Miyo Sia

Sigma Naughty in Black Travel Kit Giveaway Announcement

2011-04-03T04:41:00.000-07:00

Guys, I've seen some comments that the contest rules are a bit hard and time consuming so I am wondering what EVERYONE who joined think about making the winner randomly selected using random.org instead. If anyone, even just one, objects in this idea, post a comment here. Even if ONLY ONE person OBJECTS or NO ONE agrees, then the same rules will be followed. You have until April 9 to object, comment or like so let me know. Before you comment or like, read the details here.

The following rules will be changed if everyone agrees that we do random selection of winners:
1. The winner will be selected, instead of choosing the one with the most number of points, via random.org.
2. The point system will still continue for those who want to get more chances of winning.

How is the winner determined:
1. I will list all entry names to a spreadsheet and assign a unique number per entry.
2. The numbers will be assigned randomly and unique to that entry.
3. The number of entries per person will be determined by the number of points gathered at the end of the contest.
Ex. If contestant A has 3 points and contestant B has 50 points, contestant A's name will be assigned 3 unique numbers and contestant B will be assigned 50 unique numbers.
4. I will run the random number generator in random.org and the number that appears will be the winner.

The more points you get, the more numbers will be assigned to you and the more chances that your number will be drawn.

Let me know your thoughts and once we decide on which rule to follow, I will update Sigma the new rules.

Also below are the status as of April 03 7:07 AM CST.

Facebook Name	Official Entry	Twitter Posts	# Likes	Liked Sigma	Total Score
Agatha Kristy Ramos	1	102	117	1	221
Issa Chavez	1	43	129	1	174
Tina Lane	1	86	2		89
Sadia Latif	1	66	14	1	82
Fathima Qadir	1	60	5	1	67
Hanh Nguyen	1	55		1	57
Suzy Bernier	1	41		1	43
Kathleen Cedillo	1	11	1	1	14
Jinal Patel	1		9	1	11
Alvira Zaidi	1	9	1		11
Bhumika Thakkar	1		5	1	7
Wyatt Erika	1	4		1	6
Andrea Lee	1		3	1	5
Farah Yasin Choudhary	1	1	2	1	5
Kriti Dhir	1	1	2	1	5
Љупка Ѓ.	1	1	2	1	5
Kimi Shrivastava	1		3		4
Kimmy Asher	1	3			4
Rachel Hill	1	1	1	1	4
Sakina Ales	1	1	1	1	4
Sheetal Agarwal	1		1	1	3
Mandys Frinè	1		1	1	3
Mara Adame	1		1	1	3
Susie Salvatore	1			1	2
Silvia Martinez	1			1	2
Jenny Sevilla	1			1	2
Sami-biebss Bieberismylife-Nicølé	1	1			2
Danielle Sevi	1		1		2
Karina Michelle Cerda	1	1			2
Vicki Sh	1				1
Maite Gastesi Carreras	1				1
Valerie Carozza	1				1
Chompunoot Adia Braun	1				1
Isis Maria Gregorio	1				1
Kristina Stone	1				1
Elisaveta Aleksieva	1				1
Abhishek Duggal	1				1
Evangelina Ruiz	1				1
Stef Loulou	1				1
Eirhnh Grigoriadoy	1				1

Thanks,
Miyo

Etude House Haul + The Body Shop Eyeshadows

2011-04-01T05:01:00.000-07:00

I am supposed to write about a haul I did today but since I feel lazy, I decided to just record a video about it instead. :) This is actually the first time I recorded a live video so please bear with me haha! Oh well I end up spending more time doing the video than just writing about the haul. That's one reason why I didn't like making videos because it is time consuming. Sorry for the messy fingers :D I've been playing with the eye shadows too much before I started recording I forget to clean them. *guilty*

Coming Soon! Sigma Beauty's New Makeup Line

2011-04-01T00:39:00.000-07:00

Simone, the owner of Sigma Beauty, was so excited to share the new makeup line that they will release in 6-8 weeks. The new makeup line consists of 3 eye palettes each gives you a certain look. The 3 palettes are - Bare, Dare and Flare. These palettes contain 8 colors and dual head high quality eye brushes.

Flare palette is a colorful palette which gives you fun look. This palette is great for people who loves to play with colors and be creative with their look. Also I find the colors in this palette great for Spring and Fall. This palette includes the dual head brushes E55 Eye Shading brush and E40 Tapered Blending brush. The eye shadows are Crush, Oversee, Define, Publicize, Resist, Gossip, Allure and Beware.

Dare palette is a hot palette which gives you a sexy look. This palette is great for people which green eyes and those you like to wear very daring and flirtatious looks. The colors in this palette is also great for Summer and during Holiday season. This palette includes the dual head brushes E45 Small Tapered Blending brush and E20 Short Shader brush. The eye shadows are Surrender, Grasp, Chase, Escape, Reveal, Catch, Shout and Vanish.

Bare palette is a neutral palette which gives you natural look. This palette is great for everyday use. It also includes shades that let you transform your day look to dramatic smoky eyes which is great during the night. This palette includes the dual head brushes E30 Pencil brush and E25 Blending brush. The eye shadows are Shine, Control, Snoop, Hitch, Act, Command, Elope and Approach

The brushes included in each of the palettes are of high quality and the best selling brushes by Sigma Beauty.

E30 Pencil brush - This is used for precise application of color on the crease, outer corner, and upper and lower lash line. This is also ideal to smudge out pencil liner. Made of natural bristles.

E35 Blending brush - This is an oval-shaped brush with gently chiseled sides. This is used to blend and soften the look of powder or cream shadows. It is ideal to apply eye shadow primer, base eye shadow colors, and blend harsh lines with this brush. Made of natural bristles.

E55 Eye Shading brush - This brush is soft and dense with a rounded finish. It can be used to apply pressed or loose eye shadows and pigments. Ideal to build intense color on the eyelid. Made of natural bristles.

E40 Tapered Blending brush - With rounded and tapered top, this brush is specially designed to apply and blend color on the crease. Made of natural bristles.

E20 Short Shader brush - This brush is flat, short, slightly rounded and dense brush. It is oerfect for precisely applying colors on the lid and smudging along the lash line. I haven't tried this brush, but I think this is made of natural bristles.

E45 Small Tapered Blending brush - A versatile small domed brush with highly tapered tip. This brush can be used to precisely apply and blend intense colors to the crease area. This brush can give the same effect as what the Tapered Blending and Pencil brush can do when used together.

I can't wait to see this available on their site specially that the palettes include the dual head brushes. :)

Lesson: Shooting Gritty Editorial Fashion Portrait

2011-03-31T09:32:00.000-07:00

Just sharing with you guys this informative lesson for those who are interested with Fashion Photography. :) The main reason why I tried to learn makeup is because I developed interest in Fashion Photography. Later on I realized I enjoy doing makeup more so I spend more time using this medium to showcase my creativity instead.

