bloggers as they blog mostly about the Sleek eye shadow palettes. I was more fascinated with their lipsticks at only PHP400 per tube!

Here's what i came home with:

Sleek Lipstick in:
Mystic (Matte)
Fuschia (Sheen)

Swatch of Mystic (left) and Fuschia (right) and a showcase of my arm candy hehe


I really really love how pigmented the lippies from Sleek are, I am actually regretting I didn't buy more. Hehe

Here's me wearing Mystic:

Goodnight All!

Toodles! :)

Hitting pan once again! :)

Don't you just love hitting pan on your products? I definitely do because I get to see which products I lean more towards and it means time to replenish (a.k.a shopping for new makeup) :)

Here are my top hit pan items for 2011. BTW, these are the make up used in my Professional Kit. :)

Favorite Shadows for 2011:
MAC eye shadow in Ricepaper, perfect for lids and for brow highlighter.

MAC eye shadows in Soba, Cork and Wedge; I have an obsessions with the mid tone browns crease colors hence the hitting pan :)

MAC eye shadows in Yogurt and Orb, another lid color favorite :)


Foundation

MAC Powder Foundation in NC42

MAC Pro Longwear Foundation NC30 and Powder Foundation also in NC30, these 2 have hit pan the same time mainly because of this girl below:

Angeline Quinto on the Buzz, Photo credits from Push.com.ph

So those were my items that quickly hit pan for this year, what are the products that you have used over and over this 2011? :)

I will leave you with a video of Angeline Quinto singing You light up my life on ASAP last November 20, 2011 which happened to be her birthday celebration on the said show. Makeup by yours truly. :) Enjoy!

Toodles!! :)

Thank you 2011!

I cannot even begin to describe how wonderful 2011 has been for me. I have been blessed with such an amazing career this year that it has kept me sane! :) Even though I have lacked seriously with blogging this year, i assure you all that make-up was never out of the picture. It really is awesome when you do what you love for a living. Happy thanksgiving all!

Here's a portrait of what best describes me; vanity, makeup, true love and macarons! :)

Cheers to a wonderful 2011 and here's a toast for an even better 2012! :)

Toodles! :)

US Makup Haul

In my recent trip to the US (for work), so that I won't be buying impulsive makeup I went with a list of what to buy before I even left Manila. Well we all know that didn't really work out as planned. Haha But I am glad to say that this has got to be my most conservative loot to date!

Most of the items I got were to replace almost empty products and the others, well just a few knick knacks that I figured I would need. (Figure being the key word! :P )

Photo was taken in Instagram hence the effect hehe

Aquaphor
Maybeline Mascara
Sephora Conceler
MAC Chromagraphic Pencil in Process Magenta
MAC e/s in: Moleskine, Carbonized, Bisque, Cross Cultural, Liberty of London
MAC Blunt
MAC Pro Longwear Foundation in NC30
MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC30
MAC Prep and Prime Pressed Translucent Powder
MAC Lipmix in Red, White
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in San Paulo, Tokyo

Here is my conservative loot! :) Out of the products my favorites have got to be the MAC Lipmix - which I got in Red and White, and the MAC Prep and Prime Pressed Translucent Powder. :)

From this US trip, I had the most fun time shopping in the MAC Pro Store in The Forum Shops Ceasars Palace in Las Vegas. I was like a little girl jumping from table to table trying and swatching the products. I had such a great time too with all the MAC artists so accommodating. I went back a couple of times during my week stay in Vegas. Had I the chance to buy the whole store and take it home I would. :P But don't we all. :) Glad to say that I had tons of self control buying only the things I would need! :)

Shopping for make up is always love. :)


Toodles! :)


Carla

What are your MAC must have products?

It's no secret that probably the most popular and well trusted brand when it comes to make up is MAC whether for professional artists or not. MAC has been around for a number of years now and has ever since never failed when it comes to their marketing strategies. From Back to Mac, to a huuuggeee line of products and to the always exciting seasonal collections, they always know how to keep their customers wanting more.

I must admit, I have fallen into the MAC trap (I was sorta anti-MAC before but now i eat my words!) and I can't get enough of the brand! My kit has transformed and is now 85% MAC filled and it just keeps on growing. I want to share with you all my can't-live-without-must-have MAC products.

MAC Eye Shadows
Photo taken from Temptalia

MAC has got to be the brand that carries a full range of colors and finishes for its eye shadows. At first, I thought they were overpriced and any eyeshadow will do. But once I started taking Makeup Artistry seriously, the main problem I faced with other eye shadow brands was that there was fall out and the colors just wouldn't stick. Until I tried MAC eye shadows, the color output was superb, hardly any fall out and the colors just blend well. Yes, you pay a pretty hefty price per eye shadow but it definitely is worth it. MAC eye shadows are top on must-have list.

