In any long-term relationship, sometimes, you just run out of things to say. Perhaps it's the lack of something new to explore, or the absence of inspiration and interest. How do you stay interested in something or someone for six years? 

Commitment, however, is not a passive thing. You choose to stay interested and to say something even when it bores you sometimes. You choose to keep the relationship because it's part of your identity and it keeps you happy. That's why I still blog, even when I feel like doing something else. It's just who I am. 

In addition to that: The thing about trying to write as quickly as possible is that I don't get to say everything I already take for granted in my head. There are simply days when it is difficult to do what I need and want to do, but often it's as easy as breathing air. There are rough patches in any relationship, but I choose to step over them instead of getting caught up. At the end of the day, it's not really an issue.

Anyway, it's time for my monthly hit list! Here are ten things that I loved last March. ^_^

Not gonna lie - the Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in 45 L'Adoree is rather drying, but I love it because the color is so unique and sophisticated. As The Rolling Stones would say - you can't always get what you want! But this color is what I need. (Naks)

I adore the super shiny formula of the Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balm. My fave shade is Flirtatious - it's such a fun color to wear! It reminds me of chilled fruit juice, haha. I'm always up for complexion-brightening colors like it.

The Clinique Cheek Pop in 01 Ginger Pop is a beautiful warm color that's perfect for summer. It has a buildable formula that blends on my skin seamlessly. Ginger Pop is definitely a welcome change from pink and peachy blushes!

One thing I love about the local beauty blogging community is that we are not a toxic bunch. I'd be lying if I said we didn't have egos or felt jealous, irritated, etc. at each other every now and then, but the negativity is minimal. We don't hold on to it. If there's an issue we settle it quickly and privately or just move on like nothing happened! I guess that while we find beauty blogging tremendously fun and rewarding, it doesn't rule our lives. That why (I think) we're pretty relaxed about it.

Anyway, today I'd like to share with you my top ten favorite finds last month! Here are ten things that I feel enriched my existing collection.

Ahh, Shiseido, my love. The Shiseido Sheer and Perfect Liquid Foundation + the White Lucent Brightening Spot-Control Foundation is a match made in heaven. Even when my skin looks like crap (like right now, pre-period pimples UGH), these two can hide everything without looking heavy. It's a "my skin but better" tandem!

I love all the Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadows, but my absolute absolute favorite is Bad to the Bronze. It's a beautiful, rich color that can be used alone on the lids then blended up the crease. It makes my eyes look more exciting and polished at the same time. Grab it n' love it!

I don't know why I ever put off owning a metal palette. It really helped me apply makeup better since it opens up new ways for me to mix my products. Such a great find! Get the MONDA Studio Mixing Palette from Digital Traincase.

Products come and products go, but these ten(ish) things are permanently clutched to my heart. I found them all this year alone and trust me, they've managed to elevate my makeup and skincare routine to heretofore unheard of heights. Yes yes I think you get it. These things are awesome and I'm soooo lucky I got to "discover" them! 

Here's my list! (Warning: crazy, gibbering raves are about to explode in your face.)

Shiseido Ibuki Skincare Line. Are you tired of me talking about this yet? I owe the niceness of my skin now to Ibuki. I mean, guys, last night I just went out with just a dab of concealer on my face. I didn't need to powder or apply any foundation anymore. Those blessed with awesome skin may think that it's no big deal, but for someone like me who breaks out every so often, this is like, science fiction.

This is the single best thing that happened to my face. 

Cure Natural Aqua Gel. Aaand this is pretty much the next best thing that happened to my skin this year. Seriously, the Japanese have the best skincare products! If you haven't switched to Japanese brands yet (at least for your face) then you are missing a ton.

Dead skin is actually one of the top causes of our problems - acne, blackheads, even whiteheads. Cure keeps away dead skin like the plague. 

Bifesta Sebum Cleansing Lotion. This is the best makeup remover I've tried. It's water-based but still super effective in melting off the thickest, most long-wearing makeup. It stops short when it comes to waterproof mascara but everything else, it can wipe off within minutes. (I use the Shiseido Instant Eye and Lip Makeup Remover for long-wearing mascara).

My skin feels clearer whenever I use this. Plus, it's inexpensive and can be found in most Watsons.

Lancome Visionnaire Yeux, Advanced Eye Contour Perfecting Corrector. I've had a healthy skepticism of eye creams for the longest time. I thought they were the biggest hoax perpetrated by the beauty industry. I didn't expect them to do much other than moisturize and maintain whatever is left to maintain...but then I tried the Lancome Visionnaire for eyes. It's like a slo-mo moment. 

Man, I noticed that I only published 30 posts last month! My average is 40-50, and yes I can still get that number even when I'm busy. I guess August was just a generally uninspired month for me. Call it a minor break from blogging! I'm sure September is more interesting, beauty-wise. The brands are getting ready to launch their autumn and holiday collections so I'm sure we'll have lots of awesome things to look forward to. 

