Do brushes make the artist? I'm inclined to say no. For me it's not the tools that make good makeup (or any creation for that matter), it's the vision of the artist behind the work. Some people acquire the skills while some are just plain talented, but in the end the beauty of the finished material is dictated by the person's creativity. 

Still, good, specialized brushes can make application easier and quicker. The results are also cleaner and better blended! That's why you should only use brushes that have nice, soft hair and a shape that does what it's meant to do. Naturally the best brushes costs a pretty penny, but there is always one within your budget - just make sure to look and compare!

I have reviewed many brushes for you guys in the past. This week I'll be reviewing a few new ones I haven't featured yet. So, without further blabber, I present to you Project Vanity's Brush Week!

I'm gonna start with three brushes I purchased from Suesh early this year. I love these eye brushes since they are fairly affordable, soft, and excel in applying eyeshadow. I have been using the Large Eyeshadow Brush and the Pointed Blending Brush almost exclusively since I got them. As in, I panic whenever I don't find them in my table!

Let's begin with the Large Eyeshadow Brush (P400). It's made of stiff yet soft sable hair that's great at picking up and packing in powder eyeshadows. I actually prefer to use this kind of flat, rounded brush for my lids instead of the usual fluffy ones - it just works better in making the colors vibrant!

Ola! It's almost the end of July. Next week I'll be in Hong Kong with my parents, a trip I'm looking forward to! It's going to be my first time there so I'd love to read your advice on where to shop and eat. ;) I'm not looking for makeup per se. I'm more interested in clothes and shoes at bargain prices. 

Anyhoo, today I'll be talking about the latest products from Celeteque. It's been a while since I've used Celeteque, so the level of quality in its products is a surprise to me! The BB Cream and Brightening Body Cream are pretty good, ha. I'll be reviewing them quickly in this post.

The Celeteque Anti-Stretch Mark Cream has elastonyl (to improve elasticity), phyto collage (derived from soybeans, for plumping), alchemilla vulgaris (herb that has medicinal qualities), and shea butter, four ingredients that are said to lessen the appearance of stretch marks. It is recommended for women who just gave birth, to help stop stetch marks in their tracks as the skin tries to regain its elasticity. 

And here is the star of the trio, for me! The Celeteque Multi-Benefit BB Cream (P325) brightens skin instantly and has a yellow-neutral tone to it that should match light to medium skin. It has the texture of a long-wearing face base - it's water-based, a bit difficult to spread, and sets completely in half a minute. It kinda reminds me of the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Foundation (liquid) and Estee Lauder Double Wear Light in terms of texture.

Thought I'd end foundation week with a tool instead of makeup! The Charm Pro Angled Foundation Brush (P700) is the latest creation from the popular local brush brand. It's a flat brush with a gentle angle to it that allows you to blend in liquid foundation even in tight spots. It's super easy to use, and works best with watery foundations and BB creams to get maximum coverage.

The brush has soft synthetic hair that's dense and stiff at the base. It's pliable on the tapered edge, which gives it this nice blending action if you swipe it back and forth. I wouldn't recommend it for heavy-coverage, thick foundations since you will need a denser, rounder brush to get those properly worked onto the skin. This however is perfect for light foundations that have sheer coverage - it somehow increases the opacity of these types of foundations, and give them a smoother finish. 

Truth be told, I have yet to find a drugstore foundation that I would use everyday. One thing is for sure though: drugstore products are getting better and better with each release! Take for instance the Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse (P599). This is a watery foundation that gives a demi-matte, natural finish while feeling light on skin. It promises to give an airbrush finish and it can do that with the right brush.

Coverage and finish. The Maybelline Liquid Mousse is a nice daily foundation that has light to medium coverage. It's sheer on the first layer, so I recommend that you use a minimum of two generous layers if you need medium coverage. If you just want to even out and brighten up your skin, one layer would be enough.

This can cover minor blemishes and light eye bags if you use a generous amount. The finish is very natural - not completely matte, I think, since it has a hint of dewiness to it. It would be great to use during events when you'd be heavily photographed. It doesn't have SPF and is quite photogenic with its demi-matte coverage!

I've done many events for my clients but I still get nervous. What if no one comes? What if something goes wrong and there's no way to fix it? What if I look horrible in all my pictures? The jitters usually strike on the event day itself. So I'm a bag of nerves right now!

