New nail polish from Revlon rained down on my doorstep the other day, so I just had to wear one immediately! I'm a huge fan of Revlon polishes because of the sophisticated color selection, fast-drying time, and nice pigmentation. They chip in a day or two without a top coat, sure, but that's acceptable to me. I would much rather have something that dries in like 20 minutes and looks good in two coats.

The Revlon Brilliant Strength Nail Enamel in Impress (P300+) was the one that immediately called out to me. I am seriously feeling the fall mood right now, with our colder, gloomier weather as it is. Deep red, sepia brown, berry, brilliant gold and cranberry are shades I am currently gravitating towards. ^_^ Hence, this particular nail color!

Kohl eyeliner makes our eyes more dramatic and intense, but the sad fact is that most of them simply are too creamy to stay in place. That's just the nature of the formula - the creamier, more emollient a product is, the less wear-time you get out of it. 

So who wants to wear eyeliner that looks great for only two hours? Not a lot of people, I imagine. But they're still pretty to look at, especially the Revlon Photoready Kajal Intense Eyeliner + Brightener (P525). 

The formula is very smooth and creamy, while the finish has a satiny opaqueness to it. Some colors are immediately solid, but I find that the lighter ones need to be layered on to get maximum color pay off. I can live with that.

If you don't cook, you should learn how. Not sure if I'm repeating myself here already but - you should cook. It's ridiculously easy, not that expensive, and much more fulfilling than eating someone else's food. You don't have to start with guns a-blazin', attempting to cook something complex like beef bourguignon. You can experiment with simple omelettes, a grilled cheese sandwich, maybe some spaghetti. The recipes you learn will serve you for the rest of your life.

So glad my Dad taught my how to cook! I'm not the best but I like what I come up with. Last night I made mushroom and chicken risotto for dinner (inspired by Ina Garten), while breakfast was bacon pancake (inspired by Jake the Dog). That song is still stuck in my head btw! I topped the pancake with butterscotch sauce and a lick of whipped cream. Sinful but definitely worth it.

Anyhoo, let's move on to the next product for my Mascara Week! The Revlon Lash Potion Mascara  (~P600) is the brand's latest lash enhancer. I have here the waterproof version in Blackest Black.

The Lash Potion's staying power is flawless - it is indeed waterproof and smudge-proof! I've worn this all day and I didn't notice any smearing. It doesn't come off with just my water-based makeup remover, but it slides off with my oil-based remover so no biggie.

As for the finish, I do like how it fattens and lengthens my lashes in two coats. Blackest Black is also as the name hints: very very black and practically matte. 

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!

Have you seen the new Revlon Photoready Eyeshadow Palettes? I think they're created for women who want to play with eyeshadow, but don't really know much about application. The palette is packaged in a way that no one can possibly mistake the placement of each color, and it comes with a gorgeous creamy primer, too. 

That said, if you're a bit more advanced in makeup (as I am) then I don't think this particular line is something you need in your life. Still, there's a lot to be said about the lovely shades in the Revlon Photoready Primer, Shadow + Sparkle Palette in Impressionist (P775)! It caught my eye the minute it arrived in my doorstep.

Hi everyone! What would be the BEST drugstore brand for you? :) - Paulina

Feel free to pitch in your own answer as well! I'll begin. My favorite drugstore brand, top of mind, is Revlon. I love that they come out with new products every other month, and that they try to improve on the technology they've rolled out in the past. I remember that some releases have been dire failures (remember those crappy "long-wearing" eyeshadow?) but the new Colorstay ones are pretty amazing in my book.

Revlon's Colorstay and Photoready lines are pretty extensive, and they are still expanding up to this day. Colorstay is indeed long-wearing while Photoready looks good on camera as promised. True, Revlon is quite expensive here in the Philippines but if you don't mind paying (dearly) for the convenience of finding it in most drugstores then I suppose the price is not too bad.

Revlon Colorstay Whipped Creme Makeup

Revlon PhotoReady Two-Way Powder Foundation

One other thing I LOVE about Revlon is that it's an 81-year old name that has made a mark in makeup history. It was founded in 1932 and sold only nail polish and then lipstick in the beginning. Up to this day, Revlon's polishes and lipsticks still remain some of the best out there!

Right! To kick off this week's reviews, here is the popular Revlon Colorstay Whipped Creme Makeup (P975), a matte cream-liquid foundation hybrid that promises to be long wearing. I'm sure you've read a lot of good things about it already! I won't prolong the suspense, which is why I'll go ahead and say that it's a great foundation for the price.

Here's why.

What I love about the product

• Makes my skin flawless. Scary flawless but not in a bad way. The coverage is medium to heavy and it's even opaque enough to be a concealer.
• The matte, super smooth finish doesn't look flat and fake on skin - as long as you give it some minutes to settle. It looks weird upon initial application but after 15 minutes or so the foundation seems to blend better. It slightly oxidizes. Know this to be true: it looks better the longer you wear it.
• Looks amazing in any lighting - indoor, outdoor, in a studio, with flash. This doesn't have SPF I think so it's great for photo ops.

