Pucker Up! | Human Heart Nature Made to Bloom Lipstick.

Human Heart Nature has just launched a bunch of new products, and I'm super stoked because they've also released a new line of lip colors! I wasn't able to attend the launch party at Human Heart Nature Laguna last Saturday, but I did drop by the store the other day so I could check out the new lippies.

Human Heart Nature Made to Bloom Lipstick.

Introducing the Human Heart Nature Made to Bloom collection - the brand's first-ever line of matte lipsticks.

Human Heart Nature's first line of matte lippies.

Formulated with the goodness of cocoa butter and passionfruit oil, these Made to Bloom lipsticks give your lips a gorgeous wash of color without the drying feel. They go on creamy and stay on feeling soft and comfortable on your lips.

All five shades of the Human Heart Nature Made to Bloom collection.

The collection features five flattering nude shades, each designed to suit any skin tone. These beautifully-pigmented MLBB (that's 'My Lips But Better' in case you haven't heard of this trend yet) colors can be worn sheer for a more natural effect, but you can add a few more coats for more intensity.

Lovely shade names - Grace, Wisdom, Strength, Warmth, and Joy.

With its non-drying, nourishing formula, the Made to Bloom lipsticks do not cling to dry patches or accentuate the fine lines on your lips. However, the color does fade after a few hours and you need to touch-up after a meal or a cup of coffee.

Product info and ingredients list on the box.

Adhering with the brand's sustainability campaign, the lipstick tubes are made with paper and less plastic, each designed with dainty floral illustrations. The lipsticks are made with natural ingredients (but of course, it's Human Heart Nature after all), and are not tested on animals.

Here's how the shades look like when swatched.

From L-R: Grace, Wisdom, Strength, Warmth, Joy.

Grace is a pink-based nude; Wisdom is a soft, peachy tan; Strength is a rich shade of chestnut brown; Warmth is a muted shade of brick red (more like terracotta to me); and Joy is a rosy peach nude.

From L-R: Grace, Wisdom, Strength, Warmth, Joy.

According to my friends at Human Heart Nature Laguna, their best-selling shade by far is Strength. The color is gorgeous when swatched, but it kinda washes out my face when worn. I look even more pale with Wisdom - like I'm down with the flu or something.

Strength, when worn.

The three remaining shades are the ones more suitable for my skin tone.

Grace, when worn.

Grace looks very natural on me, while Warmth adds depth to my natural lip tone. 

Warmth, when worn.

Joy, as my namesake suggests, is such a joy to wear as it enhances the color of my lips and brightens up my face. Among the five shades, this one is my favorite.

Joy, when worn.

If you're still on the hunt for that perfect MLBB lipstick, I suggest you check out these Made to Bloom lipsticks from Human Heart Nature. They're now available online and at Human Heart Nature branches nationwide, and they retail for Php 495 a pop. You can even get them at a discounted price if you're a registered Human Heart Nature member. :)

Pucker Up! | Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick.

When Lazada broke the news of their massive 11.11 Sale and the huge discounts that they'll be offering site-wide, the first brand that crossed my mind was Maybelline. You see, I fell in love with the Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick after my friend gave me one, and I've been meaning to buy another shade or two because this is one of those beauty products that you just have to have more than one of.

I ended up buying three new Super Stay Matte Inks from the Lazada 11.11 Sale (among other things) - they're the three tubes from the bottom, while the topmost tube is the one given to me by my friend.

Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink.

Now if you're keeping tabs with beauty trends, then you've probably heard of the hype surrounding the Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick. Maybelline launched this lipstick line around this time last year, and they became an instant hit with lipstick lovers and makeup junkies.

From top to bottom: #65 Seductress, #115 Founder, #130 Self-Starter, #15 Lover.

And why not? These babies claim to be long-wearing for up to 16 hours, and yes, they do just that. This line also has a wide selection of super saturated shades, each with a flawless matte finish. The price point makes it a steal, too. They're priced at Php 299 each, but during the Lazada 11.11 Sale, they were sold for just Php 199 a pop. How awesome is that?!

The Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick line has 34 shades in total - 10 from the original collection, 10 from the Un-Nudes Collection, and 14 from the recently-launched City Edition. Here are the shades that I have, up close. 

#65 Seductress.

#115 Founder.

Take note that these lipsticks come with a unique, arrow-shaped applicator. The pointed tip allows you to create precise lines and reach for the corners of your lips with ease.

#130 Self-starter.

#15 Lover.

Here's how they look like when swatched. Consistency is a bit thick, yes, and they do take awhile to dry. But once it does, you get intense color with a true matte finish. The color doesn't budge either - it stays on for almost an entire day (like from 8 am until my usual 10pm bedtime) and will get you through lunch and coffee breaks with very little to no touch-ups.

Indoor lighting, from L-R: Lover, Self-Starter, Founder, Seductress.

