How often do you use hand cream? I admit I can be pretty lazy most days. I usually put off using hand cream until my hands can't take the dryness anymore - by that time, they're already so wrinkly and hard! Yuck. That's a bad bad habit because the hands, other than the neck, betray our age sooner than we'd like. That's why it pays in the long run to use a specialized moisturizer for them.

I've recently been enjoying the Bobbi Brown Extra Hand Cream (P1,700). It's a 50ml tube of moisture-boosting cream that contains shea butter and clary sage to improve our hands' moisture barrier, glucosamine to gently exfoliate, and licorice extract to help lessen discoloration.

This is a very heavy cream - a little goes a long way, and it indeed helps soften super dry hands instantly. It's like you coated your skin in this cocoon of smoothing, reviving oil! This actually has avocado and corn kernel oil for that purpose.

I hereby declare the next five days as Bobbi Brown Week at Project Vanity. Seriously, I have quite a few Bobbi products piling up (they're all fantastic) so I want to release the reviews in one themed week. I'll be featuring one Bobbi product everyday for the next five days, so stay tuned for those posts. ;)

To start off the series, here's an FOTD-slash-review of the Bobbi Brown Twilight Night Shimmer Ink. This is unfortunately limited edition from the Desert Twilight collection last year. However, I think that the brand has something similar in the cream eyeshadow line. I'm sure you can also find dupes in other brands if you're on a budget. ;)

Now Twilight Night is actually a gel eyeliner, but the twinkly dusky color is so pretty that it deserves to be used as a cream eyeshadow.

A dark cream base can make eyeshadows really pop up, plus the uber fine shimmer in this particular product adds more dimension and light to the eyes. I dabbed a layer of it on my lids using just my fingers.

Whimsical and ethereal, the new Artdeco Butterfly Dreams Collection is sure to appeal to girls with a soft spot for pastels. There's a beautiful selection of nail polishes and lipsticks that flatter Asian skin, as well as new eye definition products such as a felt tip eyeliner and a volumizing mascara.

Pretty eh? I'll be reviewing a couple of products fully in the future (that blush definitely deserves a whole post of its own), but for now I'll be sharing quick reviews and a look I did using the collection. 

Running out of clever introductions here so I thought I'd get right to the point. :P Today I want to talk about a few Shiseido stuff I received a couple of months ago. They are expensive, true, but if you don't mind then they are definitely worth the splurge. 

When I first saw the Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Color Trio in RD299 I thought, boring. Gold, violet, and white? Surely there are more interesting, exciting combinations out there! But I should know that it's not smart to judge an eyeshadow palette by how it looks in the pan. I guess I better show you!

Absolutely lovely, yes?

Sorry this took a while! But I'm sure you'll love what I managed to secure as the prize. First things first - the commenter of the month for March is none other than Khristine. She wins a Bobbi Brown lip gloss and eyeshadow from the brand's newest Lilac and Rose Collection. Congratulations, Khristine! Please email me your address.

For this month, I am giving away a mini Pinkbox Dream Mirror worth P3,500. It's a double-sided table top accessory organizer! It's actually pretty big! You can even store your favorite lipsticks and blushes on one side and then place your bracelet, rings, and necklaces on the other. <3

Hi everyone! What would be the BEST drugstore brand for you? :) - Paulina

Feel free to pitch in your own answer as well! I'll begin. My favorite drugstore brand, top of mind, is Revlon. I love that they come out with new products every other month, and that they try to improve on the technology they've rolled out in the past. I remember that some releases have been dire failures (remember those crappy "long-wearing" eyeshadow?) but the new Colorstay ones are pretty amazing in my book.

Revlon's Colorstay and Photoready lines are pretty extensive, and they are still expanding up to this day. Colorstay is indeed long-wearing while Photoready looks good on camera as promised. True, Revlon is quite expensive here in the Philippines but if you don't mind paying (dearly) for the convenience of finding it in most drugstores then I suppose the price is not too bad.

Revlon Colorstay Whipped Creme Makeup

Revlon PhotoReady Two-Way Powder Foundation

One other thing I LOVE about Revlon is that it's an 81-year old name that has made a mark in makeup history. It was founded in 1932 and sold only nail polish and then lipstick in the beginning. Up to this day, Revlon's polishes and lipsticks still remain some of the best out there!

