NEW CHAPTER

A new chapter in my life has begun. First, we finally moved to my step-dad’s ancestral home which has a very spacious kitchen and loads of cabinets that it inspired me to cook and bake again. We are just settling in, so it’s still a mess here and there. Also, the “new” house has big windows and is perfect for photographing foods, so let’s see.

And with these changes in our lives happened, there is also one thing that I just change. JUST, meaning it’s been just a day since. A few days I go, I noticed that my tummy is not getting smaller whatever I do with it. See, in May 21^st 2010 my gall bladder was taken out because it’s not going to work anyways. The stones “irritate” the hell out of my gall bladder that it already “pouched” , so the surgeon decided to remove it and save me from any more trouble. After that, I asked him if I need a special diet now that I don’t have my gall bladder and he said there’s no need for a special diet and I just have to resume with my regular eating pattern since I’m pregnant that time and stones won’t bother me anymore. Came last year when one of nurse friend told me that I should be more careful on what I eat because I don’t have something to help me “store” the fat. Also I noticed that my metabolism go from lazy to couch potato lazy. I have irregularities with my bowel movements and eating oily foods made me “dunk” fast.

And now here’s the change I was telling you about. I decided to go on with being a … VEGETARIAN. Not Vegan. It just means that I will feed on dairy and eggs (Ovo-Lacto) but will no longer eat meat. Why? It’s not to lose weight. It’s for health reason because I’m the kind of person who believes in what you don’t know won’t hurt you. I’m scared that maybe I am sick and that I wont have more time with my kids and being a single mom, I CANNOT RISK THAT.

So since yesterday, I removed meat from my diet and I told myself that maybe one day I’ll let go of eggs too. But not butter, milk and cheese. Those are God’s gift to man, so I cannot give them up.

I’m just praying that I will stick with this change for good because I don’t want to declare my love for something then fail at it again. Just like everything else in my life … including updating this beauty blog. Haha. Okay, in the next coming days I’ll update and just to be honest, I already started on my entries. Yehey for that!

Until next time. Love, Carla.

Canmake Products

With my photoshop busted, I cant prepare the photos to be used in the review yet, but I'm going to let you into a sneak peek into my micro haul from Canmake. So far loving it! I cant believe this is Japanese drugstore brand! That Eyebrow Liquid last me a day! Love love it.

L'Oreal Lucent Magique Light-Infusing Foundation

Hello ladies! I'm still very much alive. I've been quite busy with work again last June, but this month it's quite easy going since the work load wont be here until 3rd week of this month .. meaning No Makeup buying which is okay since I get to shop for makeup for a reason (I'm a full time makeup artist).

Anyways! I just want to share a new foundation that landed my personal makeup kit, the L'Oreal Lucent Magique Light-Infusing Foundation in G4.

I've been a purist my whole life and I dont like drastic changes. I used to love taking risks when I was younger, but when I stepped into my comfort zone, it's hard to make me move even an inch. Hence, since 2008 when I found my perfect skin match foundation in MAC, I never go back. Until recently when I was trying to save my money and be practical, I decided to try L'Oreal for a change. Then it hits me... before using MAC, I finished TWO bottles of L'Oreal foundation (True Match variant if I'm not mistaken) in G4 and it was my perfect medium coverage foundation for school.

Here's one pump of the foundation and it's enough for the whole face. I like that you can control the amount of product that the pump dispenses, also it's very hygienic unlike those that doesn't have a pump in it. It is housed in a glass container but the cap of the bottle is a flimsy thin plastic.

The product on the other hand is gorgeous! It's like MAC's Face and Body in a thicker consistency. I love how photogenic it looks and how easy it is to even out your skintone with this without looking fake. This is a medium coverage foundation, that definitely have a dewy finish to it. A friend who I had a early dinner with told me that I look fresh. YES!

