Spotlight | Ever Bilena Matte Two Way Cake.

Seems like there is no end to this unbearably hot and humid Philippine weather. It's supposed to be monsoon season now, but thanks to the oscillation of the ocean-atmosphere system otherwise known as El Nino, looks like it's gonna be summer all-year round.

And to think summer is actually my least favorite season because it's not very makeup-friendly. Imagine - incessant sweating, excessive sebum, extremely oily face that bears semblance to a greased pan. Uggggh, the horror!

I have had my share of these horrific 'greased pan' moments, which isn't exactly the sight you'd want to see when you look in the mirror. Thankfully, our favorite local makeup brand Ever Bilena has a recently released product to solve this makeup woe. And boy, am I glad to be one of those who got first dibs on it! :)

No more 'greased pan' moments with these babies!

Say hello to Ever Bilena's Matte Two Way Cake, a 2-in-1 foundation that gives the skin a flawless, soft matte finish. It covers blemishes, hides skin imperfections, and evens out the skintone. It can be applied wet or dry (hence the name 'two way'), depending on the coverage you desire.

Product description at the back of the box.

The Two Way Cake comes in three different shades: Golden Beige, Fair Oriental, and White Ivory. The product is housed in a sleek black compact, and comes with a sponge and a mirror. 

Shade range.

The packaging reminds me of those old school flip-top phones, like Motorola Razr.

Back view. :)

A closer look at the shades (L-R): White Ivory, Fair Oriental, Golden Beige.

And here's the sponge.

White Ivory is the lightest among the three shades. It looks rather pinkish, which makes it suitable for those with pale/porcelain skin, or fair-skinned individuals with cool undertones.

White Ivory swatched dry on the left, wet on the right.

Fair Oriental, as the name suggests, is suitable for those with fair to medium skin, and those with yellow undertones . Perhaps the most popular shade in the selection (I know at least five people who are using this product with this shade), it's also the shade closest to my skintone.

Fair Oriental swatched dry on the left, wet on the right.

The darkest among the three shades, Golden Beige is perfect for those with olive skin, or in colloquial term, 'morena'.

Golden Beige swatched dry on the left, wet on the right.

Typically, I use this foundation to set either my Missha Signature Wrinkle Filler BB Cream or my Klairs Illuminating Supple Blemish Cream. But on extremely hot and humid days such as today, I skip the BB Cream and use this with just my current favorite primer/sunscreen underneath.

Fair Oriental on my face.

True to its claim, this foundation neither feels heavy nor looks cakey on the skin. It's easy to apply, and you can build the coverage from light to medium when worn dry. I have not tried applying it wet, but I suppose this foundation can give you full coverage by doing so.

Now as far as its mattifying power is concerned, it usually depends on the weather, the surrounding temperature, or my activity level. On days when it's hot as hell, my face would become a greaseball in as short as 3 hours; on rainy and refreshingly cooler days, I wouldn't break a sweat and my foundation would stay intact for as long as 5 or 6 hours. Not bad for something worth Php 165, huh?

Products used:
FACE: Beyond Alice in Blooming Skin Tone Sun Base,
Ever Bilena Liquid Concealer in Light,
Ever Bilena Two Way Cake in Fair Oriental.
EYES: Shiseido Eyebrow Pencil in Brown,
Clio Kill Black Pen Liner,
Missha The Style 4D Mascara.
CHEEKS: Ever Bilena Cheek Blush in Raisin.
LIPS: Beyond Rich Color Tint Balm in Tok Wine.

If you're planning to give this product a try, why not take advantage of its Php 150 introductory price? Ever Bilena products are easily accessible and available at most beauty counters, drugstores, and supermarkets - no need to scour the high seas just to buy this foundation. And yes, they already have this at Watson's and at SM Department Stores. :)

Sneak Peek | Etude House x Kerrie Hess Dreaming Swan Collection.

I was planning to go on a hiatus until Easter Sunday, but I just could not resist sharing this wonderful news with all of you. Etude House, one of my favorite Korean makeup brands, has launched its Spring Collection today! Hooray!

Etude House x Kerrie Hess.

This new collection, called 'Dreaming Swan' is a collaboration with Kerrie Hess. She's an Australian illustrator who has worked for Chanel, Lancome, Kate Spade, and many other popular designer brands.

Kerrie Hess.

The collection is super chic and very feminine - a beautiful assortment of delicate, soft shades inspired by ballet. There are a total of eight products in this new collection - a powder, a brush, eye and cheek powders, nail polish, lipsticks, volumers, cushion cases, and a mini makeup kit.

Dreaming Swan Collection.

Let's take a closer look at these items, shall we? 

Sneak peek after the jump!

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! :)