When we welcomed the new year, I promised myself and the world wide web that I won't purchase a new lipstick until I'm done reviewing every single tube I already have. Yes, a girl can never have too many lipsticks, but this girl does not have a big enough storage room for all of them. If you know me and my love affair with lip colors, then you know how challenging this is for me. On one hand I'm glad to get usage out of all my lipsticks while freeing space as I let go of others, but on the other hand I am praying to the lipstick goddesses that no new can't-be-missed shades or collections are released to the market until I've made a sizeable dent in this undertaking.
Right now I'm just glad for the chance to rediscover old favorites and play with swatches.
What better way to start this habit than by sharing one of my favorite Maybelline collections from late last year? If you remember and if, like me, you liked the Vivid Matte Lipsticks and its bright and bold colors and intense pigmentation, you'll be thrilled to know that Maybelline released new shades under this line!
Maybelline's kits are always something to look forward to. ♥
They're bright, they're bold, they're guaranteed to perk you up!
I love my nudes and my browns and my MLBBs, but my love for bright colored lipsticks is immeasurable. Shocking pink pouts! Plum kissers! Scarlet reds! Gimme all of 'em!
Here are the individual lip swatches (´∀｀)♡
Vivid 5 is a blue-based red that looks darker on the tube than on the lips. It's not a unique color and I'll be okay with letting this go in favor of my other reds.
Vivid 6 is a hot pink that instantly brightens up the face and flatters all skin tones. It will make an excellent gift for your kikay sister or friend.
Vivid 7 is a nice candy apple-red that reminds me of those summer days I spent in the visiting carnival that used to go to our little city during fiesta. I like this red better than Vivid 5.
Vivid 8 is a loud purple pink that can take you from day to night depending on the eye makeup you pair with it. It's a much better version of my Maybelline Amethyst Ablaze!
I didn't expect to like Vivid 13 as much as I did mostly because I thought it would make me look pale or sickly! Instead, it was able to strike the perfect balance and I got the perfect Barbie pink lipstick for me. ♥
Like their older sisters, the new additions to the Maybelline Vivid Matte line are infused with bold saturated pigments plus honey nectar and give a creamier touch and "vividly sensational" color finish. They stay on my lips for four to five hours without eating. I still apply lip balm before putting them on but as you can see on the photos, they did not settle on my lip lines. For only P299 a pop, you can't go wrong with any of these, except perhaps skip Vivid 5 if you already have a similar shade and go for any of the other four instead.
What will be your signature lip color for 2017? Did you even think of choosing one? I change my lip colors depending on my mood so I can't really choose, but it'll definitely be a bright colored lippie for me. After all, my ultimate favorite lipstick is a hot pink hue.
Right now I'm just glad for the chance to rediscover old favorites and play with swatches.
What better way to start this habit than by sharing one of my favorite Maybelline collections from late last year? If you remember and if, like me, you liked the Vivid Matte Lipsticks and its bright and bold colors and intense pigmentation, you'll be thrilled to know that Maybelline released new shades under this line!
Maybelline's kits are always something to look forward to. ♥
Vivid 5 • Vivid 6 • Vivid 7 • Vivid 8 • Vivid 13
They're bright, they're bold, they're guaranteed to perk you up!
I love my nudes and my browns and my MLBBs, but my love for bright colored lipsticks is immeasurable. Shocking pink pouts! Plum kissers! Scarlet reds! Gimme all of 'em!
Here are the individual lip swatches (´∀｀)♡
Maybelline Vivid Matte Lipstick in Vivid 5
Vivid 5 is a blue-based red that looks darker on the tube than on the lips. It's not a unique color and I'll be okay with letting this go in favor of my other reds.
Maybelline Vivid Matte Lipstick in Vivid 6
Vivid 6 is a hot pink that instantly brightens up the face and flatters all skin tones. It will make an excellent gift for your kikay sister or friend.
Maybelline Vivid Matte Lipstick in Vivid 7
Vivid 7 is a nice candy apple-red that reminds me of those summer days I spent in the visiting carnival that used to go to our little city during fiesta. I like this red better than Vivid 5.
Maybelline Vivid Matte Lipstick in Vivid 8
Vivid 8 is a loud purple pink that can take you from day to night depending on the eye makeup you pair with it. It's a much better version of my Maybelline Amethyst Ablaze!