Here's the foundation in action. Obviously iut doesnt' cover dark spots that well, but look how great it performed under the eyes! It doesn't cover them perfectly, but for an everyday wear foundation, this is great! I look decent without looking too made up. :)

The only downside I saw in this foundation is that it doesn't last that long. It lasted me around 3-4 hours of wear and I'm a combination skin lately. But who cares if you're just doing errands, right? :)

This is a great buy for just Php850.00.

I love that this product is ..
Inexpensive
Packaging is great because it's in a glass container, with a pump!
Medium coverage foundation for everyday wear
Looks natural
And has a good range of colors for Asian skins!

I dont like that ..
it doesn't last on me

A love declaration .. Real Techniques Setting Brush

 photo copyrighted to Carla Gumin 2013. Unless otherwise stated.

I ahve a problem, a really really big problem. I think I'm addicted to brushes. Ever since I've been into makeup, I would buy brushes after brushes just to try them out. I cannot say how many I have in my collection already as I already lost and gave away some of my brushes. But I simply cannot stop.

Recently, it's been Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman, and the first brush I bought from her line is the Real Techniques Setting Brush.

NYX Slim Lip Pencils

photos copyrighted to Carla Gumin, unless otherwise stated.

NYX Slim Lip Pencil in Nude Pink, Plush Red, Rose, Hot Pink and Bloom

I'm not sure why I'm only posting this now but I have this and been loving it for the past year. For me, price doesn't guarantee quality (ahemMACahem). I have experienced high-end products that doesn't deliver that much for its price and it's dupeable most of the time. The only lip pencil I had where the Nars' and Etude House which, for me, works terribly the same. So when I came across with NYX lipliners, I never came back.

(L-R: Bloom, Plush Red, Hot Pink, Rose and Nude Pink)

For Php100.00 a pop, you can never complain! They're pigmented, they stay and they stop the lipstick/gloss from bleeding serving their purpose. The pencils are hard in terms of texture but not waxy. It glides on smoothly and it's true to color. But it can be drying, so exfoliating the lips and prepping it with lipbalm is a must ... and something I didnt do. *yikes*

Swatches

Nude Pink

This is my favorite from the bunch! It's the perfect lip base for nude lipsticks. It's warm enough that it didn't wash me out. (NC35 for reference)

Rose

A milky kind of pink, a great base for pink lipsticks. Although I dont tend to use this that much because  it's too cool for my taste.

Hot Pink

The photo doesn't give justice on how bright this is! It's really such a bright pink, but not neonish. It's perfect for morena skintones.

Plush Red

If I have to pick among the 5, I will choose Nude Pink and this. It's a staple if you love wearing red lipsticks, it makes the wear so darn lasting. :)

Bloom

Pardon the excessive pout. This lipliner is soooo pretty! I've been lemming for MAC Rebel for the longest time, but knowing that I wont wear it that much, I kindly pull myself out of it. Since I've been sad about that, I cannot count the times I wear this lipliner alone. I just love it. And I think this is the least dragging from the loot.

What I love:

- Inexpensive but still works

- Now available at online stores such as Digital Traincase

- A huge range of colors! 60 amazing colors.

- Easy to sharpen

- Pigmented

What I dont like:

- Dragging and Drying. but you will expect this with lipliners. because it's their job to prevent feathering.

Will I repurchase? Definitely! I'm getting a backup of Nude Pink because it's nearing its death. :))

Thank you for reading. Till next time

XO, Makeup Mama

MAC False Lashes Mascara in Waterproof

I'm a big fan of MAC, that it's sacrilegious to be because I'm from MUFE (and I barely use MUFE products!! *shame*) This is something to get excited about!! :)

Go on, Highlight Me. TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer Review

TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer, The Luminizer

I wish every morning when I wake up, I'll have the best skin ever. But of course not. First, im not made of plastic. Second, I have pores that gets clogged up and Last, I have kids and I work and blog  to make me stay awake at the wee hours. So how will I ever have that "glow-from-within" if the stress is making me look dull and tired?

Fret no more. Because this lady here is going to make you look like you just slept a whole 8 hours.

