Project BB Cream | SkinFood Aloe Sun BB Cream.

Some of my friends and readers have been asking me why I haven't done a CC Cream review yet, and when will they see one on my blog. To be quite honest, my schedule has become a little crazy since the little man started school. And by the time I get home, I'd be too tired or too lazy to do product shots and swatches and FOTDs, which are part and parcel of any product review.

Anyhow, I'll make sure to do a CC Cream review soon - in two weeks' time perhaps? But before I do, let me get this BB Cream review posted first as it's been sitting in my Drafts folder for way too long.

This one is the Aloe Sun BB - my third BB Cream from SkinFood (the first two were the Rose Lemon Tea BB and the Honey Black Tea BB), and my tenth BB Cream review overall.

Hello, Aloe!

According to SkinFood, this is a 'multi-function BB Cream that protects skin from UV rays and moisturizes the skin while achieving a clear, radiant skintone'. Now I beg to disagree with the sun protection function, since the Aloe Sun BB is a mere SPF20 PA+, just like the two SkinFood BB Creams that I've tried. Quite ironic since it's a Sun BB Cream, huh?

I can however, attest to its moisturizing and nourishing quality. I used this BB Cream for the most part of the summer, when my skin looked dull and dry from all the heat and excessive sweat. But thanks to Aloe Extract, this BB Cream saved my face from dullness, and even gave it a nice, healthy glow.

Swatch!

The SkinFood Aloe Sun BB Cream comes in two variants - #1 Radiant Skin and #2 Natural Skin. This one's the Radiant Skin variant.

Blend, blend, blend! Left without BB, right with BB.

It has a creamy texture and a lightweight formulation that makes it easy to apply and blend. It's not as heavily pigmented as some of the other BB Creams I've tried (i.e. TFS Power Perfection BB), but it does a good job of concealing redness or dullness and making your skintone look even.

Left without BB; right with BB.

A full-sized tube (50g) of this product costs around 9900 Korean Won. That's somewhere around Php 380 or US$ 8. Pretty affordable, right? That is, if you're buying in Korea. I'm not sure how much this is being sold in the Philippines, since this wasn't in stock the last time I visited a SkinFood stall. I've seen some eBay sellers carrying this product, but alas they're selling for almost double the price ($15).

Matches my skintone nicely! :)
Left without BB, right with BB.

What I love:

Has a soothing effect on the skin.

Moisturizes and gives the skin a nice, healthy glow.

Buildable, light to medium coverage.

Smells nice (like a softer, subtler version of Irish Spring).

Lightweight, easy to blend formulation.

No breakouts whatsoever.

Affordable price. (If you're buying in Korea.)

What you might not like:

SPF20 PA+ only (And it's a Sun BB!)

Face of the day, ta-daaa!
FACE: Majolica Majorca Skin Lingerie Pore Cover, Benefit Erase Paste in Medium,
Skin Food Aloe Sun BB Cream.
EYES: Almay Intense i-Color Trio for Hazels, BYS Liquid Eyeliner in Black,
Majolica Majorca Lash King Mascara,
Ever Bilena Eyebrow Liner in Brown.
CHEEKS: SkinFood Sugar Cookie Blush in Bebe Pink.
LIPS: Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Sweet Tart.

Sleek Makeup Pomegranate Blush + O.M.G! Lipstick | Review, Swatches, and The Look.

As promised, here is the second installment of my Sleek Makeup product review. I decided to hit two birds with one stone and just put the blush and lipstick together in one post. Mostly because I ended up using both products together in one 'look'.

First up, the Pomegranate Blush.

Sleek and chic!

With its sturdy and sleek black casing, the Blush looks like the mini-me of the Sleek Eyeshadow palette. And perhaps they made the case a little too sturdy as I had a hard time opening it. I actually had to insert a knife through that slit in the middle just to pry it open.

But the effort was all worth it once you see what's inside.

Blush, and nothing but!

A gorgeous spread of plum with subtle hints of pink shimmer to it. I love that it has a mirror and while some of you may disagree, I actually love the fact that there's no brush included. Because I get to have an entire pan of blush and blush alone - all 8 grams of it!

