If I had to choose only one lip color to wear for the rest of my life I would probably choose something hot pink. Yes, not red! I noticed that while red is a seasonal or moody color for me, hot pink is something I always pick up whether I'm going to the grocery or to a party. It's a fun and happy shade, a lot more user-friendly than one would care to think. 

Speaking of hot pinks, I recently acquired the Shiseido Rouge Lacquer in Disco / RS404 (P1,250). It's a glossy, super bright blue-based pink that makes my teeth look so white! No kidding, you'll see it later. I also like the formula of this liquid lipstick even though it's not perfect. It's moisturizing, doesn't flake, and lasts a decent amount of time (3-4 hours depending on whether I eat or drink). It's solid in one dip but I prefer to dip twice to get the maximum opacity and brightness.

Is there really a difference between high-end and cheap eyelash curlers? Yes! High-end lash curlers give a better, higher curl, and keeps it up there for hours on end. They also have less of a tendency to pinch the upper lids as they fit the eyes better than cheaper curlers. If you haven't yet invested in a good lash curler then you'll think I'm just spewing BS, but promise, you'll feel the difference once you try it!

So what is the best eyelash curler out there? Many a makeup maven has sworn by the Shu Uemura one, but I have also heard a lot of great things about the Shiseido Eyelash Curler (P1,300). I'll be reviewing it for you today, and compare it with the Shu later on.

What I love about the product

• Zero pinching on the upper lids! This is actually the most important thing for me when it comes to lash curlers! I would hate for my lids to have wrinkles before their time. Plus pinching is motherthumping painful, ha! Shiseido has a thin metal clamper (I think it's called) so it doesn't fold the lids over. Hope that makes sense.

My first post for Shiseido Week was supposed to be about the eyelash curler, but I found some very interesting tidbits while I was researching the origins of the brand. So here's a little history lesson on Shiseido, something that I hope you'll find as fascinating as I did!

Did you know that Shiseido is credited to be the oldest cosmetics company in the world? It's actualy 141 years old this year! It was founded in 1872 by a pharmacist of the Japanese Imperial Navy. Arinobu Fukuhara was the first person who established a Westen-style pharmacy in Japan, complete with a soda fountain and eventually an ice cream parlor.

He started selling indigestion lozenges, beriberi pills, and soft toothpaste in the beginning. These were revolutionary products at that time, because Japan was only familiar with herbal medicine and tooth powder before Mr Fukuhara set up Shiseido.

Image from twinvulcan.com

Shiseido is not just a pharmacy and eventually one of the leading cosmetics brands in the world. According to an MIT paper, "Shiseido’s innovative product and promotional production tells a distinctive story about Japan’s experience of modernity, including the impact on national culture of mass market consumerism, urbanization, and changing gender roles." It was also a pioneer in advertising design and product marketing at that time.

 It played a huge role in defining comopolitan glamour for young women in Japan, bringing in Western imagery to one of the most traditional cultures in Asia on the cusp of a new, uncertain century.

The best advice I can give to young women is this: always listen to your mother. Seriously. It might sound ridiculous because she may appear so out of touch with the realities of your life, but she would always understand and guide you - if you'd let her. The biggest mistakes I've made so far are due to my stubborness, my certainty that I know more than my mother. I don't. I would have avoided a lot of grief had I just listened to her.

That's not to say that I'm miserable or mired in deep regret right now. I'm quite happy and I regret nothing that I've done in my life so far. But if I listened, growing up would have been less painful and I would have been able to see the big picture earlier. So please, if you are facing unbearable things right now, tell your parents. Most of the time they will know the right thing to do.

You have to remember that they are the only people in the planet who love you unconditionally - where lovers and friends would always act with their best interest in mind, your mother in particular would always put you first. :)

Sooo that was a random thought brought on by a Tweet. I actually just want to show you my recent Shiseido haul! I was waiting for Man of Steel to start at SM Aura the other day, so I decided to pick up a few things I've been meaning to get from Shiseido for a while now. You can pretty much guess what theme I'll be having for next week, haha.

Okay, I love everything I got. ^_^ I didn't mind the splurge because I've tried these four items waaaay back and thought they were pretty good.

I am once again late in announcing this so I decided to schedule the next CoM gift for July. It's a pretty exciting loot from Benefit which I'm sure you'll love! But first, congratulations to the Commenters of the Month for May and June respectively: Paulina and Maggie! They've been very active not just on the blog post but on the Ask Liz! forum as well. Even I'm learning lots of interesting tidbits from both these girls.

