Spotlight | Tony Moly Lovely Eyeliner Pencil.

I've long been waiting for a chance to use this eyeliner, which was one of the many gifts that I received from Tony Moly Philippines last Christmas. The opportunity finally came today, after I've ran out of my favorite liquid eyeliner and upon discovering that my other eyeliner (which I keep as a spare) has turned dry.

Tony Moly Lovely Eye Liner Pencil.

There's nothing fancy-shmancy about the packaging. No box whatsoever, but the pencil itself is sleek, and has a glossy finish. It's sealed in plastic and has a sticker which indicates the shade of the eyeliner.

Website, contact number, that's it.

See that '06' on the top portion, along with the Hangul text? That's the shade number of this eyeliner - #06 True Black, to be exact. I had to check online as to what other shades are available; apparently, there's also #05 Black Shine (black in color with specks of silver on it, satin finish) and #07 Brown (dark brown, matte finish).

You have to remove this sticker first before you unwrap the plastic seal.

This one's black with a matte finish. And for a pencil-type eyeliner, this one has a rather creamy texture. The tip resembles that of a crayon - soft, stubby, a bit waxy even. But it's that soft, waxy feel that makes this product glide on the skin smoothly and allow for softer, smudgy lines. Perfect for smoky eyes!

Crayon-like tip. :)

The Lovely Eyeliner Pencil isn't the retractable kind, though. You have to sharpen it from time to time, which can be quite a pain, especially if you're doing your makeup in a rush.

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

It's not waterproof nor smudge-proof, either. Surprisingly however, I was able to wear this eyeliner for a a good eight hours (with a primer on) without turning into a panda - you know, those ghastly streaks and smears of black around the eyelids. Sure, the color fades the longer it stays on your eyelids, but that would be better than looking like a panda by the end of the day.

What I love:

- Easy to use.

- Has a creamy texture, which allows for easy application.

- Great for creating soft, smudgy lines around the eyes.

- Color looks natural - black with matte finish.

- Doesn't leave you with panda eyes at the end of the day.

- Affordable price.

- Three shades to choose from.

- No allergies or irritation, safe for sensitive skin.

What you might not like:

- Not smudge-proof or waterproof.

- Not retractable.

Products Used:
FACE: The Face Shop Velvet Skin Primer,
Innisfree Eco Natural Green Tea BB Cream, Missha Under Eye Brightener.
EYES: Ever Bilena Eyebrow Pencil in Brown,
Tony Moly Lovely Eyeliner Pencil in True Black,
Fairydrops Volume Burst Mascara.
CHEEKS: Human Heart Nature Perfect Glow Mineral Blush.
LIPS: EOS Blueberry Potion, NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Antwerp.

Thinking of giving the Tony Moly Lovely Eyeliner Pencil a try? This product sells for Php 148 only (around $3), available at Tony Moly branches nationwide.

Today's Look | Smokey Eyes ala T.O.P!

It's been awhile since my last 'face-of-the-day' post, so today I'll be sharing the look that I wore to the Big Bang concert. I originally thought of recreating G-Dragon's look from the 'Monster' MV, but I realized his eye makeup is a tad too bold for my taste.

So just to play safe, I went back to good ol' TOP's smoking hot look in the 'Fantastic Baby' MV. This time, instead of using the Smoke and Mirrors palette for the eyes, I made use of my Urban Decay Ammo Eyeshadow Palette.

On my eyes: Smog, Last Call, and Grifter.

I've become so attached to this palette - I love the transition of colors, and the versatility of the shades in general. You'll surely be able to create and recreate looks for different occasions as the pigments vary from light to dark, bold to nude.

Ammo is amazing! :)

It's actually the palette that made me forget my lust for Naked 2. Haha!

Keep calm and Boom shakalaka :)

Products used:

The Face Shop Velvet Skin Primer
Benefit Erase Paste in Medium
Missha Signature Wrinkle Filler BB Cream #21
Urban Decay Ammo Eyeshadow Palette
 Avon Ultra Luxury Brow Liner in Dark Brown
elf Liquid Eyeliner in Black
Missha Viewer 270 HD Curl Mascara in Black
Sleek Makeup Pomegranate Blush
Avon Ultra Luxury Liner in Baby Pink
Avon Ultra Moisture Rich Lipstick in Barely There

Where to shop for makeup?
Stuff in Style | Sleek MakeUp PH | Hip Style | elf Cosmetics

PS... I want pink and blue hair like G-Dragon's!

