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 NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint | LA Girl Pro Conceal | Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

I'm back after almost six months of hiatus. I just haven't been in the right zone to post anything. I guess being pregnant can do that. And to be honest, I haven't been wearing makeup these past months because my skin was really, really bad during the first trimester. It has started to calm down a little so I'm able to wear makeup without fearing it'll get worse.

I thought today I'd post about my current base products. These aren't new products except for the skin tint so they shouldn't be hard to find.

LA Girl Pro Conceal concealer in Creamy Beige - I start with this product because it's good at covering red blemishes and acne scars which I have a lot of. It's more on the peachy/yellowy side so it's also good at covering dark circles. I basically apply this all over my chin, my nose and forehead where I have a lot of red marks. Then under my eyes. It has a brush tip that's not the softest but makes it easy to apply the product to the skin.

NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint in Groenland Light 3 - I got this product as a birthday gift to myself last February and it's the only base product I've used. It lives in my daily makeup bag. It has SPF 30 too which makes it a two in one product. I apply this using my fingers and blend using a sponge (I blend all the products mentioned in this post with a Real Techniques sponge, except the powder which comes with its own sponge). The finish is velvet matte, not too flat and has no shine at all. On a good day, I can get away with just this and LA Girl concealer on my skin.

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Fair - I don't use this product everyday, only when I want to highlight. I apply this in a reverse triangle shape below my eye, on my forehead, chin and down the bridge of my nose then I blend with a sponge.

L'Oreal Mat Magique BB veil - I am a powder girl for life, I can't leave the house without a powder product in my bag. This is the one I've been using lately because it provides coverage. During the middle of the day, the skin tint and concealer will usually fade around my T-zone area and this powder helps control the oil and add coverage. Win win.

I've been using these products for about two months now and I'm still very happy with the finish it gives. On weekends, I switch the NARS tint with the Sheer Glow foundation and keep everything else the same.

2015 Favorites - Face products

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One word: cream. 2015 is the year I've finally admitted to myself that I prefer cream products when it comes to blush, bronzer and highlight. I still like my powder products and since I live in the tropics, there are days when I can't wear cream products. But if I had my way, it's all I'm going to use.

My favorite cream blushes are from Illamasqua, Bourjois and Topshop. But if it's value for money, I would go for the Bourjois and Topshop ones. The Illmasqua one is just too huge and I don't see myself ever finishing it. The texture of the two are very similar. They're cream to powder types that lasts all day on the cheeks. They also have a wide range of shades from nude to pink to red! One product from Topshop that I became obssessed with are their cheek jellys. It's a cream blush that's more liquid than the regular cream blush. It doesn't turn to powder to keeps your cheeks looking dewy. I have this in a pretty berry color called Sibling which was such a favorite, it lived in my bag for more than a month.

For highlight, I always go back to this tiny pot of cool highlight from Topshop called Glow. It's a white iridescent color that works well with my skin tone. I like to wear it on its own or sometimes I use it to amp up my more subdued highlighters.

Come back tomorrow for my favorite products for the eyes!

2015 Favorites - Base

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I know, I know. It's almost the end of the month and I've only started posting about my favorites from 2015. I don't know what to say except this month has been bonkers. I will try to do better with my posting schedule and hopefully February will be much better.

But let's get cracking with the products! I thought I'd break the products down into base, face, eyes and lips. Let's start with base. The only primer I've used consistently in 2015 is the Clinique Skin Primer. I prefer it to the Benefit one because it doesn't ball up. I do notice that it keeps my foundation on longer than when I don't use it. Since you also only need a small amount, this tube is going to last a long time. For foundation, I will give this to the L'Oreal Infallible 24H-Matte. I have oily skin so more often than not, I will reach for this on a day to day basis. It's a matte foundation that is also able to make the skin look smooth and not flat.  I have a new concealer love right now but I have to consider the one that I've reached for the most for the year. And that is Maybelline Anti-Age Rewind Concealer which I am almost out of. It blends easily and brightens the undereye area. It's not ideal for blemished though and for that I use the NARS Radiant Creamy concealer (not pictured). For powder, I don't even have to say it but look at how well loved that Rimmel Stay Matte powder is. The cover broke so I had to tape it so I can still use it. I already have a back up of this. This powder does not keep me matte all day but it's a good one for when you want to touch up throughout the day. It doesn't cake and the transparent shade is just shade, it doesn't add extra coverage that you don't need.