MAC Brushes
Photos taken from MAC Website

MAC is also well known for their make up brushes because of their quality and many rave reviews. You may think that any other brush can do the job because yes, I used to also think that way, but what I've realized is that without the right tools, you can't achieve perfection. Sounds so way up there huh? Haha but to clear that out, when I say right tools, what I'm looking for is a product that is made with top notch quality to help it last a long time, a product that can produce the same result every time and one that I can use with utmost ease. And with the wide array of MAC brushes, these have got to be my must-haves:

MAC 190
Can be used for cream and liquid foundation, out of all foundation brushes I have tried and own, this gives me the least streaks and most of the time gives me no streaks at all. Thus making my foundation application flawless every time.




MAC 109
This brush is raved for it's flawless-ness when used to apply liquid foundation in a buffer motion, that is true yes because for a time that's what I used it for. But after that I realized that because the brush really isn't intended for liquid products it encountered more shedding, thus is shifted it's purpose. I started using this brush to set liquid foundation with powder foundation. Because of its round-ness it is like a 'kabuki on a stick' and the size perfect for buffing making sure every corner and crevice of the face is reached.



MAC 266
I really can't live without this brush. This is my best friend hand-in-hand to help create the best looking eye brows in every face. Perfect angle and perfect shape, it works 100% with my favorite brow products.


MAC Brow Set
Photo taken from MAC Website

I don't know of any other brand that can come close to a product like MAC's Brow Set. It looks like mascara but this baby is intended to give your brows the tint that it needs. Aside from the tint, it also helps keeps your unruly brows polished. I start panicking when I see this product running out in my kit. I love it that much.

MAC Fluidline
Photo taken from MAC Website

Almost every cosmetic brand has their own gel liner, but MAC's version is just so convenient to use. It glides on like silk, dries to a matte finish and looks smooth every time. Just always make sure to not leave it open for long and close it tightly so it doesn't dry easily.

With MAC's full range of products, most of what I have in my kit if not all are well used and really treasured, but the ones that I have mentioned above have got to be the products that can't be beaten by other brands.

What about you girls, which MAC Products are your must-haves? :) Can't wait to read all your answers. :)


Toodles! :)

The on-the-go bag

On days when I know work won't require me to bring my lighted train case, I save myself the effort (loading and unloading from my car, carrying it up flights of stairs which tires me out even before I begin the actual work haha) and bring with me a smaller kit. This smaller kit is already filtered and includes only makeup I would need, especially when it's me doing makeup for a regular client and or you know the venue of makeup is equipped with lighting and a mirror to use.

A few days ago, after a beauty ed for a magazine, I decided to drop by the Suesh showroom to just look around (I laugh at myself for thinking I would just "look around") and came home with this baby, my new on-the-go makeup kit bag.

Description from Suesh
- Stylish padded canvas bag perfect for girls who are always on the go.
- Zebra print
- Dimensions: 13 x 7.5 x 8.5 inches

--- PHP1,200

Here's what the bag looks like open with my stash inside :)

Brush belt goes on top of the pile, fits perfectly in the bag without deforming any brush and notice how the inside of the cover has provisions for brushes too :)

Brush belt out, and surprise at all that room for my kit :)

Everything that was inside the bag :)




Inside the bag

Here's the inside empty, roomy enough t fit all the things you will need plus inside also has a lot of pockets for little things. The outside of the bag too is surrounded with pockets so there is plenty of room for everything.

When I bought this bag, it answered all my considerations in looking for an on the go kit. It was large enough to fit everything yet not too bulky to lug around, it had extra pockets, it was light and the design and print is funky to bring around. :)

The best part is that, setting up and packing up is such a breeze, storing things in little bags like lipstick, eye liners and the likes helps too so that there's less clutter. This bag is perfect! :)

Toodles! :)

MAC Prolongwear lipstick in Goes and Goes

Hey guys, posting another review on my MAC Prolongwear Lipstick collection in the shade of Goes and Goes. I have constantly mentioned in my blog posts my love for MAC Prolongwear lipsticks. Just like MAC Matte lipsticks they really last long on your lips after hours and hours without feathering. The bestest best part is that it isn't drying on the lips, even after hours its formula helps keep your lips hydrated thus giving it a matte finish that is not drying. :)

Goes and Goes is a Blue Violet Shade

Here's a swatch of Goes and Goes compared to other MAC Lipsticks

From top to Bottom:

Candy Yum Yum

Pro Longwear in Overtime

Pro Longwear in Love Forever

Pro Longwear in GOES AND GOES

This lipstick though, I don't know I have mixed feelings with. I find that it doesn't really complement medium-darker skin tones. Also I feel that it's not a shade that can be used for everday wear. Although I don't regret purchasing this because I know it will come in handy with a not so usual concept shoot for work. :)

Below is a pic of me and Angel, Angel is my make up mentor RB Chanco's loveable assistant. Angel is wearing MAC Pro Longwear in Goes and Goes, he is the first to try the lipstick since I have yet to use it for work. So for everyone's reference here's a pic of Goes and Goes worn by Angel. :)

Tillmy next post!

Toodles! :)