Spotlight | Sleek MakeUp Flick It Eyeliner.

I've tried quite a number of products from Sleek MakeUp and my previous experience/s with the brand have always been good. This week, I road-tested one of the newer products - the Sleek MakeUp Flick It Eyeliner, and I must say, the brand has impressed me yet again.

Flick It! :)

Launched early this year, Sleek MakeUp's Flick It is a liquid eyeliner that looks a lot like a colored pen at first glance. Haha!

Not a colored pen, haha.

It has a very fine, precise felt tip point that allows for easy control and smooth application. If you're a newbie at wearing makeup and isn't sharp as a tack when it comes to eyeliners, then this pen-type product is a good way to start.

So fine!

The Flick It Eyeliner comes in three shades - Dazzling Black, Purple Aura, and Royal Blue. What I have here is the Royal Blue, which is a very wearable shade. I was actually quite hesitant to use this at first, thinking that blue would look funny on me (I've always had this stigma that blue eyeshadow/ eye makeup does not suit me). Sleek MakeUp, however, proved me wrong.

Flick It in Royal Blue.

Another impressive thing about this product is its color payoff. This Royal Blue shade is so pigmented that a single stroke would be enough to produce a gorgeous semi-matte finish.

One stroke on the left, two strokes on the right.

Wear time is quite remarkable, too. I was able to wear this for a good 14 hours without budging. It doesn't smudge, doesn't fade, resistant to sweat and water, but can be removed easily with a makeup remover.

What I love:

- Easy to use.

- Precise felt tip applicator lets you create both thin and thick lines.

- Highly-pigmented.

- Three shades to choose from.

- Fast drying, long wearing formula.

- Not tested on animals.

What you might not like:

- I've read somewhere that the product dries out quite quickly despite keeping it tightly-capped. 

I just hope that I'll be able to use this eyeliner down to the last drop (lol) 

before it actually dries out on me, haha!

Products Used:
FACE: Majolica Majorca Skin Lingerie Pore Cover,
Etude House Correct & Care CC Cream, Etude House Any Cushion,
Missha Under Eye Brightener.
EYES: The FaceShop Lovely Me:EX Design My Eyebrows,
Sleek MakeUp Flick It Eyeliner, Fairy Drops Volume Burst Mascara.
CHEEKS: Sleek MakeUp Blush in Pomegranate.
LIPS: Jordana Lip Liner in Rose, EOS Lip Balm in Blueberry Potion,
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Addis Ababa.

Sleek MakeUp Flick It Eyeliner sells for Php 475 each (a little over $10) and is available online via Beauty Corner PH. You can also check out the Sleek MakeUp counters at The Ramp Crossings Shangri-la, The Ramp Crossings Quezon Avenue, and The Ramp Glorietta 3.

Sleek MakeUp PH turns One!

September 2011 marked the arrival of Sleek MakeUp, a famous UK brand of cosmetics and beauty products, here in the country. This milestone also paved the way for the creation of  Sleek MakeUp PH - the official Philippine fanpage of Sleek Makeup.

A year has passed since then, and time sure flies when you're having fun!
As a way of saying 'thank you', Sleek MakeUp PH is sharing a special discount code with their loyal and ever-supportive clients. This discount code entitles you to a 15% discount for every Php1000 worth of Sleek MakeUp PH items bought at The Updated Trends - the official distributor of Sleek MakeUp here in the Philippines.

Use the product code 'SLEEK1YEAR' when you place your orders at The Updated Trends' Multiply site. Remember, this discount applies to Sleek MakeUp purchases only.

As if that's not enough, Php 3000 worth of Sleek Makeup products will also be given away!
To join, simply:
1) Like the Sleek Makeup PH Facebook page.
2) Like The Updated Trends' Facebook page.
3) Share/tag the said pages on your Facebook wall. 
4) Make sure the post is visible to all, for easier validation of entries.

For instance,

Isn't that easy breezy? Now mouse over to your Facebook and join the giveaway now!
Promo ends on September 30. Open to Philippine residents only. :)

Sleek Makeup Pomegranate Blush + O.M.G! Lipstick | Review, Swatches, and The Look.

As promised, here is the second installment of my Sleek Makeup product review. I decided to hit two birds with one stone and just put the blush and lipstick together in one post. Mostly because I ended up using both products together in one 'look'.

First up, the Pomegranate Blush.

Sleek and chic!

With its sturdy and sleek black casing, the Blush looks like the mini-me of the Sleek Eyeshadow palette. And perhaps they made the case a little too sturdy as I had a hard time opening it. I actually had to insert a knife through that slit in the middle just to pry it open.

