Etude House Play 101 Pencils: Review + Tutorials

Hey guys! As promised I'm back with another review, accompanied by two tutorials for two different looks you can create with the new Etude House Play 101 Pencils.

These little guys  were kindly given to me at the wonderful people from Etude House to try so here's the low-down how these hold up against the Philippine eat, how they wear and about all the colors sent to me!

Packaging
So one pretty awesome thing about these liners is that they're twist up! No need for any makeup pencil sharpeners and if you want a sharp point, it comes with an attachment at the bottom which is actually a tip-sharpener. Convenient!

One thing I'm not too fond of however is the fact that they're all black, mostly because it's so easy to get dirty. But other than that, this is some pretty good packaging, and for organization purposes it's really convenient as well, since the pencils are color-coded at their bottom, and have the number labels in big, bold, artsy-fartsy print.

Colors and Wear

Let's start off with the two lip colors, shall we?

#21 is a bright, warm-toned and straightforward red, perfect for you classic red lip. It has a glossy finish which unlike the other pencils that are meant to be used for eyeshadows, means that they're prone to movement the first few minutes you apply them. After that first five minutes though, this is great for lining the lips because the color stays put like crazy! Be careful about staining though. As with almost all reds, this leaves a significant stain, but nothing that can't be dealt with with makeup remover and warm water.

#25 is more of a bright fuchsia color that has a cooler tone to it. It's on the same vein of a lot of lip-stains out there and is perfect if you want to achieve that Korean gradient-lip look. 

On to the more glittery and shimmery colors

#35 is a glittery midnight blue that's perfect for that extra pop if you want to line eye your eyes. This is ridiculously smudge proof, so I wouldn't recommend it for a smokey eye, but for some extra lining art or some nice colorful sleek liner, this is definitely what you need.

#4 is that perfect tear-drop shimmer color that can be used as a highligher for on your cupid's bow, in the inner corner of your eyes and some cute looking aegyo-sals. It's also pretty forgiving  when it comes to blending so you can use it as a shimmery base or over some eyeshadow if you want to add some sparkle to your already applied eye shadow.

The next two colors are creamy ant matte and are perfect to use as eyeshadow bases, or even on their own.

#18 is a pale lavender that's very flattering on fairer skin tones. You could probably get away with this as a blush, but it looks best on the eyes where it gives a nice matte finish on its own or as eye shadow base.

#30 is a red-violet aubergine color It has a matte to creamy finish and can be used as a deep blush or mauve eye shadow for more subtle but daring looks.

Here are the swatches of each color. They're truly a diverse bunch with different finishes and uses! Aren't they ridiculously pretty?

Longevity
So I left out the lip colors from this test because, as I mentioned before, their texture and consistency make them really smudgy and they really aren't meant for the eyes anyway.

Here I tested (from left to right) #35, #30, #18 and #4 for water resistance and smudge resistance.

As you can see, #35 and #30 are virtually budge-proof, even after rubbing them with water. #35 exhibits some glittery displacement, but the color still stays intact. #18 loses some color when smudged, but since it's a light color, it's pretty forgiving. That also allows it to be more blendable for use as base eye shadow or as an eyeshadow on its own. #4  is a bit all over the place, but because it's usually only used as a highlight or to accentuate corners that catch light, that's not too much of a big deal.

All in all, these bad boys are pretty tough and wear all day (from experience) on my non-oily lids.

In action
So as promised, I created two looks  using these awesome versatile liners. One girly, classic look inspired by a vintage rose and one rocker party chic look inspired by a midnight mosh pit. Check out how good these eyeliners work in action in the videos below!




So, which look do you like better? do you have any ideas on how else to use these awesome Play 101 liners by Etude House? Leave me your thoughts in the comments below!

Have fun, and play Etude! Ada, signing out.
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MAYBELLINE: The Perfect First Impression Mission

Research shows that it only takes up to 8 seconds to make a first impression.

Believe me -- I know how nerve wracking it is on the first day. Be it for work, for class or just meeting someone new, first impressions aren't always spot on, but they matter. So to avoid those awkward misconceptions, it's always good to put your best foot forward.

There are a few simple things you can take into consideration to make sure you leave the best impression.

#1 The Look

They say that clothes make the person. The way you put yourself together and your entire demeanor is affected by the way you dress. So one simple rule to remember? Dress to impress. Be it for meeting new friends, the first day of school, the first date or your first day on the job -- the way you dress makes all the difference.

