As a woman, how many times have you been treated differently just because you tried to glam a little?

photo courtesy of beautila.com

When I was still working, there are days when I am not wearing makeup especially if I am on the earliest shift (7 or 8 am) but in some days, I am in full glam mode on – that means I am wearing a dress, heels and may face is fully made up (as if I am about to face my enemies, lol!) Between the days when I am made up and being just another Jane Doe, I can really say that there is a big difference because I had my personal experiences. Allow me to elaborate with the help of my stories.

Occasional Gentlemen

It was a typical work day where everyone is in a hurry to walk and get into the MRT. I decided to get more sleep and just forget about putting makeup. After taking a shower, I picked up my jeans and shirt for work, paired it up with some Chucks then grabbed my bag and I was ready to go. Humidity was never a friend and by the time I reached the MRT station, I was already sweating.

Just like everyone, I was walking on my to the escalator when I was suddenly pushed by this guy who was also in a hurry that he did not even bother to say “excuse me.” Nothing. Not even a “sorry” that he pushed me( accidentally or not) towards the escalator steps.

The following day (which I did not do on purpose), I found some time to dress and made up. I chose to wear my new blue dress, orange pumps and my caramel-colored bag. Did my full makeup and went with my usual routine. So what was the difference aside from dressing up? Well, let’s see:

– Men politely gave way when walking – meaning, they let you walk first or let you go inside/outside the MRT and elevator doors.

– I was even offered seats.

– And I can still remember this guy who even held the elevator door and waited for me (which don’t usually happens) because I was holding a hot cup of coffee and was walking slower than my usual pace.

After that day, I cannot help but shake my head. The day before I was pushed and ignored, but now, I was suddenly offered a seat.

Could it really be the makeup and power dressing?

Conditionally-Friendly SAs

Are you a fan of social experiments? I am. So at times, I go to out shopping with the unpolished look (old tees, shorts, and slippers) and just moisturizer/sunblock on my face. One time, I dropped by in this beauty store and I will never forget the way I was treated by one of their SAs. I was asking some questions about a certain product that I am looking at and she was very snobbish. She even gave me that Im-sure-you-wont-buy-anything look. Since I was still undecided and also uncomfortable with the way she assisted me, I decided to leave the store.

Then 2 days after, I went back to the store to get whatever was available. I walked in with full makeup, a dress, and a designer bag on my hand and I was attended by the same SA, but this time it was different. She was very friendly, chatty, attentive and flashing a big smile on her face. She had a number of recommendations since the product that I was looking for was not available. She even commended the lipstick that I was wearing. It was a very different experience compared with the kind of treatment that I had from her before.

I was looking at her and itching to ask “Don’t you remember me?” but I didn’t do it because I feel that it was not the proper thing to do. Instead, I got what I needed and stepped out with a sarcastic smile on my face and a bubble-thought in my head “Oh, the perks of wearing makeup!“

Funny how we are always told to be true to ourselves but when we do, we will be judged.

Funny how we are always told to be true to ourselves but when we do, we will be judged. Our society recognizes the importance of beauty – that is a fact. But the same society has a certain standard beauty, do you agree? While the appreciation for natural beauty is really inspiring, in reality, our society is not yet ready to embrace the different kinds and forms of beauty.

Photo courtesy of onehair.com.au

That in real life, you will be treated based on how you look, how much you weigh and even the brands you carry. Our standards for beauty are based on the faces of the famous celebrities and at times, the fans are forgetting that these celebrities can also have imperfections. Remember that issue they had when Beyonce’s untouched photos surfaced and everyone was like, “OMG did you see those photos!?!” Some people’s reactions were just…mean. It was as if the person can’t even have a breakout. Hello, people? She is still a person and no one is perfect.

I will not deny that we, as women, will always have our insecurities and that is why we use makeup among other things because it helps us hide some of our imperfections. Being beautiful and confident with makeup on is one thing and feeling less confident without it is another.

For me, beautiful means embracing one’s flaws. Beautiful means accepting your imperfections and highlighting your assets. One can still be beautiful sans makeup. Beautiful is when you can stand in front of a mirror and wear the same smile you have on your face even after you removed your foundation and eyeshadow.

“She already has body image issues. It’s an intrinsic part of being a woman. Every woman in the world has some part of herself that she absolutely hates. Her hands are too small, Her feet are too big, Her hair is too straight, too curly; her ears stick out, her butt’s too flat, her nose is too big and, you know, nothing you can say will change how we feel. What men don’t understand is, the right clothes, the right shoes, the right makeup it just…it hides the flaws we think we have. they make us look beautiful to ourselves. that’s what makes us look beautiful to others.”

