My Lucid Intervals

I have been experiencing internet problems lately, hence, the lack of blog updates. I have been trying to blog for the last week but my attempts to be productive have gone to waste because PLDT service is obviously one of the worst. Okay enough of my rant.

One of my favorite lipstick formula is the Maybelline Creamy Matte. I got my very first tube last year way before it was launched here in MNL. I probably included Touch of Spice in my 2015 Hit List. Maybelline recenty launched the newest shades of Creamy Mattes in Brown Nudes. This is a much anticipated color range from the Creamy Mattes Line since the 90s lip color are back in the beauty scene. The Creamy Mattes Brown Nudes comes in 5 beautiful shades that are wearable from daytime to night time. Before Maybelline sent me the whole line for review, I already purchased Nude Nuance and Burgundy Blush during the sale of Watsons where I got each lippy for 199 pesos instead of its normal price of 299 pesos.

Review:
These lipsticks are creamy as the name suggests but has that lightweight feel. It goes on butteryand velvety as it glides on the lips. It has a thick consistency and the pigmentation is great. The color pay off is very opaque except for the lighter shades that needs three layers to show up on my dark lips. Compared to other matte lipsticks in the market, these creamy mattes are very comfortable to wear. My lips do not feel dry at all. It wears very well for hours and does not feel drying when worn. It does not give me crack lips too at the end of the day. This does not bleed nor migrate outside the lip lines even sans a lip liner. The colors look full even after several hours of wear and its color intensity does not wear off or fade.

These lipsticks have a strong sweet scent. When I first got my Touch of Spice a year ago, I was not bothered with its scent. However, now that I am pregnant, the scent just bothers me because I find it very strong. The scent eventually goes away after application.

From Left to Right: Nude Embrace, Daringly Nude, Clay Crush, Nude Nuance and Burgundy Blush

[CLICK ON THE LIP SWATCHES TO ZOOM IN to better see the shades ]

Shade Description:

Nude Embrace: This is a true nude perfect when paired with smokey eyes. It goes on brownish beige on me with a slightest hint of warmth, that explains why the shade looks wearable on my yellow skin tone. This shade needs a bit of work on my lips. It is not as pigmented as the darker shades.

Daringly Nude: This is a dainty peachy shade. I have high expectations on this shade because the color is beautiful but this particular color looks patchy on me. This shade in particular (as shown in my lip swatches) looks very uneven on my lips and does highlight my lip lines and dryness. I could not get the opacity that I want despite three layers of application.

Clay Crush: This is one of my favorite shades in the range. I did not expect that it would look good on me and it is a color I would probably wear on a daily basis to hearings and meetings because of its subdued natural hue. This has a gorgeous semi matte finish and goes on a medium peachy brown on my lips. I need not apply any lip liner to cover up my dark lip lines.

Nude Nuance: This is another favorite in the line. It is a medium dark brown with reddish terracotta undertones. (ang hirap idescribe ah!!!!) This color is looks so beautiful on my lips and compliments my medium skintone very well.

Burgundy Blush: This is a vampy reddish burgundy shade. It very pigmented but I have a hard time evening the color on the lips to prevent patchiness. It works well with a lip liner to ensure that it will not bleed on the outer lines.

I recreated the 90s look using the Maybelline Creamy Mattes and here are some of the photos:

Loving Nude Nuance on my lips.

My super edited puro filter na picture using Burgundy Blush.

Have you tried the Maybelline Creamy Mattes line? What are your faves?

Godbless

Wrote by donnarence

Before going to the review, let me give you a background on my skin condition: I have a yellow medium skin tone. In MAC, my shade is NC30. I have an acidic skin, thus, I usually purchase foundations or powder that are one shade lighter than my skin color. I have super dry and sensitive skin. Due to preganancy, my psoriasis flare ups got worse. I have psoriasis patches on my forehead,in between my brows and brows.

Note: I got this product at an event but my review is my 100% honest opinion regarding my experience with the product.

One of the brands that I really think should deserve more buzz in the PH beauty market is Canmake. Canmake is a Japanese brand and their products look so kawaii. I have learned about Canmake years ago through a Japanese Blogger. From then on, I have been meaning to try out their products and luckily this brand reached PH shores years ago. I am a fan of their Shading Powder, Liquid Liner and Glow Fleur Cheeks. They recently launched their Airy Cover Fit Foundation. Siyempre pag launch ng funda, go ako diyan. haha In case you still have not figure it out, I love my bases so much. Adik ako sa concealer and foundation. I think I will never outgrew them and these base makeup products come first on my to try out list.

