I like the Shu Uemura UV Underbase Mousse because of how incredibly impressive it makes makeup stay all day despite the sweltering heat. I have combination skin and I prefer swiping the lightweight mousse primer along my T-zone area only as it tends to dry up my cheeks. Talk about a genuine face mattifier!

How much? 2.29oz of product for: P2,200 (limited ed); P2,000 (regular bottles); $35 on Shu Uemura website 

Where to buy: Shu Uemura counters (Trinoma, MOA, Rustan's Shang and Makati)

Sun Protection: SPF 30 PA+++

This can be a stand alone face base for those with already great skin (not for those with dry skin though). The primer is limited to gluing foundation to the skin, blurring pores to a significant degree, and keeping the face from excessively oiling up. It cannot conceal acne scars and pimples. 

Other cons to consider are:

• limited shade range: pink and beige 
• too mattifying even for those with combination skin
• face can feel a wee bit sticky before the product gets fully pushed into the skin
• mousse pump difficult to control (the bottle dispenses too much when all you need is a small dollop). To get the right amount, make sure to press the pump on its farthest side opposite the nozzle. Pump cautiously (the sneaking-in-the-house-way-past-your-curfew cautious type) in an upward direction.

Some helpful notes:

• The shades do not adapt to the skin color and tone. I remember my face looking beige and afloat my neck after putting this on. Its color does not overpower the foundation shade that sits on top of it though.
• I thought the Shu Uemura UV Underbase mousse primer smelled like beer.
• You get a velvety smooth face after letting the product sink in to the skin.
• Limited edition bottles are purely beauty blings and are in no way extra special inside than the regular bottles. 

Product wastage captured in photo (below). This is what happens when you treat the pump as you normally would a pump--pressing it on the middle. You will only need half as much to cover the entire face. And if you're arguing that you can use the remaining half to build coverage, don't be disappointed when you end up looking a lot more beige than covered.

Recommendation. Those who have oily skin with minor imperfections will enjoy this product. Makeup artists may also find this a reasonably priced primer--cutting down on touch-ups and beauty boo-boo's during events is after all, priceless. I also recommend this to those who feel like they will never find a face primer that will make foundation stick. This product is worth trying before totally giving up on primers. 

Despite the efficiency of the product, it is surprising that I rarely want to use it. The Shu Uemura UV Underbase mousse primer makes me look too made-up (for my liking). I can use it on its own to downplay the look but it lacks decent coverage to give my face the near-flawless illusion it needs. 

I've told you about my boyish sister's transformation several posts ago.  Lara of NARS Shang did her makeup and hairdo and she looked totally stunning.

A couple of months ago, she had an event she needed to go to and we no longer had Lara around.  And so, half-heartedly (i can tell!), she obediently entrusted me to 'transform' her.

Grabbed this pic from her facebook page.  This makeover surprised her friends and they wanted to keep a memento of it.   They even made an effort to create this fancy pic.

This is her on normal days:

With Ate's Makeover (this was 3 hours after the party already and the cheek makeup's no longer visible):

after clinique's toner and moisturizer:
FACE: Clinique's Pore Minimizing Serum as primer on tzone area only
Clinique Superfit in Neutral applied with fingers
EDM Golden Medium in original glo applied with Charm stippling brush
Joppa Full Coverage in Grecian gold (2-3 layers) applied with Charm stippling brush
buffed mineral powders on face using Nichido kabuki brush
Aromaleigh finishing powder in peaches n cream applied with Charm stippling brush
EYES: In2it eyebrow powder using my bleak angled brow brush
Nichido liquid eyeliner (black)
Fanny Serrano curlash
Maybelline Unstoppable Shiny Black mascara
no eyeshadows, i'm still a newbie with it
Freshlook contact lens
CHEEKS and LIPS: Nichido pink blush (forgot the name)
 The Bodyshop Lip and Cheek Tint on lips

It was such a simple makeup that I did considering she was going to a function where practically all the ladies were glammed up.  We had no time to visit the salon and my poor sister was hoping I could help her with her look.

I don't think I failed, did I?

Simply because it makes your eye color splendid!

I've recently experimented with eye stuff and came across eye primers while going through articles, forum posts and Youtube tuts.

And so one night, I played with my Shiseido eye palette I got from Lotus Palace and tried a primed vs non-primed look.

Here's a pic of the experiment taken 3 hours after application (yeah, I walked around the house like a raccoon, and everybody was, "Are you okay?"). The colors on my eye, to your left (no primer), looks like it's slowly being washed out already. The colors to your right, on the other hand, are still "alive" and are still able to make my eyes pop a little.