– Martha Rogers (Castle, TV series)

Sad to say, our society is judgemental when it comes to looks, but I have accepted that. For so many times I have felt lesser just because I do not possess that certain standard for beauty, but not anymore. If you treat me poorly simply because I am not wearing some designer clothes or makeup on, then you don’t deserve my time and attention.

Feel beautiful, with or without makeup, and you will be seen beautiful.

What about you? Have you experienced this before? Share it with us! ;D

This is the third and last part of my Colourpop Lippie Stix Review. Read the Part 1 and Part 2 by clicking the links provided.

*please note that due to the difference in undertones, the shades may look brighter or darker to different people.

1. COOKIE

Described as true nude beige with a matte finish. It has similarities with NARS Montego Bay and slightly lighter than Estee Lauder’s Double wear in Stay Blush. It would be best to pair it with (simple) smokey eyes to avoid looking washed-out.

2. WIFEY

Described as bright lavender pink with a satin finish. Wifey reminds me of MAC’s Saint Germain. This is one fun color to wear and an absolute eye candy for people who loves bold and bright lipstick colors.

Here is a comparison of Wifey with other pink shades from Colourpop Lippie Stix.

3. Clique

Described as vivid orange-red with a matte finish. This is can be a dupe for MAC’s Lady Danger.

4. Toucan

Described as bright, pinky-red coral with a matte finish. When I first swatched this color, I was not convinced that I can pull it off because I do not anything near this shade in my lippie collection, but I’m glad that it looked flattering when worn. HOWEVER, among all the lippie stix that I tried, this has a very waxy feel on my lips. I am not sure if it was a bad batch or what but it really feels sticky and uncomfortable on the lips. :/

PROs:

• The lipsticks are creamy (with the exception of Toucan) and long lasting enough.
  • One thing that I realized was that it wears better if you use a lip brush to apply the lipstick. The brush helps you apply the product evenly and you can build the color (from light to dark) very well.
• Easy to use and apply.
• These set of lippie stix that I tried, tested and reviewed lasted almost 8 hours but felt drying towards the last couple of hours, especially Toucan.
  • After eating and drinking, the color faded a little and it was unnoticeable. There was no need to reapply the lipstick.
  • HOWEVER, if you wear them for more than 6 hours, you may need to retouch though this may not apply to all the colors, especially the bold/dark ones.
• No feathering despite having meals.
• Very opaque and highly pigmented.
• Cruelty-free products
• Price 
  • Each lippie stix is sold at 5 USD while sellers in Singapore are giving it at an average of 12 SGD a pop. Each tube contains 1 gram of lipstick. Comparing it with other lipstick products like MAC at 3g for 16 USD, it seems like there is not much difference. BUT if you the type of person who prefers to have  a lot of options but does not want to splurge so much, then this is the perfect product for you. It is an affordable product with great quality. You really get what you pay for.  :D
• Scent
  • It has a light vanilla scent that is similar to MAC and I like it.

CONs:

• Unfortunately, this wonderful brand is not available locally and in order to get the shades that I want (both from old and new collections) at a shorter period of time, I had to go from one seller to another.
• It felt drying towards the end of the day, which is expected from matte lipsticks. Some were very drying (Toucan) compared with other lippie stix.
• My lips got flaky at the end of the day but this is, again,expected because these are matte lipsticks.

OVERALL:

• Product – 5/5
• Ease of Use – 5/5
• Price – 5/5
  • Colourpop Lippie Stix is sold at 5 USD (1 gram of lipstick) each but if you will buy from local sellers in Singapore, it is sold from 12 SGD each. (price varies depending on the seller) If you are from Singapore and you want to get your lippie stix, check out Pingbong‘s Carousell account.
• Will I purchase again?
  • Definitely!  :D

Thank you for reading the last part of my Colourpop Lippie Stix Review. I know that it has been a long (3-part) review but I hope you had a great time reading and looking at the swatches provided. Colourpop Cosmetics is worth giving a try because it is an indie makeup brand that offers affordability and great quality.

Thank you once again and have a lovely day! Until my next time! ;D

In celebration of the National Lipstick Day (July 28th), I am sharing my review of Colourpop’s highly-raved lippie product called Ultra Matte Lip. This indie company introduced  25 shades of matte liquid lipsticks last June and today I am reviewing 7 of them. Please bear my long post because like what I always tell you, (even in my previous posts) I do my best to provide comprehensive reviews. ;D

PACKAGING

Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip comes in a slim, white box. On the body of the box, you will find that the word “ULTRA MATTE LIP” is printed in holographic letters while the name of the lipstick shade is printed on a sticker-like material and placed at the bottom of the box.

