Annika Wester is a famous illustrator who has done work for big names like Vogue, Anna Sui, MAC (to name a few) and has shown her art in galleries all over the world. According to her blog, her "...work presents a various number of characters, silhouettes and items displayed throughout her own stylish way of drawing. The features are softened and the colors often bright, which gives the viewer a feeling of joyful indolence..."

The Etude Girl illustrations by the talented Annika Wester

Cool right? And now, Ms Wester has partnered with Etude House for their Wannabe Collection! It's a rather expansive collection with a face palette, powder, lipsticks, nail polishes, scent and gloss combos, and even falsies all incased in Ms Wester's trademark artwork.

The Etude Girl is, surprise surprise, Sandara Park of 2NE1

Okay, this is a rather long intro, but I am just amazed by Annika Wester and Etude House's awesome idea in partnering with her. Whoever said that art and makeup can never mix is deadly wrong! So! I'll be reviewing some of the Wannabe pieces I have with me.

What's your ideal lipstick like? For me, it has the comfortable texture of a lip balm but with the opacity of normal lipsticks. I've always wondered why companies don't make a product like this more often. Perhaps it is too expensive? Not enough demand? In any case Revlon took it upon themselves to make a kickass lip product called the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter (P525).

There are serious raves about these lipsticks online, and I can see why!

What I love about the product 

• As the name promises, it does glide on like butter and feels moisturizing on the lips. It doesn't feel waxy or thick at all. Girls who can't stand lipstick will love this!
• Colors are gorgeous and trendy, with great color payoff. It feels like balm but doesn't look like one when you have it on.

Every girl needs a bright and sophisticated red lipstick in her purse. However, not everyone has the chutzpah to wear it yet; red lipstick is an idea one needs to grow and nurture in the mind before it debuts in person. :P If you're not ready to wear a full-on red, then I suggest you try on a "training wheel" red like the Tony Moly Kiss Lover Lipstick in RD03.

RD03 is a juicy cherry red that shies from being opaque. It's red, sure, but it's not the scary kind which makes it perfect for those who are just starting to explore the shade.

I've been hearing a lot of great things about Sleek MakeUP, especially about the blushes and eyeshadow palettes. The brand offers high-quality cosmetics at really good prices (less than P600 locally) so it's definitely something to keep an eye out for if you're looking to try something new.

Sleek MakeUP doesn't have a brick and mortar store in the Philippines, but you can visit Digital Traincase to see some selections. 

Anyway! Last December, I was in a violently purple/ plum mood. I've been looking for a kickass purple lipstick but couldn't find one that fits my exact specifications. I want the shade to be dark and deep and opaque, but I don't want it to look too goth nor too shockingly bright. Difficult? A little. But I found what I needed from DT's new stocks of Sleek True Color Lipstick (P450). 

Quality-wise, the True Color Lipstick is okay.

It's a holiday, the second to the last day of the year. The day is beautiful and bright, with a cool wind blowing from the south. My mind turns to oranges. I can't wait to go to the fruit market to haggle and hoard. Who wants to spend a day like this blogging? :P That's a rhetorical question though.

Anyway, I just wanted to share my top five lipsticks with you. I already shared a list of my best lipsticks last July so you can check that for more choices. This time I want to share the ones that I ALWAYS keep on hand. In my bag. On the top most tier of my dresser. 

These are lipsticks I can't live without, mainly because their colors work perfectly in sync with my skintone!

This is the first time I've been acquainted with the organic brand, Venus & Mars. Yes I know, I know, but I'm not big on organic stuff to begin with. In any case, I can say that we're off to a good start! I'm currently loving the Venus & Mars Lip Butter Tints. I have the one in Cherry Berry and it's pretty good.

It gives a pigmented, lipstick-like wash of color that looks lovely with a couple of swipes. I love that the colors leaves a nice stain even after eating or drinking. Plus, the product is moisturizing and doesn't feel greasy or waxy at all.

Do you know how the Bobbi Brown empire started? No? Ten lipsticks. That's how. Bobbi Brown is famous for her foundations, gel eyeliner, and blushes, but it was with lipsticks that the cosmetics company started off in the 1990s. You should read her lipstick diaries, an account of the inspirations and descriptions of her first ten lipsticks to understand the love that went into making them.

