Have you guys downloaded Spotify? This isn't sponsored or anything - it's just that it's so awesome! With this app you can search for any music, discover new ones, and save them to play lists so you can access 'em anytime. It's free with ads, but the premium version is just P129 + taxes. Super super cool. 

Anyway, thought I'd start off the week with some quick swatches of the awesome L'Oreal Infallible Eye Shadows. I've reviewed these before so I won't go into much detail other than shade descriptions! I don't think these are available in the PH yet, so for now you can order them at Bon Marche, an online seller. You can find drugstore names there much cheaper compared to the local retail prices. ;)

Swatches! I love Bronzed Taupe and Golden Sage. I've had these for a while as the taupe in particular is one of my most-worn single colors last year! Continuous Cocoa is also a great shade, for sexy smoky brown eyes. 

When I was very young, my mother gave me art materials for Christmas. She included boxes of pencils, oil pastels, and water colors along with fresh paper. That was the most memorable gift I've ever received in my life. My mother didn't just give me stuff - she gave me possibilities, the means by which I can explore whatever talents I might have. I don't remember asking for art materials but she figured out I would love them.

Until this day, getting a box full of colors make me feel disproportionately happy. I collect paints and colors in different mediums for my art hobby and I also love getting palettes and pots of makeup. Who knew a fairly inexpensive Christmas present would define who I am today? (That, and books). I would be a different person had I never received it.

Anyway, the introspection is brought to you by this press kit from Maybelline! I was at the launch of the brand's latest cream color, the Color Tattoo Eyeshadow (P375), yesterday. You'll remember that I reviewed and loved them last year so I'm pleased that they're finally here! These are excellent long-wearing and uber pigmented eyeshadows that don't even require a primer - or brush, for that matter.

I won't go into detail describing these as I've already posted a review. All you need to know is that if you don't have one (or three), you better run and shop. This is a cream eyeshadow that definitely deserves your hard-earned money. They're easy to work with, they're pigmented and come in beautiful colors, plus they stay on all day with very mineral creasing (if at all). Oh and did I mention they're quite affordable? They're selling for P375 each locally!

I highly recommend getting Barely Branded (a metallic warm beige) and Bad To The Bronze (rich, warm bronze) to start your collection with. These are shades you can use everyday. Later on you can move on to the more exciting colors, which you can use not only as eyeshadows, but as eyeliners too.

Here are the swatches!

Need to dash out to a meeting in like 30 minutes so this would be a very quick post! Haha. Anyway, you already saw the Laura Mercier Metallic Creme Eye Color (P995) in action, which makes it easier for me to describe. This is a cream eyeshadow that comes in pro-looking silver tubes. Now I know you're thinking: buuuut it's metallic! How wearable could it be? I assure you that they're very nice on the lids, alone or mixed with other eyeshadows.  

These cream eyeshadows last around 3-4 hours without creasing if I'm not using primer. If I have primer though (which is normally the case), they pretty much stay on all day, with no creasing. Fingers could be used to apply them quickly, but I prefer to use my MAC 217 for a finer finish. I suggest you watch my video to see how I worked the product onto my lids. ;)

The big beauty trend this year is bright and bold eyeliner. The eyes are mostly left naked except for that intensely colored line - thick, thin, geometric, it's all in style as long as the liner is in a jewel or matte neon tone! I really enjoyed this particular trend, as you can see in my past FOTDs. It's easy to do and works well with pretty much any outfit I wear.

One eyeliner that stood out to me recently is the Clinique Quickliner For Eyes Intense (P1,100). This, I believe, is another reformulated version of a Clinique staple. I haven't tried the old one so I can't compare; I can tell you though that this one is quite good, with such a buttery smooth texture, intense color payoff, and good staying power!

The Quickliner is meant to be smudged for that undone rockstar look (it comes with a soft smudger tip), but it's sooo creamy that it can be used as a cream eyeshadow by itself. I also love to use this as a base for my 5-minute smoky eyes technique, since it sets solid after a few minutes.

This eyeliner doesn't budge for about five hours, after which I notice minor smudging. It's acceptable, and easy enough to clean with tissue. 

Do tell me, after all the persuasion I've thrown your way, that you have one or two cream eyeshadows already in your possession. Please. No? Bah! If you can trust this blog on ten things, one of them would be the fact that you MUST have at least one basic cream eyeshadow for quick looks. You're missing out if you haven't tried it yet!

I think some girls are scared that cream eyeshadow would just slide right off their oily lids, but with new formulas like the Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadows (P320 at Bon Marche), you never have to worry about silly things like staying power. Or brushes. Or eyeshadow primers!

This Maybelline Color Tattoo eyeshadows have received a lot of raves because they are practically waterproof, smudge-proof, and crease-proof. It's true! You can run a marathon and these things would most likely still be on your lids. 

The product comes in a sturdy glass jar, and a cap that seals completely

They are easy to apply with just fingers although I prefer to use my MAC 217 to blend them properly.

I wish I planned my purchases while I was in Hong Kong. If I spared a thought on what I needed versus what looked interesting at that time, I would have grabbed all the available shades of the L'Oreal Infallible Eye Shadow! No dice about it - this is an awesome creamy eyeshadow that is worth. Every. Single Cent.

Thankfully, Bon Marche Page sells this locally for only P280. It's about the same price in HK! 

So what makes these eyeshadows awesome? Wow, let me count the ways! They are intensely pigmented, they're smooth and creamy, a  dream to blend, and they stay on ALL day with barely any creasing - WITHOUT the use of primer. Yes I need to capitalize those words. These L'Oreal Infalliable pots are everthing bold eyeshadow should be. 

And they're cheap.

These look and feel like cream eyeshadows but they are technically packed powder pigments with a bit of binder thrown in. You can use your fingers for a quick swipe of color but if you want a more refined finish, these shadows work perfectly well with both animal or synthetic brushes.

People pay so much attention to their eyebags, forgetting that the skin on the eyelids darken too. If the lids are dark and uneven then you'd still look tired even if you concealed your bags perfectly. So always use a brightening cream (or for that matter, powder) eyeshadow whenever you can.

Yes you can also use concealer on the upper lids but IMHO, your eyes naman would look too blanked out and one-dimensional, if you know what I mean. So I recommend using an eyeshadow in a flattering shade - it doesn't have to be neutral, it could be something smoky or colorful.

Cream is a great formula for quick eye looks, so today I'm gonna talk about something new, the Clinique Chubby Stick For Eyes (P920)!

I must admit that I was quite skeptical when I first heard about this. I've tried a Clinique cream eyeshadow before and it was sadly disappointing. However, I am pleased to report that the Chubby Stick For Eyes is worthy of being part of the popular franchise! This stick eyeshadow is pigmented and stays on the lids for hours even without primer.