Tag:

makeup

Beauty

#BloomNaturally With Dear Dahlia

by farrah

Finally, after testing these products for about a month now, here is my review of the prettiest makeup I’ve ever seen in my life, Dear Dahlia! *u*

Dear Dahlia is a Korean beauty brand that launched just last year and they’re already one of the fastest-moving brands in Korea. They’re very well-known for their beautiful marble and rose gold packaging which is quite literally like a dream that came to life. (Lol, you’ll see when you scroll down!) I actually first saw Dear Dahlia on Instagram on my explore page and it really was just love at first sight. I kept looking for where I can purchase this brand online. I never would’ve imagined it ever coming to the Philippines, but guess what? They’re here!

SO PRETTY, RIGHT? *o* Dear Dahlia is not just about aesthetics, though. There’s a lot to love about it! Here are some interesting facts about their products:

  • Natural
  • Vegan
  • Cruelty-free
  • Has moisturizing, nourishing and anti-aging Dahlia extract™ that sets it apart
  • Has SPF
  • Now available at BeautyMNL or on the official social media pages of Dear Dahlia PH (Official FB: DearDahlia.PH / Official Instagram: DearDahlia_PH)

In this entry, I will be reviewing 3 of their bestselling products which are their cushion, eyeshadow and lipstick! Let’s begin!~

  1. Dear Dahlia Skin Paradise Blooming Cushion

If you’re a fan of that natural dewy glow, you might want to give this cushion foundation a try! This was the item that I really wanted to buy for so long but I always ended up deciding not to ’cause I was a bit taken aback with the price. It is a bit up there in price compared to other cushions but it’s also a lot of things that other cushions aren’t.

This cushion foundation leaves a nice semi-matte finish that is lightweight and provides a medium to full coverage. I super love the glow this cushion gives me. It makes my skin look healthy and moisturised. You do have to powder on top of this, though, if you have oily skin – as the glow it gives may look “shiny” for other people, lol.

I got it in nude beige which is the 2nd lightest shade. I’d say it’s equivalent to a #21 pink undertone shade when it comes to Korean bb creams/cushions. I usually wear #23 pink/neutral so this is a bit too light on me. It also doesn’t oxidize so I really have to go in with some bronzer to make it look natural. It has SPF 35+++ which might’ve contributed to it appearing lighter than it should be but I don’t really mind because SPF is a must on my list! It also has a brightening effect that makes you look more radiant.

Some facts about this cushion:

  • infused with glow-boosting, antioxidant-enriched dahlia variabilis extract
  • nourishing ECOCERT certified organic oils and butters helps skin retain moisture
  • protects with physical blockers, which work by sitting on top of the skin to deflect and scatter damaging UVA/UVB rays away from skin
  • vegan-friendly formula won’t irritate or clog pores
  • free from nano particles, sulfate, parabens, PEGs, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, color pigments, and animal ingredients

It adheres really well on to the skin but unlike other cushions, this is more of the type that sits on top of it. It also transfers a bit but usually when a cushion has a lot of skincare benefits, this is what happens. But honestly, even if it does, I always find the coverage still pretty good throughout the day. It lasts for about 8-10 hours depending on what I do and on the temperature outside. I also tried working out with this on and it does a pretty good job on fooling people that I’m not wearing any makeup, lol!

Here’s what the cushion looks like when applied. It really smoothens out textures and blurs out the pores. Like I mentioned, this is not my shade, but it doesn’t look that bad, right? It almost looks like it just brightened my face a little. It also cancelled out any redness and dark areas on my skin. I really love this cushion! I highly recommend it especially to people who are afraid of trying new make-up because they’re afraid of breaking out. 🙂

 

     2.  Dear Dahlia Paradise Dual Palette

These, by far, are the cutest little palettes that I’ve ever owned! They’re dual palettes where one side is powder and the other is a multi-balm that you can use as eyeshadow, blush or lippie! I’ve been having so much fun playing with these because they’re compact, easy to apply and the colors are really pigmented! <3

I got it in two shades (L-R): 1) Strawberry Crush and 2) Caramel Slice. Don’t they look so yummy?!

Some facts about these palettes:

  • deliver fast and easy color application on lips, cheeks, and lids wherever you go
  • free from nano particles, sulfate, parabens, PEGs, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, EU/USA banned color pigments, and animal ingredients

Strawberry Crush is a pink palette that is more on the warm side so it should be wearable for most skin tones. I like using this palette when I want a more girly and cutesy look. The pink shadows on this are very wearable because they’re not over-the-top and just look so flattering. This is my fave out of the two dual palettes.

The balm side is a peachy-pink shade that is so easy to apply and blend. It gives a natural/nothing-too-crazy color pay-off-  not too pigmented, but adds a really nice color on the lids. I used it as my base shadow (photo on the left). You can never apply too much of it. Then, I applied the light pink shimmer shade on the inner part of my lids; the darker pink on the outer. And can I just say, these shimmer shades are everything? They’re so beautiful!

I just love the color combination! On this photo, I also used the balm on my cheeks. It gives a really pretty flush of color on the cheeks. It didn’t move the cushion foundation underneath while I was trying to blend it so yay!~ It’s not the most long-lasting blush but you can easily reapply this when your outside because you don’t really need a brush to blend it out- plus it’s so compact!

Caramel Slice is more of an everyday palette. The browns in this, though, are a bit yellowish, which doesn’t particularly look as good with my red hair. It’s still very pretty, though. These colors remind me of Secretary Kim (from the K-drama, What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim). I noticed that her eyeshadow was always in these colors in that K-drama. I remember wanting to sport it also. If your hair color is similar to Secretary Kim, you’re good!

On the left, I used the lighter matte brown as my base shade then applied the darker on my outer corners. The gold-ish champagne balm on this palette, though, is amazing. It’s such a wearable shimmer shade and I love it! I used it underneath my bottom lash line here! These shadows are pigmented and applies so smoothly. <3

 

      3. Lip Paradise Intense Satin

Out of all the Dear Dahlia products, I was most stunned by these lipsticks’ packaging. Aren’t these the most beautiful lipsticks you’ve ever seen? :O

What I noticed, right off the bat, with the Lip Paradise was how pigmented they are! One swipe gives you this beautiful opaque color on the lips. They are so moisturising and leaves a beautiful shine.

Some facts about these lippies:

  • naturally conditions lips with antioxidant-enriched dahlia variabilis extract
  • nourishing ECOCERT certified organic oils and butters creates rich hydration and a satin-y texture; highly pigmented formula moisturizes to banish dryness and flaking
  • enriched with lightweight rice bran wax instead of beeswax to ensure long-lasting smooth saturation of intense color with a single coat
  • rich and creamy texture gently and continuously wraps your lips; protects from ultraviolet rays; free from nano particles, sulfate, parabens, PEGs, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, EU/USA banned color pigments, and animal ingredients

Like the palettes, I also got them in two shades: 1) 803 Bella and 2) 805 Scarlet.

(Top-Bottom: Bella, Scarlet)

The shade Bella is a nude peachy-pink, while Scarlet is a bright wearable orange. I don’t really wear lipsticks much these days honestly but these are just so nice and pigmented! Not only that, they also stain the lips so after eating, you don’t really end up like you have nothing on. They feel very comfortable and lightweight compared to most lipsticks. And these don’t emphasise the lines and cracks on my lips so yay!

These last quite long, too! Even though, they’re just lipsticks, they don’t easily come off like others do. One time, I’d tried the Scarlet shade on before sleeping and didn’t really wipe it off completely. I didn’t realise that I fell asleep with the stain. I still found my lips looking really nice and orange when I woke up – like I have lip tint on, lol!  They weren’t playing when they made these lipsticks! I want it in other colors, too! <3

And that’s it for my Dear Dahlia review! Hope this helped you if you’ve been curious, too! Which products do you want to try? Comment down below! ^^

*Dear Dahlia is now available at BeautyMNL or on the official social media pages of Dear Dahlia PH (Official FB: DearDahlia.PH / Official Instagram: DearDahlia_PH)

*This is a sponsored post but these are my honest thoughts about the products. 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Beauty

Review: NEW Happyskin Matte Lippies

by farrah

If you’ve seen this post on IG, YES, I got first dibs on the new Happy Skin matte lippies! <3 It’s been about 2-3 weeks since the release of their four new shades so I hope it’s not too late for some swatches!

