I got a hair cut last Friday. I had low expectations since it's not my usual salon, but damn my hair is terrible right now. Am I overreacting? Am I just not used to it? I don't know. It's just, so bad that I laugh when I catch myself in the mirror. I'm not sure if I should blog about it. Well, I will certainly give it some thought. You'll have to see it at some point.

Anyhoo, here's a quick swatch of one of the latest eyeshadows from MAC: the Extra Dimension Eyeshadow in Sweet Heat (P900+). The Magnetic Nude collection, which this color is a part of, came out just last month so it should still be available. ^_^ The Extra Dimension Eyeshadow is a new formulation. It can be used wet or dry, and is designed to stay on the lids for six hours.

I love this eyeshadow. It's a lot like one of my all-time fave MAC colors, All That Glitters, except Sweet Heat is more intense, more metallic. It's a dirty champagne shade, almost light bronze in certain lighting.

If it's your first time to try Shiseido - gosh I hope not though because you're missing out! - anyway, if it's your first time at a counter you must consider getting three things first. That would be a lipstick, a foundation, and a skincare product. I've tested many of the brand's products extensively and these are the things that just stand out. You're not really experiencing Shiseido if you haven't gotten one or all of those three!

Anyway, here is my latest foundation find from the brand: the Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Spot-Control Foundation (P1,998 for the refill and P1,500 for the case). It's an ultra-silky, mid-coverage foundation with a matte finish and sun protection. I like it because, as with all the Shiseido foundies I've tried, it gives my skin a radiant, creamy finish even though I'm not wearing a liquid base underneath. You'll see a pic later!

What does it do? This foundation is supposed to whiten skin and help erase blemishes faster (hence the "spot-control" in the name), but perhaps I just haven't used it long enough to see results. Besides, I already use Shiseido Ibuki and have little blemishing left over.

I am not the same person I was last year. I think I'm better at a few things, worse in some other areas of my life. One thing is for sure though: I've lost much of my hubris. I'm not nearly as confident as I used to be, not as sure of my future as I once imagined it. But that's the point, right? Everyone moves on, even from their dreams.

That's not to say that I'm quitting everything I've built for myself - not at all! I'm just saying that I'm trying to do something else on top of what I'm already doing. I've taken a scathing look at myself and realized where my real strengths and weaknesses lie. It hurt to be completely honest to myself but then how else can I move forward? Risk is always frightening, but it's how you know you're getting somewhere other than where you're standing. 

I learned a few things last year while I was 25, and thought of sharing them with you now that I'm 26. :)

Surround yourself with beautiful things. We have gadgets and gizmos always stuffed in front of our faces. These are tiny windows that look out to the big wide world, yes, but why look through a window (exclusively that is)? It's ridiculously easy to live vicariously through other people's experiences and moments of insight, unconsciously thrilling as if they're ours. They're not. Unfortunately.

I suggest that you gentrify and curate your life. That is, uplift it and improve its quality to the best of your ability. It doesn't necesarily have to cost you tons of money but you can start with small things like changing that ratty couch you've had for a decade. Maybe placing fresh flowers on a table. Wearing clothes that are of good make and quality, instead of disposable fast fashion. I'm not saying you can't indulge in lazy living, ever, but you should try to rise above it whenever you get the opportunity.

Beauty can inspire you to be someone worthy of it.

If you have a wardrobe of clothes, you also need a wardrobe of makeup. Okay maybe "need" isn't the right word, but admit it, it's fun to have different colors and formulas to play with! What many don't understand about those who love makeup is that it's not all for the sake of vanity. Collecting and learning about cosmetics is a thrill on its own. Just like with any hobby, we do it because we enjoy it.

Anyway, let's continue Shiseido Week! I have one last post for you tomorrow. Clue: it's about a powder foundation, again! But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's chat about the Shiseido Lumizing Satin Eye Color in BR209 (P2,000+).

I adore bronze and gold on my eyes, so this palette was an obvious choice. It contains three rich eyeshadows - a mid bronze, a yellow gold, and a creamy sandy gold. All colors are pigmented, so much that you won't need a base to make them stand out. Of course, to make they stay on for over four hours, it's still best to use an eyeshadow primer.

Three words: pointed cotton buds. It's one of those ultra useful makeup tools but sadly, they're kinda hard to find! Well let me help you there. Nippon, the maker of disposable applicators and touch up kits (for weddings and other events), has Dual Cotton Tips (P30 for 100 sticks) to help you achieve precise makeup application.

