Liz Lanuzo, one of my beauty blogger friends, is someone who I really admire. She’s a blogger, marketing and PR consultant, and beauty/imaging coach. Liz is not even 30 years old, but she continues to amaze me. Plus, she is a genuine and helpful person. Trivia: I paid P2,000 to attend one of her makeup workshops, after which I learned how to apply eye makeup properly. I’m not rich so P2,000 is a significant amount of money for me. The fact I paid that amount means I trust Liz.
In the last few years, Liz’s blog (www.projectvanity.com) has evolved into a webzine. From being a one-woman show, Project Vanity now has a managing editor, writers and investors. Last week Liz posted a teaser on Instagram of the “Universally Chic Kit,” which is basically a kit of things she loves. I’m a sucker for pouches and the lovely pink pouch with a watercolor painting by Liz (yes, she’s also an artist) is a definite must-have.
She very kindly sent me one kit, which is available at Projectvanity.com and beautymnl.com for P1,250. Inside are almost P4,000 worth of items. At press time, there was already a waiting list for the kit.
What’s inside is a selection of some of Liz’s beauty products. There’s a gift certificate for Brow Construction Service from Browhaus and a Lasting 2Way Eyebrow Pen from K-Palette. Other items include Etude House Styling Eyeliner in Brown, Snoe Slim Shade Me Sculpting Cake, Inglot Freedom System Blush in AMC 59 and Lunasol Full Glamour Lips Mini Palette. These are items Liz has reviewed and loved. For instance, I can’t say K-Palette and not think of her. My first K-Palette product, a brown eyeliner, was a gift from her. Lunasol Full Glamour is also one of her favorite lipstick formulas, so I am also excited to try this.
Another thing I am excited about is the expansion in Benefit’s Hoola line. The Hoola Box O’ Powder is a makeup artists’ favorite because it is a matte bronzer used for contouring. It’s a real matte-brown powder with no shimmer or gray undertones. Last year Benefit released a Do the Hoola Beyond Bronze Kit, which included a bottle of Dew The Hoola, the liquid version of the Hoola Powder. I’m not the type who likes contouring, so I use Dew The Hoola to make my lighter foundations darker, or I pat it (with a Beauty Blender) along my jawline or my temple.
“Get a year-round glow without the gleam. The smoothing effects and lightweight texture melt in for a shimmerless, natural look. It’s so sheer and seamless, it’ll have you saying hoola-la,” Benefit Cosmetics in a press release says.
What I love about Benefit’s Box O’Powders is the fragrance. Dew The Hoola smells like Hoola powder. It has a coconut-like scent that reminds me of the beach. So which do I like better? I prefer Dew The Hoola because it has a softer look. I’m even more excited about Hoola Zero Tanlines, a liquid bronzer for the body that is applied using a sponge attached to the cover (another one of Benefit’s cute innovations in packaging). I love it because it smells wonderful and gives my skin a golden tan.
Benefit claims Zero Tanlines is transfer-resistant, lasts for 12 hours and is streak-free. I can imagine someone with fair skin rocking a tanned look using Zero Tanlines.
The collection also includes a Bronzing and Contouring Brush that looks like bamboo. I didn’t see this in person but I’m sure that it is as visually appealing as it looks in pictures.
Benefit has more exciting things in store in the next few months, including its extensive new brow collection, which will be available in July. I will be talking about that soon. n