Smashbox Wish For The Perfect Palette: Review & Swatches

It's been over a week since my last post. I've been busy with the Holidays especially since its my son's first Christmas!

Anyway, with a lot of gift-giving going on around us, I grabbed the opportunity to get myself, yep--MYSELF, haha, a gift. It's actually my make-up class graduation and Christmas gift in one. And what would be the perfect gift for me this time? A make-up palette which has almost everything that I'll need when doing make-up!

Thank goodness I stumbled upon Smashbox Wish for The Perfect Palette at Beauty Bar MOA. It has 49 eyeshadows in various colors and finishes, 2 blushes, 1 bronzer and 1 highlighter, 8 lip glosses, 10 gel liners, 6 eyebrow powders and a brow gel plus 4 small brushes. Now ain't that a MONSTER of a palette! And what's great about it is that you get it for a reasonable price of Php 3,400.

Now off to the product pictures and swatches of the Smashbox Wish for The Perfect Palette. Note though that for the swatches, I had to swipe them about 3-5 times for them to appear on the camera.

49 eyeshadows, 2 blushes, 1 bronzer and 1 highlighter

8 lip glosses and 2 brushes

2 brushes, 1 brow gel, 6 eyebrow powders and 10 gel liners

the MONSTER palette

2011 Holidays- Goodbye Long Weekends

Yesterday, our office's HR Department released a copy of PMAP Circular No. 2010-31 regarding the 2011 Holidays.

Instead of the usual cheers that would come from the employees, most people whined about the fact that most of the 2011 Holidays fall either on a Sunday or Saturday! So much for long weekends then! Booo!

Sephora's Hello Kitty MakeUp Collection

Sephora collaborated with Helo Kitty to create a new make-up collection, which I personally feel is way more girlier than Kitty's MAC Collection in 2009. It is set to launch in January 2011, but if you can't wait to see what's coming, below's a sneak peek of some of the items I love about the collection.







Hello Kitty Brush Set ($49)
Quality set of synthetic white bristles with pink tips. The set comes in a large metallic silver Hello Kitty container. Brushes included in this set: Face Brush, Eyeshadow Brush, Shader/Blending Brush, Angled Eyeliner Brush and Lip Brush.

Hello Fun Say Hello Kitty Palette ($35)
A fun collection of 4 eyeshadows:
Ice cream (pearl white)
Airplane (taupe)
Chocolate milk (brown)
Peppermint (sage green)
and 4 lipglosses:
Baby Pink (pink)
Peach Pudding (peach)
Strawberry Jam (dark pink)
Springtime (apricot)
Perfect for everyday wear.

Super Fun Say Hello Kitty Palette ($35)
A cool collection of 4 eyeshadows:
Raindrop(grey)
Sugar Plum (pale lilac)
Sweet Plum (purple)
Goodnight Dreams (black)
and 4 lipglosses:
Sweet Plum (purple)
Pink Confetti (pink)
Strawberry Cookies (brownish pink)
Snowflake (white)
Perfect for fun nights out.

Charmmy Kohl Eye Liner Kit ($25)
A collection of 7 kohl eyeliners in the ff. colors:
Goodnight Dreams (black)
Grape Juice (purple)
Chocolate Milk (brown)
Happy Cloud (white)
Blueberry (navy)
Bicycle (teal green)
Blue Sky (bright light blue)

Hello Kitty Fragrance, 1.7 oz ($55)
This perfume in a pretty bottle is made with some of Hello Kitty’s favorite things: green apple and Japanese fruits, floral scents with a wisk of vanilla, plus a little hint of musk. Truly a fragrance created especially for the young-at-heart. The eau de parfum spray comes in an adorable Hello Kitty glass bottle with a crystalline bow and a pink atomizer that can be removed for travel. Also available in rollerball, body lotion, and shower gel.

Bling Mirror ($49)
A shiny silver Hello Kitty encrusted mirror with twinkling crystals. 2.75" x 2.5″













Now, aren't they all too cute to ignore. Too bad really , we don't have a Sephora in Manila!

New Philippine Bank Notes

Yesterday, Malacanang announced the release of the new Philippine Bank Notes. I totally dig the idea of putting Key Philippine spots and endangered animals at the back of the new bills. Anyway, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) officially released the notes today. Can't wait to get my hands on them! =)

Below's a comparison of the current vs. new bills. Don't you just love the more artsy and colorful look fo the new ones? I know I do! =)

Greenmeadows Christmas Rush Bazaar

Still looking for stuff to complete your Christmas list? You still have this weekend to rush to the nearest bazaars, one of which is the Greenmeadows X'Mas Rush Bazaar on December 18 to 19 from 10AM to 7PM. They have over 120 stalls and would offer free entrance, free gift wrapping plus hourly raffle draw to lucky shoppers!

Holiday Treat from Paul & Joe

Paul & Joe Beaute wants you to be chic this Christmas! From Dec 17-19, 2010 they will have a meet with and tips-sharing from make-up artists Paolo Maranan and Isabel Arches at the Paul & Joe Beaute Counter at the 1st Level of Rustan's Makati.

