Wet n Wild Mega Last Lipstick in Just Peachy

I have been trying to get my hands on this one! I am talking about the drugstore favorite Wet N Wild Mega Last lipsticks. I was always looking for online shops selling the Just Peachy shade, and it's almost always out of stock. It sells for Php299 in malls, and the el-cheapo in me just keeps on saying that I should buy from online sellers because they do have more reasonable prices (even if shipping cost is added). Lucky me, The Primp Pad had a pre-buy which included Wet N Wild Mega Last, so I grabbed the opportunity and bought Just Peachy (now I'm regretting I only got one shade). 

Wet N Wild Mega Last 

Shade: 903C Just Peachy

Price: Php 148.00 (US$3.37)

Bought from: The Primp Pad

Product Info from Wet n Wild website:

Lips take center stage! This 4-hour, longwearing lip color leaves a semi-matte, crème finish in one stroke. Glides on easily with rich, velvety color that doesn't cake, feather, or bleed. Made with hydrating skin-care ingredients: Hyaluronic Microspheres provide extraordinary adhesion to lips, an exclusive polymer complex offers cushion-like feel and texture, and natural marine plant extracts Coenzyme Q10 and Vitamins A & E help smooth lips.

This is indeed a peachy shade with a tinge of pink.

They're saying this is a dupe for Lime Crime's Babette, but since I don't have that, I couldn't really tell.

Pros:

- Matte but creamy

- I find it not drying on the lips

- Good for everyday wear. This is currently my go-to lipstick.

- Does not have a strong scent

- Affordable

Cons:

- Packaging is a little bit flimsy

- Not so good staying power

- It could accentuate flaky lips (understandable though since this is matte)

Please excuse my chubby cheeks

Is it worth buying?

Definitely! I am happy with this shade, and I'm now looking forward to owning more WnW lipsticks! 

Sophie Paris Koshize Nutrilips Mini Lipstick Swatch

It has been a weather-crazy week! It's usually rainy in the morning, then it turns sunny in noontime, and the next thing you know, it's raining again! No wonder a lot of people are suffering from cough and colds. Whenever I am sick, I try not to use a lot of makeup because I just want to feel clean and light, but if I must, I never use lipstick straight from the bullet to my lips to avoid contamination.

To cheer me up during the weekdays, my Mom got me this mini lipstick set. I was actually wanting to own the Satinlips (which are all matte), but sadly it was out of stock.

Koshize Nutrilips Mini Lipstick

Price: Php 280 (US$6.38) Catalog Price, if you're a member you get a 30% discount

Bought from: Sophie Paris

Each lipstick contains 3.3grams and about 1.6 inches tall. It could be good for a couple of uses.

Now, as with all catalog (print or online) you cannot be sure that the shades that you see in the pictures are the actual shades. In one catalog, the picture shows a deep red color of a lipstick, but when I searched online for a swatch, lo and behold, it was actually a peachy nude shade. Now, if you trusted the catalog, your order would have been a total disaster. Either there has been an error on labeling the shade, or the printer messed up.

Click on the photo to enlarge

All shades swatched starting from KNL1 to KNL10 (Left to Right)

This set is good to have if you plan on ordering the regular sized ones, or if you just want to build up your makeup arsenal without spending too much. It takes a lot of time to finish a regular sized lipstick, so this is for you if you want to play around with colors.

I haven't got the chance to test all colors, but my initial assessment is that:

- Some colors are not as pigmented as I want them to be. You need to swipe it several times to get enough color.

- The most pigmented shade would be KNL3 (Heartbeat Red) and KNL8 (Passion Pink)

- This could be hard to find, since there's not a lot of Sophie Paris dealers and agents out there

- It does have a decent staying power though. I've tried to put on one last night, and when I woke up I immediately ate breakfast. When I saw myself in the mirror, there's still color left on my lips. 

- It is quite moisturizing. My lips doesn't feel dry even after several hours.

- It doesn't have a strong scent. I hate lipsticks that have scents (esp sweet ones).

I have only tried four colors, but only remembered to photograph two of them.

KNL8 Passion Pink

It's a brighter pink in person

KNL3 Heartbeat Red

A cranberry type of red

I will update this as soon as I get the chance to try all of them.

