MAC - In The Groove Lipsticks

( Call My Bluff, I Like It Like That, All Styled Up, Jazzed )

Finally, I got to complete In The Groove Collection's Lipsticks. As you have known from my past blog, bf gave me two lipsticks that are a part of this collection, Jazzed and I Like It Like That. I got Call My Bluff last Tuesday, and finally, the last part of this collection's lipstick, which is All Styled Up arrived this morning. I love the colors of this collection, they are very versatile, easy to mix and match. In other words, it's very easy to have fun with these colors. Also, I love the creaminess of these lipsticks. By the way, they are all part of the creamsheen team, which explains that, but only that they are limited edition colors.

I love it when applied to the lips, its creaminess, plus, I love the way they look like, when applied, they have a creamy, full of volume finish, which I love the most in a lipstick's finish. It is also vanilla scented, just like all of the other MAC lipsticks.

I would give these lipstick a 5 / 5 and my all time favorite (although BF don't like it. LOL. )

Rica's Rating : 5 / 5

Call My Bluff:

All Styled Up:

I Like It Like That:

Jazzed:

MAC - Strobe Cream

I got this as a freebie when I bought my MAC Blush Ombres from the Spring Colour Forecast last April. I find MAC quite generous when it comes to samplers because this sampler that I got right here is 30 mL in size. Imagine, 30 mL in size! I bought Benefit's That Gal before and it's just around 20 mL? or 10? I can't remember, but this one is even more!

Anyway, let's continue with the review. As the Sales Assistant from MAC told me, this is like a primer. Use this after your skin care routine, before your foundation. And so, I did. It's in a cream form, in pearly white color, with a very good scent. One thing that turned me off is that it's very sticky when applied into my face. As you guys have known, Hong Kong is a very hot and humid place whenever it's summer time. Best advice for makeup lovers?! Go light. Light on makeups. And this primer from MAC? Well, I can feel that it's very thick when it's applied on my face. About the staying power of this, I think it's ok... I retouch on a whole-day out I think once or twice only (I have a very oily-combination skin). But I love Lavshuca's makeup bases better than this one.

Good thing I just got this as a freebie! I don't think I would buy this for myself. But nothing beats my Benefit - That Gal love. hehe!

NYX - Mosaic Powder in Rosey

I love these Mosaic Powders from NYX. I got this for a very cheap price (for a beauty powder) from Cherry Culture. I think it only costs around USD 6.50 less 20% discount. I purchased it while they were having this summer sale where all products are 20% off. In case you guys didn't know, I'm from Hong Kong and yes, Cherry Culture ships internationally for a reasonable price.

I used this as a blush for my very first usage and I love it! I love how even and how it suits my skin color. Also, this powder can be used as a highlighter (I think), but for my opinion, I would use this as a powder blush.

I am a powder blush girl since I have a combination skin. At times, my skin can be very oily and so, cream blushes are not suitable for me.

It stays on my face just like my MAC powder blush. I just noticed that it's a little bit more powdery (which doesn't really bother me) compared to my MAC blushes.

I'm definitely going to get more of these on Cherry Culture's next sale! :)

Cherry Culture Purchase For Summer 2010!

Finally, I got my package from Cherry Culture today! These items were purchased from Cherry Culture with a 20% off on their summer sale. Meaning, it's the total amount + shipping with 20%. Not bad, right?! Anyway, here's my purchases from this year's summer sale from Cherry Culture. I know they're still on sale right now, go ahead and grab one for yourself! Offers won't last long! :D

Lipsticks:

Milani Color Perfect Lipsticks

L - R : Rose Hip, Mandarina, Orange Gina

Swatches

L - R : Rose Hip, Mandarina, Orange Gina

NYX - Black Label Lipsticks

L - R : Peachy, India

NYX - Mosaic Powder in Rosey

NYX - Powder Blush in Mocha

NYX - Concealer in a Jar in Medium

MAC - Lipstick - Politely Pink

Deceived by its name, Politely Pink is nowhere from its name. Politely Pink is more on the shade of nude / tan / brown. It is on the Lustre Team of MAC lipsticks. I love the way it is "mute" when it is applied onto my lips, making my makeup looking light and natural.

I paired it with my new blush as well this morning from MAC named "Notable" which is very strong when applied on your cheeks. They both looks perfect.

By the way, Politely Pink is a part of MAC's Permanent Lipstick Collection.

Anyway, here's the swatch for MAC Politely Pink:

MAC - In The Groove Lipsticks - Jazzed and I Like It Like That

My boyfriend got me these two lipsticks from MAC. It is included with MAC's incoming collection named "In The Groove" which is going to be released here in Hong Kong probably around late July or early August.

Anyway, he got me these two lipsticks which are "Jazzed" and "I Like It Like That"

"Jazzed" is on the peachy / coral side while "I Like It Like That" is more on the pink side. They are both on the Cremesheen team of MAC lipsticks and I love how smooth and creamy these lipsticks are. They are very moisturizing when applied onto your lips and it lasts for around 2-3 hours before it melts to your lips.