Canmake said that this foundation is airlike and is very lightweight. Of course, I did not believe their marketing because I have heard a lot of brands market their powder in this way but the reality was different. When I tried this powder foundation, I was amazed!!! It truly is Airy and very lightweight.

What Canmake says about this foundation:

A foundation like air

So light, you'll forget you're wearing it
● Gently covers your skin in an ultrafine veil of powder that's lighter than air. Provides superb coverage, for a finish that's soft and natural, not thick and heavy.
Smooth, mousse-like texture
● Formulation designed to melt like a mousse, for a velvety-smooth texture. Contains a highly flexible powder that quickly and evenly blends into your skin to provide a flawless finish.
● The velvety-smooth powder provides a dewy finish, without looking powdery.
● Shine-preventing powder is resistant to sweat and water, keeping your make-up in place and your skin looking as smooth as silk.
● Soft-focus powder provides complete coverage for pores and uneven color.
Contains beautifying and moisturizing agents
Royal jelly extract, aloe vera leaf extract, hyaluronic acid, ginseng root extract, squalane (from olives)
Carefully selected sponge
● Comes with a smooth-fit sponge that clings to your skin and helps to blend the make-up evenly. Ensures a flawless and natural finish.

This is powder comes in a white case packaging. It has two shades Light Ochre and Natural Ochre. I got the shade Natural Ochre which is a shade lighter than my skin tone. I was hoping there was a third shade but the Natural Ochre looks perfectly fine on my skin after contouring and bronzing. This powder has got to be the most finely milled powder foundation I have ever tried. It goes on velvety and smooth on the skin. It also feels so light and true enough it does not feel anything on the face. As in parang wala lang. I can highly recommend this powder to ladies who does not like that heavy powder feel. When worn, this foundation does not look powdery on the skin. It feels like butter melting/blending well on the skin. It does cling on to my dry patches but does not overly emphasize them. Despite it lightweight feel, this delivers an awesome coverage cancelling out redness and even covering my under eye circles very well. This also covers up my pores and makes my skin look seamless. I love the sponge that came with it because it feels puffy and squishy compared to other powder sponges that has a rubbery feel.

This powder looks spectacular on the on the skin and feels awesome when worn!!!!

It has SPF 45 PA ++. I have not yet tried testing this with flashback on flash photography. This powder did not irritate my skin.

With Canmake Powder/ Without Powder

In this photo, I did not use any moisturizer of base makeup. Look how seamless and poreless my skin looks. It also covered up my dark circles.

Sadly, this powder is quite steep for 1140 pesos (powder plus case). I hope Canmake sells refills for this foundation because it is really nice. Overall, I really like this powder except for the high price and the lack of wide color selection. Natural Ochre looks light on me but it works well with my skintone because it has yellow undertones.

For more information and product updates on Canmake, visit: http://www.canmakeph.com/

Like and visit their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/canmake/?fref=ts

Godbless

Wrote by donnarence

The makeup technique craze popularized by Kim Kardashian and the rest of the youtube community has become a phenomenon in the beauty industry. Almost everyone I knew (even those not really into makeup that much), wants to learn how to contour (at siyempre magkilay!). Maybelline recently released the newest collection the V-FACE By Face Studio Line consisting of Duo Stick highlighter and contour, Duo Powder highlighter and bronzer and Blush Contour. I was invited by Calyxta to the Maybelline Contour Jungle Event. Aside from learning how to use their newest products, they gave me products to play with as well.

Maybelline V-Face Duo Stick

Price: 499

I was particularly interested with this duo stick. I was excited because this is a two in one product and such fact makes it very travel friendly. I thought that the highlighter part was a matte shade like the US version and during the event I found out that it is a strobe and contour duo. This is a retractable bullet and both sticks look like lipstick bullets on the tube. The slanted or lipstick point promises precise application on contour and highlight points of the face. The packaging is light and looks quite sturdy. The cap of both ends of the sticks are clear for easy recognition of the products. The slanted line on the design of the tube packaging also show which side is which.

The shade I got was in the shade Medium. I love the highlighter shade. It is a light champagne shade that suits my yellow skin tone very well. On the other hand, I am on the fence on the contour stick. The shade is too warm and orangey for my skin tone and it looks more of a bronzer than a contour on my skin. The consistency of both shades are creamy and blendable. The shape of the stick makes contouring and highlighting more precise and easier especially on the nose area. Despite having that sheen or glowing finish, the highlighter stick does not have any gritty shimmers. This duo stick must be set with powder to lengthen their staying power. I am in love with the highlighting stick more than the contour stick. I really thought that I would be reaching for the contour stick more but to its orangey tone, I just use it as a bronzer underneath my contour powder. The highlighting stick is really beautiful esepcially for highlighting the brow bone. It makes my brows look extra sharp and on fleek.

