It was love at first sight when I saw the promo materials for Bobbi Brown's latest collection, Sea Pearls. The look was perfect! The coral pink blush and lips whispered dainty, while the big lashes and shimmery green shadow flashed drama. It was a great study in contrasts, with such an elegant output. Of course I had to copy it!

I initially wanted to do the full smoky eyes yesterday but I ran out of time, so I came up with a modified, simplified version of the Sea Pearls look. I also don't have the full collection which is why I used other brands - but I have the exact same blush! It's amazing. I mean look at it. Coral Pink is my current favorite blush!

To achieve dewy, natural-looking skin, I used the Bobbi Brown BB Cream, concealed whatever needed to be concealed with MAC Studio Finish, then topped everything with a thin layer of Ben Nye Banana Powder.  

Should you invest in a good mascara or should you just save that money for something else? There are tons of good affordable mascaras out there, if you find one that fits your preferences then there's no reason to spend over a thousand bucks for a tube. My HG mascara is quite expensive, yes, but if it gets wiped out from the face of the Earth tomorrow, I'll go to my next favorite one (which is just P600 bucks btw). No big deal.

Just set a comfortable budget and read reviews first before you settle on a mascara purchase. Do avoid using mascara testers on your eyes, for the love of glob! You don't know where that wand has been and how long it has been steeping in the darkness! *shudder* Just read beauty blogs you trust and save yourself from a possible eye infection.

So! To continue Mascara Week, here's a review of one of the latest mascaras in the country - the Etude House Lash Perm All Shockara Mascara (P648). It promises shocking volume, curls, and length all in a waterproof formula. Does it deliver?

It does, at least in the lengthening and waterproof department. If you want curls and volume, you need to give your lashes a really, really good curl first! This isn't the kind of mascara that you can just swipe on and expect to get dramatic eyes immediately - it requires some prep time with a great lash curler plus a lot of coaxing afterwards.

Man, I noticed that I only published 30 posts last month! My average is 40-50, and yes I can still get that number even when I'm busy. I guess August was just a generally uninspired month for me. Call it a minor break from blogging! I'm sure September is more interesting, beauty-wise. The brands are getting ready to launch their autumn and holiday collections so I'm sure we'll have lots of awesome things to look forward to. 

I also want to post more FOTDs this September. I remember the good ol' days when beauty bloggers would share more FOTDs and tutorials than reviews. Sure reviews are useful, but looks of the day show those products in action. I'd like to polish up my eyeshadow chops and try out new combinations - I have a few new good eyeshadow palettes that I can't wait to play with!

Okay okay I'm done with the small talk. Here is my monthly list of favorites! :)

The Clinique Long Last Lipstick in Runway Coral is probably my banner lipstick this August. I love the formula and the elegant silver bullet, but really it's the color that got me all infatuated. Coral-watermelon-pink shades never fail to brighten my complexion even if I'm not wearing much makeup!

The ZA Plumper Lips Lipstick in Rose Vintage is a more subdued lipstick - something more appropriate for work engagements or errands. Hey, a girl can't have too many MLBB lipsticks if you ask me! (Which just gave me an idea for a blog post, hehe).

I've lost count of the number of lip balms I have - and their exact locations - so I pick up whatever is in my line of sight. I make sure that the Hurraw! Grapefruit Lip Balm is always in my line of sight. It's one of the best lip balms I've tried so far! Check out my other picks: my top five favorite lip balms.

Did you know that mascara is one of the oldest forms of cosmetics? It dates as far back as 4000 B.C., when ancient Egyptians would use crushed minerals, soot, crocodile stool, honey, and water to darken their eyes. They believed that masking their eyes would keep them safe from evil spirits. Today, women and men use mascara primarily for aesthetic purposes - to enhance their lashes and define their eyes. I'm just glad we lost the crocodile poop!

