Marionnaud Brushes Review

When i was first starting to use makeup then I always wondered why makeup won't work out on me like the people I used to watch on video tutorials and commercials. I first thought that brushes and applicators were not that important--just an additional expense on makeup. But now that my makeup collection is growing and growing, I realized that brushes are very useful to have your makeup on point. So today i will be reviewing my first set of makeup brushes. Nothing fancy though as I bought brushes with a starter price.

E.L.F Foundation Brush

First off, is ELF Foundation brush. It is made of synthetic fiber and It looks like a paint brush. It is quite flat which is a minus for me. As a foundation brush it is better to have a f brush that is round and abundant so as to cover or spread the product well.

It also leaves streaks as I apply the foundation. A good brush leaves an airbrush effect upon application. Plus points would be it is affordable and its bristles doesn't shed even when washed rigorously. Some brushes would have its bristles fall off easily when wet.

Marionnaud Brushes

Next will be Marionnaud brushes. Since I had a contour palette I needed an angled brush to properly contour my face. These brushes are semi-soft and synthetic.

Angled Blush Brush: The size of the brush fit my cheekbones perfectly. When I apply the product around 60% goes to my face and 40% remain on the tip of the bristles. I have no hard time cleaning the brush and the bristles is doesn't shed as well.

Eyeshadow blending brush: My fave among the bunch. I still do use an eyeshadow applicator when putting eyeshadow but this brush softens and blends well leaving a.gradient/soft effect of colors.

Eyebrow and eyeline double side d brush, but I call it angled tip and spoolie. I bought this because it is dual purpose. I don't need to but two brushes. The spoolie is much used. I use pencliner in my brows and soften it with the spoolie to make it more natural looking. Pencil liner creates harsh and sharp lines but the spoolie softens and make it more natural-looking.

Angled tip. I dont use this much though but the bristles are super soft and it bends. I tried lining my eye with this with an eyeshadow and the finish is subtle not useful if you want sharp, bold, cat eyes. As using gel liner, you need an ample amount of the product with this brush. It is not for gel liner per se but this is good to go.

Overall it has been useful in my makeup kit and definitely took my makeup up a notch. :)

E.L.F Tone Correcting Concealer Review

Concealers can be your next best friend because it virtually conceals nasty, dark and baggy under eye circles. For me, concealers are very helpful in improving your look and this concealer that I'm going to review, I say is a must-have in your kit.

It is a tone correcting concealer which means it evens out skin tone or balances out skin under tones to conceal the blemishes out.

Pros
-I like concealers that comes in a wand so I can apply the product more easily
-brightens complexion
-doesn't leave white streaks
-Affordable. We all know all ELF products comes in an affordable price without taking out much of the quality

Cons
-label gets to be erased easily after being in a makeup bag for just a week

New vs. Old

-doesn't conceal completely. I need to pile up more of the product so it will cover out the blemish
-contains 3g but runs out easily
-too liquidy

Swatch

You can see here the consistency of the product. It's a little bit watery and it melts easily in skin before you can actually blend it.

  

Without the product

With the product

I give it a 2.5/5 for coverage. I think it is more of a tone correcting cream than a concealer. It barely conceals. I bought the lightest shade which is Rosy Beige because I'm using this as a face highlighter and it works really fine as highlighter. I rarely use this in my under-eye 

Overall, I still love this product and will buy again.

My skincare routine

Having flawless skin is such a goal to achieve and maintaining it is another, but you know it's not that difficult to achieve and I believe that each one of us have a at least a routine or ritual that we do to have a favorable skin condition.

Others will have treatments like facial, diamond peel and the like done professionally in a spa and believe me you don't necessary always need those to be done in a regular because the effect of it achievable in having your own routine. Each one of us have different skin types and knowing how to take care of it is a key.

Although for skin types that have severe/cystic acne, it is still best to consult a medical or professional help.

My skin type is combination. My T-zone especially my nose is super oily and the rest of my face is normal to dry. My main problem is large pores around my nose, oily skin and blackheads and whiteheads. Luckily, I don't breakout too much that it covers my whole face, although I do when my monthly period is coming but it's pretty normal for girls.

BYS Lipstick in Cherry Black Review

Halloween is just around the corner and sporting a dark lip is so in but even so it's not the Halloween season, this dark lippie I must say, is a suitable color for everyday use.

BYS Lipstick in Cherry Black

I really had a hard time looking for a bright red lipstick to suit me then and all the more it was not in my plans to have a dark lipstick because I never thought it would look good on me, but this BYS Lipstick in Cherry Black is like a match made in heaven for me.

