NARS Heat Wave Lipstick - Review, Photos, Swatches

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I love all variations of red lipstick, especially those shades that are reminiscent of retro and pin-up.

NARS Heat Wave lipstick is a red-orange shade that comes in a semi-matte finish. What I love about this lipstick, aside from the gorgeous color, is how light it feels when worn. I love MAC Lady Danger (slightly darker and a touch more orange), but Heat Wave just glides on smoother and more comfortable when worn because of it's creamy matte consistency. On the downside, Heat Wave needs a little more swipes to achieve the opacity I prefer. It also has a distinct taste that might put you off if you're very meticulous on that area. Another downside is it's unavailability here in the Philippines. This is a permanent shade, but for some reason, NARS counters here never re-stocked on this color so I had to order online.

It's long wearing and such a classic color that I'm certain it will look good on most (if not all) skin tones.

NARS Heat Wave

PROS: gorgeous shade, long wearing, creamy matte consistency, easy to apply, contains more product that most lipsticks

CONS: needs more swipe to achieve my preferred opacity, has a distinct taste, not locally available

VERDICT:

 I will repurchase when I don't find something better.


Where To Buy:
NARS Lipstick in Heat Wave
Online, P1400 (approx)

L'oreal Lucent Magique BB Cream - Review, Photos, Swatches

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I've been quite picky with the BB creams that I use. Most of what's available in the market doesn't suit my skin type and skin tone, has a distinct scent, and generally doesn't do anything for my skin. I got this sample of L'oreal Lucent Magique BB Cream in my October BDJ Box. I was hesitant to try it, but I thought what do I have to lose if I give this one a shot, right? I'm so happy I did. :)

This BB cream is like made for my skin. It mattifies my oily T-zone without making my dry patches more apparent. It's the perfect makeup base for me, and I also noticed my makeup lasts longer whenever I use this. It's also perfect whenever I'm a little lazy to put a full makeup on. I just use my Virginia Olsen Mineral Foundation (review to be posted soon) over it, and I'm done with my face. It never broke me out, and I don't really notice that it caused any pore clogging (blackheads / whiteheads). It looks pretty intimidating at first because of the shade, but once its blended out it becomes untraceable. I just love it and BDJ Box for including this love-in-a-tube. If it weren't for BDJ Box, I wouldn't have tried it. :)

L'oreal Lucent Magique BB Cream

Upper area (blended out)
Lower area (actual product)

PROS: perfect makeup base, mattifies without drying my skin, easy to blend, doesn't irritate my skin, doesn't have a distinct smell
CONS: comes in 1 shade

VERDICT:

I will definitely repurchase!

Where To Buy:

L'oreal BB Cream Lucent Magique BB Cream

Leading department stores and Watson's

Fiona Cologne in Raspberry Drops - Review and Photos

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Fiona Cologne in Raspberry Drops is my go-to cologne when I feel like being sweet and girly. Its the perfect scent whenever I wear my dainty dresses paired with pastel tights and doll shoes. I really prefer fruity scents over florals and musks, but surprisingly the light white floral and white musk of Raspberry Drops didn't bother me at all. I think this is just perfect when I feel like being a girly girl. :)

Raspberry Drops is described as "wonderfully sweet, fruity blend of raspberry, white flowers, and white musk". Just like the typical Fiona Cologne, this lasts 6 hours to 8 hours max on me; something that made me fall for their colognes.

Fiona Cologne is hypo allergenic, safe to be used on children and is a product of Skintec.

Fiona Cologne in Raspberry Drops

PROS: sweet and girly scent that's not overwhelming, lasts 6-8 hours on me, very affordable, locally available, hypo allergenic
CONS: it doesn't come in a spray bottle (personal preference)

VERDICT:

I will definitely repurchase!

Where To Buy:

Fiona Cologne in Raspberry Drops

Leading department stores and drugstores

You can avail any Fiona Cologne scents in five handy bottles: 25ml (Php 15.00) , 50ml (Php 24.75), 75ml(Php 34.00) , 100ml (Php 39.00) fliptop bottles and 50ml spray bottle (Php 35.25).

Guerlain Rouge Automatique Lipstick in Vega - Review, Photos, Swatches

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My cousin has been recommending Guerlain lipsticks for the longest time. I've been wanting to try them, but the price is not so inviting; each tube costs more than P2000. I can buy 2 MAC lipsticks with that money! But of course, as a beauty blogger, I can only stay away for a while. Since their lipsticks are pretty expensive, I wanted to get one in a shade that I'll love forever. Something timeless, classic, and gorgeous. So I went for a fierce red. :)

Guerlain Rouge Automatique in Vega is a classic red shade with blue undertones. It looks more like a brownish red on tube, but its really not at all when worn. It's finish is reminiscent of MAC's Satin: opaque with sheen. It doesn't feel heavy on my lips, and it's not drying (true to its name, rouge). My only problem with this is that since it's not matte, it's not as long wearing as I'd want it to be. Yes, it does leave a good stain on my lips after a meal, but for it's price, I was expecting a lot more. I'm also not a fan of its scent / taste. Now, about their packaging, I personally love how "techy" it is. Some people thinks it's unnecessary, while I think it adds just a little bit more elegance. It surely looks luxurious, which is appropriate since it's really expensive.

