Have you tried a metallic lipstick before? I think this would be my first time! The Estee Lauder Pure Color Chrome Metal Lipstick in Coral Halo (P1,400) is part of the brand's Autumn 2013 Collection called Pure Color Metallics. This limited edition line is all about smooth, liquid metal finishes that are not your mother's frosty makeup. Think chrome, its dull sheen. That's what Estee Lauder was shooting for!

The formula is creamy and doesn't feel like a thick blanket on the lips. Staying power is average at 3-4 hours; it adheres well enough that it won't disappear after a meal, but it will fade. As with all EL cosmetics, this smells like fresh fig fruits. It's very pleasant and luxe!

A good lipstick wardrobe has an even mix of daily, subdued shades and bright sparks of color. At least 30% of your lipstick collection should comprise of unforgettable shades, the kind that people stop to ask what you have on. Trust me, it's good for your self-esteem! Even if there aren't many occasions to wear these bright shades out, knowing that you have them and can wear them any time you damn well please already adds to that feeling of empowerment. 

The question is: when should you go bright, and when should you go light? A touch of flattering color on your lips is ideal for more conservative settings like at your office, a business meeting, or perhaps a work-related conference. It's also great for any situation wherein you want to look approachable and likeable - meeting the parents, a new group of friends, making a sale, things like that.

Bright lipstick, on the other hand, is perfect for special occasions, parties, and casual get-togethers among close friends or co-workers. If you have a creative, image-heavy job like being a makeup artist, stylist, actress, magazine writer, etc. then you can pretty much wear any color you feel like!

If there was a law limiting the number of hot pink lipsticks a person can own, I would already be in violation of it. Probably. I'm slightly afraid to count exactly how many hot pinks I have, but it appears that I still end up accumulating them! Not that I'm complaining, of course. I hope you don't mind, either, because today I have yet another smokin' pink to share with you guys.

I picked up the Nichido High Definition Lipstick in Rouge Blossom (P198) upon the recommendation of a sales attendant. This is apparently one of the best-selling shades from the Nichido HD Lipstick line - I had to try it out! It looked like a deep red-pink in the tube, perhaps something gothic at first glance, but it's undoubtedly a bright pink.

This is packed with pigment and opaque in only one layer. It doesn't have much oil or emollient in it, so you won't experience that creamy, slippery feeling like in more moisturizing lipsticks. This has a matte finish, and a slight powdery feel on the lips. It's not a bad thing. It feels like it's hugging my lips nicely, like it would stay on for hours.

I've started a personal blog again. Actually, I planned to move Project Vanity to the latest version of the platform I'm using (Squarespace), but it's STILL slow and there are features I need that aren't available there yet. So, for the meantime, I'm going to use that new space I'm working on to house my personal blog. Just follow my Twitter account @lizlan and you may see links to new posts. ;) 

So. Lipstick Week is back! I know this is one of your favorite themed weeks ever. Mine too actually! I have a few (okay, not a few) lipsticks here that I haven't reviewed yet so it's about time. I'll start with something a little overdue: the Avon Ultra Color Rich Lipstick (P379). I believe these came out last August, along with a new eyeshadow formula and lip gloss collection.

The Ultra Color Rich lipsticks are all about bright, attention-grabbing punches of color. Where Vitaluscious lipsticks were sheer and moisturizing, Ultra Color has mid- to heavy-coverage that sets in half an hour. The texture is creamy and smooth; it's not moisturizing, but it doesn't dry my lips either. For formulas like this I recommend that you let your lips absorb a thin layer of lip balm first.

It smells sweet, not too much that it offends.

Carnation, Hibiscus, Country Rose Tangerine (sorry I was missing Lava Love while I was taking this photo)

The color pay-off is pretty amazing, but it streaks in some of the shades I have (Carnation and Hibiscus). Lava Love and Tangerine are already opaque in one layer! The other shades need two. That's not much of an effort in any case.

Staying power is average at 3-4 hours. I do like that the brighter ones leave a nice stain. Here are the swatches of the five shades I have!

I'm sure you've seen other beauty bloggers posting about this already! Two reasons, really: Lancome Philippines has an ongoing contest for your guys AND these glosses are pretty rad. I don't wear a lot of lip gloss since I find that most of them sticky and drying. But the Lancome Gloss In Love (P1,295) is a game changer!

They feel like butter on the lips - very creamy, a wee bit thick, but there is no stickiness or greasiness. It doesn't feel like your lips are sweating inside (if you know what I mean). They are also extremely, well, glossy. Juicy-looking. They definitely make my lips look plumper and dare I say sexier!

