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. 

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.

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.

Can we all be corny and scream this together? "Ang iniiiiiiit!" (It's so hot!). According to PAG-ASA we're not officially into summer just yet, so the intense heat and humidity that we're experiencing now is no more than a prelude. Crikey. I have already made adjustments to my beauty routine to accommodate summer, and if you're planning to do the same, here are a few tips!

You need to keep only two things in mind: go lighter and go higher. 

Slather on higher SPF. Since the heat is more intense, it pays to use products with better protection. SPF30 is a good starting point but if you're out longer than four to five hours, SPF50 is a better number for both your face and body. 

I like the VMV Hypoallergenics Armada (both for body and face), Kiehls Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50 and Clinique Derma White City Block Anti-Pollution SPF40. For drugstore, Sunplay is a great liquid sunscreen to try. :) Nivea makes great ones as well.

Wear lighter-textured foundation. I'm a huge liquid foundation fan but in this weather it just melts right off! Even if it doesn't, no matter how expensive the brand is, it still ends up feeling heavy and mask-like due to the humidity.

It’s rare for me to finish products because I apply them sparingly and I’m lucky enough to get new things to try all the time. I have intense love affairs with some things, but these fizzle out once I “discover” one that’s better - eventually. Not all the time. Sometimes, a product is so good that I do finish it up and even purchase backups!  

So, here are things that I recently finished or just about to finish up. It goes without saying that my wallet is weeping right this moment T_T. 

Clinique Take the Day Off Makeup Remover. Goodness, I don’t know how long I’ve had this! Maybe two years? Anyway it’s my favorite product to use when removing waterproof mascaras and deep-staining lipsticks. It doesn’t sting my eyes and melts off most things right away. 

Nivea Body UV Whitening Serum SPF25 PA++. This body lotion is ultra light even with the SPF25. It also seems to even out my skintone if I use it regularly and generously.

Established beauty bloggers like myself have many incentives to blog. The passion for the niche is a given already because it's difficult to go far as a blogger without it; I mean, imagine all the time, money, and research that have gone into building a website worth reading and coming back to! We may have started our blogs casually, as a hobby, but maintaining it takes dedication.

I wouldn't call it an investment because when we started we expected very little from this (ad)venture. Nonetheless, our efforts are - whether we like to be coy about it or not - being rewarded handsomely.

We get freebies and invitations to fun parties. More importantly, I think, we're part of a close-knit community that you would be surprised to know isn't competitive. These are some of the things that motivate us to blog regularly, to come up with interesting free content for our readers. But. How about new beauty bloggers who are largely ignored by brands and the community? Being just one of hundreds of new bloggers in the niche, how could they hope to keep their blog going?

And why should we care?

Hi Ms. Liz! Just curious, are there any beauty products and/or tools that you can't live without? :) - Yana

Hey Yana! This is a difficult question. I am utterly useless when people ask me "what products will you bring to a deserted island?" or "what will be in your zombie apocalypse survival beauty kit?" I intensely like a lot of things and making me choose destroys me.

Seriously though, this is easy to answer once I start thinking about the products I use all the time. You know what I'm talking about. There are things that you immediately reach out for, without any thought process involved. Now it would be too easy to just list down skincare. Hence, I won't include any skincare in this list because that would be facial wash/toner/moisturizer and you already know what my favorites are.

I also decided against body products since I'm very low maintenance in that department. So, here are my five absolute favorite beauty aids for the face!

Artdeco Camouflage Cream Concealer. This concealer is opaque and stays on all day - considering it's less than P500, that's quite an achievement. It's a concealer that I finish down to the last swipe; it's what I've been using consistently since Artdeco came back to Manila last year.

If you have the cheekbones of a Roman goddess then woo good for you. Congratulations on your genetic good fortune! But if you're like me with a round face and chubby cheeks then contouring may be the best thing to slim down and/or define your face.