Maybelline Vivid Matte Lipstick in Vivid 13
I didn't expect to like Vivid 13 as much as I did mostly because I thought it would make me look pale or sickly! Instead, it was able to strike the perfect balance and I got the perfect Barbie pink lipstick for me. ♥
Like their older sisters, the new additions to the Maybelline Vivid Matte line are infused with bold saturated pigments plus honey nectar and give a creamier touch and "vividly sensational" color finish. They stay on my lips for four to five hours without eating. I still apply lip balm before putting them on but as you can see on the photos, they did not settle on my lip lines. For only P299 a pop, you can't go wrong with any of these, except perhaps skip Vivid 5 if you already have a similar shade and go for any of the other four instead.
What will be your signature lip color for 2017? Did you even think of choosing one? I change my lip colors depending on my mood so I can't really choose, but it'll definitely be a bright colored lippie for me. After all, my ultimate favorite lipstick is a hot pink hue.
I ran out of my Maybelline Super BB Cushion and I wanted to repurchase because I really love how easy it is to use and how it gives me a dewy glow --- but then I did the next best thing (or probably the better thing?): I made my own!
The It's My Cushion Case set in Althea Korea caught my fancy in one of my online window shopping sessions but I'm lazy and didn't really want to bother. However, seeing tutorials (from Beauty Geeks, xoVain, and Project Vanity) inspired me to mix my own concoction!
I got two cushion case sets and two extra sponges on my most recent Althea Korea treat yo'self haul and set to make the best cushion compact made especially for me using some of my tried and tested products. I finally got the chance to it on the last day of the holiday break, and I want to share the process with you!
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| Here are the things I used Petit'gguy Woof Woof White & Dog Costume not included! |
A closer look:
You can also add sunscreen, but personally I prefer applying my sunscreen directly into my skin.
And now for the step-by-step mechanics. It's very easy, actually. All you have to do is mix your chosen products and ensure that the resulting combination matches your preferred consistency and, more importantly, your face skin color!
Test the consistency; you don't want it too thick nor too thin.
Once you've worked out the ratio, it's time to pour and mix!
I found mixing it directly in the cushion is better than using a separate mixing bowl because you don't have to deal with wastage. Every mL or ounce of product counts!
It's best to start with a small batch, then just add more products as needed.
When done, put the "cushion" back carefully and use wipes to clean the compact and remove spills.
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| Your bases of choice I used L'Oreal Infallible Stay Fresh Foundation 24H as the base ingredient and then used small portions of Nella Aura BB Foundation and TonyMoly Goat Milk Pure CC Cream to blend |
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| A couple of drops of The Body Shop Oils of Life for added skincare |
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| I got this from The Landmark for only P49.75! |
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| Cushion compact from Althea Korea but you can also reuse empty cushion compacts already have. Just make sure to clean them thoroughly! |
And now for the step-by-step mechanics. It's very easy, actually. All you have to do is mix your chosen products and ensure that the resulting combination matches your preferred consistency and, more importantly, your face skin color!
Test the consistency; you don't want it too thick nor too thin.
Once you've worked out the ratio, it's time to pour and mix!
I found mixing it directly in the cushion is better than using a separate mixing bowl because you don't have to deal with wastage. Every mL or ounce of product counts!
It's best to start with a small batch, then just add more products as needed.
When done, put the "cushion" back carefully and use wipes to clean the compact and remove spills.
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| Left hand has my Krissyfied Cushion concoction, while the right hand is bare. See how it covered up the freckle-like spots on my left hand? |
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| The finished product on my face I put it on in the morning while this photo was taken late in the afternoon. No retouching done! |
This was a fun project that's very easy to do, and it even made applying liquid foundation or BB Cream/ CC Cream much easier for me! I have an extra cushion compact set so now I'm wondering what to do next. Another foundation/ CC Cream cushion using my other favorites? A blush cushion? Gift a personalized cushion to a friend? What do you think?
I love DIY. I also used to use face masks made from honey and brown sugar and I found it much better than other face masks available in the market. Have you DIY'd a makeup product before? How did it go?
New calendar, new beginnings, and a blank slate to fill with more stories and memories. Happy New Year, boys and girls! How did you welcome 2017? I hope it was with a lot of merry-making, joyous hearts, and full bellies.
One of my favorite things about welcoming a new year is jazzing up my chosen planner. Although this time around, I don't have a new planner to work with. I've been using a Moleskine 18-Month Weekly Planner and it's been great so far, mostly because it's Le Petit Prince-themed and because all the white space offers so much creative potential. (You can see some of my spreads by checking the hashtag #KrissyfiedJournal.)
