Cute story. So I met celebrities Tweetie De Leon-Gozales last week and Andi Eigenmann last Tuesday. I asked them what their must-have product is and guess what they both said? Carmex lip balm! Yes, Carmex. It appears that you're never too mature or too young for something as basic as lip balm.

So why Carmex? I always hear this brand thrown around but I've never gotten to try it. That is, until I Tweeted some weeks back that I'm curious about it. Carmex then kindly sent me their products to review.

The original form of Carmex when it was invented in the 1930s

After some light Googling I found the interesting story of Carmex. It was created by Alfred Woelbing from out of his kitchen stove in the 1930s. He started selling it to pharmacists from the boot of his car. Eventually, as the product gained a cult following through word-of-mouth, Carmex opened a factory in 1957 and became one of the well-known lip balm brands in the world. To this day it is still owned by the Woelbing family. Alfred Woelbing himself ran it until he was 96. He died in 2001, at 100 years old.

Read this detailed article on the fascinating history of Carmex. It's a compelling story of one man's entrepreneurial spirit and hard work.

Anywaaay, here's my review of this intriguing product!

I have tried quite a few lipsticks already, from extremely cheap, to midpriced, and to reasonably expensive. I love all my lippies in some way, but if you must ask me what my current favorite is, I'd say that it's the Avon Ultra Moisture Rich Lipstick. It's got everything I'm looking for in a lipstick: unique shades, lovely effect, and creamy, non-drying texture.

Four color families: Sheers/Nudes, Pinks, Plums, and Corals/Reds

There's really not much to say as the swatches will speak for themselves, but allow me to run a quick review before I post pictures of the 19 out of 20 available shades.

What I LOVE about the product

• Super creamy and smooth texture. The lipstick just glides on easily.
• Non-drying. Although to prolong the moisturizing effect, apply a thin layer of lip balm underneath. 
• Feels comfortable on the lips. It doesn't have that heavy, waxy feel.
• Minimizes lines on the lips, making it look plumper and juicier somehow (you'll know what I mean when you try it). 

I received a bag full of goodies from Revlon today. Among the things they sent me where some of the latest/ reincarnated shades from their Super Lustrous Lipstick line. Of course, the first thing I did was take photos! My favorite out of the bunch is this orange lipstick called Siren. It looks bright orange in the tube, but it's more of a coral-orange mix than just neon orange.

I don't have individual pics of the tube, unfortunately. Don't worry, I'll be reviewing the Super Lustrous lippies in a separate post.

I think Pinays should wear more orangey lipsticks for three reasons - first, orange looks strikingly beautiful on morenas, second, it's always summer here and third, it's trendy right now!

When I started to get into makeup I harbored the secret fantasy of becoming a makeup artist. I never did push through with it though, because I'm not as happy about applying makeup on other people as writing about it! My forte really is writing, hence this blog. I enjoy the process of gathering information and sharing it.

As my dreams of becoming a makeup artist faded away, I do still want to own a makeup artist's ultimate symbol: the train case. That's why I was blown away when Avon handed me this awesome train case made by Suesh. The huge case was full of goodies Avon thoughtfully put in! This will sound really cheesy, but thanks Avon for making one of my dreams come true! Haha. 

Curious to see what's inside? Click click!

Oh my gosh! It's already the 31st! Can you imagine that it will be next year tomorrow? I try to backtrack everything I've done on 2010, but it's too overwhelming. Suffice it to say that I immensely enjoyed this year, and it has made me grow so much in both the professional and personal departments.

As for Project Vanity, we have enjoyed modest success, closing the year with more than 500 entries and thousands of readers every month. This could not have been possible without you! :D

So, allow me to close the year with something this blog does best: a makeup review.

The Avon Smooth Minerals Lipstick (P375) is supposed to give "luminous, luxurious color", and it does! It's sheer upon first application, but I believe that it's designed to be buildable. Avon is not really known for their excursions in the shocking color department, which is just as well because every girl needs a beautiful lipstick that feels comfortable on the lips.