But the effort was all worth it once you see what's inside.

Blush, and nothing but!

A gorgeous spread of plum with subtle hints of pink shimmer to it. I love that it has a mirror and while some of you may disagree, I actually love the fact that there's no brush included. Because I get to have an entire pan of blush and blush alone - all 8 grams of it!

As described by Sleek Makeup, Pomegranate is "a highly pigmented blusher to brighten and define cheekbones. The silky-fine formulation provides long lasting blusher which helps to create a subtle but radiant cheek area." 

Pomegranate on my arm.

True enough, this shade does not fall short when it comes to color pay-off and pigmentation. But don't be intimidated by the swatch pictured above. I intentionally brushed a generous amount on my skin just to emphasize how vivid the color can be. This blush is also quite easy to blend, and I love its dewy effect on the cheeks.

Pomegranate on my cheeks.

And for Php 450, you do get your money's worth with this product.

Notice my lips? That's Sleek's True Colour Lipstick in O.M.G!
Yes, exclamation point included.

I told you, it's called O.M.G!

The name, I reckon, must be from the reaction elicited when you see the lipstick itself.

And another gush of OMG! :)

O.M.G!, as stated in the official website, is "a superb highly-pigmented lipstick enriched with Vitamin E which leaves amazingly rich shades on the lips with only a single coat."

Whoever is in-charge of these product descriptions must be a very honest person. Because really, all you need is a single coat of this lipstick.

One stroke!

I was a little confused with the formulation, though. The label obviously says it's 'Sheen' so I was expecting some 'shining shimmering splendid'. But as you can see from the swatch, it looks more matte than sheen.

And I must admit, I was slightly taken aback with the starkness of this red orange shade. At the back of my mind I was thinking, "Did Achi Pao really think I could pull this color off?" I was a bit unsure if I could, but was flattered with the challenge of wearing something this bold and vivid.

My out-of-focus macro selca captured the lip color just right. Daebak! :)

But I guess I managed to pull it off with this look.

I had to dab a bit of gloss though, because my lips looked a tad dry with its pseudo-sheen seemingly-matte formulation. (I'm not a huge fan of mattes, you know.) On the contrary, this lipstick doesn't feel dry on the lips and has an impressive color stay of 6 to 7 hours max. You can even skip the lip liner when you're wearing this particular shade.

The Php 450 retail price, though, may be a bit too much for drugstore makeup connoiseurs. But considering how highly-pigmented this product is (ergo, a little goes a long way), dishing a few extra bucks from your usual lipstick budget wouldn't hurt too much.

Face:  L'Oreal Base Magique Primer + Missha Signature Complete Real BB Cream # 21
Eyes: Almay Intense i-Color Trio for Hazels + Avon Simply Pretty Eyeshadow Duo, Avon Gel Eyeliner in Blackberry, Avon Super Curlacious Waterproof Mascara in Black, Ever Bilena Eyebrow Liner in Brown
Cheeks: Sleek Makeup Blush in Pomegranate
Lips: Sleek Makeup Sheen Lipstick in O.M.G! + MAC Clear Lip Gel

To cap this entry, here's what I think of the two products.

Sleek Makeup Blush in Pomegranate

What I love:

- Sleek and chic packaging

- Gorgeous shade of plum

- Highly pigmented but easy to blend

- Good staying power

- The 'dewy effect' on your cheeks

- Suitable for sensitive skin

- The mirror inside the compact

- No brush, all blush!

- Affordable price of Php 450

What I don't like:

- Compact is a bit difficult to open 

Sleek Makeup Sheen Lipstick in O.M.G!

What I love:

- Unconventional, oval-shaped tube

- Bold and vivid color

- Highly pigmented

- Excellent staying power

- Non-drying

What I don't like:

- Not as sheen as I would have expected to be

Sleek Makeup is officially distributed in the Philippines by Ms. Smile of Updated Trends. Purchases can be made through her Multiply store, or at bazaars such as this. Stocks are also readily available with Ms. Sol of Digital Traincase.

If you want to check out more Sleek Makeup and see the products in actual, better visit the bazaars where Updated Trends and Digital Traincase participate in. You may place your orders or inquire about their upcoming bazaar schedules through the following:

Facebook: Sleek Makeup PH / Digital Traincase
Multiply: Updated Trends / Digital Traincase
Twitter: Digital Traincase

While the products featured above were given to me for free, the opinions expressed in this article are entirely my own.

Sharing with This or That Thursday, Color Connection, Pink Friday, Pink Saturday and Shadow Shot Sunday.

