Geez, I was gone for almost 2 months. Again, my apologies. I would understand if you would not believe me anymore if I say that ‘I vow to be a better blogger this year’ hee hee. I mean it! I swear, I will allot more time updating this blog (nose getting longer now) oh well, moving on

One time during lunchbreak, I got really bored and lacking of energy (my body has taken its toll due to rigid workout routines which include: zumba for xbox 360). So I decided to list down my Make-Up Christmas Wishlist for 2012 hahah! I know way too early, might as well label it as my TO BUY LIST for 2012. Seriously, I am trying my very best to simplify my make-up kit, I want to stick to my tried and tested items and to stop trying new collection. But, a make-up junkie can never have too many lippies, you know. Maybe, I’d be able to stop trying out concealers, foundation, eye shadows and blushes but not/NOT lipsticks!

Initially, I started out with this short list (photo above), but to date my current 2012 Must Buy Make-up List is this:

1. NARS Lippies: Casablanca, Niagara, Catfight, Damage, Dolce Vita.
2. NARS Oasis Blush.
3. Benefit Hervana Blush.
4. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium.
5. MAC Bare Again Lipstick.
6. Make-Up Forever Aqua Liners.
7. Make-Up HD Invisible Cover Concealer.
8. Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder.
9. Chloe Perfume.
10. No. 5 by Chanel Perfume.

Uh-oh, that was quite a long list and it’s just January hahah! Care to share your list?

Last week, I had these episodes of which I called the NARS Craze. Why? Because I used up every single spare time that I have reading reviews on NARS Blushes/Lipstick and browsing each and every swatch online. Hands down, this brand is the best out there when it comes to blushes. I have more than a couple of Benefit blushes which are also as good as NARS but with NARS, I just can’t get enough of all their blushes’ shades, makes me wanna hoard argh!

Here are the NARS blush shades that ended up in my lemming list. Swatch photos credit goes to Temptalia.com.

and then, these are the lipstick shades that had been haunting me in my sleep . I also dreamed that these were priced less than $5 a pop! Now, tell, me where can I buy that barcode scanner in my dreams hee hee.

NARS Schiap (bright pink)

NARS Mayflower (peachypinkbeige)

NARS Catfight (mauve pink)

NARS Dolce Vita (berry pink)

I got too carried away looking at the cute gift baskets from cherrymoonfarms.com that I forgot this entry was sitting on my drafts yay! So yes, this is the first of my Spring/Summer Series entries. My top blushes and favorite blushes/bronzers/highlighters to use in Spring/Summer.

Benefit Sugarbomb.

Benefit Coralista.

NARS The Multiple Stick in Orgasm.

NARS Highlighting/Bronzer Blush Duo in Orgasm and Laguna shades.

Benefit Benetint.
(perfect for beach events)

And if only this isn’t limited edition, it would have made it on my Spring/Summer Blush list. I am just loving this MAC X Wonderwoman Mineral Skinfinish Natural in Pink Power that I use it every single weekend. Think JLo’s Bronzed face.

My friend, C and I were talking for 2 hours last night. Initially, we were talking about our kitchen must-haves, say this set of le creuset pans and our newly discovered recipes. Then like we would always discuss, we tackled on our most current beauty product lemmings! We both agreed that while we loved MAC products especially their lippies and eyeshadows, their foundation collection tend to cause us breakouts and make us look yellowish if not finished with another loose powder, although, my everyday powder foundation is a MAC Studio Fix  powder plus foundation. We are both on the fair side, by the way. I was telling her that I noticed more dark-skinned women suit MAC foundation while Laura Mercier, NARS, Benefit, Shu Uemura, Lancome and Clinique are popular on fair-skinned women. That is just my opinion.

I also realized that I do not own a MAC blush (save for THIS as I just find it too powdery and too matte/dry on my cheeks. I am a huge fan of NARS and Benefit blushes. On the other hand, a dark-skinned friend dislikes NARS and Benefit blushes because they do not seem pigmented for her skin color.

So if I were to pick my top 1 foundation, that would be Laura Mercier collection. In fact, I am lemming their Spring Collection ‘11.