Come back tomorrow for my face product favorites!

2015 Christmas Gifts

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Not quite ready to move on to new things for 2016 so for the new few days, my posts are still going to be related to 2015. Starting with what I got for Christmas - the beauty related bits. Some of these I asked for while the others are nice surprises.

Diptyque Baies (Berries) Candle - If I didn't get this as a gift, I would have gotten one for myself. This blog is named after berries so it's only a matter of time until I got this. This is now sitting on my vanity table which makes me super happy whenever I sit there to put on my makeup.

"Closely related to the eau de toilette L'Ombre dans l'Eau, it expresses the irresistible freshness of a bouquet of roses, sweetened with blackcurrant leaves."

Laura Mercier Warm Roasted Chestnuts Candle - I finally finished the fig candle I got in 2014 (I think) so I added a LM candle in my wishlist. This year's candle is a different scent - very warm and woodsy. It might not be to everyone's taste but I like the strong scent. I have this in my bathroom and it's what I burn together whatever vanilla scented candle I have when I take a bath.

Diptique Geranium Odorate Rollerball - I ran out of my Jo Malone Wood Sage and Sea Salt spray so I needed a new perfume to have in my bag. I got this last year and I wanted to get it again because I love the scent. When I run out of this small rollerball. I will have to buy the big bottle.

L'Occitane Pamplemousse Rhubarbe hand cream and lip balm - I have not used the balm yet but the hand cream is super nice and travel friendly. I feel like like any product from this brand is always a nice gift to receive.

2015 Skin Saviours

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Happy 2016 everyone!

Before we go ahead with fresh new things for the year, I wanted to give a shoutout to the products that saved my skin in 2015. I never really had a lot of skin problems throughout the year as I was very good with my skincare habits. I removed my makeup every night (properly with a makeup remover and then face cleanser); I applied toner, eye cream and moisturiser (sometimes even with an overnight mask or serum) and I stayed away from products if they break me out. Then in December something happened. My skin rebelled and had a full on breakout mode. I woke up with three massive zits on my face and new ones kept on appearing every morning. They were centered around my T-zone and at one point, my chin looked like a murder scene - it was red all over. I am not sure what it was that caused the reaction but I suspect it's the mask that I used for the first time and didn't get on with. This went on for two weeks and that's when I decided to go back to my tried and tested products for acne-prone skin.

I went back to my old cleanser which is the REN ClearCalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser. This is a cream cleanser that works to deeply clean the skin. I use this as my second cleanse after I use an oil to remove my makeup. I follow it up with the Celeque Acne Spot Corrector Gel which I need to replace soon as I'm all out. I apply it directly to my zits and it helps to calm them down and dry them out faster. Then I use the VMV Hypoallergenics Super Skin 2 Monolaurin + Mandelic Acid toner which is a deep cleaning, acne-managing and mattifying toner. Then I follow it up with my usual eye cream and night cream so my skin doesn't dry out. I also use the Origins Out of Trouble mask once a week as it is a mask for troubled skin. I also use the Aesop Parsley Seed Mask which is deep cleansing but I didn't include it in the photo as I feel like the Origins one worked better.

All in all, they helped calm down my skin and while I still have scars from major spots, I'm happy with where my skin is at right now. I will keep on using these products until I'm sure my skin is back to being good. So I wouldn't be featuring new skincare products in the new few posts but makeup is a different matter. I will make a post about them soon (I hope!).