Before I post my reviews here I usually look for what other people are saying about the product. Sure I already have my own opinions to share, but I don't want to think or feel in a vacuum. It's like reading a movie review with all the spoilers - I just want to know if everyone else liked or disliked what we collectively experienced!I suppose it's always nice to know that someone else felt the same way you did about something.

So I was reading reviews about the Revlon Colorstay Overtime Lengthening Mascara (~P600) before I started writing this post. I was truly surprised that almost everyone seemed to dislike this mascara with a passion. 

The other bloggers (not local ones) are saying that this is super clumpy and flaky. It's is clumpy, true, but only because it dries super fast. The workaround is simply applying it as quickly as possible. I haven't observed any flakiness after using it for two weeks; it could be that I'm using a fresh stock. Only time will tell just how flaky this can get but for now I haven't observed anything out of place.

I like this mascara because of two things: how it lengthens my lashes like whoa and how it never smudges or smears. Swear.

I am really liking Revlon's latest releases. I've been writing about the brand's new products consistently for two years now, and I can tell you this with conviction: they have improved immensely. I have this impression that they listen to what the customers want, so each release brings something new to the table. Sometimes in increments, or in the case of the new mascara, a huge leap!

I loved the Revlon PhotoReady Concealer enough to finish one tube. I always end up grabbing it because it's so convenient and easy to blend out! Also, other than MAC, I find that Revlon gives me a great and consistent shade match when it comes to their face bases (at least one me). It's the same with the new Revlon Age Defying DNA Advantage Concealer.

I have a good feeling about this one. ;) It's pigmented enough to cover blemishes, but it shines as an undereye concealer due to its emollient texture that doesn't slip around.

I've been doing this for four years but I still get giddy whenever I receive a product that everyone seems to love. I want to know if I will get the same experience, I want to know if it's something that I can proudly add to my kit. More importantly, I love the act of running to you and saying "Hey you should try it, it's absolutely amazing!" That's why I find beauty blogging so fun! It never gets old. 

The said, the Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation arrived on my doorstep a couple of hours ago. It's one of most requested products for me to review, so I hope I do it justice! I'll let you know what I think of it soon.

For now I will be reviewing the Revlon Colorstay Longwear Nail Enamel (P325). This comes in 30 drool-worthy colors and is supposed to last for 11 days when used with the accompanying base and top coat. Well, I'll tell you now that 11 days is simply unrealistic, but it does stay fresh for four to five days on me. That's not bad considering most nail polishes would disintegrate in three days tops.

Revlon Super Lustrous Creme Lipsticks (P450) never let me down. Ever. They have a rich, moisturizing texture, a full-bodied cream finish, and awesome pigmentation to top it off! I'll say it - they can rival high-end lipsticks from MAC, Makeup Forever, and other expensive brands.

Just remember to wear lip balm beforehand because they dry up pretty quickly (2 hours) although the color stays on.

On to the swatches! Cherries in the Snow is a fantastic, complex color. It's a bright blue-based red that looks like fuchsia on me in certain lighting. From what I understand, Cherries is a classic Revlon lipstick that was launched in 1953. Dorian Leigh, one of the world's first supermodels, wore it in an iconic ad. This is in the same cult level as Fire & Ice. Smashing! 

The ultimate 50s red

I have a friend who hates wearing lipstick. She said that the stuff migrates everywhere on her face! To get some color on her lips, she just rubs them with tissue to get the blood going. I'm thinking that hurts if she has dry lips, plus it can lead to premature lines in the area. So I told her, try the Revlon stains! She was unconvinced. Until a few days ago.

Beauty problem - solved! The Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain (P575) is made for women who don't like the waxy feel of lipsticks or simply do not like retouching too often during the day. It comes in twelve on-trend and highly pigmented shades to suit your fancy.

 I know you gals have seen the rave reviews, so I'll just make a quick run of it!

What I love about the product

• These are super pigmented stains that penetrate deep within the lips, thus giving them color that goes strong for six hours. There is some fading along the inner part if you eat, but it's not too obvious for me.
• Moisturizes lips without feeling too thick. It does dry up within three hours though, so keep a lip balm on hand if you have dry lips.

A lot of girls have been asking me about this much-hyped product from Revlon. So good news - the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain is now available in the Philippines! It retails for P575 in major drugstores and department stores. :)

Just got mine the other day so I can't do a full review yet, but off the bat I can tell you that this is a great lip product. It is such a HUGE improvement on the Just Bitten Lip Stain + Balm from last year, which came with a felt tip applicator and balm on the other end. This time, the Just Bitten stain is a balm that leaves a deep, lasting, and even color on the lips.

