Etude House Royal Jelly Plus Collagen in One

Please excuse my photo, I did everything to make it look decent and resorted to layering with geometric figures...it look fine right?

After more than a year of hoarding and being addicted to sheet masks, I finally calm my senses and stopped my vice of checking almost every masks that is or has been the talk of the town.  I'm now down to around 15 sheets individually wrap and to this one from Etude House.

Now if you are using a sheet masks on a regular basis, wouldn't it be more economical to just use buy them in bulk as in like wet wipes type?  This was my thought when I saw Etude House's sheet masks that are in this plastic box that contains 20 sheets:  it's definitely cheaper and also saves a lot of plastic wraps and excess essence.  I got Royal Jelly + Collagen variant because it's moisturizing, perfect for my dry skin (nevermind the firming part) which is I think also better than just the Royal Jelly mask that is individually wrap.

The milky essence is sticky, I won't lie and most of the time I have to splash water to my face after use of the mask to remove it's ickiness but it's really moisturizing and saves my face from becoming a Sahara dessert (here goes my exaggeration).  Another unhappiness about this product that can be remedied is of course the uneven distribution of essence so every now and then I have to turn the plastic box upside down so the top sheet wouldn't dry out.  And well, if you already tried asian sheet mask then you might already probably know the fact that the shape of the sheet mask is weird that even me who is asian have a hard time fitting it to my face but it's okay...I'm already use to it :)

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Google+ | Instagram | Email

Zen Zest Tea Tree Oil

Even someone with dry skin experience having large painful pimples especially on red days that like those with oily skin type, pray that they would quickly go away but pimples most of the time are clingy and wanted to stay forever.  In situation like this, I rely in the drying and antibacterial power of tea tree oil.

Mine is from ZenZest (I also thought they only sell perfume) because it's the cheapest :) yet works well enough to zit the zits in a shorter amount of time.  By cheap I mean 100 pesos (that's around $2.50) which is way cheaper than The Body Shop's!

It does kind of warm the skin when apply a small amount of the oil either on my pimples or other itchy whatevers in my skin like insect bites or scratch or bumps that just suddenly appear on my legs.  Yes it kind of became a multi-purpose oil for me but let's go back to the pimple part.

When I have a small zit, I just apply (directly on the zit and it's close sorrounding) a small amount of tea tree oil at night, sleep on it and bam! it disappears in the morning.  For bigger zits or pimples, it will take around 3 days (it will slowly shrink) before they will turn into something that can be hidden under a concealer which is not bad since before, it'll take around 5 days before my pimple "ripen" (meaning before it pops, I hope you know what I mean).

I sometimes also use this to deodorize my feet, but I make sure that I moisturize them well the day after since this oil is quite drying.  Yes, it's an oil but it is drying that is why it is effective for my pimples.

The only bummer about ZenZest's is the dispenser of the oil, I have to yank the small bottle in order for me to get a decent amount for my pimples but I guess it's better than accidentally spilling it, right?

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Google+ | Instagram | Email

Queen Helene Mud Pack Masque

Because of it's popularity, I always wanted to try Queen Helene's Mint Julep Masque but it's always out of stock or I'm not just fast enough to go to the store and grab one and was left with Mud Pack Masque instead which is actually not bad.

According to www.queenhelene.com"

"Mud Pack Masque is the original old-fashioned, time-tested earth facial treatment with imported natural English Clay that works wonders for your skin. It's not only an effective pore cleanser, but also helps tighten loose, sagging skin on your face and neck and relaxes tired facial muscles to soften lines and wrinkles. Our Mud Pack Masque facial helps you look your best when you're preparing to go out for an evening or helps you relax before going to bed. No matter when you use it, your complexion will have a clearer, smoother, more youthful looking appearance."

Really not bad, right?

Since it's a mud masque, it's so thick sometimes I wish that this is just in a tub instead.  I have to exert too much effort in squeezing the tube and have to rub it in between my hands first (to soften it) before applying it to my skin.  Before, I use foundation brush to evenly apply it, now I just work it in my hands and randomly slather on my face though I saw a youtube video showing how to properly apply a mud mask but who has time for that? hehehe.

