"I don't have the skin tone for it!", "My lips are too big!", "I'm shy, and "My boyfriend doesn't want me to" are some of the reasons girls are scared of wearing colorful and loud lipstick. Well I don't want to force you if you really can't but if you've always wanted to BUT blah blah blah then girl, maybe you're afraid of something more than just eye-catching lips. Maybe you don't feel too confident about your own beauty, which is why you don't want to draw attention to it.

That's just wild conjecture, of course. I'm just basing it on the comments I've received in all my lipstick posts. :) Anyway, today I'll teach you how to get used to wearing loud lipstick. The trick is in realizing that you're the only one holding yourself back - not your judgmental friends or boyfriend, not your perceived lack of good looks. I think we're all beautiful and a hot pink or red lipstick is just the perfect punctuation mark!

Step 1: Invest in a classic and universal color. MAC has great lipstick shades that have stood the test of time. One is Russian Red, a bold luscious color that flatters any skin tone. If you like pink, Pink Noveau is also a popular choice. 

Hi Ms. Liz! I'm currently having a problem with my skin. My face is always oily all over but recently, aside from being oily, it's also flaky. It's flaky in small amounts, but they're found all over my face... so in effect, my face appears to be rough. I put moisturizer before my foundation, however, this doesn't seem to help the flaky appearance. The texture of my face is so gross to look at.

This is a big nuisance for me especially since we'll be having our yearbook photoshoot soon. I'm a high school student so can you give me quick remedies that is within the budget of a teenager?  - Chloe

Hi Chloe! Yes, moisturizer can't do much to help skin that is already peeling. Flaky skin is dead skin so you can't revive it with moisturizer. The best remedy is to remove all the flakes first before attempting to hydrate your skin.

Now I'm going to suggest a quick fix so simple you don't even have to spend anything.

Scenario: you're an office girl and you have caffeine-powered meetings all throughout the afternoon. After work, you plan to chill with some friends over cocktails or maybe attend where you need to step up your look. You have your outfit prepared but what about your makeup? It has to be up to the task! What you need are long-wearing products that need only minimal retouching as you transition from day to night. That's where Bobbi Brown comes in.

No other brand understands working women better than Bobbi Brown, I think. Her focus has always been on natural-looking, polished makeup that's easy to do AND carry around. The Long Wear Eye Collection is perfect for all you office girls out there, or anyone who wants long-lasting makeup for that matter. 

I will review the products separarely next time. :) For now, I want to show you a look I did entirely with Bobbi Brown products I have in my kit. It's what I would wear to the office (clean, natural makeup) straight to cocktails (darker, more intense eyes and lips). Here's a step-by-step tutorial!

Step 1: Apply a reliable, sweat and oil-resistant foundation such as the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation. This foundation just doesn't quit! It's also heavy coverage so I can use it to conceal most of my blemishes. 

Hi folks! How are you holding up? The rains have somehow abated (we're on alert level Yellow according to PAG-ASA) so that should be a relief. Should you be interested in donating relief goods to those affected by the flooding, you can find a consolidated list of relief operations here. There may be one in your area.

Back to lighter things! Today I'm going to show you how to do silvery smoky eyes using some Revlon products that have been recently released. It's a light smoky eye so you don't have to worry about it looking garish, but it does give your eyes some definition and mystery. Perfect with LBDs, sequined outfits, and general evening wear! If you're going to a wedding or party, this is a great look to try.

I've already done my face makeup and eyebrows. Ready? Here's how I did my eyes!

Step 1: With your finger, smooth out an eye primer all over your lids. This will help intensify and extend the wear of your eyeshadow. I used the Revlon PhotoReady Eye Primer + Brightener.

Step 2: Pick a soft silver eyeshadow to use as lid color. I'm using the Revlon ColorStay 16 Hour Eye Shadow Quad in Siren here

Hi Liz! I have been an avid reader of your blog since last year and I think you are amazing! Especially because you also use low end cosmetics that are affordable for the average Pinay make up junkie :) I just wanna ask what affordable make up primer you can recommend and tips for sweat proof make up. I hate to admit it but I am a very sweaty person because of this heart condition I have that causes sudden increased heart rate. I just want my make up to last without spending a lot. I hope you can give me some tips and products to try. - Ana

Hi Ana! Thanks for reading my blog! I'm sorry to hear about your heart condition. About your makeup question, yes, I've come across a couple of affordable products that I feel can withstand a reasonable amount of sweat. :) To start off, you can try the Revlon Photoready Perfecting Primer (P825). I haven't tried this personally but my friend who is super oily swore it helped keep her makeup in place.

It's a lotion-type primer so it doesn't feel like a thick, heavy layer on the face once the going gets tough. Oh, it can also smoothen out skin and cover minor pores instantly due to the silicone component. I think it'll go great with the Etude House Precious Mineral Sun BB Cream. This BB cream is specifically designed to be water-resistant, and I rather agree!