What I love about the product

• Smooth, glides on easily.
• Has a glossy, luminous finish. Really gives dimension to the lips and draws light to the face.
• Non-waxy, light feel.

MAC Blankety is the first ever MAC lipstick that I bought. I regret it. It's an okay color, but it's not something that I would rave about. I wished I got something reliable like Cosmo, famous like Pink Noveau, or classic like Russian Red. I don't know what got in my head!

Okay I do. I was looking for a shade in the nude color family since I only have a few nudes while I have quite a lot of pinks, reds, and everyday shades. I picked the Amplified Creme type because I read that it's smooth and creamy, unlike Satin (I owned MAC Twig, which I gave away to my mom) which I found too dry. Blankety is one of MAC's more famous nude lipsticks so I chose it.

Anyway, on to the review!

What I love about the product

• Glides on smoothly and feels creamy on the lips
• Good wear time at four hours, barring any eating
• Opaque and pigmented

The Colorescience Lip Polish is perhaps the most misleadingly named product I've ever come across. One can reasonably expect that something named "lip polish" will give gloss and shine, but that's not the case with this one from Colorescience. The finish is matte, and it's unlike any gloss - or lip product, for that matter - that I've tried.

Instead, I'd say that this is the best lip stain ever. It sticks like no one's business; at times I like to think of it as a semi-permanent lip tattoo. Okay now that's just a hyperbole, but I want to give you guys an idea of the level it performs.

The texture of the lip product itself is not waxy like lipstick, tacky like gloss, or watery/gel-like like your normal lip stain. Instead, it's oily. Yes, oily. That's what it will feel like on your lips when you apply it, but later on it will turn a bit sticky. 

The color on the tube looks like a dark berry red, but when applied, it's a very natural red-pink.

Last week, I received a beauty loot from Anne, a friend who lives in Canada! You remember that I swapped with her last September. This is our picture with Noemz, another friend I met online, who kindly shipped the package to me even amidst her busy schedule!

me, Anne, Noemz

These two girls are the sweetest. We only met online, eventually met in person, and, thanks to the Internet, we manage to keep in touch! I can't wait for Anne to visit the Philippines again so we can have a proper dinner or something. 

Anyhoo, this is what Anne sent me:

One of the biggest problems when it comes to lip color is actually getting it to stay on. Eating, drinking, and even just normal talking will remove or considerably fade any lip product - no matter how expensive it is. It's just a fact of life, unless you get a lip tattoo!

This is why a lot of people became curious about Revlon's latest lip makeup called the Just Bitten Lip Stain + Balm. Aside from the promise of lasting power because of the stain formula, the product is a novelty because of the felt-tip applicator and lip balm at the other end of the tube. So, I'm sure you want to know: does it deliver?

What I love about the product

• Intensely pigmented. A couple of layers topped with the moisturizing and slightly glossy lip balm will give you the effect of a lipstick! It certainly won't make your lips look "just bitten", which, in my book, is perfectly alright.
• I really like the lip balm included. It reminds me of my HG lip balm, Aquafina, but without the minty feel. I like the slight sheen it gives on the lips. 

• Pretty good staying power. I give it around 4 hours, even with eating. The first couple of times I used this the color faded rather quickly, but I discovered a trick to it

I love that Revlon always has something new every other month or so. I believe that they're trying to revamp their old image as makeup for older women into makeup that caters to a younger market's pressing needs. I feel that it's working! I like what Revlon has come up with in the last few months - Luxurious Color eyeshadows: Satin and Perle, Grow Luscious by Fabulash,  PhotoReady Powder, and my favorite, the Colorburst lipsticks. I'm very excited about the goodies they'll be releasing next year!

For now, Revlon's newest products are the PhotoReady Compact and Just Bitten Lip Stain + Balm.

The Just Bitten Lip Stain + Balm (P595) is a collection of lip stains that do NOT give a "just bitten" effect! Well maybe if you were kissing a hungry vampire...lol. The lip stains look like highly pigmented lipsticks when applied. If you don't like lip stains because of the drying effect, Revlon has thoughtfully added a lip balm on the other end of the tube. I love the lip balm actually - the feel is reminiscent of my HG lip balm, Aquafina, but without the minty sting.

