My Lucid Intervals

I have promised myself that I will be blogging more often before I give birth. My husband gifted me with a new camera and I have been taking photos of products that I will be featuring in my blog but as the due date (to give birth) came nearer, I became more agitated and anxious. Obviously, I have heard enough horror stories from other mommies, hence, my reaction. Anyways, I wanted to take my mind off things so I am blogging. I have many backlogs from product reviews and features from PR companies and brands who sent me their products but I can't just resist blogging my discoveries first. Today, I will be reviewing a primer I recently discovered while I was window shopping around SM Megamall Department Store. I saw this Pinkies Collection All Matte Primer a few weeks ago and I could not believe that it only costs 99 pesos!!!!! It was so affordable that I did not even think twice of buying it!

This 99 pesos primer is housed in this glass jar. It is made in France too! Interesting noh? Most local brands are made in Taiwan but this one medyo level up because made in France. It weighs 20 grams. This primer contains Dimethicone, a silicone oil, and is mostly used as skin protectant and is found in skin and hair conditioners. This ingredients makes this primer very blendable and very easy to spread on the skin's surface.

This primer comes in a runny clear gel and a little goes a long way. I usually hate primers with strong silicone'y feel but I actually like the formula of this one. It preps my skin nicely for foundation. Out of all the primers I have tried, this is probably the primer that gives my skin a very smooth and velvety feel. As in ramdam na ramdam ko! I I also like the fact that this primer somehow blends or melts on my skin after a few minutes of application. This primer is quite hydrating which is a plus point for me. I have also observed that this primer does not dry fast after application. The technique I have discovered in using this primer is that to massage the primer until I have spread the product evenly and fairly well all over my face until it is totally absorbed by my face. This technique prevents cakiness and product build up.

As for staying power, I can say that it did lengthen the longevity of my foundation and blush. However, it can not control the oilies on my nose area and I always end up retouching my nose area at least once or twice throughout the day. This has a very subtle plastic scent which is unnoticeable upon application.

Here is a before and after shot of my face with and without the primer. The right photo may look like that the primer made my pores less noticeable but in reality, I did not see any difference at all. This primer does not help in refining my pores or making my fine lines appear less noticeable.

Overall, I think that this is a good and affordable primer. It did a great job of prepping my skin in creating a smooth and flawless canvass for foundation to adhere to. It made my foundation and blush to last longer plus my concealer did not crease at all. It is hydrating for the rest of my except where my psoriasis flare ups are located because this primer dries out my rashes pretty bad. I am not sure if this will work for those with oily skin but I do recommend this for those with dry and ageing skin because this gives off a hint of hydration (just a hint ha! pero hindi naman super bongga).

I do not suggest using this everyday because like most primers, it creates an artificial coating which traps dirt, impurities and sebum and can cause break outs!

What do you think of this primer? Is it a Yay or a nay?

Godbless

Wrote by donnarence

I told myself that I will not get another foundation after buying two L'oreal Liquid Foundations as a gift to myself for my 31st birthday. (Taghirap so ayan lang ang gift ko sa sarili ko hehe). I am almost done with my L'oreal Pro Matte Infallible Foundation (my HG drugstore foundation) that I had to get a back up. I also bought the L'oreal Infallible Pro Glow Foundation which I will be reviewing soon (hopefully I can do this before I give birth to my bebe ). Anyways, since it was my monthly visit to Etude House (where I get to choose product for review purposes), I saw this Moistfull Collagen Foundation. And the rest was history. Ayun, it was love at first swatch. Sadly, I got the wrong shade!! Kainis! More kwento on this later. haha

It comes in a compact with an air puff sponge. This is a cream foundation with pink and white swirls making the color lighter than usual. I got the wrong shade -Light Beige which is way too light for my skintone and the pink and white swirls make the shade look even more lighter (as in ghost like effect) on my medium yellow skin tone. On my initial swatch at the back of my hand, I got the Light Beige because it looked more yellow than Natural Beige. This costs 1098 pesos.

The product is very creamy. It glides easily and smoothly on my face. What I am impressed about this product is its medium coverage. This can cover up my redness. dark circles and even minor discoloration with just one layer. To prevent the foundation from further looking way too light on my skin, I try to scoop out the beige product more and veer away from the white and pink swirls. A spatula will be helpful in scraping out the product. This feels lightweight when worn. It gives off a semi dewy finish perfect for my dry skin. Due to its finish, it has a tendency to move around. Thus, it is best to set it with powder. Since this is a cream foundation, one layer is enough to prevent caking. The puff also does a great job in applying the foundation seamlessly and evenly on the skin. I tried using it with a blender sponge and I did not like the heavy mask like finish on my face. This foundation settles on the fine line under my eyes and it can also emphasize my psoriasis flare ups (but not too much like my other foundations). This foundation look so flawless on other areas of my face that does not have texture or any issues. This has SPF 50 ++.

