I never stopped exploring beauty during the months I have not been blogging. It was during these times I gave lipsticks a little more attention as I've always been a balm-and-tint girl, too afraid of lipsticks emphasizing my already full lips.

It wasn't easy looking for a shade and finish I didn't feel like tossing out after a few swipes, post-purchase. I wanted something close to my lip color and is almost sheen-free. Let's talk about a lippie I've been using a lot lately-- VMV's Velvet Matte in Roustabout.

How much: P1,050.00/ 4g
Where to buy: VMV counters in SM department stores, Trinoma Mall

You can classify Roustabout as an MLBB shade. It's brick brown on the tube and salmon on my lips. I'd say it's a notch more pink than my normal lip color and I love how it lights my face up.

Here, indoors and using flash photography:

And under natural light, without flash:

Roustabout is neither lip staining nor long-wearing. I notice major fading after the 3rd hour.

This is a nice color but I can't say it's a good buy. The finish may be wonderfully velvet, but it's a pain to put on! With or without lip balm, there's an uncomfortable drag when I use it. Also, it takes several swipes to get an opaque coverage sans a lip conditioner. Its weak formulation and barely satisfactory wear time doesn't justify the price tag. I've tried Shiseido's version of matte and they are buttery against the lips and covers fully at first swipe.

A few weeks after getting Roustabout, I learned that VMV holds a "Buy 1, Take 1" promotion for their lipsticks; had I gotten this on sale, it would've been a wiser purchase.

I know I could've gotten a similar shade from a more trusted lipstick brand for the price I paid for. What I'm unsure of is if the shade is as sheen-free as this one. VMV Velvet Matte Lipstick in Roustabout is still a tube-for-keeps as it is a nice warm shade and has a quality matte finish that's most flattering for my lips!

The Shiseido Perfect Smoothing Foundation is the first powder foundation I've tried from the brand. If you have seen my Bangkok trip photos, I've been consistently wearing this medium coverage powder in shade O40.

How much? P1800 refill, P1100 compact case, 10g

Availability: Shiseido counters (select SM Dep't stores, Landmark, Greenbelt, Glorietta)

Texture & Color. This foundation is milled to perfection allowing it to look natural and soft against the skin. O40's a great match. However, this oxidizes on me several hours after but I noticed that with a good primer, the degree of darkening is decreased (but oxidation is still obvious).

If your skin is notorious for turning foundations a notch darker, I suggest you get hold of the Shiseido Perfect Smoothing Foundation one shade lighter than your perfect match (in my case, it's O20). Good thing it has 13 shades to suit most skin tones.

The Perfect Smoothing Foundation is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation

Finish and Feel. I apply this using the sponge that came with it and I end up with a glowy, smooth and evened-out skin. I think that the microglitters on the powder are the ones responsible for the amazing pearlescent finish.

On my face, it can feel a little heavy immediately after application, but I start to appreciate how lightweight it can get 30mins after as it melts into my skin.

Coverage & Wear. For those with acne scars and pimples like me, this foundation can get help from a good concealer on  days you use it for big events. During weddings, I personally choose to use the Perfect Smoothing Foundation over a great primer and  concealer. If you plan to use this on top of a liquid foundation, please use something that finishes sheer. 

FACE:  Shiseido Refining Makeup primer
Shiseido Perfect Smoothing foundation
Shiseido Oil-Free Bronzer #2

Photo taken 5 hours after application. You can tell that it has oxidized on my skin but because I wore a primer, it didn't look that muddy. Sans a makeup primer, you can just imagine how dark O40 goes on me when it oxidizes.

On normal days, because this foundation can cover decently, I just use it solo (over primer & moisturizer). It isn't foolproof when used alone, though. I blot several times a day and see the need for retouching with sheer loose powder somewhere in between long hours.

Others. I broke out from this after 5 months of using it. It's weird but if you knew the story about me and Clinique moisturizing gel, you wouldn't be surprised. Also, it wasn't until I broke out from it that I realized it wasn't the best formulation for my skin. The glowy finish can end up looking oily after severaaaal hours.

Good thing I hit pan before the zits showed up

Recommendation. The Shiseido Perfect Smoothing foundation is a jewel to those with normal to dry skin *sighs*. I must add that it photographs well, too, dry skin or not!

