Before They Go: Makeup II - Eyeshadows

I thought that finally, I'll be a makeup junkie when I started blogging and will finally be girly just the way others had hoped for me.  But for me, putting piles of stuff on my face aside from skincare is totally bothersome.  I still enjoyed the time spent playing with makeup and at the same time I can confidently say to other people that the "me" is not really girly and enjoys the simple routine of bb cream, some blush (sometimes highlighter) and a little something something on the lips that is not too loud in color.  I'll definitely stick to the items that will work for me and not the other way around and I don't want to feel that I am only beautiful when I have makeup on.

And so here are some items that I tried, used a couple of time, sits in my drawer and are now expired (I think).

Before They Go: Makeup I

From a crazy idea to a beauty staple, BB cushion conquered and found a steady spot in the beauty world.  Lovers of liquid base makeup can now enjoy their favorite bb/cc cream or foundation in a compact form without the hassle of a bulky packaging, a mirror and a sponge or brush.

I don't touch-up so I do not necessarily need a cushion but I got curious so I got a refill to satisfy my curiosity and it did not disappoint though I have some minor issues with it.

So here's what's inside of the cushion (for those of you who is noob like me), it's a plastic container with a cover that contains a sponge soaked with; in my case, foundation (confusing, I know because of the name but a "BB Cushion" can contain bb/cc cream or foundation which I already mentioned above, sorry paulit ulit lang and if you are feeling adventurous you can actually DIY and customize the content of your very own bb cushion).

I got the IOPE XP Cushion C21 SPF50+/PA+++ because IOPE started it all!  It has a light to medium coverage with a dewy finish which I very much like because it makes me look fresh and younger :) Plus I look artistahin when I wear this although that effect fades in just an hour or two so touch-up is really needed but I can't be bothered so I just let it fade since the fading anyway looks natural - not patchy and there's no creasing involved at all especially when using the specific sponge that should be use with the cushion.

Ellana Icon Lip & Cheek Cream Color

And lastly, the most pigmented and boldest blush that I have - the Ellana Lip & Cheek Cream Color in Strawberry Red.  Like I said in my last post, I'm careful in choosing colors and most of the time choose something safe but one day while on youtube, the vloggers that I subscribed to rave about a certain blush and Estee of essiebutton wear it on one of her videos and showed the Nars Orgasm and I was like WHAT!!!! that is so bright and pigmented but it looks so natural on her.  And that's when it hits me that something loud or bold or pigmented can be naturally beautiful when applied properly and this just proves how little knowledge I have when it comes to make-up.  Anyway, I looked for an alternative-a bit similar to Orgasm and found Strawberry Red of Ellana.

Ellana Icon Lip & Cheek Cream Color in Strawberry Red
"Mini-pots of a sheer wash of long-lasting luminous color, creamy & easily blendable. To use as blush, dot on the apples of your cheeks and blend. To use as lip color, dot on the middle of the lips and blend towards the edges. Highly pigmented, a little goes a long way."

It looks dark pink in the picture but in person it really looks like the strawberry color in paints (almost like what is on this link).  It looks matte but when I apply it on my skin, it actually has a bit of shimmer on it.  It is creamy and blendable but I wouldn't use a brush in applying this if I we're you because it will just get stuck on the bristles.  It's more proper to use clean fingers in blending it and a dot really goes a long way (I made a mistake of swiping my fingers twice on the pan and slapped it on my cheek and it's like those little girls who buy the very red chewing gums and swipe them on their lips and cheeks for color hehehe memories, I use to do it when I was a kid).  Looking at the swatches below, the bottom part is just a light swipe from the pan showing how pigmented it really is and the upper one is just the blended leftover from my finger.

I haven't tried this on my lips and I do not have the intention to wear it on my lips, the shimmer forbids me to do so hahaha, silly but it's the only reason I can think of.  Anyway, I bought it with the pure intention of using it as a blusher.

I love the illustration of Soleil Ignacio in the packaging and that it has a magnet (I keep on opening and closing it for fun, is that crazy?) although the cuts and pasting of the paper and the interior needs a little improvement (I'm very careful not to stain the white interior of the packaging).  A little bit of shimmer is nice but I hope Ellana has a matte-as-in-no-shimmer-at-all version of this one because I really like how creamy and pigmented it is and the color just suits my skintone really well and it last the whole day on my cheeks with minimal fading (and I thank my dry skin for that, dry skin and cream blush go hand in hand) but there are days that I'm just simply not into shimmery things.

If you wanted to meet the rest of my blushers then you can check out my A Touch of Blush post and might as well look into my ELF Color Stick and Studio Blush and Nature Republic Shine Blossom Rose Blusher entries (just click on the names and it will directly lead you to the post).  Thanks!

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Nature Republic Shine Blossom Rose Blusher

Here's a short makeup story in my life:  There's a time wherein I'm afraid to wear blush because of those girls who reapply blush every now and then or they just apply too much that it seems like they've been slapped a couple of times and I was like "do I have to put blush like that?" with a very worried face.  Sorry if this seem to be a bit mean to others but I just want my cheeks to have a natural flush for me to have some glow and color and so I've been a bit careful in choosing colors and I make sure to just put enough and blend well when I'm using the two blushers that I have that are quite pigmented.

One of the blushers that I have that just do the right thing even when I apply to much is the Nature Republic's Shine Blossom Rose Blusher in 02 Coral Rose.  Wondering why there's a sun in front of the packaging?  My explanation is that it gives a nice sun-kissed effect on the cheeks.

Nature Republic Shine Blossom Rose Blusher 02 Coral Rose (No 3711)
"Shine Blossom Rose Blusher makes your skin look more feminine with romantic rose color and perfume."

The coral rose perfectly describes the color of this blush:  it's like an old rose combined with the brightness of coral.  Like I said, it gives this natural sun-kissed effect that just brightens the face and can be used on a daily basis whether your at school or office or just doing some errands.  Let's just say that the color is pretty safe, simple, natural and laid back and even if I apply this thrice on my cheeks and forgot to blend it, I won't worry that I'll look like a clown.

Just look at the swatches below:  I applied the blusher thrice on the bottom swatch while the upper one is just lightly tapped and it just blends well with the color of my skin.

I also love the tin can packaging of this blusher with its metallic bronze/gold rose color and the size is just perfect for us girls who do not have a large makeup space.  The puff that comes with it also looks cute and perfectly fits the shape of my cheeks.  And even if this is in powder form, it can last the whole day that is IF I won't be sweating and wiping my face too much.

If you wanted to read my intro with my blushers then you can check out my A Touch of Blush post and might as well look into my ELF Color Stick and Studio Blush entry (just click on the names and it will directly lead you to the post).  Thanks!

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ELF Color Stick and Studio Blush

Finally, our internet is back!  I can finally continue with my blushers posts.

The first two blushers that I bought are from Eyes.Lips.Face aka e.l.f.  The Essential All Over Color Stick (the one in white chubby stick) is a cream type of blusher that is perfect for beginners like me because I just lightly tap it on my cheeks and blend it with my clean fingers and voila! my face is flushing with pinkish color, no need for extra tools.

e.l.f. Essential All Over Color Stick
"This 3-in-1 Color Stick adds a beautiful glow to your eyes, lips, or face! Get gorgeous color that illuminates and instantly conditions skin for fresh and natural color all day long. Blend anywhere you would like to highlight and brighten like your cheeks and brow bones."

I got the pink lemonade which according to the SA is the most pigmented among the 5 colors available while the others are more like highlighters rather than blushers.  These color sticks all have shimmer that acts like a highlighter though I haven't tried it as a brow bone highlighter but I tried it as a lipstick and it looks weird, it's like I'm from the future wherein all people wanted everything to have a touch of chrome.  It looked okay though when I top it with a nude lip balm and smack my lips plenty of times.

Overall, I'm okay with it as a blusher which leads me to decide to get an orangey color (because last year,  orange makeup looks really good).

But the color that I'm looking for is not available so the SA suggested another blush this time in powder form and it's the Studio Blush in peachy keen which I fondly call as a demi contour and demi blush because it seems like its contouring and blushing at the same time when I apply it in between the hollows and apples of my cheeks.  Yes, it looks orangey but when worn, it's more like a peachy with a bit of a golden tan color.  This one has a more refine shimmer to it compared with the Essential All Over Color Stick.

e.l.f. Studio Blush
"The soft sheer texture blends into the skin for a silky finish. Designed to be worn alone or layered for more depth. Highlight your complexion with a subtle healthy glow!"

My sister said that the packaging reminds her of the ones from NARS except for the clear plastic part and I already saw a blog post comparing the colors from the two brands.  So far I'm loving what I got from e.l.f. and though they are more pricey here in the Philippines compared in the US, they are budget friendly.

The shimmery effect is most noticeable when under a direct light.  Oh I almost forgot about their longevity,  I think 4 hours is the max...sorry that's my best guess I really don't look at the mirror much and I also don't have the habit of retouching makeup :)

If you wanted to read my intro with my blushers then you can check out my A Touch of Blush post.  Thanks!

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EcoTools Bamboo 5 Piece Brush Set

To be honest, my sister is my main influence with it comes to make-up and all it's shenanigan.  She's also the one who told me about the MakeupChair who suggest make-up and brushes that guides me as a beginner.  One of her videos featured these EcoTools brushes which is so cute in my innocent eyes so I got them.

Mineral Powder Brush/Eye Shading Brush/ Concealer Brush/Baby Kabuki

This Bamboo 5 piece brush set is earth friendly in the sense that the handles are made from bamboo (which is very appealing to me), the bristles are made of 100% cruelty-free soft taklon (which looks pretty in my eyes) and recycled aluminum ferrules.  The fifth item in the set is the cosmetic case which is made of natural cotton and hemp and even the storage pouch encasing the whole set is reusable.

Overall, the bristles of this brush set are soft, doesn't irritate my skin, dense enough  and doesn't bleed when washed.

Mineral Powder Brush is use to apply powder or mineral foundation all over the face in a circular, buffing motion and work inward towards the nose.  I sometimes use this with my darkest shade of blush to "contour" my cheeks (I apply the blush in between the hollows and the chubby part of my cheeks) because the center is a bit dented (no it's not a defect and if it's a defect, then I liked it ahahaha) so it's elongated a little like oblong shape.

Eye Shading Brush is said that it is expertly cut to apply and blend powder eye shadows. I think this is a bit big to be an eyeshadow brush? I'm having a hard time using it for that purpose although I have to admit that my eyeshadows are in very small containers and I also have small eyes.  For me, this is more like a fluffy blending brush.

Concealer Brush is small enough to be used on my under-eyes.  I don't cover my freckles and other discoloration in my face that much because I wanted my make-up to look more natural so I only use it whenever my under-eyes look extra dark.  The bristles of this one is more sturdier and straighter but still doesn't irritate my skin.  Oh I also use this to apply eyeshadows :)

Baby Kabuki is for buffing powder over areas that need more coverage but most of the time I use this as a blush brush (I use this all the time).  It has a dome shape before but is now deformed because of me constantly tagging and pulling whenever I wash it plus the bristles are shedding now (I used to be very brutal in washing my brushes, poor baby kabuki).  I keep complaining how small the handle of this brush is but it's a baby version so I shouldn't complain (so I got an "adult" kabuki).

Cosmetic Case is big enough to house all this brushes plus a small pot of eyeshadow, a lippie, a not so big blush and a mini size bb cream or foundation so it's a perfect partner when travelling.

I forgot how much I paid for these but it's more or less around $15 including shipping (If I remember it right) but there are a lot of local sellers (I'm talking Philippines here) that are already offering these brushes now.

I think this bamboo brush set from EcoTools are perfect for beginners like me, for travel because it's small enough that it can fit in the palm of my hand and also for those who want a cruelty free and vegan brushes.

Thanks for reading. Till then. Bye!

They Hate Me = I Hate Them: Drugstore Products That Just Won't Work

Well, for me.  Some of the products here works okay with other people but it seems like my skin and scalp are brats these days that the most behaved part of my body is surprisingly my face.

Affordable and readily available are two major characteristics why I always roam around department or grocery stores.  Most of the time, the products that I buy works just fine but in this batch, everything seems bad to me.