This mud mask is quite effective:  I feel that my pores are squeaky clean every after use and it helps in drying out my pimples faster (I also use this around my upper back whenever I feel that there's a lot of "back-acne" going on and in some parts of my body that needs a little deep cleansing action) and when it dries it's as if it's lifting my face and pulling and tightening my pores.  The only downside for me is that it dries my skin so I make sure to moisturize! moisturize! moisturize! I even use face mask and/or sleeping mask/pack after.

Overall it's a really good mud masque for me.

Have you tried the Mint Julep one?  How was it?

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Google+ | Instagram | Email

Mustache, I mean Pore Strips

It's been awhile since I use pore strips since I noticed that the more I use them the more blackheads and whiteheads come back with vengeance or maybe my skin is just so clogged with dirt and hardened sebum...or maybe both?

Here are three strips that I used for the last couple of weeks, all of them are made from Korea even though the other one is a Filipino brand.

Opening the packets before hand saved me from smelling the burning scent of the TheFaceShop and Bench strips.  The It's Skin has an Eskinol smell which is more on the citrucy side.

It's Skin was the weakest remover from the three.  It didn't remove my blackheads plus whiteheads are sticking out that extra plucking is needed.  What I like about it though is that it has a bit of a cooling sensation.

According to the packaging "The Black Head Clear Nose Sheet with Charcoal and Witch Hazel extracts keep your nose skin soft and refreshed.  This product is designed to clean your noseby removing ugly black heads and cleansing clogged pores.  It also makes your skin dramatically clear and smooth"~not all true in my opinion, I'm just glad that it doesn't hurt to use this.

Next is from the TheFaceShop which I got as a freebie.  This one is the smelliest from the 3 and also the weakest that when I started to remove it from my nose it also started to tear.  This is a neutral one meaning it does remove blackheads and whiteheads but there would still be remainder to work on.  It almost have the same promise as It's Skin's but my nose is still not smooth as my forearm :P

Lastly, Bench.  This is the most effective but also the most painful to use (although very tolerable kind of pain, I'm talking pore strip stripping kind of pain here).  It did remove most of my blackheads even the big and stubborn ones and whiteheads but it's quite drying so better use moisturizer afterwards.  Like that it also has all the necessary information in the language that I can understand in its packaging and that the strip itself is made of a soft kind of material.  Like the TheFaceShop's, this also has a burning smell but more on the lighter side and again opening the packets beforehand helps in diminishing the weird scent.

Have a wonderful weekend :)

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Google+ | Instagram | Email

The Saem On The Blackhead

There's a time that I've been obsessed with clearing the blackheads on my face that I hoarded blackhead appropriate products (masks, pore strips, cleansers and the like).  This gel cleaner from The Saem is the second to the last item that I got and it's interesting because it says "steam" in the name.

What's more interesting is the gel cleaner's color...the ash like particles (it is said to be volcanic ash) makes the transparent gel looks gray.  Now getting back on the "steam" word, The Saem On The Blackhead Volcanic Steam Cleaner heats up once contact with skin and I really panicked the first time I used it because I thought my skin is burning but overtime I got used to it (tip: rub the cleaner between your hands first before applying unto face if your skin is sensitive with heat or you just have sensitive skin in general).  The very concept of this gel cleaner is to mimic the heat from steam towel to open up pores and remove black and whiteheads and sebum.

The yellow-orange particles burst and intensify the heat of the gel cleaner.  According to koreadepart.com, the gel will turn into oil but I didn't observe that and now that I'm reading the instructions on how to use it, I found out that I'm using this too much:  I use it on a daily basis whereas it is recommended to use it 2 to 3 times a week only, yikes!  Good thing it's not that harsh and it doesn't dry out my skin (that's a relief).  Anyway, as an everyday cleanser it does loosen up the blackheads and sebum on the skin thanks to it's  heating feature but most of the time I have to pluck or use pore strips to completely remove the blackheads that are sticking out (the blackheads won't freely detached from the skin).  Also, I don't think it can remove make-up as I see lots of brownish residue on my cottonpad (when I apply my toner).

