Loving makeup or clothes is just only one facet of our personality. Often, we have other hobbies like painting, reading, or music! That's the rationale behind this giveaway - it's a combination of two loves! It's super easy to join. All you have to do is tell me which musician is your beauty/fashion inspiration in a fun Facebook post.

I'm giving away this loot:

Estee Lauder brushes (face, blush, lip), Purederm Face Mask, Revlon New Complexion loose powder, Obagi Gentle Cleanser, Purederm BB Cream, Celeteque , Purederm Deep Moisture Hand Mask, Leona Lewis, Michael Jackson and Ciara original CDs (c/o Sony Music Philippines)

Contest mechanics:

1. Like the Project Vanity Facebook Page.

2. On your personal Facebook Wall, share which musician is your beauty and/or fashion icon. Add a photo of your favorite look, too!

I am currently using Estee Lauder's latest moisturizer called Time Zone Night Anti-Line/Wrinkle Creme. It's so good, I want to use it during the day! It's the first heavy cream moisturizer that my skin enjoys. There's none of that greasy feel I just can't stand in other brands. And believe me, I have tried quite a few cream moisturizers.

This age-defying moisturizer works overnight to help dramatically reduce the look of lines and wrinkles. Our exclusive Sirtuin EX1 Technology helps reverse the appearance of aging for a years-younger look-more lineless, radiant and rested.

Helps support skin's nightly restorative actions including natural collagen production with an amino acid complex. And while you sleep, the soothing scent calms and relaxes. 

I am way too young to need help in the wrinkle department, but I like it mainly for its moisturizing and soothing properties. I highly recommend this for mature or maturing skin because this product is designed with repair during nighttime in mind.

I found myself with nothing to do yesterday afternoon so I rummaged through my stuff, hoping there's something interesting to tinker with. I saw some Avon necklaces, and had a semi-brilliant idea!

I thought it would be cool to combine them in one necklace. The one in the middle is from the latest Avon collection called Tokyo Allure (more about that next week) and, unlike other necklaces from the brand, doesn't have a detachable pendant. It would be perfect to have two different pendants on either side.

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!

Who can say no to "all-natural" beauty products? I know I can't! So when Kustie came out in malls, I was excited. Kustie is an affordable, easily-accessible "all-natural" brand that seemed to perform well according to blog reviews. 

Let's move on to the actual quality and performance of this body scrub and moisturizer!

I've been looking for a MAC 15-pan magnetic palette (P835) for MONTHS, but finally, MAC Glorietta restocked! I excitedly checked YouTube videos to touch up on my knowledge of depotting, or moving individual eyeshadows, to a magnetic palette. It would be so much easier to have all my eyeshadows in one place, making it more convenient to pick and use colors.

The procedure looked quite simple and quick to do - but I should have known not to judge appearances! It's harder than the YouTube gurus make it seem. However if you're careful, depotting your eyeshadows shouldn't be too much trouble.

Here's what you need:

Potted eyeshadows, thin knife (preferably dull), pin, candle

Thong, alcohol, tissue, small flat magnets with adhesive on one side (not in photo)

Step 1: Place the tip of the knife in the slot near where the cap locks in. Gently pry the eyeshadow loose. This is what it should look like:

This was supposed to be titled "my current skincare routine", but then I realized that I forgot to include a couple of regulars like the Myra e Daily Sun Protect Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 and the Eyliplex-2 eye cream. I also realized that I don't use everything every single day - as you know, I work from home, so I don't go out five days a week.

As such, I adjust my so-called "routine" into something less fussy. I'm vain, but I don't obsess about it!

Meet the team:

Left to right (click the links for reviews):  Muji Cleansing Oil for Sensitive Skin,  Pond's White Beauty Activated Carbon Cleanser, Burt's Bees Garden Tomato Toner,  Clinique Moisture Surge,  Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye, Smooth-365 Clarity + Smoothing Peptide Serum

Can I just say? I hate it that Muji hasn't yet restocked the Cleasing Oil!

Last Thursday, I was puttering around Megamall, trying to kill time before an event. Naturally I paid a visit to the beauty and skincare section to see if there's anything new - and there was!

Elite Paris sells what looks like professional-level makeup and tools for an affordable price. The brand has single eyeshadows at P300+, eyeshadow quad at P600+, foundations, blushes, and nail polish. It also features a few brushes, nail and hair tools, and hair styling products.

I wasn't able to try the blushes and foundations, but the eyeshadows are worth a mention. They are quite pigmented, with a smooth (albeit slightly powdery) texture. I think the P600+ price tag for the quad is a great deal since the quality of the eyeshadows is better than the usual drugstore brands.

Singles

I very rarely go out with my friends, which something I should definitely change this year. I have to stop being lazy about going out of the house no! So last Friday, I got Mara, Kira (plus Mark), and Ozy to have dinner and just chill. We went to Ristras for the homey Mexican food.*

Bad lighting, huhu

I wore a pair of one-of-a-kind leggings I got from Streets of Seoul. It has a mesh front with strips of black crisscrossing it, while the back part is actually opaque. Rad! It instantly adds an edge to any look. I got a lot of compliments because of this. Sadly, you can't get another one if you're interested, since it is literally only one piece at the store.  Still, you ought to visit since there are other great finds.

Thrifted leather jacket/ Hanes t-shirt/ Thrifted bodycon skirt/ Streets of Seoul leggings

A PR company sent me a 200ml bottle of the Vaseline Healthy White SPF24 sunscreen AGES ago, like half a year ago. For some reason or other though I never blogged about it, which is sad, because this has become an indispensable part of my skincare regimen. I actually finished off the huge bottle, so I purchased a 350ml one!

