Foundations Wish List

If you have read my blog for quite some time, you know that I am very particular about my base products (Proof: My make-up bag that Alex rummaged through and featured on her blog). Especially with foundations, I do a bit of extra research and take more time to determine whether or not the product is worthy of a purchase. I have a lot of specific wants when it comes to a foundation, so finding one that ticks the boxes is a rarity indeed. Nonetheless, here are some that I've been eyeing for a while (and hope to add to my daily routine)!

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation (53 Beige Clair)

I have wanted this foundation for a good year now. I'm mentally kicking myself in the head for not being familiar with Bourjois when I was in Singapore last year because my friend and I were right at the counter looking at the stuff (_ _). I love how its the type of foundation that glides over imperfections as well as dry patches, seeing as I have a lot of that at the moment. This is currently on top of my beauty priorities list!

Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude Foundation (200 Soft Beige)

I'm genuinely interested in this foundation because of its sweat and humidity-proof claims. Seeing as I live in a very humid country with the most unpredictable weather (sunny and sweltering in the morning, stormy and flooding in the afternoon), a foundation like this would be great for days when I don't know what to expect, and when I need something that will really last. 

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation

Again, mentally kicking myself because I also went to a Tarte counter not once, but twice when I visited Sephora in Singapore. If I'm being honest, I'm pulled into this because of the hype. I do know that it claims to be both hydrating and sebum-absorbing, something I have never heard a foundation offer. I also want to try more Tarte products, and this seems like a good start!

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation

I'm very curious about this as the previous foundation received so much love in the past few years. It seems like a really great photo-ready foundation, which I currently do not have! I have also read that is it lightweight but has good coverage, and doesn't give a dewy finish - all things I look for! The reviews are very polar as of late, but its something that I'd love to try for myself to see whether it is good or not!

Happy Skin Zit Zapper Second Skin Creme

This is actually a local product! Happy Skin is one of the brands that I used to pass by in Beauty Bar, but after trying their Angled Blush Brush, I'm genuinely interested in trying their products. This one in particular has a good number of positive reviews as it is both a skin care and make-up product. I love that this one helps with acne - a product that is very lacking in the make-up department! If ever I have money to spare, I'll definitely pick this up.

That's all for now! What about you guys - what bases have you been eyeing? Also, what bases do you love and recommend? Feel free to leave me a comment below!

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Foundations Wish List

By Pauline Read More

COMPARISON: Maybelline Master Conceal vs Make Up Forever Full Cover Concealer

Hey, everyone!

Sorry for missing last weeks weekly post :( I've been interning for the past few weeks and its left me with very little time to sleep, much less blog. I'm back now though and hopefully my posts won't be interrupted anymore!

Anyway I promised I'd do a comparison post for my recently acquired concealers - the Maybelline Master Conceal and the Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer. When I was still reading about them prior to purchase, I did think that they would be quite similar. It's been a good two months and I've formed a pretty good opinion (and liking) for both!

Packaging

They're both in tube packaging, which can be good or bad depending on the person. I personally like it because I find it to be more hygienic than a doe foot applicator or anything else with a sponge-tip (ahem this concealer).

The Master Conceal (MC from now on) has a bigger opening and thinner tube, and I do admit that its difficult to get the right amount of product as it offers less control. I think it was designed this way because of the more liquid consistency of the concealer, which means you need more.

The Full Cover (FC) on the other hand has a smaller opening and a stiffer tube, allowing you to get the amount you need. This reflects the fact that a little goes a long way with this particular concealer.

Pigmentation 

The FC is easily full coverage. A little goes a very, very long way with this to the point that I recommend a teeny drop to start with. This is great if you have any spots you need to cover because you will be sure it will be hidden. It dries to a matte finish that isn't too flat or obvious, as some mattes tend to be.

The MC is more medium to full coverage if built. You do need more product to get to a full coverage if desired, but its not an excessive amount. This is good if you don't want to go too heavy on under eye concealing, since too much under the eyes can crease really fast. This dries to more of a natural finish. 

Consistency & Blendability

The FC is much thicker in consistency, but definitely nowhere near heavy. This is such a refreshing change compared to high coverage but heavy and cakey concealers! You only need a little bit to cover spots, so you can expect this tube to last you a long time. I will say though that its best to work in sections with this as it dries fast and gives little time to blend into the skin. I think a large part of this comes from the fact that its waterproof; once its there, it won't migrate or disappear until you take it off with a make-up remover.

The MC is, as I mentioned, a more liquid consistency. Granted this does mean that it takes longer to set, needing the help of a powder, but this also makes it easier to blend. This is great for people who are new to make-up, as it leads to a little less of a mess and is more forgiving if any mistakes are made. This does not last as long as the FC, so its not good for long days.

What I like about both of these is that they both blend well instead of just sitting on the skin. This makes it a little less obvious that you're wearing make-up, giving you the option to  just spot conceal and call it a day for your base.

Versatility

The MC easily wins this round as it can be used as both an under eye and spot concealer. The consistency isn't too liquid that it slides off spots in an hour, but its also not too dry for the under eyes. This makes it great for travel as it is multi-purpose. I must say though that on my personal skin, it does not aggravate acne (since it isn't oil-free) but it might if you have more sensitive skin.

The FC seems to be best for spots, as its consistency is a little too dry for the under eyes for my liking. This is fine by me as I need more concealing for my spots rather than under eyes anyway! For those looking for a full coverage under eye concealer however, you might need to look elsewhere.

