Spotlight | Skin79 Skinny Mirror Pact.

It's back to school for the little man today. And now that he's already in the First Grade, his morning class now starts at 7:30 am. As such, I have to be up really early. As in earlier than the usual. Imagine waking up at 4:30 am just so I can avoid the usual school morning madness - and still have time to do my makeup before we go to school. Haha!

Speaking of makeup, here's my long overdue review of the Skin79 Mirror Pact. I've had this pact for quite sometime now (bought this for Php 700 from Kimchi Jib), but never really got around to using it that much after getting hooked to CC Creams and Etude House's Any Cushion.

Skin79 Skinny Mirror Pact.

It's a pressed powder compact that 'provides natural coverage, protects the skin from harmful UV rays, and leaves the skin smooth, soft, and radiant without clogging pores'.

Product description, directions, and ingredients at the back of the box. And they're written in English!

It comes in super sleek packaging, complete with a pink protective pouch. You might even mistake it for a flip phone at first glance. (Think Samsung W789 Henessy smartphone or the old school Nokia 6600.)

Super slim design.

The pact has a magnetic closure and a decent sized mirror that swivels 360 degrees.

Flip phone? :)

The exterior of the compact is reflective, and you can use it as a mirror, too. Careful with fingerprints though, as they tend to stick on the surface of the compact. And boy, do they stick a lot.

The exterior gives a clearer reflection compared to the mirror inside the pact.

The pact also comes with a powder puff, though I prefer using my foundation brush when applying the product. I appreciate that the puff has a separate compartment, which is good for keeping it clean and powder-free.

Powder puff. 

The Skinny Mirror Pact comes in two shades - #21 Light Beige, which is the one that I have, and #23 Natural Beige.

#21 Light Beige.

I was a bit worried that the #21 shade would be lighter than my skin tone, but turns out this shade fits me just right. The powder has a finely-milled texture that doesn't look chalky on the skin when applied. It goes on smoothly, doesn't feel heavy, and leaves the face with a natural-looking, matte finish.

Left, bare skin. Right, with Skinny Mirror Pact.

It's perfect  for those days when I want to leave the house without looking 'too made up'. And it's a great mattifying powder for my favorite BB Creams.

Products used:
FACE: The Face Shop Lovely ME:EX Makeup Base, Skin 79 Skinny Mirror Pact,
Benefit Erase Paste in Medium.
EYES: BYS Waterproof Eyeliner, Fairy Drops Volume Burst Mascara,
Ever Bilena Eyebrow Pencil in Brown.
CHEEKS: Tony Moly Cristal Blusher in Pleasure Peach.
LIPS: Etude House Minnie Kissing Lips in Minnie Red.

What I love:

- Sleek packaging.

- The protective pouch.

- The exterior can be used as a mirror.

- Easy to apply.

- Doesn't feel heavy on the skin.

- Gives the skin a natural finish.

- Mild, floral scent.

- Safe for sensitive skin.

- Effective sebum control.

- SPF 22.

What you might not like:

- Not available locally, but if you're from the Philippines you can purchase it through Kimchi Jib.

- Only two shades available.

Hope you're all having a great Monday! Have a fantastic week ahead! :)

Spotlight | Skin79 Kick It Side Thin Sponge.

As I was going through my blog entries from the previous year, I realized that I hardly wrote about makeup tools and techniques. That being said, I made a resolve to feature makeup tools more often, and do tutorials if possible. (Take note of the keyword 'if', haha!)

And so today, allow me to share with you this nifty little makeup tool that I have been using for the past few months. Yes, it's been awhile since I've had this product and it took me this long to blog about it. Talk about lazy bones. Har har. :)

Skin79 Kick It Side Thin Sponge.

This is the Kick It Side Thin Sponge, Skin 79's answer to the pink, egg-shaped sponge otherwise known as the Beauty Blender.

Brief description at the back of the box.

