Don't throw away pretty lipstick packaging...

Because you're paying for it!

I got this tip from fellow beauty girl @projectmakeupuseup on Instagram. Apparently, you can transfer your lipstick from one tube to another easily. So that means you can plant your cheap drugstore makeup into fancy lipstick tubes. Wink wink! 😉

Trivia: This is the opposite of my 2012 lipstick saving tip, where I used heat to transfer my broken lipstick to another container. This time, we need the freezer!

Here's a lipstick I salvaged and transferred to a beautiful tube! I love my Blythe by Careline Stellar Satin Lipstick even if it gave up on me on Day 1, as it broke when I did an arm swatch. The packaging was cutesy and made of light plastic, and I have no attachment to it so I decided to transfer the remaining bullet to my L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Limited Edition Red Carpet Cannes Lipstick 999. This L'Oreal lipstick is limited edition, and I don't think it was ever sold here in the Philippines. I don't have a lot of L'Oreal lipsticks in my kit as I've steered clear of the brand for years due to news of lead in their lipsticks.

This red lippie was sitting in my drawer for years, until I decided to pull the lipstick out of the tube and just use its container. It was brand new when I decided to pull it out without freezing and it didn't work. So I froze the lipstick for a few hours before reattempting to pull out the bullet. You just need a tissue (preferably without texture) to hold the bullet, and gently wiggle it out. It comes out mess-free! What a genius trick! 💖 Notice the horizontal line on the pulled out lipstick? That is the actual amount left when you think you have finished using your lipstick.

Important: Check the diameter of the lipstick bullet first to see if it will fit its new container. In case it doesn't, just return it to its original tube.

Swatches of Blythe by Careline Stellar Satin Lipstick in Juliet & L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Limited Edition Red Carpet Cannes Lipstick 999

Before throwing the red L'Oreal lipstick, I decided to do swatches of the lipstick I saved and the lipstick I sacrificed. I used to love red lipstick so much, but now I'm into nudes that don't wash me out and mauve-y pinks that look natural. The shade 999 is beautiful, but I have no regrets letting it go. According to Careline, their Blythe range is lead-free, cruelty-free, and paraben-free.

Love,

Helen

 

Let's keep in touch!

IG: @luckycitrine

Facebook: Lucky Citrine

Review & Swatches: L'Oreal Color Riche Matte Lipstick

Lipsticks: I think I already have too much, but when I see I new one, I get all weak. I think I need help. 😂

So today is National Lipstick Day! 💄 It's only timely that I post a lipstick review to celebrate the existence of my favorite makeup product. 💋 Were you able to shop for lippies today or did you resist the temptation of all the deals out there? 🙊 L'Oreal had buy 1 take 1 on their Color Riche Matte Lipsticks just this weekend. 😍

I received these 3 beautiful shades of L'Oreal Color Riche Matte lipsticks when I attended the L'Oreal x Project Vanity Lipstick Party. I had been meaning to review these, so here it is!

Front - Back - Side

L'Oreal Color Riche Matte range come in 40 shades. The packaging is so classy as it resembles black leather with gold details on the center. When you buy this in store, it's sealed via shrink wrap with the ingredients printed on it. I appreciate that the manufacturing date is printed on the side of the lipstick tube and not on the outer plastic packaging which you throw away. The Color Riche Matte Lipstick contains 3.7g of product and is good for 24 months after opening. It's inspired by Paris, and made in China.

I have with me three gorgeous shades! Two are perfect for daytime, and one for night.

SWATCHES

242 ROSE NUANCE

247 HINTED BLUSH

250 RICH MERLOT

First of all, I can't believe how luxurious the glide of Color Riche Matte is. It's matte but it glides on like butter! The pigmentation is really good as even the light shade like Rose Nuance can cover the lips with just a few passes. As for the dark shade, it already packs on a pop of color at the first swipe. This matte lipstick is also non-drying, which is a relief and rest for my lips having endured months of matte liquid lipsticks. As for the lasting power, it's average so I'd have to retouch after meals.

242 Rose Nuance is not a shade I'm used to as I love wearing bold lipstick. It's a very natural everyday lip shade, but it's more coral/nude than rosy to me.

