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Showing posts with label product focus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label product focus. Show all posts

Product Focus: Ever Bilena Mousse Concealer

Posted by makeupjunkie | Labels: , , , , ,
//

Le Price:
180 pesos for 12 grams!


Le Experience:
The coverage is somewhat comparable to Mac's Studio Finish Concealer, sans the hefty price tag. Even the consistency is very similiar Mac's offering, which is weird cuz this product is launched as part of the mousse collection and unlike it's siblings in the blush, eyeshadow and foundation department, there's nothing mousse-like in its consistency. In fact, just like the Studio Finish concealer, you'd have to "melt" the product with your fingers to achieve easier blending. I usually apply it by dabbing a light layer with my fingers on the areas I want to conceal, then blend with the Marionnaud Fluid Foundation Brush. Coverage is medium but easily buildable to full coverage. to avoid caking, what i do is apply a thin layer, blend, apply another thin layer, blend and repeat until i get the desired coverage, then i set it with my Fanny Serrano Two-Way Cake. Usually it takes me three very thin layers to achieve my desired coverage, but that's just because i prefer a heavier coverage. Normally, two layers would suffice for my under eyes and dark spots but i just do three layers to be sure. oh, and before applying this under my eyes, i neutralize the dark circles by applying an even thinner layer of orange lipstick. Yep, you heard me. Orange Lipstick.

To Illustrate, I drew a very thick, very black line across my wrist. An area of my palm that wrinkles and moves alot.

I got the idea from reading Louise's Blog, she did a similar thing while reviewing a different concealer.

Above it is all bunched up and a little cakey. This is the concealer finish alone. I haven't set it yet with powder. Notice the very thick, very black line completely disappeared? Yup. that's how good it is. Granted I had to apply 6 thin layers but hey, my under-eye circles and dark spots are nowhere near as dark as this one! :P

Here it is, after setting it with the Fanny Serrano Two-Way Cake. See how well it blended (despite it being a tad darker) with my wrist coloring without bumps or caking? Note that my wrist is slightly lighter than my face.

Le Verdict:
I've had this product for about 3-4 months now and the main reason I've waited this long before making an actual review is because I wanted to thoroughly test the product. I simply cannot get over how great it worked considering its brand name and price! But it simply delivers!

The final test tho is staying power. I moved my wrist around a lot and this is three hours after application. I was completely not careful with my wrist.
It moved a little but with the proper primers and if the area you apply it with is not as mobile as the wrist, you should be fine. In my experience it stays for about 4-5 hours max.

what i like:
- inexpensive
- great coverage
- very pigmented.
- considering how much product you get, it'll last you a long time

what i don't:
- staying power's not so stellar
- unhygienic packaging - if only they sell these with little spatulas. *sigh*

over all verdict:
3.5 stars
took points off the crappy packaging and staying power. staying power is a big deal to me when it comes to concealers so despite my glowing review it didn't score very high.

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Posted by makeupjunkie

Product focus: Marionnaud Brushes

Posted by makeupjunkie | Labels: , ,
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i love all my Marionnaud brushes, some maybe more than others, but i gotta say that everything is worth buying! i did not get the brow brush and comb, the tweezers, and the sponges coz i have no need of those anyway, especially the brow brush and comb which comes with the travel set anyway.

Le Price
ranges from about 70PhP - 299 PhP, depending on the brush you'd get. all worth the money, IMHO.

Le Experience:
i find myself reaching for these brushes more than my branded ones, and finally, i found good quality, yet inexpensive brushes. the handles are quite the right size too! not too long, yet long enough to be able to maneuver properly adn short enough for easy storage in your makeup bags. if you have all these brushes, it would render the travel set quite useless, but it's still good to have, as it is quite handy. it is nice to have in your bag or your emergency overnight case.

the powder brush in the travel set is exceptionally great, especially for blush application. good too for touch ups, to counteract the oilies!
the large powder brush is perfect for setting liquid/cream foundations. it is huge enough to cover huge spaces and soft enough to ensure sheer application. It is also perfect for bronzer application if you just want to warm up your look.
the fluid foundation brush blends liquid and cream foundation quite well. since i don't normally wear liquid/cream foundations, i use it to blend my concealer and it is perfect!
the Slanted blush brush dispenses color quite strongly, so you might want to use a light hand with your blush. i find tho that it is perfect for contouring and highlighting, as it comes on really strong. just remember to blend it really well with another brush (i.e. the large powder brush) to avoid harsh contour lines.
pointed eyeshadow brush is perfect for cutting the crease in your eyes and also for applying a light colored shadow in your tear ducts!
concealer brush - completely useless for under the eye as it is a bit scratchy and hurts the skin under my eyes, which are generally more sensitive than the other skin in the face.
eyeshadow brush - i find this weirdly with the same texture as the concealer brush, only, it's not scratchy at all. completely useless with powder shadows (too many fallouts!) but perfect for cream shadows!
the slanted liner brush is perfect for applying brow powder and lining the upper lid! i cannot stress how much i loveeeee this brush!

