Weekend Nails: Yin Yang inspired~

I was watching Karate Kid last week & for some reason i feel like making a nail art when i saw the Yin Yang. I came up with an design that was inspired by it but completely different from the real one.

This design is easy!
I'm sure you can do the pointer & ring finger design because they are just random dots so i'll just be making a tutorial on the middle & pinkie.

All you need here is just a dotting tool. As what i said again & again, if you don't have a dotting tool you can use a bobby pin instead.

1. Start with your desired base color. In my case, i choose an iridescent peach that has golden shimmers. Too bad you can't see the beauty of golden shimmers because my camera is having a hard time catching it...

2. Using a fine pointed brush make the curved line to serve as a guide. If your hand is steady enough, you can skip this & just go straight to the 3rd step.

3. Using black polish, fill the other half of the nails with it like in the picture.

4. With your dotting tool, add the dots on the edge of the black polish like in the picture. Use the bigger end on the edge of the black polish, then use the small end on top of the 1st dots that you made.

5. Once it's dried, add white dots on the edge of the 1st dots that you made just to break the monotony of the black.

6. You can add Swarovski rhinestones on the center of the flower in the ring & pointer finger if you want.

Don't forget your top coat!

My fingernails are already getting longer but i still can't shape it how i want then to be, most likely i'll be going for a square tip again.

Hope you all will have a good day!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

ps:
You can buy the Swarovski on BornPrettyStore. Use the coupon code that you see on my left sidebar for a 10% off. They ship worldwide for free!

your nail deserves the best!

I love nail arts... most likely you, my reader, also has a passion for nail arts as well.
Kaya nyo nga binabasa blog ko e...LOL! (That is why you are reading my blog.)
Why not,right?
We use our hand to gesticulate & having an awesome-looking nails definitely adds up.

Rhinestones add an extra oomph! to the nail design. For those who have been using rhinestones, i know that the issues when using it is that that they lose their luster once you applied top coat... Am i right?

Not all rhinestones are like that,mind you...
There are some rhinestones that i have tried where they will still retain their luster with a top coat it's just that when you remove it & the polish remover touches it then it loses its luster so you will have to throw it away already. But that's a good rhinestone already!

The rhinestones that i have tried often belongs either in these 2 categories:
A - looks dull when you applied topcoat (the bad type)
B - doesn't lose luster when you apply top coat (the good type)

I have gone through a couple of rhinestone wheels but "ditching" them in the end because they fall in the former category. They will lose their luster so it's not good when using it in nail arts but i still keep them in case i would have something that i want to decorate like my scrapbook or when i make some handmade hairclips, they are perfect!

But not for your nails...
You apply rhinestones because you want to have your own nail blings but this type is an utter failure!
*rolls eyes*

It's pretty hard to look for the ones in the latter category.
I'm just lucky that i was able to own a couple of rhinestones like so.

Now comes Swarovski flatbacks....
I'm pretty sure you are all familiar with Swarovski. There is something about Swarovski that sets it apart from other common glass crystals. If you own some jewelries that got Swarovski you'll know how shiny it is... just imagine that on your nails!

It's marvelous!
Look at this picture.... I'm sure you know what is the Swarovski there,right?

It's very obvious! It is the bottom left one, of course.
Can you see the luster in it as oppose to the usual resin rhinestone?

This is how it looks like with a very thick blob of top coat on...

See how the other resin ones pale in comparison to the luster of this Swarovski rhinestone?
Doesn't it speak for itself already?

Add the fact that this Swarovski from BornPrettyStore is, according to their term, described as "foiled back" which i gather uses foil as their backing to ensure that they have superior glitz, glamour & shine, just makes it too irresistible!

See the back?
I know that most rhinestones just have that smooth shiny back, this one is really just like a foil!

One major advantage of Swarovski rhinestones over ordinary resin rhinestones is that Swarovski is reusable!
You don't believe me? Well, take a look at my nail art...

See that rhinestone at the ring finger?
I already added 2 coats of top coat in it but you can still see how shiny it is! There is really something different about it... once light hits my nail, it just shines! This rhinestone adds bling to my somewhat boring color,ne?

