All posts filed under: Reviews

Stylenanda 3CE One Color Shadow in Saturn*

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My makeup heart is always attracted to eyeshadow, even though I already have too much. I’m so pleased to have gotten one from my bntgirls beautybox. Here’s a Stylenanda 3CE One Color Shadow in Saturn. It’s a new release, part of the Shimmer range of 3CE eyeshadows. There are three other finishes: matte (natural), lustre (dimension & glow), and sparkling (dewy & youthful). Stylenanda claims that the characteristics of the shimmer eyeshadows as fine-textured eyeshadows will look great on Asians for “structured, glamorous makeup.” All of the shadows are a one-touch eyeshadow color—if I’m not mistaken, they are marketed as eyeshadows you can wear on their own. Right off the bat, the quality is pretty amazing, just judging by texture and feel. I didn’t realize just how red Saturn was until I pulled out a color I had that I thought to be similar to it: On the left is 3CE’s Saturn. On the right, we have 203 Burgundy, which is a Water Eyeshadow from Kiko Make Up Milano. Side-by-side, they look identical, but they …

Verikos Ultra Matte Velvet Primer*

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Today, I have a review on the Verikos Ultra Matte Velvet Primer*, which is something I got from my bntgirls beauty box. It claims to cover pores and control sebum (oil), like a usual primer would. Product Description: “Porous powder gives light and silky texture while absorbing excessive sebum from the skin to balance the moisture and oil of the skin. The oil-free primer tones the skin texture and corrects the skin tone without causing irritation Tocophery lacetate and Retinyl Palmitate removes harmful free radicals from the skin for healthier skin tone. Also, GLA from evening primrose oil and polyphenol from the green tea seed oil helps to protect the skin.” Pretty lofty claims, if you ask me! Let’s see how well it fares. First of all, this primer is not like the primers I’ve used in the past. It’s not very silicone-y and I was a little worried that it would feel heavy on the skin. However, if you work it into your skin well, it eventually sets to a velvety finish. There is …

Graymelin CC Base Cream*

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I’ve been using the Graymelin CC Base Cream (for whitening, anti-wrinkle, hydration) for the past week now, and so far I am impressed. This came in my beautybox, which I am reviewing as part of the bntgirls network (more of that here). I’ve been loving Korean packaging lately—all the information about the products are on the box! I’ve never heard of this brand before, but the product description of this is as follows: “Formulated to refine uneven skin tone and enhance skin’s natural beauty color and for intensive skin care, this unique formula provides plenty of moisture and nourishment to leave skin hydrated for smoother and clear-looking skin as well as help full skin bright and radiant that will bring out your natural beauty.” The CC Base Cream has a similar look to the shu uemura Stage Performer Instant-Glow Immediate Radiance Skin Perfecting Cream, which also has particles of pigment suspended in a white base cream. The Graymelin CC Base Cream features the following: CC means “color correction” that brings out natural balance of skin …

Drugstore Finds: NYX Butter Gloss

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Okay, so these were a ‘trick buy’ during my makeup ban (as detailed here) but I’m almost not sorry because these are fantastic. The NYX Butter Glosses have been celebrated pretty much everywhere. I wasn’t a big fan of many of NYX lip products, including the round lipsticks (hit or miss for me) and the soft matte lip creams, so I don’t know why I was so drawn to these. Anyway, I got two: Apple Strudel and Maple Blondie. They look pretty similar, but Apple Strudel is peachier while Maple Blondie is a touch pinker. These were the colors that attracted me the most. I’m not a HUGE fan of super saturated glosses, so these were kind of perfect. Swatched, you can see that they are sort of milky, but that doesn’t translate on the lips as opaquely as the swatches. They are a cinch to put on and spread out and the sweet vanilla-esque scent isn’t as overwhelming as the SMLC’s. Wearing Maple Blondie: These are freaking amazing; they aren’t tacky or heavy or …

Quickie: y.e.t. Cosmetics Eyeshadow Sticks in Nude Pink & Bronze

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Here’s a quick review on some cute finds I had from a bazaar a few weeks ago. Meet a new Korean brand, y.e.t. Cosmetics! I think the company formed in 2012. I have a review on their face primer over here, if you are so inclined. So, these are stick eyeshadows in two colors: Nude Pink and Bronze. I erroneously stated that the Bronze was a purchase of mine but it’s my sister’s. 🙂 Anyway, these are creamy eyeshadow sticks that you can use (ideally) as a base for eyeshadow. However, I find that they don’t last too well without a primer underneath. Alternately, you can also use a powder eyeshadow over top of these to minimize creasing. Both colors are quite shimmery and pretty warm-toned. I find them quite easy to use as they are creamy, and retractable. My only issue really is fading, but that’s not even that big of a deal. Here are both colors in use over a LUSH Cream Shadow in Sophisticated: You can purchase these online as of now, …

Stylenanda 3 CONCEPT EYES Lip Lacquer in Pink Boom*

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Hey everyone! I talked about being part of this round of bntgirls (more of that here), and as part of that, we were given a box of Korean treats to use and review throughout the month. I’ll have them up in trickles, but for now, I will talk about a pretty bright lip lacquer by a brand I’ve been intrigued by, since I saw it on Wiji’s post—3 Concept Eyes! Check out the color on this! My mom and my sister saw the box and both of them said, “Is that really the color of the lipstick?” It’s so bright! Lip Lacquers are typically pretty close in texture, consistency, and make as liquid lipsticks. A few formulas that are similar include the Guerlain Rouge G L’Extrait, the Rimmel Apocalips/Show Off Lip Lacquers, the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams, and the Shiseido Lacquer Rouge. Simply, they are very opaque lip products, with the pigmentation of a lipstick, but in the form of a gloss. There are many little differences as well, but that’s just a very …

Drugstore Finds: Flower Beauty Kiss Stick High Shine Lipstick in Ginger Lily

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I’ve been eyeing the Flower Beauty line ever since it came out, but I obviously can’t get any of that over here, unless I go through a reseller. In a fit of “need to buy something,” I bought some things—just 3—from the Flower Beauty range, and here are my thoughts on this “Kiss Stick High Shine Lipstick.” If you are in Manila, in search of Flower Beauty, look no further than Bon Marche. I tend to shy away from warm colors—especially for lip products—because they pronounce my “yellow-ness” and I don’t like looking too warm. Don’t get me wrong; I like being tan, just not warm. Ginger Lily isn’t so bad, though I bought this on the off-chance that it would be a dupe for MAC’s Betty Bright (it isn’t), and I honestly kinda like it despite that obvious mismatch that I should have caught anyway. Ginger Lily seems to be a reddish coral. The pigmentation is superb, but the formula is so creamy that you need to take very good care of where you …