Sneak Peek | Tony Moly ❤ Pokemon Collection.

So it seems like everyone's crazy about Pokemons these days, thanks to Pokemon Go, a location-based augmented reality mobile game. Released in July 2016, the game quickly became a global phenomenon, and was heralded as one of the most used mobile apps this year. I am hooked to the game myself, along with my siblings, my cousins, and even some of my (mommy) friends at Yue's school.

Now the latest to join this Pokemon craze is Korean cosmetics brand Tony Moly, with the launch of their limited edition Tony Moly x Pokemon collection! Collaboration collections are nothing new in the Korean cosmetics industry, but I'm quite sure this particular line will be such a hit not only with Korean cosmetics lover but also with Pokemon fans across the globe.

Pokemon ❤ Tony Moly!

Catch them all after the jump!

Spotlight | Etude House x Angry Birds Tint My Brows Gel.

Halfway through my 29 days in Seoul, I made an accidental discovery while passing by the Etude House store at COEX Mall. Well, it was actually my son who discovered it by chance; he saw Angry Birds posters plastered on the store windows and he practically dragged me inside the store, thinking that they had Angry Birds toys for sale.

The poster that piqued my little man's curiosity.

There were no toys (of course), much to my son's chagrin. I, on the other hand, found an eyebrow product that may very well be the ultimate solution to my sparse eyebrows. I'm not considering eyebrow embroidery as an option (at least for now) because it's a tad expensive, and I don't want to deal with the pain that comes with the procedure.

Etude House x Angry Birds Tint My Brows Gel.

For now, this Tint My Brows Gel from Etude House is my best bet. Its packaging is designed after Red (as in the red bird), and the box bears the signature Angry Birds logo. This makeup collaboration between Etude House and Angry Birds was released mid-May, about the same time the Angry Birds Movie hit the cinemas in Korea.

Product description and directions for use on the side panel.

The Tint My Brows Gel functions like an eyebrow tattoo, sans the pain and perpetuity.
Here's how to use it:
1. After trimming the eyebrows without applying skincare product or makeup, apply a liberal amount according to the desired shape of the eyebrow. (The thicker you apply, the easier it would be to peel off the product afterwards.)
2. Dry for at least 2 hours. For stronger coloration, apply before going to bed at night and remove the next morning. (Believe me, the results are much better when you let the gel sit on your brows overnight.)

The other side contains the same, only in Hangul.

3. After drying completely, peel it off slowly starting from the tail of the eyebrow. (Do not tug at the dried tint forcibly since it may pull out the eyebrow, or what little strands that's left of it.)
4. Do not use a cleansing product (product with detergency) or apply force on the eyebrow area within 24 hours of using the product.

The tube.

The tint is housed in a 5-gram tube that comes with a brush applicator. Nothing special about the applicator. I found it quite tricky to use at first, since the brush isn't exactly angled or tapered.

Wand applicator, up close.

The tint has a relatively thick, gooey consistency and has a very faint chemical scent. Nothing to worry about as the scent fades away as soon as the tint comes in contact with your skin.

Swatches: Right-most, one coating; middle, two coatings; left-most, three coatings.

The Tint my Brows Gel comes in three different colors. Mine is 01 Brown, while the other shades are 02 Light Brown and 03 Gray Brown. Here's a photo to give you an idea how the other two shades look like.

Color reference, Etude House x Angry Birds Tint My Brows Gel.

Now let me show you how this product works.
As you can see, my eyebrows are extremely sparse - which is why I am always on the look-out for good eyebrow products. All the more if they're easy to use and can reduce my usual morning prep time (as in the time I spend 'drawing' my brows) by half.

Almost non-existent brows, lol!

Enter the Etude House x Angry Birds Tint My Brows Gel. which I applied about two or three hours before I hit the sack. Although it dries in as little as two hours (which I have proven from the first time I used this product), I want the color to be a bit stronger so that it would also last longer - and you can only achieve this if you wear the product overnight.

It looks like this when applied.

You sort of end up looking like an Angry Bird with the gel tint on.
Great marketing strategy, Etude House. Haha! :)

Yes, you can sleep with these funny-looking brows on. No need to worry about getting stains on your pillowcase. They won't rub off as you sleep.

I literally woke up like this.

The gel tint dries into a rubbery texture, which allows for easy removal. You peel it off gently, starting from the outer corner/tail of your eyebrows. No eyebrow hair was harmed during the peel-off process. Haha!

And you peel it off like this.

This is how my brows looked like right after 'peeling'. It looks crazy pigmented, but the color softens and looks more natural after I have washed my face.

Look, I've got eyebrows!!!

As per instructions, you should not apply force on the eyebrow area within 24 hours of using the product. Hence, I cleanse, tone, and moisturize my face with extreme care, careful not to come in contact with my precious eyebrows.