I'll make a tutorial for this nail art maybe next week, i just want to get this post about Swarovski over & done with first... hehe

Anyway, the main point of this is to see how it looks like after i removed it.

This is it after i submerged it completely in my polish remover, i swirled it around to completely remove any remaining top coat on it...

So, i'll let you guess...
What do you think is the one that i have used & submerged in polish remover? The other one is just new
Is it A or B?

They look the same,right?
It is actually A that i have used but there is no obvious difference between the two!

This is just a proof that you can reuse this rhinestone over & over again. It could even last for a lifetime with proper care & maintenance.

This is definitely a good investment as opposed to continually new set of resin rhinestones every now & then.
I know what you are thinking... "It's expensive! I don't have the money to buy that".
Let's do a little comparison, shall we to see how this fares with the regular rhinestone set available online & the ones that i have seen being sold in our local stores...

A set of rhinestones in a wheel being sold locally is priced somewhere from Php 150-300 per wheel.
Let's just go for the cheapest which is Php 150 & convert it to $3 (this is not counting if what you are getting is actually an A rhinestone (the bad one) or the B one (the better).

It has different colored stones, which would enable you to mix & match depending on your nail art for that day. Then again, this is just for one time use.

The Swarovski on the other hand is $7.27 for 144 pieces.
It is reusable & the luster of this rhinestone is amazing!

I know that it is quite steep but then you are paying for a very high-quality rhinestones & you can reuse it over & over again. It would prove to be cheaper in the long run! If you love rhinestones & have that bling in your nails then this is a good investment. Once you bought it you won't have to buy any rhinestones ever (if you take good care of it)! You'll be hooked with how awesome this looks on your nails!

If you want your nails to be all glittery & sparkly, then use the best rhinestone & it will definitely add that OOMPH! & more!
hahaha

BornPretty has different assortments of Swarovski rhinestones from different colors & sizes. I know for a fact that this store has the cheapest Swarovski flatbacks because i made a research months & months ago. That is why, if you want to try this head on over to their website to take a look.

You can use the coupon code that you can see at left side of my blog for a 10% off.

Hope you all are enjoying the day,sweeties!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

ps:

product sent as a sample. I did not receive any monetary consideration for this post. Opinions shared is personal view & is no way influenced by the company.

I heart you Nivea Hydrating Lotion!

I hope you still remember the mystery lotion that i posted 3 weeks ago i think...
Now it's time to unveil it....

The new Nivea Express Hydration Lotion!

I tell you, this stuff really works!
Remember my Before & After picture of using this?
No?....

Let me show it again...

You can read the story about my poor battered feet in that post.
Now you can understand why i feel the need to blog about this. This is worth blogging about!

Nivea said that:

The new ultra-light body lotion with sea minerals contains the innovative Hydra IQ active ingredient that has been developed specifically for the needs of normal to dry skin. It keeps the skin soft and supple, envelops it in the subtle scent of blue lotus and leaves a refreshed feeling.

  

The one-of-a-kind formula with Hydra IQ makes body care a long-lasting intense experience. It provides a non-stop supply of moisture to the skin – longer than ever before. This is based on the worldwide exclusive Nobel Prize technology, which promotes optimum moisture supply and distribution from within – for over 24 hours.  NIVEA Express Hydration Body Lotion is not only effective for an extra-long time, but is also absorbed by the skin extraordinarily quickly and thus helps repair the eight signs of dry skin: dry, redness, rough, tight, flaky, dull, itchy and peeling.

NIVEA Express Hydration Body Lotion has been developed with dermatologists and skin compatibility is clinically and dermatologically proven.

I like this product so much that i am also putting this on my "products-to-buy-again-&-again" list!
If you have dry skin or is always in an air-conditioned room, then this is a pretty good lotion to tote along in your bag to replenish the lost moisture in just mere minutes!

Hope you all will have a good week!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

ps:
product sent as a part of their press release. I did not receive any monetary consideration for this post. Opinions shared is personal view & is no way influenced by the company. 

eyelook: pretty in pink

I said that i will post a tutorial for the eye make-up that i did in yesterday's post.
Luckily, it was sunny a while ago & i was able to take good pictures of how i did this. I try to lessen the pictures that i will be uploading in this post so i just thought of putting it in 1 to lessen the loading time. I notice that my blog loads quite slow if i put in loads of pictures...

