My Semi-Pro Make-up Traincase

Everyone knows I am serious with make-up and I am serious in make-up learning. My birthday train case is my personal train case and I want something bigger as my make-up collection is growing as well. I don't want to break the bank, so I did my research and finally saw THE ONE :D

It is quite difficult to buy a train case especially through multiply because you can't see and touch the product, and for this case...I want to see and I want to touch the product before buying. I am glad I've found a good supplier who was nice enough to show me the train case without the pressure of buying. I met up with her at St. Luke's Hospital (hahaha what a nice place to meet huh?) Well she's an in-house doctor and she is into make-up! hehehe Anyways, I met up with her and I fell in love with the case and bought it on spot!

Here's how the insides look like :D

I will give her contact details tru email if needed. I bought this for Php 1,650 ($37.50 approx)

With regards to taking care of your traincase and how to make sure it remains clean, I'll give a separate post on it and you'll be surprise the things I do for stuffs I love! hahaha

Enjoy!

Your askmewhats,
Nikki

Askmewhats Version: Smokey Eyes

Ok, when you read through my blogs, you'll know that I'm not into dark colors or "smokey" and you would never see me sport a "smokey" look. Let me tell you why.

I've got dark bags and there are some "really good" days that I'll get puffy eyes! So as much as possible, I stear clear on dark shadows which will make me look like a raccoon who cried the whole night looking for...FOOD? hahaha

Anyways, IF I wanted to be a make-up artist, I have to steer clear from the safe side and go practice whatever I needed to. Since I don't have anybody's face to practice to after work and I can't seem to force my husband to let me use his face! hahahha I have to do it on my own! :) And so far...I'm proud of it! Even my hubby who hates dark shadows commented that he loves the look! FEISTY!

Here's my right eye...

And my left eye....

PROMISE, they match in person! hahaha
(spot Mr. M&M) come on, you guys can see him (clue: upper left) hahaha

Good job! You guys spotted the M&M! hehehe..anyways back to the topic,
here's me, no flash, eyes opened!

and here's me with flash...

Your askmewhats,
Nikki

Askmewhats Reviews: Arezia MakeUp Kit

Ok, as promised, I will give an in-depth review on the Arezia MakeUP Kit. The reason why I bought this is because it was on Strawberrynet's easter sale (less 50%). The original price was $52.00 and I bought this for $26.00. I've got nothing to lose, the colors are really good and I've got different shades of each color! Whatever colors that I may need or use, then that's the time I will buy the color individually.

Here are the specs ---

MakeUp Kit AZ ( 36 Colours of Eyeshadow, 4x Blush, 3x Brow Powder, 2x Powder )

		MakeUp Kit AZ 01205
		( 36 Colours of Eyeshadow, 4x Blush 2.79g, 3x Brow Powder 1.98g, Pressed Powder 5.04g, Multi-Color Pressed Powder 5.8g )

Here's a crazy test on my Arezia e/s. (take note: no foundation, just a bit of powder. Blush on left and right cheek are not matched as I was testing 2 of the 4 blushes teehee) Talk about excitement to do some tests. Honestly, if i have more than 1 set of eyes, I'll test all the e/s colors at once!!! To show you guys the color pay off! hehehe

DARN, this looks soooo April fools! I should have gotten this palette earlier and go to work looking like this...whatcha think? hahaha

And here's my cute sister-in-law Grace for her first modeling stint hehehe (spare the 80's hair)

Arezia says ----

UHM..... NOTHING? Oh yeah! they said something...

IDEAL FOR BOTH PERSONAL USE AND AS A GIFT (doh!)

Askmewhats says ---

For the retail price of $52.00, so not worth it! But for a sale price of $26.00 I would say it's ok. Let me break down to you guys what I have to say, I've got lots to say but I just don't know where or how to start hekhekhek


Pros

• For first timers, you've got a lot of variety of colors to choose from without breaking the bank
• The e/s, oh, is just funny, the e/s is as big as the MAC small e/s. And the color was like divided into 3, so you'd think you'll use it all up easily? Hell NO! I've packed colors after colors after colors and so far, it didn't even looked like I've used it! Picture ABOVE for proof (the one that I'm pointing the color?) I think this is unlimited shadows in a palette! hahaha
• The blushes are ok, you've got choices of Baby Pink, Peachy Pink, Reddish Pink and browns.
• The brow powders are ok as well, you've got the black one (for eyelining), the gray and brown ones to fill in those brows!
• My favorite would be the "mosaic" powder, it gives a good kinda glow to your face. I tested on the reddish blush and it looks too strong, but when I topped it off with a mosaic shimmer powder, it looks so natural
• The pallet looks super NICE and i can't help but take a look at it again and again, MIRROR is big enough for you to see your whole face!