Maybelline Face Studio V-Face Duo Powder

Price: 499 pesos

This is a duo powder compact that promises subtle contouring and highlighting. The powder is smooth and finely milled. The highlighting powder is a shade lighter than my skin tone and has hints of shimmers that are unnoticeable. The highlighting powder is actually very good. It applies beautifully underneath my eyes and nose bridge. This highlighting powder made my skin look brighter. I really love how it looks on photos. The contour powder is a shade darker than my skin tone. True enough, this is for subtle contouring only.

I find the product very powdery. Also, because of its irregular shape, picking up the colors on the pan is very challenging, thus using a thin or smaller brush is suggested. For the highlighter, I love applying it with the use of a powder sponge to achieve maximum coverage especially on the under eyes.

Swatches of the shade Medium Dark

NOTE: The duo stick and duo powder go very well together. When used together. the colors matched my skin very well and creates a very natural contour and highlight on my skin. When used together, the contour stick and powder looks so beautiful on my skin.

Maybelline Face Studio V-Face Contour Blush

Price: 399 pesos

I got the shade Wine which is a beautiful combination of Light pink, Mauvey Rose Shade Blush and a warm light brown contour powder. I love the color of this product when mixed all together. The color it creates is a warm rosey pink that looks really nice and glowing on my medium yellow skin tone.

Photos of the product when applied on the face

Contour Stick looks orangey and light. It works as a bronzer for me.

Using the Duo Stick and Duo Powder together

Both products complement each other very well. The contour stick and powder looked great on my skin when used together.

Look how nice the highighting stick look on my brow bone and nose bridge. I used the Highlighter powder on my undereyes.

Using all the Face Studio V-Face Product on this picture.
For the blush, I swirled all three shades to achieve such color on my cheeks.

All Face Studio V-Face Products are currently on sale with 100 pesos off at selected department stores.

You can also purchase these products at https://www.calyxta.com/

Thanks and Godbless

Wrote by donnarence

If you are following me on Instagram, you would have probably seen me wearing a panda suit during the Tony Moly Panda's Dream Event. I am super happy kasya pa ako sa suit hahaha I was so thrilled to invited at the Tony Moly Launch for Panda's Dream Collection. I have not tried new products from this brand for some time now. We were given press kits which included some of the products from the Panda's Dream Collection. For this blog post, I will be focusing on two products that I am currently using.

Tony Moly just joined the highlighter and contour stick bandwagon. This is the Panda's Dream Contour stick which retails for Php 578. It comes in three shades 01 for highlighting, 02 for concealing and 03 for contouring. I got shades #1 and #3. These sticks have a very creamy texture and blends very nicely on the skin. It does not tug nor appears streaky when applied. I love how it blends smoothly and seamlessly on clean skin and even on top of powdered skin. The shades of these sticks may bee to light for Filipinas with darker skintone.

No. 1 is a light almost whitish beige on my NC30 skin. This is very light in coverage and works as a great highlighter. For the undereyes, it works well with my other cream and liquid concealers to highlight my undereyes. This is great for highlighting the nose bridge and as well as the brow bone to make brows look appear sleek and clean. No. 3 looks a shade darker than my skin tone and I was really afraid that it would not as a contour stick for me. On the photo below, take note that I used a cushion foundation as a base that is why the contour stick showed up on my skin. This contour stick has a great neutral tone and looks really natural when blended. No.3 seems to have a heavier coverage as compared to No. 1.

For the contour stick, I love using it as a base for my powder contour and it makes the staying power of my contour and bronzer last longer. I also like using it on top of my finished base (liquid base plus powder) to make the shade appear deeper on my skin tone. I mix both No. 1 and No.2 to create a perfect concealer shade that is suitable for my skin tone.

The second product that I am currently using from this collection is their Lip Crayon. I did not hesitate opening these lip crayons despite having loads of lipstick in my stash because I was looking for a glossy balm/stain that is long lasting on the lips for everyday wear. True enough, this lip crayons from Tony Moly did not let me down.

This has 5 shades to choose from : 1 Hey Orange, 2 Heart Pink, 3 Pink Lady, 4 Red Berry, 5 True Red. This lip crayon retails for Php548. I got the shade NO. 4 and No.5 On the tube, they look so similar but both shades have different undertones.