The heating part is really interesting and can help save time when hot/steam towel is not readily available (like in my case).  You can purchase this at w2beauty.com and use arya.deguzman@gmail.com to get a $5 voucher upon registration.

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Google+ | Instagram | Email

Holika Holika Pig-nose

Holika Holika Pig-nose Clear Black Head Cleansing Sugar Scrub (why is the name so long???) is something that I hate in the beginning but that hatred turned into love when I accidentally learned how to properly use it.  This is a physical kind of scrub from; the name itself, sugar plus balm (the balm which has been a buzz in the youtube world which is said to be a better cleansing "agent" than other type/form cleansers? not sure, soon I'll find out since I'm going to use one...will try to compare it with oil, foam and other types of cleansers that I already use *cross finger*) and I can't believe that it has pink clay (I just found this out as in this very moment) or is it the balm that I'm looking at right now (I swear it looks like a balm!)).  Moving on, this one also has lemon extracts which explains the citrusy scent of the scrub and aloe vera, both of which is said to provide a brighten complexion and nourish skin.

If you are thinking that this will magically remove the blackheads on your face then you are wrong, this balm didn't promise that (based on the description I found in the net).  Instead it says that the soft white sugar exfoliate the skin removing dead skin cells and allowing for the easier extraction of blackheads and other impurities from pores while the pink clay (which I think is the balm) help absorbs excess sebum.  Seems like your ordinary sugar scrub but the "balm" makes this scrub a bit special as it makes physical exfoliation/scrubbing much enjoyable and easier.

The balm/pink clay keeps the sugar from sticking to the face for better exfoliation and at the same time it already cleanses the skin and it can even remove make-up.  I just hate the sticky feeling it gives though so I either use a mild cleanser after or just lightly scrub my face again with a konjac jelly.  Or as directed, just wash off with lukewarm water (I don't have the luxury of having a hot and cold faucet so I rely with the konjac jelly).

I said in the beginning that I hated this at first just because I thought that the sugar is just too harsh for my skin but it turns out that I'm just exerting too much pressure.  One day I just absent-mindedly put this on my face (I think I'm daydreaming) and after like a minute, the sugar just dissolved and my skin was exfoliated without being hurt-no redness and harshness felt.

Overall, it's a good light scrub (if use properly) that loosens blackheads and sebum and makes extraction much easier.

p.s. I got the description info from holikaholika.ca.  You can purchase this at w2beauty.com and use arya.deguzman@gmail.com to get a $5 voucher upon registration.

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Google+ | Instagram | Email

SUPER! Missha's

I fell in love with Missha's Super Aqua Essence that I didn't hesitate to get the boxed set of the line even if I still have lots of products in line.  I expected a lot from Missha because most of their products that I tried are superb but budget friendly so the Super Aqua Hydrating Emulsion is kind of a let down so good thing that the toner is something that I like.

So why am I not a fan of the emulsion.  Yes, I like the frosted blue bottle and the refreshing smell that reminds me of the fresh ocean but it just takes a lot of time for my skin to absorb it maybe because the texture is a bit gooey leaving my face looking a bit oily (bit is the favorite word of the day!) and it doesn't really moisturize well.

The toner on the other hand is just refreshing: it's a simple, light, basic toner that is suitable for all skin types.  I usually refer to it as the flavored water, it just smells light, clean and refreshing without any hint of alcohol.  It doesn't dry out nor moisturize my skin-it's in the neutral zone.  I have the full size before and it's also in a frosted light blue glass which a great representation of aqua.

Another quick review for you but I hope I covered the basics.

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Google+ | Instagram | Email

Missha Bordeaux Absolute Body Butter

A sale can make you get things in an impulse and this is one of them.  I got Missha Bordeaux Absolute Body Butter when Missha Korea had a massive sale last December and I'm glad I did get this even if there's no review about it because in my opinion it is better than The Body Shop's!

On sale, I got this around P200 (that's less than $4) which is much cheaper than any other butter that I tried.  The consistency of this one is really like the spreadable butter from grocery stores: not to runny or jiggly or mushy with bits of solid.  But despite it's consistency this is non greasy (or maybe I just apply it right after I take a bath that my skin absorbs it well), it just moisturizes and gives the skin a thin layer of softness that is lovely to touch especially when I just shaved, hehehe.  The smell reminds me of Welsh grape juice not like wine, but that's okay.

