Have you guys downloaded Spotify? This isn't sponsored or anything - it's just that it's so awesome! With this app you can search for any music, discover new ones, and save them to play lists so you can access 'em anytime. It's free with ads, but the premium version is just P129 + taxes. Super super cool. 

Anyway, thought I'd start off the week with some quick swatches of the awesome L'Oreal Infallible Eye Shadows. I've reviewed these before so I won't go into much detail other than shade descriptions! I don't think these are available in the PH yet, so for now you can order them at Bon Marche, an online seller. You can find drugstore names there much cheaper compared to the local retail prices. ;)

Swatches! I love Bronzed Taupe and Golden Sage. I've had these for a while as the taupe in particular is one of my most-worn single colors last year! Continuous Cocoa is also a great shade, for sexy smoky brown eyes. 

Sue me, I have a lot of eyeshadows yet to be written about! They will always be my greatest weakness, along with lipsticks. Now I know many of you ain't a fan of wearing a lot of eye makeup but I hope you'll consider this palette from The Body Shop. It's part of their Spring 2014 Collection along with a pink version, two new glosses, and hair chalk!

I've seen the pink Shimmer Cubes, which are cute, but I think the Shimmer Cubes Palette 30 (P1,295) here is more wearable for Asian skin. They are quite shimmery but I think that the finish isn't all that distracting. Shimmery neutrals are appropriate for any occasion as long as you don't splash it thickly over your eye area.

Let's get started! I've tried TBS Shimmer Cubes a loooooong time ago and was thoroughly unimpressed by the pigmentation. But that was before. Now, the colors are super pigmented! You won't even need to wear a primer to make the colors solid. In fact I'd recommend applying the colors wet instead. They'll stick and won't crease too much, even after three hours.

Top, L-R: Dusty Fawn, Rich Espresso | Bottom, L-R: Burnished Gold, Warm Copper

It can be maddening to write about makeup all the time, so I hope you enjoyed the last two posts as much as I did making them. But now we are back on track! Today I'd like to talk about a holiday palette: the Estee Lauder Pure Color Five Color Eyeshadow Palette in Angel Petal (P2,000+). I know, this is so belated, but the palette is still a great choice for sooty, glittery evening eyes.

The eyeshadows come packaged in an expensive-looking gold case. I had one of these from 2012, but that came in a sort of metallic midnight blue. I like them both! I love how Estee Lauder packaging always looks modern and classy, but never dated.

The five eyeshadows are on the cool side, featuring a shimmery petal pink, a copper, metallic taupe, glittery charcoal, and matte beige. Most of the colors have pronounced shimmer in them, but they are twinkly and fine, very much like Bobbi Brown's famous glittery ones. Estee Lauder's are also multi-colored and far from flat and tacky.

I got a hair cut last Friday. I had low expectations since it's not my usual salon, but damn my hair is terrible right now. Am I overreacting? Am I just not used to it? I don't know. It's just, so bad that I laugh when I catch myself in the mirror. I'm not sure if I should blog about it. Well, I will certainly give it some thought. You'll have to see it at some point.

Anyhoo, here's a quick swatch of one of the latest eyeshadows from MAC: the Extra Dimension Eyeshadow in Sweet Heat (P900+). The Magnetic Nude collection, which this color is a part of, came out just last month so it should still be available. ^_^ The Extra Dimension Eyeshadow is a new formulation. It can be used wet or dry, and is designed to stay on the lids for six hours.

I love this eyeshadow. It's a lot like one of my all-time fave MAC colors, All That Glitters, except Sweet Heat is more intense, more metallic. It's a dirty champagne shade, almost light bronze in certain lighting.

I'm baaaack! Just came from a Nivea press event all the way in El Nido, Lagen Island. The place was breathtakingly beautiful - think clear azure waters, 360-degree views of basaltic islands, and awesome locals. It was an experience that I will never forget! I'll blog about it later but first, I'd like to show you something interesting from Avon. It's the 8-in-1 Eye Palette in The Metallics (P349)!

I believe this came out over the holidays so I can't guarantee that it's still available. It's better to ask your Avon lady! Nonetheless, I think it's interesting how Avon is coming out with even more interesting products and color selections. I mean, just look at this! 

There are three versions of this palette - the one here is all about metallic colors. They aren't THAT metallic to me though; I'd say they look like normal eyeshadows with shimmer. Pigmentation is pretty good, texture is a little rough but workable, and staying power is okay as long as you use a base. 

This palette doesn't blow my mind away, honestly, but it does have one thing going for it: eight pretty colors for only 349 bucks. Observe!

If you love applying eyeshadow, it's important to know how to do it correctly. Nothing pains me more than seeing a half-baked eyeshadow job - but then again, I've also been there. It's easy to watch tutorials and think we get it, but it's never that simple. Applying the same techniques to our own eye shape rarely gives us the same results. We need to practice and tweak those techniques until we get it right. Maybe you're not there yet but you will get there, like I eventually did!

Today I'd like to show you some palettes that I think would be perfect for eyeshadow newbies. The Beauty UK Posh Palette (P550 from Makeupholics) is affordable yet offers a nice selection of colors that are of fairly good quality, considering the price. I have here the three palettes: Eden, Masquerade, and Festival. You'll see the swatches later!

Quickly though, the Beauty UK Posh Palette has ten colors that are of varying pigmentation and smoothness. Some are really good while others can be patchy. In general though, most of the colors in Eden and Masquerade have great quality. Festival's matte brights are kinda uneven. This just means you need to wear a primer and to layer the colors carefully.

I highly recommend that you get Eden since it's the best out of the three in terms of quality, while Masquerade is also a good choice if you like silvery, dusky shades.