L-R: Travel Set, retractable brush, large powder brush, fluid foundation brush, slanted blush brush, pointed eyeshadow brush, concealer brush, eyeshadow brush, slanted eye line and spoolie brush


1. TRAVEL SET
a. powder brush - soft, great for touch ups, can double as a blush brush.
b. fluid foundation brush - small, better suited as a concealer brush.
c. eyeshadow brush - stiff, great for cream shadows tho.
d. eyeshadow applicator - just a fancy name for sponge applicator.
e. eyebrows and eyelash brush - great for brow grooming, and lash separator.
2. RETRACTABLE POWDER BRUSH - i love that it has a cap, very travel friendly! quite similar to stila's retractable brush, even softer, yet rounder.
3. LARGE POWDER BRUSH - perfect for bronzer application, best used with setting/loose powders
4. FLUID FOUNDATION BRUSH - works best with cream foundations and concealers
5. SLANTED BLUSHER BRUSH - perfect for blush application, even better for contouring
6. POINTED EYESHADOW BRUSH - defines the crease very well
7. CONCEALER BRUSH - scratchy. but i think i just got a bad stock cuz i've read great reviews for this one.
8. EYESHADOW BRUSH very similar in texture to the concealer brush, tho it's not scratchy at all!
9. SLANTED EYELINE & EYEBROWS DOUBLE SIDE BRUSH - LOVE! perfect for grooming brows. I've been using the slanted eye line brush to line my brows and my upper lid




Large powder brush and retractable brush comparison

Big Powder Brush vs Retractable Powder Brush
-basically functions the same way, only the big powder brush is fuller, while the retractable powder brush is more travel friendly and hygienic
- maybe bought alternately, as it is very similar. you don't really need both.


FAVORITES

if i were to choose just 3 brushes to recommend and buy, i'd choose the following
L-R - Fluid Foundation brush, Slanted blush brush, Eyeliner brush and spoolie duo
(excuse the messy brushes, i have been using it prior to taking pics)


1. Fluid Foundation brush - dual use: Cream/liquid Foundation brush and concealer brush! blending prowess is fantastic! can also double as creme blush applicator!
2. slanted blush brush - perfect for contouring, and with a light hand, blush application!
3. slanted eyeline brush - two words: brow grooming.

these are the 3 brushes i use every single day and i love it!

Quick Tip:
do not throw away the plastic packaging. it can be used to store the brushes when not in use, and especially if you have the travel brush, its plastic packaging is perfect for storing ALL the other brushes!

Le Verdict:
LOVE LOVE LOVE! 4.5 out of 5.
i took points off of the concealer brush which is HORRIBLE!

i love:
- affordable
- soft
- does the designated job and more
- hygienic packaging - each one even comes with a brush guard (except the travel set and the retractable brush)
- does not bleed when washed.
- no hair fall out when washed.

i hate:
- the scratchy concealer brush.

only the concealer brush is crappy.

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Posted by makeupjunkie

Product Focus: CK Eternity for women

Posted by makeupjunkie | Labels: , , , ,
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CK Eternity for Women

i have been a late bloomer when it came to perfumes. i never really bought my own bottle until late last year. most of my perfumes were gifts by family and "ninangs" (godmothers). i prefer buying colognes any day because it was cost effective. hehehe. Eternity was the second perfume ive ever bought for myself.

late last year, i the very first perfume i bought for myself is the Estee Lauder Pleasures. and i was sorta "forced" to buy it, cuz i wanted to get the discounted make up set of Estee Lauder then, and the only perfume that came with a giftset was the pleasures one. i didnt really care much for the scent, i just wanted the free bag. SHH! you can check out the whole loot HERE.
the scent was okay, i guess, floral and all, but i was not gaga with it. three of my closest friends however would always try to steal it from my bag cuz they absolutely adore the scent! to each her own, i guess.

I was introduced to Eternity when last year, my mom gave me the CK Eternity Moment lotion (she kept the perfume for herself.) it was lying around in my room for soo long without getting love from me. then, on a whim, i went to Malaysia late March, and as i was hastily packing, i just grabbed the first lotion i could reach. it turned out to be the Eternity Moment lotion. while in malaysia, i can't get over the scent of the lotion. it was love at first sniff, i guess. :D then completely forgot about it again, cuz i was travelling so much. (Malaysia was the only impromptu trip tho, cuz my other trips were planned waaay ahead of time)

after all the travelling i did, late May, i was finally back home here in Pinas, and i was on a shopping trip with my friend Roxy when we chanced upon the Calvin Klein store in MOA. i went inside and asked for the CK Eternity perfume (i got a bit confused, i thought the lotion i had was eternity and not eternity moment). I instantly fell in love with the Eternity Perfume, tho it was a bit more stronger than the CK Eternity Moment was. I just could not get over how good it smelled! So I made a mental note to grab a bottle soon.

a few days later that was exactly what i did. i got myself my now beloved CK eternity perfume (which i think will be my signature scent.) i loved the scent soo much that i again bought another bottle as "back-up." i never want to ever run out of this stuff, you see.

THE SCENT:
top notes:
citruses, green notes, mandarin orange, freesia, sage

middle notes:
lily, carnation, violet, jasmine, marigold, lily of the valley, rose, narcissus

base notes:
sandalwood, amber, patchouli, musk, heliotrope

*notes description copied from fragrantica.com

i really don't understand the top notes base notes thing, as i am really a perfume noob, but from what i can tell, the first spray would come on a little bit strong, and a tad horrible smelling even, but as the different notes settle and fuse it leaves a very classic, floral, and femine scent. i love love love it.
i think it is best worn during quiet, romantic evening dates as it just gives off that classic, subdued vibe.

despite being introduced in the loud 80's, it's packaging and bottle is very simplistic, sophisticated and elegant, quite like the scent itself.