Now, if only Sophie would offer a mini lipstick set of their famous Sophie Lipstick (Php 85), then that would be a blast! I hope all brands offer mini lipsticks!

ELF Glitter Primer Review

I have an oily face, which comes with the fact that I have oily lids. Not only that, I have really oily AND hooded lids. The mortal enemies of any eye makeup has teamed up on me. If I put on any eyeshadow it would probably last me 2 hours tops, then my eyelids would go "What eyeshadow?". It would be more horrifying if I put on any dark eyeliner, it would definitely smudge on my upper lids and would go on its merry way onto my lower lash line. Makeup companies should invest on doing research on my face. It has a built-in makeup remover. I suggest they make oil-proof makeup instead of waterproof.

I honestly have not tried any primers in my life pretty much because I was lazy. Instead of looking for primers, I just opt not to use any dark eyeshadows or eyeliners. I can stand eye makeup slowly fading away, but not smudging. But when I was looking for things to order from The Primp Pad, I came across the ELF Glitter Primer. I did my homework and found out that this is actually a good eye primer and it's cheap so I gave it a go.

ELF Glitter Primer

Shade: Only one shade available

Price: PhP 118.00

Bought from: The Primp Pad

Product Info from ELF website:

Preps your eyelid for smoother, longer-lasting, and crease-proof glitter eyeshadow. The lightweight liquid formula quickly absorbs into the skin for comfortable wear, increases eye color longevity, and creates a lasting bond for stay-put glitter that holds. Infused with Shea Butter and Jojoba to nourish the delicate eye area. Great with loose or pressed glitter eyeshadows.

How to:

Apply a thin coat to the eyelid and blend in. Tap on glitter eyeshadow with a finger or a brush while primer is still damp on the eye to lock in glitter. 

Ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Synthetic Beeswax, Petrolatum, Stearic Acid, Copernica Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Cetearyl Alcohol, PVP, Glycerin, Triethanolamine, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Simmondsia Chinesis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkil (Shea) Butter Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Ethylhexylglycerin MAY CONTAIN: Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499)

A little goes a long way. This amount can be used for both of my eyelids. I know that this is meant for glitter makeup, but it works for pressed eyeshadows nonetheless.

I used my ELF eyeshadow palette. You can see that it looks more pigmented when used with the glitter primer.

Pros:

- It makes the eyeshadow brighter

- It does its job of making the eyeshadow stick to your eyelids

- It does not make my makeup crease over time

- It makes my makeup stay longer

- Does not have a strong scent

- Dries clear

Cons:

- I can't think of any right now!

Is it worth buying?

Yes, yes and yes! Although I am not sure if this is actually available in ELF stalls in malls, but you could always search for online sellers carrying this product.

I haven't tried this on a very humid day, but I have tested this indoors for a couple of hours (like 7hrs) and my eye makeup was still intact. There was no smudging, and there was no fading, and there was no creasing. This makes me a happy gal. I need to get myself some loose glitter eyeshadow to really test this primer. I will update once I have done so. 

Revlon Colorstay Liquid Foundation in Buff Review

Oh, how I miss those days when I don't have the need for any foundation. My face has never been perfect. I am one of those people that I look flawless from afar, but when you get a closer look at me, you'll start to notice how big my pores are. I have an oily face all throughout my life, pimples here and there once in awhile, but they rarely make any scars. So there was actually no need for me to invest on foundations. I was pretty lazy when it comes to my makeup routine. I would only put on makeup whenever I feel like it (maybe once or twice a month). But I had a terrible breakout last year, one that sent me pretty crazy. I tried different products to alleviate my acne. I never went to the derma because I was pretty stubborn and set on that I could fix my acne on my own like what I have been doing for my entire life. This one was different. Although I did manage to control my cystic acne (thanks to Benzac), it did however left scars. Scars that I have never been able to experience before. Surely, I would get small acne scars before, but not like this one. They are pretty many and deep and dark. So there you go. For the first time in my life, I was looking for a concealer and a nice foundation to hide them. I also became more careful on what I put on my face. So I did a lot of research before using anything and there have been a lot of raves about this product from local and international bloggers.

Revlon Colorstay Liquid Foundation for Oily/Combination Skin

Shade: Buff (I think this is the lightest shade in the Philippines)

Price: PhP 825.00

Bought from: SM Department Store

Product Info from Revlon website:

Longwearing coverage with a lightweight formula that won’t cake, fade, or rub off. With Time Release Technology specifically formulated for combination or oily skin to control oil absorption and shine. Your look stays flawless throughout the day.

