MAC's biggest collections always come during the holiday season. Their limited edition sets are legendary, and the holiday selections usually have an unforgettable theme. This 2012, we have Glamour Daze, which impersonates the aura of couture, the drama of the dressing room, and the glamour of getting ready to step out for the holidays. It's all about a soft color haze around the eyes and gilded skin matched with sweet lips.

There was a big party to celebrate this collection. Whitespace was positively bursting with celebrities, the press, and of course your usual beauty blogger gang. :P I really enjoyed the swingin' music and the general ambiance that was so artfully created with Glamour Daze installations and models clad in their pastel uniforms.

One of my favorite places in the Fort is da.u.de (pronounced da you deh). The place is quiet, has lots of natural light, great music, and most importantly - it's all about tea! I don't know of any other restos that are truly tea-centric. And I'm not talking about milk tea ha. I'm talking about real tea brewed fresh from leaves.

da.u.de has all sorts of tea flavors that the CEO, Renee Sebastian, concocts herself. She is a tea connoiseur, and is in fact a Certified Tea Master. It's kind of cool that there's a real tea designer in our midst! You can grab fresh iced (or hot) tea from da.u.de, but you should try the tea-infused food as well. My favorite is the Roast Pork Pho (P350), a delicious noodle soup with crunchy roasted pork bits. It also has condiments on the side so you can tweak the flavor to your liking.

Are you feeling Christmas in the air? I sure am! It's not just the cool air in the evening - mornings are misty, more gentle. And the smell! The holiday season has a scent to it. I don't know, maybe I'm just crazy but if you agree please assure me I'm not. :P

Anyway! I just thought to share Smart's Christmas promos. With the “All I Want for Christmas is Bro” holiday promo you get a FREE eco bag with every holiday purchase of a Bro product. The bag is entirely environmentally friendly and a good place to stash away all your new holiday beauty products, shopping or wardrobe for travel! 

Smart is also holding a massive contest where 50 winners shall receive a much-coveted gadget. If you want to join the fun, do check out the contest mechanics. (You can view bigger images by opening them in a new tab)

A few people have asked me how I style my hair. I must admit that I'm not that adept at fixing it, but recently I've settled on an interesting routine because of my short hair. It involves a couple of products and my blow-drier, of course! I rarely ever used this gadget when my hair was long, so now I'm happy to finally be acquainted with it.

I love this routine because it gives me lots of volume, softness, and shine - all under 15 minutes. If you're interested in doing the same thing for your hair, here are a few tricks!

Damp, unstyled hair

Step 1: Work a conditioning oil like the Kerastase Elixir Ultime on your hair. I prefer using oils because they (1) keep hair soft without making it greasy (2) give shine and bounce (3) serve as heat protectant to reduce damage from blow drying (4) never break me out! Most hair products seem to give me pimples/bumps near my hair line and chin. Not Kerastase, specifically.

This took a while! Etude House Korea actually sent the Pink Bird box to me last month, but it was only two days ago that I received it. The box was stuck in customs for some reason. 0_0 Anyway, here's what's new at Etude!

Featured this month are the Etude House Collagen Moistful Cream and the Etude House Precious Mineral BBdation Special Kit. 

The Collagen Moistfull Cream has been around for a while, and is in fact Etude's best-selling item ever. According to them, they sell nine of these jars every minute!

Hi guys! The folks at CACI 6750 have chosen the two winners who will get to try the Glow and Defy Facial for free! They are Jas Lucero and Raych Ramos. Congrats guys! I will be emailing you shortly.

For the second and final week of my CACI giveaway, we will choose three winners who will receive the Refresh Facial.

The Refresh Facial is a great way to sample the MD Dermatics products as it relies fully on them and doesn't use a machine. First is cleansing, using C-Cleanse for oily and acne prone skin, Gentle Wash for dry and sensitive skin. Next is the facial massage, followed by the Soothing Splash toner (for all skin types). After this, we use PeelPlus to gently exfoliate the skin. After exfoliation comes the masque - Cucumber gel masque to sooth and calm those with acne or inflammation, Collagen Nutrient masque for those with anti-aging concerns. So basically it's a facial that's customized per patient based on skin type and skin concern. The final step is to moisturize: oxygen therapy cream for those with oily skin and ultra skin revitalizer for those with dry skin or daycalm soothing moisturizer. 