Another way to make an impression?

#2 The Eyes

It's amazing what a difference the eyes can make. After all, they have been said to be the windows to our soul. So change your look up, not just with your eye makeup, but with your eyebrows as well. Go for the natural look, the polished look, or the more recently popular Korean eyebrow look to go from playful to sultry to a natural beauty.

Eye makeup also does half the work for you, whether you want to appear like a sweetheart girl next door or go the extra mile with those mile-high lashes, your eyes tend to tell a lot about you.

So if one half is the eyes, what's the other?

#3 Instant Skin Perfection

Some people are fortunate enough to have that natural flawless finish. Lowly humans like us, however, have Maybelline.

Maybelline wants to help you make the perfect first impression with its new line of 8-in-1 BB Creams that are perfect for everybody.

The Maybelline Clear Smooth Shine Free Clear Stick the first BB Stick to offer 12 hour anti-shine matte finish perfect for people with oily skin. If you want that put-together matte look, this stick is perfect for you. Rest assured that your makeup will stay in place and shine free, and with SPF21 PA+++, this stick offers decent UV protection for hot days out.

Apply the stick in key areas of the face and blend outward, giving you a matte even finish. Top the look off with some modest matte contouring to achieve that put-together professional look.

If your skin lacks that radiant glow, Maybelline Clear Smooth 8-in-1 Skin Transformer BB Cream offers brightening, evening, smoothening, refining, clearing, concealing,and moistrurizing properties. So for that natural glow, and all-day wear, you don't need to look any further.

And for those of you recovering from that fresh summer tan, keep your skin in check from harmful UV rays with Maybelline Clear Smooth BB White with SPF50 PA+++ for ultimate sun protection.

Use both these products to achieve the perfect radiant glow. Choose a shade that matches your skin tone and apply in dots in key areas before blending outward for a smooth even finish. Highlight points of your face that catch light and blend liberally to achieve that radiant natural glow perfect for a day out or meeting your friends.

Change yourself up and make that perfect first impression.

Want to find out what first impression you make on others?

Take Maybelline's First Impressions Meter and find out. It is a fun, one-of-a-kind app that gives you 8 seconds to decide your first impression of other people, while they decide their first impression of you!

Because #firstimpressionsmatter

Wanna learn more? Visit Maybelline Phillippine's Facebook Page for more tips and tricks on how to make the perfect first impression.

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Review: Etude House LUCIDarling Over the RainBlusher in #03 Apricot

Hey guys! I'm back with another much requested review from my last Etude House Haul. Today I'll be reviewing Etude House's LUCIDarling Over the RainBlusher in #03 Apricot.

So this blusher claims to be a prismatic multi-colored cheek blush and highlighter for expressing all the coors of the rainbow. I wouldn't say all the colors of the rainbow, but it's pretty close ahaha.

Like the packaging says, this is a blush-highlighter. If you're expecting a matte blush, you're going to be disappointed. This blush is shimmer galore! The back of the packaging gives you tips and instructions of how to use each color of the blush individually or how to use it mixed all together :)

Packaging, Durability Design and Quality
As always, Etude excels in its packaging with the cute girly ribbon accent in this chic blusher. The blusher is packaged with a good-sized mirror and the plastic isn't too flimsy either. It comes with a small brush applicator which is surprisingly soft. If it were a little bigger and denser, I could totally see myself using this everyday, but because it's so small, it's only ever good for light application or touch up.

The blush itself comes in five shimmery colors within the range of peach-apricot colors. There'a  pink, peach, apricot, light orange and champagne colors all arranged in a cute rainbow design on the palette of the blush. If there's one thing that the small brush is good for, it's for isolating each color so you can use it on its own, or mixed together with other colors! The shades range from a semi-deep peach to a nice light one for a highlight, so there's a lot you can play with when going for more dimension in the face.So technically, this blush is almost a five in one (more if you consider the permutations when you mix and match the colors).

Color, Finish and Pigmentation
I'd say this blush is pretty decently pigmented. The colors are very subtly different from each other, but what's really noticeable is the distinct sheen each one gives! This blush gives a lot of glow, so if you're into that nice fresh glowy look, this is the blush for you. I wouldn't wear this out in broad daylight however because the shimmer, although very fine, is a bit dense and can be a little overwhelming in direct sunlight. I wouldn't wear this out on a sunny day lest I be mistaken for a Cullen.