Spotlight | Sleek Makeup Eye & Cheek Palette.

When I first started writing about makeup and beauty products in this blog more than seven years ago, Sleek Makeup easily became one of my favorite brands. Known for their high-quality makeup with strong pigmentation, this British high street (drugstore) brand also earned a cult following for their expansive range of shades in all skin tones.

Today I am rekindling my love for Sleek Makeup with this Eye and Cheek Palette, a gift from my Mum a few months back.

Sleek Makeup Eye & Cheek Palette, retails for £10.  

This palette is called Dancing 'Til Dusk which contains four eye shadows and two blushers from Sleek Makeup's bestselling i-Divine and Blush range. Packaged in a handy-sized travel compact with magnetic closure, the palette comes with a mirror the size of the entire lid, a mini brush, and a mini sponge applicator.

What's inside the palette.

The brush and sponge applicator that comes with it.

I personally love this magnetic closure concept, because now I don't have to worry about stubbing my nails or ruining my nail polish just to get the palette open. This has always been my issue with my older Sleek Makeup palettes - they're too difficult to open! Thankfully, the brand seemed to have resolved this common issue, and most - if not all - of their palettes now close magnetically.

The larger pans are the blushers, the smaller ones are the eyeshadows.

Dancing 'Til Dusk features complementary and bold shades suitable for all skin tones. The eyeshadows are velvety browns and shimmering fawns from the Au Naturel i-Divine palette. As for the blushers, one is from a limited edition release while the other is from Sleek Makeup's current range.

From L-R: Mirrored Pink (blush), Cappuccino and Mineral Earth (eye shadows).

Mirrored Pink is a cool-toned, bright pink shade with silver shimmers. It has a pretty nice texture and glides on smoothly on your cheeks when applied. It's also well-pigmented, and has great color payoff with just one or two swipes. 

Cappuccino is a light beige matte shade. This eye shadow has a different texture, a little too hard if I may say, and it took me a few swipes to make the color noticeable in the swatches. It's the least pigmented product in this palette, and you really have to make extra effort to get good color payoff from this shade.

Mineral Earth is a deep brown shade with a hint of gold. It's shimmery, nicely pigmented, and has a smooth, easy-to-apply texture.

From L-R: Sahara (blusher), Taupe and Regal (eye shadows).

Sahara is a matte orange blusher with a touch of brown. This shade has a lovely, smooth texture and is highly pigmented. You need to be light-handed in applying this on your cheeks as the color can be pretty intense with just one or two swipes.

Taupe is a champagne shimmer with a smooth texture and good color payoff.

Regal is a cool-toned purple shade with a hint of brown. Unlike the Cappuccino, this matte eye shadow has a smooth and creamy texture which makes it easier to apply. It's nicely pigmented, and you get good color payoff with just a swipe or two.

All six shades - Mirrored Pink, Cappuccino, Mineral Earth on top,
Sahara, Taupe, and Regal on the bottom.

All six shades have great staying power, especially the blushers. Both Mirrored Pink and Sahara can last for more than six hours on the skin, while the eye shadows can stay put the entire day with a good primer/eye shadow base underneath.

Sahara on my cheeks.

Mirrored Pink on my cheeks.

Overall, I love how every shade in this palette is wearable for both night and day looks, and is suitable for most skin tones. With its sleek and sturdy packaging, this palette is perfect for traveling -and I will most likely bring this along on my next Seoul Searching trip. I'll bring my own brushes though, as I'm not very fond of the brush and applicator that's included in the palette.

Products used:
FACE: Beyond Alice in Blooming Skin Tone Sun Base,
Nature Republic Botanical Stick Concealer.
Innisfree Long Wear Cover Cushion in N23.
EYES: Shiseido Eyebrow Pencil in Brown,
Clio Kill Black Waterproof Brush Liner,
Nature Republic Pure Shine Mascara.
CHEEKS: Sleek Makeup Mirrored Pink Blush.
LIPS: Vice Cosmetics Good Vibes Matte Lipstick in Ekzaj.

Spotlight | Sleek MakeUp PH!

In my last FOTD post, I hinted about an upcoming Sleek MakeUp giveaway. If you got that hint right and had been waiting for an official announcement, then your wait is almost over.

Because come May 1, the Sleek Makeup giveaway is officially going live! This is in participation to Makobi Scribe's Mother's Day Gift Ideas event, which will run from May 1st until the 18th. With at least 240 bloggers signed-up, this event is bound to be the biggest and most exciting Mother's Day Giveaway Hop ever!