So what does it do? Well, it highlights. It is a pressed shimmery pigment that will make you look like you have healthy skin. It has 8.5grams of product in it, and a versatile little compact too. You can use it as a highlighter or an eyeshadow. Imagine using this as an eyeshadow, ha. you will have to use it for a lifetime to hit pan on it.

Candy Mag Style Awards 2013

Last friday, I was given a chance to be a part of the Revlon makeup team for Candy Style Awards. Too bad we didnt get to make-over famous bloggers. I was looking forward to seeing Kryz Uy, but I kinda stalked her instagram and found out she's in Hongkong... I think.

Anyways, still the feeling was intense, since I grew up with Candy Mag (as in saving my allowance so I can buy their magazines monthly) and it was nostalgic and awkward at the same time just because it reminds me of my age. Haha

My makeup station

These are the moments that I knew I wanted this for myself because I dont get tired until I arrived at home and literally fell on my feet because im just so tired. The event was held in Rockwell tent, and I'm Santa Rosa Laguna pa, so imagine the travel time, the work time and the travel time again. And oh, did I say I commute? Grabeee. For the love of art, I do these things.

But meeting the head of the Revlon Makeup team was priceless. We didnt have a photo because I'm shy like that. He's so nice and I didnt feel like aloft one bit.

Lord, thank you for the blessings and for the hands that you gave me.

Let me dump photos because I'm talking nonsense again. I promise to be a better blogger in the next coming months (meaning, taking pictures of events and people and overcoming my shyness)

Real Techniques Core Collection

photo copyrighted to Carla Gumin 2013

Real Techniques Core Collection Brush Set

I've put restrains and locks in my wallet because I've been hauling like a bad kitty for the past few weeks just to "cure" my depression. But I think I've gone overboard because I'm now broke as hell and I just cleaned out my traincase and give out so much stuff that I bought but doesn't work or something I didn't use.

But to justify what I have gone through, I found this little gem called Real Techniques. A few weeks back, I got myself the setting brush and swear to get the core collection, and well, I love it.

Also, it is made by one of my favorite youtube beauty guru and pro makeup artist, Sam Chapman of Pixiwoo.com. It has 4 brushes. A buffing brush, contour brush, foundation brush and a detailer brush.

APRIL FAVORITES

April Favorites.

As I'm not so comfortable with posting hauls (because sometimes, taking photos of one product is time consuming and I'm lazy like dut!), I'm quite happy to share my current favorites for the month! :)

So today I'm sharing these babies that caught my heart. And I kind of notice that all of them are in pencil type. Haha! Cray.

(L-R): Real Techniques Setting Brush, Tony Moly 7 Tatoo Day Eyebrow Pen, Nichido Mineral Kohl Liner in Onyx, Etude House Easy Brow Pencil in No. 2, Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stain in Rendezvous and Beauty Blender Sponge

Reviews of these stuff will follow soon. It's just I find putting makeup on tedious lately because it's sooo hot.

'Til next time 

Love, Carla

For the love of Tarte ... A wishlist.

Tarte Cosmetic's Wishlist.

Ever since I got the Tarte blush a few weeks ago, I've been stalking their website like a hungry hound. It goes into full blast when my highschool bestfriend swear by the Maracuja Airblush. So for this week, let me share you my Tarte cosmetics wants. Im pretty sure 3 out of 4 of this product will be in my makeup bin soon because I'm a junkie, and you can never stop a junkie.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in Tipsy

I'm in a coral craze this month, and concluded that I will buy more shades from this range. And this is going to be the next buy, im sure of it.

Tarte Waterproof Eyeliner with Dual-end brush

I've been a gel liner user since 2008 and well, I need to try this since my MAC Fluidline is almost finished (yep. love it to bits!)

Tarte Waterproof Brow Mousse in Taupe

Again, I'm a big brow product maniac. I have pencils, auto pencils, liquid, powder and now I want this mousse type from Tarte

Tarte Aqualilies for Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Eye and Cheek Palette

I dont think the eyeshadows will be flattering for me. But the blush, highlighter and bronzer sold me on this one.

