I'm not that really particular with concealers before, but when I started experiencing breakouts last year, I was left with pimple scars and so my hunt for a good concealer began.

There were so many choices from different brands, but I was looking for something affordable with really great quality. That's when I remembered that Youtube Beauty Guru xteeener really loved the Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette. I've read a lot of good reviews about this concealer palette as well, so I was convinced to give it a try.

I am well aware that this is way overdue. However, I still would like to share my most used makeup products for the year 2014. I liked and discovered a lot of products last year, but I had to pick a few that I reach out the most, and these would be it.


I sometimes buy makeup on a whim especially if there are a lot ongoing sales in the beauty section. I am sure most beauty enthusiasts can relate. LOL So, last year I honesty really tried to limit myself into buying makeup that I don't really need. I think I was successful in a way since there were consecutive months where I didn't buy a single makeup. I only bought a handful of makeup that I  was really lemming for and those that had been on my wishlist for the longest time.


This is where I keep the makeup products that I use personally. (Obviously, I like Teal/Mint Colors! hahaha) Since I am also a freelance makeup artist, the makeup for clients are stored separately in a hard train case.

Let's start this off with my favorite makeup products for FACE. Some of you might have already seen some of these on my Instagram account, which only shows how much I adore these products.

VMV Hypoallergenics Armada Face Cover 45 - This is my fave sunscreen to date. I use this as my makeup base or primer especially on hot days. I've noticed that this has a really good oil control power since my T-Zone stays matte all day and my makeup lasts longer.  I've used the Armada Face Cover 30 and Armada Face Cover 70. They have different texture and consistency, but I like this Face Cover 45 variant more.

Mary Kay CC Cream in Very light - I was honestly skeptical when I first got my hands on this CC cream. I was never a fan of BB Creams to begin with or CC Creams for that matter. However, I really liked the texture and feel of the Mary Kay CC Cream, in addition to that, this is yellow toned, so it does not look ashy on me. I'm so glad that I didn't break out and that my skin actually looks great with this stuff on. Since I have the lightest shade, I only use this in certain areas on my face where I need to highlight. You can read my full review HERE.

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm - My glowing secret is now out! This is the product I've been using for the past three years! It instantly wakes my face up and gives me a natural glow without trying so hard. LOL. But seriously, this stuff works wonders if used right. I use this every time my face looks dull and tired (which happens to be on most mornings, hahaha). I only need a pea-size amount and pat it on my entire face, then follow it right away with my foundation powder. Then BAAM! in about 5 minutes I notice that my skin looks alive, dewy and glowing.

Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette in Light - Every time my skin needs rescuing, I run to this concealer palette. It gives the perfect coverage to my pimple scars and it is very easy to blend. Best of all, it actually stays long after I set it with my Mac powder.

Elizabeth Arden Sheer Lights Illuminating Pen Concealer - I like using this to correct my dark circles since the shade I have is slightly peachy. It is very sheer and easy to blend and does not settle on fine lines. Plus it's very convenient to use.

Mac Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation in NC35 - This is already my 4th Mac Studio Fix compact and it has continued to be my Holy Grail face powder. You can read my full review HERE.


For EYES and BROWS, these are my go to products.

Happy Skin Eye Am Here To Stay Gel Eyeliner Pencil in Chic Brown - I started using this ever since it was launched last year. It stays all day long and does not budge. It is my fave everyday eyeliner to date! You can read my full review HERE.

Mac Opulash Mascara - I still haven't found an HG mascara, however when I used up my Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara last year, I reached out for this Mac Opulash Mascara the most, since it defines my lashes and it works great for everyday use.

The Face Shop Style My Eyebrow Pencil in No. 3 - This is my favorite eyebrow pencil to date. One coz it's super affordable at only Php150, two coz the shade is perfect for me, and three it is super smooth to apply.

Mac Brow Set in Beguile - I know this is a bit pricey for a brow set but I still keep coming back to this. I tried cheaper ones but they don't hold my brows like this one does and I still love the shade Beguile on me. My first tube of Beguile actually lasted me for about 2 years! So it is worth it. You can check out the Mac Brow Set swatches HERE.

For Eyeshadow, these are my most used shades.
Mary Kay Mineral Eye Color in Sweet Cream, Hazelnut and Espresso.
Covergirl Eye Enhancer Eyeshadow in Mink
Wet n Wild Color Icon Single Eyeshadow in Nutty
Mac Mineralize Eye Shadow Duo in This & That


For CHEEK products, I've been loving these products from The Balm Cosmetics. Apart from the super cute packaging, they have excellent color payoff and very easy to blend. Price wise, I find them affordable compared to high end brands like MAC.