History:
i did a few "research" work and i found out off of the net *cough* wikipedia *cough* that:


if you are thinking of getting a perfume, this one is highly recommended by me! 10 out of 10 stars!

if you, my lovely readers absolutely have to choose just one perfume to wear all the time what would it be? or have you found the perfect one? i sure wanna know, cuz i feel that me and my Eternity perfume will have a looong and fresh smelling relationship for all of, well, eternity. lol

sidenote:
this is my I'm-too-excited-for-my-forever21-pilgrimage-to-sleep blogpost. bear with me. lol

**photo taken off of google images.

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Posted by makeupjunkie

Product Focus: Ever Bilena Mousse Blushes

Posted by makeupjunkie | Labels: , ,
//

TOP: L-R Aster, Rose Pink
BOTTOM L-R Scarlet, Dusty Mauve


Le Price:
125 pesos per pot.
the packaging is very similar to mac paintpots, except that the caps on the EB have a weird shape on them. also, while mac paint pots contain 5g of the product, an EB mousse blush or eyeshadow contains 7g.

Le Experience:
i was able to swatch EB's new Mousse Cosmetics while doing some grocery shopping. i fell in love with them right away, so much so that i was making a beeline for the nearest watsons the following day in order to get me the mousse line!
i was not exactly blown away by the mousse blushes at first because i didnt like the way it swatched on my hand, but i figured i could probably use it as a base for my blushes.
let me tell you now that first impressions are not accurate! once i got home, i decided to test out Aster, the one that looks pale pink in the pot. once i blended it on my cheek, i fell right in love! it gives you the right amount of a fresh-faced glow! it is very moisturizing too! The air-whipped consistency is living up to its rep. the mousse itself is very light on the skin. (and that's saying a lot cuz ever since i used airbrush cosmetics, i find that most conventional makeup is heavy on my skin,) with this product tho, i hardly ever felt like i had makeup on.


L-R: Dusty Mauve, Aster, Rose Pink, Scarlet

1. Dusty Mauve - Peach Colored. will give you just the right amount of tinge in your cheeks, without appearing to be blushing, if that makes sense. it will just enhance your features.

2. Aster - Appears to be pale pink on the pot and when swatched, but don't let it fool you! once blended, it gives off the best blush of the four! it's healthy pink. no other way to describe it.

3. Rose Pink - Reddish Pink, tho pink is more dominant. it's a stronger pink than aster, i think this one would be better used on night outs or photo sessions when you want to make a bolder statement with your blush. best paired with a flirty pink lipstick and nude eyes.

4. Scarlet - Reddish Orange - more on the red side tho with just a hint of orange, if that makes sense. this one i would take to the gym to fake that healthy flush that can be achieved thru working the thread mill.


Applied and Blended
L-R Dusty Mauve, Rose Pink, Aster, Scarlet*

*note - scarlet does not look like an ugly muddy-brown color in real life. i guess the lighting of the room clashed horribly with my flash and the distance between the camera and scarlet.

Le Verdict:
4.0 out of 5 Stars

What I like:
  • great color pay-off
  • consistency
  • light weight
  • inexpensive
What I don't like:
  • un-hygienic packaging
  • ugly, cheap packaging (i've had it for a day and already the silver logo's peeling off)
  • staying power's not so great (3 hours, max. tho setting it with a powder blush should do the trick.)
i highly recommend this product because, considering the price, quality is great. (i feel like i say this all the time, but hey, if the product is not so stellar, then i wouldn't even bother making a product focus post on it.)

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Posted by makeupjunkie

Product Focus: Fanny Serrano + Swatches

Posted by makeupjunkie | Labels: , , ,
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Trizh at the GirlTalk forums have requested some swatches of the Fanny Serrano Concealers.

I have discovered the joys of Fanny Serrano cosmetics through my friends, Anna and Abbie. They were the ones who introduced me to the inexpensive, yet high-quality products of FS, and i have been a convert ever since!
Fanny Serrano Cosmetics have been my fave local brand ever since!



I have 3 of the 4 shades,Sand, Walnut, and Chestnut.

I don't just use these shades as concealers, i also use them as highlight, contour, and normal foundation stick.



with flash

without flash

Sand for under-eye concealing and highlighting.

Walnut for spot concealing and as an over-all foundation.

Chestnut for contour.

I basically set these with the FS Mocha powder foundation, and i look fab.

I recently went to an Asian Tour and a Philippine Tour, if you may, and i was terrified of bringing my high end makeup as i fear for their safety! lol! so i packed all my Fanny Serrano Cosmetics, and it held up quite nicely!

I am looking into buying the FS two-way foundations, as I've been told that they are comparable to MAC Studio Fix, so I am excited to try that! :D

I also heard that the Brow Powders are a definite must-haves so imma check that out too!

Bonus:

I recently bought two FS lipsticks, because of the great reviews from girltalkers!


i bought the Coco Copper, which they say is a Mac Twig dupe,
and i bought the Pink Chic L/S, because of the great reviews as well as the fact that KC Concepcion is a fan of this Lipstick. lol. She also said that she sometimes use this in her cheeks. :D

i love both lipsticks, and i am looking into getting some more! :D


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Posted by makeupjunkie

Quickie: Pond's Cold Cream

Posted by makeupjunkie | Labels: , , , ,
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How do you guys take off your makeup?

i seem to have tried it all: from the commercially available ones like Estee Lauder makeup remover, The Body Shop, and more brands than i care to remember, to home remedies such as extra virgin olive oil, evian water (i read that la greta, gretchen baretto, uses evian water and tissue/cotton balls to remove her make up. tedious process, trust me!), and even petroleum jelly for those stubborn mascaras and eyeliners, but after a while i seem to just go back to this tried and tested vintage favorite.
The Pond's Cold Cream has been around for ages, and still a lot of women (including yours truly) swear by this stuff! with good cause too! i find that this baby not only deep cleans my face and rids it of makeup, it even leaves it feeling soft and supple!

some would say that they don't like this product too much coz it leaves them feeling greasy, but it doesn't bother me that much.