I used The Bodyshop's Pencil concealer in 03 to prime my lids here.

Lid Primers you can use:

1. Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original or Sin ($17)

Photo Source

Swatches: (L-R) Urban Decay Primer Potion Original (UDPP), Urban Decay Primer Potion Sin (UDPPS), Too Faced Shadow Insurance (TFI)

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Hailed 'the best lid primer' by many. It isn't locally available but you can check ebay.ph and multiply sites for a handful of resellers (price range: 1100-1300php for a 0.34oz bottle).

Original is sheer and colorless, while Sin has a hint of shimmery champagne color. While most girls claim that they perform equally well, some are inclined to use Sin since it can be an eye color as it is.

2. Too Faced Shadow Insurance ($17)

Photo Source

This lid primer is at par with UDPP... IF you live in not so humid countries. If you're oily and you live in a tropical country like the Philippines, this'll just melt your eye color away....

This is less popular here in our country, but you might want to try ebay.ph and multiply sites if you're interested.

3. MAC Paint Pots (1,100php in Philippine MAC counters; $16.50 at www.maccosmetics.com)

These are actually eye shadows, but I've read that MAC paint pots come in highly recommended to improve eye pigments, too. The most famous paint pot to prime the lids is Soft Ochre. You may also want o try Bare Study if you want some sort of frost in your lids.

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4. Your usual concealer!

The Bodyshop's Pencil Concealer (600+php/ $11)

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If you're not the type who oils on the lids too much, you can reach for your regular concealer.

I really don't wear eye makeup, so I'm good with Bodyshop's creamy concealer during 'play time'. It can actually make the colors I play with come to life!

I'm actually rooting to get the UDPP one of these days. I love my concealer, but with my uber oily lids (and face!), I don't want to end up looking like I splashed on poster paint on my lids!

I am both ranting and raving today.

After finishing half of the 50mL Elianto Multiplex BB Cream I proudly considered my HG, I am officially announcing that it breaks me out! I feel terrible seeing how this BB cream has "turned its back on me". Boohooo.

I've always blamed my hormones and sleeping late as the causes of my never-ending chin breakouts. Recently, I often stayed home (I quit work to give way for my review, remember?) and skipped my bb cream moments. I'm surprised that despite sleeping in the wee hours of the morning and that my period's coming up, no new zits have piled up on my chin! I can actually see my chin these days, I thought.

And then it hit me... the only product I stopped using since I noticed an improved chin was my prized Elianto Multiplex.

And so it's official... the great bb cream isn't for me.

On a happier note, I am falling in love with Barenaturals' Skin Perfecting Primer! I've earlier claimed that it poorly controlled my oilies. Allow me to retract that. Let me tell you that I am considering this as my daily primer.

No, it still doesn't impress me that much when it comes to keeping my 'oiliest of the oiliest' face mattified, but it does a decent job in keeping my makeup on and my face clean on a daily basis. I still use blotting papers a couple of times, but since I am only attending review classes (inside an air conditioned room), Barenaturals' Skin Perfecting Primer is perfect!

And oh, I've commuted from my place to my patient's (it's a polluted, sweaty, and humid 30-minute jeepney and tricycle ride) and I'm surprised that I'm only a little bit on the dewy side! This happened thrice already.

And so it's official... Barenaturals' Skin Perfecting Primer is an impressive one.

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Let me share one more thing with you guys. Look what I found:

Must be the reason why I broke out, huh?

Moving on with my Primer Review Series, let me do Barenaturals' Skin Perfecting Primer.

Skin Perfecting Primer sample, 5mL, 145php($4), from Barenaturals' site

I was a little reluctant to try this primer since its consistency was the most 'fluid' among the usual primers I've tried. However, it's a good thing that I chose not to pass up on this because it has a good number of pro's.

What I liked about it:

• no scent at all
• skin feels smooth and velvety ala smashbox photofinish primer
• little amount is enough to create a good base for smoothing your foundie
• locally available and relatively cheap
• has sample bottles; good value for your money
• Barenaturals owner practices good great customer service!

Uh-ohs:

• sample bottle has no pump for the flowy product to be dispensed properly
• product is too runny for my liking
• my oilies busted its oil-control abilities in 2 hours (t think that tonight was rather a cool evening... wondering how soon it will take for my makeup to budge if it were extremely hot and humid...)