Simple, but awesome. I love to use the pointed top for cleaning up my lip line and eyeliner, while I use the rounded one for buffing away eyeshadow edges when needed. It's also great for smudging eyeliner! You just need to be careful as the pointed end is kinda stiff, but this is otherwise pretty straightforward to use.

You're welcome. ^_^ You can purchase Nippon products online as well as in Suesh outlets. Also, as it happens, Nippon and Studio SnR together with INGLOT and L'Oreal have an upcoming event this February 14. Deets below!

I think I'm over my strong eyebrow phase. I currently prefer softer arches that make my face look less "done", if you know what I mean! I've given up my pens, creams, and even pencils to do my brows, instead relying on powder products to sculpt them to my liking. They're also quicker to work with and require less care when it comes to application.  

That said, my current favorite brow product is the Ellana Mineral Eyebrow/ Eyeshadow Quad (P350). This is technically pressed mineral eyeshadow, but the colors are intended to mix beautifully to create your perfect eyebrow match. Whether you're a brunette, blonde, or redhead, you can get brows close to your current hair color. Oh, and have a neutral everyday eyeshadow palette to boot!

Pigmentation and finish. The colors are pigmented when used as eyeshadow, but softer over eyebrows. Weird no? But it works! I use a large, bushy angled brush (from Ellana also) to apply this on my brows. Perhaps because the brush is synthetic, I'm not getting too much pigmentation from this palette. The finish is a creamy matte that looks totally natural. 

There's this magazine editor who ALWAYS greets me, without fail, everytime we meet each other in functions: "Liz, you're so thin! You lost so much weight!" Every. Single. Time. Even when I've gained weight, or even when I haven't actually lost any. There's also another acquaintance of mine who says the same thing every time we see each other. I'm not sure if they're being sarcastic, but I've given this a lot of thought and have come up with three reasons these people open their interactions with me this way.

1. They're just making idle, safe conversation - in their minds, anyway. Opening a conversation with a compliment is a great way to get things going. I myself do this a lot, but of course I am sincere in my flattery. But I don't just mention ONE compliment every time. I compliment what I like as I see it; I don't have a standard opening line.

2. They want me to also notice that they lost weight, too (even if they haven't). It's subtle prodding for a similar compliment.

I've had my eye out on this the Shiseido Sheer and Perfect Foundation (P2,200) ever since I spotted it in counters last September. It promises to correct the "color noise" of the skin, which I understand to mean discolorations and general imperfections. It's also meant to be sheer - however, it's definitely not what I expected after the initial swatches!

This tiny bottle packs a punch. It has a medium coverage, just enough to even out the skintone and to soften blemishes as well as fine lines. It has a beautiful, dewy finish that intensifies as I oil up. Unsightly? Gross? Not at all! My skin looks very nice even though it's shiny with this foundie - it's like, I have another layer of skin, but better! It's not that much of a hassle for me to retouch every 2-3 hours.

Small bottle, yes, but it contains the standard amount - 30ml. This foundation is said to be equal to the Chanel Vitalumiere.

Waking up early will get you far in life. I think! You'll accomplish more, experience more, rush less. I've been waking up early ever since I can remember and I believe this habit has made my life easier to manage. I understand that some people perform better at night but if you don't, and you're wondering why, maybe you can try waking up at 5 or 6 in the morning. You just might be a morning person in denial!

Anyway, continuing my El Nido posts. This'll be my last since we left pretty early the next day. ^_^ Enjoy! | Day 1

Woke up at the crack of dawn. Saw a completely different seascape outside - low tide.

The definition of peaceful

A dusky blue

Stairs to the sea

Interesting textures

Two worlds apart

It's Shiseido Week once again! This week I'll be talking about my new finds from one of my favorite brands ever. I was able to pull out some of the most interesting items in their store sooo watch out for those features in the next few days! Promise, you'll want to see what I chose for this week. ;) Anyway! I'll kick it off with a lipstick - the Shiseido Perfect Rouge Lipstick in Fleur OR341 (P1,250).

I say this over and over again: Shiseido lipsticks are super underrated. This is one of the best lipstick formulas I've tried to date, as they are super pigmented, fairly moisturizing, long-wearing, and comes in beautiful shades. Like Fleur here. This was part of the 2013 Spring Collection but I think it's still as relevant now as it was when it came out.

This trip couldn't have come at a better time. There are a lot of changes in my life recently, and while I am not given to melodrama, I still need to figure out a few things. What's that line from Frozen? "It's funny how some distance makes everything so small." I think that our problems are all small, once we look at them from a fresh perspective. Traveling or doing something as mundane as reading a book gives me a set of new eyes. What does it for you?

