Sunday, June 30, 2013

Product Rave-iew: Beauty Cosmetics Face Precision Kit




If you're a makeup artist or an aspiring makeup artist, you should really invest on quality makeups and makeup brushes. Sadly, high quality cosmetics and makeup brushes are EXPENSIVE. Thank goodness for other drugstore and local brands who make dupes for high-end products.

One of the makeup brush brands that I really want to try is Sigma Beauty which is insanely expensive, especially for frugal people like me! Hehe! Thank God, I found a local brand which sells dupes for Sigma brushes and mind you, they have amazing quality as well!

Beauty Cosmetics is a local brand which is known for carrying affordable yet good quality makeup brushes. I've tried their brushes before when my sister bought their black 12-pcs brush set and I was amazed on the softness and performance of their brushes. Last May, I got their Face Perfection Kit and their Face Precision Kit. Let's talk about the Face Precision Kit first.


Product Name: Beauty Cosmetics Face Precision Kit
Price: Php 450.00
Available at: Beauty Cosmetics



The Beauty Cosmetics Face Precision Kit contains 5 precision brushes made up of synthetic bristles. They are designed for precise makeup application on your face. I haven't tried any of the Sigma Brushes but based on photos, these would be a good dupe for the Sigma Synthetic Precision Kit.

1. Flat Precision Brush - ideal for applying concealer on Sun spots, blemishes or any small imperfections on the face



2. Round Precision Brush - for applying eyeshadow base or primer to lid, can also be used to blend concealer under eye area

For me, this is the most versatile out of all the 5 brushes from the kit. I sometimes neglect the other 4 brushes and just use only this rounded precision brush so you can say that it's my favorite from the Face Precision Kit. It is dense but not tightly packed so the bristles on the outer part helps blend well the product that I apply on my face. Based on personal experience, super tightly packed bristles may create streak marks. This brush is just perfect. Precisely applies product on the face and works really well too in blending. I love using this in applying concealer on the under eye area.



3. Slanted Precision Brush - flat angled precision brush designed for applying concealer anywhere on the face

This is my favorite brush to use in applying eyeshadow base and primer on my eyelids. It's just perfect!



4. Angled Precision Brush - for applying products to areas such as sides of the nose and hollows of the cheeks

Since the brush is slanted, I love using it in contouring the sides of my nose too and it works perfectly! Of course, you have to blend it well. ;)



5. Tapered Precision Brush - for exact placement of concealer in harder to reach areas such as sides of the nose, around the eyes, chin and around the mouth

This is a life-saver! The description says it all! It helps you apply and blend the product very well on the hard-to-reach areas on the face especially on the sides of my nose. I also love using this in blending concealer under my eyes near the lower lash lines.



All of the brushes from this kit have soft bristles so it's gentle on the skin. The brushes don't shed whenever I wash them so the bristles are really durable, too. However, since it's synthetic, it absorbs the product that you use (concealers, cream, foundations) so it's a little difficult to wash especially when it sips deep in the middle of the bristles. Also, the handle is not really durable. The brushes from their 12-pcs brush set have problems with the handles because they are easily detached from the ferrules. These brushes from the Face Precision Kit have a different style of handle compared to their older brushes because it snaps well onto the ferrule so it's more sturdy but still, I found that one of the handles is a little loose like it's going to detach from the ferrule anytime. Other than that, I can't see any problem at all with these brushes!

Overall, I am in love with this kit! Very affordable yet of great quality. It's definitely a must-have for makeup artists! Because of the handle problem, I give it 4 out of 5 stars. :)

For awesome quality and wide selection of makeup brushes yet super affordable, please visit Beauty Cosmetics on Facebook. :)



Stay awesome and accomplish your mission! :)
-ivsc-

Friday, June 28, 2013

Product Review: Glory of New York Mineral Blush


One of my favorite makeup products from Glory of New York is their Mineral Blush. When I first saw these blushes from GNY, my first impression was maybe it's not that pigmented and maybe it could be too powdery --- but I was wrong. I don't know why I easily judge a certain makeup just by looking at it! This blush is my absolute favorite blush ever!