Yes Virginia, it's a felt tip marker!

The PhotoReady Compact Makeup (P995) is the answer to the prayers of fans of the PhotoReady Liquid Makeup.

There is nothing like cheap lipstick to lift a dour mood. It's the easiest, fastest way to change up your look and it doesn't even have to cost much to look good! Now, something I recently bought is the Fashion 21 Aqualicious lipstick in Little Mermaid. I read about it in a local beauty blog some weeks back and found it interesting. It was only P150 so I grabbed it when I got the chance.

What I love about the product

• Little Mermaid is a gorgeous pink coral shade that instantly brightens my skin.
• Vibrant, opaque, and pigmented. One sweep is enough to get a good color pay-off.
• Creamy and moisturizing, although I would still suggest a balm underneath.

I have amassed quite a number of lipsticks these past few months. While I like all of them, there are a few that stand out - a few that's on top of my mind when I'm hurrying out. One brand that I keep using is the Estee Lauder Pure Color. I have two variants: the Long Lasting Lipstick and Crystal Lipstick.

I first encountered Pure Color lipsticks a few months ago when Liz of Estee Lauder Philippines gave me a tube. I loved it, so when I got the chance to purchase a makeup set from the brand, I went for it. There were four Pure Color lipsticks included!

This is what Pure Color lipsticks look like, but since I got mine from a set, they were in plain gold tubes like this:

What I love about the product

• Lasting power is better than most. It doesn't fade for at least four to five hours. The Long Lasting variant lasts longer than the Crystal one, of course. They're reminiscent of MAC satin finish lippies, but without the dry texture.

Lip balm is one of the most fundamental things every girl needs to have about her person - forever! So when you find a lip balm that works for you, never let go. Hoard. Put one tube in all your bags and jeans pockets. I found THE lip balm that I plan to use for the rest of my life: Aquafina Lip Balms.

I got these from my swap with Anne last September. It wasn't part of the list we agreed on, so I was touched by the freebie she gave me! I didn't plan to use them actually, but I got curious so I tried the blue one first. It was love at first swipe, swear. I never suffered from dry or chapping lips ever since these babies fell into my hands.

Why this is awesome

• Very moisturizing. Some Western ladies at Makeupalley find the formula a bit drying, but since the Philippines is humid, the formula addresses my concerns perfectly. My lips feel more supple, smooth, and peeling skin (which is normal) go off evenly. Note though that I don't have particularly dry lips to begin with.
• Perfect texture and feel. The balm feels just like water on my lips but just a teensy bit thicker. The texture is fine and not waxy at all! This is the most comfortable lip balm I ever used - and I have tried quite a number from different drugstore brands. You will instantly forget you have this balm on.
• Serves as the perfect base for lipsticks and gloss. You lip color won't slide on this, nor would it feel heavy when you layer it on top of this balm. 

I have already reviewed the Revlon Corlorburst lipsticks (which I love) so I'll only be sharing some product photos, swatches, and notes on a particular shade in the line. Soft Nude is a light beige with a hint of pink. It's a tricky color to wear if you skin is anywhere from medium to dark; I can barely pull it off myself! However, this would be perfect for light to fair skinned girls.

Some notes 

• Soft Nude is not as opaque as the other Colorburst colors I've tried. I need to layer a bit to get it to cover my pigmented lips.
• I recommend this for light-skinned women since this can easily make morenas look zombie-like. Lol. Wear this shade with dark eye color and chiseled cheeks to prevent your face from looking washed out.

Estee Lauder is an old skincare brand from way back in 1946. The icon, Audrey Hepburn, once said in 1992 when asked what her beauty secrets are: "...health, lots of sleep, lots of fresh air, and a lot of help from Estee Lauder". That's perhaps part of the reason why it's a name associated with elegant, mature women who like to splurge on beauty goodies. However, with its latest products, I think that I can safely say that Estee Lauder is now also catering to a younger (albeit more refined) market. Their latest releases illustrate as much.