Its shape resembles two Hershey's Kisses on top of one another, with an ergonomic design that allows easier access to hard-to-reach areas of the face. Its soft, velvety texture makes blending a breeze, and leaves the skin with a smooth, natural finish.

Kinda looks like Hershey's Kisses, don't you think?

Soft and very malleable, the sponge retains its natural shape even if you squeeze it. It can be used damp or dry, but I prefer using it damp as it glides better on my face that way. Now from what I know, the Beauty Blender expands when wet; the Kick It Side Thin Sponge doesn't. The size is the same whether it's wet or dry.

My main squeeze. ;)

It's very easy to clean, too. This doesn't come with its own cleaner like the Beauty Blender, so what I do is add a few drops of my (organic) antibacterial liquid soap, let it seep through the sponge, rinse it with water, and let it dry.

The best part? I got this baby for only Php260 (a little over $5) at KimchiJib. That's a far cry from the $20 (or is it $30?) Beauty Blender.

What I love:
- Easy to use.
- Allows easier makeup application to hard-to-reach areas of the face.
- Leaves the skin with a smooth finish.
- Easy to clean, dries pretty fast, too.
- Does not contain latex.
- No rubbery scent.
- No allergic reactions, safe for sensitive skin.
- Affordable price!

What you might not like:
- None! :)

Hope you're all having a great Monday, everyone! It's rainy and super blustery from where I am, so yeah, I'm hibernating and going back to bed. Haha!  :)

Spotlight | Canmake Four Shiny Eyes Palette in Strawberry Chocolate.

Last May, Canmake Philippines' chief makeup artist Bea Almeda held a Facebook giveaway in celebration of her birthday. At stake were the Four Shiny Eyes Palette, Eye Nuance Eyeshadow, and Candy Wrap Lip Gloss. I was lucky to be one of the winners, and for my prize I received this Four Shiny Eyes Palette in 01 Strawberry Chocolate.

Canmake Four Shiny Eyes Palette.

For those who are hearing the name 'Canmake' for the first time, it's a Japanese brand of drugstore makeup. Canmake finally made its way to Philippine soil, and the brand was officially launched in the country last summer.

Now back to my new toy - the Four Shiny Eyes Palette. Here's what the product does, as per the Canmake website:
Your eyes will look bigger than ever! Achieve deep-set eyes by layering on these colors with different textures! Use this four-shade palette of eyeshadows to try a wide range of tricks for making your eyes look bigger.

Strawberry Chocolate.

The Strawberry Chocolate variant is a trio of cute, pink shades plus the brown liner on the last pan. What's great about the Four Shiny Eyes Palette is that you have a lot of shades to choose from. There are seven palettes in this collection, all of them priced at 680 yen (somewhere around Php 300 or a little over US$6).

Wakarimasu ka? (Do you understand?)

It comes in a clear, plastic packaging. The case itself looks like a jewel, with studs and sparkles adorning the cover. I find the packaging really cute, though I've heard that the plastic container isn't very sturdy.

How to!

Pretty much everything is written in Japanese. But the instruction guide is illustrated and easy to understand.

Now for the swatches.

Texture is soft and creamy, though a bit chalky. Not as highly pigmented as my other drugstore brand eyeshadows (i.e. Almay), but the shimmery and sheer colors are pretty buildable. It'll take a bit of effort to build the colors, though. 

Swatches of Strawberry. And Chocolate. :)

Also, I've heard some complaints about this product's poor staying power, so just to be on the safe side, I use this eyeshadow with a primer on. I was able to wear this for a good eight hours without creasing or fading. Either they have improved the formulation, or my primer is pretty damn good. Haha!

What I love:

- Pretty packaging.

- Affordable price.

- Several shades available.

- Now available in the Philippines. 

- Staying power is good, when used with a primer.

- No fall-outs, surprisingly. :)

- No allergic reactions; safe for sensitive skin.

What you might not like:

- Save for the brown liner on the last pan, pigmentation is so-so.