You can see in the photos above that there are 7 pans of GNY Mineral Blushes but one shade was doubled so all in all, I only have 6 shades of these amazing blushes. Glory of New York Mineral Blush comes in a black pan that can actually fit my palm so it's a little small but it's okay because at least, you can store it inside your makeup kits. It has a window on the cover so that's good because you can easily see the colors of the blushes. The packaging though is a little flimsy so I think it's not really that sturdy but so far, these blushes haven't failed me. So far, so good. Hehe!

The blushes are a mix of mattes and shimmers. Sometimes, matte blushes may not be as pigmented as you want it to be but the GNY matte mineral blushes really have good color payoff! Also, the texture is not chalky nor powdery. They are silky and smooth which is a million times plus factor! The GNY shimmer mineral blushes are also impressive! Even though they look shimmery from the pan, it wouldn't appear too shimmery on your face like you applied glitters on your cheeks! It just gives a very satin finish and gives a beautiful glow on the skin. ;-)

When it comes to shades, I'm honestly not sure how many shades they have in total but I'm glad that they have pink shades, coral shades, peach shades and they even have a color that you can use for contouring! I'm talking about shade no. 10! It may be too warm for some though so, just a quick tip, mix it with a tiny amount of chocolate brown eyeshadow if you think it appears too warm or orange-y for you. ;)

These are the shades that I received - 7, 10, 85 and 88 are all matte while 41 and 83 have shimmers on them. My absolute favorite shade is no. 41 because it just gives my face a very healthy glow and just the right amount of color!



I swatched the GNY Mineral Blushes on the back of my hand and took photos of it with and without flash so you can see the true colors.



Gorgeous, gorgeous colors! And just look how pigmented they are! :) FYI, a little goes a long way so be careful in using them because you might apply too much. Just apply it gradually and blend it well. Another reason that I like about these blushes is that they don't cake and appear patchy on my skin when I sweat. It sets well onto my skin and lasts for hours and hours! Here's a before and after image:



I used camera phones on both photos. The left image was taken at around 3PM or 4PM and the right image was taken at around 11PM! My face looked oily on the right image already and the color had slightly faded but it's still there and my skin still has that beautiful glow. Awesome, isn't it? :) These blushes are what I use on my clients as well because it has a strong staying power and good color payoff.

Glory of New York Mineral Blush --- best blush that I've tried so far! It costs around P1,000+ but Queen B. has an ongoing clearance sale so you can get it for only P320 now! That's such a huge discount so you wouldn't want to miss their amazing sale! The blushes though come in Iris pans but same shades, same products, just different packaging. :)

Hope this review helps!


Stay awesome and accomplish your mission! :)
-ivsc-

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Product Review: Fashion 21 Perfect Stick with Tea Tree Oil

Stick foundations are not really my thing. It's just that two of the stick foundies that I've tried before didn't really work out that well on me. I thought they're both cakey and just not the perfect match for my oily-combination skin. However, maybe it's just the way how I used it? Hmm... Not sure but after using those two, I decided I won't use stick foundations anymore, well, not for the rest of my life naman. Hehe! Stick foundations are so convenient to use sana, however, I guess we're not really meant to be (or so I thought?).


Then just a month ago, I went over to Fashion 21 cosmetics' counter at SM North Edsa to complete my stash from the said brand for my one-brand makeup tutorial. I realized that Fashion 21 cosmetics doesn't have liquid and cream foundations. They only have powder foundations and their Perfect Sticks which are actually concealers but can be used as foundation. So, with no other choice at all, I decided to purchase one of their stick concealers for the sake of my one-brand makeup tutorial and also, to see if it's worth sharing to my readers. There are two kinds --- the classic perfect stick and the one with tea tree oil. I went for the latter since the Fashion 21 sales lady told me that it has better coverage than the former. Of course, before buying it, I tried it on the back of my hand and I was kind of intrigued with its texture because it glides on smoothly, blendable and seems to have an almost powder finish.

