As you know one of my favorite eyebrow pencils is the Shu Uemura Hard Formula brow pencil. It is quite expensive, but it is AWESOME. Most people would think twice in spending for it (I know I did) but I find that it's totally worth the expense. Still, if you want something like it but don't have the cash to burn, I highly recommend the Majolica Majorca Brow Customize Sword Cut Pencil (P520 for the set)!

The shape of this auto-pencil is actually the same as Shu Uemura's Naginata sword cut. This shape makes it easier to get more precision when shading your eyebrows, although you do need to wear down the sharp sides first. The tip is just a little awkward in the beginning.

Did you know that mascara is one of the oldest forms of cosmetics? It dates as far back as 4000 B.C., when ancient Egyptians would use crushed minerals, soot, crocodile stool, honey, and water to darken their eyes. They believed that masking their eyes would keep them safe from evil spirits. Today, women and men use mascara primarily for aesthetic purposes - to enhance their lashes and define their eyes. I'm just glad we lost the crocodile poop!

This week will be all about mascara at Project Vanity. I'll be reviewing some of the latest and most remarkable mascaras out in the market, and at the end of it, my top five picks. So! Let's begin with a reformulated version of one of Majolica Majorca's bestselling mascaras - the Lash Expander Edge Meister (P795)!

This is the most lengthening mascara I've ever tried to date. I swear, people always ask me if I'm wearing falsies whenever I have this on! This is actually the reason I'm not so fluent in applying false lashes - I mean, why bother when I can just wear Lash Expander and get the same effect?

Lash Expander Edge Meister is the updated formula of the original Majolica Majorca Lash Expander. I find that the fiberwig hairs are denser in the new formula, giving even longer and more volumized results. It also has less of that mascara smell; it's undetectable unless you give the brush a direct sniff.

It feels only yesterday when Majolica Majorca arrived in the Philippines, but did you know that it's been here for two years now? So much kawaii cuteness has been unleashed in that short amount of time! There's always something new to collect every quarter. ;) Now that the Japanese brand is celebrating its 10th year this 2013, expect even more covetable items than usual. 

Majolica Majorca has recently released its Spring Collection for 2013. Named Secret Blink, it's all about giving in to the whispers of your heart, of bold secrets that you can't dare speak of. Majo has always been an incurable romantic when it comes to its collections and that won't be changing anytime soon! Secret Blink features a limited edition rose gold case for the Skin Remaker, a Majoromantica scent, lash conditioner, new mascara, and a collectible palette.

I have three items from the collection, so here are quick reviews and swatches for you!

The Lash Expander was the first item I tried from Majolica Majorca, before the brand arrived here. I loved it because it lengthened my lashes and didn't smudge at all. This 2013, the Lash Expander shall be phased out and replaced with the improved Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Edge Meister (P795).

Liquid blushes are usually watery red tints, so it's refereshing to see a creamy one like the Majolica Majorca Cream de Cheek Blush (P495). These come in four colors I believe, and I have two of them to swatch for you today.

These liquid blushes aren't solid and dense like say, lip gloss. It has powder particles suspended in a sliiiiightly oily but fast-drying liquid solution. They're intended for use on the cheeks but they are surprisingly nice on the lips once you get over the initial powdery feel. I found out just like, right now! You should try it too if you're in a pinch and this is the only color you have on hand.

Anyway. Got a bit sidetracked there! Here's a quick rundown of the Cream de Cheek.

What I love about the product

• The shades are just lovely. I have Shell Pink Cream (PK312) and Kiichigo Cream (RD411), and I love how they look on me. They have a matte, natural finish that seems to melt on skin instead of sitting on top looking fussy.
• It says on for a good four to five hours even in extremely humid weather. To extend the wear, you can top it off with a powder blush!

I didn't want to review the Majolica Majorca Brow and Lash Colorist in BR555 (P595) initially because it looked weird on me when I tried it on. What this does is it tints eyebrows (and lashes if you're so inclined), turning them into a reddish-brownish color. It's cool if you dye your hair but if, like me, you choose to remain in your natural brown-black hair, then this looks odd when worn by itself.

However! I am very happy to report that I've found a way to make this look utterly fantastic on me. :P Lol. Sorry I'm just excited. I received a lot of compliments on my brows since I started using this just last week. It gives me Preview magazine-worthy kilay, and here's how!

The weather finally cleared! Yay! I don't want to sound like a weather reporter here, but I'm sure you know how  rain can disrupt the whole of Manila. Everyone is in a bad mood. Things don't get done. So at least that's finally over.

Oops, I think I spoke too soon. -_- Major rain and wind here again in The Fort! Ugh.