These liquid lipsticks are placed in a transparent, and high-end looking plastic tubes with a silver cap. The cap is actually the holder for its applicator. The word “Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip” is printed in a holographic sticker and pasted body of the tube. At the bottom of the bottle, you will also find the name of the shade.

SWATCHES

*please note that due to the difference in undertones, the shades may look brighter or darker to different people.

1. SOLOW

Described as neutral nude pink. This is the first shade that I tried out of the 7 that I purchased. I was so excited that when these lippies arrived, I tried it right away. I applied it without any lip balm and yes, it was very drying and even left my lips a bit flaky when I pressed it together.

To avoid such problems, I applied Burt’s Bees Lip Balm on my lips before I continued swatching these matte liquid lipsticks.

Back to SOLOW, I was very happy that I gave this a shade a chance because honestly, I thought that matte lipsticks would only look good on deeper shades (reds, fuchsia, violets) and I used to believe that nudes and light pink colors should be worn with some gloss. Again, it was just me. Then I met SOLOW, and my opinion was changed. This color can be worn for your day look and it can also be paired with a black/brown eyeliner and some light blusher.

2. OUIJI

Described as bright, coral-red. This shade looked brighter when swatched on my hand but once applied on the lips, the color (thankfully!) was not so loud. In fact, it is bright but not too much for the eyes. :) This is one of my favorites. :)

3. SUCCULENT

Described as electric neon red. This is a lipstick with a BANG! If Frenchie is bright, then this is BRIGHTER and of course, I love it!

I wore this for 6 hours and had dinner within that timeframe. After meals, the lipstick did not feather but it faded a little near the middle of the lips. There was no need to retouch, but I did anyway and the result? It had a crumbly texture which was not flattering. :/

4. CREEPER

Described as true classic blue red. So, of course I got this because well, it’s red. :) I tested this and lasted for 9 hours and it performed well. With the lip balm under the ultra matte, it did not feel too drying and it was comfortable on the lips.

When I compared it with Lime Crime Red Velvet and Jeffree Star Velour Lipstick in Redrum, CREEPER was brighter than the two.

ATTACK OF THE PINKS!

5. MARS

Described as red fuchsia. It is bright, bold and beautiful! It easily glides on the lips and stains well. I see this as a go-to lip color for Fridays and Saturdays. Yeah? Yeah!

6. HIGHBALL

Described as hot red-pink. This is too hot to handle! :) Yes, it is a lovely color, but make sure that you don’t get too excited when you apply on the lips. I wore this for 6 hours and tested with meals, too. Like the rest of the ultra matte lips, it did not feather but faded a little after meals. However, it leaves a good stain on the lips so it was unnoticeable. ;)

7. SUNDAE

Described as vibrant pink magenta with a subtle blue-violet undertone. Aside from the lovely color, I ordered this because I got curious with the iridescence. The shiny elements can be seen when you look at the lipstick tube, but it was very subtle on the lips. The color screams “Capital Barbie!”

PROs:

*These comments/opinions are based on the 7 shades that I tried and tested.

• These liquid lipsticks opaque and pigmented.
• Easy to use and apply BUT it dries quicker compared with Nyx Soft Matte Lipsticks, Lime Crime, and Jeffree Star Velour Liquid.
• Light on the lips.
• No feathering despite having meals.
• Very minimal transfer (as seen on coffee cups and drinking glasses)
• Made in the USA.
• Cruelty-free products.
• Scent-free.
• Price
  • Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip is sold at 6 USD per tube while sellers from Carousell in Singapore are giving it between 13-15 SGD a pop. Each tube contains 0.1128 oz of lipstick.(below is a comparison with other major liquid lipstick in the market.)
    • KVD – 0.22 fl. oz – sold at SEPHORA for 20 USD (38 SGD)
    • Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick – sold at 18 USD (from 30 – 40 SGD)
    • Lime Crime Velvetines – 0.88 fl. oz – sold at 20 USD (from 30 – 40 SGD)

If you are the type of person who wants to have a lot of options for less, then this is the worth giving a try.

CONs:

• Since it dries quickly, you do not have much time to apply it as compared with other liquid lipsticks.
• DRYING.
  • Again, this is expected from matte lipsticks.
  • Some may be more drying than the rest. In fact, even after you remove it, your lips will still feel dry.
• AVAILABILITY
  • Unfortunately, this brand is not available locally and in order to get the shades that I want, I had to go from one seller to another. I got my Ultra Matte Lips from Pingbong and shoppaholicmom from Carousell.

