Thank you, everybody for a wonderful year of fabulous blogging! Since the first birthday, My Makeup Blog has grown beyond my imagination. I get to know many new people and become good friends with some old acquaintances (I ain't say you're old, I just meant we've known each other for a very long time :]) As always, I enjoy reading and replying your comments, emails, and tweets.
Lately, I've been surprised at how good drugstore makeup has become. Because of that, I haven't purchased any department store makeup for a long time. Well, that and the fact that I have an Etsy store that sells mineral makeup.
I was very excited when Gucci Westman, the former International Artistic Director of Lancome, moved to Revlon. During her reign at Lancome, Ms. Westman took Lancome to a new height with new formulas and interesting collections (remember that Thakoon for Lancome collection, anyone?) When she became the Global Artistic Director of Revlon, she brought in a lot of new things.
Before, Revlon was kind of boring: this brand has some seriously good products but lacks variety and creativity. At some point, I thought Revlon became a brand for senior citizens only.
And then came a big revamp. Revlon came out with three different formulas for their single eye shadows in the Luxurious Color line: perl (pearl), matte, and satin. Each will cost you around $4-5 at the drugstore. I got Black Galaxy for 99 cents when Walgreens had a discount and I got a coupon.
Revlon Luxurious Color Perle eyeshadow in Black Galaxy
It's Bonus Time at Formula D Minerals! From now until July 14th, for each purchase $10 or above before shipping and handling, you are going to receive a bonus eyeshadow of your choice. It's a sweet deal, everyone, and please take advantage of it.
Please specify the color you want in the comment section when you check out. If you choose not to pay with credit card or paypal, please clear it with me first. Your order may be delayed if you choose to pay with check, though.
The swatches of all the colors from Formula D Minerals are here. Happy shopping and thank you in advance for your patronage.
Happy Monday! I guess I'm kind of late to report about the on-going Victoria's Secret Semi-Annual Sale. This year, I have what I need in the underwear department so I didn't go to the sale for that. However, I crashed the sale for these Beauty Rush chubby eye sticks:
Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Chubby Eye Sticks
(Top-bottom): Glampagne, Green Gleam, Pink Flash, and Bronzilliant
Wanna know what I think about these chubby sticks? Wanna see the swatch? Jump!
Last weekend, I cried my eyeballs out. You see, I made a huge mistake of watching "The Time Traveler's Wife", thinking it was a light-hearted chick flick. No ma'am, it anything but a chick flick that you can watch and forget. This movie is actually very thought provoking. Also, it's a tear jerker.
While watching the movie, I could not get my head out of the fact that Rachel McAdams's makeup is really awesome in that movie. She wore mostly neutrals for both her clothes and makeup, yet she looked so fabulous.
First of all, please don't forget to enter my giveaway with Hairtag. It's a Twitter giveaway, which is super easy to do. Click here if you haven't entered it yet.
Now, let us continue with part 2 of the Z Mei Skincare System review. This time around, we are going to talk about the moisturizers. There are 3 of them: replenishing daily moisturizer, regenerating night treatment, and correcting eye serum
The one thing I learned about Z Mei's facial moisturizer is not to apply it on dry skin. The Replenishing Daily Moisturizer and the Regenerating Night Treatment are thick. In order to dilute them, I spray the facial toner on my clean face before applying the cream. That way, I make sure not to use too much products.
I'm back! For days now, the heat has been pummeling my neck of the woods and all I want to do is to fill up a cooler with ice and sleep in it. Usually, around this time of the year, my skin would go crazy. All the efforts to restore my skin to its pristine condition since I was born are wasted. The heat and humidity are perfect for zits to sprout. I dreaded for it. Yet, this time around I'm happy to report that my skin is still clear and smooth.
About a month ago, a publicist for Z Mei contacted me and asked me if I wanted to receive some of the skincare products to review. After some deliberation and trips to Mount Google, I decided to take a risk and agreed to try out the skincare products from this new brand. Z Mei is a skincare and body care line with products formulated by Dr. Janet Zand, a well-known herbologist, naturopath, and acupuncturist. What got me to try this skincare line is her commitment to create "a skin therapy system that treats the skin's needs without disturbing the skin's delicate natural balance."
My acne-prone sensitive skin is difficult to deal with and when that time of the month rolls around, no amount of salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide can stop the zit beast. Maybe homeopathy is something I should look into.
'Sup? I don't know why but I've been so grumpy lately. And my attitude cost me dearly. Before I said something, please don't blame it on the mamarazzi. Blame it on the scorching weather outside that makes it impossible to stay cool. I am up to a vacation at the Arctic. Ok, Antarctica would be fine, too. Anywhere but this Sunshine State, this scorching weather, and this oil spill.