Anyway! Nivea launched a new product, as you know, and invited press and celebs over to one of the best resorts in the country: El Nido in Lagen Island, Palawan. I feel lucky to be able to stay in such a beautiful place! Here's a photo diary of what went down on my first day there.

We rode a small, 16-seater (I think) plane to Palawan. It's the smallest plane I've been in! Not as scary as it looks.

The clouds look like they're sitting on top of a mirror

The port in Palawan

Ready for the sea!

Mikki and Martha

Julia looking like a cute kid

Marj and Ana. I love that I'm traveling with my blogger friends! First time I went to a Nivea junket (about four years ago I think), I didn't know anyone. It was so awkward at first! I was just starting out as a blogger then. Now it's different - I'm with a group of friends, plus I'm also acquainted with lots of people outside my blogger circle. It's certainly more fun this time around!

I've always believed that when robots or artificial intelligence evolve beyond human capabilities, they would not go Terminator on us. They would most likely be either benign, even altruistic towards humans, or would simply leave us and move on to the next plane of existence. Another possibility just occured to me: they can combine their capabilities with our species, becoming a hybrid of organic and metal/plastic/silicone etc. (My thinking is distinctly Asimovian.)

This is what was running through my head after watching Her. It's a movie about a man falling in love with his operating system. Did I get teary eyed? A little bit. But their love story didn't interest me so much as the moral and practical implications of the premise. Why are letter writers rich in the future? What makes a human, human? Is romantic love less real when shared with 641 other people? Where did the OSs go? 

In any case, watch Her. It's a good film.

Moving along! I want to quickly show you what's inside the January-February BDJ Box. I got this last Thursday! I like how it contains a LOT of stuff that I can actually use. My favorites would be the Ellana Lip & Cheek Gel (of course, lol), Beauty Bright Soap (reviewed it and loved it!), the free Brow Construction from Browhaus (my HG brow salon), and the Revlon nail art polish. 

Hmm, I just realized, I like the stuff I've already tried. I should probably be more adventurous and go for the other samples/vouchers! Check 'em out here.

It normally takes me a week to write about press junkets, but this time I decided to try writing everything down while my memory is fresh. I want to remember everything! El Nido, Palawan is the most beautiful place I've been to so far. Thanks to Nivea, I was able to experience it and #embracethesun!

I was invited along with fellow bloggers, press, and celebrities to attend this annual event. We stayed in a gorgeous resort for three days - El Nido in Lagen Island - and got to visit the surrounding islands. I'll write about our stay in a separate post, but in the meantime, I'd like to introduce to you the latest product from Nivea.

Guys, meet the Nivea Sun Protect & Bronze Spray (P599)! It simply lets you tan beautifully and safely, without having to resort to self-tanners or tinted oils to get bronzed. The liquid is completely clear as it works in such a way that your skin develops its most natural tan, versus orangey and fake-looking tans out of a bottle. It promotes the skin's natural melanin production so that you get a color that is truly yours.

It comes in SPF 20, 30, and 50, which means that you can choose the level of protection as you need it. If you're in the beach though, you should go for the PF50! It protects your skin from UVA and UVB rays for about 4-5 hours (depends on your skin). Did you know that you actually don't need to go higher than 50? It should bounce off 93% off all harmful rays from the sun! (If properly applied, that is.)

This is already available in all major drugstores and supermarkets. ^_^ Keep an eye out for it if you're soaking up some sun soon! Anyway, here are photos of the actual launch.

I'm baaaack! Just came from a Nivea press event all the way in El Nido, Lagen Island. The place was breathtakingly beautiful - think clear azure waters, 360-degree views of basaltic islands, and awesome locals. It was an experience that I will never forget! I'll blog about it later but first, I'd like to show you something interesting from Avon. It's the 8-in-1 Eye Palette in The Metallics (P349)!

I believe this came out over the holidays so I can't guarantee that it's still available. It's better to ask your Avon lady! Nonetheless, I think it's interesting how Avon is coming out with even more interesting products and color selections. I mean, just look at this! 

There are three versions of this palette - the one here is all about metallic colors. They aren't THAT metallic to me though; I'd say they look like normal eyeshadows with shimmer. Pigmentation is pretty good, texture is a little rough but workable, and staying power is okay as long as you use a base. 

This palette doesn't blow my mind away, honestly, but it does have one thing going for it: eight pretty colors for only 349 bucks. Observe!

Bronzers are usually shimmery affairs, although every so often there's one that's almost matte. This kind of finish is more suited to those who want warmth on their skin but prefer to avoid extra shine on top of their oily face. If that's what you're after, the Stila Bronzing Powder in Sweet Treat (~P800) fits the bill!