Berry’s Useful Tips:

1. Exfoliate and moisturize your lips.
2. Use lip balm (before applying and after removing)
3. REMOVING the Ultra Matte Lip
   1. Use a waterproof makeup remover. I use BIODERMA Sensibio H20 because it is good for sensitive skin.
   2. Some are using olive oil or coconut oil.
   3. Use a cotton and gently wipe your lips. Others are also using Q-tips.

We have reached the end of this review, and I hope you had a good read and that I was able to provide the details that you are looking for. So what do you think? Are you giving it a try? ;D

If you want to read my Colourpop Lippie Stix Reviews, please click the links below:

Part 1 – Lumiere, Frida, Fancy, Scandy, Tuxedo and Heart On 

Part 2 – Frenchie, Fighter, Bichette, Blood, LBB and Grind

Part 3 – Cookie, Wifey, Clique and Toucan

Hey, hey, hey!

It’s Friday once again and regardless of the timezone, we can definitely party all the way! ;D But before we start, allow me to acknowledge the lovely bloggers who joined us in our last blog party:

• Lia of LifestyleswithLia
• Linda of lbeth1950
• Leisel of Skill Up Skillet 
• Janice Wald
• Marie of Two Shades of Yellow
• Anton of Living the Dream
• Rachel of Insert My Average Life Here 
• Effervescent Hedgepig
• Of Opinions
• Benedict of Ben Nicholson

And like the last time, I will share Berry’s Picks of the Week that features some of the interesting blogs that I found.

• Clara Wiggins – Expat Partner Survival
  • if you have an expat partner, this is one blog that you may want to read :)
• A Coffee Break with Mike
• Confessions of a Readaholic
  • from one book lover to another.
• Chasing Life and Finding Dreams
• Flavia Lozano
  • a lovely travel blog

Also, I am sharing my personal favorites in the Photo blog category:

• bCL Photography
• A Meditative Journey with Saldage
• Lucile de Godoy 
•  Musings of a Frequent Flying Scientist
• VANERPADDEL

I hope you find time to check their blogs and join some of the challenges that they are hosting.  :) Now let’s move on to the link party!

Like any blog party, all you have to do is:

• visit my “Summer Blog Party” icon in the site or check out my post every Friday, (that’s from today until Sept 18), so make sure you visit or simply FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE so you can always get the freshest updates! All official social media accounts will also be updated (FB, Twitter, Instagram).

• (You may or may not) Introduce yourself, but make sure that you leave the link of your blog, or the link of your best posts of the week (it’s up to you, you can always be creative  :D )

• It’s an OPEN HAUS so visit as many times as you may want! Reblogging and spreading the news will always, always be welcome!

• Lastly, discover and have fun following, reading and meeting other fellow bloggers!

Enjoy! Sending warm hugs from Singapore!

Berryduchess was featured in this Buzzfeed article/quiz! :D

Let’s find out if you can guess these lipsticks! Take the quiz here.

While I am aware that not all romantic relationships are meant to last, I had a different perspective when it comes to friendship. Naive, I know, but I thought it was possible to be friends with everyone and keep it together until we get old and gray. But like any relationship, some are not meant to last and some are meant to be ended. So how do we know when it’s time to leave the friendship and go on with our own lives?

Here are some telltales that maybe it is time to break up with your friend/s:

1. The Users.

These are the people who contact you only when they need to ask some favors and as a good friend, you willingly and wholeheartedly help them. But when it’s your turn to ask for some small help, they suddenly don’t respond to your messages or simply become unreachable.

2. Liar, Liar!

photo courtesy of timesofindia.indiatimes.com

To start with, who wants to be lied to? No one, right? But no one is perfect and some little white lies may be forgivable especially when they explain why they did it. HOWEVER! If they become frequent liars then that is something worth considering. Worse is when they continue lying to your face, even though they were already busted.

Regardless of the type of relationship that you have, I believe that honesty will always be an important element and must be valued at all times. This may take time but at some point, you will realize that the lack of sincerity in the relationship is not a good indication of a lasting bond.

3. They don’t give any kind of support to you.

photo courtesy of disneyrollergirls.net

When you were down, did they give some time to listen? That time when you achieved something, where they happy for you? Did they support and not judge your decisions?

At times when we cannot physically be there to support our friends, there are still ways to let them know we care. After all, this is the age of technology and social media and everything is possible. Agree? :D

If there’s a will, there’s always a way.

4. When you are treated as an option.

photo courtesy of tumblr.com

Need I say more?