Customary FOTD! :)
FACE: Majolica Majorca Skin Pore Lingerie,
Tony Moly Luminous Goddess BB Cream,
Benefit Erase Paste in Medium, Skin79 Skinny Mirror Pact.
EYES: Canmake Four Shiny Eyes Palette in Strawberry Chocolate,
BYS Waterproof Eyeliner in Black,
Fairydrops Volume Burst Mascara, Ever Bilena Eyebrow Liner.
CHEEKS: Tony Moly Cat Chu Wink.
LIPS: Double Hit Lip in Rose Riot.

Get to know more about Canmake here.

Haul | Korean Cosmetics + Forever21.

The little man goes back to school tomorrow, so expect me to be busier than the usual in the coming days. Mommies, you understand what I'm saying right? :) We all go back to the daily grind tomorrow, after all. But before chaos ensues around here, indulge me with this quick post and allow me to show you the stuff that I have bought the past week.

You might have heard that the husband and I just celebrated our tenth-slash-fifth anniversary. My better half treated me a to shopping spree at Kimchi Jib, which gave me the chance to stock up on some of my favorite Korean skincare products.

Clockwise from L-R:
Laneige Snow BB Cream, Laneige Water Sleeping Pack EX,
samples of various skincare products from Missha, Apieu, & Liole,
Skin79 Skinny Mirror Pact, Skin79 Kick It Side Thin Sponge.

This loot arrived on the eve of our anniversary, and it came just in time as the night moisturizer that I've been using was already running on empty. Ms. Maggie, the owner of Kimchi Jib, even included a bunch of product samples in the package. So yay, I'm a happy customer! I got me some new products to try! :)

I also did a bit of shopping at Forever 21 last Friday. I was in Makati to attend to claim my prize at the EON office, and I made the most out of that trip by getting me some new clothes for the new school year. As if I were the incoming student, haha!

Clockwise from L-R:
Grey Knit Top, Blue Dolman, Black Knee-length Leggings,
Black Regular Length Leggings, Basic Tee in Tomato,
Basic Tee in Sea Green.

And that's it! I told you this post is gonna be quick, haha!
I have to get some shut-eye now, as I need to wake up awfully early tomorrow. Flag ceremony is at 7 freaking 30 in the morning and I wouldn't want the little man to arrive late on his first day at the new school. Ah, good luck to me! Lol!

Project BB Cream | Skin79 Super Plus Beblesh Balm.

It's been a successful two-week run for my Crazy Cupid Giveaway (almost 6000 entries as of this writing, wow!) and methinks it's because of the fabulous prizes at stake. Really. Even I would want the prizes for myself, haha! Now the giveaway will be closing in sixteen hours, but before this event officially ends, I want to share my thoughts on one of the prizes - the Skin79 Super Plus Beblesh Balm.

Yes, it's called Beblesh.

Allegedly one of the best-selling BB creams in the market, the Skin79 Super Plus Beblesh Balm functions in three ways - whitens and brightens the skin, conceals skin imperfections, and protects the skin from harmful UV rays with its SPF25 PA++ feature.

This BB cream has been deemed unique because of its osmopur ingredients (contained in sunflower, ricebran, and ivy extracts) which protect the skin and keep it free from imperfections. Also found in the Skin79 Super Plus are adenoisine and arbutin, both known for their whitening properties. Finally, there's Phyto-Complex which brightens the skin and keeps it moisturized.

Yay, English literature!

The positive reviews that I've read about this product are one too many. And that made me really curious as to why this BB cream seems to be very popular and well-loved.

Swatch!

This BB cream comes in just one shade, and its color is somewhat similar to my Missha Signature Wrinkle Filler BBCream in #21. It has a slightly grayish cast, but once the BB cream oxidizes, it matches the skintone quite nicely.

Left without BB Cream; right with BB Cream.

