Pucker Up! | NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Antwerp and Milan.

Remember how I fell head over heels in love with Addis Ababa? It's been months since my love affair with this lippy began, and although I'll never get tired of wearing this shade, I decided it's time to try other shades from the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream line.

My first choice was Sau Paolo, but this shade is just too elusive. It's almost always out of stock each time I search for it! And so I went for Antwerp and Milan instead, which I bought from Skye Avenue some three or four weeks ago.

Antwerp + Milan.

They're on sale at Php 250 each. That's 30 pesos off from the original retail price.

Antwerp + Milan.

As always, it comes with a doe foot applicator and has the same yummy scent as Addis Ababa. Both shades are highly-pigmented, colors are buildable, and dry into a lovely matte finish.

Antwerp on the left, Milan on the right.

Don't forget to wear a lip balm underneath these Lip Creams! (I use EOS, in case you're wondering.) You wouldn't want your lips to look parched and dry while wearing these lovely colors.

Swatches. Antwerp on the left, Milan on the right.

Antwerp is a pretty shade of coral that, when worn, tends to brighten one's face. The color is suitable for daytime wear and absolutely perfect for the summer. (It's now summer in the Philippines, by the way.)

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Antwerp.

Milan, on the other hand, is a neutral pink shade that looks quite natural on the lips. On days when I'm too lazy to go through my full makeup routine, I reach for this lippy and wear it together with one of my favorite BB creams.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Milan.

What I love:

- Gorgeous shades

- Highly-pigmented

- Buildable colors

- Nice scent

- Stays on your lips for hours

- Kiss-proof

- Affordable price

- Cruelty-free (not tested on animals)

What you might not like:

- Has a tendency to dry out the lips (nothing a good lip balm can't handle, though).

Wrapping this post up with a Face of the Day! Two faces, to be precise. :)

Lips in Milan. 
Indoor light, no flash.
My son says I look like a pullip doll in this photo. Haha!

Lips in Antwerp.
Outdoor light, no flash.
I was standing in a spot where the sunlight actually streaks on my face, lol.

Pucker Up! | Double Hit Lip in Red Alert and Rose Riot.

Time and again, I would say that a girl can never have too many lippies. Case in point - me, who was once again bitten by the shopping bug last week, thereby buying two new lippies from Skye Avenue. I ended up with four new lippies, actually, because Ms. Dee added these to the two lip creams that I purchased.

Double Hit Lip: Rose Riot on top, Red Alert on bottom.

A product of Look Beauty (which is the cosmetics line of Look Magazine UK), the Double Hit Lip combines two lip products in one handy tube. The lip gloss goes on one end, while the lipstick on the other.

Here's the product description as per the Look Beauty website: 

Universally flattering and as tan enhancing as a white dress, these colour pop shades look amazing, whether gloriously glossy or not! All the trends covered - matte, glossy or combine the two.

Red Alert Lippy + Lip Gloss.

Red Alert is a bright, orange-y kind of red. Rose Riot, on the other hand is a soft pink color, with a hint of peach to it.

Rose Riot Lippy + Lip Gloss.

And while the lipsticks are billed as matte, both the Rose Riot and the Red Alert lippies actually have a sheen finish. If you're expecting something like NYX's Soft Matte Lip Cream or Chanel's Rouge Allure Velvet Lip Colour, you might be disappointed.

On a more positive note, the lippies give a fair amount of color without drying your lips. They're very easy to apply, and stay on the lips for about three or four hours.

Red Alert lippy on the left, lip gloss on the right.

Rose Riot lippy on the left, lip gloss on the right.

As for the lip gloss, I am absolutely in love, love, love with them. Both of them! And this coming from someone who's not very fond of glosses. They're non-sticky, glide on the lips smoothly, and highly-pigmented - something you don't usually see from a lip gloss.

I love that they're toffee-scented like the Lip Booms, but thankfully, they're not as glittery. Both the Red Alert and the Rose Riot have a glass-like finish, and a subtle sheen which I find quite gorgeous.

Rose Riot Lip Gloss.

Rose Riot Lippy.

