In the Limelight: MAC Mineralize Blush in Dainty Product Review

Most of my blushes have matte or satin finishes and I only have a handful of shimmery blushes. As I get older, I prefer non-shimmery ones because they tend to look more natural. But certain shimmery blushes have such gorgeous finishes like the MAC Mineralize Blush in Dainty. After using it for a few months now, here's my review.

MAC describes their Mineralize Blushes as...

Baked minerals refined into a powder formula to provide exceptionally sheer and lightweight application. Colour builds lightly, layer after layer, without heavy coverage. Veils and enhances the cheekbones with a luminous, pearlized shimmer.

What I like:

• MAC describes it as light yellow pink with gold pearl. Dainty in my eyes is a gorgeous warm pink shade with hints of peach and coral that is made even more lovely by the find, iridescent gold shimmers. It may be too shimmery on the pan and on swatches but if applied sparingly, the shimmers will just give your cheeks a nice glow and sheen. I personally use non-synthetic brushes or the MAC 187 when I apply this. I noticed that using my Ecotools blush brush makes the shimmers look more prominent whereas using those brushes I mentioned earlier makes the color pop.
• It isn't the silkiest and most finely milled and velvety blush I have owned but the texture is still smooth and not chunky.
• Unscented. My two most used powder blushes together with this one is Burberry Light Glow Blush in Peony and Chanel Joues Contraste in Narcisse, both of which have floral scents to them. So my nose loves the fact that this blush is unscented.
• A little goes a long way. This is pigmented so apply sparingly using a light hand. Just lightly dust it on your cheeks and continuously blend.
• No skin irritation nor allergic reactions for me from using it.
• Staying power is good, stays for more 5-6 hours on my combination-oily skin.
• Locally available at MAC counters for Php 1,500.00 (feel free to update me if the price has increased).

What I don't like:

• It oxidizes on me as most products do. But it doesn't end up looking awful even though it has oxidized. 
• Can emphasize the pores especially for those with large ones.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Will I buy again? The shade is pretty dupe-able so I'm on the fence if I should repurchase. But I'm sure it will take years to finish so I have a lot of time in my hands to decide if I'll buy again or not.

Have you tried MAC Dainty? What's your favorite MAC blush?

Have a wonderful Friday, everyone!

Cheers,

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Rouge A Levres - Lipstick Swatchfest

Howdy? I noticed that recently, I have only been doing swatches and reviews  mostly on blushes so this time, I decided to swatch my very minimal lipstick collection together with a couple more lip products. I will also be including a very brief review and/or description of each product so I can give you an idea on how they work for me. I would like to apologize for the lines on the pictures, my camera, I think, is busted. On to the mini swatch fest.

1. Guerlain Rouge Automatique in Chamade - This is a reddish-pink shade that looks quite similar to MAC Sheen Supreme Ultra Darling on my lips. It's applies very smoothly, glides like butter, and never drying on my lips. It leaves a nice light stain on my lips after a few hours with sips and chews in between. Can be applied sheer or layered for a more opaque and bright colour. Mildly scented. Plus I love the sleek packaging.

2. Guerlain Kiss Kiss Stick Gloss in Corail des Mers - If I want something lighter that will look pretty natural on my lips, this is the one I swipe on 'em. It is glossy on its own and goes on smoothly on the lips. It initially looks a bright coral-pink but it turns to a peachy-pink shade after a while. Has a strong scent that I sometimes cannot tolerate.


3. YSL Rouge Pur Couture in Rose Dahlia - This is the shade I go for when I feel like my skin's dull due to lack of sleep and this immediately brightens up my face. It is a lovely coral-pink shade that is opaque which leaves a pretty stain on the lips. Lasts for a few hours too just like Guerlain Rouge Automatique in Chamade. Has a strong rose scent too that my sense of smell has gotten accustomed to.



4. YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain in Coral Fauve - My latest acquisition. Lately, I have been into tints and stains as they last longer on my skin and lips so I decided I should give this a try. It is a non-sticky gloss with a reddish coral tint that lasts for hours. It leaves a stain behind even with the gloss going kaput. It is a bright coral-pink upon application but it turns red-coral on me. And if I apply a second coat, the color is intensified making it look red on me. It also amazes me how non-drying it is. Now I love it and I want a pink shade - 15 or 13, perhaps. Sadly, the brand has pulled out and is no longer locally available. Why, Rustan's, why?!!!!!!


