I thought very long and hard about what to pack for my long road trip up North last weekend. I brought all sorts of neat things, but I forgot something basic yet important: a lip balm. Yes, I brought several lip and eye palettes, cheek colors, and lipsticks, but I didn't think to bring a lip balm. Crud. I did bring my Clinique Almost Lipstick in Shy Honey (P1,100) though!

The Clinique Almost Lipstick served as a great lip balm slash tint topper during the five days I was out. It doesn't feel greasy, oily, or waxy, unlike some lip balms. On the lips it feels thin and super comfortable, much like lip balm, but it does last longer and offers a bit of pinkish shine.

When Blair Waldorf got married to her not-so-fairytale prince, everyone wanted to know one thing: what is her lip gloss? She was wearing a deep pink that set off her romantic, slightly smoked-out eyes beautifully. We've seen a lot of pinks before, but this one is a real knockout.

Everyone initially assumed it was a Chanel Glossimer since Blair is using a Chanel compact, after all. But some people have been saying that it was actually the Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Pink Pop (P450), and they make a good case for it!

The packaging is exactly the same, but then again Chanel Glossimers look like this Revlon product too.

This is horribly late I know, but I thought I'd share these lipsticks anyway. They're too nice not to mention! The Avon Valentine Brights Colorbliss Lipsticks (P135) came out as part of Avon's collection for that season. They're specifically targeted toward teens, hence the brighter packaging and more affordable price compared to the Avon UMR Rose line.

I'm sure you're wondering what's the difference. Well, Simply Pretty lipsticks are also opaque, but they are drier and slightly waxier compared to UMR. They also have a lipstick smell but it's not super obvious like drugstore lipsticks. Overall, Simply Pretty lippies are not of the same quality as UMR, but for the price, they perform very well and feel comfy on the lips.

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.

I've rambled on and on about the Colour Collection Color Intense Lipsticks (I do that if I like something consistently) for the better part of the year. However, until recently, I didn't know that CC makes other lipstick lines! Silly me. Let me introduce you to the Colour Collection Moisture Intense and Sheer Coverage Lipsticks, two products with different formulations that target specific lipstick needs.

Colour Collection Moisture Intense Lipstick (with SPF15)

Color Intense is a little on the dry side (which helps its lasting power), so if you don't like that particular feature, you must check out Moisture Intense instead. It's more moisturizing and less waxy than CI, but it also comes in high-impact (read: loud!) colors that can give NYX or MAC a run for their money.

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.

The name's cute and so is the shade! MAC Plink! is a shiny baby pink with lots of fine silver shimmer. I think it's perfect for fairer girls since it can work as a delicate MLBB shade. It's a bit trickier to match with medium to dark-skinned girls though, due to the pale color.

It's sheerer than I would like and the frostiness is not helping. However, once I layer it on, the color shows up nicely. I suggest wearing a nude lip liner underneath to really make the color pop (if you have darker skin).

As with all MAC lipsticks, Plink! has a good staying power due to its drier texture. It also has that signature MAC vanilla scent!

I need to fly out the door so I'm making this super quick! The Snoe Beso Balm (P149) is a slinky, lightweight lip balm that doesn't feel waxy at all. It's also pretty moisturizing, and doesnt dry up into flaky clumps on me.

It feels quite like my fave lip balm Aquafina, actually! It is super minty, however. It also has a sting. I've tried minty lip stuff before, but the Beso Balm is in a class of its own!

My heart always skips a beat whenever I get a package from Avon. They send a lot, but there's always something new that I get excited to share with you guys. This time, it's the new Avon Ultra Moisture Rich Rose Lipstick (P199 intro price).

What's the difference between the UMR Rose and the original one? This collection is done exclusively in ten rose shades - from baby pinks to a deep almost black red - and has a wonderful sweet vanilla rose scent to show for it. The black tube also has a shiny pink band around it, versus the silver of the normal UMRs.

But this is the most important thing: I think they reformulated! The lipsticks are creamier, more opaque, and more moisturizing than ever. They just glide on like a dream without the waxiness of normal lipsticks. Lastly, the annoying glitters are completely gone from this version of the UMR. Before, Avon lipsticks would always have at least two colors with chunky shimmer in each collection, but this time they are nowhere to be found!

And now, for our favorite part: the swatches. Thought I'd show a full face here so you can see how beautiful the shades are. The photos are a little saturated and blurry but in my defense I am still not used to the settings of my new camera. Hope you get the idea though!

French Lace Rose is a delicate nude shade that is brown-based with hints of pink

Okay so you packed your makeup kit with the utmost care because you want to look your best in a meeting or an out-of-town wedding. But alas! You forgot your blush! You brought three lip balms, gazillions of brushes and all manner of eyeshadows, but you didn't bring something as basic as a blush. What do you do?

a. Fall into pieces and cry like a little girl.

b. Run to the nearest mall or drugstore and buy a blush. Being late be damned.

c. Borrow a blush from an acquaintance/ semi-stranger and revel in what might be a bacteria-infested party on the compact.

d. Use your lipstick as a blush!

Kidding, just kidding. The best answer is D. You can actually use your lipstick as a blush, provided that it's matte or satin, that is.

