The western beauty blogosphere has gone ballistic over the recent news of the Urban Decay Build Your Own Palette which I mentioned awhile back. This took hold especially since a select handful of bloggers including Refinery29‘s articulate chief beauty editor, Megan, raved and swooned over the system and newly refined UD eyeshadow shades with their beautiful, dainty hands. The way Megan introduced the palette with refined, relaxed flair kind of made me revisit my strange fascination with composed stewardesses demonstrating the use of the on-board life jacket…I always have to watch and I don’t know why, LOL! The customize your own palette concept is practical, sensible, not unheard of (with MAC depotting etc) and the fact that you can build a transient collection of eyeshadow shades without having them all on hand all the time is quite appealing. The fact that you can switch up the contents of your palette with ease is the ultimate thrill because of the freedom to chase down shades you want to slide into the system as your preference evolves. Three days ago now I came across a product by a different brand, ArtDeco, that not only made me shriek on the spot while scaring the saleslady at Beauty Bar but it also made me discover a collection of some of the best single eyeshadows I’ve ever tried or touched…in my entire life.
The shades I chose for my ArtDeco Magnum palette are obviously very inspired by the first and second UD Naked palettes and by Megan’s UD build your own palette, but I made sure that these colors looked great on my skin first.
The local buzz is out that ArtDeco, the internationally beloved mid-range German cosmetics brand, has arrived in Manila and made its home in Beauty Bar. I was not at the ArtDeco launch, but in a way was glad that it left me the freedom to choose what I wanted when I went over to Beauty Bar to check out what was available. ArtDeco ALMOST made me wish I hadn’t asked my aunt to get the Naked2 palette, just almost. The Beauty Box Magnum system is that impressive. Like the Urban Decay Build Your Own palette you choose the eyeshadow shades you want and put it into a travel-happy system. What’s so wonderful with ArtDeco though is their BeautyBox Magnum system comes in mirrored 2-pan (Php295), 4-pan (Php500+), and 12-pan (Php650) magnetic empty palette options. I chose the latter to see if I could pitch it for comparison vs. both Naked palettes and the Build Your Own system by Urban Decay. Read more to see swatches and the full post.
…hang on to your butts, clutch your pigtails, close your eyes…at the same time… *drumroll. The winner of a new set of Real Techniques brushes plus a Php500 voucher from House of Flair is…
Congratulations to ELINOR SEMIRA aka @mhoie1325 on Twitter! Please DM me at @blessmybag or email me your shipping details to probinsiyana(at)gmail(dot)com and I shall forward it to Suyen of House of Flair, she will be sending out your Real Techniques brushes as promptly as possible.
Thank you everyone for joining this lovely giveaway and showing support for the House of Flair venture which is such a lovely business. I’m so happy a pre-ordering service like them exists. I feel less detached from everything available in the U.S. now. Of course when one giveaway ends, another begins on this blog so keep your eyes peeled for the next one, ladies! Oh and if you haven’t followed @houseofflair on Twitter, even if you didn’t make it to this giveaway please do and spread the love .
Last April 3 Instagram for Android was released. I couldn’t have been more thrilled because it’s my birthday month! Move over, Apples, time for this ‘Droid to make a mark. If you’ve got Instagram follow me now @ blessmybag if you like.
These are just a few things I recently posted on Instagram. I’m still getting the hang of it, some of these have photo loss artifacts/errors due to 2 compression passes from layering app exports, won’t do that again as much as possible. I’ve also downloaded the Android apps “PhotoGrid” and more recently “Camera 360″ which was recommended to me by Xander Angeles.
I’ve only confirmed from another source online, Atelier Beauty blog which is Singaporean, that this lovely Laura Mercier limited edition Portfolio collection arrived on their counters last March 2012, I haven’t yet confirmed whether this collection will wash up on Philippine shores or is already available locally. Info posted is referenced from Atelier Beauty’s FB page.
Laura Mercier Custom Artist Portfolio for Home & Away
- Designed with a rigid outer shell case wrapped in metallic, pewter snakeskin material - Includes four multi-size mesh cosmetic bags, easily removable with built in magnets - Features a unique pocketed brush page - Two refillable 6 and 3-well Custom Compacts that hold your favorite eye, cheek and lip godets
Limited Edition collection set to hit counters this March.
Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colour A micro-fine, innovative pressed powder that delivers natural colour and unprecedented wear with extreme comfort.
Available in five NEW, permanent shades: Heather Pink, Peach Whisper, Soft Iris, Honey Mocha, Sweet Mandarin
Laura Mercier Sheer Crème Colour *limited edition* A crème face colour that provides a soft veil of colour for a “bonne mine” (healthy glow) effect.
