Review 101: ELF Flat-top Powder Brush

Review Disclaimer:

The reviews I post on my blog are from my personal, unbiased opinion; I use the products I review so I will be basing my review on the experience I had with the product. Again, the review will be based on my experience, which may differ from yours. I will, however, welcome any comments on my reviews. I was not paid by any entity or organization to make a review on any product. I purchased each of the products I review using my own money. If there are any inconsistencies on my review, please leave a comment below.

ELF Flat-top Powder Brush

I've always been a puff/sponge/finger applicator kind of girl. I never thought of using brushes for applying anything. I easily get intimidated by the sheer number of brushes for every kind of product. However, I slowly got around to using brushes, especially to apply my powder foundation.

So, on to the review...

According to the manufacturer:

This new anti bacterial, synthetic haired Taklon brush is softer and more absorbent and can be used with wet or dry products. Be a professional makeup artist and create a flawless look with this e.l.f. studio brush! 

Packaging:

It comes in a clear, plastic bag-like, packet thing (I don't know how to describe it), with a cardboard paper describing what the product is and what was used for its materials. What I like about it is that, it's clear. You can see what's inside. The bad thing is that the flap is easily opened, so the product can easily fall out when the packet is inverted. It doesn't have a lock for the flap, either. I kinda wasn't able to take a picture of the package, so haha.. I'll just leave it to your imagination for now.. ^^

The brush itself is wonderful. I love the flat top as it offers even application. 

The color is nice too. Black and sleek, it really gives off an air of professionalism. 

In fairness to ELF, the name hasn't come off yet, despite the many months of extreme abuse.

The handle, from what I can tell, is made of plastic, and the ferrule is made of metal or a harder type plastic.

Quantity:

1 brush weighs 1.16oz (33g)

Quality:

I love how soft the hairs are! I use this mostly for powder application, so hair softness is very important for me.

Very dense.

Since the hairs are synthetic, it's perfect for liquid foundations, tinted moisturizers or BB Creams. You can choose to stipple the product, or just simply dab it all over.

The flat-top ensures even application. It's amazingly dense for its price.

The flat top ensure even application with no streaks. A bonus would be that the product is anti-bacterial. ^^

One thing I read alot about would be that the product had problems with the ferrule after a few months of usage, but so far, I haven't had problems with the product.

Ferrule is still attached!

I'll update this post when that happens.

Price:

PHP 249.00 -- Their studio line so far, has delivered relatively well, and for a professional, working brush, the price is more than fair.

PROS:

* Affordable
* Availability
* Soft
* Anti-bacterial
* Doesn't streak
* Easy to clean
* Sleek & elegant design

CONS:

* Ferrule comes off after a few months of use (Not too sure, mine is still attached)
* Packaging

VERDICT:

I will buy this product again and again. I have always dreamed of owning a professional set of brushes, a MAC or Sigma preferably, but the prices for those are lamentably expensive. So, I need to settle for something cheaper, but still close to quality. I believe most ELF brushes from their Studio Line and some from their Essentials line are of great quality. For the price, this product is really a steal! I'm going to get a 2nd one, I think. ^^

Till the next review!

Ja mata ne, pretty ladies! ^^


****UPDATE****

This is actually an old post. I was supposed to post this around November but I never got around to doing it since I never was able to take pictures of the product. So far, the hairs are all still as dense as ever. No shedding. Ferrule is still attached. The pictures you see here are very recent.. ^^

Review 101: Skin79 Super Plus Hot Pink Beblesh Balm

Review Disclaimer:

The reviews I post on my blog are from my personal, unbiased opinion; I use the products I review so I will be basing my review on the experience I had with the product. Again, the review will be based on my experience, which may differ from yours. I will, however, welcome any comments on my reviews. I was not paid by any entity or organization to make a review on any product. I purchased each of the products I review using my own money. If there are any inconsistencies on my review, please leave a comment below.

