The past week has been more hectic than usual. I organized and executed events for two different clients so I am just dead tired right now. I just wanna lie down and not get up until next week! I'm not saying I don't like my job, it's just that it's not always as glamorous as it might sound. It involves a lot of literal leg work and generous trading of limited social currency. 

At the end of the day, however, I live for the feeling of giving my best work to my clients and friends in the industry. 

Anyway, I thought I'd keep today's post chill by sharing with you some of the things I'm loving at the moment. I made it a point to include only items I haven't mentioned here yet! I'm probably doing a full review on them next time, but for now here are some of the reasons I pick up these beauties.

Etude House Don't Worry I'm On Your Side Lip Balm. I've actually had this since September last year and I use it ALL THE FREAKIN' TIME. Why I haven't written about it yet, I don't know. But here it is now. :P This is a moisturizing balm that leaves a pretty and long-wearing salmon pink stain on the lips. It's what I used during autumn in Tokyo because the other lippies I brought were just not hydrating enough!

Should you invest in a good mascara or should you just save that money for something else? There are tons of good affordable mascaras out there, if you find one that fits your preferences then there's no reason to spend over a thousand bucks for a tube. My HG mascara is quite expensive, yes, but if it gets wiped out from the face of the Earth tomorrow, I'll go to my next favorite one (which is just P600 bucks btw). No big deal.

Just set a comfortable budget and read reviews first before you settle on a mascara purchase. Do avoid using mascara testers on your eyes, for the love of glob! You don't know where that wand has been and how long it has been steeping in the darkness! *shudder* Just read beauty blogs you trust and save yourself from a possible eye infection.

So! To continue Mascara Week, here's a review of one of the latest mascaras in the country - the Etude House Lash Perm All Shockara Mascara (P648). It promises shocking volume, curls, and length all in a waterproof formula. Does it deliver?

It does, at least in the lengthening and waterproof department. If you want curls and volume, you need to give your lashes a really, really good curl first! This isn't the kind of mascara that you can just swipe on and expect to get dramatic eyes immediately - it requires some prep time with a great lash curler plus a lot of coaxing afterwards.

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.

Today is a busy day! I have to do an ocular for a possible event venue, maybe check out the Luxasia Sale, pick an outfit for the Preview Ball, then go to the said ball. Somewhere in between I must write a proposal. Buuut I love you guys so I'll quickly tell you all about the latest collection from Etude House - Color Pop!

This isn't a full review post since I have yet to complete the swatches of the items I have. I actually just want to answer a question that many of you have asked recently: what is the pink eyeliner I used in this look? It's so cute no?

It's an Etude House Drawing Show Creamy Pencil from the Color Pop Collection!

It was only a matter of time before Etude House, the Korean beauty juggernaut, came out with their very own CC cream. I find it to be a unique product because unlike the other CC creams I've tried, this is a white cream with tiny pigment spheres! It's sheer but gives this glow-from-within finish, as if there's a softly lit light bulb trained on my face. Can't think of a better way to describe it!

The Etude House CC Cream in Glow is off-putting at first because it starts out very, very white, like a kabuki mask. But as I rub it starts to slowly blend in to my natural skin color. There's still a bit of whiteness due to the SPF30, but it's not obvious unless you flash a bright light. I love the finish; it's subtle enough that it's difficult to capture on camera! There is shimmer in the formula although it's very fine.

Here's a quick run down!

What I love about the product

• Its main purpose is to correct and care. It corrects the dullness and uneveness of my skin, while moisturizing and protecting it from the sun at the same time.
• Gives a soft focus, glow-from-within finish (with a bit of vigorous blending). It also sort of counteracts the yellowness of my skin, and gives it a more neutral tone - if that makes sense.
• This CC cream is an excellent makeup base!

The AC Clinique line of Etude House is designed to prevent and heal acne, and until recently only features facial wash, toner, and moisturizer. Two new products were recently added to the collection (labeled "intense") that have the sole purpose of spot-treating pimples as they come. I've tried the famous AC Clinic Intense Pink Powder Spot and it's just okay. It's like calamine lotion - smells like, looks like, feels like. I reckon it would also be useful on rashes and other skin irritations. ;)

The star of the collection for me though would be the Etude House AC Clinic Intense Red Spot Balm (P628 when packaged with the facial wash). This is the real deal! It was one of those things that have been sitting in my "to review" box for weeks, until I took it out for a test drive because of extreme annoyance. I had these two large red pimples on my right upper and lower lip (like star-crossed lovers UGH) and they are just not budging after more than a week. That's abnormal for me!