5. When you cannot be yourself when you are with them.

photo courtesy of tumblr.com

Do you struggle to keep up just to be accepted? The truth is real friends accept you for who you really are because real friends see the person and not the brands you wear or the amount of money you have.

photo courtesy of weheartit.com

It may be sad that some of our friendships are no longer the same as they used to be, but we have to accept that people change. Everybody changes. And as we move on with our lives, we have to cut some ties simply because they no longer help us grow. Life is too short to spend it with the wrong people.

And as I end my post, I wanted to share this piece, originally written by José Micard Teixeira:

“I no longer have patience for certain things, not because I’ve become arrogant, but simply because I reached a point in my life where I do not want to waste more time with what displeases me or hurts me. I have no patience for cynicism, excessive criticism and demands of any nature. I lost the will to please those who do not like me, to love those who do not love me and to smile at those who do not want to smile at me.

I no longer spend a single minute on those who lie or want to manipulate. I decided not to coexist anymore with pretense, hypocrisy, dishonesty and cheap praise. I do not tolerate selective erudition nor academic arrogance. I do not adjust either to popular gossiping. I hate conflict and comparisons. I believe in a world of opposites and that’s why I avoid people with rigid and inflexible personalities. In friendship I dislike the lack of loyalty and betrayal. I do not get along with those who do not know how to give a compliment or a word of encouragement. Exaggerations bore me and I have difficulty accepting those who do not like animals. And on top of everything I have no patience for anyone who does not deserve my patience.”

I would like to express my gratitude to A Momma’s View and Alisa Wong for this nomination. 

So here are the rules for this nomination:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you.
2. List the rules and display the award.
3. Share 7 facts about yourself.
4. Nominate 15 other amazing blogs and comment on their blogs to let them know you nominated them.

Berry’s 7 Facts:

1. I always remove the tag prices (including the sticky, sticky ones) in all my stuff and I am ,sort of, bothered when I use things with price tags on. :/

2. I have NEVER BEEN a bridesmaid in my life.

photo courtesy of popsugar.com

3. And I HAVE NEVER ATTENDED a (traditional) bridal shower.

Photo courtesy of weddingpartyapp.com

4. I love Oreos, but when I eat them, I always remove the filling because it is just too sweet for me. Yes I am weird that way.

photo courtesy of the dailymeal.com

5. I love karaoke or if you are Pinoy (Filipino), we call it VIDEOKE. And I am sharing a sample, so listen at your own risk. LOL! (this was recorded using my phone and nothing else, so I apologize for the quality.)

6. Whenever I watch my favorite TV series, I always let the entire season to end and then I will binge-watch simply because I hate waiting for the weekly episodes.

7. I am not, and never will be, a fan of rollercoasters. I don’t want to pay just to throw up or be scared.

Photo courtesy of citylab.com

And my nominees are:

• Two Shades of Yellow
• Breaths N Dreams
• Effervescent Hedgepig
• insertmyaveragelifehere
• Skill Up Skillet
• Musings Of A Frequent Flying Scientist
• Runaway Nuns And Leprechauns
• Miss Caly
• Designer91
• The Adimpleate Blog
• Fred The Needle
• The Blog Of Tony Burgess

As mentioned previously, I know that some of you are not into these blog nominations and we totally respect that. But on a personal note, I am participating because I believe that it adds encouragement and promotes camaraderie in the blogging community.  No pressure and it is totally up to you if you will accept it or not.  :)

I had a great time doing this post and I hope you will have fun doing yours  :)

The rest of my “fun” facts are in these nominations, too  :)

• The One Lovely Blog Award 
• The Liebster Award

This is my current project and I am sharing a sample with you. Although the song is in Tagalog, I provided the english translation of the lyrics:

Thou

(English version of IKAW by Yeng Constantino) The english version was sung by Cathy Jane Cunada as her vow during her wedding. It was written by her uncle Jonathan Dela Pena.

At every drop of this eternal time
you keep swirling in my mind
My thoughts and heartbeat never fail to rhyme

And thou would feed the longings of my heart
Since the time I realized
That I’d fall in love in perfect time

And thine, is the love that I call mine
My heart had been entwined
With sadness for so long but now you came along to say
“you’re mine”

The love that’s all divine
I’m blessed you are now mine
The bliss that fill my emptiness
My love, my life
Now you are mine

And my world has stopped moving since the time
You proclaimed that you are mine
And my heart has learned to sing and smile

For you, I renewed my trust in love
And have thrown away the doubts
For you define what true love is about

And thine, is the love that I call mine
My heart had been entwined
With sadness for so long but now you came along to say
“you’re mine”

The love that’s all divine
I’m blessed you are now mine
The bliss that fill my emptiness
My love, my life
Now you are mine

And this love is what I prayed for
All my life is what I have longed for
Is to love you forevermore

And thine, is the love that I call mine
My heart had been entwined
With sadness for so long but now you came along to say
“you’re mine”

The love that’s all divine
I’m blessed you are now mine
The bliss that fill my emptiness
My love, my life
Now you are mine

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died.