Hi folks! How are you holding up? The rains have somehow abated (we're on alert level Yellow according to PAG-ASA) so that should be a relief. Should you be interested in donating relief goods to those affected by the flooding, you can find a consolidated list of relief operations here. There may be one in your area.

Back to lighter things! Today I'm going to show you how to do silvery smoky eyes using some Revlon products that have been recently released. It's a light smoky eye so you don't have to worry about it looking garish, but it does give your eyes some definition and mystery. Perfect with LBDs, sequined outfits, and general evening wear! If you're going to a wedding or party, this is a great look to try.

I've already done my face makeup and eyebrows. Ready? Here's how I did my eyes!

Step 1: With your finger, smooth out an eye primer all over your lids. This will help intensify and extend the wear of your eyeshadow. I used the Revlon PhotoReady Eye Primer + Brightener.

Step 2: Pick a soft silver eyeshadow to use as lid color. I'm using the Revlon ColorStay 16 Hour Eye Shadow Quad in Siren here

I know how hard it is to shop for makeup on a budget. Even if we want to buy MAC or Urban Decay eyeshadows all the time, for example, it's just not practical for our wallet. That's why we should never dismiss drugstore products. Who knows, we just might find a pearl in the sea!

That said, Revlon eyeshadows have come a long way with the new reformulated ColorStay 16 Hour Quads (P550). These are surprisingly good - I would even say that some palettes are worth including in your must-have makeup kit. Here's why!

What I love about the product

• Fairly pigmented and color-true (meaning what you see is what you get) for most colors. Just use it over a base to maximize the pigmentation and lasting power.
• Great color combinations! They're not too common and plain, IMHO.

It's raining pretty hard in Manila right now. It's a welcome respite from the intense heat that we've been experiencing these past two months, of course. Maybe it's time to score some hot boots and new jackets? Game on!

Revlon Colorstay Creme Gel Eye Liner

Anyway, Revlon has new products coming out soon (if they're not already released). I love that they're focusing on eye makeup this time as you know that I'm into crazy eye makeup!

I've never tried mousse makeup before so I have zero expectations when I started using the Revlon PhotoReady Airbrush Mousse Makeup (P925). Apparently, mousse makeup is just an aerated version of liquid foundation. The air makes the foundation easier to spread and control, so you get to avoid streaks and uneven patches.

Okay, back to the PhotoReady mousse! This foundation is extremely watery once the foam settles down. I love the texture and natural-looking - dare I say "airbrushed" - finish. Let's see!

What I love about the product

• It's lightweight on skin. It doesn't feel greasy or oily at all so you get maximum comfort.
• Coverage is medium to heavy, so it covers up most of my blemishes in one layer! Even with the heavy coverage, it doesn't look cakey or makeup-y. It has a dewy finish.

I kinda stoppped wearing nail polishes regularly after I got my dog. Snaps is always running about, so he ends up ruining wet nail polish whenever I bother trying. Hmp! That's not to say that I've sworn off nail polish forever. I sneak in a nail job when he's napping, but I only risk it when I have an important event to go to.

That said, the Revlon Top Speed Fast Dry Nail Enamel (P325) is heaven sent for busy women who can't afford to sit still for long. It gives me glamorous tips in 15 minutes, and that's a guarantee (I counted)! I love that this polish hardens in such a short amount of time.

I've tried other "fast-drying" polishes before but some of them can be misleading. Sure the top layer feels dry, but the lower part is still wet and tacky. Everything WILL fall apart if you happen to bump your nails on something, which totally defeats the purpose.

That's not the case with Revlon Top Speed.

When Blair Waldorf got married to her not-so-fairytale prince, everyone wanted to know one thing: what is her lip gloss? She was wearing a deep pink that set off her romantic, slightly smoked-out eyes beautifully. We've seen a lot of pinks before, but this one is a real knockout.

Everyone initially assumed it was a Chanel Glossimer since Blair is using a Chanel compact, after all. But some people have been saying that it was actually the Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Pink Pop (P450), and they make a good case for it!

The packaging is exactly the same, but then again Chanel Glossimers look like this Revlon product too.

My Shu Uemura cleansing oil is still the best for me, but there are quite a lot of affordable alternatives available in the market now. They're basically the same - mineral oil-based makeup removers that take the gunk off effortlessly. Their difference, I find, lies in the smell, the residue left over after rinsing, and how skin-friendly they are. 

For not all cleansing oils are created equal. Even though they are made of the same stuff, some ingredients may cause pimples. Some are too thick and leaves a film of oil even after you rinse it off. Some, like the Revlon Absolute C Radiance Moisture Cleansing Oil (P550), has a very distinctive scent.

The first thing you'll notice about the Revlon cleansing oil is the overwhelming citrus smell. Now I'm not particularly sensitive to perfume in skincare, but this one is too much for me. I wish they'd take it down a notch, no, several notches. It claims to have Vitamin C but I don't think they have to prove it with the strong orange smell. We get it.

That said, it's quite effective at removing makeup with only a small amount of product.