Another day, another giveaway. This time around, the kind folks at Hairtag are going to sponsor two of their awesome products to one lucky reader. If you haven't read my review on Hairtag yet, click here. This is a Twitter competition so it's super easy and opens to U.S and Canadian residents.
The prize: a package with 2 pieces of basic hairtag and a package of the Bling Bling silver bow hairtag. They are handy velcro-like items to help you keep the hair away from your face when you wash your face or apply makeup.
The weather has been so hot and humid lately. I feel like melting all the time. However, it does not stop me from doing a smokey eyes look. I blame my friend M for it. She showed up in one of our writing workshops with a Wet n Wild black eye and body liner stick and a black lipstick. They were from last Halloween's collection and Publix put them on sale for a quarter each. By the time I got there to search for them, only the stick was available. Nevertheless, it was a good purchase and it reminds me of MAC greasepaint stick a lot.
Smoke Out FOTD. It's smoke-licious!
What I used:
Art Deco eyeshadow primer
Rimmel London Glam'Eyes in Midnight Jewel
WnW Fantasy Makers Enchanting Body Wand (or MAC greasepaint stick in Slick Black)
Everyday Minerals blush in Wet Sand
Rimmel Max Volume Flash mascara
L'Oreal HiP eyeliners in Black Shock and Gold Charge
About 3 months ago, the folks from Hairtag sent me their products to review. Why it took me so long to write this review still eludes me. To be fair, their products are kind of cute and helpful, although I don't seem to use them as much. This product originated from Japan and is very popular in Asia.
It's your home kitty Belly again. No, don't even try to call me that. "Home Kitty" is strictly reserved for the mamarazzi. She gave me a whole bunch o' nicknames beside "Home Kitty" and "el Gato Supremo". The later I like, makes me feel powerful and stuff. But let's not talk about my nicknames today, ok? Because I have something to show you.
It's bow day! Do you like my bandana bow? Well, the mamarazzi made it :)
She has danger in her eyes. Who is she?
Daozilla!
Mwhahahaha! You don't think I'm not gonna post this picture, don't you? Love the smokey eyes, though. So don't cut me off, ok?
Hahaha! In yo' face, a bow in yo' face!
I have to admit, the mamarazzi is acting stranger and stranger. I hope the raccoon that infested my tummy left her alone.
To infinity and beyond!
Oh no! Not Whatshisface, too! The whole house caught bow fever already. What's the cure?
Make more bandana bows *grin* Instruction from la Cheesie, I wonder if she can give me a piece of her cheese.
Health update:
Thank you for all the comments from my previous post. I'm feeling a lot better now. However, the mamarazzi put me on a strict diet (Dao: no, he di-dn't!) See, she watched this thing on TV about obese pets and she was afraid I would be obese as well. The thing is, I'm big bone. Like, really big bone. I'm not kidding, the vet assistant thought I was a bob cat or something. I'm that big. But I may never get my keg belly back again. I have to learn to love my flatten body and it's hard, y'all! I don't know how runway models can live, especially when it's cold outside.
Newest picture of moi, taken by la mamarazzi
She did her makeup and it took forever. Since I can't hurry her, I decided to take a nap anyways. I love napping!
Friday Trivia: watch the video below and tell me if you see anything strange, ok?
Did you see it? Or more correctly, did you hear it? Clue: what did Jackie Chan say to Jaden Smith?
Answer: I will teach you Kung-fu.
And what's the title of this movie again? "The Karate Kid"!!! And it's a remake, man! They didn't get the title right the first time, why do they have to change it now? Besides, Kung-fu and Karate are similar, right?
Wrong, absolutely wrong! But I'll probably use my invisible cloak and hitch a ride to the movie theater to watch it, though. I like that lil' cat Jaden Smith. He can absolutely cry in that movie with his dad. What's it called again? "The Pursuit of Happyness".
Also, Dao, I mean, mommy! Can I haz this pet hat pleez? I promise I won't chew on your book *big fat puppy eyes*
Love, peace, and tuna fish,
Mr. Belly, aka el Gato Supremo
Ever since I started wearing makeup again in 2007, I always looked for an eyeshadow called "Blue Steel". That, of course, came from an obsession after watching "Zoolander", which I believe is the best comedy about male models and fashion ("Hansel, so hot right now!")
Blue Steel, baby!
To commemorate Derek Zoolander's signature look, I set foot forward to created a color named "Blue Steel" for Formula D Minerals. I wore this look to a party and got a lot of compliments on it.