Here is the eye make-up....

I just used 3 kinds of pink eyeshadows from my palette, but you can work with any kind of pinks that you have!
number 1- pink on the lid(you can get away with shimmery pinks if you want to!)
number 2 - hot pink on the crease (or even mauvey pink if you don't have hot pink)
number 3 - pale pink on the brow bone (or you can use your favorite highlighter)

As what i keep on saying before, blending brush is important if you want to achieve a well-blended look even if you're not after a gradient look.

You can just take a look at this for the how-to.... feel free to click to enlarge it.

This is just a simple pink eye make-up.
This could take you a little less than fifteen minutes on both eyes. The only thing that could take a bit longer would be the lash application. If you also notice i used pencil liner & not liquid, as i mostly do, because i want to soften it by smudging. It's funny how the black turns to blue upon smudging... not to complain since black could be quite intense for pink.

Try not to use pink blusher, go for a bronzer or maybe peach.
I just went light with my bronzer because the only one that i have is shimmery & i'm not really into shimmers. I have to find a matte bronzer.

Speaking of bronzer, i think you could get away with a light contouring with this kind of look especially if you're pale like me. I would not only slim your face down but it will also perk your face up!

I finished it off with a pink lipstick too. I think red would overkill this look & nude lips won't compliment the flirty-ness of the eye make-up so you might as well just go all the way with the pink on your lips as well!

Shoot!
I should have put more bronzer on or, make that, i need to go out more & catch the sun. I think i look vampire-pale already,ne?
:(

Again, you don't have to use the same things that i used. I am just listing it for reference.

FOR EYES:

• 88 palette
• Korres Soft Eyeliner Pencil in Black
• MAC Sugarshot
• ES A155 false lashes
• KKCenterhk lower lashes
• The Face Shop Lash Adhesive
• brushes - eyeshadow, blending & angled brushes

FOR FACE:

• Avon Magix Perfector - primer
• Etude House Brow Pencil - brow
• Palladio Rice Powder in Warm Beige - face base
• MAC Beauty Powder in Drizzlegold - highlighter
• Milani Glimmer Stripes in Bronzer Glimmer - bronzer
• brushes - kabuki & blush brush

FOR LIPS:

• MAC Lip Conditioner SPF 15
• MAC Lipstick in Speak Louder

It's summer already so most of my students are on vacation so i have more free time blogging. I hope i can continue posting more eyelooks.

Here's to hoping that my blog bug will stay with me for a longer time!
hehehe

Have a great day,lovelies!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

playing with falsies~

I don't get to play with my make-up palettes as much as i want to, not because i don't have the time (that's also one..hehe) but for some reason it just doesn't look right every time i do it. There are just some time where no matter how much i blend the colors, it just doesn't look nice. I'm sure you all have had experience like mine,right?

That mostly happens to me when i do my nails.
What i am thinking of most often than not looks different when i do it on my nails already. hehe
But also in making eye make-up too once in a while..

I felt the need...yes, need!.. to whip out my palette & do a pink eye make-up last night. It's high time that the urge to do eye make-up ought to return back. I missed playing with my palette & being able to come up with something that at least looks nice. hehe

I was only able to do my right eye... hehe
I will do both of my eye later on when i do the tutorial...

Sorry about the messy hair...
My hair had dried out because i switched to an anti-dandruff shampoo.
*sigh*
Next week it will be back to its crowning glory once i go back to my Camellia Hair Care.

Anyway, i'll do a tutorial of this look maybe tomorrow. I just did this last night & i prefer taking tutorial pictures in the day so that i can photograph the process a lot better. I was testing out the falsies that KKCenterhk sent me.

They sent the ES A155 to test out as per my request.

I was surprised when i opened it because the lashes that greeted me are quite dramatic... well, dramatic for me who got small eyes.

These babies are quite unique in a way that it thickens & lengthens in the end which is perfect if you want to achieve a cat-eye look!

Since it's too long for me, i decided to cut it at the end. It's so long that it look so fake on me if i didn't cut it.

This is how it looks like on my eye after finally cutting a few strands...