I should have got another tub of this during the sale but I always get body butter from The Body Shop that I still have two left and wouldn't like to stock on another butter.

That's all!

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Google+ | Instagram | Email

Laneige Power Essential Skin Refiner Moisture

Remember my flowery back-drop from my blushers series? Well here it goes again, for this post only (hoping that when I visit my sister, I'll have a product photo session again because they look lovely...they look lovely right? please agree!).  Let's get back to the main element of the above photo though and I must say it's the priciest toner skincare product I ever bought but still worth it!

I thought that Laneige Power Essential Skin Refiner Moisture is an essence (which explains why I bought it because by the time I ordered this I told myself that I would "amplify" my skincare and I'll start with an essence but, toink I didn't research much and rely on the "refiner" word...it's as if the beauty world is saying "your okay with your cleansers, now on with the toner...don't skip upgrading it, lady it's an important product").  "Skin Refiner" who wouldn't want a product that can refine the skin especially when your pores are awkwardly big?  Fact by the way, pores don't open and close and two of the main reasons why they appear to look "open" is one, it's clog with hardened sebum and dirt and two, it's not "toned" you know when you wash your face it requires some hours before it can get back to it's normal condition before you can apply other stuff like skincare and makeup and that's why Toner was born: it tones/conditions and prep the skin for the next step!

Laneige Power Essential Skin Refiner Moisture is perfect for boys and girls that have dry skin like me because it really has some moisturizing thing to it...I actually lost the paper that list the ingredients so I don't know what specific stuff does it.  Also, it has a bit of an alcohol smell maybe from some low concentrated acid which I found out to be okay to be present in toners because it acts like a mild daily peel/exfoliant for the skin...just remember though that it should be mild, ditch those strong astringent your skin may not handle it!  If I go over that mild alcohol scent, this toner smells nice and clean.

For the effect, this toner is one of the reason why my skin is soft and looking smooth as if my before big pores we're blurred so they look smaller now so I can say that it does it's job in toning/conditioning the skin.  It says in the description that it's "Moisturizing skin refiner with purifying and softening effect for clear skin" -not 100% sure about the purifying part because I still have blackheads and whiteheads but my skin is clearer than before.

It's a very nice toner with very pretty packaging (I had a hard time throwing the box because it's well put together and I think I'll also have a hard time letting go of the container, I wish I can find a way to recycle it) and it also has a really really "nice" price, I know there are a lot of girls there that really invest on products and will think that this has a cheap price but for me, it's already pricey but considering how well it perform, it's still a good buy!

I think that's all I have to say for this toner.  I'll just leave you with this more colorful photo (than the first photo which is more on the dreamy side).

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Google+ | Instagram | Email

My Other Brushes

The hairs of my powder brush are falling which is sad and made me think to make this post.  I already shared with you my ecotools mini brush set now let's turn the spotlight to the rest of my humble brushes.  These are not expensive and two of them we're just given to me.

Let's first talked about the two brushes from Artist Studio (the ones with bronze and black handles); a brand which is recommended by many bloggers for beginners as they are affordable and decent enough to be used on a daily basis.  The first that I got is the powder brush which is fluffly, soft, dense and gentle enough for the face.  I usually use this to blend my blushers not as a powder brush because I rarely use powders on my face.  After months and months of using it, it is finally showing some signs of wear as its hair are slowly falling on an everyday basis.

The other brush that I got from Artist Studio is the eyeliner/brow brush.  I bought this for the sake of me having a brow brush when I got frustrated at fixing my brows (I already accepted the fact that my brows are straight and looking sad now).  Now, I only use this to practice on how to line my eyes with the black eyeshadow that I have.  The bristles of this is very sturdy and I think this is a bit too thick to be used as a gel/liquid eyeliner brush (but I might be wrong, remember that I'm not an expert).

