I was at an event one time just chatting with Donna of My Lucid Intervals. She's one of the loveliest people I know, both inside and out. I really admire how she's still able to blog, pursue her makeup artist career, and still be a full-time lawyer! People like her remind us that there's always time for the things we're passionate about. ^_^

Anyway, of course we got to talking about our favorite products. One of the things that came up is the Ellana Mineral Blush Duo (P450). This spiffy palette contains two blushes that are just - how do I say this mildly - perfect. The slight sheen makes skin literally glow and it actually looks better as the day wears on! Donna and I marveled about how a mineral blush has good staying power (5 hours) as well.

I have three of these, my favorite being the Kitten/Peach Passion combo, but recently I am "discovering" the Obsession/Fulfillment duo. Obsession is described as a "sheer raspberry red" while Fulfillment is "watermelon peach with gold shimmer". I love them both, as it makes my tired complexion look fresh in just a couple of layers.

See swatches and a look after the jump!

Makeup for me has never been a way to cover up my insecurities. Sure I'm grateful for the fact that my imperfections are hidden, but that's just secondary to how empowered makeup makes me feel. All these colors and bases and pretty little things allow me to express myself - that is, they allow other people to see me the way I see myself. 

How do I see myself? Well, I think I'm pretty even though my facial structure isn't traditionally beautiful. I've always thought of myself as an artsy person so I love expressing that through the color combinations I wear on my face. Is this how an insecure person with low self-esteem sounds? No. I hope the people who look down on us makeup lovers understand this one day!

Moving on! Today I'd like to tell you all about the Shiseido Face Color Enhancing Trio in RD1 Apple (P1,500+). This is the second Shiseido "blush" I've tried and I can tell you, it's really different! It's much less pigmented but it makes my skin glow gently. I say "blush" because it's more of a brightener and lifting powder than a color.

It's also not available in Japan. Momoko-san, Shiseido's trainer who recently visited the Philippines, actually got a few here since she won't be able to find it when she gets back!

This compact has three colors, a light pink, sheer tan, and peach highlighter. The powder is almost matte but it somehow gives the face a glow-from-within effect.

Why do I draw and paint? It's a long list of reasons but it boils down to that feeling of joy of having created something from nothing. I take photos and write for this blog, but my work here is derivative. That doesn't mean it's unimportant or meaningless, but it's just not the same as making something with my hands. So I draw lines and sometimes I color them.

It also keeps me sane. I place a lot of pressure on myself to excel in what I do and be bigger, better. Sometimes, I want to escape from that. Painting for me has no agenda other than to please myself. Although, if in the future I can turn this into a commercial undertaking, then that'd be awesome too! I should know, there are few things more rewarding than earning something from doing things you love.

Buuut let's get back to makeup. I just want to share an FOTD and review of some Canmake products! Like I said in my earlier post I think Canmake cosmetics are beyond cute and offer pretty good quality for the (drugstore) price. I didn't truly understand that, however, until I wore the Canmake Glow Fleur Cheeks and Candy Wrap Lip Gloss together some weeks back.

Ta-dah! I loved this look. Even better, I did it in under ten minutes! I used a Maybelline Color Tattoo cream eyeshadow in Bad to the Bronze and then a brown Essence eyeliner. I think the cheeks and the lip gloss stole the show though. They really made my complexion look amazing!

The Canmake Glow Fleur Cheeks #5 looks like something from a toy store but this is nicely pigmented with a beautiful glowy finish. The four colors mix together perfectly to create a cotton candy pink that just melts on top of my cheeks. Such a pretty blush!

Do you know how Jennifer Lopez achieved her trademark golden glow? Her makeup artist Scott Barnes would chop up sticks of the NARS Multiple in South Beach, and then mix it with her favorite La Mer moisturizer in a blender. That's a pretty cool idea! I recommend you try it too, except maybe with a less expensive cream color and moisturizer (unless you're loaded and lucky).

Anyway, the NARS Multiples are famous for their fine and uber-flattering shimmery finish, but sometimes a girl needs something understated and velvety. That's how NARS Matte Multiples (P2,250 in Rustan's) came to life. These sticks of pure color apply completely matte and come in skin-enhancing shades that would suit any skin color! 