I also used a lower lash because the upper lash looks so dramatic for me & it will just "close" my eye up if i didn't do so. I used the one from KKCenterhk too!

I like how this eyelash enhances my eyes every time i smile. LOL!
It's also as if my eyes are smiling too!

I can't wait to try this with both of my eyes~!

See how long this lash is?
It will perfectly fit your eye!

Tutorial post to be posted later... i'm about to do a tutorial now after this!

Have a great day,gals!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

Food Spot: California Pizza Kitchen

Last week, Walter & I went to the mall with all the walk that we did we soon got tired & was looking for a place to hang out. We're not really hungry because we had heavy lunch but just tired.

I said we ought to try out California Pizza Kitchen for once... he's not a fan of Italian dishes. I do sometimes eat at Italian restos, but not bf.He just doesn't have an affinity for natural tomato-based dishes.

Since CPK seems comfy & cozy so we decided to hang our hats there & sit back in their plush seat...

Sorry about this blurry picture, i did not notice that my camera was set in close-up the time that i capture this so it blurs whenever i take panoramic shots in that specific setting... but you'll see how cozy it is here.

As soon as you enter, you'll be escorted to a seat & will be given their extensive menu list. Since we are not really hungry, we decided to just have pizza & clam chowder.

The waiters & waitresses are so friendly & accommodating, they always have a warm smile.

They do have a wine & cocktail list so if you want to indulge in wine, you'll be happy with their selection!

Since Walter got a cold, i just got him tea.. chamomile in this case... A Tazo tea.

Tazo Chamomile Calming Tea - Php 120

I just decided to drink milk..hehe

Anyway, we waited a few good minutes before it arrived, you wouldn't really mind waiting since it is very comfy, i wasn't able to resist the urge to take off my shoes & sit on my legs..hehe

They serve clam chowder in a cup (individual serving) or in a bowl (group serving)...

Clam Chowder in cup - Php 165 

New England style chowder with clams, diced potatoes, sautéed bacon, onion leeks and celery with a touch of white wine.

I have to say their Clam Chowder is the tastiest & creamiest that i've tasted so far.. not that i have eaten a lot of them, mind you... but it's so thick & creamy!

It captures the true taste of clams without being overwhelmed by other ingredients. The potato cube also added body to the soup as well. It is not lacking in clams unlike most that i've tasted. In fact, it so generously full of clams that every time i dip my spoon, i am able to eat clams. The creamy tangy taste compliments the unique taste of the clam itself.

For those who love clam chowders, you ought to try this!

Then our pizza...

Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Pizza - Php 394.99 

I decided to get the their Hawaiian pizza because as what i said, Walter is not into Italian foods but since hawaiian pizza is one of the most common here in the Philippines, i thought that i ought to slowly introduce him to italian dishes once more with a cuisine that would somehow be as a "neutral ground" between filipino & italian dishes.

On to the pizza itself...

Fresh pineapple, BBQ chicken, smoked Gouda and Mozzarella cheese, barbecue sauce, sliced red onions and fresh cilantro.

It's so light, you won't even notice that you have already eaten everything! That's what happened to Walter, at least. He kept on eating it that he was so surprised that he had eaten almost everything. I just took a slice for i am not hungry, but he ate all 5 slices!
hahahaha!
OMG!
I kept on teasing him about it. He said he is not hungry but he ate everything!

I can't blame him anyway because it really is good.
The smokey flavor by the Gouda cheese gave this a very distinct taste as opposed to the usual Hawaiian pizzas. I wasn't able to really pinpoint the taste of each ingredients anymore because it compliments each other.

What's great about CPK Pizza is that it's not oily at all!
One thing why i don't like pizzas that much is that it's too oily it feels like you taking in lots of oil in your body. It also leaves a greasy taste in your palette that makes you lose your appetite. You wouldn't want to hold it in your bare hands because it would leave grease all over your hands.

But you're in for a treat with CPK Pizzas...
You can hold it on your hands without leaving any grease-marks!
You just have to try it to believe me.

I have to say it's not affordable at all...
Our total bill amounted to Php 822.39 for just the 2 of us.
I consider it quite steep already because we only had 2 dishes. I could go a long way in other restos but considering the service, ambiance & food it's not something that is worth hesitating over.