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.

Sneak Peek | Makeup that's Oh So Sleek!

Today, the courier guy came bearing gifts. These were sent to me for product review / feature, which I'll be doing later on. I just couldn't resist sharing my new art materials and how great they look, even at first glance.

Gorgeous blues and grays.

Oh yes, I get to experiment with another smoky eye look!

Pretty pomegranate.

Subtle shimmers on this pan of pink.

Bright and orange-y!

And lip color that screams for attention.

So Sleek!

These are all Sleek Makeup products, a London-based makeup brand. Sleek Makeup is available in the country through Updated Trends, the official distributor in the Philippines. Thanks Ms. Smile, Ms. Sol, and Achi Pao! These babies are now in good hands, lol.

Swatches, product review, and 'the look' coming soon!

Sharing with Rednesday!

Today's Look + Avon Smoke and Mirrors Limited Edition Collection.

I fell in love with Smoke and Mirrors the moment I saw it on the pages of Avon's 'Hello Tomorrow' March 1-15 issue. For those who are wondering, 'Hello Tomorrow' is a supplemental magazine to every Avon campaign. And like the regular brochure, it is also published bi-monthly.

Every issue of this magazine is filled with ideas, tips, and offers exclusive to Avon representatives. As you may know, I'm not just an Avon costumer, I'm an 'Avon lady' as well. Being one has its perks, with the Advanced Try Me Offer as my most favorite Avon lady privilege. This is the opportunity to purchase and try the newest items before they are made available to the public. Of course, when we're talking about new makeup releases, expect me to seize each and every opportunity I can get.

Smoke & Mirrors Limited Edition Collection.

And because Smoke & Mirrors (1) has a pretty purple packaging, (2) is intended for the smoky eye look, and (3) sounds very Neil Gaiman, I knew I had to get that eyeshadow palette. Plus the lipsticks and eyeliners that are also part of the Smoke & Mirrors collection.

As I've promised earlier, here are the swatches from the entire collection. First up, the eyeshadow which I got for Php 309.

Clockwise from top left: Island Breeze, Gray Illusion, Perplexed Purple, Nude and Infused.

The greens and the purples in this palette compliment each other beautifully. The autumn-toned colors are warm, rich, and very sophisticated. Highly-pigmented and guaranteed long-lasting, these shades can be worn  day or night, or even from day until night! For instance, you can create a subtle, office-appropriate, daytime look which you can tweak and retouch later on for that smouldering, nighttime, smoky eye look.

From L-R: Island Breeze, Gray Illusion, Nude and Infused, Perplexed Purple

And you know how much of a fan sucker I am when it comes to smoky eyes. Especially when there's purple / a touch of purple going on with the look.

Now these gel eyeliners (Php 189 each) are something new to me, as I am more familiar with the conventional eyeliner pencil and liquid eyeliner.

Golden Fawn.

Blackberry.

Blackberry (left), Golden Fawn (right).

These are actually my first gel eyeliners ever, and I'm amazed at how easy it was to work with this product. Unlike liquid eyeliners (which actually took me a long time to get the hang of it), the gel eyeliners glide smoothly and for someone with wobbly hands, these babies are quite easy to control. They don't smudge or flake, and are pretty long-lasting, too. 

Golden Fawn (left), Blackberry (right).

But it's the unique and intense colors of these Avon gel eyeliners that I love the most. Golden Fawn is a metallic pewter shade with gold undertones, while Blackberry has a brownish-slash-blackish plum vibe to it. The former is great for making your eyes appear brighter, while the latter is a gorgeous alternative to the usual black waterlines.

The lipsticks (also priced at Php 189 each) are just as stunning.

Apricot Mystery.

Apricot Mystery.

Apricot Mystery has a coral shade with orange undertones. It may look dark and intense from this point of view, but when worn it's actually light, creamy, and almost sheer.

Purple Hazed.

Purple Hazed.

Purple Hazed, as the name implies, is a purple lipstick with light pink undertones. It may look too pale or too frosted, but in actual, this product has a creamy yet glossy finish - characteristic of most Avon lipsticks from the Ultra Moisture Rich line.

Apricot Mystery (left), Purple Hazed (right).

I love it because it's purple, and its sheerness is just to my liking. It's the kind of icy plum shade that works best when you're sporting those dark, smoky eyes.