Cons

• The 36 color e/s....oh...you li'l colors...felt a bit like...chalk? hehehe I have to scrape it on my brush again and again to pack the colors in my brush. You know this gets me confused, I hate that I have to pack it again and again, but after doing so, the color payoff isn't bad at all! So it could be a love and hate relationship between me and the shadows
• The glittery part of the shadows are BAD! The glitters are too big and you have them scattered all around your cheek and nose when you applied it on your eyes! (Down glitter, Stay, Sit! Don't move...goooooddd boooyyy!)
• The mini brush applicator included or not only BAD...just THROW them out please! Not even worth keeping it. Keep the powder applicator though. (it's generic but useable)

Tips

• Apply the shadow with a primer like UDPP or MAC
• Want the color to show better? Use a creamy off-white or beigy color as base, I tried it and it works nicely
• To sexify the whole look, use the Shimmery Mosaic powder and brush it all over your face including your eyes (so it doesn't look too crayonish)

Will I repurchase?No, this is enough to last a year! hahaha


Your askmewhats,
Nikki

My Strawberrynet Haul FINALLY Arrived!

I've been waiting for a couple of weeks for my package to arrive. I did have patience as I know how SLOW our Philippines Postal office is. I finally got a notice card 2 days ago to pick up my package! I have work, I can't leave the office and I can't wait!!!

I gave the postal guy a call and good thing, the company I worked for has been using their postal services for quite some time and the mail man knew our location. What I did was gave them a call, asked for a favor (with pay) and I got my package delivered straight to the office! YAY!!! My colleagues are all sweet, they were as excited as I am!!! What I love about the package? It was packed nicely, carefully and super cutey! Sorry didn't have the picture of the "packed" look as I was so excited I tore it all open and didn't even think about taking pix! :)

Just a brief idea, it was full of "curly" styrofoam, each was wrapped in a nice silver wrapper, and the E/S palette was bubble-wrapped! :) I love how they took the effort to make sure the products travelled "comfortably".

Here's how the package looks like ....

The white rectangular thingy would be the AREZIA 36 colors E/S pallette (plus 3 brow powders, 4 blushes, 1 powder, 1 mosaic powder). I knew a lot of people have been searching for reviews on this product. I was one of them, didn't get any answers at all, so I'll be giving a review on this one for future "buyers" out there....The brownish colored box would be the Stila Smudgepots Eyeliner in Black, the black box (as everyone would know) is a MAC e/s in Falling star and the small lipstick above the Stila would be a new customer freebie which is Lancome! Not a big haul, it was a test order for me at Strawberrynet, and so far, they didn't let me down!

Pix galore!

and here's how the inside looks like when opened...this GOT ME SOLD as the colors and the packaging are all so cute!

Next picture would be my MAC eyeshadow in Falling Star. I kinda got a bit sad on this as I got another E/S that looks 95% close to this one! :( That's the real problem on online ordering, I can't seem to see the colors ! Pictures can really deceive a color! (anyone who wants to see this color, feel free to let me know and I"ll swatch them for you)

The ever good review Stila Smudge Pots Gel Eyeliner in Black. I've heard about the "blackness" of a cream liner, and I've been a liquid liner user and pencil liner user for quite some time, it's time for a change...and I love this! But it takes a whole lot of practice for me to use this product...I've been testing on different brushes to see which one works best! (wait up for tips after I've mastered this)

And here goes a freebie for new customers! Yes, that's me! I've got Lancome Color Fever Lip Color in Rose Defile. It's unboxed but I don't mind, the color looks great! I didn't get to choose the lipstick color but I love it! It's pinkish in color and has a bit of "nudey" feel. Love love love this freebie! I believe at the moment, the freebie for new customers would be Stila products. (you take your pick)

Overall, my shopping experience with StrawberryNET is pleasant, I paid via PayPal and I've tried calling their customer service number for inquiries, and they can speak English and they are indeed very helpful! I was able to track their shipment and I've seen how fast the products left their warehouse to the HK post office. It was just here in Manila that's taking too long!

The downside? I'll let you guys know for separate reviews on these products and I would say, I'm not impressed with the Arezia 36 eye colors and I'll give you more examples on why on my next post! Cosmetics shopping is really challenging for me, but overall? I may order again but I'll have to make sure to check out the products personally (if we have it here) before buying!

For online orders, click on StrawberryNet

Your askmewhats,
Nikki

Must Read: Face Forward by Kevyn Aucoin

This book is inspiring and amazing!!! I got hold on this book and I started reading this and never stopped! I am so inpired with the looks created and it's flawlessness of Foundation application!!!

You can buy this book at all leading bookstores. (National bookstore, Powerbooks) for Php 995.00 ($23.00)

But if are on a budget and can't buy this book? I hear yah! Click on this site ---> Kevyn Aucoin and click on the left hand corner called "Make-up Lessons" You can achieve this Julia Robert's look

If I have any other online finds on make-up lessons, I'll let you know coz we can always learn ONLINE!


Your askmewhats,
Nikki