Available in three shades: Pearl Glow Veil, Pink Cheek Veil, Bronze Veil
Laura Mercier Lip Glaze *limited edition* A lip gloss that provides sheer colour and shine to lips.
Available in three shades: Soft Pink, Plum, Lotus Bloom
Laura Mercier Eye Colour *limited edition*
Available in three shades: Merlot Sateen, Golden Crème Luster, Seashell Pink Sateen
Oho! I’ve got a whopper of a post for you, Ladies this time. This is a “sponsored” review in that the product set for review AND the giveaway prizes are provided by pre-ordering business, House of Flair. Thanks again, Suyen! We’ll have a little bit of words somewhere in the middle or towards the end on why House of Flair is such a great business initiative for women like us who love playing with cosmetics, but for now, I have to show and tell…just a little bit because I nearly squealed when Suyen emailed me wanting to sponsor this giveaway for all of you, because that hasn’t happened a lot yet on this site. I squeaked even louder when she mentioned what was preselected from her on-hand items for the giveaway and what I could choose to review. These Real Techniques Brushes only happen to be part of the actual affordable but pro brush range designed by one of the UK’s YouTube Pixiwoo sisters, Samantha Chapman who has had over 10 years of professional experience with MAC and more as a professional makeup artist. The Pixiwoo sisters, Sam and Nicola only happen to be somewhat like the Michelle Phan phenomenon but in the U.K. and with the difference being they’re truly professional makeup artists, when they say in a video that a product is “bloody good” women have been said to literally flee their homes to head for the nearest makeup counter to purchase it. When Suyen said I could review a set of these for myself in addition to the giveaway I nearly fell off my seat.
“My travel essentials provide everything you need to create flawless looks at home and away. Look pixel perfect even in harsh light. The brushes are made of ultra plush Taklon (synthetic fiber making it ideal for dry or wet products).” The set also comes with a Panoramic Case which functions as a dual carrier and stand and keeps brushes organized on your counter or on the go, I love this case thingy for retouches on set, I pull what brushes need from my gi-mongous pro kit put it into this velcro strapped roll and track the models I have to retouch with every take.
L-R: Multi Task Brush – For effortless application of powder, blush, and bronzer, Essential Foundation Brush – Build flawless custom coverage with liquid foundation or concealer, Domed Shadow Brush – Tapered design smoothly shades and defines eyes (but the Pixiwoos use this more often for concealer under the eyes).
Here’s a video tutorial of Samantha’s sister, Nicola doing smoky makeup on an Asian friend of theirs who looks quite Filipina actually (not quite sure if she is) which is why I picked this tutorial in addition to it being the latest one uploaded (and it also happens to be one of the few where they’re doing makeup on someone else). You may see some of the Real Techniques brushes I mentioned used here and you’ll see the other Real Techniques brushes that aren’t part of this set which might also get you interested in owning a few more. They’re currently available only in the U.S., and UK from the RealTechniques.com website if I’m not mistaken.
This travel essentials brush set has brushes with slightly shorter handles for easy transport. The other collections like the Core/Base Brush set and single brushes for purchase come with slightly longer handles for better control. Read more to get to the full post and giveaway mechanics!
I wrote this draft in January and forgot about it, so now I am finishing it because I started thinking about these brushes again. I’ve invested a lot of money to uproot myself from one career to another. When I chose to do professional makeup after 7 years of digital post production for TVCs one thing that frustrated me every time I would do research was the cost of good, professional makeup brushes. If you’ve been inside a M.A.C. store you know what I mean. I’ve worked with Suesh brushes as well (which I recommend for beginner artists) and Sigma brushes also do the job nicely but quite a number of Sigma’s brushes tend to SHED like pets after a several uses (actually even some MAC brushes do, too). Becca brushes are exquisite as well, but cost a fortune. As an artist I’m particular about how a brush APPEARS to me, I’m not drawn toward the likes of pink, aqua, or purple when it comes to makeup brush colors simply because they don’t look professional to me. Online, I’ve just come across a lesser known brand, Bdellium Tools, from California. I couldn’t believe it, on my brush checklist this brand ticked every box, affordability, appearance, and evident professional quality, but their range of tools also have a brilliant bonus, some of their brushes are even antibacterial. They remind me of how professional the Make Up For Ever brushes also look.
Today is the 1 year anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. It’s difficult for a lot of people to swallow that a year has already passed since that terrible tragedy and Japan, one of the world’s superpower nations, is still reeling from the devastation. I needed to take a moment and remember the depth, excellence, and focus with which the Japanese do ALMOST EVERYTHING in their daily lives even when it comes to the simplest, smallest things. I saw this packet of beauty paper by the checkout counter at Beauty Bar and first scoffed at the price (Php595.00 for 30 sheets) because I thought it was ridiculously priced for what I thought was a beauty trifle. Tatcha is a U.S. brand that distributes this finely made Japanese product.
