Guerlain Kiss Kiss Baby Balm 260 in Romantic Nude

Trace writes: When it comes to lipbalms, I am a bit picky. I don't want my balm too shiny/oily because it totally contradicts the look when you're in the mood for matte lips, I don't like it too waxy because that just feels weird and icky, I don't want it to have no color because sometimes I just want to put on the balm and go, and I don't want it too tasty since I lick it off *yum yum remembers The Body Shop balms*.

So thank goodness I was able to score this lovely little thing: Guerlain Kiss Kiss Baby Balm 260 in Romantic Nude (costs $31 in Sephora) from a local Makeup Artist selling some of her stuff. It smells absolutely heavenly - like dainty flowers in spring, not food. It has nice, softpigment and gives off just the right amount of sheen (no messy mega shine here!). It's even more of a sheer lipstick than a balm - but the difference, of course, is that it moisturizes SO WELL.

So yes, it's all the things I like and more - YOU HAVE GOT TO SEE THE GORGEOUS PACKAGING. It's encased in this shiny silver bullet of absolute luxury. You'll want to take it out of your makeup bag and re-apply your balm all the time because just staring at it puts you in a trance. Okay, that's OA but it's really really pretty.

Here's the swatch!

Now on my lips (it comes out peach on me!)

Now on Dawn's lips (angelic pink!)

So  the only weird thing is that even if it's the same product, my sister and I don't get the same pay off. This kinda sucks, especially since cool pinks look better on me over peach colors, and the opposite goes for my sister. Maybe I need to buy a new shade (lemming Rosy Nude 261) - does anyone have $31 to spare? 


 I'm not sure if this is available in the Philippines though. Once I get a hold of the price, I'll update this post.


Cheers,
Trace

Ambush Makeover: Meet Liz!

Dawn writes: So my best friend Liz came over so I can help her learn how to draw. She's a freshman at UST Medicine (wow, right?) but she has a problem when it comes to sketching cells and tissues. In spite of this nerdy favor, I've decided to fix her up a bit afterwards!

Items used:

The Face Shop Makeup Base in Violet

Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals Liquid Foundation in Shell Beige

Maybelline Clear Smooth Powder Foundation in Sand Beige

Dollface concealer palette

 Dollface 88-piece makeup palette

Dollface Contour Palette

Maybelline Cat Eyes Mascara

Bourjois Liner clubbing in Absolute Black

MAC eyeliner in Bountiful Brown

Nars Blush in Super Orgasm

Smashbox lipgloss in Candid

Caveat: If you think her skin post-foundation seems a little bumpy and too thickly applied, don't fret - those are actually beads of sweat! My room was sooo humid the afternoon we did the makeover. So sorry!

Here's Liz, no makeup at all 
(see, she's sweating already! Is it because of the heat or the makeup experiment? Haha)

Pancake-faced now with foundation and concealer

Face contoured and highlighted 
(see the difference a bronzer can make? hello, cheekbones!) 
and eyebrows shaded

Now with some neutral eyeshadow
(i told you - sweltering heat!)

Now with eyeliner, mascara and blush. Notice how I tweaked the liner? Liz has droopy eyes so to 'em her up, I had to do a little flick at the edge of each eye.

Eyes up close - very pretty, huh?

Now pouting with lipgloss with a great dose of shine (and self-confidence)!


Now let's see the before again...

And after!

All done and pretty! 
She now looks more awake with  bigger eyes, a healthy flush, and a glossy pout!


Do you think I did a good job? I hope so! =) 
Ambush makeovers are such fun!


Cheers,
Dawn

Dog-Love: Look at what happened to my Aqui!

Trace writes: This is my Aquinas/Aqui at his better moments. 

And I woke up this morning to find this:

Grease! He apparently sneaked under the car during this early morning walk. Good thing I was able to get rid of the stain on his white ball of fur-ness.

*wink*
HE'S AS GOOD AS NEW! 

Have a great day!

Trace's Favorite Brand: Laura Mercier

Trace writes: The easy answer to the question "What is your favorite brand?" would be MAC - tons of great stuff, a gazillion product launches per year, and innovative makeup. But not me. Though I love the brand (Studio Fix Fluid is my and my sister's favorite foundation ever! NC is so yellow though haha), it's just not adequate for me to become a loyalist!

I like the necessities-based, flawless approach of Laura Mercier. I prefer to think of the brand as minimalist and feminine at the same time. No shocking colors here, even if some of LM's counterparts are beginning to get more adventurous (Hello Bobbi Brown!) My addiction for the brand started when I was in 2nd year college, so you know where all my "baon" and "aguinaldos" went.  

Here are some of the items I have in my stash:

 

Undercover Pot (#2) – From the Flawless Face Kit in Nude (PhP 2, 750)

Secret camouflage (#3) (PhP 1, 550) - I've hit the pan!


 

Secret concealer (#2) (PhP 995)

Translucent loose powder (PhP 1, 550)
Stardust Shimmer loose powder (PhP 1, 550)

Second Skin Cheek Colour in Azalea (Old version and packaging) and Baby Pink (PhP 995)

Eyeshadows in Desire and Mermaid (Older version and packaging) (Price unknown, prolly around PhP 800 each)

Mosaic Shimmer Bloc in Gilded Garden (PhP 1, 500 @ CareFreeShopper)

Eyebrow Pencil in Blonde (PhP 795)

Secret Camouflage and Camouflage Powder Brushes – From FFK

 

Velour Puff and Egg-shaped Sponge and Exclusive Cosmetic Bag– From FFK, excuse the used sponge haha

 

Though not in the pictures, I have also tried the Regular and Oil-free Primers, Oil-Free Foundation in Warm Ivory, Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer in Nude, Eyebase in Linen (swapped away and regretted it!), Blushes in Nectar, Rose Petal, Crushed Hazelnut, (the first two broke and are now in mmu containers, the last my sis and I were able to finish up), Undercover #3 (old version, without loose powder) Lip glaces in Ambre Rose, Rose, Bare, and lipstick in Bare Lips (not a fan of her lip products though). Makes me regret not having a blog years ago so I could have reviewed all of them before they went away! *sniff*


Unfortunately, I don't have enough cash to keep up with all her releases, but if I were....*greedy grin*

My absolute favorite? Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage. Best concealer ever made in the entire world. (Yes, this categorical statement demands a review.)

PS. If you want me to make a detailed post about any item here, just let me know!