I recommend the sponge that goes with it and to not dip brushes on the pan to avoid wasting too much of the product. To avoid cakiness, after dabbing & sweeping product using a sponge, you can take out excess powder using a brush and flick it lightly, outwards.

I still hope to use up whatever's left in my Shiseido Perfect Smoothing foundation pan. I fell in love with it despite the strings of disadvantages (oxidation, poor oil control, not longwearing) because my skin looks a million times better underneath it without looking too made up. However, since we're already talking about zits here, I must restrain myself from even thinking about the almost used-up pan and just consider this among the products I had a hard time letting go of but had to.

I'm all smiles with the new Goody Mini Spin Pin I got from the Goody event last Wednesday. I am very much considering this hair tool a major pre-Christmas gift to me! Akshwely, kahit ito nalang matanggap ko ngayong pasko, solb nako (I can survive Christmas 2011 with just this gift)! Yes, I'm that easy to please, hee. (For the non-tangible gift this Xmas, I want my bestfriend back... I still cry out of the blue when I think of him)

Actual sizes of the mini spin pins I got. And jeeezz, I actually thought I was a redhead but Ms. Rochelle of Goody Philippines gave me the pins in blonde (it comes in 2 colors, blonde and brunette btw):

Goody Mini Spin Pins in blonde

After the event, I dropped by the Post to get some packages.

Lakas loob mag OOTD, mwahaha. Pagbigyan nyo na ang nagmumurang kamatis... siyempre kelangang sumabay sa mga bagets (I am not dressing my age, LOL):

You know I had to fix that belt :D 

Gray pocketed t-shirt Bench | geometric skirt SM Dep Store
tan faux leather bag Egg  | woven belt People are People

Hanep, lume-label pa ng outfit! 

Like Goody Philippines on Facebook or follow them on Twitter! I can't wait to talk to you about the fun event and on how great the mini spin pins were for my shoulder-length hair!

I got the this from HBC during their Great at 88 Sale last August. I love the fact that it provides medium coverage and is affordable. Unfortunately, the San San Age-Defying 2-Way Powder Foundation isn't something I'd be repurchasing.

San San Age-Defying 2-Way Powder Foundation in 03
twas able to decently cover up my chin acne

Swatching against the back of my hand, I felt like it was an okay shade match.

Here are also swatches of the powder foundation against the sponge.

Uncovering the Cons. It seemed like a good shade match but I noticed that this foundation oxidized big time on my skin. I looked ugly bronze-y by the fourth hour I was wearing it. And so I purchased a refill in 01 to replace 03 (02 had pink undertones). It still made my face look unpleasantly darker after a few hours.

Another letdown is its poor oil-control. Ironically, it seemed to hold up the oilies upon application, even a bit too matte a finish for my taste. However, after 5 short minutes, my T-zone began to oil up. The photos below are a bit blurry but I was oiling up like crazy. You will definitely want to put up blotting papers on your computer screen against my pictures.

Third problem is the powder's texture. Makeup gurus might find it too chalky. 

Also, I find it weird that the texture of the San San Age-Defying powder on the pan gets ruined when a wet sponge is used. The photo below is in shade 01.

It was easy to let go of the product taking the pile of cons it had for my skin type into consideration. However, this foundation had such great finish and coverage for my zits and pits, it breaks my heart a little to not use the compact.

Recommendation. This powder foundation will be more appreciated by acne-free, normal skin types. It's sheer irony that this has good coverage that glides smoothly on the skin, only to be better used by those with already good skin. I'm afraid I won't be getting another San San Age-Defying powder foundation until I see that "improved formulation" stamp on it.

Thanks to my awesome sense of direction, I totally got lost looking for the venue (which was at True Scents and Minerals, Makati) and was laaaate for the event. I missed most parts of it but got just in time for this:

group photo!!!

Despite coming in late, I still went home with tons of pictures:

Krissy's before and after shots

Kira's

Shen's

It was too bad I didn't get these girls' before shot and so I ended up admiring their post-Iredale faces:

Golden goddess Nikki

Reluctant Stylista herself, Alex, and her creamy, flawless face

And Iambrigitte's, Jheng

What else did everyone do that night?

Ms. Tess Chua, resident MUA for Jane Iredale Makati, prettifying Jheng
Shen thinking that this is the volume of makeup I want on my dresser
and me taking their photo :)

Busy bee Krissy and me in our coordinated numbers before trying out the makeup

Here's Krissy after the Jane Iredale experience
my camera LOVES her skin! clockwise: (1) magic mitt used as makeup remover
(2) Jane Iredale Dream Tint in Medium evened out on her face using a foundie brush
(3) & (4) her wonderful second skin+smokey eyes+peachy pink lips

We chatted about losing our phones from the metro's olympic runner snatchers

Lexi P getting snapshots of Kira and Liz as they swatched more makeup at
the counter (i kept ooh-ing and aaah-ing at Kira's flawless face!)

Nikki is just effortlessly pretty in minerals!

Kira after getting made up; Liz, sadly, had to leave early and wasn't able to
get a makeover

Kira inspects the Jane Iredale counter further after the makeover

My face after evening out the tinted moisturizer, Dream Tint in Medium

Jane Iredale Minerals is definitely for those who want second skin makeup. If you're gaga over minerals, Jane Iredale is definitely worth saving up for. I'm letting the photos above speak for the brand. 

Jane Iredale Philippines Makati Showroom

Evekal Building

Arnaiz St., Makati City

I have been using Estee Lauder's highly reviewed liquid foundation, the Double Wear Stay-In-Place makeup, for quite some time already before I decided to give up on it. It wasn't because the foundation was a bad product or that it broke me out; I stopped because my exact shade match was not available at local counters (a huge boo, really, for a foundation so fantastic as this).

Main Impression

This top-rating liquid foundation is neither runny nor too thick. Makeup fans love how well it glides on the skin while infrequent makeup users like me may have a bit of a hard time blending this foundation perfectly. Also, the fact that it dries out real quick on the skin may be a huge factor why it's not easy for me to even it out on the face. To lessen my application problems using this foundie, I find that using the fingertips is the best way to put this on.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Liquid Foundation, SPF 10, 30mL
P1,900 (~$43) - local counters, $35 - website

Estee Lauder's Double Wear foundation provides a non-greasy, lightweight feel on my face that stays put for a good 9 hours (coupled with a good face primer). I only had to blot twice during that day and was still able to sport a clean, fresh look that my friends gush about. Its matte finish unfortunately obviates the dry areas on my cheeks, sides of the nose and some parts of my chin area, but it's nothing that ample moisturizing can't correct.

Estee Lauder Double Wear in Sand on my NC25 skin

The makeup blends well with the skin and provides ample coverage for my skin imperfections. It was able to decently conceal all the reddish areas of my face and most acne marks while blurring the visible pores on my cheeks, nose and forehead. My undereye area gets instantly brighter too even without the use of a concealer. It was effectively able to give me a flawless look . I heard that it can also provide full coverage but I've yet to try it since I'm already satisfied with its natural, healthy finish. 

Shade Match Fail

[Checkout Sand, Tawny and Ivory Cream swatches side-by-side on NC25] I first used Estee Lauder Double Wear in Sand (warm undertone), then jumped to Ivory Cream (neutral), and lastly to Tawny (warm). Chart-wise, my selection of shades ranged from lightest to darkest (with Ivory Cream being under a different undertone group). It was truly wasted money on these three because none of them were a perfect match on my NC25 skin (Yup, I'm now NC25, thanks to my derma's wonderful topicals). Sand and Ivory were too light, Tawny a tiny bit dark.

My last hope was for Sand or Ivory Cream to turn dark on my acidic face. But since this super foundation never significantly darkened my skin as most liquid foundations do, I can firmly conclude that I have not been given my perfect match yet. I'm eyeing Fresco (neutral) or Ivory Beige (warm), but SAs claim that these shades will never reach our counters. 

Estee Lauder+ In2it: tweaking the too light Double Wear shade (Sand) with
 In2it 2-way Powder Foundation (Golden Harvest)

It might be too vengeful of me to rate the foundation really low plainly because I have not seen my shade match just yet (shade match is super points for me). If I wanted to keep each Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation bottle, I will have to make do on figuring out tweaks and tricks to make the currently available shades work for me. But I don't have the luxury of time to perform these tweaks every time I do my makeup because I'm such a slowpoke. I need a PERFECT SHADE MATCH. (N.B. I will do a separate post on the shade swatches)

Notice how my face is too white in comparison to my neck (2nd photo)
I set the liquid foundation with a powder foundie that finishes dark on me (In2it)

Helpful Hints

1. This product is packed in a twist-cap bottle. If you have a MAC SFF foundation pump, you can use it to allow a more hygienic and controlled method of getting the product out of the bottle.

Photo Source

2. I address my issues with its consistency (explained above) by mixing the foundation with my moisturizer.

3. Be sure to use a makeup primer if you have oily skin so that this makeup stays put well.

Recommendation

If you have oily skin and you want to achieve a flawless face canvas for a good number of hours without the heavy, greasy feel, save up for a bottle of this superb foundation. I never broke out from this foundation. It's a bit pricey but a 30mL bottle will be difficult to finish even if you use it on a daily basis. It may be a grueling task to find the perfect shade match since not all shades are available in our local Estee Lauder booths but once you get a good match, the Double Wear liquid foundation may just top your list of HG face bases.

I love how the 4U2 Glitz Shimmer Brow Mascara works wonders for me! I got the dark brown shade (which looked black to me) which suited me just fine.

I initially wanted to get shade 02, which is brown, since I felt it suited my colored hair better. However, it ended up streaking my brow with this weird whitish color at the tips. But it could've been the tester, i'll sure be back to give that prettier shade a second chance!

4U2 Glitz Shimmer Brow Mascara 01 swatch

4U2 Brow Mascara costs a fraction of a MAC browset. It delivers satisfactorily despite the cheap tag (not as marvelous as MAC's, though). This is available in all 4U2 Cosmetics counters in Watson's and SM Department Stores priced at P 234.00.

Will definitely recommend this to those who can't afford a MAC browset and wants to prettify the face further by enhancing the brows. I often use this after using the In2it or ELF Brow Kit to keep my brows in place but on lazy days, I plainly use a dash of the 4U2 brow mascara on my brows to frame my face.

1: Thick application of the Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Liner
2: perfect brows to frame the face (thanks to 4U2 brow mascara)
3: after 2 hours on my oily lids... smokey look na
4: effect of 4U2 brow mascara + maybelline gel liner
5: bare face: before Pure Anada Minerals+4U2+Maybelline
6: don't let the shimmers freak you out; not shimmery at all on the brows
7: brow mascara 6.5g, P234; gel liner, P449

Learning to apply the product properly on the brows for makeup newbs will definitely want them to repurchase. I discourage those who do not plan to use this often as I noticed that this brow mascara dries up in the bottle gradually over time.

I love the 4U2 Glitz Shimmer Brow Mascara to bits. It's cheap, effective and definitely something that can revamp the way your face looks!

Wish Lip and Cheek tint in Magic Red is a cheap alternative for those who fancy 2-in-1 tints.  I got myself a tube at Watson's a few days ago and I was so excited to put the cheap product to a test.

At 89php (~$2), you actually get what you pay for: the flimsy packaging, the sticky feel and the ugly fingertip stains. However, the clear tube is definitely stronger than you think. I loved how magically red it turned out on my lips that I looked back at the plastic lip tube and shook my head in disbelief, "this stuff really works".

Wish Lip and Cheek tint in Magic Red
89php @ Watson's

On the lips: Unlike The Body Shop's lip and cheek tint, Wish's color pay-off is very promising!  You only need a teeny weeny amount, spread it evenly on the lips, and you build the color from there. I also love how it really stains the lips. I noticed that even after eating, my lips are lovely pink!  Also, for those who do not fancy scented/flavoured products, this isn't for you.  Wish has a strong strawberry flavour!

Wish lip & cheek tint: A tiny amount offers a faint pink hue

On the cheeks: If you're already struggling putting color on the cheeks using a wand applicator, Wish will give you an even more difficult time getting an au naturale blush. It is a pain to get the right amount of tint out of the tube! You end up wasting a lot of product while staining your fingertips big time. But anything can be achieved with practice so I'm not giving up on this product just yet.

It's clear on the tube, but red on the lips and cheeks!

