the secret world of cheap lip/cheek tints

waaaay back in high school and early college, pressed powder, lip balm and black liner was the height of makeup. bushy eyebrows, flyaway hair and just-there lashes was my everyday look.

what really got me started on makeup was this nifty beauty tool called lip/cheek tint. powder or cream blush seemed overboard to wear everyday, so i settled for lighter tints as my color saviors.

even until now, i still believe in the supreme undying awesomeness of lip/cheek tints. they are incredibly budget friendly, unless you go for the more expensive brands, and are super convenient for everyday wear and tear. but then again, you rarely have to go the upper end of the price spectrum because there are a goody number of cheap but trusty tints all over.

i love lip and cheek tints or stains because they don't feel heavy on your face, especially when you have oily skin like me. the color is also subtle, unless you apply a lot of product, with the effect of just giving you a natural flush. the color range is quite limited, but most tint colors are standardized in the sense that they can be used on different skin tones and types.

here are some cheap but chic tints that i absolutely adore...

1. Careline Lip and Cheek Tint, Php 80.00 (approx.)
- i remember the days... this was my first ever tint! i was in highschool, and drugstore makeup was all a highschool student's allowance could afford. this comes in only one shade, a deep fuchsia, but looks light when blended out. very liquid and dries out fast. the silver capped tube with flower detail is quite tacky, but it's a good old product for young girls. cheap too.

2. Ever Bilena Lip and Cheek Stain, Php 175.00 (approx.)
- i bought this one sale, two for around Php 200.00 so really not bad. it comes off more expensive when bought individually. there are 3 shades: red, orange and violet. i picked red and orange because they seemed wearable. the orange one was too light on me, i had to use a lot before a hint of color would appear. (i'm morena by the way.) the red one was better, an exactly red shade that makes me look flushed. still very runny, doesn't dry up too fast, but packaging is a total rip-off from the Body Shop's tint. minus points for that.

3. Penshoppe Cheek Tint in Blushed, Php 99.00
- now this one i absolutely adore! strictly, it's just a cheek stain, but it's so good and cheap that i have to put it here. it comes in a small tube, but you use only a small drop (seriously) and the color goes on great. just as its name suggests, you look like your blushing! color is peachy pink shade. slightly thicker and creamier. blends really well and minimal product usage with great color. not bad at all.

4. Bench Pretty When Pinched, Php 180.00
- it's a ddep violet/fuchsia shade, but looks great when blended out. i was amazed with this one because i swatched it on my arm and the color lasted hours. not at all bad for something so affordable. the pot is cute too, it looks like nail polish except that it's runny. super buy, this one.

5. SanSan Lip and Cheek Tint, price still to check
- i haven't really tried this one out, but SanSan is known for cheap but dependable products that i'm banking on the brand's great products reviews. it's a cherry red shade that reminds me of Ever Bilena, just a teeny bit lighter. i'm heading out to the HBC store to get my own bottle quite soon. but knowing SanSan, i'm sure this won't drain my pocket.

6. Fashion 21 Lip and Cheek Tint, not too sure about price, Php 200.00 below
- it comes with a cute silver roller ball, which i find quite convenient. i find it a bit expensive because even though the price isn't up there, the tube is a bit small. i've seen violet and red shades so far. i like the red shade a lot, it's cherry red that looks very sweet when blended out.

i know that there are other local brands out there, and i'd love to try and test them out. these cheap tints are really handy and worth your money. i wanted to try some of the more expensive brands, but Filipino mentality kicking in, we still prioritize the price. right ladies? who doesn't want a good deal these days? spend that hard-earned moolah on products that do their job without killing your cash cow.

spend the extra money on those expensive but trusted and utterly necessary products rather,

august 27 makeup loot

ack! i've been so out of it for the past two weeks or so. last i checked in, it was the middle of august. and now it's about to end, heralding the start of the -ber season and more importantly, Christmas festivites and cheer. (yes, Christmas season starts on the -ber months here at home!)

i haven't had any new products to try, because i've been blissfully in love with my NARS Orgasm blush, but when we had a Heroes Crazy Costume Day at work, i just had to have some new stuff. i picked Mulan as my hero, because i had this amjbitious idea of showing up to be a Chinese princess but i ended up looking like a giant sushi plate which consisted of a grand disaster in the form of an old red bathrobe over an old white night gown, black tights, black flats and a black sash.

you should have seen my face though, which was the only saving grace of my funny ensemble. and you should have seen my boss's reaction which was equal parts incredulity and hilarity. B was disappointed i didn't even take one picture. he needed a good laugh. but i just might get around to remaking it for my blog. hmmm.

i woke up early to get to the mall and grab some stuff. i needed to look pale, so i was scouring for a good porcelain finish foundation. i also needed some jet black eyeliner, a ruby red lip gloss and pink shimmery blush.

i ended up with these ultra-fab finds and i just dished out around Php 600.00. can you believe my good luck?! ooh la la.