I am thrilled and very, very honored to have Sleek MakeUp PH as my sponsor for this event.
Sleek MakeUp PH is the official and authorized distributor of Sleek MakeUp in the Philippines. Originally an online store, they've expanded their business and now have physical outlets at The Ramp (Crossings Department Store, Quezon Ave.) and at Circles & Dots (Powerplant Mall, Rockwell, Makati City).

I hear they'll also be opening an outlet soon at The Ramp, Shangri-la Mall branch. Fellow makeup junkies, that means more options plus easier access to all our favorite Sleeks!

Now for the Mother's Day Gift Ideas event, here's what I'll be giving away.

One (1) Dip-it Eyeliner in Indigo Blue.

A long-lasting and highly pigmented liquid eyeliner with a felt-tip applicator.

One  (1) Wonderlast Lip Color in Pink Parakeet.

A combination of a highly pigmented long-lasting colour and a moisturising clear gloss with non-sticky, glossy properties. 

One (1) Blush in Flamingo.

A highly pigmented blusher to brighten and define cheekbones. The silky-fine formulation provides long lasting blusher which helps to create a subtle but radiant cheek area. 

One winner gets all three products! :)

 Sounds wonderful? I'll make things even more exciting by opening this giveaway worldwide! So mark your calendars, and I'll see you all back here on May 1st. :)

Visit Sleek MakeUp PH at the following branches:

The Ramp (Crossings Department Store, Quezon Ave.)
Circles & Dots (Powerplant Mall, Rockwell, Makati City)

and via their online stores

https://www.facebook.com/SleekMakeupPH
http://updatedtrends.multiply.com
http://digitaltraincase.multiply.com

 *This is the first among the four giveaways that I'll be having this May. Watch out for the other sponsor spotlights and event teasers that I'll be posting in the coming days!

Sharing with Blue Monday! :)

Sleek Makeup Bad Girl i-Divine Eyeshadow Palette | Product Review, Swatches, and The Look.

Taking off from this teaser, here is a full view of the items I received earlier this week.

My Sleeks! Eyeshadow palette, blush, and lipstick.

I was looking forward to just the blush and the lipstick, since they were the ones mentioned by Pao (Achi Pao, as I fondly call her) during our Facebook conversation. So imagine how thrilled I was to find an eyeshadow palette included in the package. A wonderful surprise, indeed!

Just to give you a background, Sleek Makeup is a London-based brand of high street makeup. Theirs is a wide range of products that are chic, trendy, and suitable for women of all ages and races. Being the only high street brand with 17 different shades of foundations, Sleek Makeup is also renowned for their competitiveness against widely-recognized designer labels and premium brands.

For this post, I will be concentrating on the eyeshadow palette alone. These three products are just  way too wonderful to be crammed in a single entry!

Moving on, when I saw the the name of this particular eyeshadow palette, my first thought was, "How appropriate!" I was referring to myself, of course. :)

Bad girl! 

Inside the box is this compact - black, slim, sturdy, and indeed very sleek.

Slim, chic, sleek!

Now here's the view inside the compact - twelve pearlescent shades that are oh-so-bold and drop-dead gorgeous.

Not for the faint of heart.

This palette may be too intimidating for those who are not used to wearing (dark) makeup. But if you want to step out of your comfort zone and would want to 'go to the dark side', I suggest you give this palette a try.

Swatched on skin.

With its creamy texture and soft touch quality, this mineral-based palette contains a large amount of mica which reflects light and gives the shimmering effect to the eyes. The pigmentation is just as exceptional. A gentle glide of your brush or applicator on each shadow (which is what I did with the swatches above) is enough to give your eye all the color it would need. Which is why you should be wary when using this palette, as you might overdo it. Just a little of these powdery eyeshadows can definitely go a long way.

Here's the look I created with the Bad Girl i-Divine palette.

Green smokeys!

Using Gunmetal to define the lids, I blended it with a hint of Underground on the creases. Next, I blended it with Intoxicated on my outer V. Using Innocence to highlight this look, I dabbed a bit of it on my inner lid and with a feathery stroke, gave it a sweep all the way to my brow bone.

Smoking green! :)

For someone whose least favorite color is green, I actually loved the smokey look I created. I had a lot of fun doing it, too. I'll experiment with the blues next time as I haven't done a blue smokey yet. Of course, I'll be sharing that 'artwork' here in my blog.