Paulina will be getting the Clinique gift for May, while Maggie will also get a pouch from Clinique with some samples and a few full-sized things from other brands. :) Again, congratulations and thank you for your intelligent and kind words on my blog. Please email me your full name and addresses so I can ship your gift.

Moving forward, I requested for two of my favorite products from Benefit for the July CoM gift : the Cha Cha Tint and Hervana Blush. If you read my reviews, you'll find out why I love using these two cheek prettifiers whenever I'm craving for a coral or pinky flush. The kind folks at Benefit also added their latest product, the Benefit Fake Up Concealer! So jealous, as I haven't tried this yet myself haha. 

Please do like the Benefit Philippines Facebook Page to keep updated about the brand's latest promos and prizes. ;)

I hope you've enjoyed M.A.C week! Some of you have requested me to extend it, but unfortunately the other products I have here have not yet been photographed or used. That means I won't be able to write a proper review. Which then means, I might do another M.A.C week in the future for you guys! ^_^ For now I'll post the reviews any time they're ready.

To close this themed week, I thought I'd talk about five of my favorite M.A.C products. These are the things that I always pick up and would really, really hate to run out of. Check them out!

MAC Brow Set in Girl Boy. You know, I didn't like Girl Boy this much when I first started using it, but I've eventually developed a dependence on it. I haven't found anything that can create depth and highlight on the brows the same way Girl Boy does. The secret is in the shimmer.

Hi folks! I apologize for missing a M.A.C post yesterday as I was busier than usual. Anyway, we're back on track just in time for the last day! I'll *try* to post my top five favorite M.A.C products later just to show what I always use in my collection. It's that kind of brand where you can get a lot of cool, memorable things that you won't really wear that often because they're too, well, striking. 

So! Today I'll be showing you my updated 15-pan M.A.C palette. I only have two empty spaces left (yay), and my plan is to get one bright purple and possibly a bright green or Carbon. It took me a couple of years to fill it up because I didn't want to blow P15,000+ asap on one palette. I mean, I can but I won't because that's too much for a simple hobbyist like me. Thankfully, I get M.A.C eyeshadows as gifts every once in a while. :P

One of the more common questions I get is, "which M.A.C eyeshadows should I start with?" If you have Asian skin like mine, yellow-toned and possibly medium going on morena, I highly recommend the following: 

Ricepaper (for highlighting the browbone), All That Glitters (a warm champagne which is great as a lid wash), Wedge (a matte neutral, light brown, perfect for crease contouring), and Espresso (a neutral brown which creates a great smoky brown eye and perfectly shaded eyebrows). Those would be four great eyeshadows to start with, for in the future you'll be able to mix and match them with various other shades.

Hi, Liz! I've been hearing and reading that mineral oil is not good for your skin. How true is this? Because a lot of beauty products, especially makeup removers, contain mineral oil and they work well for me. Even baby oil and the classic cold cream are made with mineral oil. But if they're not good for my skin, I'd like to look for alternatives. Would you know of any good eye makeup removers that don't contain mineral oil? Thanks! -Jix

Hi Jix! Thanks for the question. The answer is no. Mineral oil - the kind that has been refined for cosmetics use according to FDA standards - is safe. While this ingredient is indeed derived from crude oil, it is in no way anything like its original form after it has undergone the refining process. It's said to be one of the best skincare ingredients out there is since it's completely natural (literally, from the earth), doesn't cost much, and is considered non-comedogenic.

Before sharing rumors about beauty ingredients we must always do some basic research to find out if any of them are true! There has been a lot of misconceptions about mineral oil in the past, but I hope to clear these up briefly. Do note that I'm not a chemist or dermatologist, okay. This is just what trust-worthy websites like The Beauty Brains and FutureDerm have been saying all along.

Now, we have been scared into thinking that mineral oil can block pores and cause pimples. The truth is that it doesn't, not by itself. Mineral oil is an occlusive agent. It strengthens the skin's moisture barrier by filling in the tiny cracks and holes in our skin to prevent moisture from evaporating from it, which is why some people think that it harms the skin by "suffocating" it.

M.A.C usually has a release or two every month which reflects the trends of the season. This June, where it's summer in the U.S., M.A.C presents Temperature Rising, a sizzling collection that is inspired by steamy summer nights and sweaty bronzed skin. The collection is all about warm, smoky colors with well-placed dazzle and requisite brights - the M.A.C trademark, of course!

