Friday, August 13, 2010

In-The-Drawer Makeup Products

I’m sure you have products that basically live almost perpetually hidden in your drawer. These are items you keep because they’re pretty, or you’re hoping for a day when that gorgeous blush or nice highlighter will finally work for you (but probably never would)!




So I rummaged mine and found these items. Most have been here for around 6 months to a year, but have remained almost unused by me and I will tell you why:


1. VOV Cover Foundation in 19 Nude Beige




I got this item because people say it’s a dupe of Cinema Secrets Ultimate Foundation. But unfortunately, the color is just too light for me – this will probably work for someone who’s NC15-NC20. I’ve mixed it with darker cream foundations before, but stopped because of the hassle. This foundation conceals very well, but I really don’t need it if it doesn’t blend well with my skintone on its own!




You can read Shopcoholic Khymm's review here. She gives it a 4.5!


2. Revlon SkinLights Face Illuminator Loose Powder in Bare Light 21.2g




This jumbo pot of highlighter is VERY beautiful on skin. I’ve used it to highlight the corner of my eyes and all over my body when I need a little sassy perk while wearing a dress (hello cleavage!). But I don’t need it and I don’t use it often –I don’t need to “glitterize” my skin everyday anyway; and if I do, I have Laura Mercier Loose Powder in Stardust already, which will take me forever to finish too.




This is rated 4.6 in Makeupalley, with 82% repurchase rate!


3. Shu Uemura Glow On Blush in P Peach 40 5g (LE)


Now this is a pretty product I have tried for ages to work for me! See, I am the “pink” in the peachy-pink – it’s the color that flatters me. Peach makes me look sunburned, I think I am the oxidation queen. I’ve been on the lookout for ultra pale peaches that can make me look innocent and well, JUST PEACHY! So I bought one of the lightest white-peach blushes of Shu Uemura, hoping that I could make it work, since NARS powder blushes are too pigmented and dark already. But heck… P Peach 40 always turns dark peach or even red on me! Sad, even if it gets a 4.2 rating and a 72% re-buy rate at Makeupalley!




Anyway, I have found the solution already – NARS Enchanted and Benefit Georgia. People complain (even fair-skinned ones) that they can’t get the color of these two cheek products to show up on them at all. On me, their shades are perfect! So happy I got them recently. (Dawn is actually pissed off and told me "Why are wearing peach all the time? I'm supposed to be the peachy girl!")


4. Stila Illuminating Finishing Powder in Rose Gold 9g




I got this nifty product from the Stila Bronzed Glow set when I shopped last Christmas. When Liz of Project Vanity reviewed the product, I was quick to defend that it's actually worth getting your hands on in my head (I wasn't a blogger then and I didn't want to comment). It's actually nice all in all - provides a very pretty sheen on the cheeks, can highlight your inner corners if used with a wet brush, can "glimmerize" your body... But, I have so many items that do just that! So... if this gets lost or breaks, I probably wouldn't cry about it.


5. E.L.F. Cosmetics Studio Blush in Candid Coral




So this is a blush that's affordable and is of nice quality: smooth, pigmented, very fine shimmer, great texture. It's rated 4.3 with a repurchase rate of 77% in MUA! But ever since I got it, I used it only once. Again, because peaches oxidize on me and I turn ruddy. Sayang, it looks really good on the pan and when swatched! Ariel even says that it's a good alternative to the coveted MAC MSF Stereo Rose!


So those are the items I rarely use. Truth be told, I am planning to sell or have 'em adopted by someone locally because I feel bad that these pretties are lying inside my makeup box while other people proclaim them as awesome products! But they just don't cut it for me.


Do you have unloved items like these in your drawers? What are they?


Cheers,
Trace

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Vote for Me! The Body Shop Contest on Facebook




Got a blog-worthy testimonial on how amazingly The Body Shop skincare products worked for you? Share it and win the complete Moisture White Shiso product range! 

Simply share your testimony in the 'Reply' field of this window. Whoever gets the most number of 'Likes' will be proclaimed the winner! That easy! So, join and get the chance to win the complete Moisture White Shiso range and experience luminous skin in 4 weeks! Good luck girls! 

Contest will run from July 23, 2010- August 12, 2010!  


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So I have joined this contest and it ends tonight! =) I am in the lead but we can never assure victory early, right? If you have a facebook account, do vote for me!


Instructions:

1. Please "like" The Body Shop Philippines page

2. Please "like" my comment on the note



Add me as a friend as well, if you want! =)

Wish me luck! I am in dire need of a new skincare regimen because (1) my old one has stopped working for me after three sets; and (2) I have to get rid of the dark marks left behind by zits caused by BB Creams =( See, valid reasons to support me! Haha!

Thank you in advance!

Cheers,
Trace

LM, Nars, MAC, Dior and More! My Real Birthday Loot!



Hello pretty girls! It's pretty much a month late, but now I am sharing my super birthday loot! Thank you to Enkybaby, Bananavocado, and  Cherrys of Girltalk for the awesome deals!

Boxed!

Unboxed beauties!


MAC Mineralized Blush in Hang Loose 
(In the Groove Collection - LE)

NARS Cream Blush in Enchanted


AVON Ultra Color Rich 24K Gold Lipstick in Golden Rose and Amethyst Gold

I purchased all of these items with my own money. Take note that these are not brand new (except for the Avon lipsticks) but were formerly owned by the sellers. I'm not too iffy about that - since I can't afford these items at their original price, I am happy to settle with pre-loved items provided that they are cared for. Girls are so fickle, ha!

 I really have to find a way to re-earn what I have lost. Hmm - it's so hard being a full-time student! The good thing when I was working for a multinational company was the PAY, and I miss that (oops, and my friends, of course).


But now... I have to go back to thesis-writing!

Cheers,
Trace

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Dawn's Drawings #4: Brunette Blanchett

Because I told everyone that I love Cate Blanchett, here's a brunette rendition of her Lord of the Rings character Galadriel.


I actually drew this last summer while we did our annual LOTR marathon. She's so beautiful!

Please wish me luck so I can get all A+ in midterm examinations!

Cheers,
Dawn