My "ARTies" for our BAGUIO CHRISTMAS Vacay

Two days and we're going up North! Yep, we'll celebrate Christmas in Baguio since hubby's mom will be here for only a few days. She'll be leaving on the 30th and won't be able to spend the New Year with us, so Christmas will be hers. :)

Before, I do pack a lot of things whenever we go to a short trip. But now, I can't do that thing anymore 'cause I have to concentrate mostly on what Yale's bag will contain. 

I only chose some of the little staples I'll be needing for the holiday looks. Since I'm pretty sure that we won't stay all day at the hotel. Definitely, we'll be goin' out a lot during our stay there. So better look always good on the camera! LOL

too much? nah, just enough to create a face. lol

 THE FACE SHOP Lovely Me Ex Make up base - I love this so much!

BENEFIT Lemon Aid and Boi-ing

ELF Eyelid primer

REVLON Photo Ready Liquid Foundation - I have a strong feeling that this bottle will be emptied soon!

MAC Select Sheer Pressed powder

IN2IT Duo Eye shadow - baked shadows good for the holidays

HERBENCH Paint Box - I'm good with this! 

AVON Eye defining pencil

TONY MOLY Simple Style Mascara

ELF Cream liner

ETUDE HOUSE Color My Brows

ELF Eyelash curler 

MAC Heroine Lipstick

MAC Russian Red Lipstick

ESTEE LAUDER Pure Color Long Last Lipstick in Mystic Mauve

You can never go wrong by having different shades! 

ELF Brushes:

Stipple

Eye shadow

Blending

and

Extra cosmetic wedges 

Temporarily, this pouch will be their home while we're away from home :)

And of course, to cleanse off make up after, I just have to bring my ever so trusted POND's cold cream.

Also, to keep lips moisturized is a lip balm and a VS scent to keep me fresh! 

Excited for our trip! Happy Holidays! :)

How to: AIRBRUSH Make Up without an airbrush

It's almost the end of the week loves! I bet you're all planning something for the weekend! Well, my mom-in-law arrives tonight from Dubai and were going to the metro again tomorrow at the hotel where she stays. So I might not be posting another article for about a day or two so we can have some time with the family. It's also her first time to see my son walking and talking. :)

Anyway, a lot of people noticed about the flawless make up I've had on the wedding that we attended to last Wednesday. Some thought that I've used an airbrush for the make up I did. Well, I don't have an airbrush to do that. All I have are brushes to start with. 

Here's a technique I've learned a couple of months ago and I was surprised when it turned out to be what it was supposed to be. LOL!

I've used my REVLON Photo Ready liquid foundation in Shell, MAC Fix+ and a stippling brush to do the trick.

Steps:

1. Spray some MAC Fix+ on your stippling brush to avoid drying of foundation and for smooth application.

(You can also spray water or any alternative vitamin water)

2. The white bristles should be the only part where your liquid foundation will go through. 

3. Put a generous amount of liquid foundation at the back of your hand and take them using your stippling brush.

4. Use the stippling method in applying the foundation on your face and neck.

5.  Immediately swirl the foundation on your face so it won't dry up.

6. Apply foundation as needed on your face and neck area.

7. After doing all the make up, set by using a loose or compact powder. I used MAC Select Sheer Pressed Powder for my look.

This look was actually after 4 hours of applying the make up, see that there's a certain glow and the finish was great!

(Sorry for the candid shot my husband took!)

An affordable and easy way to achieve an airbrush look without spending too much for another tool. 

Have you tried this technique too?

xoxo

PRE-HOLIDAY Make Up Haul

Hello there lovelies! I had an early make up haul for this month 'cause I don't have any plans of buying too much make up and stuffs. I need to concentrate more on buying gifts for the family, Yale and my God children. Well, for God children, I always prefer to give them monetary gifts instead of stuffs. But for those kids who are rather celebrating their birthdays and christening, I prefer giving them stuffs if I'm not a God parent. :)

This month's pre-holiday haul are somewhat some of the "basic" things that I want to add on my kit. Notice that there will be no MAC or a lipstick item, you'll know why before this month ends.