Product name: Fashion 21 Perfect Stick with Tea Tree Oil
Price: P195.00
Bought from: Fashion 21 counter at SM North Edsa

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
soft concealer stick with tea tree oil

PRODUCT FEATURES:
- Tea Tree Oil (fade blemishes)
- UV Protection
- Oil Control
- Mild on skin
- Smooth and easy application
- Cream to powder finish
- Can act as foundation



The first thing that I thought when I bought this was "Oh please, don't let me down.". I mean, yes it's affordable but if it's not worth buying for then I'd rather just spend my P195.00 on something else (like a meal from Burger King, oh yum!). Fashion 21 Perfect Stick with Tea Tree Oil is available in only 3 shades. I got the shade Milk Tea which is the second lightest shade. The first one, which is Irish Tea, is lighter than me and the last shade, Warm Tea, is already too dark for me. Milk Tea is the perfect shade for my skin color!




The product comes in a mint green plastic case with a roll-up barrel which is pretty sturdy. It has a slight mint scent which I like because you know naman how much I love minty products! Some though doesn't like the scent. Oh, well!



Direction for Use:

Best applied with a soft, flat sponge or with your fingers. Apply in even strokes, working towards the hairline and jaw line.

When I first used it, I was already impressed with it! I use it as foundation and concealer most of the time and I use both my fingers and buffing brush (synthetic kabuki brushes from Beauty Cosmetics) to apply it. I double up on some of the areas of my face that need more concealing. It glides on smoothly as you apply it and not at all thick and cakey. One layer is equivalent to medium coverage but you can, of course, build it up to achieve your desired amount of coverage. As for me, I apply one layer all over my face then just add more on my imperfections, especially my dark circles, redness around my nose, and blemishes but really, it covers up mild imperfections in just one application.

I was absolutely in awe when I first tried it because it has a really good quality, considering its price of only P195.00! Good coverage, smooth texture and finish, and the longevity is really striking, too! The powder finish doesn't bother me since I have oily-combination skin but for people with dry skin, you might want to moisturize well your skin before using this because it might accentuate your dry skin and might create patches. What I also love about Fashion 21 Perfect Stick with Tea Tree Oil is that, it has a good amount of coverage without looking like you're all photoshopped and used layers of foundations. It just looks almost flawless and natural and it doesn't feel heavy at all even with 2-3 layers.

Let me show you my before-and-after photos from the first time that I've tried it. I used Fashion 21 Two Way Cake with Milk Moisturizers to set it:


Impressive, ei? The first image was a photo of me with the stick foundation set with their two way cake foundation, then second image with finished makeup and then the last one was taken 4 hours after! I looked shiny on my t-zone area already but the coverage is still awesome!

Okay, okay, I thought to myself that maybe the Fashion 21 Two Way Cake with Milk Moisturizers helped with the result. So, I did another test just recently to really see how long it would last. I only used a loose translucent powder to set it:


Want to take a closer look? Let's break it down, photo by photo:

Picture No. 1: Bare face



Picture No. 2: Applied the Fashion 21 Perfect Stick with Tea Tree Oil as foundation/concealer.



Picture No. 3: Set it with a loose translucent powder, did my brows, and then contoured my face.



Picture No. 4: With complete makeup on.



Picture No. 5: After 7 hours. My skin looked shiny already but the coverage was still almost as good although some of my pimple scars were starting to show.



Picture No. 6: AFTER A TOTAL OF 9 HOURS, my skin looked really oily already, the foundation was starting to wear off on my nose area and under eye area but overall, the coverage still looked pretty good! FYI, I did not retouch at all!!!