See? The lasting power is pretty nice, at two to three hours without eating. The gloss doesn't feel flaky once it's completely dry; indeed, I don't even need to wear lip balm underneath. It's moisturizing enough by itself. I also love the slightly curved wand as it helps the gloss sink into the lips better. Make sure to wiggle the wand all over to avoid spidery wrinkled-looking lips!

I just wish that all the glosses are as pigmented as the one I'm wearing up there (#385) but I suppose fairer ladies will love the paler shades. Check out Sabs' swatches here, the lighter colors look great on her fair skin!

Here are my own swatches. ^_^ What's your favorite?

Young people these days are all "I don't know what I want to do with my life!" If I ever hear you say that, you will get a long, long talk from me. You should avoid living a meaningless life with no direction, no clear-cut goals. I firmly believe that we all know what we want to do for the rest of our lives, right now, except that we're too afraid to fail at it. 

For many of us, pipe dreams are better than failed ones. It's easier to keep a Nebulous Some Day close to our heart, when everything we ever wanted will come true. It's easier to make excuses. But anything worth doing is never easy so just suck it up and do it! Whatever regrets may come of it, at least you'd end up knowing what you can do and who you are exactly. Then maybe you'll try again when you're ready or move on to the next dream.

Anyhoo, I just want to review the Hurraw! Grapefruit Lip Balm (P250 from Cutieverse). This is a reaaaallllly nice lip balm - it's light on the lips, buttery, and moisturizing. It's citrusy grapefruit scent is refreshing and not overly chemical. The oblong tube is also pretty genius (albeit strange), since the shape easily fits the contours of my lips.

What a dark and dreary Monday it is. It's not the best way to start the week, but there are lots of ways to cheer ourselves up! Mine involves a hot bowl of arroz caldo, a botched attempt at a home made doggie raincoat, and now, a happy lipstick review. What's yours?

Anyhoo, on to the lipstick! The Clinique Long Last Lipstick in Runway Coral (P1,100) is my current favorite lipstick. It's been ages since I've worn an actual Clinique lipstick (the Chubby Stick doesn't count) that I've forgotten how nice the brand makes them. I've said this again and again - Clinique is famous for skincare products, but its makeup is surprisingly good. Especially of late, it's like the Clinique makeup department is on crack.

There are lots of nice lipsticks out there, but I there are only a few that come in beautiful packaging and an amazing formula. The Clinique Long Last Lipstick has both. The burnished silver bullet has some heft to it and a gliding closure with no click. I love it! The tactile feel alone can excite any girl who cherishes beautiful objects.

The formula itself is also very good. It's smooth and cushy and light on the lips, but it stays put for five hours if you don't eat.

Remember when MTV was the coolest channel on television? If you're about my age, you would have spent and hour or so after school watching the latest music videos. You know, when they only released music videos on TV? Haha. I feel so old just knowing how epic MTV was back then.

One of the most visible brands on MTV then was ZA Cosmetics. They always showed that colorful and cute commercial in between videos, sometime in the late 90s. ZA was pulled out of the country for over a decade, sadly, but now it's back! I believe the stalls started popping up in SM Department Stores and Landmark just last June. The liquid and powder foundation come highly recommended so do check them out when you visit!

The prices are quite affordable, with most of the products checking in at less than a thousand bucks only. ZA is popular for the cosmetics of course but they also have intriguing skincare lines. ZA is actually a Shiseido brand, so you can bet that the company's thorough research is behind every ZA product!  

Today I will be reviewing the ZA Plumper Lips Lipstick in Rose Vintage (P425). It's what I got in my loot bag during the ZA event some weeks back, a random choice, but I love it as an everyday pink lipstick! It can work with fair to medium skintones I think, since it's warm enough without being too dark. 

Rose Vintage is a mid-coverage brown-based pink lipstick that packs a lot of shine. The shine creates the illusion of plumper lips indeed, although you would have to retouch every two or three hours to maintain the shine and color.

Every beauty blogger's dream is to have a makeup collection that she designed herself. It would be everything she ever wanted to see in her most-used products, all her favorite colors turned into reality. Maybe someday I'll be able to create my own makeup, but that's just a pipe dream - for now. If I'm going to do it, I need to be able to commit to it, y'know? Or else I'd be wasting time, money, and social capital.

It would be great if I can design my own lipsticks, but the closest thing for now is the OCC Lip Tar Pro's Picks Set v2.0 (P2,750). It's basically five, uber pigmented liquid lipsticks that you can mix and match to create a host of different shades! The colors are also quite beautiful on their own so you can use them as is (save for the white one).

OCC (Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics) is a brand most popular for their Lip Tars. These are opaque liquid colors that are heavy in pigment and oil. They feel a bit greasy on the lips when they are freshly applied, but they dry up in about 15-30 minutes, just adhering to the lips like second skin.