Here are the super easy contest mechanics!

1. FACEBOOK ENTRIES: Like CACI 6750 on Facebook. Make sure to leave a message on their Wall just saying hi and that you got there via Project Vanity! (So we know that you did like the page ;P )
2. TWITTER ENTRIES: Follow me on Twitter (@lizlan). Tweet "Want skin that glows? Join this #projectvanity contest to win a fab facial from @lizlan http://goo.gl/HgKnM"

If you watch Lisa Eldridge on YouTube then you've probably seen her rave about the Bioderma Crealine H20 Micellar Solution (recently renamed to Sensibio) a few times. It's a French makeup remover that has no scent, no sting, and feels just like water on skin. Micellar waters like this are all the rage these days (a favorite by models and makeup artists) because they leave no wet or greasy mess after it is wiped off.

Come again?

What's a micellar water anyway? Basically, a micelle is a cluster of surfactant molecules suspended in a liquid solution. These molecules absorb dirt and oil thus cleaning the skin without having to lather or emulsify. Cool eh? I found Bioderma very mild, however, it has a bitter taste - something you'll notice when you use it to remove lipstick.

I slept at 3am today because I leveled up my new characters on Disgaea 4. I haven't gotten far to be honest because I was so engrossed making everyone as powerful as I can make them! So, I had to swig down a whole pot of tea to keep myself chipper after only three hours of sleep. Many things are afoot today - I can't look dead!

Anyhoo, I just want to share a look I wore last Tuesday. I finally wore leatherette skirt I got from Forever 21. It's so...shiny and squeaky. It's easy to go overboard when styling it but I wanted to look clean and classy, hence, I toned it down with black everywhere.

Forever 21 top and skirt / Shoe Ettiquette pumps / Pinkbox bangle / Aldo snake ring

I was also supposed to make a date look tutorial but I made a mess with my eyeshadows. -_- I do love how the eyeliner turned out though! I used a thick black Dolly Wink liner on top, then dotted some brown K-Palette on the bottom lashes to make them look thicker without actually creating a line.

Revlon Super Lustrous Creme Lipsticks (P450) never let me down. Ever. They have a rich, moisturizing texture, a full-bodied cream finish, and awesome pigmentation to top it off! I'll say it - they can rival high-end lipsticks from MAC, Makeup Forever, and other expensive brands.

Just remember to wear lip balm beforehand because they dry up pretty quickly (2 hours) although the color stays on.

On to the swatches! Cherries in the Snow is a fantastic, complex color. It's a bright blue-based red that looks like fuchsia on me in certain lighting. From what I understand, Cherries is a classic Revlon lipstick that was launched in 1953. Dorian Leigh, one of the world's first supermodels, wore it in an iconic ad. This is in the same cult level as Fire & Ice. Smashing! 

The ultimate 50s red

I'm vain enough to want to appear taller every time I go out but sometimes, I just don't want to pay the price. :P Call it off days, lazy days, whatever. But for every pair of fab high heels I have, I have a "trick" pair that's high but walkable. As in I can trawl a mall in them!

Oh don't get me started on flatforms. I've tried a few but they just don't work for me. They usually don't have an arch which makes walking awkward, plus the design looks off. I much prefer platforms with a slightly higher arch (up to two inches) since they end up being easier to walk in and are more visually appealing.

Snaps approved

So I got these Merida wedges from Ferretti in Glorietta 1 for P1,499 (minus my employee discount teehee). I really don't like spending more than 15 minutes in that store - I get funny ideas! If I just go in and out I'm good. But if I stay longer I usually end up carting something!