Isn't it imposing? That's a total of 9 hours, for pete's sake! Now, I can really say that Fashion 21 is one of the best (if not the best) local cosmetic brands in the Philippines! You've seen it all in the photos that I've provided for you. ;-)

I absolutely recommend this to all Filipinas who are tight on budget. The Fashion 21 Perfect Stick with Tea Tree Oil is definitely worth it. I honestly can't think of any negative thing about it. Maybe just the scent because it might bother some but it's totally fine by me, I actually like it. Oh, and I'm just not sure if it will really help fade out blemishes because I don't use it everyday but if we're just going to talk about texture, coverage, staying power and overall quality, it's very surprising. Let's just put it this way, it changed my view towards stick foundations. Hehehe!


Stay awesome and accomplish your mission! :)
-ivsc-

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Product Review: Glory of New York Facial Cleansing


When it comes to skin care products, I let myself use it first for a long time before I write a review about it. I've been using this facial cleanser for over 4 months now and I think it's time for me to share it to you guys.

Glory of New York Facial Cleansing

Deep cleansing instantly remove dirt, oil, and blackheads all the way from chin to forehead. Diminish the appearance of pores.


Glory of New York Facial Cleansing is basically a facial cleansing lotion. It comes with a pump so it's a good thing because it's more convenient to dispense the product. The first thing that I did when I first opened it was check how it smells like and by golly! It's the best-smelling facial wash I know! It smells so divine and very elegant. Like you know that it is a classy product! The best thing is that, the scent lingers unlike the scents of some other facial cleansers which wear off right after rinsing it. This one just stays on for hours and hours and it's kinda addictive, actually!




Okay, enough with how it smells like! Let's talk about the consistency. The texture is very light like a lotion with thin consistency. It doesn't really lather so you might think that it will not fully cleanse your skin because it's really light, like you're really using a body lotion to clean your face. However, it's not greasy and will totally leave your skin matte yet ultra supple and smooth after rinsing with water.

Directions for use:

Wet face and hand with lukewarm water. Pump cleanser onto hands and work into a lather and massage onto skin with a gentle, circular motion. Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry with a soft towel.

Because of its consistency, what I do is, I don't fully wet my face with water. I just wet my hands, take 3-4 pumps of Glory of New York Facial Cleansing and then directly massage it onto the skin. In that way, I think the cleansing lotion can thoroughly clean my skin because it clings better on my skin if I don't wet it with water. Or is it just me? Anyway, it works so much better that way so if you want to, you can try to use it that way, too. :)

Since it's just light, it doesn't have the power to remove makeup from your face but if you removed your makeup with a makeup remover, then this cleanser can thoroughly clean your skin. If you use an oil to remove your makeup, then I think you're going to need more than 4 pumps when you wash your face. As for me, what I use to remove my makeup is an olive oil and then I wipe it off with a makeup cleansing tissue to get rid of excess oil and makeup. For me that's not enough to clean my skin so I still wash my face with Glory of New York Facial Cleansing.

Here's a before-and-after photo. On the left side, I just finished removing my makeup with olive oil and makeup cleansing tissue. You can still see traces of oil. On the right side, I just finished washing my face with Glory of New York Facial Cleansing.



As you can see, my face on the right side looks matte but not dull. It also reduced the visibility of my pores! I hope you can feel it in person because my skin always feels soft and smooth every after use. I actually can't help myself from touching my face every time I use the facial cleansing lotion because it's just so supple! I love it! This is recommended for all skin types. :)

Glory of New York Facial Cleansing works best if you use other Glory of New York products with it such as their moisturizers and Skin Enzyme Peel. Please visit Queen B. on Facebook for inquiries. :)



Stay awesome and accomplish your mission! :)
-ivsc-

Props Tools and Cosmetics TV Guesting at Homepage + FOTD!

Hi everyone!