Needless to say, we enjoyed our dining experience.
We will be going back, of course, but not very often..hehe
If the price is not that steep, we will definitely be putting this on our "restos-we-can't-live-without" list.
XD

If you haven't tried CPK, i highly suggest that you try it.
I'm pretty sure that you will enjoy every morsel that you take in!
^_~

Have a great day,bellas!
Jaa ne~!
^_^

Artistry Essentials Balancing Set Experience

How many of you know Aristry?
please raise your hand...

I did not even had an idea about this brand, so i was surprised to know by their claim that they are one of the top 5 in prestige brands along with such as Lancome, Estee Lauder, etc. I did a bit of research & surprisingly they are indeed 1 of the top 5 in sales figure!

How come i didn't even have an idea about this brand?!
I got the pleasure of getting to know Artistry a couple of weeks ago by Dr. Meeko Hilario. I was invited on their product launching which is the Artistry Intensive Skincare Anti-wrinkle Firming Serum.

It's an anti-aging product so he asked me if i would be interested to come together with my mom. My mom said sure. We stopped by at their center first to get to know their products.

Their Artistry Centre is located in the heart of Makati.

That's my mom in the pic because she was with me on their launching. My mom was impressed with their the Artistry Intensive Skincare Anti-wrinkle Firming Serum during the launch.

I like this one...

I wasn't able to really try that product but i have tried their Balancing Set so i'll share my thoughts on this set.

Dr. Meeko told me that their Balancing Set is designed specifically for those that got sensitive, combination skin. Since my skin had shifted from very oily,acne-prone to acne-prone,sensitive & combination skin, he suggested that i try out their balancing set since it's not only for sensitive skin but it would provide a mattifying effect as well, so i said sure...

Let's start with their cleanser first:

ESSENTIALS BALANCING CLEANSER

• Patented Oat Extract gently exfoliates, refines, and smoothes, revealing an even tone and younger-looking skin

• Exclusive Artistry Tri-Balance features:

• Desert Hydration Complex, a unique botanical blend featuring Indian Fig, chosen for its ability to live in harsh desert environments, restores optimum hydration

• Exclusive Artistry Balancing Matrix featuring Burnet Root and Witch Hazel are effective astringents/clarifiers to control shine

• Hypo Lipid Matrix (HLM) maintains optimum moisture balance

• Maintains moisture and helps control shine all day

• Ideal for combination-to-oily skin and safe for sensitive skin

What i like about this cleanser is that it's so gentle it won't leave your skin feeling tight.
It is really able to get rid of any dirt & grime because when i used their toner i did not see any dirt on the cotton pad. I'm sure you have had your share of cleansers that strips the essential lipids of your skin but not the dirt sitting on the surface. You'll know it doesn't work when you use your toner & see dirt on your cotton pad.

It's in a gel-form & it doesn't lather that much (based on what i remember), in fact i was really skeptic as to how it could clean my skin without it lathering, but i was flabbergasted when i saw no traces of dirt on my cotton pad... to think that i braved the city without anything on except moisturizer... yes, no make-up! I can go out now without any make-up at all, but my skin is hardly perfect,ok?

I was exposed in dirt & pollution prior to arriving in their office but this cleanser did remove the dirt off my face...even on the crevices of my nose.

Trust me in on this..
If you are looking for a cleanser that is really gentle & very effective, then this could be a good pick!

Their toner...

ESSENTIALS BALANCING TONER

• Exclusive Artistry Tri-Balance features:

• Desert Hydration Complex, a unique botanical blend featuring Indian Fig, chosen for its ability to live in harsh desert environments, restores optimum hydration

• Exclusive Artistry Balancing Matrix featuring Burnet Root and Witch Hazel are effective astringents/clarifiers to control shine

• Hypo Lipid Matrix (HLM) maintains optimum moisture balance

• Mattifying powders and Acerola Cherry absorb and control oil to produce a smooth, matte finish

• Responds to skin immediate and changing needs preparing skin to receive optimum moisture and treatment benefits

• Ideal for combination-to-oily skin, providing a long-lasting oil and hydration balance for a matte, shine-free look

• Safe for sensitive skin

As for this toner....
It is cloudy at the bottom on which you would have to shake it first to make sure you will get all the benefits it claims to have. I'm sure you are familiar with what toners are... it removes any residue that was left from our cleanser & at the same time it preps our skin for the products that you are going to put like moisturizers or serums, etc.