I love this mainly for its SPF 24 UVA/UVB protection. I never go outside the sun without slathering it on my skin. I know there are other SPF lotions out in the market, but this is perhaps the most affordable with a high SPF rating minus the thick sunblock-y feel.

It has a lotion-y, slightly floral scent that I don't find overwhelming. As for the texture, it's certainly lighter than the usual sunscreen/sunblock lotions

Yesterday, The Body Shop invited beauty bloggers to their Megamall branch to have fun with their famous Body Butters. I particularly enjoyed the part where we were asked to make our own Body Butter scent out of the existing variants! 

TBS Body Butters fall under three types: Nutty (Shea and Olive), Fruity (Wild Cherry, Strawberry, Satsuma, and Grapefruit) and Floral (Moringa, smells like jasmine). The bloggers were divided into four groups of three people, and I got grouped with Tanya and the fab Frances. Here's what we came up with:

Scent 1: Olive + Wild Cherry

I went to a Body Shop event yesterday (will blog about that shortly). I knew I was going to see my blogger friends in a laid-back atmosphere so I chose to swathe myself in lightweight cotton, cotton, cotton. 

Topshop burnout tee/ Zara cardigan/ Folded & Hung skirt/ Muji sock tights/ Charles & Keith platform heels

In other news, I just enrolled myself in driving school! I chose A1 since that's what everybody recommended. I'm a little nervous since I can get careless when I'm on the road, plus why drive when there are cabs?

The Avon Ideal Shade Liquid Foundation (P530) came in a gift pack along with other makeup and skincare products from the brand. I didn't expect much from it because, well, I got this idea that Avon makeup is just "okay" (not counting the lipsticks, which I have raved about before) - nothing to write home about. To begin with, it's hard to ask a lot for the price. 

Nonetheless I am surprised. The foundation gives a really beautiful finish that instantly enhances the skin and I have pictures to prove it! I haven't worn it out though because the shade (Natural) is rather light on me so I can't tell you about the lasting power. What I'll just talk about is the texture, consistency, and finish.

The Ideal Shade foundation is marketed to have light-adjusting pigments that provide a good shade match and natural coverage.

Last week, I had the pleasure of being a guest for Net 25's morning show called Homepage. I talked about the fashion trends for 2011 and, needless to say, I had so much fun. The hosts, especially Ivy, were super nice and accommodating. There was no room to be shy! Of course, the researchers Steph (who invited me) and Blueberry (yes that's her name!) made sure that I felt welcome. It definitely made my trip from The Fort to far away Quezon City worth it.

This is my third time to be on TV. I think I'm getting the hang of it, lol. The first two times were embarrassingly awkward. Anyway, here's a photo diary of what transpired last Wednesday!

The new year is in full swing as major brands come out with their latest products and promotions. Interested in what they may be? Read on!

High-street fashion brand Promod just released its Trendy Jet-setter Collection. It's designed with the chic traveler in mind, thus including coats, scarves, and turtlenecks for the cold weather abroad.

Complement the classy floral top with a gray cardigan, gray beret and a maroon knit scarf to turn heads anywhere in the world.

A friend of mine recently launched her own online shop called Streets of Seoul. Chrissy is a professional fashion merchandiser venturing in the world of e-commerce, and I have to say, she does a wonderful job! The clothes are edgy, looking like something you can find off Topshop or Mango. Nonetheless, they're very affordable, selling for only an average of P500-700.

Check out my top picks:

Everyone needs a faux leather biker jacket in their life. Now that the biker look is hot stuff at 2011, there's no reason not to get one that looks like it will fit gorgeously - for only P900, too!

One of the more interesting products that came out late last year is the Revlon PhotoReady Compact Makeup (P945). It's the answer to the prayers of the fans of the PhotoReady Liquid Makeup since it has none of the shimmers everyone complained about. It also toes the fine line between liquid and powder, a plus if you're the type who likes powder more than liquid foundations.

The PhotoReady Compact Makeup is a cream foundation that comes in a long, rectangular compact that features a "liquefying mesh". This mesh presses through the foundation to sort of squeeze it out. Intriguing eh? There's a small sponge that comes with the whole package.

What I like about the product

• As with other products in Revlon's PhotoReady line, this foundation gives a smooth, matte finish that registers well on camera. That is really the product's main selling point!

Last week, Net 25's morning show called Homepage invited me to talk about this year's upcoming fashion trends. Here's what we talked about! Enjoy.

What are the fashion trends or the "in" look for 2011?

I don't use planners, but I can see a lot of ladies (and gentlemen) loving this planner by Sunlife, in cooperation with actor Piolo Pascual, called Sunpiology. This stands out because it's a planner that encourages you to help save the environment as well as accomplish your goals every month. There's none of that pretentious crap that planners seem to promote these days (e.g "this planner will change someone's life"? O rly?)

It also features Piolo's photos from all over the world. It's all about nature, to show us what we'll lose if we aren't more careful of our environment.

More photos of the planner inside!

The last event I organized in 2010 was for a brand that's very dear to my heart. I invited beauty and fashion bloggers to experience the Asian Secrets lulur body scrub the best possible way - why, in a spa, of course! You'll remember that I really enjoyed my time at Qiwellness in Salcedo Village, so I managed to hook up the two brands for this relaxing event.

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Happy bloggers!

It was a very casual get-together as bloggers lounged in the soft white chairs of Qiwellness. I just gave them a short introduction about how lulur is part of an ancient Indonesian beautifying ritual for brides.