Here's a pic I took after hearing mass (this was an hour after putting makeup on). We walked our way to and from the church as it wasn't too far from home. Notice that my face is staring to look dewy (which is a bad sign):

Face: Clinique DDMG

Barenaturals Skin Perfecting Primer

Clinique Superfit foundie in Neutral

Barenaturals Premium Glow mineral makeup in Olive Neutral Light-Med

Aromaleigh URFP

Cheeks&Lips: Bodyshop's lip and cheek tint

Hmmm, so I used a premium glow mineral foundie. I wonder if it is the cause of tonight's freaking oil. I'll give the primer another try using something else (like my dependable Joppa/Pure Anada mmu's that can control oilies) and update you.

Generally, I think that the not-so-oily gals will love this. It's cheap, locally available and it can give you that smashbox primer feel! Sadly, it didn't do well on me (for this night) so I don't think I'll be getting a full-sized bottle anytime soon.

A eureka moment for me...

Introducing, a Smashbox Photofinish Primer dupe (in my opinion) --- L'oreal's True Match Smooth Up Makeup Base! This is definitely waaay better than Monistat Anti-Chaffing Gel's infamous thick texture and heavy feel.

Checking its ingredients, L'oreal True Match Smooth Up Base is a cross between Smashbox Photofinish Primer Original and Light. It has Light's water-based feature (good for oily skin) and Original's silicone derivatives.

L'oreal True Match Smooth Up Makeup Base, 30mL, 425php (~$9)

From the box:

"A supple, light and gliding texture that smooths out pores and fine lines for an impeccable make up finish to last all day."

What I love about it:

• held my makeup in place for around 7 hours; makeup never turned dark on me (which always does whenever I skip primers)
• locally available and cheap (425php!)
• can blur pore diameter
• lightweight
• the silky feel it creates on my skin
• creates a perfect canvas for my face makeup
• hygienic tube
• has a version for dry skin -- L'oreal True Match Moist Up Makeup Base

Uh-ohs:

• a pea-size isn't enough
• the silicone content may cause breakouts for some users
• silicone-based primers are not recommended for daily use

This is how the product looks like:

looks perfectly like Smashbox Photofinish Primer Light out of the tube

feels like Smashbox Photofinish Primer Original when slathered on the face

I wore this in an FOTD I posted a while back and the shots were taken 5 hours (or was it 6?) after makeup application. To think that I commuted to and from my patient's residence.

This is a good primer to get since you're getting loads of benefits without splurging. I will definitely buy again after finishing the tube.

I will start my 'Best Makeup Primers (for Oily Skin) Series' with the first primer I've ever used... Skinhour's.

Skinhour Petite, 250php (~$5) from URU Galleria

I am recommending Skinhour's Mattifying Day Cream to every girl starting out with primers. Why? Because it gives good value to your money. It serves as a good moisturizer, sunblock and a makeup base.

Their mini tubs (15g net) can go as low as 180php (~$4) which will last you at least a month. But it goes out of stock really, really fast.

From the Skinhour multiply site:

A day cream that is non-clogging and oil free. Controls excess sebum the whole day. Also acts as makeup base that makes makeup long lasting. Contains pineapple extract known for its skin clearing properties and carrot to fight skin aging. Serenity variant gives a sweet yet subtle surprise to one’s face. The day cream also has SPF 15 for sun protection.

What the Mattifying Day Cream is packed with:

deionized aqua, organic mango butter, glyceryl stearate, sweet almond oil, organic goat milk, titanium dioxide, pineapple and carrot extract, a-tocopherol, sodium gluconate, organic non-solvent fragrance oils

the creamy product is packed with goodness your face'll love. really.

What I love about it:

• proudly Filipino made!
• unlike other primers that felt kinda sticky on my oily face post-application, skinhour's lived up to its name--- a mattifier. no oily, sticky moments!
• my face makeup stayed put all day! i only blotted twice, max, during all those days I used it under my mineral make up.
• transforms my skin into a perfect canvas for my makeup
• SPF 15
• moisturizing
• locally available and cheap

Uh-ohs:

• the uber fruuuuity scent (pineapple, I think)
• the container. it's an unhygienic tub. lazy me still needs to use a spatula to get the glorious primer out.
• it broke my chin out a little during the first few days. purging stage? beats me. (antidote: clinique's 3-step! yup, I still moisturize... and it stops breaking me out)

Skinhour's Mattifying Day Cream is a superb primer because it delivers. I'd recommend this product to those girls, especially oily-skinned ones like me, who would want to put an end to endless retouching sessions.

Do watch out for my upcoming posts on more effective face primers... till next time!