Hi folks! It's Independence Day today! I'm sure no one is throwing a party, but I hope that we can all sit down for a moment and think about what this day means to the Philippines (technicalities aside). Freedom is something we take for granted here in our country, I think.

We complain about the corruption and the poverty, but we sometimes forget that here we live in relative freedom - we're free to worship wherever, speak our mind, work the jobs we want, dress the way we want. We can choose our partners (gender notwithstanding) without much hate from society. The Philippines is far from perfect, but freedom is (for me) one of our strongest suits.

Anyway, today I'm going to quickly review the Etude House Dear My Blooming Cheek Blush in Breathless Pink (P548). It's a pretty blush-highlighter hybrid that gives a pinkish sheen on the cheeks. Don't be scared - I know how you guys are averse to shine! But if you use just a small amount of this blush, a pinkish glow is a swipe or two away.

It's not a secret that I love shoes. Like anyone who loves anything, I wanted to make an ideal version of the thing I love. One afternoon a month or so ago I decided to do just that!

You see Ferretti provides a shoe customization service - something I certainly wouldn't know if I didn't work for the brand. It's simple, you pick the design and the material you want and we'll do it in two weeks for more or less the same cost. There's no extra charge or anything, unless the material you chose is more expensive than the original material of the shoes.

I was hankering for new shoes but I didn't want to buy anything off the rack, for once. Here's what I came up with!

Penny pumps + Fiber espadrilles

Excited? Here's the finished work!

Do you love Benefit's famous Box O' Powders - CORALista, Hervana, Bella Bamba, and Hoola, to name a few? Well, if you're a fan of those shades then you just might love their new Ultra Plush Lip Glosses (price TBA) inspired by their blushes. This new gloss is coming out on July worldwide (it's not yet out even in the US!), but since I got hold of one early I thought I'd do a review!

Okay, so! I've tried quite a few lip glosses in the past - high-end, low-end, thin like lipstick, thick like glue - but this is nothing like I've used before. (Maybe I should get out more? Hihi.) Anyway, I don't know what "ultra plush" means but this lip gloss must be it!

Feel and scent. It's super thin on the lips, like liquid lip balm if you can imagine that.

I get a lot of questions from girls who are just starting to discover makeup. "What do I need to buy first?" they ask. I have actually answered this several times in the past but I thought I would update my list to also include must-have tools.

So, if you have absolutely no knowledge of makeup or if you want to build a kit that has the absolute minimum items, this post is for you! This is everything you need to achieve a flawless, no-makeup look that can be amplified with bright, eye-catching lips depending on where you're going.

1 - Concealer brush from Charm. This is for applying concealer on small blemishes and eyebags.

2 - Flat-top brush from Charm. This is for buffing in foundation if you don't want to use a sponge. For heavier coverage, you can apply some concealer on your face then buff it in with this brush to cover large, uneven areas.

3 - Concealer for blemishes and undereyes. I think the Cinema Secrets Foundation Palette #2 is an absolute must-have. It can be used as a foundation or as a concealer, depending on how opaque you want to go.

If you have inflamed or overly sensitive skin, it's best to stop using normal drugstore shampoos with creamy textures. That's not a professional opinion ha. It's just common sense. :) Most drugstore shampoos are formulated to be aggressive with too many active ingredients that may or may not be hypoallergenic to you. Better bet on a clear shampoo specifically tailored for sensitive skin such as the VMV Hypoallergenics Essence Clark Wash (P800)!

The VMV Clark Wash is a hair and body wash for those with medically-managed conditions (such as psoriasis, rosacea, and dermatitis) or those who have easily irritated skin (acne, random rashes, itchiness, etc.). I used this for a few weeks and it worked pretty well for me! I didn't break out (of course) and it made my hair soft and manageable - compared to similar shampoos that is.

I've been using Instagram a lot lately. It's a fun way to capture moments, a state of mind if you will, and share them visually. I like it because I get to remember the little details of my life without having to write down 300 words to do it.

Here are the photos I took this week! 

I want to have a pink bike someday.

Snaps the ridiculously photogenic pomeranian looking out the car window. Like a monsieur. 