The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, “Did you not hear us?” The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

This story teaches two lessons:

photo courtesy of raymmar.com

1. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day.

It feels good to be lost in the right direction.

                                            – Anonymous

December 2014
Iphone 6 Camera

—

This is in response to Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Today Was a Good Day

Now, I don’t want to lose you
But I don’t want to use you
just to have somebody by my side.
And I don’t want to hate you,
I don’t want to take you
but I don’t want to be the one to cry.

And that don’t really matter to anyone anymore.
But like a fool I keep losing my place
And I keep seeing you walk through that door.

(Chorus)

But there’s a danger in loving somebody too much,
And it’s sad when you know it’s your heart you can’t trust.
There’s a reason why people don’t stay where they are.
Baby, sometimes, love just aint enough.

And there’s no way home
When it’s late at night and you’re all alone.
Are there things that you wanted to say?
And do you feel me beside you in your bed,
there beside you, where I used to lay?

And there’s a danger in loving somebody too much,
And it’s sad when you know it’s your heart they can’t touch.
There’s a reason why people don’t stay who they are.
Baby, sometimes, love just ain’t enough.

Baby, sometimes, love… it just ain’t enough.

Australis Velourlips Matte Cream reminds me NYX Soft Matte Lip Creme, but they are much better. So let us start the review on these 3 shades. ;D

1. Lun-Dun

This shade is a light purple pink, but it can still be part of your day look. Pair it with your black winged eye liner and you are good to go. :) This also reminds me of that Nicki Minaj kind-of pink.

2. Ro-Ma

Ro-Ma is a bright shade of pink. Though perfect for the spring/summer season, this color may be tricky to wear.  So if you decide to take this shade, you can be easy on your eye makeup and let your lips do the rest.

3. Mi-A-Mee

This bright coral shade from Australis Velourlips collection makes me happy because it lights up the entire face once worn.

 PROs:

• comfortable on the lips; it feels very light on the lips.
• opaque and pigmented
• long wearing
• long lasting
• Vegan-friendly & cruelty-free
• Price
  • This is priced at 9.90 SGD per tube.
• Availability
  • Though this brand is not available in department store counters here in Singapore, they have several authorized distributors like LAYCY where I ordered mine.

CONs:

• I did not like the fruity smell of the product. :(
• Some shades were very challenging to apply, specifically Ro-Ma and Mi-A-Mee.

Berry’s Useful Tips:

1. Make sure that you exfoliate and moisturize your lips.
2. Use lip balm (before applying and after removing)
3. You can always use a lip brush to help you apply the lip product evenly. ;D

“Beauty has alot to do with character.”

– Kevyn Aucoin

1. Bar-Tha-Lona

I would describe this as a bright pink-red shade and almost similar to the color of a fully-riped watermelon. Delicious color, right? This is one of my favorite colors in this batch.

2. Doo-Bai

If you are looking for that dramatic and vampy-ish color, then you should pick Doo-Bai. A burnt burgundy color that is perfect for the fall season or whenever you feel like having bold lips or even that sultry and sexy look.

DOO-BAI versus WICKED

I did not mean to wear the same outfit when I did the swatch for Australis, LOL! :D

3. Shang-Hi

This was the first shade that I bought and it’s on top of my list. Just look at that beautiful deep magenta color, isn’t it gorgeous?!

 PROs:

• comfortable on the lips; it feels very light on the lips.
• opaque and pigmented
• long wearing
• long lasting
• Vegan-friendly & cruelty-free
• Price
  • This is priced at 9.90 SGD per tube.
• Availability
  • Though this brand is not available in department store counters here in Singapore, they have several authorized distributors like LAYCY where I ordered mine.

CONs:

• I did not like the fruity smell of the product. :(
• Some shades were very challenging to apply, specifically Ro-Ma and Mi-A-Mee.

Berry’s Useful Tips:

1. Make sure that you exfoliate and moisturize your lips.
2. Use lip balm (before applying and after removing)
3. You can always use a lip brush to help you apply the lip product evenly. ;D

No amount of makeup can mask an ugly heart.

– Kevyn Aucoin

There is a child inside each one of us,
who comes out in front of the person
we are most comfortable with.