In a world full of lip balms that you can buy for close to nothing, it's quite a challenge to tell a product apart. Lip balms are made of practically the same ingredients to begin with. The EOS (Evolution of Smooth) Lip Balm, however, became popular not just because of its formula, but how it looks like.

I finally got hold of my an EOS Lip Balm in Summer Fruit (P250) from Digital Traincase, and this is what I think about it!

What I love about the product

• It tastes sweet, with a hint of peach. I've tried quite a few lip balms but none has tasted this good! Even if I lick it a little the balm doesn't come off.
• Smells great, like a confection of fresh fruit - thus the name of this particular variant, Summer Fruit.

Annika Wester is a famous illustrator who has done work for big names like Vogue, Anna Sui, MAC (to name a few) and has shown her art in galleries all over the world. According to her blog, her "...work presents a various number of characters, silhouettes and items displayed throughout her own stylish way of drawing. The features are softened and the colors often bright, which gives the viewer a feeling of joyful indolence..."

The Etude Girl illustrations by the talented Annika Wester

Cool right? And now, Ms Wester has partnered with Etude House for their Wannabe Collection! It's a rather expansive collection with a face palette, powder, lipsticks, nail polishes, scent and gloss combos, and even falsies all incased in Ms Wester's trademark artwork.

The Etude Girl is, surprise surprise, Sandara Park of 2NE1

Okay, this is a rather long intro, but I am just amazed by Annika Wester and Etude House's awesome idea in partnering with her. Whoever said that art and makeup can never mix is deadly wrong! So! I'll be reviewing some of the Wannabe pieces I have with me.

What's your ideal lipstick like? For me, it has the comfortable texture of a lip balm but with the opacity of normal lipsticks. I've always wondered why companies don't make a product like this more often. Perhaps it is too expensive? Not enough demand? In any case Revlon took it upon themselves to make a kickass lip product called the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter (P525).

There are serious raves about these lipsticks online, and I can see why!

What I love about the product 

• As the name promises, it does glide on like butter and feels moisturizing on the lips. It doesn't feel waxy or thick at all. Girls who can't stand lipstick will love this!
• Colors are gorgeous and trendy, with great color payoff. It feels like balm but doesn't look like one when you have it on.

Every girl needs a bright and sophisticated red lipstick in her purse. However, not everyone has the chutzpah to wear it yet; red lipstick is an idea one needs to grow and nurture in the mind before it debuts in person. :P If you're not ready to wear a full-on red, then I suggest you try on a "training wheel" red like the Tony Moly Kiss Lover Lipstick in RD03.

RD03 is a juicy cherry red that shies from being opaque. It's red, sure, but it's not the scary kind which makes it perfect for those who are just starting to explore the shade.

I've been hearing a lot of great things about Sleek MakeUP, especially about the blushes and eyeshadow palettes. The brand offers high-quality cosmetics at really good prices (less than P600 locally) so it's definitely something to keep an eye out for if you're looking to try something new.

Sleek MakeUP doesn't have a brick and mortar store in the Philippines, but you can visit Digital Traincase to see some selections. 

Anyway! Last December, I was in a violently purple/ plum mood. I've been looking for a kickass purple lipstick but couldn't find one that fits my exact specifications. I want the shade to be dark and deep and opaque, but I don't want it to look too goth nor too shockingly bright. Difficult? A little. But I found what I needed from DT's new stocks of Sleek True Color Lipstick (P450). 

Quality-wise, the True Color Lipstick is okay.

It's a holiday, the second to the last day of the year. The day is beautiful and bright, with a cool wind blowing from the south. My mind turns to oranges. I can't wait to go to the fruit market to haggle and hoard. Who wants to spend a day like this blogging? :P That's a rhetorical question though.

Anyway, I just wanted to share my top five lipsticks with you. I already shared a list of my best lipsticks last July so you can check that for more choices. This time I want to share the ones that I ALWAYS keep on hand. In my bag. On the top most tier of my dresser. 

These are lipsticks I can't live without, mainly because their colors work perfectly in sync with my skintone!

This is the first time I've been acquainted with the organic brand, Venus & Mars. Yes I know, I know, but I'm not big on organic stuff to begin with. In any case, I can say that we're off to a good start! I'm currently loving the Venus & Mars Lip Butter Tints. I have the one in Cherry Berry and it's pretty good.

It gives a pigmented, lipstick-like wash of color that looks lovely with a couple of swipes. I love that the colors leaves a nice stain even after eating or drinking. Plus, the product is moisturizing and doesn't feel greasy or waxy at all.

Do you know how the Bobbi Brown empire started? No? Ten lipsticks. That's how. Bobbi Brown is famous for her foundations, gel eyeliner, and blushes, but it was with lipsticks that the cosmetics company started off in the 1990s. You should read her lipstick diaries, an account of the inspirations and descriptions of her first ten lipsticks to understand the love that went into making them.

I got my first Bobbi Brown lipstick around two years ago when I got acquainted with the brand. It was called Brownie Pink and became my constant companion to, well, everywhere. It was a wearable color that was my perfect MLBB! For Bobbi, lipsticks are considered as foundations. That is, the most flattering lipstick is the one that's the exact shade of your lips. That's what Brownie Pink was to me: my lip foundation.

Of course, you should also have fun with your lip color by trying out bright and sultry shades. I recently got a Bobbi Brown lipstick simply called Pink, and oh, what a gorgeous pink it is!