I intend to make a review of all the items included in the massive Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Collection kit we received during the launch event. I started with the Jetsetter Palette, and now I'm reviewing the Lipsticks and Lip Liners from the East Coast Glam range!

Fresh, bold, and fierce. It’s all about the cat eye in this city chic makeup look inspired by Gigi’s home away from home, New York City. Bold as the city itself is Gigi Hadid's signature nude lip and fierce cat eye.

Complement your fierce eye makeup with a perfectly nude pout with Gigi Hadid’s Matte Lip East Coast Glow lip kit collection which comes in three shades of essential neutral and nude colors to finish off your look.

The shades included in the East Coast range are Erin, Mccall, and Taura.

I got the Lip Liners as well but seeing as I don't really use lip liners this review will focus on the Lipsticks more.

Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Collection East Glam Lipsticks in Erin, Mccall, and Taura

From the swatches alone, I was worried that Mccall and Taura won't show on my pigmented lips and won't flatter my skin tone. Check my lip swatches below and see for yourself.

Erin Lip Liner

Erin Lip Liner layered with the Erin Lipstick

Erin is a purplish, almost grape-y nude. It applies smoothly without tugging and is not patchy. It's also pigmented even with one swipe, but buildable if you want color with higher impact.

Mccall Lip Liner

Mccall Lip Liner layered with Mccall Lipstick

Mccall is a very pale pink nude. It applied patchy and hardly showed up on my pigmented lips. I had to swipe a lot of times for the color to show and take extra effort to even it out. I don't know about you but I don't think it's very flattering on my skin tone. If I do decide to wear it again, I have to have extra smokey and glam eye makeup.

Taura Lip Liner

Taura Lip Liner layered with Taura Lipstick

Taura is a coralish-nude. It applied more evenly than Mccall but I also had to swipe at least three times before the color showed up on my lips. I also think it's more flattering than Mccall as it's almost the same color as my face, but I would think twice before wearing it as I prefer MLBB (My Lips, But Better) shades for nude lipsticks.

Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Collection East Coast Lip Kits: Erin, Mccall, and Taura

Of the three, I think you can already tell that my favorite is Erin. I've been wearing it almost every day and it has proven to be a reliable matte lipstick for me. All three are non-drying and stayed on my lips for almost three hours, and longer still if I use the Lip Liner. The Lipsticks cost PhP349 each while the Lip Liners cost PhP249 each, but I believe they have a Lip Kit promo where you can get both in a set for a cheaper price.

The other products I used on my face are all from the Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Collection, and I hope you can watch out for my reviews of those in the next coming days. I'll do the West Coast Lipsticks first though so you can appreciate the difference between the two ranges.

The Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Collection is available on select SM Department Stores and Watsons Stores nationwide. Grab your favorites and back-ups before they're gone forever!

If you're interested in comics, movies, series, manga, anime, toys, gaming, and cosplay, then mark March 24 and 25 on your calendars because all of these will come together in a massive arena of fandom explosion at the ComicCon Asia 2018 happening at the SMX Convention Center!

ComicCon Asia's first run is jam-packed with exciting highlights (as it should, being its first run and all) centered on delivering unique and entertaining experiences for fans and con-goers of the region, including, get this: a meet-and-greet with the iconic superhero mastermind Stan Lee!


We attended the presscon held at the Grand Ballroom of The Heritage Hotel last night and boy, was it exciting to hear their plans for this convention from the organizers themselves!


The organizers (backed by the combined expertise of PSL Entertainment and Nam Entertainment Group) certainly didn't spend time being idle from the time the first presscon was held to yesterday's grand announcement.

ComicCon Asia event producer Pauline Sofia Laping shares that Stan Lee, along with the convention's roster of industry luminaries, are meant to ''show fans what the industry behind creating a story looks like,'' a major draw for budding artists, creators, storytellers, and superhero fanatics alike.

Joining Stan Lee is NBA superstar Ray Allen, who celebrates the 20th year anniversary of the release of his movie He Got Game at ComicCon Asia, unveiling exclusive memorabilia and meeting up with basketball fans all over the region.