Anyway, today I'm going to review one of the hottest products to hit Manila recently! The Majolica Majorca Puff de Cheek in Cherry Macaron (P795) is one of the two new blushes to join the popular Puff de Cheek family. Like I said in my capsule review earlier, it is much more pigmented and a bit more long-lasting than the earlier blushes from the line. Not complaining since these two features are a must in this schizo weather! 

Color. Cherry Macaron is a red-coral mix with a bit of pink. It has fine silvery sparkles that are undetectable when worn. It imparts a nice glow on the cheeks, as an illuminator would.

A couple of weeks back, Majolica Majorca introduced its first big collection this year: Psychedelicious. The event was quite literally sweet and colorful! Everyone came dressed in bright outfits and entered a venue that may very well be Hansel and Gretel's sugar house. Except there's no witch, just fabulous makeup. 

I received a few products that I will quickly review for you guys. :)

Popping Shower Powder, Brow and Lash Colorist in BR555, Puff de Cheek in RD414

The Majolica Majorca Popping Shower Powder (P695) is a scented, sparkly body powder. It's infused with Majo's signature Majoromantica scent, a sweet, fruity concoction that I think you'll love.

I've always thought of makeup as very much like candy. They're bright, colorful, and cheery - just without the calories! Personally I get the same amount of joy when gobbling candy and applying makeup. Does that make me crazy? *enter: mental image of Liz stuffing candy in her mouth with makeup piled in heaps around her* Um, I hope not!

Anyways, I would just like to present Majolica Majorca's latest collection: Psychedelicious! It's like a vivid candy fantasy brough to life in the form of makeup goodies. There are new products like a shimmery, fragrant body powder and a brow mascara. Check 'em out!

Pro tip: if you're too lazy or too proud to layer on makeup, at least have the decency to keep a lip and cheek tint on hand. It looks natural and takes no time at all to apply! One tint I like is the Majolica Majorca Blood On Cheek Tint. It's idiot-proof and so pretty to look at, too.

So, if you want to get one (or restock!), you can score it at 50% off in Deal Dozen. Yes, it's only P250 there! FYI. ;)

I love natural-looking (but enhanced) lashes for everyday, but for special events and evenings out, I prefer big, cow lashes that can pass of as falsies. Pro tip: there's no better way to look glam than with eyes framed by long, voluminous lashes! They show up better in photos too.

I've been a long-time fan of the Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Frame Plus Mascara so I have great expectations from the brand's newest offering, the Majolica Majorca Lash King Mascara (P795). It promises to deliver  volume, length, and lushness to your lashes - features that used to be offered separately by MM's individual mascaras.

The Lash King is supposed to be MM's ultimate lash product, and I am inclined to agree!

What I LOVE about the product

• It does give volume, length, and the illusion of more lashes with only one coat. One coat is enough for daily use. If you want to up the drama, use two to three coats! Guarranteed, you'll look like you have falsies on.
• Doesn't smudge or smear no matter how humid the weather is or how sweaty and oily I get.

Wanna hear about a vampire-inspired beauty product has captured the imagination of girls everywhere? The Majolica Majorca Blood On Cheek Tint (P495) is a blush and lip color in a balm formulation. It feels exactly like lip balm, actually, but it's a very, very thin one and isn't waxy at all.

To be quite honest, I was lukewarm to the idea of a balm tint. I was worried that it would feel sticky, thick, and that it would clog my pores. But none of those things happened.

My advice to girls who don't like wearing a lot of makeup but still want to look pretty: just swipe on mascara and some tint! If you already have fairly good skin, a little bit of enhacement here and there is more than enough to bring out your natural beauty. Long and full lashes draw eyes towards them (involuntarily at that!), while a healthy flush makes you look fresh and happy.

That said, there are a couple of new Majolica Majorca releases that got beauty enthusiasts into a tizzy: the Lash King Mascara (P795) and the Blood On Cheek Tint (P495). Both were launched around two weeks ago, to good reviews! 

Let's start with the Lash King Mascara.

Cinderella was my favorite fairy tale when I was a child. But now that I'm a little older and consider Cinderella as stupid and weak (well not counting Drew Barrymore's Ever After), my favorite is now East of the Sun and West of Moon. The heroine in that story has more guts and determination than all Disney princesses combined. That's the kind of girl I want to be when I grow up!

Anyway! This whole flashback is brought you by Majolica Majorca's latest collection called Glass Trick. It pays homage to the immortal glass shoes that generations have come to know and love (at some point...), and features glossy and shimmery products that mimic the effect of glass. 

I'm going to review the whole collection quickly, so you know what to check out!

Dress Glove Cream (P325). This is a hand cream that has the sweet scent of the Majoromantica Perfume. It also has fine shimmer, so it makes hands sort of glow.

If you look inside my bag - at any time, in any bag I'm using at the moment - you'll see the Majolica Majorca Pressed Pore Cover Powder (P850). I like carrying it around because the compact is pretty and unique, plus it's handy for blotting in the middle of the day without getting my face looking cakey. I find to be a basic, non-fussy powder which is exactly what I need for retouching.

