I love various eyebrow enhancers but there are only three that I have been consistently using since I opened them. These are the most reliable ones - the ones that match any look I throw at them, that receive the most compliments. They're also foolproof when it comes to application. Even if my eyebrows look like a hairy hot mess, these three eyebrow heroes make them look neat and polished! All day.

Here goes!

I raved about the Shu Uemura Hard Formula brow pencil in 09 Walnut Brown last July 2011. Wow, it's been that long? I knew this pencil was a keeper but I didn't know it was going to be so literal. I shit you not I'm not even halfway through this one, after a year and a half of continuous abuse.

Before I post my reviews here I usually look for what other people are saying about the product. Sure I already have my own opinions to share, but I don't want to think or feel in a vacuum. It's like reading a movie review with all the spoilers - I just want to know if everyone else liked or disliked what we collectively experienced!I suppose it's always nice to know that someone else felt the same way you did about something.

So I was reading reviews about the Revlon Colorstay Overtime Lengthening Mascara (~P600) before I started writing this post. I was truly surprised that almost everyone seemed to dislike this mascara with a passion. 

The other bloggers (not local ones) are saying that this is super clumpy and flaky. It's is clumpy, true, but only because it dries super fast. The workaround is simply applying it as quickly as possible. I haven't observed any flakiness after using it for two weeks; it could be that I'm using a fresh stock. Only time will tell just how flaky this can get but for now I haven't observed anything out of place.

I like this mascara because of two things: how it lengthens my lashes like whoa and how it never smudges or smears. Swear.

I almost forgot to write this one! The last month of 2012 was a big lump of murky goings-on for me. I wasn't particularly busy, but neither was I especially lucid. Well I'm just happy it's over for January is always an exciting month. :) Here are my top 10 best finds last December!

I'll put the Snoe Poudre Extraordinaire on top because it's something that I always reach out for. I use it almost every time I got out! It makes my skin look smooth, bright and flawless even if I'm just wearing it as is. It has medium coverage, almost like foundation in retrospect. The SPF30 in it is a nice bonus!

The Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer is possibly the most pigmented concealer I have tried to date! That's good for people who need to cover drastic body/face marks, but they ought to be prepared to spend time blending it properly and then smoothing the whole thing over. It's not an everyday concealer for me, truth be told, but it's great when I have an angry red pimple. ;) It's so good covering up that it feels like cheating.

I have developed a taste for handy, pre-meditated makeup sets like the Benefit She's So Jet Set box. It's a nice kit for travelers and low-maintenance girls alike! Those four eyeshadows are pigmented and long-lasting enough without a primer so they're winners in my book.

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. :/

Perhaps the best thing about Charm is that Sophie is always working on improving her brushes. She's super OC about making them better than the last batch, which means that you can really see the improvement whenever she comes out with something new! For instance, the Retractable Powder and Blush Brushes are considerably softer than her original synthetic collection; the bristles are somehow thinner and finer.

These new brushes are super dense but still pliable enough not to eat all of the makeup you would rather have on your face. I also like the case mechanism - the retracting cover ensures that the bristles won't get mangled whenever you open or close the cap. It closes tightly so you don't have to worry about it floating in your bag and leaving the precious brush head unprotected. ;) Overall, these brushes have really good case to go with the quality of the bristles.

So wait, how do these brushes work to begin with? Here's a quick guide!

I'm sure you've already seen the raves about the Fairydrops Candy Bar BB Cream (P1,550) from the other beauty bloggers. No question about it, this stuff is da cheese! It's a great face base for two reasons: the flawless satiny finish and color match (at least on me). It's also the first BB cream I've encountered that has no SPF whatosever.

While other BB creams focus on skincare claims and sun protection, the Fairydrops Candy Bar is all about perfecting the skin. A Japanese newscaster, who needed something that will look good on harsh studio lighting, is credited for helping formulate it. It's supposed to have micro-gold pigments and soft focus powder in the waterproof formula.

Here's what I think!

What I love about the product

• It makes my skin look fantastic. Not just good or nice, but fantastic both in person and on camera. It has light to medium coverage, which evens out my skintone well. It won't cover major blemishes or acne but it can give brighter-looking skin.
• This has no perceptible shimmer. It has a satin finish which means that it's not glowy or dewy; more like matte but with a bit of fresh lustre to it. Like real skin.

