Benefit Confessions of a Concealaholic

I bought this kit at the beginning of the year but didn't write a review sooner because I wanted to make sure whether the products worked for me or not. I made a wish list of all Benefit products I wanted to try last year but this Concealaholic Kit wasn't included then. This year, I'm going for the "no makeup" makeup look for everyday wear and if I want to achieve a healthy complexion, I need concealer to hide my blemishes and dark circles.

Benefit Confessions of a Concealaholic Kit is your secret concealing and brightening kit. It comes with eight different Benefit products for perfecting the complexion, and a mini booklet with instructions on how to use the products. I just love the witty humor Benefit uses in naming and describing their products. I find it really entertaining!

Dear My Blooming Lips-talk OR204, PK004, and PK005

Last night, I was finally able to grab some lipsticks from Etude House's new makeup line, "Dear My!" This is Etude House's  Spring/ Summer collection for 2012. It features vibrant shades that are sure to make you blooming this season! The whole collection  consists of 24 lip colors, 16 new lip glosses, 2 pacts, 6 polishes, and 4 blushers. Learn more about the line here.

The lipstick collection is called Dear My Blooming Lips-talk which features 24 emotional lip colors for a wide range of expressions to let your lips do the talking.

I got three colors from the "hot color" picks: OR204 (Bashful Coral), PK004 (Breathless Pink), and PK005 (Exciting Pink). I initially wanted to get OR204, PK005, BE101, and RD304. BE101 looked almost identical to my Wannabe Color Lips #3 So Chic Beige and RD304 wasn't on display yet. I was able to swatch the colors since I saw that the tubes were still unused. The line was released only yesterday!

Etude House Wanna Be Color Lips #3 So Chic Beige

Buy it, they said. It's limited edition, they said. LOL, totally quoting 9gag in there. Anyways, Last December, Etude House released their limited edition winter collection called "Wannabe." I looked up the collection online and originally wanted to get the makeup kit but I already have one from e.l.f. and it's still pretty brand new so I didn't end up buying it. I don't want to waste.

I bought one of the three lipsticks in the line, Wannabe Color Lips in #3 So Chic Beige. I put myself on a lipstick ban last Christmas so I restrained from getting this for the longest time. I also didn't want to jump in and buy it because I didn't know how it would look on me since I don't want to use testers anymore. What made me get it? This received positive (I couldn't find a negative comment at all) reviews online and the fact that this lipstick is limited edition made me want to get it all the more.

That was it. I was sold. Before it ran out, I bought one for myself. Other shades include:

• #1 So Trendy Red (I would like to get it too, but I'll think about it first. I like the design on the cap kasi. Hehe)
• #2 So Hot Pink (I had to stop myself before I could buy another hot pink lipstick. See my collection here.)

Etude House Miss Tangerine Follow Me Tint #2 Tangerine Follower

Here's another one of my picks from the Miss Tangerine line, Etude House Miss Tangerine Follow Me Tint!

I looked up swatches of this online and I found the color cute! I decided to get one for myself.

Aside from being a lip tint, it also has SPF to protect your lips from the harmful effects of the sun.

Etude House says: Energetic lip expression with trendy UV protection tint color. This cool, glossy tint stick goes on clear but changes according to your passion. 

My passion? I wonder what they meant. Haha.

Etude House Miss Tangerine Sweet Shower Lips #4 Miss Tangerine Tangerine

Etude House's Miss Tangerine line has been around for quite a while already but I just got my hands on one of their products a few days ago. I originally wanted the VIP girl lipsticks in the line, but they always run out. I also thought they were limited edition so when I found a cheaper alternative (Kokuryu Flame) in the department store, I got that. I like a bright orange lipstick because it looks so trendy and is an interesting addition in any girl's makeup kit.

After trying an orange lipstick I found it too bold for everyday wear. I thought that was the end to my orange lipstick fancy until I saw a pretty swatch of this lip product in one of the blogs I read and I immediately fell in love. I don't know why I just got this now though. The packaging itself is enough for me to buy it! (Sucker for cute packaging, I know!) 