Walter Jones, the original Black Ranger from hit TV series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is also coming in to say hi to fans of the massive teen franchise. Furthermore, set to shed light on the industry aspect of the creative trade are ComicCon Asia's list of master creators in the world of cosp1ay, gaming, comics, illustration, photography, and more.

Here are some of the other confirmed guests we can expect to see come March 24 and 25:

• Renowned artist and cosplayer Chad Hoku aka Hoku Props will help fans discover tips and tricks forged in the armor cosplay trade
• Award-winning international cosplayer Linda Le aka Vampy Bit Me is set to help cosplayers level up their crafting skills with a workshop on stunning fabric costumes
• Austrian cosplay chameleon Nana Kuronoma will be unraveling secrets to embodying characters through a Cosplay Posing and Facial Expression workshop
• Cosplay photographer Jay Tablante together with special guest Anna Redei aka Enji Night will be giving con-goers tips on capturing cosplay through the lens
• DC/ Marvel homegrown comic book artist Harvey Tolibao is set to unlock trade secrets in the comic book industry as he leads a workshop for aspiring artists
• Carlo Pagulayan will be giving expert comic book illustration techniques designed to help beginners turn to pros
• Walt Disney's Visual Development Artist Armand Serrano will share his experience in bringing to life well-loved characters from award-winning films like Mulan, Lilo and Stitch, and Big Hero 6
• Award-winning toy customizer and creator of the commercially and critically successful Forest of Sorrows and Arcane Divination sets Jesse Yu aka J*RYU will teach con-goers how to become an expert craftsman in toy design through a master class 
• Spongecola front man Yael Yuzon will share his experience in harnessing creativity to expand his artistic journey as well as unveiling his latest mini comics Watership and Joy
• Carlo Caliman of StartUp Village and Jay Tablante will also lead an industry workshop where creative hopefuls can learn about what it takes to be a successful creative entrepreneur
• Temple University's Dr. John Lent, publisher and creator of the International Journal of Comic Art, will hold a round-table discussion on the span of the comic industry in Asia and the role of comics in the progressive growth of Asian comic culture and its significance on a global scale. Part of his panel are: Toni Masdiono, a lecturer for the Indonesian School of Design and comic artist for popular album Ganesha Bobo and the Komunikasi magazine; Vietnamese comic pioneer Nguyen Thang Phong, popularized by his regime-defying artwork; Jerry Hinds, president of The Association of Comic Artists Singapore and creator of comic series SupaCross; and Malaysia's Adi Nazri, founer of the Komic Kapalooza and former president of the Malaysia Comics Enthusiast Organization

Meanwhile, ComicCon Asia is also the place to witness cosplayers bring their best cosplay to the frontlines as they compete for the ultimate Cosplay Match-Up. A one-on-one duke out for cosplay victory, Cosplay Match-Up is where bonafide dungeon warlords, space princesses, and manga maniacs can bring home the ultimate cosplay champ title under the Anime, Gaming, and Western/ Filipino categories.

Aside from Cosplay Match-Up, ComicCon Asia will also be home to signature and co-located competitions made to empower and showcase the talent of the local creative landscape. They recently announced the finalists of the Great Filipino Graphic Novel Contest and will announce the winners on the event itself. We can also expect a new breed of Filipino champions as ComicCon Asia, together with DV Tech Media, launches Project X: The Search for the New Pinoy Superheroes. ComicCon Asia also partners with The StartUp Village, the Animation Council of the Philippines (ACP ), and the Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP), for One Shot, the search for the next big video game and animation idea.

Lastly, hardcore collectors can either place their bid on the rarest memorabilia at the Auction Hero, or head to the Trading Guild to exchange limited edition collectibles.

IT'S GOING TO BE MASSIVE! It's going to make history and you wouldn't want to miss this!

ComicCon Asia 2018 tickets are set to drop by January 25 and will be available via the ComicCon Asia website with ticket prices of PhP8OO for the one-day pass and PhP1300 for the two­-day pass. Follow their Facebook Page for more updates as the dates draw near!

Stan Lee is coming to Manila.

STAN LEE IS COMING TO MANILA!