October was a crazy month for me, but I survived and had the most amazing time. Is it odd that someone is saying that about her work? Not about a vacation or a party, but a job? I guess that's the whole point. I learned a few new things. For example, always check the grade of your contact lenses before rushing out of the optical store in a minor panic because the gift bags you needed were not where they should be.

But that's all water under the bridge. :P As usual, here are my top ten finds last month!

I eat mascaras for breakfast. Figuratively, of course! I've tried so many mascaras that it's easy to recognize a winner from a "meh" product. Fairydrops mascaras are under the "win" category. The Fairydrops Platinum Mascara in particular is an awesome one because it gives my lashes a nice, clean boost, and washes off after a long day. When I want more volume, I wear the Volume Burst variant. Great brand, can't wait to try more of their stuff.

The Etude House Dolly 3-Step Eyes in Cute Doll is a nice basic palette. The three colors can "support" ANY eyeshadow you own - the matte white for brow bones, light tan brown for crease contour/ blending out harsh lines, and the charcoal brown for smoky eyes and getting a soft line. It has all the basic, must-have neutral shades, imho!

Oooh my first time to try Laneige! Other bloggers have raved about the brand so naturally I want to see what the fuss is about. That said, I got the Laneige Snow BB Soothing Cushion (P1,950 with refill) a few weeks ago and have been using it every so often. Not as often as I would like, to be honest, only because I chose the wrong shade. 

First off, this is not foundation. Laneige primarily describes it as a whitening product with SPF which is pretty much how many BB creams are. The Snow BB provides just enough coverage to even out skin and give it a dewy glow, but it won't hide blemishes or pimples you might have. It's really more of a tinted makeup base that anything else.

Here's a quick rundown!

What I love about the product

• Gives a dewy, super natural finish on skin. It doesn't look like makeup because it's sheer and allows your real skin to show.
• Has SPF50 PA+++. That's a pretty good number if you're looking for extra sun protection!

There's a recent article on the Philippine Daily Inquirer that has been gnawing on the my brain ever since I read it. It doesn't offend me or annoy me, but I am affected by it nonetheless. 

It’s not that I don’t like school. I’m just not one of those airheaded girls who just go to school to show off their latest artsy manicures, or some style they ripped off from “Gossip Girl.”

My school is already full of those girls, Blair Waldorf or Serena van der Woodsen wannabes. I wonder, when did our society cease to celebrate originality and elevate these goddesses of modern consumption?

It’s not that I have anything against these girls, but I have trouble seeing the point... Why do we actually need to get the same shade of lipstick? I entered college, not a beauty contest.

Basically, the writer is saying that she's better than her vain classmates because she doesn't wear "Gossip Girl fashion" to her school. She's always in jeans, a t-shirt, sneakers, and a Hawk bag. She rides the jeep. She denounces Victoria's Secret scents (because they "merit a biohazard warning"), as well as "those painful-looking high heels". She doesn't say it explicitly, but she thinks she's a cut above the girls who love to dress up and wear makeup.

In the perfect world, I'd be in a beach right now sipping juice, smelling like a walking column of sunblock and loving it. But I don't drive, and I don't know anyone who would go with me without me having to pay for everything (hotel, air fare, etc.). So. It's a pipe dream, at least until I get around to finally putting my driver's license to good use.

Anyway, a few weeks ago I had the chance to visit the Magniflex showroom along Connecticut Street in Greenhills. Now I know I don't blog about mattresses or furniture, but when you live in your own place then you know how crucial these details are. I wanted to see what Magniflex has to offer in case I want to get a new bed!

Whew, what a busy Friday. How's yours? Hope you're going somewhere fun tonight. :D I just want to pop in and share a review on a soap I am loving right now: the Earth Therapeutics Loofah Exfoliating Soap in Oatmeal & Honey (price to follow).

I'm the type who can't take a proper bath without using a loofah. It makes me feel cleaner, as if all the dirt and grime are completely washed away. My usual routine is liquid soap + loofah. Simple really but a loofah soap like the one for Earth Therapeutics simplifies my bath routine even more!