Skin79 Super Hot Pink Beblesh Balm

You know that feeling when you want to put on foundation, but you don't want too much gunk on your face? Yeah, I feel that way everyday. When you work, you really want to get a whole lot of coverage on your face, without the heavy feel of typical foundations. Usually, when I put on my foundation, I feel like I have a heavy unkneaded dough on my face. Though I now have a foundation that suites me perfectly, Revlon's ColorStay Foundation, I still don't wear it everyday. I mean, I still feel that it's too much for everyday use. I'm happy I research a lot. I'm currently using BB Cream in place of my foundation. I absolutely adore BB Creams! It's light enough for everyday use, and you can still add more for fuller coverage. Aside from that, it also acts like a moisturizer AND sunblock. You can use it as a primer before you put on your foundation. Anyway, I was browsing online when I came across a seller I've come to trust very much (^^), and she was selling Korean products. I was impressed with Skin79's product range so I decided to get the Hot Pink variant, as well as the Assorted Gift Box version. But lo and behold, first impressions aren't always accurate, as you will soon see.

Packaging:

It comes in a nice pink box which comes with more information about the product. I cannot, unfortunately, read it since I can't understand Korean. Boo-Hoo.

I can't read Hangul. huhu.

The one I got is in tube form and has a silver cap.

I cleaned the tube end just for this picture.. hahaha.. It's usually very messy..

It can get a bit messy when you take the product out of the tube, but I think you can really get everything out if you want to since the plastic tube is a bit soft and flexible.

Quantity:

It's a pretty small tube, but you can extend the content if you're not using it for full coverage.

What I got is the 25 G tube. It comes in other sizes as well.

Quality:

The product is not runny, its a bit more solid.

It's not really runny. It's really more on the cream side.

It has a grayish tinge to it, but it just blends in with your skin tone a few seconds after application. Your skin would appear kinda dewy after application, which doesn't suit me. I'm more on the oily side of the spectrum so it makes me look like I've just done 10 km's on a treadmill. I just set it in with a setting powder so it would look matte.

Here's a swatch of it.

It doesn't really hold my oil back that much, but it still stays matte if I apply my setting powder after a few hours. I really noticed that the product doesn't really suit me that well. It kinda makes my skin look darker in some areas, and extremely cakey and white in some. After a whole 8-9 hour run, I think I had to retouch about 4-6 times just to keep my face matte, which disappointed me completely.

I don't usually show my face, but here I am! I used the BB cream on the left half of my face. It did even out my skin tone a bit.

I did my homework and made sure that I picked the BB Cream which would address my excessive oil problems. However, it barely has any oil-control at all.

** It just hit me that this is a Korean product...*duh* Koreans love natural finishes, hence, the dewy finish. *thud*

Price:

I got this for 798 PHP, plus shipping, so it would be about 918 PHP. I think that price would be reasonable, if it worked. Sadly, it didn't work for me. :(

PRO's:

- Light to medium coverage. Good for everyday use.
- Evens out skin tone.
- Good for people with dry skin as it gives you a dewy finish
- Has a lot of other benefits

CON's:

- Quite expensive for a 25 G product (Well, it's an original imported brand)
- Staying power is close to 5/10
- No oil-control
- Starts to feel greasy at the end of the day

VERDICT:

I won't be repurchasing this BB Cream. I already ordered one that I think suited me a lot better. Still from Skin79 but it addressed my oil problems well and suited my complexion better. I'll review it as soon as I get it. ^^

Till the next review!

Ja ne, pretty ladies!^^

Opinionology: On Fake Cosmetics

Disclaimer:

My views and opinions do not necessarily equate to fact. They are merely observations and justifications I put in place for the said observations.

FAKES

Here where I live, fake cosmetics are as common as a plague of cockroaches after New Years Eve. You can find them everywhere. And, a lot of people purchase them. I mean, a LOT. I do not want to be a hypocrite here and say that I never purchased a fake before. I did. I definitely knew it was fake yet I deliberately chose to purchase it. My reason? Because I wanted to be able to hold something that had the same appearance as the real one. Big Mistake. Quality wise, it was terrible. Well, for the price I paid for it, I shouldn't have expected much.

I decided to talk about this here in my blog because I am aware that a lot of people get to a heated debate over this issue. Why should we patronize fakes? Why should we not? 

Hmm.. should we get a fake? Stock photo.

A lot has been said about this issue. So I would like to present  the Pros and Cons on patronizing fake cosmetics, and I will let you decide on what you think is the best option.