Red Alert Lip Gloss.

Red Alert Lippy.

Now another thing I like about Look Beauty is their Look Good Feel Better program. For every Look Beauty product sold, a donation goes to the cancer support charity. These Double Hit Lip costs Php580 a pop, by the way. You can easily purchase them from Skye Avenue via the Multiply Shopping Cart.

What I love:

- Convenient, handy packaging.

- You get two products for the price of one.

- Both the lippy and lip gloss are non-drying and easy to apply.

- Lip gloss packs a lot of color, has a lovely sheen finish. No glitters, too!

- Smells yummy!

- The brand supports a cancer charity.

What you might not like:

- Lippies are advertised as matte, but they aren't. The sheen finish isn't bad, though. It's just... the product description is a bit misleading.

Face of the Day, yes? :)

Products used:
FACE: The Face Shop Velvet Skin Primer, Missha The Style Under Eye Brightener,
Skin Food Good Afternoon BB in Rose Lemon Tea.
EYES: elf Liquid Eyeliner in Black, Fairy Drops Volume Burst Mascara in Black,
Avon Ultra Luxury Brow Liner in Dark Brown
CHEEKS: Skin Food Sugar Cookie Blusher in Bebe Pink.
LIPS: Double Hit Lip Red Alert Lippy (top), Rose Riot lippy (bottom).

Holiday Gift Guide 2012 | Gifts from Php99 to Php999.

With a quick trip to the mall over the weekend, I was finally able to cross off the last few items on my Christmas shopping list. If not for the little man's last confinement, I'd be done with buying gifts weeks ago. I try to avoid the Christmas rush as much as possible, as I really hate it when the malls get overcrowded and queues at the cashier and the gift-wrapping counter hold up for an eternity.

Now I'm sure there are still some of you who aren't done (perhaps haven't even started) with their shopping yet. To make this task a bit easier, I came up with my first-ever Holiday Gift Guide and rounded-up a few items that you can give as gifts for your family, your friends, and even yourself. And because money don't grow on trees and it's always the thought that counts, we're keeping the spending to a minimum of Php 99 all the way to Php 999 only.

1. Mini Twinkle Star Necklace, Php 100.

Bronze-plated star pendant on a soft leather necklace. Perfect for teens and tweens. 

Available at Eazy Fashion.

2. Etude House Milk Talk Body Wash 3-piece Miniature Set, Php 192.

Moisturizing body care line in sweet strawberry, banana, and choco milk scents.

Currently on sale at BHappyWithMe.

3. Slick and Yummy Watch. Php 249.

Silicone watches in an array of fun and funky colors. Best when bought by two's. :)

Available at Eazy Fashion.

4. Human Heart Nature Jolly Body Christmas Bundle, Php 259.

Set includes the all-new Cleansing Bar, Bamboo Body Scrub in Vanilla Paradise (50g), Healthy Lotion (50mL) in your choice variant. Comes in a Christmas paper bag with ribbon and gift tag.

Available at Human Heart Nature. 

5. InstaMUG, prices start at Php 280.

A must-have for all Instagram addicts! Your IG photos comes to life on coffee mugs... 

even on tablet covers and phone cases, too!

An original product of InstaMUG.

6. Spud 'n Squishy eSPUDrilles, Php 370.

Handmade and handcrafted by local craftsmen, these espadrilles for babies and toddlers are made with breathable canvas/cotton uppers, organic Abaca fiber foxing, and non-marking, non-slip rubber soles.

An exclusive product of Spud 'n Squishy. 

7. Wallet Case with Stand for Samsung Galaxy Note2, Php 430.

Protective case fit for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. Made from PU leather, 

this flip case turns into a stand and contains pockets for your ATMs or credit cards. 

Available at Hokkoh.

8. Clarissa Clutch by Ichigo, Php 520.

From the Clarissa collection comes these oversized clutches accentuated with pyramid studs. 

Comes in five pastel colors. 

A product of Ichigo Shoes. 

9. Finn and Jake Plushies, Php 600 each.

It's Adventure Time! Upcycled, handcrafted, and made with love, 

these plushies are a surefire hit with kids and kids-at-heart! 