I hope that, after all this time, you're not yet tired of me rambling about lipsticks like a lunatic. I can't help it when there are nice new ones though, which is the case with the Beauty UK Lipstick in Passion (P265 at The Makeup Suite).

This is a crazy neon pink-red lipstick. Neon is the operative word here - it's so bright you can spot it from yards away! The formula is pretty nice with a thin texture that has a slight minty taste and scent. 

When I saw this skirt at Ever New, I just knew I will have it. It's so flattering on the waist, hips, and legs! Lord knows how difficult it is to find pieces like this for my body type. Anyway, I finally got the chance to wear it yesterday to an event in Makati Shangri-La.

SM top/ Ever New skirt/ Marc by Marc Jacobs hobo bag/ Ferretti shoes/ Pinkbox bangles and ring/ Avon necklace

As for the makeup, I wouldn't say that this is one of my favorite looks. I just wanted to try a different blue-green eye combination with an MLBB lip.

I've been meaning to do this for a while now but I've just never gotten the chance. I keep bumping it off for some newfangled thing or another. But today, I will finally reveal my favorite everyday mascara after months - months! - of using it. 

It's the Shu Uemura Ultimate Natural Mascara in Dark Brown. :) I always reach for this when I need a brown, beautifying mascara, and here's why!

What I love about the product 

• As the name promises, it looks super natural and clean while magnifying your lashes. Just look at the photos. Two coats, no more, and I get such beautiful lashes.
• Keeps the curl of my lash hairs ALL DAY. No drooping here. It's best used with the Shu Uemura curler, another great love of mine.

Oh, if we all woke up with perfect skin then the beauty industry would be out of business. We'd be cleansing our faces with only water, wearing only sunlight and a smile when we go out. But that's not meant to be, at least for me. I have several blemishes that need to be covered up while they're fading to oblivion. 

Blemishes? What blemishes, you ask? Well, you can't see them because I am somewhat of a camouflage expert. Teehee. Modesty aside I know quite a few tricks about faking flawless skin so today I'm going to share them with you! You'll find them useful if you have rough and uneven skin that may have acne/blemishes. Also, if you need heavy and long-lasting coverage.

If you already have good skin, go on your way and put my envy in your pocket!

What type of foundation should you use for maximum coverage and comfort?

Invest in a good liquid foundation that matches your skin and your skin type perfectly. Not BB cream, powder, or cream foundation. Liquid foundation. Out of all the foundation types I've tried, liquid has the best, more natural looking coverage that has a version for all skin types (dry to oily). 

Read my top six foundation picks to see recommendations!

How to apply the foundation

With a stippling brush (I'm using the one from Charm), dot or pat the foundation on the outer sides of your face moving inwards.  You can swipe the brush to blend it better. Apply a heavy layer (as needed) on the outer area of your face, not on the T-zone as most people would recommend. Why? Because the fringes of our face like the sides of the cheeks and chin tend to break out/ blemish more.

The new BAYO campaign is getting some buzz on Facebook and Twitter. There's a photo going around that explains the new campaign. Read!

Bigger photo here

Okay okay, save yourself the eye strain and just read the pertinent paragraph, the first one:

What's your mix? This is just all about MIXING and MATCHING. Nationalities, moods, personalities, and of course your fashion pieces. Call it biased, but the mixing and matching of different nationalities with Filipino blood is almost a sure formula for someone beautiful and world class. We always have that fighting chance to make it in the world arena of almost all aspects. Be it Fashion. Music. Science and Sports. Having Filipino lineage is definitely something to be proud of.

Let's not overreact and call the people behind the campaign racist etc. I think that they just communicated their message poorly with rambling and inane copy (if the above is indeed the official press release).

It's so fun when people leave interesting questions! It gets my brain working and compels me to do some research. In my legs post, one reader asked me about high heels. She said:

Hi, I've been always meaning to buy heeled shoes but I've never really gotten to wearing them...I just can't last wearing heeled shoes for prolonged periods of time (prolonged period = 1 hour or more). Is there a tip you can give on how to last in heels? Or am i just wearing the wrong kind of shoe? Are there heels that are actually comfortable? Thanks!

Walking and enduring high heels is like writing or learning how to bike - once you get the hang of it, you can't unlearn it. It just becomes an automatic skill! It's only difficult in the beginning but trust me, once you're past the initial barrier of pain and suffering, you will find your balance and a level of comfort.