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.

Eight years ago when I started blogging, I would write little vignettes about life-changing realizations that are numerous when one is 17. They were poorly written and attempted to be deep and thoughtful. I enjoyed writing them but like an old pair of flimsy but well-loved shoes, I put them away. There are many other things to write about, things that are useful to people other than myself.

I still have a personal diary of sorts though - that's where Instagram comes in. Pictures in particular convey the daily texture of my life more conveniently than any other medium. Not better but Instagram does take less time; I like remembering things.

Here are some pics from last week!

Woke up to a misty sunrise today. I'm lucky the window faces east.

My perfume and accessory storage. I place them in my armoire. They're together because they are the last things I wear before I leave the house.

Hi folks! Today I'll be talking about the Snoe Rouge Deluxe Complete Lip Care Line (P399). Cute packaging eh? But there's more to the lipsticks than the elaborate box. I like the curated shades included in the initial collection, as well as how long-lasting they are. The initial burst of color stays on for a good four hours; expect an intense stain as that layer fades away.  

These lipsticks contain moisturizing oils like argan and jojoba. True enough, it's not as drying as long-wearing lipsticks are wont to be. The formula doesn't cause my lips to flake or crack even if I'm not wearing any balm underneath. I would still recommend your usual balm underneath though if you have chronic dry lips.

You might need to layer to get total opacity on the lips, but I actually like the softer color that I get with only one layer. Here are the complete swatches!

Hi Liz! I just want to understand how the SPFs on multiple products work. If I use a facial moisturizer with SPF 15 and then layer it with a facial powder with SPF 15, does that mean that I'm wearing a total of SPF 30 on my face? I just want to make sure if my understanding is correct. If this is the case, then I can sparingly use a more expensive facial moisturizer with SPF 30 and then simply use the moisturizer-powder combination more frequently and I will have the same degree of protection either way. Thanks in advance for the clarification. - Maybelle

Hi Maybelle! Thanks for your question. I talked to a dermatologist before about this, and she said that it's not possible to layer SPF products to get a higher number. You will just get a higher volume of the sun screening ingredients, which means you get better protection, but it's still on the same SPF15 level. If you mix SPF15 with something that has SPF30 though, the higher number is the amount of protection your skin will receive.

My mother thinks I'm careless with my money, but I think I'm not doing too bad at 24. I save up and I know when I need to back off from a potentially wasteful purchase. Living independently from my parents taught me difficult financial lessons - way more effective than wordy lectures, I think! Nonetheless I want to learn more about financial wisdom ala Frugal Honey this year.

But. I work hard, so if there's something I really like that I can afford, I buy it. I've been in love with a bag from Tory Burch since November and I finally got it shortly before Christmas!

I actually bought a Tory Burch tote first. I liked it in the store, but when I opened it at home my feelings have drastically changed. I thought it was a bit too plain and too big for me. I mean, if I were to blow money on a luxe bag I might as well get something that looks like it! So I took the tote back to the store and purchased the bag that I originally liked, which was the Tory Burch Medium 797 Satchel.

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.

Since we were already on the topic of hair removal, I thought I would smoothly follow through with a treatment I tried recently. Last December, I vamoosed to Strip Serendra to try out their sinful Warm English Gingerbread Cookie Wax and V-Blush treatment on my underarms. I love the end results! It's been five weeks and my 'pits are still super soft and fairly hairless.

Did I say five weeks? Yeah that's how good it is. The Gingerbread Cookie Wax is only offered for a limited time so I'm not sure if it's still available, but I would still highly recommend the waxing services of Strip. They are so quick to pull out the hair - one try, actually - and it didn't hurt at all.

Waxing was my favorite way to get rid of body hair, but most days I just shaved and called it a day. I don't really have time to drop by a waxing salon for an hour or so (including travel time), and besides it can be expensive if you must get it done twice a month. That comes down to P1,200 a month at a modest salon ha! I can buy better things with that money than getting rid of my leg hair, truth be told.

So, I embarked on a casual online hunt for electric hair epilators. Basically it looks like a razor but instead of cutting the hair close to the skin, the gadget pulls out each hair. Sounds like torture? Eh, depends on your pain tolerance. I'll discuss that later.