Last week I read Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being A Wallflower. I honestly expected a light, jaunty read. All the promo materials led me to believe that it's a story about love, what with that "I swear we were infinite" and "We accept the love we think we deserve" crap getting quoted on Facebook all the time. But it's not about love at all. It's about making choices - real ones, not the kind where you figure out if you should eat two eggs today - and accepting the consequences of a past you can't change.

Suffice it to say, I started reading it at 10 PM and ended up crying so much by 3 AM. Read it if you haven't yet!

Anyway segue. Today I want to review a mascara I've been using rather often lately - the Max Factor 2000 Calorie Dramatic Volume Mascara (P595). I've had a great experience with the brand's False Lash Effect Mascara before so I had high expectations for something as popular as 2000 Calorie. I wasn't disappointed. ;) Here's why!

What I love about the product 

• Volumizes and lengthens nicely. You can build it up for really dramatic lashes, but two coats should be enough for a day-to-day look.
• Doesn't smudge or flake with normal sweating and oil around the eyes. It's not waterproof though, so this isn't something you can cry with.

March was a slow month for beauty products, probably because it's that odd time when our routine transitions to summer. I didn't have as many reviews as I usually do because I spent that time trying many of the things I received a month before...huh. I need to work on my pace because I don't want to be too late when I publish something! Late being the product is no longer available for sale!

Anyhoo, here are my top 10 best finds last March.

The Clinique Chubby Stick Intense is finally out! I have Mightiest Maraschino, a bright tomato red that feels absolutely lush on the lips. It stays on, moisturizes, and flatters. What more can you ask from a lip color? Definitely grabbing a shade or two.

The BYS Brow & Eye Pencil in Blonde is a good drugstore find. It's a soft, waxy brow pencil that has a dual purpose of shading and taming the eyebrows. I wish I got the darker color, but as it is Blonde looks okay on my brows. Can't complain when it's only P250!

Ah, and here's another drugstore favorite - the Maybelline Colorsensational Lipstick in Red Revival.

I feel ugly. It's all the stress, the junk food, the inactivity, and the fact that my hair is falling at an alarming rate. I got pimples from this new serum I tried out, so I have fresh blemishes on THE side of my face that I worked months to clear up completely. I haven't been religious with suncreen lately so my skin is uneven. 

I look at my old pictures and think, "Why can't I look like that again?" But then I saw a photo I took just yesterday.

I don't look bad. In fact, I look pretty nice! True, it's the lighting, makeup, angle, and a bit of post-processing to adjust the color - but the thing is I already had something good (i.e. myself) to work on. I know that some people treat makeup with disdain, as if it's exclusively something that women wear to cover up their insecurities. That may be true some of the time but for me, I love makeup because it makes me realize - everyday - that I am not ugly at all.

I have tried my hand at unrequited love before, and it did not end well (as these things do). I find the whole experience incredibly funny now and wonder "what was I thinking?" during the few odd moments I remember it. But at that time my teenage self was intensely "in love" with her best friend then. He didn't want to hear any of it because he was into pretty girls, not geeky bespectackled ones such as myself!

Sorry, okay, I'm really laughing now. I do miss the kilig moments though, the anticipation to come to class to sit near him. Oh, my youth. I was so foolish, but the rush was worth it - in retrospect. :)

The first and (until recently) last time I attempted to use a hair iron was when I was a wee girl of 13. I was jealous of my classmates' straight hair and wanted so badly to have the same thing! When I finally had the chance to use my aunt's iron, I was incredibly giddy with delight. I was so excited!

That is, until I burned off a section of my hair during my first attempt. Ha ha. Since then I avoided heating gadgets unless it's wielded by a professional. Well, I gave in and bought a hair blower but I mostly use the cool air setting. I didn't want to take any chances.

BUT. It always pays to grow out of small fears like this - especially when the tools to succeed are just literally lying around. I recently received the Avon Style Specialist line so I thought why not? Wouldn't hurt to give it another go! I'll review those styling tools another day. For now I want to gush about the Prostyle Fuwarie Straight Styling Mist (P450).

Fuwarie Straight Styling (L) and End Curling Mist (R)

This product is supposed to "set" your hair straight and to prevent your iron from damaging it. It also has UV protection apparently, which is a big plus this summer! I adore it becase it did keep my hair fairly straight the whole afternoon I wore it; my hair didn't feel crunchy and dry at all even though I lavished it with heat. It was an extremely humid day so I was expecting frizz, but that didn't happen.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Straight Styling is a fruity-smelling fluid, not quite as sticky as hair spray but it does have a tacky feel on the hair before it dries.

