Zoom In On: Nyx Blush in Expresso

One of the American drugstore brands that had successfully made a dent into the makeup lovers’ consciousness is Nyx. The hype surrounding this brand started with the round lipsticks. Along with this rising popularity came the public’s awareness of its other product lines. Among the most raved would have to be their powder blushes. I was able to acquire two of these babies namely, Expresso and Pinky. This post will be more about Expresso.

Let me start this review with the generic characteristics of these blushes. Compact has a squarish shape with rounded edges. Case is transparent so the user can actually take a glimpse of the blush shade without having to open it (very useful especially when one’s blushes are stuffed with other). My only gripe with the packaging is that the print on the case would eventually fade away especially when it is often used. 

 

As to the blush itself, I’d say that it may be at par with the more expensive brands when it comes to pigmentation. To my combination skin, it also lasts relatively long (especially Espresso). If I put it on early in the morning, I would still see hints of it around lunch time when I’d usually retouch. The blushes are silky-textured. This is not the typical “kaskas” blusher so there is no need to be exert extra effort to get product to one’s brush. I also like the quilted design of these blushes since I find it very feminine and unique. Moreover, for its price, this is a good buy. It retails $6 in the US. Online sellers sell these blushes at Php 400 – 450. If you are based in Cebu, there’s a small stall in White Gold that displays Nyx stuff. I remember seeing Nyx round lippies and blushes when I went there. The blushes were only Php 250 at that time.
Expresso, as a shade, can be described as brownish with a hint of pink. This is a great shade for contouring. This is perfect if you want a refreshing alternative to the usual pink blush. I imagine this shade will be popular especially during the summer season as it can complement one’s tan very beautifully. It can warm up one’s cheeks making it very versatile and suitable for different skin tones.

The only downside for these blushes is the fact that they can be very powdery or loosely pressed, I should say. Blush brushes applied a bit brusquely on it may cause a lot of fall-outs. Personally though, I think this is no biggie. By the by, go get your own Nyx blush if you want something that works and will not cause massive damage to your wallet. This is not widely available locally but I think there are a number of online stores that has these in their inventories. Moreover, you will have fun choosing from among the twenty-five shades of Nyx Powder Blushes that are available.

Zoom In On: Obagi Nuderm Sunblock in SPF35

The most recent summer had got to be the sunniest. I remember always feeling exhausted during that time perhaps because of the humidity and heat. If there was one good thing that came out of that episode, it would have to be my strengthened devotion on sunblock LOL. Yeah, I wear facial sunblock but not very regularly because well, I get lazy. I am always rushing to work in the mornings that sometimes I intentionally skip applying it because it would set me back by a few minutes. Since summer, however, I have been faithful to these UV shields to the point that I’d feel guilty and restless when I don’t apply them.

Last year, I reviewed the Neutrogena thinking that it was the best that I could ever get my hands on. Boy was I wrong! Because it does not hold a candle to the sunblocks that I am currently rotating. Unlike Neutrogena, these do not sting my eyes and they dry faster too (which is a must if you are always in a hurry like me). My current sunblock arsenal is comprised of Mary Kay SPF30 Sunscreen, Shiseido Gentle Sun Protection Lotion for Sensitive Skin and Babies SPF 30, and my Obagi Nuderm Healthy Skin Protection SPF35. 

I will review the Obagi Nuderm Healthy Skin Protection SPF35 first as I use this more often than the other two. My review perhaps can be summarized by two words. My HG. As in Holy Grail. At 90 mL, this takes forever to consume. I’ve been using this almost every day since March and I am still halfway through the tube. Personally, I use just a little of it every application as its consistency is not runny unlike other sunblocks although beauty enthusiasts contend users should not skimp on using sunscreens. It leaves a whitish cast a few minutes after application but this only last for a few minutes. When it gets dry, it can serve as a good makeup base. It is also unscented which is another thing that I like about it. Just like Shiseido, it does not have that typical sunscreen-y scent that I associate to the smell of a thinner.

 

Item Blurb:
Active Ingredients : Octinoxate, 7.5%, Zinc Oxide 9%
Inactive Ingredients: Butylparaben, cetearyl alcohol, citric acid, diethanolamine cetyl phosphate, disodium edentate, ethylparaben, isobutylparaben, isopropyl palmitate, methylparaben, octyl stearate, phenoxyethanol, polyether, propylparaben, purified water, sodium hydroxide, triethoxycaprylysilane.