Source: PHOTOFLEX® Lighting School

Sigma Naughty in Black Travel Kit Giveaway Tally as of March 31, 2011 10:50am CST

2011-03-31T09:19:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,
Thanks a lot for joining the Sigma Naughty in Black Travel Kit giveaway :) If you haven't joined yet, check here. Anyway, here is the latest tally as of March 31, 2011 10:50am CST. I am tallying the twitter posts everyday, since twitter doesn't let me view posts older than 3 days or so. When I post a message with #makeupbymiyo, that just means I finished counting tweets before that :) Here are the results:

Facebook Name	Official Entry	Twitter Posts	# Likes	Liked Sigma	Total Score
Andrea Lee	1		1	1	3
Agatha Kristy Ramos	1	60	70	1	132
Farah Yasin Choudhary	1	1	1	1	4
Bhumika Thakkar	1		4	1	6
Fathima Qadir	1	53	2	1	57
Kimi Shrivastava	1		3		4
Sadia Latif	1	46	9	1	57
Kriti Dhir	1	1	2	1	5
Suzy Bernier	1	36		1	38
Jinal Patel	1		8	1	10
Krispy Tin Can	1	57	2		60
Kimmy Asher	1	3			4
Sheetal Agarwal	1		1	1	3
Hanh Nguyen	1	42		1	44
Rachel Hill	1	1	1	1	4
Vicki Sh	1				1
Susie Salvatore	1			1	2
Silvia Martinez	1			1	2
Danielle Sgantas	0	1		1	2
Zunaira Ali	0	1		1	2
Sakina Ales	1	1	1	1	4
Jenny Sevilla	1			1	2
Sami-biebss Bieberismylife-Nicølé	1	1			2
Maite Gastesi Carreras	1				1
Valerie Carozza	1				1
Љупка Ѓ.	1	1	2	1	5
Mandys Frinè	1		1	1	3
Kathleen Cedillo	1	10	1	1	13
Danielle Sevi	1		1		2
Issa Chavez	1	17	87	1	106
Chompunoot Adia Braun	1				1
Isis Maria Gregorio	1				1
Wyatt Erika	1	4		1	6
Kristina Stone	1				1
Elisaveta Aleksieva	1				1
Abhishek Duggal	1				1
Evangelina Ruiz	1				1

For those with 0 in the Official Entry column, this just mean that you showed interest in joining by doing 1 or 2 of the options to earn additional point but did not do the required step which is to comment to the giveaway post. Also the highlighted row, which is Jinal Patel's entry, means that I've seen the comment before but for some reason it was no longer there. Let me know if there was a mistake or if you are really removing your entry from the contest. For those who did not get a score for liking Sigma Makeup Official Page, please post on this entry the link to the post you made to Sigma's page mentioning this giveaway to be given a point. Also, there are 2 twitter accounts who posted the giveaway but did not inform me about it in my page. They are @SilviaQuiros and @dragonfly777 if you own these accounts, please comment on this entry your Facebook page so I can give proper credits.

Again, thanks for joining and good luck to you all! I will be posting updates regularly so you can keep track of your points.

♥ Miyo

Sigma Naughty in Black Travel Kit Review and Giveaway

2011-03-26T02:12:00.000-07:00

Sigma Beauty sent me the Naughty in Black Travel Kit for review. I've been using Sigma Makeup brushes for more than a year already and since I tried these brushes I never really bothered to try out other brands.

The travel kit is one of the 2 types of travel kits available and one of the 2 colors available for this travel kit type. The Naughty in Black contains 7 essential brushes, plus a free extra brush, to achieve a flawless look on the go. You can bring this kit with you to your favorite travel destination or keep it in your purse for a quick touch-up during the day or a night out. The brushes are stored in a stylish black clutch with a convenient pouch to carry all your must-have makeup items.

Why I love Sigma?
1. They basically have all the types of brushes I need, well except for the fan brush.
2. Their brushes are of high quality and affordable price
3. I get what I want from these brushes (normally I check out other brands if I can't find a brush that would give me the result that I need).
4. Their customer support is efficient.
5. The company cares for their customers

I have a long list that could go on and on. These are also the same reasons why I chose to be a Sigma Beauty affiliate. I believe in the product and the company makes us feel special :)

Anyway, so much for the introduction.

It's time to give you an honest review of the product. I won't be discussing in details what I think of the quality of brushes in this kit since I have already posted a review on this. If you want to know what I think about each of the brushes, check out my Sigma Complete Brush Kit review. What I would concentrate more on would be what I think of the kit overall and how these brushes compare to the full size brushes and Nice in Pink Travel Kit powder brushes.

This travel kit has the most essential brushes that you need everyday so I think Sigma made a really good decision in choosing which brushes to include in this kit.

The kit has 4 face brushes + 1 complimentary face brush and 3 eye brushes. The face brushes were the large powder brush, foundation brush, duo fibre brush, large angled contour brush and concealer brush. These 5 brushes are what I normally use everyday. I don't use a foundation brush in applying foundation but I find this essential for applying moisturizer and primer in prepping my skin. Then then I use the duo fiber to stipple the foundation on my face for an airbrush look. To set the foundation, I use the large powder brush. I then use the large angled contour brush to apply blush. You can also use this to apply bronzer. So with this kit, I am able to achieve a flawless and fresh look any time any day.

The kit also include 3 eyebrushes - eye shading brush, tapered blending brush and the pencil brush. With these brushes, you can already create simple to very dramatic look. The eye shading brush can be used to apply color on your lids as well as to apply highlights under your brows. Then the tapered blending brush is used to blend the colors to remove rough and sharp edges. This can also be used for subtly contouring specific areas like the bridge of your nose or under your lower lips. To define shape and add contour to your eye makeup for a more dramatic look, you can use the pencil brush.

In comparison to the complete set, the amount of bristles in the travel kit doesn't differ much from the full size brushes except for the large powder brush which only have almost 2/3 of the bristles of the full size brush. The handles of the travel size brushes are smaller but still big enough to give you control. For personal use, I prefer the travel size to use since it has shorter handle which allows me to take my face closer to the mirror without worrying about the brush handles hitting it. I had challenges using the full set on myself since I am near sighted and I'd like the mirror as close as possible to my face and the length of the full size brushes doesn't let me do that.

I also got 2 sample brushes from the Nice in Pink travel set that was sent to me by Sigma before, the large powder brush and duo fiber brush, and comparing the black travel kit brushes with the pink ones, I noticed that the pink brushes have even shorter handles. Also the pink brushes have more bristles compared to the black one. I am not sure if Sigma redesigned their travel brushes and made the handles longer but I personally prefer the shorter ones. Maybe it is just me (and my sight) but I find the shorter ones better for personal use.

Verdict: Overall, the kit covers all essential brushes you need to complete your look. If you are looking for a kit for personal use, this kit is definitely recommended. It is cheaper than buying the complete set without compromising what you can do. I am not a fan of black, so I would pick the Nice in Pink travel kit instead though, but this kit is classy and professional looking. Aside from that, it is indeed great for travel since the kit is almost the same size of a wallet or small purse which would fit your bag without taking so much space. This product retails for US$49 which is fairly cheap for a high quality makeup brush kit.