I'm a firm believer in the adage "You get what you pay for." If you want the best then you're going to have to shell out a premium for it. However, what we want is often not in tune with what we can afford. Good thing there are more pocket-friendly products that can serve as great alternatives to the expensive stuff! 

Today I'm going to talk about some products that I think are similar while still having a healthy price difference from each other. Do note that they're not exactly the same - there is a reason why something costs less compared to its expensive counterpart. Could be a difference in texture, lasting power, pigmentation and so on but fundamentally these products were created with the same concept in mind.

In the end it's up to you to determine what product features matter most to you. :) Here's a list of some of my high-end favorites compared to counterparts that are *almost* as good!

Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil (~P4,000) vs Muji Cleansing Oil for Sensitive Skin (~P600)

Why they are the same: Mineral-oil based, removes makeup the same way, same yellow color and texture

Why Shu Uemura is more expensive: Good for skin in the long run as it's more like skincare than just plain makeup remover. You also use much less of the product to remove makeup compared to Muji so it actually lasts longer.

Winner? Shu, for me! I love how my skin looks with this. It's a core member of my skincare team and I can't function well without it!

Bed Head Tigi Styleshots Hi-Def Curls Conditioner (P1,930) vs Snoe Beauty Hair Heroes with Intense Argan Oil (P499)

Why they are the same: Texture is very dense, moisturizes hair extremely well, defines curls, keeps hair soft and bouncy

Hi Miss Liz! Growing up I have been teased a lot about my "sumpa"- CURLY HAIR!!!! I don't mean the cute Goldilocks type but the "so-kinky-its-llike-an-afro" type of curl. An even weirder combination? I have pale skin Asian skin and got called names like "negrang hapon", "albino na negra" blah blah blah.

My self esteem was suuppeerr low that I had my hair straightened when I was in 6th grade and have been religiously straightening since (I'm turning 23 this year). The teasing stopped. I got lots of compliments, some even forgot I was curly to begin with. Don't get me wrong, I honestly enjoyed it at first but it was tiring to me (dreading my natural hair growing,enduring the long hours and chemical burns of the process).

Anyway, I don't know how but I finally found myself some confidence to stop pretending and embrace the real me! My question Miss Liz is; how do I transition to my natural locks without looking like a freak? (curly hair at the roots and stick straight hair at the tips).

Hi Miss_D22! Great question! Kudos to you for finally having the confidence to embrace your natural hair! I also had the same problem before - had my hair straightened so many times that I have damaged my scalp permanently. And for what? Because people teased me all the time! One girl even called me Jesus Christ. Damn. That's one of the worst insults to me ever.

In the end, like you I realized that I would be happier if I just enjoyed the real me. We're never so ugly or so bad as we think we are; it's all in the head!

The truth is that there is no one face that's exactly the same. What about twins? You know what I mean! My point is that in order to find the right hair style, contour, or in this case, eyebrow shape for you, you have to use your own features as your point of reference. From there you can enhance your face in the most natural way possible.

Today I'm going to share a common technique used by pros to find a face's ideal brow shape! You will need any long straight object to measure. For convenience, I used my eyebrow pencil (Avon Perfect Eyebrow Pencil in Dark Brown).

Step 1: Find out where the inner point of your eyebrows should begin. Place the pencil parallel to your nose, poiting upwards. The point where your brow and pencil intersects is your starting point.

I love looking at DIY tutorials but I never get around to actually doing them. I'm all fired up today though! Must be the caffeine! I'm hyper inside! Wil be stepping out in a while to buy materials and turn myself into the next DIY Queen. Kidding. Maybe. Don't listen to me!

You need to know this though: there is an awesome craft store that sells stamps, punchers, and other specialty products somewhere in the Greenhills area. Must visit. Read the Quaint Desk for the guide!

Photo via Quaint Desk

Anyway, here are some cool DIY ideas that I am bookmarking for you (and myself). Tell me, which one is your favorite? :D

Sunglasses with plaster rosettes ala Dolce & Gabbana

Hi Miss Liz! I've been using Korean products for a while now. I stick to my cleanse-tone-moisturize routine. But every time I go into their stores, I get confused from the items in one skin care line. Can you differentiate and list the order how asian skin care goes? I've heard that there are routines that have up to 12 different products. So from 1. Cleanser (facial wash/cleansing oil); 2. Toner; 3. Moisturizer; which should I apply next: essence, emulsion, cream, serum? Also is there a difference if it's labeled 'lotion' instead of moisturizer?

This baffles me a lot. I thank you in advance :) - Patsy

Photo via Timeless Confection

Hi Patsy! Thanks for your question. I was also a bit confused initially, but as a general rule you can swatch the product first and then guess from there. If it foams, it's for washing. If it's watery, it's a toner. If it's a cream or gel in a normal-sized container, it's a moisturizer. If it's in a smaller bottle and gel-like and/or oily with a dense texture, it's an essence or serum. 