Here are the things I bought:

Five items :)

ELF Stipple brush - Php 249.75 (around US $6)

TONY MOLY Simple Style Mascara - Php 198 (about US $4)

ELF Eyelid Primer - Php 129.75 (US $3)

ELF Blending Eye brush - Php 129.75 (around US $3)

IN2IT Sheer Eye Shadow - Php 299 (US $7)

Another reason for purchasing only a few is because I wanted to try these products for my friend's wedding that I'll be attending on the 12th. So all I have to do now is to try these products first and I'm actually excited for the eye shadow, my first purchase from IN2IT!

Review on these products soon! :)

Review: ELF MAKE UP BRUSHES

I have reviewed my ELF products for this month, also wrote my remedy for cleaning my brushes. So how could I forget my reliable brushes from ELF then?

Well since I got introduced to ELF cosmetics two years ago, I have noticed their lovely and affordable pieces of make up tools whenever I pass by their counters inside the malls particularly SM department stores. Before their studio line (the tools and make up products in black) were launched, they already have these brushes in a more budget-friendly price.

Here are the ELF brushes that I have:

 I have four (4) brushes from ELF that is essential for my gigs :)

ELF Total Face Brush

(+) affordable price

(+) soft bristles after first wash

(+) can be used daily

(+) doesn't bleed too much

(-) bristles may dry if not washed properly

* Overall, I use this brush for blushers and loose powder, for touch ups as well.

ELF Foundation Brush

(+) affordable

(+) gives a smooth finish in applying liquid foundation

(+) soft bristles

(+) nice color

* I love using this every time I apply liquid foundation, it makes application smooth and easy.

ELF Eye Shadow Brush

(+) affordable

(+) can be used daily

(+) easy to clean

(+) doesn't bleed

(-) bristles may fall after first wash

(-) may dry if not washed properly

 

* It's very economical to use, you can purchase a number of this brush since it's so affordable. So you don't have to keep on washing your brushes whenever you apply different colors of eye shadow.

ELF Blending Brush

(+) affordable

(+) easy to use

(-) bristle shape may be deformed after several washes

* As you can see from the photo, the bristles already deformed after washing it for quite a number of times. For its price, you can't expect for a very good quality but I can say that it does the job well. I have used it for more than six (6) months with several washes so I think I've already used up its quality then. :)

WILL I REPURCHASE THEM?

If for the price and quality, YES. Especially if you have other people to use your brushes with.

'til then!

My Remedy for Make up Brush Cleansers

Just this morning, I realized that I need a new stock of cleansers for my brushes. Running out of make up brush cleansers is a big NO especially if you use your brushes regularly. But then, I need to wash them and use what I have in my kit.

These two products are what I've used to clean the brushes:

left: Pure Beauty Perfect Cleansing Oil

right: Johnson's Baby shampoo 

Why these two?

Pure Beauty Cleansing Oil - a lot of make up artists and enthusiasts uses olive oil to clean their brushes if they don't have cleansers. I just thought that I can also use this since it's mild enough and it is a cleansing oil. It removes make up even waterproof ones, so it can also remove those on brushes. I have made a review here and I mentioned that this oil emulsifies. Once mixed with water, it will turn to milk. 

Johnson's Baby shampoo - it's a baby shampoo so it has mild ingredients that won't harm the brushes. It won't make your brushes dry unlike other liquid soaps. I have tried and tested this a couple of times so I know it's a good cleanser if you're not in a rush to clean your brushes.

So here's what I did:

I used some of my brushes from ELF (since these brushes are cheaper, at least I can easily replace them in case this experiment will fail)

I put 3 drops of Pure Beauty Cleansing oil in a container and dipped the brush 

Stroked the brush on a piece of tissue to take out make up residue 

Look at all the residue that came off from the brushes! 