Areas for Improvement: I would've preferred if they included the small angle brush with the kit for lining the eyes and defining brows but I figured this is not that essential compared to the 3 brushes in the travel kit. Maybe they can have an option of choosing between the stippling brush or small angle brush. I am not sure if you still get a free travel size blending brush with this kit (you get this free for purchases over $30) since you are already getting the stippling brush for free. It would be great too if they consider including the travel size blending brush in the kit as well. Also, another idea for improvement on this product is since the Make Me Up collection is out, maybe it would also be cool to have these brushes in a travel size Make Me Up container. Sigma is always doing their best to improve their products so we never know in the future. It would be awesome if they do that and if they do, I wish it would be available in the same 4 colors as the Make Me Up collection. :)

Giveaway: Sigma Beauty is kind enough to give me an additional travel kit for my followers so I am giving away this kit too for you guys. The mechanics are simple, I will pick one winner with the highest entry points to receive the Naughty in Black travel kit by April 30.

To enter the contest, you must like my facebook page, Makeup by Miyo, and answer the question "Why do you want to win the Sigma Beauty Naughty in Black travel kit?" in the giveaway wall post. You can only answer once, giving you 1 entry point to the contest. This is required to officially enter you to the contest.

You can get additional entry points by doing the following below:

1. Like Sigma Makeup Official Fan Page. For me to validate that you liked the page, you need to post in their wall mentioning this giveaway and tagging Makeup by Miyo. You need to make sure that your post (for tagging Makeup by Miyo) would appear on my page to get credits. You only need to post once. 1 point.
2. For every "Like" on your answer is equivalent to 1 point.
3. Follow me on twitter @miyosia and retweet "Sigma Naughty in Black travel kit giveaway!! Check http://me.lt/4i0r9 for more details. #makeupbymiyo". Note that you must include #makeupbymiyo in your tweet. Post on my wall your twitter name so I can give you credits. 1 point per retweet per hour.

This contest is open to all viewers. Good Luck!

The products for review are provided and sent by Sigma Beauty for free. I am not part of the company and any opinion on the product is solely my own and not in a way influenced by the company.

Finally Found the Perfect Sunglasses

2011-03-21T10:09:00.000-07:00

If you know me in person you would probably know how picky I am about buying sunglasses. I usually have a hard time finding the right design and perfect frame that would suit my taste and flatter my round face. It's been ages since I've been trying so hard to find one that wouldn't look odd on me.

I was able to find one at Mango sometime last year but being so cheap I decided not to buy it right away even when it is only sold for Php2,500(~US$57). Unfortunately when I decided to buy them, they are already out of stock or probably decommissioned :( I've been on a search since then. I saw cute sunglasses in Charles and Keith in Serendra but unfortunately I was in a rush last Friday I didn't have the time to try them out. I tried to find the same glasses in Trinoma but they do not sell sunglasses there.

I am starting to have headaches for not wearing glasses for more than a year already so I went to Optical Shop Trinoma today to replace the Burberry eyeglasses I lost last year. While waiting for my new eyeglasses, I saw and noticed the Roberto Cavalli sunglasses displayed there but I find it too expensive to spend Php18,990 (~US$432) for sunglasses that I would use everyday. I also didn't like the design enough to make me spend for it so I decided to postpone buying sunglasses.

As I left the Optical Shop, across the store is another eye shop (which I unfortunately forgot the name) with the sign "up to 70% off" haha! :) So I decided to look around and check what they have. I admit I was attracted by the 70% offer but unfortunately the ones on sale are tacky. However, I saw 2 glasses I liked woo hoo!

First is this Guess GU 7019 BLK sunglasses. It has a metal frame with "G" logo endpiece, handmade temple with metal pyramid plaques and dark gray gradient CR39 lens. I was surprised that it was on sale and costs only Php3,890 (~US$89). It is part of the GUESS 2011 Women's Sun Collection. I am not familiar with Guess prices so I really don't know if it's cheap or not. It looks like the one in the picture but it is black.

Second one I saw is the Gucci medium square frame sunglasses with bamboo detail on temple. It was sold for Php13,890 (~US$316). It has a black plastic frame with bamboo detail and gray gradient lens. I tried to search the Gucci site for this particular design and I found out that this is only available in their Italian online shop and being sold for €220. The US online shop has the same design but different in color (red plastic frame and brown/purple gradient lens) sold for US$295.

I fell in-love at first sight with the Gucci one but not that much with the Guess since I find it common for some reason. I am not someone who would spend this much on sunglasses but once I like something so bad I have to get it. I've been searching for so long to find the perfect sunglasses for me and I am so happy to finally found one. :) Unfortunately, it wasn't on sale but the lady there said she would give me a discount for the Guess sunglasses if I am taking it so I did and got the 2 for only Php15,400 (~US$350). So I bought the other glasses for only 1500 haha :)

I wasn't looking for one because I want to be fashionable, I needed it because I didn't want to squint which causes lines/wrinkles along the outer corners of my eyes and I didn't want UV rays damaging the thin layer of skin around my eyes whenever I am out in the sun. I know I am paranoid about UV damage on my skin but I am happy I found something that looks fashionable and gives me 100% protection at the same time :) I plan to use the cheaper one for daily use and use the other whenever I travel out of the country so its not bad I got both. ^_^

Paul & Joe Parasol Collection Launch - March 11-18, 2011

2011-03-11T06:47:00.000-08:00

Sephora's New Collection - Hello Kitty Beauty

2011-03-06T06:31:00.000-08:00

Sephora just launched the Hello Kitty Beauty collection this year after offering it first to Sephora Beauty Insiders last December 18-19, 2010. Since the first time I've seen the collection in Dec, I instantly fell in love with it specially the makeup brushes and tools. Unfortunately, Sephora doesn't ship to non-US locations and doesn't also allow credit card purchase from non-US cards. I would've used the HopShopGo service, but since this is only a 2-day event, that option is also not possible.

Invitation letter sent to Sephora Beauty Insiders last December

This year, they finally launched it to public and my excitement was back as usual. I am controlling myself right now and let's see how much longer I can resist the temptation. Here are some of the makeup products from the collection.

Hello Kitty Brush Set - the highlight of this product is the cute metallic silver Hello Kitty container that goes with it. I think this would be a good piece on your dresser and serves as an eye candy. If you are after the quality of the brushes, then I would suggest you try and check them first at the store. As for me, I would purchase this, no matter how the brushes suck , only for its aesthetic value ^_^. I know I'm not a smart buyer most of the time but this really is too cute not to have!

I don't like the idea tho of having to lift Hello Kitty's head off to open the container (I just can't bear the thought of decapitating Hello Kitty for the sake of it LOL). I was hoping it would be some sort of an opening from the back or maybe at the bottom.

Each brush is made of synthetic white bristles with pink tips. Since the brushes are synthetic (even if they claim it's of high quality) I probably won't be that much of a fan of the brushes. Not that I am against synthetic brushes (I've used high quality synthetic brushes from Sigma Beauty and they are wicked) but I would always prefer natural bristle ones. Like I said no matter how the brushes may suck, I would still buy this. :) Also what I liked about this is they have selected the essential brushes so this basically gives you complete access to all the tools you need.

