I didn't really care for cream eyeshadow before. Why bother when there are excellent powder eyeshadows in any color and finish you can think of? But Lisa Eldridge's tutorial wearing cream eyeshadows plus the Bobbi Brown Shore steered me in the right direction. I realized that this particular formula has something to offer to busy girls who want intense, enhancing, and long lasting color on the eyes with minimum effort.

I love wearing cream eyeshadows when I don't have the time or inclination to fuss on my look. It's easy to blend in primer then wear one color on the lids but it's even quicker to swipe on a cream color! Lazy much? It's a great way to enhance the eyes in just a few seconds! Anyway I recently found out about the MeMeMe Dew Pots (P300-ish at Makeupholics*), a cream eyeshadow that received decent reviews online.

Here's what I think. :)

What I love about the product

• It has good color pay-off. One swipe is enough to shade the eyes, but since I want a super opaque finish I swipe twice. I just use my fingers!
• It's thin, non-sticky texture makes it easy to spread and blend with minimal effort. It doesn't skip or create streaks on the lids.
• It comes in a glass jar with a cap that seals tightly. 
• Affordable!

It's my birthday today. I was going to keep it a secret, because I have this wistful desire to be greeted only by people who know when my birthday is without Facebook telling them when. But that's unfair isn't it? Everyone is too busy, too souped up with tons of other more important information than my birthday.

So, thank you in advance for the greetings! I appreciate that you took the time to acknowledge the day I popped out of my mum's belly - literally. Cesarean section. (If you ask me you should greet my mother instead, she got the tough end of the stick that day - not me! Level unlocked for her! I'm the first-born.)

When my clients and business contacts first find out I'm only this age, they ask me "You're so young! How are you able to pull this off?" That's not verbatim but I know that's what they want to know. I'm not rich or famous, okay, but I would like to think that I enjoy a modest amount of success at 25. 

I learned a few things along the way. Here's my advice on how to be where you want to be. (Cliches may or may not be included.)

Do what you love best. Do it now. One of the scariest things I've done so far was quitting my first (and only) full-time job after only eight months. I was only 22, I haven't paid my dues, I didn't know if I could make it as a freelancer since I wasn't acquainted with many people who could give me projects then. But I felt nothing towards my desk job. I had to drag my feet to the office everyday!

Now I like a lot of things, but there is one thing that I'm passionate about: writing. I'm a good writer. I'm not gonna win any Pulitzers but I sure as hell know how to write copy and engaging blog posts!

The MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Sunny Seoul (P1,000) is my go-to lipstick lately. It's bright yet wearable, and goes with so many looks! I always pick it up because it's so safe and friendly-looking. If you've been following my Instagrams then you would have seen this lippie a couple of times already. ;) 

Sunny Seoul is a creamy warm pink with a tiny bit of pearl frost. It's not opaque as I hoped it would be, but a couple of heavy layers can easily solve that. It would look awesome on fair skin because it verges on pastel already (very ethereal on light skintones).

One of the most popular posts on this website is about how I lost weight with CarbTrim. I've noticed that a lot of people get to this website via the "carbtrim" keyword (need to lose all that holiday weight? Going to the beach soon?) too, so I thought I'd post an update on this juice!

I've been drinking Carbtrim on and off for the past 10 months. The most important thing I learned about it? If you don't want to lose weight then it's not going to happen. You have to commit to a diet first and use Carbtrim to make it easier for you to follow that diet. You can't drink Cabrtrim and hope it will magically make you want to eat less! 

I've started a few sentences, erased them all. I guess what I really want to say is that I'm speechless. I knew this feature was coming (I got interviewed after all!) but it's so surreal to finally see it in print. I, along with fellow beauty bloggers Shen and Martha, were featured in Mega's February 2013 issue.

Love this cover btw! This is illustrated by the same people who draws the Archie comics. Are you excited for the MAC Archie's Girls collection?

My face right now: ^_^ Thanks so much to Max Ignacio for the write-up! Sara Garces, girl, I adore you for taking the scans even though you're busy. Click after the jump to see the full transcript of the interview (if you're interested teehee).

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Serums traditionally provide intense care and repair for our face. They usually have more concentrated ingredients in a clear, gel-like, sometimes oily solution for better absorption on skin. I was pretty excited when I first heard about a new serum for - are you ready - the body. How fabulous would it be if we can lavish our whole body in intensified skincare?

The Nivea Body UV Whitening Serum SPF25 PA++ (P219) promises radiant and whiter skin with ingredients like Vitamin C, licorice, red seaweed, and Hydra IQ. Does it look and feel like the other serums I've tried before? No. It's white, watery, and feels like lotion. I was a little disappointed because "serum" was the word that hooked me in, but for P219 /200ml I don't see how it could be more than lotion.

But I love it nonetheless. :) Three things: it's the lightest lotion I've tried EVER, it has SPF25 PA++, and has a pleasant citrus smell - no chemical sunblock-y scent at all! Did I say it was super light?

Hi folks! I found some bits of news that I hope you'd find interesting. :) Majolica Majorca is having a price slash on their best-selling mascara, Lash King! Please read my review to know how awesome it is.