It's true that it does leave a smooth finish as if you apply a small amount of powder on the skin. I guess that is what they call as their mattifying powders. It doesn't sting which is good!

Although one thing that turned me off of this is the scent...
It has this weird "natural" scent on it. I guess in a way it's herbal but it's quite unique... i guess you just have to get used to it though... but it's not something overwhelming that would really put you off of it permanently..LOL! It will grow on your eventually.

Then finally their Balancing Lotion...too bad they don't have anything on their website about it...

It got SPF 15 UVA/UVB protection...

It's in a white fluid-gel form (as far as i remember) that is easily-absorbed by the skin. It's so light it didn't even feel like you put anything at all. It's amazing how your skin just seems to drink it up.It doesn't leave you with a greasy-feeling instead it just feels right somehow. It's not greasy, very light on the skin & seems to somehow "mattify" my skin as well.

I applied my primer before trying out their liquid foundation as well.

I choose the Balancing Foundation in Vanilla for that is their fairest...
It is perfect for my skin. It just seems to disappear on me leaving me with a smooth even look.
I like how it didn't have that heavy-feeling that screams "i'm wearing liquid foundation!". This is one of the nicest liquid foundation that i have tried... not that i'm into liquids, mind you..hehe. But this is really nice!

Please check out Nikki's post about their liquid foundation.

I only used their foundation & i used my own blush & lip products to finish my make-up...
We head on to the product launch together. I'm actually quite happy that i didn't have any reactions at all.

Now here comes the tough part...
I was in an air conditioned-room all through the time & everything felt fine.
The weird thing started when we went out because i felt my face becoming a bit itchy when i perspire for it was hot outside. We were walking on the way to the mall that time. When we got inside the mall, mom said she needed to use the loo because she needs to change her pumps to just her sandals.

I decided to remove my make-up on because i can't stand the itching while we were outside but as we were on the way to the loo, i felt the irritating reaction was disappearing that by the time we were in the loo, it was all gone! Weird,huh?

So i didn't bother removing my make-up anymore.
We went out of the mall again to catch the late train all the while mum was talking to dad because he is also on the way home & was thinking of passing by Makati area so we can hitch home. As soon as my skin perspired again, i felt that trickling of itchy sensation once more. It gets intense that i had to stretch & make face several times just to minimize the sensation that i am feeling.

As we waited for dad, we went in a convenience store & of course, it's cool there... i felt that reaction going away again. So i concluded that it only occurs when it's hot & i perspire. This is the first time that i have felt something like that. I'm not sure if it's the toner or the lotion, but i'm just guessing that it could be the toner.

Anyway, im not saying that their product is bad, my skin is just really sensitive that most cream/fluid based make-up remover gives me the same reaction. I'm acidic as well so i guess that it's no surprise that i have such a reaction with some products.

I would love to be able to try their products again & find out what was the cause of that reaction but i live quite far from their center... too bad. Personally, i think their products are of good quality.

I especially love their Renewing Peel for i really felt the difference of how my skin was before & after use...
If ever you want a product for a gentle peeling, i highly suggest that you try out their Intensive Skincare Renewing Peel!

Each product in this set retails for:

Cleanser - P 1,385

Toner - P 1,440

Lotion (facial moisturizer) - P 1,805

I know that the price is quite steep but they do offer quality products.
What's great about them is that they have a money-back guarantee. Meeko said so from his email when i told him about my reaction to their product. This is a snippet from his reply:

I personally have used all the products that I let u and ur mom try, and everyuthing's fine also. but as u said, u have specially sensitive skin. 

