August/Mid September Favorites!

Hi guys! I wasn't really intending on making a "favorites" post, but I had so much fun doing test shots with the light tent I created earlier today, that I decided to take out some of my makeup products that I've been loving and show them to you all :) 

First up are these blushes that I've been using daily since I've purchased them. On the left is ELF's Peachy Keen which is a peachy shimmery blush -- I intended on getting Nars' Gina blush the other day at the mall, but looking at the price tag (it cost P 1450!) I decided to take a step back and think about it first. So I went online and checked dupes for the Gina blush, and ELF's Peachy Keen came up! I wouldn't say it's an exact dupe. In terms of consistency, Nars' Gina came of as a creamy and heavily pigmented powder blush, while ELF's Peachy Keen is a much more sheer blush and is more powdery. However, you can't beat a P 250 blush! That's why I still like this product. 

On the right, we have MAC's Harmony blush which I use for contouring. It's a light brown blush, that doesn't really look overwhelming when I try to contour my cheeks like the other bronzers I've tried. This comes out softer and more natural. It has good pigmentation and for it being matte, helps to not emphasize the blemishes on my cheeks which a shimmery bronzer would otherwise showcase.

This is my latest obsession!!! Wet n Wild lipsticks are amazing, I swear by it!! They're really pigmented, and have a rich creamy consistency. They are true to their claim that they "mega last" haha! I love how it's matte but not drying. However, if you do not exfoliate and prime your lips with a lip balm, they'll settle into the lines of your lips and make them look dry. Other than that, if applied correctly they work wonders! The shades photographed below are (L-R) Sugar Plum Fairy, Vamp It Up, Mauve Outta Here, and Just Peachy :) A great plus, is that these lippies are really cheap too! Check SM Megamall's Department store, cause I think they have the complete shades there. NOT IN SM MAKATI, they never have anything it's so irritating!

I'm obsessed with my Girl Boy browset from MAC, and I was really hesitant to find a dupe for it because I was thinking NOTHING could ever measure up to it! Haha. But after calculating my budget for cosmetics, I had to admit I had to cut down on some stuff or use less of it so I could have it for a longer time. I searched online for a dupe for Girl Boy and wasn't really expecting to find one because I thought it was just that special, but I saw a review on Etude House's Color My Brows in Light Brown and decided to give it a go. I've used it twice, and I wouldn't say it's a 100% dupe for Girl Boy in terms of consistency. The shade of this brow set is really close to Girl Boy if not even exactly the same, but then the consistency is too chunky and thick it's so hard to brush out on my eyebrows.. Which is the only negative thing I can say about it. This product is dirt cheap and incredible, you should all definitely give it a try if you have light brown-blonde hair :)

Maaaan, I do not know how many times I've raved about the Mary-Lou Manizer by The Balm Cosmetics. I visit The Beauty Bar every so often, and I never leave that store without swatching this product! Haha. It never fails to make me fall even more in love with it everytime I try it on.. And after months and months and I think it's even been a year... I decided to finally get it as a gift for myself. :) It comes in an ivory almost gold-ish tone, and looks great on your skin! It gives you a healthy glow and brightens your face -- and by brighten I mean look luminous, not oily! I've been using Nars' Albatross as my highlighter for a while now, and though I've been loving it, I decided the Mary-Lou was really a must have. :)

I stopped wearing eyeshadows for a long time because I never had the time to do it in the morning. I had 8 am classes everyday for my last term and I didn't even bother looking presentable anymore. Haha! But now that I have more time on my hands, I'm able to do a little something fancy in terms of make up. I rediscovered my love for my NYX eyeshadow base which I bought in an Asian store in LA last Christmas. It works well as a concealer when I'm cleaning up my eyebrow area, and is incredible just as it is -- an eyeshadow base. :)

Lastly, here is my NUMBER ONE product for August/Mid-September!!!! I am... IN LOVE with this product. I'll probably buy 10 of these when I leave just so I'll never run out! This is IN2IT's Eyebrow Powder. It comes in three shades as seen below, and I use the light brown and medium brown to do my brows everyday. When I want my brows to look stronger, like for photos, I call it HD brows (hahaha!), I'll use this product wet. But when I'm just going out to the mall, I'll use the powder just as is and will top it off with my browset. This product has great pigmentation, not too rich, and not too weak either -- just the perfect amount for brows! Please do yourselves a favor and purchase it!

That's all for now, loves! Thanks for reading my blog, and I'm sorry if I've diverted from fashion posts to beauty posts. I'll get back on it when I've lost weight :P Lol. 

Twitter & Instagram: @itscarlasamson

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Fall Must Haves ✿

By way of makeup, this fall season (naks fall, we don't even have it here! hahaha) I'm leaning towards more purple/plum tones. I like the combination of a pale face, with light pinkish cheeks, and a dramatic purple eye or dramatic deep purple lips. But that's just my preference! I know we don't have a fall season here in the Philippines, since we only have sunshine and rain, but it won't stop me from observing "fall fashion" haha!

 In terms of shoes, since this time of the year in general will be more chilly, I was thinking of ankle boots or even riding boots (which are my absolute fave to wear) or some comfy loafers if your toes can brave the cold. I've been seeing a lot of bloggers go crazy for this sneaker wedge and initially, I was disgusted! It brought back memories of that disgusting Converse stiletto that was famous back in the early 2000s!! However, the sneaker wedges look waaay classier and actually pretty stylish -- it doesn't hurt that it looks comfy too. Been wanting a pair of ankle boots as well with the awkward 2 inch heel cause I feel it'd look cute with dresses. As for the Jeffrey Campbell Litas, they'd look good ANY DAMN SEASON. I swear by it. Lastly, loafers!!! Ah, I've been so in love with loafers lately! check out my instagram acct @itscarlasamson to see my collection! 

 The clothes I've posted may not be eye catching to you cause they're all plain with almost the same cuts but I think Fall is about comfort and deep colors, that's why I've chosen these. The peplum top would go well under a blazer or on its own -- but I could never rock it cause the pleated balloon part in the bottom makes me wider than I already am, just a tip for the pear shaped girls out there. Next, you can never go wrong with a gold metallic sweater with like bronzey undertones to it, it looks divine and it's something you can take with you to your winter closet. I like rust, emerald, plum, bronze and cream colors in general -- these are what I wear year round. I think Fall could be my favorite season of all just because how laid back it is. It doesn't call for minimal clothing like summer, nor does it call for excessive clothing like winter, and spring is awkward to me cause it's chilly and sunny at the same time.. I love fall. Have I said that already? Okay.

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