Directions for use (listed at the back of the jar)
  • Apply pea-sized amounts on your forehead, cheeks, and chin. Spread and massage gently over your face and neck.
  • Tissue off or remove with a wash cloth to take out deep-seated dirt.
  • Re-apply as necessary.
  • Wash off with water and face cleanser, like Ponds Facial Wash.
but this is how i do it
  • Apply pea sized amounts on forehead, cheeks, chin, nose, neck and a little on the lids too.
  • massage gently but thoroughly in small circular motions until the product turns translucent and then maybe even more massage.
  • Tissue off using a baby wipe - i find this a lot less straining than a dry tissue does and i feel like it cleans my face more
  • i reapply 3-4 times, even 5 when my make up is heavy and 2-3 times if it's light. i repeat the process til i see that my baby wipe is completely without dirt when i tissue off.
  • wash with water and face cleanser, an oil-free one like celeteque. sometimes when i'm lazy and i'm about to sleep anyway, i skip this process.
i find that using a baby wipe makes a whole lot of difference, cuz i don't need to tug as hard to get the cream off, and it doesn't leave me feeling greasy.

additional tips:
  • as a moisturizer - sometimes when i'm out of moisturizer or during my travels abroad when the weather gets really cold and leaves my face really dry, i use this as a moisturizer. i use a teenie-tiny amount tho, to avoid the greasy feeling, and i pat dry it. works like a charm!
  • as a makeup base - call me crazy, but i remember our stylist before, Tita Sol (a good friend of my grandma) during my highschool days, when i need to attend an event my grandma would hire her to do my makeup (during my grandma's time she was the only one who knew how to do makeup. she studied under named makeup artists of her time, or my grandma would tell me.) Tita Sol's quite good too! she could prolly give a lot of the makeup artists of this time a run for their money. Anyway, i digress too much. Tita Sol would use this as my makeup base, she told me to soften my skin and to make sure the product really grabs on, and you know what? it totally works! altho i think the pan-foundations of the time is more answerable for that fact. lol
how about you? do you guys use the cold cream too other than as a makeup remover? do you love it too? lemme know in the comments section!

p.s
photo lifted off ponds.com as i am too lazy to take pictures. lol.

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Posted by makeupjunkie

Product Focus: Avon Simply Pretty Lip and Cheek Tint

Posted by makeupjunkie | Labels: , ,
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ever since an Avon branch opened near my school, I applied to become an Avon Lady, if only for the discounts. i never expected to love almost all of their cosmetics. Avon has always been an inexpensive makeup go-to for all of us at one point or another. i remember starting my makeup love affair early on, as my yaya used to be an Avon lady and she would give me stuff for free. :D

when i started college, i began to lose interest in Avon because i dunno an avon lady, but when i started lawschoool again, my landlady was an Avon lady and i became reacquainted with their stuff. looking back, i feel kinda bad for not being an Avon lady earlier on, for i have spent A TON of my money buying Avon products! and now, at the very top of my Avon must-have products is this little baby! The Simply Pretty Lip and Cheek Tint.

I have gone thru a lot of lip and cheek tints, looking for the perfect one. ive tried the body shop (old and new formula), HerBench (which incidentally is a close second.), Ellana Minerals, Benefit Benetint, in2it, and the old Nars one which i dont remember the name. The Nars one, i loved so much but if im not mistaken, that's discontinued now. My HG lip&cheek tint used to be The Body Shop's old formula, but since they changed the formula, it's just not working for me.


Le Price:
i think this is less than 150, even without the dealer's discount. because it's dirt cheap, it's good to have this in your kikay kit as an everyday blusher. i cannot remember how many tubes of this product ive already went thru because my cousin and friends kept on fishing this off of my bag!


Le Experience:
i love how it glides on smoothly, does not dry fast, which makes for easier blending, and the color is just perfect. not too pink, not too in your face blood red, but just the right amount to give you that natural flush. i also like that because it is a tint, you can barely tell that you are wearing a makeup at all. the product is light and breathable, and even if you build the product to your desired shade, it still will not feel heavy. especially with the infernal Manila heat we are experiencing now, I loathe to put make up on, but then again, i look like death without some color in my cheeks. With this product, I'll just swipe some on, put some balm, and put on my Simply Pretty face powder and i'm good to go run errands. Feeling good cuz i know that i look good without going over the top and without the heavy makeup feel that just melts thru the heat anyway.

i had to layer on and build the color for it to show up on camera

i usually take this to the gym to fake that flush, and because it is sweat proof, it stays on while i do my cardio.

Le Verdict:

no makeup, not even concealer, just the lip and cheek tint on. see how natural it is?
(excuse my messy appearance, i'm about to go to sleep when i took this. nagpapaantok lang.)

i give it 5 stars out of 5 because it is dirt cheap, does the job spectacularly, color is perfect, and it's not heavy and uncomfortable to wear because of the Manila heat. it also stays on after all the sweating! I suggest y'all give your Avon lady a call and order this product!

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Posted by makeupjunkie

Product Focus: Glambox Airbrush System

Posted by makeupjunkie | Labels: , , ,
//



So i recently bought the GlamBox Airbrush kit and i love love love it! I ordered the kit last week. I have been obsessed with airbrushing since the last time i talked to you guys, and i could not shut up about it! Wednesday night, I finally gave in to temptation and called the number in the GlamBox website. I talked to Valerie (i think. lol!) and she was very pleasant to talk to. she answered all my questions regarding the unit and she told me to email my order. They sent me their bank details and on Friday, I paid them, and they confirmed my order and my shipping details. they told me that the item will arrive on Tuesday as per what the courier told them, which suited me cuz i was about to attend a debut on Tuesday. However, there were some misunderstanding regarding the shipping dates, and to make up for it, the GlamBox ladies told me they'd send a corrector of my choice which will arrive on Friday. (tomorrow) (Yay! thanks Valerie & Andrea!) My orders came Wednesday afternoon, just in time too coz i was to attend another formal event with the 'rents.

