My Favorite Makeup Products

I’ve written about my Basic Beauty Products here and my top 5 Skin care Must-Haves here, so I think it’s just about time that I write about My Favorite Makeup Products here too!

Dior Forever Flawless Perfection Fusion Wear Makeup in 021

I was never a fan of liquid foundation because they feel heavy on the skin and they make me look “heavily made up”. That was changed when a friend of mine gifted me with this liquid foundation. I love how it feels so light on my face and the color just blended seamlessly on my natural skin color. I have generally fair skin and I am very much against wearing a lighter shade of foundation just to look whiter or fairer. I chose the shade 021 which is somehow neutral to dark compared to what most beauty consultants suggest to me. I usually ask these ladies in the counter what shade they think is best for my skin tone and then I go down one shade lower from their suggested color! 🙂 Time and again, I’ve proven that this tip really works for me!

Available in all Rustan’s Department Stores.

Bobbi Brown Bronzer Shimmer Brick Compact in Bronze 

I never knew the benefits of using a bronzer until I started using this one. Now I am a convert. It’s true what they say, the right bronzer can make your face look “slimmer” and well, “happier”. Why? It’s because bronzers – if applied correctly – can contour the face well. And when we say “contour”, we mean having the right “angles”. I find that using a bronzer like this one of Bobbi Brown (which has several shades of bronze in one compact) has helped make my face look 10 pounds (okay, maybe just 5 pounds) slimmer! Because of the shimmering effect of the different shades, my skin looks like it’s really glowing from within. Another bonus from this compact? I use these different shades as my eyeshadow too!

Available in all Rustan’s Department Stores and Rustan’s Beauty Source (Rockwell).

MAC Studio Fix in NC 30

Now who doesn’t know MAC’s Studio Fix? Almost every woman, girlfriend I know has seen or used this at least once. For me, this is the best powder foundation if you are looking for a great, matte coverage. Especially during this hot weather, I find that only MAC’s Studio Fix can make my skin still look clean and fresh all day and not oily and greasy. When I go out at night and need a heavier coverage, this alone is perfect for me.

But let me tell you that if you are already using a liquid foundation, please do not make that mistake of doubling it up with a powder foundation – since your makeup will come out too thick and heavy for your skin. I suggest it’s either the liquid foundation or a powder foundation like this one. Do a trial and error first and find out which one works best for your skin type.

Available in all MAC Boutique shops.

Nars Blush in Orgasm

This is another one of those perennial makeup best-sellers. Yes, Nars Powder Blush in Orgasm has always topped the Best Beauty list of any list that I know. They say it’s the most perfectly blended color of a blush. They say it gives the most natural looking skin color “flush”. They say it works with all skin colors and types. I say, it is definitely the best blush for me! I’ve been using this since I first laid hands on it, around 8 years ago…and believe it or not, I haven’t changed!

Available in all Rustan’s Department Stores and Rustan’s Beauty Source (Rockwell).

Eye of Horus Natural Smokey Eye Pencil in Black

I have always been a fan of eyeliners and as such, I am always looking for good, quality ones. They must smudge easily if I like to have a smokey look at night and must stay put if I want a simple, natural look at daytime. This Eye of Horus just fit all those qualities I am looking for in an eyeliner.  I found out that the secret actually lies in its ingredients. It’s not just any other eyeliner – because it’s formulated with Jojoba Wax, Mango Oil and Vitamin C & E. It’s also 100% waterproof. It glides easily without tearing and it stays on without imprints on my eyelids! In short, it doesn’t give me those “raccoon eyes” by the middle of the day! 🙂

Available online through Glamourbox. 

Mac Eyebrow Pencil in Lingering

Another MAC product I can’t live without! I’ve heard this many times from makeup artists that our eyebrows are as important as any other part of our face. We must know how to shape it well and must use the right products for it. I was born with thick and black eyebrows, so it was a good thing that I discovered the wonders of eyebrow threading (10 years ago) which totally changed the shape of my eyebrows and I would say, even my face too.

Because eyebrow threading has afforded me a pair of nicely shaped brows, all I need to do now is fill in some of the gaps and add a little brown color to it to match my hair color. I’ve had so many eyebrow pencils, eyebrow powders, eyebrow pens but dare I say that this is the best one I’ve tried so far that looks the most natural on me. Actually, I hoard this product because – yes, once you’ve found the right one, you simply can’t afford to lose it!

Available in all MAC Boutique shops.

Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Lipstick in 285

This is my favorite shade of lipstick when I go out at night. It’s neither too light nor too dark. It’s a cross between pink and red. Actually, it’s more like a dark berry or a wine burgundy shade. I like this line of Shu Uemura lipsticks – the Rouge Unlimited the best – because it has the right texture and moisture plus it gives me just the right color and sheen without looking too matte nor too shiny. It stays put too, saving me from a lot of touch-ups!

Available in all Rustan’s Department Stores and Shu Uemura Boutique shops.

Clinique Chubby Stick in Curvy Candy

For my everyday look, this is my hands-down winner. I love everything about Clinique’s Chubby Stick. The product has a very light texture that gives me just the right amount of color that I need. This is perfect for my casual day time look. I like that it comes in a pencil form too. This means that it’s a two-in-one product : a lipliner and lipstick in one, which saves me the trouble of buying and carrying another product in my already heavy bag!

It comes in so many cute colors too, but I like this shade Curvy Candy the best. It’s a mixture of pink, peach and orange. But on my lips, it leaves just a natural pinkish stain. Actually, this is more like a lip balm than a lipstick, so it is very light. It has mango and shea butter too, so you can imagine how nourishing it is and  it’s really great for those with dry and sensitive lips as well.

Available in all Rustan’s Department Stores, Rustan’s Beauty Source (Rockwell) and Clinique Boutique shops in SM Mall of Asia and SM Aura.

VMV Hypoallergenics Lip Gloss in Chocolate Drip

I am not really a big fan of lip gloss because I’ve always felt that they are too sticky for my lips. Until I discovered VMV’s version. This is very light and it gives me just the right combination of color and shine. What I love about this product the most (as with all VMV products) are its components : it contains Green Tea which is an anti-oxidant, Virgin Coconut Oil, which is a very good moisturizer, Monolaurin, which is a disinfectant and Titanium Dioxide, which is a very effective ingredient for sun protection. It’s fragrance-free, dye-free and wax-free too. Everything that you’re looking for in a lipgloss are all here!

Available in all VMV Boutique stores.

So ladies, I leave you with one very important makeup tip :  don’t be afraid to try and experiment! That’s the only way to find out which makeup works for you best!