Lemming for theBalm's Bahama Mama and Mary-Lou Manizer

Since I've hit the pan with my Benefit 10, oh boy, I'm having a strong highlight and contour phase right now. I'd love to improve my highlight and contouring skills so I think I need to get really good replacements for my Benefit 10.

I've scoured the blogosphere and I've read that a lot of you rave about theBalm's Bahama Mama and Mary-Lou Manizer. The two are cheaper than Benefit and the packaging is just as cute. This might be worth a shot!

Much to my surprise, I also found out this is also cheaper here in the Philippines courtesy of Beauty Bar, yay! Thank you Beauty Bar! Bahama Mama costs Php775.

As for Mary-Lou Manizer, I think the champagne hue will suit my pale skin tone just as Stila's Kitten did. Saw several reviews and photos with Mary-Lou Manizer and wow, I'm completely blown away by how natural the lit from within look this baby can achieve. I'm crossing my fingers Beauty Bar will restock this soon! Mary-Lou Manizer costs Php895. 

Review will follow once I've gotten my hands on these two. 

Photo source: http://www.thebalm.com

Benefit CORALista

What Benefit says:

why we love it:Our warm coral-pink cheek powder is your "coral blush for a tropical flush"! This shade cheers up every skin tone in seconds.what else you need to know:Complete with soft, natural-bristle blush brush.

product details

• 12.0g Net wt. 0.42 oz.

Am I late for this coral blush when almost all of the beauty bloggers I know tried this blush years ago? Haha!

It's better late than never!

I've been using CORALista for a week now and I must say I just love the shade! 

It's a perfect blend of pink and peach that gives you a natural looking healthy flush, yummy!

Check out how it looks on the white bristles

I personally use the Box o' Powder brushes because it fits my cheekbones perfectly and it distributes the product nice and evenly. Just make sure to sanitize your brushes!

Benefit CORALista swatch

Compared to other blushes I own, CORALista has the less shimmer in it so it's refreshing for me to use this. I always use blush with shimmer- some are loaded with shimmer, some are lightly sprinkled but CORALista has the less. 

CORALista lasts on me for a good whole day given that I just conveniently stay inside the office the whole day but we still have to test how it fares when I go out for some extreme commuting in Metro Manila. 

Most of the time, I prefer unscented products but like '10', CORALista has a light floral citrusy scent that I love so this is an exception to my pet peeve.

FOTD: Simply Primped and Polished

This would be one of the rarest times Maquillage Lover puts up an FOTD! 

After doing this makeup I felt it looks simple and yet pretty so I'd like to share this with you.

Japanese make up makes the prettiest sheer color;

it gives an illusion as if you're wearing almost nothing at all but you look so primp and polish with just a light touch of color here and there.

Just the way I like my makeup! Not too over done with shocking colors but not too bare that my eye bags are saying hello to the world!

I made this FOTD last Sunday before going out.

Here's the product lineup:

Shiseido eyelash curler, Taiwan version

Shu Uemura Pro Concealer 

UDPP in Eden

Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Frame Plus

Jill Stuart Jewel Crystal Eyes in Princess Sapphire

Jill Stuart Eye Jelly in Midnight Shine

Jill Stuart lipstick in Baby Coral

Shiseido PN Primalise Gloss

Kiehl's lip balm #1

Jill Stuart Moist Silk Liquid Foundation 

Benefit 10

Jill Stuart Mix Blush in Fresh Apricot

Singapore Anna Sui and Benefit Price List Help!

Hi gals! I'm trying to scour the net for Anna Sui and Benefit Singapore price list but I can't seem to find much info on the:

Anna Sui Protective Fluid Foundation L

I found out that the Moisture Liquid Foundation costs SG$61

Then I checked Anna Sui Japan's website if there's any price difference between Moisture Foundie and the Protective Fluid Foundie and there's none- both are priced the same in Yen.