I just came from ComicCon Asia's presscon and I have the lowdown on the confirmed guests gracing the two-day event at the SMX Convention Center on March 24 and 25 but I'm going to write a separate post on that tomorrow. It's actually almost midnight and I'm not sleepy yet as I spent the whole day feeling sick in bed, but I do need to clock in some sleep before I need to wake up again for work. For now, I'd like to make good on my New Year's Resolution to write more so here is my weekly creative prompt.

CURRENTLY

READING

I'm still on my first book of the year: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. This is the ending paragraph of the short story A Scandal in Bohemia, loosely adapted for the A Scandal in Belgravia episode of Sherlock.

LISTENING TO

The Cranberries.

SMELLING

My The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil, one of my favorite things to put on my face before bedtime because I wake up with really soft skin the next day.

WEARING

I am almost ready to sleep so I am wearing a very comfortable, soft, and really old shirt and my Mizon Snail Repair Eye Cream, aside from the aforementioned The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil.

THINKING

Of so many things lately. We're moving to another house which means I need to start packing my things very soon and do an inventory of stuff I want to keep or give away or sell. We're also moving to another office so I have to start taking my things home from the office. I'm also going to undergo a major operation so I have to start turning things over to my officemates.

My boyfriend also successfully set up my sewing machine over the weekend so I am so pumped to start sewing clothes for myself and my dolls.


We've already purchased most of the things we will need, what's left is to learn how to actually sew using the patterns I found online.

FEELING

In the holiday spirit, still. Thanks to this gift that arrived yesterday:


I love the calendar, it's so quirky! The Matadora nail polish collection will be helpful for vampy nail looks, and the bottle of Beringer is a nice touch. Thank you, Morgan Taylor and Joel!

LOVING

Are you jealous of my new Starbucks tumbler?


My officemate Erwin taught us that if we're craving something, we should wait for three days to see whether the craving will stop. If not, that's when we should go ahead and get it. Well, I waited for a week before getting this so my getting this is justified. It's so pretty!

WANTING

It's 2018 so my lipstick ban has been lifted! Still quite a feat that I managed to reach January 17 without purchasing a new one, yeah? I want the new Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipsticks in Pioneer, Voyager, Believer, Lover, and Romantic, but it's already out of stock in most online stores. I am going to have to check the Maybelline stores near me if they have it.

NEEDING

Sleep so I have to log off in 10 minutes.

WISHING

I don't have specific wishes at the moment, so whoever's reading this, I am willing to lend you my wish. Heh.

Thank you for reading. ♡

Seeing and listening to Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries sing live was one of the highlights of my 2012. Sublime. My MTV-obsessed 12 year-old self thanked 26 year-old me profusely for that experience, and it is truly one night I will always remember. Never mind that they didn’t include my favorite Promises in the set list.

I thought I’ll have another chance to hear the song live when they go back here for another concert, but now that will never happen anymore.

I am gutted.

So fragile yet ferocious. What a talent. Restful peace, love.

This was supposed to have been posted yesterday, Wednesday, but I forgot. I guess I have to exert more effort to get my groove back.

Much of this week was spent on coming to terms with my health. 

After my most recent ultrasound last Saturday, it was confirmed that sadly, my myomas that we have been hoping to shrink through medication and injectables only grew bigger (save for one) and even got two new additions. The inevitable has come: I would have to be operated on and the surgery has to happen soon.

This being a major operation, I would have to take a two-month break from work.

It will be painful and difficult and expensive, and I am TERRIFIED. I don't like that I don't have control over what's happening to my body, so I'm leaving it to the able hands of God and my doctors. I'm thankful for the support of my boyfriend and our respective families through this ordeal.

CURRENTLY

READING


Our Daily Journey and Love Notes from God, which were Sophie's Christmas gifts to me. It used to be an annual tradition for my Aunt Jean and myself to buy Our Daily Bread so it was really nice to be reminded. Meanwhile, Love Notes from God is a collection of Bible verses set on beautiful photographs. Thank you for these precious gifts, Sophie!

WRITING

It was part of my 2018 goals to write at least one short story. So far I haven't made any progress on this. We're still two weeks in the new year though so I have more time to work on it, and I will.