Included in this set:
- Face Brush
- Eyeshadow Brush
- Shader/Blending Brush
- Angled Eyeliner Brush
- Lip Brush
- Collectible Hello Kitty brush container (plastic)
Retail Price: $49

Glittercute Collection Made With Swarovski Elements - This collection is the same as the Hello Kitty brushes except that the container is more posh and glamorous (and not to mention pricey). If I have way excess money to splurge on things that are nice to have but I don't really need, then I would definitely go for this one. The Hello Kitty container in this collection has hundreds of dazzling Swarovski crystals encrusted on its surface and contains a set of eight Glittercute Eyeliners and mini makeup brushes inside. Same with the ordinary brush set, you still need to lift the kitty's head to open the container :(

For safe shipping, this product is packaged in a special jewel box. So guys, if you truly want to make the woman of your life happy, you know what to get *hints* ^_^

This set contains:
- Night Sky - black
- Telephone - charcoal
- Coin Purse - silver
- Teapot - medium brown gold
- Hello Sunshine - light gold
- Sandbox - dark brown
- Grape Soda - purple
- Happy Sails - navy
- Face Brush
- Eyeshadow Brush
- Shader/Blending Brush
- Angled Eyeliner Brush
- Lip Brush
Retail Price: $495

Say Hello Palette - this is a tiered compact with four shades of eyeshadows and four shades of lip glosses which contains powerful extracts of strawberry, apple, and grape seed to hydrate and soften skin. Packed with powerful antioxidants, these ingredients also fight free radicals and improve skin's elasticity and youthfulness. This is available in Happy Fun and Super Fun. The Happy Fun gives you more of a neutral and subtle look which is great for day makeup and the Super Fun is more of a smoky purple look which is best during the night. If you are in your teens then I would suggest you get the Happy Fun but if you are looking for a sexier look then the Super Fun would be the ultimate choice.

I've yet to see swatches of the products included in this set to see how pigmented they are. They have a photo in the site showcasing the makeup but we know that usually they use other makeup brand/line to enhance color and look in the promotional photos. So if you are buying again for quality and pigmentation, it's better to purchase this from the store. I am not a fan of this tho since I don't usually wear eyeshadows on daily basis but this is still a cute accessory in your travel kit. If you have a really good cream base, I think the colors would work well and look more pigmented.

The Happy Fun palette includes:
- Ice Cream (pearl white) eyeshadow
- Airplane (taupe) eyeshadow
- Chocolate Milk (brown) eyeshadow
- Peppermint (sage green) eyeshadow
- Baby Pink (pink) lip gloss
- Peach Pudding (peach) lip gloss
- Strawberry Jam (dark pink) lip gloss
- Springtime (apricot) lip gloss

The Super Fun palette includes:
- Raindrop (gray) eyeshadow
- Sugar Plum (pale lilac) eyeshadow
- Sweet Plum (purple) eyeshadow
- Goodnight Dreams (black) eyeshadow
- Sweet Plum (purple) lip gloss
- Pink Confetti (pink) lip gloss
- Strawberry Cookies (brownish pink) lip gloss
- Snowflake (white) lip gloss
Retail Price: $35

Charmmy Kohl Eyeliner Kit - this pencil box contains 7 eyeliner pencils with a range of colors that is on the blue/purple hue. The site says that it lets you experiment with different looks but I say otherwise. I was hoping to see some reds and bright greens in the set but unfortunately it doesn't include those colors enough to give you a dynamic range of looks. Same as the eyeshadows I've yet to see how pigmented these are. Also these have the same formula with the Say Hello palette that fight free radicals and improve skin's elasticity and youthfulness.

The case, aside from the Hello Kitty print on its cover, is not too unique for me. I was expecting a tube like container with a Hello Kitty head that you lift to open (ok for this sake I wouldn't mind decapitating kitty's head hehe)

This set contains seven 0.056 oz eyeliner pencils in:
- Goodnight Dreams: Black
- Grape Juice: Purple
- Chocolate Milk: Brown
- Happy Cloud: White
- Blueberry: Navy
- Bicycle: Teal Green
- Blue Sky: Bright Light Blue
- A reusable metal case (4 x 5 x 0.5")
Retail Price: $28

Glittercute Eyeliner - this is a chubby stick eyeliner with silver or gold micro glitter so it gives you a shimmery finish. Same with the Kohl eyeliners, I wish they have reds and greens as part of the color selection. I think this eyeliner would work best with the Say Hello Palette as base or highlight and not as liner. Also, I think this is too expensive for a 0.06oz product. Lacking a case for this, I would rather buy ordinary ones to go with the eye shadows. This is also included in the Glittercute Collection.

Colors Available:
Coin Purse (shimmering silver with silver micro glitter)
Grape Soda (dark lilac with silver micro glitter)
Happy Sails (royal blue with silver micro glitter)
Hello Sunshine (shimmering gold with gold micro glitter)
Night Sky (black with silver micro glitter)
Sandbox (chocolate brown with gold micro glitter)
Teapot (shimmering copper with gold micro glitter)
Telephone (shimmering slate gray with silver micro glitter)
Retail Price: $14 per stick

Pen Pal Eyeliner - this is an ultra-precise liquid eyeliner marker available in 4 colors. It has a formulation that washes off easily with regular makeup remover or even soap and water without staining your skin. Same with the Glittercute Eyeliners, I don't see anything special about the packaging so I would most likely pass on this product.

Colors Available:
Chocolate Milk (rich dark brown)
Goodnight Dreams (black)
Picnic Basket (deep forest green)
Purple Balloon (eggplant)
Retail Price: $16 per pen

Apple Cheeks - this is a creamy stick which can either be a blush or a highlighter. Altho I am not into cream blushes or blush stains, I think this would give you a subtle color and not let you overdo the blush. My biggest pet peeve is seeing people with too much blush on so I would be very happy if all those people would consider buying this hehe. It comes in a cute metallic packaging with a printed Hello Kitty design which also makes it an eye candy on your purse.

Colors Available:
Blushing (warm peachy pink)
Charmmy (muted cool rose beige)
Cherry Blossom (medium pink)
Cottonball (shimmering white luminizer)
Peachy (shimmering light peach)
Retail Price: $22 per stick

On top of these products there are also lip glosses and cream shadow sticks which is also part of the collection. Aside from the makeup, they also have Hello Kitty fragrances and tools like mirrors. I will be posting more on these products and let you know what I think about them. :)

*photos taken from http://www.sephora.com

Review of MAKE UP FOR EVER Best of Rock For Ever Products

2011-03-06T00:52:00.000-08:00

I purchased the MAKE UP FOR EVER Best of Rock For Ever Limited Edition kit released for Holiday 2010 last December. After almost 3 months of using the products, finally time for a review :) The kit, packaged in a rock studded tin box, includes the five of the brand's bestsellers for the eyes and face - HD Microperfecting Primer in #0 Neutral, HD Microfinish Powder, Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in #0L, Smoky Lash Extra Black Mascara and Sens'Eyes Waterproof Sensitive Eye Cleanser. The kit is no longer available for purchase but the products included in the kit are still available for individual purchase.

Individual Product Review:

HD Microperfecting Primer in #0 Neutral - the primer, being one of the essential must haves when applying makeup, is important to be able to control the oil levels of your skin, fill in fine lines and leave a soft dewy finish so foundation can be applied easily and flawlessly. One thing I liked about this primer is its consistency. It's not too thick and it's oil free. When applied to skin, it feels really cool which is great for relaxing tired skin. It dries quickly so there is less time to wait before applying your foundation. I've tried it in both oily and dry skin and it helped me achieve a soft dewy finish after applying foundation on. Also, another thing I like about this primer is that it doesn't have SPF and since it is designed for HD makeup, this is great to use for photography. On top of these, the HD Primer is a skin care product. It nourishes, moisturizes, softens and leaves the skin a glowing effect. Compared to the Paul & Joe primer that I have been using for almost 2 years already, I prefer this brand now. This product is also available in 6 color-correcting shades.