One time, while I was browsing the IN2IT lipstick display, the sales lady told me "Ma'am, you should try this shade, it's what models ask for!" It doesn't really take much to impress me so off I went with this hot pink number. Is it any good? Well duh, it's IN2IT! This brand never fails to come up with great products that won't hurt the wallet. 

The IN2IT Moisture Intense Lipstick in Pink Alarm (P375) is a bright, blue-based hot pink lipstick. It's one of those quietly popular things that are always sold out! I can see why, for other than the eye-catching color, the lipstick itself has no smell, no taste, and no overly-thick feel characteristic of drugstore lipsticks. Maybe that's why it's a bit more expensive than average.

The world rejoiced when the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters came out, because they were so smooth, moisturizing, and pigmented! They were everything everyone secretly wanted their lip balms to be. ;) Okay, sweeping generalizations aside, Colorburst Lip Butters were great everyday lipsticks for women who need something wearable and convenient. They are inexpensive too, at P525 a pop.

I've already done a full review so head on over there to see more details. Today I will just be showing you the latest shades in the Revlon Lip Butter line! These are part of their summer collection, hence the warm and fun shade selection.

Here are the lip swatches + description!

The most useful advice that I've ever received in my life is Don't Panic. It is so difficult to remember that, you know, when everything is converging towards you in a massive wave and it is impossible to turn anywhere without being swallowed up like a piece of melting chocolate. Well. Grace under pressure is a skill. We can't learn it if we do not truly feel the heat.

The best way to deal with pressure is to take things one at a time. Sounds simple enough. So I'll do that. :)

Today I want to finally talk about the Etude House Color Pop Collection! This collection is all about bright, show-stopping colors in hues of orange, pink, blue, and green. Now it doesn't seem to be available in the Philippines just yet, but I will definitely update this space when it is! For the meantime here are some swatches and quick thoughts about each of the products I received from Korea.

I'll start with the Etude House Color Pop Shine Tint in Sunny Pop. First swatch and I thought I wouldn't like this, for it is such a fiery orange! I tried using a generous amount on my lips and it looked so patchy that I removed it immediately. However, the trick is to use only a couple of dots to get a sheer wash of reddy peach color on the cheeks and lips. It's one of those tints that you can't layer over, as it is meant to be sheer.

They are impossible to miss in Beauty Bar: the iconic bee, the yellow tubes of lip balm goodness. Burt's Bees has made a mark in the beauty industry as an all-natural skincare brand, but they recently released new color cosmetics. For the lips, still! I can't wait to see the day when BB has foundations and blush at least! That should be awesome, no?

Anyhoo, take a look at some of the newest products from Burt's Bees.

First up is the Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm (P650). This comes in different shades, but the one I have here is Caramel Daisy! The tinted balm glides and feels like butter on the lips. I've tried the plain balm before and wasn't very impressed because of the hard texture, but the Tinted Lip Balm is definitely an improved version. It keeps my lips hydrated and not waxy-feeling. It has a faint jelly bean scent to boot!

If I had to choose only one lip color to wear for the rest of my life I would probably choose something hot pink. Yes, not red! I noticed that while red is a seasonal or moody color for me, hot pink is something I always pick up whether I'm going to the grocery or to a party. It's a fun and happy shade, a lot more user-friendly than one would care to think. 

Speaking of hot pinks, I recently acquired the Shiseido Rouge Lacquer in Disco / RS404 (P1,250). It's a glossy, super bright blue-based pink that makes my teeth look so white! No kidding, you'll see it later. I also like the formula of this liquid lipstick even though it's not perfect. It's moisturizing, doesn't flake, and lasts a decent amount of time (3-4 hours depending on whether I eat or drink). It's solid in one dip but I prefer to dip twice to get the maximum opacity and brightness.

M.A.C lipsticks are some of the most vibrant, complex ones out there. You can find anything from sweet pinks, severe browns, sexy reds, daring purples, or even stark black if you're into that. ;) Each new collection has at least a new shade or two of lipstick so there's always something to covet if you're a collector, or a simple lover of color. 

The downside is that not all lipsticks have a great formula. Some may look streaky or fade easily. That's why you should always check reviews and swatch the lippies in person if you can, as this will save you a lot of grief in the long run. I've reviewed a few already so please do check them out! That said, here's a new batch of permanent M.A.C lipsticks for you to check out.

I'll begin with the MAC Lipstick in Rebel (P1,000). Rebel has a satin finish, which is full-bodied, pigmented, and a wee bit glossy. It's a color that I've always been hearing about from beauty bloggers here and abroad, so I got one to see if it's worth the hype. Dahhlings, it is. It's such an amazing color!