PROS:

1. Let's face it. It's dirt cheap. Who doesn't love a bargain? I mean, if you could get a happy meal for less than half the price, won't you buy it? People from where I come from love bargains. We always look for the lower price, even if it sacrifices the quality of the merchandise. I don't want any negative reactions on this because deep down, you know its true. Most people would turn a blind eye on the quality, as long as we get for a penny.
2. It's a great dupe for the real thing. I'm going to use where I come from again as a reference for this argument. Here, the real stuff are really hard to come by. Really hard. Lucky we already have a MAC and Benefit store. Every authentic merchandise had to be purchased and imported from a foreign country, so imagine the prices they put on these! Being a brand conscious people, we have to have something that looks authentic. Holding something branded denotes status here. If you are able to afford something branded means that you are a bit on the better side of the economic equilibrium. As long as it looks, feels and smells the same, it will do. Anyway, no one will ever know the difference anyway, well, except for you and your screaming conscience.

CONS:

1. You do not know what goes into that thing! Oh come on. Seriously. Do you really believe that they sincerely put those things that you see in the labels into the products? They copy the labels from the real things to make it look legit, but heck, I'm really, completely, 100% sure that the materials they use for the actual product they market are of really low quality. You would really have no idea what kind of chemicals they actually use to produce that fake. And you're rubbing it on your face? Good luck 30 years later.. ^^
2. The shame, the shame! Yes, you should feel the shame. When people find out that the "original, branded" product that you've been inflaming your ego with all this time is fake, well, f**k. So after 30 years, your reputation has been washed down the drain AND you also have your quasimodo-like face for using the product continuously.. ^^



You, in 30 years. Stock Photo.

3. It affects the authentic products, too.  If we continue to patronize fake products, the original ones will start feeling the effects. A lot less people will buy their products which would mean a lot less money to get rolling. Less money would mean less production. Less production means no new products and variants will be churned out by our favorite brands. Less people will be hired to do anything. 

So there you have it. I know, I know. I was mostly negative on this issue, well, anyone should be. No one should be proud of getting anything fake, counterfeit, class A, and XXX-authentic products. If you want something you can be proud of, work your ass off and get the original. Every sweat and sleepless night you spent to be able to buy your original merchandise makes it all the more worthwhile. 

Ja ne, pretty ladies! ^^

Haul: BB Cream Haul

Hey Pretty Ladies!

I haven't posted in a while! How long has it been? A month? Haha. I've been quite busy recently, with the holidays coming up and all. I've purchased tons of products but I really haven't had the chance to review them. I'll make a ton of reviews over the next few weeks, so please stay tuned!

BB Cream Haul

Anyhow, I have been noticing a lot of Asian women (East Asian, to be more precise), like using BB Creams, instead of the usual foundations or make up bases. Alot of cosmetic companies here have started manufacturing BB Creams in response to the demand for it due to the Korean Craze. Moi, being the one never to be left out, purchased one directly from Korea. 

My Shipment!!

What's BB Cream?

Well, according to my research, BB Cream stands for either Beauty Balm, Blemish Balm or Beblesh Balm and was initially used for women who went through laser surgery to protect their skin from UV rays. It's like a tinted moisturizer, but with better coverage, sun blocking, and anti-aging properties. 

Products

I heard that a popular brand of BB Creams there is Skin79. I immediately placed an order for it. I got the product a month after. I wasn't disappointed at all!

I got:

Complete Haul: Skin79 Miniature Set, Skin79 Super Plus BB Cream, BB All-in-one Cleanser and a  sampler I don't know what to use for (Holika Holika 3 Seconds Starter Collagen).

Miniature Set:

I was sooo excited to get this! I really wanted to get this since it had their most popular products in the set. I really wasn't disappointed with the pack, well, except for one. I'll be reviewing all the BB Creams in this set in a separate post.

I wish I didn't throw the box away.. >.<

The set contained 4 5ml  BB Cream samplers. It had the Hot Pink Super Plus BB Cream, VIP Gold Super Plus BB Cream, Diamond The Prestige BB Cream, and the Diamond Luminous Pearl BB Cream.

The only  one I didn't like is the Pearl BB Cream. It made me look like a walking disco ball. Ewwww.. I'm a fan of matte things, so I really detest the pearl variant.

VIP Gold Super Plus BB Cream,  Hot Pink Super Plus BB Cream, Diamond The Prestige BB Cream, and the Diamond Luminous Pearl BB Cream.

Hot Pink Super Plus BB Cream 25 ml

I also ordered the 25ml tube of the  Hot Pink Super Plus BB Cream. I'm currently using it, and I'm currently loving it! It's really amazing.. ^^ Though it has this grayish tinge to it, it still evens out after application. It's really perfect for everyday use! I'm not even thinking of using foundation again....well, except for special occasions though.. ^^

Hot Pink Super Plus BB Cream 25ml

BB All-in-One Cleanser and Holika Holika 3 Seconds Starter Collagen

My supplier was quite happy with my purchases, so she decided to throw in some sample packs. I haven't tried them yet, but I'll be updating you as soon as I do! ^^

BB All-in-One Cleanser and Holika Holika 3 Seconds Starter Collagen

Till next time!

Ja ne, pretty ladies! ^^

Review 101: Nyx Jumbo Pencil in Milk

Review Disclaimer:

The reviews I post on my blog are from my personal, unbiased opinion; I use the products I review so I will be basing my review on the experience I had with the product. Again, the review will be based on my experience, which may differ from yours. I will, however, welcome any comments on my reviews. I was not paid by any entity or organization to make a review on any product. I purchased each of the products I review using my own money. If there are any inconsistencies on my review, please leave a comment below.

NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk

I am really a junkie. A make-up junkie. I love anything and everything about make-up. So, I usually want to have whatever basic products and tools are necessary to achieve a great look. Up until recently, I though I already covered all the bases in make-up; I have my face & eye primer, BB cream, foundation, concealer, brushes, finishing powder and so on. I was set! But I looked into some reviews closer and noticed that aside from using an eye primer, they also used an eyeshadow base. A quick look into Google, and I found out that a base is actually another type of shadow that you apply on your eye to keep the eyeshadow still on the lid and give it a more vibrant appearance. Many make-up gurus use creamy eyeshadows for their bases, and I noticed a lot used NYX for the base. A promise of vibrancy and longevity hooked me in the nose and I had to buy one!

I finally got it and here's my review:

According to the manufacturer:

A radiant eye liner that also doubles as an eye shadow. Made with a blend of mineral oil and powder, our creamy Jumbo Eye Pencils glide on effortlessly—no pulling, tugging or fading—and come in a rainbow of vivid hues. Some call her chubby. We say voluptuous.

Packaging:

The product is in pencil form, colored white with the generic NYX lettering. It comes with a clear cap to cover the eye shadow.

NYX Jumbo Pencil in White

The packaging is quite simple, which a nice breather from the fancy packaging of other make-up products in the market.

 I'm not quite sure if the pencil body is shavable, I'm guessing it is since there doesn't seem to be any way to extract the remaining product from the body of the pencil. I have yet to try that, so I'll be updating you as soon as I get to do that.


That's pretty much it.

Quantity:

I have no idea how much product it has. 1 big jumbo pencil of your creamy white eye shadow.. ^^

Quality:

I really love it! I use it mainly as a base, and the color really adheres to it. The color looks more vibrant compared to just applying it without the base.

Left: Blended; Right: Unblended

It's really creamy and applies easily. It's completely blendable and doesn't require too much work. No tugging necessary.

I also love the fact that aside from the original intent of the manufacturer for the product, and as a base, you can also use the product as a matte highlighter for the brow bone and for the inner corner of your eyes. You can also mix the product with other eyeshadows to come up with a completely new color. Aside from that, I love using it on my lips to cover up darker parts so I can use my nude lippies without a hitch.

Whew!

Price:

It was a bit pricey when I got it, 250 PHP (what? I'm a cheapo, okay?). I heard you could get this for 150 or even less, but I'm happy where I got it from. They have other stuff which I can get too, which you can't come by so easily here in Cebu.

PROs:

*Creamy
*Not too thick
*Blendable
*Can be used for a number of other applications
*Available in Cebu
*Fits in the bag

CONs:

*Expensive (Hell, yeah!)
*Comes in pencil form (How the heck would you get the rest of the product? Shaving?)

VERDICT:

Yeah, I'd still buy it. It's really a good base. It really makes the eyeshadow colors pop. And, it makes for a good highlighter.

Till the next review!

Ja ne, pretty ladies! ^^