My first three purchases from ZA Cosmetics are the True White Liquid Foundation, Perfect Fit Concealer, and the True White two-way foundation case. I kick off a series of posts from the brand by featuring my cheapest but invaluable purchase from them -- the silver, white and pink foundation case!

Short Story:

When I broke the hinge on my Majolica Majorca Skin Remaker powder foundation's princessy gold case, I swore I wasn't spending P450 again on something I might end up breaking one more time. Thankfully, I saw ZA Cosmetics (which was beside the Majolica booth) and discovered that the Skin Remaker powder refill fits a cheaper case, the ZA true white foundation case.

ZA True White two-way foundation case FAQ:

Price: P325 (P100+ cheaper than the MM gold case). Alternatively, you can get the all-pink foundation case at the same price (I keep pinks at a minimum, hence, the silver and white one seemed perfect)

Where to buy: ZA cosmetics counters in: Landmark Trinoma, Landmark Makati, SM Aura Dep Store, and SM Aura Watsons

Refill size to fit case: make sure your refill is somewhere around 5.2cm x 4.4cm x 0.8cm 

So far, it fits: Majolica Majorca Skin Remaker and Shiseido Perfect Smoothing powder foundies; after all, Majolica Majorca and ZA are both spearheaded by Shiseido Co.

Notes: (A) Plaster a double tape neath the refill and slap it on the case! (B) The case's cover is a shiny, silvery one that becomes less splendid when finger prints and other grimy whatnot stick to it. Wipe as often as you can; if there's one good thing about it, you know your case is always clean!

Grrrreat News:

Starting tomorrow till Sunday, 4th of August, ZA Trinoma (as far as I know) will be holding a 20% off sale on ALL items. The ZA true white foundation case will be marked down at P260 (now the deal-hunter in me sighs out for not holding off my purchases, lol)! Shiseido and MM in Trinoma are on sale, too.

At P325, with my current, most-used up powder foundie sitting pretty snug inside this refill case, I feel victorious. I saved some few hundred pesos and discovered yet another Japanese brand that carries efficient and affordable items!

I'm alive and baaaack from my 5-month long hiatus (long and tiring story...) and I can't contain my excitement on getting back to blogging and reading my fave blogs!

Over the course I've been absent from the blogosphere, I haven't stopped thinking about the stuff I wish I could share with you. Now that I'm finally and officially back, let me give you a rough picture of some of the beauty products I've been crazy about these past months. Presenting...

Six Products I Like So Much (with a short intro/ review about why I love each):

1. Relumins Advance White Oral Whitening Formula. Finally, an oral glutathione that doesn't make me too yellow like tathion 307. I've been on it for a week now and I have to say I'm quite impressed with the effects.

2. Avon Skin So Soft Lotion (especially the soft & white with marula variants). After basking under the summer sun from previous vacations, the intensive whitening lotions from Avon have aided me in evening out and actually improving my body's overall fairness. 

3. Tony Moly Acerola Sheet Masks. My cheeks have gotten so annoyingly dry lately and these sheet masks have done a good job in helping me wake up to better-looking skin. Too bad these red packets are almost always OOS in stores :(

4. Banana Boat Sport Sunscreen SPF 110. My second most awesome purchase for the summer. I use this for the face during trips to the beach and it has never failed me. Proofs in a lengthier review to follow!

5. Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation. I've purchased this last year, loved it back then but failed to blog about it. I'm still very much in love with it now especially since it fakes a fresh face in this sweltering heat. I top it off with Joppa MMU in Grecian Gold to improve its hold.

6. Clarisonic Mia. I consider this my best beauty purchase for the first half of the year (review coming up!!!). It just really works for me and the results are instant: I get cleaner, clearer and healthy-looking skin after using this. I use the Mia with Clinique liquid facial soap/ Neutrogena Mulberry Ultra Foam Cleanser and with the deep-pore cleansing brush head.

If you are keen enough, you may have noticed how these product faves are mostly about keeping the skin fair. I noticed that too just now and I don't have a damn good reason why. I will be reviewing each of these products in detail very soon and perhaps by then, I can tell you why I'm such a whitening whore!

I've had the Shiseido Perfect Refining Foundation for almost half a year now and during these times, it's mostly just sitting on my dresser. Not that it's a horrible product (I actually like how it performs and find myself wanting to use it on most days), but it has consistently aggravated pustules every time I use it.

I know it's a serious problem and that I should just get rid of the black bottle, but the advantages I get from it outweigh its most unnerving flaw. I seriously don't understand why Shiseido foundations are acting funny on my skin (even the Perfect Smoothing foundation, which I loved to bits until the day it broke me out). 

• Enjoy Paris' review of the foundation
• Miss Glitzy's compares it to Clarins Skin Illusion
• See why Claire thinks it's at par with NARS Sheer Glow 

I give you an ultimatum my dear Shiseido Perfect Refining foundation. Today, I have an almost clear skin and if you mess with that one pimple persisting on my cheek, I have no other choice but to let you go.

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.