LISTENING TO

I made a Spotify playlist of my ultimate favorite love songs and I listen to it when I need to be reminded that I am loved.

SMELLING

My Benefit Galifornia blush that smells like grapefruit.

WEARING

My Benefit Galifornia blush, a coral blush that gives me summery vibes and a sun-kissed look.

THINKING

I need to stop stressing over things, but I can't help but worry about the amount of work that will be left behind when I undergo surgery.

FEELING

Stressed. See above. Also, we're moving to a new office soon so I have to start packing and moving my things as early as now since no one would be able to do it once I take my sabbatical.

LOVING


I guess I should be thankful that I only recently discovered how brilliant the Sherlock BBC show is, because at least I had a lot of episodes banked already. But now I'm down to my last season... I have three episodes left. How do I deal?

WANTING

Rest.

NEEDING

The weekend to come here, faster.

WISHING

I just wish and pray that everything will be okay and that I will still be able to bear kids in the future, in the event that my future husband and I find ourselves ready for them.

Your prayers are much appreciated. Thank you for reading. ♡

I've had my paws on the Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Collection since the launch event held last December. (Except for the Liquid Strobes that are now gone forever. I am so sad.) I have to admit I haven't fully tested all of them yet. To my defense, the kits given to us contain the complete collection except for those that are already sold out, like the aforementioned Liquid Strobes. I am so glad my boyfriend braved the crowds when the collection was first launched and got me the Nude Gel Eyeliner before stocks ran out. ♡

One of the items I was most excited about is the Jetsetter Palette. I know most people are curious about it so here's a closer look.


See those yummy colors?

Inspired by Gigi Hadid’s frequent flying needs, feel wanderlust with this carry-on friendly makeup palette that holds all the makeup essentials you need to look fresh on the fly. With glowing skin and a fresh finish, you’ll fear no altitude. 

Before everything else, let me just say that Maybelline and Gigi Hadid scored a BIG WIN because of the packaging. The millennial pink and holographic packaging are so on point and on brand!



At P1,899, this palette is relatively more expensive than all the other products that Maybelline carries, but because of the packaging, inclusions, and quality I doubt you will feel cheated.


This limited edition Jetsetter Palette contains two shades of concealer, two shades of lip balm, four shades of eye shadow, blush, matte bronzer, highlighter, a mini-version of Colossal VolumExpress Mascara, and a blush/ contour/ highlighter brush and dual-ended eye shadow brush.

Swatches of the light and medium concealers and two lip balms

The concealers blended easily on my skin without tugging, but I don't use concealers that much anyway. I can't use lipsticks without swiping lip balm on so the lip balms are a nice touch. Plus points for being tinted.

Swatches of the four eye shadows (one shimmery and three mattes), blush, matte bronzer, and highlighter

The matte eye shadows are a bit powdery but pigmented nonetheless so nothing that a primer can't fix; the concealer served double duty as eye shadow primer for me. The blush leans on the peachy side, more suited for day-time looks. For more drama you can work your contouring magic with the matte bronzer, and a swipe of highlighter adds the perfect finishing touch. You have to be careful when using these because these are pretty pigmented. Just remember that it's easier to build the colors up than erase them.



I think it's the first time I ever saw a palette with a mascara so this was a nice surprise, although I would have preferred it more if my favorite Lash Sensational Mascara was included instead.

This being a travel palette, the inclusion of the brushes was much appreciated. The brushes included are soft and worked nicely for quick fix-ups, but you also have the option to use other brushes.

Here's a look I made using the Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Jetsetter Palette. I also used the Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Tinted Primer in Light Medium, Maybelline x Gigi Hadid BB Cushion in Natural, Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Liquid Eyeliner in Black, and Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Matte Lipstick in Lani.



All in all this is a good palette to have with you in your travels so you don't have to bring a lot of other makeup but who are we kidding, right? Of course you'll still bring a lot of makeup with you, hee. I'm not sure if this is still available locally but if it is, try to grab one if you can.

Were you able to get anything from the Maybelline x Gigi Hadid Collection? Which one/s is/ are your favorite/s? I still regret not getting the Liquid Strobes, but watch out for my review and swatches of the other products in this line.