Le Price:
It's actually steep considering i am on a very tight vay-kay budget but Santa decided to give me an early Christmas gift, considering I've been a good girl. LOL. I ordered the Deluxe kit with a price tag of 11,800Php, and along with it I ordered the two newly-launched luminizers, priced at 890Php each. My total bill was a whopping 13,280Php but considering the items i bought, i'd still say it's a steal! also, the GlamBox ladies gave me free shipping (in the province) so i'm happy with it! :D


The Stuff I ordered:
A. the De Luxe
The GlamBox Deluxe Kit includes:
ALL COLORS++
FOUR - 30ml Foundation:
- Florence (light beige w/ yellow undertone)
- Cannes (natural beige w/ reddish undertone)
- Barcelona ( medium beige w/ reddish undertone)
- St. Tropez ( dark beige w/ yellow undertone)
TWO - 20ml Cheek Color:
- Malibu (light pink)
- Cancun (darker rose pink)
ONE - 20 ml Luminizer in Venice Gold (highlighter)
THREE - 30ml Cleaner and Thinner

Compressor
Airbrush Gun (w/ accessories)
Gun holder
Adaptor
Airhose
DVD
PLUS+++ (the new) carrying case!
(lifted off their website)

B. the New Luminizers
New Luminizer Colors:
Seoul Silver - creates a healthy Korean-style dewy glow
Vegas Sparkle - creates a shimmery high street night out look
Both water based, P890 for 20ml each

so all in all, I had 12 bottles of airbrush makeup, the compressor, the gun, adaptor, hose, gun holder, DVD, instructions manual, and the new carry case. not too shabby right? I know it's too soon to tell, since I've only had it for a day and a half, but ! have a good feeling about this. Money well spent!


Le Experience:

the bag
First off, the advertised bag is colored pink so i was a bit surprised that i received a black bag. tho, am not too bothered with this coz even prior to receiving the items, i have already decided on using a different bag to house my GlamBox kit. Also, I kinda like the black bag coz it's not too much of a dirt magnet as I imagine the pink one would be. Plus, it comes with a cute GlamBox keychain which i really really like!

the compressor
i like that I dont have to deal with the PSI (whatever the heck that is, but i heard it's a pain to figure out) in the GlamBox Compressor since it has been pre-configured already with the following settings:
Low = hair, eyebrows, and eyes
Medium = Face and Neck
High = Body
the foundations

L-R St. Tropez, Barcelona, Cannes and Florence
the shade descriptions are already stated above

I basically use the darkest one, St. Tropez for contouring and the Lightest one, Florence, for initial concealing. what i would do is i would use 6-8 drops of Florence first to conceal any blemishes and discolorations and dark under-eye circles. i use the low setting on the compressor for this. then i customize my shade by mixing Barcelona and Cannes. I would ordinarily use about 4 drops each. i mix two colors by blocking the end of the gun (the one that releases color) with my finger, and lightly press on the trigger thing (i dunno what it's called, sorry!). i would then apply using the medium setting on the compressor. after that's applied i proceed to put blush and highlight, then i contour using the St. Tropez shade. i use about 4 drops to contour my whole face.

Cheek Colors
L-R Cancun, Malibu
Shade description above

I prefer Cancun to Malibu, but that's only because i prefer a more defined blush. i use about 4 drops of Cancun, or sometimes i mix a drop of Malibu with 3 drops of Cancun. I also use the medium setting on the compressor

The Luminizer

L-R Vegas Sparkle, Venice Gold, Seoul Silver
Shade description above

At first glance, Vegas Sparkle and Seoul Silver looks very much alike that i wondered if i wasted my money by buying both when i could've just bought one.

Vegas Sparkle, Venice Gold and Seoul Silver lightly blended

However, when i lightly blended Vegas Sparkle and Seoul Silver i immediately saw the difference. Vegas sparkle, is more sparkly with more chunkier glitter in it, altho it does not look like glitters at all. Vegas sparkle is definitely a good choice for a face and body shimmer during a night out. Seoul Silver on the other hand has a more fine shimmer, it is perfect for highlighting the areas in your face that you want to highlight. Venice Gold on the other hand is perfect if you're going for the 'bronzed goddess' look. i love love love these shades

the first time i used it, i was to attend a formal event, and since it arrived a bit late in the day, i did not have the time to play with it more. i just went by instinct. when i saw my face all blemish free and evened out, i was a happy girl! i loved that it looks oh so natural that after the initial concealing, foundation, and blush, i went to change my clothes and hop in the car. we were really running late that day that i had to apply the rest of my makeup inside the car. during this time, i was still marveling on the fact that it looked oh so natural! it also felt so natural, it almost looked and feels like i had a blemish free skin without make up when in reality, i had a far from clear complexion and a ton of makeup! However, when i arrived there, i felt a bit under made-up coz twas a really formal event with all the ladies dressed to the nines and glammed up! me on the other hand, it looked as if i attended the event with barely a hint of bronzey eyeshadow and nude lips!


