Guess What, Lovelies?!

So a month or two ago, I was contacted by FASHION MAGAZINE to be part of their new online Beauty Panel. I missed the first challenge, but I was able to join the other lovely beauty bloggers for the second and it's all about: EMERALD. 

As you all must know, Pantone has declared emerald the colour of the year. So we were tasked with incorporating this particular shade into our beauty routines. 

I particularly love wearing colour on my lower lash line, so I decided to wear emerald there...

Products Used:

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation

Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Waterproof Concealer

Anastasia Vol. I Bold Brows Kit

MAC Eyeshadows (Naked Lunch, Quarry, and Omega)

MAC Powder Blush (Taupe Shape)

MAC Mineralize Blush (Subtle Breeze)

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick (Posy Pink)

Maybelline Volum' Express Falsies Flared Mascara

NYX Cosmetics Slide On Pencil (Esmeralda)

And on a quick review note: the NYX Slide On Pencils are fabulous! They have stayed on my lower lash line without budging for 11 hours. With other long-wearing eye pencils, I notice fading after 5 or 6 hours, but the Slide On Pencils didn't move at all. And yet, they weren't difficult to apply (they are sooo soft, you guys!) or a pain in the you-know-where to remove. I'm definitely impressed... Which means I must get all the colours. ALL THE COLOURS, you guys!

Anyway, hope you guys like this look and if you have the time, please check out my post and all the other posts as well! 

How would YOU wear emerald?

Lipstick Bandits: The Secret Santa Look Swap

IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE!!!

In the Filipino culture, we celebrate on Christmas Eve and take it easy on Christmas Day, so the 24th has always been one of my favourite times of the year. Back in the Philippines, we would go to church for "Simbang Gabi" (translation: "night church") and then head back home for "Nochebuena", which is the meal we all eat at around midnight. After that, we open presents and then head to bed. 

Now that my family lives in Canada, we still continue with the tradition of celebrating on Christmas Eve and then keeping it mellow on Christmas Day (we usually watch a movie in the theatres); a tradition I think I will probably pass on to my own family. 

Anyway, the Lipstick Bandits have decided to do a little Christmas celebrating of their own by doing a "Secret Santa Look Swap". We were each given a Bandit to emulate through our makeup looks and here is what I came up with...

Some hints about my Bandit:

- She has beautiful, flawless skin (ok, they all do, so this is a crap hint)
- She has her flick technique down
- She likes coral-pink lip shades
- She has cuuute freckles
- She highlights the inner corners of her eyes like a pro

Any guesses???

If you guessed Monika of Rocaille Writes, then you are CORRECT!

Hope you like the look, Monika!

I was inspired by the look she created for her review of L'oréal's Infallible Eyeshadow in Golden Emerald. I didn't have the exact shades she used, so I took some liberties and went as close as I possibly could to her look.

Products Used

Face:

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation

Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Concealer

Eyes:

Annabelle Eyeshadow in Vert-to-Go

Make Up For Ever Eyeshadows in a grey-taupe, brown-taupe, brown, and black shades (MUFE, y u no put eyeshadow names on the pan?!? >_<)

MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Whisper of Gilt

NYX Retractable Eyeliner in Bronze

L'oréal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Black Lacquer Mascara
L'oréal Voluminous Power Collagen Mascara

Cheeks:
MAC Mineralize Blush in Subtle Breeze

Lips:
Rimmel lipstick in Airy Fairy
Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss in Peony

As I mentioned above, I took some liberties with this look. I went a little bit heavier on the eyes because I feel that I need more definition and I decided to go with a lip colour that I see on Monika most often. She didn't do a glossy lip in her look, but I needed Peony to get a better colour. But I think the most telling part of this look is the inner corners of the eyes. Monika almost always highlights her inner corner and although the highlighter I used was more grainy than anything Monika's ever used, it was the one I had that would show up the most on camera (btw, so sorry for the crap quality of my photos. It's been so gloomy the last couple of days and I don't have proper lighting at home).

This post has been a lot of fun and I really hope you guys like the look (especially you, Monika-dear). Now, if you'll excuse me... It's time for me to troll everyone else's posts. I can't wait to see who got me who everyone else got! 