I'm not saying that you should hate yourself because your face is wide and/or fat. In fact you shouldn't hate yourself for anything you have or don't have if you are to be happy and productive! I for one love my face as it is, but sometimes when I'm off to special occasions I prefer a little bit of definition - for photos, more than anything. I look different in photos than I do in person, so I want to even out the odds in favor of getting a flattering shot. It's not like you can ask a blog or publication to delete a photo of myself just because I look muy terrible!

I have the impression that most girls in the Philippines aren't into contouring. Blush yes, but not contour. I can think of only three reasons this is so. Do you believe in these yourself? Here are three contouring myths that may be intimidating you - and why you shouldn't be at all!

"Contouring will make me look more tan." Bronzing can give you a tanned glow, but contour powders are usually matte and must be applied only on very specific areas of the face. They should only go on the cheekbones, temples, side of the nose, and jawline. If done correctly it shouldn't actually make your face look darker or your complexion, muddy!

Believing in something does not instantly make it true. Still, it's often beneficial to believe in anything that would keep you functioning at optimum level. Being optimistic can calm you down and keep you focused on the task at hand instead of wallowing and quitting when things get tough (as they always do).

Of course, good things won't just randomly happen to you. You have to set the stage for them, plant the seeds, feed the hens, etc. Anyway! Here's the monthly roundup of my best finds last January! I have a nice mix of affordable and high-end products here. 

Let's start with the Bobbi Brown Rich Caviar and Black Pearl Holiday Palettes. These are unfortunately limited edition, but thankfully Bobbi always comes out with new and exciting palettes. They're always wearable and chic at the same time so you really can't go wrong with one. :) I have oodles of neutral palettes but my Bobbi Browns are probably the most abused of them all!

Here's another must-have: the Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette. This is a collection of six neutral shades that you can mix with each other or with your bright eyeshadows. It's a neat basic product that every eyeshadow lover would love to have. Looks boring, yes, but when you have it you'll be able to unlock your other hard-to-match eyeshadows. (Assuming you don't have something similar already okay!)

You obviously have several products at your disposal for review! I wonder - being a beauty blogger and having the privilege of trying out tons of beauty knick-knacks out there, do you still have a beauty wishlist? If so, what is your ultimate dream beauty/makeup product?

I'm curious as well on what the readers have to say. Guys, if cost and accessibility were no issue, what beauty product/makeup would you get in a heartbeat? Fantasize and share please! - Yani

Hi Yani! Great question! Made me think. :P Yes, I still have a beauty wishlist even though I get new products on a regular basis. For example I want to own more NARS items! But how ever much I love makeup, I'm not an addict with uncontrollable impulses. I think first before I buy something new, because most of the time I probably have a similar thing just waiting to be used or finished up. I don't want to waste what I get and I don't want to sell them either. So I rarely buy even though it is within my means to do so.

Still, there are a couple of things that I would love to have! 

The MAC Fluidline Brow Gel Creme (P1,100) is on top of my modest list. This is part of the upcoming The Stylish Brow collection, which will come out this month! I don't fall in line for MAC products, but I will go to the mall at 10am just for this.

There's no rigid right or wrong way to do makeup. It's supposed to be fun, a way for you to show off your best assets and express yourself in the process. So what qualifies as a "makeup mistake"? Well, you're making one if what you're wearing is unflattering and uncomfortable on your face - with or without your knowledge! It could also be a technique that you overdo. 

Are you guilty of these common makeup mistakes?

1. The wrong foundation. Foundation is a tricky, tricky beast. We obsess about getting the perfect shade, as we should since this is quite a feat during the first few tries. If done incorrectly you have a useless bottle of makeup and a few hours seething in embarrasment over your too-white (or dark) face.

However, I feel that not enough people think about the correct formula for their skin and their lifestyle needs. For example, if you're a stay-at-home mom you will probably not need to wear something as heavy and matte as Revlon Colorstay for your day-to-day activities.