When mixed together, the colors give a very 3D glow that gives flat planes body and volume. You can see this effect pretty well on the back on my hand, but it works wonders on the cheeks themselves. However, because this blush is so shimmery, it also has a powdery consistency to it, thus you can expect a lot of fallout on the palette itself. If you're using a brush ake sure to dip into the blush with a light hand to avoid the mess!

Below you can see how the blush looks when used s a highlighter on my cheeks (mixed all together) and with the darkest pink on the hollows of my cheek. The color isn't very noticeable because I have very yellow toned skin, but it's enough to give my face a nice natural glow. This color will probably show up better on people with lighter and pink toned skin :)

Another use that I've found for this blush is for highlighting collarbones and parts of your neck/body which you want highlighted in pictures or for formal occasions. I've used this blush on more than one occasion for my collar bone and shoulders when wearing a strapless dress :)

Alternatively you can use this or the champagne color that comes with it for more subtle highlights on the nose, cupid's bow, ears (yes! you can highlight parts of your ear) and browbone.

So what do you guys think?

Look forward to more posts! And have a happy long weekend everybody!

Ada, signing out.

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Review: Etude House Etoinette Special Kit

Hey guys! Like I promised, I'm back with one of the most requested reviews from my readers. I bring you a little walkthrough post of my experience with Etude House's Etoinette Special Kit, which includes an Etoinette Heart Blusher in PK001 Pink Petal Kiss, Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips in PPK02 Dewy Petal Kiss, an Etoinette Rose Brush and an Etoinette Princess Mirror.

Design and Aesthetics
I think one of the selling points of this Special Kit which accounts for its rather steep price is the sheer quality of its aesthetics. Never have I seen packaging as princess-y and intricate as this. These pieces, despite being functional makeup tools seem to deserve their own special place in anybody's makeup mantle. It's almost a shame to have to use these sometimes, and I'm sure most would probably prefer just leaving these as decorative accents to an everyday vanity desk.

Even the box has a quaint unique quality to it, and has a magnetic latch, perfect for keeping knick-knacks in if you can't find it in you to throw it away.

The one little qualm I have about this set is just how sickeningly pink it is, haha. That's not entirely a bad thing for people who love pink, but I think I've mentioned quite a bit that I'm not the biggest fan of pink. The pastel pink of this set is pleasant to look at despite my aversion for pink. I just wished it matched the rest of my room's interior better ahaha.

Aesthetics aside, I'm sure you're all quite curious as to how each piece of the set actually works. For this next part of this review or walkthrough, I think I'll skip the mirror, because you know, it's a mirror.

Haha. Scroll down for a review on the brush, blush and lipstick ;)

Etoinette Rose Brush
Okay, so this brush is ridiculously fancy. I don't entirely see the practicality of designing brush bristles into the shape of a flower, powder or foundation-finish-wise, and it really just makes it all the more painful to use the brush in the first place ahaha.

I mean, look at it. It's just so ornate and cute. It's like a really gay kabuki brush fashioned in Europe ahahaha. Again, I'm not fond of the pink but meh.
Where density of the bristles and softness is concerned, this brush is decent, but it isn't amazing. It's sufficiently dense that squeezing it and rubbing your finger against it puts up a little resistance as seen in the picture below.

The bristles are still a bit on the rough side IMHO. I think it's how they're cut and arranged into a flower shape. I'm just not used to it, so It's really weird running this brush against my skin. For powder blush, however, this is sufficient.

I just can't see myself using this brush for powder foundation because of the awkward feeling it leaves on my skin, and the uneven finish it tends to give because of the pattern. Plus, the bristles stain x_x And this brush also sheds.

I actually regret using this brush because otherwise, it would've been such a cute decorative piece. x_x Owell.

Tools aside, let's get on to the actual makeup!

Okay, so I got a little too creative with this review ahaha. Forgive me.

Let's start off with the 
Etoinette Heart Blusher in PK001 Pink Petal Kiss

I think this is my favorite piece in the kit, because not only is it ornate and pleasing to look at, the concept behind is also quite cute. Similar to pearl blushers by Physician's Formula, Etude takes it a step further by shaping each individual blush brick into a heart and then encasing it into this pink cup of princess-y goodness.