• Call It Beauty
• Eye Heart It
• Getting Cheeky
• Glitter Geek
• Makeup Morsels
• Messy Wands
• Musing on Beauty
• My Funny Valentine
• Rocaille Writes
• theNotice: a beauty blog‎

And a new Bandit this round:

• ChloeAsh‎

Merry Christmas, everybody!

Call It Beauty's Best Of 2011

Another year gone by... It's amazing how quickly time actually passes by when you start thinking about what has happened throughout the year and how much you've done (or in some cases, how much you didn't do). 

I always get a rush of emotions whenever the year ends... This year, what I feel the most is gratitude. I'm so thankful for all the friendships forged through blogging (Lipstick Bandits, I'm talking bout you :p), for general health/well-being, for a job that can sustain the blog :p... We have so much to be thankful for. Sometimes we forget when we are so caught up with the every day things. But we are all honest with ourselves, it's true. We have a lot to be grateful for.

Anyway, all of that aside, let's get to what I really came here to do, which is share with you my top picks for 2011. I feel like I probably picked too many things, but I can't help loving them all! The following products are the best that I've tried and my absolute favourite items to use in the year 2011.

Here we go...

FACE

The Face Shop Power Perfection BB Cream

Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Concealer
Revlon PhotoReady Concealer

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder

CHEEK

Cargo Cosmetics Blush in Mendocino
MAC Mineralize Blush in Feeling Flush

Lancôme Star Bronzer in Èclat Bronze

EYES

Urban Decay Naked Palette

Prestige Cosmetics Brow Perfection Revitalizing Clear Brow Gel

Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner

Eyeko Graffiti Eyeliner Pen

LIPS

Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine

MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Bare Again

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Plum Jewel

Maybelline Shine Sensational Pop Stick in Fruit Punch

SKINCARE

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

L'oréal Skin Genesis Wet Cleansing Towelettes

Marcelle Essentials Soothing Cleansing Water *not pictured*
Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic *not pictured*

NAILS

Revlon - Plum Seduction

Sinful Colors - Cream Pink

Revlon - Facets of Fuchsia

OPI - Steady As She Rose

Revlon - Tangerine

BATH & BODY

Lush - The Olive Branch

Lush - It's Raining Men

The Body Shop - Mango Whip Body Lotion

HAIR

Lush R&B Hair Moisturizer

Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Spray

TOOLS

Z Palettes

EcoTools Retractable Kabuki

And there you have it... My "best of the best" for 2011. 

I do hope you all have a wonderful New Year's Eve! Have fun and stay safe! And I wish you all a fabulous 2012. I can't wait to see what 2012 has in store for me and I hope that the upcoming year has nothing but the best for all of you, because you all deserve it!

HAPPY  NEW YEAR!!!
from Call It Beauty

  

Monthly Favourites - October 2011

Mother of pearl, has the Philippines been HOT!

I say this like I'm surprised, but really... What does one expect from a country in Southeast Asia? Honestly though, I am so ready for cold weather. As I am writing this, I am a mere 4 days away from blissful coolness and as you are reading this, I am emphatically not enjoying the jetlag as I adjust back to Pacific time.

Anyhoo, these month's favourites are the ones that have really impressed me with how helpful they've been in this heat (it is 32º C this very moment).

1. Urban Decay Naked Palette

OH-EM-GEE, enough with the Naked Palette!

But seriously, one last thing I have to say before I quit it... If you ever go on vacation and want to keep the makeup to a minimum (good luck with that :p), bring the Naked Palette. I have used it every day and on every occasion; whether it's a casual day spent with family, dinner with friends, or a concert performance - this palette has seen me through all of them. 

Although it was a shame that it didn't hold up to the heat (not even with UDPP).

2. Maybelline Dream Matte Powder

Of course, a mattifying powder is important with such high heat; but what I especially loved about this product during the month of October was how it served as a great foundation, too! On days when my skin was behaving, I could get away with wearing just this. It evened out my skin tone and kept my skin looking matte.

3. Rimmel Volume Flash The Max Bold Curves & Volume Accelerator Mascara

Both these mascaras make some very big claims... One promises extreme volume and lift, while the other promises thicker lashes after 30 days of use. 

Can't say I agree with either, but you know what? Both stuck around for a full day out and in 30º heat! That alone is pretty damn impressive. I also love that it doesn't take too much effort to remove all traces of mascara. I normally have problems with L'oréal's waterproof version of the Voluminous mascara, but not so with these two!