I'm assuming the Protective Fluid Foundation costs SG$61

Although, I found out that:

Anna Sui Face Color Accent costs SG$41

Anna Sui Lip Rouge Dazzle lippies costs SG$40

Benefit CORALista costs SG$52

I'm just not sure if I have the correct or updated price list but if you'd know the correct or updated one you can help by sharing the info with me and the rest who are also scouring for Singapore price lists ^.^ 

Thank you very much! <3

Benefit 10 Bronzing & Highlighting Face Powder Duo Review and Swatch

What Benefit says:

why we love it:Highlight and contour cheekbones in one sexy sweep with this box of satiny pink and bronze powders. They're a perfect 10!what else you need to know:Complete with soft, natural-bristle cheek brush. 

Easy step-by-step contouring lesson included.

product details

• 10g Net Wt / 0.35 oz
• winner of:
• 2008 Working Mother Beauty Awards "Best bronzer/highlighter"

Lightly sweep brush over powder so pink highlighting powder appears on half the brush and bronzer on the other half. With pink side up, whisk from the apple of the cheek up to the hairline. Now you've done the sexy sweep!

What I say:

I got this from Bon of www.wehaveit43.multiply.com, she gets her Benefit cosmetics at the famous Japanese department store chain Shin Kong Mitsukoshi in Taipei City, Taiwan.

I know most have encountered fake Benefit products especially the Box o' Powder series because the packaging is obviously very easy to duplicate but Bon ships Benefit products along with the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi price tag so you'll know it's the real thing.

Here's how it looks at the back, another thing is that you can peel the back label and check at the various product description written in different languages but I opted not to do that because I want things to be neat and tidy.

The bronzer looks very pretty and it's very easy to wear even if you're a pale skin gal. I tried contouring the hollow part of my cheeks and it looks so natural.

The pink highlighter is cute but I would have wanted a more silvery highlighter because pink highlighters don't show up well on my cheekbones due to my natural rosy cheeks but the point is that the pink highlighter still shows up when the light hits my face and that should do the trick.

There's not much chunky glitters which I love but there's a hint of shimmer that's natural enough to make your skin glowing. 

Benefit 10 Bronzing & Highlighting Face Powder Duo Swatch

The powder is quite hard- it's not cornstarchy soft like Stila eye shadows. Benefit 10 Bronzing & Highlighting Face Powder Duo is more like Urban Decay eye shadow hard which is great for travelling especially for the bumpy road ahead. I am still afraid of purchasing Stila powder products because they can easily break.

The consistency is very sheer and light which is great as a foolproof make up; you can just build the color later on after applying the first layer of bronzer and highlighter. It's better this way because it would be harder to undo heavy bronzer and highlighter make up.  

I haven't tried using the brush itself because it's quite coarse so I'm using my Suesh angled brush for contouring and it does the trick. 

The Benefit 10 Bronzing & Highlighting Face Powder Duo has a light fruity floral smell and I'm pretty much okay with that because the scent goes away after a while. 

Upcoming Reviews 2: Benefit 10, Jill Stuart Eye Jelly in Midnight Shine, Jill Stuart Lipstick in Baby Coral

Here are the stuffs I got from Bon of http://www.wehaveit43.multiply.com this Friday ^.^

I wanted to use all of these on my movie date with the boyfriend but I deliberately didn't so I could take snapshots for reviews coming up soon! I'll be taking photographs under natural light because artificial light doesn't do great for snapping make up photos.

Benefit 10 Bronzer and Highlighter

I've always wanted a bronzer and a highlighter but I'm not sure if I'm gonna use it regularly so I got this 2 in 1 product instead. The bronzer seems light enough for my pale skin. 

Jill Stuart Eye Jelly in Midnight Shine

It's really really pretty... <3

Jill Stuart Lipstick in Baby Coral

This lipstick's is a whopping 5 grams from the average 3-4 grams...

Vivi Magazine March 2010 Taiwan Edition

It's in Chinese! Hurrah! I can read it now!!! ^.^ 

Now this Jill Stuart make up box is a pleasant surprise from Bon! ^.^ 

I remember Bon telling me she was pleasantly surprised to see I've been blogging about her online shop for a while so she decided to send me a gift, I didn't know it would be shipped right away with this purchase. 