I also want to post more FOTDs this September. I remember the good ol' days when beauty bloggers would share more FOTDs and tutorials than reviews. Sure reviews are useful, but looks of the day show those products in action. I'd like to polish up my eyeshadow chops and try out new combinations - I have a few new good eyeshadow palettes that I can't wait to play with!

Okay okay I'm done with the small talk. Here is my monthly list of favorites! :)

The Clinique Long Last Lipstick in Runway Coral is probably my banner lipstick this August. I love the formula and the elegant silver bullet, but really it's the color that got me all infatuated. Coral-watermelon-pink shades never fail to brighten my complexion even if I'm not wearing much makeup!

The ZA Plumper Lips Lipstick in Rose Vintage is a more subdued lipstick - something more appropriate for work engagements or errands. Hey, a girl can't have too many MLBB lipsticks if you ask me! (Which just gave me an idea for a blog post, hehe).

I've lost count of the number of lip balms I have - and their exact locations - so I pick up whatever is in my line of sight. I make sure that the Hurraw! Grapefruit Lip Balm is always in my line of sight. It's one of the best lip balms I've tried so far! Check out my other picks: my top five favorite lip balms.

July was a crazy awesome month for me. I was able to visit Tokyo for the launch of Shiseido's latest skincare line, Ibuki! Even with the surprise trip, I also managed to organize a press and blogger event for Pinkbox (more on that soon). I'm not bragging, honest. I'm saying all this with a mild disbelief: how?

Counting chairs

August should be a quieter month, I think! I am going to Hong Kong today to relax a little, see the sights, shop for interesting things. I've scheduled a few posts for you that I think you'll like, so keep on visiting and commenting! ^_^ Let me start off with my monthly favorites.

I must have at least one lip balm in every bag. My latest find is the Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm! This doesn't actually tint my lips at all, but I love the buttery texture and caramel scent. It also moisturizes my lips for hours on end. 

The IN2IT Moisture Intense Lipstick in Pink Alarm is an eye-catching hot pink lipstick with a nice formula. If you like hot pinks, I dare say that this is a must-have - it's just so bright and fun! The price is very affordable too considering the quality you get. 

Last month was a good one since I found so many interesting beauty products! It was quite a challenge to whittle down this list to ten items, but it must be done. Here are my ten favorite things from May.

My review of the Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder is one of the most popular posts last month - and for good reason! It's an amazing powder that truly controls oil and extends the wear of my makeup. I wish that it has more, skin-toned coverage, but it's okay since I have a hack for that. ;) I usually mix this with my Snoe Poudre Extraordinaire, another awesome powder that I've been consistently using for months now.

CC creams are slowly but steadily making their way to the Philippines. One of the first to arrive is the Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream. It's an illuminating, light coverage face base that makes skin glow with only one layer. It has the Moisture Surge base which also happens to be my favorite moisturizer of all time! This saves me extra steps in my routine since this can be my primer, moisturizer, SPF, illuminator, and light foundation in one bottle.

Another CC cream I'm loving is the Etude House CC Cream in Glow. I honestly didn't think I would like it this much!

What is it they say - happiness shouldn't be a goal. It's a journey. We spend much of our life thinking that if we suffer just a little bit more, we'd be rewarded with happiness in the end. By who or what we're not likely to know, which is why we shouldn't bet on it so heavily. We ought to try to find pleasure and joy in what we have right now. It might all end in flames - or not - but at least we know how things stand in the present, and that we can influence it.

Okay hope that made sense. :P Moving on, here are my top ten favorite finds last month! 

I am a huge fan of Avon lipsticks. I was already pretty happy with the Ultra Moisture Rich formula (even with its limited staying power), but the Avon Totally Kissable Lipstick blows the UMR out of the water. It stays on better, while the colors are pretty daring. Hope Avon makes this line available again, stat!

My favorite brow product right now is the MAC Fluidline Brow Gelcreme in Dirty Blonde. It's the perfect shade of brown for me, and it still works even with my new slightly reddish hair color. It's easy to apply, doesn't slide off in humid weather, and looks quite natural while still giving much-needed definition to the brows. I wish MAC makes this permanent in the future.

And here's my current concealer - the Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation. I've always wanted to have this since Lisa Eldridge featured it. Now that Digital Traincase carries it, I've finally gotten my hands on it! It's back in stock girls.

March was a slow month for beauty products, probably because it's that odd time when our routine transitions to summer. I didn't have as many reviews as I usually do because I spent that time trying many of the things I received a month before...huh. I need to work on my pace because I don't want to be too late when I publish something! Late being the product is no longer available for sale!

Anyhoo, here are my top 10 best finds last March.

The Clinique Chubby Stick Intense is finally out! I have Mightiest Maraschino, a bright tomato red that feels absolutely lush on the lips. It stays on, moisturizes, and flatters. What more can you ask from a lip color? Definitely grabbing a shade or two.

The BYS Brow & Eye Pencil in Blonde is a good drugstore find. It's a soft, waxy brow pencil that has a dual purpose of shading and taming the eyebrows. I wish I got the darker color, but as it is Blonde looks okay on my brows. Can't complain when it's only P250!