Packaging: Simple, a little old-fashioned style that comes in a black container with a clear lid so that the color of the lipstick is seen then and there

Finish: It has a bold, very pigmented color and finish. It has a pigmentation of a lip paint, the coverage is excellent and buildable. It is semi-matte and sheer so it glides ever so smoothly on lips. I have no worries applying this even if my lips are dry and that it would leave nasty streaks thereafter because it finishes off smooth and stays smooth all throughout although it leaves streaks if worn long enough and stains as well. Reapplying will actually correct these.

:)

Color: It's not too dark in my opinion, just the right tone of dark. I make sure that it doesn't have a plum undertone because that will be different for what I actually prefer.

Staying power: Good staying power, 4-6 hours, does not transfers like crazy, and does not fade away easily even with snacking and/or drinking.

Swatch

I bought this for 250 pesos, affordable compared to other brands that sells this kind of dark shade. This line of BYS Lipstick is one of the bunch that I can say that has excellent quality because other than this shade, there are wide-range of colors available that I can wait to get my hands on and review next.

Glam Works Skin Perfector BB Stick Review

I actually needed a concealer but I ended up buying this Glam Works Skin Perfector BB Stick. I think this is a new product in the market and along with this BB stick, BB cream that comes in a tube are also on sale.

'Brightens and Corrects skin tone'

I got the shade medium nude and for what I can remember it is available in 3 shades: Ivory Nude, Medium Nude and Natural Beige. I'm not sure if I got all the names right though.

Anyway, on with the review:

Packaging: Extra points for the design, I find it very pretty- pink, I must say girly and detailed. It comes in a light plastic and is similar to a lipstick in which it is rolled-up to get much of the product. It is not sturdy, the product broke from it's container after a week of using and the stick is smudging all over the container and is now messy

Coverage: 3/5. Good and buildable, and I 'm using this as my under-eye concealer because the concealers I've tried are either too sticky or too flaky. So this pass as a concealer, not as good as concealing like a concealer though but it has perks like the brightening effect which somehow corrects nasty dark under-eye circles discoloration.

without the product

with the product: 2 swipes

Finish: Dewy, as opposed to it's description that it is a matte-finish. It does an ok job for a BB stick as people will buy Blemish Balm products for it's dewy and healthy skin finish.

Swatch

Staying power: 2-6 hours, applying powder will prolong it and it has good chemistry with pressed powders


What I don't like about this product is the smell. It smelled like makeup that is about to expire and I thought it only smelled on the tester. I'm not that picky with the smell so it doesn't stop me from using and luckily the smell fades away minutes after applying and it doesn't stay.

Overall this is a good buy for the price (Php 150). I'm not sure if I going to buy again as I have couple of BB products in my stash already.

*Glam Works products are product of Watsons and is exclusively available in Watsons stores and SM Department stores.

Eyeshadow Palette Review: Nichido vs. Ever Bilena Palette

It's really been a while since I last updated and to make up for that, I will do a back to back review or more of a face-off review on 2 common eyeshadow palette in the market.

First off, Ever Bilena Eye Shadow Palette

It contains 12 Eye Shadow in 1. The packaging comes in a simple black case that includes mirror and an eye shadow applicator. The applicator I might say is a little flimsy and I needed to replace it with a newer one.

The purpose of having that many colors of eye shadow is for you to blend. That should be the unwritten rule in applying eye shadow and using a single color on your eyelids for me is a tad bit lacking or sometimes ridiculous depending on what color was used.

1 - Light color or a highlight color for the brow bone

2 - Main Color, dark color preferably a matte one

3 - Blending Color

First row of this palette is more appropriately used for the brow bone, 2nd row as blending color and last row as main color, but of course it will never hurt to experiment and mix match colors That is the fun part in having an eyeshadow palette -- there will be more preferences.

Meanwhile, first column are more on the earth colors, second column: plum colors, third column: brown/natural colors and is my favorite and fourth column are for the smokey look.

Using the 3rd column respectively

It only contains 2 types: Matte colors and soft shimmer colors.

Matte colors: # 1,2,3,4,5,9,12

Shimmer colors: # 6,7,8,9,10,11

Swatches

I felt a slight itch at first try but I am now using this palette everyday. Staying power and color are so-so, it is more subtle than eye-catchy. I wish they could name the colors so it is easier for us to refer the colors but overall this is a useful palette in the makeup kit and I got all the colors I need for any mood and occasion.

Swatches on eyelids: Using column 4 (sorry for the ungroomed eyebrow)

Nichido Eyeshadow Palette

It contains 8 eyeshadows and 2 blush-ons

Ingredients

Despite indicating in the box that it is matted type all of the colors are shimmer to glitter type. The packaging is lighter than the EB palette. It is also comes in a black packaging with mirror and applicator.

Unlike the EB palette, it doesn't suggest color combinations. It is just random everyday colors but overall it is usable.