HD Microfinish Powder - this setting powder is designed to match any skin tone, so as a makeup artist, this is very handy since I don't need to bring multiple setting powders to match my client/s' skin tone. I usually apply a very thin layer of this powder enough to set the foundation so it will last longer. As for oil control, I haven't really tested how effective this powder is to control oil since my skin is dry. I've used is few times with my sister who has extremely oily skin and it was able to keep her face oil free for few hours. For oily skin, I suggest to always keep an oil control film in your purse and NOT wipe it on your face when removing oil. Just lightly press the film on the area where you want to reduce oil that way your makeup would last longer. Also, remember that this product can be invisible to the naked eye (and also camera) when applied, so be very careful not to apply too much of this product. A small amount of the product on your powder brush and a single swipe of the brush is enough since the very purpose of these kind of products are to give you a flawless finish without letting anyone know you are wearing makeup :) Overall, I would keep using this powder as part of my kit and on gigs.

Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in #0L - What I like about this eyeliner is that it is easy to apply and very creamy. Unlike other eyeliner pencils that I have tried, this really gives me a deep matte black color so I don't need to add multiple coats of liner to get the intensity I need. Since it is very creamy and easy to apply, this do not tug the skin on your eyelids so it doesn't irritate your eye contour. Also this really makes tight lining very easy. However, even if it is waterproof and claimed not to run under extreme conditions, this liner has a tendency to smudge a lot if not left dry. It is important to let it dry and set it with a black eyeshadow to prevent having raccoon eyes. I am not much of an eyeliner pencil fan since I find it easier to apply cream liners but trying this product made me have second thoughts about only preferring cream liners. This is a good product to include in your travel kit since you can easily apply liner on without have to worry about bringing an extra brush to apply cream liner.

Smoky Lash Extra Black Mascara - Honestly I am not much of a fan of this product and I don't see anything special about this mascara except that it does extend the lashes making then look fuller and longer. So if you have really short lashes, I would recommend trying this. Be careful in applying the product since it clumps a lot. I had to use a disposable spool right after every application to remove excess product. Also when it dries, it tends to fall off as powder which messes up at times. This is not waterproof but there is a waterproof version of this which is the Aqua Smoky Lash mascara. Overall this product is OK, just need to make sure any excess of this product is removed to avoid fallouts. This can be pricey for a mascara and since I throw away mascaras every three months, I don't think this is something that I would purchase for personal use.

Sens'Eyes Waterproof Sensitive Eye Cleanser - If you are into putting so much makeup on your eyes, then this product is for you. I find this very handy specially when I use waterproof makeup on my eyes. Most makeup removers sting when used around the eyes and since this product is designed to be gentle on the eyes, removing mascara and eyeliners can be very easy. It has a creamy consistency so using a cotton ball with this is not really great so I use cotton pads instead. I would prefer this in liquid form tho, but I know it would be dangerous to use liquid products around the eyes since it tends to get in the tear ducts. For waterproof makeup, you can soak a cotton pad or wool in the product and place is over your eyes and let it sit there for few minutes so the makeup would be easier to remove. You can also put the product directly on your eyelids and wipe off with a cotton pad. It is recommended to use with Cool Lotion but unfortunately the other product was not included in the kit.

Shu Eumura Skin Purifier Product Review

2011-02-27T09:04:00.000-08:00

I had this rare chance of trying the Shu Eumura Skin Purifier for really cheap... and when I say cheap, compared to its original retail price, I got it for almost free! :)

How? In my project at work, there was a fund raising wherein people would donate stuff they don't need and then those stuff were auctioned. I don't know how they came up with the minimum bid but they auctioned the 150ml bottle of the Shu Eumura Skin Purifier Cleansing Beauty Oil (Premium A/O Advanced Formula) for only Php300 (~7USD)! NOTE: Retail price in US is $34 and Php2.5K++ in the Philippines. I got it for Php380 - that's like my 2-way cab ride to the nearest Shu Eumura booth from home! I really don't know why people didn't bid on it.. but I would bid for it even up to Php1K :D

Anyway, I have been using this for almost month already so I believe that it's time to write a review about it. Apparently, this product is claimed to be the number 1 selling Shu Eumura cleansing oil in the world. The cleansing oil's advanced formula has green tea and ginko leaf extract which contains flavonoids. It has a strong anti-oxidant and micro circulation properties which maintain the skin's radiance and transparency. The product is designed to remove oxidized sebum, usually found in long wearing makeups and accelarates aging, which leaves your skin soft and young looking.

Likes: First, removing makeup is not that hard specially when removing eye makeup. With just 3 pumps of the product, I am able to get rid of the makeup. I use a waterproof liquid foundation and a waterproof mascara. If I am using a regular makeup remover, it requires me to clean 3 times before I get rid of everything, not to mention using an eye makeup remover for the eyes. If I am wearing just an eyeliner and mascara, I could skip the eye makeup remover and just add ang extra pump of the cleansing oil.

Second, I have a really dry skin so I find this product works a lot for me since facial cleansers tend to dry my skin even more. So using this product reduces my cleansing time since I use it as a makeup remover and facial cleanser at the same time and prevents my skin from drying.

Third, this product is mild to the eyes compared to regular facial cleansers and makeup removers. Unless I rub it directly into my eyes, I can easily remove eye makeup without worrying about my eyes. It could hurt my eyes at times but if I am careful enough not to rub so much, using this to remove eye makeup is fine. It feels gentle and unlike other facial cleansers, which normally I find itchy and sometimes sting, this product doesn't. Also I love how it smells and it leaves your face smelling good with a very subtle fragrance (imagine what happens when your boyfriend/husband tries giving you a goodnight kiss and he smells your face :D).

Lastly, I find this a very good deep cleansing product. After I apply enough on my skin and remove the makeup, I emulsify it with water, rinse and use another pump to deep cleanse my skin. I've noticed my skin feel supple and soft after I shower. Also, the dry areas on my face feel less dry. I knew that this is very effective as a cleanser because usually when I use regular facial cleansers, when I start applying toner, I would see residue of dirt on my cotton ball. When I started using this product, I seldom see residue and if ever there is, it's usually from the eye makeup that I missed (usually when I tight lined with an eyeliner and the product could not remove the liner under my lashline).

Dislikes: During the first week that I've used it, I experienced breakouts. I am not sure if it's because my skin is reacting to it or it's because the oil level of my skin became higher compared to what my skin's used to. With continuous use, the breakouts were reduced and I feel my skin is less dry. Also, at first, I feel weird using this since it doesn't feel like usual cleansers because of the oily feel but I got used to it and started loving it! I have used 1/5 of the bottle and will keep using it to test out its anti aging properties :)

My experience with the product was great and even if I have to purchase this again despite its price I definitely would. I think if this was cheaper I would recommend it 100% but if you are someone who are not into spending so much for skin care products, then this might be too expensive for you. There are combinations of products that could probably give the same results as this cleansing oil but I find this more convenient to use. This is great for people who travel a lot, since it saves you space by just bringing one product to both remove makeup, cleanse and moisturize the skin.