For 2017, I also picked up this book by Adam J. Kurtz called 1 Page at a Time.
"Daily creative companion" sounds about right because it serves as a journal/ scrapbook that you can work on, one page/ day at a time. There are 365 prompts for each day of the year but you can also get off the grid. There are no rules! The book is yours, have your way with it! As for me, checking other people's creations gave me such a burst of inspiration that left my fingers tingling!
I know I said I didn't have time to paint something this year, but there's something about the changing of calendars that got me raring to create.
Nothing too crazy here; I just worked on the last couple of weeks' spreads because memories from those are too good not to document. ♥
AND I GOT TO PAINT AGAIN!
Well, I must have forgotten how or my hands got too clumsy, because my first two attempts sucked to high heavens. I practically begged my sister to paint me a bouquet of flowers to put on my Journal's first day of 2017!
But I ended up using the one I painted anyway. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I really need more practice because having paintings that suck is such a waste of pigments.
Anyway. If' you've been a long-time reader of my blog (why thank you!) this is the point where I share with you my "word" for the year - the governing word that will dictate this year for me.
This should be the Year of Dreams - the year where I dream dreams (again) and work towards getting there. I don't know, I used to be a dreamer, but maybe I lost my way a bit. I need to re-focus and not necessarily go back, but to find my way.
For this year I hope to: beef up my skincare routine and follow through instead of getting too lazy for extra steps after washing my face • not buy more lipstick unless I'm done reviewing every single tube I have • evaluate life and career choices • paint more • create more • read more books • watch more movies • learn how to cook simple dishes • declutter • be more grateful • go somewhere new with my boyfriend • be thirty[-one], flirty, and thriving!
I'm looking forward to seeing where 2017 takes us!
One of my favorite things about welcoming a new year is jazzing up my chosen planner. Although this time around, I don't have a new planner to work with. I've been using a Moleskine 18-Month Weekly Planner and it's been great so far, mostly because it's Le Petit Prince-themed and because all the white space offers so much creative potential. (You can see some of my spreads by checking the hashtag #KrissyfiedJournal.)
For 2017, I also picked up this book by Adam J. Kurtz called 1 Page at a Time.
"Daily creative companion" sounds about right because it serves as a journal/ scrapbook that you can work on, one page/ day at a time. There are 365 prompts for each day of the year but you can also get off the grid. There are no rules! The book is yours, have your way with it! As for me, checking other people's creations gave me such a burst of inspiration that left my fingers tingling!
I know I said I didn't have time to paint something this year, but there's something about the changing of calendars that got me raring to create.
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| Beautiful mess |
AND I GOT TO PAINT AGAIN!
Well, I must have forgotten how or my hands got too clumsy, because my first two attempts sucked to high heavens. I practically begged my sister to paint me a bouquet of flowers to put on my Journal's first day of 2017!
 |
| My sister Kyla's painting on the left, mine on the right |
I really need more practice because having paintings that suck is such a waste of pigments.
Anyway. If' you've been a long-time reader of my blog (why thank you!) this is the point where I share with you my "word" for the year - the governing word that will dictate this year for me.
This should be the Year of Dreams - the year where I dream dreams (again) and work towards getting there. I don't know, I used to be a dreamer, but maybe I lost my way a bit. I need to re-focus and not necessarily go back, but to find my way.
For this year I hope to: beef up my skincare routine and follow through instead of getting too lazy for extra steps after washing my face • not buy more lipstick unless I'm done reviewing every single tube I have • evaluate life and career choices • paint more • create more • read more books • watch more movies • learn how to cook simple dishes • declutter • be more grateful • go somewhere new with my boyfriend • be thirty[-one], flirty, and thriving!
I'm looking forward to seeing where 2017 takes us!
It's weird how this year feels like it passed so quickly yet I couldn't wait for it to end, and skimming through my social media feeds tells me I share this sentiment with a lot of people. I think I'm ready to welcome the new year, but before that, here's a year-ender post to recap my 2016.
