Spotlight | B&C Browlash EX Water Strong Eyebrow.

I must admit, I am greatly obsessed with my eyebrows. It's that part of my face that I pay the most attention to (and spend the most time on) whenever I do my make-up. I guess this obsession stems from the fact that I have really sparse eyebrows. And that's also the reason why I'm all too happy to receive this product from Beauty Corner PH and try it out for myself.

B&C Browlash EX Water Strong Eyebrow.

At first glance you'd think it's the oh-so-famous K Palette 2-Way Eyebrow Liner (because that's what I originally thought, lol), but this one is actually the Browlash EX Water Strong Eyebrow. It's from the Japanese brand B&C Laboratories, and are sold at Sasa retail stores and counters in Hongkong, Macau, Singapore, Taiwan, and mainland China.

If you can read Hiragana/Katakana, then good for you. :)

Here in the Philippines, this can be bought online via Beauty Corner PH. They sell for Php 650 each (somewhere around $15) and come in three different shades - Light Brown, Natural Brown, and Grey Brown, which is the shade that I currently have.

Pencil at one end and liquid on the other, the B&C Browlash EX has a waterproof formula that resists water and sweat, and lasts all day long. 

Here's how the pencil part looks like:

Pencil.

And here's how the brush on the other end looks like:

Liquid.

The retractable pencil is meant for drawing out thick lines, while the fine-tip brush is for creating softer, fine lines. As illustrated in the packaging (see first photo), the pencil should be used on the inner part of the brows, while the brush is for the outer/ending part of the brows.

Here are swatches of the product:

Two strokes of the brush on the left; two strokes of the pencil on the right.

Personally, I would prefer a lighter shade than this one as I usually match the color of my eyebrows with the color of my hair. Perhaps the Light Brown shade would be a better match for my eye color and my current hair color. But nonetheless, I love how this subtle shade is buildable and how this product doesn't make my brows look too fake or drawn in.

Eyebrows courtesy of the Browlash EX. :)

What I love:

- Easy to use.

- Dual-sided product; can be used in two different ways.

- Waterproof, sweat-proof, smudge-proof.

- Good staying power (at least 12 hours, in my case).

- Three different shades to choose from.

- Doesn't make my brows look too fake.

What you might not like:

- The price. 

It may be a bit too steep for some, but keep in mind that it's from a famous Japanese cosmetic brand. 

And at least, it's cheaper than K Palette. :)

Spotlight | Canmake Four Shiny Eyes Palette in Strawberry Chocolate.

Last May, Canmake Philippines' chief makeup artist Bea Almeda held a Facebook giveaway in celebration of her birthday. At stake were the Four Shiny Eyes Palette, Eye Nuance Eyeshadow, and Candy Wrap Lip Gloss. I was lucky to be one of the winners, and for my prize I received this Four Shiny Eyes Palette in 01 Strawberry Chocolate.

Canmake Four Shiny Eyes Palette.

For those who are hearing the name 'Canmake' for the first time, it's a Japanese brand of drugstore makeup. Canmake finally made its way to Philippine soil, and the brand was officially launched in the country last summer.

Now back to my new toy - the Four Shiny Eyes Palette. Here's what the product does, as per the Canmake website:
Your eyes will look bigger than ever! Achieve deep-set eyes by layering on these colors with different textures! Use this four-shade palette of eyeshadows to try a wide range of tricks for making your eyes look bigger.

Strawberry Chocolate.

The Strawberry Chocolate variant is a trio of cute, pink shades plus the brown liner on the last pan. What's great about the Four Shiny Eyes Palette is that you have a lot of shades to choose from. There are seven palettes in this collection, all of them priced at 680 yen (somewhere around Php 300 or a little over US$6).

Wakarimasu ka? (Do you understand?)

It comes in a clear, plastic packaging. The case itself looks like a jewel, with studs and sparkles adorning the cover. I find the packaging really cute, though I've heard that the plastic container isn't very sturdy.

How to!

Pretty much everything is written in Japanese. But the instruction guide is illustrated and easy to understand.

Now for the swatches.

Texture is soft and creamy, though a bit chalky. Not as highly pigmented as my other drugstore brand eyeshadows (i.e. Almay), but the shimmery and sheer colors are pretty buildable. It'll take a bit of effort to build the colors, though. 

Swatches of Strawberry. And Chocolate. :)

Also, I've heard some complaints about this product's poor staying power, so just to be on the safe side, I use this eyeshadow with a primer on. I was able to wear this for a good eight hours without creasing or fading. Either they have improved the formulation, or my primer is pretty damn good. Haha!

What I love:

- Pretty packaging.

- Affordable price.

- Several shades available.

- Now available in the Philippines. 

- Staying power is good, when used with a primer.

- No fall-outs, surprisingly. :)

- No allergic reactions; safe for sensitive skin.