I'm so excited to get my greedy hands on these products. What are your makeup wishlist this week? (Mine changes every 3 days. hahaha)

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in Natural Beauty

photo copyrighted to Carla Gumin 2013

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in Natural Beauty

I've been hearing a lot about this blushes and I've been curious since but the piling of makeup wishlist came and I totally forgot about it. Then a week ago, I've been feeling down so I decided to shop because I'm that shallow. Haha!

And like any good researcher, I read and read and compared swatches about Tarte blushes. At first I want the Blushing bride, because I'm a bridal makeup artist (duh). But after seeing the swatches, Natural Beauty was more versatile since a lot of my bridal works require a soft makeup that focuses either on the "glow" or the lips. And this definitely live up to that, it's a pinch-in-a-pan blush.

It look scary on the pan, but upon application it's such a pretty color. I like using synthetic brushes for this (I bought this with the Real Techniques Setting brush and been pairing the two since) because animal hair gathers too much product.

Swatch

Now, onto the product, it's very pigmented. It swatch and feels smooth upon touch. It's not that kind of blush where you have to swipe your brush for a few times just to get a decent pigmentation.

It gives the "i-just-have-the-best-sex-ever" glow. It looks so natural, and pretty.

The cons are that it looks a bit patchy, and needs a little more blending and patience upon application. A light-hand is needed because it's pigmented.

Also, the claim of 12 hour isn't true. This for me last a good 3-4hours max then it started fading. I cannot say that this doesn't work because 1) I didnt wear primer underneath my foundation 2) The weather here in the Philippines is insanely humid!

Packaging

The packaging of Tarte is so dainty. I love that the packaging tells you what color to expect, making it easy to spot from a sea of black packaging. It also have a decent weight to it, meaning it's made of a study plastic.

At the back, there's a small hole, where you can push the pan and transfer it to a custom palette.

Product Info

It have 5.6g of product in it, plus a 12 mos shelf life. Which confuse me a lot since during makeup school we were told that powder products (when sanitized and cared for properly) can be used up to 5 years.

What I love:

- Pigmented

- A natural color that will suit a lot of skintones

- Dainty and sturdy packaging and it have a mirror inside

- For a blush it have a decent wear of 3-4hours

Hate:

-Needs a little effort in blending

- Doesn't live up to it;s 12 hour claim.

Another item off my wishlist :) Makeup Is Art book

 photo credited to Carla Gumin 2013

MAKEUP IS ART book

Well, im not going to post a review about this book because I havent read it yet. I just browsed it and oogle at the beauty photos inside. I've been lemming for this since 2011, and when I finally bought it last year I was so happy! I got this for Php1,500.00 which is not that bad for a thick hard-bound book.

Anyways, let me share some photos from the book. :) If you want your copy, I saw this being sold in Fully Booked, BHS.

THE Beauty Blender Sponge Review

 photo copyrighted to Carla Gumin 2013

Beauty Blender Sponge

Since Easter's approaching, let me do a small review on my newest favorite tool in my kit, an egg. chos. This is the beauty blender sponge, a sponge and not a pink easter egg.

During my makeup classes in 2009, we were taught how to use brushes to apply makeup. So I was skeptical when I saw this for a few reason:

1. A Php1,000 sponge

2. Can have product build-up which is a no-no for a makeup artist.

3. Disposable after a few uses.

So for short, I never bought it and never intended to. Until the whole cream HD foundation broke in. I first tried using a brush to blend and apply the cream into skin, then it's just too streaky. Luckily a friend told me that they have "beauty blender" sponge in Suesh at a cheap price. The suesh one, I loved it but then after less than 10 uses, it started to have product build up at the center and never expanded the same way it used to. Feeling that hard, gooey center when washing it is so scary that I decided to cut the sponge in half and yep, there it is, the kadiri-to-death product build up. After buying 3 sponges from suesh, I decided to give in and  buy the original Beauty Blender.