What you need (products from Formula D minerals unless otherwise noted):
MAC Blacktrack gel liner and slanted eyeliner brush
L'Oreal 6hrs plumping lip gloss in Plumped Pink
Essence Kajal eyeliner in Cool Breeze
Optional: peach concealer for under eye dark circles
Brushes: kabuki brush from Swirled Cosmetics, foundation brush (to use with concealer), ELF eyeshadow brush, EcoTools crease and highlight brush, and Sonia Kashuk slanted eyeshadow brush
Recently, the lovely Franchesca sent me her newest premium small dual fiber brush and I was elated. Being a fan of her Ingenue sleek dual fiber brush, I was even more than happy to learn that the premium dual fiber brush is made of 100% fiber. Yes, both the black and white bristles are synthetic. And boy oh boy, isn't this brush soft!
Adorned with Grace Minerals Premium Small Dual Fiber Brush ($16.99 USD)
Unlike the Ingenue sleek brush, this brush arrived in a brush guard and plastic pouch, which is a nice touch. The handle is made of wood and painted black, giving you a sturdy grip.
How was your weekend? Mine included rain, rain, and more rain. Therefore, the plan to go to the beach was pretty much done. Also, the spilled oil in the Gulf area made it hard to enjoy the beach these days. I wonder how St. George Island is doing these days.
To substitute for the lack of chillaxing, I've put Victoria's Secret Island Escape sheer fragrance mist in heavy use these days. This is a part of Victoria's Secret's new Secret Moments body care line. It is a warm exotic sugary scent that reminds me so much of what's going on after a trip to the beach. This was billed as a "beachy coconut and sugar cane" scent and it does just that.
Victoria's Secret Island Escape sheer fragrance mist
This scent is really uncomplicated: it's just sweet and yummy, veering more toward vanilla with a tiny touch of coconut. It's not so much of a coconut scent to make it a gourmand fragrance though, it's just enough to make Island Escape smell like a vacation in a bottle.
It's Friday! Did you notice the mamarazzi move my slot again? I used to write on Tuesday, then she moved me to Wednesday, and now I have Friday. Oh well, it's better than not having a day at all. She told me Wednesday is prime real estate and I got that slot to develop my fan base. Yeah, right, like raccoons would read my post or something!
Talking about raccoons, here's something I've gotta tell you. Yours truly has been unwell thanked to a rabid raccoon in the area. You see, la mamarazzi fed me food by filling a bowl and left it outside her apartment. A couple of months ago, this stupid raccoon came out of the woods and started eating my food. At first, I didn't mind because that was the yucky chicken. But then, there was this mysterious disease happened to the raccoon community and I was infected via the bowl.
This is my "before" picture. I was a voluptuous divo and I heart Vaseline Sheer Infusion
We're getting closer and closer to the weekend but it feels like I have a lot of things to do. Lately, I've been into the new Rimmel London products. This is my second post of the week featuring Rimmel (the first one is here.) Although summer is not officially here yet, I feel the urge to apply colorful makeup and have fun with it. The new Rimmel London eyeshadow singles and blush trios are really pigmented and affordable. I pair them with NYC Iced Orchid to amp up the colorful factor without making it look tacky.
Posh Peacock FOTD
What I used: Rimmel London Glameyes in Posh Peacock and Midnight Jewel, blush in Autumn Catwalk, NYC liquid lip shine in Iced Orchid, gold Wet n Wild eyeliner, Art Deco eyeshadow primer, CoverGirl Volume Exact mascara, MAC Studio Finish concealer and Blacktrack Fluidline, Formula D minerals foundation, The Ultimate Powder, and a variety of makeup brushes.
I love love love baked mineral makeup. I can't get enough of them but the thing is sometimes them baked goodies contain bismuth oxychloride. And you know how much my skin like bismuth oxychloride. Right, I'm being sarcastic here. If that ingredient touches my skin, I am going to scratch it raw. Yup, I'm one of the lucky people who have skin allergic reaction to bismuth oxychloride.
That's how MAC mineralize products are out of my list. And it's an agony because I really love them. When Maybelline New York released their new EyeStudio products, I was excited! The stuff really looks a lot like MAC mineralize eyeshadow duos but it's a whole arm and a leg cheaper. Despite the whole Asian eye controversy back in February, I decided to buy the stuff.
What I bought: Maybelline New York EyeStudio in Carbon Frost
Look how lovely it is? Is it a hit or a miss? Find out after the jump!
How are you doing? Yesterday, I took time off to do some sleuthing on my own. Lately, a nude grey nail polish has driving me nuts, especially after I saw Angelina Jolie wearing it on the red carpet. Now, those who have followed my blog for a while know how close I live to Target (walking distance, y'all!) After a bit of picking, I found two eligible candidates: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Commander in Chic and Rimmel London Long Lasting Finish Pro in Steel Grey.
(L-R): Commander in Chic and Steel Grey
Nail polishes with respective finger swatch. Commander in Chic on the left and Steel Grey on the right.
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