Le Verdict
twas not that bad tho, since it was the first time i used airbrush makeup! next time i attend a formal event tho, i will ensure that i add a bit more layers of foundation and more cheek color so would not look like someone who went au naturale for a formal event! lol! Also the foundation only "melted" after all the alcohol i consumed kicked in and i was sweating from all the alcohol-induced dancing i did.

the Kit itself, is well worth its hefty price tag, IMHO, i really thought i would not be able to use all the colors included, but lo and behold, i used everything, in one event too, and i did not do any makeup for anyone else.

i just wish the makeup line would have a wider shade choices and a wider spectrum of specialized products like the eye guard, special primers and setting powders, and those other products other airbrushing companies carry since GlamBox is at present, the only company that sells airbrush kits here.

if you are curious about the airbrush system for personal use, i highly suggest that you get this product! i promise you, it is well worth the investment!

you can also definitely use the kit professionally, but honestly, the system is very basic and i would imagine that it lacks the necessary blows and whistles that a professional system has.

but as i mentioned, it serves the purpose of a personal airbrushing system, and does the job quite fantastically too!




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Posted by makeupjunkie

Product Focus: Fashion21 Color Shine liquid lipstick

Posted by makeupjunkie | Labels: , , , ,
//

hi dolls!

it's been a hectic few weeks!
i was out at sm the other day picking out stuff to buy for this project i promised the kids i'd be doing this christmas break with them. part of it is to actually let them play with my kit! so i went to sm to pick up some "play makeup" for them.

with this project, i discovered a lot of things.


first on the list are these fantabulous lipglosses/liquid lipsticks from fashion21

le experience:
it says liquid lipstick, but it has the consistency and the feel of a lipgloss so imma call it a lipgloss.

these are offered in 12 shades, but i opted to get 8 out of the 12 as the other shades are very similar to these ones already

the shades are numbered, as you can see, and here are the color descriptions. imma try to describe them the best i can.

2 - a peachy pink shade with gold flecks. i'd say this shade is the best one you could pair off with your silky coral or orgasm blush. since i don't have an orgasm lipgloss, i can't really compare, but looking at this particular gloss, i'd say it's very similar to the silky coral or orgasm blush.

3 - an apple red lipgloss. i'd say it'd be a perfect partner to a red lipstick like mac's dubbonnet or fashion21's wild cherry

4 - more of a translucent pinky-purple, almost violet. it's very sheer too which makes it a perfect companion to just about any shade! you'd see for yourself later, as i tested this one. normally i would not get a shade like this cuz it's purplish, and i'm just not a fan of dark lips, but this one is very, very translucent. this has become my ultimate favorite outta the bunch. which surprised me most.

5 - baby pink with a subtle hint of shimmer. very wearable, very young and flirty too! :)

7 - a darker shade of number 5, less shimmery too. this is the one that called out to me the most. before i even swatched this, i knew it's gonna be the one imma fall in love with!

9 - a pinky brown nude, perfect for that MLBB look.

10 - also a pinky brown nude, very similar to number 9, only this one has gold flecks in it which gives it the extra oomph! 9 and 10 may be purchased alternately as they are very similar. i purchased both cuz i'm a big fan o' the nudes..

12 - a beautiful old rose shade that is just pretty! a bit darker than its companions, and by far has the most solid color of the bunch. this one is not sheer at all and is the only one that looks and feels like a liquid lipstick. i love the touch of shimmer in it too!

i love that all of them glides on very very smoothly. they are not sticky too which i love, cuz it means it's gonna stay put.

i especially love the packaging cuz it comes in a tube with a brush applicator which makes it easier to use and a bit more hygienic than the doe-foot applicator ones. oh, i hate hate hate those doe-foot applicators!


time to test!
okay, imma just test one for you guys cuz im heading out the door. if you wanna see more pictures with the other shades, lemme know in the comments section. :P

imma use shade number 4, but imma try it on on top of mac's shy shine lipstick.
i absolutely love mac's shy shine lipstick as it is one of their pinky-nudes, but le x-bf hates this on me. he says it makes me look too pale. i guess he's right too, especially as i pair this one with barely-there blushes.
here is mac's shy shine with shade number 4. don't you think it makes a whole lotta difference? i do!


le price:
it retails for a hundred bucks(pesos) a pop! yea, i can't believe it too! the box says it contains 4g, so technically it costs 25 pesos per gram!


le verdict:
i say get it all! i just wish they used a bit more time in coming up with names than just boring old numbers, and i wish they'd come up with more shades!


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Posted by makeupjunkie

product focus: Fashion21 fruit gloss

Posted by makeupjunkie | Labels: , ,
//

this is a quickie post. for pics please refer to my old hauls.


a clear gloss does not get the love it deserves. i strongly believe that it is a must-have in every cosmetics' case.

i have been in constant search of a good but inexpensive clear gloss, preferably something in tube, just like the clear lipglass that mac sells, but my search has been in vain.

luckily tho, i found a clear gloss in our trusty watsons. it is from fashion21.

le price:
for 29 pesos, i say it's a steal!

le experience:
i basically use matte lipsticks coz they are more lasting. i find though that they look flat and drying on the lips. with this fruit gloss, that problem is solved! i also find that using colored lip glosses are a bit of a hassle as it smudges a lot more than a lipstick does and it does not last long. so i put this on top of my lipstick and not only does it make my lips shine, it also protects the lipstick. i don't have to retouch every so often using my lipstick. for touch ups, i just rely on this baby!
other uses:
my pigments and other colors can now double as a gloss or a lipstick. i just premoisturize my lips with a balm, press on the color i want and smooth on my clear lipgloss. it effectively widened my range of c0lors.

sometimes even with a colored lip gloss, i dab a tiny bit in the center of my lips to create the illusion of a fuller lip. :)

you can also use it as a highlighter to emphasize the highplanes of your face such as the nosebridge, cheekbones, brow bones, etc. - yea, i found that weird too! but risa of makeupbyrisa in youtube made a video where she used her cleargloss for that purpose and guess what, it totally works!

le verdict:
i cannot stress how handy a clear lip gloss is. i urge you to try it! what i don't like tho is that it comes with a doe-foot applicator. when my lips are all done up and i just need to seal it with the gloss, i find that the lipstick stains on the applicator and it just mixes with the gloss inside the container. i woulda preferred a tube one without a brush applicator. all in all tho, it's still a good buy!


i'm off to philippine fashion week, so til next post ladies. tata! :D

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Posted by makeupjunkie

Product Focus: Pill/tablet boxes as palettes!