HAPPY SKIN SHUT UP AND KISS ME MOISTURIZING MATTE LIPPIE IN UNDER THE SHEETS

First up is my favorite! Out of the four, Under The Sheets (P649.00) is one of the two that aren’t actually new but were just reformulated. This first came out with a satin finish and now they finally have a matte version of it. I personally prefer matte lippies ’cause I feel like they’re less messy and stays more solid on the lips.

Like all the other Happy Skin Shut Up And Kiss Me Moisturizing Matte Lippies, this is also very smooth to apply and feels very moisturizing and comfortable on the lips.

Under the Sheets is this really pretty peachy nude shade. It has a lighter tone than most of the other matte lippies.

This is easily my most fave shade among all Happy Skin lippies! I LOVE IT.

Perfect for everyday use! I think people in any skin tone will look good with this.

 

HAPPY SKIN SHUT UP AND KISS ME MOISTURIZING MATTE LIPPIE IN INDULGE ME

Indulge Me (P649.00) is one of the two NEW shades that came out! It’s basically a rosy-er version of Under The Sheets. It’s a bit darker, though.

It feels the same as all the other matte moisturizing lippies. The finish of this one, though, is a little less matte.

There’s a little bit of shine to it which honestly I’m not mad at. 😉

 

HAPPY SKIN SHUT UP AND KISS ME LIQUID MATTE LIPPIE IN WARM EMBRACE

Another newcomer at Happy Skin, Warm Embrace (P699.00) is this beautiful peachy brownish nude. It’s a bit browner and darker than Under The Sheets. It’s such a beautiful color! *.*

The liquid matte lippies are obviously matte-r, longer-lasting and drying compared to the matte moisturizing lippies. Compared to other liquid lipsticks, these are way less drying! And I like how these are really easy to remove.

The liquid matte lippie feels really comfy on the lips. It feels light but it definitely feels like there’s something on your lips. It may feel a little tacky even after it completely dries. I don’t really mind, though.

It dries off into a beautiful solid matte finish and you can build it up and add another layer without messing it up.

It may fade after eating and drinking but not to the point where your lips will look naked.

SHUT UP AND KISS ME LIQUID MATTE LIPPIE IN HOT STUFF

Hot Stuff (P699.00) came from moisturizing matte to liquid matte. It’s the only shade on the line up that is not nude. It’s a bold color that can really make a statement.

Since I’m no pro at applying lipstick, it was a little bit hard for me to apply without making mistakes. ;_;

It is a nice dark burgundy shade which I personally wouldn’t wear but I think it’s really pretty! It wouldn’t match my happy, jolly and bubbly personality. >.<

This is the best that I can do. LOL!

It’s not that bad, though? What do you think? Wahaha!

Here’s a swatch of the lippies. They’re so pretty! *.*

Here’s where you can find and purchase these lippies: http://www.happyskincosmetics.com/stores

Follow Happy Skin on Facebook and Instagram.

*This is NOT a sponsored post. The products were sent to me for reviewing purposes only.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Beauty

Happy Skin: Eye Woke Up Like This

by farrah

A beautiful base makeup makes any day a good day but sometimes we forget how despite having a solid flawless face, we can still end up looking a bit tired. To me, how your eyes look makes the biggest difference – we look at each other in the eyes when we talk after all! And honestly, there are days when I feel like I can skip the bb cream / foundation step. I can only go out satisfied when my eyes are popped and my brows are on fleek!

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be one of the first to see Happy Skin’s new collection which consists of all eye products that will help you achieve that “eye woke up like this” look – which basically means looking awake with eyes looking snatched (Yaaas!). I have very small eyes and to me, this is just everything. Lol! And knowing Happy Skin who have only came out with really good products (imo), the fan girl that I am was just really excited! <3

We spent an afternoon of good food and company while trying out and talking about Happy Skin’s new products which is my kind of tea party! It was my first time trying Early Bird Breakfast Club, too, so YAY!

We were all given some of the products that are part of the collection to test out. I know a Happy Skin packaging when I see it and it never fails to give me energy. *.* Come to Mama! Lol!

Cute illustration of the Eye Woke Up Like This Collection *.* Everything’s sooo well though-of!

We were given score cards to rate the products. So far, they’re all promising!

Delicious mushroom pasta by Early Bird Breakfast Club! *.*

With my blogger besties! <3

I finished everything, omo.

2/3 of the wonderful people behind Happy Skin, Jacqe and Rissa! I’m a fan!! <3

   

I made a video of the products and my first impressions here:

To see the whole collection, refer to this link: http://www.happyskincosmetics.com/144-eye-woke-up-like-this

Thanks for having me, Happy Skin! <3

Follow Happy Skin on Facebook and Instagram.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Beauty

Club Clio Is Now In Manila

by farrah

Annyeong haseo! Sorry for not being as active on my blog recently – been doing so many stuff on my YT channel. Creating videos has become so addicting. ;_;  Don’t worry! I have some beauty posts lined up for the following days. Let me know in the comments if you like this topic more. ^^ I still also have some travel posts lined up so please stay tuned! You can check out my YT channel in the meantime~ Thank you in advance!

Moving on, let’s talk about the most important thing that happened this month in the beauty world of the Philippines. I’m sure you’ve heard that CLUB (freakin’) CLIO is finally open in the Philippines!!! Ahhhhhhh. I need a paper bag! *inhale* *exhale* Okay, I’m fine now but I will not be over it. It’s just so exciting! I didn’t realize that my excitement is at a certain level where I can call this brand one of my favorites. One time, someone asked me what’s my fave K-beauty brand and I was like, “Uuhhhh, how do you even answer this question?!”. It would probably be easier to tell which ones I don’t really like, kekeke!~ If it’s Club Clio, I’ll give you a double thumbs up with a nod and a twerk (lol even though I can’t).

For those who are like “whwhwhat the freakin what is she talking about?”, CLUB CLIO is one of the TOP k-beauty brands in South Korea. They’ve been around since the year that I was born (1993!!). They carry three popular lines: 1) Clio – their main brand, 2) Peripera – their affordable line which is very well-known for their tints! and 3) Goodal – their own skincare line. Every Club Clio has these three lines in the store. The Clio line is not actually new. They used sell their famous eyeliners at Watsons. One day, when I decided to finally get myself one, they decided to be gone. *sobs* But YAY, they’re back and hopefully, for good!

Oh and if it matters, Sandara of 2NE1 used to be their model and now they have Gong Hyo Jin! <3

Here’s a photo of the people who made this happen! Kamsahamnida!~

Enough chitchat and let me tell you more about what went on at their launching. Thank you so much for inviting me, Club Clio PH! *happy tears* Go follow them now! You know you want to. *wink*

There were basically 2 rooms at the event- the makeup room and skincare room. In the makeup room, Clio’s chief makeup artist did a live tutorial where she only used a total of 3 products from Clio and Peripera.

There were also makeup products on the tables free for everyone to test out. *.*

YES YES YES! I wanted everything, huhu. Can’t wait to go back and shop!

Their eyeshadow palettes looked very promising but I really wanted to prioritize their bestselling products and do a review for you guys. :3

I wanted this! ;_;

Girl, if this worked, it would be awesome!!! 😮

The chief makeup artist of Clio came all the way to the Philippines for this event to give us some makeup tips. *.* Waooo!

The 3 products she used on the model to achieve an effortless look: 1) eyebrow pen – which when applied can last for days because kilay is everythang,  2) liptint as eyeshadow and lippie, and 3) eyeliner to make your eyes pop!

The Clio Brow Pen is a browcara on the other side!

Her skin is EVERYTHING.

The famous Peri’s inks! Definitely a must-buy at Club Clio if you love lip tints. I’m a huge fan!

For makeup, I recommend checking out Clio’s Kill line. They have a bunch of crowd faves in this line like the Clio Kill Cover Cushions, Clio Kill Cover Concealer, Clio Kill Eyeliners and Clio Kill Brow Products. Check out their Mad Mattes lippies, too. I really like Korean matte lippies ’cause they aren’t as intense as the Western ones and they’re more hydrating.

Now, let’s move to the skincare room! Goodal is known for their fermented skincare products. Fermented ingredients are known for having so many benefits for the overall health of our skin. Fermentation increases the level of antioxidants in each ingredient making skincare products more effective!

I haven’t tried products from Goodal but from the little talk we had, I might soon! I’m intrigued by their green tangerine and black salt lines! *.*

Goodal takes cleansing to another level. With their deep cleansing skincare, you can shorten your Korean skincare routine from 10 steps to 5 steps!

How to apply skincare the Korean way! *.*

There’s actually another room where we can all have a mini photo shoot using these fashion items from Zalora! Club Clio will also be sold at zalora.com.ph by the way! *.*

Heheheh, eeet me!

Finally, after learning more about Club Clio, we were taken to the first ever Club Clio store in the Philippines!!!! It’s at the 3rd Floor of Trinoma. Yay for north peeps! Wuhooo! Party!!!! \:D/ Hahaha!

THIS IS IT.

Hello, beautiful. *happy tears*

If there’s anything that you need to know, Clio’s price range is a bit above mid range, but most of their products are really, really good.

What to get at Club Clio! Their eyeliners have been a looong time cult fave in SK. I honestly have yet to know why! Soon I will, though, ’cause I got one at the event! *.*

The lippies are very good as well. The Mad Mattes are sooo smooth, creamy and not too drying.

For the sheet mask junkies, you might want to check out Goodal’s sheet masks! These look promising!

What a nice view! All the bestsellers at Club Clio are here! I highly recommend the Clio Kill Cover Ampoule Cushion. It’s sooo good. It’ll give you a nice glow while it serves killer coverage! Watch out for the shades, though. 03 Linen is still too light on me. I might be a 04 Ginger!

If it’s coverage you’re looking for, Clio does it best!!

K-beauty girls unite! <3 Glad to have bumped into Andy of shimmerjjang.com! She’s the OG!

Huuu, I’ll come back for you!~

I’ve always wanted to buy myself more k-beauty tools like these brushes! Definitely coming back for these as well.

Hehehee can you guess which is my fave section? I was having a hard time choosing between getting a cushion that I’ve tried and is really good (Kill Cover Ampoule Cushion) or something new. I went for the latter because I’m a good blogger. *.* Kkkk! Guess which cushion variant I got?

Happy girl with her Club Clio goodies! Can’t wait to show you what I got! I think I might do a video. <3

Kamsahamnida, Club Clio PH! <3 I had a wonderful time! <3

Club Clio is available at 3F, Trinoma, North Ave., Quezon City.

You can shop for Club Clio at Zalora (https://www.zalora.com.ph/women/clio-professional/), too~

Follow Club Clio PH on Facebook and Instagram.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Beauty

10 Cushions Review

by farrah

Time for another cushion review. Last year, I reviewed 5 of my cushions. This year, to make it more exciting, I am featuring 10! Yes, I’m still obsessed. In fact, I have gone completely more obsessed!

But before anything, let’s go back to the cushions that I featured last year. Here are some important notes that I thought I should share:

  1. The Hera UV Mist Cushion is nowhere near my top 1 right now. After a while, I noticed some (really disgusting) white spots of the bb building up on my dry areas.
  2. I am still in love with Laneige Pore Control BB and Iope Air XP Cushion (old version).
  3. The puff of Iope Air XP Cushion has a tendency to break in high temp.
  4. I heard that the new April Skin Magic Snow Cushion is so much better now!
  5. The new Iope Air XP Cushion and Laneige Pore Control BB shades have become brighter – so better get yours in 1 shade darker. 🙁

And here are the 10 beauties that I decided to feature on this post! Most are personal faves. Some I just find interesting! Now, Let’s start!~

P.S. The line-up is in no particular order.

 

CLIO KILL COVER LIQUID FOUNWEAR AMPOULE CUSHION

Me getting this cushion was another meejmuse-said-its-good-so-I-need-to-get-it moment. No regrets here as this cushion is my hero when I’m in need of more coverage!

Shade: 3 – Linen (equivalent of shade 21). It runs fairer than I like it to be. IMHO, a lot of cushions, nowadays, run fairer than normal. So when I do have to use this, I also apply this on my neck just so my face and neck are even.

Packaging: The component is in this pretty light beige color with black details which I love! It’s a little bulkier than most of my cushions. It’s quite bothersome that I can’t comfortably fit three of my fingers in the applicator puff sponge. This cushion comes with a refill so yay!

Coverage: Medium – Full. Among the 10 on this list, coverage-wise, this is one of the 3 that can go really heavy. It can easily cover up any of my blemishes and acne scars. It doesn’t feel heavy on the skin and just leaves a beautiful coverage – no creasing whatsoever. It’s not very long lasting but since it’s compact, you can easily bring this with you in case you need to reapply.

Finish: I live for how this cushion looks right after application. It’s not super dewy but it does get dewier (almost oily) after hours. It happens in most cushions. I’m just not really into the full-on dewy look as it can get pretty ugly when it gets really humid. I’d normally apply powder over most of my cushions just to avoid looking oily every day. If I were in a colder/drier country, this would look really pretty even without powder.

Price: $$$$

This cushion is more on the expensive side. For the pretty finish, coverage and the refill, I think it’s worth it. However, I don’t think that I’d buy this again ’cause there are so many coming out already that I need to try and I still have to finish its refill.

Rating: 4/5

Where to get: @seoulfindsmnl (preorder)

 

KLAIRS MOCHI BB CUSHION

I promise I did not buy this because of the packaging! Okay, I almost did, hehe! I’d been hearing really good things about Klairs. They have a number of award-winning products like their Illuminating Supple BB cream, Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Serum and.. this cushion! So when I saw somewhere in the internet that this is one of, if not the bestselling cushion in Korea, I just had to try it. It features a mochi technology that when you open it, you’ll find that all the product is underneath the sponge. You can use it in three different ways: 1) Simply use after opening. 2) Press down the cushion using a cotton swab or spatula for the sponge to absorb some of the product underneath before applying. 3) Use a tweezer to flip the cushion then apply.

Shades: Unfortunately, like the Klairs Illuminating Supple BB Cream, this only comes in one shade! It’s supposed to adapt to people’s skin tone. To me, it’s a good match but I honestly think that people who are darker than 23 can’t use this.

Packaging: Minimal kawaii on point! It’s so cute and easy to bring around. It’s just sad that the character on the cover got scratches already. 🙁 The component is in matte finish, therefore, can easily get dirty. On the inside, though, this product is probably the most hygienic! The airlock tray can be twisted to really seal in the product tightly and keep the air out! *.*

Coverage: The coverage is different for the 3 ways to use this product. For the first one, I really didn’t get to try ’cause I pressed on the cushion immediately after opening this, lol! But it is said that it’s basically for moisture – light to no coverage. The second one gives you a moderate coverage with a glow. If you don’t really have acne-prone skin, this is good for achieving a nice no make-up look. And lastly, flipping the cushion will give you the most coverage and a beautiful matte finish – my favorite!

Finish: So amazing at controlling oil! While I notice that most matte products kinda look make-upy, this one isn’t. The finish looks very skin-like and the matte-ness lasts for hours. It doesn’t transfer and doesn’t settle on my dry areas.

Price: $$$. I wouldn’t mind paying a little bit more if it did come with a refill. I would definitely buy it again, though, because this is, by far, the best at being matte on this list!

Rating: 4.5/5

Where to get: Bien’s Beauty Bliss (@biensbeautybliss)

IOPE AIR XP CUSHION MATTE LONGWEAR

I really loved the old version of the Iope Air XP Matte Cushion so I had to have the new one. It definitely improved a lot! It now comes in 4 different types: Intense Cover, Natural Glow, Matte Longwear and Moisture Lasting! I got the Matte Longwear ’cause like I said, when they say matte in K-beauty, it usually ends up looking semi-matte, hehe! I was so glad that annoyingly strong scent from the old version is finally gone. The shades now come in three categories: neutral (N), cool (C), and warm/yellow (W). The new formula looks more natural and glowy! *.* This cushion is definitely one of my go-to’s!

