God Bless Judith and Her Family

**photo from www.buzzvines.com

I got a message from my friend Kerby this morning.
Judith passed away...
Condolence to the King Family
It is very difficult to lose someone you love,
but she is with Our Creator, in peace
God bless

Askmewhats Seminar for a Cause
Update: A Letter from Judith's Family

Askmewhats Version: "Revlon's Olive It Up" Look

February....ahhhhh...
My favorite month! And it's great to know February is a month where a lot of our fellow beauty blogger's birthday month too! :) Happy Birthday to all February Beauties!!!

I am inspired February of every year. Not because Valentine's day falls in this month, but because the days are short, weather is nice! I get paid early! hahaha :D

On my previous post
I've got a lovely gift from my Ate Grace and my friend Bee wanted to see reviews on the Revlon's Make a Sheen palette. I will be doing a review on it with swatches soon! But let me show you how it looks like when I use the palette to create a spring/summer look!

And here's the outcome!
I'm inspired to use falsies in this look!

Askmewhats' Diagram!

Prior to e/s application, I have used MAC's Paintpot in Cash Flow on the crease area going a little above the crease.

Step 1:

Using an e/s brush from Coastal Scents. Apply the Olive shade of Revlon's Make A Sheen by patting it on the lid going above the crease.

Step 2:

Using MAC's 217 brush or any blending brush, apply the darkest color of the palette on the outer-v to deepen the crease. The color is brownish gold with a little bit of olive sparkles. So pretty!

Step 3:

Highlight the browbone and inner corner of the eye with the lightest shade of the palette.

Step 4:

Using a CS White Angled Liner brush, apply CS Gel Liner in True Black on the upper lashline and waterline.

Put on falsies of your choice
or you can skip this by curling your lashes
and use your favorite mascara!



Final Look :)

I find that this palette lives up to it's name. The e/s colors definitely creates a "sheen" look, it may look dark on palette but you need to use an e/s primer and pack on the colors if you want to create a darker eye make up! In my case, I want a simple "olive" look and this is perfect for daytime! Did I say my skin loves all shade of greens?

And what did I use for the rest of my face?

I recently suffered from allergies and it seems that I'm allergic to poultry and seafood AGAIN! I've got rashes and my skin dries up so bad I have to stop using make-up for awhile. Now I'm recovering, for this FOTD, I've used the least face product as possible!

Foundation

Joppa Foundation in Medium Light #3
Joppa Finishing Silk Original Formula in Sheer
EDM Flat Top Brush

To make me blush

Thevi e/s in Matte Pink
Thevi Dome Brush

For my lips! Gracie, these lips are for YOU :P

Did you know?
Grace wants me to wear red colored lippie or any dark colored lippie! So, she sent me 2 Elizabeth Arden glosses in Raspberry Glace and Sheerlit Red... because..she wants me to pucker it up! :P

Burt's Bees Lifeguard's Choice Lip Balm
Elizabeth Arden 11 Raspberry Glace gloss


Final look!

Whew, I enjoyed doing this Revlon look!
It's fast, it's easy because I only use ONE e/s palette!
Thanks again Gracie for this!
I will be doing a review and more details on these
Revlon's Make a Sheen Spring Collection soon!
Have a wonderful day!
Stay Happy, yeah even though it's Monday ughhh :D

Weekend Food Tripping at: Fish & Co. + More Pressies from Grace

I love seafood, I love fish! :)
No wonder when Fish & Co. opened up their chain of restaurants, you'll see me enjoying my lunch or dinner there! :)

Fish & Co opened its first branch in Singapore about a decade ago. And it has expanded it's branches across Asia and I'm glad it came to the Philippines. The first time I had my Fish & Co. experience was at Greenbelt 3 and I got hooked with the good customer service, wonderful Calamari and Grilled Fish! Their sauces are perfect marriage to the food they serve!

Here's Fish & Co. at Trinoma

Spareribs with Fried Calamari Veggies and Fries
approx Php1,000 (approx $21.00)

Stila Smudgepots vs. Coastal Scents Gel Liner

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

I hope everyone have a great and wonderful day with their loved ones!
It was crazy yesterday! Super traffic and it isn't even the V-day yet! So I can imagine how tough traffic will get today! I'll PROBABLY stay home...and spend quality time with the hubby :D

After the UDPP vs TFSI showdown, I've decided do another showdown on my HG (holy grail) gel liner Stila Smudgepots and compare it to my newly purchased CS Gel Liner in True Black.

Sad to say, I don't own MAC Black Track or Bobbi Brown gel liner but I've used them, but not as much as I've used both Stila and CS.

Here's side by side comparison

Size:
Stila is obviously bigger than CS


Net Weight:
Stila: 4g CS: 3g
Surprisingly, it's just 1g weight difference! :D

Both looks the same when swatch on my hand
(See photo below)

Photo taken in Natural Light No flash

Photo taken with Flash

Let's start the Showdown!

Packaging
Stila - clear glass jar with plastic cap. Very pretty and presentable.
CS - packed in a frosted glass jar with plastic cap, small and easy to take along BUT no label. You have to label them on your own.