This will now house all my Jill Stuart stuffs- I didn't realize I've accumulated so much already, haha!

I didn't expect another gift twice in a row this week. My suki buyer and friend Sienna told me it must be good karma. Thank God for the gifts! ^.^ 

Let us always remember to praise God for the material gift and more importatnly, the gift of goodness we receive from the people around us. =)

Coming Soon on Maquillage Lover: More Jill Stuart, Benefit and Vivi March 2010

It's another Jill Stuart Haul!

I'm really having a mini Jill Stuart counter here at home...

I don't know why but I'm really hooked on Jill Stuart

So...

I'm getting the following:

Jill Stuart lipstick in Baby Coral

I was actually lemming for the Rosy Coral but Taiwan's Rosy Coral is limited edition ='( 

Anyway, there will be a whole lot of rosy coral lippies coming in my life 

I'm also getting Jill Stuart Eye Jelly in Midnight Shine

It's not the Midnight shine on the photo though

Jill Stuart is very famous for it's eye jelly and I ought to try one!

It's not Jill Stuart though, this is Benefit 10- a bronzer and highlighter in one

I don't own any bronzer or highlighter so this is a perfect package for me

The bronzer seems light enough that it won't look harsh on my pale skin

Last but not the least, another Vivi magazine! 

This time it's gonna be the Chinese version so I could read it. 

Koda Kumi looks very alluring!

All these purchases made possible by Bon

Gosh, I don't know how much I've spent on shopping at Bon's online shop since August 2009 but every cent is worth it.

Her prices are a whole lot cheaper so I can stretch my Philippine Peso and I won't have to beat the traffic going to the malls just to buy make up. The best thing is, the boxes are delivered to a place very near to mine's! <3 

You may reach Bon at http://www.wehaveit43.multiply.com 

I swear, she's the best! 

Holiday Gift Ideas for Make-Up Addicts

Here are some of my stocking stuffers when you want to buy a luxurious gift for your makeupholic family and friends ^.^

Benefit CORALista

Can I just say it again that I love coral blushes? I think it's also flattering for almost any skin tone

Benefit's latest release is Sugarbomb; it resembles a lot like Jill Stuart's mix blush

Chanel Rouge Allure Laque is quite pretty!

I love how Dragon looks so blood red and it is a perfect give this festive season

YSL Rouge Volupte Lip Stick

This one's for your gal pal who's not color shy; the color payoff is consistent and it glides on very smoothly

Givenchy Phenom Eyes

This is a curious little creature in my sight; everyone wants to try that sphere shaped wand

Givenchy Rouge Interdit Satin Lipstick

Eek! I'm getting this from Sis Martha next week!

I've been waiting and waiting for good beauty buys; I also tried to get a Stila trio eyeshadow in Gold Glow for Php350 but luckily the seller wasn't responding to my messages and I stumbled upon Martha's sale! Lucky me! The best thing is I just have to add Php150 to a Givenchy upgrade. Good things truly comes to those who wait.

Jill Stuart Lip Stick (I like the Rose Coral one! Looks so wearable)

I love good packaging; with this one you almost don't need to gift wrap because the packaging itself is a gem

This one has a sheer formula compared to the other lippie product on the list so this is great for the color shy.

Same with this one, Jill Stuart Mix Blush

Try to get the other colors with white powder; it can serve as highlighter too!

Jill Stuart Eye Shadow Palette

Almost all Jill Stuart products are in sync with the festive season, don't you think?

It looks so elegant!

Urban Decay Book of Shadows Vol. 2

If you've got a friend who's starting with her eye make up I think this is a great starter kit

It has almost every color from nudes, black, grey, gold, violet, blue, green

It also has two mini 24/7 eyeliners and a small primer potion

I've got this one and I'm pretty satisfied with it!=)

Stila Smudge Pot Holiday Set

I really love this holiday set too and the box saves you time and energy from wrapping this up

It also has To: and From: printed on top of the box so you just have to write your names on it ^.^

The box's silver snow flake print is also adorable

I accidentally dropped my Starry Night on the floor but the glass jar didn't break! It just bounced on the floor and rolled until it stopped (along with my heart) haha, now isn't that great?