When it comes to make-up, it is very rare that I do not regret buying at eBay. I used to really get my limited edition make-up fix at eBay but I had a horrible experience last year that I decided not to get from the site anymore, especially when these are health and beauty related products. However, MAC x Wonder Woman collection was so irresistible that I succumbed to a higher eBay rate.

This is my first ever MAC Mineralized Skinfinish loot and because of this, I plan to retire my Studio Fix powder foundation tthis Summer and get the MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Natural in Medium (or light medium) as replacement.

Moving on to my review: Huge, Massive, yes bigger than my palm. Totally worth the price but like the other beauty junkies who wished this could have come with a brush and a mirror considering the price, I wish the same. It was a bit harder to build up the product at first so I used a stippling brush + flat-top brush just so I could get a bit more of the product. But as soon as I got used to it, all I used was my contour brush for the middle shade, blush brush for the blush shade (bottom part) and the kabuki brush for the combined shades. I love the warmth it gives my face, perfect for this summer. The bronze shade (middle part) gives me just enough contouring shade, not muddy at all. The highlighting shade is also perfect and contrary to my initial perception of this product, it is not super shimmery, just enough shimmer that would give your cheekbones the right highlighting it needs. Will I recommend it to a friend?, only to my fair-skinned friends because it sure is a lighter version of your usual bronzer shades.

Pardon the poor lighting, I should get this energy efficient outdoor lighting for better photo output. You can search Tempatalia.com for better swatches of this product.

VANITY.KIT’s RATING

Overall Product: A+

Value: 4/5

Ease of Use: 4/5

Packaging: 4/5

Before I check on this online supplier of indoor antennas, let me do a quick review of this NYX Tango with Bronzer Powder in When Leopard Gets a Tan shade. This is one of those impulsive purchases I made earlier this year. I just decided to get it considering that it is on sale and comes out cheaper than other Bronzer brands.

Then no one else to blame except me for regretting this purchase. Even if this were priced less than its original price of $16.00, I could have bought a new MAC lippie, instead. But then again, I’d always find ways to use this for highlighting purposes. Yes, no bronzer benefits at all. I am fair with NC20-NC25 shade  so no matter how much product I use, all I see is the shimmer and highlights not the bronze shades. And yes, I hope NYX produces better make-up scents because this one comes out with an odd smell, not to mention the free brush has very sharp and hard bristles.

VANITY.KIT’s RATING

Overall Product: C

Value: 3/5

Ease of Use: 3/5

Packaging: 4/5

This would probably be the most decent photo I could take. I have yet to study the settings of my camera to get the closest resemblance in terms of colors.

Okay I give UP, here’s a photo I snagged from Google image finder:
This is definitely a must-have for the make-up fanatic who wants to cheat genetics hee hee. Why? Because you can instantly have an illusion of higher cheekbones, softer jawlines, chiseled noseline (ehem ehem!) and more oval-shaped face. Others would settle with a bronzer to get a contoured look but I like the combination of these 3 shades. It can be pretty hard to blend at first and you would end up with brownish shades of cheeks and jawlines, read: muddy-dirty brown shade. But once you learn how to blend them well and use the step-by-step direction, this can be your everyday staple make-up.

These are the only 3 shades you can have in the kit, no other options. I do not know if these 3 shades would work with all skintone but it did for me and again, I am a MAC NC25 shade. It is important that you watch the Contouring and Highlighting Video before you decide to purchase it.

VANITY.KIT’s RATING

Overall Product: A+

Value: 4/5 (I have used it everyday and I think it would last me more than 6 months.)

3-shades kit palette with a contouring brush is $45 (don’t forget to get them online on Tuesdays and Thursdays for their Let’s Do Lunch Promo)

Ease of Use: 4/5

Packaging: 5/5

VERDICT: Definitely, a  must have!

One more review coming up before I read on the side effects of diet pills.

I know I should be checking tips on burning belly fat rather than checking out beauty products but this is my first love and when my mood is a little low, make-up has proven to be my favorite upper .

Moving on.
Oh this Sephora Hello Kitty Limited Edition collection is just too hard to resist! It’s sooo pretty and a girl is never too old for Hello Kitty but if I were to pick one, I’ll only get the brushes.

Here’s the rest of the collection: