I'll be moving here in May/June! Well, a few miles south of the city. I'll be training to specialize in Internal Medicine, which takes 3 years, then we'll see where that takes me.

In the meantime I am drowning in paperwork while struggling not to hoard Asian cosmetics. I expect a shortage of blogging time but will try my best to post because I still have so many things I'm loving and haven't shared with you. (Case in point a new find from the #BDJBoxSocial yesterday!) This blog might also take a more personal turn; we'll see. Anyway, for kicks here's a lens-distorted selfie from Chicago's polar vortex last January -- look closely and you'll see Jack Frost not merely nipping at but actually devouring my nose. ;)

It's Wednesday and hardly anyone checks blogs on Humpday so this is basically a filler entry about big changes in my personal life, and consequently this blog. The news is incomplete so the big reveal will happen this weekend but yaaay I'm certain to have a stable job come July! In the meantime, you have more makeup and calligraphy posts to look forward to. ;)

I'm a sucker for eyeshadow, so it comes as no surprise that this is one of my favorites from Ellana. The aptly-named Combo Eyebrow/Eyeshadow Quad has neutral shadows that double as brow powder.

These are very pigmented and silky, almost like a cream shadow. They swatch like a dream. Applied it with fingers it is almost opaque! Use of a brush yields a more subtle effect. Being pressed mineral makeup it is a bit powdery, but using fingers minimizes the mess. I want to get the other two quads, a spring palette with pinks and golds and a dual-purpose liner/shadow quad with purples and blues. All my favorite colors!

Ellana's Intensive Blend Loose Powder Mineral Foundation is their best-selling product, and for good reason. I've been wearing it all weekend! This foundation provides medium coverage in a long-wearing formula with a silky matte finish.

Ellana has an impressive range range of colors, from light to deep, serving both warm and cool undertones. I've found my match in Hazelnut Latte, a warm light medium. (Don't you love these delicious names?) If you don't know your shade you can even get free samples; pay only the shipping fee.

The foundation looks too light on first application, partly because it's absolutely matte. But as my natural oils blend with the powder it becomes a perfect shade match and transforms into a fresh, dewy look that is very natural -- my favorite finish!

Blush is the quickest way to bring warmth to the face, and I am seriously loving this Mineral Blush Duo in Obsession/Fulfillment by Ellana. These are amazingly pigmented; almost as pigmented as theBalm's inStain line. The babydoll pink is great for a youthful flush, while the peachy orange is perfect for a subtle glow. You can also layer the two for a more complex shade.

Ellana is a homegrown mineral makeup line founded in 2008 by Theresa Carbonel. I love that although all ingredients are sourced abroad (mostly from Europe), the makeup is manufactured right here in the Philippines. Suportahan ang gawang Pinoy!

Ellana is known for high-quality, affordable makeup. Their famed loose powder foundation comes in thirteen shades formulated for Asian skintones. For their relaunch they've come out not only with new packaging, but new products as well, such as pressed powder foundation and blush duos. This is actually my first time to try honest-to-goodness mineral makeup. I was so impressed I decided to do a week-long feature that incidentally culminates in this Saturday's Nifty Nibs workshop, which will be held in the Ellana Minerals show room. (Insider tip: a slot just opened up -- register while you can!)

All this week I will be reviewing some of my favorites from this brand, and telling you how to get discounts on your purchases! Click on to find out more.