Fashion and Beauty Link Party

I get the hype: Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade

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This is a product that I got early this year but haven't really gotten around to playing with until now because it's so foreign and new to me. I've always been a brow pencil kind of girl. I've tried a brow wax and powder duo before but I didn't go back to it after I finished the product I was using (I think it was the Body Shop kit). For me, pencil was the way to go. It's easy and fast and I can do my brows in under a minute. But being a beauty addict, I thought what if there are other products out there that I can use? In other words, I got bored with the pencil. I had to try something new. The Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade exploded into the beauty scene when it was released. A gel/pomade for the brows? That's fun and interesting! I was late to join the bandwagon but I eventually did. I think I got mine in a bazaar in Glorietta. I got it because I felt more convinced to get it as it was there and I could see the colors in person. I got the color Light Brown and after buying it I stored it in my makeup cabinet.

I would try and play with it months after buying it but I always end up not happy with the way it looks on me. To be honest, I still think I need to practice more or I need to get a better brush to apply it but I am slowly getting the hype. Practicing is the way to use this product. You'll have to play with it to see what works for you. After a while, it's easy to create the kind of brow I like - lighter in the inner parts, straight across the front and then slightly extended because my natural hairs are super short. You can make it look natural by just slightly dipping your brush into the product, removing the excess and then applying with small brush strokes. Or you can also draw your brow full on and make "instagram brows". After using this product, I like to apply a brow gel to make the hairs more defined. It's a standard last step for me, no matter what brow product I use.

The only con is that I don't think I will ever be able to finish a whole pot of this and I hear it dries out. Mine is still fine but let's see after a few months.

Monthly Haul: Goodies from Sephora



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My seatmate and one of my office BFFs Trish went to Copenhagen last week and because she knew me well, she asked for my Sephora wishlist long before her actual trip. I had a short one, as I have been buying a bunch of makeup lately and I need to stop. It's all Sephora branded products as I knew the selection isn't that great in CPH (you need to work on that, Sephora!). I just wanted a brush and two more of the cream lip stains to add to my collection. I also had the Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme mask in my original list but decided not to get it this time because I need to work my way through my existing sash of masks. I'm a hoarder, I know.

On to the things I did get! I've wanted the Sephora Pro Airbrush in No. 55 for a while now because of Suzie from Hello October. She's been using it to apply her base and I always like the finish it gives the product on her skin. I used it today to apply my Bourjois CC cream and so far, I really like it. It's a completely different application when you're used to using a buffing brush because the hairs in this brush are longer. You will lose control if you hold it close to the tip so what I did was hold it close to the base so I can work it better into the skin. I'll keep on using it and get back with my final thoughts.

The other two products are the Sephora Cream Lip stains in Infinite Rose and Pink Souffle. I wanted to get more neutral products that I can use for day to day as the two other ones I have are bolder colors. I'm excited to use Pink Souffle as one my swatch it looks like a mauve pink which I'm into lately. Infitnite Rose, despite the name, is more of a nudey orange instead of rosy red.  I'm sure they'll be part of a post soon so watch out for that.

Current MOTD 122015



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Just quickly popping in here to share my current makeup of the day favorite. I've been using all of these products lately to create my daily office look. As it's for the office, it's neutral but also shows that I've made an effort to look nice. Haha! I really like the combination of products and how it only takes me about 15-20minutes to finish doing my makeup. I know it looks like a lot of products but I swear it's so easy to put them all on when you know how to use and blend them together. My favorite parts are the eye makeup and the lippie stix. The purpley-nude color is still neutral but is a little more interesting than the usual browns. Here are the products I used today:

Base: Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream in Light Beige, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard, Clarins Instant Concealer in 01 (best undereye concealer/highlight), Barry M Flawless Chisel Cheeks Contour Kit (just the highlight to set my underey concealer)

Face: Bourjois Healthy Balance Powder in Light Beige, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure, Seventeen Define and Conquer Contour Kit for countour

Eyes: Random eyebrow pencil from Daiso, Revlon Blow Artist Plumper (blonde), MAC Groundwork paint pot, Catrice Eyeshadow in New in Brown, Etude House Drawing Show Brush liner, Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara

Lips: Colourpop Cosmetics Lippie Stix in Lumiere

Brushes: MAC 217, Real Techniques Duo Fiber contour brush for blush, random blush brush from Forever 21 for powder, Hakuhodo Yachiyo brush for contour

What's you current go to makeup?