The Philippine launch happened last Saturday at Rustan's Glorietta. One of the country's top models, Jessica Yang, graced the event. A M.A.C makeup artist demonstrated the scorching hot look of Temperature Rising using the products from the collection while a DJ scratched tunes in the background.

Here's a demo of the look, in photos! Later on you'll see a few swatches I've done on the lipsticks. 

Have you guys heard of Hayan before? It's a Korean beauty brand that has been in the Philippines for a year now, with 18 branches already opened as of this month. It seems to be quietly successful so far - I can see why! Hayan's products are quite affordable. According to the brochure (which I will attach for your review later), there is nothing over P500 in the skincare line, and the P390 BB cream is the most expensive makeup they have. 

Of course, I had to try the makeup. I'm always on the lookout for inexpensive products to recommend to girls who want to beautify on a tight budget, particularly students who are building their first makeup kit. I'm happy to say that there are a few things here that are worth the purchase - whether you're trying to scrimp or not!

The packaging of Hayan products are surprisingly nice considering how affordable they are. Most of them come in a matte black box, with the appropriate product information. The cases look fairly sturdy and solid, again, not bad for the price.

The quality of the products are nice - some nicer than others, exceeding my expectations - but you do have to remember that they are affordable for a reason. :) They won't smell as good or feel as light as more expensive Korean brands. Imagine our local drugstore makeup, but Korean. They work well and look good, but you must adjust expectations.

That said, I want to show you a look I did with all of the Hayan stuff above. ^_^ I will also be discussing my favorites briefly!

M.A.C lipsticks are some of the most vibrant, complex ones out there. You can find anything from sweet pinks, severe browns, sexy reds, daring purples, or even stark black if you're into that. ;) Each new collection has at least a new shade or two of lipstick so there's always something to covet if you're a collector, or a simple lover of color. 

The downside is that not all lipsticks have a great formula. Some may look streaky or fade easily. That's why you should always check reviews and swatch the lippies in person if you can, as this will save you a lot of grief in the long run. I've reviewed a few already so please do check them out! That said, here's a new batch of permanent M.A.C lipsticks for you to check out.

I'll begin with the MAC Lipstick in Rebel (P1,000). Rebel has a satin finish, which is full-bodied, pigmented, and a wee bit glossy. It's a color that I've always been hearing about from beauty bloggers here and abroad, so I got one to see if it's worth the hype. Dahhlings, it is. It's such an amazing color!

I've always thought of Rebel as a gothic red shade based on the swatches I've seen online, but on me it's a deep fuchsia with a strong purple base. This is daring alright, no question about it! I usually prefer to wear this in full during evening engagements, but during the day a stain of Rebel can live through a greasy lunch. Yes, it's quite long-wearing.

BB creams and CC creams are easily available in the market. However, if you want to save a few bucks by simply re-purposing some beauty products you already have, then make your own! It will rock. You will probably be able to get a better shade match and a skin-beneficial product in the bargain.

It begs the question: why don't you just apply these things seperately and call it a day? That works too but it's a lot more time consuming. With a (home-made or store-bought) BB/CC cream, you can skip several steps in your routine!

So, I've decided to make a tutorial on how to make your own BB cream and CC cream. BB creams are technically mid-coverage bases with a lot of SPF and skincare properties thrown in. CC creams on the other hand are also beneficial to the skin but have sheerer, more illuminating coverage. To create one, all you need to do is tweak your DIY or store-bought BB cream. ;)

Let's get started!

These are the basic things you need. The beauty is that you don't have to use these exact same brands posted here! Just use skincare that works for you and your favorite liquid foundation. I will also include alternatives.

1. Moisturizer with SPF. It ain't a proper BB/CC cream without SPF. ;) If you use an SPF 50 cream, don't expect that number per application since it will already be diluted. What I used: Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF50 PA+++

M.A.C makeup has been a staple in my kit since I bought the Studiofinish concealer four years ago. I didn't have a lot of money then, being a fresh grad on my first job, but I remember feverishly researching that product and swatching it repeatedly until I coughed up the cash. Incidentally, I still use the Studiofinish up to this day (I think this is my fifth pan)!

I've been steadily acquiring M.A.C products since then. They're dependable, and they come in such wonderful colors too. I have a few new M.A.C items here that deserve the spotlight. So - ta-dah! - I would like to present Project Vanity's M.A.C Week!

I'll start with a product that brings me back full circle: the M.A.C Blot Powder in Medium Deep (P1,375). This is one of the first I've ever tried from the brand! I remember reviewing this years ago, but for some reason that post wasn't properly exported to my .com domain. Oh well. Here's a proper review now!

