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!

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,