1. E.L.F. Mineral Foundation in Fair, Php 299.00
2. E.L.F. All Over Color Stick in Pink Lemonade, Php 129.75
- i was a bit hesitant with the color, it appears to be a dark, fuchsia shade. but when i swatched it, it kinda looks familiar. a NARS Orgasm dupe perhaps? will post later. :)
3. Nichido Liquid Eyeliner, Php 68.00
- yes, frigging Php 68.00! it's the cheapest one there is, but it's such a solid product that it's a kikay kit staple. the applicator is soft and thin, the packaging saves a lot of space, and the product can last. super duper fab deal here.
4. Fashion 21 Color Lip Gloss in Shade #3, Php 100.00
- possibly my favorite discovery. it looks exactly red, so i picked it up to layer over my Nyx Snow White to get that perfect Mulan princess pout. but it takes on a pink tinge when applied. anyway, it's just for the shiny glossy effect, so i bought it anyway. i didn't plan on using it after our crazy day but can you believe it, it lasted almost 3-4 hours on my first try. it's too good to be true. i just love these cheap makeup/wonderful effects discoveries.

i'm also thinking about buying more E.L.F. products. they're quite affordable, and the shades look wearable. probably next shopping spree. cases in point: some rad reviews for E.L.F. Blush in Candid Coral (posted on temptalia as a NARS Orgasm dupe) and Tcikled Pink. we'll see.

hope you had a good august,


ps. i'll post pictures later. i haven't really gotten around to unloading my corby's memory card. whew!

MAC venomous villains: oh so poisonous

MAC is featuring a new collection in collaboration with Disney. as a true-blue Disney fanatic, this is makeup nirvana. the MAC Venomous Villains Collection is to-die-for, we just don't have it here in cebu.

i flipped over to Temptalia for the juicy details, and i'm in love with the whole range. my favorite would have to be the Evil Queen collection, featuring the poison apple-wielding queen. it's the fairest of them all, i have to say.

check out these pics i got from Temptalia...


fellow beauty blogger Ariel thinks that packaging is tacky. i don't at all. i think it's great! what do you think?


MAC Evil Queen Lipglass in Strange Potion(L) and Hot House (R). hot house is hot!


MAC Evil Queen Lipstick in Sinister and Toxic Tale. me likes sinister much! it doesn't look delectable but it looks great on lips...


and this is my favorite of them all: MAC Blush in Bite of An Apple. i can't get enough of blushes... sheesh...

having this collection would be my happily ever after... yum!

stay red,


ps. karen from my favorite makeup and beauty blog of all time, www.makeupandbeautyblog.com also did a post on this one. click HERE to catch some juicy tidbits about the MAC Venomous Villains Collection!

Nyx Lip Swatches

i'm a huge fan of NYX Round Lipsticks because they're such good, trusty lip colors for the price range. they glide on smoothly, and are absolutely creamy and there is a wide variety of shades to choose from. although it's not great for long-term wear as the color stays on my smackers for around 3 hours max, it's perfect for everyday perk-me-ups.

to date, i have 4 tubes in my kit. i do want more, but i wanted to try other lip products from other brands as well and that's why i don't have as many as i want to. besides, i'm still a noob in this makeup junkie world and 4 tubes is a good start. this range is a must-have for any makeup junkie, i'm sure.

i got my NYX Lippies from my makeup supplier over in FB, Yunique Shop. they're quite cheap, i wonder why they're not available in stores and such.

anyhow, on to my swatches! as i said, i currently have 4 tubes.




from l-r: Snow White, Tea Rose, Thalia and Hebe

Snow White - a gorgeous, bloody red great for elegant nights out or formal occasions. paired with toned down eye and cheek makeup, this would up the hotness scale by gazillions. turns you to instant vampirella babe.

Tea Rose - a sweet pink for casual afternoons with B

Thalia - an almost nude pink with blue tones great for corporate wear

here's a pic of me wearing Thalia...



Hebe - a deep fuchsia/red shade with shimmer that i alternate with Thalia for office days. i was a bit hesitant with this one because of the frosting, but it's great on lips.

my faves? Tea Rose...



and Snow White! here's a pic of me wearing absolutely no makeup except for Snow White. funny, i just woke up in this pic. where's my prince?!



i'm definitely ordering more Nyx lippies, around 2 or 3 a month! coming up, Circe! can't wait...

stay red!