So I thought hey, why don't I try that Red Spot Balm over there. Boom. The two very angry pimples calmed down in an hour, and stopped swelling completely after six hours. No kidding. The next day, they're gone!

I've had these products for two months so fair warning: this is a pretty massive post! I'll get right down to it. :D

The Etude House Sweet Recipe Collection came out locally a few weeks ago. Inspired by Hansel and Gretel, the huge collection features products that look and smell incredibly sweet! Think ice cream, jelly beans, cake icing, chocolate, and cotton candy-inspired makeup. All this sugar, if it were real, would kill me. Thank goodness they only make me look good. Haha.

I'll start with the Dear My Jelly Lips-talk in JPK002. This is a sheer, reddish pink lipstick that smells just like fruity jelly beans. I love that it's very slinky and moisturizing just like lip balm. The color itself is wearable and "young", something I would wear during a casual weekend.

I'm extremely picky when it comes to moisturizers. I try something new once in a blue moon, but then I always end up coming back to Clinique Moisture Surge. That's one moisturizer that I know I can depend my life on. Others would break me out or cause my skin to look dull after a few weeks, but never my Clinique.

That's why I had absolutely no expectations from the Etude House Moistfull Collagen Enriched Cream (P898), even though it was touted to be the brand's best-selling product with 9 jars sold every minute. But surprise, surprise - it's actually pretty good! I use it interchangeably with my Clinique Moisture Surge Intense as they're very similar. Both are rich moisturizers that make my skin smooth and positively glowing.

They're similar in texture but the Moistfull has this strong jasmine scent. I love the smell, don't get me wrong, but if you don't like that in your skincare then I thought I'd let you know. I use only a tiny bit during the day (as in one small swipe on my index finger) as it can make me oily, but I'm more generous when I slather it on at night.

The first stories I ever read were fairy tales. My mother would always buy these little books for me, books about frog princes and warty witches and hapless goodhearted princesses. I grew up loving fairy tales and oh, what I won't give to be a princess myself! And then I got hold of a copy of Grimms' Fairy Tales when I was seven or eight. That one was a shocker for someone who had Disney stamped on her forehead.

Well, I still love princess stories no matter how sordid or saccharine they may get. :) Anyway today I will be reviewing the Etude House Etoinette Special Kit, the brand's princess-themed collection which was released last December if I'm not mistaken. It was inspired by the baroque extravagance of Marie Antoinette.

The set contains a blush, lipstick, kabuki brush, and mirror, all in pretty pastel pink packaging with elaborate dull gold flounces. It rather treads the fine line between looking classy and looking like a toy, but I'm inclined to think that it was all done tastefully. They bring a special brand of cuteness to any vanity!

The products themselves do not disappoint. Well the kabuki brush could be softer I suppose but otherwise I am loving the lipstick, mirror, and blush. Check out the swatches and how the makeup looks like when worn.

What do you plan to do on Christmas? Me, I just want to eat all my favorite things, and maybe go out to watch a movie with my family. ^_^ All very straightforward. I want to finish reading the books on my list and just relax during the holidays.

Of course, Christmas is not complete without the requisite red and glitter upon our persons. I'm celebrating this whole weekend with my Etude House nail set in Christmas Miracle!

Christmas Tree is a set of three polishes that is designed to give a gradient glitter nail effect. The red base has some fine gold shimmer - absolutely gorgeous - and is opaque in only one coat.

What's your favorite holiday collection so far? There are so many, but it's good to have choices! There's something for everyone whether they're on a budget or cost is no object. :) I did observe a general theme though. Shine, glitter, and bright pops of red are du jour, but I've also been seeing a lot of twinkly purples and violets. This is good news - for me at least! - because I find that color group rather flattering on the Pinay complexion.

This time I want to talk about the Etude House Christmas Miracle Collection. I have photos, swatches, and quick thoughts on each product!

Let's start with the Etude House Mix & Mix Eyes PK001. This is a sleek palette of six sparkly shades in the lilac/ purple color group. There's also one in BR401 Holiday Dream that is on the neutral end of the spectrum. Go for PK001 if you're out for an evening party, while BR401 is better for more reserved occasions.