I got my first Bobbi Brown lipstick around two years ago when I got acquainted with the brand. It was called Brownie Pink and became my constant companion to, well, everywhere. It was a wearable color that was my perfect MLBB! For Bobbi, lipsticks are considered as foundations. That is, the most flattering lipstick is the one that's the exact shade of your lips. That's what Brownie Pink was to me: my lip foundation.

Of course, you should also have fun with your lip color by trying out bright and sultry shades. I recently got a Bobbi Brown lipstick simply called Pink, and oh, what a gorgeous pink it is!

Cinderella was my favorite fairy tale when I was a child. But now that I'm a little older and consider Cinderella as stupid and weak (well not counting Drew Barrymore's Ever After), my favorite is now East of the Sun and West of Moon. The heroine in that story has more guts and determination than all Disney princesses combined. That's the kind of girl I want to be when I grow up!

Anyway! This whole flashback is brought you by Majolica Majorca's latest collection called Glass Trick. It pays homage to the immortal glass shoes that generations have come to know and love (at some point...), and features glossy and shimmery products that mimic the effect of glass. 

I'm going to review the whole collection quickly, so you know what to check out!

Dress Glove Cream (P325). This is a hand cream that has the sweet scent of the Majoromantica Perfume. It also has fine shimmer, so it makes hands sort of glow.

I wasn't impressed the last time I tried a Nivea lip balm. The formula was somewhat better than similarly-priced alternatives in the drugstore, but I found that the balm didn't do much to actually moisturize my lips. It dried up quickly so I had to re-apply several times during the day, too. But that was two years ago, I think! Nivea has gone a long way and went on to refomulate their lip balms.

The Nivea Fruity Shine Lip Balm (P80) is a non-waxy, moisturizing lip product that comes in three variants: Cherry, Strawberry, and Pomegranate. They feel wonderful on my lips plus they offer a hint of tint that goes on evenly.

I already reviewed the VMV Hypoallergenics Velvet Matte Lipstick (P1,000), so this time I just want to share this new lovely shade I got! It's called Coquette, and it's absolutely gorgeous. As in. It's a matte red with a pink undertone. I like that you can wear it as an intense red for evenings out, but if you just use it as a stain - wow! Very pretty.

Okay enough superlatives, see for yourself.

As with all matte lipsticks, Coquette can be a little drying so always wear lip balm underneath. To use it as a stain, dab on balm, then swipe a thin layer of the lipstick on your bottom lip.

I am so easily distracted lately. I don't know why, particularly, maybe I'm just tired. It grates at me. I need to be 100% productive these days as I juggle four jobs so I don't have time for this. If you guys have tips on how to focus better, they would be much appreciated!

ANYWAY! Today I'm going to talk about Human Heart Nature's latest product, the Mineral Lip Gloss (P195). It comes in two shades, Island Berry, Pink Hibiscus, and Coral Beach. Let's get on it!

What I love about the product

• Non-sticky! My top qualification for a good lip gloss.
• Non-drying.

Whenever I wear my Colour Collection Color Intense Lipsticks, I always get compliments and questions about where to get them. That explains why I looked forward to the new Colour Collection Mineral Lipstick line (P350), touted to be a long-lasting lip product with the benefits of mineral makeup. 

I love that this lipstick line is intensely pigmented and has no parabens or preservatives. Not bad for a P350 lipstick. Not bad at all.

What I like about the product

• It stays on for five hours with only a little fading. It'll leave a stain after you eat or drink.
• Colors are opaque in one swipe. 

Bright lipstick is my default preference on most days, mainly because I tend to wear boring eye makeup. I apply neutrals in different variations but yes, it all comes down to the same thing. Bright lipstick is the best and easiest way to look rad and daring. It's like cheating!

And that is why I'm not often in MLBB (my lips but better) colors. However, when I got my hands on the MAC Viva Glam VI Special Edition Lipstick, I ended up liking it more than I expected.

It's a pink-purple shade that goes on smoothly and stays on for a good four hours if I don't eat. Unlike other MAC lipstick formulas, it's thin and moisturizing, so I even skip lip balm.

Jane Iredale is one of the few brands that offer truly 100% mineral makeup. It costs a pretty penny - up there with Colorescience, just less expensive - but unlike cheaper MMU the efficacy and convenience of the products are compararable to high-end traditional makeup. If you have super sensitive skin, true mineral makeup is definitely the way to go.