Aside from learning tricks from known make-up artists, Paul & Joe will also serve cocktails and treats along with prizes and offer 25% DISCOUNT ON ALL ITEMS!

Hurry and RSVP now to Maan Perez at 09178338339.

The BIG Holiday Outlet Sale

Good news to everyone who hasn't finished up their Christmas shopping list. The Big Outlet Sale 2010 will be held this weekend, from December 17 to 20, 2010 from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM at SMX Convention Center Hall 4 (Beside SM Mall of Asia).

Entrance:

• 
  FREE for all BPI Cardholders and all customers who apply for a BPI Credit Edge Mastercard at the entrance venue
• P50 if without BPI Card or is not interested to apply for one

Other details:

• BPI Edge/ Mini-Edge Mastercard holders will enjoy additional 5% discount on selected items and a chance to win in the ourly raffles
• Special installment plan is also available for a minimum purchase of P3,00 at selected retailers on selected items.

If you're literally not doing anything you better head down south for this as it will be packed with discounts from  powerhouse brands such as:

Up to 80% OFF!

Power MAC Center, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Roxy Parfums, Levi's Lady Style, Guerlain, Levi's Quality Eyecare, Salvatore Ferragamo, Kenneth, Cole, Yves Saint Laurent, Bvlgari, Lacoste, Celine Dion Eyes, Issey Miyake and Davidoff.

Up to 75% OFF!

Speedo, Canopy Home, Cushe, Gola Classics, Keen, And1, Ryka, Triple Five, Soul, Gentle Star Trading Corp, United LimSum Trading Corp, New Era, Hush puppies, Esprit, Sebago, Ecko Unltd, Hannspree, Busquets, BSX, Giordano Concepts, Giordano Ladies, Giordano, Space, Cole Vintage, Skechers, Mental, Polliwalks, Light My Fire, Fletcher, Puma, She, RayBan, Elle, To Be, Branded Lifestyle, Pepe Jeans and Ideal Vision Center.

Up to 60% OFF!

Jack Spicklaus, Tefal, Anne Klein, Denman, Dep, Hawain Tropic, Citre Shine, Babolat, Rowenta, Max Factor, Dueter, Zoggs, Head, Mares and Princess.

Up to 50% OFF!

Plains and Prints, Rich and Famous, Triumph, Case Logic, Levi's, Goods of Desire, Q-Paq, Vax, Bike, Style and Carry, Dockers, Suesh, Canon, Cosmopolitan Clothing Co, Ed Hardy, Grendha, Rider, Cutting Edge, Parker, Zwilling JA Henckels, Victorinox, Karrimor, Dunlop Sport, Maldita, Bose, Techno Marine, Slazenger, Harbinger, Body Sculpture, Relaxia, JB Sport, Green Master, Beats by Dr. Dre, Ipanema, iLuv, IdeaStyle, Be.ez, Etonic, Ogio, TourStage, Pacsports, Bridgestone Golf, Wrangler, Bicycle, and Nike Golf.

Plus Huge Discounts

Armani Exchange, Simple, Melissa, Police, Axis, Gucci, Pepe Jeans, Timex, Juicy Couture, Big & Small Company, Adidas, Michael Kors, Timberland Watches, Diesel, Philips, Safilo, Cross, Dolce & Gabbana Time, Pac Safe, Mango, Switch, Bico Australia, Mc Jim, Flat Panel TV's for Less, Summit, PictureKa, Bop it, Cranium, Life, Yellow Cab, Wham burgers, Unsure and Pop-out.

What's in my daily cosmetic bag?

Since I went to make-up school, I've been more observant of the make-up that other people wear. I always wonder, everytime I see someone with perfectly put-on "everyday" make-up, what could be the staples in their make-up or "kikay" kit...

Anyway, I've been through make-up school for only two months and have actually just explored a few brands but so far, these are the things I find myself putting inside my cosmetic bag on workdays...

just a few stuff, really

L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Foundation in Golden Beige

MAC Studio Fix Powder + Foundation in NC 35

MAC Sheertone Blush in Blushbaby

Smashbox Brow Tech Quad

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (original)

In2it Waterproof Gel Liner in black

Maybelline Volum' Express Waterproof Mascara in black

Maybelline EyeStudio Lasting Drama GelEyeliner in black

My customized brown palette
(clockwise rom top: Elianto Vibrant Shadow ,
PAC Pressed matte eyeshadow in MO7,
PAC Pressed matte eyshadow in MO6, and
Elianto Vibrant Shadow )

*I missed to take a shot of the lipstick I use daily, but it's a toss between Nyx Round Lipstick in FIG or Ever Bilena's Cherish.

I don't really say that these are actually the BEST products for me, it's just that I find these products to be good for daily use.

What make-up items are in your cosmetic bags? Share them with me, I'd love to hear what you guys use daily.