I must say that this has a lot of product in its bottle. I am not using this on a daily basis, but I still have a lot of product left after owning this for close to a year by now.

What I don't like about this product is its packaging. It's just a bottle with a wide opening. If you're not careful you might end up spilling it. What I do is that I transfer it to my smaller CK foundation vial that has a spatula. It can carry an amount up to 4 uses of this foundation so it's good for travelling. 

The shade that matches me (according to the saleslady) is Buff which is the lightest color available in the country. I have an acidic face/skin, but this does not oxidize on me (or turns into a darker shade).

Fully blended on my arm

Pros:

- This is the most lightweight foundation that I've tried

- It can control oil up to 3hrs (for me)

- It's true that it doesn't rub off

-It doesn't have a strong scent

Cons:

- It has been said that this is for medium/heavy coverage but I find it on the light side. If I pile on this, I would end up looking like a ghost. I know some people are successful on building up a heavy coverage using this one (watch youtube videos), but it just won't work for me.

- It can blur my acne marks, but not enough to actually cover them

- Sometimes, it can look ashy on me

Is it worth buying?

Sadly for me, no. As much as I want to love this product, I cannot just give it a 100% approval. It could be that the shade does not match me. If I go one shade darker, it would be too dark for me already. The foundation that has an exact match to my skin tone would be my In2it foundation (which contained silicone, and probably caused more irritation on my skin because I used it during the time I had a breakout). If only that product wouldn't cause pimples, then that would definitely my HG foundation. 

Revlon's foundation however, never made my skin worse, so I am sticking to it now, until I find another good foundation that would be gentle for my skin. I tried the stippling method of application (using a brush), but I like using my fingers better. If you could find a shade of this foundation to match your skin tone perfectly, then please give it a try.

My First Online Shop Makeup Haul plus A Primer on Buying Online

I know I've been MIA for a while now, but let me make it up by starting with my haul from The Primp Pad. This is my first purchase from a local online makeup store. I usually find it hard to buy makeup online because you can't see the actual product, thus you can't swatch them. Let's face it, online makeup stores offer lower prices than malls. You just need to do research (by reading reviews from blogs), and see the actual product in malls before buying online. Paying for it thru bank deposits can also be a reason for people not to like buying online, but since my brother works near a bank then it's all good to me. Another thing to be worried about is the fact that some online shops sell fake makeup. Keep clear of those saying that it's Singapore makeup. That seems to be the new word for fake, also some use Dubai (I noticed this in perfumes). However, I do not know whether fake cosmetics and perfume are really made in the said countries, probably they're still made in china. Sellers used to say it's class A or AAA, now it's either Singapore or Dubai (no offense to the said countries). If they are selling MAC lipsticks for 60 pesos, then you know that the product you're buying is fake. Just try to find reviews about the shops and the products that they're selling, the more you read the more you'll feel safe and comfortable on buying from them. Remember, using fake cosmetics can ruin your face, so be very careful.

Now, let's proceed to my makeup haul:

I've got:

-ELF Blush and Contouring Powder in St. Lucia

-ELF Lip Exfoliator

-ELF Glitter Primer

-Wet N Wild Lipstick in Just Peachy

I have waited for some time for these items to arrive since it was "pre-buy" or pre-bought. Pre-buy means that you pay for the items even if it is still in transit, meaning the seller does not have the items on hand. No biggie for me though since I really wanted to buy the products that I purchased, and the lip exfoliator is not even available here in the Philippines. The Primp Pad did send out the items once they received their shipment. All of my items were complete, sealed and not broken. I am happy with my purchase (most specially the lip exfoliator, I used it the moment my brother handed me the package). I was just charged 60 pesos for the delivery (I had it delivered to my brother's office in Makati). I actually saved up a lot instead of buying these in malls. For example, the Wet N Wild lipstick costs 299.00 in malls, while The Primp Pad sells it for 148.00. That plus 60 pesos would only amount to 208 pesos. Still cheaper than the mall price. Now, to save up on shipping cost, you better be planning your purchases. Buy all the items that you are planning to buy at once instead of making separate purchases.