I've heard so many good things about Jane Iredale way before, so I was psyched to try out their Starter Kit in Golden. It has everything a girl can need for a full face of makeup - tinted primer, foundation, concealer, blush, lip color, and even brushes! However, it's not something you should get for daily use since the products are in sample sizes. It's really more for people who want to try out JI makeup without paying full price.

After using it for a few weeks, here's my review of and recommendations for each product in the kit. You can buy them separately so you don't have to shell out the P5,000+ this Starter Kit costs. ;)

Pressed Mineral Powder with SPF20: This light coverage mineral powder is da bomb. It has a nice glowy finish that looks like skin, just better!

Remember my review of the Human Heart Nature Lip Balm in Peppermint? I mentioned that I didn't like how hard and waxy it was. It seems that HHN listened with their new Tinted Lip Balm (P75)! It glides on more easily and feels slightly less waxy, so yay for that. I also like the shade of Flame Tree since it's very rich - not far from legitimately being a sheer lipstick.

Texture and feel. The HHN Tinted Lip Balm in Flame Three is more emollient and easy to apply compared to its plain lip balm cousin. It still has that waxy feel (that I hope it would lose someday) but it's more bearable now.

Moisturizing properties. Helps moisturize with its essential oils. I like that it takes some time before it dries up.

I'm a lipstick person at heart so you may have noticed that I don't wear much lip gloss. Still, it wouldn't hurt to have a few good ones just in case I need an extra "boost" on my lips. Lipsticks may deliver the color, but glosses instantly add a plumping effect because they reflect light.

Photo courtesy of Yves Rocher

One of the latest glosses I came across is the Yves Rocher Plumping Sheer Gloss in 06 Fraise. It's a delicious-smelling lipgloss that comes in a classy (albeit large) tube with a brush applicator.

What I love about the product

• Lip glosses are notorious for being drying, but this one is quite moisturizing. I don't need to wear lip balm underneath. It doesn't dry up for hours.
• As promised, it does make lips look plumper, but almost all lip glosses do that so it's cool.
• I really like the brush. It makes the gloss easier to apply, especially on top of lipstick!

At last, something new from one of my favorite brands, Colour Collection! I know some folks have been having trouble tracking down a Tupperware dealer in search of their excellent Color Intense Lipsticks, but I tell you, it's worth it. And now there's something else to pine after with the release of the Mineral Cosmetics Line and Age-defying BB Cream.

First off, I doubt that the makeup is actually 100% mineral - BUT there are no parabens or fragrance involved in the making of this line, and they also threw in some soothing ingredients like aloe vera, green tea, shea butter, and jojoba oil. The lipsticks are mostly made of oils, waxes, pigments, and silicates, so they can pass off as mineral makeup.

The powder makeup is mostly mica, talc, zinc, pigments, and chemical binders. So not entirely mineral makeup but they do have less irritants than the usual makeup. IMHO, that's a good job already because so many companies who got into the mineral makeup bandwagon are FAR from actually being MMU.

On to the collection!

They released five new shades of Mineral Lipsticks with SPF15: Plumberry, Creamy Coral, Satin Shell, Brick Rose, Smooth Wine. They're all pigmented and delightully loud!

There are a ton on tinted lip balms out there, but what sets the Tony Moly Petite Bunny Gloss Bar(P278) apart is its winking bunny cap. You can't beat that. I imagine all the tinted lip balms of the world waving their sad little white flags to this cuteness.

All your base are belong to me

Kidding aside, the Tony Moly Bunny Gloss Bar is a nice tinted lip balm that delivers even color and moisture. It glides on the lips and stays emollient for hours. Oh, it also smells great - has that whisper of fruity notes.

The Tony Moly Berry Lovely Girl Heart Lip Palette (P448) is cute, but at first it hardly looks like something you'll actually use. It looks waaay too much like a toy and reminds me of those "makeup sets" you can buy for kids - bright and fun, but the colors don't actually show up since they're just petroleum jelly.

Well guess who's wrong.

The Heart Lip Palette apparently features Tony Moly's best-selling lipsticks. After using this for a few days, I can totally see why.

What I love about the product

• Decently pigmented. It starts off as semi-sheer but you can layer for a more opaque finish. Make sure to pile it on.
• Great color selection. There's a nude, peach, pink, and red that are all quite flattering. My favorite is the peach!