                             – Anonymous

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

This is a quick review of Starbucks Singapore 2016 Planner that was launched today, Sept 4th. There are two things about this planner:

1. This was a collaboration between Starbucks and Moleskine AND
2. The design was EXCLUSIVE for Singapore.

PACKAGING

NOTHING FANCY – the planner is wrapped in a clear plastic, that’s it. So if you are planning to buy one, make sure you place them well inside your bag. Unlike me, I placed mine in one of my grocery bags (because I had no choice) and it was late when I noticed the small scratch/dent on the front cover. :(

COVER

Like the signature look and feel of the Moleskine planner, this organizer/notebook comes in a hard cover (that somewhat feels like a faux leather) together with the elastic band on the side to help keep things intact.

PAGES – DESIGN & LAYOUT

This is the preview of the monthly calendar.

Each section (calendar and different notebook pages) are divided by beautiful photos about the company and of course, coffee!

The 3 different notebook pages included in the planner are the following:

• 84 Ruled Pages
• 48 Note Pages
• 46 “Squared” or Graph pages

Lastly, is the back pocket feature of the planner.

BUT WAIT! There’s more!

Aside from the exclusive planner, you will also get a special edition Starbucks Card and it is placed inside the back pocket.

PROs:

• Light and handy
  • If you are aways on the go like attending meetings and taking notes, this is perfect for you.
  • It is not too heavy or bulky.
  • The size (approx. 5 x 8 inches) and weight makes it easier to carry around, even during travels.
• Design
  • Simple and you will not hesitate to use and bring it inside the board room.
  • For the 2016 planner, you can choose from the 3 colors available (red, grey or black)
• It is a combination of notebook and calendar.
  • I am happy to see a lot of pages to write on. This is something that you don’t get much from other planners.
• Pages are ACID-FREE
  • This means that it is environmental-friendly.
• Price
  • The planner set is currently sold at 38.90 SGD.
  • But if you are a member, you can opt to top up your card with 50 SGD and get the planner for only 28.90 SGD! *terms & conditions apply.

CONs:

• The pages are too thin (you can notice it in the photos above) so if you are using a sign pen or marker in this notebook, expect the ink bleeding at the back of the paper. :/

What do you think of this planner? Let me know your thoughts!

Please click the link provided if you want to see my review for the Erin Condren 2016 Planner. ;D

Featured Brand: L.A. Girl Glazed Lip Paint

Described as a lip product with intense pigmentation, but with a glossy finish. Yes, if you are thinking of lipstick + lip gloss, then you are correct.

According to their website, each glaze lip paint should do the following:

• Provides the shine of a lip gloss.
• Gives the intensely pigmented appearance of a liquid lipstick
• Delivers rich color with staying power.

Did they deliver their promises? Let’s find out.

PACKAGING

Each glazed lip paint comes in a plastic tube with a gold cap. The color of the tube indicates the shade of the lip product. The brand name is printed on the body of the tube, while the name of the shade, product code and ingredients are printed in a sticker.

When you remove the cap, you will see that the applicator is made of plastic. :/

SWATCHES

*please note that due to the difference in undertones, the shades may look brighter or darker to different people.

For your reference, I am NC25 in MAC Pro Longwear Foundation.

1. BLUSHING

I say that this color is between old rose and old mauve. The color of the tube was lighter that the actual product.

2. SEDUCE

This is a personal favorite! I can describe this as a magenta-plum color and if you wish to make a statement with your lips, then this is one color that you should not miss.

PROs:

• PRICE
  • I bought these from the last Beauty Fair/Roadshow held at the mall near where I live, and they were priced at 9.90 SGD per tube (sold at $4 in the US). Each tube brings you 0.40 fl. oz (12 ML) worth of lip product.
• AVAILABILITY
  • these can be found online (thru Carousell SG) or in beauty fairs/roadshows.
• Opaque and Highly-Pigmented
  • A small amount will be enough, especially if you are using a lip brush to apply.
• NON-DRYING
  • The lip product is packed with peppermint oil and vitamin e.
  • It has a minty smell and the hint of minty taste too, once applied. But that will come off after a few minutes.
• Leaves a good stain on the lips.
• Easy to remove.

CONs:

• Applicator 
  • I really didn’t like that it was plastic.
  • It can also be a challenge to apply the lip product evenly if you use the applicator.
• Not long-wearing enough
  • Despite the good stain that it leaves after a few hours of wearing, I prefer to have the “dramatic” or shall I say “juicy” look of the gloss from the beginning.
• It can be runny 
  • I noticed this particularly with Pin-Up shade.
  • Given this, it is also possible to bleed on the lip line.
• Possible to stain you teeth
  • Which happened to me with Pin-Up (again).