I'm impressed by how creamy and easy to blend the formula is. The Matte Multiple also leaves quite a stain so staying power shouldn't be a problem even if you're super oily. 

During the launch, NARS International Makeup Artist Janice Daoud showed a few tricks in applying the Matte Multiples. She prefers to use her fingers to warm up the product and make it go on more smoothly. She also recommends you apply it with a wet brush or sponge to get bolder color payoff.

This product can be used on the eyes, cheeks, and lips, which make them a great purchase if you're looking for a product that can bring your face to life in just a few swipes.

Here are the swatches of all seven shades! I love Siam (a bright red orange) and Cappadoce (a neutral tan for contouring). I'll take a closer look in Rustan's one of these days!

In my sea of pretty things, the Clinique Cheek Pop (P1,550) is one that immediately stands out. Who can miss that gorgeous daisy-embossed compact? Packaging aside though, this is a good blush that's totally natural and easy to build up according to your preference. It has a silky texture that's not too hard or too soft so the design won't be ruined prematurely!

This shade is called 01 Ginger Pop, one of the four in Clinique's spring blush collection. It's a warm mid-tone ginger peach that has a satiny finish. It applies sheer but looks great after you add a few more layers. Yes, it's perfect for those who can't help but brush makeup on with a heavy hand!

Do you need bronzers and highlighters in your life? Frankly, no. You'd look totally great without them. But if you want to take your skin to the next glowy level then yes, these skin-enhancing products would be a great addition to your kit! You need them if you feel like your foundation and setting powder are no longer enough to make your skin look amazing.

Highlighters/illuminators help your skin look fresh by reflecting light off your face with ultra-fine shimmer. They are normally skin-toned, although some have a peachy or pink tint to them. Bronzers on the other hand are used to simulate the look of lightly tanned skin and are often used for contouring as well. Some are pink/peach-ish, which makes them fabulous blushes in their own right.

Bronzers are also a great way to bring some golden warmth to your face - that's really useful when you're looking pale and tired!

That said, I thought I'd show off some of my current favorite bronzers and highlighters. ^_^ I have five bronzers and three highlighters here that are perfect for Asian skin and can work with different budgets. Would love to know which ones you're looking to try!

You've tried blushes, of course, but have you tried a fabulously scented one that seems to perfume your whole face? That's what makes the Benefit Rockateur Box O' Powder Blush (P1,600) stand out. After you squee over the cute embossed design on the powder, you won't miss its bright floral scent as you blend it over your cheeks. It's surprisingly pleasant! I like that it doesn't smell chemical at all.

And the color? It's a beautiful pink rose with a generous amount of bronze in it. Rockateur is not a bronzer - it's predominantly pink - but it has enough to warm your face up in a snap.

I love that it's not overly pigmented so you get a couple of chances to layer this the way you want it. It delivers a pretty, glowy color on the cheeks, but it's not in any way oily-looking. The golden shimmer is very fine anyway so they hardly show up.

Staying power is okay at 4-5 hours before it starts to fade. I remember Hervana staying on longer than this one even though it was less pigmented. Nonetheless, like I said before a 5-hour cap on blushes is fine by me as I'm not often out all day.

Anyway, here's a look wearing a couple of layers of Rockateur!

What can you get for P250 bucks? An appetizer at a nice resto, a Starbucks drink with a cookie on the side,  a really cute notebook (or two), or a muli-tasking brush like the e.l.f Studio Blush Brush! I think e.l.f should rename this to well, anything else but "blush brush". If one doesn't know much about makeup then one wouldn't be able to truly maximize this interesting tool!

This cheapo brush has taklon, surprisingly fine and soft hair. These bristles are densely-packed in a small, flat-ish brush head. Yes, small and flat, about the size of a regular foundation brush - just slightly fluffier. This shape allows for a more precise application of cheek color and contour, but it also opens up a world of possibilities.

You can use this e.l.f brush for applying heavy coverage powder and liquid foundation, as well as cream colors on the cheeks.

Bronzers are usually shimmery affairs, although every so often there's one that's almost matte. This kind of finish is more suited to those who want warmth on their skin but prefer to avoid extra shine on top of their oily face. If that's what you're after, the Stila Bronzing Powder in Sweet Treat (~P800) fits the bill!