Price and Availability

Sadly, the MC is not available in the Philippines. I think this is only available in the US for now, but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong! If you can get a hold of it however, you will not have to break the bank as it costs P300/$8.99 at the least since it is from the drugstore. I know that this is available at ULTA if you buy online, but I got mine from Bon Marche, where I got a few other products as well. They're really nice and ship your items really fast, so go check them out!

The FC is more readily available in all MUFE stores as well as Sephora. This does cost a lot more locally (P2000) so I might recommend purchasing from online stores. I got mine from Make Up Pro who also ships products really fast and accepts pre-orders! I got it for about P1400 which is closer to the price they pay in the US ($32). It is more expensive compared to the MC, so if that is a setback for you, the MC is a much better alternative.

Summary:

Maybelline Master Conceal (30 Light-Medium)
(+) Blendable, multi-purpose, medium-full coverage, natural finish, good for beginners, affordable
(-) Not oil-free, no control for packaging, not readily available in PH

Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer (6 Ivory)
(+) Full coverage, waterproof, good for sensitive skin, long-lasting, more shades, good for spots, matte finish, very pigmented
(-) Less blending time, expensive, learning curve to use

I don't have a winner for this round due to the very different consistencies. I also wouldn't say that they're dupes of each other since the consistency is so different. I will say that I am very happy to have purchased both since I now have options, and I like having options.

That's it for now! If you have any questions or comments, and even recommendations, feel free to leave them down below!

Friday, July 17, 2015

COMPARISON: Maybelline Master Conceal vs Make Up Forever Full Cover Concealer

By Pauline Read More

Big May Haul

I know I just did a haul but I also have bad self-control during this time of year. :p This time, this haul isn't limited to drugstore products as the more midrange products are some that I've been eyeing for around a year or so, plus some Korean products! These consist of two online orders (from Bon Marche and Make Up Pro), one that my friends Leya and Tari from Tari in the Morning kindly bought for me while they were in Korea (thank you again <3), and a mall purchase.

At this point I'm glad I'm going back to school - need the cash!

Maybelline Master Conceal (30 Light-Medium)

This is a fairly new product, released last December. Maybelline is known for their concealers and I thought it would be great to finally try one. This one claims to be high coverage and can be used for both under the eyes and for spots. Plus, it comes in a tube rather than the sponge applicator that the Instant Age Rewind has. I like that you only need a small amount to cover spots, and that it leaves a natural finish. 

Maybelline Color Tattoo Leather (80 Creamy Beige)

I mentioned before that I frequently watch Essie Button's videos, and this was one of the products that grew on me. I found the original Color Tattoos too frosty for my liking, so this more matte version of Bad to the Bronze was a good alternative. That and I've been dying for a new cream eyeshadow.

Jouer Matte Moisture Tint (Nude)

As much as I love my Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation, I know its too expensive for me to use everyday, and I'm quite fearful of it running out quickly. This one from Jouer is a rare gem in a sea of dewy tinted moisturizers, as it is one of the very few that I know of that gives a matte finish. Jen from From Head to Toe uses this quite often and like I said before, everything that has worked on her has worked very well on me so far.

Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer (6 Ivory)

Yes, another concealer! I've wanted this for a while, but at the time opted for the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer that I mentioned in some of my favourites. This one is waterproof, oil-free, and long-lasting, so its supposed to be best for scars and blemishes. As someone who is acne-prone, a lightweight concealer that doesn't aggravate acne is a must.

Too Faced Natural Matte Palette

I used to tell myself that I shouldn't buy more palettes, but I knew I had to have this palette as soon as it came out. I'm fairly happy with my shimmery shadows recently (Naked 2 Palette & 1028 Visual Therapy Brownie Eyes Palette) but I noticed I lacked matte shadows. This is much cheaper than my original plan which was to buy a few MAC eyeshadows. I'll definitely review this as soon as I get to test it out!

Etude House Play 101 Pencils (21, 47)

I liked my first pencil in 23 so much that I had to get more! 21 is a neutral red that is meant to be used as a lip liner, while 47 is a rich copper that is meant to be used as an eyeliner or eyeshadow. Etude House is a brand that involves a lot of hits and misses, but I have to say that so far these are hits!

Clio Kill Brown Waterproof Brush Liner

I had a long love-hate relationship with this eyeliner, as I mentioned here, here, here, and here. The hate eventually ebbed and I realized just how lovely this eyeliner was when I used it again late last year. I bought my first pen last year and its still going, but I got this because I don't want to be without another!

Innisfree Mineral Single Cream Eyeshadow (04 Romance Burgundy)

I love cream shadows so much, so to see one of my favourite Korean brands with cream shadows was exciting. I've also been toying with the idea of trying a burgundy eyeshadow ever since seeing eyeshadows like MAC Cranberry and the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Pomegranate Punk. Lets hope that this one works!

Too Cool for School Artclass by Rodin Createur du contour

As a person with a round face, I could always use a little definition for my invisible cheekbones. I saw this product while browsing a few blogs and I was drawn by the packaging, to be honest! The  SA that sold this to me also mentioned that this product was usually sold out in Korea! This isn't overly pigmented, which is good to hear for a beginner like me.

That's all for now! Lets hope that this is the last haul I do in a while, for my wallets' sake! I do hope you enjoyed seeing these anyway and let me know if you want me to do a review on any of the products I mentioned.

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Friday, June 05, 2015

Big May Haul

By Pauline Read More