I am not sure if this is advisable to use for people who love the sun, but I wear sunblock everyday so that isn't much of my concern. Since this has green tea then I am hoping its anti aging properties would work for me.

If anyone has tried this product, please feel free to comment and let me know what are the advantages and disadvantages of this product.

^_^

ingredients: paraffinum liquidum/mineral oil, zea mays/corn germ oil, polysorbate 85, carthamus tinctorius oil/safflower seed oil, sorbitan trioleate, isopropyl myristate, dicaprylyl carbonate, undecane, maris aqua/sea water, tridecane, squalane, glycerin, simmondsia chinensis oil/jojoba seed oil, macadamia ternifolia seed oil, propylene glycol, tocopherol, limonene, linalool, camellia sinensis extract/camellia sinensis leaf extract, ginkgo biloba extract/ginkgo biloba leaf extract, parfum/fragrance

General Motors Diet

2011-02-20T10:38:00.000-08:00

I just want to share with you this diet that I have tried sometime in 2009. I lost roughly around 10 lbs in 1 week. Although this diet is not recommended to last for more than a week, it can help give you a quick start in losing weight. I have really slow metabolism and I gain back weight easily at the moment I go beyond the 1200-1400 cal intake that was suggested to me by my nutritionist. I tried this to see some results and motivate me to my health journey. I am sharing this for reference but please do consult a doctor first before doing this kind of diet. If you have any kidney, heart or liver ailments, then I recommend that you really see a doctor first and ask if this kind of diet will not cause you problems.

10 Ways to Maintain a Younger and Healthy Looking Skin

2011-02-19T08:53:00.000-08:00

I never had skin issues when I was younger which lead me to taking it for granted and not really paying attention on skin maintenance. As a result, I had really dry skin, large visible pores around my nose and uneven skin color. When I got older, I started getting so conscious about how I look and started to feel scared of wrinkles and lines. I did so many research through reading and consultation with dermatologists in order to prevent my skin from further damage. I still don't have a porcelain perfect skin (working on it XD) but I feel my skin's a lot healthier looking and doesn't reveal much my age LOL! :D

Anyway here are the 10 basic things that you need to know and do to keep your skin healthy.

1. Keep your skin hydrated. Beautiful skin starts from the inside. Drink enough water to keep your skin from becoming dry. Water is very essential not only for cleansing our body but also important in keeping your skin looking tight and moisturized.
2. Extend your daily skin care regimen down to your chest. We all know the basics of skin care - cleanse, tone and moisturize. However, most people neglect the neck down. Forgetting to include your neck and chest to your daily skin care regimen is like putting on fancy eye shadow look without grooming your brows. It defeats the purpose. The skin on the neck is thinner than the face so it requires more TLC. You don't want your neck reveal your true age do you?
3. Exfoliate. As we get older, the skin's capacity to shed dead skin cells become less reliable. Dead skin prevents skin to breathe and makes skin look very dry. Always take time to exfoliate your face and body at least 2 times a month.
4. Put on SPF. Not wearing sunscreen is a sin. It DOES NOT mean when there is no sun, there are no ultraviolet rays damaging your skin. The minimum sun protection factor (SPF) for your skin is 30. Apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before exposure. Re-apply every 2 hours if you are directly under the sun or outdoors for a longer period of time.
5. Remove traces of makeup, dirt and sweat before you sleep. Skin regenerates during sleep and lack of proper cleansing clogs pores and impedes surfacing of new cells causing skin to breakout.
6. Refrain popping acne. Popping acne can give you a temporary solution to make the pimple less visible but it will leave permanent scars on your skin.
7. STOP making unnecessary facial expressions. These are one of the reasons for the lines that appear on your face. Always keep your face relaxed and prevent yourself from making faces, lifting your brows, and squinting your eyes. On the side note, if you can skip drinking with the straw, do it. This causes lines to appear on top of your lips and it gets more visible as you get older.
8. Sleep on your back. When you sleep on your side, you tend to put pressure on one side of your face causing it to sag and develop wrinkles. When you are lying on your back, gravity pulls back your skin giving your face a natural lift :)
9. Keep your hands off your eyes. Rubbing your eyes tugs delicate areas around your eyes. This part has very thin layer of skin and also very sensitive so it is a lot faster to develop lines. Religiously apply eye cream to make up for all the years of rubbing your did.
10. Skip the makeup when you do your workout. I know some people cannot live with going all bare with their skin outside their homes. No matter how some makeup products claim that they are non comedogenic (does not clog pores) doesn't mean they are OK to use when working out. You sweat a lot when you work out so using makeup can cause blackheads and breakouts.

Getting a young and healthy looking skin doesn't need to be very expensive. Proper maintenance is the only key and taking time to care for your skin will save you money from expensive treatments. Prevention is the key so start early and do not wait until you start seeing signs of aging before you start doing something about it. :)

My Niece is Loving the Signature Headbands by Wade Lee

2011-02-06T06:29:00.000-08:00

I won Wade Lee Richards' MAC Villains and Rayetta's Button Bag giveaway last December and along with the prizes he sent me the cutest headbands ever :D Knowing my 4 yr-old niece being so fond of headbands, I had to save them for her. The moment she saw the headbands, her face lightened up and really liked them.

I really like his designs since they are very unique and classy. I am not that fond of headbands but seeing the designs from his site, The Store of Wade Lee, I can't resist them at all! I plan on purchasing more for my niece soon too :)

Again, thanks Wade for these. I loved them as much as my niece does! I look forward to seeing more designs in the future ^_^

Basic Makeup Terms for Makeup Starters - Part 1

2011-02-04T08:23:00.000-08:00

Same as any other skill, makeup also uses terms that serve as a common language to anyone who does makeup application. In order to fully master the art of doing makeup, it is also important to know what terms are used in makeup business so you can talk like a makeup pro.

Blush is a term used to add a warm glow to a dull skin. Skip the blush when you already have a natural rosy color on your cheeks

Concealer is a product that covers any blemish that a foundation doesn't. You can skip this when you know that foundation is enough to hide all your skin imperfections.

Contour is a darker shade that is applied to your face to give features more depth and to define areas you want to make less visible to the eye

Dewy is a foundation finish that looks fresh and glowing, usually with a slight sheen. This is normally a technique seen in Asian makeup.

← an example of a dewy finish. It looks like almost no makeup is worn and very natural.

Eyeliner is used to either define the eyes or the eye makeup. Tight lining or very thin lining defines the eyes while thick dramatic lines give more definition to the eye makeup.

Eyeshadow is applied to define the shape of the eyes. It can be worn as a gentle color wash or as layers of color and texture making it more dramatic.

Foundation is used to even out complexion and covers minor imperfections. If you have beautiful and radian skin, it is best to skip the foundation and just dust it with powder. Foundation finishes can either be matte, satin or dewy.

Frost, sometimes referred to as iridescent and usually used as a term to refer to eyeshadows and lip color, is about maximum sparkle and super-shine. This look only works best on young skin since this can draw attention to the fine lines of a mature skin.

Gloss is a high-shine lip color. This does not stay on as long as a lip color.

Highlight helps to draw attention to specific area or feature. It is usually a lighter shade that is applied to high areas of the eyes or face.

