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!

The Avon Brochure is like an ever-changing, fast-paced shopping mall on paper. There's always something new to look forward to every two weeks, new products and promos that are sure to trigger the shopaholic in each of us. My mom and I love shopping the brochure especially since she's an Avon lady. She doesn't sell but she gets an amazing discount for every purchase! ;) Is that awesome or what? 

Solenn Heussaff for Avon

Anyhoo, today I want to give you a preview of Avon's current and upcoming intimate apparel and jewelry collections. There was a big fashion show held at SM Aura SMX some weeks back, showcasing all the new things to watch out for in your biweekly Avon brochure. The brand also introduced the popular and gorgeous Solenn Heussaff as their new jewelry endorser. Check it out!

Lizbeth Bra

Claudette Bra

Marsha Bra

Do you wear colognes? I rarely do these days because I prefer eau de toilettes due to the better staying power and more complex selections available. Nonetheless, I still appreciate a nice cologne especially if it's affordable. They're perfect for young women who want to smell fresh and pretty without spending a lot of money for a bottle! Colognes don't last very long since they are alcohol-based, but you can just chuck them in your bag and spray as much and as often as you need to. 

I recently came across three colognes that I think you (or your younger niece and cousin) would enjoy. ^_^ I love how effervescent, sweet, and young these scents are. They're just perfect for tweens in elementary and high school, teens in college, and working girls just starting out in their careers. Check 'em out!

Pure n Fresh is known best for personal hygiene products, but a couple of months ago the brand ventured into scents for tweens. Tropical Splash, Blush Berry, and Tangerine Delight are bright colognes that feature luscious fruity combinations. Tangerine Delight is citrusy with mandarin, orange, and apple notes; Blush Berry is sweet with strawberry, pear, and apple blossom; while Tropical Splash is soft and creamy with apricot and peach. 

Hi folks! How was your weekend? Mine was spent doing absolutely nothing. Nothing. Now I feel terrible after all that inactivity, but in any case this week is going to be an extremely busy one. My face is literally twitching while I think about it. Well. One must soldier on!

Today I'll do a quick unboxing of the latest Glamourbox. Now this one blows all the past boxes out of the water - it contains A LOT of exciting full-sized products from Avon! It even includes a tube of the new Avon Ultra Color Lipstick. The good news is, the box is still available for purchase at the Glamourbox website. I'm sure you'll be convinced to grab one for yourself once you see what's inside.

Okay okay, enough with the suspense. Here's the Special Edition Avon Glamourbox (P595)!

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.

I should rename this blog Project Lipstick and stop pretending that I want to write about other things. I have soooo many more lipsticks in line for a feature! But naw, I'm just ribbing you. I do love writing about lipsticks though, since they bring so much color and dare I say joy to my life. :)

Today I want to talk about an affordable yet awesome lipstick line: the Avon Totally Kissable Lipstick (P239). This came out last February I believe. To my great surprise, it has a better formula than the Ultra Moisture Rich Lipstick due to its longer staying power and less slinky formula.

Here's the rub!

What I love about the product 

• The colors are pigmented in two layers.
• Texture is smooth and creamy, like lip butter. It feels weightless on the lips. 
• Has less slip than UMR. Formula is more cohesive somewhat so it doesn't slide around if you wear too much. (Hope that makes sense!) This accounts for the better wear time.

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).

My bag of the moment is this black Avon Manzzini Bag. I first saw my friend Mara carrying it at an event in Marriott Hotel and I honestly thought it was a high-end bag! Just yesterday someone also asked me if it was designer. It does have an expensive, discreet look to it (minus the key wallet), which may explain the first impression it usually gets.

Dimensions: 12.5" L x 16" H

Best thing? It's only P1,750. It's expensive for an Avon bag, since the normal collections are just around P600-1,000. But if you like the design then why not right? These bags come with a key chain wallet (for the black), detachable organizer, and dust bag (for storage). 

Hi guys! I finally have a name. It was a difficult decision as many of you were commenting almost everyday, so what I did was, I put all the names in a bowl and picked one randomly. So! The winner is Jaja. Please email me  your full name, address, and contact number.