What you might not like:

- Save for the brown liner on the last pan, pigmentation is so-so.

Customary FOTD! :)
FACE: Majolica Majorca Skin Pore Lingerie,
Tony Moly Luminous Goddess BB Cream,
Benefit Erase Paste in Medium, Skin79 Skinny Mirror Pact.
EYES: Canmake Four Shiny Eyes Palette in Strawberry Chocolate,
BYS Waterproof Eyeliner in Black,
Fairydrops Volume Burst Mascara, Ever Bilena Eyebrow Liner.
CHEEKS: Tony Moly Cat Chu Wink.
LIPS: Double Hit Lip in Rose Riot.

Get to know more about Canmake here.

Spotlight | Majolica Majorca The Little Humming Book I.

After about a month or so of sitting in my makeup box, (I've been too lazy to do/wear full makeup since summer began) I finally had the chance to play with my newest palette - Majolica Majorca's The Little Humming Book I. Bought this at SM Makati together with the Skin Lingerie Pore Cover, which I've featured in this post.

The Little Humming Book I.

The Little Humming Book is a series of limited edition palettes released in celebration of Majolica Majorca's 10th Anniversary. The Little Humming Book I is the first from the series (obviously), and it comes in a lovely little 'song book'.

Inside the Little Humming Book I.

Although I had no intention of buying a new palette that day, (I wanted to at least use up my Urban Decay Ammo before getting a new one) I ended up paying Php 995 (approx $25) for this at the counter anyway. Lol. Talk about low EQ, haha!

But tell me, makeup junkies, can you resist something as quaint and lovely as this? The packaging alone was enough reason for me to buy as it reminded me greatly of one of my favorite Korean dramas - Secret Garden. 

Flip through the pages...

But wait 'til you see what's inside. Contained in this 'song book' are four stunning colors - two eyeshadows, one eye cream base, and one lip gloss.

Oh, Little Humming Book I... why you so pretty? :)

Moonless Night is a cream-based primer that comes in a blackish plum color. It's the perfect base for creating a smokey eye, and in my opinion, gives this palette that 'ooomph' - if you know what I mean. :)

Swatches, no flash.
Clockwise from top left: Flower Dust, Green Shower, Tulip Red, and Moonless Night.

Flower Dust and Green Shower are pale duochrome eyeshadows with metallic finish. Both shades look luminous and sparkly when used alone, but are absolutely gorgeous when worn with the primer. Tulip Red, on the other hand, is a light pink (not red, lol) lip gloss.

Swatches, with flash.

Here's the Little Humming Book I in action - Green Shower applied on my inner lid, blended with Flower Dust on my above crease. Moonless Night on my outer lid and outer crease. Tulip Red is the pinkish part on my gradient lips. :)

The Humming Book I in action! :)

What I love:

- Cute, one-of-a-kind packaging.

- Lovely colors.

- Very fine shimmers on the eyeshadows.

- No fall-out.

- No creasing.

- The duochrome eyeshadows combined with the eye cream base 

create a stunning, pearl finish.

- Reasonably priced at Php 995.

- Available locally.

What you might not like:

- The lip gloss looks great on the pan, but it actually lacks pigmentation 

and doesn't look good on its own. 

(Hence the gradient lips in my FOTD.)

Now I can't wait for The Little Humming Book II! I heard they're already out in the market, and I must have one! There goes my EQ again - out the window, haha!

Pretty Peepers with Majolica Majorca Lash King Mascara!

When I saw the Majolica Majorca deal reincarnated in the Deal Dozen website some two or three weeks ago, I didn't have to think twice about purchasing it. I mean, where else can you get one of the best mascaras in town for almost half of its original price? Not in the malls, of course.

The MM Lash King for only Php 499! 

And besides, this was an opportunity that I missed last year. Now that the deal is back due to popular demand, I'd be a fool if I'd miss this chance again.

Majolica Majorca!

Majolica Majorca, just so you know, is a product of the Shiseido Company - the leading Japanese cosmetics producer, and the oldest cosmetics company in the world. The Lash King, one of the most popular products from the Majolica Majorca line, is a luxurious mascara that contains 5mm of super long fibers which cling to your lashes, giving your eyes added definition.

No English text found in the back, so it pays if you can read Katakana/Hiragana.

The Lash King's acrobat brush guarantees to lengthen your lashes, while giving it fullness, curl, and volume at the same time. This makes the Lash King the grand daddy of all Majolica Majorca mascaras, and perhaps even all the mascaras in the market today.

The acrobat brush + 5mm super long fibers.

This mascara is waterproof and smudge-proof, by the way, so expect it to be a little difficult to remove with just soap and water. (Comparing it with Fairy Drops Volume Burst Mascara, the Lash King comes off a bit easier, though.) You'll need a cleansing oil or a makeup remover to get the gunk out without causing your lashes to break or fall.