Today is a very special day for today's the first time that I appeared in national television even for just about 10 minutes! None of this would have happened if not for Props Tools and Cosmetics! Props was invited by Homepage, a morning show in Net25, to talk about and do a demo of rainy season-friendly makeup LIVE! As an ambassadress for Props, Ms. Janine, the sole proprietor of the said brand asked us to join her. Unfortunately, my other two fellow ambassadresses were not able to attend. We miss you Joyce and Chrissy!

I was really excited about this since I get to appear in Net25 and it's an honor for me since I am a proud member of Iglesia Ni Cristo and if you don't know, Net25 is an INC network. :)

It was a great experience for me, of course! Thank you so much to Janine for always considering your ambassadors! :)



Doing a very light makeup for rainy season on our model, Ms. Jane. :) Janine was being interviewed while I was doing the demo.



It's nerve-wracking because we have to do it live so that means there's no room for errors! Hehe! But it's okay because everything went well and it was a success! :)

Here's my FOTD for today's event. Since we have to appear in national television, that means full coverage makeup! I know it's a little weird that I used other cosmetics for today's event since it's all about Props but I just want to make it clear that I also used palettes from my beloved sponsor. :)



Loving my poreless-looking face! Here is the list of the products that I used today:

PRODUCTS USED:

FACE
Glory of New York First Base Foundation Primer
Glory of New York Total Coverage Foundation in 210
Glory of New York Concealer in 101 (under eyes)
Careline Oil-Control Pressed Powder in Honey (used as highlighter for under eye area and nose bridge)
Glory of New York Dual Foundation in 29 (setting powder)
Glory of New York Translucent Powder No. 2 (to seal everything)
Essence Eyebrow Stylist Set Taupe shade (used as contouring powder)
Fanny Serrano Two Way Cake in Fantasia (used as bronzer)
Glory of New York Mineral Blush in No. 41

EYES AND BROWS
San San Eyebrow Pencil in No. 2
PROPS Original Matte Palette (for my eye makeup)
Elite Paris Intensity Long Lasting Eye Pencil in white (for water line)
Glory of New York Kohl Pencil in black (for tightlining)
Essence Get Big! Lashes Volume Curl Mascara
Fashion 21 Double Up Mascara

LIPS
Glory of New York Lipstick in 635

*Please visit Queen B. on Facebook for inquiries about Glory of New York products.*


That's it! Oh, we got some souvenirs, too from Homepage and Net25! Thank you!!!



And of course, I'm bragging about this Props 7-pc. brush set given by Janine! Thank you, sister! :)



What a happy and blessed day for me! :)

Please don't forget to visit Props Tools and Cosmetics to be updated of their weekly makeup workshops and promos! :)


Stay awesome and accomplish your mission! :)
-ivsc-

Friday, June 21, 2013

WINNER for the E-max Acne Treatment Free Session Giveaway! :)

Alright! Miami Heat won! Congratulations to all the Heat fans out there! To Spurs fans, better luck next time! Hahaha!

Anyway, to continue this awesome celebration for Heat's victory, I'm announcing the winner for the SKIN E-max Acne Treatment Free Session Giveaway!!! (Ano'ng konek???)

Congratulations to...

MARIA EILEEN CABALLERO!!!


Maria Eileen, I deem your answer worthy of the one (1) free session of the E-max Acne Treatment by SKIN! Congratulations and I hope that this can help you out somehow with your situation.

Please PM me on my Facebook page ASAP or text me at 09199560057 once you read this.

Thank you so much for joining and to all of you who joined! There will be more giveaways in the future so you need not worry! ;-)
Of course, thank you so much to SKIN Dermatology and Laser Center! Visit them on Facebook for more giveaways and promos! :)





Stay awesome and accomplish your mission! :)
-ivsc-

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Product Review: Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation with Smart-Tone Technology

Hello everybody!

I'm a little bummed yet somehow thankful for my new class schedule. I've mentioned in one of my previous posts that I have a very free schedule this Academic Year so that means I can spend more time in blogging and filming videos! It just worries me a little because I only have three subjects this A.Y. so that means I need to push it harder in the coming semesters to graduate early!