247 Hinted Blush is an everyday pink/mauve shade. It's enough to bring life to my face without being bright or garish. It has hints of purple, but the overall look is just natural. Among the three, this is my top pick! (Trivia: Heart Evangelista likes this one, too!)

250 Rich Merlot is a very daring wine red shade. I love red lipsticks, but this one I find too fierce for daytime. (I'll still wear it anyway!) It could be the contrast of my pale skin to this deep red shade, and I'm guessing this would look phenomenal on medium to dark skin.

INGREDIENTS

To make your Color Riche Matte lipstick experience even more indulgent, you can have your tube engraved for free. This promo is valid for every single receipt purchased on the dates provided.

Sooo, while I can't have my 3 tubes engraved, I could buy another 1 and just use the cap with my name on it on any Color Riche Matte lipstick in my collection. It's still a win for me! 😍 (Looking at you, 212 Red Valentine!💄)

Price: P350

Available in L'Oreal Paris counters at Watsons, SM, Landmark, Robinsons and other leading department stores nationwide

Facebook: L'Oreal Paris

Love,
Helen

Let's keep in touch!

For quick updates or any questions, just message me on IG! 😗

@LUCKYCITRINE on Instagram

Lucky Citrine on Facebook

L'Oreal x Project Vanity Lipstick Party

Yesterday was a very fun day because it was my first time to attend a Lipstick Party! 💄 From my x years of beauty blogging, it's my first time to attend an event like this and I loved it.

L'Oreal and Project Vanity came up with an event where ladies from the PV community were able to try the all 40 shades of the NEW Color Riche Matte Lipsticks. All we had to do was post an honest review on IG, and in exchange, each attendee got to take home 3 lipsticks! YAY! 💖 I realized that the last time I owned a L'Oreal lipstick was in 2011. LOL! Time for me to discover the brand more. 👍

Benefits:

1. Luxurious application: Gives the most luscious experience with its Jojoba oil component for a smooth glide
2. Lasting Rich Matte Color: Made of spherical powders to fill in and conceal lip lines for the full color in a swipe for up to 6 hrs
3. Comfortable Everyday Wear: Made from light scattering gel to give the pleasant lightweight feel without drying the lips

I was able to try a lot of shades that day! I initially wanted to swatch ALL 40 of them in order (super OC), however I wasn't able to do so since a lot of ladies took turns swatching but it's okay. I narrowed my swatches down to my top 3 picks instead. 😉

288 Mont Blanc | 247 Hinted Blush | 212 Red Valentine

Hinted Blush

Red Valentine

My top 3 fave shades are Mont Blanc and Hinted Blush (both so perfect for everyday wear), and of course Red Valentine (which is not really red but a blooming bright pink).

With fellow lipstick lover Krissy 😍

I can't wear pale pinks because they make me look ill, and I've finally mastered which kind of pink looks great on my skin tone and Red Valentine it is! 😀

 

I also spotted the darkest, most kontrabida shade of Color Riche Matte - Vin De Fantasme! Also, my camera wasn't able to take it in detail, but I love the new packaging of this lipstick line. The tube comes in a textured black design that resembles leather with a gold center. So classy!

Vin De Fantasme

Definitely not your everyday lipcolor 😈

#TheRicheMattes vs MAC

They had us test a Color Riche Matte shade vs MAC Ruby Woo (a worldwide bestseller). It took me 3 passes to get the swatches above. For a matte lipstick, the one from L'Oreal had an unbelievably smoother glide compared to MAC at 1/3 of its price. Each MAC lipstick costs P1,050, while the Color Riche Matte costs only P350.

What made the event extra special was how generous L'Oreal was to the PV community. Some ladies even got to take home an additional lipstick - the limited edition Color Riche Cannes Red Carpet Lipstick! It came in a luxurious velvet packaging. OMG! 😭😍 I have one and it's the most beautiful tube of lipstick I currently own.

Super happy to be part of The Project Vanity Community. 😊 Do join to stay updated on the latest kikay news. 💋

Love,
Helen

Let's keep in touch!