This week will be all about mascara at Project Vanity. I'll be reviewing some of the latest and most remarkable mascaras out in the market, and at the end of it, my top five picks. So! Let's begin with a reformulated version of one of Majolica Majorca's bestselling mascaras - the Lash Expander Edge Meister (P795)!

This is the most lengthening mascara I've ever tried to date. I swear, people always ask me if I'm wearing falsies whenever I have this on! This is actually the reason I'm not so fluent in applying false lashes - I mean, why bother when I can just wear Lash Expander and get the same effect?

Lash Expander Edge Meister is the updated formula of the original Majolica Majorca Lash Expander. I find that the fiberwig hairs are denser in the new formula, giving even longer and more volumized results. It also has less of that mascara smell; it's undetectable unless you give the brush a direct sniff.

When I quit my first and only full-time job in 2010, I was scared out of my wits. I remember crying after my last day, wondering if I did the right thing. I'd be lying if I told you that I haven't considered job offers from head hunters in the last three years. Having a full-time job is just so...safe. Secure. Predictable. I don't have to worry about insurance. My salary would come on the dot.

But that's not what I truly want. I want to have my own business, preferably doing something I genuinely enjoy. I love blogging and organizing events, creating a solid brand and voice for businesses. I can't do all that with a vanilla desk job. Well, maybe I can, but it would be slow-going and my focus would be split up. 

So I did what I had to do and I am where I want to be.

On a related note - I'm not a famous person so every mention in a magazine is a big deal to me. <3 Thanks Guia Galvez and Wyatt Ong for the awesome article! Everyone needs to read it, because who doesn't want to make a career out of what they love doing? These are solid tips, you guys!

I have a new hobby - crafting. I love doing things with paper, but I'm partial towards cardmaking. It is ridiculously fun! It's like I'm building my makeup collection all over again, this time with cutting tools, adhesives, and paper. It allows me to indulge in the process of creating something with my bare hands. I don't often get to do that in my line of work, but I believe that making something - any thing - is crucial to my sanity and happiness. So I do it when I can.

Anyway, while I was looking for more supplies to add to my crafting collection, I came across this set of Royal & Langnickel art brushes. I found them in Deovir in Megamall (Megamall A, 5th Level)! I wanted to have reaaaallly precise brushes for my acrylics and gouache paints; these three taclon brushes look perfect. And guess what - I only paid P120 for the whole set!

Royal & Langnickel is famous for their cosmetics brushes, but their other business is art tools. Their basic makeup brushes actually aren't expensive, but the ones from the luxe lines - whoa. They're gorgeous and will gouge a hole in your wallet. I wish they're available here though! I would love to try them someday. For now I'm happy to have these three.

So wait why am I writing about these art brushes in my beauty blog? Three guesses. ;)

I feel extremely foolish for forgetting this, so I am sorry in advance for the very short notice! Mira (Clinique's Marketing Manager) and I have been planning this for a while! I will be hosting a small afternoon soiree at Clinique in SM Aura this Saturday, August 31, from 2-5 PM. Nibbles will be available, and the confirmed guests will receive a gift from Clinique. 

There will be a short personal makeup workshop featuring Clinique's best-selling products. All attendees can also avail of a free facial right there in the store. Then, we'll have a fun activity where you guys can win full-sized goodies. ;) It's going to be awesome!

So, if you don't have plans this Saturday and would like to be part of this exclusive gathering of beauty fans, please do let me know if you can come. Just email your name and mobile number to lizlanuzo [at] projectvanity.com! The first 14 who confirm will be automatically included in the guest list. As a kindness to those who are truly interested, please only email me if you can make it for sure. Thank you so much and see you then!

Next announcement! The Clinique Bonus will be happening again this September. You'll get a set of deluxe samples free with your single receipt purchase of 4,500 from September 1 to 15, 2013, while supplies last. If you step up your purchase to P5,000, you'll receive a Clinique tote bag (one per customer).

Here are more deets on what's inside the Clinique Bonus set!