Artistry products are all organic and clinically tested to be hypoallergenic. however, no product can claim to be absolutely 100% non-allergenic for EVERYONE. the great thing about Artistry is that They have a 90-day money-back satisfaction guarantee. So even if u had bought those products, can refund u if u find Them Them truly unsatisfactory. for me, that's the best kind of protection that a company can give to its consumers)

I definitely agree!
That really is the best kind of protection for the consumers!
How many companies offer money-back guarantees like this?!
Only companies that manufacture quality products are indeed confident enough to do this because it means that they have used the product not as the seller but as a consumer as well & they are satisfied with it!

You can visit their center at Makati if you're interested.
Just contact Dr. Meeko Hilario over at his email or at his mobile phone 09178163356 if you have any interest/queries.

There ya go...
A lengthy post to start this blogging week again!

Have a great day,minna-san!
Jaa ne~!
^_~

Pucker up~! Red Lips please!

I know a lot of girls who shy away from red lipsticks thinking that it's too lethal to be used...haha! LOL!
Seriously?!

I know that most men also have an aversion to red lipsticks... how can that be?!... when they revere Megan Fox, Dita Von Teese & Marilyn Monroe?!
What the?!

They keep on saying that "it looks so slut-ish"...
*rolls eyes*
It's because they always equate it as RED LIPS=KISSING. They find it too sensual & since men are visual creatures, the color just drives them over the edge thinking of carnal thoughts.
Tsk! mga lalake talaga,o! (Tsk, guys really...)

It's all in the mind, peeps!
Just count 1 to 1000000000000 so that you'll be able to stay away from bad thoughts..hehe.

Good thing that Walter doesn't mind if i don red lips.
Anyway, i asked him before about it & he said even if he doesn't want me to wear reds, will i stop?
I said "NO!"...he said "I figured, so i just didn't bother to say so. Anyway, you look good in red lipstick."
Hahahaha! LOL!
Napilitan lang ata sabihin yun e! (Looks like he was just forced to say that!)

I personally love red lipstick.
I think every woman has to have at least one red lipstick.
It's just like a black dress... It's a classic & will never go out of fashion!

Since i love them, i do try to wear it as much as i can.
I learned from experience that applying red lipstick could be quite tricky & very unforgiving. Depending on how you apply it, it can make or break your look. A tiny red flick above your natural lip line can be very obvious so you have to take proper care when you go all-out in using red lipsticks.

I personally don't use lip liners.
I find that there are some lip liners that look quite different with the lipstick shade that i have. I just use a lip brush in making sure that the edges are equal.

I'm sure that everyone has their way of applying lipsticks. This is just how i apply mine...
Step by step tutorial of how i achieve red lips without using lip liners. I'm not a professional, i'm just a red lipstick-lover sharing a couple of things that i think might be handy for some girls... a couple of tips that i picked here & there might be helpful.

Let's start...

This is how my bare lips look like.

Pretty pigmented & it's quite hard to figure out where is the exact edge of my lip line that's why i can sort of play with my lip shape. I can make my lips a bit wider by extending the color just a bit or make it smaller by applying lip concealer for a more defined/clean look.

But it's not easy...it's almost always a hit or miss so i take a long time trying to achieve a perfect lip shape.

Lip Balm is very important especially if you are planning to use a matte lipstick. It will zap the moisture from your lips so make sure you prep your lips not just before lipstick application but hours before.

MAC Lip Conditioner 

In my case, i moisturize my lips every night by applying lip balm after i brush my teeth or if my lips are extra dry then i slather in a thick coat of Nivea Creme over my puckers. Always works like a charm!

Apply a thick coat of lip balm because it will help make the process of exfoliating the lips easier.

Just use wet tissue & gently rub you lips with a circular motion to remove any remaining dead skin.

I prefer to use wet tissue compare to toothbrush because there's not risk of accidentally poking your lips with any bristles that might result in nicks or any wounds. I am clumsy so it's better to cut any risk of a lip wound...hehe

Then apply lip balm again to prep your lips.

In this case, i'll use a concealer so that it would be easier for me to decide how i want to shape my lips. I also make sure that i blot the excess out because it could result in lipstick bleeding. I would just want to create a nice, even, neutral base for my lipstick to adhere to.

If you already have a well-defined lips then good for you! You won't have to go to the trouble of thinking how you want your lips to look like & taking a long time just defining it.