That doesn't mean that this is just for retouching. This well-milled silky powder instantly smoothens and mattifies skin, blurring out pores, so it's also an excellent finishing powder on top of liquid/ cream makeup. 

What I love about the product

• Very smooth, airbrush finish. It's subtle, but it's there. Does it even out pores? I don't have big pores so I can't tell. But I notice an overall smoothness when I use this.
• Translucent shade can easily match fair to medium skintones.

Let me tell you the story of this pleated chiffon dress. I found it in a moldy thrift store somewhere in a dusty corner of Manila. I knew this dress was made for me so I wasted no time taking it home and cleaning it up. The first time I wore it, everyone gave me nice compliments! I was on a high. Then, that same day around a year ago, I got food poisoned while wearing it.

That's probably not a big deal to some, but I rarely ever get sick. That food poisoning incident was the only time I got seriously sick enough to go to a doctor last year. Now, I know it's irrational, but since then I just didn't want to wear this dress. It hung untouched in my closet - until last Friday, that is!

I'm over the stigma now and I'm happy it still fit.

Thrifted chiffon dress/ Topshop blouse/ Forever 21 belt/ Schu clogs/ Ferretti satchel/ Pinkbox accessories

Guess where I was!

The theme revolved around soft florals - green, yellow, pink, and cream were the predominant colors. I really enjoyed this look, if it were up to me I'd wear this head-to-foot every day.

Face: NARS Sheer Glow Foundation, MAC Studio Finish concealer, Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit (for dark circles), Clinique translucent loose powder, Guerlain Meteorites

Cheeks: Estee Lauder Silky Powder Blush in Tender Petal (wearing this a lot lately, looks so natural and pretty on cheeks plus the lasting power is amazing!)

The Majolica Majorca Aurora Tear Liner (P595) is the perfect accent for when you want to add a subtle oomph to your usual look. This eyeliner is not something that's immediately visible; the observer would have to take a closer look, but even then he or she will already have the impression that your eyes are rather sparkly - in a very pretty way, of course!

That said, this glitter liner from Majo is not a total must-have. Still, I think it's nice to have if you want something cute and sweet to spice up your usual makeup.

What I love about the product

• It looks great on top of your normal eyeliner, as well as on the tear ducts. It can also be used on the lashes (great for night makeup) or in the middle of the lips for that extra glitz at parties.

The Shiseido Supplist Poreless Powder Foundation was my HG foundation for a while. I think I used up two or three pans of it before moving on my current favorite! While I wouldn't mind buying this foundation again for lazy days or as setting powder on top of liquid foundation (when I really need coverage), the Supplist has sadly been discontinued last year. 

Now, its younger, flashier sister has appeared on the makeup scene - the Majolica Majorca Skin Remaker Pore Cover Foundation (P895/refill while the case is ~P500). The quality and finish of this foundation reminds me so much of the Shiseido Supplist, and it's not a surprise really. Shieseido makes Majolica Majorca after all! 

The main difference between the two would be the better powder quality and coverage of the Shiseido Supplist. Otherwise, I'd say that the Skin Remaker Pore Cover is a cheap dupe of its pricy sister.

What I love about the product 

• Delivers a very smooth, flawless finish.
• Coverage is light to medium. I recommend applying this wet if you want heavier coverage.

I love good questions. I love asking them, more so when it comes to answering them! Some insightful readers asked two cool questions: the first is, how does the Kate Blendzone Eyeshadow duos compare to the Majolica Majorca palettes? Second, how does the Revlon lipstick in Siren compare to Revlon Coral Berry?

Japanese drugstore cosmetics, from what I've tried so far, seem to be at par with more expensive American and European brands. These two eyeshadow palettes from Majolica Majorca and Kanebo Kate are proof. But when it comes down to a choice, which one should you blow your money on?

Once the novelty of the gel formula and wand applicator wore off, I started to look at the new Majolica Majorca Majoromantica scent in Fruity Forest (P995) with a more critical eye. Does it have good staying power? Is it all cute and no substance?

What it is: Fruity Forest is a strong scent with juicy fruits as top notes, floral as the mid notes, and sugary sweetness as its base notes. It assaults the senses as soon as you pull the wand out, but it mellows down quickly as it spreads on your skin and dissipates in the air. Fruity Forest is part of Majo's latest collection called Fake Sleeping.

Lasting power: The wand is designed to apply the gel cologne on your pulse points (on the wrists, behind the ear, base of the throat, back of the knees). Doing so allows the scent to heat up and stay longer. However, I find that the fragrance is completely gone from my skin in three hours - not surprising, because this is not even an EDT, it's a cologne.

I did discover something else though.