When you first get your kit, each heart is carefully packaged in this plastic container. It's pretty powdery and full of fallout and each heart is particularly delicate, so you have to be very careful so as not to break a heart. (Just like in real life! Lol)

The hearts themselves come in three shades of pink, from left to right in the picture  below: a shimmery fuchsia pink, a pearly baby pink and a pale pink-white. You could probably use an individual heart like chalk but I don't want to chance breaking one ahaha.

I'm sure there's a way of pulling off each shade individually and I'm particularly interested in using the lightest shade as a highlighter because it's has a very iridescent color to it. You can't really tell from the picture below but the pearl color is my favorite :) They all have very subtle shimmery finishes to them however, so if you're not a fan of shimmer and glimmer, this probably isn't your type of blush.

Mixed together the blush has a multi-dimensional feel to it and shows off different depths of pink from different angles, but again, it's a very subtle blush that can be layered on as heavily as needed.

For that purpose, the puff that comes with it is quite useful. It's good at packing on the blush, but not very useful for actually getting the color from the blush bricks onto the puff itself. I find myself having second thoughts about patting the puff onto the hearts themselves for fear of breaking them.

It's a lot easier to use a soft fluffy brush or a kabuki brush (like the one that comes with this kit) for that purpose.

So how does it look when applied?

Okay, so I'll be really really honest. This blush looks AMAZING on camera. It really does. There's this nice glowy feel to it, and the pink shows up wonderfully against my skin. But IRL, I'm really not a huge fan of overtly pink blushes. I always want my blushes to have a hint of orange, red or plum in them and something that's just plain pink just sits really oddly on my natural skin tone. Plus the shimmer is definitely not something you'd like dealing with on a normal day.

I can see myself wearing this blush for a gala occasion (on the level of a ball/prom but not for a formal dinner or function) for that additional oomph and pop, but definitely not for a normal day out.

How about the lipstick though?

Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips in PPK02 Dewy Petal Kiss
Like the blush, the Crystal Shine Lips is really pretty look at from its aesthetics alone. It's one of those lipsticks you can imagine Princess Aurora using or packing in her purse haha. The gold detailing on its cover and around its rim is also really eye catching, and even the bullet is designed with the signature Etoinette 'E'.

The lipstick itself is a bright mauve-y old rose type of color. In natural light it's a very neutral pink, but in fluorescent light it comes up a little more on the blue-er tone. It looks really opaque and creamy on the bullet, but when applied it's actually quite sheer and natural looking.

It's also really moisturizing without being too thick. I've said before that I'm not fond of pinks on my skin, and I prefer them much less on my lips considering how naturally dark my lips are, but I actually quite like this pink. It gives my lips a healthy glow and sheen with a similar finish to a the My Jelly Lips Talk with more color pay off. It has sheer color coverage but it can definitely be built up for more color. I'm not entirely sure you can bump this up to be completely opaque however, so if you want to hide your original lip color completely you may want to consider a lip concealer :)

So unlike the blush which I wouldn't sport on a daily basis, I definitely think this lipstick is a keeper :) It's a bit shame to bite into the bullet with everyday use though -- but at least when you finish the lip color you can always keep it as a decorative piece.

All in all, the blush and lipstick that come with this kit are supposedly complements of each other, but doubt I would use the blush and the lip together. I think for the brightness that the blush gives, I would use a nude-er lipstick or for the lipstick, I'd use a more muted cheek color. So either one or the other, probably not both.

In pictures, however, this duo works amazingly well haha.

Wow, looking at the above picture is like a trip down memory lane haha. I've lost so much weight since then D: This picture was taken late August so you can pretty much tell how long this review has been sitting on my blog pending list X_x I'm sorry for the delay!

So what do you think? Is the Special Kit worth the extra price? :P

Expect more backed up posts and some new ones quite soon!

Ada, signing out!

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Etude House Play House Princess Academy + Pink Artiste 2013

Hey guys! This post has been put off long enough! Today I'll be blogging about my fantasmical experience at Etude House Philippines' Play House Princess Academy 2013 held at SM North EDSA The Block last July 28!

Needless to say, this was undeniably the pink-est event I've ever been to, and I'll be honest -- I'm not usually the biggest fan of pink, but Etude really knows how to pull it off and the air of princess-y (and prince-y) cuteness was saturated all throughout the event!

The Play House Princess Academy is, I think, Etude's way of saying thank you to all its valued customers out there with two days of fun activities, makeup workshops and cute pink sweets. The event played host to a number of different attendees - little kids, teens, girls who will stay forever young ;) (*coughmecough*).