Tinted eyebrows, Day 2.

The sales attendant told me that the color will stay on for a few days. In my case, the color lightens a bit by the second day and starts to fade on the third day. By the fourth day, my eyebrows will look like its usual, non-existent state - but with a hint of brown to it.

Tinted Eyebrows, Day 4.

I may have mentioned before that I hardly leave the house without makeup on - or more specifically, without drawing my brows. Now I can dare go outside bare-faced, provided that my brows have been tinted the night before. I actually went Pokemon hunting with my siblings last weekend with no makeup on! Just my tinted brows, and the Alice in Glow Oil Tint on my lips!

Tinted eyebrows, outlined with my favorite Shiseido eyebrow pencil.

Weekdays, of course, are a totally different story. Wearing makeup is imperative, but at least I spend less time working on my brows. I simply outline the arch and edges, brush the color a bit, and I'm done! Back then, it would take me about ten minutes or so to get my eyebrows on fleek since I'm practically starting with a blank canvas. Haha!

Limited edition sets of Angry Birds makeup.

Some of you may find the two-hour drying period a bit taxing, especially for those who are always on the go and don't have much time to do their makeup. But for some of us who can spare a bit more time for their eyebrows' sake, this product is worth the investment.

Angry brows? :)

And it's not even costly, as I spent only 7500 won (around Php 320 or US$8) for this.  No regrets buying this product on a whim. :)

Spotlight | Missha x Line Friends 4D Mascara.

Earlier this year, Korean beauty brand Missha teamed up with popular messaging service Line and launched the limited edition Missha x Line Friends makeup line. Their first makeup collaboration, released in January, hit all the right notes and was well-received by consumers. This popularity paved the way for a sequel, and the second season of Missha x Line Friends was launched last March.

Being a sucker for makeup collaborations and a fan of these adorable Line Friends characters, I made it a point to shop for these Missha x Line Friends makeup while I was in Seoul. I got myself a tube of the Flower Bouquet Cleansing Foam, the Magic Cushion (will blog about this later), and this 4D Mascara. 

Missha x Line Friends 4D Mascara.

While I had no problems in getting the first two items, purchasing this mascara proved to be a challenge. The Missha counter at the nearby eMart no longer had this mascara in stock, and so did three of the Missha stores in Myeongdong. Thankfully, one Missha store in the area still had this and the 3D Mascara on display. I bought one of each, and sent the 3D Mascara to my Mum.

Sally 3D Mascara and Brown 4D Mascara.

The 3D Mascara represents Sally the Duck (hence, yellow), while the 4D Mascara represents Brown the Bear. Their packaging is super cute from the get-go, and really, I'd buy this product for the packaging alone. Haha!

Mostly Hangul text written on the tube.

So what's the difference between the two mascaras, you might ask. The 3D Mascara, in case you're wondering, is formulated to lengthen the lashes; the 4D Mascara, on the other hand, has a volumizing effect.

Take note of the 6-month shelf life once you open your tube of mascara.

Printed in black is the mascara's manufacturing date.

Their applicators are shaped differently too, as seen in this illustration. The 3D Mascara has a triangular-shaped applicator, while the 4D Mascara is a square.

3D Mascara vs 4D Mascara.

Here's a closer look at the 4D Mascara's brush and wand.

The wand...

And the brush.

The brush has thick and dense bristles which bolsters and thickens the lashes for more volume.

A closer look at the brush.

Now here's the mascara in action.

Excuse the bare face.

And the even barren eyebrows, lol.

I do have naturally long lashes, and I thank my parents for that, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to add a little more volume to these peepers. :)

With the Missha x Line Friends 4D Mascara.

This mascara does it job, alright. With just one coat, my eyelashes look thicker and fuller, and a tad longer too. I love how this mascara is highly-pigmented, has no funky, chemical smell, and defines the lashes naturally. It doesn't clump or flake, and can hold up a curl. (Tip from www.eyelash-growth.com: Apply a thicker coat of mascara at the root of your lashes and a lighter one towards the ends. This way, you can keep your lashes curled longer throughout the day). 

Hello, thicker lashes! :)

I also love that it's smudge-proof and waterproof, and can pretty much withstand all that sweating in this hot and humid weather. Oh, and this mascara is reasonably-priced, too. (Or should I say 'was' because this collection has already been discontinued?) I bought mine for just 3300 a won (around Php 140) a pop. Surprisingly cheap, considering that it's a product by Missha. :)

Spotlight | Ever Bilena Matte Two Way Cake.

Seems like there is no end to this unbearably hot and humid Philippine weather. It's supposed to be monsoon season now, but thanks to the oscillation of the ocean-atmosphere system otherwise known as El Nino, looks like it's gonna be summer all-year round.

