Eye of Horus: Taking Inspiration on Ancient Egypt for Today's Modern-Day Smolder

I was introduced to an Australian makeup brand called Eye Of Horus in a small gathering at Apartment 1B in Rockwell. Eye of Horus sounds like an artifact straight from The Mummy series and I would be expecting Brendan Fraser to come out guns and all but what we have are actually something that I also would like and strike my fancy - makeup ideal for sensitive eyes that is uniquely formulated in the style of the ancient Egyptians.

Remember in movies depicting ancient Egypt and photos? Notice anything with the eye makeup? They are heavily lined, take for instance Elizabeth Taylor's character in Cleopatra.

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Heavily lined and defined eyes were the thing then in ancient Egypt. It was said that the cosmetics then were used to ward off evil spirits. Today, it has some modern-day adaptations seen in runways and fashion spreads as well as everyday adaptations so we don't look like we were teleported via time machine. Of course, the modern day's materials are different due to the advancement of technology and the change in lifestyle. Eye of Horus products uses modern-day research and development to develop eye products which give maximum results while caring for the skin with its ingredients. Also, the products are said to be very safe for sensitive eyes while delivering optimum results.

The brand is pretty new here in Manila. Most of us who attended the event have not heard about this yet but quite a few actually use it. Very popular in Australia, Eye of Horus makeup products are now available in our shores at all Snoe stores.

Of course we are all in the quest for perfect and long-lasting pencil  eyeliners. The original goddess smokey eye pencil (basic smokey black) not only glides smoothly along the eyes without any funny, itchy feeling after, it is also long-lasting, easy to use, and waterproof, and I mean waterproof. I tightlined my eyes with it, went to yoga class and had an extensive Vinyasa 2 class, and I didn't resemble a panda come after the class. Now don't you fret about having eyeliner residue up to three days. You can still remove your eye makeup with your favorite eye makeup remover or simply with a warm washcloth.

The pencil, (shown here in Nubian brown, a warm brown shade which can be used for everyday or in weddings) also has a smudger tip, which can create subtle smoky effects or just blend in your eyeliner. Some people prefer setting their pencils with loose powder or matching eyeshadow, some leave it just as it is. Personally, I still prefer setting liner with eyeshadow and blending it to make the smokey look last longer.

The eyeliner is something else in waterproof ability. The brush felt tip makes it easy to create lines and squiggles for avante garde shoots or precise cat eyes. Actually, Im looking at the swatch on the back of my hand i made yesterday, it still has a mark.

Eyeshadow trios are named after Egyptian goddesses like Sheba, Maat, and Isis, which contain three neutral brown./gold colors which can be mixed and matched to your preference. They are also super pigmented too (the swatch of my Maat palette is below)

Maat is a cool palette of browns, grays, and neutrals which are great for even basic smokey eyes. All you need are liners and mascara and you're done. This usually gives the subtle smoldery smoky eye seen in European fashion spreads. All you need is eyeliner. I am looking forward for the palettes to finally be available as they have a lot of nice neutrals suitable for everyday wear for any complexion.

I'm looking forward to the Sheba palette, because it has a picture of a cat!

The SRP for the mascara (another must-have), pencils, and liquid liner pen is Php990. I would recommend this for makeup artists especially those who do weddings or have clients with sensitive eyes that request for smoldering eyes. For personal use, Eye of Horus products are great for those with sensitive eyes and those who wear contact lenses. For the thrifty girls, you can use this on special occasions like attending parties or weddings. Nubian brown and goddess are great for everyday and make you all set for your own personal makeup kit but if you want to experiment, Eye of Horus pencil liners are also available in charcoal, blue, jade, and bronze. Mix and match colors to your preference or Google up makeup tutorials for ideas.

Is this a must-have in a makeup artist kit? Yes of course! Especially if we have brides and clients with sensitive eyes. Whether bridal fresh or smoldering smokey vamp makeup, this is a great product that's easy to use and worth your money. I even have a friend who bought two liners and she swears by it!