Made especially for you by PopJunkLove.

10. Amber Lights Reed Diffuser, Php 620.

Organic, eco-friendly, and guaranteed phthalate-free, these reed diffusers come in 

six aromatic scents that can last from six to eight months. 

Available in 100 mL bottles at Amber Lights Laguna.

11. Look Beauty UK Brow Perfect Kit, Php 900.

Fool-proof, picture perfect brows made easy with this handy kit! 

Contains eyebrow stencils, fixing gels, mini tweezers, 

double-ended precision applicators, and brow shades.

Available at Skye Avenue.

12. Stila Lip Glaze Trio, Php 990.

Pucker up with Stila's most popular lip gloss in three gorgeous hues. 

Guaranteed to give your lips a splash of color and a healthy, glossy shine.

Available at Stuff in Style.

And there you have it - my Holiday Gift Guide with something for everybody. Hope you all get your shopping done within the next few days. After all, Christmas is just two weeks away!

Pucker Up! | NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Addis Ababa.

It seems like every beauty blogger I know has given these NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams a try. Everyone except me, that is. Boo hoo. And so when I did some shopping at Skye Avenue a few weeks ago, I made it a point to include one of these Lip Creams in my shopping cart.

NYX ♥

Choosing which shade to try was easy. I went for the most popular (as far as the reviews that I've read are concerned) in the bunch - Addis Ababa.

Addis Ababa ♥

Bright fuchsia with blue undertones, Addis Ababa has become known as the 'Barbie pink' shade among NYX fans and lip cream lovers. I love how this shade of (hot) pink screams OF femininity and screams FOR attention.

Barbie pink!

It comes with a doe-foot applicator, which I find very convenient when it comes to building color on my lips. Addis Ababa has a great, buildable color, and highly-pigmented at that.

Gorgeous, just gorgeous. :)

This product glides on your lips like a dream and dries into a gorgeous matte finish. It's feels neither sticky nor heavy, and it lasts on your lips for hours even after eating or drinking. It also has that distinct caramel cheesecake scent (similar to Miners Matte Factor Lip Paint) which I'm really crazy about.

Now here's the thing about these Lip Creams. They can make your lips look really dry, especially when you're wearing them thick. Nothing to worry about, since a good lip balm does the trick. Maybelline Baby Lips is a good choice, but in this nippy weather, I prefer EOS, my all-time favorite lip balm. Remember to apply the lip balm BEFORE you apply the Lip Cream! You won't get the 'matte effect' if you do it otherwise.

What I love:
- Gorgeous shade
- Highly-pigmented
- Buildable color
- Nice scent
- Stays on your lips for hours
- Kiss-proof
- Affordable price
- Cruelty-free (not tested on animals)

What you might not like:
- Has a tendency to dry out the lips (nothing a good lip balm can't handle, though).

After Addis Ababa, I can now say that I'm a fan of matte lippies. I've actually professed my love for this product on Instagram, where most of my recent selcas feature this product. Check out the hot pink kisser, haha!

Follow me on Instagram via rebelsweethrt :)

NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams are available at Skye Avenue for only Php 250 each. Purchase via the Multiply Shopping Cart and have your orders delivered free of charge.

Like Skye Avenue on Facebook and follow Ms. Dee on Twitter to get first dibs on new products and ongoing promos! :)

Skye Avenue | A Review of Sorts + Today's Look.

Remember that loot of beauty products I received from Skye Avenue?

I promised I'd do a separate feature on these items, and as you know, I'm pretty good at keeping promises. :)

First up, this little pink pot.

Krave Minerale Cosmeceuticals is a Philippine brand of mineral makeup and organic skincare products. In the country, it is the pioneer in 1) bringing imported organic skincare products with certified USDA organic ingredients sourced across the globe; 2) carrying a line of mineral makeup and organic products that are internationally affiliated with PETA; 3) pledging with the Truth in Labeling campaign.