And to think summer is actually my least favorite season because it's not very makeup-friendly. Imagine - incessant sweating, excessive sebum, extremely oily face that bears semblance to a greased pan. Uggggh, the horror!

I have had my share of these horrific 'greased pan' moments, which isn't exactly the sight you'd want to see when you look in the mirror. Thankfully, our favorite local makeup brand Ever Bilena has a recently released product to solve this makeup woe. And boy, am I glad to be one of those who got first dibs on it! :)

No more 'greased pan' moments with these babies!

Say hello to Ever Bilena's Matte Two Way Cake, a 2-in-1 foundation that gives the skin a flawless, soft matte finish. It covers blemishes, hides skin imperfections, and evens out the skintone. It can be applied wet or dry (hence the name 'two way'), depending on the coverage you desire.

Product description at the back of the box.

The Two Way Cake comes in three different shades: Golden Beige, Fair Oriental, and White Ivory. The product is housed in a sleek black compact, and comes with a sponge and a mirror. 

Shade range.

The packaging reminds me of those old school flip-top phones, like Motorola Razr.

Back view. :)

A closer look at the shades (L-R): White Ivory, Fair Oriental, Golden Beige.

And here's the sponge.

White Ivory is the lightest among the three shades. It looks rather pinkish, which makes it suitable for those with pale/porcelain skin, or fair-skinned individuals with cool undertones.

White Ivory swatched dry on the left, wet on the right.

Fair Oriental, as the name suggests, is suitable for those with fair to medium skin, and those with yellow undertones . Perhaps the most popular shade in the selection (I know at least five people who are using this product with this shade), it's also the shade closest to my skintone.

Fair Oriental swatched dry on the left, wet on the right.

The darkest among the three shades, Golden Beige is perfect for those with olive skin, or in colloquial term, 'morena'.

Golden Beige swatched dry on the left, wet on the right.

Typically, I use this foundation to set either my Missha Signature Wrinkle Filler BB Cream or my Klairs Illuminating Supple Blemish Cream. But on extremely hot and humid days such as today, I skip the BB Cream and use this with just my current favorite primer/sunscreen underneath.

Fair Oriental on my face.

True to its claim, this foundation neither feels heavy nor looks cakey on the skin. It's easy to apply, and you can build the coverage from light to medium when worn dry. I have not tried applying it wet, but I suppose this foundation can give you full coverage by doing so.

Now as far as its mattifying power is concerned, it usually depends on the weather, the surrounding temperature, or my activity level. On days when it's hot as hell, my face would become a greaseball in as short as 3 hours; on rainy and refreshingly cooler days, I wouldn't break a sweat and my foundation would stay intact for as long as 5 or 6 hours. Not bad for something worth Php 165, huh?

Products used:
FACE: Beyond Alice in Blooming Skin Tone Sun Base,
Ever Bilena Liquid Concealer in Light,
Ever Bilena Two Way Cake in Fair Oriental.
EYES: Shiseido Eyebrow Pencil in Brown,
Clio Kill Black Pen Liner,
Missha The Style 4D Mascara.
CHEEKS: Ever Bilena Cheek Blush in Raisin.
LIPS: Beyond Rich Color Tint Balm in Tok Wine.

If you're planning to give this product a try, why not take advantage of its Php 150 introductory price? Ever Bilena products are easily accessible and available at most beauty counters, drugstores, and supermarkets - no need to scour the high seas just to buy this foundation. And yes, they already have this at Watson's and at SM Department Stores. :)

Sneak Peek | Laneige x Lucky Chouette Collection.

Aaaand we're back to regular programming! In case you failed to notice (but I do hope you did, haha), I have not updated this blog for the past three weeks or so - mostly because August has been a very busy month for me and the rest of my family.

The 'busyness' began when my sister-in-law had dengue and was admitted to the hospital towards the end of the July. She was confined for almost a week, and I had to take care of my niece during her absence.

The day before she was discharged from the hospital, my London-based relatives - my aunt, my uncle, and my cousins - came home for a quick two-week vacation. And since they don't come home very often, we all wanted to spend as much time with them as possible - which means we were almost always out and about, going to places, shopping and stuff.

And then came Yue's first Quarterly Exams, which was last week. Everything else in my life takes a backseat during exam week, as I am mostly preoccupied with writing notes for review and making mock exams for the little man.

Anyway, back to the matter at hand - this long overdue blog update. I've been meaning to get this blog post up since two weeks ago, when the Laneige x Lucky Chouette Pore Control BB Cushion made a cameo on episode 14 of Doctors.

Jin Seo Woo (Lee Sung Kyung) for Laneige. :)

More of the Laneige x Lucky Chouette collection after the jump!