And speaking of which, here's the look I've created using the Smoke and Mirrors collection.

Gray Illusion on the lids, Nude and Infused on the creases.
Perplexed Purple on the outer V, Island Breeze on the brow bone / highlight. 

I love my cheekbones, lol. Pardon the narcissism. :)

I've been obsessing over Big Bang's Fantastic Baby these days, and I'm totally digging TOP's smoky eyes in the music video.

Fantastic Baby! :)

So yeah, this look was inspired by the best Korean rapper with the sexiest smoky eyes ever. (Sorry, Jun Ki! You come in second, though!) And yes, I was listening to Alive the entire time I was doing my makeup.

Smoke and Mirrors, success! :)

Capping off this post, here are the products I used for this look.

L'Oreal Base Magique Primer
Avon Healthy Makeup BB Cream in Light
Avon Ideal Luminous Dual Powder Foundation in Shell
Avon Ideal Luminous Concealer Stick in Almond
Fanny Serrano Eyebrow Liner in Dark Brown
Avon Smoke and Mirrors Eyeshadow Quad
Avon Gel Eyeliner in Blackberry
Avon Super Curlacious Waterproof Mascara in Black
Human Nature Love Minerals Blush in Pink Quartz
Jordana Lip Liner in Rose
Avon Ultra Moisture Rich Lipstick in Purple Hazed

The Smoke and Mirrors collection will be available to the public starting March 16, 2012. Better pre-order from your Avon reps now, as these goods will be out for a limited time only.

And now I'm off to remove all this gunk from my face and get me some sleep! :)

Sharing the purples with Color, Click, Capture and Artistic Tuesday.


A great euphonious in every box

Sneak Peek | AVON Smoke and Mirrors Collection.

Someone's got new art materials to work with!

A new palette.

Eyeshadow quad.

New pencils.

Gel eyeliners.

And crayons, too! 

Lip colors.

Review, swatches, and 'the look' coming soon. :)

Linkin' up with This or That Thursday and Happiness Is.

Today's Look | Chocolate Smoky.

Lately, I find myself deviating from my usual makeup style. Instead of the pinks and reds, I gravitate towards the nudes and browns these days. I guess when you're feeling somber, you're not in the mood to wear bold and bright colors on your face either.

Of course, I still want to look as chic as possible whenever I leave the house. Hence, this browny smoky eye look - or 'chocolate smoky' as I like to call it.

Earthen colors. 

To create this look, I used three different eyeshadow brands. I currently do not own a brown eyeshadow palette specifically intended for smoky eyes, so I had to mix, match, and make do with the browns that I have in store.

L-R: L'Oreal Wear Infinite Eyeshadow, Almay Intense iColor,  Avon Simply Pretty .

Neutrogena Lip Color.

On my middle lid all the way across the outer lid, I applied the Dark Hazel shade from the Almay palette. To highlight the outer and above crease of my eyes,  I used the Rust shade from Avon's Simply Pretty. I finished it off with a light sweep of Sable (the L'Oreal one) on my inner lid, blending it towards the colors on the creases of my eyes.

Ugh, dark undereyes!

Pardon the dark undereyes. I've warned you that they look ghastlier than ever. If you can recommend a kick-ass eye cream to end my undereye woes, I'd appreciate it a lot.

All that brown!

Meanwhile, here's the rundown of the products used:

Etude House Precious Minerals All Day Strong BB Cream #2
Avon Ideal Luminous Dual Powder Foundation in Shell
Avon Ideal Shade Concealer Stick in Almond
Ever Bilena Advance Perfect Eye Concealer in Light
L'Oreal Wear Infinite Eyeshadow in Sable
Almay Intense iColor Trio for Hazels (Dark Hazel)
Avon Simply Pretty Eyeshadow Duo ( Rust)
Ever Bilena Eyebrow Liner in Brown
Avon Extralasting Liquid Eyeliner in Black
Kohl Royal Selections Eyeliner in Charcoal Gray
Avon Super Curlacious Waterproof Mascara in Black
Avon Smooth Minerals Blush in Blushed
Neutrogena Lip Color in Sunlit Crystal


Yes, that's another BB cream you're seeing. Performance-wise and price-wise, Etude House is actually my preferred BB cream brand. But I'll save the product review for later; I have a backlog of (makeup) posts that need to go live on this blog, ASAP.