Collection Cosmetics: An Edgy, Trendy Kind of British Invasion

Affordable and quality makeup are gems that we all would like to find. We all love makeup and putting on those pretty colors. However, makeup shopping doesn't come in cheap. Makeup artists carry imported and luxury makeup, but that is expected due to their occupation. For ladies who would just look like a better version of themselves, they need to look up on more affordable alternatives.

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Collection, a cosmetics brand in the UK is soon to set to invade Manila with its edginess and awesomeness. They have high quality makeup at a fraction of what we would pay for when we go to luxury department stores. Get this, pressed powder for Php 169, lipsticks  for Php 199, long-wearing (and yellow-toned! yay!) concealer for Php 299, and eyeshadow palettes for less than Php 600. It sure fits not only the fresh grad on her first job but also the high school student who needs nice makeup for her cheering squad competition or the college student who needs to look dolled up for school to hide Monday morning blues. This can also be for the working mom who needs to look good for work but has to set aside budget for her little ones.

Makeup artists can use these too! Start-up makeup artists can use their products for practice in class or at home or on photoshoots as they are building up their portfolio. Even those who have been doing makeup for quite some time will love this for the quality at a fraction of the price. I should know because I loved it too. Pro makeup artist and YouTube beauty guru Lisa Eldridge uses Collection eyeshadow palettes and concealers in some of her makeup tutorials. If you've watched some of her videos, it probably went then with its old name, Collection 2000. I'll let you have a closer look on some of the products here to show you. For those who have been following my Instagram account (bambikitty), I also swatched and showed some of their awesome products too as a teaser and preview.

So, are you ready for the British Invasion?

I got this lovely little suitcase makeup box containing these goodies that got me so giddy with delight. I will give you an insight on my favorites from the box, as well as some mentionables when I saw some products on counter. As of the present time, there's one counter at the Watsons in SM Aura but pretty soon, there will be more branches and counters.

Cover and Go Foundation DUO is a space-saver in a travelling girl's kit, or if you're a performer with a one-one bag policy.

The tube contains liquid foundation  (in 3 different shades for your skin tone) and on the cover...

There's concealer on the lid (how very Houdini-like!) to cover bags, redness, pimples, bruises, dark spots, etc. Flawless skin in a space-saving tube!

Colour match foundation (shown here in fair), adapts to the skin so you get foundation that looks like a better version of your skin. No more "Happy Foundation Day!" As a makeup artist said, "A good base should not look like makeup, but skin."

After makeup, be sure to set with Collection Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Powder that gives up to 16 hours of oil-control. Brides must have this in their retouch bags! And it's only Php169.

Blush gives instant color and radiance to the face and it can create subtle dimension so the face isn't flat like a plate.

This blush, Bashful, is like a subtle, peachy-pink blush. It can be reminiscent of blush after a workout, yoga session, or when you blush when you see your crush.

Shimmer shades have four shades which can be used individually or together. The shades here though, are kind of sheer and shimmery, so it's perfect for everyday or as a topper to cream blush.

Blushalicious contain sweet sugary pinks to go with a sweet pink lip for a pretty Barbie look.

Way to Glow at first can be thought as a contour but looking closer, I saw shimmery particles in the bronze area. It can be used sparingly to add warmth and slight dimension on the face or to enhance that bronzed look.  Aside from blush, they can also be individually used as eyeshadow. Personally, I found this more eyeshadow-friendly. Blushalicious works as blush and is good, or I haven't maximized pink shadow just yet.

Eyeshadows are quite youthful and pretty. They come in different eye palettes to suit each individual's needs. The Work The Color Trio eyeshadow in Very Berry has two colors for base and lid plus a cream which can be used to highlight or prime the lids for eyeshadow to stick more.

The Bedazzled glitter eye palette I think would cater more to the younger clientele with its color and sparkle, which are perfect for nights out of having fun.

For those who are more on the neutral side, the Smokey Eyes Palette may be most suitable for natural enhancement with shadows and neutrals to darker shades for dramatic supermodel eyes.

The extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner Delivers precise cat-eye lining with the intensity of liquid liner without the shake. It functions just like a drawing felt-tip marker except you put it on your eyes. I like how easy this pen can be maneuvered so I can not only draw a line but also a kitty. :P

Collection's star products are their lipsticks, which are the easiest I think since lipsticks are usually the fastest-moving products in any makeup brand. From bold statement colors to sheer, conservative neutrals, Collection has a lot of lipstick shades to suit your mood and fancy.