Shades: The shades are a little bit confusing! Each tone category comes in 3 different shades: 13, 21, 23 – so there are a total of 9 shades: C13, C21, C23, N13, N21, N23, W13, W21, and W23. Before buying, I really didn’t know what to choose, so I read so many reviews. To simplify, if you’re more on the pink side, all you have to choose from are the cool tones. While for those who have warm tones, from the lightest to darkest, just follow this order: N13, W13, N21, W21, N21, W21, N23, W23. And for your reference, N23 (my shade) is basically equivalent to the old Air Cushion XP 21 shade. So if you’re a 23, It’s safer to get the W23. This applies for the Matte Longwear version only. For other variants, the shades may not be the same.

Packaging: The product is significantly slimmer than the previous version. The puff has also gone smaller but I don’t really have any complaints about that. Cool new thing about this cushion is it has a honey comb pattern on it so the applicator now absorbs less of the product to maximize the bb!

Coverage: Medium. It can cover up basically everything that I want to cover without looking make-up-y. It doesn’t settle in my laugh lines like the old one used, too. This is definitely more moisturizing, too.

Finish: Out of all the cushions on this list, this is the most matte right after application. However, after a few hours,  my t-zone started to get a little shiny. It got me quite disappointed. I find the Klairs Mochi BB Cushion better at oil-control than this. I love the fact that this cushion doesn’t transfer. No worries on leaning on your boyfriends shoulder, hehehe. It adheres to the skin really, really well!

Price: $$$

This is little more on the pricey side but if you have the budget and want to go straight to the really good ones, I highly recommend this. When my friends ask me what to get as their first cushion, this has always been my first suggestion.

Rating: 4.5/5

Where to get: Althea Korea

THE FACE SHOP OIL CONTROL WATER CUSHION

If there’s any budget-friendly cushion that I would recommend for first-timers, it’s the Face Shop Oil Control Water Cushion. Crissey was the one who recommended this to me! When I learned that it came in this limited edition Kakao Friends A-Peach packaging, I decided to give it a try because I freakin’ love A-peach!! *.* This is one of the few cushions that you can buy from the store locally. It works nicely in the Philippine summer heat!

Shades: The shade that I got is V201 (like 21) which honestly is a little too light for me. It’s a bit sunscreen-y (if that makes sense). I’m not sure how the V203 will turn out on me, though.

Packaging: The Face Shop nailed it with their Kakao Friends limited edition packaging! Well, in general, TFS’ packaging are always on point. Even the normal version of this cushion is nice.

Coverage: Medium. It can decently cover up all my major skin issues but it doesn’t last as long as the cushions above, but for the price, it’s so worth it!

Finish: The finish is semi-matte. It controls oil really well.

Price: $$

For P895.00, you are really getting what you pay for! It comes with a refill and last quite a decent amount of time!

Rating: 4/5

Where to get: The Face Shop stores

BEIGE CHUU NEWBORN CUSHION

Beige Chuu is the cosmetics line of the popular Korean online store, Chuu. If you’ve heard of Stylenanda, this is their direct competitor! What got me so curious about this cushion is this video. I also tried their eye shadow palette which was my go-to for a long time! I absolutely love it! And honestly, in general, I prefer this brand over its “competitor”, Stylenanda’s 3CE.

Shades: This cushion comes in 3 shades: 21 Yellow (which is the lightest), 21 Pink and 23 Natural. I had this in all 3 shades but decided to give the other two to my friends, Tricia (23) and Crissey (21 Pink). My skin is quite yellow so I went with 21 Yellow but I later realized that it’s too light on me – like waaay too light, huhu!

Packaging: It’s sooo similar to the first April Skin Cushion! I like the fact that it’s black but the overall look and material used for the component feels very lacking for the cost of this product.

Coverage: Medium-high. I love this because right of the bat, it gives some really good coverage but doesn’t feel like you have any make-up on.

Finish: It’s semi-matte finish looks so natural. Y’all know I’m all about that life! Right after application, you will not notice any stickiness. Your face will look really smooth and silky. Crissey and Tricia love this cushion! <3

Price: $$$$

It’s a bit too expensive since it doesn’t come with a refill ’cause like I said, the component is lacking that “luxurious” feel. It’s an overall really nice cushion. I would buy it again only if it one day comes with a refill and when the packaging improves.

Rating: 4/5

Where to get: Chuu website

 

HOLIKA HOLIKA PHOTOREADY BB CUSHION

This was gifted to me by my boyfriend when he went to Korea! He knows how much I love Gudetama and bb cushions (even though it doesn’t make sense to him why I have so many, lol). I’d used a Holika Holika bb cushion before which I did a review of in the past. I really liked it but not when it got super hot in the country. Since it has a dewy finish, it got a little weird over time. The packaging was still dope, though! This one isn’t any different when it comes to that! Just look at Gudetama! Who can resist that cuteness?!

Shades: The shade I got is 21 Light Beige. I honestly REALLY like this cushion. My only problem is that it is a tad too pink for my skin tone. I still love you, Gudetama!

Packaging: I’m giving this an A+++! Why’s it called lazy and easy? It’s for the lazy people who want their cushion application faster and easier. Once you push the button, it does not only open the cushion but also the airlock thingy! And once opened, you will be greeted by the cutest applicator puff ever. Oh hi, Gudetama! *.* It’s quite flat which I like! *.*

Coverage: Light – medium. Coverage and longevity is decent.

Finish: It’s more on the dewy side but at the level that I’m okay with. It gives some radiance to the skin and as you can see on the photo below, I definitely felt photo-ready, lol. It looks so good on photos but after several hours, it can get pretty shiny so better slap on some powder with it if you have combination to oily skin.

Price: $$

Rating: 4/5

Where to get: @seoulfindsmnl (Preorder)

PONY EFFECT EVERLASTING CUSHION FOUNDATION

As a fan girl, it’s only natural to support your idol’s brand. When it comes to make-up, Pony, is definitely my icon! <3 Her techniques and style are everything! She’s the Goddess of K-beauty! I know, I’m such a shipper that despite the price tag on the Pony Effect Everlasting Cushion Foundation, I went out of my way to get it. And it’s a lot different from the other cushions out there!

Shades: After some research, I decided to get it in shade #3 Natural Ivory (=21). I thought I was careful enough but it’s still too light on me. I think I should’ve gotten it in #5 Nude Beige. It’s just sad if you’re not into brightening foundations like me.

Packaging: Top 1 on the list when it comes to packaging. It’s sooo different and it feels very luxurious. *.* Actually, all Pony Effect product packaging are so on point. I wish I can afford to buy them all! Haha! Aside from the square-shaped component, I’m loving it’s applicator puff. It’s almost like a beauty blender in the size and shape of the usual cushion puff! (Also love the Pony Effect Pebble Blender!) It’s so soft and blends make up really well! The cream product has a strong signature scent. If you’re sensitive to scents, this may be not for you.

Coverage: Medium – high. It has about the same level of coverage with the Clio Kill Cover one. This one feels make-up-y, though, I guess it’s because the formula is really creamy. And for some reason, I don’t like how it makes my skin feel after several hours especially when it’s extra warm. It’s very long-lasting but gets kind of sticky throughout the day. I don’t really know how to explain it yet, lol!

Finish: This starts with a satin finish with a really nice glow but ends up dewy to almost oily after hours. I do like the finish and it adheres well to the skin but I’m really just not a fan of how make-up-y this feels. It’s not so good at oil-control, too. I really wanted to love this cushion but the formula is just really disappointing. Maybe a bit less if I got the right shade. It makes me sad how the cushions shades are becoming unattainable! I really hope that they improve the formula. 🙁 Well, I’m sure this works better in Korea.

Price: $$$

Rating: 3.5/5

Where to get: @seoulfindsmnl (Pre-order)

TROIPEEL H+ CUSHION

99% skincare + 1% make-up is what makes the Troipeel H+ Cushion so special. They go by tag line, “make-up is not all about covering, it is all about healing”. Sounds promising! I see Joan Keem and Edward Avila (faves!) rave about this non-stop on their Youtube Channels so I really really wanted to like this product. This was a gift from my atsi actually! There was no occasion and I didn’t ask why. The cushion junkie in me was just too excited to use it. This is supposed to be really good for acne prone skin as it heals your acne. It features a water wrapping system that will help keep your skin moisturized all day. It’s also anti-aging, whitening and has UV protection.