Okay, I'm cheating here. I technically won't be writing about five eyeliners only, because that's not as fun as, say, a dozen ones! I will however be talking about five brands that make crazy amazing eyeliners. These are the ones that smudge minimally, if at all, and never fade even if you wear them until the sun sets (or rises if you roll that way). These are the eyeliners I always pick up simply because they're reliable. 

I have also included some eyeliners worth an honorable mention. ;) Let's get cracking!

K-Palette Real Lasting Eyeliners. My current HG eyeliner is the K-Palette liquid eyeliner - the waterproof one. This is the best in terms of staying power and ease of application! I've worn it for 15 hours and it has never, ever fallen apart. It's what I wear when I know I'm going to have a long day and have zero time to fuss with smudgy eyes.

The K-Palette pencils have amazing pigmentation and staying power as well, but they do smudge if they're not applied on some sort of powdered/primed surface. They're great just as long as I am wearing something underneath 'em.

MAC Fluidline, Technakohl, and Powerpoint eye liners. The MAC Fluidline was my HG eyeliner before K-Palette. K-Palette beats it only because the gel eyeliner requires a clean brush everytime I use it; I simply don't always have the time to rummage for a brush and then wash it.

Young people these days are all "I don't know what I want to do with my life!" If I ever hear you say that, you will get a long, long talk from me. You should avoid living a meaningless life with no direction, no clear-cut goals. I firmly believe that we all know what we want to do for the rest of our lives, right now, except that we're too afraid to fail at it. 

For many of us, pipe dreams are better than failed ones. It's easier to keep a Nebulous Some Day close to our heart, when everything we ever wanted will come true. It's easier to make excuses. But anything worth doing is never easy so just suck it up and do it! Whatever regrets may come of it, at least you'd end up knowing what you can do and who you are exactly. Then maybe you'll try again when you're ready or move on to the next dream.

Anyhoo, I just want to review the Hurraw! Grapefruit Lip Balm (P250 from Cutieverse). This is a reaaaallllly nice lip balm - it's light on the lips, buttery, and moisturizing. It's citrusy grapefruit scent is refreshing and not overly chemical. The oblong tube is also pretty genius (albeit strange), since the shape easily fits the contours of my lips.

Blackheads are possibly the most annoying things ever. They're not quite pimples, which would inspire fury to all they plague. But they are mean. They are tough to kill. Blackheads are mocking little things that can make you want to just squeeze them out of existence (thus damaging your skin), but it doesn't have to be that way! There are a lot of ways to prevent them and cure them once they begin to multiply.

What causes blackheads and how to prevent them

But wait, before you go charging into combat, you need to know what causes blackheads in the first place. Blackheads are formed when too much oil gets backed up in your pores. The oil then mixes in with dead skin cells. When this yucky combination is exposed to air, it darkens, hence the term "blackheads". 

In other words, the best ways to prevent BH is to:

1. Make sure the oil lessens or flows freely onto the surface of your skin. Hormone imbalance can cause excessive oil production - you might need to take some oral medication as prescribed by your dermatologist, if this is the case. Otherwise, if you're just oily because of your genetic makeup, then the best thing you could do is to wear cosmetics that don't clog pores, and to blot the oil ASAP.

2. Regularly slough off dead skin with an effective cleansing and toning routine. Choose facial washes with a mild exfoliating and anti-oil feature

CLEAN fragrances are a lot like Jo Malone - the brand doesn't come with much fanfare and it's probably not something you'll read about often in a magazine. They are quietly popular, with a loyal fanbase that speak of it excitedly if the topic comes up. It's one of those things that people in the know just know about.

I first tried CLEAN a few years back and found myself liking the honest, soap-based smell of it. It is sincere. There is no pretension, no complex story. CLEAN is about smelling clean, and everything from the simple packaging down to the actual notes of the fragrance embodies that.