Price (not including shipping)
Stila - $18.00 (approx Php850.00)
CS - $6.95 (approx Php330.00)

Gel Color
Stila - matte black
CS - matte black, a bit darker

Texture
Stila - creamy
CS - creamier than Stila

Drying time
Stila - dries quickly
CS - dries quickly, but Stila dries faster

Smudging Factor
Stila - no smudging, NONE at all
CS - no smudging on the upper lashline. I find CS True Black is creamier than my CS Truffle, so CS True Black smudges a tiny bit on the waterline.

How long does it stay on your eyes?
Stila - forever *lol* Just joking! Until you've decided to remove it.
CS - the lashline stays long until you remove it. For the waterline, it starts to smudge a bit after 4-5 hours.

Versatility and usage
Stila - only as eyeliner, cannot be used for waterlining, can hurt the eye
CS - used as eyeliner, can be use at the waterline without burning the eye. Since these are super creamy, can also be used as e/s base.

And here's a visual Showdown :)

As you can see, Stila Smudgepots remained unbudged
While CS is very creamy, so it smudges.
BUT, if I waited longer, I think the CS won't smudge as much as on the photo.




Since it got smudged previously, I tried to wet both of them
and the smudging didn't increase.

And the monster went overboard! lol
I smudged so hard and here's the final result

Stila Smudgepots in Black wins as my HG gel liner!
I believe it should! Because of the price difference!
But, if you're on a budget and wants to have a good gel lining experience,
Coastal Scents Gel Liners does the trick!
Feel free to test on Bobbi Brown gel liner as it works really well too!

-----------------------------------

By the way, I know shipping at Coastal Scents get gets to be more expensive than the product itself at times (for international), I am glad my wonderful friend Toma opened up Makeup Mix Shop and I am excited to see she will be selling these CS Gel Liners for $5.95 (approx Php290.00) <--- these will be available on February 20, 2009!

Yes, they are even cheaper than Coastal Scents and her shipping is very affordable! And if your orders are $20.00 and above (valid for any combo of products), shipping will be FREE!!! Yes, even to international buyers like us!!!

And there's more!!! (Sounds like home tv shopping! lol)

Starting today, you can get a free Makeup Masala Mineral Eyeshadow with any $15.00 order by using the code NIKKI.
Put the code and the eyeshadow name you like in the comment section of your order :)

Well, I hope I am helping you gals out :)
Take care and have a wonderful Valentine's Day!
Stay Happy!!!

Askmewhats Reviews: CS Pink Angle Taklon Liner Brush

What to use for gel lining your eyes?
My favorite! If you must know, I love gel liners!
And I want to use the right brush to create a nice line!
Here's another review for another brush that can be use for gel lining!
Smile and read on!!!

Coastal Scents Pink Angle Taklon Liner says ---

1/4 " slant, fine and flexible.
Brush measures end to end 6"

Askmewhats says ---

Pros

• very inexpensive (talking about the brush itself)
• does not shed at all
• right length and perfect size
• gives out a consistent line
• with the right angle, easier for "newbies" in gel lining
• brush hair doesn't hurt the eye
• if you're into pinks --- It's PINK!!!
  

Cons

• if you're NOT into pinks --- It's PINK!!! :P
  
• the fat "base" of this CS Taklon liner is a bit "new" to me, I am never going to be used to it, though it was stated over website though that this brush is flexible! So it is meant to be flexible
  
• since this brush is a bit fat, it grabs on more gel liner as opposed to the thinner eyeliner brushes
  
• if you are into thin eyeliner: this isn't for you as the thinnest line would be shown on photo below. Applied using CS gel liner in True Black with the lightest hand

Overall

Again, not thinking about the shipping, this brush is super affordable especially if you are a first time gel liner user.

This is not a brush worth stocking on or going crazy for, but there is nothing bad about this brush that makes you toss and turn at night!


Tips

• Share shipping with a friend
• Perfect to use this to apply eyeshadow on the bottom lashes!
• Great to use this to apply "eye primer" on the lower lash line too as this is made of taklon!
  
• If you are looking into a "thin" eyeliner application, use "highest point" or the tip of the brush encircled in the photo below

Line using the tip only and the line will be thinner

Will I repurchase?

No, but I want to try the black one though, I've read the black one works better!


Where did I purchase and how much?

Coastal Scents website for $1.79 (approx Php85.00), excluding shipping. Shipping is freakin' pricey for international buyers!

More photos to give you more idea
the brushes I use for gel lining

Smashbox Brush no. 28
Here's me going for a thin line
(check out how I angle the brush to create this line)



And here's me going for a thicker line
(check out how I angle the brush to create this line)



Previously, I've done a review on the
CS White Angled Liner Brush
I am Nikki,
I make sure to fine ways to make something dysfunctional
FUNCTIONAL!

I've finally found the best way to use the brush!
Perfect for gel lining the WATERLINE!

Now, don't think that I'm using all 3 brushes at the same time everyday! LOL I'll be late for work! I actually use the liner brushes depending on my mood!

On days I love to have a thicker liner, I go for the Pink Angle Taklon Liner brush
On days, I want to have a simpler look, I use my Smashbox 28 brush
and everytime I want to line my waterline, CS White Angled Liner brush answers my prayers.

Hope this review is helpful to some of you who plans to purchase some CS brushes!
They are worth it for the price!
Happy Friday
and Stay Happy!