Out next month, this bronzer creates a lovely warmth on the face without having too much shimmer in it. It has a couple of shimmery blocks in the grid, yes, but the rest are matte. The colors run the gamut of skin-enhancing shades - tan, brown, peach, and champagne. They're even pigmented enough that you can use them as eyeshadows if you wish.

But don't worry, this bronzer won't give you Snickers bar cheeks when you apply it. ;) It starts out very soft, then you can build it up until you get your desired intensity. It has a smooth, satiny texture which makes it easy to blend and layer.

We already know that we need to exfoliate and/or have a facial regularly. All that dirt, oil, dead skin, and makeup builds up on the surface, even if we already use facial wash everyday. It's the same with our hair. We use shampoo whenever we take a bath, right, but we also need to "deep clean" our tresses like we do our face. Not a lot of people know that!

Which begs the question: what should we use to "deep clean" our hair? Answer: clarifying shampoo! This type of shampoo is usually meant to be used only once or twice every week, to remove whatever residue is left by our shampoo, conditioner, and styling products. The formula has more intense surfactants to help wash off the gunk, and has no conditioning ingredients that may deposit even more gunk. 

Love this Celeteque Clarifying Shampoo (P200), it works and it smells nice n' clean. 

A clarifying shampoo can thus feel drying, which is why we should limit its use to once or at most twice a week. It's the same reason we're cautioned against using exoliators regularly.

So! When do you need to use clarifying shampoo? What are the dead giveaways? Here's five!

Matte and satin are forever but there's a renewed love for shiny lips in 2014. Glossy, luscious colors are all the rage as new formulas come out that challenge the stereotype. The new MAC Huggable Lipcolour (P1,150) is one such formula. It promises six whole hours of wear while moisturizing your lips at the same time. Too good to be true? Nope! It's for real alright. 

The Huggable Lipcolour is a cross between the Sheen Supreme and the Pro Longwear. It's shinier than Sheen Supreme, but it has the staying power of the Pro Longwear. It hugs my lips tightly and is loathe to let go even when I eat or drink!

This is limited edition! The Huggable Lipcolour comes in a gunmetal tube, as opposed to the usual black MAC packaging.

Eight hours is the longest I've worn this lipstick. At the end of it, there was still a glossy color on my lips. Seriously. It starts fading by the 5th hour but it never really goes away until I take it off. Even though it's long-wearing, it's moisturizing enough by itself. I can skip lip balm and my lips would feel alright!

Noel, a MAC Makeup Artist, applying the new lipstick on me

Happy Monday to you! I'm going to El Nido tomorrow and I have a hundred things to do before I can finally chill out. But maybe not. I will most likely bring my laptop to work in the evenings/early morning - I might not be able to finish everything in time. Best of luck to me!

Anyway, thought I'd do Manicure Mondays today. Buuut I have to apologize first. This nail polish came out last year and is limited edition; it is no longer for sale. I wasn't sure if I should still post it but what the heck! This color is easily in one of my top five favorite nail polishes EVER. I think it deserves the space, albeit posthumously. 

The NARS x Pierre Hardy Collection came out last summer, featuring two blushes and six nail polish duos. I got Sharplines, two colors individually called "Left" and "Right". Haha. Simple enough. The polish I'm wearing here is Sharplines Right. I can not, for the life of me, find the Left but I will post it on Instagram (@lizlanuzo) when I do since it's also a lovely color.

Sharplines Right is a beautiful deep burgundy, slightly wine-y color that looks like duhat. Remember duhat, that grape-slash-cherry-like fruit with a pit inside? My grandparents had a tree in their backyard when I was younger. During the summer, when the fruit is ripe, I'd climb the roof with my cousins and fill our pockets with it. Fun times. I had a really awesome childhood.

At first swatch, the Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colour in Plum Radiance (P995) doesn't look like anything. It's barely visible and the color looks blah, too. But wait till you get it on your face with a proper blush brush. This formula turns into a glowing, "second skin" color on your cheeks!

This blush is perfect for people who don't like colors that sit like prissy princesses on top of their cheeks. It's sheer but easily built up, and the texture is just so that you don't pick up a load of powder after a brisk kiss with a brush. 

Staying power is decent at about four hours. Well, it doesn't promise to be long-wearing so I don't really mind.

Plum Radiance is a beautiful pink shade that leans towards plum, and dare I say, is there a hint of peach in the mix? It has fine shimmers that makes cheeks look dewy and fresh - not oily!