As described by Sleek Makeup, Pomegranate is "a highly pigmented blusher to brighten and define cheekbones. The silky-fine formulation provides long lasting blusher which helps to create a subtle but radiant cheek area." 

Pomegranate on my arm.

True enough, this shade does not fall short when it comes to color pay-off and pigmentation. But don't be intimidated by the swatch pictured above. I intentionally brushed a generous amount on my skin just to emphasize how vivid the color can be. This blush is also quite easy to blend, and I love its dewy effect on the cheeks.

Pomegranate on my cheeks.

And for Php 450, you do get your money's worth with this product.

Notice my lips? That's Sleek's True Colour Lipstick in O.M.G!
Yes, exclamation point included.

I told you, it's called O.M.G!

The name, I reckon, must be from the reaction elicited when you see the lipstick itself.

And another gush of OMG! :)

O.M.G!, as stated in the official website, is "a superb highly-pigmented lipstick enriched with Vitamin E which leaves amazingly rich shades on the lips with only a single coat."

Whoever is in-charge of these product descriptions must be a very honest person. Because really, all you need is a single coat of this lipstick.

One stroke!

I was a little confused with the formulation, though. The label obviously says it's 'Sheen' so I was expecting some 'shining shimmering splendid'. But as you can see from the swatch, it looks more matte than sheen.

And I must admit, I was slightly taken aback with the starkness of this red orange shade. At the back of my mind I was thinking, "Did Achi Pao really think I could pull this color off?" I was a bit unsure if I could, but was flattered with the challenge of wearing something this bold and vivid.

My out-of-focus macro selca captured the lip color just right. Daebak! :)

But I guess I managed to pull it off with this look.

I had to dab a bit of gloss though, because my lips looked a tad dry with its pseudo-sheen seemingly-matte formulation. (I'm not a huge fan of mattes, you know.) On the contrary, this lipstick doesn't feel dry on the lips and has an impressive color stay of 6 to 7 hours max. You can even skip the lip liner when you're wearing this particular shade.

The Php 450 retail price, though, may be a bit too much for drugstore makeup connoiseurs. But considering how highly-pigmented this product is (ergo, a little goes a long way), dishing a few extra bucks from your usual lipstick budget wouldn't hurt too much.

Face:  L'Oreal Base Magique Primer + Missha Signature Complete Real BB Cream # 21
Eyes: Almay Intense i-Color Trio for Hazels + Avon Simply Pretty Eyeshadow Duo, Avon Gel Eyeliner in Blackberry, Avon Super Curlacious Waterproof Mascara in Black, Ever Bilena Eyebrow Liner in Brown
Cheeks: Sleek Makeup Blush in Pomegranate
Lips: Sleek Makeup Sheen Lipstick in O.M.G! + MAC Clear Lip Gel

To cap this entry, here's what I think of the two products.

Sleek Makeup Blush in Pomegranate

What I love:

- Sleek and chic packaging

- Gorgeous shade of plum

- Highly pigmented but easy to blend

- Good staying power

- The 'dewy effect' on your cheeks

- Suitable for sensitive skin

- The mirror inside the compact

- No brush, all blush!

- Affordable price of Php 450

What I don't like:

- Compact is a bit difficult to open 

Sleek Makeup Sheen Lipstick in O.M.G!

What I love:

- Unconventional, oval-shaped tube

- Bold and vivid color

- Highly pigmented

- Excellent staying power

- Non-drying

What I don't like:

- Not as sheen as I would have expected to be

Sleek Makeup is officially distributed in the Philippines by Ms. Smile of Updated Trends. Purchases can be made through her Multiply store, or at bazaars such as this. Stocks are also readily available with Ms. Sol of Digital Traincase.

If you want to check out more Sleek Makeup and see the products in actual, better visit the bazaars where Updated Trends and Digital Traincase participate in. You may place your orders or inquire about their upcoming bazaar schedules through the following:

Facebook: Sleek Makeup PH / Digital Traincase
Multiply: Updated Trends / Digital Traincase
Twitter: Digital Traincase

While the products featured above were given to me for free, the opinions expressed in this article are entirely my own.

Sharing with This or That Thursday, Color Connection, Pink Friday, Pink Saturday and Shadow Shot Sunday.

Prime Time | L'Oreal Base Magique Primer.