The brand released a couple of new scents recently called Skin and Rain. Rain is supposed to capture the essence of a rain shower, with notes of melon and dainty florals in the aqua fragrance. CLEAN Skin (P1,650 for 30ml), which I have here, sets out to express the smell of clean, warm skin. Is it successful?

Hi Miss Liz! I have a birthmark on the face and while I know that sometimes, confidence is the key, people looking all the time can get to you. And I want to try going birthmark free for the first time! How do I cover it? What do I buy? Heavy concealer? Heavy foundation? I'm pretty much willing to go until the MAC budget, but no high-ends such as Chanel, etc. Thank you! :) - Hannah

Hi Hannah! Thanks for your question. I know how debilitating it is to walk around with marks on the face. We want to tell ourselves that it shouldn't affect our self-esteem, but they still exist and people look at them. I've been struggling with blemishes most of my life. They're not quite the same thing as a birth mark, but the principle of concealing them should apply.

The trick is concealing only the problem spot/s instead of your whole face. The finished look would be more natural, showing more skin than makeup! You also have to be careful about the concealers you use. They should be able to stick for hours, even after a lot of oil and swear - maybe even water if you're out for a swim. 

In this tutorial, I used a light foundation (actually, it's just a cc cream) as a base, applied a thick, opaque concealer to completely cover the blemishes, and then applied a thinner concealer to blend in the thick concealer. Then, I set the whole thing with powder to seal the makeup in place.

Confession: I've been steadily collecting false lashes in the hopes that one day I'll be brave enough to wear them out of the house. False eyelashes intimidate me. However, I know that like eyeliner and lash curling, I just need to practice my lash application! I mean, if other people can do it, it should be easy enough to learn.

Anyhoo it's been a while since I did an FOTD! I think Instagram is the best way to publish looks like this, but I also wanted to say a few things about the Ardell Fashion Lashes (P600) that I got from Watsons. They're pretty natural, I think, without losing any of that fluttery effect false lashes give to the eyes.

I got this pack specifically because it's a three-piece set. I wanted to get some Ardell glue for my other falsies, plus I wanted to try out that nifty plastic lash holder (which is sold separately too). The lash glue did not disappoint - it held the lashes until I pulled them off. It also rubs off with water-based makeup remover. Sadly the lash holder thingie was a disappointment. It did nil to help me attach the lashes. :/

Nice lashes overall. I just need to practice more. :) On to the look - these days I prefer "clean" makeup with big eyes and bold lips. The whole thing can look overdone with blush, so I just contoured my cheeks, nose, and jawline for extra definition. 

Here's what I used to achieve the look!

Maybe it's my age, but the way I choose shoes now is vastly different from how I did it before. Just a year ago I would always wander off to the flashiest section of a shoe store, giving the flats and boring wedges a wide berth. The higher the heels, the more exciting they are to wear. The challenge was fun - maintaining my balance in uneven and slippery flooring, changing from flats at just the right moment, towering over most people.

Now it's not so fun. The turning point was when I was walking down a street with a lot of sloping sides, almost slipping a few times - but not quite. I thought to myself, with a quiet fury that I reserve for those who cut in lines and those who man fastfood telephones, "Why the frick am I doing this to myself?" I don't have to walk in terribly high heels. It doesn't prove anything to anyone except that I'm stupid and prideful.

Do you notice how I rarely review skincare or foundation here? I might feature them and give a bit of information about them, but I probably don't use 90% of the facecare products I receive. It's because I am deathly afraid of breakouts. They come in swiftly if I happen to use a product that has ingredients I am reactive to. They multiply even if I only use the product once. It takes about a week to heal the damage, and a couple of months to fade out the acne scars left over. 

This is the "unfun" part of beauty blogging. It's always a serious risk to try a new face product, so I usually only test those from brands I already trust. Stuff from brands I'm not familiar with get relegated to the "I'll Review It Someday When My Face Is Clear Enough To Take Any Potential Damage" box. Something like the Dermalogica Sheer Tint SPF20 (P2,250).