Why wear heels anyway? Heels can instantly make your legs look longer, your butt perkier, and your back straighter. You will also be forced to take smaller, slower steps, so you look more graceful and poised.

A lot of people have been asking me about my eyebrows lately - more than usual. Haha! To answer the questions, I've only been using two eyebrow products as of the moment: one from K-Palette and the other from Avon. Don't get me wrong though. Having perfect eyebrows isn't so much about what you use, but how well you groom them! So don't be lazy and pluck pluck pluck!

Okay, today I'm going to review the Avon Perfect Eyebrow Pencil in Dark Brown (P250). Long story short, it's a fantastic eyebrow pencil because it looks super natural without much work. Swear. Give it ten seconds and it already looks great!

What I love about the product

• The light, chestnut brown shade creates soft-looking eyebrows that look natural. 
• A few strokes is all it takes to cover gaps and create a sharp arch. Even if you use a heavy hand, it's hard to over-apply.

A long drive across the countryside, windows open, can do things to me. I think of simpler times, away from the lights and noise of the city. I drink big gulps of healthy air and it goes to my head. "What if I don't go back? What if I stay here?" The wind blows through my hair and the smell of greenery is luscious and intoxicating.  

This mood, this feeling is what's in the bottle of the new Pure DKNY Verbena. It's a crisp green scent that softens into a floral glow as it settles on your skin.

Think of a garden that's been freshly watered - the smell of cut leaves mingle with those of dainty petals, not one standing out from the other. It's a wholesome, earthy scent that I can't help but love.

The Palgantong Theatrical Powder (P600/10 g from Beauty and Minerals) is a loose powder that's made of ultra-fine particles which deliver a smooth, photogenic finish. I've read that it has a quiet fan base among makeup artists and those who know makeup! True enough, Sophie and Brigitte (makeup artists and beauty blogger friends) are huge fans of this powder.

After using it for a few weeks, I can see why! 

What I love about the product

• This is the clincher: this loose powder delivers a super smooth, flawless finish. Doesn't matter what foundation you're wearing - it looks smooth even close up.
• Looks great in photos! I imagine that this is perfect to wear to events when you have heavy coverage foundation on. It helps your foundation look more natural.

Remember these uber pretty yellow pumps from Ferretti? Well I love them so much that I asked my boss for a pair to give away. Yes, I want one lucky Project Vanity reader to win my current favorite pair of shoes! It's super easy to join. Just pick the color of Annabel Lee Pumps (out of four) you want to win and why you think it suits your personality. Go! Full mechanics after the cut.

  Aqua Blue Annabel Lees: Fun and outgoing

Lemon Yellow Annabel Lees: Cheery and positive

Benefit Cosmetics held an exclusive party for beauty bloggers last Wednesday and holy hell, I haven't had that much fun in ages! The Benefit gals really know how to throw a girlie bash!

The girls of Benefit

The event was held at Sweet Bella in Burgos Circle. Even though it was stormy that night, the cafe was close to bursting with giggles, makeup, and Sweet Bella's signature macarons and cakes.

So! Here's a rundown on what transpired that fateful night. Warning: expect to see your favorite poised beauty bloggers doing lots of silly things! :P

I received an interesting question on my Kiehl's post last week. Says Dewi:

Hi liz! I'm really clueless about skincare... I'm in my mid 20s and my only regimen is cleanse, tone, sunblock (AM) and eye cream. Do i really need a serum especially kasi acne prone ako? I'm afraid na serums might cause me to break out or be more oily! Help! 

Oh, you! You're not clueless about skincare at all. You have the basics down pat, although I would recommend that you invest in a good night moisturizer to keep your skin supple. I don't think that a sunblock is enough to maintain your skin's moisture barrier (and by extension, its elasticity) since you're probably using something that's very light.

I do think that everyone should moisturize their skin at night, especially if they have a fan or an aircon unit in their room. These appliances can dry up our skin much more than we think. Besides, night time is the best time to heal our skin from the day's stresses (like pollution, sun exposure, etc). Most moisturizers - especially those designed for evening use - have the basic properties to recharge your skin for the day ahead.