With warm, sticky air and a temperature of 33 degrees Celsius, today's sweltering weather couldn't have been more ideal to test my newly-bought primer. I've read nothing but raves and positive feedback for this product, which made me even more excited to test it myself.

L'Oreal Base Magique.

Launched in the last quarter of 2011, the Base Magique is L'Oreal's first ever primer. Likewise, it's also the first and only primer I own. It comes in a transparent jar, and is available in one size only - 15 mL.

L'Oreal's first primer in the market. The first primer in my train case.

As described by L'Oreal, "NEW BASE MAGIQUE transforming smoothing primer instantly smoothes pores and creates an even surface, so that you get a more flawless make-up result that lasts. The silky, lightweight formula glides onto skin and minimises the look of pores and fine lines to transform your skin surface."

First touch!

At first glance, the product appears to be a thick, waxy glob of light pink cream. In reality, however, this primer is neither greasy nor waxy at all. It has a silk-soft feel to it, very lightweight, and very easy to blend.  The moment I applied this on my face, I was like, "Holy schmoly! This primer glides on my face like a dream!" And because blending and evening it out was a no-brainer, my face looked and felt velvety smooth in no time.

I had no qualms using it on my eyelids, either. The Base Magique does a thorough job in concealing fine lines that I won't be needing a separate eye primer anymore.

Check out my eyelids. The lines are almost invisible!

True to its promise, Base Magique did a great job in transforming my skin - making my face a smooth and even canvas. Putting my make-up on has never been easier. I didn't even have to worry about creasing and
breaking out; in fact, I was able to turn things around and make this concealer work on my face!

On its own, Base Magique already gives a semi-matte, natural glow to your face. You can actually do without a foundation or setting powder. In my case, just BB cream on top of the primer worked fine. An for an arid, hot as hell day like today, skipping the foundation in my makeup routine was quite a relief.

L'Oreal Base Magique + Avon Healthy Skin BB Cream.

Needless to say, the money that I invested on this product was totally worth it. I bought this during the 3-Day Sale, so I got this for only Php 723 - from its original price of Php 945. But even if I had to pay full price for the  Base Magique , I'd still say that I got my money's worth.

In summary, here's what I have to say about L'Oreal's  Base Magique  Transforming Smoothing Primer.

Pros:

Non-greasy, lightweight texture
Easy to blend
Softens and smoothens the skin
Conceals imperfections 
Non-drying, and doesn't make your face oily
Gives the face a natural, youthful glow
A little amount goes a long way 
Can be used as an eye primer
Can be used on its own (ergo, no need for a foundation)

Cons:

It comes in a jar, which could be quite unhygienic since you have to dip your fingers in it. There's also a risk of exposing the product to dirt and dust each time you uncap it.
It's made of elastomers, so be wary of using this product if you're skin is highly sensitive or allergic to silicon. (I have very sensitive skin, and surprisingly, I had no adverse reactions to this product.)

My only regret with the  Base Magique?
Why haven't I used it sooner?! (Hehe.)

PS... If you've noticed, I'm using a new lipstick. Lip Butter, actually. But I'll save the rave for another entry. :) 


Linkin' up with Simple Things and Wednesday Whites.

Avon Ideal Luminous Concealer | The Battle Against Dark Undereyes.

It's a known fact that I have the most horrendous eyebags in the history of mankind blogging. I've ranted and prattled about it time and again, as if I were a broken record on repeat. My ongoing battle with dark undereyes has compelled to try all sorts of eye creams, eye masks, and concealers. The latest of which is Avon's Ideal Luminous Concealer Stick.

Avon Ideal Luminous Concealer Stick in Almond.

Like the other products from the Ideal Luminous line, this concealer boasts of the Invisiblend Technology - an Avon innovation four years in the making. With this technology, skin-matching pigments are used 'to create a breathable network of undetectable coverage'. Or in layman's terms, lightweight makeup, flawless look, full coverage.

Sounds promising right? I've been using the Ideal Luminous Dual Powder Foundation for quite awhile now, and I like how it works well on my face. I like it a lot that I've ditched all other foundations and stuck to just this instead. Which is why I have high expectations with this concealer stick. After all, they're from the same Ideal Luminous product line.