Out next month, this bronzer creates a lovely warmth on the face without having too much shimmer in it. It has a couple of shimmery blocks in the grid, yes, but the rest are matte. The colors run the gamut of skin-enhancing shades - tan, brown, peach, and champagne. They're even pigmented enough that you can use them as eyeshadows if you wish.

But don't worry, this bronzer won't give you Snickers bar cheeks when you apply it. ;) It starts out very soft, then you can build it up until you get your desired intensity. It has a smooth, satiny texture which makes it easy to blend and layer.

At first swatch, the Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colour in Plum Radiance (P995) doesn't look like anything. It's barely visible and the color looks blah, too. But wait till you get it on your face with a proper blush brush. This formula turns into a glowing, "second skin" color on your cheeks!

This blush is perfect for people who don't like colors that sit like prissy princesses on top of their cheeks. It's sheer but easily built up, and the texture is just so that you don't pick up a load of powder after a brisk kiss with a brush. 

Staying power is decent at about four hours. Well, it doesn't promise to be long-wearing so I don't really mind.

Plum Radiance is a beautiful pink shade that leans towards plum, and dare I say, is there a hint of peach in the mix? It has fine shimmers that makes cheeks look dewy and fresh - not oily!

Back then, I used to be able to remember exactly what makeup I wore. I never had to take down notes as to what lipstick, eyeshadow, foundation, or lipstick I have on. These days, however, I simply can't seem to remember a lipstick I wore a week ago. :/ Either I'm too distracted or I have too much of the same thing. Or I'm getting older-er?

Anyway! Today I'd like to talk about the Happy Skin Get Cheeky With Me Blush in Summer Fling (P699). What a mouthful amirite? That aside, it's a great blush. It's a coral, glowy shade that stays on for a good five hours!

Shade and finish. I think that everybody needs only two blush shades: one, a petal reddish pink and two, a pinkish coral like Summer Fling. This shade can suit fair to dark-medium skin tones, creating a sunnier, warmer complexion. This has super fine shimmer in it to fake a glow-from-within flush. 

Continuing our earlier talk about INGLOT, I have here one of their blushes called AMC 52 (P495). This was the only blush shade that I thought fit for contouring, since the other two possible contour shades are either too red or too orange. So is it any good?

Shade. AMC 52 is a neutral tan that looks orange-ish at first swatch but loses that tint as soon as it's blended in. It has a soft matte finish which is ideal for contouring. Now, this was supposed to be my "Goldilocks" shade but upon swatching it on my face at home, I realized how almost undetectable it is on my skin! It's not that the color is sheer; it's just that it's only half a shade darker than my skin tone. 

When I announced Face Contour Week, many of you gals became excited about a tutorial. Hold your horses though - that'll be up on Friday! I need a bit of time to shoot it. ;) In the meantime, I decided to answer a question that was asked several times: what's the difference between bronzer and contour powder? Which one should you go for?

These two products are completely different, although some products that are labeled "bronzer" could be used for contouring. Bronzers usually come in coppery or shimmery tan shades and are meant to be applied on the cheekbones, bridge of the nose, forehead, and chin. It's a product that's designed to create a sun-kissed look - not really to contour, although if your bronzer is deep enough it can be used for that purpose.

Contour powders are usually matte, and can be used define or slightly alter our face shape. You can create a smaller, more angular face with contouring powders. 

My favorite bronzer is the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Bronze, while my best contour powder is the MAC Blush in Harmony.

Contouring is my best friend. I have a wide, round face that needs all the help it can get! That's not to say I'm addicted to contouring; I only apply some when I'm going somewhere important. I'm not looking to fake the shape of my face forever. I just want it to look defined in photos and harsh lighting.

If you're after the same thing then this week is dedicated to you. Find out what my new contouring finds are, my favorite brushes to contour with, and my current technique, all in the next few days!

I'll start with something incredibly cheap yet fairly impressive: the Elf Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder (P250). This is a blush/ contour duo that's pigmented and looks amazing on my skin. Surprise, surprise. It's been ages since I purchased anything from Elf, so I'm glad that it now offers nice products even at such a low price.