Lasting Colour Lipsticks can take you from day to night with minimal touch-ups. They are also affordable at only Php199 and come in different shades, even the bright, popping ones that are almost like the limited edition luxury brand lipsticks.

Some lipsticks look really pigmented on tube but kinda disappoint you when you swatch them. These two lipsticks are just as pigmented on tube and on swatches.

Pretty pastel-ly Bubblegum can be used with clean eye makeup for a bridesmaid in a garden wedding or go rocker girl with full-on dark smoky eyes or 60s sex kitten with this.

The Queen of Hearts (right) is a strong, vivid red which isn't too drying and can be taken from meetings to nights out since it's such a powerful, bold red color.

If hot, bright pink is your best bet, then check out Pink Shock.

On a personal experiment of mine, I swatched Pink Shock and other luxury brand lipsticks of similar shades and this can be a dupe of the more expensive ones too, especially if you're just starting out with makeup still.

Fake a full lip without the sting with Volume Sensation Lipstick, plumps up that pout without the burning cold factor. There's just a very slight tingly minty cool sensation but that's it. The bright pink color makes it easy to locate this in your vanity bag as you dig through it for a touch-up.

Shown here is Satin Bow, a pretty, sheer peachy color that can be used on its own or with color. Other pretty mentionables are Tea Rose, Cherry Pop, Sugar Pink,  Forever Heather, and Plum Perfection. You can even mix the lipsticks to create a shade uniquely yours.

Another winner product is the Lasting Perfection Concealer, another favorite of YouTube Beauty Gurus. It comes in easily-blendable colors that result in a creaseless, seamless finish  without the reverse panda cakey effect (of course, you have to choose the right colors and blend it really well. It's also pretty affordable at Php299 only.

I love it that finally, there's affordable makeup that doesn't sacrifice quality. Since the colors are so youthful and trendy, a perfect target market could be college students experimenting on color or high school students who want to go DIY come their prom. Certain classic shades of lipsticks as well as blush and base makeup may be used by the yuppie or the woman-on-the-go.

I sure can't wait for the grand launch that will happen in a few days. :) In the meantime, feel free to check out their Facebook Page for more updates as well as ways on how to wear their makeup depending on your personal style. Also, check out their website and register at their mailing list to know if there are new store locations near your area.

Makeup Must-Haves For Less than Php1000

It's the season for gift-giving once more. For those who are kikay  and would love to go makeup-shopping for their fellow kikay friends but are under a budget, I dug my makeup kits, searched for my awesome within-budget products and listed them down to you. So here they are so far...

And what did you know, they are indeed a lot. None of them went past Php1000. Actually, allow me to correct myself. None of these products on photo are above 500.

Best eyelash glue: DUO (Php 450, Make Up Pro Store)

I've tried so many lash glues and so far this one is the best. It dries fast, doesn't sting the eyes, helps lashes stay put and prolongs the life of your lashes making it easy to reuse lashes once more. It's available both in clear and black. My personal preference is the clear one.

Best Eyelash curler: Fanny Serrano Eyelash Curler (Php 175, Department Stores)

This one curls lashes easily without the pinch, and it fits most Asian eye shapes. What I love about it is that you can also buy the rubber pads for Php 45 for 3 pieces as well! This eye;ash curler has been with me for more than 6 years, before I even started doing makeup professionally.

Amazing And Easy-To-Use Eyebrow Pencil: Nature Republic Eyebrow Pencil #4 (Php 175, Nature Republic SM Fairview, SM North, and SM Megamall)

I love how easy it is to use this and delivers the best finish without making eyebrows look too drawn in. It's comparable to most expensive brands too, in terms of quality. And, no hideous red brows too!

Affordable and pretty matte lipsticks: Ever Bilena Matte Lipstick (Php 145, drugstores)

Ever Bilena has been in our shores for as long as I could remember, I think back to the time when I was still an 80's Santacruzan sagala or flower girl. They've revamped to be at par with higher-end brands. Their lipstick I always take with me for travel because they're cheap and pigmented. Love That Red is a great dupe for most expensive red lipsticks while Off Beat Pink is a very fresh, youthful pink almost comparable with MAC Pink Nouveau.