Guerlain Rouge Automatique in Vega

PROS: beautiful shade, creamy, opaque, gorgeous packaging, locally available

CONS: very expensive, may need a lip primer to extend its hours of wear, has a distinct taste / scent

VERDICT:

 I will repurchase when I don't find something better.

Where To Buy:

Guerlain Rouge Automatique Lipstick in Vega

Rustan's or online, (more than P2000)

***********

I've been experimenting on product shoots, and this is the first time I intentionally took ones indoors.

Let me know what you think, please? :)

Tarina Tarantino Dollskin Cheek Blush in Neapolitan Lane - Review, Photos, Swatches

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Tarina Tarantino Dollskin Cheek Blush in Neapolitan Lane is considered a neutral blush. Why? Because it's almost looks (and feels) like a 2nd skin. This is the kind of blush that can be worn with almost any makeup looks. My everyday makeup is composed of foundation / BB cream, filled-in brows, eyeliner (sometimes), blush, and a statement lipstick. Because my lipsticks vary from wearable coral to a witch plum, I usually reach for this blush since it just looks natural. It's long wearing, perfect consistency, blendable, doesn't have a scent and is easy to tote around (thought I wish it includes a brush). Have I mentioned that its matte? I think that's just appropriate since its supposed to look natural. :)

I would also prefer this over Tarte Exposed since this is lighter and less plum / pink.

Tarina Tarantino Dollskin Cheek Blush in Neapolitan Lane

A little lighter than its actual color, sorry. 

PROS: matte, natural looking, long wearing, will compliment a lot of makeup looks, blendable, can be worn sheer or more opaque, doesn't have a scent
CONS: pricey, not available locally,  may not appear on darker skintones

VERDICT:

I will definitely repurchase!

Where To Buy:

Tarina Tarantino Dollskin Cheek Blush in Neapolitan Lane
P1600, Online

Tarina Tarantino Dollskin Cheek Blush in Parasol - Review, Photos, Swatches

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I thought I'm over and done with the shimmery blushes after trying out Tarte blushes, but I was wrong.

I actually missed the glow that shimmery blushes give. I love how that makes me look awake and flushed, especially now that I work at night. This love for shimmery blushes was rekindled with my first blush from Tarina Tarantino.

Tarina Tarantino Dollskin Cheek Blush in Parasol is a warm shimmery pink shade that when applied lightly looks more like a coral. The color can be worn sheer or a little heavier, depending on your skin color (or mood). It's velvety smooth and finely milled. It doesn't look nor chalky at all. This is pretty long wearing also. I love how this shade makes me look healthy and awake! When I feel like it needs more oomph, I apply Sugarbomb on top of it. :)

The solo swatches at the bottom of the page were applied heavily, while the comparison swatches were applied with a light hand.

Tarina Tarantino Dollskin Cheek Blush in Parasol

A little lighter than  how it actually looks, sorry. 

Neapolitan Lane and Parasol

Neapolitan Lane and Parasol (with flash)

PROS: the consistency is perfect, easy to apply, blends well, can be worn sheer or a little more opaque, long wearing, doesn't have a scent, long wearing, comes with a mirror
CONS: pricey, not locally available, not for you if you hate shimmer


VERDICT:

 I will repurchase when I don't find something better.

Where To Buy:
Tarina Tarantino Dollskin Cheek Blush in Parasol
P1600, Online

Fiona Cologne in Bubbly Pink - Review and Photos

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I'm really not a fan of strong fragrances. I prefer colognes because they're less intimidating and relatively affordable. The only downside with the usual colognes is that they don't last that long. But this cologne that I was able to try really made me love colognes even more because it really lasts long. :)

Fiona Cologne in Bubblypink is my current favorite cologne. It's described as "a bubbly fruity-floral burst of cassis and peach". It smells girly, citrus-y, and fresh.

It's not overwhelming and the scent lasts up to 6 hours, 8 hours max, on me, which is quite impressive since my other colognes only last a couple of hours max. It's like having the longevity of an EDT or other high-end perfumes, without the ridiculous price tags. 

If there's a downside on this particular product, it'll be the packaging. I would have loved it more if it came in a spray bottle; it would be more convenient then. But that's a little set back so it can be overlooked. :)

I'll be posting reviews on their other scents soon! :)

Fiona Cologne is hypo allergenic, safe to be used on children and is a product of Skintec.

Fiona Cologne in Bubblypink

PROS: smells phenomenal, long wearing, affordable, locally available, hypo allergenic

CONS: it doesn't come in a spray bottle (personal preference)

VERDICT:

I will definitely repurchase!

Where To Buy:

Fiona Cologne in Bubbly Pink

Leading department stores and drugstores

You can avail any Fiona Cologne scents in five handy bottles: 25ml (Php 15.00) , 50ml (Php 24.75), 75ml(Php 34.00) , 100ml (Php 39.00) fliptop bottles and 50ml spray bottle (Php 35.25).