I've been excited about Sample Room since early October, but I didn't want to spoil the surprise until their big launch today. I hoped for the website to be ready for users first so you can check it ASAP! It will go live after lunch according to the SR team!

So wait - what is Sample Room? It's a beauty sampling website, but nothing like the subscription boxes that came before it. It's a different concept where users can choose their own samples at no cost other than the shipping fee. Yes, you don't need to pay a monthly fee to avail of samples and yes you can choose whatever you can afford with your free points. :)

To get the points, all you need to do is write a review for the samples you received.

What is the thing you want more than anything? I think life is simpler once you've answered this. Your relationship and career choices will follow if you know where you want to go and do. You will endure and survive painful situations because they're inevitable if you must get the thing you want more than anything. So what is it? :)

It's impossible for you to not know, on some basic level of your being. But it's possible to deny you want it.

Well that's a damper. :/ I just really want to talk about the Snoe Poudre Extraordinaire (P799)! I've been using this powder since I got it two weeks ago because it gives me three things I need most in a powder: SPF protection, a bit of coverage, and a fantastic finish. It's just an extra treat that this particular powder smells like sweet berries and comes in a huge 35 gram jar.

What I love about the product

• Has a demi-matte finish that gives light to medium buildable coverage. It evens out and smoothens skin nicely - not quite foundation but if you have fairly good skin then this is enough to just polish what you have.
• Texture is fine and easy to spread around with any brush. It doesn't look caky or powdery even if you use a lot. 

Remember this mess from a couple of weeks ago? I finally fixed it! There was simply too much stuff that I was already losing them and forgetting what I need to use for the next reviews. -_- So, I bought this plastic drawer from SM for only P430+ and finally unclogged the top part of my dresser.

So from that awful jumble, my makeup storage area now looks like this! #proud

Hmm okay maybe it's not super neat but it's certainly neater! I wanted all my face and eye makeup on top because these are what I always use before I leave the house.

Hey folks! Before I start with the review of my new favorite facial wash, I want to share a lovely comment that I received from Kim, a new Project Vanity reader (say hi!):

Hi Miss Liz! I'm a new follower of Project Vanity and I'm loving my stay here as a reader so far. Before I'd be a silent follower who would read every post religiously but never leave a comment. Your makeup reviews are very detailed and helpful but what I love most is the feedback section. It's a refreshing change from other blogs where comments sections are usually reserved for compliments and praises and whatnots for the blogger. Yours is very interactive and the comments have legit helpful content as well. :) Smart bloggers attract smart readers, eh? ;)

This is quite true. I am not able to reply to all comments unfortunately but I read everything as soon as I get them, and learn so much in the process. Like dupes of certain high-end products, application tips, and just general feedback on a product the commenter has tried. I also get ideas on what to post next time! So thank you, guys, for helping fellow beauty enthusiasts with your practical and unique insights.

On to the review! The Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleanser (P1,200) is formulated for oily-skinned girls who are also prone to pore blockage (blackheads). This promises to neatly absorb and sweep off all traces of sebum on your skin without actually stripping off its moisture barrier. Kaolin Clay, the public enemy #1 of oil, is its main ingredient.

The thing with kaolin clay is that it's so effective in absorbing oil that it ends up sucking your skin dry (at least in my experience). It's more commonly used in facial masks for deep treatments. How does it fare in a facial wash? 

The thing that I've spent most of my waking hours on this past three weeks is finally happening tonight. As you know I'm working with Ferretti as their PR and marketing manager. Now that I mention it, I'll be two years with the brand this March! How time flies.

But anyway. Three weeks ago Ayala asked us if we want to participate in the launch of the new Glorietta wing. There will be a huge record-breaking fashion show with a target of 2,500 models to walk the runway. This will happen along Pasay Road / Arnaiz in Makati across the new Glorietta tonight, starting 6pm.

So we thought hey, sounds great! No problem! Then: let's get bloggers! And so a complicated logistic waltz was danced. The Ferretti models (50 of them, 20 are bloggers), will be walking tonight and I am thrilled. And anxious.

Here's another one of those "are you wearing falsies?" mascaras! I've had the Fairydrops Volume Burst Mascara (P950 at Beauty Bar) for a while now and I'm vvv happy with it. I use the Fairydrops Platinum variant when I want clean and enhanced lashes, while Volume Burst is what I reach for when I want full and super-curled lashes. 

I made an odd observation just the other day while I was using Fairydrops. I noticed that the formula gets goopier over time, more viscuous. That's just normal because mascaras lose moisture everytime you open the tube. But what's not normal is that the Fairydrops mascaras actually look better when they're thicker! Platinum now makes my lashes look super thick and fat (as opposed to being natural before) while still being washable. Other mascaras would just start clumping and being all crackly but not Fairydrops. Cool huh? I've been using FD for two months now.

Anyway back to Volume Burst. I love it because it holds the curl of the lashes with an iron grip ALL DAY, does not smudge or smear, and makes lashes really stand out even in photos.