Hi Liz! Where I work, the company Christmas party has always been THE event of the year for us so most of us really go all out on the preparations. I already have a peg for what I'll be wearing that night and I was thinking of using your Irene Adler makeup look (but perhaps with a more neutral lip) to go with it.

Would it be possible for you to make a step-by-step guide on how to do it? Mucho thanks in advance! - Chenyl

Fun fact: Chenyl is one of the first few Project Vanity readers ever. She was there when no one has ever heard of this blog! So when she requests, you can bet I'm on it! It's been a while since I did a step-by-step like this because all told it takes me 5-6 hours to accomplish. But yes, for my favorite readers, the time is very well spent. ;)

Anyway Chenyl referenced an old look I did. It was a purplish wine smoky eye. I don't have the palette I used there anymore, so I thought I'd show off the new Etude House Mix & Mix Eyes PK001 Christmas Holic palette. It has these gorgeous metallic purples that I think fits the mood of the season! Lots of sparkles, shine, and general extravagance are what Christmas 2012 is about. Gold and red are defaults, but for once let's try out a dramatic purple eye. Here goes!

Step 1: Do your foundation (Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Foundation + Clinique Perfectly Real Foundation), eyebrows (Avon Perfect Eyebrow Pencil + MeMeMe Archangel), and then prime your lids with your favorite eyeshadow base (I used the Artdeco Base here). 

Step 2: Dampen the eyeshadow brush with water.

I've always thought of BB creams as just another form of foundation. Most of them have pretty good coverage already, but of course with the added SPF and skincare properties that can't be found in your usual bottle of face makeup. It's a marvelous idea for women who need multi-tasking products - who doesn't want their sunscreen, serum, moisturizer, primer, and coverage in one bottle? Provided that there's a good shade match that is.

One of the latest BB creams to hit the market is the Etude House Precious Mineral BBdation (P848 / with applicator P1,678). It's an out-and-out foundation that promises "zero defect skin", whitening, and anti-wrinkle. Let's go back to the zero defect skin part. What? Is that even possible? Well not really! However this does a bangin' job making skin look great. It doesn't cover dark blemishes but it blurs out lighter ones and fills in pores/ minor wrinkles as well, thus delivering a super smooth finish. You'll see a photo later.

Texture. It's a bit mousse-y, surprisingly. It applies thinly and is very emollient so I'm inclined to think that it moisturizes skin. You will only need one full pump to cover your whole face, which makes it economical.

This took a while! Etude House Korea actually sent the Pink Bird box to me last month, but it was only two days ago that I received it. The box was stuck in customs for some reason. 0_0 Anyway, here's what's new at Etude!

Featured this month are the Etude House Collagen Moistful Cream and the Etude House Precious Mineral BBdation Special Kit. 

The Collagen Moistfull Cream has been around for a while, and is in fact Etude's best-selling item ever. According to them, they sell nine of these jars every minute!

Lips-talk. Such a funny word but it actually makes sense for Etude House to call their lip products "lips-talk". They believe that the color we wear on our lips tells the world what we're feeling that day, hence, our lipstick does some talking! It's roundabout but clever.

Anyway, I've reviewed some lipsticks from Etude before and I love 'em. You can't go wrong with a great price, nice texture and color selection! This time, I have a lipstick-balm hybrid that's supposed to condition our puckers: the Etude House Dear My Essence in Lips-talk.

It's described as "enriched with Meadowfoam Seed Oil, this ultra-conditioning Essence-in-lipstick melts into lips with luscious color and brilliant shine, leaving your lips smooth, moisturized, and soft." 'Tis true. This stuff is so creamy it literally melts into a wet, almost gloss texture when it hits the lips. It's also moisturizing, as if you put butter on!

Something about the cooler weather and the season makes me want to wear smoky eyes all the time. I've demonstrated how easy it is to do the look, so there's no excuse for me (and you!) not to wear it whenever I feel like it! Ha. One palette that makes smoky eyes incredibly easy is the Etude House Dolly 3-Step Eyes in Cute Doll (P648). It contains three eyeshadows that combine perfectly to give you the gradient smoky look.

The Cute Doll BR401 palette contains full-sized, super creamy matte eyeshadows in bone white, caramel, and charcoal brown.