Then, I put a small amount of Johnson's Baby shampoo on my palm 

Also, dropped with water and stroked the brush again to cleanse off the oil 

Washed with running water while stroking my hands on the hair to make sure 

that it's totally rinsed off. 

Let it dry (hair should be on the edge, not laid flat)

So there, if I don't have a brush cleaner, I can always make use of these two, if I'm not on the go. The cleansing oil made a good job in preventing fall outs and bleeding of the brushes. :)

My SEPTEMBER Favorites

Hi there loves! It's the time of the month again for my favorite make up pieces. Since it's sunny-rainy-sunny season, I have decided not to use much make ups for my face. So here are the faves...

ELF Eyebrow kit, ELF Blusher, MAC Select Sheer Pressed

ELF All Over Face Brush, ELF Length Defining Mascara (24K), BENEFIT the POREfessional, BENEFIT Lemon Aid and Boi-ing

ONE Berrylicious Balm, MAC Russian Red lipstick

So there goes my September favorites. If you've noticed, I didn't use much on liquid foundations since the weather is sometimes too hot or wet. For this kind of season, I prefer to use more on powder foundations or just face powder. This will help my skin stay fresh. :)

Thanks again loves! xoxo

My AUGUST Favorites

I never thought of creating a post of my monthly favorites, it's just now that I have realized that I should do so. :)

So here they are...

From left to right: palette from Active Cosmetics, Black Liner from Elf, One Great Mascara from Avon, Eyebrow wax and powder from Elf

I love using this palette from Active Cosmetics, I can use it for smokey eye looks as well as for natural looks. But of course, I rarely use the brush that comes with it. The Black liner from Elf was included in their 24k collection.

Revlon Photo Ready (Liquid foundation)

 Used with an Elf foundation brush

This liquid foundation from Revlon has always been my favorite ever since it first landed on my face. It helps keep me get a full coverage and it really looks good on photos. It is a staple on my make up kit. :)

From left to right: NYX round lipstick in Hot Pink, Elf Bronzing Powder, MAC lipstick in Heroine

I love the color of NYX round lipstick, though it dries my lips at times. So I think I need to look on another shade of good lipstick. I will try to check out MAC again for that. Elf's bronzing powder is best for parties that fall on night time. MAC lipstick in Heroine has always been an "eye catcher". I love how it tints my lips so well, aside from its matte finish.

So there, will post another favorites next month. See you again! :)

I'm A Kikay Mom!

My make up hobby started way back in college, but my make up collection started to explode on 2009. I'm not a professional make up artist, but I have attended seminars and personality development workshops. I love painting my face! :)

Just a bit of my make up collection, I bought a personal make up train case for Php 1,650.00 in zebra print by Legally Vain.

                                                                    Isn't that so pretty? :)

                                                                    It has a velvet interior...

                                              Here are some of my pretty-fying weapons. lol!

 Some of the make ups I recently bought were not yet included in this photo. I will try to check my collection again and throw away the old (expired ones if I have). I think I need to purchase new lipstick shades and eye shadow palettes. :)

                          My 88 color palette, I got it from Doll face cosmetics for only Php 850.00

                                                  My Bobbi Brown brushes in set of 24! :)

Putting make up isn't as easy as one, two, three...but it's not so hard as well. You just have to learn the basics and you're good to go. One thing that you have to remember when buying cosmetics: Don't sacrifice the quality with the price. Not all affordable cosmetics can give you a look that you want to achieve. And not all pricey make ups will give you a goddess look! Try to invest on make ups that you usually use everyday. Some make ups contains Lead which is bad for our health. If you have a sensitive skin, test the product first before buying it. Nobody wants to end up paying for a derma. Read blogs, articles, try to go to the website of the product you're looking for and see if there are reviews. Positive reviews gives us impressions that these products are good enough. But still, go for the product that suits you, your budget, your lifestyle.

Remember, make ups do have shelf life too! So check them once in a while. Don't stock up on too much make up that you end up throwing away after several months. Be realistic! :)