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| My 2016's most liked photos on Instagram shows that people cared a lot when I posted about Sandara Park, Sadness, art, and makeup |
Listing down this year's highlights here. I: had a wish come true when I got to watch Nate Ruess perform live; thought I was having a heart attack; visited the Planetarium again after sooo many years; helped launch Lucky Blue Smith as Penshoppe's newest endorser; got to work with Korean superstar Sandara Park thanks to Penshoppe; turned 30; went on an out-of-town trip with my boyfriend for the first time; went to Dia del Libro; built a lamp for the people of the Dumagat tribe; helped launch Gigi Hadid as Penshoppe's newest endorser; celebrated our first anniversary as a couple; got a raise; helped assist Penshoppe's series of events when Lucky Blue Smith came here; experimented with resin jewelry-making; had a ballet class under Prima ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde herself; met Atom Araullo; got new glasses; had another dream come true when I worked on a project between my idol Manix Abrera and our client Beyond the Box; got my own Tamiya and raced; rushed myself to the Emergency Room because I thought I was having a heart attack; said goodbye to my friend Ed who is now working abroad; got introduced to Hamilton thanks to Chelsea; got a Fitbit Charge HR; got my braces removed; and surprised my boyfriend for his 30th birthday.
This is also the year I bought the most number of books I've ever bought, but read the least number of books I've ever read in a year. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
But then I love how most of my favorite memories I listed down here involve my favorite person, Miah. ♥
But then I love how most of my favorite memories I listed down here involve my favorite person, Miah. ♥
2016 wasn't a great great year, but I will always look back on it with a smile for even though I hadn't been able to write nor paint anything this year, I had a lot of growing up to do. You can't put a premium on that.
I wish the coming year will be so much better for us all, but if all else fails, there is love. And love always wins. Here's Lin-Manuel Miranda's sonnet from his 2016 Tony Award acceptance speech.
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| source |
And love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love
Cannot be killed or swept aside
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your year with me. I'm wishing you a happy and bountiful new year with the people you hold most dear. Peace, love, and lip gloss!
I first read Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince when I was in high school. We were at my uncle's house then, and being the anti-social kid I was I chose to go to their mini library and browse the books. I figured it would be a short read since it's a thin volume, with illustrations to boot. I finished it in no time and I was completely taken in. I asked to borrow it and my uncle's wife happily obliged, saying that she wishes their kids have the same penchant for reading as I did.
Well, it's been years and I still have the book with me.
Since I lost all my childhood books in a fire that razed through our neighborhood back in 2001, this book can be considered as the oldest one I have, and it's not even technically mine. Hee. I have the deluxe pop-up edition book and it's one of my favorite things I own, but this thin volume holds a special place in my heart. Trivia: did you know that it's second only to the Bible as the world's best-selling book in history?
For Christmas, my boyfriend gave me this gift and oh my goodness, I bawled so much:
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| The Little Prince: A Visual Dictionary by Christophe Quillien |
The first complete visual history of a classic masterpiece
Everything that you need to know about The Little Prince, from the first draft of the Saint-Exupéry novel to the recent animation movie by Mark Osborne.
Who hasn't heard of The Little Prince? First published in the United States in 1943, this classic by Saint-Exupéry is the world s best-selling book, after the Bible.
For the very first time, discover the official and definitive encyclopedia to this planetary myth: the genesis of the masterpiece, the origins of the Little Prince, all of the drawings, Saint-Exupéry's life, and more.
I consider myself to be nimble when it comes to news about books, movies, and other pop culture phenomena when they concern my favorites, but I was completely thrown off guard and blown away by this gift. It was completely unexpected because I didn't even know such a thing exists! Thank you so much, bb!
Let me give you a quick virtual tour through this book.
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| The inside cover pages are filled with Saint-Exupéry's illustrations from the book |
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| Adorable little boy! |
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| One important thing I gleaned from Saint-Exupéry's biography is that he had a very happy childhood. |
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| Early manuscript |
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| An unpublished chapter! I didn't even know there was an unpublished chapter! |
Leafing through the following got me ugly-crying again because! They're! Just! So! Beautiful! I am overwhelmed just thinking about how great of an impact this book has made among generations of readers!
｡ﾟ( ﾟஇ‸இﾟ)ﾟ｡
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| Look! An advertisement for the book in The New York Times in April 1943! |
Collectors were also featured.
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| This is Jean-Marc Probst, and he has assembled more than 3,400 different editions of The Little Prince since 1980! |
Whew, that was hefty! I have a lot of other The Little Prince items [accumulated and gifted by friends throughout the years] in my humble collection like my Little Prince and Little Girl Funko Pops, a mother of pearl pendant, a locket, stickers, notebooks and journals, my Moleskine Planner, folders, a pen, and a coloring book, but this Visual Dictionary is now one of my favorite prized possessions.