The one with the cream wooden handle is a dual ended eyeshadow blending brush from Blush handed down to me by my sister.  She actually gave me a set but gave the rest back to her when I moved to a new place.  I like the brown eyeshadow end since it's soft enough and can cover my whole lids in one swipe.  The black blending brush though is so harsh, I rarely used it and it bleeds when I clean it.

The last one is from Jasmine La Belle(?) which was also just given to me (in a mini set, but I only kept this one).  It says shade on the handle but I use this to soften my eyeshadows or highlight my inner corners (when I'm practicing on my makeup "skills") or put extra shadows on my crease since it's soft and small enough for those areas.

I still have a flat top mini kabuki but I forgot to include it in the photos, maybe I'll just show it to you next time.

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Google+ | Instagram | Email

Just Some Products in My Closet

It took me three photo sessions just for me to get decent photos for this post and the post before this, the new place where I moved in just don't have enough natural lighting (and props, now I miss my niece cork board) so forgive the uneven color and blurriness of my pictures.

I love aloe gel and tried some from a couple of brands namely Nature Republic and It's Skin and so far this is the one with the most aloe on it at 95%.  The Saem Big Brother Soothing Aloe Gel offers the same goodness of the aloe gels I used:  it's soothing, refreshing and lightly moisturizers the skin without being sticky...it's a good companion on summer days especially when it's as if the skin is hot and burning as this can cool it down.  This one from The Saem is more jiggly (comparing it with Nature Republic's) and is not clumpy (comparing it with It's Skin's).  I like that it has more aloe but based on availability (I pre-ordered this) and affordability (because of the shipping fee), I'd chose Nature Republic (which is most of the time available in the malls that I go to).

I got this Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Relaxing Cream for free when I bought the serum from the same line...and I don't like it.  It has the same instant almost like erasing and smoothing of the skin like a primer would do effect but this one gives mini bumps on my face.  I thought the bumps would start to go away after 2 weeks of using but they just multiply so I used this instead on my feet but it's sticky and I feel a little itchiness from using it so I just have to give up on this product.  Also, I feel some grittiness when I apply it on my face, I don't know where it's coming from since the cream looks smooth.

This mist is an impulse buy when I was strolling in a mall while everyone seems to be panic buying plus it's from a brand that is new to my eyes and I can't believe that it's under Samsung!  A regular type of mist from a spray bottle which I hate because it doesn't sprit evenly (sometimes it squirts) and upon browsing mist from other brands, it hits me that I could have gotten a mist with a better packaging with what I paid for this but anyway, this is a handy mist that instantly refreshes my face without drying it or sets my makeup or tone down a bb cream when I apply slightly too much and it can also be use as a toner.  I don't know about the effect of the Coenzyme Q10 in it since I don't regularly use this stuff.

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Google+ | Instagram | Email

Remove your Face

I'm just seeing pictures wherein people seem to have a different face when they remove their makeup.  Well, it's a matter of preference and it just so happen that I do not have the skill to transform my face and opted to have a simple almost naked face make-up but everyone (who uses make-up) should remove it and let the skin breathe and currently, these are the items that I'm using.

By the way for the month of July I guess I'll be doing a group product post to eliminate my backlogs.  I will mention the essentials but with less details like packaging, where I bought it, how much etc.  etc.

It's Skin Rice Firming Cleansing Milk got my attention because it's dermatologist tested  and well it's on sale when I bought it.  I was looking for a mild cleanser that I can use in the morning and when I'm halfway through it did I know that I'm using it wrong.  It's best to massage this cleansing milk on a dry face because it will turn into something oily and almost work like cleansing oil only this one can't remove tough makeup like the ones that are waterproof.  Then dampen your hands and massage again your skin to emulsify the cleansing milk then rinse.  I like how this makes my skin soft and doesn't leave it thirsty.