A reader said on my blog post about a P1,350 lipstick yesterday, "I don't own any lippies worth over 500php. Is It really worth it po ba to spend that much for a lip product?" I think it's a great question. Why should we spend over a thousand pesos for just one lipstick? Or P8,000 for a hair makeover? Or over P10,000 for a bag?

Well, we don't have to. It's fairly straightforward. We don't have to spend any more money than we need to, especially if we don't have much to begin with. We can just keep on buying P500 lipsticks for the rest of our natural lives and still find meaning in prioritizing other things that matter. Some people love to travel more, or read, or eat, or spend time with people they love. Their disposable income goes to their personal pursuit of happiness.  

So I suppose that it comes down to what we value.

Would you believe that it was only a couple of weeks ago that I finally tried Laura Mercier? I mean I check it out in Rustan's every so often, but something else ends up catching my attention. I think it's high time to look closely at the brand and what it has to offer!

Laura Mercier started out as a painter in France, and then moved on to become a makeup artist to the biggest stars in the 80s and 90s. It was in 1996 when she built her own company. She is all about creating the flawless face, with focus on glowing, natural-looking skin. Most of her makeup are neutral but I observed that they come in quirky and interesting shades far removed from the usual browns.

Art Deco Muse, the Holiday 2012 Collection of Laura Mercier, is inspired by the decorative architecture, style, and mood of the Art Deco Period in Paris in the mid-1920s. The look features golds and bronzes paired with high-shine reds and deep blacks. The face is sculpted and nails in rich shades of blood red and noir.

Nail Lacquer (P745), Lip Lacquer / Glace (P995), Creme Smooth Lip Colour (P1,250), Faux Lash Mascara (P995), Caviar Eye Liner (P995), Second Skin Cheek Colour in Wild Bouquet (P995)

Eyeshadow singles (P950)

I'm a big believer in the power of heels but of course I don't wear them all the time. I'm usually in flip flops, espadrilles, or boat shoes when I'm erm "off duty". Not off duty like a model, I mean off duty from work as in alila mode! That includes walking the dog twice a day, doing groceries, and various other errands that are part of running one's own household. 

Anyway the folks at Cushe sent me one of their shoes and I am currently deeply in like with it. It's so, well, cushy! As in! The foam on the sole is super soft and lightweight, it's like I'm walking on air! It's so soft it has to be illegal. :P This is the cushiest pair of shoes that I've ever tried. You can put that on record.

The Karl Lagerfeld for Shu Uemura Holiday Collection is perhaps the most awaited of them all this 2012. It features sophisticated colors picked out by none other than Mr Lagerfeld himself, with a quirky muse, Mon Shu Girl, to represent the glam yet aloof theme of the collection. It's been out since mid-October so you should hurry while there are still stocks of the limited edition pieces!

Photo from Beautezine.com

As you can see, it's a pretty extensive collection. Go for the palettes if you love daring sultry eyes, lipsticks if you like shine and sparkle, and brushes if you're looking for a handy travel set. I feel that you can miss the nail polishes since they don't particularly stand out in terms of quality and color selection, as well as the limited ed lash curler. The avant garde falsies though are of course Shu's specialty, so get this set if you're a makeup artist or just really love fun lashes!

So! Today I'm going to review the Karl Lagerfeld for Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited in Celebrity Beige (P1,350).

This is much like the Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Shine lippies when it comes to the level of shine and slinkiness on the lips. It's light, non-drying, and leaves an au natural stain when it's all gone. It stays on for a decent three hours - as with most moisturizing, light lipsticks - so you will have to retouch every so often during the day. That's SOP really.

Cute box

The other Saturday I had a bit of free time in the morning so I decided to deep clean my makeup brushes. It's a fun and therapeutic activity for me, much like listening to music. I don't think about anything else except the task at hand!  

Now usually I use baby shampoo to wash the brushes, but this time I thought of finally trying out my bottle of J&C Super Clean Solutions Makeup Brush Cleaner (P400). It's pretty neat! At first I thought it was like Parian or Cinema Secrets' brush cleaner where you spray the makeup solvent onto the brush and wipe it off. It's not for quick cleaning via sprays - it's more for a brush bath than anything else.

It's pretty effective in completely removing all traces of makeup from your tools. Well Parian/ Cinema Secrets do clean brushes well too, but they're more of a quick fix. J&C will deep clean and sanitize brushes without you having to soap and rinse them. Here's how!

You'll need a LOT of paper towels, a saucer or tiny cup, and a plastic cover for your table (optional. You just need something to cover the surface in case of spills and splatters).

The Bobbi Brown Illuminating Face Base (P2,650) aka the reason I can go out without foundation is now a mainstay in my routine. It has SPF25 which is always useful during the day, but most importantly, it makes my skin look amazing. You'll see a photo later. For now, lemme run through what's awesome about this product!

What I love about it

• The micronized pearl pigments infused in this cream base gives skin the perfect glow. You'll see a bit of shimmer if you look reeeeallly closely but when worn, there's just a can't-put-your-finger on sheen to your skin. Don't worry, it's subtle that it won't make oily skin look oilier.
• Helps makeup glide on better as it smoothens skin. It also helps keep your makeup look fresh longer, although it won't block oil in my experience.