Gel eyeliner that doesn't dry up so fast and glides like melted gold: Maybelline gel eyeliner (Php 325 at department stores)

And the best thing about it? It comes with a brush! It's also waterproof! It glides perfectly without crumbling even after a long time. Of course, take good care of your gel liner always by covering it after use.

A teensy tiny retouch powder in a yellow undertone: Maybelline Clear Smooth Powder foundation refills (Php 199, drugstores)

This little powder foundation can fit in the tiniest of all purses, bridal bags, retouch kits, and even your jeans pocket. It's yellow-toned too, and fits most complexions without looking too ashy.

A red lipstick that lasts long without drying your lips: Covergirl lipperfection in Hot (Php 395, department stores)

The only problem I had with this lipstick was this: When it was out in the market, it was out of stock for the longest time and it's hard to remove. Hard as in, there will be some left on your lips the next day. But it feels absolutely lush on the lips, it's hard to believe it's a long-lasting formula that doesn't dry out.

Waterproof eyeliner that can be used even by the self-confessed crybaby bride: Covergirl Liquiline Blast (Php 450, department stores)

I fell in love with this eyeliner ever since I saw it. Most of my very detailed raves and reviews could be found here. I've converted four friends already to use this and ditched my very expensive eyeliner for this. It works just the same. I'm already in my second pen! Black and Brown are the usual staples but there are also fun colors like blue, lime, purple, and silver.


A concealer that hides and heals at the same time: The Body Shop Tea Tree Concealer (Php 450)

The scent of tea tree can get addicting for some. Did you know that they also have anti-inflamamtory and healing properties? This stick (also yellow-toned, may I add) zaps zits and conceals them while they heal so that sore spot on your chin, cheek, or nose is gone for the meantime and you have peace of mind that its also  in the healing process. Oh, and remember never to pop that zit.

Affordable Two-Way Foundation that fits most Asian Skin Tones: Fanny Serrano Two Way Cake Foundation (Php 399)

My review here shows how comparable it is with other luxury brands but what I also love about it is that it fits most Asian skin tones, it's also got darker shades, and it lasted me from show up to curtain call. Definitely a must-have in my performance bag.

Affordable Curler for Stickstraight Lashes, Heated Lash Curler, Suesh (Php 250)

For lashes that do not curl, this tiny little thing is a best companion. It works after putting on mascara (the mascara acts like setting lotion) in curling lashes. Works with one AAA battery and fits the tiniest purses or touch-up kits.


GIFTS 1000 AND BELOW

For a bit more pricey but not so much, there are some worth-investing products that can be given to someone extra special or as a special treat to self.

Universal Brow Tint: MAC Brow Set in Girl/Boy (PHP 900, MAC Stores)

Most of us who dye our hair forget to dye our eyebrows. Make the brows match the hair with this tinted gel which tints the brows to a warm hue. It also softens the overall look of the face giving it a fresher, youthful glow. Perfect for brides or moms.

Best matte eyeshadows: MAC Eyeshadows( Php 900)

MAC has a wide range of neutral matte eyeshadows for classic looks. Espresso and Charcoal Brown not only work as contour color or for setting pencil eyeliner, they are also great eyebrow powders. Shroom and Ricepaper can be all-over lid colors or brow highlights. Carbon is a classic matte black eyeshadow for smoky eyes. For starters, shroom and charcoal brown or espresso are best buys.

A Fresh Pink Lipstick MAC Pink Nouveau (Php 1000)

Pink Nouveau can appear as a fresh, youthful pink or a bright Barbie pink to some. I personally use this on some brides and events. Mixed with a little nude, it can create a rosy, pretty classic my-lips-but-better shade for beauty editorials.


For those who don't want to spend makeup to the point of slicing off a kidney and a liver, there are some affordable makeup that you can get a friend or yourself, if makeup must be the request. These photos shown, are actually stuff I use, and they are in my pro makeup stash and stuff I swear by. Sometimes, good makeup can be friendly to the wallet too. Enjoy the holidays!