Vanity Kit

So yesterday we went hunting for a birthday gift for a friend and found this really adorable red crocodile leather vanity kit in Bugis Junction. There was also one in my favorite color, purple. I don’t have a vanity kit with a mirror built into it like the heavy brown case one that my mom used to have, so I decided to get one for myself.

I already have a plastic kit where I keep my beauty products in my room, so I plan to use this for travel and overnights and when people need me to play makeup artist.

Since we’re on the topic of beauty products, might as well blog about the ones I love to use lately. I actually make a list of my fave beauty products once every couple or so years, so I guess it’s about time.

Skin Care

1. St Ives apricot scrub (blemish and blackhead control). I know I keep on mentioning this product, but I fell in love with it in 2003 and just can’t stress how important it is to my regimen. I use it every day (even though experts frown upon exfoliating daily) so it sloughs off old skin cells, causing my skin to be constantly regenerated, hence the smooth “no pores” appearance and near-non-existence of pimple scars.

2. Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Lotion. I just recently discovered this product which is all the rage in Asia these days; apparently one is sold every four seconds in Japan! This product is actually a toner despite its name and it boasts of being so hydrating that it locks up an ocean. It’s as clear and fragrance-free as water and after you pat it on your face, it really does give your face that “toing-toing” bouncy feel. True story.

3. Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Anti-Ageing Cream. I’ve been using this as my moisturizer since my P&G days. It fights against 7 signs of skin aging. Need I say more? Haha. I don’t know if it actually works but most people say that I look a couple or so years younger than my real age so maybe it does! Or maybe they’re just lying. LOL.

4. Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Anti-Ageing Eye Cream. I don’t know if I should still be using this when I’m already using the moisturizer on my entire face, including the skin around my eyes. But I read that the skin around the eyes is the most sensitive and thus, is also the first to age. So we need to take the best care of it by using eye cream and wearing sunglasses whenever we go outside. So I don’t take chances and follow that advice.

5. Laneige sunblock. Are you familiar with a popular commencement address called “Sunscreen”? The speaker gives out advice for the graduating batch that starts off with “wear sunscreen.” In the end she says she isn’t sure about all of the advice that she gave except for the first one. Well I decided to take heed. After all, all these old people keep saying that sunblock is the #1 anti-aging product (except for maybe Botox?) so they must know what they’re talking about. I chose this after spending hours going through not-so-pricey sunblocks in Sephora and discovering that this one didn’t leave a heavy sticky feeling that others do.

Makeup

1. Bio-essence Bio Multi-effect BB Cream. This was voted as consumers’ favorite in one of the Singaporean magazines last year, so I gave it a try and loved its effect on my skin – it covers up blemishes and makes your skin look smoother and fairer and flawless yet natural-looking and dewy. It’s quite affordable compared to other BB creams in the market.

2. Mac Studio Perfect SPF 15 Foundation Compact (NC35). I usually prefer liquid foundations over powder compacts, but compacts are a must for retouching and I love this one over all other compacts I’ve tried so far. Or maybe that’s just because I finally found one in my right shade. I think my face is acidic; powder turns darker after I put it on, so I look darker with makeup than without it (once, a friend asked why I looked so white after I took a shower and washed off all my makeup). When I told the Mac lady about my acidic problem, she found the perfect shade for me so now I don’t look darker than I really am, even with makeup on. This one is quite pricey, though.

3. Sephora Hydrating and Smoothing Foundation (R30). I use this only for special occasions when I need heavier, more long-lasting coverage. So far all the ladies I’ve put this on have loved it and asked its details so they could buy one for themselves. It’s relatively cheap compared to other high-end products too, so I’d say it’s a great buy.

4. Amazing Cosmetics Concealer (Medium Beige). I never get dark circles, but I have crazy eye bags, and this takes care of that, along with the wayward zit mark that shows up at the most inopportune time. It’s very expensive, though, so I only use it for special occasions and get miffed when people ask to use it on normal days. My friend who recommended this to me said this was being used in Hollywood and can ever cover up tattoos. I don’t have any tattoos to try this on, so you’ll just have to take her word for it.

4. Makeup Forever Waterproof Eyebrow Kit (Lightest Brown). This was recommended by my friend and in turn it was recommended to her by a well-known celebrity makeup artist in the Philippines. The eyebrows frame one’s face, so you should therefore make sure that they are groomed and defined. In the past I used powder (I hate pencils, they look too harsh) but I find that this one, which comes in cream form, is much easier to manipulate and erase should you make mistakes. I chose the lightest brown color so it doesn’t look too harsh. It’s quite pricey though but as you only need a small dot per application, it lasts very long. My friend says she’s had hers for over a year now and it still hasn’t run out.

5. Mac Studio Fix Lash (Black). I don’t like the typical mascara wand because it usually makes your lashes clumpy. I loved Loreal’s telescopic mascara but they discontinued it, so I was at a loss as to what to replace it with till I found this. This one just separates the lashes and thickens each strand just the right amount. My concern with it, though, was that it wasn’t waterproof so it would run when I cried (which I happen to do a lot; I’m very easily touched and brought to tears by things I read and watch), but that turned out to be a blessing in disguise because removing waterproof mascara is usually a bitch but this one can be taken care of by just your nightly face washing ritual then simply running a cotton swab over your lashes.

6. Mac Technakohl Eyeliner (Graphblack). Nothing makes eyes pop like eyeliner. This one is soft (unlike pencils) and retractable so it’s relatively easy to use, especially for tight-lining – this is when you line the inside of your eyelids. I know it sounds (and looks) scary, but it’s really not that bad and it looks more natural. Unfortunately it’s not as waterproof as it claims so sometimes I end up looking like a raccoon at the end of a day.

7. Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm. This one is made for men so it comes in a clear petroleum jelly color, perfect for using underneath lipsticks so they don’t change that lipstick’s color. It has natural mint and shea butter so it feels really moisturizing and refreshingly cool on the lips – like toothpaste. It also has SPF 25 so it protects your lips from the sun too, and it’s very affordable. You can find it in Sephora.

8. Mac Satin Lipstick (Captive). I love Mac lipsticks because they’re not too soft and break off when you apply too much pressure while putting it on (I hate using lip brushes, takes too much time) like other lipsticks do. Mac has lots of lipstick finishes, but I love satin because it’s not as dry as matte yet not as glossy as lustre. My lipstick shades are tricky because they can’t be too light or too dark and after years of trying different lipstick shades, I finally found the perfect one that’s just between pink, brown and red and this is it.

9. Mac Lip Glass (Viva Glam). I don’t usually like lip gloss because they’re not long-lasting, but this one surprised me. It stays on even after I eat and drink. However I wish I hadn’t bought one in a shade that’s a tad too bright, bordering on red. Maybe I’ll buy another one in a different shade next time.

10. Nars Blush (Orgasm). I used to prefer liquid cheek tint because they looked more natural and were more long-lasting, but I changed my mind when I tried Nars. It looks like a healthy flush that brightens up your whole face, making you look blooming, and it’s quite long-lasting too.