 

This sunblock is not widely available however. By this I mean that we cannot just buy it in any random department or drug store. In fact, I was only able to buy one with the help of a friend who considers this her HG sunblock too. It retails at $46-53 (approx. Php 2000) Yeah, I know. Not cheap noh? Good thing my friend gave me a generous discount for this.

What’s your HG sunblock?

Ciao!

Zoom In On: Loreal Colour Fresco Cream Eyeshadow

Hello girls!

I’m sorry for being unable to post new entries lately. I’m currently undergoing a personal crisis. Hopefully, I’d be able to get past this and be able to make the right decisions to make things better.

Anyway, I will try to post new entries to get my mind off things that have been troubling me for days now.

     (swatch of Loreal Bubbly)

This is a review of the Loreal Fresco Crème Eyeshadow in Bubbly. I’ve had this since last year and I liked it so much that I used to have two to three back-ups of this. I acquired recently MAC Shadestick in Beiging and I can say that the former is a good and inexpensive dupe of the latter. I use this mainly as an eyeshadow base to make my e/s look more vibrant. Please note that my eyelids are not that oily too so what works for me might not necessarily work for some of you.

         (violet e/s of the Stila All Dolled Up Palette, swatch on top without base, swatch in the bottom with Loreal Bubbly) 

Yay!
- gives a cool and refreshing feel some few seconds after being swiped on the lids
- creamy and relatively easy to spread and blend
- makes my e/s look more vibrant and longer-lasting
- some Ebay merchants sell this at an affordable price of Php 60
- available in a wide range of color
- works almost as well as the Shadestick without the exorbitant price

Nay!
- tends to clump on the tube especially when exposed to humidity
- may not be available locally
- not so attractive to look at when used alone

Hope you find this review helpful. 

Thanks girls!  

Zoom In On: MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer

For as long as I can remember, I have always been in search for the best concealer for my undereye area. Luckily for me, I have never really been pimple or acne-prone except when I’d occasionally have zits during pre-menstrual days. When I look for a concealer, I look for something that is not necessarily effective in concealing any facial scar but something that lightens my undereye area which is darker than the rest of my face when I’m au naturale.

I decided to try MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer hoping that this would be the perfect remedy to my problem.

Item Blurb (MAC Website):

A creamy concealer that provides full coverage with a natural matte finish. Brushes on with enough blend time to conceal any size of blemish. Rich formulation allows you to use a micro-amount of product to even out skin. Water-resistant and long-wearing.
5.5 g /0.19 US OZ US $16.50 / Php 900

(notice how close the shade the swatch shade is on my skintone, I don't know if you can see it though)

Yay!:

•  I got mine in NW25 shade and I would have to say that it matches my skin tone perfectly. I notice that this disappears right into my undereye area.
• Unlike some of the concealers I have tried, this does not settle into the fine lines under my eyes. 
• Its consistency is just perfect IMO. Not too creamy and not too dried out either. 
• Easy to blend and because it’s opaque in texture, very little is used every application. 
• It’s versatile as it can be applied through a concealer brush or through one’s fingers. Either way, the results are A-okay with me. 
• Its packaging is elegant and durable albeit, a little heavy. I read in one review that this “glass”(I don’t really know the more accurate technical term for it) packaging is crucial to making the content last longer.

(undereye area in the left is with MAC SS concealer, while the one of the right is sans any) 

Nay!:

• As for all MAC and other high-end makeup brands, it’s always the price ;)

Final Say: I’d choose this over MAC Studio Finish Concealer. It’s way better for concealing nasty undereye circles. Definitely HG-material. Still would want to try other brands though. 

Thanks chicas!  

Zoom In On: Liole Blooming Pinky Tint

Generally, I prefer wearing powder blushes to cheek tints. However, when the weather is as crazy hot and humid as it is these days, powder blushes can get easily melted by the tons of sweat we make. This made me reconsider using cheek tints. For my first foray in this type of cheek color, I chose Liole Blooming Pinky Tint. This beauty has garnered several raves from makeup addicts and had been declared to be the equally (if not better) effective dupe of Benefit’s Posie Tint. It was out of the question for me to get the latter since I am not willing to spend more than Php 1,000 for a cheek tint since I was not even sure if they would be “hiyang” with me.

Liole Pinky Tint features a “nail-polish” type of applicator which I thought was funny at first. I could only imagine how funny I’d look to people who did not know better. They’d think I’m crazy putting nail polish on my cheeks. 

 

Yay! 

