Make Up Magic: From Mono to Double Lid!

and no circle lenses were used. Don't ever use those god forsaken contact lenses -_- smaller eyes are better than blind eyes.

02/22/12 Mini Haul

1.) Shiseido Very High Sun Protection Lotion SPF 50
2.) TheBalm Mary-Lou Minizer
3.) Clarins Multi Active Night Youth Recovery Cream
4.) Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream
5.) Too Faced Anti-Crease Shadow Insurance
6.) The Face Shop Lovely me:ex eyeshadows
7.) Clinique All About Eyes Cream
8.) Clarins Multi Active Day Early Wrinkle Correction Cream
9.) Shiseido Pureness Refreshing Cleansing Water
10.) Clinique Anti Blemish Solutions Clarifying Lotion
11.) MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer in NC15
12.) Shu Uemura Face Architect Mousse Foundation in Light Beige
13.) Shu Uemura Stage Performer Instant Glow Primer
14.) Shu Uemura Pressed Eyeshadow
15.) Shu Uemura slanted false eyelashes
(forgot to number): Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited BR 710

Free Samples!
a.) Clinique Clarifying Lotion Twice a Day Exfoliator
b.) Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle and Photo Damage Corrector
c.) Clarins Multi-Active Skin Renewal Serum
d.) Clarins V Shaping Facial Lift Lipo-Drain Serum -OMG I've wanted to try this for ages but one bottle costs around 6k
e.) Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Emulsion

I'm developing a Shu Uemura addiction O_O And I decided to give MAC another try for their complexion makeup (the concealer) since I tested it and it looked so nice at the store.

Soft and Feminine Smokey Eyes

One of my favorite things to do with my eyes is do a smokey look on it. Although using the conventional black and brown is fine, it doesn't really suit my skin color well. What really helps to make my eyes "pop" is to give it a hint of color.

Soft and feminine smokey eye with pinks, browns, blacks and a lot of highlighting.

Stuff you'll need: 1.) Eyeshadow Primer. 2.) Matte Brown Eyeshadow 3.) Matte Black Eyeshadow 4.) Neutral Eyeshadow (same as your skin tone) 5.) Bright colored eyeshadow (I'm using a bright peachy pink). 6.) OPTIONAL: Sheer neutral eyeshadow palette 7.) Demi lashes + lash adhesive 8.) Black or brown liquid liner 9.) Powder highlighter 10.) White pencil eyeliner (not pictured)

Note: For the step by step photos, I only used my PhotoBooth so the picture quality isn't as good as the finished product. /heehee

Step1: Primer

Use a pea sized amount of eyeshadow primer all over your lids - from the lash line to the brow bone. I'm using Too Faced Shadow Insurance Anti Crease primer. (It's better than the Urban Decay primer potion! :D)

Step2: Eyeshadow Base. Use a neutral colored eyeshadow (ideally matching your skin tone or a bit lighter) and dust it all over your lids.  I'm using MAC in Ricepaper.

The base will even out your skin tone and brighten your eyes.

Step 3: Bright colored eyeshadow. I'm using MAC Paradisco which is a peachy pink red perfect for a warm skin tone like mine. Use this on the outer third edges of your crease... 

...and on the outer third edges of your lid (near the upper lash line) 

MAC Paradisco only on the outer thirds of the crease.

OPTIONAL STEP: Soften the bright color. I'm using my Smashbox Trio Eyeshadow which has a sheer, subtle shimmer look to it. I'm using the light pink color to soften the brightness of MAC Paradisco. To do this, just repeat the same steps in step 3 with your softening eyeshadow. Layer it above the bright color.

Step 4: Matte brown eyeshadow. Lightly dot the matte brown eyeshadow over the bright color you've already put on the outer third of your eyes. Don't overdo this step or else you'll miss the point of "soft and feminine smokey" and it'll end up just pure smokey eye. XD

Using a matte brown shadow on the outer thirds of your eye will give your eyes more depth. I used NARS Bengali.

Step 5: Matte black eyeshadow. This is one of the best parts! Using an eyeliner brush, start outlining your eyes FROM THE MIDDLE and slant it upwards to form a wing shape. DO NOT USE YOUR LIQUID LINER YET! We want to keep the strong yet soft look of the eyes.

Wings! I used Shu Uemura pressed eye shadow in M Black 990.