I'm a huge fan of those pre-mixed recipes that can be found in most supermarkets. I love cooking, but the thing is I don't usually have time to muck around perfecting a recipe from the ground up. I do it when I can but these days I rely on super quick solutions from Del Monte, Mama Sita, and McCormick.

So! Today I'm going to show you how to make idiot-proof buffalo chicken wings. All you need to do is mix and fry! And not to burn the chicken but it's not really that difficult as long as you place it over very low heat.

This isn't sponsored btw. :P I "discovered" this buffalo chicken wings mix some weeks ago and I've made many batches since then! It's delicious, although I imagine it's a bit of an acquired taste because it's not your usual chicken wings. I love it though. Has a zing to it and an undertone of flavor I can't put a name to. Anyway just try it, it's just P33 per packet.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books were some of the most memorable ones I read when I was younger. They made me laugh, made me appreciate the beauty of a good mystery, and to look at things sideways. More importantly, HHG taught me the importance of a good towel and to not panic when faced with impossible situations. Well, this is a reminder for me to read the five books again! You should too if you haven't yet. ;)

But why am I blabbering about HHG? I'm here to talk about the Clinique Chubby Stick (P960)! These are hydrating tinted lip balms that come in a twisty crayon-shaped tube. It's the first brand, I think, which came out with such a fun way to package lip balm. The Chubby Sticks are actually similar to Clinique's Almost Lipsticks - the main difference is of course the packaging, and then the color selection. But they feel practically the same.

Here's a quick rundown + lip swatches!

What I love about the product

• It feels thin and light (not waxy or sticky), yet it hydrates my lips for a good 2-3 hours. I don't get flaky lips when it fades away. I like how smooth my lips are even after it's all gone.
• It's deceptively sheer but it can be layered to get a more intense color. It's still not going to look like lipstick but it will show up even over pigmented lips. Oh and it doesn't settle on the rims or catch in flaky parts of the lips.

Hi folks! I finally have the commenter of the month for October. She is Lian Palermo! I super appreciate that she comments on my posts almost as quickly as I publish them. That's not an easy feat considering I don't often post within a set time. Love it.  Congratulations, Lian! Please email me your full name, address, and contact number.

And now, for this month's gift. :) I will be giving away Snoe Beauty products to the lucky Commenter of the Month.

Jen Gerodias-Diaz, the owner of Snoe, was so kind to let me choose literally anything I want to give away. So I dropped by their store in Market! Market! and shopped for their latest and best items just for this. :D Hope you like what I chose! Of course I got the Hair Heroes and the Oatmeal soap, two of my super duper favorite finds from the brand. Then I added the Poudre Phenomenon, a medium-coverage loose powder that has SPF30 and acai berry. I just got my own pot last Saturday and I've been using it since then.

I've been doing this for four years but I still get giddy whenever I receive a product that everyone seems to love. I want to know if I will get the same experience, I want to know if it's something that I can proudly add to my kit. More importantly, I love the act of running to you and saying "Hey you should try it, it's absolutely amazing!" That's why I find beauty blogging so fun! It never gets old. 

The said, the Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation arrived on my doorstep a couple of hours ago. It's one of most requested products for me to review, so I hope I do it justice! I'll let you know what I think of it soon.

For now I will be reviewing the Revlon Colorstay Longwear Nail Enamel (P325). This comes in 30 drool-worthy colors and is supposed to last for 11 days when used with the accompanying base and top coat. Well, I'll tell you now that 11 days is simply unrealistic, but it does stay fresh for four to five days on me. That's not bad considering most nail polishes would disintegrate in three days tops.

Beauty boxes are all the rage these days. They're a convenient and exciting way to sample new products that (ideally) you won't find by yourself. It's just like giving yourself a monthly surprise gift! But there are downsides. You have no idea if you'll even like what's inside the box, moreso if the subscription fee - not really cheap at P500 to P600 - will even cover what's inside it. I've seen a box that features drugstore products and another that everyone says is a total rip-off with the overall value much less than the fee. What do you think?

Don't lose hope yet, though! Glamourbox has a really nice box, their first, for November. They have premium brands in the list as well as intriguing names that we've never heard of before. I guess the most important thing is that you get more than what you paid for. See for yourself, here are pictures of and my comments on the things inside!

Welcome post card with product info and prices in the back

My dresser and product storage space are literally close to bursting - and I'm not saying that just to brag. I'm actually in a mild panic about organizing, photographing, and finally using everything I received the past few weeks! I don't know how I can manage all the backlogs what with work plus three events I'm deploying in the next three weeks. -_- Damn I need an assistant.

Anyway! I just want to quickly review the latest Avon Skin So Soft products. I've been a huge fan of SSS since I was in high school, so I'm really happy that Avon is adding more targeted products to the line. My favorite out of the bunch is the Silky Moisture Ultra Moisturizing Body Lotion (P300). It's light and non-greasy, plus it smells like fresh jasmine. That always gets me - I love jasmine in skincare!

There are three new SSS sub-lines:  Soft & White (to help lighten skin), Silky Moisture (for long-lasting moisturization), and Firming & Restoring (to promote vitality and firmness).