The cleanse-tone-moisturize routine is basic, but the Asian skincare routine is a lot more thorough! Apparently there are five basic steps which are:

1. Double-cleansing. This involves using an emulsifying cleanser such as an oily or watery makeup remover like the Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil to remove your makeup first. Afterwards, you use a foaming wash to clean the face of all impurities.

The rainy season here in the Philippines can be as brutal as summer in the sense that it can disrupt routines, important scheduled activities, and worst of all - our makeup, hair, and outfit! Ugh! There's nothing more annoying than having our immaculate look being ruined by mud and sprays of rain.

Oh sure it's great if you're unexpectedly reuniting with your long-lost first love (ala The Notebook). However, if you're going to work or school it's not a good idea to look bedraggled with (oh no!) smeared makeup in front of your peers.

We wish!

So, should you change your beauty routine to accommodate the rainy season? Definitely yes! The changes need not be drastic, but these tweaks can help you keep your polish in non-stop, torrential rainy days. ;)

Wear waterproof makeup. D'oh! Long-wearing foundation is already a staple whether we're going through a sizzling or wet day. It's a given. But waterproof mascara and eyeliner are non-negotiables if you're going to go head-on with the rain. They're harder to take off but at least you won't be worrying about raccoon eyes everytime they get wet. Tip: Go for gel liners; they won't dissolve or smear with water.

Majolica Majorca Lash King Mascara - you can swim in this stuff!

Kanebo Kate Gel Eyeliner

I've been beauty blogging for four years now, and in that time I've answered a lot of questions about makeup - especially ones referring to application. Some questions I've answered waaay back in the past, so I take it for granted that everyone who reads this already knows a thing or two when I review products.

But I still get a lot of inquiries from new readers (welcome, guys!) so I thought I'd compile all the basic tutorials I've done for their benefit.

Beauty Basics: What every girl needs in her makeup kit

How to apply flawless face makeup: learn how to maximize your liquid foundation and concealer to fake perfect skin (this is more for girls who need heavy coverage).

Got this interesting question over at Ask Liz. Read on!

Hi Ms. Liz! I don't know if I'm really asking a question or just seeking affirmation...I'm really "balbon": my arms and legs are hairy (but not like a man's, whew, could've been worse right?). Worse, I have facial hair! I have "baby bangs" that aren't really part of my "real hair" anymore (they're more facial hair than real hair because it's on my forehead already), and I can't even have the part above my eyebrows threaded for fear that it'll look really weird!

But I guess the worst part of it all is that I have a moustache! Eek! I really want to have it removed but I don't want to deal with it growing (thus I do not want it waxed). I would really love to have it lasered but that's too expensive, and I'm just in my early twenties! :(

There are a myriad of techniques and styles when it comes to applying eyeshadows, but I like to keep it simple for an everyday and versatile look. By simple, I mean using only three colors and one brush. Yes, one brush. :) Brushes are fun to use but only for advanced and very detailed eyeshadow work. For a basic day look, one brush and three colors is really all you need!

I love doing colorful eye looks but for this tutorial, I thought I'd show you a universal way to highlight and contour your eyes. Knowing how to do neutral, enhanced eyes is crucial knowledge; with it, you can wear virtually any shade of blush and lipstick. If you have to know only one eyeshadow look, this is it.

Here's the step-by-step tutorial!

Step 1: Prime your lids with an eyeshadow base. An eyeshadow base is a MUST when wearing eyeshadows because it intensifies their color and extends their lasting power. Pat on a thin layer and wait a few seconds for it to dry. I love the Urban Decay Primer Potion and the ArtDeco Eyeshadow Base.

Fair-skinned girls are lucky in the sense that they can pull off a wider range of colors. Anything from pastels to jewel tones look good on fair skin! But, the basics first! If you have fair skin, here are a few tips on how to enhance it with makeup.  

1. Wear pink! Pink is a bright and cheery color that anyone can pull off. If you wear coordinating blush, lips, and nails, the pink will bring out your skin’s cooler (lighter) tones. If you have warm/yellow undertones, go for warm shades like hot pink and fuchsia. If you have cool undertones, go for blue-based and/or pastel pinks.

It's funny, but the first couple of years that I started wearing makeup, I rarely put mascara on. I thought it was an uneccessary part of my routine; why bother working on my lashes when an eyeliner could already give the illusion of a thick fringe? But I was wrong. Mascaras ARE important if you want your eyes to look more fresh and awake. There really is a difference!

Benefit They're Real Mascara 

I used to just swipe my mascara upwards a couple of times and called it a day. I mean, how complicated should it be? Put goop, exeunt. However, I've learned a few tricks along the way to maximize any mascara! It doesn't matter if you're using something cheapo or expensive. Use it the right way and you can get fab lashes each time.

Here goes!

Step 1: Curl. Curl your lashes, starting at the base then crimping it upwards, tilting the curler as you go. It's important to curl your lashes before mascara to get them to stay that way all day.