Step 6: Liquid liner. You can either choose to use black or brown liquid eyeliner. I recommend using the K-Palette 1 Day Tattoo Liner. It NEVER smudges even here in a tropical country. Plus it's more affordable than most high quality liquid liners like Lancome's Artliner. K-Palette is definitely my HG eyeliner!

Line your eyes as close as possible to the lash line. Don't try to use your eyeliner as a shading tool. That's what your eyeshadows are for!

Step 7: White pencil liner (which I forgot to include in the photo..) Line your waterline with a white eyeliner to make your eyes appear wider. Remember that just like in wearing clothes, dark colors give a slimming effect and light colors give a widening effect. Black and brown liners are for definition, and white eyeliners are for opening the eyes.

Smudge the white liner to create a softer effect. I'm using MAC Eyeliner in Fascinating. 

My eyes with the liquid liner and the white pencil eyeliner.

Step 8: Using the same Matte Black eyeshadow, line the outer thirds of your lower lash line layering it above the smudged white eyeliner from step 7.

Smudge the black eyeshadow and clean up accordingly. I use this trick because if you smudge it beforehand, it will be less pigmented and less likely to smudge throughout the day when you're out and about. :D

Step 9: Demi Lashes. You can just buy any type of those fashion lashes and cut them in half. Don't buy expensive ones like in Shu Uemura for these though. I suggest buying from FlutterLashes which costs only 350 pesos/10 pairs.

Demi lashes on the sides of my eye. Remember that falsies on the sides of the eye ELONGATE the eyes giving it a more cat-like look while strip falsies WIDEN the eyes, giving it a more doll-like look.

Not pictured: Highlight the points of your eyes such as the brow bone and the inner corners. Dab a bit of highlighting powder on the crease of the eye and blend it in along with the other eyeshadow colors.

yay! 

My Favorite Benefit Products!

I love Benefit! I was so glad they decided to open a branch here in the Philippines otherwise I'd have to keep getting my Benefit fix from abroad/online. 

My favorite products from Benefit include:

Realness of Concealness Mini Fake It Kit, High Beam, Watt's Up, Dandelion, Erase Paste and Brow-Zings

The Realness of Concealness kit includes a mini High Beam, mini Lip Plump, mini Ooh La Lift, Lemon Aid and Boi-Ing in Medium. I got it abroad and I hope the Greenbelt branch would carry it soon. It's definitely a steal!

Here I am wearing everything Benefit for a very neat and simple look. I used Brow-Zings for my brows, Lemon Aid for my eyelids, Erase Paste for my under eye circles, Watt's Up for my cheekbones, High Beam for the bridge of my nose/brow bone/cupid's bow, Dandelion for my cheeks (and light dusting all over my face), Boi-Ing for the sides of my nose and naso-labial crease, and the lip plump for a nude lip color.) 

I love Benefit! Can't wait to get my hands on the new Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Liquid Foundation. I heard it's a brightening foundation with SPF 25 PA++. Woot!

Shu Uemura Whitefficient UV Under base Brightening Mousse SPF 30 PA++

I'm a huge fan of Shu Uemura skincare products (or Japanese skincare products for that matter) and when I found out that Shu Uemura released a new under base mousse - a brightening version of their best selling UV Under base mousse - I just had to get it! :)

The promo picture of the new Shu Uemura Whitefficient UV Under base Brightening Mousse (featuring Japanese supermodel Tao Okamoto)

The bottle

The mousse nozzle/pump (which I really enjoy using, lol!) I love Shu Uemura for the products but even more so because of the lovely and efficient packaging. :)

The mousse dispensed. It's described as having a pink-purple color. This made me a bit worried at first as I didn't really want to have purplish looking skin. But the sales rep told me the purple balances out the redness found in most Asian women's skin. It's just really about blending it really well and applying the right amount on your face. Too little would give little-to-no effect while too much would make the purple tone overpowering on your face. 

Blending...

Blended!

Me without makeup ( :I ) 

Me with the Shu Uemura Whitefficient UV Under base Brightening Mousse with SPF 30 PA++. instant bright! :D

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys the "bright" and "glowing" makeup look without the excess shine/oily look as the mousse looks dewy but stays on matte.

Really loving the Whitefficient/White Recovery EX+ line of Shu Uemura. What I love most about it is that it's not really "whitening" but more of "brightening" to give you an even, glowing skin tone. 