NARS + Stila wishlist

after B, i guess my second love would be have to be makeup. and oh my lordie, i just can't get enough of the lovely products out there. i'm totally in love with my NARS Orgasm that i knew i just had to have more of the blushes from NARS. thank god for suppliers like mine, who offered to get me my NARS blushes at a discount. even though they're cheek heaven, they're just not good for your pocket.

i checked out the NARS website and am now officially lusting for these:


NARS in Nico - natural shade for a natural glow


NARS in Desire - a cotton candy pink for a sweet blush

me thinks of just buying one shade a month. that way i won't get broke and i won't get tired of them right away? just thinking.

i also checked out some Stila makeup after Karen of the Makeup and Beauty Blog posted a great review of the Stila Custom Color Blush.



the color isn't something i would normally want to put (i don't really feel the shade.) on my cheeks but after reading all the sci-fi descriptions and seeing the turnout on Karen's morena skin, i want to try it out for myself. i can't wait for the Stila section in the local mall to stock up on these. that would probably take months, but that only means i can still save up for it.

i'm also setting my sights on these other lovelies:
♥ NARS bronzing brush - the dome shape is just beautiful and i'm betting it would turn out great for me!
♥ Dashing Diva in Hell's Kitchen & Park Avenue Mistress - more red please.
♥ Stila Long Wear Liquid Lip Color in Caprice, Fiery & Petal - Fiery is another red that i would love to add to my red lippy collection. Caprice is a Barbie pink shade, and Petal would go great with my Nyx Tea Rose.
♥ OPI in Affair in Red Square & Malaga Wine - i just can't get enough of dark/blood red polish. i think it's the sexiest color out there.
♥ The Body Shop's Japanese Cherry Blossom Body Mist - pure sakura love. it sort of reminds me of my anime addiction days and mysteriously makes me feel like i'm a katana wielding character from Samurai X.
♥ Folded & Hung Fragrances in Stargazer or Ingenue - F&H has such affordable perfumes that i guess i'll be heading over this weekend to get my own bottles. i especially adore Stargazer because of its shimmer particles suspended in the perfume. so pretty.

*sigh* the list just goes on and on. if B knew about my beloved blog, he'd probably take note of this one and be my santa.

stay red,

a washed-out wednesday

it rained again today, just when i was about to head over to the mall to bring B some snacks (his office is just across a mall, can you frigging believe that?!) and pick up some goodies from my makeup supplier. B had a last-minute meeting though, so i ditched the snacks and went straight to my meetup. i picked up two new shades of my favorite Nyx Lippies, Hebe which is a sparkly dark fuchsia, and Tea Rose, a light shade of pink. i can't wait to swatch and try out my new lippies, but that will have to wait because as of now, nothing else touches my lips except Burt's Bees and Brad's Bees.

my makeup supplier carla, from the Yunique Shop over at facebook, also brought her onhand wares along with the preorders. it's one thing i love about this shop, you can just view the different makeup brand sites and order stuff for a fee and then she'll have it shipped to cebu. some makeup brands can't be procured in our little city, so having a supplier like carla is a huge sigh of relief for makeup junkies like myself who otherwise can't get their grubby paws on international brands. anyway carla had some other stuff that i now want to try out as well. i just have to do a little background research...

♥ it's one thing to look at lippy shades on the net, and a totally different experience trying it out for real. Nyx Round Lipstick in Circe looks pale on shade charts but otherwise looks like THE nude shade for me. i can't wait for my own tube this coming end of august.

♥ another kikayholic also recommended the Maybelline Volume Seduction Lip Plumper in Sand Castle as a solid lip plumper/gloss. i like the shade, but i really don't need a lip plumper or gloss because i have naturally plump lips and i have no plans of doing an angelina jolie-esque pout. (i'd look like a japanes koi.)

♥ Nyx has a new addition to their happy family of lip products. enter the Nyx Tinted Lip Spa, which is just fatter version of the round lipstick line. i have yet to browse around the web for reviews and such, but i'm lusting for two shades, Sake and Hush.

♥ i also got to try out a Nars Orgasm dupe in Milani Luminous. carla is still looking for a source, and i already cannot wait. impatient much?

okay enough about makeup for the day.

the early evening found me over at B's place to pick him up for dinner. (really.) and i just realized that i kind of miss quality time with my number one guy that i had so much fun applying my Burt's Bees on his brace-chapped lips. (i just can't get over the peppermint tingle.) i'm quite excited for all our future travels together because guess what, we both get regularized at work on the same day! can you believe the coincidence? it's another 'jai ho' moment for us. we've also planned to have the same vacation leaves. sweet huh? you can't help but feel the 'kilig' rush.

it's still my second day of work for the week and already i can't wait for the weekend. it's toy shopping with B this friday or saturday, and then a movie marathon that i hope won't be squashed. watch out for my nyx swatches and my nars orgasm try outs.

stay red and in love always,

mini NARS/Burt's Bees haul + wish list

so i went to the mall yesterday and ended up splurging on some stuff again. this time, i ended up with a new super love blush in NARS Orgasm. it may sound cliche but it's every bang worth your buck. and it doesn't come cheap either.