Posted by makeupjunkie | Labels: , , ,
//

i have been using pillboxes as makeup storage for about two years now. i got these particular pillboxes from the my aunt's clinic (hanging out in the hospital sure has its perks) but i think most pillboxes are available in all leading groceries and drugstores.



storing makeup, especially the cream types in pill/tablet boxes is very handy, especially when travelling. i first did that when i read in one of the makeup forums that mixing pigment with petroleum jelly would make a pretty good lip balm/lip gloss. so when one of my eyeshadow palettes broke, i took the brown and pink, mixed it in several hues and i was able to come up
with quite a good range of colors. also, i mixed a liquid foundation that was too light for me with petroleum jelly, and i was able to get a good nude lips shade.

sorry for the crappy picture above. i swear, it's the flash that's making it look too greasy, in reality it just gives you a moisturized lip look. it almost has a lipbalm-y look.
these are the ones i mixed with an eyeshadow and a blush that cracked. plus, the one i mixed with a liquid foundation

the next batch i did, the very first one was just a darker shaded foundation for nude lips as well, but i took it up a notch. i mixed cayenne powder with it to make an instant plumper (got the idea from jing of girlwithglassesjing). i also mixed careline's loose eyeshadow in mestiza white and vanilla white with petroleum jelly to get that nice shimmery-balmy look, also i mixed careline's plum loose shadow with mestiza white and petroleum jelly, and careline's mestiza white alone wiht petrokeum jelly.
(L-R) Careline's plum loose shadow with mestiza white, careline's vanilla white with mestiza white, careline's mestiza white, and a dark liquid foundation with cayenne powder.


then, i had some lipsticks that is a bit drying for me so i scooped them out of their cases, took a huge spoon and a candle, placed the lipstick and some petroleum jelly on the spoon and melted it over the candle. it gives a nice glossy look. dont ask me for the lipstick shades, i've forgotten 'em already! sorry..

i only have three shades here cuz i only scooped out two lipsticks and mixed them together in one batch. i am still contemplating on what shade to put on the empty slot. right now a mineral blush is stored there.



finally, i had to travel last summer and i didnt really feel like bringing three huge tubes of creme foundation and and a bronzer so i used a clean plastic knife to cut portions off it and make my own home-made foundation and concealer palettes

upper left: my foundation shade which doubles as blemish concealer, upper right: my under-eye concealer, lower right: a shimmerry bronzer, lower left: a darker cream foundation for contour.

there you have it, my home-made palettes! this works best for cream cosmetics. i doubt it would hold up if you put liquids in it or runny cosmetics cuz it's not exactly leak proof. also i would not recommend storing loose cosmetics in it (the way i did) cuz it just tends to create a whole lotta mess. i'm just temporarily storing my loose blush there until i decide on what to do with it. i might mix it withn petroleum also.

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Posted by makeupjunkie

Product Focus: Careline Eyeshadow Powders

Posted by makeupjunkie | Labels: , , , ,
//


i have careline loose shadows in several colors but i decided to make a review on vanilla white

le price:
they're no mac pigments, but for 80 bucks (pesos) a pop, they aint so bad.

le experience:
they're very pigmented too! i have several individual ones and i have duos, and i love them! i just use a good base so that it sticks. being loose and all, it tends to fall out fast, but with a sticky base (i use my white gel liner most of the time) it works fantastic!
this review however is for the individual ones, more specifically, it's for the vanilla white variant.

it has so many uses. most of the time, i use it as a highlighter for the brow bone, the cheekbone and sometimes even the cupid's bow (upper lip area).

most of the time, i mix it with a liquid foundation or even a tinted moisturizer and i'm good to go. i did this mostly last summer, when it's too hot to put on makeup and i just want to put a little coverage and to even out my skin tone. it gives me that subtle glow, and it gives me a kind-of MAC strobe cream look, minus the pinkish tinge, which is okay for me. it doesnt come off as too shiny, oily look, but it just gives my face a certain pop.

i also mix it with careline's mestiza white loose shadow and petroleum jelly and it's my instant lip balm which i use on bare lips and i'm good to go. sometimes i put it on top of a lipstick and it doubles as a great lipgloss. useful, innit? (pics to follow, i left my pre-made one in manila)

you have to watch out for the crappy packaging tho. the bottom part unsticks like 9 out of 10 times and it leaves a serious mess in my trunk, which i hate. i saw the salesladies at watson's festival use a trusty scotch tape to keep it in place, but i dont use scotch tapes, so i used my invisible tape (sticks better, in my opinion)


le verdict:
i find it too oppressive that mac pigments are always, always out of stock here, so i make do with the next alternative.
i give this product 3.5 lipsticks.
i took points off because of its crappy packaging and limited color options.

oh and i bought sunnies! yay me! i know, i look like a bug, but i love love it.