The Balm Bahama Mama for contouring
The Balm Frat Boy for my cheek blush
The Balm Mary Lou Manizer as my highlighter


These are my most used brushes for 2014. I use the Sigma Make Me Cool Travel Kit most of the time, then a few other brushes like, the Charm Luxe Retractable Kabuki Brush in Gold which I bring with me every day for my compact powder. The Artist Studio Brush for my brow bone (I found this in Landmark when I went to Manila last year). The Zoeva 322 Brow Line Brush for my brows and the Sigma E25 Blending Brush for my eyeshadows.
 

Lastly, for LIPS, these are most used lippie picks last year.

Mac Tinted Lipglass in Love Child - This is the only gloss I've been using a lot last year. I just adore the shade so much coz it looks like an MLBB shade only glossy. hehe

Mac Amplified Lipstick in Craving - This has become my go-to everyday lipstick ever since hubby bought it for me mid last year. I just love plummy shades.

The Face Shop FaceIt Artist Cube Lipstick in Pop Plum - A friend of mine gave this to me ("just because" she said. hehe) I really love the shade and I like using this as a stain rather than applying it full on. You can read my full review HERE.

Happy Skin Shut Up and Kiss Me Moisturizing Lippies in The Morning After and Sunset Kiss - These are just lovely shades and although they are from the summer collection, I still loved using them all year round. I love mixing these two shades together coz they create a lovely creamy-coral shade. You can read my full review and swatches HERE.

VMV Hypoallergenics Armada Lip Balm - this thing has SPF 60! that's the biggest SPF content I've found from a lip balm. Definitely a keeper!

Whew, I know that this is a rather long post, so thank you for taking your time to read it. I just didn't want to create separate posts for my 2014 hit list. hehe

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

Happy New Year Ladies! I know it has been a while since I last posted something. I guess I've been enjoying my days off so much that I just didn't have the time to blog. Some of you might be curious what I got during the holidays, so I am sharing it with you today.


The first makeup present that I received last December 2014 was the ever fabulous and over hyped Nars Audacious Lipstick from my dear Hubby. My shade of choice is the Nars Audacious Lipstick in Grace as I have been looking for a bright coral lipstick for some time now. I'm really glad that I finally found a coral lipstick that suits my skin tone. He bought this for me at Rustan's Ayala Center Cebu for Php1,650.

Next are the MAC stuff that I personally bought as presents to myself. I didn't buy these together because they were out of stock from our local Mac counter. I pre-ordered the Mac Matte Lipstick in Sin (Php900) and the Mac Pro Longwear Eye Liner in Definedly Black (Php1,100) from @cebumakeuponline on Instagram.

Then I discovered that a friend of mine who is also a fellow makeup enthusiast had the Mac Pro Lip Palette in Editorial Reds (Php2,600) on hand, she gave me huge discount so I quickly bought it from her.


I also got the Physicians Formula Youthful Wear Spotless Foundation & Brush in Medium Beige (Php600) and the Loreal Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara from the same friend so the prices are discounted. You can follow her @karenjap on Instagram.

Then last December, I finally decided to try and order makeup internationally and send it via JohnnyAirPlus.com because TheBalm.com was having a 50% off sitewide during Cyber Monday. My experience with JohnnyAirPlus Cebu was pleasant and they gave me a discount for the delay. I knew that it was peak season, so I understood the reason for the delayed shipment. I only got The Balm Balmsai Eyeshadow and Brow Palette (Php1,800) from the site since I didn't want to go overboard with my makeup spending. hahaha

My besty Khymm of Miss-Shopcoholic.com new that I loved lip balms, so she got me the Nivea Lip Butter in Raspberry Rose amongst other things that she gave as my Christmas present.


Lastly, a surprise Christmas present came for me. It was late and totally unexpected. My childhood friend Christine, who is a flight attendant for Qatar Airways, suddenly remembered to get me something from Inglot while she was in Poland. She knew how much I enjoyed makeup and I really appreciate the thoughtful gesture. She got me the Inglot Freedom System Blush Palette, where she chose 3 blushes and 1 shade for contouring. I am absolutely ecstatic to try these.

How about you ladies, what did you get during the holidays?