He also gave me a pair of Melissa Campana Fitas II. Doesn't it remind you of the Little Prince's rose? It's so glittery and impractical and pretty and special. I leave a trail of glitters wherever I go, I love it so much.
What a treasure, both the gifts and the giver. My heart is full. ♥ Merry Christmas, everyone. May you have a heart that sees rightly, that what is essential is invisible to the eye. (But a new pair of shoes and a book about your favorite book never did hurt anyone.)
Are you done with your Christmas shopping yet? Four more sleeps before Christmas and I am going crazy with holiday preparations! Thanks to online shopping, I'm done with more than half of my list without the need for long queues and squeezing in with the holidaze crowd all eager to cram!
One website I bought gifts from is Althea Korea. I've shopped from this website several times before already and I can vouch for their reliability. What do you know, they scored even more major brownie points from me because their app is now available at the Play Store and App Store, making sure I can accomplish some shopping even while on-the-go! Case in point: I checked my Althea Christmas haul out while on my two-hour commute going home from work.
My Christmas haul arrived in six days (that's even faster than the promised 10-15 working days!), and it came in a special holiday-themed box! How adorable!
Ladies and gents, here are what I got on my most recent Althea Korea shopping "trip":
Some of them will be given away as gifts, okay? (^～^;)ã‚ž
Here are the items I got, in no specific order:
I found several tutorials online and now I just need to figure out the most winning combination of my favorite products for this project. :)
If you haven't yet, I suggest that you download the Althea Korea app stat and start shopping away! The holiday-themed boxes are perfect to give and receive even after Christmas and will definitely be appreciated.
It even includes a special holiday card with a discount code you can use on your next purchase!
More than anything else, I love the app because of its minimalist and user-friendly interface.
Besides, you can never go wrong with authentic KBeauty products that are much cheaper to source than if you buy them here! Exhibit A:
This Tony Moly Panda's Dream Brightening Eye Base costs P580 here!
If you're quick enough, you can even use the code MOBFIRST300 and get P300 off a minimum purchase of P1,000 OR you can click my link and get discounts also!
Happy KBeauty shopping!
Disclosure: Althea Korea gave me a shopping voucher to try the new app and I added cash to get everything on my shopping cart. I was not required nor compensated for this writeup. All opinions are my own. You may read my blog's complete Disclosure Policy here.
One website I bought gifts from is Althea Korea. I've shopped from this website several times before already and I can vouch for their reliability. What do you know, they scored even more major brownie points from me because their app is now available at the Play Store and App Store, making sure I can accomplish some shopping even while on-the-go! Case in point: I checked my Althea Christmas haul out while on my two-hour commute going home from work.
My Christmas haul arrived in six days (that's even faster than the promised 10-15 working days!), and it came in a special holiday-themed box! How adorable!
Ladies and gents, here are what I got on my most recent Althea Korea shopping "trip":
Some of them will be given away as gifts, okay? (^～^;)ã‚ž
Here are the items I got, in no specific order:
- Innisfree No Sebum Blur Primer - P450
- Tony Moly Panda's Dream Brightening Eye Base - P290
- Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream - P560
- Nella Aura BB Foundation - P270
- APIEU Air Fit Cushion Blusher (Rilakkuma Edition) in VL01 - P520
- Etude House Bling Bling Eyestick in Full of Stars - P190
- Missing You Hand Cream in Pink Dolphin - P250
- It's My Cushion Case Set in Mint and White - P235 each
- It's My Cushion Case Sponge - P40 for two
I found several tutorials online and now I just need to figure out the most winning combination of my favorite products for this project. :)
If you haven't yet, I suggest that you download the Althea Korea app stat and start shopping away! The holiday-themed boxes are perfect to give and receive even after Christmas and will definitely be appreciated.
It even includes a special holiday card with a discount code you can use on your next purchase!
More than anything else, I love the app because of its minimalist and user-friendly interface.
Besides, you can never go wrong with authentic KBeauty products that are much cheaper to source than if you buy them here! Exhibit A:
This Tony Moly Panda's Dream Brightening Eye Base costs P580 here!
If you're quick enough, you can even use the code MOBFIRST300 and get P300 off a minimum purchase of P1,000 OR you can click my link and get discounts also!
Happy KBeauty shopping!
Disclosure: Althea Korea gave me a shopping voucher to try the new app and I added cash to get everything on my shopping cart. I was not required nor compensated for this writeup. All opinions are my own. You may read my blog's complete Disclosure Policy here.
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