I visited their counter in Rustan's Makati to see first hand just what's up with the brand. First off, let's check out the eyeshadows designed by their creative director, Tom Pecheux: the Pure Color Eyeshadow.

The packaging for these eyeshadows is extremely luxe, done in faux gold casing with the logo embossed on the top and side of the case. There's a bit of heft to it.

You know what I love about blogging? Aside from getting to share my finds and thoughts on beauty and fashion, I get to meet a lot of new people - some of them I consider my friends! One of the people I met through this blog is Anne. She works in Canada and loves makeup as much as I do. So, when she offered to swap products with me, I was more than happy to oblige! We met up yesterday at the Mall of Asia (picture to follow).

I swapped out some of my favorite stuff, plus an Ukay Manila dress I personally picked for her. Here's what she gave me!

Lately I'm going for darker, smokier eyeshadows. It could be the rain, I don't know. That's how I noticed that I don't have a kickass nude lipstick! Striking eyes should always be matched with lighter lips to avoid overdoing the look. Easy enough to say, but I know that Pinays find it difficult to wear a nude lippie that doesn't wash us out. Sure we have fab smokey cat-lined eyes but our tacky nude lips can make it all look like a great Halloween idea!

Enter Wet n Wild's Bare It All.

I am absolutely in love with the shade. It's a light brown-pink color that's just right for my light/medium skin. It's only P299 too!

What I love about it 

• Creamy texture, semi-matte finish. 
• Wet n Wild promises that this should last for four hours. It will, provided you don't eat. Drinking is okay. If you eat though most of it will go, just leaving a slight stain.
• Pigmented and opaque.
• Generous amount of product.

Wet n Wild is now in Beauty by SM! I read the news in Phoebe's post. I admit, I was a bit lukewarm to the brand - I thought it was just another so-so drugstore business. But hey, never say never! When I got the chance to drop by SM Makati, I immediately honed in to the Wet n Wild stall.

photo grabbed from Phoebe

I swatched almost everything they had, except the foundations. First impression? They're good! The eyeshadows, pencils, and lipsticks were very pigmented. I love the prices too since there was nothing above P500.

I prefer lipsticks when it comes to lip color, but I like me some good, pigmented lip glosses too! I love the high-impact shine and how they draw light to my face. 

The Revlon Creme Gloss has been around for some time now, but it was only lately that I got to try it. They're basic, solid lip glosses that are pigmented and could pass off as lipsticks. 

What I like about the product

• Pigmented. A few swipes should be enough to get a good color pay-off.
• More sanitary than lipsticks, balms, and glosses with doe-foot applicators where you have to expose all of the product to air and bacteria. Simply clean the attached brush after usage!
• Doesn't transfer on glass and cups as much as similar products do. You can drink with confidence when you have this on. 

Something called "Ultra Color Rich Mega Impact" can really set high expectations. The promise of Avon is that this line of lipsticks can give our lips high-def drama, with pinks pinker and reds redder compared to their other lipstick lines. Well, that's a fair enough claim, but I would have loved to get my hands on their older collections to see if there really is a difference. 

L-R: Pink Pop, Fuchsia Fun, Kicked Up Coral, Really Rosy, Brilliant Berry, Rockin' Red

In any case, I've been using these lippies for a week now and found them really good. However, they are not as pigmented as their name would suggest. I initially thought they'd be similar to Revlon Colorburst, NYX Round Lipsticks, and NYX Lips. No, this particular line may have meant differently when they went under the name "ultra color rich" and "mega impact".

These lipsticks have a brilliant, glossy finish that I haven't come across yet. I think they're on a class of their own - the finish isn't satiny, plasticky like lip gloss, or creamy. I'd call it lustrous. There are 11 shades available in the Philippines, from nude to daring red.

What I love about this product

• The texture is very creamy, which means that it glides on easily. It's very moisturizing - I don't even use balm underneath.
• I would agree that the colors are high-impact in the sense that they do stand out when they're worn. They tend to draw in light to my face!
• Wears comfortably. It doesn't feel heavy on the lips.