Its elegant packaging is a winner. :)

See how the product looks like in my peepers! :)

What I love: 

Elegant packaging.

Lengthens and volumizes the lashes.

Creamy formulation - not runny nor clumpy.

Lightweight.

Quick-drying.

Waterproof, smudge-proof, tear-proof.

Non-irritating, no allergic reactions to it.

What you might not like:

It's a bit difficult to remove, but nothing a good cleansing oil or makeup remover can handle.

Php 795 may be a price too steep for some, but this product is such a great investment. :)

Now for a quick FOTD. :)

FACE: The Face Shop Velvet Skin Primer, Benefit Erase Paste in Medium,
Missha  Signature Real Complete BB Cream #21,
Human Heart Nature Perfect Coverage Mineral Foundation in Honey.
EYES:  Ever Bilena Eyebrow Pencil in Brown, BYS Smudgeproof Liquid Eyeliner in Black,
Majolica Majorca Lash King Mascara in Black.
CHEEKS: Tony Moly Lip and Cheek Tint in Cherry Pink.
LIPS: EOS Lip Balm in Vanilla Nonsense, NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Milan.

In case you'd like to try the Lash King, the deal is still available at Deal Dozen. From its original price of Php 795, it now costs only Php 499. Now that's what I call a real deal. :)

Luscious Lashes with Fairy Drops Volume Burst Mascara.

I've been wanting to try a new mascara for the longest time. If you have noticed, I'm almost always using the Missha Viewer 270 HD Curl Mascara in my Face of the Day (FOTD) posts. Because to be quite honest, I only have two wands of mascara in my stash - the Missha, and the Avon Super Curlacious which has dried up the last time I checked.

And just like a fairy godmother granting a wish, Ms. Windy of Stuff in Style sent me a message sometime last week, asking if I would like to do a review of the Fairy Drops Volume Burst Mascara. I agreed without a moment of hesitation, and the following day, this arrived at my doorstep.

As posted on my Instagram. Follow me on IG! :)

'Such pretty packaging,' was the first thing I uttered upon unwrapping the package. And then it dawned on me how rusty I've become with my Nihongo.

I hope my best friend is reading this. :)

I used to be able to read Katakana with much ease - but that was years ago, when my best friend and I were totally hooked to Utada Hikaru, Koda Kumi, Final Fantasy, manga, and anime. So it's good that there's English text at the back flap.

Click to enlarge! :)

And there's an easy-to-understand, easy-to-follow, step-by-step illustration, too.

Catch. Curl. Fabulous! 

Now here's how the product looks like. It comes in a pretty purple tube that screams 'kawaii'. The Fairy Drops Volume Burst Mascara has two variants - Waterproof and Film Type. This one is the Waterproof variant, which is great since I absolutely can not wear mascara if it's not waterproof. The latter, on the other hand is a water-resistant variant.

Purple is love! 

Now twist the cap open and ta-da! It's the famous '3-teardrop wand' that's patented in both US and Japan.

The wand that made waves all over the world.

This unique wand has the capability of catching even the tiniest lashes from the roots. The lashes are then 'bitten' between the balls, creating sharp, triangular bunches. It pushes the lashes up and curls them without clumping, giving you beautiful, doll-like lashes.

Magic wand! :)

Just to give you a background, the one-of-a-kind Fairy Drops wand is actually the brainchild of Aya Yasuda - a Japanese sportscaster based in Los Angeles. Established in 2007, Fairy Drops has become the rave of makeup artists, beauty bloggers, and beauty junkies worldwide!

And now, I totally understand why. Check out my lashes from before and after application.

Before.

I know my lashes are naturally long, but after Fairy Drops Volume Burst Mascara, they're even longer, and thicker, too!

After.

To use, simply 1) curl your lashes with an eyelash curler, 2) apply the mascara by starting with the roots of your lashes, 3) slowly move the wand in an upward, curling motion. 

Before.

After.

What I love:

Pretty packaging.

Unique, teardrop wand that easily picks up all of your lashes.

Thick formulation that's neither runny nor clumpy.

Dries quickly. 

Lightweight.

Water-proof, tear-proof, sweat-proof

No smudging, no flaking.

Lengthens and thickens the lashes without making them brittle.

What you might not like:

It's a bit difficult to remove. Soap and water wouldn't cut it. You'll need a cleanser or makeup remover for this. In my case, I use Human Heart Nature's Sunflower Cleansing Oil.

It's a little on the pricey side, but you do get your money's worth.

Now I'll you in on a secret. Stuff in Style sells this mascara for only Php 830! That's Php120 cheaper than the usual (Philippine) mall price. And best of all, this product ships for free! What a steal!

The Fairy Drops Volume Burst Mascara may very well be my HG mascara. I have a feeling it could be yours, too. :)

P.S. For my friends in the US, this mascara, together with other Fairy Drops products can be bought at Sephora and Sephora.com.