Lip color is used to define lips and sets the mood of your overall look. Lipstick and gloss is an example of a lip color.

Luminescence is a foundation with light-reflecting qualities that creates a glowing, refined look. This can be used to bounce away light from surface lines and wrinkles.

Mascara makes the lashes look full, long, thick and dark.

Prom Makeup

2011-01-28T21:24:00.000-08:00

My sister is growing up really fast and I still can't believe that she's old enough to go to the prom. :D Anyway I did her and her BFF's makeup for the prom. :)

I wanted to achieve a very natural and flawless look since I want them to look their age and not look older. I had to be very careful in contouring their face and make it really subtle so the shadows don't look too harsh. I did 2 different smokey eye look on each girl.

For my sister, I did a different technique since she's a monolid. I used UD's Money, Loaded and Perversion for her look. How to achieve her look:
1. Apply eye primer.
2. Pat on Money over her lids, since she is a monolid, I applied a little over her non-visible crease and blend out to gradually fade out the color towards her brows.
3. Apply Loaded by gradually adding the color slowly starting from the corner of her eyes going outward and upward towards her brows. I keep adding the color up to 2/3 of her eyelid going towards the center and keeping inner corner of her eyes without this color. I keep adding color with her eyes looking straight (and opened) so I can control and see the color buildup just above her crease. Since she is a monolid, she needs more color above her crease and if not careful it could end up putting too much, so it is important that I apply the color with her eyes open.
4. Add dimension by darkening the outer corners with Perversion.
5. Apply eyeliner gradually making it thicker towards the outer corner of her eyes.

6. Curl lashes, put on false lashes and apply mascara.

For Chelleey, I used UD's Snatch, Maui Wowie, Last Call and Perversion She has a good creased eyes so I used the conventional technique with a twist. How to achieve her look:
1. Apply eye primer
2. Pat on Snatch all over the lids up to her crease and blend out to get rid of harsh lines.
3. Pat on Maui Wowie on the center of her lids. This will serve as highlights to her eyes.
4. Apply Last Call starting from the corner of her eyes, lightly brushing towards the center in single horizontal strokes. Keep applying to build up the color as desired. Then apply color on the crease using a 45 degree strokes upward towards the center. Apply lightly slowly building up the color. Keep building up the color on the outer V.
5. Add dimension by adding Perversion starting from the corner of the eyes and lightly blending the color using light circular strokes. Skip putting on the crease to make the look very light and subtle.

6. Apply eyeliner, thicker on the outer corners, apply false lashes and mascara.

Products used:
MAKEUPFOREVER High Definition Primer
MAC Studio Fix Fluid
MAKEUPFOREVER High Definition Powder
Paul & Joe Eyebrow Powder 01
MAC Eye Brow Gel Beguile
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
Urban Decay Book of Shadows III UD♥ NYC
MAKEUPFOREVER Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil 01
MAKEUPFOREVER Smoky Lash Extra Black Mascara
Paul & Joe Limited Edition Face Color B 002
Chanel Powder Blush 13 Candy
Revlon Blush and Bronzer Plumberry/Plum
THEFACESHOP Pure Blossom Powder Pearls Mini
L'Oreal Lip Parfait Simply Rose 658
MAC Viva Glam II Lipstick Satin
Dior Addict Ultra Gloss Reflect
Sigma High Defenition Brushes
Sigma Complete Brush Set

Jan 2011 Giveaway

2011-01-15T21:53:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! :) It's time for another giveaway! First off, I want to greet everyone a Happy New Year! I know it's a bit late already but I have been on hiatus for so long. I want to thank you guys for sticking with me :)

Anyway, here are the items that I will be giving away. 1 lucky follower will win an elf Get the Look - Smokey Eyes kit which includes 1 Brightening Eyeliner, 1 Lengthening & Defining Mascara, 1 Drama Eyeshadow, 1 Eye Smudge Brush, 1 Mechanical Eyelash Curler. A follower will be winning an Eyeko Rain Polish. Another follower from Philippines will be winning the Baylis & Harding Moonlight Lavender Mini 3 Pc Set which includes 100ml bottle of body wash, a 100ml bottle of body lotion and a 100g soap.

This contest is open internationally with an exception of another price available to be given away to viewers from the Philippines. As much as I wanted to make all the prices available internationally, there might be problems involved in shipping liquid based products to other countries so in order to prevent disappointments, the 3rd item will be given away to a local viewer of my site.

Here are the mechanics of the contest:
1. Post a beauty tip on my Facebook page wall, Makeup by Miyo. Beauty tips can be anything about skin care, makeup and hair care. You may also post a photo to best describe your tip but this is only optional.
2. By Feb 19, I will announce the winners.
3. Winners will be determined by the following conditions:
a. The beauty tip with the most likes will win the elf Get the Look - Smokey Eyes kit. So the more friends you have to support your entry and more followers who like it, then the more chances of winning. :)
b. I will randomly pick 2 likers of my page - 1 winner (international or local) will win an Eyeko Rain Polish and 1 Phils resident to win the Baylis & Harding Moonlight Mini 3 pc gift set. So friends who support your entries can also have the chance to win :)

elf Get the Look - Smokey Eyes

Baylis & Harding Moonlight Lavender Mini 3 pc. Gift Set

Teaser: Collaboration Project

2011-01-10T07:41:00.000-08:00

A colleague from college, Russel CP, and I did a collaboration shoot yesterday featuring 13seouls, a boy cover group for Super Junior. We were supposed to shoot 16 people - the 13 members, 2 choreographers and their manager (who happens to be my little sister). Unfortunately, 7 of the boys were not able to come so we are only able to complete the set cards of the 6 members.

Teaser photos:

Creative Directors: Russel CP and Miyo Sia
Photography by Russel CP
Makeup by Miyo Sia

How To: Makeup for Men

2010-12-31T00:23:00.000-08:00

I helped my little sister groom some of the guys in her group for a concert performance last December 29 and I realized that doing makeup for men, specially those still in puberty stage, the hardest. Teen years are usually a stage where skin breaks out easily and more coverage is needed. Doing makeup for teenage girls isn't as hard as doing for teenage boys since girls are OK to look like they are wearing makeup while guys are not.

At first I was under impression that I only need to make them look flawless on stage but later that day I was told that I need to put liners on their eyes too (I was like WTF no!) Anyway here are some things that I have learned and steps I followed in doing their makeup.

1. Start with a clean face - this is a must for all genders but male skin is oilier than female skin so it important that at the oil and dirt are removed from the face.
2. Make sure that you match the correct foundation/concealer shade with the skin tone - I have to mix alot of shades to really match the color on their skin to make it appear that the foundation is like their skin. I brought 3 shades - light, medium and dark - and mix them together to get a perfect match
3. Use waterproof foundation - guys tend to sweat more than girls so I used waterproof foundation to make sure that it will last for a longer time and prevent reapplying or retouching throughout the event.
4. Do not use products with SPF - since these guys are expected to have their photos taken, I ensured that I do not go beyond 15SPF for the products that I used.
5. Apply very thin layer of foundation to even out skin color and gradually build up to specific areas that need coverage - I used a buffer brush and applied the foundation using the stippling technique just to have a very thin layer of the foundation over the skin to even out skin. Then for areas with breakouts or acne scars, I gradually build up the product until I get the flawless coverage that I want. For areas that require alot of work, spot concealing is recommended so their face do not look so made up.
6. Bring back the contour on their face - guys have more prominent contours than women so it is important that their masculine features is still visible. Contours should be very subtle as they would tend to look like a drag queen when overly done.
7. Groom their eyebrows. - Sometimes there are brows that would require a little bit of shaving and cutting, but if your client doesn't want their brows touched then just use a brow gel and comb the brow with a spool brush to keep the brows in place. When needed, apply a brow powder using an angled brush to define the shape of the brows.
8. Apply a transluscent gloss on their lips to make them appear moisturized and hydrated. Do not apply too much to make it look natural.
9. Set everything with a powder.