Anyway, here are the swatches.

( I Like It Like That on the LEFT, Jazzed on the RIGHT )

P.S.

I'm sorry if I don't update my blog lately. I'm very much busy / lazy and not to mention I don't have anything to blog at the moment! Anyway, I will keep on blogging, don't worry! :)

Much Love,

Rica

My Skin Care Routine

I just want to share to you my skin care routine (as of now...). Not all of the products that are going to be shown are my "Holy Grail" product since I haven't found some of them yet. Anyway, here it goes.

1. Cleanse

The first stage of my skin care routine is cleansing. In the morning, I use Likas Papaya Soap which was bought in the Philippines to rinse whatever I put on the night before.

In the evening, after having a day out, whether from work, a date or a mommy-day-out with Lulu, I use wet wipes first before washing my face. Why? Well, it's simple. To take off those lazy, lazy make-ups that I put on for the day that cannot be taken out with just one rinsing.

Why I use Likas Papaya? Well, I have an oily-combination skin. Papaya Soaps are rumoured as "skin-whitening" but in fact, it makes your skin dry. I'm using Likas Papaya Soap for years now, in fact ever since my college days, I'm already using it. I noticed that whenever I switch to other cleansing soap, I get break-outs. Likas Papaya Soap does dry my skin without making it very dry, making it healthier than using just a normal soap nor another cleanser.

2. Prep

To prepare my skin from the moisturizers that I need to put into my face, I use a facial toner to keep my pores open before moisturizing. I haven't found my holy grail facial toner, but my favorite from the bunch that I've used is the Estee Lauder Perfectly Clean Toning Lotion. I love this because it has this good and refreshing smell, plus the after effect of this toning lotion on my face once it is rubbed onto my face is very good. It has this minty-good smell effect on my face after toning.

It's ok, but I'm looking for a toner that has a whitening formula since I need to even out my scars that I've developed last year.

*** I use toning lotion the same with day and night. ***

3. Repair

I haven't found nor tried out any good serum for the repair part of my skin care routine so, I'll give this a pass for now.

4. Moisturize

I love using Sana Uroitaishi, The Moisture Ambassador! Moisturizer for the moisturizing part. It is in gel form which makes it non-sticky and easy to dry. It didn't give any bad reaction when I tried it, which is a good thing. It has this funny smell, a little smell of alcohol, but it doesn't really bother me. I use it only for the face area, but not on the eye area. Same usage with night and day.

5. Moisturize ( Eye Area )

I have two steps when it comes to my eye area. As you know, I have dark eye circles, which is one of my big problems as of now. As a solution to this problem, I use Laneige Eye Designer Cream as my first step, same for morning and evening, after toning. I let it dry first, and then after that, I put on Benefit's EyeCon. I love its vanilla-like smell, and the fact that it's very moisturizing. I don't experience those "very dry eye area" days anymore, ever since I started using this. I can say that this is my Holy Grail eye care product. Only that, I hope I could find an eye cream that is all in one, instead of using 2 creams in one.

Whenever I use these two creams together, the results are gorgeous. It whitens my dark eye circles, moisturizes my eye area and prevent it from getting dry.

6. Extras

a. Clinique - Rescue Balm

As of the moment, I use an after-sun treatment whenever I go out and get exposed from the sun. I use Clinique's Sun Balm. It's not really that helpful, since the sun here in Hong Kong is not that hot compare to Philippines. Also, it's not that necessary, because you don't usually get "sun burn" with staying under the sun just for a few minutes.

Anyway, this was a really big help when we went to the beach without sunblock and my daughter stayed under the sun for hours. When we got home, she was all red because of sunburns and I put this on her. Magically, the following morning, there are no peelings and sunburns! Magic!

b. Laneige - Water Sleeping Pack Ex

I use this as a mask replacement since I really don't like using mask. I use this as an overnight leave on to keep my face hydrated. It really works, and I noticed that after using it, my face does feel very much hydrated the following morning. I use this twice a week, as recommended by the Sales Assistant from Laneige.

c. Scrub - Clinique - Exfoliating Scrub

I use this scrub from Clinique twice a week only, to take off those hard-to-remove dirt on my face.

More Skin Care For This Month :)

I'm in a little bit of cash crisis lately because I have to take care of all my daughter's school fees (I'm divorced / separated) because it's her first year in school this coming August. I've been cheating with beauty and fashion for school fees last month and this month.

I don't have enough cash to purchase everything in my wishlist, so it's more of my skincare line for this month. Anyway, here's my purchases for this "end of month."

1. Laneige - Eye Designer Cream

2. Laneige - Water Sleeping Pack Ex

3. Laneige - The Secret of Snow Crystal Powder Blush in Water Peach

4. Clinique - Exfoliating Scrub

5. MAC - Powder Blush in Notable

6. MAC - Liberty of London Beauty Powder in Summer Rose (Finally! I got it!)

7. MAC - Lipsticks ( Fast Thrill, Milan Mode, Colour Crafted )