I was so scandalized by the price in spite of its eye-candy packet that I even threw a quick, cheap remark at it via the saleslady (because I’m quick to judge that way, sadly, workin’ on it), but I hadn’t read what was inside before I did. Read more to get the full post.
My, my we’ve got lots of giveaways happening this year. Make way for another one then, my Summer Retweet NATIONWIDE Giveaway (hehe, get it…retreat/retweet, *cough). This coming March 25 it will be BlessMyBag’s 2nd Anniversary since my first Lanolips Review in 2010 which was even still on Blogger at the time. Wow, it’s still pretty hard to believe the blog has come this far from whence it came. God is truly awesome since the blog is my baby as a professional makeup artist who officially does TV Commercial shoots now. I’d also like to do this as a thank you to all my lovely readers without whom the blog would not be where it is today.
ROW 2 (L-R):White Tea Aloe Shampoo & Conditoner (Westin Hotel Malaysia), A’postrophe Tweezer and Nail Clipper, Haus of Gloi Eggnoggin Bubbling Scrub and Parkin Pumpkin Butter (Expiry in bout 1 year, I opened them to check they still smell awesome)
Read More to see close-up photos of the prizes and learn how to join this giveaway. Mechanics at the bottom of the post. Please, please don’t rush and read the mechanics thoroughly .
That well-known Beauty Blender sponge that lots of MUA professionals swear by is way overpriced locally. Here, it can cost up to nearly Php2000.00 at Rustans or other retail outlets. When you factor in customs and importation tax fees and boutique rental fees it really makes all the difference in the price hike of that beloved sponge that actually costs only $19.95 or about Php900.00 in the U.S. online. Over a month ago when I was on ebay.ph I spotted an extremely identical pink sponge in an adorable box and noted that it was by Etude House, a mega-Korean makeup brand. I told myself then that I would have to pay that sweet dolly pink shop a visit ASAP to get one, but I never latch on to sudden yearnings like that unless it’s TRULY something necessary, so I became busy and forgot about it. I had a few good reminders though in the last month, and I picked one up today at Festival Mall, Alabang (there’s also an Etude House in Megamall) knowing I’d need it, since I’ve already entered the realm of TVC industry makeup with the completion of my first shoot last week. It’s the most adorable thing and that box, oooooh…that box, I tell you, is a really smart yet foolproof idea which leads you from point A to point B, point A=Awwww! to point B=Buy.
I remembered that I was looking for this when I recently worked with Lala Flores as a support MUA on the project team at a TVC shoot and she was using the original Beauty Blender which she absolutely loves to use but will only buy in the States because it’s cheaper. Then my friend Martha, aka TheBeautyJunkee, also recently picked one up from Etude House Market Market and posted it. Thanks for the reminder, Martha .
As you can clearly see, it’s practically made from the same kind of dense foam as the beauty blender, only denser and ever so slightly firmer. Read more to get the full post and all my first impressions on this cute Beauty Blender Dupe by Etude House.
I’d never walked into A’postrophe before, that store on the 3rd level of Glorietta 4, until two days ago when I met up with Kira of kira-ramirez.com and Alex of Reluctant Stylista. It’s not a new store, it’s been around for about a little over two years I estimate. It’s a wonderland of knick-knacks and artsy-fartsy items that are not “corny” and neither are they the usual useless types of trinkets and/or “abubot”. Essentially, it strikes me as a far more interesting gift shop than Tickles. I saw these lovely ladies standing side by side in one row and thought they were too cute not to pick up, uh…I didn’t mean that the way it sounded, pun super not intended. They come with many different stylish ladies, probably bout 4 or more for each tool, which I think are possibly mass mechanically “airbrushed” onto an enameled base over the steel and there are also nail files in the lot but I chose not to get one since my nail file at home works perfectly fine still. These remind me of items by the European brand Pylones which I first saw years ago when I worked part time as a cashier in my Tita’s former Home Accessories shop in Hamburg, Germany.
There’s nothing like sparking the mediocre tasks you do with some charm and cuteness. Clip your nails and tweeze your brows using these and psychologically ignite some girl power in you. I thought that these lovely lady nail clippers and tweezers were an absolute “SDeal” at Php75 and Php59 and guess what, I already know what you’re thinking, that they probably don’t tweeze and cut well at all. You know what…that’s where you’re wrong, both are heavy in make and tightly assembled and the ones I got function fabulously. Read more to see the full post with my thoughts on these cutesy patootsies.
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