The shape of the beauty blender sponge is not a packaging tactics, and is design to make foundation application a breeze. The bottom part is used to "dab" into large areas of the face (chin, cheeks, forehead) while the tip is used for hard to reach area such as corners of the nose and eye area.

To use this sponge, you have to soak it into a room-temperature water and wait for it to expand.

It looks so tiny, like a five peso coin, when dry but when damp, it expands double in size.

 details

It yields an airbrush finish foundation, no joke! Since using this my foundation application was cut in half and the skin looked like it was airbrush. Another thing I love about this is that it doesn't "eat" foundations when damp. (I was told to never use it dry)

The downside of using a sponge like this is that you have to clean i thoroughly and removing the stain is such a pain in the A. The best way, for me, to clean it is with a solid baby soap. I rub it against the soap, and then squeeze the hell out of the dirt. Usually it removes the stain, but there are still faint spots that  ate left. Also, mine bled like crazy (cotton candy colored water, it's pretty!) for the first two washes.

Beauty Blender Sponge when  damped, size comparison beside a five-peso-coin

But over-all, I love it. Despite having a ridiculous price for a sponge, it was well-worth it. I have used this for about 4-5 times only, I will update you guys when it finally disintegrate on me.

What I love about it?

- Ergonomically designed.

- Creates an airbrush finish

- Washable

What I hate?

- Hard to clean

- Expensive

- For sure, disposable.

Will I buy it again? Hell Yeah.

(You can buy it at different suppliers in multiply.com)

Love, Makeup Mama.

Suesh Make-Your-Own Palette Matte Eyeshadow Review

photos copyrighted to Carla Gumin 2013

Suesh Make-Your-Own Palette Matte Eyeshadows

When I first saw these on Suesh in ATC, it instantly reminded me of Make Up For Ever's eyeshadows because of how huge the pan is. (I'll edit this and post a comparison between this, MUFE and MAC's) One thing that also got my attention is these are only Php90.00 a pop! How great is that?

There are huge varieties of colors and last time I saw, they added concealer and lip colors too. Upon swatching (with fingers), these are totally pigmented. The shimmery ones are soft to touch and pigmented as well, I'm not sure about how it is when applied with a brush, but it looks promising. But I got the mattes instead since they are so hard to find.

 Products info and ingredients

I have the shades 205, 028, 026, 086 and PC04. PC04 is a contouring powder according to the staffs.

As you can see from the ingredient list it contains Talc and a lot of parabens. I'm no expert at this but I think having so much paraben is bad for the skin. The product is 3.5g which is for an eyeshadow is a LOT of product. I cant even hit pan on my favorite mac eyeshadows which is so much smaller than this.

 Suesh eyeshadow comparison beside a five pesos coin.

This ginormous eyeshadow can be put in a magnetized palette which Suesh also sells. But doesn't fit a MUFE or MAC's palettes.

But is the price and size worth it?
See the swatch below.

Be my judge.

This is the swatch without primer on using an eyeshadow brush. My wrist is lighter than my whole body and it barely shows up. You can't even see the two highlighting colors.

And here it is swatched wet. Better, in my opinion, but it's such a hassle to wet eyeshadow for applications. I dont know if you still do that, but I dont. The highlighting eyeshadows are so-so in my opinion, but I used it quite a while and it works with primer on.

So is it worth it? You tell me.

Oh and I forgot, these eyeshadows are cased in a hard plastic like this. If ever you end up buying some, you dont need a magnetized palette, you can keep them in this. :)

PROs:

- Price. You can't beat a Php90.00 eyeshadow in a huge pot

- There are plenty of colors available

- Suesh's stores are convenient. For people who lives in the south, there's ATC. For those who are from north, they have one in trinoma and there's the heart of it all, Greenhills. :)

-Cased in a hard plastic. No need to be pressured to buy a magnetized palettes.

CONs:

- Pigmentation

- Staying power

Will I buy it again? Probably no. But I'm not gonna lie, I've been dying to try the lip colors.

Love, Makeup Mama