I had the chance to try Krave's Luxurious Perfection in French Latte - a loose mineral foundation with Allantoin, Levomenol, Golden Jojoba, and provitamin B5. When it comes to foundations, I usually stay away from the loose powder type. I've always thought they'd be more difficult to blend compared to the powder or the liquid type, but Krave's Luxurious Perfection proved me wrong.

There's actually a puff inside the jar, and a sifter separating them in between. The sifter comes sealed
but I chose not to remove it, and used my own foundation brush instead.

Blending it was actually quite easy, and its buildable coverage allows you to go as light or as heavy as you desire. I went for the former, as it can be quite icky to wear heavy makeup in this kind of weather. I love its lightweight feel and dewy finish, and the fact that it's hypoallergenic and didn't break out my skin.

Krave Luxurious Perfection comes in three shades (Macchiato for light complexion, French Latte for fair/semi-fair complexion, Cafe Melange for medium/morena complexion) and is available in two different sizes (15g jar at Php 300, 30g jar at Php 550).

I used this together with the Ecorre Artist BB Cream - another Korean brand - and I have to say that the two products complement each other. On my face, at least.

The Ecorre Artist BB Cream works in six ways: 1) moisturizer, 2) sunscreen with its SPF27 PA++ properties, 3) concealer, 4) prevents acne, 5) prevents wrinkles, 6) makeup base. 

It has a buildable coverage, has no funky smell, and evens out easily. No break-outs from this product, too!  I like how multi-functional this BB cream is, although there is only one shade available in the market. Also, it could do better on the SPF part. (At least an SPF 30 for me, please!)

It appears slightly grayish here (pardon the poor lighting inside our bedroom), but it looks different when applied on the face. Although it feels a tad heavy on my skin compared to most of the BB creams I've tried, I'm pretty satisfied with its smooth finish and the dewy effect on my skin.

The Ecorre Artist BB Cream comes in sachet sets (such as the one I have) and 50mL tubes. The 3-piece sachet set retails for Php 85.

And finally, the Miners Matte Factor Lip Paint.

Miners is a UK-based cosmetic company with over 70 years of experience in the makeup industry. Established in 1937, the brand aims to provide innovative and affordable beauty products to the masses.

Such is the Matte Factor Lip Paint, a highly-pigmented 'liquid lipstick' that gives your kisser a gorgeous matte, velveteen finish. This shade is actually Warm Red. I tweeted a photo erroneously saying it's Deep Red. My apologies for the confusion. 

So there. WARM RED.
I'm actually all praises for this product, considering I'm not a huge fan of matte lip products. (Remember, I love those shiny, shimmering splendid stuff, lol.)

I love the doe-foot applicator, the ease of application, the color pay-off, and how it stayed on my lips for hours (around 4-5hours max)! Oh, and did I tell you it smells really, really yummy, too? It smells like caramel cheesecake, I swear! This my first time to encounter a lipstick / lip paint that smells as such (I'm not considering my favorite Cinnabon lip balm - after all, it is a lip balm. Not exactly a lip color.)

Miners Cosmetics Matte Factor Lip Paint is available at Php 300 per tube, with six different colors to choose from - Warm Red, Deep Red, Cappucino, Light Pink, Hot Pink, and Peach.



All these products (and more) are available at Skye Avenue! And in case you haven't noticed, we have an ongoing giveaway in celebration of Mother's Day.
Enter the Mama Loves Makeup event for a chance to win some fab makeup items! Act fast as the giveaway is ending soon!

Finally, I leave you with a long overdue FOTD. :)

Products used:

L'Oreal Base Magique Primer
Ecorre Artist BB Cream
Krave Luxurious Perfection in French Latte
Avon Ideal Luminous Concealer Stick in Almond
Ever Bilena Eyebrow Liner in Brown
L'Oreal Wear Infinite Eyeshadow Single in Sable
Almay Intense i-Color Trio for Hazels
Avon Mega Impact Gel Eyeliner in Blackberry
Avon Super Curlacious Waterproof Mascara in Black
Markwins Bronzer Powder
Jordana Double Length Lipliner in Rose
Miners Matte Factor Lip Paint in Warm Red

Sharing with Shadow Shot Sunday, i Heart Macro, and Blue Monday.