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! ^^

Review 101: Revlon Matte Single Shadows -- Vintage Lace and Peach Sorbet

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.

Revlon Matte Single Shadows-- Vintage Lace and Peach Sorbet

I love eyeshadows! I think I mentioned in an older post that I am currently on my eyeshadow phase. I want to buy different eyeshadows from different brands. As I can't afford a palette yet, I'm into collecting single eyeshadows. I have some from cheaper brands, but I actually got lucky that I was able to get these shadows on sale. I just hated the fact though that the prettier shadows (perle and satin) were so not on sale. Darned it.

Anyway, I promised that I would review these, so here it is!

According to the manufacturer:

Classic mono eye shadow from Revlon in timeless shade Vintage Lace & Peach Sorbet.

-- Sorry. I couldn't find a product description from Revlon, so I stuck with something I found online.

Packaging:

Matte Eyeshadow in Peach Sorbet

Matte Eyeshadow in Vintage Lace

It comes in a black, plastic snap-lid box. It's a bit dirty in the picture because of the plastic seal for the lid. I can't brush off the feeling that the box is cheaply made. Like, I know it's an authentic Revlon eyeshadow and all, but I really feel it's cheap because of the plastic packaging. Anyway, it has clear plastic for you to see the color of your shadow underneath.

Close-up of Vintage Lace

Close up of Peach Sorbet

It comes with an applicator, which I would have wanted to show you, but I have unfortunately thrown out. I don't keep those applicators. They just crowd in my Kikay Kit. The back sticker was sloppily plastered. It's kinda annoying because it adds to the cheap aura of the product.

You had one job.

This looks better

Quantity:

2.4 g -- I think it could be enough to last a couple of months. 

Quality:

They're too sheer. I honestly had to rub my fingers onto the product a number of times then swatch it on my arm a couple more times before I could get a decent swatch. Check it out:

Peach Sorbet on the left; Vintage Lace on the right

Color pay-off for this product, well, doesn't look too good. It's really too sheer. I love using them as highlight though, and for under the eyes. Other than that, I really don't have much use for this product. Not much fall out; well, considering that almost none stick to your brush brush or fingers. The consistency of the product is kinda powdery. Staying power, very minimal.

Price:

I got these on sale for 150 PHP a pop, but I think the normal prices for these would be about 450 PHP -- pricey for a single shadow.

PROS:

* Compact

* Quantity

* Availability

CONS:

* Sheer

* Doesn't stick to the applicator

* Cheap packaging

* Minimal staying power

* Limited color options

* Too powdery

VERDICT:

I won't give a verdict just yet. I'll try other colors first to see how they fare. But for Vintage Lace and Peach Sorbet, they'll continue to gather dust in my Kikay Kit. I don't find myself reaching for these two at all. No repurchases for these two products.

Till the next review!

Ja ne, pretty ladies! ^^

Make-Up 101: Basic Eyeshadow Application

It's been a while! I haven't gotten around to posting new stuff since I've been quite busy over the past two weeks, getting hospitalized and all. I just thought of taking a break for a bit and add a few more posts before the holidays.

So anyway, a lot of people have been asking me about eyeshadow application. I,myself, have only recently learned how to apply eyeshadows correctly. I'm still practicing a bit, but I do know how to do basic eyeshadow application. 

People tend to have this idea that you just need one shade, or put two shades together side by side, and that should do the trick....WRONG! To effectively utilize your eyeshadow/s, you have to at least have three basic colors that you need to layer and blend. Blending and layering is the secret!

What colors should I choose?

Well, that depends on your skin tone. Nowadays, though, many people cross the skin tone barrier, and would often sport colors which aren't suited for their skin tone. I, personally, do not like to use colors which don't compliment me. I'm warm toned, so I usually use neutral and orange-based colors. I love wearing browns because they give depth and contour to my otherwise crease-less and boring eyes.

For general reference, warm toned individuals should choose coral, red, neutral and brown colors for their eyeshadow as they best compliment their skin tone. For cool toned individuals, you can use most colors, but the ones in grays, blues, silvers, and emerald greens suit you best. 

It is important to understand that you CAN choose to use any eyeshadow color, but you do so at your own RISK. Your undertones generally dictate which colors you can wear. Simply try to wear ones that flatter you, and believe me, you will look better doing that rather than choosing to wear shades for the opposite undertone.

What colors/shades should I start with?

For beginners, like me, its best to start out with 3 shades, and work our way up to more shades later on. You can choose any color, they need not be in the same color family, just make sure they compliment each other. You need to have a very light, shimmery color for your brows and inner tear ducts, then you need a medium color for your base color, and you have to have a very dark color to contour your crease. 

How do I apply them?

The most basic technique in applying your eyeshadow, would be to first choose a base color. I do this first so I can determine what crease and highlight colors I can use to compliment it. 

* Sweep the base eyeshadow all over your lid, up until the crease. Try not to go over to your crease. Just keep the color on your lid.

* Apply the dark color onto your crease, starting from the outer corner of your eyes, going to about half-way to up your crease. This is where you form the outer "V". For those who do not have a crease, you can make your own crease by making the outer V. 

* Apply your highlight on your brow bone, and on your inner tear ducts as well.

* With a fluffy blending brush, or with whatever eyeshadow brush you have, blend the crease color inward to your base color. Once you see that the demarcation is no longer too obvious, blend the shadow up half-way to your highlight. Keep the upper part of your highlight clean.

* Bring the crease color down to your lower lash line, starting from the outer corner. Work the color to about three quarters of your lash line towards the inner corner.

* Apply the highlight to the remaining quarter or your lash line.

To finish the look...

* Take an eyeliner pencil with a pearl color and apply it to your lower water line.

* Apply a black eyeliner on your upper lash line. Make sure to tight-line first. Try to wing the outer corner to give you a more "come-hither" look. -- I usually use a liquid or gel eyeliner for this look rather than a pencil or kohl liner as it is more precise; I am not a big fan of smokey eyeliners and I really do not like smudging my eyeliners. I love a defined line. But for tight-lining, I do use a pencil liner.

* Groom your brows

* Apply a blush that compliments your skin tone.

* Apply your lipstick and gloss.

***Done!***

Till the next tutorial!

Ja ne, pretty ladies! ^^