Etude House Weekend Haul

I was only able to buy makeup for myself last weekend because for the past months, all the makeup I'd been buying were for my freelance work, and not mine. I also wore less makeup to school to allow my skin to breathe so I didn't really see the point in buying makeup for my face when I really wanted to give it a break. The days I spent holding back though gave me time to really think what items I really want to buy.

Last Saturday, I decided to lift the lipstick ban I imposed on myself because I really do use lip products a lot and since I now favor wearing less or totally no makeup on my face, wearing lipstick actually makes me look more decent and less pale. 

I also picked up a few things that were lacking in my Etude House makeup kit. If you don't know yet, Etude is hosting a search for the first Pink Artiste and prizes are too good to resist! Etude House is my favorite Korean brand and to be part of their team is like a dream come true for a die hard fan like me! Haha. Anyways, if all goes well, I will be joining. 

On to the Haul..

Mother's Makeover

This Face of the Day post is going to be a little different because it's not me posing in front of the camera, but my mom. I did her makeup for her students' graduation ceremony. It looks like it's dusk in the photo but it was early morning.

I decided on a glowing look and soft brown eyes.

I only have flash photos because the makeup won't show unless they're on.

Soft Focus! Hehe, No. The camera was being nasty.

The eye makeup turned out a little bit different than I expected. I wanted to make it darker but since it was morning,I guess it was okay. 

Products I used

Etude House Dream On Foundation #1

Shiseido Natural Finish Cream Concealer #2

Benefit Erase Paste #2

Loreal Brow Stylist Eyebrow Pencil in Light Natural Brown

e.l.f beauty clutch (blush, bronzer highlighter, gold eye shadow, eyebrow powder)

Milani Liquid Eyeliner 02

Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Frame Plus Black

Revlon Double Twist Mascara Black

Etude House Face Color Corset #6

MAC Mulch eye shadow

NYX Black Label Lipstick in Diva

Ever Bilena Loose Powder in Natural

My Lipstick Love Affair: Hot Pink Lipsticks

I guess my fascination with lipsticks can be traced back during my primary years. My mom had this pretty beige/coral lipstick when I was younger and I always liked trying it out because it was such a pretty color. I didn't wear lipstick to school though, I was shy because it made me feel mature already. Haha!

Now, I can totally say I outgrew that phase because out of all the things in my makeup kit, I wear lipsticks most often.

I started buying lipsticks when I was in my freshman year in college. Before that, I just go with lip tints since I really can't handle the stickiness of lipsticks. I'm used to it now though. The too good to resist colors of lipsticks made me switch!

In the past year, I got obsessed with bright pink lipsticks. I guess it was a post-depression reaction from not being able to get my hands on MAC's Candy Yum Yum. I kept looking for a close match and before I knew it, majority of my lipstick collection is composed of pinks. This is the reason why I imposed a lipstick ban on myself too. I kept buying but I didn't want to waste!

Nail Polish of the Day: Elianto Peach

I decided to cut my nails short for a change. To match the new cutesy length, I put this adorable peach color from Elianto.

I bought this polish when Elianto was still available in the Philippines. I was able to stock up on their nail polishes when they went 50% off.

The color gives my nails that "naked" feel, which I love.

I feel like my blog is looking like a nail polish blog already but I have a few posts coming up that are not nail-related. I'm just having this nail polish love affair going on lately and I thought I'd share. Bye.

Nail Polish of the Day: Elianto Turquoise

I guess I am just giving my nails the loving they deserve since they had been very much deprived of it last semester. Oh, you know, school work and shit. Maybe later I'll get more creative and do nail art again but for now, I am enjoying this turquoise color from Elianto.

The color becomes greener later on but still a lovely color nonetheless. Maybe soon, I am going to have my nails professionally done with a girl friend. I am in dire need of girl bonding because, to be honest, the last semester was such a disaster it had isolated me so much from the world! I rarely went out with friends or had anyone to talk to about anything girly.

On a side note, I am going to get my grades today and hopefully I pass all, especially the one subject which caused me so much pain and suffering in all of my college days. Three-hour Saturday morning classes are too stressful for my life!!