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

It's finally Christmas Eve 2014, Yay! Time for friends get-together and family bonding! With that said, I'd like to extend my Christmas greetings and Holiday Cheers to everyone! ^_^

Anyway, back to business. Remember my old post before about Lip Balms? I posted a mini review of all lip balms that I used about two years ago which you can read HERE. This time I'll be posting reviews on the current lip balms I've been testing out while in search for my HG lip balm. hehe


I got the chance to try out several lip balms for the past couple of years and I've yet to find an all time favorite. I only got about seven that I have in my stash right now coz I gave the rest away.

So, let's start this off with the Mentholatum Lip Ice Lip Balm with SPF 15, the one in the photo is Grape + BlackCurrant. I've already tried the Lemon and Strawberry Flavors as well. It retails for only Php89 at Watsons. I've repurchased this twice already since I love how light this feels on my lips. It is very moisturizing without being waxy and the moisture lasts longer than the average lip balm. I especially like that this leaves a minty tingle to my lips every time I use it. If you prefer minty balms like me, this Lip Ice lip balms should be on top of your list!

Carmex Moisturizing Lip Balm in Strawberry with SPF 15 retails around Php110 (price varies, depending where you purchased it). I've already tried this lip balm twice. The first time was the original unflavored Carmex Lip Balm in a squeeze type tube, then this strawberry variant. For both times I've tried this, I experienced a stinging sensation on my lips, and one that doesn't go away, unless I remove the balm from my lips. I honestly really like that it feels minty on my lips and it moisturizes very well. However, the consistency is a little too thick and sticky for my liking, also I am not sure which ingredient is making my lips sting so bad every single time I use this. So, to put it simply, Carmex is just not for me.

Alba Botanica Terra Tints in Bloom with SPF 15,  I already know a few friends who absolutely love this balm especially the other shade which is Ablaze. It retails for Php159 at Healthy Options. I really want to love this lip balm as well, unfortunately I experienced lip allergies with this. I first tried it earlier this year and I thought it might have been another product causing the itch on my lips. However, the allergies stopped with I stopped using the lip balm. Then, I gave it another chance later this year. Unfortunately, I got the same lip allergy I had when I first tried it.


Both the shade Bloom and Ablaze really look natural and pretty on anyone's lips. So, if you're into tinted lip balms, you might want to give this a try, however this is just not for me.

Alba Botanica Natural Hawaiian Lip Balm in Pineapple Quench. It retails for Php99 at Healthy Options. This one does not have SPF, but I really like the coconut variant of this balm since it smells really good. It has a thicker and waxy texture. It also has a much drier consistency, so it's not that moisturizing.


VMV Hypoallergenics Armada Moisturising Protective Lip Balm with SPF 60, it's the only lip balm I found that has the highest SPF content. This is actually my favorite among the bunch. It moisturizes my lips very well and lasts longer on my lips too. Also, I noticed that ever since I started using this, my upper lip lightened a little bit. It has a thick and slightly sticky consistency, so I only need a tiny amount to apply for my whole lips. Definitely a keeper!

The Body Shop Natural Lip Roll-On in Berry, I was initially excited to try this one out, since it comes in a roll-on and it smells like real berries. However, I got lip allergies with lip balm as well. I used it for three days straight and my lips became super dry, patchy and itchy so I stopped using it.

Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in Rhubarb. I'm not really a fan of tinted lip balms, but I like this one a lot. It moisturizes well and I feel that I absorbs on my lips a well. I also like that it can pass off as a good lipstick since it has good pigmentation. Plus it smells great too.

So, among these seven lip balms, I only approve of three. First is the VMV Hypoallergenics Protective Lip Balm, then the Mentholatum Lip Ice and lastly the Burst's Bees Lip Shimmer. I will still continue to try out lip balms from different brands. I actually already have the Hurraw lip balms on my list of lip balms to try. hehe

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

It's December! and apart from the Holiday season, it's the month were most weddings are celebrated. Contrary to the "June Brides" that most people know about, I noticed that a lot of weddings happen in December. Since I am freelance Makeup Artist, most of my Wedding gigs happen on December. So for my view of Bridal Beauty I checked out the lovely gowns at Loverly and drew inspiration from it.


This Emma Wedding Dress is made from, layers of silk organza cascade over this modified A-line skirt, and delicately draped pleating covers the bodice. A little sparkle is added by the Emma belt made in French metallic Chantilly lace.

I was instantly drawn to this Bridal gown when I saw it. I just think it's a perfect fit for December brides especially this Autumn season.