Ah, and here's another drugstore favorite - the Maybelline Colorsensational Lipstick in Red Revival.

I can't believe I survived February. It's only the second month of the year but I've been ridiculously busy! I noticed that people like to brag that they're busy, as if it's an achievement. Like a badge of honor. For me, busy - or in my definition having too many things to do that I'm at my wits' end - is not good. I like to take my time doing my work so that it's polished and perfect before I turn it in. Being rushed all the time is no way to live.

Not that I'm complaining. I love my work, I just need more time to do it! And to rest afterwards. :) Anyway, here's my top ten best of February!

Headlining the list is the Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Liner. Don't you just adore it when products are affordable AND work amazingly well at the same time? This gel eyeliner doesn't smudge or fade and comes with a really good brush too. :) It's not going to rival the MAC Fluidline (my fave gel liner of all time) but it comes close in terms of wear.

Another good drugstore find is the L'Oreal Lucent Magique Foundation. This is the drugstore version of Lancome Teint Miracle! It has a brightening, glowy finish without the shimmer, and makes skin look amazing in person and on camera. However, this doesn't last particularly long so if you have oily skin you might want to consider other options.

September was a mighty blur to me. If you ask me what I did exactly, I wouldn't know without consulting my calendar. I would spend an entire day operating on the impression that it's a day or two ahead. Is that a bad thing? Yes because I am sometimes disoriented and out of focus. No because I love and enjoy what I am doing. And through my blog-related efforts, this website has been pushing 5,500+ page views a day! Even reaching 7,000 on a good day.

via

That said, I'm so thankful for your support. I wouldn't keep pushing without your comments and questions as readers, without your trust as sponsors. :') You're the best!

Okay, that's it for the emo rambling. On to my my top 10 favorite finds last September!

If you're OC about perfecting your face makeup (as I am) then you'll love the Real Techniques Core Collection Brush Set (as I do). It's a set of four wonderful brushes to conceal, smoothen, and brighten your complexion. It's a great deal too for only P1,100 for full-sized brushes and a travel case. My favorite brush in particular is the contour blush - it deposits blushes and contour powder cleanly. Love!

Nice, affordable mineral powder foundations are like unicorns. They're not so easy to find, even harder if they're in pressed form!

Friday! Many people think that working (mostly) from home is one big party. It's not. You still put in eight, maybe ten hours a day. I'm not going to whine about the pressure, the endless to-do lists, and scheduling woes - every job has that really. I'm trying to say that my job is like any other job, and like any other person with a job I look forward to doing absolutely nothing on weekends.

That said, time for my top 10 favorite finds last month! There are quite a few gems that I think are for keeps. :)

I'm gonna start with this one because I use it everyday. The Etude House Wonder Pore Line is a doozy. I'll swear by it up and down because it really helped my skin loose the bumps, the major blackheads, and even the pimples! I still break out occasionally (due to trying out new products) but this set helps clear the pimples faster and they leave lighter marks for some reason. I will definitely purchase the set when I run out!

Here's another cleansing product that knocked my socks off: the Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil. It takes makeup off much better than the other Shu cleansing oils, and it leaves skin nice and bright too. The downside is it will cost you a pretty, pretty penny, but if you don't mind the splurge you should definitely try it.

The VMV Hypoallergenics Skintangible SPF30 is another fantastic find. To quote myself, "it's a moisturizer, sun screen, primer, illuminator, and tinted makeup all in one."

I tried a lot of awesome high-end stuff last June so they're going to pepper this list. However, there are some affordable gems that you definitely shouldn't miss. Have at it!

I'm all for products that are convenient to carry around while still having a formula to beat. The Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Pale Pink is rather expensive but it's a handy prettifier than can do both your lips and cheeks in one hot minute. Useful when spotting your crush from the hallway and having almost no time to fix up!

Everyone, and I mean everyone, needs a great neutral eyeshadow palette. Not everyone can splurge for Bobbi Brown or MAC though, and that's where the Revlon ColorStay 16 Hour Eye Shadow Quad comes in. It's a well-thought out collection of flattering neutral shades, and the formula is pretty good too! "Not too expensive" is the magic phrase.

If you want stunning, perfect eyebrows, you can rarely do better than the K-Palette Lasting 2-Way Eyebrow pen.

Last April was rich with memorable beauty finds. It has been a good month for me! And so, without any further ado, here's my top ten best products for April.

Headlining the list is the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler. This tool is life (or should I say LASH) changing! Now I always have luscious and curly lashes even when I'm not wearing mascara. Try it if you haven't yet and forget about the price tag. Seriously.

Next up, I have the Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara. As promised, it gives me fuller lashes that still look natural. I love the effect! I just hate the removal time, because this is one hell of a mascara to wipe off!

The Avon Shine Attract Lipstick may not be as pigmented and long-lasting as other Avon lippies, but still, it's a great everyday lippie that requires a minimum amount of effort to perfect. Oh, it's also super moisturizing and smells like gummy bears.