The formula got too clumpy too soon, though. Not such a fan of that, considering I've only had both mascaras for less than a month... Still, I get good enough separation if I'm patient and like I said, both formulas stick around even in 30º/high humidity situations.

4. Prestige Cosmetics Brow Perfection Revitalizing Clear Brow Gel

I'm sure you've all seen some photos where I've somehow forgotten to groom my brows. I finally decided that this problem can no longer be ignored, so I went to London Drugs to find myself a clear brow gel. This baby is so easy to use and it definitely keeps my sometimes unruly brows in check all day. It doesn't make it my brows feel stiff at all, although it holds them in place really well. Bonus!

5. MAC Mineralize Blush in Feeling Flush

Another repeat performance by this product. Like the Naked Palette, I've blabbed about it enough. I just wanted to reiterate how amazing the staying power is. It stays put all day, although the heat does make it fade a bit at the end of the day. But if you're not dealing with high heat and humidity, this stuff will stay super vibrant all day.

6. Eyeko Graffiti Eyeliner Pen

Another repeat "offender" :p. 

Long lasting products is this month's theme, since I've been in the Philippines. You don't need any primer for this stuff, it locks on and doesn't let go all freakin' day! It doesn't migrate anywhere! 

7. EcoTools Retractable Kabuki Brush

Lightweight, portable; this brush is amazing to travel with! Makes touch-ups so much easier! It's eco-friendly, too.

8. Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Concealer

Love this stuff! 

It kept my dark circles at bay and kept up with the weather and long days. It's pretty creamy, which I love because it doesn't look cakey or chalky at all. 

9. Travalo Refillable Perfume Atomizer Bottle Spray

I randomly came across this at London Drugs and boy was it ever a life-saver during my trip! It's easy to use (simply remove the top of the spray of your perfume, place the bottom of the atomizer on top, and press down repeatedly until your atomizer is filled), super lightweight and small enough to fit in even small evening handbags. 

When the weather is super hot, your perfume fades away quicker (you pretty much sweat if off after 10 minutes of being outdoors :p), so having this handy was a great way to freshen up!

What are your October faves?

Tarte's Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Concealer Smoothes Away Dark Circles

A lot of my base choices lately have been connected to my trip to the Philippines (where I am now as you are reading this), so I needed a concealer that was going to keep up with humidity, high heat, and long days. I've read good things about Tarte's Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Waterproof Concealer online so I decided to head to Sephora and pick one up for myself.

Here's what Tarte has to say about this product:

What it is:
A waterproof concealer powered by Amazonian clay, nature's most perfect ingredient, to balance and soothe skin.


What it does:
This waterproof, full-coverage concealer combines the calming properties of vitamins A and E and the soothing quality of Amazonian clay to nourish while completely masking discolorations and imperfections for better looking skin. Amazonian clay acts as a total skin balances by reducing dryness and flakiness while improving the appearance and texture of skin for longer, waterproof wear! The buildable, full-coverage formula is rich in pigments for truer colour without a heavy or tacky texture, making it ideal for hiding any and all imperfections from dark circles to blemishes to redness. Designed for brush-free application, blending this creamy concealer with your finger allows the formula to melt into the skin for an easy application and opaque airbrushed effect. 


What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Synthetic Fragrances
- Synthetic Dyes
- Phtalates


What else you need to know:
Skinvigorating™ benefits come from: Amazonian clay a nutrient-rich, multitasking and total skin-balancing clay that reduces dryness and flakiness, improves skin clarity, elasticity, firmness and texture while removing oil from the skin's surface for smooth application and wear; Vitamin E, a natural preservative that also acts as an anti-inflammatory emollient and protects against free radical damage; and mineral pigments known to soothe and soften the skin. 

Ok, so that's a lot of promises Tarte is making. It kind of makes me want to fly over to South America, head to the Amazon and proceed to slather Amazonian clay all over my skin... That sounds weird O_o.

I can't personally attest to all the "Skinbenefits™" Tarte claims but I do know one thing: Smooth Operator is a kickass concealer! The texture is uh-may-zing - it smoothes on so effortlessly and blends like a dream. It never looks cakey and never makes my dry under eyes look, well, dry (unlike MAC Studio Finish Concealer).