I've always thought of Rebel as a gothic red shade based on the swatches I've seen online, but on me it's a deep fuchsia with a strong purple base. This is daring alright, no question about it! I usually prefer to wear this in full during evening engagements, but during the day a stain of Rebel can live through a greasy lunch. Yes, it's quite long-wearing.

One week is not enough for lipstick week, it seems! I have three other features in mind for this, but I suppose I can always do another LW in the near future. ;) I decided to end this themed week with a bang, with something that I received just two days ago! I got pretty excited about these lipsticks because I'm a huge fan of the Avon Ultra Moisture Rich line, plus I know how y'all appreciate Avon swatches in particular.

The Avon Ultra Moisture Rich Vitaluscious Lipstick (P299) is the latest addition to the UMR line. It features ten on-trend glossy shades and a moisturizing formula that contains Vitamins B, C, and E. In terms of texture and lasting power, the Vitaluscious is the same as UMR - it's lightweight, slinky, and moisturizing, but it doesn't stay put beyond three hours. That's the trade-off for the moisture so I don't mind. I just re-apply as needed!

The scent is the same as all UMR lipsticks - juicy candied watermelon. I really love this scent, and I hope that they never discontinue it. It smells as expensive and fresh as high-end lippies. 

I do wish that the Vitaluscious could be as pigmented as the Avon Totally Kissable Lipstick. Most of the lippies need to be layered over several times to get that solid color, unfortunately. But again, that's their trade-off for the heavy oil content! Actually, they feel more like glossy lip butters than legitimate lipsticks.

You're not a true-blue lipstick junkie unless you have the Japonesque 35-Well PRO Lipstick Palette (P1,450 at Digital Traincase). Okay, okay, I'm only half-kidding, but you have to admit that this is such a cool thing to have. Even Lisa Eldridge keeps a few of these! 

So what is it, really? It's a classy black box that has space for 35 lipsticks. It can also be used to store cream foundation if you wish, which makes it incredibly useful if you're a makeup artist. The case and mold is made of a thin, lightweight plastic, and is closed by a silver clasp.

I spent a whole morning selecting and depotting the 35 lipsticks that I wanted to put in this baby. It was a fun activity, albeit rather messy in the end!

Lavender is an intimidating color to wear with Asian skin - some are virtually unwearable - but they can work with the right supporting colors. If that fails, just blend them with your other lippies to create interesting shades! Today I thought I'd post swatches of three MAC blue-based lavenders with various levels of pink in them. ^_^ 

I have a permanent and popular shade (MAC Pink Noveau), a limited-edition repromote (MAC Lavender Whip from Baking Beauties), and the MAC Viva Glam Nicki 2 which is for the brand's AIDS charity. I have already reviewed MAC lipsticks before so I won't go into details, but quickly, these lipsticks vary in pigmentation and have a decent staying power (three hours). I have to admit that while MAC lipsticks aren't THE BEST when it comes to formula, they come in trendy, one-of-a-kind shades that other brands try to copy.

Here are the swatches and color descriptions!

MAC Pink Noveau is a bright pink with strong lavender undertones. It's a cool shade and a struggle to wear if you're morena, but on my medium yellow skintone it looks striking and interesting. I usually prefer to pair this with a dark, smoky eye to balance the coolness. A barbie pink blush always works with this particular lipstick!

High-end lipsticks are nice to have, but if you're on a budget there are also wonderful alternatives out there. You won't be getting the same fine texture, lasting power, and packaging of course but for the price you're still nabbing a pretty good deal. ;) Take for example the L'Oreal Color Riche Intense Lipstick (P625). This drugstore product can give those luxe tubes a run for their money!

It's weird that these lippies aren't receiving a lot of noise here - they're quite good! Pigmented, creamy, and beautifull packaged, these come in a variety of show-stopping colors. The texture is smooth and light on the lips. It doesn't feel waxy at all.

Worth mentioning is the fact that these lippies also have no scent or taste. They definitely don't feel drugstore!

I've been in love with lipsticks since my first swipe at five years old. I love how they can brighten up my face in a matter of seconds, and how there's a shade for whatever look and mood I have for the day. Lipsticks are never boring. There are always new colors and formulas rolling out from the labs, and believe me, they are getting better and better each year!

So, I've been saving up my lipstick reviews since last month, when I decided to do a Lipstick Week. I thought to start with an amazing lip product called the NARS Satin Lip Pencil (P1,550). If you could look past the price tag (and the fact that they don't twist up), these are total must-haves!

I love them because they're pigmented - opaque in one layer - and feels very thin on the lips. When they dry up (in two hours) they don't feel like a waxy, crackly layer. Instead they feel more like a light, flexible blanket of the color! Not many lipsticks that I've tried have that dry-down texture.