But let's talk makeup before I start fixing the final details for today's work. I know that most girls would be worrying about their outfits during a special occasion, but my main concern is always the foundation. The observer's eye tend to focus on the face, so if the face is a weird shade of gray or white then nothing else would look right. In my opinion anyway!

If you're part of an event then you should be ready for the long hours sweating it out behind the scenes and/or in front of the crowd. Your foundation should be able to stay on and look good in person AND in photos! So choose wisely. The foundation I'd be using today is none other than the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Even Finish Compact (P2,400).

Sorry about the messy compact, I couldn't find the first set of photos I took of it

Coverage and finish. Its liquid sister is actually my favorite for events, but this cream version is waaay easier to use! A few swipes with a sponge or dense brush and I'm all done with my base. The coverage is medium to heavy, hiding most blemishes with just one thin layer. If you don' want to bother with concealer

One time, while I was browsing the IN2IT lipstick display, the sales lady told me "Ma'am, you should try this shade, it's what models ask for!" It doesn't really take much to impress me so off I went with this hot pink number. Is it any good? Well duh, it's IN2IT! This brand never fails to come up with great products that won't hurt the wallet. 

The IN2IT Moisture Intense Lipstick in Pink Alarm (P375) is a bright, blue-based hot pink lipstick. It's one of those quietly popular things that are always sold out! I can see why, for other than the eye-catching color, the lipstick itself has no smell, no taste, and no overly-thick feel characteristic of drugstore lipsticks. Maybe that's why it's a bit more expensive than average.

The Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Stay-in-Place Makeup (P1,900) has been in my stash for over a year now, but I must confess that I haven't used it - until recently, that is! The shade I have (Intensity 4) is a bit pink and light on my skin so I haven't used it as often as I should. Shade woes aside, I love the formula of this product. It's a heavy-coverage, long-wearing foundation that girls with oily and troubled skin will love!

Coverage and finish. Intensity 4 is kinda light and pink for me but as long as I use a sheer layer only, it will eventually adjust to my natural coloring. The coverage is quite heavy so I won't recommend using a thick layer in any case. A light application can already cover my eye bags and dark blemishes! It can also cover redness from fresh pimples and allergies.

The finish is matte, but it's not the flat kind of matte. It really perfects the complexion and gives it this flawless coverage. Just be careful about the amount you apply. Too much and the DW Light will look cakey.

I am just curious, whenever you choose make-up or beauty products do you check if it is paraben-free or not? I have a LOT of products that I use that has paraben (ex. BenNye powder) and most of them are my go-to products which irks me because I've read that paraben induces breast cancer. How about you? - Ella

Hi Ella! Good question. Parabens have been one of the scapegoats of fear-mongering "organic" brands for years now, but there is no conclusive study (so far) that links parabens to breast cancer or any form of disease. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration consider parabens to be safe. Methyl and propylparaben are classified as GRAS, or Generally Regarded As Safe. In the 40 years that parabens have been used in the US, there have been no long or short-term toxic effects found in humans. 

There was a study published in 2004 that noted the presence of parabens in breast tumors. However, the study did not say whether the parabens were harmful to our health or if they were one of the causes of cancer. Nonetheless the "Paraben Panic" has spread to the Internets via one of those innocuous chain emails.

The left us with a vague idea of parabens being hazardous to our health. That's ironic, because they are in fact one of the most useful and commonly used ingredients in cosmetics, personal care products, and even food preparation.

Gel tints are for people who don't want to muck about with brushes and powders. They are super convenient and more natural-looking compared to powder brushes and, when applied correctly, lasts considerably longer due to the stain they tend to leave. Tints are also appropriate on all skin types - dry skin, oily skin, they will look good and feel good on top.

One of the latest tints out there is the Estee Lauder Pure Color Cheek Rush (P2,000). This is a gel blush that has a sheer, ultra-natural color pay-off that stays on for hours. It's better worn on bare skin to maximize its staining action, but you can also apply it on top of makeup if you prefer.

The shade I have, X-Pose Rose, looks like scary pink goo when it is pumped out, but it's actually a pretty pink rose shade once you break it down. I love that it's watery and easy to blend all over the cheeks. What I do is a place one pump on the back of my hand, spread it out, then pick up a tiny bit using my fingers. I then apply that to my cheeks, and voila, instant pink flush that doesn't look like makeup. 

It's been a while since I reviewed a foundation, no? I've been so enamoured with my favorites that I haven't been exploring outside of the things I already have. That's perfectly fine, of course, but I'm a beauty blogger. I'm all about options for you guys, which is why this week I'll be talking about five foundations worth looking into. You just might find a new favorite!

