Aside from having soft, translucent skin, the Japanese are champs at getting the perfect eye makeup. The best eyeliners and mascaras all originate from Japan! Well, at least my favorite ones are. I've also noticed that Japanese eyeshadows have this iridescence to them that are rarely found in Western brands. Try to compare your eyeshadows one time and you'll see what I mean. ;)

So! Today I will be reviewing two of the latest products from ZA Cosmetics: the Perfect Action Mascara (P495) and Impact-Full Eyes Gradation Palette (P525). These were released last September I believe! You can find ZA in Watsons outlets, so I hope you can visit them one of these days if you haven't yet.

Right, let's begin with the ZA Perfect Action Mascara (P495). This has a non-waterproof version (which I have) and a waterproof version, which has a blue cap. I love that the non-waterproof can be easily melted with warm water or a water-based makeup remover - that's probably one of the top things I look for in a daily mascara! And this is a daily mascara, definitely.

I am crazy distracted this week. There are a million details to think about and a ton of things to follow up - well, not really "tons" or "millions" per se but I know you know I'm just being hyperbolic. Bottomline, there are many things that need to be done and not enough juice or focus to do it. 

Just one of those weeks, I guess.

Anyhow, I thought I'd write a short post on these Ofra Lipsticks (P650 at Glamourbox). Yup, Glamourbox is the official distributor here in the Philippines! They've been carrying Ofra for a while but these lipsticks are new-ish in the store. A full-sized tube was included in their October box so I'm sure you've been seeing some swatches around the local Internets.

Ofra Lipstick No.205, a sheer magenta pink that can be built up to semi-opacity

So how are they? Well, the formula is emollient and moisturizing enough to be used without balm. The staying power is average at three hours. Pigmentation varies between the two shades - the  202 (red) is loud while the 205 (magenta) is sheerer than I expected. I need to layer it a few times to get it to be as solid as the swatch above.

Mong Kok in Hong Kong is a dusty, damp, and densely crowded place where people go to shop for awesome bargains. It's almost like Divisoria here in Manila, except that there are more Chinese per square foot! Get it, Hong Kong is in China, ha ha? Pff anyway.

There's a lot of amazing fashion finds to be had in Mong Kok. There is only one rule in that wild, unfiltered place: bargain. Then, bargain some more! I was blissfully unaware of that until I started buying a few things, one of which was this cute pink satchel.

Okay, before we continue - Hong Kong dollar conversion confused me greatly. It's not like US dollar where you know that one dollar is a huge amount; or yen, where Y1000 is not really a lot of money. But 1 HKD is equivalent to about 5 Philippine pesos (or 7 PHP if you were foolish enough to change money at the airport). To my mind that's not a terribly big gap. 50 HKD is only P250, so what. But 200 HKD is already 1,000 PHP. 250 HKD is already 1,250 PHP, and so on. Before I know it, I've spent money I wouldn't have otherwise spent if I just actually computed exact conversion rates rather than just winging it in my head.

So. Back to Mong Kok. My mother and I visited it in the afternoon. I think it was on our first day in Hong Kong; we were both still excited about exploring a country new to us. It was a terrible idea. I was tired, and I didn't expect the area to be so ridiculously crowded. Apparently, Mong Kok is named by the Guinness Book of Records as the busiest district in the world due to its extremely dense population. Well, if I knew that, I would have avoided the migraine I got while I was there.

Soooo how was your long weekend? I spent most of mine watching The Lizzie Bennet Diaries! I send my wholehearted thanks to Eula for writing about on her blog. ^_^ If you love Jane Austen, specifically Pride & Prejudice, then you'll love this YouTube series. It's a modern retelling of that swoon-inducing classic, shared in three-minute vlogs per episode. Yeah I thought that format wouldn't work too but I AM HOOKED. I'm already on episode 70! You're welcome haha.

Anyway today I thought I'd share with you an awesome nude liquid lipstick: the Shiseido Lacquer Rouge in Caramel RD215 (P1,250). This is one of Shiseido's latest shades, just released last month! There are about a dozen new colors out now so if you love the Shiseido lipsticks and lacquers as much as I do, then you must go on a swatching spree. I'm actually giving away another shade that I loved here. ;)

Caramel or RD215 is my second Lacquer Rouge. I loved the shade of my first one, Disco (a crazy hot pink) but it bleeds because it's so pigmented! Caramel has no such issue. Maybe because it's a nude shade which makes it hard for me to see any mess outside of the lip line, but I think that the formula sticks much better than it used to. I don't know. Could it be that Shiseido reformulated?