No. 4 and No. 5

This lip crayon has subtle glossy finish. It is very pigmented and I can use it even without any lip liner. This does not emphasize my dry patches and fine lines. It goes on sheer with first swipe but the color is very buildable to almost a glossy lipstick finish. I can also mattify this lip color to make it appear like tint on my lips by spreading the product it with the use of my fingers. It is long lasting and does not dry up my lips. I find this lip crayon a bit hydrating and they are very comfortable to wear despite its glossy finish. It can lasts 3-4 hrs on me sans eating.

No. 4 is a warm red with orange tones

No. 5 is a true neutral red which is darker than No. 4

I really like these products from the newest collection of Tony Moly. Aside from being extra cute because of the Panda packaging, these products worked very well on me.I love particularly love teh contour stick as a cream contour base for my powder.

Have you heard about Tony Moly Panda's Dream Collection?

Godbless

Wrote by donnarence

Years ago, (way back in 2010 or 2011?), finding a good eyeshadow primer that is light on the pocket seemed impossible. The famous UDPP (as makeup bloggers call back in the days) or what we know as Urban Decay Primer Potion was way above my student budget back (well hanggang ngayon naman dahil kuripot ako). I could still recall that I was trying to get my hands on the Etude House Proof 10 Primer because it was hailed as an affordable dupe of the Urban Decay Primer. I searched high and low but was not able to get my hands on it or perhaps I forgot if I have bought one before. Moving on, during my last trip to the Etude House Store, I chanced upon new stocks of the Proof 10 Primer and another Eyeshadow Base - the Look At My Eyes Pearl Eyeshadow Base.

ETUDE HOUSE PROOF 10 PRIMER

This is one the best affordable eyeshadow primers available locally. It weighs 10 grams and it only costs 298 pesos. For the price, one may not have high hopes on this primer as it is way cheaper than the Urban Decay but the performance of this eyeshadow is amazing. It comes in plastic tear drop bottle with a doe foot applicator. It is sheer and has a subtle milky tint. Due to its consistency, it does not alter the texture or the coverage of the eyeshadow. It applies beautifully on bare lids and takes a good amount of time to dry. However, if applied on lids with makeup (liquid foundation and powder), this have a tendency to dry too quickly and I experienced difficulty in blending the product. I make sure to apply less product on the lid or none at all to make this primer work its wonders on my lids. This technique will also lessen any appearance of streakiness. This primer works well on both matte and shimmery shades. This makes my eyeshadows look more vibrant especially matte eyeshadows.

The doe foot applicator does not pick up too much product so I had to dip it twice to get an ample amount. I just hope Etude House releases this primer in a squeeze tube packaging.

The consistency is sheer and the colour is milky. The colour is almost transparent when blended on the lids. The primer is not too sticky and it reminds me of the UDPP but this is thinner in texture.

It does make eyeshadows looks more vibrant and deeper than their actual color.

This primer prevents my eyeshadow from creasing and makes it last the whole day!!!! Whenever I use this primer, my eyeshadow does not fade throughout the day. It claims to be waterproof but I have not road tested it in such a condition to be able to say that it is waterproof. I love the fact that it can even make my pencil liner stay in place on the lower lash line.

Etude House Look At My Eyes Pearl Shadow Base

Another product that I have discovered from Etude House is this Look At My Eye Pear Eyeshadow Base. This costs 278 pesos and looks similar in packaging like the Etude House Single Eyeshadows.

This is cream base and goes really smooth on the lids. It has a pearly and luminous colour. It looks whitish champagne on my lids. It made my eyeshadows pop and made the colours look more vibrant. Due to its finish, it looks lovely as a base for highlighters even on the cheeks. I find that it works better with shimmery shadows. This does not work for oily lids and those with such skin type may find this greasy. This made my eyeshadow crease a bit but since I had super dry skin this worked very well on me. It made my eyeshadow last for 4-5 hours. I also love how it made my shimmery shadows look extra glam. I find this easier to apply than the Proof 10 primer because it is a cream base. I usually use this when I am in a hurry because I just use my fingers to apply and blend this base and the shimmery eyeshadow of my choice.

This is how the eyeshadows look like using with the pearl shadow base.

Overall, I am definitely repurchasing both products especially the proof 10 Primer because it makes my eyeshadow lasts the whole day.

What is your favorite eyeshadow primer?

