Tokyo is intensely hot and humid in the summer. That was quite a surprise! I thought that since Japan has winter the weather will be milder in the summer season. But that is not the case. It was already sweltering by 7:30 AM when I walked to a fish market near our hotel then! (Longest 5 kilometers of my life, btw.)

But that wasn't the most surprising thing. I noticed that even while I was sweating as if I'm in a bikram yoga class, everybody else looked fresh and composed. Take note, people walk ALL THE TIME, to everywhere, in Japan. How does their makeup stay on? I think they're on to something when it comes to the long-wearing makeup department!

Anyway! Here's another foundation review for you. The Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation (P1,750) says "very water-resistant" on the label. That's like, music to my ears! I have combination skin but my t-zone oils up anyway as if there's no tomorrow. I need something that can stay there and won't dissolve when I sweat. Does this stay true to its promise, then?

Texture. This watery foundation sticks to skin like a second layer. It has a thin, runny texture that's easy to spread all over, but you do have to work quickly to blend it in perfectly. Fingers or a dense brush are your best bets when applying this liquid foundation!

Oily girls rejoice! There's a new blush in town that'll defy the sebum and the sweat. theBalm Instain Blush (P895 from Beauty Bar) promises to be a staining powder blush. Indeed, this is one of the longest-wearing cheek colors I've ever tried! It sticks so well that it barely fades even after I've worn it for eight hours. I have yet to try it for longer than that time, but I can imagine that it can last up to ten.

Other than the staying power, I love the finish of Instain. It's, how do I say it...it's like another layer of skin. It doesn't look like it's sitting on top of the cheeks like a powdery monster; it's how my skin would look if it were blushing at the moment. It's not a flat matte but it's not shiny or shimmery either.

Okay I think I have it. The finish is like a cheek stain's, except that it's in powder form! It doesn't actually stain the skin though, which makes for hassle-free removal at the end of the day.

What a dark and dreary Monday it is. It's not the best way to start the week, but there are lots of ways to cheer ourselves up! Mine involves a hot bowl of arroz caldo, a botched attempt at a home made doggie raincoat, and now, a happy lipstick review. What's yours?

Anyhoo, on to the lipstick! The Clinique Long Last Lipstick in Runway Coral (P1,100) is my current favorite lipstick. It's been ages since I've worn an actual Clinique lipstick (the Chubby Stick doesn't count) that I've forgotten how nice the brand makes them. I've said this again and again - Clinique is famous for skincare products, but its makeup is surprisingly good. Especially of late, it's like the Clinique makeup department is on crack.

There are lots of nice lipsticks out there, but I there are only a few that come in beautiful packaging and an amazing formula. The Clinique Long Last Lipstick has both. The burnished silver bullet has some heft to it and a gliding closure with no click. I love it! The tactile feel alone can excite any girl who cherishes beautiful objects.

The formula itself is also very good. It's smooth and cushy and light on the lips, but it stays put for five hours if you don't eat.

The Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Stay-in-Place Makeup (P1,900) has been in my stash for over a year now, but I must confess that I haven't used it - until recently, that is! The shade I have (Intensity 4) is a bit pink and light on my skin so I haven't used it as often as I should. Shade woes aside, I love the formula of this product. It's a heavy-coverage, long-wearing foundation that girls with oily and troubled skin will love!

Coverage and finish. Intensity 4 is kinda light and pink for me but as long as I use a sheer layer only, it will eventually adjust to my natural coloring. The coverage is quite heavy so I won't recommend using a thick layer in any case. A light application can already cover my eye bags and dark blemishes! It can also cover redness from fresh pimples and allergies.

The finish is matte, but it's not the flat kind of matte. It really perfects the complexion and gives it this flawless coverage. Just be careful about the amount you apply. Too much and the DW Light will look cakey.

A lot of people think it takes me forever to do my face (forever being an hour and a half upwards) but the truth is quite far from that. I don't have time for foolin' around so over the years I've cut down my full face routine to about 30 minutes, 40 tops. Spending 30 minutes can get me a nice, colorful look but an additional 10 could mean a glamorous dark smokey eye. Quick yet polished, they should write that on my gravestone.

So imagine what I could do with just 10 minutes. I'm a quick worker, but I won't take all the credit!There are certain products that help cut down the time I need to be polished and presentable, and one of them is the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Rose Gold (P1,550).

I like v-neck shirts. I love watermelons. I LOVE THIS STUFF. This simplifies my makeup routine immensely! It's a cream eyeshadow that you can just draw on your eyes without needing any brushes. Use your fingers to blend the edges and poof, you're done. Seriously, this is perfect for girls who are intimidated by eyeshadows.

The shimmery pinky gold shade can make your eyes look brighter and more awake in an instant. Aside from using it as a lid wash, you can use this on your waterline and tearduct area to banish the redness that appears from exhaustion. It can make tired eyes look whiter.

I've read so many positive reviews about Tarte blushes that I just had to get one when Windy asked if I wanted to review anything from her store. I chose the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Blushing Bride (P1,100 from Stuff in Style) because I don't think I have anything like it in my stash! It's a plummy-berry blush that's touted to have a long-wearing formula.

Texture and staying power. Blushing Bride is very pigmented and smooth, with a liberal sprinkle of golden sparkle mixed with the color. The shimmer doesn't look tacky or thick so it shouldn't show on your skin. You'll just get this golden glow which I think is a nice add-on.

When I first heard that Katie Holmes is the first and (so far) only celebrity endorser of Bobbi Brown cosmetics, I gave a big internal whoop. The pairing is perfect! Katie has always been polished, elegant, and discreet, much like the trademark Bobbi Brown look. I honestly am looking forward to their upcoming campaign together, see what these two pretty powerful girls can come up with!

Anyway today I want to review some things that I've been using for a couple of months now: the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Eye Collection. It features a mascara, eyeliner, and cream shadow that is guaranteed to last from coffee to cocktails. I love the concept, and I'm sure you would too if you hate touching up your eye makeup! 

Here's what I think of each product in the collection.

The Bobbi brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow in Shore (P1,450) is my favorite out of the bunch. The formula and shade is absolutely amazing! It's super creamy yet thin, then dries into a velvety, budge and smear-proof layer on my lids. This doesn't crease at all.

At first I was all "meh" about Shore, a boring-looking matte neutral beige, but when I got to know it better it's now one of my favorite eyeshadows.