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.