5. Chanel Rouge Allure in Comedia - As my very first high end lipstick, this has earned a spot in my heart. The very sleek and classy packaging got me at first glance. The shade is a nice rosy pink-peach shade with nice flecks of gold shimmer that is very fine, giving the lips a certain sheen. It also lasts a couple of hours on my and does not dry my lips either.

6. MAC Sheen Supreme in Ultra Darling - Pardon the different lip pose for this swatch. Anyway, this is a reddish-pink shade just like Guerlain Rouge Automatique in Chamade with a glossy and shiny finish. It also does not dry out my lips and lasts for a few hours. Smells like vanilla too.
 

7. Revlon Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti - I don't know how this particular lippy made it to this date as this has already melted and I can no longer apply it without a lip brush. As the name suggests, it is a lip butter which also melts as quick as butters do when it's hot. While I love the shade and its longevity, it dries my lips. Not happy with this product at all.

8. Model's Own Lip Balm in Tangerine - I love this tinted lip balm and has been my go-to lippy for months now. This is a verrry pigmented tinted lip balm that keeps my lips moisturized through out the day. Shade is red-orange that smells fruity and juicy but can be sheered out by applying very little product on the lips. I also love how long lasting it is and has the ability to brighten my face. And quite inexpensive too, just not locally available. Dang!

 9. Korres Lip Butter in Pomegranate - When I want to wear a tinted lip balm that isn't as bright as Model's Own Lip Balm in Tangerine and more natural looking, this is what I dab on my lips. It is a sheer coral-pink shade that is moisturizing with a scent I like too.


10. Sleek Pout Polish in Powder Pink - I received this product from Updated Trends third quarter of last year. This is a sheer candy/baby pink shade that can make me look pale on its own so I usually use this as a base for other lip products or as a gloss on top of a brighter shade to tone it down. This isn't drying and I like how glossy it is.

No lip swatch:

11. Caudalie Paris Lip Conditioner - I don't think there is a point to swatch this since it doesn't have any tint at all. This lip balm rescues my lips from wind burns and when my lips get very dry. I usually apply this before bed time to hydrate my lips and I wake up to softer smoother lips that are less drier than the night before. It has a strong vanilla scent so I do not use this on a regular basis.

12. DLE Cosmetics Light Up Gloss in Pink Fetisssh - see my review HERE.

13. DLE Cosmetics Light Up Gloss in Jess Barely - This is a very basic lip gloss with fancy light up packaging that allows you to apply it even in the dark. It also has a small mirror on the side so it's pretty great for touch ups. It isn't that sticky which is nice. Shade is a very sheer almost translucent pink with shimmers perfect to be used on top of lipsticks.

So that about sums up my lipsticks and other tinted/lip balms. I hope you find something useful on this post.

Have a wonderful weekend, super awesome peeps! Stay tuned for another scheduled post tomorrow! :D

Cheers,

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March Goodies

What nicer way could perk up a sick makeup lover like me than to receive goodies when you're stuck in bed, sneezing and coughing your heart out, looking like a red-nosed reindeer on a rainy day? That'd definitely perk and cheer me up. I was handed a few goodies that I got way back December last year from Apothica and the mailman also arrived to hand me something. I decided to just post almost all the goodies I have acquired for the whole month of March before the month ends in 2 days so you'll definitely see some products that have already been featured on previous posts. So I'd like to share what cheered me up on a gloomy, bed weather afternoon-evening.

1. Giorgio Armani Face Fabric Second Skin Nude Makeup 2
2. MAC Blot Pressed Powder in Medium
3. Burberry Light Glow Blush in 04 Peony (which replaced Blossom which I also purchased this month)
4. Becca Mineral Blush in Flowerchild
5. Becca Beach Tint in Guava
6. Benefit Bella Bamba Mini
7. Skinfood Sugar Cookie Blush in Winter Cherry
8. YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick in Rose Dahlia
9. Clinique Happy
10. Caudalie Paris Lip Balm
11. The Balm Down Boy Blush/Shadow (not in picture)
12. Burberry Light Glow Blush in 05 Blossom
13. Random samples from Phytomer, Ahava, Nuxe, and Skinfood.

More reviews to follow then. :)

Happy Thursday evening, super awesome peeps! :)

Cheers,

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Updated: What's in my Kikay Kit (Makeup Kit)?