Shades: Like the Klairs Mochi BB Cushion, this cushion only comes in one shade. It also features a mochi cushion system to keep the product fresh with every use! But this doesn’t adapat to your skintone. It’s too light!

Packaging: The packaging is similar to the old Laniege BB Cushion packaging. At present, this may seem kind of outdated as cushions nowadays are significantly less bulky. I still like it, though. I kinda miss the old Laneige and Iope packaging.

Coverage: Medium – heavy. I love the coverage! Amazed how a skincare product can cover up basically everything that I want to! I really love how it looks on my skin. It sits pretty solid at first and it doesn’t transfer but after hours, it breaks so so bad! I guess it can’t really keep up with the heat here. 🙁 I’m so sad!

Finish: It leaves a really pretty semi-matte finish. Out of all on the list, the finish of this really stood out for me! I wish it didn’t break so bad. T.T

Price: $$$$

Since this is basically a skincare, I think that it’s really worth it. It’s like getting 2 products in 1! I wish it wore better in out country. I would seriously hoard this!

Rating: 3.5/5

Where to get: @seoulfindsmnl (pre-order)

APIEU AIR FIT CUSHION

Another recommendation by my dear friend, Crissey, is the Apieu Air Fit Cushion (even her mom uses this!). If I want something with light coverage, I’d go with either this or my Laneige Pore Control BB. This is significantly more affordable, though! Rilakkuma was my thing in high school. You can say that the packaging got me again! Haha!

Shades: 21 is just the right shade for me. It’s a little brightening but not to the point that it’s bothersome.

Packaging: This Rilakkuma edition is too cute for words. <3 It may look something like a little kid would play with but this cushion is no joke!

Coverage: Light. It’s perfect for everyday use. It feels very light on the skin and very moisturizing. Applying this is really satisfying as a one dab can go a long way! You can easily tell that this is very water-based once you put it on as it spreads so easily. It covers up pimples, blemishes and redness pretty well.

Finish: It has a dewy finish but not too dewy. It may start off as semi-matte but becomes dewy after hours.

Price: $$

I think I got this for about P700-P800 only – so affordable!

Rating: 4/5

Where to get: @seoulfindsmnl (pre-order)

LIRIKOS MARINE COLLAGEN MOIST CUSHION

Saved the best for last! If you’ve read my 2016 faves, you already know how much I love this cushion. For those who are not familiar of this brand, Lirikos is under Amore Pacific, the company that owns some of the biggest K-beauty brands like Iope, Laneige, Etude House, and Innisfree. This cushion was introduced to me by one of my favorite Youtube creators and dear friend, Liah. Thank you Liah! I never felt not pretty with this, lol! Lirikos recently came out with a new version of this cushion. I would definitely grab one when I get the chance! So excited!

Shades: Got it in shade #01 which is a really good match! The best actually! It’s so natural. I’ve never tried a cushion that’s as natural as this. It doesn’t have any hint of sunscreen effect at all.

Packaging: First look will immediately give you the idea that this is a premium product. The packaging is just gorgeous. What’s more sophisticated than white and gold together? The puff can be a bit uncomfortable to work with as it has a synthetic leather material. It would be nice if it was softer. Other than that, I love everything!

Coverage: Medium – heavy. It feels like applying a second layer of skin whenever I use this. The shade is just so natural, yet it covers so well. I use this whenever I attend events. It sits like a pretty princess for hours without moving or breaking. It looks even better with powder on! *.*

Finish: This cushion is really hydrating but yields a super smooth matte. No matter how hot it has gotten, this has never failed me! It also controls oil really well. I think it’ll complement any skin type. It just performs so well overall! <3

Price: $$$$

If you’re really into cushions and you have the budget, I highly recommend this! It’s just everything I wanted in a cushion. <3

Rating: 5/5

Where to get: Shop At Korea

There you go! Finally finished this super long post. It took a while ’cause I really wanted to share as many info as possible. Thanks so much for reading! Hope you like this post. If you have any questions, ask away at the comments section below. Have an awesome weekend! 🙂

 

20 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Beauty

K-Beauty Haul ft. Yeppunonnie

by farrah

Ni hao! Happy Chinese New Year! <3 I thought I should show my wonderful readers the stuff that I got from K-Beauty Philippines. The event was sponsored by the new K-beauty online store, Yeppunonnie. I had soooo much fun and took home some good stuff – wuhoo! It would’ve been a very long post so I decided to make  a video so you guys would know what to expect from them! Please bear with my awkwardness, noob video editing and bad lighting! I promise that I will keep improving.

Gong xi fa cai! Enjoy the weekend! 🙂

Follow Yeppunonnie on Facebook and Instagram.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Beauty

Watsons K-Beauty

by farrah

Look who’s happy! It’s about time a K-beauty event happen around here. If you’ve been watching my IG stories, this is not new to you. Watsons is finally selling some of my ultimate K-beauty faves! Thank you for answering my prayers. I don’t have to bug my friends in Korea (as much) anymore! Lol!

K-Beauty is suddenly becoming bigger and bigger in the Philippines — thanks to Descendants of the Sun! I have waited all these years for this time to come. And now that it’s finally at its peak, our very own Watsons, decided to curate the best Korean make-up and skincare products and put them in a specialized corner or the “Get It K-Beauty” corner (a.k.a. my favorite corner) in over 150 of their stores in the metro. Huuu, I need a moment. I cannot contain this happiness!

In line with their new release, Watsons invited me and my fellow bloggers to see and experience their new selection of K-beauty products. Some that really caught my attention were brands like CosRx (Yes! Yes! Yes!), Mediheal, April Skin and SNP.

Time to walk you through!~

The event was held at Yardstick – one of my go-to cafes in Makati! Wuhoo! Good choice! *.*

Products free for everyone to test out! Now you know I’m not overreacting. Forgot to IG story everything when I decided that I would and just relished the moment! Haha! <3

OH YEAH. Face masks! I noticed that some people are quite sceptic about masks and don’t really think that they make a difference. The truth is, if you find the good ones, you will see the difference. Among these masks, I highly recommend the MediHeal ones – not just because they’re the ones I’d already tried. I had mentioned this brand before on this post. I haven’t updated you guys but to keep the long story short, it’s definitely one of the good ones. Heard positive things about SNP, too, so I should probably do another post about them and update you.

Here are the Mediheal masks available at Watsons~

Something not new from Watsons but something I will finally give a chance! These Collagen products will soon be tested!

Left: Cathy Doll is also relatively new here. I think it’s a Thai brand, though. So far, packaging is reaaally cute!

Right: AND HERE IT IS! COSRX! One of Watsons’ curated products from the brand is the very popular, Ultimate Moisturizing Honey Mask, which is basically an intensive hydrating mask that helps calm your skin. This variant targets people with oily skin which I guess is the majority of the people in the Philippines. I’ve been using the other variant which is the Ultimate Moisturizing Rice Mask ’cause my skin is more on the dry side. I use it whenever I feel like my skin is extra dry and it makes my skin significantly better. It holds moisture in the skin like no other! I should definitely do a review of both masks, no?

Ahh this makes me soo happy~

Moving on to cosmetics, in this photo, we have products from Blingsome, Holika Holika, and CosRx. We also have make-up removers from Banila Co. and Purderm.

Affordable cushion alert! You can get the CosRX Lovely Me Cushion for below P1000! I’ve read that this cushion is quite drying which might actually work well with the humidity in our country. Should I put it to the test? Haha! I have something else queued up so please stay tuned. I have so many pending posts, huhu!

Such a pleasure to meet fellow K-Beauty lovers at the event!~ Hi, Rhea!

Semi-flatlayin’~ From top left to right: Kwailnara Cucumber Gel, Kwailnara Carrot Gel, Collagen Hydro Cleanser, Purederm Make-up Wipes and some aloe vera gel

Bottom left to right: SNP face masks, some pig mask, Blingsome Eyebrow Tint, Blingsome Brush Liner, Blingsome Lip Marker, and some Cathy Doll products

Apparently this Blingsome Lip Marker is popular for being super long-lasting, doesn’t smudge and transfer!