Consistency is creamy but not too thick, easy to blend, and doesn't look or feel heavy on the face. Coverage is buildable from medium to full, and has a slightly dewy finish. Staying power is pretty good too, eight hours at the most, on top of the humid weather that we've been having the past few days. Best of all, I had no breakouts or any form of skin irritation from this product.

What I love:

Pretty pink packaging (even the full-sized bottle is cute, too)
Buildable coverage

Easy to blend
Lightweight

Dewy finish

Good staying power

Mild scent

Didn't break me out

SPF25 PA++

What you might not like:

It comes in one shade only

Not available locally

Yeah, sad to say, Skin79 has no physical store in the Philippines yet. You can opt to buy this product online, though. It sells for Php 950 at Stuff in Style. That's a very reasonable price, if I may say, since a 40g bottle of this sells for 27000 KR Won at Emart. Converted, that's around Php 1000.

Finally, a selca / Face of the Day. :)

Products used:
FACE: The Face Shop Velvet Skin Primer,
Benefit Erase Paste in Medium, Skin79 Super Plus Beblesh Balm.
EYES: elf Liquid Eyeliner in Black, Fairy Drops Volume Burst Mascara in Black,
Ever Bilena EyeBrow Liner in Brown.
CHEEKS: Tony Moly Lip & Cheek Tint in Cherry Pink.
LIPS: Tony Moly Lip & Cheek Tint in Cherry Pink,
MUA Lip Boom in OMG, MAC Clear Lip Gelee.

Notice the gradient lips? I've been wearing that look quite often these days, and have received several requests for a step-by-step tutorial for it. If the lazybones won't act up next week, I might be able to do a tutorial for it. Now that would be a first for me. :)

Join | Crazy Cupid Giveaway!

Going out on a date with your significant other? Partying the night away with your girl friends? Or perhaps making a grand entrance to your Senior Prom? Whatever it is that you have planned on Valentines Day (or the days succeeding it), let The Rebel Sweetheart be your Crazy Cupid and doll you up with these!

Winner takes all! :)

1 Skin79 Super Plus Beblesh Balm 

1 NYX Blush in Terra Cotta

1 Revlon ColorStay 16-Hour Eyeshadow Quad in 540 Inspired

1 Korres Lip Gloss in Cherry

4 Dermal Collagen Essence Mask sheets

Huge thanks to Stuff in Style for sharing this wonderful loot with my lovely readers!

For a chance to win this awesome prize package, simply enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter below. The more tasks that you complete, the more entries you earn - thus increasing your chances of winning. Please read the indicated tasks carefully as I do check and double-check your entries! :)

This giveaway will run from February 1 until February 15. Open worldwide! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This Valentines Giveaway is part of the Crazy Cupid Giveaway Hop, hosted by Cheap is the New Classy.

    

After entering my giveaway, please take the time to visit my fellow bloggers who are also participating in this event. Lots of fabulous prizes waiting to be won, so mouse over to their blogs and enter their giveaways, too! Have fun hopping! :) 

Powered by Linky Tools
Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list...

Easter Sale at HipStyle Online Shop!

BB cream users and fans of Korean cosmetics are in for a treat as HipStyle Online Shop goes on sale! Enjoy as much as Php 360 savings on the following items:

Skin79 BB Cream Set (Hot Pink + VIP Gold)

Tony Moly Egg Pore Set (Blackhead Out + Tightening Pack +  Silky Smooth Balm)

For orders and inquiries, visit HipStyle's Facebook page.

Project BB Cream | Skin Food Good Afternoon Rose Lemon Tea

When I went cosmetics crazy a few weeks ago, I was actually taking a shot in the dark with some of my purchased items - particularly the Skin Food ones. Save for the fact that its endorser is Lee Min Jung, and its one of Des' favorite brands, I practically have zero experience / knowledge when it comes to Skin Food. It's a good thing bhappywithme sells testers. I can try as many items as I want without worrying too much about the price and the effectiveness of the product.

Rice Mask + Rose Lemon BB cream.

