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. 

Saizen/Daiso Flat Eyebrow Pencil in Brown

I had been looking for the Etude House Drawing Eye Pencil for a long time now. It has great reviews, probably the reason why it's always out of stock. Then I saw this flat eyebrow pencil from Saizen and decided to give it a try.

Saizen Flat Eyebrow Pencil

Shade: Brown

Price: PhP 88.00 (US$2.01)

Bought from: Saizen Trinoma (inside TrueValue)

This, I think, has the same triangular shape like that of Etude House, but judging from the EH pictures I found online, EH is more triangular and thicker.

Pros:

- It is dual-ended, the spoolie is really useful for making the brows look softer.

- The hardness is just right for me, it's not too creamy making it easier to control.

- It doesn't look waxy.

- It's long lasting. It lasts me the whole day without much fading.

- It's affordable and easier to find unlike Etude House.

- Retractable! No more need to sharpen.

- It gives natural looking brows.

Cons:

- Limited shades available. They only have black and brown.

- No testers available. The last time I went to Saizen they had testers, but when I came back, there's none.

- You have to find the one that says "Flat Eyebrow", some pencils are not flat and it's hard to find which one is or is not because, again, there are no testers available.

By the way, Saizen had a price increase. From 85 pesos, everything is now for 88 pesos like Japan Home.

And now for the before and after pics:

Before:

After:

I usually use this pencil to make an outline of my eyebrow, then use eyebrow powder. This could also be used alone as well making it perfect for those days when you just don't have enough time to spare for your whole makeup routine.

Collection Lasting Colour Gel Eyeliner: Black

Collection (formerly known as Collection 2000) Lasting Colour Gel Eyeliner

Shade: Black

Price: PhP 399.00 (US$9.12)

Compared to the Maybelline Gel Eyeliner, Collection has a smaller pot and brush, but both have sturdy glass pots .

Collection looks more pigmented that the Maybelline just because my Maybelline has been around for ages (like 3 yrs) and my Collection has just been given to me last week (part of my birthday loot). I was not able to finish my Maybelline pot because it just won't stay put on my oily lids. Although I am not using it anymore, I just keep it around for reference. 

Although the brush is much shorter than the Maybelline, I find it more useful because it will be able to give you a more precise line than Maybelline's since it's thinner.

Freshly applied gel eyeliner at 2:00pm without anything on except for the eyeliner

I avoid wearing eyeliner products outside without testing it first at home. I had terrible experiences with eyeliners because I have oily lids, and most products won't stay put and I'll just end up looking like a raccoon. Liquid eyeliners are the best, but you can't use it for your waterline and you have to have steady hands when using liquid. As for me, I haven't mastered the art of putting eyeliners so I am steering clear of liquid eyeliners although I own some. 

I have read so many rave reviews about this product and I'm crossing my fingers that this would work for me. Unfortunately, it didn't.  An hour later, the product smudged on my upper lid (mine being hooded is another reason why I find it hard to make eye makeup to work for me) although forgivable. But several hours later, the smudging became more noticeable, both on my upper lid and lower lash line! Note that I did not put any on my lash line.

This is taken at 4:45 PM

Where did my eyeliner go?

Pros:

- Really pigmented

- Very smooth to apply

Cons:

- Does not last very long

- Smudges and will make you look like a raccoon at the end of the day