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Posted by makeupjunkie

Face Off: 88 Ultra Shimmer Palette vs 88 Regular Palette

Posted by makeupjunkie | Labels: , , , ,
//


le price:
i love love love these palettes. i got the regular palette and the shimmer ones about a month ago and i love it. i got them for 2,225.00 php or roughly 48usd. can you imagine that? 176 eyeshadows for less than fifty dollars? that's quite a steal!

le experience:
quality wise, it simply delivers. i don't own a primer potion yet and ive been using a matte white shadow or a stick concealer as base in a while now, and it doesn't crease at all. my class usually lasts 4-5 hours and i have it on for about 6 hours a day the colors are just as vibrant. i guess i wouldve gotten better color pay off if i have primers as well, but i could not be happier with its end results as it is. and that's saying a lot as i am a bit on the oily side.

however, i do not like the glossy packaging as it tends to scratch and look a whole lot of ugly from normal transit. :(

the sponge applicators that come with it are just as bad, i just don't have the heart to throw them away as it is a part of the set and its holder would just look empty without it. luckily though, i have invested in a good set of locally available brushes and it simply works well with this palette.

more useful for me is the regular/matte palette, as it has both shimmer and matte shadows as well as neutrals. with a good moisturizer, i even use it as blush and with gloss, or sometimes good ol' petroleum jelly, i even use it as a lip tint. the shades are simply versatile and it has effectively expanded not just my shadow collection but my color collection in general. the regular palette is the one i have with me everywhere i go. i have a neutral and shimmer palettes but they are both left at home.

the shimmer palette, however is the one i love using when i just wanna have fun and go crazy with colors. it goes on smooth and creamy too and it is a tad easier to blend than the regular matte shadows.

i (used to)twilight as a (non-professional)make up artist for the girls at my dorm, and i use the regular palette on them lots of times and they all love the colors as well as staying powers as well.

as far as skin issues go, i have quite a sensitive skin, but so far i have not encountered any breakouts, nor does my young "clients."

le verdict:
4.5 lipsticks!
i only took off half a point for its packaging. hate, hate hate le glossy black packaging which is scratch-prone and fugly looking. all in all, i love love love these palettes.

note:
i didnt bother to put different pictures as it honestly looks the same with or with out the flash.


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Posted by makeupjunkie

Product Focus: 28 Neutral Palette

Posted by makeupjunkie | Labels: , ,
//


ive had this for about a month now, although to be honest i use the88 palette more, ive played around with it a bit and so far so good. ive totally nothing to complain about so far with this product. i even find that it is a good mac alternative, especially for someone like me who is simply on a student budget, and is just starting out with make up. as i am just starting out, i practice a lot on my own, most of the time before going to sleep. i simply don't feel comfortable about playing with my higher end make ups when my efforts would not be seen outside the comforts of my own room. i find this product perfect for practicing. i have traveled a bit with this on as well and even on a long drive, the shadows dont look messy or tired on my eyes, and that's without using a primer portion! i simply use a matte white or nude shadow as base or a stick concealer.

Le Price:
i got it for 900php or roughly 20 usd and i absolutely have nothing to complain. it is dirt cheap!


Le Verdict:
4.5 lipsticks

i am in love with this product, as i am with most of my C/S palettes. my only problem with this palette is that it does not have a mirror. in terms of staying power, even without a base it holds up pretty good. you could get around 3-4 hours with this product without primer. for me tho, since i have really oily lids, i usually put TBS tea tree oil concealer as base. it helps with the oilies a lot.


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Posted by makeupjunkie

Product Focus: 26 Shadow Blush Combo Palette P

Posted by makeupjunkie | Labels: , ,
//


i love this eyeshadow and blush palette! ive been living in it for a month and a half and i love it. i originally didnt wanna get this because i already have the blush palette, the neutral palette and the both 88 shimmer and regular palette. i felt as though all the colors in this palette would be in one of the palettes i already have. then, i had to go to a trip and i was so annoyed to find out that imma need to bring all palettes in order to survive. i brought the blush palette cuz i didnt wanna bring all my other individual ones, then i had to bring the 28 cuz that's my neutrals and of course i need colors too so i had to bring the regular palette cuz i figured imma have mattes as well as shimmers that way.. and i had to lug all of these all over the country and that was what made me realize i shoulda gotten a blush combo.

Le Experience:
when i finally bought the blush and shadow combo, i was soo glad i did, especially because it had blush shades that werent on their blush palette, and i happen to like the blushes on the 26 palette better.
the shadows have an interesting mix too.. it's not all neutral which is good, as i have the 28 neutral for that, and it has all the right colors.. nothing shocking.. i guess the right term would be, it truly is an earth palette, with all the browns and the golds and the pinks and purples. there's no greens though.. but ts ayt, ive another palette for that.
what i didnt like about the palette is that it doesnt have a shade light enough to be my highlighter. it's what's stopping me from it being the only palette i use for my eyes. but i can live with that, as i have a good shimmer shade for highlighting from the face shop.

Le Price:
price wise, it's not too expensive for the product you're getting. it's just gonna set you back 850PhP

Le Verdict:
4 lipsticks

love love love. if ur just gonna get one or two palettes from c/s i suggest skip the blush palette and the neutral palette and just get this one, plus the shimmer palette that c/s has got to offer.. if ur a neutrals kind of gal still, and your thinking of getting the neutrals and the blush palette, this might be a cheaper alternative for you. i personally did not like all the shades in the blush palette and feel like it's a waste of money, but i like the shades in this palette. i also didn't like the fact that they still did not put a mirror in this one, just like the neutrals palette, so i took points off for that. and the lack of highlight shade, that i mentioned.


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Posted by makeupjunkie
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