Before I'm amazed with cleansing oil, I was first awed with Bifesta Cleansing Lotion that I got two variants:  the Brightup and the Moist.  Pour some on a cotton pad then swipe it all over your face to remove makeup and dirt, amazing how you don't need water to use it.  BUT it has flaws:  one swipe is not enough to remove makeup even the simple ones...at least three to make sure everything is removed which is for me a waste of cotton pads, it stings the eyes and you need to use a lot to make it work.  I also use this before as a toner but they seem (especially the moist) to be a bit sticky so I stop.  These flaws makes me appreciate cleansing oil big time!  Bifesta Cleansing Lotion is handy though when you are practicing in your makeup skill (just a cotton pad and this can erase the minor errors) and when travelling and water is not available or if you are just afraid to use water for I don't know reason :P

And lastly, this little guy who looks like a mochi or rice cake (puto).  I got this Konjac Sponge in Landmark for like a $1 to replace my Olay cleansing brush in my everyday face cleansing routine.  It's mild and it lightly scrub my face to remove the dirt off my face, lessening the appearance of whiteheads and blackheads.  And if you use foam cleanser, this helps in making more foams so no need to use extra amount of cleanser to enjoy the divine happiness of thick small bubbles/foam on your skin.  Cheap and reliable tool!

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Google+ | Instagram | Email

The Body Shop Shea Body Whip and Olive Shower Gel

Lately, my skin has been very calm: there's no itchiness, no new wounds and scars...it's just silently recovering and I think part of this nice recovery is these two from The Body Shop.

The Body Shop Shea Body Whip
This is a kind of lotion that I can wear on summer days without worrying that I'll be greasy because it's light just like the whip cream version of heavy creams.  My skin easily absorbs it but doesn't compromise the moisturizing goodness of shea making my skin really soft and smooth (I know I already reviewed tons of lotions and say the same thing but this one tops them all).  I also like that this one has a lighter nutty smell compared with it's body butter sister and most of the time last the whole day/night.

The Body Shop Olive Shower Gel
It cleans and bubbles well without making my skin feel tight after every bath but why does it smell like moringga with olive...I just hate the combo and it's too overpowering.  Aside from the "bad smell", my skin loves it and use it alternately with the Cetaphil cleanser.

This is very short, but at least I think I covered the basics :)  no need for extra schmanciness.

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Google+ | Instagram | Email

and it's all Hair Products

Just a quick post with most of the stuff that I use on my hair while drinking a cup of tea and a donut, a combo that is comforting in this gloomy rainy weather (it's not summer here anymore).

Watsons Revitalizing Treatment Shampoo
I like the honey variant better mainly because of the smell:  this one has more like a baby powder scent...it's as if the shampoo is sprinkled with some powder.  I like getting these shampoos from Watsons because they are big, they works just fine and most importantly, CHEAP!

Hair Fix Hair Treatment Deep Repair
It seems like I'm sensitive with sensitive nowadays because I hate the smell of this one, it's like a pomade and it's so strong it can last two days on my hair, what a bummer.  But aside from the smell, this hair treatment is really good as it moisturizes my hair making it shiny and bouncy and I also like the fact that it's in sachet instead of tub...it means I can try other variants (this one is argan oil & aloe vera) or other hair treatments from other brands without spending too much hehehe.

Herbal Essences Hello Hydration
I remember hating Clairol products before because it makes my hair stiff, frizzy and tangled and it's a good thing that they improved a LOT!  This is probably one of my favorite conditioners to date:  it's light as if my hair absorbs it real quick, it's easy to rinse, it has a nice light smell (nothing too strong and I hope the girls who wanted to sway their hair on the train would use this instead of the overpowering flower smell (I think more overpowering than the powerpuff girls) from other conditioner brands) and gives the right amount of moisture (nothing greasy).  It hit all the necessary basics!

Loreal Total Repair Night Essence
An impulse buy cause by the sudden change of hairstyle from shoulder length to the unexpected pixie hair.  I'm thinking that if my hair is less damage, it'll grow way way faster and hair products are my desperate cry.  I'm not a fan of "leave on" hair products and this is no exception because it does nothing.  I don't feel that it's helping my hair and it just makes my hair shiny for a short period of time (I put this at night after a bath, wake up with a shiny hair and wouldn't wash it for the shininess' sake by midday, my hair feels heavy and greasy).  A waste for me, I should have just gotten a hair treatment mask...but most of the part I think it's me not use to using "leave on" products fault.

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Google+ | Instagram | Email

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!

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Google+ | Instagram | Email