Last Wednesday, Happy Skin launched their limited edition summer collection plus a few new permanent products. Guys, seriously - you have to check them out! The fever surrounding the brand isn't just brilliant marketing. Happy Skin has truly amazing products that are pretty affordable, and perform just as well (or even better) than high-end cosmetics. If you've tried at least one item from this local brand then you know what I'm talking about!

Anyway, here's an overview + FOTD featuring the all-new collection!

Happy Skin has added the Feeling Sculptacular Face Contour Kit (P1,199), Eye Love View Pencil & Marker Eyebrow Duo (P799), 24HR Gel Pencil Liner (P499), and the Make A Clean Sweep Makeup Cleanser (P599) to the permnanent line. The limited edition Turn Up The Heat Collection has three new Shut Up & Kiss Me Shades (P549 each and P1299 for the trio) and two Get Cheeky With Me Blushes (P699) to match. These are only available while stocks last.

The three new lipsticks are super pigmented - even more pigmented and longwearing than the first ones! That was a tough act to beat but I adore this improved formula.

Context is everything when it comes to wearing makeup. At least, it's important to me. I try to match my face to where I'm going because I believe that makeup should complement the situation and not be too much in contrast to it. You know what I'm saying? Paint your face and dress appropritately, too, and people will respect you. 

(Then again if respect isn't your priority then go ahead and wear whatever the hell you want. Seriously.)

So! A couple of girls asked me about the makeup I had in one of my recent reviews. It's something I wore to a lunch meeting, hence the thoroughly neutral color scheme. But neutral doesn't necessarily mean "flat and boring", which is how some people seem to do it. Neutral makeup can be fun, beautiful, and equally effortless, too! Here are some tips on how to liven up your neutral makeup.

1. Matte eyeshadows are lovely in photos but in person, they just look...flat, unless you're a crazy gifted makeup artist who can layer and blend it perfectly. I still prefer to wear satin or shimmery eyeshadows since they brighten my eyes better. There are tons of awesome neutral palettes out there, but this time I tried an old one from revlon called Graffiti.

I wore the shimmery champagne on the lids, the light tan on the crease, and contoured with a tiny bit of that charcoal color on the outer v. Easy and simple, true, but it's the finish that takes the cake. 

It's Valentine's Day! Some people are crazy about celebrating it (flowers-chocolate-wine-the works), some people are bitter about it, but I am honestly apathetic about it. I've been with the same guy for almost seven years now and it's never been our thing to begin with. I mean, we don't even know when our anniversary is. We don't celebrate that - why celebrate something as random as Valentine's?

But if he gives me a video game today I will not say no to that! Haha. Or shoes. 

Anyway, just wanted to show you what I wore yesterday. What's fun about being a beauty blogger is that I also get to talk about the makeup I wore! I think that a well-dressed person pays attention to details, from hair down to the fragrance. If you're going to make an effort then you better make an effort, you know what I'm saying?

I'm mostly a lazy dresser these days but I always rise up to the occasion, if there is one. 

Dress from Dororthy Perkins | Bag from Rabeanco | Pumps from Ferretti

This dress got lots of compliments yesterday! I want like ten of these in different colors and prints. If you know anyone who can make the same thing, I WOULD BE SO GRATEFUL if you can point me to his/her direction! I want a black, white, navy blue, and purple version to start with haha. The backless cut isn't necessary!

On to the makeup. I didn't want my face to clash with my loud outfit, so I kept everything soft yet defined with peach and brown. This is actually an excellent look to wear to a Valentine's date! Understated yet sexy, the kind where he thinks you're barely wearing any.

Face: Shiseido Sheer and Perfect Foundation, MAC Studio Finish Concealer, Shiseido Spot-Control powder foundation

Since the onset of this insane heat, I've received a few questions about the kind of beauty products one should take to a beach vacation. Sunscreen is, of course, SOP, but you have a little more freedom when it comes to makeup. There are only two things to keep in mind: don't wear a lot, and make sure it will melt beautifully or not at all!

I followed these two rules while I was packing for El Nido a couple of weeks back (was it only two weeks?). Anyway, here's what I brought with me to the beach. You'll notice that I didn't bother with powder, instead going for cream or liquid colors. Why? Because cream/liquid makeup looks more natural, more "one" with your skin. Powder makeup looks off in the beach, since it can look thick, cakey, and overdone in such a casual setting. It's best to go with wet formulas to achieve a chic summer-at-the-beach look!

I packed everything in my Happy Skin brush bag. It's so cool no? I get to take these neatly-packed, travel-sized brushes and fit a whole face of makeup in too. The brushes are handy (my favorite is the flat top, sold separately as it happens), but the bag is really something else. It's compact but roomy, and I love the two-level arrangement for the brushes.

I brought my favorite bases from Shiseido: the Sun Protection Liquid Foundation SPF43, White Lucent Brightening Spot-Control Foundation, and Natural Finish Cream Concealer. Together, they're long-wearing and provide a good amount of coverage + sun protection. I used the Sun Protection foundation while swimming and it stayed on fairly well. I mean, it faded of course, but there were still some left over when I washed my face. It's very water-resistant!

The Fairydrops Platinum Mascara is still the best for extreme humidity, I think. It won't stay on after swimming but it will not fail you under the heat.

I do tons of makeup reviews, but what actually ends up on my face during a full day out of the house? Now that's the question. I guess the best way to show that is to do regular FOTDs (Face of the Days), where I can discuss the logic of each makeup choice. Haha. Look at us, talking about logic here.

Anyway, I just want to show you a look I wore last week. I failed, terribly, at capturing what I wore (it was a printed navy dress from Dorothy Perkins with a classy pair of nude pumps), so this is all I have to write about here. -_- I'll wear that outfit again, it deserves to be chronicled!

Okay! For my face, I just wore the MAC Studio Finish Concealer with the Ellana Intensive Cover Foundation. That's it. No other hoopla. I love the flawless finish I get with this duo! It's mostly matte but there is a subtle sheen to the foundation. 

Occupying my mind right now, other than work, is Yolanda and Napoles. But there is a time and place for everything. I just don't feel like talking about heavy current events here because this blog is where I go to indulge the makeup lover in me. Perhaps it is the same for you. So let's keep it a happy fluffy place!

Soooo. If you watch YouTube makeup tutorials I'm sure you notice many gurus double-lining their eyes with a liquid liner than a pencil eyeliner in a similar color. I must admit that this has baffled me for years, I mean, why on earth would one do something like that, twice? I thought it was pointless.

As I discovered recently, however, it's not. Layering eyeliners with different formulas gives my lash line the darkest, most opaque effect I've ever seen!