For October I have a big prize to the lucky commenter of the month. Avon kindly sponsored all these goodies for this giveaway! I was actually just asking for a set of lipsticks and maybe a couple of blushes, but they pulled out all the stops for this massive set of some of the best Avon pieces.

The winner will be getting nineteen products:

Hi folks! How's your weekend so far? I am definitely enjoying mine!:D Anyway today I just want to briefly step in to share an awesome promo from Avon. Mara, a friend of mine who works for the company (it's her birthday today incidentally) told me about it. It's simple, just buy Avon's new Ultra Color Rich Brilliance Lipstick (P199) and get a freebie worth P199 just by showing tweets of their celeb endorsers at the counter!

Isnt' that cool? Just buy and get something in equal value, and the best part is you can do this again and again and again until the promo ends. Here are the mechanics:

1. Avon's celeb endorsers Anne Curtis, Shamcey Supsup, Angel Locsin, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, and Sarah Lahbati will all tweet about the "Brilliant Tweet Treat" inviting all their followers to show their tweets to any Avon branch nationwide to get a freebie worth P199 with any purchase of their new lipstick: The Avon Ultra Color Rich Brilliance Lipstick (SRP P199).

2. Fans can claim the freebie themselves. Just go to any Avon Branch and show either a printout of or their mobile phone with the tweet.

The first blush that I ever owned was from Avon, back in my first year in college. It was this peach/coral beauty under their Simply Pretty line and I loved it so much that I used it until I hit pan! It's one of the first few products that made me realize how transformative good makeup can be. :) The right color on your face can really do wonders to brighten up and bring out your features.

Anyway today I shall be writing about another great blush find: the Avon Ideal Luminous Blush in Peach (P299). You know me, I love glowy makeup, and this blush really brings light to the face. The peachy pink powder is nicely but not overly pigmented, so it's easy to get the right amount of color.

What I love about the product

• Gives such a gorgeous, glowy color to the cheeks. Luminous indeed! The peach shade is subtle so it will just blend with your skin to give you this natural flush. It's best for fair to medium tones, IMHO.

Here's whats been happening in the beauty industry! For your information. ;)

Be Part Of The Beauty Buzz with Pond's

Visit the “Pond’s Institute” Manila booth at the SM Mall of Asia’s Main Mall Atrium and be one of the privileged ladies to experience beauty and technology when you join Pond’s beauty activities from June 15 to July 4. Get a free skin analysis and a derma consultation every Saturday and Sunday. 

A lot of people have been asking me about my eyebrows lately - more than usual. Haha! To answer the questions, I've only been using two eyebrow products as of the moment: one from K-Palette and the other from Avon. Don't get me wrong though. Having perfect eyebrows isn't so much about what you use, but how well you groom them! So don't be lazy and pluck pluck pluck!

Okay, today I'm going to review the Avon Perfect Eyebrow Pencil in Dark Brown (P250). Long story short, it's a fantastic eyebrow pencil because it looks super natural without much work. Swear. Give it ten seconds and it already looks great!

What I love about the product

• The light, chestnut brown shade creates soft-looking eyebrows that look natural. 
• A few strokes is all it takes to cover gaps and create a sharp arch. Even if you use a heavy hand, it's hard to over-apply.

Well they're not exactly new seeing as I've been using these for almost a month now. Thought I'd let you know what I like about them though!

The Avon Outspoken Intense Body Wash (P250) is an offshoot of Fergie's Outspoken fragrance line. Specifically, this body wash is a partner of Avon Outspoken Intense which was released last year. I liked the fresher, floral take on Outspoken, and this body wash certainly has the same gorgeous scent.

If you liked Outspoken Intense, I suggest you get the body wash as well. It's an open secret that in order to make your scent last longer, you have to layer it over the same body wash and lotion. Crossing my fingers for an Outspoken Intense moisturizer! X

Next up, you know how much I love the Avon Ultra Moisture Rich Lipsticks. The brand released a new shade for a special collection called Smoke and Mirrors. The shade is named Apricot Mystery (P375), a sheer deep pink with pretty blue shimmer.