Ideal Luminous vs Ideal Shade.

I put it up to a challenge and place it head to head against Avon's Ideal Shade concealer stick. I've been quite loyal to this particular concealer, to be honest. Despite trying other brands, I keep coming back to this Avon product.

Ideal Luminous on the left vs Ideal Shade on the right.

Both concealers are in Almond. But as you can see, the Ideal Luminous has a distinctly lighter shade.

Ideal Luminous on the left vs Ideal Shade on the right.

Or should I say it has a whiter shade?

Ideal Luminous on the left vs Ideal Shade on the right.

It looks even paler when blended across the skin.

Bare face, bothersome eyebags!

But the real test is on the undereyes. That's my 'fresh-from-the-shower' look - bare face and all.

Ideal Shade on the left vs Ideal Luminous on the right.

Now with a generous swatch of both concealers. On the left (the one just above my mole) is the Ideal Shade, while on the right is the Ideal Luminous. You can see that the latter is definitely lighter.

Ideal Shade on the left vs Ideal Luminous on the right.

The right side (as in your right) of my face looks like a mess, I know. For some reason, the Ideal Luminous was a bit difficult to blend. Both concealers are creamy, but the Ideal Luminous tended to settle more on the creases beneath my eyes. I guess I applied a little too much of it, lol.

Ideal Shade on the left vs Ideal Luminous on the right.

You can correct this by setting the concealer with powder. I used the Ideal Luminous Dual Powder Foundation, which did a bit of help for the underye mess. I'll remember to use the Ideal Luminous concealer sparingly next time. But then again, I may just settle for my good ol' Ideal Shade who keeps on calling me back whenever I go astray, lol.

Although this concealer didn't elicit a 'wow' from me, I'd give it points for its affordability. Since I got this as an FD Privilege Buy (the perks of being an Avon Lady), I paid only Php 179 for it. This product will be available to the public beginning March 1, at a special introductory price of Php 199. That's Php 81 cheaper than the regular price of Php 280.

And with that, the epic battle against eyebags and dark undereyes continue. The saga goes on...

Sharing with In the Picture, Wednesday Whites, and This or That Thursday.

Pucker Up! | Avon Ultra Moisture Rich Rose Lipstick.

Whenever Avon launches a new makeup line (lipsticks in particular), I'm almost always at the head of the pack in purchasing an item or two. But alas, I only got to drop by our Avon outlet today. I was like beating the buzzer before the February 1-15 campaign ends! Thankfully, I was able to get the lipstick that I wanted, in the shade that I was eyeing.

Another new lippy! Yay!

This, my friends, is the newest addition to Avon's vast line of lip colors - the Ultra Moisture Rich Rose Lipstick. If you've been paying close attention to my FOTD (that's Face of the Day) posts, then perhaps you've noticed the original Ultra Moisture Rich Lipstick which I wore here, and here.

Compared to the original UMR's line of twenty different shades, the new UMR Rose line comes in ten shades only. Each shade has a tinge of 'rose' into it. None of the browns and neutrals that can be found in the original UMR line. For instance, there's Jubilee Rose - a deep purple shade with red undertones. And then there's Amour Rose - a sheer, almost iridescent kinda pink. (I'm saying this based on the Avon catalog which I am looking flipping through as I write.) I wish I could get all ten shades so I can swatch them all for you to see. But then, my husband would probably kill me, lol. :)

Anyway, this is what I got.

Hello, Carmen!

Carmen Rose - the shade that Shamcey Supsup was wearing in the catalog. She's the newest Avon endorser, by the way. I was supposed to buy Amelia Rose (dark but not too overpowering kinda pink) as well, but they were out of stock already. I assume that it's a very pretty and wearable color, considering the UMR Rose has not been launched to the public just yet. 

Unwrapped!

That pink band in the middle looks so refreshingly chic. The silver band in the original UMR tubes (and almost all other Avon lipsticks) pale in comparison to this one.

Uncapped!

Turns out, the tube itself is pink! So it's pink all the way for this sweet-smelling baby. I reckon the balminess  comes from the pomegranate essence, which is one of its ingredients.