Let me begin with a drugstore product: the BYS Minerals Naturale Compact Foundation (P699). I liked it as soon as I swatched it - it had this pearlescent sheen and a silky, smooth texture, two qualities that mark a good foundation. I'm quick to judge when swatching foundation, and I'm happy to say that I made a good call in buying this one!

Hi folks! How was your weekend? Mine was spent doing absolutely nothing. Nothing. Now I feel terrible after all that inactivity, but in any case this week is going to be an extremely busy one. My face is literally twitching while I think about it. Well. One must soldier on!

Today I'll do a quick unboxing of the latest Glamourbox. Now this one blows all the past boxes out of the water - it contains A LOT of exciting full-sized products from Avon! It even includes a tube of the new Avon Ultra Color Lipstick. The good news is, the box is still available for purchase at the Glamourbox website. I'm sure you'll be convinced to grab one for yourself once you see what's inside.

Okay okay, enough with the suspense. Here's the Special Edition Avon Glamourbox (P595)!

The best part of my Japan trip last week was the visit to the Shiseido Museum in Kakegawa. It wasn't the shopping or the sight-seeing around Tokyo - it was the museum housing 140 years worth of stories and innovations! Remember my post on the rich history of the oldest cosmetics brand in the world? I was so in awe of Shiseido when I wrote that, so imagine my delight in visiting the place where the brand's product archives, ad materials, and art work are stored!

The museum is about two hours away from Tokyo via the Shinkansen (bullet train), and four hours by car. It's surrounded by a quiet suburban neighborhood - the kind of place where Doraemon and Nobita would have lived. It was an offbeat location for a corporate museum but the curator explained why it was built there. The first in place was actually a factory. The location was chosen for convenience since it's between Tokyo and Osaka, making it easier for employees to commute to work

The factory utilized the most cutting-edge technology at that time so people visited it to satisfy their curiousity. It became so popular that Shiseido decided to build something that could accommodate visitors while displaying and storing their extensive archives. Hence, the Shiseido Museum was born.

Okay, enough talking and more sight-seeing. Are you ready for a virtual tour of this awesome museum? ^_^ Click click!

The world rejoiced when the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters came out, because they were so smooth, moisturizing, and pigmented! They were everything everyone secretly wanted their lip balms to be. ;) Okay, sweeping generalizations aside, Colorburst Lip Butters were great everyday lipsticks for women who need something wearable and convenient. They are inexpensive too, at P525 a pop.

I've already done a full review so head on over there to see more details. Today I will just be showing you the latest shades in the Revlon Lip Butter line! These are part of their summer collection, hence the warm and fun shade selection.

Here are the lip swatches + description!

You asked for it, so here it is! I honestly didn't expect to shop this much in Tokyo. Actually, I didn't know I got this much until I photographed everything. Take note, I've already given away a lot of stuff at this point. I bought my mom a cute bag, my dad a watch, my brother a shirt and a pair of shades. Wish I took pictures as they were nice finds. 

Anyway! Like I said in my travel kit post, it's sale season in Japan right now. Those that aren't on sale, however, are still affordable as long as you keep to small shops, flea markets, and drugstores - which is where I mostly shopped. By affordable I mean under P2,000 or roughly ¥4,000. I won't say how much I spent exactly, but I had to buy another huge bag just to fit everything. (Love the pink polka dots)

I got a loooot of food. I wish I bought more miso soup paste, and more Royce chocolate at the airport! And ramen. But food is so bulky. I mostly got these in Don.Ki in Ginza, which is a crazy grocery/drugstore beauty paradise that's open 24/7! You HAVE to go there when you visit Japan.

The Tokyo Banana Roar is a popular delicacy of sorts. We got ours from the train station, where people were seriously lining up.

Bobbi Brown palettes are often too beautiful to use, but hey, someone's gotta do it! How else would I be able to review them for you? Haha. Seriously though, the new Bobbi Brown Luxe Eye Palette (P3,200) is a sight to behold. It comes in a chic silver case that has a mirror-like surface, housing six silky eyeshadows and two small brushes.

The layout of the palette is different from the usual, as is the size (it's bigger). I wouldn't be using the brushes since I find them too small and unwieldy. And the eyeshadows? Well, they have good pigmentation, this gorgeous sheen and ultra-smooth texture - quality typical of all Bobbi eye colors. The six eyeshadows also come in different finishes, from matte, metallic, shimmer, and sparkle!