For The Big Majolica Majorca Face off, the brand is having a mascara challenge that will show how great Lash King is and how it will compare to your favorite mascara. Customers can take the challenge on Feb 8-10 in SM Makati and also on Feb22-24 in SM North Edsa.

Also, on these dates, Lash King will go on sale for only P499 (from P795). This is almost 40% OFF! And then you can even get a 20% off coupon for your next purchase. The discounted Lash King price is applicable in all Majolica Majorca outlets on these dates.

You obviously have several products at your disposal for review! I wonder - being a beauty blogger and having the privilege of trying out tons of beauty knick-knacks out there, do you still have a beauty wishlist? If so, what is your ultimate dream beauty/makeup product?

I'm curious as well on what the readers have to say. Guys, if cost and accessibility were no issue, what beauty product/makeup would you get in a heartbeat? Fantasize and share please! - Yani

Hi Yani! Great question! Made me think. :P Yes, I still have a beauty wishlist even though I get new products on a regular basis. For example I want to own more NARS items! But how ever much I love makeup, I'm not an addict with uncontrollable impulses. I think first before I buy something new, because most of the time I probably have a similar thing just waiting to be used or finished up. I don't want to waste what I get and I don't want to sell them either. So I rarely buy even though it is within my means to do so.

Still, there are a couple of things that I would love to have! 

The MAC Fluidline Brow Gel Creme (P1,100) is on top of my modest list. This is part of the upcoming The Stylish Brow collection, which will come out this month! I don't fall in line for MAC products, but I will go to the mall at 10am just for this.

Is there a way to wear bright eyeshadows conservatively? It sounds like an oxymoron, true, but it can be done. The trick is to show just a flash of color on the lids - there's no need to cover every centimeter of available space you know! Keep the crease color a neutral brown, taupe, or charcoal (go light or as deep as you want). The bright colors should only show whenever you close your eyes. ;)

You don't see it

Now you do!

And that's my quick tip for today. ;) Anyway I wore this to a couple of meetings last week. I finally took out this fringe skirt I bought last December - it's a crowd favorite, at least the people I met seemed to like it. But it's quite difficult to style! How would you wear it?

Who's graduating in the next few months? Congratulations in advance! It's tough to get through university in one piece, so you better make that last hurrah count. Looking fabulous on the day you are honored for your accomplishments is a simple gift to yourself. Here's a tutorial on how best to go about it!

Now you need to consider a few things when doing your graduation makeup. It must be able to withstand the sweat and oil that will result from the humid hell that is March-April where the season begins to fully transition to summer. I remember my own graduation where we had to stand two hours outside the auditorium before the program started. Que horror! Expect the worse, so your makeup should be oil-resistant, water-resistant, and long-wearing.

I highly recommend the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation for your base if you don't mind the price

...but the Revlon Colorstay Whipped Creme Makeup is a great alternative

Your look should also be as photogenic as possible. It should present the best version of your skin and enhance your features, which means that it has to be heavier and more complex than usual. Don't worry, I'll walk you through the hoops. ;) This tutorial can also be a handy for any special occasion or photoshoot since it's versatile.

Let's begin!

Perfect your skin. The most photogenic and long-lasting combination for this type of event is liquid foundation, spot concealer, and then translucent loose powder.

This was a difficult decision as there are about four regular, wonderful commenters who are all equally deserving of the Charm vegan brush set. However I only have one set to give away, so I did a raffle to decide who wins this round. And it's Maybelle Guzman. :) Congratulations Maybelle! Please email me your address so I can have your gift shipped.

For February I'm going to give away products from a brand that I love to distraction. It's Fairydrops! Cheryl, the distributor, is once again generous enough to sponsor three of her brand's best-selling and most coveted items: the Fairydrops Candy Bar BB Cream (my fave BB cream), Volume Burst Mascara, and the non-waterproof version of VB in the pink tube. Read my reviews to see just how well these products perform. ;)

Whoever wins this will have fabulous skin and lashes for the next few months, indeed. Now please don't forget to like the Fairydrops Philippines Facebook Page to catch updates and promos!

I raved about the Bioderma Crealine H20 Micellar Solution late last year, a French makeup remover that feels exactly like water. It's a great product but it's only sold in limited quantities here. Bioderma is also expensive for those who are used to drugstore makeup removers, which begs the question: what's an equally good, or (dare we hope) better alternative that's easy to find locally?

Friends, meet the Bifesta Cleansing Lotion (P419), a Japanese water-based makeup remover that's exactly like Bioderma. I believe that this brand was called Mandom before, but the whole line is now repackaged, reformulated, and renamed.

It comes in four handy variants for different skin types: Moist (dry and sensitive skin), Sebum (combination-oily), Brightup (dull and flaky), and Agecare (mature). I've been using the Bifesta Sebum Cleansing Lotion so it's the one I will review for now!

First things first: I love this stuff. This feels like you're just applying water to remove makeup. It's fairly simple to use, just squirt a full pump per cotton pad, wipe off the gunk on your face, repeat until 100% clean, and rinse. You can actually just leave your face like that and proceed to moisturizing if you wish. Bifesta cleans so well, that is can be both your facial wash and toner in one fell swoop!