Some products addressing pore problems. Majority of the K-beauty products are independent brands (like CosRX, SNP, etc.) including this.

My HG toner! This is what I’m talking about. I’d love to explain why I love CosRx’s Pimple Clear Pads so much, but I have to save it for another post. But if you’ve heard of this product already, good news – Watsons has brought them to us! *.*

A cool new discovery of mine while I was walking around Watsons was this Coco Nut Cleansing Water! It’s coconut water meant for facial cleansing. It removes make-up really well and you will feel how gentle it is to your skin once you try it.

Masks from SNP that were too adorable not to take snaps of! Haha! The characters crack me up.

SNP face masks targeting different skin needs. *.* Haha, the first three look kinda fierce while the last one is a cute rabbit!

Cute rabbit mask! There was a game going on – you have to finish all the activities to win a special prize. Putting a mask on was 60pts. I lost already when I heard this so I ended up doing the other activities at my own pace. Haha!

Hello, Ava! <3

Thanks for having me, Watsons! It was awesome trying out your products. Will definitely visit more often!

But then again, guys, did you know that you can purchase these products online with free shipping? Visit their website. It couldn’t get any better than this.

Thank you for bringing more K-beauty in the Philippines, Watsons! <3

Watsons Get It K-Beauty products are available in SM Beauty stores nationwide. Brands included: iWhite, Deoproce, Cathy Doll, Banila Co., Holika Holika, Purederm, Collagen by Watsons, Tony Moly, Etude House, Yumei Mise, Leaders In Solution and Organic Surge

 

 

8 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Beauty

Best Of 2016

by farrah

New year, new post! Of course, I made sure that my first of the year will be a bang. I know I missed my November and December 2016 monthly faves but only because I came up with something better. Here’s my list of the best of the best make-up of 2016. Some are my most used products of the year, some just really are my personal favorites but most are, of course, Korean! I hope you’ll enjoy this post!~

 

BEST EYEBROW PRODUCTS

I think I’ve been using the same brow products for the past 2 years. If you’ve seen my Korean brows tutorial, you are not gonna be surprised by this. I’d tried other products this year but I keep coming back to these. So yeah, happy to say that my brows HG products from the past 2 years are still the same today! <3

Heavy Rotation Coloring Eyebrow Mascara in shade #1

The difference of this brow mascara from other brow mascaras is how it doesn’t leave a thick layer or coating on your brow hairs. It almost literally just tint your brows! It adds a bit of color on the less hairy areas of your brows in the most natural way. And like I mentioned before on my brow tutorial, the color of the Heavy Rotation browcaras are still the most natural I’d tried – no orange tints! It dries very fast. The applicator gets the right amount of the product (’cause most browcaras have so much excess!). The formula of this is just perfect. It leaves a soft brow finish. I’d tried so many Korean ones and so far, nothing comes close to this. Sadly, you can only get this in Japan because they stopped selling this at SM Stores. If you know where else to find this locally, please let me know. *.*

Etude House Drawing Eyebrow Pencil in shade #1

I had given so many brow pencils a chance but this is still the defending champion! For the price, this product is just unbelievable. It draws so smoothly and the pigment is just so soft. I personally prefer it when you can easily erase the product ’cause sometimes, I do my brows after having coffee so mistakes are unavoidable. I bring this around with me so I can retouch my brows anytime. I almost never have to, though!

 

BEST EYELINER

Dolly Wink Liquid Eyeliner in Black

I almost never go out of the house without my eyeliner. And recently, I realized that I’ve never talked about it here so here you go! Last year, my go-to eyeliner was the Dolly Wink Liquid Eyeliner. Be it brown or black, the quality is the same. I’m a fan of its sharp tip, pigmentation and formula. It doesn’t smudge or fade. It dries off easily and lasts the whole day. Like my browcaras, I always get my eyeliners from Japanese brands. So far, the Korean ones just don’t fit my preferences. They were always at “almost there” level (wait ’til I try the Clio Kill Black!). I actually would switch from this to the K-palette 24h Pen Eyeliners from time to time. But this year, I used this the most so I’m giving it the title!~

 

BEST EYESHADOW PALETTE

Heimish Dailism Eyeshadow Palette

Looks familiar? Mentioned this beautiful palette on my October Favourites! Still loving it. This palette is just everything to me right now! It’s so pretty.~

 

BEST PRIMER

Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer

This product has been around for years and I only got to experience its wonder this year. I’m not a big primer person but I do want to make the most of my eye shadow. This definitely makes it last longer and significantly more pigmented. I only ever used the Urban Decay one before this. Never went back to UD’s anymore ever since!

 

BEST MASCARA

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara

After I finish my mini bottles of this will be the first time I will ever be buying a lash product that costs above P1000 (I need them full-sized!!). The most expensive I went was Holika Holika’s Magic Pole Mascara and that was about P600+. I always thought, why? Why do you need an expensive mascara when they will just expire? When I met this guy, my life has changed. Mascara is now an every day thing. Mascara is now a must. Just look at the pics below!

I look like a girl! It looks so natural. Doesn’t dry out. Doesn’t fall out. Elongates. Curls. No clumps. No smudges. No panda eyes. I’m living!

 

BEST LIP PRODUCTS

Chateau Labiotte Wine Lip Tints in #RD01 & #CR01

If last year, the most talked-about k-lippie were the Berrisome Lip Tints. This year, I believe, is the Chateau Labiotte Wine Lip Tints! The reason why these have become a cult favorite is their crazy pigments. One layer gives you a super close to opaque color finish on your lips. Wonder why they’re in these cute wine bottle packaging? These lip tints have wine extracts to moisturize your lips! But imho, they’re not very moisturizing. Well, they aren’t drying either. I love how these feel on my lips (like wearing nothing). Taste and smell are very pleasing – like grapes! *.* They don’t transfer when they dry out and they’re very long-lasting. If I want to go for a pop of color, I’d wear the RD01. For everyday, I’d use the CR01. The latter is not as pigmented (actually quite sheer) but I  still really love how it looks on my lips. It’s not very attention-seeking. *.*

Pony Effect Stay Matte Lip Liquid in Magnificent

I am in love in so many levels with this lip product not only because of Pony. It’s not your usual liquid lippie. It’s a very “Korean-ized” (if that makes sense, hehe) matte liquid lipstick. The formula is not as thick. It feels moisturizing on the lips. And the reason why I love it so much is its color! It’s the perfect warm orange nude lippie! It’s very light-weight. It’s not sticky. It does transfer a little when it dries which I’m okay with honestly. The ones that don’t transfer are usually very drying. This can go from day to night and would complement any skin tone!

Happy Skin Power Pout in Strong and Sexy & Happy Skin X Disney Matte Moisturizing Lippie in Aurora

Of course, Happy Skin has to be here. I can go on and on for days about how much I love Happy Skin but today, I’ll keep it short. I think I already said everything in my past posts here and here. But the 2 that stood out the most is the Happy Skin Power Pout Strong and Sexy and the Happy Skin X Disney Matte Lippie in Aurora. The first one which I actually have never mentioned here before basically leaves your lips with a nice glossy rose nude pigment. It’s very light-weight, moisturizing and pigmented. I heard that this is one of their all-time bestsellers! It’s my most used lippie of the year. *.* The 2nd one is from Happy Skin’s collab with Disney! I’m still obsessed with the rose nude shade of Aurora. <3

 

BEST CONTOUR PALETTE

Too Cool For School Artclass by Rodin Contour Palette

This guy and I only met this October. I’d been using this almost every day since! I’d been fooling the people around me with this. One friend commented (ehem, Tricia), “Farrah, may cheekbones ka pala ‘no? (you actually have cheekbones?)”. Lol! I guess that’s how much it looked natural. *.* I snapped a selfie but I don’t know if you’ll notice.

If you didn’t, then this product must be really good! Lol!