The look. :)

Face: L'Oreal Base Magique Primer + Missha  Signature Real Complete BB Cream # 21
Eyes: Sleek Bad Girl i-Divine Eyeshadow, Avon Extralasting Liquid Eyeliner in Black,  Kohl Royal Selections Eyeliner in Charcoal Gray, Avon Supercurlacious Waterproof Mascara in Black, Ever Bilena Eyebrow Liner in Brown
Cheeks: Avon Smooth Minerals Blush in Blushed
Lips: Jordana Double Length Lip Liner in Rose, Avon Ultra Color Rich Moisture Lipstick in Apricot Mystery

In summary, here's my two-cents' worth for the Bad Girl i-Divine eyeshadow palette.

What I love:

- Sleek and chic packaging. Sturdy yet light enough to carry around in your purse.
- Wide range of color. Majority of the shadows are dark, but very versatile.
- Highly-pigmented and long lasting colors. Can be worn with or without a primer.
- Blendable shades. The shadows may look intimidating at first, but are pretty workable.
- Creative eyeshadow names. Can I just say that I love Rebel the most? Because it's purple, and it's MY monicker.
- The shimmery effect on the eyes. Adds the spunk and flair to the overall look.
- Suitable for sensitive skin.
- Affordable price of Php 650.

What you might not like:

- The waffle design. Honestly, this is my first time to come across an eyeshadow with waffle prints. It looks weird but I find it a bit cute, though.
- Dark shades that may be a bit too overwhelming for some. Not to worry though, as Sleek Makeup has several other eyeshadow palettes (such as Storm, Au Naturel, and Original i-Divine) that may be more suitable for those who prefer lighter colors.
- Not yet available at department stores or drugstores, in case you're the type who'd want to see things in actual before buying them.

Sleek Makeup is officially distributed in the Philippines by Ms. Smile of Updated Trends. Purchases can be made through her online store, or at bazaars such as this.

Stocks are also readily available with Ms. Sol of Digital Traincase. If you want to check out more Sleek Makeup and see the products in actual, I suggest you visit the bazaars where Updated Trends and Digital Traincase participate in. You may place your order or inquire about their upcoming bazaar schedules through the following:

Facebook: Sleek Makeup PH / Digital Traincase
Multiply: Updated Trends / Digital Traincase
Twitter: Digital Traincase

I'll be posting about the blush and lipstick later on, so do visit my blog again for the review, swatches, and like what I always say - 'the look'. :)

While the Bad Girl i-Divine Eyeshadow Palette was given to me for free, the opinions stated in this article are entirely my own.


Sharing with Shadow Shot Sunday, The Simple Things, and Photostory Friday.

Today's Look | Panda Eyes.

Whoa! It feels like ages since I did a makeup post. As evidenced by the badges on my right sidebar,  I've been working on lots and lots of giveaways lately. You might be pleased to know that there would be more giveaways coming your way. :)

Anyway, back to this FOTD post. (That's 'Face-of-the-Day', for those who are wondering.) When it comes to eyeshadow, these days I've been using more of the lighter shades (pink, green, lilac) and less of the darker ones. The sun has been unforgiving lately, and these pinks and neutrals are more suitable with this kind of heat.

Two weeks ago, however, the weather was totally different. The rain poured nonstop, all day, for a good eight days. You wouldn't even think it's summer because the downpour lasted for more than a week. That was when I had the chance to don 'panda eyes' again.

Panda eyes!

With the aid of my trusted Sleek Makeup Bad Girl i-Divine palette, of course.

My spunky Sleek Makeup!

I used four colors from this palette: a thin line of Noir on my lids, Gunmetal on the creases, Underground on the socket towards the outer V, and a sweep of Gullible to highlight the look.

Going to the dark side.

Mine isn't as heavily-rimmed as the typical panda eyes would be. I was going to the supermarket to buy meat and poultry, for crying out loud. Haha!

Channeling the 60's.

But I think I managed to get the vibe of Diana Agron's '60s screen siren look.

Now here's what I used for my version of panda eyes:

L'Oreal Base Magique Primer
Etude House Precious Minerals All Day Strong BB Cream #3
Avon Ideal Luminous Dual Powder Foundation in Shell
Avon Ideal Luminous Concealer Stick in Almond
Ever Bilena Eyebrow Liner in Brown
Sleek Makeup i-Divine Bad Girl Eyeshadow Palette
Avon Extralasting Liquid Eyeliner in Black
Kohl Royal Selections Eye Liner in Charcoal Gray
Avon Super Curlacious Waterproof Mascara in Black
Sleek Makeup Blush in Pomegranate
Jordana Double Length Lip Liner in Rose
Avon Ultra Moisture Rich Lipstick in Purple Hazed

Oh, and I smell a Sleek Makeup giveaway coming! :)