It smells like honey, as promised. It's very relaxing in the bath but don't expect the scent to linger outside.

Now, I've tried other exfoliating soaps before but this one actually exfoliates.

I don't get a lot of opportunities to wear this glam sequined jacket, but when I do, I make the most of it! Last night's MAC event was the perfect occasion. I paired it with a sequined top since they sort of match, as well as pumps with shimmery gold heels. 

Promod jacket / Forever 21 skirt and top / Louis Vuitton Alma / Shoe Etiquette pumps

I had meetings before the event so I didn't have a clutch with me, hay. I'm not fond of carrying big bags in evening parties but it's hard to be prissy when you don't drive and get to bring a change of clothes/bags.

For the makeup I thought I'd try heavily lined eyes in saphire + red lips (MAC Russian Red of course). Would you guess that this is just black eyeliner topped with eyeshadow?

"Imitation is the highest form of flattery" is a quote that I heartily agree with. When someone goes so far as to copy you then it's not just garden variety admiration - you're already held as a model for his/her self-actualization. I'm not talking about your work here (which may be copied simply out of laziness or dishonesty), I'm talking about the essence of who you are. If you're being imitated then you better recognize what an honor it is!

It's similar with beauty products. The best products - usually expensive ones - are copied by drugstore brands because there's a high demand for it. They're desirable yet often unattainable so more affordable alternatives come out. Yay for the free market, eh? One product that's been copied endlessly is the Shiseido Perfect Foundation Brush (P1,500). Guess why.

It's perfect! (As hinted rather heavily by the product name, har har.) This brush is designed to apply liquid, powder, and cream face products flawlessly. It has soft, synthetic, densely packed bristles that makes application a dream. If you want light coverage then spread out the product in downward strokes; for heavier coverage, simply press/dab the brush on the desired area and then lay off the blending.

It's rather small which makes it ideal not just for foundation but for concealer, contour, and blush as well.

Are you too lazy to carefully apply and blend makeup on your eyebrows, yet still want that seamless, perfect finish? Then I might have a solution for you. The MeMeMe Arch Angel (P650 at Makeupholics) is a nice product for days when you want quick, fuss-free brows. It has a creamy brown shade for coloring and a shimmery white for enhancing the arch of your eyebrows.

Here's a quick rundown!

What I love about the product

• The brush is basic but it's the perfect size for eyebrows. Not too tiny as to warrant a lot of time to cover ground, but not too big that it would create a too-thick line. It also picks up the right amount of product so I don't make a mess.
• The product dries quickly and doesn't smudge throughout the day. It also keeps stray hairs in place without making them crunchy and hard.

You know how much I love the Glow Facial at CACI 6750. Now, you can get a chance to try a facial at CACI too! I'm giving away five facials to five lucky winners in the next two weeks. Oh, these five girls will have such fab skin for the string of holiday parties ahead! CACI facials are super gentle (no pricking and scrubbing) and will really make the face glow. 

Glow and Defy begins with cleansing, toning and facial massage. Then, using the CACI Ultra machine's handpiece which contains ceramic and quartz pieces, bacteria and dead skin cells are dislodged without any visible peeling. This allows for a deeper cleanse and better absorption of the MD Dermatics products. After the ultrasonic handpiece is the masque. After this, using the same handpiece, MD Dermatics active correction products are applied (PureLight and RevitaPlus Brightener for Glow, C10 and Wrinkle Diffuser serums for Defy and c5 for under the eye). With the handpiece set to a certain frequency, these products are absorbed much more efficiently into the skin. After the active correction ingredients comes the moisturizer. 

Here are the super easy contest mechanics!

1. FACEBOOK ENTRIES: Like CACI 6750 on Facebook. Make sure to leave a message on their Wall just saying hi and that you got there via Project Vanity! (So we know that you did like the page ;P )
2. TWITTER ENTRIES: Follow me on Twitter (@lizlan). Tweet "Want skin that glows? Join this #projectvanity contest to win a fab facial! http://goo.gl/O5eXs"