The M.A.C Blot is a fairly straightforward powder. It's matte, has a silky texture and translucent coverage, although you can build it up if you wish. It's amazing at controling oil without "thickening" the makeup underneath it. It's incredibly useful for long-haul days when oil is just another part of the job description!

Remember my Real Techniques Core Collection Brush Set? I still abuse those brushes regularly. They've kept their shape well through repeated washing, and still have soft bristles even though they've been mercilessly rubbed and wiped on different products. Not a bad deal considering they're only P1,100 for four full-sized brushes!

I told myself I'd get more RT brushes when I get the chance, so here are two new ones I've managed to add to my collection thanks to Stuff In Style. ^_^

I have here the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush and Blush Brush (P600 each). These brushes sport an interesting shape and size for what they purport to do, but I swear, they do the job quite well. That's what I like about Real Techniques - the brushes are real solutions to real makeup application problems. 

More details on each brush below!

There is no such thing as principle when it comes to FitFlop. These things made my feet so spoiled that I hardly wear flats, sandals, or flip flops unless I absolutely have to! I admit that I didn't understand why women would love such chunky, ungainly-looking footwear. The first few designs looked like platformed tsinelas, and they were sooo expensive to boot. I didn't get it. Until I got my own pair as a gift.

I love it because THE SOLE IS SO SOFT. It's like I'm perpetually walking on a cushion when I have these on! It was a little weird when I was breaking them in though. My feet kept slipping for some reason, but the rubber eventually softened and molded to the shape of my feet. Since then we've been more or less inseparable wherever appropriate.

How are you spending your mid-week Independence Day holiday? ^_^ Mine shall be terribly busy because I have to finish my work for tomorrow. I'll be out all day attending meetings and events so, whew, I need to get a lot of stuff out of the way first. Anyway! Today I'll be talking about an interesting palette from Beauty Bar.

The Smashbox Heat Wave Palette (price to be updated) was designed to create smoldering summer looks, but in my opinion these colors would look good in any season. The top row has five warm shades while the bottom row has cool, smoky shades, just perfect for matching and blending with each other! You can go as light or as sultry as you want. I love that the colors are not overly common; they're not the sort you'd find easily in more affordable palettes.

My first Smashbox palette (bought about four years ago) was a disappointment. It was expensive and pretty to look at but it was also practically useless due to the pathetic pigmentation. However, the brand's eyeshadows have come a long way since then. This new palette in particular is so pigmented that you won't even need to use an eyeshadow base to make them opaque!

The texture is smooth and creamy to the touch, which makes it easy to blend on the lids - bare or primed.

If you've been to bikram or hot yoga then you know how foolish it is to wear makeup. Sweat would literally soak your clothes and pool at your feet as if you got fished off a river! You can even wring water off your outfit when you're done. But, being vain little ol' me, I decided that if I can find makeup to last a class, then I would wear it so I won't look like a ragged mess when I'm done. I know that no one really cares what you look like after yoga, but I do! 

Thankfully, I've found a few products that can look good through a yoga class. Don't get your expectations up though: they will fade when the sweat starts pouring out, but at least they won't completely disappear. I also make sure to dab my towel instead of wiping my face, to keep the makep intact. That said, here's the trio I usually have on whether I'm doing hot or vinyasa (flow) yoga.

The most important thing, of course, is having eyebrows! The K-Palette Lasting 2-Way Eyebrow does well under pressure. It fades, but at least it doesn't run down my face.

My blogging backlog is alarming. I probably have over a hundred reviews and features filed away by now but I have stopped knowing where to begin! :( I can probably just quickly mention things here, but then I'd be wasting space. I don't want Project Vanity to be a repository of random beauty/fashion features - whatever I put out here should count. Be valuable. There are a lot of good brands and products out there but the point should be curation - what is worth writing and reading about?

So I figured, I will just write about the things I really, really like at the moment while I am organizing everything. It happens that the Eye of Horus Natural Smoky Eye Pencil (P960 at Glamourbox) has caught my eye!

I've had this for maybe three months now but honestly thought it wasn't anything special. I've seen some rave reviews, sure, but I was still incredulous. I've swatched it a few times in the past but I assumed that the consistency was too soft to be reliable when it comes to long hours and oiliness around the eye area. Wrong! This is an awesome pencil for that smudged smoky eye, or for something simpler like a soft natural line. It is buttery but most importanttly, it stays in place!

Can't believe I'm saying that of a pencil this ridiculously soft, but it's true.