Stash!

My "kikay" hormones are now back, 4 months post partum. I can remember how I hated putting stuff on my face when I was still pregnant with Sword. My big cosmetic pouch turned into an old camera case which carried the most basic of all the basic makeups: a compact foundation, colored lip balm and a blush cream. On days my face needed a level up, I just fix my brows. That was all.

Gladly, my part time hosting job did the trick of bringing the "new woman" in me. The used-to-be old camera case is now safely kept in the room and cosmetic pouches occupy my bag now. I also opened the window to try more products and became OC-ier when it comes to skincare. My age helped too. At 25, it's possible for our skin to age faster due to factors like stress and pollution. Syempre I still want to look young and beautiful! I want to embrace my motherhood in a way na hindi naman ako mukhang napabayaan, na-haggard, at higit sa lahat ipagpapalit lang kung saan at kung kanino man. Although Audrey Hepburn said that "Happy girls are the prettiest," I must say that we also need to be pretty if we want to be happy. It comes from within and it should start from you. 

Being the sort of beauty junky that I am, I want to show you my current favorites and my most basic of all the basic makeups these days. Yay, goodbye to my boring compact foundation, lip balm and blush! My kikay mantra: "It's always better to be prepared. Bring more shades!"

Beginning from top:

1. Laura Mercier Creme Cheek Colour in Oleander
2. Shu Uemura Fluid Foundation in #764
3. Ben Nye Luxury Powder in Banana
4. Shu Uemura UV Under Base Mousse POREraser
5. Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Mineral Cheekcolor in Sunkissed Coral
6. Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler
7. Revlon Photoready Two-Way Powder Foundation in Natural Ochre
8. Laura Mercier Lip Pencil in Baby Lips
9. Nars in Dolce Vita
10. Nivea Med Repair -- an essential!
11. MAC (Lustre) in Lustering
12. No. 7 in Siren
13. Nature Republic Smudge-Free Mascara in Black
14. MAC Brow Set Gel in Girl Boy
15. Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Opal
16. Revlon in Coral Berry (674)

I'm trying to update my stash most especially during hosting events to develop more, matured looks. I find a hard time convincing my audience that I am already a mother of 1. LOL. But with all the new things I'm trying out now, some things remain--like my Nivea Med Repair lip balm. I'm a user for yearssss now.

Also, I'm about to update my skincare regimen but unfortunately, my face developed rashes after walking under the sun a couple of days ago. :( Not sure what it is but I do hope this is nothing serious! I'll blog about my new discoveries if there's a day like this soon when Sword takes a calming, unkabogable afternoon nap. I swear you'll love these brands even more.

Enjoy your weekend, loves!

♥,

Marianne

Nars and J

Rustan's Makati invited me to a special makeup event of Nars with international makeup artist and Nars' head makeup artist for Asia, J.

I brought my future sister-in-law, Patricia, with me since she's a makeup junk-er than me. Ladies of all ages came to see the beautiful and soft-spoken J as she gave tips and shared tricks of the trade of cosmetology and beauty, including Heart Evangelista and Lovi Poe (Monthly Period!!!).

I'm so glad I was able to meet Rustan's marketing, events and PR people. I'm so looking forward to work and to collaborate with them. Thank you so much, Denise Roco! :)

As usual, I forgot to bring a camera with me so all these photos from my iPhone and most of them are blurred! 

Patricia and I showing Nars some love! 

With Nars international makeup artist, J.

With Heart and Lovi who also graced the special beauty event.

We didn't stay for so long since we arrived halftime. Pat helped me search Rustan's for a tote bag I badly need and I'm torn between getting a Tory Burch or a Kate Spade. #girlproblems

What I wore: From work to Rustan's! Haha!

A product of different iPhone photo apps! Cool!

Collage cutiepie with Pachichay!

 Kiwi <3

Paolo also went to Makati to visit his former coworkers from Lolo Dad's! (Please excuse my bad posture.) We chilled at UCC for a while before we all left for home and enjoyed the Edsa traffic by watching and listening to my music videos! Let me know if you wanna see the vids, I will upload them here! Hahaha!

Now I must get up and make myself ready for Veejay, Sassa and... XOXO! 

♥,

Marianne

Cosmetic Festival 2011

If you're a beauty junkie like me and enjoys workshops and freebies as well as learning some tricks of the trade from beauty talks by top makeup artists of the world's best makeup brands, then this festival is for you, like me, and everyone who's makeup and skincare savant!

Rustan's The Beauty Source brings us the most exciting month-long event featuring all sorts of wonderful, The Beauty Tour Cosmetic Festival 2011. Participated by the world's top cosmetic brands (like MAC, Shu Uemura, Nars, Bobbi Brown, Paul & Joe, Clinique and Laura Mercier), it features only the best of makeup, skincare, fragrance and hair care we all need, desire and deserve!

Visit your favorite beauty counters in Rustan's now! It shouldn't be missed! See you there! :)

♥,

Kikay Everyday.

I'm in love with makeups, that's a fact. I buy a lot in different kinds, shades and brands but I get to use only a few! When my sister's friend started selling MAC, Clinique and Estee Lauder products, I became even more obsessed! Geez, I bought these:

All MAC! All from the US! All 60% off!

Yaay finally, my dream of collecting over a dozen of Shu Uemura and MAC items is coming true. It's so hard to be so kikay, and all girly and stuff because I don't know which to prioritize first--makeup, shoes, bags, clothes, plane tickets, food and it goes on..

Now I want to show off my "everyday makeup wear" to you, my beloved readers and followers. These are my face's daily essentials. I agree that a woman's more beautiful without makeup but I also agree that a woman is also much more beautiful if she knows how to enhance her beauty with the right makeup. The terms "Foundation Day" or "Kabuki" or "Chola" is actually fine with me. And I believe that MAKEUPS PROTECT OUR SKIN FROM POLLUTION, DIRT, ETC!" Of course that goes to proper application and knowing which brand to use and as long as it's suitable to your skin. Go ahead! Always remember what Nido says, "It pays to check the label!" :)

So now, what's in my kikay kit?

L'oreal True Match Nude Ivory foundation

Max Factor True Beige stick concealer

MAC Pink Nouveau lipstick

MAC Magenta lip liner

Shu Uemura eyelash curler

Shu Uemura Gloss Unlimited Candy Pink

Shu Uemura Nobara cream foundation/concealer

Nivea Med Protection lip balm

Nars Orgasm blush-on

Body Shop Raspberry Pink cheek blush (not in the picture)

Maybelline Lip Smooth Strawberry lip balm (not in the picture)

Estee Lauder brush (not in the picture)

That's just it, pancit! I'm saving my eye shadows, eye liners and mascaras for special occasions because if I wear them everyday, nobody will notice it. Parang walang bago. Hehe. :) And I also try to change my lip color at least every other week. This week, I opted for magenta (last week I used nude lippie from Nars and I wonder what's next). I use my lip liner as a lipstick then I finish it with a Candy Pink gloss. Wow, the effect is surprisingly awesome! Meanwhile, my Pink Nouveau is always with me for emergency/unplanned gimiks. During lazy days, I use Maybelline Lip Smooth for an instant lip color! I love how it soothes my superrrr sensitive lips while adding a hint of color. And since I have superrr sensitive lips, I always make sure that I'd initially apply Nivea Med Protection.

I'm definitely KISSING RAINBOWS! I so love being kikay everyday! Sarap maging maarte! ♥