The Too Cool For School Pearl Bay Invasion in Baby Clam Pink (~P800) is a beautiful golden-salmon illuminator that can make your skin glow without the tacky shimmer. It has a thin texture that adheres to the skin well, and an almost translucent finish. 

The TCFS Pearl Bay Invasion is incredibly subtle. A lot of girls avoid illuminators because they don't want to shine like a sequined jacket under a spotlight - that's understandable! - but this one is quite hard to overdo. The coverage of the cream is very sheer and it's easy to blend out with your preferred buffing brush or just fingers.

I recommend three ways to use it!

• As an illuminating makeup base. If you want that glow-from-within skin, use a small amount all over your face, under your makeup. Let it dry, then add your foundation/concealer as usual. It's best under liquid or cream foundation to achieve that skin-like finish!

I randomly found these Pond's wipes in S&R while I was doing my groceries. I normally avoid the beauty and body care section because the things there can get quite expensive, but this product just looked too good to pass up - especially when I saw the ingredients list!

The Pond's Original All Day Clean Towelettes (P129 at S&R) are designed to remove makeup and other impurities in the gentlest manner possible. Yeah, it's the first time I've heard of it too! As far as I know this is not available anywhere else in the Philippines aside from S&R - but do correct me if I'm wrong. 

This is a water-based makeup remover that contains extracts of chamomile, Vitamin E, green tea, white tea, and honeybush. These ingredients can help freshen up skin and improve its clarity. True enough, my face feels really nice and smooth after using the wipes! These don't sting or taste like anything AT ALL.

Have you ever acquired something so pretty that you didn't want to use it at all? Some products look precious enough to just be started at, not disturbed in any way. That's how I felt about the Bobbi Brown Brightening Brick in Pink (P3,250) when it arrived on my doorstep!

This beauty is part of the Bobbi Brown Navy & Nude Collection which just came out recently. Navy & Nude is an interesting mix of sheer nude shades in pink, apricot, and beige, accentuated by rich navy and taupe hues. Elegant is one word that comes to mind, but of course that's always the best word to describe Bobbi's eponymous makeup line!

The Look: Navy smoky eyes, glowy pink cheeks, bronzed skin, and an opaque nude gloss

Lovely. Anyhoo, here's my review and swatches of the Bobbi Brown Brightening Brick in Pink. 

You might be familiar with the name "Vidal Sassoon" but do you know the story of the man behind it? Vidal Sassoon is one of the world's first celebrity hair stylists. He invented hairstyles in the 60s that are so revolutionary, they are still as fresh today as they were fifty years ago. He's like the Steve Jobs of the tech world, when he came out with the iPod and the iPad that forever changed the industry.

This is Grace Coddington wearing the Five Point Cut, which was invented by Sassoon in 1963.

You might think that "invented" is such a strong word for a "mere" hair cut, but note that this came out at a time when the stiffer and higher the hair, the better. Women would sport big hair lacquered to death with hairspray. It wasn't something you could run your fingers through; you'd have to spend hours at a salon having it done and then more time washing it down. This was the time when "I'm washing my hair" is a legitimate excuse for not coming to social engagements.

L-R Jackie Kennedy (later Onassis), Brigitte Bardot, Sophia Lauren, and Nancy Kwan in her famous bob

So a sleek, geometric cut that you can literally wash and wear is a game changer. Sassoon did the hair of screen legends like Mia Farrow (the pixie) and Nancy Kwan, model Twiggy (yes, that iconic cut!), singer Diana Ross, as well as fashion designer Mary Quant (who is credited to have invented the mini skirt). Quant would call Sassoon the "Chanel of hair". 

Eventually, Vidal Sassoon came out with his own hair care range, because an actor once suggested that he should make money while he sleeps. :P VS hair products have actually been available in the Philippines before, but after a long absence, it's now back!

I haven't yet used the products (got them just a couple of days ago!) so I'll just be spelling out my first impressions. First of all - I love the packaging! The ruby red bottles are oh-so-classy and eye catching.

"Looking good is the best revenge." Do you agree? I do, because looking good means that you're happy and taking care of yourself very well. Your haters will quietly grind their teeth with frustration at how much better you're doing! Your ex will regret all his thoughtless mistakes. Now that is a revenge more satisfying than TV-level theatrics.

Don't do revenge though, if you can help it. It'll eat at you and your other relationships, making you miserable and empty inside - where it really matters.