For quick updates or any questions, just message me on IG! 😗

@LUCKYCITRINE on Instagram

Lucky Citrine on Facebook

What's In My Kikay Kit: Work Edition

Where I work, bringing our personal belongings such as bags and mobile phones (!) aren't allowed inside the production area/workstation. But then, a girl's gotta have a kikay kit for our everyday essentials. After all, we do want to look our best all the time.

I'll share with you the things I always have with me in my office kikay kit. Upon inspection, I realized that it's not too kikay at all, since I only have 3 that are actually makeup. Haha. The rest are my boring but essential essentials. :D

1. Compact foundation/powder

I reiterate, compact. I love loose mineral foundation powders, but I use them only at home since I don't have the luxury of time to tap away excess powder - especially at work. I reviewed L'Oreal Paris Mat Magique All-In-One Matte Transforming Powder before in the shade N2 Nude Vanilla. I recently tried the shade R1 Rose Ivory and I loved it more than the previous one. Now, I'm convinced that my skin (at least for my face) is cool-toned.

Since traffic is now getting more horrible than ever, I'm skipping the malls unless I really need to go there for something. For everyone's shopping convenience, L'Oreal is now available online through Zalora Philippines!

2. Statement lipstick

At work, bold lipstick is all you need to look polished and powerful. Tony Moly x Hyun Ah Perfect Lips Lips Top is my currently go-to lippie. This just came out recently, and I can't wait to share with you my review soon!

3.  Black eyeliner

Eyeliner is the way to go. Because really, who has time to blend multiple shades of eyeshadow when you're rushing to work in the morning? Try Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen, a gel-liner in pencil form that stays on the for as long as you want it to (or for as long as your lids don't oil up). :D

4. Pen

Because you're at work after all! I always want to have a cute pen with me since I like to randomly write stuff inside my planner. (Note: It has to be a cute pen, or else I will misplace it.)

5. Berocca

Berocca is an extra potent mix of vitamins and minerals. I take it when I get stressed from work, during consecutive OT weeks, on days I lack sleep, or when I feel like I'm about to get sick. It's so effective, and I'm excited to try ALL flavors. (Orange, done. Mixed berries, done. Citrus, next!)

6. Kamillosan M

This all-natural spray curbs sore throat fast, so I spray some when my throat feels scratchy.

7. Lotion

How cute is this tiny bottle of Jergens lotion! :3 Office air is cold and dry, so I need to moisturize frequently. Who needs an expensive tube of fancy hand cream when good ol' practical Jergens does the trick?

8. Basic hygiene stuff

All these are self-explanatory. I'm feeling like a girl scout right now!

So, these are the things I really bring with me to work. All my other makeups are at home, and I just alternate my lipstick on whatever matches my mood that day.

Care to share with me your work kikay kit essentaials?

Love,

Helen

Review + Giveaway: L'Oreal Paris Mat Magique All-In-One Matte Transforming Powder in N2 Nude Vanilla

For 2015, L'Oreal Paris Philippines has launched a very exciting product that seems like a dream for oily-skinned girls like me. It's called Mat Magique - their first ever oil control makeup foundation.

Studies have shown that you become more prone to shine and blemishes as you hit your mid-twenties. (Just when I thought I was way past my puberty stage!) Back then, I would get pimples on my T-zone (forehead and nose), now it's my U-zone (cheeks and chin) that's acting up. No need to worry though, since we can look flawlessly matte for hours with just a few swipes of Mat Magique.

About the product:

Primes - shine-free skin canvas for a skin balancing preparation

Covers - minimize appearance of all blemish and skin imperfections

Perfects - ultra-smooth poreless skin transformation, a refined airy smoothing finish

Ingredients:

The science behind the magic? Thirty percent of the Mat Magique formula is made of volcanic perlite, a natural, non-irritating sebum absorber. This is the highest concentration of this shine-busting ingredient in a makeup product to date.

At the top of the box is a shade label sticker for reference. Mat Magique comes in a total of 5 shades fit for Asian skin.

The compact comes in an eye-catching fuchsia shade. It's made of smooth and sleek, lightweight plastic. It's not bulky or heavy, so you can bring it everywhere you go. It has a big rectangular mirror, and I like that the sponge has a separate compartment.

Swatches:

Before & After

The shade N2 Nude Vanilla is a good match for my skintone. I like how this powder instantly mattifies my skin after I apply primer. Pores and minor redness are blurred and less visible, so my skin has a more even look.

(1) Before applying the foundation

(2) After applying the foundation

(3) 5 hours later*

The third photo was taken just 5 hours after application. That's after having lunch and some shopping. Oil has already peeked through the powder, but to fulfill the no-retouch promise, you'll only need to blot it off with an oil-control sheet, no reapplication needed, and yet you'll look good for the whole 12-hour wear.

Pros:

• Comes in a sleek, lightweight compact
• Comes in 5 shades
• Has SPF 34 PA+++
• Contains 30% volcanic perlite infusion to absorb and control oil
• Feels very light on my skin, as if I had nothing on
• Keeps me shine-free for a good 4 hours or so - blot once, and you're good 'til 12 hours
• Makes my skin look so poreless!
• No irritations and breakouts

Cons:

• Light coverage (good for minor redness and imperfections, but concealer is still needed for big pimples and evident marks)
• Doesn't stay completely shine-free for 12 hours on my oily skin

Tip:

• Use a brush instead of the sponge for a lighter, more even application

Price: P499.00

Available in L'Oreal Paris counters in department stores nationwide

GIVEAWAY ALERT! I'm giving away a L'Oreal Paris Mat Magique All-In-One Matte Transforming Powder to 2 readers! Mechanics here. ;)

FB: /LOrealParisPhilippines
IG: @lorealparisph​

Love,

Helen

Hit Pan: June to August 2013

Here's another roundup on the stuff that I've emptied for the past 3 months! I actually missed doing posts like this, but it's just now that I finally had the time to sort out the stuff that was lying in my drawer.

June to August 2013 Empties

I could only wish to empty more of my makeup, but all you'll see for now are hair care, skincare, and body care products, and then some little extras. Here goes!

Hair Care from The Body Shop and Snoe

1. The Body Shop Rainforest Radiance Conditioner

• Repurchase? No, it's not moisturizing enough.

2. Snoe Hair Heroes Super Fresh Texturizing Beach Waves

• Repurchase? Yes, I'm now at my second bottle!

Skincare from Etude House, Snoe, and Belo

3. Etude House Happy Teatime Lemon Tea Cleansing Cream

• 5th tub emptied
• Repurchase? Yes, it's cheap but it works perfectly.

4. Etude House Happy Teatime Green Tea Cleansing Foam

• 3rd tube emptied
• Repurchase? Yes, this one keeps my skin clear. I get pimples/whiteheads/rashes from experimenting with other facial washes, so I always go back to this one.

5. Snoe Star Night Star Bright Night Perfecting Toner (Old Formula)

• Discontinued
• 6th bottle emptied
• Repurchase? Yes, for the new formula!

6. Belo Essentials SunExpert Face Cover SPF 40 PA+++

• 2nd tube emptied
• Repurchase? Yes. My face still gets shiny by midday when I use this, but since it doesn't cause me any breakouts, I'm fine with it!

These 4 items are my skincare essentials, which I've been using for the past months/years.

Body Care from The Body Shop and Nivea

7. The Body Shop Apple Blossom Shower Gel

• Repurchase? Yes, if it's on sale.

8. Nivea Body UV Whitening Serum SPF 25 PA++

• Repurchase? Yes, it's lightweight and I love the floral scent.

Little Extras from Bobbie, L'Oreal, and Etude House

9. Bobbie Nail Polish Remover

• Repurchase? No, I don't like the scent of this.

10. L'Oreal Paris Lash Serum

• Repurchase? No, it doesn't work.
• This one is not empty, but it's expired hence I had to toss it out.

11. Etude House Sweet Recipe Candy Stick in #3 Sweet & Sour Lemon Candy

• Repurchase? Yes, but I think it's limited edition.

I'd love to know, what are your recent hit pans? :)

Love,
Helen