Dermalogica is a brand that's famous for cosmeceutical products. I remember severely wanting to try their spot corrector and exfoliator after Lisa Eldridge talked about them, but I was unsure where I could find them. Apparently, there's Dermalogica in Rustan's! I checked out a display once and found a wide selection of items to choose from. Also, the pricing isn't unjustifiably far off from the US price. Always a good sign.

So okay, let's talk about the Dermalogica Sheer Tint! This is primarily a gel-based illuminating moisturizer that promises to improve skin texture and reduce the appearance of dehydration lines with powerful plant extracts. A mouthful, but the summary is that this. Stuff. Works. It immediately brightens up my skin and makes it feel smoother and healthier after application. It's also a great makeup base, in the sense that it helps your makeup adhere better, though not necessarily last longer.

Many tinted moisturizers/ BB creams today are foundations masquerading as part skincare. The Dermalogica Sheer Tint is primarily a skincare product. You can feel it once it sinks on your skin.

People cope with disaster in different ways. Some eat, some drink, some withdraw under the cool light of the television screen. Some turn to the Internet for the sentiments and a sense of solidarity. Some people can turn nasty when they feel that others aren't as sympathetic as they should be. However, coping isn't something someone else can define for you. If it feels right and if you're not hurting other people with malicious intent, then post that motherduckling selfie.

(I wouldn't recommend it though, if you can help it.)

I wasn't sure if I should blog today, but in the end I just decided that I want to see something bright and pink on my website. Pink makes me happy. The brighter it is, the bigger the smile I have inside. :) Let's not overanalyze that!

I just want to show you a quick swatch of the Picture Polish in Shocked! Picture Polish is an Australian indie nail polish brand. I found out that this color is designed by the blogger behind Shatter Me Claire! How cool an opportunity is that? I would love to have my own personally-designed bottle of nail polish someday. 

What a dark and dreary Monday it is. It's not the best way to start the week, but there are lots of ways to cheer ourselves up! Mine involves a hot bowl of arroz caldo, a botched attempt at a home made doggie raincoat, and now, a happy lipstick review. What's yours?

Anyhoo, on to the lipstick! The Clinique Long Last Lipstick in Runway Coral (P1,100) is my current favorite lipstick. It's been ages since I've worn an actual Clinique lipstick (the Chubby Stick doesn't count) that I've forgotten how nice the brand makes them. I've said this again and again - Clinique is famous for skincare products, but its makeup is surprisingly good. Especially of late, it's like the Clinique makeup department is on crack.

There are lots of nice lipsticks out there, but I there are only a few that come in beautiful packaging and an amazing formula. The Clinique Long Last Lipstick has both. The burnished silver bullet has some heft to it and a gliding closure with no click. I love it! The tactile feel alone can excite any girl who cherishes beautiful objects.

The formula itself is also very good. It's smooth and cushy and light on the lips, but it stays put for five hours if you don't eat.

I wish I planned my purchases while I was in Hong Kong. If I spared a thought on what I needed versus what looked interesting at that time, I would have grabbed all the available shades of the L'Oreal Infallible Eye Shadow! No dice about it - this is an awesome creamy eyeshadow that is worth. Every. Single Cent.

Thankfully, Bon Marche Page sells this locally for only P280. It's about the same price in HK! 

So what makes these eyeshadows awesome? Wow, let me count the ways! They are intensely pigmented, they're smooth and creamy, a  dream to blend, and they stay on ALL day with barely any creasing - WITHOUT the use of primer. Yes I need to capitalize those words. These L'Oreal Infalliable pots are everthing bold eyeshadow should be. 

And they're cheap.

These look and feel like cream eyeshadows but they are technically packed powder pigments with a bit of binder thrown in. You can use your fingers for a quick swipe of color but if you want a more refined finish, these shadows work perfectly well with both animal or synthetic brushes.