I will be making a separate review on all these products. Now, please excuse me while I try to keep myself from being amazed at how supple my lips are right now.

Purederm Clean and Fresh Peeling Gel Review

What is a gommage? 

Short answer: It is a highly effective way to exfoliate the face or body, leaving skin feeling silky soft.

Long answer: The word gommage comes from the French word that means "to erase." It is a cream or paste that is thinly applied to the skin. It sits for a few minutes until it dries slightly. The gommage rolls up off the skin as it is rubbed, picking up the skin's outermost dead skin cells with slightly sticky ingredients like xanthan gum. Gommage may also contain a cellular dissolving agent, like an enzyme.

-Source: http://spas.about.com/od/bodytreatments/a/gommage.htm

I have tried one years ago and it was The Face Shop's Peeling Day White Jewel. It worked pretty well, it can definitely brighten up your dull looking skin, but that was ages ago and haven't bought one since. Now, Cure is making waves in the blogosphere, but I have been careful in buying new stuff for my skin since I experienced a major breakout last year (and I'm still dealing with the pimple marks up to now). Plus, Cure is on the expensive side. 

Now, after reading a lot of reviews online, let me introduce to you an affordable gommage:

Photo from Purederm's website

Purederm Clean and Fresh Peeling Gel

Price: PhP 99.00(US$2.27)

Bought from: SM Department Store

Product description:

Purederm Clean & Fresh Peeling Gel formulated with Apple, Lemon & Orange Extract deeply cleans pores, gently exfoliates, removes dead skin cells and refines skin surface. Skin is healthy looking and refreshed.

Instructions:

 1. Thoroughly cleanse and dry face.

2. Open the cap and apply the product to the face and massage evenly (except for eyes and mouth).

3. Rinse with water for 1 minute.

I tried this immediately once I got home. I am actually using a peeling oil at this moment (Skinmate Shark Oil) and I was wondering if this could remove my flaking skin. I am happy to report that it did! Maybe it's too early to tell (I have just used this for the first time 3 hours ago), but my skin does feel refreshed. There was redness, but I was half expecting it since my skin is already peeling. 

Pros:

- Affordable

- Makes skin smoother

- Makes pores a little bit smaller

- Dull skin has been removed

- I can see no flaky skin on my face right now

- I love its light and citrusy smell

- Easy to find

Cons:

- Right now, I do not have any, but if this will make my skin break out then I'll defnitely update this blog.

Is it worth buying?

YES! A pack would last you probably more or less 6 times of usage.

By the way, there is an ongoing promo right now. Buy 2 for 160.00 until June 25 I think. I still got just one since I am not sure if this will work for me or not.

Hooray for affordable yet effective products!

Ever Bilena Evera Magic Lipstick in Watermelon

Mood lipsticks were a big hit in the 80s. It's fun and it's hip. From green, blue, violet, and yellow, all will turn into a nice shade of pink. Although the color change does not depend on your mood, it does however change according to your body's PH level and temperature. Mood/color changing lipsticks are quite affordable, and would last long on your lips, leaving a stain that would sometimes last till the next day.

Locally, we have the Ever Bilena Evera Magic Lipstick. It is currently available in six shades.

Apple - Green

Grapes - Violet

Lemon - Yellow

Orange - Orange

Strawberry - Pink

Watermelon - Blue

Ever Bilena Evera Magic Lipstick

Shade: Watermelon

Price: PhP75.00 - 80.00 (US$1.70)

Bought from: Waltermart Sta. Maria

I had this for about a year now, but I have only used it a couple of times. This is also the only shade that I own. I believe the Watermelon produces the darkest color among the six. You have to wait for a couple of seconds to a minute in order for it to change to its pink color.

Pros:

- Affordable!

- Easily available. You can find this in any mall or drugstore or supermarket.

- It changes to a nice shade of pink (a little bit of purplish pink in person).

- Lasts long! It also leaves a stain after awhile.

- I do find this moisturizing. It does not make my already dry lips chap more.

Cons:

- Some people say that it can darken your lips although I haven't experienced this after using the product for only a few times.

- It has a bit of a rubbery scent, although it doesn't bother me, some people might not like it.

- The packaging does look cheap, like you cannot just whip it out in public and be proud of it.

Is it worth buying?

Yes, for its price and quality, it's definitely worth trying and buying.