Well that was heavy. I just meant to review the Face Atelier Ultra Foundation (P2,150 at Glamourbox), which carries that slogan in the box! Haha. This is one of those quietly popular products with a following among makeup artists and beauty junkies all over the world. I'm happy that Glamourbox decided to distribute it here in the Philippines, as it's hard to find even in the US (short of buying directly from the website).

So why are Face Atelier foundies famous? The fame is mostly from their Zero foundation, a white shade that is meant to be mixed with other face products to lighten them. Pale girls love it, as well as makeup artists who always need to calibrate their foundations to match different clients. There is also a very dark Face Atelier foundation for women of color and for darkening too-light foundations.

Being neither a makeup artist or on the extreme end of the color spectrum, I got the shade Honey, which is a mid-toned yellow that'll suit NC30-35. It's my perfect match!

A lot of newer beauty bloggers ask me the same question: how do I earn money from my blog? Can I/ should I even earn money from my blog? How much do you earn, at Projectvanity.com?

This used to be a touchy subject back when blogging was the sole realm of glorified journal writers - when business-minded bloggers didn't yet exist. I look back on that time with a sense of nostalgia, but I am also aware of the hard facts today. Bloggers are extremely influential in their respective niches and can drive up sales if a brand approaches them the right way. At least, that's how it is for small-medium businesses. Very few bloggers in the Philippines have the kind of following that can put a big brand front and center of its target market.

And that is why some bloggers charge for services now. Not because they're greedy little pieces of junk, but because they are influential or at least give a brand some much-needed, quality exposure online. I keep saying this - it's not a small feat to run a good, updated blog. It takes money, time, expertise, and passion (or at least a certain hard-nosed gumption) to create a website that's worth reading and coming back to.

Model: Alexis Urbiztondo | Makeup: Theresa Carbonel | Photographer: Karen Sarte

I think it's not fair for a brand to take advantage of that and give absolutely nothing valuable in return. Likewise, it's unfair for a blogger to demand free things and cash from brands if he/she doesn't have high traffic, quality content, and influence to offer in the first place.

They say expensive brushes are some of the best investments you can make if you're serious about getting your makeup right. That may be true five years ago, when only high-end brands would make brushes fit for the high strandards of makeup enthusiasts and professionals alike. But it's different today. It's easy to find good brushes without going over a thousand, maybe even 800 bucks a piece.

You can go even lower, if you like! Take for example this Ecotools 5-Piece Mineral Brush Set (P549 at Kalm Cosmetics). This travel-sized brush collection is a great buy for beginners and those who like to apply their makeup on the go! It's specifically created for loose mineral makeup but it can definitely be used with traditional pressed makeup as well.

The set contains a Mineral Powder Brush, Concealer Brush, Eye Shading Brush, and Mini Kabuki Brush. They're mainly for applying powder base makeup. The synthetic bristles are super soft and dense where it counts, thus turning your makeup into a smooth, even layer all over your face.

Been seeing a lot of new readers lately - hi guys! Thanks for reading and liking my blog. I appreciate the lovely messages you've left as well! :) I thought I'd introduce myself, again. My name is Liz and I obviously love beauty and the things we can use to achieve it. I have a cute pom named Snaps, and in my free time I play video games, read fantasy novels, and recently, make cards.

Yes I've been making cards. Did that catch you off-guard? :P You'll know I've been sorta crazy about it if you've been following my Instagram account. I love putting paper together and coming up with interesting designs. I've kinda toned it down though. When I started card-making, everything was so elaborate. Now I'd rather go for elegance and simplicity.

I honestly don't know how I got into it exactly. I remember buying some stationery and origami paper in Tokyo, then for some reason that got blown waaaay out of proportion.

I unearthed the Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Lip Color in Tamara Red (P1,250 at Rustan's) while I was searching for something else entirely. I've had this for almost a year now but didn't get to wear it very often - why, I have no idea! This is a gorgeous color in an equally beautiful bullet. I don't know what's wrong with me.

The formula is a creamy but sticks and sets on the lips comfortably. It's opaque in one layer! Staying power is good, at three hours before it starts to fade. It leaves a nice, even stain even after I've eaten. You might need a lip balm to moisturize your lips beforehand though, since this lipstick can feel drying after a while (typical of longwearing formulas really).

Can you feel it, the turning of the season? Mornings are brighter and crisper, with a sharp tinge of cold in the air. The evening falls earlier too - the moon rises just before the sun sets. This is my favorite part of the year. I'm looking forward to the celebrations and the start of 2014. Yes, this early!

Anyway, I thought I'd open the week with a scent I've been enjoying tremendously: the Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Honeysuckle (P2,250/ 50 ml and 2,950/ 100 ml at Rustan's). This is the latest scent in EA's cult favorite Green Tea franchise! It's all about the exuberance of the honeysuckle scent, combined with green notes and a sweet musk as base.