Lately I feel frustrated just looking at my closet. I bought quite a few things last year but now, it's like I can't even wear them with anything I have! It's either, oh it's too young, too plain, or oh you look way too chunky in it (the last is probably caused by the gratuitous eating ha ha). I am feeling a terrible itch to just do away with most of the things I have in my wardrobe. Hmm, maybe I should do a closet sale soon?

My fashion resolution this year can be summarized in one word: curate. I want to edit out not only my selection of clothes, but the way I purchase them. I realized that I usually go to a store to buy clothes for an event, so I end up with a bunch of flashy things that I would probably never wear after the first (or okay, second) time. They're too striking to wear for a work thing, and to wear them again and again to a different event with the same people - well that just won't do in my line of work.

So instead of buying glam dresses and cheap one-time accent pieces all the time, I have come up with a sensible battle plan. I have made a specific list of all the clothes I feel I need. Before the year ends, I will have all these flattering basics in my closet! Whatever the cost.

Hi Liz! What's the worst beauty product you've ever bought? I'm reading a magazine and I think this may be an interesting topic. Same question for your beautiful readers out there! :) - ManilaJen

Heeey Jen! Nice question. Thought I'd put this up on the front page so everyone can share their stories as well. ;) Anyway...I don't want to slug beauty brands as I work with beauty brands. When I buy or receive something for free, I always make sure to manage my expectations. Some products are worth more than what you pay for, some just exact, some a little less, but nothing so horrible as to be completely useless. So it's been a while since I've tried anything that is so bad, I didn't bother using it at all after the initial face swatch.

First thing that came to mind is this set of e.l.f Primers. The white and "champagne" primer really didn't cut it for me - the white was truly chalk white and with so many big glitters too! Champagne was chunky and odd-looking on my lids. But the worst part really was that when I opened the box, the primers were already ROUGHLY used. The rims were a mess, it's like someone used the items as testers. :/

Hi Ms Liz! What causes open pores and how do you treat them? :) I mean what are the remedies. Thanks!- Mikee

Hi Mikee, I'm not a dermatologist so I can't answer this with any authority. But hey, there's Google! First, what are pores? These tiny holes allow our skin to sweat and therefore maintain our body temperature. They also serve as channels for sebum to pass through to the surface of our skin; this oil lubricates our body and hair, keeping them supple and elastic.

The size of our pores is determined by the width of our hair follicles. If you have thick hair strands then you are most likely to have bigger pores. Not really a genius realization but now it makes sense why I don't have visible pores - my hair is very fine! Anyway, this also means that big pores are just in your DNA. You can't shrink them or make them disappear permanently.

Facial pores can look enlarged, however, if you don't clean them properly. Oil and dead skin cells can accumulate inside pores which may then stretch the skin and make the holes look more obvious.

I am really liking Revlon's latest releases. I've been writing about the brand's new products consistently for two years now, and I can tell you this with conviction: they have improved immensely. I have this impression that they listen to what the customers want, so each release brings something new to the table. Sometimes in increments, or in the case of the new mascara, a huge leap!

I loved the Revlon PhotoReady Concealer enough to finish one tube. I always end up grabbing it because it's so convenient and easy to blend out! Also, other than MAC, I find that Revlon gives me a great and consistent shade match when it comes to their face bases (at least one me). It's the same with the new Revlon Age Defying DNA Advantage Concealer.

I have a good feeling about this one. ;) It's pigmented enough to cover blemishes, but it shines as an undereye concealer due to its emollient texture that doesn't slip around.

Remember when BB creams were obscure? When you had to wait four weeks for pre-ordered batch to arrive here? Those were savage days in beauty history. Lol. Now BB creams are everywhere, and so cheap you can get one for like P169 in a local drugstore. Most women have probably tried these multi-taskers - for who doesn't want the promise of sun protection, anti-aging, anti-blemish, whitening, and coverage in one nifty bottle?