The Shu Uemura Whitefficient UV Under base Brightening Mousse with SPF 30 PA++ retails for Php. 2,200.00. Available at all Shu Uemura counters in Rustans Departments Stores and at the Shu Uemura atelier in Powerplant Mall, Rockwell.

PS. I also signed up for their advanced makeup courses with my friend Jen. It runs from March 2012 to May 2012. Sign up now on DealGrocer. Can't wait! :D

My Growing Makeup Collection

Skincare:

L-R MUJI Cleansing Oil (pre-cleansing; budget alternative to the Shu Uemura favorite)
Shu Uemura White Recovery Ex+ Brightening Cleansing Oil (cleanser)
AHAVA Matifying Toner
AHAVA Matifying Moisturizer (Day)
Physiogel AI Cream (Heavy Night moisturizer)
Shu Uemura Whitefficient Brightening UV Underbase Mousse SPF 30++ (sunblock, makeup base)
On top of the AHAVA Moisturizer:
A Vitamin C Serum formulated by my dermatologist ^_^
Supergoop Winterstick SPF 30 (sun/wind protection for my lips)
PanOxyl (for emergency breakouts!)
----
Primers/ Tinted Moisturizers: 

Majolica Majorca Skin Lingerie Pore Cover
Laura Mercier Foundation Primer
Etude House Precious Mineral Sheer Glowing Skin BB Cream
Laura Mercier Illuminated Tinted Moisturizer in Bare Radiance
Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer in Nude
----
Foundation:

NARS Sheer Glowing Skin in Mont Blanc
Makeup Forever Mat Velvet+ in Porcelain
Shiseido The Makeup Brightening Veil
Graftobian Cream Foundation Palette
----
Concealer:

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage in SC-02
Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Peach
Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in 01
Benefit Realness of Concealness Kit
----
Powder:

Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder in Translucent
Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder
Chanet Purete Mat Shine Control Powder SPF 15 in Faience Mat
----
Highlighter/Concealers (my favorite!!!):

Benefit Erase Paste in Fair
Dior Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen in 001 Roseglow
Clarins Instant Light Brush-On Perfector in 00. - BEST CONCEALER/HIGHLIGHTER EVER!
----
Contour/Blush:

Smashbox Contour Kit
Benefit Dandelion brightening face powder
NARS Blush-Bronzer Duo in Orgasm/Laguna
----
Eye Color: (top to bottom, left to right)

Too Faced Natural Eye Kit - even better than UD Naked :)
Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Amethyst
NARS Bengali
Sephora Colorful Palette in Abricot Pulp
MAC Metal-X Venetian Tarnish
MAC Ricepaper
MAC Metal-X Red Hot Copper
MAC Paradisco
----
Eye Liners:

Prestige White Eyeliner
MAC Fascinating
MAC Engraved
Revlon ColorStay in Black Brown
Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes in Majorelle Blue
K-Palette 1 day Tattoo Real Lasting Eyeliner - HG EYELINER. NEVER smudges even when you rub it. Believe me as I have oily eyelids and I live in a tropical country. :D
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
----
Brows/Lashes: (yup, I don't use Mascara. See why here)

Benefit Brow-Zings in Medium
MAC Brow Set in Girlboy
MAC Eye Brows in Brunette
Missha Dolly Eyelash in A-104
Shu Uemura False Eyelashes in Brown Cross
----
Highlighters:

NARS Illuminator in Orgasm
Benefit Watt's Up
Benefit High Beam
----
Lipstick:

Top row, left ro right:
Laura Mercier in Barely Nude
NARS in Belle de Jour
NARS in Napoli
NARS in Little Darling
NARS in Niagara
Bottom row, left to right:
MAC in Plink!
Elizabeth Arden in Wood Rose Cream
NYX in Tea Rose
NYX in Frappucino
NYX in Thalia
----
Lipgloss + Lip liner:

MAC Lip Liner in Subculture
Smashbox in Radiance
Laura Mercier in Bare Peach
NARS in Chihuahua
----
Nail Polish:

(i'm a little too lazy to swatch it all, so if you want to know a swatch, please leave a message by replying to this post or using the ask box. :) )

I also ordered a bunch of stuff from Amazon today so I'll be expecting a whole lot of products next month :)

Coming soon:
Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch
Clarins Sun Wrinkle Eye Contour Care with SPF 30
YSL Touche Eclat
Urban Decay Naked2 Palette
Too Faced Shadow Insurance Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer
Estee Lauder Advanced NIght Repair Serum
... and whatever it is I pick up at the mall. heehee.