The staying power of this foundation is good. I need not retouch for half day when I used this and does give me an instant brightening and a slight dewy effect after a few hours.

The con of this foundation (which is partly my fault) is the shade! I got light beige which looks terribly white and even grayish on my yellow skin tone. This gives a weird white cast on flash photography.

Good thing I keep a darker shade of powder foundation for emergencies like this one. The darker shade of powder foundation worked very well to even out my skin tone and even matched it perfectly. This Moistfull Collagen is for those who wants a foundation with a nice coverage and the same time feels light on the skin for everyday wear. Sadly, this foundation only comes in two shades and due to the white and pink swirls, this may appear grayish or unnatural on yellow skin tone.

Has anyone of you tried this foundation? What are your thoughts on this product?

Godbless

Wrote by donnarence

Lately, I have developed an obsession for makeup removers. Yes. I got myself cleansing water, cream, bought a new Biore Cleansing oil and then, I chanced upon this newest product from Etude House.

From Etude House Website:

What it is

The one-step cleanser effectively removes even waterproof mascara as the sherbet gently melts upon contact with skin.

How to apply

Circular massaging motion.

Once makeup and impurities are removed, wash off with lukewarm water.

This product reminds me a lot of Banila Co's Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm. This comes in a lightweight balm with a soft sherbet texture. This costs 748 pesos (again if I am not mistaken). This is slightly cheaper than Banila Co's Clean It zero. It comes in a jar but sadly, it did not come with a spatula/scooper. I had to scrape off the product using my fingers which I find really unhygienic.

What I love most about this Sherbet Cleanser is its scent. It has a very refreshing fruity scent. This instantly dissolves makeup upon contact with my skin. It does a great job of removing my mascara even my current favorite Heroine Make Mascara which is known to be quite stubborn to wash off. However, I do notice that I had to make extra effort in massaging this cleanser on my lashes whenever I use waterproof mascara. This is gentle and does not feel greasy at all. It did not cause me blurry vision when I massaged it on my eyes nor did it cause any irritation. Even if it has a balmy texture that melts on the skin, it does not cause any oil build up. After thoroughly massaging it on my face for a minute or less, I wash it off with water. No need to use any cleansing wipes, cotton pads or tissue which makes the process of removing makeup faster (at mas tipid).

After washing my face with water (Etude House recommends using a lukewarm water to rinse the cleanser off), my face feels very clean, hydrated and supple with no trace of makeup at all. Since I am a fan of double cleansing, I follow up by washing my face with my current favorite Etude House Pure Baobab Cleansing Foam.

This is how my face looks like after cleansing it with Etude House O-Le-Mong One Shot Sherbet Cleanser and rinsing it off with water.

Overall, this is another great product that I highly recommend to my readers! Whether you have dry, oily or combination skin, this product can remove makeup even waterproof/smudge proof ones instantly!

Godbless!

Wrote by donnarence

I have been searching for this highlighter for almost a month ever since Kathleen Lights mentioned this product in her video. Essence counters previously carry the Pure Nude Powder but not this highlighter. I thought this will never be available in the PH market but I am so glad they brought it here. When I first asked about this product from the Essence counter, they immediately knew what I was looking for. Apparently, there are other people who have been in search for this product. I got mine at SM Megamall both the department store and watsons branch carry this product. I also saw stocks at Robinsons Place Manila Watsons.

This highlighter is priced at 379 pesos. It is housed in a see thru plastic cover with black compact. It does not come with a mirror. I find the packaging really flimsy. This is a baked highlighter and I am really surprised at how smooth and soft it is. Most affordble baked products that I have tried are either hard to pick up or too powdery for my taste. This one is amazingly fine in texture and has very minimal fall outs and is actually not powdery.

The shade Be My Highlight is a pretty beigey golden champagne on my medium yellow skin tone. Swatches from international bloggers looked darker because of their light skin color.

The first time I swatched it at the back of my hand it was nothing glorious. It looked like a regular highlighting powder with very minimal sheen. Now, you will notice that is a plot twist once you apply this highlighter on the face. From being a blah product this suddenly turns into a wonder product. Just look how beautiful it made my skin look in the photos below.

This gives off a very beautiful luminous sheen without being too loud like my Marylou Manizer. This is a perfect everyday highlighter that makes my skin glow. It blends very well on my skin and does not look like other gritty highlighters that just sit on top of the cheekbones. There is a bit of shimmer particles that may be noticeable in direct light.

It lasts 4-5 hours on my dry skin. It is best applied with a dense brush or even with the fingers to achieve a more opaque sheen.

Overall, I am in love with this highlighter. It gives me that gorgeous and healthy glow for everyday wear. I am that type of person that does not like anything glowing or shimmery on the cheeks for everyday use but this product changed my mind. What I love most about this product is that it does not emphasize the texture and dry areas of my face.