P.S. congratulations to Emily Gatus for winning my Reader of the Month Giveaway!I love reading your insights and comments on my blog!! Please email me at mylucidintervals@gmail.com

Godbless

Wrote by donnarence

Hello!!! I am on my 26th week of pregnancy and my skin is going better compared to my first trimester. I have to say that Leaders Masks helped my skin a lot. (super life saver nitong mga masks na ito I swear) My regular use of their masks truly replenished lost moisture and elasticity on my skin. The only problem that I have to accept and deal with is the psoriasis flare ups on my forehead. Recently, Leaders asked me to try out new variants of their masks. Out of all that I have tried, here are my favorites. I think these masks are perfect for dry and sensitive skin.

Vital Cell Skin Seed Mask - Php 228

The Vital Cell Skin Seed Mask delivers remarkable vitality into inner skin.

"Derived from undifferentiated cells such as proteins and vitamins to promote effective phyto stem cell regeneration. Nutrition enriched protein protects cells and enhances nutrition absorption. Regeneration Seeds: Alfalfa Seed. Super nutrient-rich alfalfa plants are rich in saponins knows as chlorophyll, as well as niacin containing multi-vitamins such a beta-carotene. Skin is strengthened and energized. Antioxidants contained in the cells enhance the immune system in order to create a resistant basis for healthier skin. This mask provides high absorption to prepare the skin for other skin care and makeup."

Wrinkle Cell Skin Seed Mask - Php 228

Decrease in skin elasticity is due to a lack of amino acids. The Wrinkle Cell Mask contains Polymeric collagen that lifts the skin and smoothens wrinkles.

"Adenosine is effective in the removal of wrinkles and fine lines, and improves elasticity. The skin becomes more firm and smooth. Useful tree seeds from India with Ayurveda, Vitamin C, minerals, and 18 kinds of essential amino acids beneficial in firming.The excellent water absorption of polymer water-filled collagen smoothens the skin texture. Skin is firmed and lines are erased for vibrant skin."

Vital Cell variant is perfect for dry skin while Wrinkle Cell is best for mature skin or those plagued with fine lines and wrinkles. Both of these masks are drenched in a mucousy essence. The essence of these masks are different from the other masks of Leaders that I have tried. Aside from having that paste like appearance, the essence seeps into the skin very well moisturizing it deeply and thoroughly. After use, my skin feels quenched and very supple. If you have oily skin, this may be too heavy or too hydrating for your skin type.

Snail Therapy First Ampoule Mask - Php 1798

Soothe the Sensitive Skin quickly This Snail Therapy First Ampoule Mask contains snail secretion filtrate which includes mucin.

With this ingredient, this mask helps to soothe the irritated and sensitive skin.

Also with Camomile extract this mask helps to keep the skin moist through providing abundant nutrition to the skin and strenghtening the skin barriers to keep moisture Enhance Skin Absorption With cotton cellulose sheet, this mask helps to provide the essence to the dep inside of the skin by increasing skin adhesion and skin absorption of the essence.

This Ampoule Masks are housed in cute plastic test tubes which reminds me of my high school days where we would spend time inside the laboratory. Compared to other sheet masks that are flattened in sachet packaging, these masks are rolled into scrolls and soaked in essence. The mask is not too heavy compared to the Vital variants, in fact, it contains Camomile extracts that is perfect for acne prone and sensitive skin. It feels light on the skin and is very rejuvenating. Do not be fooled with its steep price of Php 1798. Actually, this ampoule mask set is very economical to use because each ampoule have enough amount of essence. Also, since the tube has a cap, I can store the excess essence and store it inside the refrigerator. The excess essence may be used for more than two to three times (for face application). The excess essence can be used on its own or underneath a moisturizer for that extra boost of hydration.

This is how the mask looks like close.

The Gold 24 Secret Mask - 248 pesos

"This gold hydrogel mask delivers intensive nourishment instantly, improves skin elasticity while keeping skin glow and supple."

This is an instant favorite. I just used it tonight before typing this post and I am blown away. This is a hydrogel mask and is a gel type mask like the Coconut Bio Masks Variant. What I love most about it is the texture itself and how it feels on top of my skin. Since it is a two piece mask, this fits my face very well and does not droop or slid down my face. The mask itself is very durable. It has that right amount of essence thus making it feel very comfortable when worn. I did not remove any excess essence from the mask. After removing the mask, I made sure I massaged the essence on my face at least 30 seconds to a minute. I made an IG story showing how my skin looked like after using this mask and I really love it. My skin got an instant glow and feels moisturized.