BEST BLUSHER

Holika Holika X Gudetama Lazy and Joy Jelly Dough Blusher in CR01

Say hello to the cutest blusher I own! I’m not actually very particular when it comes to blushes. As long as I like the color, I’d buy it. This one, though, has quite some pleasing qualities! No. 1 is the packaging. It’s super duper gude-kawaii! I love the puff applicator. No. 2 is the scent- it smells like grapefruit. I can’t stop sniffing it. No.3 is the formula. It blends in the most natural way. It’s the perfect subtle blush! No.4 is it’s easy to apply. No.5 it’s compact. What more could you ask for?~

 

BEST HIGHLIGHTER

The Balm Mary Lou Manizer Highlighter

Highlighting is everything in the make-up universe right now. As much as I love seeing how people have become more blinding last year, I still choose to blind in subtlety. Therefore, I stick with my Mary Lou Manizer. It’s not as shiny and glowy as the ones preferred by many (Sleeks Highlight Palette, though!!!). You know I’m all about natural so here’s the best natural-looking highlighter of all. It lasts all day. It just blends well in the skin. It’s very pigmented and the color would just go well with any skintone!

 

BEST CONCEALER

The Saem Cover Perfection Tip Concealer in shade #1.5

To achieve flawless skin, one must conceal. A cult fave in Korea and my personal favorite is The Saem’s tip concealer. It’s funny how this small bottle of concealer has already lasted for almost a year when I use it every single day since I got it! How can you not love this product when it hides like a high-end concealer (such as Nars’) while it only costs 5000 won a bottle? There is no other concealer for me. There never will be- not in the near future at least!

The only cons is that it starts breaking after 12 hours. Lol.

 

BEST BB CREAM

Integrate Mineral BB Cream in shade #00

BB creams will always be my first love. Despite my obsession with cushions, I never stopped looking for good bb creams. And honestly, when I don’t want it dewy, I check the Japanese brands. This bb is a winner on Cosme.com. I can totally see why! It simply gives you a thin layer of decent coverage that’s perfect for everyday use. Oil control is pretty good. It doesn’t break after long hours. It lasts the whole day. It gives you a natural satin glow! It’s water-based, leaves no sticky feeling and gives you a nice flawless finish! It’s almost similar to my HG, Holika Holika Aqua Petit Jelly BB, except that this is more on the matte side.

 

BEST FOUNDATION

Etude House Double Lasting Foundation in shade Sand

2 words: double, lasting! I needed a base that has full coverage and long lasting power. This foundation never disappoints. It literally looks the same on me when I first apply it until the end of the day! It’s not very heavy and not sticky. The finish is semi-matte and it’s not bad at controlling oil. I’m not very fond of foundations but this is a really good product! The only downside is the shades which I already talked about here.

 

 

BEST CUSHION

Lirikos Marine Collagen Moist Cushion in shade #21

This product has every quality that I look for in a cushion! Awesome medium (buildable) coverage, super duper natural shades, semi-matte finish, long-lasting wear, moisturizing, pore-coverage, and doesn’t settle into the fine lines. This cushion is just amazing.. and underrated. If you haven’t tried any cushions, I highly recommend this!! You will not be dissapointed. 😉 (More about this will be on my next beauty post! *wink*)

(This was actually a gift from my dear friend/beauty guru, Liah! Thank you for introducing me to this product!♡)

What a long post to start the year! Hope I didn’t bore you. I’m very happy and proud to have come up with this list. My new year’s resolution is that I will do beauty posts more frequently! I will do my best! Fighting! <3

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 🙂

 

P.S. If you have troubles finding some of these products locally, here are my recommendations:

Seoul Finds Manila (@seoulfindsmnl)

Bien’s Beauty Bliss (@biensbeautybliss)

Althea Korea (@altheakorea)

 

*This post is not sponsored.

 

8 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Beauty

My October 2016 Favourites

by farrah

dsc00109-2

Time for another “Faves of the Month”! Wuhoo! This series has got to be the thing that I look forward to the most every month. This month’s faves feature products that I mostly used in Taiwan. Travelling is the best way to test a product, don’t you agree? There’s no way that you’re not gonna wear them for looong hours. Plus, all that walking? I should already know if I should keep using the stuff that I brought, lol. So here they are!

Heimish “dailism” Eye Palette in Cozy Coral

Another month, another Heimish product. As much as possible, I avoid buying eye shadow palettes ’cause I always end up getting something similar to the ones that I already have. I tend to lean towards warm orange-y colors and here’s yet another orange-y palette because why not? Hehe! They just really go well with my skin tone.

I’m sure that most of you aren’t familiar with this brand yet because they came out to the market not very long ago. I’ve used 2 of this brand’s products and so far I’m really impressed! It’s been a while since I bought a palette with many shades. My last one was Naked and I thought I wouldn’t buy anymore because it’s so awesome. But when I saw this on one of Jen’s (@meejmuse) Youtube videos, it was love at first sight! I had to get my Korean friend buy this for me. *.*

This comes in 6 different variances: 1) Lovesome Brink – Pink tones. Most popular! This got featured on Get It Beauty. 2) Balm Khaki – Cool nude and brown tones. 3) Brisk Grey – White, gray and black. 4) Breeze Beige – Your usual nudes and browns. 5) Blissful Plevy – Cool grayish blues. 6) Cozy Coral  – Coral tones.

The packaging reminds me of scientific calculators, but I love how it’s so compact (it’s about the size of my phone) – perfect for travelling. I can easily retouch my shimmers wherever I go (not like I have to, though). Plus, check out how big that mirror is! The brush is not bad either. The formula is so fine, it blends so easily. It’s not overly pigmented that if you’re a beginner, it’ll be easier to go little by little.

dsc00080

Ahhh! My most beautiful palette, yet! The colors on this are actually more on the cooler side so it’s quite different from the ones I have (yay!). I’d been really enjoying experimenting with this. It has become my every day palette. No need for retouches. The colors come out beautifully even without primer.

dsc00098

Let’s all take a moment to appreciate the most beautiful shimmer shadow ever, Amaryllis. <3

dsc00099

On a typical day at the mall, I’d use the Gerbera shade as my base, Cotton Plant as my point color, Orange Flower as my transition and Amaryllis for glitter. YAAAS!

Where to buy: Stylekorean.com

 

Etude House Double Lasting Foundation

dsc00131

I’d been looking for a nice foundation with a semi-matte finish that I can use on events and this has been really working nicely. It’s honestly a tad bit lighter than my skin tone, so I use bronzer (which is also on this list) on the sides of my face to blend it out. This foundation is on the runny side but the coverage is like WOAH. If you’ve only been using BB cream/BB cushions like me, this is considered full coverage, lol!

untitled-1

For the first time, Etude House came out with a foundation with 5 different shades: Fair, Vanilla, Beige, Sand and Tan. But knowing Etude House whose base make-up always run brighter than it should, it’s honestly nothing to be excited about. Fair (which has a pinkish tone) is the lightest so imagine how light it must be. Vanilla, the second lightest, is I believe the yellow version of Fair. Beige, (my shade) the 3rd one is supposed to be lighter than the fourth, Sand. But after reading so many reviews, I learned that Sand is actually lighter. Beige is yellow-toned while Sand is pink. The fifth shade is called Tan but it’s not actually tan (ofc). Getting the correct shade is very important, ladies!

Despite it being lighter than my skin tone, I still really like this product. The finish is really semi-matte even in this humid country, lol. It does last very long like it claimed. I’d worn it while touring for more than 9 hours a day and it’s almost like nothing happened. It does have that Etude House scent which I’m not a huge fan of. I’m just really liking the finish of this.

Where to buy: Etude House local branches

 

Etude House My Beauty Tool Secret Brush 21 Skin

After this one shoot I had a couple of months ago, I got so interested with Artis make-up brushes. Well, I’m not a make-up pro so I got one that my budget can afford, lol. And of course, it had to be Korean. I’m so happy that I got this Etude House Secret Brush. There’s just so much to love about this. Applying foundation has become so easy. The design is so princessy! I just don’t get along well with normal foundation brushes, so it’s nice to finally find one that’s affordable and actually nice. Haha! I don’t use my hands when applying make-up anymore because of this.

dsc00053

This brush comes with 2 types of applicators: sponge and brush. I’ve only ever used the brush but I’m already so satisfied. The bristles are so soft and dense. It creates a flawless finish! I use this to apply my Double Lasting foundation and my bb creams! Note that runny liquid foundations might get streaky with this. Still, love this. <3

Where to buy: Etude House local branches

 

Etude House Berry Delicious Color in Liquid Lips Juicy (PK14)

dsc03131

My love for lip tints will never be replaced. I already mentioned this from my Etude House Mini Haul. I’d been obsessed with this since I first tried it. I try hard not to use this as often as I currently do, but it’s just so good!

dsc03139

The color is sooo cute! It feels nice on the lips. It’s not drying and doesn’t settle in the cracks of my lips. I can’t stop sniffing this ’cause it smells like candies. I also use this on my cheeks and it creates a nice flushed cheeks look. I don’t even have to reapply this on my cheeks.