Etude House Philippines' President, Andrea Amado wasn't lying when she said that Etude aims to make every customer feel like royalty. So I tried my best to live up to the occasion and dressing in my best cutesy outfit.

Okay, so it's not exactly that cutesy. My makeup was pretty neutral with nude-pink accents on the eyes and lips and my hair was more of an intricate cheat than anything. And while I tried to look as cute and pink as possible to suit the occasion, my outfit turned into more of a pin-up crossover with a milkmaid than a princess haha. But really, I'm not one of those cutesy types of girls - I'd rather stay true to my style but also bring some of my own princess-y cuteness to the table :P

While engaging yourself with the various activities, you also have the opportunity of brushing up on your makeup and fashion know-how with all the workshops Etude House organized just for you!

Activities like Kiss the Prince were definitely a huge hit and there were free makeovers galore to make you feel like a true Etude House Princess. Not to mention you get a cute princess-y souvenir photo afterwards.

*Ninja Shot of my good friend, Amz from Punky Bunny http://amz88.blogspot.com/. Please don't kill me haha*

Unfortunately, I wasn't exactly in the position to enjoy all the activities of the event, having been asked to be on standby backstage. As a result, I didn't even get a chance to meet all the awesome blogger people I had hoped to see during the event itself D: *sadface*. I eventually just gave my ticket to my good friend and partner in girly-crime, Joanna haha. Full support all the way :P

While Joanna was out enjoying the activities, I was backstage, being utterly starstruck at the number of celebrities there. I'm not a huge follower of local media so I barely knew anybody, but good thing Kyala, one of my fellow Pink Artiste Finalists, and her sister were there to clue me in.

Backstage with the Pink Artiste 2013 Finalists, Shebby Liquete and Kyala Cristine Oplado

I was surprised as to how down to earth all the celebrities were, and while I didn't exactly have the guts to muster up the courage to actually talk to them, let alone ask for a picture with them, at least I can say I got to see them face to face haha.

The event kicked off with a few words from Etude House President Andrea Amado and the bulk of the event was hosted by the lovely Carla Humphries. There were guest workshops by Ryuji Shiomitsu and the lovely Bianca Valerio, not to mention appearances by Coleen Garcia, Brett Jackson, Miles Ocampo, Paul Salas, Niel Coleta, Ella Cruz, and Dominic Roque! Whew! I'm surprised I remember all of their names LOL. Not to mention, last year's Pink Artiste, Orange Tuazon was there as well!

Despite the star-studded ensemble of guests, we were all surprised to hear that the "main event" was actually our makeup showdown.

I am hardly an expert at applying makeup on other people. I can only reall vouch for makeup on myself. That being said, I tried my best to do justice to the products provided by Etude. We were all rather caught off guard actually. We were hanging on the basis of having 5 minutes to pick up and organize the products we were to use, but because of time constraints, that entire segment was cut and we had to just go straight on ahead to the actual application :P

Despite that, we all managed to finish a Glam Princess look within 15 minutes - albeit my model looked like a hot mess haha. I definitely don't do makeup well under pressure x_x

Not your best angle Andie -- blame the photographer haha.

A special thanks to the lovely Andie Reyes, one of my underclassmen in college, for allowing me to ravage her face with my lackluster professional makeup skills haha. Just goes to show you how she could probably pull of any look :P Seriously, you could probably paint her face brown and she'd still look high fashion.

In the end, Shebby bagged first, I got second and Kyala walked away with third! But by the end of it all, we all felt like winners. We also felt like ants, by the way, considering how tall Bianca and Carla are. We look like hobbits in comparison haha! But like I told Kyala - we're not short. We're FUN-sized. haha

Shebby's absolutely glowing, isn't she? Congrats and do us proud!

Despite not getting first, this truly had been a wonderful learning experience for me and has motivated me to try and pursue makeup to greater heights :) That way I can be the first Molecular Biologist / Makeup Artist / Fashion Model / Blogger to grace the covers of renowned magazines haha.

Also, I got to walk away with these awesome prizes. Tada~! Three mystery bags of Etude House products worth 20,000PHP!

There's still a lot more in store for me, and for my readers *wink wink*. I really would not have been able to come this far without you and your support, so I have a few things planned ahead!

Stay tuned for Part II of this series of Etude House posts, my Etude House Play House Princess Academy Haul! Stay tuned~!

Ada, signing out.

Photos courtesy of Brandon Sy.
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