Anyway, my schedule is still awesome because at least, I can start crossing off things from my backlogs. I can post more now, especially product reviews. And with that said, let me give you my review for the Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation.

Now, the Match Perfection line of Rimmel have different variants based on what I've researched. This one that I have is Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation with Smart-Tone Technology. You may think why it's called "Match Perfection". Well, that is because of the "Smart-Tone Technology".


Product Name: Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation with Smart-Tone Technology
Shade: 340 Nude
Price: P450.00
Bought from: Chedelyn's Cosmetics

"Unique, innovative formula with Smart-Tone Technology to mimic skin's tone and texture for a match that blends and covers easily. Blue sapphire gives a truer, fresher color for a flawless, natural finish"

Now, this foundation is designed mainly to adapt to one's skin tone and texture. It contains blue sapphire which gives the foundation a flawless and natural finish. Interesting, isn't it?

The foundation is contained in a glass bottle with a plastic screw cap, like that of the Revlon ColorStay liquid foundations. I prefer though foundations with pumps or the ones that come in squeezable tubes. It actually annoys me because some of Rimmel's foundations from the Match Perfection line have pumps but this one does not. Oh well!

The shade that I got is nude which is a shade or two shades darker than my skin color. It was the only shade available the day that we bought this from Chedelyn's Cosmetics during the Celebrity Bazaar 2013. My sister really wanted to try this and she's kind of into foundations that'll make her look a little tan so she said it's okay if we buy this particular shade.

The texture of the foundation is thick but not too thick. In fact, it's a little runny. If you're going to compare it to the Revlon ColorStay liquid foundation, Revlon is thicker in consistency. And because of it's texture, at first I thought it wouldn't give a full coverage but it's actually buildable.



Looking at the bottle, I thought it wouldn't appear too dark on me but when I applied it, my face looked really tanned. It's okay though because I'd prefer shades that are a little darker than my skin color rather than shades that are lighter than me. And besides, I'm impressed with the finish of this foundation so the shade didn't really bothered me that much.


PICTURE NO. 1:



In picture no.1, the image on the left is my bare face and on the right image, the left side of my face was covered with Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation. You can see that it covered the redness of my skin and the little spots on my face. It also has a really flawless finish and it blends very well onto the skin.


PICTURE NO. 2:




In this photo, you can clearly see that my face looks a little dark but can you notice how the foundation made my skin look smoother and flawless? I'm in love with this foundation's coverage. Very impressive! Indeed, it will match perfectly on your skin and adapt to its tone and texture. However, it has a dewy finish so it's not really the perfect foundation for people with oily or oily-combination skin like me! :-(

PICTURE NO. 3:


On the left image, I applied the foundation all over my face and again, see how flawless my skin looks? On the right image, I've already set the foundation with powder and filled in my eyebrows. My face looked way flawless and smooth after I've set it powder.



Like what I've said, it has a dewy finish so of course, I road tested it to see how long it would last on my face. We were going to attend church the day that I took these photos and after only 2-3 hours, my t-zone area already got shiny and I can feel the dewiness on my cheeks already. It still looks great, though so it's okay.



Then after about 4 hours, the foundation started to fade out a little on my nose and a few of my blemishes started peeking through already. It still looks smooth, though. Here's a before-and-after photo. Left image was taken right after I did my makeup and the right image was taken after 4 hours or so.



Overall, I'd say this foundation is good. If only it has a matte or semi-matte finish, maybe it will be one of my HG foundations because of its very flawless and smooth finish and its amazing coverage but since it has a really dewy finish, I'd say it's just good. I highly recommend this to people with dry or normal skin. By the way, this is not a new product from Rimmel. It's just my first Rimmel foundation and after trying it out, I'm now more interested to try their other foundations.

If you want to purchase the Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation, please visit Chedelyn's Cosmetics Collection on Facebook.



Stay awesome and accomplish your mission! :)
-ivsc-