Before I end this review, here are some of the tips and tricks that you may find useful when applying lipstick. :)

Berry’s Useful Tips:

1. Exfoliate and moisturize your lips.
   1. Given the texture of the LA Girl Glazed Lip Paint, you should make sure that your lips are not flaky or chapped.
2. Use lip balm (before applying and after removing).
3. Use a lip liner to avoid “bleeding” on the lip line.
4. Shake the tube first and use a lip brush to apply the lip product.
   1. This help you apply the lipstick EVENLY.
5. Lastly, do not put too much product on your lips.

photo courtesy of wallpaperwidehd.com

—

Makeup Of the Day:

• Foundation – MAC Pro Longwear in NC25
• Concealer – MAC Pro Longwear in NC20
• Eyebrow – Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Medium Brown
• Eyeliner – Rock n’ Kohl in Barbarella Brown by Charlotte Tilbury
• Eyeshadow – Urban Decay 3 Naked Palette
• Contour and Highlight – Film Star Bronze and Glow by Charlotte Tilbury
• Blush – Cheek to Chic’s Love is the Drug by Charlotte Tilbury

Featured Brand: L.A. Girl Glazed Lip Paint

Described as a lip product with intense pigmentation, but with a glossy finish. Yes, if you are thinking of lipstick + lip gloss, then you are correct.

According to their website, each glaze lip paint should do the following:

• Provides the shine of a lip gloss.
• Gives the intensely pigmented appearance of a liquid lipstick
• Delivers rich color with staying power.

Did they deliver their promises? Let’s find out.

PACKAGING

Each glazed lip paint comes in a plastic tube with a gold cap. The color of the tube indicates the shade of the lip product. The brand name is printed on the body of the tube, while the name of the shade, product code and ingredients are printed in a sticker.

When you remove the cap, you will see that the applicator is made of plastic. :/

SWATCHES

*please note that due to the difference in undertones, the shades may look brighter or darker to different people.

For your reference, I am NC25 in MAC Pro Longwear Foundation.

1. Pin-Up

Pin-Up is a bright, cool-toned red and just like its name, this reminds me of the lip color of those 1940’s pin-up girls.

Beautiful shade, but challenging to apply. Among the 4 colors that I reviewed, this is the one that was stained my teeth and I had to redo the application because it was too runny.

2. Bombshell

Add the big hair and pair it with this bright fuchsia shade, you will definitely achieve that bombshell look!

This color color have similarities with OCC Lip Tar’s Pretty Boy.

PROs:

• PRICE
  • I bought these from the last Beauty Fair/Roadshow held at the mall near where I live, and they were priced at 9.90 SGD per tube (sold at $4 in the US). Each tube brings you 0.40 fl. oz (12 ML) worth of lip product.
• AVAILABILITY
  • these can be found online (thru Carousell SG) or in beauty fairs/roadshows.
• Opaque and Highly-Pigmented
  • A small amount will be enough, especially if you are using a lip brush to apply.
• NON-DRYING
  • The lip product is packed with peppermint oil and vitamin e.
  • It has a minty smell and the hint of minty taste too, once applied. But that will come off after a few minutes.
• Leaves a good stain on the lips.
• Easy to remove.

CONs:

• Applicator 
  • I really didn’t like that it was plastic.
  • It can also be a challenge to apply the lip product evenly if you use the applicator.
• Not long-wearing enough
  • Despite the good stain that it leaves after a few hours of wearing, I prefer to have the “dramatic” or shall I say “juicy” look of the gloss from the beginning.
• It can be runny 
  • I noticed this particularly with Pin-Up shade.
  • Given this, it is also possible to bleed on the lip line.
• Possible to stain you teeth
  • Which happened to me with Pin-Up (again).

Before I end this review, here are some of the tips and tricks that you may find useful when applying lipstick. :)

Berry’s Useful Tips:

1. Exfoliate and moisturize your lips.
   1. Given the texture of the LA Girl Glazed Lip Paint, you should make sure that your lips are not flaky or chapped.
2. Use lip balm (before applying and after removing).
3. Use a lip liner to avoid “bleeding” on the lip line.
4. Shake the tube first and use a lip brush to apply the lip product.
   1. This help you apply the lipstick EVENLY.
5. Lastly, do not put too much product on your lips.

photo courtesy of wallpaperwidehd.com

—

Makeup Of the Day:

• Foundation – MAC Pro Longwear in NC25
• Concealer – MAC Pro Longwear in NC20
• Eyebrow – Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Medium Brown
• Eyeliner – Rock n’ Kohl in Barbarella Brown by Charlotte Tilbury
• Eyeshadow – Urban Decay 3 Naked Palette
• Contour and Highlight – Film Star Bronze and Glow by Charlotte Tilbury
• Blush – Cheek to Chic’s Love is the Drug by Charlotte Tilbury