Hi everyone! Another week has passed and pretty soon, the first quarter of the supposed last year according to the Mayan Calendar will be over. Anyway, I like taking a peek on what most of you ladies stuff in your kikay kit and I have been meaning to post an updated what's in my kikay kit since the last one was way back in 2009, I think, but haven't gotten around to doing so until now. What I am going to show you is what I have in my kit at the moment because it changes on  weekly or daily basis depending on my mood and how lazy or not I am in changing the products I use everyday. So without further ado, here's a  peek on my kikay kit and what's inside.

I am using a cosmetic pouch from Estee Lauder

Face/Base Makeup - Giorgio Armani Face Fabric 2 | Maybelline
Dream Mousse Concealer - Cream | MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural
- Light | Kanebo Kate High Coverage Pressed Powder UV

Cheeks - Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric 2 | Chanel Joues Contraste -
Tea Rose

Lips - Vaseline Lip Therapy Advanced Formula | Models Own Lip Balm
- Tangerine | MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Ultra Darling | YSL Rouge
Pur Couture Lipstick in 17 Rose Dahlia

Eye Area - Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Zero | Kiss Me Heroine
Make Volume & Curl Mascara | Browlash Ex Water Strong W Eyebrow

I wear makeup to a minimum especially with the kind of weather we have which is beyond description. Well, it is the type which can easily make one sick overnight. Here is my everyday look using most of the products in my kit. I don't normally use eyeliners because almost all that I've tried smudges on me but I am liking UD Zero so far. Products usually change but it's pretty much the same look everyday for me. And oh, the lipstick I am wearing here is Bewitching Coral from Max Factor's Elixir lipstick line which is something I really don't wear to the office but picked it up today just for this post. It is a tad bright for my liking.

Have you updated your kikay kit lately?

Happy Sunday, super awesome peeps! Another work week again. I badly need a massage. :-\

Cheers,

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Current Favorites

How's your weekend so far, guys? Mine was pretty nice - had a company Valentine's Day party last night - which I think is cheesy - that was filled with dancing and singing and is quite fun. I still think it's cheesy, though. Anyway, I thought of just sharing with you my current favorites. You might notice that some of the products on this list were purchased just recently but were included because I've been using them everyday since I got them and are have become instant favorites. So without prolonging the agony (I hate the waiting game), I present my current favorites (and those I think will become favorites in a long time).

RMK Liquid Foundation | Kanebo Coffret D'Or Beauty Lasting Liquid UV |
Pore Serum Gel | MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural |
Versace Bright Crystal

For the face:

RMK Liquid Foundation 102 - I initially wasn't that pleased with this foundation but it works perfectly well with MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Light. It feels light on the skin while providing a really, really, really nice natural finish that does not turn greasy when my T-zone starts to oil up. The shade also perfectly matches my skin tone.

Kanebo Coffret D'Or Beauty Lasting Liquid UV - please refer to my review.


MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Light - feels light on the skin and the texture of the powder is also very nice. It makes my skin look glowing without making it look nasty or oily.

Pore Serum Gel - rescues my skin when it acts up, making it less oily. Works as a fab mattifier too!

The little lost soul - Versace Bright Crystal - I am definitely not good in describing scents but this one is so feminine and smells gorgeous! It also doesn't hurt that the bottle looks exquisite.

Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric 2 | Guerlain Blush 4 Eclats 05
Rose Plein Vent

For the cheeks:

Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric 2 - this little baby provides a very natural-looking flush. It feels velvety as it glides on the cheeks and lasts for at least 10 freakin' hours on me! That is absolutely a first for me.

Guerlain Blush 4 Eclats 05 Rose Plein Vent - the blush is such a beauty! It's a gorgeous peach-pink shade which works really great with Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric 2.

Chanel Rouge Allure in Comedia | MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in
Ultra Darling | Models Own Lip Balm in Tangerine

Lips:

Chanel Rouge Allure in Comedia - when I feel like using something luxurious on my puckers, this is the lipstick I instantly grab. It complements any type of blush that I wear without competing with it. Such a wonderful subtle pink lipstick for me.

MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Ultra Darling - such a pretty coral-pink lipstick that has a very nice texture which is not drying on the lips at all.

Models Own Lip Balm in Tangerine - this has got to be the most pigmented tinted lip balm I have ever tried. This screams red-orange on the jar but looks very lovely on the lips. It instant brightens the face plus it's moisturizing and smells great.

Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume & Curl Mascara |
Kiss Me Heroine Make Impact Frame & Curl Mascara

And lastly, mascaras:

Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume & Curl Mascara - for natural looking lashes with added volume, this is the one for me. I also like that it can be easily removed.

Kiss Me Heroine Make Impact Frame & Curl Mascara - this definitely knows how to make an impact by making your lashes longer with extra volume that insanely holds the curl for hours. Only hard to remove, though.

So these are my current favorites. What are yours?

Happy Sunday, super awesome peeps! :)

Cheers,

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Product Review: MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Ultra Darling

It has been over a year since I last used a MAC lipstick. I decided I was so over the MAC hype and that there is more to makeup than the brand, especially with lipsticks and blushes. Blame it on Japanese and high end brands for my ditching MAC. It wasn't only until I got to try the Sheen Supreme lipsticks that I wanted something from MAC again. It was love at first swatch with Ultra Darling though I had my eyes set on Full Speed and Korean Candy at that time. I've been using it everyday for almost a week now so I guess that's a fair enough time to give it a review.

Sheen Supreme Lipsticks according to MAC

Combining the colour impact of a Lipstick with the shine sheen of a Lipglass, Sheen Supreme creates the perfect hybrid - with no compromise. Lightweight, non-sticky, slick to apply and comfortable to wear. This is a must-have for all those who have craved this kind of fusion.

Ultra Darling is described as a mid-tone yellow pink.

What I like:

• The shade is a very pretty watermelon pink with just the right hint of coral in it. It also has the right amount of sheen to make the lips look healthy and glossy. 
• I love the formula. As I have mentioned earlier, I have given up on MAC lipsticks since I had my love affair with a few high end ones but I can confidently say that MAC earned a second chance because of this Sheen Supreme Lipstick line. It's creamy, glides smoothly, and is very comfortable enough to wear on the lips. It feels like I'm wearing my Dior Addict lipstick. It is definitely a hybrid of a lipstick and a lip gloss with a touch of a glossy lip balm, if I may add that.
• It is non-drying. I have used it a couple of times without a lip balm underneath but it never dried out my lips.
• I love how the color instantly brightens up my face. It's kinda bright on my lips as compared to my usual lip color choices but I can't help but love this. I can definitely see those with fair and medium skin tones rocking this shade.
• No irritation on my lips.
• Lasts fairly well for 2-3 hours (without drinking/eating) but definitely not as long lasting as matte lipsticks because of its glossy formula.

What I don't like:

• The packaging/tube. Not a huge fan of it. I like the regular bullet-looking one better. Plus it's kinda hard to open.
• Maybe pricey for Php 1000/tube but I'm loving the formula so I really don't mind the price tag. MAC is crazily raising their prices to compete with high end ones, I guess.

Overall rating: 4.75/5 Well, ain't this lipstick the Ultra Darling for getting this rating? :)


Will I buy again? Expect to see another shade from the Sheen Supreme Lipstick line in a month or so which is Full Speed. Unless I get over my coral-pink affinity, I'd probably get an everyday nude shade instead which is Bare Again. :)

Swatch

On me

Have you tried any MAC Supreme Sheen Lipsticks? If you haven't, what shades would you like to try?

Have a great week ahead of you, everyone! :)

Cheers,

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Product Review: MAC 190 SE Foundation Brush

How's your weekend, everyone? I certainly hope you're all having a blast. Anyway, it's time for another brush review. I am reviewing one of the very first MAC brushes I owned, way back in summer of 2009. I got this brush as part of the Adoring Carmine Holiday Collection together with the 187SE, 168SE, 194SE, and a pouch. Please note that this is just the short-handled brush and I don't have the full-size 190. On to the review then.

Product Description taken from MAC Cosmetics website:

Pro-quality. A foundation brush designed to create a smooth, even finish, flawless look. Works well with any M·A·C foundation, including Studio Fix and Studio Tech. Use to apply, distribute, and blend foundation into all areas in the face.

19 cm
US$32.00

What I like:
- The bristles are firm but flexible enough to not drag the skin as foundation is applied and blended. Not scratchy either.
- This is a traditional foundation brush that is great in applying liquid, cream, and mousse foundations.
- Coverage can go from light to full when using this brush.
- Creates a flawless and even finish as long as you do not forget to blend. Some people complain about the foundation looking streaky, blotchy, and uneven but seriously, the key is blending. It won't hurt to add a few more strokes. But if you are in a hurry, a flat top brush is the way to go.
- I sometimes use this to apply concealer because the size of the head is just right for the under eyes. Just simply pat, pat, pat and then use my ring finger to pat the concealer one last time and I'm good to go.
- I like the short handle, actually. It gives me better control than long-handled ones like the 187 and 188 because they hit the mirror when I hold it in front of my face.
- The bristles are dense and packed tightly together and makes buffing and blending the foundation easier.
- Locally available at MAC Counters - both full size and those included in holiday sets.