First up, the Rice Mask Wash off, described as such in the Skin Food website:

A wash-off mask containing rice extract that moisturizes skin and brightens tone. With its texture of ground rice, it leaves skin bright, soft and lustrous.

I had to check online because the text at the back of the pack is written in Hangul. My reading comprehension in Hangul is limited to words such as Lee Jun Ki and Super Junior, lol.

A tiny glob of the Rice Mask.

Anyway, back to the Rice Mask. As pictured, it's white and creamy and embedded in it are exfoliating bits of grain. It has a paste-like consistency comparable to glutinous rice - this is a rice mask after all. It has a mild scent to it, which reminded me of Johnson's Baby Soap.

Since the consistency isn't as thick as mud packs, you can spread it heavily or lightly on your face. I chose the latter because I don't want to consume the whole packet in one sitting. I've used this twice this week, and my face did feel softer after. There's also a noticeable brightness to my skin, though the product is really meant to whiten. Perhaps if used long term, it might.  Also, I didn't experience dryness or any allergies after each use. 

I'm happy with the results, but not too thrilled to buy a full-sized one. A 100g tub of this Rice Mask retails around Php 455. It's pricey by my standards since this worked more like a facial scrub rather than a facial mask to me.

I feel otherwise for the BB cream, which I used in this look. The Rose Lemon is just one of the five variants in the Good Afternoon Tea BB cream line. The entire range is listed below.

Rose Lemon Tea BB - Hydrating & Fitting

Honey Black Tea BB - Moisturizing & Glowing

Peach Green Tea BB - Oil-Controlling & Mattifying

Apple Cinnamon Tea - Whitening

Berry Berry Tea BB - Anti-Wrinkle

The Rose Lemon was the only one available when I went eBay shopping, which is why I ended up with it. Little did I know that this was one of those water drop BB creams - the type that releases water drops once it comes contact with your skin.

Squeezed a small amount out of the packet.

My first reaction when I opened the packet was, "Weh?! Ano, to? Bakit parang powder?" ("Huh? What is this? It feels like powder?) Now watch what happens when you spread it out.

Start spreading the news. Err, BB cream.

It doesn't look like crushed chalk anymore! I may have spread it out a bit too much in this photo; there's only one tiny 'droplet' left in the middle of the BB cream-covered area.

A little more spreading does the trick. 'scuse me for my parched skin.

There are two color options for this BB cream, by the way. I got mine in 01 Light Beige. The other is 02 Natural Beige.

One remarkable trait of this product is its scent of lemon and rose extracts - aromatic, and very pleasant. Thumbs up to this BB cream for invigorating my senses. 

Coverage is light, (compared to Missha's medium to heavy) but a tad too light for me. Even skin tone, achieved. Skin imperfections, still noticeable. I'd recommend this to those who don't have much too hide on their faces (read: my abominable dark undereyes), as this BB cream does improve skin texture and gives the face a natural glow.

Because of its hydrating feature, the Rose Lemon BB cream didn't sink, crack, flake, or break out on my face. This one has relatively low SPF. If Missha's was low with SPF 25+, this one is even lower with just SPF 20+. It's not something you can use if you're spending an entire day under the sun.

Photo credit: Theskinfood.com

The Good Afternoon BB creams come in 30g tubes only, and retails around Php 400-450. For an imported brand, it's really affordable - as compared with Avon's 18g  SPF 20+ BB creams which cost Php 399 already. Had the Rose Lemon BB cream gave me better coverage, I could have bought a full-sized tube in no time. 

I'll try to get hold of the other Good Afternoon variants; perhaps the other tea 'flavors' might work for me. Also, I have yet to try my Skin 79 Hot Pink Super Plus Triple Function Beblesh Balm - the BB cream with the longest name known to man. And no, that's not a typo. It's really Beblesh.

Repeat after me, "Beblesh!" One more time, "Beblesh!" Again, "Beblesh!" 

Ahhh, chincha! Naega micyeosseo! (That's Korean for 'Really, I'm going crazy!')