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Exclusives for Makeup Lovers

2010-11-23T07:58:00.000-08:00

Black Friday in few days! ;) Here are some of the Black Friday online exclusives from different makeup brands. Enjoy!

Sigma Makeup: FREE SHIPPING on all national and international orders! Use code BF2010.
Eve Pearl: 55% off from Thursday to Monday, use code BPCM2010
M.A.C. : Pink 4 Friday Lipstick - A Limited Edition Lipstick personally designed by Nicki Minaj to celebrate the release of her debut album Pink Friday. Featuring a bright, creamy pink satin formula, Nicki's shade is only available online for four Fridays starting November 26, 2010, while supplies last.
Bobbie Brown: Enter the code HAPPY11 at checkout for free shipping and 3 travel-sized makeup treats - Crystal Lip Gloss, Extreme Party Mascara and Intensive Skin Supplement. Offer is only valid Black Friday to Cyber Monday.
Pur Minerals: 20% off and free shipping from Black Friday to Nov. 30. For every order placed on Black Friday, they will donate $5 to American Heart Association.
Chantecaille: Every purchase of Tiger in the Wild Palette on Black Friday, get the Chantecaille Lip Chic in Tea Rose for free by entering the code TIGERS upon checkout.
Urban Decay: Tons of great items at reduced prices of $6 and $12 (including the Skull and Wallpaper Palettes and Apocalyptic and Summer of Love Nail Kits) will be offered from Black Friday to November 30, 2010. A limited edition release of a 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil Set, which includes 15 pencils with 5 new exclusive shades for $92 will be released on Cyber Monday.
Lorac Cosmetics: Buy limited edition Cyber Monday Collection at containing a glam black makeup bag and Lorac all-time favorites for only $25 on Cyber Monday (valued at $100).

Muñiz Shoe Haul

2010-11-20T02:48:00.000-08:00

I have always been a sucker for really gorgeous and uniquely designed shoes. Lately, I bought 3 shoes from Muñiz Shoes. These shoes were designed by Carmina Villarroel, a local actress/TV host in the Philippines. Most of her designs are 5-inch heel shoes which are so gorgeous. Yes I am also a sucker for really high heels :) Discovering these is actually accidental since I am not really into watching local shows. I think I saw her site link from twitter.

I couldn't resist her designs I end up buying three pairs this month. I have exceeded my target of buying 1 shoe per month from her collection. Here are the shoes that I have bought so far.

Bianca - With its knotted-net-and-lace upper, skinny wraparound ankle straps, and heels done in subtly textured animal print, the Bianca mixes unconventional material with peek-a-boo sexiness.

Sheila - Its cutouts at the sides and at the top, held together by interweaving laces, can make even the widest foot look feminine and shapely. Also available in Blue and Red.

Gianelli - This peep-toe platform bootie is made of textured leather, with an upper made of stretched mesh. While demure-looking and simple, this shoe is a fusion of comfort and trendiness. Also available in Black.

I've yet to buy more from her collection soon and will post more photos :)

*These are bought with my own money and I am in no way connected with Muñiz Shoes.

Sanrio Little Twin Stars Haul

2010-11-16T01:03:00.000-08:00

I haven't been doing much make-up work lately as I am too stressed and my skin's affected so I am giving it rest from any product on my skin. I recently went back to collecting my favorite character item once again - Little Twin Stars by Sanrio. I love this since I was a kid and the addiction stopped when I started developing interest in other things.

Recently I have been shopping with my cousin and she inspired me to go back to building my collection again. Today, I went to Sanrio store to buy their limited edition iPhone case but end up buying more than what I have planned. :)

Little Twin Stars Collection

Limited Edition iPhone Case

Luggage Tag

Mechanical Pencils and Retractable Eraser

Limited Edition Calculator

Limited Edition Eye Mask

Limited Edition Nail Cutter

Card Case

Limited Edition Key Chain

Limited Edition Alarm Clock

Limited Edition Earphones

Limited Edition First Aid Box

Limited Edition Tumbler

Limited Edition Desk Mirror (Back)

Limited Edition Desk Mirror (Front)

What I've Been Up To

2010-10-27T08:18:00.000-07:00

Hi peeps! Sorry if I've been on hiatus for sometime and haven't been posting tutorials lately. Something came up with my personal life which is giving me so much stress and dreadfully causing my skin to breakout :( I haven't had skin problems before aside from having some dry areas under my eyes and around my nose but lately I am starting to have pimples. (I need a week in the spa to relax maybe)

Anyway, I promise to post a new makeup look this weekend for you guys. This was a request from my friend Wendy since she wanted a smoky eye with a hint of blue. So this weekend I am planning to post a tutorial on how to create a smoky eye with a subtle hint of color.

I know this is way too late to announce but I finally got my Limited Edition Urban Decay Book of Shadows III UD♥NYC and Eye Primer :) I ordered it from US so it took a long route to Singapore then finally to Philippines! yay! I will be working on different looks out of this palette so watch out for it. Also, I finally was able to order the NAKED palette! After almost 2 months of wait can you believe that? :) It's on its way so I would most likely get it by mid or end of November. I hate how I have to order it from US, have it ship to Singapore and finally to Philippines but for the love of makeup.. I guess it's worth the wait :)

Last weekend, I stayed at Edsa Shangri-La hotel to give myself personal time off, unwind and allow myself to relax a bit. Do I sound problematic? haha! Oh well, I booked an executive suite, invited my cousin and her cute little niece over, did some shopping and tried to divert my mind from depressing thoughts. I am also happy to announce that I am back to taking photos again! Here are some shots that I took of the place and my niece.

♥
Miyo

I made a Tumblr!

2010-10-16T23:50:00.001-07:00

OK I really didn't plan to add another reason to remember a new username and password, but my niece has been requesting me to make one and I have to give in. Apparently, I kind of figured out the site finally and realize that this is actually very convenient if you are into document just everything about yourself. LOL

Anyway, if you guys want to know things about me on a more personal level then you can follow me http://miyosia.tumblr.com/ :) I usually post not make-up stuff there also I have set this blog to auto update my tumblr as well. The only difference is that I would be posting personal stuff - photos, status and videos not related to makeup.

If you have tumblr let me know ^_~

My Favorite Jewelry Picks from Fantasy Jewelry Box

2010-10-14T10:04:00.000-07:00

I found this cool jewelry store that offers silver and gold jewelries for very cheap price. I love jewelries (more than I love clothes) so I want to share with you my favorite pieces from their shop. This also serves my wishlist for future jewelry purchases ^_~ For more desings, visit http://www.fantasyjewelrybox.com

Rings:

Earrings: