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

Eye Love Pixi!

No, seriously. I love Pixi.

I've always mentioned how I didn't like my eyes for their hooded lids. There are good lid days when I can apply eyeliner evenly because the folds of my eyelids are even. Then there are bad lid days when I wake up to tiny eyelid folds that smudge up even the toughest eyeliners in minutes.

This week has been a miraculous good lid week, so I took the chance to play and practice with the eyeliners in my stash.

 

Pixi Eye Bright Liner in Nude & Endless Silky Eye Pen in Glimmery Black

I've always read in magazines to put white eyeliner on your lower waterline to make the eyes look bigger and more awake. I disagree! I've had my makeup done for a fashion show before, where the makeup artist put on me the classic black eyeliner and red lipstick look. Then, white eyeliner was applied on my lower waterline. I thought it worked and looked okay in person, but when I looked at my photos. Que horror! It was as if I was looking UP on all my photos. Never again. LOL!

After that, I've long wanted a nude eyeliner, and I found a lovely one from Pixi!

Swatches:

Pixi Eye Bright Liner in Nude | Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in Glimmery Black

Pixi Eye Bright Liner in Nude is part of their permanent collection. It comes in a twist-up, retractable, precision point pen so there's no need to sharpen it. It comes in a flesh tone to enhance the eye white, resulting to larger, brighter eyes that look more awake.

Pixi Silky Endless Eye Pen in Glimmery Black is part of their Fall 2014 Collection. It's a gel liner pencil, so you get the best of both worlds! Gel liner stays put once it dries for a bit and settles, while giving you the ease of a pencil eyeliner. (No more washing of hard brushes! Yay!) This one needs sharpening though.

Both products are waterproof, hypoallergenic, paraben-free, mineral oil-free, and suitable for the most sensitive eyes.

When worn:

I love how the black liner feels so silky; it won't ever tug at your lids. Despite it being silky, it stays put! Even when my lids aren't exactly eyeliner friendly, it only smudges once my lids oil up. (Oily lids are just like oily "makeup remover". Eyeliners hate oil!) To prevent this, I apply a bit of mattifying powder on my eye area as a finishing touch to my face base, then proceed on applying eye makeup. This way, my eyeliner lasts all day! I'd prefer a jet black one with no shimmer though, it would look more friendly for everyday wear. This one I'm wearing now feels a bit more "party" with all the silver shimmer on it.

The nude liner also goes on silky! However, it becomes creamy when mixed with moisture from my waterline. A quick tip: You can use a cotton bud to wipe of the moisture first before applying this product. And, did you know that you can also use this lightly around the lips as a subtle highlighter to create the illusion of fuller, plumper lips? Think of it as a reverse lip liner! :D

Prices:

Pixi Eye Bright Liner in Nude - P840

Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in Glimmery Black - P740

Available online and at selected outlets. View the list here.

Like Pixi Philippines on Facebook for more information.

Love,

Helen

Pixi Flawless & Poreless Primer

Upon inspection of my makeup kit, I saw one product I've been using every single day (for months!) and yet I haven't given it a decent review on my blog. Everyone, meet my much used (by me) and abused (by my sister) everyday makeup primer from Pixi!

Pixi Flawless & Poreless Primer

Primer creates a seamless, silky canvas with a beautiful no-shine, cashmere finish. The formula's skin-loving ingredients clear and unblock pores to allow for utterly flawless, long-lasting makeup application. It is the perfect skin primer for all complexions and all skin types. Pore minimizing. Shine controlling. Hydrating. Oil free. Hypoallergenic. For all skin types.

What makes this primer different from all the makeup primers I've tried before is that it's actually good for my skin. Don't roll your eyes just yet. I'm not pulling your leg! :D I think this one works better as a skincare product than a primer. I'll explain below.

Beneficial Ingredients and what they do:

• Willow Bark gives natural shine control
• Salicylic Acid clears and unblocks pores
• Shea Butter to nourish the skin
• Titanium Dioxide protects the skin's surface
• Enantia Chlorantha bark is medicinal & anti-viral

Unlike usual primers with silicone high up on the ingredients list, this one is silicone-free. Instead, it makes use of skin-loving squalane, an antioxidant-rich, age-fighting emollient that gives the skin a softer texture and smoother appearance without the grease. Another well-known brand, Kiehl's, takes pride in using squalane in most of their products because it's good for the skin.

It comes in a hygienic squeeze tube packaging. It contains a lot of product - 30g to be exact. This one's good for 12 months after opening, and if you get hooked like I did, you'd use this up in less than 12 months for sure. Mine's almost empty...oh no!

Swatches:

This primer comes in a Translucent shade. It has a pinkish skintone tint, but actually becomes invisible when blended.

When worn:

Bare face

With Pixi Flawless & Poreless Primer

This primer doesn't instantly make my pores disappear, but it does improve the look of my skin by blurring imperfections. I said that this primer worked better as a skincare product than as a makeup base since it doesn't really make my makeup last longer than when I didn't use it. But what it does is that it provides a barrier of protection from my skin to the makeup I apply. With months of consistent use, I noticed that this controlled pimple breakouts (gotta love salicylic acid) even if I was trying out all sorts of makeup for review and for everyday use. Also, because my skin felt and looked smooth, face bases such as foundation and BB creams glided smoothly on my skin whenever I use this primer - which made my makeup look better. In short, I love using this as a pre-makeup moisturizer. :D

Price: P1,430.00 for 30ml

Available at Glamourbox

Like Pixi Philippines and GlamourboxPH on Facebook for more information.

What's your favorite Pixi product? Mine would be this primer and the Tinted Brilliance Balm in Soft Sienna.♥

Love,

Helen

Pixi Fall/Winter 2014 Collection + Discount Code!

Pixi's Fall/Winter 2014 Collection is perfect for those who love rocking the natural look. The classic beauty is my ultimate makeup peg so I am thrilled with this collection!

What I have with me are 3 new shades of their products: Mesmerizing Mineral Palette in Rich Gold, Endless Silky Eye Pen in Glimmery Black, and Tinted Brilliance Balm in Soft Sienna. Swatches + reviews follow!

Pixi Mesmerizing Mineral Palette in Rich Gold (P620.00)

Six silky, coordinated, must-have shades to use together or solo plus a double-ended sponge applicator for fast & fuss-free application.

What it is formulated to do:
Look fresh in moments with these pretty palettes! Mineral formula reflects light away from imperfections while gemstone-inspired tones enhance your natural eye beauty. Shades specifically coordinated for foolproof eye enhancement.

Ingredients:

Beneficial ingredients and what they do:
- Vitamin E nourishes and protects delicate skin around the eye

This warm-toned palette is mostly comprised of gold and brown shades. It comes with a sponge-tipped applicator, but I prefer using my hands or an eyeshadow brush with this.

Swatches:

Each shade is soft and pigmented. These shades are all shimmery, but I noticed that the shades on the far left have less shimmer compared to the darker ones on the right. The light shades are so perfect for everyday use. Since I'm into neutral eye shadow, this one definitely wins in terms of shade selection. Note that the darkest shade on the right has a slight greenish tint to it - something you can use at night.

I applied just a few swipes, and it adds a hint of sparkle to my eyes while still remaining very natural.

Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in Glimmery Black (P740.00)

Award winning – Best Creamy Pencil Liner in Women’s Health 2010 Beauty Awards

What it is formulated to do:
Waterproof, super-long-wear, no-smudge, no-budge eye liners. They glide on like seamless silk, and in a single sweep motion create a flawless, solid jewel-toned line. No retouching required all day - or night! Gentle on eyes, yet intensely coloured and super-silky. Waterproof. Paraben-free. Mineral oil-free. Preservative-free. Hypoallergenic.

Ingredients:

Beneficial ingredients and what they do:
- Vitamin E nourishes and protects delicate skin around the eye

The packaging is sleek and shimmery, very pretty! It's a gel-liner pencil, which makes it last longer compared to the usual pencil liners. At the tip, you'd see subtle silver shimmers.

Swatches:

True enough, it dries fast and doesn't budge once it sets. It's a very pigmented black shade with silver shimmers - perfect for your upcoming holiday events.

I tried rubbing it vigorously that my skin turned red, but it didn't smudge at all.

However, when I rubbed it further under running water, it came off like this.

The Endless Silky Eye Pen gave me the smoothest glide, no tugs ever. If you want to smudge it, you have to do it quickly as you apply the liner, since once it sets after a few seconds, it stays on for hours. This lasted me all day even with my oily lids, but being inside an air-conditioned environment probably helped as well.

Tip: Place this eye pencil inside the freezer for a few minutes prior to sharpening to prevent breakage. At the end of the day, use an oil-based eye makeup remover to take it off.

Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm in Soft Sienna (P790.00)

Award winning – Oprah Magazine’s Spring 2013 O-wards.

What it is formulated to do:
Packed with lip-loving ingredients, this glossy gel balm protects & hydates lips instantly. After the balm wears off, lips are left tinted with a flattering, personalized hue just for you (colour & intensity depends on pH level of lips). Twist-up crayon requires no sharpening. Secure lid after use.

Ingredients:

Beneficial ingredients and what they do:
- Jojoba oil is an effective natural moisturizer and environmental barrier for the skin
- Peptides plump fine lines
- Vitamin E nourishes and protects
- Shea butter nourishes the skin
- Vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant
- Rose extract nourishes & repairs

I've noticed a couple of changes from the first Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm I owned (in the shade Rosy Red). First is the cap. The previous version has a soft plastic cap that won't crack even if you drop it. The new transparent cap is not durable. I've used my lippie for a little over a week, and I've seen 2 vertical cracks on the cap already, and I haven't even dropped it. The second difference I've notice is that this Pixi balm now has a scent and flavor. The didn't indicate it particularly, but it smells fruity (like passionfruit? I'm not sure), and it leaves a sweet taste on the lips. This one I really like!

At first, I wasn't too thrilled with a brown-based lippie, thinking it would make me look old, but I almost forgot that this one's just a tinted lip balm...a very pretty one, too!

Swatches:

One the tube, it looks a lot like a dark, brick red shade, but when worn, it gives a sheer glossy finish in a very natural shade. My lips feel soft and nourished every time I use this. Perfect for when I take a rest from lipsticks. For a tinted balm, it gives very beautiful color on the lips, but because of its glossy nature, it wears off easily. Also, it doesn't leave a hint of tint on my lips as it wears off.

This one reminds me of Human Nature's Tinted Lip Balm in Flame Tree. They're not entirely the same, but they could pass for sisters. Dupe alert? :D

My Pixi Fall/Winter Look

Get 15% OFF when you use the code PIXIHELEN15 until December 6, 2014 only at www.glamourbox.ph. (You may use the code up to 2x.) 

Pixi is currently available in the Philippines at the ff. outlets: www.glamourbox.ph, www.ava.ph, www.seektheuniq.com, Glamourbox Ayala Fairview Terraces and Landmark Trinoma, Purebeauty Serendra, Trinoma, Alabang Town Center and Glorietta (formerly Beauty Cocktails), Commonthread Rockwell and Greenbelt 5, and select Snoe stores.

Like Pixi Philippines on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter and Instagram @PixiBeautyPH for more information. 

What item from the Pixi Fall/Winter 2014 Collection do you like most? For me, it's still the Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm in Soft Sienna because I can't get enough of lippies, and it has a very pretty shade that perfect for everyday use. I can see myself using it up pretty soon!

Love,

Helen

Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm in Rosy Red

My sisters love digging into my makeup kit and asking for my stuff (just because they think I have too much). I don't really think I have too much makeup, I just need a bigger makeup kit or a baby traincase! It's funny since whenever I give something away (like for example, a red lipstick), a new one will find its way into my kit, all the time! Just like this one! :D

My recent favorite red lippie would have to be the Tinted Brilliance Balm from Pixi. I've actually just been acquainted to the brand early this year, but I find myself falling for it since it has cute, whimsical packaging (oh, everyone loves that!) and skin-friendly formulations.

Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm in Rosy Red

This balm provides hydration, sheer colour & lip stain. With shea butter & lip plumping hyaluronic acid, it will keep your lips in optimum condition.

Lippies are actually my favorite kind of makeup, but I am wary of cheap and harsh formulations that could potentially darken my lips. With this one from Pixi, I can be sure that my lips are well taken care of!

Ingredients:

While this one's marketed as a tinted balm, I say the pigmentation can pass for a lipstick!

My shade is in No.7 Rosy Red, which is a cherry red with hints of pink in it.

It comes in a retractable pen-type packaging. No sharpening required!

The Rosy Red shade is just so gorgeous.♥

Swatches:

Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm in Rosy Red

When worn

This one has a melty, balmy texture that's softer than Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain. Pixi's way more moisturizing, too! My lips feel so hydrated whenever I wear this. It really just feels like a lip balm, only it's super pigmented! I'm liking the cherry red shade of this lippie, as it has the magic ability to make me feel like Snow White every time I wear it. (Kidding! Sort of.) :D

Pros:

• Cute and convenient packaging
• Skin-friendly formula (no lip darkening, whatsoever)
• Very pigmented (feels like a lip balm, but wears like a lipstick)
• Moisturizing (no chapping even when worn the entire day)
• Leaves lips feeling softer (even if you've removed your makeup at the end of the day)
• Leaves a stain as it wears off
• Available in 6 pretty shades

Cons:

• Because of its balmy texture, it wears off as you eat or drink
• Expensive

Price: P790.00
Exclusively available in www.glamourbox.ph and select Snoe Beauty Inc. boutiques

Pixi was first launched through Glamourbox last year, when they featured the Magic Tink Tint (inspired by Tinkerbell). Were you able to try it?

Like Pixi Philippines on Facebook for more information on their products! ;)

Love,

Helen