What is this sorcery and where can one buy it

I didn't know there were electric epilators available locally. The blog posts I've seen about it all talk about getting one abroad, or via pre-order. Clearly, my Google-fu needs improvement. Imagine my surprise when I saw one in Watsons Mall of Asia (SM department store area) a couple of weeks ago! I was actually checking out Baby Bliss hair curlers when, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the mythical epilator. I knew I was going home with it, no questions asked!

Well there were questions asked because the first one I saw cost almost P7,000 I think. Haha. Good thing I rummaged behind the box to look for other models; the boxes look alike. The one I bought, the Philips Satinelle HP6400, is only P2,299.

Five years ago I wouldn't have looked twice at healing and repairing skincare products. I mean, what was there to repair when you're a girl of 19? Maybe I'm just ultra-sensitive because I work in the beauty and fashion industry, but I have noticed that my skin is becoming drier over the years. It's not as elastic and fresh as it used to be. Again, the difference may be unnoticeable to most, but since I write about beauty products day in and day out I am hyper observant of my hide. 

Anyway, my main skin problem is dryness on my hands and legs. My hands, particularly, are starting to feel crackly because I wash them so much (I have an active dog)! Thus I use a heavy moisturizer a few times every week to make sure that my hands are soft and smooth (my legs too). I love the Vitacreme B12 Body Milk but it's horribly expensive. I'm happy to announce a way cheaper alternative!

I received these Jergens Overnight Repair and Ultra Healing Moisturizers (P99/ 100ml and P342/650ml pump) a month ago and I find that they do exactly what they promise. These are heavy-duty, thick moisturizers that are designed to heal skin and restore it to suppleness.

Hi Liz,

I'm looking for a good primer for the oily parts of my face (I'm combination skin) - which is my T -zone AND my eyelids. I tend to get really oily lids which ruins my eyeshadow. My question is, if I plan to get a primer, do I need to get a separate one for my eyelids? Or could I just go with an all-around primer like Benefit's Porefessional or Smashbox's Photo Finish Primer? - Jin

Hi Jin! Thanks for the question. Eye primers and face primers are different from each other because the skin on those areas and the makeup you use on them require a different type of base. They're like oranges and apples!

Benefit Porefessional vs Urban Decay Primer Potion

You'd want your T-zone and cheeks to look smoother, poreless, and less oily, which is where silicone-based primers come in. The fine silicone in the product fills in the pores and lines, thus blurring them while also acting as a barrier between your skin and makeup. This makes you oil up less and helps your makeup look smoother overall.

I am so late but The Beatles have taken over my life. I wake up to a Beatles song in my head, clean the house with a Beatles song blaring in the background, and at odd moments during the day a Beatles song pops up in my head and I play it there in full as if I were listening to it from another source. I can't explain why this is happening, and why now. But there it is. It's like a massive album-long LSS! 1 to be specific, a collection of their top hits.

Well, I hope this fades away soon. I'm one of those people who can only think when it's relatively silent.

Anyway - a good Monday morning to you! Today I'll be talking about the Bobbi Brown Rich Caviar and Black Pearl Holiday Palettes (P3,200), which were released as part of the brand's holiday collection. I apologize that I'm writing about this only now, when it's sold out almost everywhere except in Mall of Asia! I just wanted a comprehensive post on it so it took me a while to photograph the looks to go with this post.

The 6-color palettes feature gorgeous shades that you will enjoy using until they run out. There's a blending, brow bone, lid, smoky, gradient and glittery color in each palette, colors which you can use in different permutations - sky's the limit!

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!

The holidays have come and gone, but the glittery glamour that accompanies it doesn't have to leave as well. The beauty holiday collections are still on the shelves, so if you want to score some good deals or collector's pieces, you better hurry for one final look at the counters!

The Lancome Holiday Collection is another memorable ensemble for me. The inspiration is Hemingway's "A Movable Feast", where he wrote about his life in Paris. It was the 1920s, a decade remarkable for its smoky opulence and subversive elegance. The Lancome collection imagines Paris dressed in gold, with shiny crystal chandeliers flashing on sequined dresses, as if in a dance of light.

The Ombre Hypnose Mono eyeshadows (P1,395) look fantastic! They feature a mesh/ sequin imprint on the powder, while the top of the compact has coated golden glitter.