Benefit Gilded 

I, then, apply a highlighter on my cupid's bow & also on the center of my lower lip line.
Highlighting this area will give an illusion of a rather 'pouty' lips. I prefer to apply my highlighter under my color so that it would look natural.

I blend it downwards using either a brush or just my finger...

Beauty Treats Matte Lipstick in Hot Gossip 

Using a lip brush is the key point in being able to achieve a well-defined lip without any lip liners so make sure you keep a lip brush,ok?

I trace the line of my lips using the brush, also on the inside of the sides as well using light feathery strokes.
This is something that i notice when i watched Moulin Rouge & Nicole Kidman has that very obvious space between her upper & lower lip. I think it just breaks the over all look of donning red lipstick.

I find that tracing the shape by not smiling works a lot better because i get to see the shape of my lips as to how it's supposed to be. If i line my lips by stretching it, i tend to have uneven shape when i pucker up or when my lips are just relaxed. So i trace my lip shape while my lips are just relaxed.

When you are done defining your lip shape, then it's time to fill in your whole lip with the color remaining on your brush. You won't need to dip your brush again on the lipstick.. anyway, you'll be blotting it out so it would just be a waste.

Just lightly run your brush back & forth on your lips while smiling so you get to fill in any crevices with color. The point of this is to give your lips a nice even stain from the lipstick. It would serve as a foundation for the color & will make your lipstick last longer.

With a tissue, blot your lips.

Taking out the excess color of your lipstick...

... leaving you with a very nice stain.

Time to reapply your lipstick!

In this case, you can apply it straight from the tube if you want to.

Trace the shape of your lips once more using your lip brush.
I think light feathery strokes would be the best way in achieving a well-defined shape. Most often than not, a straight application tends to not be straight so it's better to just do it gently.

Basically you are done.
If you want your lipstick to last longer, a couple of women apply a powder on top of their lipstick.

In my case, i'll finish mine with gloss for now...

MAC Dazzleglass in Stop! Look!

Instead of applying it with the applicator that's included, i just put it on the back of my hand then use my lip brush. The thought of putting the applicator back on the bottle with red lipstick from my lips is not appealing.
It's better to just use the lip brush that you used since it's harder to sanitize applicators compare to brushes.

Think you're done?
Nah-ah!
You have to do the most important part of all....

You don't want to ruin your look with horrendous lipstick stain,right?

Smiling with lipstick stain is just plain ugh!
Major turn-off!

So what do you do?
Do the finger pop!

This is something that you always have to do whenever you go on with bright lipsticks!
You'll save yourself from any embarrassment caused by lipstick stain.

Once you are done with everything it's now time to flash your brightest smile & dazzle the people around your with your sexy red lips!

I am not in the mood to do a full make-up now so i'll finish this post with 2 of my past pictures with red lipstick on.

I used MAC Red in these pictures.
I love it so much that i can't believe i'm almost out of it!
I sure hope that this shade is not limited edition because i fairly remember not seeing it on the rack of MAC stores here....

Red Lipstick definitely speaks for itself.
There's something about red lipsticks that can make you feel sexy. You ought to try it to know what i'm talking about!

Extra tips:

• If you want an extra oomph you can apply highlighter not just on the cupid's bow but also on the plump/center part of your lips too! (lower & upper lip)
• If you don't have a lip concealer, then i think applying foundation just on the side of the lips can work as well. You're not really concealing your lips but more on just creating a neater base for your lip shape.
• I find that gently patting on the lipstick over & over straight from the tube on the second application makes the lipstick stay longer. It's just like packing the color on your lips!
• If you don't like that too-defined shape look then lightly smudge the edge of your lips for a softer look.
• It's been said that if you apply your lipstick vertically it would be able to hide your lip lines (i'm just not sure about this)
• Your red lipstick is too bright for you? Tone the color down by applying a bit of brown lipstick on it.

Don't be afraid to wear reds.

It's made for you!

In fact i think it makes the teeth appear whiter if you put on red lipstick. I have naturally yellow-teeth but i feel that my teeth gets hundred times whiter with red lipstick on unlike pinks.

So pucker up & unleash the inner vamp in you!

What's your favorite red lipstick?
Mine is still MAC Red...
^_~

Have a great day!
Jaa ne~!
^_^