Where to buy: Etude House local branches

 

Skin Food Peach Sake Silky Finish Powder

dsc00179

I know I just had the Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder in my last favorites post, but I’d like to point out that there’s another powder in the market that’s just as good. I remember Sunny (@sunnydahye) mentioning this in several of her videos so it got me really curious. It’s just a nice loose clear powder with a peach scent.

dsc00180

This is so good at oil control. If there’s any reason for you to try this over the Innisfree one, it’s that this controls oil longer. I would only apply this once every day, while the Innisfree would require me to reapply after 6-7 hours. Well, it would make sense once you check the price, hehe!

dsc00186

Both leave a little bit of white cast when applied. They’re also both good at setting my base make-up. The big difference is that this is available locally while the Innisfree one is not.

Where to buy: Skinfood local branches

 

Memebox Pony Shine Easy Glam 3

dsc00156

I’m a huge fan of Pony! I’ve always wanted to try Memebox products and finally here it is! First of all, can we talk about the packaging? It definitely shouts GLAM like it’s name (Shine Easy Glam, lol). I have to be honest, though. I’m quite biased with products that have something to do with Pony. This quad eyeshadow palette is not particularly special but it’s not bad. It’s best for people who likes to do light everyday make-up.

dsc00159

Like most quad eyeshadow palettes in Korea, the Pony Shine Easy Glam 3 comes in brown-based, pink-based and orange-based variants: Brown Bloom, Pink Bloom and Orange Bloom. I got the Pink Bloom since I don’t really have many pinks yet.

dsc001712

I have to warn you that the top shades are just straight out glitter. They’re super sheer. So if you’re a fan of pigmented eyeshadows, I don’t recommend getting this palette. The only real colors on this palette are the Shine Easy Pink and Shine Ash Brown (my fave) shades. They’re still quite sheer, though. I guess since I’m okay with the sheerness and I usually go for light eye make-up looks anyway, this palette really works for me. I’m particularly in love with the 2 colors on the bottom. They’re soooo pretty!

Where to buy: @seoulfindsmnl

 

Too Cool For School Artclass By Rodin Contour

dsc00122

Contouring has become a hot topic in South Korea this year especially when this contour palette was released. This palette is perfect for Asian skin tone, especially for the paler ones, I would say. The colors are just sooo natural. The formula is super smooth. It’s so easy to apply and blend. It also doesn’t even cost that much!

dsc00142

The tone of the browns on this is ashy which is probably why it’s so popular. The colors just go so naturally with Asian skin! This product excites me the most on this list! Imagine me looking forward to contouring whenever I do my make-up. It never happened until this came along!

dsc00126

Super natural shades! I’m obsessed!

Where to buy: @seoulfindsmnl

 

Cure Natural Aqua Gel & Cure Water Treatment

dsc03103

These products are the best things that happened to my daily skincare. The only Japanese products on this list are my saviors!

I’d been in the hunt for a mild exfoliator for a very long time so I can finally post about my most requested skincare routine and this really just finished the list! I know that the Cure Aqua Gel has been in the local market for years already but I only thought of trying it a month ago (lol). I’m always about gentle or mild or natural on the skin so this really felt like finding a treasure. *.*

This product  is just amazing. It’s been constantly on Japan’s top beauty charts and I can easily understand why. It’s probably the most gentle exfoliator out there! It’s made of 90% hydrogen water and it fights any skin problems. It can be used  by people with any skin type without any harm – not only on the face but also the body! It gets rid of your dead skin cells by applying then rubbing it against your skin. *.* (see pic below)

dsc03129

Ewwww, dead skin! I know! You probably have a lot, too. (/half kidding) And you’ll know once you try this! It leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth after wash. *.*

I’d been constantly changing my moisturizer for the longest time and this product made me change again, lol. I hope this’ll be the last before another one comes in. I’m sure it’s gonna take a while!~

This Cure Water Treatment is just overall fantastic. It is a moisturizing skin cream originally made for the staff members of TOYO Life (manufacturer of Cure) who suffered from dry hands from opening cardboard boxes every day. The product was so good that they eventually shared it for everyone to try. It has harmless silicone that protects the skin by locking moisture in the body. I simply apply a small amount of this on the area that needs moisture. Once absorbed by the skin, the excess cream will turn into watery droplets – so cool. *.* (See pic below)

dsc03119

I love using this on my face. It’s super gentle yet leaves my skin feeling smooth and supple. It doesn’t only re-hydrate the skin but also keeps it from dehydrating! You’d definitely feel it absorbed in your skin but it doesn’t give you that heavy feeling that moisturizing lotions do. *.*

Where to buy: Beauty Bar stores

That’s it for this month’s faves! Whew! Hope you enjoyed this! Feel free to comment if you have products that you want me to try. <3

 

3 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Beauty

Review: Sooperbeaute Lip Lacquers

by farrah

I love liquid lippies! I get so much satisfaction out of painting my lips with them. Can you relate? My 2016 has been mostly obsessing over liquid lipstick swatch videos on Youtube. It’s just so satisfying!

Today let me introduce you to one of the few local brands that offer liquid lipsticks, Sooperbeaute. I’ve seen them on my Instagram feed several times and I’m pleased that I finally got to try their products.

“The Sooper Beaute Brand is 100% Filipino. We are proudly formulated and made in the Philippines. Caring for your skin with nothing but natural ingredients. We strongly advocate for natural and true inner beauty, that is why we developed products that do not aim to change everything we love about you, instead our products aim to enhance and highlight the true beauty in you.”

Two words: 1) natural 2) ingredients – easily something that piqued my interest! *.* Their lipsticks are quite affordable, too. So far so good! Let’s get swatching!

I got the Sooperbeaute Lip & Cheek Lacquers in 3 different shades: Orion, Juno and Mercedes. First of all, cool names! Warm nude shades are everything to me right now so I’m really loving the colors. Orion which is more on the pinker side is the brightest while Juno is the darkest. Juno is basically a darker shade of Mercedes (well, that’s what I think, hehe!). The finish is quite glossy but not sticky at all. They feel moisturizing on the lips which, again, I prefer since I have dry lips. These are perfect on days that you don’t really want to put a lot of make-up but still look bright and fresh!~

They’re all very pretty colors but my favorite would be Mercedes! The only thing that I didn’t really like is the scent. One of my little pet peeves is when I can smell the product while wearing it. And well, the packaging could be better. If you’re not really sensitive about that then I recommend these lipsticks, especially if you’re on a budget ’cause these just retail for P199.00 each. As for the longevity, don’t expect too much since they’re more on the glossy side. If you want longer-lasting ones, you can check out their matte lip lacquers!

If you’re still in school, lip tints are definitely a go-to. They make you look fresh without having to worry about reapplying every so often. Sooperbeaute has them, too! These Lip and Cheek Rollies  just retail for P120.00 each. You get a lot of the product for the price!

Here’s a swatch! Of course, since these are tints, expect them to last longer than the lip lacquers. I have 4 different shades of them: Bloody Red, Darling, Just Bitten & Honey. My pick is the Honey shade. I like it when reds are more on the cooler side ’cause they give you a more flushed look. These rollies are overall decent products. I’m just honestly not a fan of the rolly component.

My final thoughts? These products are worth trying if you’re on a budget and prefer natural ingredients, especially the lip lacquers. The shades are just beautiful. As for the rollies, they’re not bad. It was fun trying them!

Follow Sooperbeaute on Facebook and Instagram (@sooperbeaute).

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
  • 1
  • 2