The packaging feels quite luxurious, with a cap that stays on very securely. It feels substantial on my hand - not flimsy, but not heavy either. The lovely packaging and the ingredients are probably the cause of its $22 USD / $27 CAD (that's totally an estimation) price tag; though I do wish you get more product. 0.07 oz is definitely not a lot of product and with its creamy nature, I'm finding that I'm going through one of these tubes quicker than I would like.

(The BEFORE photo doesn't do my dark circles justice - they are much worse than that!)

Nevertheless, Smooth Operator conceals my dark circles SO well. It's no miracle worker, by any means (at this point I think the only way to completely banish them is to get a skin transplant :p), but it works better than any concealer I've ever tried. Not only that, it also lasts long on the skin! Even when I find myself rubbing away any migrating product (usually mascara) from my under eye area, the concealer still stays put. Now, I can't say that absolutely no concealer gets removed, but it's definitely not noticeable. 

I've been loving this concealer since I first started using it in August and I'm so glad I was finally able to find something that would do a great job concealing and still be long-wearing. I haven't tried and tested a massive amount of concealers, far from it. So it might be a bit of a premature statement to make, but I'll make it anyway: Tarte Smooth Operator Concealer is definitely my favourite concealer!

Any fancy tricks for concealing dark circles?

Call It Beauty's "Brands I Want To Try" List

I don't know about you, but when I'm broke, I think about all the lovely things I'd love to buy when I finally do have some cash to burn. So in the interest of further daydreaming about said lovely things, here are a few brands I'm thinking of trying out.

I became really interested in natural skincare products when I suffered through a pretty severe allergic reaction to Philosophy's products. As I continued to explore this new(ish) avenue, I came to the be interested in natural cosmetic products as well. Tarte is one of the brands that make all natural products. I've already tried (and loved) their Lights, Camera, Splashes! mascara and I can't wait to try others. 

Products (left - right):

EmphasEYES™High Definition Eye Pencil

EmphasEYES Aqua-Gel Eyeliner

EmphasEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner

Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush

Cheek Stain

The first thing that captures my attention is, of course, theBalm's packaging. Very retro, very vintage; it's both cute and chic. I've heard amazing things about some of their products, so I'm definitely eager to try some out.

Products (left to right):

TimeBalm Concealer

Cabana Boy Blush

Mary-Lou Manizer Highlighter

Bahama Mama Bronzer

The first time I heard of Make Up For Ever, I actually thought it was a low quality brand, kind of like play-makeup for children. I guess the "For Ever" part made me think of children (bff, yo!). I believe I actually asked if the brand was "for real." Yeah... Anyway, now I know better and I'm eager to try out their products. Especially since MUFE is such a favourite among makeup professionals and makeup enthusiasts alike.

Products (left to right, top to bottom):

Aqua Cream

HD Microfinish Powder

Diamond Powder

HD Invisible Cover Foundation

12 Flash Color Case

Smoky Lash Mascara

I first heard of Sugarpill through YouTube makeup tutorials and I was astounded by how pigmented the eyeshadows were. I know there's a time and a place for sheer colours, but for the most part, I'm all about highly pigmented shadows. I have a feeling Sugarpill won't disappoint. 

Products (left to right):

Pressed Eyeshadows

Loose Eyeshadows

Bourjoir Paris is a brand that I first noticed because of their cute "round pot" products. At first I thought I'd have to wait til I make my dream trek to London to try these out but they're apparently available in Canada (Shoppers Drug Mart), though I've not seen them yet. I definitely need to look harder :p.

Products (left to right):

Little Round Pot Blush

10 Hour Sleep Effect Foundation

Little Round Pot Eyeshadow

Best known for their Dazzle Dusts and Nail Paints, Barry M is definitely a brand I want to try. There's a Facebook campaign going on to get Barry M sold in Canadian drugstores and you can bet I "liked" that page :p. 

Products (left to right):

Nail Paint

Dazzle Dust

Lip Paint

Ridiculous product names aside, there's no denying that NARS makes good products. The packaging feels luxurious and the colours are gorgeous. However, I'm a "more for my money" type of girl so I always inwardly cringe when I look at the prices. Nevertheless, I definitely want to "invest" in some NARS, it's just a matter of figuring out which products to choose first.

Products (left to right):

Blush

The Multiple

Bronzing Powder

Sheer Glow Foundation

Eyeshadow Duo

Pixi is a fairly new discovery for me and I've been eager to try some of their products since I first heard of this brand. I know they're available at Target so I need to make a note to check it out when I'm there next.