I am a huge believer in traveling as light as possible. If I can live without something for the next few days then it is highly unlikely that I will be bringing it! I actually just lugged my trusty gold NaRaYa bag  (this is such an awesome bag, it is incredibly light and tough! I've had it for years!) and a tote bag from Ferretti in my recent trip to Japan. I honestly felt I overpacked even with just two bags.

In the end, I had to buy another big bag just to store my purchases hehe. Shopping in Japan is quite inexpensive, more so when it's sale season (which is right about now). Most of the stores were at 50% to 70% off. And the drugstores! Oh my gosh! I just went batshit insane - but mostly for food lol. I wouldn't know what to do with more makeup or skincare, I seriously do not have any space left at home. In any case, do you think I should still post my haul?

Anyhoo, I just want to show you my makeup kit while I was over there. Again I packed too much, but it didn't feel like it while I was throwing everything inside. The actual pouch (from Bobbi Brown) is small but roomy. It fit pretty much everything I need, and a little bit more.

The pouch was part of a promo last year, I believe, so I don't think they sell this anymore. :( Well, I'm sure you can find something similar. Here's what I brought with me!

Last Thursday the Philippine press had the privilege of being one of the first in the world to see Shiseido's latest skincare line. The presentation was held at the Shiseido headquarters in Tokyo, and boy was it such an eye-opening hour and a half! The Japanese principals first discussed their research findings on the new generation - their motives, aspirations, and lifestyle trends.

The Shiseido headquarters

Did you know that in Japan, the average age is 46 versus the Philippines' 21 years old? The Japanese opt to make fewer and fewer children, and this has brought a lot of uncertainty to those in their early 20s and 30s. Instead of being with family that is directly related to one another, there is now what is called a "happy collective". Young people would forge solid relationships with those their own age, to sort of take away the loneliness of living alone, which appears to be the custom in Japan.

Shibuya, the pulse of Tokyo

There is also an emerging middle class that prioritizes not only value in their purchases, but in also patronizing a brand that they can relate with. The relationship is more like a patron supporting an artist.

The most useful advice that I've ever received in my life is Don't Panic. It is so difficult to remember that, you know, when everything is converging towards you in a massive wave and it is impossible to turn anywhere without being swallowed up like a piece of melting chocolate. Well. Grace under pressure is a skill. We can't learn it if we do not truly feel the heat.

The best way to deal with pressure is to take things one at a time. Sounds simple enough. So I'll do that. :)

Today I want to finally talk about the Etude House Color Pop Collection! This collection is all about bright, show-stopping colors in hues of orange, pink, blue, and green. Now it doesn't seem to be available in the Philippines just yet, but I will definitely update this space when it is! For the meantime here are some swatches and quick thoughts about each of the products I received from Korea.

I'll start with the Etude House Color Pop Shine Tint in Sunny Pop. First swatch and I thought I wouldn't like this, for it is such a fiery orange! I tried using a generous amount on my lips and it looked so patchy that I removed it immediately. However, the trick is to use only a couple of dots to get a sheer wash of reddy peach color on the cheeks and lips. It's one of those tints that you can't layer over, as it is meant to be sheer.

The world is a huge place but there are two cities that I want to see in my lifetime: Tokyo and Paris. I have always assumed that I will be able to visit them when I'm 30 or something - traveling in your early twenties while paying rent in an upscale city, well, it doesn't compute. But thanks to Shiseido I had the opportunity to see Tokyo last week. I'll be sharing with you some of the beautiful sights to be found in this mega city, as well as the latest innovation from Shiseido!

But wait, why did the brand decide to bring the press to Japan instead of just holding the usual launch? The new line of products is a special step for them, they explained, because it is the first time that they'll be tapping the younger generation. Shiseido is thought of as catering to an older market, but they want to change that.

They wanted us to experience Tokyo - the luxe yet composed atmosphere of Ginza (the business district), the healing environment of the Meiji Jingu Shrine (a forest in the middle of the city), and the electrifying, high-energy streets of Harajuku and Shibuya (food and fashion reign supreme). We also visited the Shiseido Museum in Kakegawa, and where it all began in 1897 - the Shiseido Parlour and the Shiseido flagship store along the Ginza strip.

By visiting all these places, we are able to understand the brand at a deeper level. We have seen Shiseido's awe-inspiring past, its present, and perhaps even its future. Are you ready to see it as well? 

Let's go on a trip! :)