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?

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.

My second time to make another extensive review and I feel like this is going to be a tough one.

To begin with, I am not an expert to make a review on any beauty product nor do I claim to be make-up educated. So I’d rather tag my reviews with experiences because after all they are my own experiences and with experiences, opinions vary.  What I have is this addiction on make-up and almost 3-4 yrs stint of doing professional make-up, other than that I am here to write reviews for my own circle of friends who also love make up (they are less than 10 peeps by the way hee hee).

What do I consider when I buy something? Not just the price, also its components, but most especially, I consider reviews of other bloggers and even the one liner comments of people who bought the product. This is the reason why I would not dare take a hoodia gordonii pill or any diet pill for that matter. Because I am not that gutsy to put my immune system/health stature to risk knowing there will be side effects if I base my judgment on random testimonials.

Where do I begin.
The first time I heard about Eve Pearl Salmon Concealers was when MakeupGeek and Temptalia listed it among their top concealers. Then the hype grew when more and more make-up fanatics bought the product and raved about it. There were about 85% satisfied costumers and only 15% unsatisfied costumers in the Make Up Alley forum site. So I thought, I wouldn’t go wrong trying this out considering that Salmon or peach shade will definitely cover the blues and purples of my dark undereye circle, the way green concealers cover the redness of your skin.

I bought without any coupon and got it for $44.00!!! (tax and shipping inclusive)

Again, I am not compensated to make reviews. The price was pretty steep but like what I always say, dark undereye circles will always be the story of my life. I will never stop finding the perfect concealer for me.

Shipping was fast, what do you expect for an $8.oo-shipping cost and the item is just tiny weeny bit small.

When I got it, I was so excited that I instantly took a picture of it and instagram-ed it:

I told myself, aha, this reminds me so much of Cinema Secrets concealers which I used for my brides years back except this was a little more emollient/creamy since it also doubles as undereye treatment.

Step by Step
I got Salmon Dual Concealer in LIGHT/MEDIUM shade and  THE COLORS were darker than what I expected it. Now, I am around MAC nc25 shade and this makes me wonder how about those who are lighter-skinned than I am. They do not have a lot of shades to play around with.

The first blend of the medium using a concealer brush was awesome. It instantly covered the blues/purple hues of my undereye circles but something’s not right, it was too peachy/orangey so I mixed it with the light shade and it blended well with my natural skintone. I dabbed a little powder to settle it because it looked like it will crease. So far so good. After about 3 hours, it was going away probably because of my natural oil and because I am sweating or for some odd reasons, it was not long wearing. Definitely it won’t work well during warm weather and I suppose, to more oily skin.

The next day I tried using it under a foundation and it stayed on really well then the 3rd day, I still won’t quit trying and wore it on top of a foundation and it reacted the way the first time I used it. Application can be really tough because it is very creamy. It was so hard to get a flawless finish as you will end up  removing too much of the product. But if you apply this with a primer, then foundation and then this, it will stay on long and blending will be easy. Then again, I am on the hunt for the perfect on the go concealer.

VANITY.KIT’s RATING

Overall Product: B-

Value: 2/5 (overpriced! there are other concealers cheaper than this product but works better.)

3.25 gram mirrored compact is $44 (inclusive of tax and shipping charges)

Ease of Use: 3/5 (I alternately used both my fingers and concealer brush just to blend it perfectly)

Packaging: 3/5

VERDICT: Will not buy again.

To complete my vanity kit for 2011, here are 5 more items in my Christmas wishlist . Too bad, I did not get them last Black Friday when most of these items were on sale . Anybody, generous out there willing to sponsor me these stuff hee hee, I swear I’d be your best girl next year. Or if you find these stuff hard to purchase, just give me shopping money instead tee hee. Please, Santa hurry up!

Last make-up stash to share this week before I head off and check these md clear reviews. You see, NYX lipsticks are staple lipsticks for me because for one they’re very pigmented, relatively long-wearing when you think about the price you paid and yes, you can get them at $2 a lipstick even $1.50 when they go on sale. So they did and I got myself these 3 shades: Thalia, Harmonica and Narcissus to replenish my old ones.

Thalia will still remain to be my favorite NYX shade.

Then I got so intrigued by these products that I had to include them in my cart. I did not regret paying extra $18.75 for these 2 new discoveries, they were so good. The Push-up eyebrow pencil will copy the color of your eyebrows (a universal shade), well, at least, it did mine. I have dark brown eyebrows and the opposite side will automatically lifts your brow area, it can also work as a concealer. Then the eyebrow shaper will help shape unruly brows, the downside is you have to reapply it after 4 hours or even less. But then again, these are good buys.

Before I check out these healthcare it jobs for a friend, let me share with you my new Smashbox loot. I am waiting for 2 more packages and I am done with my Make-Up Christmas shopping.  Wheee! Here they are:

quench moisture rich lip gloss
photo finish foundation primer
photo finish lid primer
photo op undereye brightener
high definition concealer

I swear the Undereye brightener does wonder! I will make an extensive review and how to apply it with your concealer. In the meantime, here’s sharing a sale ad I received from them.

Here’s a quick run down of the life span of Make-Up before I head on to buy some kitchen rugs. I still wonder what Hoarders and Make-up Addicts do when their Make-Up expires. I bet they just keep throwing them away to make room for newer ones.

This is one of the reasons I control myself from hoarding because I know it’s never healthy to use expired make-up.

• MASCARA:4-6 Months
• EYELINER:1 Year
• FOUNDATION&CONCEALER:1 Year
• BLUSH&EYESHADOW:1-2 Years
• LIPSTICK:8 Months
• BRUSHES:A year of longer, even forever, depends on the brand and how you care for it.

The first time I heard about Egyptian Magic Cream was when I was checking updates from my Google Reader, I was reading an article on Blue Advantage and was swayed to researching more on EM. My favorite Beauty blogger made a comprehensive review on this product with matching pictures. I was convinced right there and then. Then I skimmed on other bloggers’ review and You Tube videos, not once have I read or watched a negative testimonial. My face has been growing freckles left and right and I want them to be at least a little bit lighter through religious application of this Magic Cream. The only problem is they do not have a sample size so you would have to share it with someone or risk buying 1 container all by yourself. If it breaks you out, you can sell or exchange it at Make Up Alley Forum, though. So am I buying? Yes siree!

For a comprehensive review on this product, check THIS and THIS.