But BB creams are old news. The next generation of complexion enhancers are here, and they are called CC Creams or Color Correction/ control creams. CC creams are supposed to primarily brighten skin and have more concentrated skincare benefits. They are to be more lightweight and oil-free, with heavier coverage than the average BB cream. The sun protection, anti-aging, and whitening features are still there, but expect lots of new fancy ingredients in the formula.

But wait a minute...BB creams are already doing exactly what CC creams promise to do!

I only have a limited amount of time to browse stores - online and offline - so I would rather look for my friends' recommendations than aimlessly Googling what I want to buy. I also check the blogs I trust for their recent purchases and features (like Manila Fashion Observer). It's easier that way! 

That said, I've been following Ava.ph ever since it opened. It came in at a time when everyone in Manila was coupon/discount crazy. AVA was different because it was the only one that offered luxury fashion brands like Chanel, Prada, and Burberry at a discount. I can't afford them even at the sale price, but I always watched AVA just in case something irresistable turns up!

And they do turn up. There were crazy price slashes on Melissa shoes and Aranaz bags but I often logged in too late to get the things I actually want. :(

Today AVA has evolved into a curated fashion store that offers premium hard-to-find, indie brands. There are still flash sales but those are for a limited time only; the store itself stocks up on carefully-chosen items from new, intriguing names.

I actually got a Cuzo bag recently from one of the sales - imagine, P1,500 for a leather bag, at 30% off! Such a steal. I will blog about it soon. ;) For now, I want to show you my AVA wishlist for Christmas!

Estee Lauder is not just your mother and grandmother's staple brand. There's always something new and exciting in the Estee counters, something for everyone who loves luxe beauty! Here I shall present some of Estee Lauder's latest products, and my quick impressions about them. I'll be reviewing some of them in separate posts in the near future so do let me know which one you're most interested in, ok? ;)

First off, I have the Estee Lauder Pleasure Eau Fraiche (P2,800). This is a floral, powdery scent has top notes of pure white lilies and violet leaves. The floral heart of black lilacs, white peonies, pink roses and exotic karo-karounde blossoms comes down to a spicy after-glow. It's quite fresh and young along with the simple yet colorful packaging.

If you're more into nails then you should check out the Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer Collection (P900/ bottle).

I often think of end-of-the-world scenarios. I wouldn't call myself obsessed, but let's just say that when I walk the dog I look for manhole entrances and good hiding places to slip into when everything goes to hell in the near future. Am I crazy? Come now. I'm just practical.

I grew up reading grand old science fiction novels. Almost all of them predict that the world as we know it will end - horribly - at some point, so if I'm lucky enough to survive the first wave of death and destruction I want to be ready! Perhaps we can discuss how I plan to survive in a civilization that has fallen apart at another time. For now I want to show you what I will wear to the end of the world (provided I have a few minutes to get dressed).

My must-have pieces of clothing if I must survive the apocalypse:

1. Military-style jacket. This is actually a man's jacket that shrunk in the wash. Now it fits me perfectly! It has lots of pockets and a hoodie I can tuck in at the collar. Great for when I feel cold or need to be protected from a light rain.

2. Cardigan. I just want an extra layer of clothing on top of my black shirt. It can also double as a blanket, cushion or spare top.

What's your favorite holiday collection so far? There are so many, but it's good to have choices! There's something for everyone whether they're on a budget or cost is no object. :) I did observe a general theme though. Shine, glitter, and bright pops of red are du jour, but I've also been seeing a lot of twinkly purples and violets. This is good news - for me at least! - because I find that color group rather flattering on the Pinay complexion.

This time I want to talk about the Etude House Christmas Miracle Collection. I have photos, swatches, and quick thoughts on each product!

Let's start with the Etude House Mix & Mix Eyes PK001. This is a sleek palette of six sparkly shades in the lilac/ purple color group. There's also one in BR401 Holiday Dream that is on the neutral end of the spectrum. Go for PK001 if you're out for an evening party, while BR401 is better for more reserved occasions.