What is your ideal lip product, the kind that you will actually use everyday? Many of us love shine, moisture, and beautiful color on our lips. That kind of effect usually involves three layers of product to pull off - balm, lipstick, then gloss. However, with the new Avon Shine Attract Lipstick, you can skip all of that and just go straight to pretty lips!

Before I proceed with my glowing review, lemme just say that these lipsticks are not the kind you expect to stay on all day. They dry up on the lips within three hours, although the bolder colors leave a nice stain. If you're okay with re-applying (like me) then I think you'll love this. But if not, there are other equally affordable brands that can give you better lasting power.

What I do love about these lipsticks is the fact thay they give me a nice, glossy color while moisturizing my lips at the same time. They also don't feel like anything once you have them on. Well okay, at most they feel like a thin, slinky lip balm. The moisture lasts until it dries, around three hours from application.

Some people may be discouraged that, upon getting the product, they find out that they're not as pigmented or even as normal lipsticks. So, I made a video on how to apply it correctly! WATCH.

Done? Now here are the swatches.

Anne Curtis is the hottest celebrity right now. After seeing her in person last week, I understand why! Up close, she looks exactly like she does on celluloid and print - drop-dead gorgeous, with an ultra-slim bod. Someone commented that she looks like a live Barbie doll and I gotta say that's not too far off the mark! #starstruck

Anne's looks aside, I really appreciated that she seems genuinely happy and excited to be there. It seems to be a good fit, Avon lipsticks and Anne Curtis. Anne is famous for her trademark red shiny lips while Avon makes some of the best lipsticks around (at least for me) - call it destiny, predetermination, natural selection!

So, what's the deal with the Avon Shine Attract Lipsticks?

You're gonna love this! Avon recently released new products under the Avon Naturals line: the Shakes Body Lotions and the Antibacterial Hand Gels. In a nutshell, these new products smell AMAZING and feel so good on skin, too. 

The Avon Naturals Shakes Body Lotion (P185/150ml) is housed in what looks like a milk bottle. I really love the design as well as the print because they look so expensive and classy. Packaging aside, the lotion itself is uber creamy, non-greasy, and smells so wonderful. It feels luxe when you spread it on, but the rich cream is surprisingly easily absorbed.

My favorite is the Pomegranate & Mango variant. It smells exactly as it says it does!

The cool thing about working for a fashion brand like Pinkbox? I get freebies and discounts. :P I honestly like the brand because it has both functional and pretty accessories that don't go overboard. Like any girl, I love making a statement with accessories, but it should be seasoned with a little subtlety, taste, and playfulness. 

So anyway I was organizing my accessories the other day and decided to store all my Pinkbox pieces in one place. Here's a pic! Read on to see my favorites and what I ended up using as a storage solution. ;)

This is horribly late I know, but I thought I'd share these lipsticks anyway. They're too nice not to mention! The Avon Valentine Brights Colorbliss Lipsticks (P135) came out as part of Avon's collection for that season. They're specifically targeted toward teens, hence the brighter packaging and more affordable price compared to the Avon UMR Rose line.

I'm sure you're wondering what's the difference. Well, Simply Pretty lipsticks are also opaque, but they are drier and slightly waxier compared to UMR. They also have a lipstick smell but it's not super obvious like drugstore lipsticks. Overall, Simply Pretty lippies are not of the same quality as UMR, but for the price, they perform very well and feel comfy on the lips.

Avon mascaras have had a history of being unimpressive (for me). I wasn't expecting much from their latest one, the Avon SuperMagnify Mascara (P420), but I was pleasantly surprised as soon as I tried it on! It is such a nice everyday mascara, but you can also turn up the impact by adding a few more coats for an evening look.

Okay, anecdote time: I was at a coffee meeting when my right eye got irritated. I started tearing up heavily, as in really heavily. I unfortunately didn't have my lens case with me so I just endured the boo-boo until I can leave. I was really worried about my mascara running amok, but guess what, the SuperMagnify didn't! I got a bit of smudging (it's not waterproof) but it didn't look like a mess.

So yeah, this mascara made it to my list of reliable makeup. I've worn it in really humid weather and got only bearable smudging and smearing.

Here I am rambling about lasting power without even mentioning the effect first! Well, SuperMagnify lengthens and separates lashes into a fine, natural-looking fringe.