Wrote by donnarence

Hello everyone! I am blogging once again and this is my third post as of this time. Pero grabe PLDT, it will take me a day before my photos got uploaded. Anyways, Maybelline sent me their newest line of Foundation which is the Maybelline Dream Velvet Matte Foundation. I initially wanted to buy this foundation, however, since I am a soon to be mom (as in soon soon) eh I put off buying this foundation. Ayaw ko naman sabihin ng anak ko sa akin na "Ma, ang dami mong foundation pero wala akong ganito ganyan ganoon. " So, ngayon nafeel ko na maging mommy talaga. Fortunately, Maybelline sent me this press kit for review.

******FYI: These foundations were sent to me for review purposes. All things written here are my honest opinion about the product. The fact that the product was sent to me does not affect or alter my view about the product.*******

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 a very acidic skin which reacts to foundations instantly, 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 and in between my brows and on the brow area.

What Maybelline claims this foundation does:

" Delivers seamless, buildable coverage with a fresh, shine-free finish; hydrating formula leaves skin velvety-smooth and soft for up to 12 hours; creates an even, spot-free, healthy-looking base"

Price: 499 pesos Weight: 1fl. oz/30ml

This foundation comes in this plastic squeeze tube which is very hygienic to use and easily dispenses the product. I do not have any issues controlling the amount of product the tube dispenses. I like the fact that the tube is light and perfect for travel.

It comes in 5 shades which are the following:

Nude: The lightest among the 5 shades. Despite being the lightest, it oxidizes on my skin. It has beige tone to it.

Sandy Beige: This is my perfect match. It is light-medium yellow beige color that suits my NC 30 skin.

Pure Beige: This is almost similar with the Sandy Beige but has a bit of olive tones to it. It is also slightly deeper than Sandy Beige.

Natural Beige : This has a peachy base to it.

Honey Beige: This is perfect for Morenas and it is a beautiful deep olive color.

This foundation has a very nice medium coverage that can cancel out the redness on my face and can cover my rashes. It does cover up my dark circles but it can not entirely correct them. This has a beautiful velvety texture more like an air whipped consistency. I tried using it on its own without setting it with powder but it did not work for my skin because I still need to apply a light weight moisturizer or else this foundation will look patchy on my dry skin. Consistency wise, this is very easy to blend and gives off a seamless coverage especially when applied with the fingers. It also applies nicely on my skin even on top of my heavy moisturizers. It dries to a semi matte finish without looking flat matte. This has the tendency to cling on to my dry patches. This feels light on the skin. This has a good staying power for 4 hours or more depending on the skin type. It does not melt away even on a super humid weather (as long as you set it with powder).

With Foundation/ Without Foundation
(I apologize for the photo quality. My husband and I moved in to unit where there not much of a natural lighting. )

It has the tendency to cling onto my dry patches/rashes.

On other parts of my face, it look so seamless and even . :)

Overall, this is a nice product for its price but I like its predecessor more - the Dream Satin Skin because that has a creamier texture perfect for my dry skin. As for coverage, this one is very nice. As you can see on the photo above, it evened out my skin tone, covered up my dark circles and cancelled out the redness on my face without looking too cakey. I like that it is breathable and lightweight too. I wonder if this works well on those with oily or combination skin. I heard some raves on this product from other bloggers and youtubers.

Godbless

Wrote by donnarence

There is a new product from my favorite brand that is perfect in achieving brows on fleek. The newest K-Palette 3 Way Lasting Eyebrow Pencil features a smoother pencil, a stronghold powder and a spoolie. This retails for 795 pesos.

It comes in 4 shades Light Brown, Natural Brown, Mocha Brown, and Grayish Brown.

The spoolie is very useful to brush the brows in place and to remove excess product and powder/foundation that may have cling on to the brows during the makeup application. The pencil is pigmented and smooth. It does not tug and applies smoothly on the brows. I like the fact that it is retractable,hence, very travel friendly. The powder is equally pigmented and blendable. I like that it adheres seamlessly on the brows and it looks very natural too.

From left to right: light brown, natural brown, mocha brown and grayish brown

Light brown is best for those with light colored hair. I prefer natural brown out of the shades because it has the right amount of shade that suits my black roots or highlighted hair. Natural brown is truly the perfect neutral brown shade. So, when you are in doubt on what shade to pick, I highly suggest get the Natural brown or No.2. Mocha Brown is shade deeper than natural brown with a subtle hint of red tones. I find that it still verh wearable even for those with black or brown hair. Grayish brown as the name suggests has hints of gray and taupe. I find this color very strong for my liking but with a light hand , it still goes well on my brows.

This is how my brows look like without any product.

First, I brush my brows with the spoolie and go over it with a clear brow mascara. Afterwards , I apply the powder all over my brows.

My brows look fuller with the brow powder, isn't it? Then, to create a sharper arch and tail, I use the pencil to carve out the edges of my brows.

What is the difference with brow liquid liner and pencil liner of Kpalette? The liner delivers a sharper and sleeker look on the brows while the pencil gives a more natural finish.