See how lush and cream this lipstick is, just by looking at it? None of the glittery, shimmery stuff that most Avon critics dislike. I have no problem with those glitters and shimmers, though, as I actually gravitate towards lip products of that kind. Honestly, I am more wary of mattes as I find them kinda bland at times. 

Carmen, profilin'. :)

But Carmen Rose is nowhere near bland! In fact, it's the kind of red that will knock your socks off. Or your husband/boyfriend/crush's socks, for that matter.

Fiery eyes! I mean Fiery Red! Lee Jun Ki, stop distracting my writing! LOL. ;)

Wearing this lipstick is such a delight! It glides smoothly on the lips, and just one or two strokes would be enough to bring out the color. I usually do three, because I like odd numbers. :) And because the UMR Rose line contains Rose Extract and Almond Oil, expect your lips to be as soft and as moisturized as it can be. No drying, chapping, bleeding, or feathering experienced on my end. Remember, I don't use lip balms or lip gloss before or after I wear lipsticks.

Now here's the best part. Its staying power is remarkable. I had dinner after doing these swatches, and holy schmoly, I still had lipstick on! To think I ate pizza - greasy, lip-licking pizza! So I guess, sans the pizza and cola, Carmen Rose could stay on your lips for at least six hours or so. Definitely better than the Extralasting variant, which are not so extra-lasting after all. 

Red <3

Can you tell that I'm totally digging this color? Carmen Rose is now officially my new favorite red lipstick. :)

The Ultra Moisture Rich Rose Lipsticks will be sold to the public starting today, with an introductory price of just Php 199. Looks like I'll be hieing off to the Avon outlet again to get a different shade. Hopefully they'll have the Amelia Rose back in stock by next week. Fingers crossed! :)

Sharing with 366, Rednesday, This or That Thursday and Shadow Shot Sunday.

Pucker Up! | Human Nature Mineral Hydrating Lipstick

Ninety-eight entries into this blog (this one being entry number ninety-nine), and only now did I realize what's lacking in The Rebel Sweetheart. A lipstick post! I'd been so engrossed with my Project BB cream and smoky eye palettes that I haven't had the chance to write about lipsticks. To think I actually have tons of them stashed in my train case, lol.

And with that, I am finally doing this inaugural lipstick post. Yay! Appropriately enough, I'm actually writing about Human Nature's Mineral Hydrating Lipstick in First Kiss, one of the two new shades released last December.

Pink box + purple tube = <3

I'm a sucker for anything pink or purple. And as you can see, this baby has a pink box AND a purple tube. Needless to say, I am smitten with this product just by looking at its packaging. And those dainty little hearts are the cutest things ever.

First Kiss!

Human Nature's Mineral Lipsticks have been around for quite sometime (more or less a year, methinks), but I never got around to buying or owning any of its earlier releases. The first four shades available were a bit too sheer for my liking, and I look kinda pale when my lip color is too light.

First Kiss, up close.

With its new and improved formula, the Mineral Hydrating Lipsticks are now packed with more moisturizing power. And now that they have better pigmentation, they suit my taste just right.

First Kiss, swatched on my arm.

I love the mauve undertone and the pink shade of First Kiss. Neither too light nor too dark, this lipstick can work well with brown/neutral eyeshadows and even with my favorite smouldering smoky eyes.

My bare lips.

Lips in First Kiss.

True enough, this lipstick delivers its promise of 'soft and moisturized' lips. Despite not wearing a lip balm underneath, (I like to wear my lipsticks as is) my lips didn't feel parched or dry. The lipstick didn't chap or streak out on me either. That's the beauty of Human Nature's lipsticks. They're made with all-natural ingredients (cocoa butter, beeswax, sunflower oil, and passion fruit oil) and have no traces of harmful chemicals in it.

So even if this lipstick's staying power leaves much to be desired, I don't mind having to reapply every three hours or so. I love getting a whiff of that passion fruit scent each time I dab 'em on my lips.

Priced at Php 225 each, these lipsticks are actually sold for a cause. Profits earned from these lipsticks go straight to a development fund for a farming community in Davao. Isn't that awesome? You get prettified and at the same time, help farmers sustain their livelihood.

Human Nature products can be bought online, at local HN branches, through authorized dealers, and at Beauty Bar. And yes, they're available in the US, too. :)

Sharing the HN love on 366, Pink Friday, and Pink Saturday.