On a positive note, the tint glides magically (once again) on the cheeks and does not dry out easily (easy to blend).

It is actually an easier lip tint than a blusher. It is very sticky on the cheeks while it's perfectly fine on the lips.  But you can always work your way around it as a blusher through practice. I just love those moments where you purse your lips or rub your cheeks and that clear jelly substance just turns magically red.

Frequently compared to: Smashbox O-glow 

Pros: affordable, locally available, stains lips and skin for several hours, non-drying, little amount of product already gives outstanding color, highly blendable (no need to worry about creating streaks or spots)

Cons: very sticky on the cheeks (not good!), high risk of overapplication (both lips and cheeks), quite messy especially for beginners, flimsy packaging

Trying out Wish lip and cheek tint as a lip stain and blusher

Helpful hints: 

• Seal the tube TIGHTLY.  Otherwise, all the stuff around your lip and cheek tint tube gets an instant flush, too! Not nice.
• Tone down cheek color if you overapplied by putting powder on top of it. This also allows a less greasy/sticky cheek.
• Hold the Wish lip and cheek tint tube upright (capped part on top) when squeezing out the product. And please don't squeeze like there's no tomorrow.

If you feel like Wish lip and cheek tint in Magic Red didn't work for you, you might want to opt for their Strawberry variant instead. I'm eager to try it too since it has a more subdued color, the perfect antidote to always overapplying this reviewed variant.

Several of the girls have already tried Purederm's 3 in 1 Magic BB Cream.  I've read more raves than rants.  Since it's relatively cheaper than the other raved about bb creams I've tried, I thought of giving it a shot.

Purederm 3 in 1 Magic BB Cream for oily skin, 659php at Watson's

It looks so similar to Skin79's Waterdrop BB Cream that I reviewed before!  However, it seems that there are more perks to getting Purederm's bb cream than Skin79's:

• more product for a cheaper price! (50mL vs 43mL) 
• no shimmers (for those who do not fancy anything glittery, albeit skin79's shimmer isn't that bad at all)
• has SPF (and it's 30 PA+++! vs no spf at all)
• better oil control

from L-R: Purederm box, Skin79 box, Purederm BB cream tube, Skin 79 Waterdop BB cream tube

Purederm Magic BB Cream has a thicker consistency, too.  I find it a con since I experienced difficulty in blending it into the dry areas of my combination to oily skin type.

This product covers the skin moderately.  It can cover up minor skin imperfections and partially blur the presence of acne marks.  The shade perfectly suits NC20-25 girls.

However, if you have an acidic NC30 skintone like mine, this will work for you, too.  The trick is to reach for a setting powder you don't often use because you know it goes dark on you (I used my Joppa minerals mix for this FOTD).  Top the bb cream off with this darker setting powder and experience Purederm's magic right before your very eyes!

Purederm 3 in 1 Magic BB Cream on my NC25-30 skin
wearing Vivigo Hyper Nudy lenses in brown

You'll notice how good it performed in perfecting my skin.  It was able to soften out the irritating red zit on the side of my nose, blur the annoyingly enlarged pores and give my face a fresher, healthy glow.  It's also essential to note how the acne scars on my temple were partially covered.

I cannot comment on its effectivity on blemishes and dark spots just yet.

Sidenotes:

• if you have combination to oily skin, apply moisturizer on the dry areas of the face
• best applied using the fingers
• dot pea size amount on the forehead, nose, cheeks and chin; there's this danger of over applying the product that can make the face too white 
• shake well before use, as with any other bb creams since these products often emulsify
• Purederm offers another bb cream variant for dry skin (Purederm Pearl BB Cream)
• can they strike out Caution #1 at the label?  BB Creams are supposed to work on pimples and blemishes after all.

Label Nazis will mind this.  I did.

I've been sporting the haggard look these past few days and I can tell that the boyfie notices.  Thanks to my pre-menstrual ugly skin and 2AM snoozes from studying and doing paperwork!

Imagine my surprise when the boyfie remarked, "you look so nice and fresh"!  And that happened after I wore Purederm's 3 in 1 Magic BB cream!  Now I can relate to why Pammy, Nikki (although she prefers the Pearl variant more), Donnarence, Shen and the rest of the girls are crazy about this bb cream!