Hi guys. I feel sad today because my assistant is leaving me. :( I'm working on a campaign shoot, a brand relaunch, and various other projects so I need all the help I can get. I don't have anyone top of mind for this position, so I'm announcing it publicly.

I'm looking for an assistant who can work with me part-time. She will be helping me manage my clients' social media pages, write press releases, and coordinate with suppliers. Most of this work can be accomplished at home, but she will need to be available to assist in my meetings and events when needed.

I've had these products for two months so fair warning: this is a pretty massive post! I'll get right down to it. :D

The Etude House Sweet Recipe Collection came out locally a few weeks ago. Inspired by Hansel and Gretel, the huge collection features products that look and smell incredibly sweet! Think ice cream, jelly beans, cake icing, chocolate, and cotton candy-inspired makeup. All this sugar, if it were real, would kill me. Thank goodness they only make me look good. Haha.

I'll start with the Dear My Jelly Lips-talk in JPK002. This is a sheer, reddish pink lipstick that smells just like fruity jelly beans. I love that it's very slinky and moisturizing just like lip balm. The color itself is wearable and "young", something I would wear during a casual weekend.

I got the Travalo Refillable Perfume Spray (P680) last Christmas, lost it, but recently found it. Hence the extremely delayed post on it after I promised to review it last December! Anyway, it's a pretty nifty storage solution for people who love smelling fresh during the day but hate bringing a glass bottle or plastic atomizer. It's also perfect for travelers who want to save space during a trip.

The Travalo is a small capsule tube that can easily fit in the palm of your hand. It has a clear slot in the middle so you can see how much liquid is inside. The spray nozzle and cap seem pretty secure and tight, which means that there are less chances of leakage and evaporation compared to the average drugstore atomizer.

Remember when Make Up For Ever closed down here in the Philippines and everyone was sad? Well, now it's easier to move on with the brand that replaced it: Make Up Factory. It's a German cosmetics company that has pretty good products at a mid-range price point. And by "mid-range", I mean nothing over P1,800 with most products at P800 - P1,100.

I was just walking aimlessly in Bonifacio High Street when I spotted it. It's in the same space MUFE used to be, right beside Lush I believe! I love the sleek industrial feel of the interiors, and that they have a small studio in the back should they decide to host classes. But of course, the products are top and center. I swatched most things, and here are some quick impressions!

Okay, the liquid bases are pretty good. They're light, smooth, with pretty good coverage (depends on the line you get). I also like that they don't have that weird foundation smell.

I should rename this blog Project Lipstick and stop pretending that I want to write about other things. I have soooo many more lipsticks in line for a feature! But naw, I'm just ribbing you. I do love writing about lipsticks though, since they bring so much color and dare I say joy to my life. :)

Today I want to talk about an affordable yet awesome lipstick line: the Avon Totally Kissable Lipstick (P239). This came out last February I believe. To my great surprise, it has a better formula than the Ultra Moisture Rich Lipstick due to its longer staying power and less slinky formula.

Here's the rub!

What I love about the product 

• The colors are pigmented in two layers.
• Texture is smooth and creamy, like lip butter. It feels weightless on the lips. 
• Has less slip than UMR. Formula is more cohesive somewhat so it doesn't slide around if you wear too much. (Hope that makes sense!) This accounts for the better wear time.

Are you a bag hag or a shoe fiend? I love shoes more, definitely. With bags I can buy a versatile one and just wear that out with everything in my closet until I get tired of it. I can rotate say, three bags only for a whole year! With shoes, I feel a compulsion to match them with the colors/mood of my eyeshadow and outfit for the day. Silly? Shallow? Who cares. It makes me happy.

Anyhoo I just want to share some of the shoes I recently purchased. Starting off with the notorious sneaker wedge! I didn't care for them at all...that is, until I saw Karrots wear hers while we're on a tea date. That's when I realized it could be wearable and cool - not just mindlessly trendy. 

Besides, I've always wanted to have Skechers sneaker heels since I was nine. It's a desire that really never went away! :P Remember those chunky platform and heels that the brand came out with a decade or so ago? All the cool kids had them so I begged my mom to buy me one. She thought they were too pricey (not to mention impractical) so I just had regular sneakers. Aw. Well, now I don't have PE classes to attend and I can buy my own things!