Products (left to right):

Illuminating Tint & Conceal

Natural Mineral Kit

Lip Booster 

Any brands on your must-try list, lovelies?

Monthly Favourites - December 2010

January 2011... How time flies!

I was contemplating not posting a December faves after posting my Best of 2010, but I decided, why not? So without further ado, here goes the list!

1. Lush - Sympathy For The Skin Body Lotion

I think I've talked about this product enough that I don't need to get into it anymore; after all, I've already posted about it 3 times, this being the fourth (sheesh! Enough already, woman!). I can't help it though, I love it that much!

2. Revlon - ColorStay Foundation 

I've heard so many people rave about this product and it wasn't until recently that I finally tried it. Well, I have to say that I now understand why. It gives great coverage (I'd say medium/buildable, but definitely not full), it blends easily, has a gorgeous, slightly dewy finish, and has great staying power (especially for a product that hasn't made such claims). I don't normally wear liquid foundation unless it's a special occasion or a performance, but since it's a drugstore product and therefore, fairly inexpensive, I have no qualms about using it on a daily basis... Which I did, pretty much...

3. Chanel - Rouge Coco Lipstick 

I've been trying to use my lip products more, which means I rediscover products that I own but haven't been using. It's a fairly long list, and Mademoiselle is on it. Not sure why though, since it's such a gorgeous colour! It's one of those "shape-shifter" colours, as I like to call it; it will look different on different women (depending on their skin tone). 

Par example, here you see the beautiful Vanessa Paradis wearing Mademoiselle:

Now here's a photo of my (rather large) lips, wearing the exact same shade:

You will notice that Ms. Paradis' lips look more berry-like (which is the colour I would rather have, to be honest) and my lips have a bit more coral/orange tones in them. That said, I do notice around 15 minutes after application, that the lipstick becomes pinker.

I've taken to wearing this with a simple eye (naked lunch all over the lid, maybe some contouring on the crease, and multiple coats of mascara) and MAC's Pinch O' Peach blush for a pretty, every day look.

4. Estée Lauder - Daywear Plus Creme

I've already talked about this, too, so I won't extol its virtues for much longer. Let me just say that the cold weather combined with using my heater (in the house & the car) so much this past month, this moisturizer was truly a Godsend!

5. Revlon Colorburst & MAC Lipsticks

I've grouped these two lipsticks together because I've been using them together this past month. True Red was too "fire engine red" and Media was too "vampy red;" both are gorgeous in their own right, but neither suited my needs. So, I experimented and came up with the most flattering red for me:

So in December, I would apply Media like a stain, then layer True Red on top. The result? A gorgeous red that suits my skin tone. It's a chore and it didn't last very long (I suppose the formulas weren't sitting well with each other, the poor things), but I would still diligently do my applications... It was worth it, I think :).

Now I just need to find a lipstick that's exactly this shade. Any rec's, lovelies?

6. MAC - Quarry Eyeshadow

I was quite happy with MAC's Harmony blush or Physician's Formula's Bamboo Silk Powder for contouring purposes but both were too bronzey for me in the colder, winter months. A lovely MAC SA suggested using an eyeshadow; Quarry to be exact. It worked and I fell in love. 

I use it for all my contouring purposes: on the cheekbones, jaw bone & also on the eye. Here it is at work on a look I learned from the lovely Sam of Pixiwoo:

Holy Yellow, Batman! I definitely need better lighting. Having to rush all my photographing so I can use sunlight is a real drag. Any recommendations for which kind of bulbs I should use? 

7. Tarte - Lights, Camera, Splashes! Mascara

I really love how my lashes look when using this mascara. I'm definitely not blessed with length or volume; but when I use Lights, Camera, Splashes!, I can actually get away with not wearing eyeliner (which was something I did quite often in December). And how cute is the packaging? I love it!

8. Lush - Bûche De Noel Cleanser

At first this cleanser was a tad drying for me, but I discovered that using a cleansing milk to turn it into a paste (as opposed to using water) really kept it from drying my skin out. It's much like Lush's Angels on Bare Skin cleanser, which I also love; Buche de Noel is just not as moisturizing.

After using this cleanser, my face feels fresh & clean and looks smooth and even-toned. If you missed out on this product, definitely try Angels on Bare Skin. Both are truly lovely!

What are your December Faves?

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