NARS Orgasm is this peachy pink shade with hints of shimmer. after testing it, i just look naturally flushed without going overboard. the blush doesn't look all that nice in the pan, but it's gorgeous once you apply it. and so without any second thoughts about how expensive it was (gulp!), i got my own pan, with a NARS Concealer Stick in Praline too. i'll show you guys some pics when i buy a memory card reader.

i also visited Beauty Bar yesterday during my splurge fest and got my own tube of cult-favorite Burt's Bees Lip Balm (the original). seriously, i can't imagine how the other flavors would go when the original is too good to be true. i absolutely adore the peppermint sting a few moments after you apply it, i love the cute yellow packaging (it was a toss up between the cute tube and the uber-cute tin but i find the tube more convenient.), and i'm crazy about the lasting moisturizing effect and the fact that it doesn't taste anything at all. plus, it's all natural and the packaging comes from recycled plastic. what's not to like and love about this baby?



ending up with these lovely products did much damage to my budget but that didn't stop me from setting my sights on some other lovelies too. when the next paycheck arrives, it's a beeline for these:

1. NARS Blush in Nico - it's a natural peach shade, which aside from peachy pink, i also hoard up on. it's a total coincidence that it's the same name as my good friend, but i really want to have this baby too.



2. Model Co. Cheek + Lips in Rose Red - i'm a huge fan of lip and cheek tints and this is the top of the food chain in that department. i tested some on my hand and it lasted that whole afternoon and evening! with that staying power, i cannot not have one tube. the pink/white packaging is super chic too. but for all it's worth, the pocket damage is serious!



3. Canus Goat's Milk Lip Balm - certified lip balm addict that i am, i also cannot turn a blind eye to good balms that are affordable. if you can't go the extra mile for a tube of Bees, then go for this one.



more to come:
- my new Nyx Lippies in Hebe and Tea Rose
- my favorite new local brand
- starting an addiction to face masks and spa treatments
- and food sampling at Tablea and Japengo

stay red with lots of mwahs,

maybelline lash stiletto

Lash Stiletto Ultimate Length Washable Mascara claims to be the hottest thing that your lashes will wear. according to the Maybelline website, it does to your lashes what stilettos do to your feet, which i have no inkling what exactly. (i'm not such a huge fan of stilettos.)

as quoted from the website:
- The Grip & Extend brush grasps each lash and coats from every angle
- Elastic formula stretches lashes for provocative length
- Pro-Vitamin B-5 formula conditions and smoothes for black-patent shine
- Contact lens safe and Ophthalmologist tested

when my online makeup supplier in Facebook, Yunique Shop, got this product available, i did some research. i found lots of good reviews so i immediately ordered one tube since i love the Maybelline Volume Express Hypercurl Mascara. lesson learned: brands cannot be entirely trusted.

anyway, on to my findings:
i love this product because...
...the wand is absolutely wonderful. the clump-free claim is so so so true.
...lash length is definitely improved.
...it doesn't smear much or run off when i wash my face, unlike other brands i know that run like ink when hit with water.
...it subtly dramatizes your lashes. i can't really pinpoint a hug difference, but i know something looks better with my lashes.

i don't like this product because...
...it doesn't hold up the curl unlike Volume Express.

this product was a major disappointment for me, even though the only thing wrong with it is that it doesn't hold the curl. being born with thick and long lashes, i don't really need mascara that much. some people have even commented that i always look like i'm wearing falsies. BUT! i have ramrod straight lashes that need all the help just to look curled. that's why i prefer mascaras that can hold the curl. i probably won't repurchase, and i'm using it to lengthen my lashes on top of Volume Express.
it's still a bargain though, it cost me Php380.00.

have any of you used Lash Stiletto? how did it work for you?

stay red,
Ranyah

*will definitely post a picture of me wearing the product sometime*
*picture from Maybelline website*

etude house wishlist

as my first post, i'll be writing about one of my loves in life. and no, i'm not talking about my boyfriend. i'm talking about makeup! it's every girl's real best friend, because i wholeheartedly believe that every girl has the animal right to make herself beautiful. so go makeup.

the popular korean cosmetics brand Etude House recently opened a new branch in our local mall here in cebu. i haven't visited sm in months, and i only read about this in ate mikki's blog. (one of my faves, oh yes!) i did some background research on the products, and here's a list of what i'm currently lusting for from their product lines:

1. Lovely Cookie Blush in Rose or Lovely Pink


2. Dear Darling Lip Tint in Berry Red


3. Eyelash Curler


4. Blush Brush


i'm not sure what i'll end up with when i finally exit Etude House this weekend, but i sure do hope it won't damage my pocket too much! :) just to be safe, i'll bring my boyfriend along to try and stop me.

do you guys know any good reviews or products from Etude House? lemme know!

stay red,
Ranyah

*all photos from Etude House website*