# 7 and 8 looks almost the same but 7 has a reddish undertone. #1,6, and 4 are my favorite colors in this palette. Like the EB palette, it doesn't refer the colors with unique names and whatnot.

Sometimes the shimmer in this palette easily transfers (too glittery for everyday look) but slightly more pigmented than the EB palette.

Sample: Using # 4,8 and 6

The blushes however are of usable color which I like and I can blend the two colors. It is very useful for me and I am using it almost everyday.

Swatches: Last 2 colors on the right are the blushes

Overall in comparison, Ever Bilena palette is more favorable for me because it got matte colors and more colors to choose from to create color combinations and appropriate colors for the brow bone, lower lids and for the crease. Meanwhile, Nichido earn points from me because of the presence of the blushes.

I don't regret buying this much of eyeshadow palettes because it is useful and fun in my makeup routine.

Product Review: Zenutrients Skin Repair and Nourishment Cream

Zenutrients Skin Repair and Nourishment Cream

Not that I need another cream, I just want to try something new in my skin routine. Zenutrients Skin Repair and Nourishment Cream can be used as face and body cream either for day or night.

Avocado Oil hastens repair of skin damage and sustains it with vitamins A, B, C and E. It benefits mature and dry skin due to its natural hydrating property.

The consistency of the product is thick and it feels heavy on skin so I might use this solely for body rather than in my face. My skin feels instantly supple and well hydrated. It doesnt smell any like avocado, more like mint chocolate, and although it does not smell like avocado, I am comfortable with that smell. The kind that smells like food but at the same time I want to slather it all over my body.

Some people are a little intimidated in using lotions because it might feel hot and sticky throughout the day, this product may be slightly on that side but I say that it nourishes dry and damaged skin just as fine. I might be using this for quite awhile to target skin problems like dryness and flakiness but may not be using it on a daily basis. 

Health Issue: Paraben

Are we safe with Parabens?

I noticed how some people got conscious about using products with Parabens and wanted to toss out products with paraben in the bin then and there, and there I got curious what are parabens exactly.

Parabens are a class of widely used preservatives in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. Parabens are effective preservatives in many types of formulas. It extends the shelf life of the products, without it products such as makeup, lotion, shampoo and the like will likely to expire faster. We'll be needing to buy our daily products more than usual. About 90% of grocery and drugstore products contain parabens. So we might be overloading our bodies with cumulative amounts of paraben from common products that we usually use in our daily lives.

Of greatest concern is that parabens are known to disrupt hormone function, an effect that is linked to increased risk of breast cancer and reproductive toxicity. Parabens mimic estrogen by binding to estrogen receptors on cells. Research has shown that the perceived influx of estrogen beyond normal levels can in some cases trigger reactions such as increasing breast cell division and the growth of tumors.

But should we really be concerned with using parabens? There isn't much products without parabens in the market. Even high-end products has it. Being paraben conscious may be costly as products without parabens are more expensive and has lesser shelf life.

I think that we shouldn't be worried so much with parabens. It prevents bacterial, fungal and other potentially harmful microbes from the products. Just imagine products being infected with bacteria and having to buy more often than not as replacement. Makeup for example has small amount of paraben and is regularly flushed out from the body. Eating foods with high antioxidant content also helps in preventing cancerous effects of preservatives that we intake. Paraben is a preservative, there are also preservatives in the food we eat of god knows what and how much and paraben might be still a minute amount compared to other preservatives.

Still conscious about parabens? Here are products that are paraben-free:

• Aveda 
• Burt’s Bees 
• Korres 
• Origins
• St. Ives

Wish List

Will update my wish list as of today

• Etude BB Cream
• Etude Facial Wash
• Benefit POREfessional/Maybelline Baby Pore
• MAC Lipstick
• MAC Studio Fix Powder
• Kokuryu Cake Foundation in Orange Blush
• San San pot eyeshadow / Aido Travel eyeshadow kit
• Benefit Hoola Contour/Bronzer Powder
• BYS Black Cherry Lipstick

Product Review: Fashion 21 Pressed Powder with Cucumber Extract

It seems that my 'tan' from summer is not lightening up any time soon and my everyday compact powder that is The Phytogenic Infinite powder from Face Shop has become too light for my skin tone with that also running out, I had the urge (or probably I can say more an impulse buy that is) to buy a new everyday powder without the original plan and the budget for that matter.

The budget wasn't a problem as this was really affordable (P135.00) and I was originally planning to buy the Fanny Serrano Two-Way Cake in Chino but I had change of plans.

Anyway, I'll start reviewing Fashion 21 Pressed Powder with Cucumber Extract

Packaging

The green compact case is such an eye-catcher. The case looks sturdy enough and it won't break or deteriorate as easily as the time goes by. It has a large mirror in my opinion which is a plus for me.