Asian Secrets Lulur Body Scrub with Seaweed Extract and Vitamin E - P137 (around $3.20)
Surprise?  I know there are a lot of gals loving this scrub but it did a great deal of a damage to my skin.  After using this twice, I find myself scratching every part of my body and small itchy reddish bumps (like acne/pimples) started to appear.  There are three probable reasons for this shocking effect:  first is that the whitening ingredient in this scrub is just too much for my skin, second is probably an allergic reaction to the seaweed extract and third might be because of the small beads; polyethelene (a type of plastic), that acts as the scrub irritated my skin.

Olay Regenerist Cleanser - deluxe sample from the Olay Regenerist Specialty Cleanser Set
This one also has polyethelene that after just using it for a day, a few numbers of mini bumps appeared on my face.  I gave it another chance after a week but the result is still the same.  I also hate how this one smells like plastic.

Lorys Deep Moisturizing Hair Cream - P185 (around $4.30)
It's great that this hair mask can be use as an intensive mask and an everyday conditioner.  A week has passed of using it and my hair still feel damaged and became stiffer (but a bit straighter) than before.  I thought I can live with it and maybe after a few more weeks my hair would finally be less damaged and moisturized.  Rather, I found myself scratching my scalp intensively after some days so I finally gave up and decided to kick this hair mask out of the shower.

Essence Mosaic Compact Powder - P229 (around $5.30)
My first ever compact that I should have a bit of some kind of sentimental feeling with it but I find this too glittery.  I'm aware that there are parts of this compact that have glitters on it but when I swatched it before purchasing, the glitters look subtle, sheen and nice.  For the first few swirls, this compact actually looks good but as I swirl deeper, I find the glitters getting bigger (which I hate) and it also started to make my face itchy.  I heard a lot of good thing about Essence's translucent powder though which is what I planned to buy in the first place but it was (and still) out of stock.

Common denominator of these products: making me itchy!

Thanks for reading. Till then. Bye!

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter

I think this lip butter is a big leap to my "make-up world" and weirdly, I am raising my hands for that.  Ladies (and gents), the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Fig Jam.

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in 030 Fig Jam
Regular Price P525/ more or less $8 outside Philippines
Got it from Bon Marche for P280
Website/Links: Revlon Website/ Revlon Philippines facebook page/ Bon Marche

Lip butter?  My body appreciates me for applying body butter so it would be nice if my lips will shout a thank you too to me for using a lip butter.

Revlon says "SHINY COLOR + BUTTERY BALM 94% of women felt lips were softer smoother and instantly hydrated. Hydrating mango, shea and coconut butter formula boosts lip moisture by 156%. Pampering gel formula provides super charged hydration and glides on lips buttery smooth.  Sheer to medium colour with buttery shine Available in 20 irresistible shades."

And the claims are true:  it's gives an almost lip gloss shine to my lips, it's buttery and instantly makes lips softer, smoother and hydrated.  Going deeper into the effects, the shine will last around an hour, the smoothness will last around 2 hours and the hydration will start to deteriorate after 3 hours and by this time I can feel some bits of grits forming on my lips much like when butter starts to get "cold" on the lips. By the 4 hour mark it's reapplication time because I just probably had my lunch and the lip butter got wiped off of my lips.  Overall, I think it performs well compared to most lip balms. 

Got to admit , I got intimated with the color when I first open it because it looks super dark like chocolate!

the color

See what I mean?  But when worn, it's actually sheer.  It gives this shadow effect that kind of accentuate the natural color of the lips.  Just think of when you eat or drink chocolate or put a very thin layer of melted chocolate on your lips and it seems that your lips look a bit darker but in a good way.  Most of the time, I think that this lip butter "glamorizes" my lips.

swatch, just 1 swipe on my lips

Love the effect, love the color but hated the packaging.  There are some points that are much appreciated with the packaging like the color of the cap represents the color of the lip butter and the top is also transparent so you can see what's inside and I also like how classy the inside packaging looks like (please look at the first picture, agree with me?) but I actually hate the color of the cap, it looks so old and I hate that the bottom part (where the brand name is located) is so thin that I can't get enough grip and I'm having a hard time pulling the cap so when I'm in a hurry, I always drop this lip butter.

I really like the "inside" packaging though.

fig jam in all it's glory!

Not much of a fan of the outer packaging but overall, Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter is a great lip balm butter. Its claims are true and I like how natural and glamorous it looks on my lips.

Thanks for reading. Till then. Bye!