Hey folks! I have a couple of meetings plus unplanned errands later so I won't be able to post my step-by-step graduation makeup tutorial as I originally planned. I was so excited to write about it pa naman! 36 photos for the win! But it's not to be. Not today. 

In the meantime, let me just quickly share this super cute quirky eco bag that I got in the mail last week. 

Yes, this is a reusable bag although it could easily pass for a chew toy Snaps will love. He did in fact try to slap it around and have marvelous fun with it, but of course I can't let him have his way! I need every eco bag I can get my hands on more so if they look like this SAC People Bag.

Compact? Check. Light? Check. Conversation piece? Double check!

If you've always loved the DKNY Delicious scents (as I do!), then I think you'll be pleased to find out that there's a new collection that improves on their best assets. The original scents are radiant and flirty - perfect as they are really - but with the Delicious Eau So Intense Collection you get intensified versions of the brand's three amazing fragrances.

Intriguing eh? It's either the entire concentration of the fragrance has been increased, or one aspect of it has been singled out. I've been using the DKNY Fresh Blossom Eau So Intense these past weeks, and true enough there's a heavier, more sensible edge to the fragrance. It lasts longer on my clothes and skin too!

There's no rigid right or wrong way to do makeup. It's supposed to be fun, a way for you to show off your best assets and express yourself in the process. So what qualifies as a "makeup mistake"? Well, you're making one if what you're wearing is unflattering and uncomfortable on your face - with or without your knowledge! It could also be a technique that you overdo. 

Are you guilty of these common makeup mistakes?

1. The wrong foundation. Foundation is a tricky, tricky beast. We obsess about getting the perfect shade, as we should since this is quite a feat during the first few tries. If done incorrectly you have a useless bottle of makeup and a few hours seething in embarrasment over your too-white (or dark) face.

However, I feel that not enough people think about the correct formula for their skin and their lifestyle needs. For example, if you're a stay-at-home mom you will probably not need to wear something as heavy and matte as Revlon Colorstay for your day-to-day activities.

Oh, lipsticks. There are so many colors out there that even when I feel I've tried them all, something always turns up to surprise me! One example is the MeMeMe Long Wear Satin Lip Cream in Berry Crush (P580 at Makeupholics). I requested for this shade because I just wanted another purple lippie, but when I finally saw it in person I got something better than I expected.

Berry Crush is a deep berry, almost purple shade that flashes blue frost. I like how it flatters my medium yellow skintone; the bold color is also impossible to miss. The blue frost sounds weird in your head I know but when worn it helps to brighten teeth and plump up the lips - trust me!

Hello Liz, first up, thanks for providing us, your readers, so much info on make-up, fashion, etc, etc! Love love LOVE your blog! Anyway, I hope you can help answer my question.

My sister told me that I need to use finishing/setting powder after I put on my make-up so I finally bought one - Laura Mercier translucent setting powder. After a few days into using the product, I noticed that my skin became dry and flaky especially in the cheeks and forehead area. I use a fluffy powder brush to apply it (I even tap the brush to make sure that I don't get too much powder on my face). I was hoping there's an alternative product that I can use to set my make-up as I've never had this problem with my skin before. Is a finishing/setting powder a must or can I skip this part altogether?

I hope to hear from you! - Kaya

Thanks for reading my blog, Kaya! ;) Your flaking and dryness may be an allergic reaction from the product. That is, there might be an ingredient in your new powder that's causing the dryness. It's best to stop using it for now and observe! If you're still using it and the reaction has stopped nonetheless, it could be that your skin was just adjusting to the new product and is a-ok now.

So is it absolutely necessary to use a loose setting powder? Yes, if you're using wet makeup (liquid or cream foundation, BB cream, tinted moisturizer etc.) underneath! The powder helps the wet makeup solidify and settle better, the way sand was used to dry up ink in handwritten letters.

I've read good things about the L'Oreal Lucent Magique Liquid Foundation (or Lumi Magique in the US) and I'm so happy to announce that it's finally here in Manila! Lucent Magique is all about "light-infusion" or brightening, but without the obvious accompanying shimmer. I immediately used the foundation as soon as I got it, and mark my words, I sniff a new favorite low-cost base! 

The liquid foundation is only P845. Very, very affordable yet it feels so high end. It reminds me of the Lancome Teint Miracle, actually. Same finish but the Lancome I think is more long-lasting.

Another interesting product is the Lucent Magique Concealer Pen. It's only P545 and works much like my favorite Clinique Airbrush Concealer, although the peg is the YSL Touche Eclat.

When you're feeling under the weather and your face is reflecting that, one word: blush. A good flattering blush can do wonders for drained and dull skin! Throw in a bright lipstick and no one will ever know how crappy you feel...unless you're the sort of person who enjoys making other people cringe. Not necessarily a bad thing. I don't know.

Anyway, here's my past week in photos! :D

Late lunch at Watami yesterday with my mom

Sac People eco bag. Neat idea! They have tons of other designs I think.

A grandiose room in Fernbrook Gardens