Project BB Cream, Beauty Haul, and No Makeup Look.

My fascination for anything Korean has gone beyond watching dramas and listening to Super Junior. It has now invaded even my vanity kit and train case.

The shopping bug bit me last week, and I went on a frenzy at eBay. These arrived on my doorstep the other day.

Skin Food!

If you can recall from my previous posts, I have developed an addiction to face masks and mud packs. And my makeup ritual is in need of a primer.

Masks and primers.

I've also been obsessing about my eyebags and dark undereyes, which look horrendous - thanks to my incurable insomnia and those addicting Kdramas.

Etude is Love!

I'm hooked to BB creams, too. I call them my wonder worker, because of the miracles they do for my skin and my abominable eyebags. I challenged myself to test as many BB creams as I can, until I find the one that would suit me best. And for the sake of beauty blogging, too. Really now, which makeup junkie won't go gaga over this breakthrough product?

An assortment of BB creams! I smile just looking at them.

And I finally got my hands on this.

By golly, Tony Moly!

I've been wanting to try this product for the longest time, mostly because of Kim Hyun Joong. Haha! He used to be a Tony Moly endorser; now he's the pretty boy of The Face Shop.

Excited to play with my new toys, I tried out some of them yesterday.

Fresh from the shower, absolutely no makeup.

See what I told you about the eyebags? Blame Lee Jun Ki, whose name appears on every other entry in my blog, haha. I chose the Missha M Signature Real Complete BB Cream first.

Photo credit: Missha.net

I actually bought two variants of this, the shade #21 and shade #23. I went for shade #21 in this photo.

BB cream on my face. Just BB cream. :)

I'm amazed at how a tiny drop of the Missha M could go a long away. I squeezed out just a few teeny drops from the sampler and voila - medium to full coverage! It has a nice, mild scent to it, too. (I'd be deterred to use it if it smelled funky.) I also love its dewy finish, and how it gave my skin a nice glow. It gets even better once it has set on your face. After a few hours of wearing, it didn't cake, nor did it break out. 

FYI, I have sensitive skin. My face is not usually dry and flaky though, unlike most people with sensitive skin. Mine is supple, but looks very flimsy - like an onion. (Trivia: I skipped regular CAT in high school and went on light duty instead because of my skin. My fellow LD cadets would call me 'Powder' - as in the movie character - because of that.) And that is why I love this BB cream all the more - it's hypoallergenic! Pure organic ingredients, paraben-free, non-chemical, mineral oil-free, GMO-free, triclosan-free, benzophenone free and alcohol-free - whoa, beat that!

Now using it with the Tony Tint and the Avon Lip Gloss that I purchased just recently, I got this effect.

Hardly any makeup look!

I'm so pleased with the Tony Tint! I got the #1 Cherry Pink, which is just the right shade of pink for me. With the right blending, a tiny dab of the doe foot applicator can give your cheek a really nice blush. This has got to be the best liquid blush I have ever used.

As for the lip gloss, well, you know I'm not a fan of lip gloss per se. The Avon lip gloss barely gave color when I spread it on my lips, considering how pink its container looked. But it works fine when you're aiming for the no makeup effect. 

Swatches from L-R: Missha M Signature Complete BB Cream # 21, Tony Moly Tint #1 Cherry Pink, Avon Lip Gloss in Tangerine Sparkles.

Would I consider getting the Missha M in its regular size? I might, since it worked great on my skin. And I don't mind if its just SPF 25, since I don't go out in the sun too often.

What would deter me from buying it? The price, perhaps. A 45g tube costs a whopping Php 1,400! That's almost double the price of my favorite Etude House Precious Minerals BB cream, and almost four times the price of my Avon Healthy Minerals BB cream. And if you're wary of the SPF properties, there are other cheaper brands that have higher SPF. (Laneige has SPF 40, while Skin79 has SPF 50 BB creams.)

I still have a few more BB Creams to try, so I'll make the final verdict once I've experienced them all. Of course, I'll be chronicling them all here. And in case you're wondering, I bought all of these from bhappywithme. :)

Sharing with BPC and Yellow Monday. :)