The top notes include sheer bergamot, sparkling lemon, green tea vapors, tangerine, and bosysenberry blossom. That bright green whiff will instantly make you feel energized! That brightness will soften into a sweet floral mix with honeysuckle accord, jasmine, ylang ylang, green tea leaves, and Tunisian neroli.

I love bright violet, purple, and magenta makeup on me (in moderation of course) because I feel that they flatter my warm yellow skintone. That aside, these are also my favorite colors in my clothes, shoes, accessories and what not! I like how they're fun and bright to wear. Sometimes though, I also wear their pastel variations.

Here's a look I did wearing some of my Shiseido makeup. ^_^ The eyes are a soft purple, with pink pastel cheeks and a toned down magenta lipstick. Hope you like it!

Face base: Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation, Shiseido Natural Finish Cream Concealer, Shiseido Sheer Matifying Compact to set (I ended up getting the right shade, but there's still a bit of white cast from the SPF base)

Seamless and well-blended makeup is the best kind. To achieve it, use a stiff, buffing brush that can work the product into your skin, diffusing the pigments in the formula until they look practically invisible. One brush that is made for exactly that kind of thing is the Shiseido Perfect Foundation Brush (P1,500). This is so famous that a lot of other Asian brands have copied it already!

I've already done a full review of the brush, so this time I'll just be showing you a detailed step-by-step tutorial on how to use it and what you can use it with. It's a great brush not only for applying foundation and concealer, but for putting on liquid highlighter and blush as well. Let's get started!

Step 1: Pick your favorite liquid, cream, or in this case, mousse foundation. Apply the foundation in streaks all over your face. Then, spread the product all over your face with the brush. You're just aiming for coverage at this point. Add more on your problem areas but keep it sheer where your good skin is.

What is your biggest makeup frustration? Mine would be false eyelashes! I adore how they make my eyes look even bigger and my wide face, narrower, but I still can't get the hang of applying them. Even something as simple as putting the right amount of glue daunts me! Very few things intimidate me this way.

I came across 3S Pre-Glued Lashes (P250) a year ago; even did a review! I like how they're so convenient to use. You just strip off the lashes from the base, cut the edges if they're too big for your eyes, and then slap them over your real lashes. It sounds so simple no? It is, but it would still need a bit of practice to perfect.

I've been blogging for a while now, and in that time I've seen a nurse become a shoe designer, a web designer become a stylist to celebrities, and fresh grads into businesswomen. Blogging can change your life - I know this from first-hand experience. It can unlock your potential and turn your talent into something that earns money and a certain amount of fame. 

However, that all depends on how badly you want something. It depends on what you're willing to do to get what you want. I know it all sounds so ruthless, but that applies to pretty much any area of our lives. It's easy enough to want something; it's a totally different thing to want it badly enough to steadily work towards it for months or even years. Random thought. :) 

So! Here's a review of the latest concealer in my kit: the Shiseido Natural Finish Cream Concealer (P1,550). I bought this because I wanted something that's completely light and seamless on my skin. I'm used to heavy, opaque concealers that can cover anything I throw at them, but lately I've been enjoying better skin than usual. My usual concealers just look too thick on me even when I blend them the usual way!

This Shiseido liquid concealer has a very thin, buttery texture. The coverage is light to medium, although it can be layered to achieve complete opacity. The finish is a natural matte; no sheen, but it's not a dull matte either.

Times are long past when girls literally used tape to create double eyelids. These days, we have flexible and almost invisible glues to create bigger eyes and that deep crease! K-Palette Philippines recently launched one of the brand's best-selling products in Japan: the Real Lasting Mega Cute Double Eyelid Tape and Glue (both P695 at Beauty Bar).

What's the difference between the Orange (tape type) and Pink (glue type)? The Orange tape is applied all over the lid to create a deeper-looking lid. It has some shimmer to it and can even be used as an eyeshadow primer as long as you're wearing it. The tape can even be worn by double-lidded girls who just want more definition on their eyes.

The Pink glue is for creating a more enhanced crease. It's meant to be applied right where the crease meets the lids, in one thin line. You get a white plastic wand to hold your skin in place while the glue is drying. Aside from faking that crease, the Pink glue can also be used as false lash glue.

Orange tape vs Pink glue

Both types are completely transparent when dry. They are also waterproof - for real! They didn't budge from my hand for almost two days until I peeled them off! They also truly glued the lids together when I tried them.