As for me, I really don't mind the occasional touch-up, because I absolutely love the scent of this product. You'll get a whiff of that yummy vanilla scent as soon as you twist the cap open, and you know that I'm crazy for anything that has a hint of vanilla to it.

Natural light (from L-R): Lover, Self-Starter, Founder, Seductress.

Finally, here's how they look like when worn. Please excuse the visible lines on my lips as I was not able to exfoliate prior to application.

Lover.

Lover is a dusty rose that suits almost all skin tones. No wonder it's a crowd-favorite - and my personal favorite, too!

Self-starter.

Self-starter is a terracotta shade with orange undertones. I'm not a huge fan of orange-y lips, but this shade is making me see orange in a different light!

Seductress.

Seductress is a dusty beige with peachy undertones. It's a versatile MLBB shade that looks quite similar to Maine Mendoza's @mainedcm MAC lipstick.

Founder.

And then there's Founder, a gorgeous shade of raspberry and the color that I'd probably be wearing more often these days. I almost always gear towards plummy and mauve-y shades whenever the colder months kick in, and this shade is just perfect for the season.

With my nephew Morgan,
and with Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick
in #65 Seductress on my lips.

Now you're probably wondering how do I remove this long-wearing, transfer-proof lipstick from my lips. I use the Bare Necessity Cleansing Balm from Human Heart Nature, which is tough on waterproof makeup yet gentle on the skin. And like any other matte lipstick, the Super Stay Matte Inks have a tendency to zap the moisture out of your lips when you wear them on a daily basis. I suggest you invest in a good lip scrub and exfoliate once a week (twice at the most) to keep your lips soft, smooth, and matte lipstick-ready.

Products used:
FACE: Clio Kill Protection Matte Sun Base,
Nature Republic Botanical Stick Concealer,
Holika Holika x Peko Hard Cover Glow Cushion,
Althea Petal Velvet Powder in #23 Warm Beige.
EYES: Shiseido Eyebrow Pencil in Brown,
Clio Kill Black Waterproof Brush Liner,
Holika Holika Wonder Drawing Skinny Eyeliner in 03 Walnut Brown,
Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara.
CHEEKS: Peripera Pure Blushed Velvet Cheek in #8 Appealing Dry Coral.
Sleek Makeup Highlighter (Solstice Palette) in Equinox.
LIPS: Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick in #15 Lover.

Have you tried the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick before? Which shades are your favorites?

Spotlight | Ever Bilena Matte Lip Liner.

The past two weeks had been extremely hectic, hence the lack of updates in this blog. I was crazy busy and didn't have time for anything else except studying with Yue and preparing for his Final Exams. But now that the exams are over and done with, I'm pretty much stress-free and have lots of time to work on my pending blog projects and my Korean drama backlog, haha!

Yue and I headed over to the mall as soon as his exams ended, for some much needed R&R. For my little man, that means eating a hearty meal at his favorite Korean restaurant and playing arcade games to his heart's content. For me, that means going through beauty counters, swatching testers, and splurging just a wee bit on makeup.

Ever Bilena had a 2+1 Sale on all its lip products over the weekend, and of course, I took advantage of this promo and got myself some new lip liners. Each liner is priced at Php 120; I paid only Php 240 thanks to the weekend promo.

Ever Bilena Matte Lip Liner.

Launched earlier this year, the Ever Bilena Matte Lip Liner lines and defines and helps you achieve fuller and soft-shaped lips.

Ingredients + usage instructions. 

The matte lip liners are available in twelve shades, and each shade has a corresponding pair in the Ever Bilena Matte Lipstick and Liquid Lipstick line. You get a bolder, more defined look when you pair the matte lip liner with its matching lipstick/liquid lipstick shade. The shades are indicated on the cardboard packaging, but not on the liner itself. Sure, the caps are colored accordingly, but wouldn't it be nice if you have a name to refer to when you're using them?

They're retractable! No need to sharpen, yay!

Nonetheless, I love that these lip liners are retractable - no need to sharpen or worry about jagged edges or the tip breaking off.

Top to Bottom: Siennas, Sexy Nude, Toast of New York.

They also have a soft and creamy texture which makes outlining (and even filling in) a breeze.

Top to Bottom: Siennas, Sexy Nude, Toast of New York.

They have amazing color payoff, too! These liners are just as pigmented as their lipstick/liquid lipstick counterparts.

From L-R: Siennas, Sexy Nude, Toast of New York - indoor light.

From L-R: Siennas, Sexy Nude, Toast of New York - natural light.

The best part? The Ever Bilena Matte Lip Liners are so versatile, you can actually use them to color your entire lips! If your favorite Ever Bilena counter always runs out of Toast of New York lippies (which is the case here in my area), use the lip liner instead!

Toast of New York - a crowd-favorite, reddish brown shade.

Siennas, is a lighter version of Toast of New York, but just as lovely.

Sexy Nude, a soft, peachy tan shade.