MAC Baroque Boudoir Lip Stick

Aah... The packaging says it all

MAC Lip Stick

Everybody loves their MAC lipstick and it should be great to put a smile on someone's face when you give them a tube of MAC Lip Stick

Hope this helps! I try to incorporate a lot of lip sticks in this stocking stuffer list because almost everybody uses lipstick or some sort of lip product.

Always remember it's not how much the gift costs; it's always the thought of the gift giver that counts the most. =)

Benefit Price List

Since I'm into the Benefit phase right now, I'm gonna make a Benefit Price List! ^.^

The price list I'm gonna list down is in Hong Kong Dollars.

Makes me giddy when I checked the Philippine Peso and Hong Kong Dollar rate was Php 5.9= HK$1! When I was a kid HK$1 is equivalent to Php7 but now it's just Php 5.9.

Erase Paste HK$260

Realness of Concealness HK$310

That Gal Face Brightening Primer HK$280

 Dr. Feelgood HK$280

Ooh La Lift HK$210

Some Kind-A Gorgeous HK$280

Powderflage HK$280

Lemon Aid HK$200
High Beam HK$220
Benetint HK$310
Benetint Lip balm SPF 15 HK$210
Posietint HK$310
Pocket Pal HK$200
Get Even HK$300
Badgal HK$200
Badgal Lash HK$200
Badgal Blue HK$200
Badgal Plum HK$200
Get Bent Lash HK$200
Badgal Waterproof HK$200
Badgal Waterproof liner HK$200
Eye Bright HK$200
Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner HK$180
Lust Duster HK$160
Thrrob HK$280
CORALista HK$280
Dandelion HK$280
Georgia HK$280
10 HK$280
Hoola HK$280
Dallas HK$280
Just In Case... Kit HK$310
Big Beautiful Eyes... Kit HK$310
Brow Zings HK$300
High Brow HK$210
Instant Brow Pencil HK$200
Cupid's Bow Set HK$250
Lip Plump HK$210
Silky Finish Lipstick HK$160
Full Finish Lipstick HK$160
Rush Hour HK$210
Talk to the Tan HK$270
You Rebel HK$270
You Rebel Light HK$270
Bronzing Brush HK$200
Fantail Brush HK$200
Fluff Shadow Brush HK$160
Hard Angled Brush HK$140
Gabbi Bag HK$280
Lana Bag HK$390
Body So Fine HK$310
Touch Me Then Try To Leave... Cream HK$310
B Spot HK$380
Woman Seeking Toner HK$280
Gee... That Was Quick! HK$210
Clean Up Nice... Face Wash HK$250
Firmology HK$360
Depuffing Action Eye Gel HK$290
Eye Con HK$310
Dear John HK$310
She Laq HK$300

The Benefit Lemming

Lately I've been having some Benefit lemmings, I don't know why. I found the Benefit Beauty Book Catalogue and I'll just show you the lemmings I want and as well show you guys what the Beauty Book Catalogue looks like.

I got this from Beneblog so the Benefit Cosmetics Price list written on the catalogue is actually the Hong Kong Dollar price.

Jean and Jane, co-founders of Benefit Cosmetics

This one! I've been lemming for this pretty coral blush. I love coral blushes as opposed to pink blushes. I have a natural blush or flush already and if I use a pink tone blush it would just make me look overdone or slapped. When I'm using coral blushes it makes me look naturally glowing.

I'm digging the That Gal face primer too

I find the bene tint expensive HK$310

Love their powders!

Coralista be mine! I also want to get 10 because it is a highlighter and bronzer in one. I've been wanting to own a bronzer and highlighter even if I know I'm not going to use it daily, so this is quite perfect; it just has the small amount I need.

I never thought of this! If you like a lip stick shade, you might as well clip the lips off the magazine and put it on top of your lips to check if it suits you!

I'm thinking of getting one silky satin finish lipstick... Hmmm...