The sponge is a little too thin for me. I don't think it distributes well the product into my face as it absorbs the product more than it transfers to my skin. I'm just thinking whether to replace it with a better sponge, use a powder brush or keep it anyway. For a while, I'm keeping it.


Coverage and color

The consistency of the product is so creamy and is finely-milled. I chose the darkest shade which is the #3 because I needed a darker shade--it has slight yellow undertone which I like and it is almost as the exact color of my skin. It seems I am not wearing anything. The coverage is light to medium but hardly buildable. 

Ingredients

Staying power

Staying power is around 2-4 hours, oil control so-so. However, I think it does a fair enough job as a setting powder when used with foundations and keeps oil at bay when used alone as the finish is matte and manages to keep your face fresh and generally flawless. Although when it oxidizes in my skin, my skin looks darker and messy. That is generally the case for most face powders, that is why it is better to buy a face powder slightly fairer to your skin but I wanted something that matches my skin perfectly. What I do is blot the excess oil with blotting paper when it has oxidized and reapply again. The scent is very light, it doesn't bother me a bit. 

It also has the benefits of a Cucumber as this is infused with cucumber extract. Few benefits of cucumber are it has anti-inflammatory effects, it is also a good antioxidant, and it hydrates skin. You get so much for this product in such an affordable price. Overall it is really a good find for me. I don't regret buying this. If you want a face powder that covers much of your blemishes and stays long this might not be the right powder for you but if you're looking for a good lightweight, natural-looking powder this is perfect for that need.

Product Review: Enhance Cosmetics 6 pc Contour Palette

Online shopping has never been my thing. Shipping fees and delays, plus there is a possibility that it might be a scam. I would always have the love for buying makeup and cosmetics in a boutique instead online. In that way, I could buy and get a hand of the product right then and there. I could also test the product if it suits my skin and whatnot.

But here's an exception, because I am forever looking for that perfect contour palette, I think that contouring is a very important part of your makeup routine these days but I couldn't find myself a complete contour palette out in the market. Everything seems to be bought in singles. By chance, I stumbled upon Enhance Cosmetics page and thought that I need this palette and I am buying it.

Needless to say my whole transaction was fast. They reply quick to inquiries, and yes, this is a legit online shop. They also had the option for meet-ups other than delivering the product to you, so I went for that option because it's quicker to get hold of the product and like I said before, I don't like things delivered at home. I prefer buying it directly from a shop. Overall, the service was convenient and good.

Packaging

The whole palette is as a size of a small thin notebook and each shade is as the size of a compact powder. Yes, it is thin enough to fit my bag but the problem is, it wont fit in my makeup kit. Others will eye why am I carrying so much when I am about to do my makeup. It's a little bit large not to be ignored though.Well, larger product means more product. It is made of plastic, it is light and I am betting it is not as sturdy. Nothing fancy, as you can see it is black, sleek and simple. Having palettes like these make you look (and feel) more professional. 

Color/Consistency

I chose powder type rather than a cream type of contouring palette because one my face is oily, two powder types are easier to control--since I am new to contouring I want to familiarize myself first, and three I want it to be subtle.

Swatches (L-R: Blushes, Contour shade, highlights)

All of the 6 shades are powder and matte with a very bit of satin I might say. I don't like shimmer even with the highlights and shimmer in the contour shade means it is a bronzer not a contour one.

Honestly, I don't know what am I gonna do with the blushes. It is too red. It doesn't suit my skin tone, and both look almost the same. I hope the other blush would be like a peachy or salmon like in color so I can blend it to suit me more. I don't think I can use it. Anyway, I bought the product for the contour and highlight. The blush was a bonus but I am unable to get a use of it.

The good thing is it has 2 shades for contour and 2 shades for highlight. I can blend it to fit me well. The darker shade of contour is the perfect shade for contouring as for the highlights, the lightest (white one) is like an ordinary white baby powder in compact. I don't think it will do the highlight as I am looking for something that reflects light or will make a part of my face stand out without the unnecessary shimmer.

Ingredients

Staying power is around 2-4 hours. Not that long though and it oxidizes into my skin in ways not much into my liking--like it kind of looks oily and messy after a few hours and it doesn't have a good chemistry with my BB cream I had underneath, but it does the job of contouring depending on how well it is applied to the face. I try to contour my cheekbones with an angled brush to make my face thinner, around my upper forehead as well and of course I contour my nose to have the illusion of a smaller one (which I failed miserably, I am practicing still) and highlight the prominent parts of my face like the apples of my cheeks, nosebridge and chin. It has strong medicated scent that others might be put off but it's fine with me. It is affordable compared to palettes out in the market or buying separate contour and highlight. It costs P650.

Overall, it is a good product for me. I finally got a hand of a contouring palette and I can practice my contouring skills. ^

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