What I don't like:
- It eats a lot of foundation but not as much as the amount sponges absorb. But the trick here is to apply very little foundation using short, gentle strokes and slowly build up from there instead of spreading the foundation in long strokes.
- Full size is expensive and I guess costs more than Php 2000 but will check for the exact price and update this post. The set is also expensive for Php 3850 (not sure if the sets were part of the price increase though).
- The SE ones are made in China whereas the full size ones are made in Japan. But this is not a biggie since this is pretty good.

Overall rating: 4/5 This is a good basic foundation brush but if you have already found something similar to this that works great for you, there is no need to purchase this or the full size. Might as well invest on multi-tasking brushes such as the 187 or the 188.

Will I buy again? I am still not sure if I would but it would entirely depend on my need. See, I've had this for almost 2 years and a half now and it's still in great condition. So let's see if I do in the future. :)

187 made in Japan and 190SE made in China

Have you tried this brush? What other foundation brushes can your recommend?

Happy Saturday, super awesome peeps. :)

Cheers,

Coming up: Bourjois Blush in 54 Rose Frisson Read more...

Product Review: MAC 188 Small Duo Fibre Face Brush

Here's my second installment on my brush reviews. I will be alternating between makeup/skin care reviews and brush reviews so it won't be all about brushes for my succeeding posts. Anyway, I've had this MAC 188 Small Duo Fibre Face Brush for almost two years now so I thought of giving it its much-deserved review. I initially purchased it last October 2009 during the height of my blush addiction for the sole purpose of using this on my blushes. But I found another use where this brush is excellent at and I'll share that on this review.

Description from MAC Cosmetics Website:

A flat-topped, full circular brush used for lightweight application and blending of any formula colour – fluid, cream, powder or pigment. Ideal for creating soft layers or adding textures. Made from a soft blend of goat and synthetic fibres.

17 cm

US$34.00

********************************************************************************************

What I like:

- This works great in applying cream and/or highly pigmented blushes because it gets just the right amount of color and distributes it evenly on the cheeks.

- I like using this in blending my under eye concealer when I use something creamy like Laura Mercier Secret Concealer. It works so much better than my ring finger because it blends it better by swirling it around the eye area and that prevents the product from caking up (this is the other use I am talking about on the intro of this post. I use it more on concealers than I do on blushes).

- When used in applying cream or liquid foundations, it works great on the crevices like the sides of the nose, near the ears, and around the eyes and forehead as compared to MAC 187 due to its size (significantly smaller than 187 - see pictures below). If you plan to apply foundation using the stippling motion, it will take you a while if you use this on your entire face so I suggest leaving it to the 187 brush to do that and use this 188 on hard to reach areas instead. But if you're just going to buff it in, this brush will do.

- This applies highlighters and contouring products like a dream, its size is perfect.

- If you want to apply your eye creams without tugging on the under eyes, you may very well use this brush too.

- I experienced minimal shedding and it never bled every single time I wash it and it does not take long to dry.

- Locally available at MAC Counters and part of the permanent line.

What I don't like:

- Quite pricey for a single brush at Php 2050. Those on a budget may want to consider the Adorned with Grace Minerals Ingenue Dual Fiber Brush since the size is almost the same and works just as fine as the 188. But it sheds like crazy.

- I wouldn't use this on uber pigmented blushes and foundations and cheek tints because the white hairs might get stained just like what happened to my 187. :(

- The black goat hairs can be quite scratchy so make sure only the white hair touches your skin.

Overall rating: 4.5/5 Despite the price, the versatility of this brush got me - from eye creams to concealers to foundations, blushes, highlighters and bronzers. However, I don't think this is a must-have for everyone. If you already have brushes for different products, you can do away without this. :)

Will I buy again? I hope I won't have to since I take care of this brush but in case something unexpected and unfortunate happens to it, I will. :)

A closer look

Compared with MAC 187 size-wise

Do you have this brush?

Happy Wednesday, everyone! :)

Cheers,

Coming up: Alba Botanica Acne Dote Oil Control Lotion Review

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