Not your ordinary LBD*

Can you get away with wearing a casual comfortable dress in a party but still look dressy enough to avoid being caught by the fashion police? YES!

The Black Lace Short Dress

This dress is definitely not just your ordinary LBD! It has a pop of lace on the waist and sleeves that creates an interesting and eye-catching subtle detail. It will give you that playful yet sensual vibe.You can dress it up with heels and then pair it with a leather jacket for that little bit of edginess. I would pair it with a bright red lipstick to amp up the look. NARS has a great line of red lip pencils which are so easy to pop in your bag and tote around for the night. I would go with Golshan which is a deep burgundy red (middle one in the photo below).

Black Lace Short Dress
Black Lace Short Dress
Black Lace Short DressNARS Reds

This dress is also a good addition to your wardrobe with its classic style and neutral color that can be mixed and matched with anything else you already own. You can wear this even for just a night out with the girls or date night with your man. The fabric is also very versatile and comfortable because it's made of polyester. It's available in M L XL sizes.

But that's not all! It is on sale at 84% off! Instead of paying the full price, which was originally at PHP3933, Dress.ph is selling it for only PHP617.
Imagine saving as much as PHP3316! Save the hassle of rummaging through racks of clothing by simply clicking on this LINK to purchase this dress.The sites accepts payments through PayPal. 100% SAFE payment transaction is guaranteed when you shop. Item/s are delivered within just a matter of 3-7 business days through Express Shipping! Huge discounts are offered with coupon codes by only subscribing to the site here with just one CLICK!

With this number, you're sure to never again go out worrying about having a fashion disaster. So what are you still waiting for?

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*This is a sponsored post.

Dress to impress this holiday season*

I'm sure by now everyone's social calendar is slowly getting filled this early into the holidays. As soon as December rolls around, parties are getting organised left and right. If you have a party to go to and still don't have any idea what to wear or the look you're going for, I've got you covered. I have two posts coming up about different dresses you can find in Dress.ph and what makeup look would go with them.

This DRESS is a good one to start with as you can wear it on special occasions like a cocktail party or even a vintage themed event. I especially love how this dress is very versatile because, when paired with the right accessories, it can go from formal and glamorous to retro and chic. High fashionable heels would good look with this number but if you want to go a little bit more glammed up, match it with a pair of gloves and a beautiful clutch. You know you're all set for that themed party! For your makeup, I imagine a taupey smokey eye with loads of mascara, matte rosy blush and a nude lip will pair nicely with this dress.
ÒBlue
ÒBlue
ÒBlue
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The halter style neckline makes it very flattering because it highlights those lovely shoulders with the lace panelling on top. It's also very classy as it shows just the right amount of skin with the layering and the ruffles going on in the bottom. The pretty fabric rose with the tie in the middle adds a very subtle touch of sweetness to this glamorous dress. But if blue is not your thing, it also comes in Black and Red with sizes ranging from L XL 2XL 3XL.
Now is the time to buy this dress as it is currently on sale at PHP1017 (79% Off) which originally was PHP4800! You actually get to save PHP3784. That's a pretty good deal considering the many uses you can get from this dress.

Not only is it easy on the wear and pocket, it's also easy on the shipping and payment. Transactions are done through PayPal so it's definitely a 100% guaranteed safe method of transaction. Item can be received in just a matter of 3-5 days through Express Shipping. To get even bigger discounts, you can subscribe to the website and get additional discount coupon codes!

I recommend NARS Sheer Glow foundation to perfect the skin, Bourjois Healthy Balance powder to keep the shine away, MAC's Satin Taupe all over the lids, paired with Heroine Make Long and Curl mascara (add a few bits of individual falsies), Seventeen Contour duo, Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Dollface and Chanel lipstick in Adrienne.

See more styles and choose from a variety of dress selections on this LINK.
* This is a sponsored post.