As you can see the gown is really beautiful. It is elegant but not stiff and exudes that femininity that every Bride should have, especially on their Wedding day. I actually fell in love with a lot bridal gowns, as I was perusing through the Lover.ly site. However, in my opinion, this is a bridal gown that can be worn either indoor or outdoors. So I've come up with a bridal look that's perfect at any time of the day.


Inspired by the beautiful Emma Wedding Dress from Lover.ly, I picked out these main products that I would use for the lovely bride.

For the face base, I chose to use the Mary Kay CC Cream since, it can cover up most of the blemishes, evens out the skin tone and makes the skin look healthy and glowing. Then I'll use the Sonia Kashuk Concealer Palette in Light to cover up anything on the face that needs covering up.

For the eyes, I want to make it look soft, natural, yet still well defined. So I chose the shades Cream, Nude, Mauve and Sable from the Lorac Pro Palette. Then I'll use the Mac Opulash Mascara to define and lengthen the bride's lashes.

For the brows, I picked the Anastasia Beverly Hills DipBrow Pomade in Dark Brown, since waterproof brows are much needed during this special occasion.

For the cheeks,  I chose The Balm Cabana Boy for that perfect flush and The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer to highlight certain parts of the brides's face. 

Lastly, for the lips I picked out this Mary Kay lipstick in Pink Melon, since it looks great on most skin tones.


I was a bride once too. So, I know that I would prefer to look naturally glowing on that day. This photo was taken during our wedding day Last 2007. hehe

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***

Hello Tuesday! I know that some of you might still have a weekend hang over since most of the classes and work were suspended the past few days due to Typhoon Ruby. I just want to say... Thank  you Lord for keeping everyone safe and sound!

So back to our topic; you may or may not be familiar with CC Creams, but CC stands for Complexion Corrector or Color Correct, which is very straightforward. Like the name suggests, it's main function is to even out your skin tone.


The Mary Kay Complexion Corrector (CC) Cream Sunscreen SPF 15, acts like makeup that instantly correct complexion imperfections while formulated like skin care to help nurture the skin.

It has 8 Benefits:

Protects - helps protect skin from sunburn and damage with broad-spectrum SPF 15 sunscreen
Brightens - It is formulated with the key ingredient Niacinamide, which is for skin lightening
Corrects with lightweight coverage - made from mineral-based pigments
Minimizes redness - covers to provide visible relief to skin redness
Conceals - instantly conceals the appearance of blemishes and marks from past breakouts
Hydrates - instantly amplifies skin luminosity
Reduces visible signs of aging - contains Vitamin E and Silymarin Extract
Defends - contains powerful antioxidants to help defend against skin-damaging free radicals

There are only 2 shades available here in PH. I use the Mary Kay CC Cream in Very Light. The other shade available is Light-to-Medium. The shade Very Light, is actually about 2 shades lighter than my natural skin tone. However, I was amazed that it actually blended on my skin, though it still looks a tad bit lighter on me. I don't use this on it's own since I have combination skin, so I like to set it with my Mac Studio Fix Powder in NC35.


I am happy to report that this come with a pump. I find it very easy to control when pumping out product. One pump is all it takes for my entire face and neck. However, I only apply this on my T-Zone and Under eye area so I just half a pump on most days.


I also would like to point out that the expiry date is written at that bottom of the tube. I appreciate makeup products that indicated the expiry date, since it's fairly helpful for their consumers.

What I like about it...
* affordable at Php825 since most CC creams cost more than a thousand pesos
* very convenient packaging that comes with a pump
* has a really smooth and creamy texture, kinda gel-like
* feels very light on my face, something comparable to a water-based moisturizer
* hydrates my face well, does not leave my skin dry at all
* has light coverage, but can cover minor blemishes
* stays a good 5 hours on me before it starts to fade (in an office environment)
* does not settle on fine lines and does not cake
* definitely helps even out my skin tone
* gives my face a natural and healthy glow
* no allergies or irritation experienced

What I don't like...
* it is not fragrance-free, it has a scent similar to a sunscreen, but nothing overwhelming
* very limited shades available

My rating: 4/5

I've been using this CC Cream for the past 3 months and I must say that I really like it. I usually stay away from BB Creams since I've had no luck with them, I've tried 3 brands of BB cream before and all three broke me out. I'm just glad that the Mary Kay CC Cream worked really well for me.

Would I recommend this? Yes, definitely. Especially if you are looking for a base that gives light coverage just enough to achieve that natural and healthy look you prefer.

Until next time.

Cheerios!
***Hollie***