Have you ever acquired something so pretty that you didn't want to use it at all? Some products look precious enough to just be started at, not disturbed in any way. That's how I felt about the Bobbi Brown Brightening Brick in Pink (P3,250) when it arrived on my doorstep!

This beauty is part of the Bobbi Brown Navy & Nude Collection which just came out recently. Navy & Nude is an interesting mix of sheer nude shades in pink, apricot, and beige, accentuated by rich navy and taupe hues. Elegant is one word that comes to mind, but of course that's always the best word to describe Bobbi's eponymous makeup line!

The Look: Navy smoky eyes, glowy pink cheeks, bronzed skin, and an opaque nude gloss

Lovely. Anyhoo, here's my review and swatches of the Bobbi Brown Brightening Brick in Pink. 

Oily girls rejoice! There's a new blush in town that'll defy the sebum and the sweat. theBalm Instain Blush (P895 from Beauty Bar) promises to be a staining powder blush. Indeed, this is one of the longest-wearing cheek colors I've ever tried! It sticks so well that it barely fades even after I've worn it for eight hours. I have yet to try it for longer than that time, but I can imagine that it can last up to ten.

Other than the staying power, I love the finish of Instain. It's, how do I say it...it's like another layer of skin. It doesn't look like it's sitting on top of the cheeks like a powdery monster; it's how my skin would look if it were blushing at the moment. It's not a flat matte but it's not shiny or shimmery either.

Okay I think I have it. The finish is like a cheek stain's, except that it's in powder form! It doesn't actually stain the skin though, which makes for hassle-free removal at the end of the day.

You've seen a powder, cream, gel, and liquid blush - but have you seen a fluffy one? I thought not! Dome blushes have been around for quite some time but I don't think I've tried one that's aerated like the Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush (P429). True to its name, the Bouncy Blush has a springy surface. It doesn't really bounce back once you dent it but it's still hella fun to poke it. Poke poke.

See? Novelty aside, the Maybelline Dream Bouncy blush is a nice cheek color for everyday use. It has a silky texture that's easy to spread all over the apples of the cheeks. The pigmentation is just okay - you'll need about two to three layers to make it show up - but at least you know that you'll never get a clown face accidentally. I'm okay with layering when it comes to blushes. I prefer to have as much control as possible when tinting my cheeks.

Gel tints are for people who don't want to muck about with brushes and powders. They are super convenient and more natural-looking compared to powder brushes and, when applied correctly, lasts considerably longer due to the stain they tend to leave. Tints are also appropriate on all skin types - dry skin, oily skin, they will look good and feel good on top.

One of the latest tints out there is the Estee Lauder Pure Color Cheek Rush (P2,000). This is a gel blush that has a sheer, ultra-natural color pay-off that stays on for hours. It's better worn on bare skin to maximize its staining action, but you can also apply it on top of makeup if you prefer.

The shade I have, X-Pose Rose, looks like scary pink goo when it is pumped out, but it's actually a pretty pink rose shade once you break it down. I love that it's watery and easy to blend all over the cheeks. What I do is a place one pump on the back of my hand, spread it out, then pick up a tiny bit using my fingers. I then apply that to my cheeks, and voila, instant pink flush that doesn't look like makeup. 

The most useful advice that I've ever received in my life is Don't Panic. It is so difficult to remember that, you know, when everything is converging towards you in a massive wave and it is impossible to turn anywhere without being swallowed up like a piece of melting chocolate. Well. Grace under pressure is a skill. We can't learn it if we do not truly feel the heat.

The best way to deal with pressure is to take things one at a time. Sounds simple enough. So I'll do that. :)

Today I want to finally talk about the Etude House Color Pop Collection! This collection is all about bright, show-stopping colors in hues of orange, pink, blue, and green. Now it doesn't seem to be available in the Philippines just yet, but I will definitely update this space when it is! For the meantime here are some swatches and quick thoughts about each of the products I received from Korea.

I'll start with the Etude House Color Pop Shine Tint in Sunny Pop. First swatch and I thought I wouldn't like this, for it is such a fiery orange! I tried using a generous amount on my lips and it looked so patchy that I removed it immediately. However, the trick is to use only a couple of dots to get a sheer wash of reddy peach color on the cheeks and lips. It's one of those tints that you can't layer over, as it is meant to be sheer.