These liners have decent wear time, with the darker shades staying put longer - about four or five hours with no bleeding or smudging even with a bit of eating and drinking. They're very comfortable to wear, and don't feel dry on the lips. These lip liners are pretty impressive, I might just get every single shade in the collection!

Products used:
FACE: Beyond Alice in Blooming Skin Tone Sun Base,
Peripera Ink Concealer in Cover King Vanilla,
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 Blush in Sahara,
Sleek Makeup Highlighter in Ecliptic.
LIPS: Ever Bilena Matte Lip Liner in Toast of New York.

Pucker Up! | Vice Cosmetics Phenomenal Liquid Lipstick + Good Vibes Matte Lipstick.

Vice Cosmetics has finally made it to my hometown!
The beauty brand owned by TV/movie personality Vice Ganda opened new counters across the country last week, and one of them happened to be at SM City San Pablo. Coincidentally, my friends and I were at the mall when the counter opened last Friday, and we wasted no time in swatching and trying out the new products.

Me and my mom squad. :)

Vice Cosmetics welcomed the new year by launching sixteen new shades - eight shades for the Good Vibes Lipstick and eight new shades for the Phenomenal Liquid Lipstick, which are now sold in singles. Previously, the liquid lipsticks were sold as a set together with a lip liner. However, the lip liners were very fragile and it seems that the company is in the process of rectifying the product.

After a swatchfest at the counter (which you probably have seen on my Instagram and Facebook, if you are following my social media pages), I ended up buying four lipsticks - my top picks from Vice Cosmetics' new collection. Thankfully, these lipsticks are very budget-friendly at just Php 195 each. Plus points because they're certified cruelty-free (not tested on animals) and paraben-free.

Good Vibes Lipstick and Phenomenal Liquid Lipstick.

The Phenomenal Liquid Lipstick comes in a transparent plastic tube and a frosted fuchsia cap. The ingredients and shade name are listed on the plastic seal.

Shade name + some product information.

Ingredients.

You need to break this seal to open the product, so it's a good thing that the shade name is also indicated on the bottom of the tube.

Kerstofayn and Chenelyn - my top picks in the Phenomenal Liquid Lipstick line.

The liquid lipstick comes with the usual doe-foot applicator. It has a subtle, chocolate-y scent which fades once the color settles on your lips. 

Doe-foot applicator.

In terms of pigmentation, these liquid lipsticks live up to their name - phenomenal. The color payoff is amazing with its opaque texture, kiss-proof formula, and flat matte finish. Staying power is just as impressive - about five to six hours with just a bit of touch-up after a full meal.

Phenomenal Liquid Lipsticks - Kerstofayn (top) and Chenelyn (bottom).

However, these liquid lipsticks have a tendency to accentuate fine lines on the lips so I suggest wearing a lip balm underneath or exfoliating with a lip scrub before application.

Good Vibes Matte Lipstick.

The Good Vibes Matte Lipstick, on the other hand, are your typical bullet lipsticks. The tubes are printed with the brand's official logo and bear the signature color, fuchsia.

Ingredients.

Like the liquid lipsticks, the ingredients are also listed on the plastic seal, while the shade name is indicated on the bottom of the tube.

Ekzaj and Bet na Bet - my top picks in the Good Vibes Matte Lipstick line.

The bullet lipstick also has the same chocolate-y scent, though the chemical smell is slightly more pronounced in this one.

Good Vibes Matte Lipstick - Bet na Bet (left) and Ekzaj (right).

The texture, however, does not disappoint. It's soft and creamy, and leave your lips with gorgeous matte finish. They glide on your lips seamlessly, give full coverage, and stay on your lips for hours (around five or six, at the most). Color payoff is just as impressive, but not as drying as the liquid lipstick.

A closer look at the bullets - Bet na Bet on the left, Ekzaj on the right.

Here are the swatches side by side:

From L-R: Kerstofayn, Chenelyn, Bet na Bet, Ekzaj. (Indoor lighting)

From L-R: Kerstofayn, Chenelyn, Bet na Bet, Ekzaj (Natural light)

And here's how they look like when worn:

Bet na Bet, a rosy pink shade.

Ekzaj, a brownish plum.

Chenelyn, a coral pink shade.

Kerstofayn, a playful pink mauve.

Finally, here's how the other shades look like when swatched.

Phenomenal Liquid Lipstick (Clockwise from L-R): Ravaan, Kyemerut,
Sisteraka, Kerstofayn, Chenelyn, Hanash. 

Good Vibes Matte Lipstick (Clockwise from L-R): Aura, Eklavu, Chururutz,
Bet na Bet, Ekzaj, Chukchak, Havey. 

If you're planning to buy a lipstick or two (or maybe the entire collection), you'll be glad to know that Vice Cosmetics now has over 50 stores and counters nationwide. (Check their Instagram page for the updated list of pop-ups and counters.) Their products can also be bought at BeautyMNL, Lazada, and at the Vice Cosmetics official website.