• Has a bubblegummy scent that I love. The texture of the tint on initial application is thicker as compared to that of TBS lip and cheek tint (review to follow!).
• Does not dry fast upon application making it easier to blend on the cheeks. 
• Superb staying power (it stayed on my cheeks for more than 12 hours). 
• Less expensive yet works as great as more expensive cheek tints.

Nay!

• Shows up on my cheeks after two or more swipes.
• Smudges on my fingers (but can be easily removed by using a hand sanitizer). 
• Can be really tricky to apply and blend especially for those who are new at using cheek tints.
• Can be very inconvenient to use because of its packaging. 
• Not sold locally. 

 Thanks chicas!

Zoom In On: Prestige Vinyl Wear Lip Gloss

If you are lucky, you’d be able to find great bargains through Ebay.ph. There was a time when I’d buy something through this virtual store almost every week. I’m sure almost all veteran online shoppers have their own stories to tell regarding their Ebay best buys. On a personal note, I consider my Prestige Vinyl Wear Lip Glosses as one of my online best buys. These were sold at only Php 50 each. I got two shades, Merengue and Belly Dancing. I think the latter was only a freebie since I got a lot of items from the Ebay seller at that time.

Retailing at $4.95, these are really great drugstore lip glosses.  For a better look at other shades, read this. 

I got Merengue, which is apparently a dupe for Chanel Glossimer in Electric.

 While Merengue can be described as "coral-orange", Belly Dancing has more violet tones and dries up to a darker, mauve red shade.

 Yay!

Ø These babies are super pigmented.
Ø Aside from the superior color-payoff, these also have superb staying power. (Better than that of MAC and Stila, IMO)
Ø Can be worn alone or on top of a lippie. (I prefer wearing it alone since the shades I got are very pigmented.
Ø The vinyl formulation lends high-wattage shine to the lips.

Nay!

Ø Texture is rather sticky and feels thick upon application.

Ø Shade appears to be darker right after being applied on the lips. (It neutralizes after some time however.)

Ø Packaging leaves so much to be desired though. (Applicator dipped to the other half of the tube every application.)

Ø May not be sold as cheaply when bought from traditional stores like Beauty Bar.

How about you ladies, what’s your Ebay best buy?

Thanks chicas for taking the time to read this post!

Zoom In On: MAC TLC in Pink Fish

I have read positive reviews about MAC’s Tinted Lip Conditioners (TLCs). So, when an opportunity to acquire this item was dangled before me, I immediately grabbed it. I got Pink Fish, one of the TLCs in the Hello Kitty Collection launched last year. Retailing at Php 850, this is actually value for money considering how huge the container is. I also love the trademark vanilla scent that it has. Scents in lip products do not really bother me. In fact, I have grown to love MAC lippies because of their distinct scent. The vanilla whiff is even more pronounced with the TLC.

Pink Fish is often described as a sheer milky pink shade. Personally, I thought it was too sheer and looked rather pale on my lips. I think this would have been perfect if paired with really intense, vibrant, or smokey eye makeup. Unfortunately, that is not characteristic of me. Therefore, I only used this primarily for moisturizing my lips and not really for aesthetic purposes. As for its moisturizing properties, I find it rather at par with that of Burt’s Bees and Venus & Mars’ Smooch lip balm, both of which are significantly cheaper than the former.

When this was fairly new, I made sure to bring this daily. However, I soon observed that this had become one of the least used items in my makeup kit. Why? Because you would need to use a lip brush for this. Well, you could also dip your pinky on it but I find that unhygienic. I actually have a lip brush that I bring daily but unfortunately, using it for touch-ups is such a hassle for me. Now I understand why many beauty bloggers wished that its packaging be changed.

Truth be told, I have not been that impressed with the Pink Fish TLC. However, I might entertain the idea of purchasing another one in the future. This time though, I will choose a more vibrant shade. Despite the so-so experience with this item, I am so grateful to my online sister (ZM, I heart u sis!) for giving me the chance to try this.

Zoom In On: Nars Blush in Luster

I’m so crazy with Luster. I love this so much that I am contemplating on getting a back-up of this soon. It’s shade is unique and quite versatile and I love that there is not that many dupes of this shade unlike Orgasm. Just like other Nars blush shadesw, its shimmery finish is so subtle that it would not overwhelm one’s face. I was compelled to get this when Lucy Torres recommended this particular shade in her Phil. Star column. (It’s obvious that I regularly read her Wednesday column noh?)

In addition, my online research revealed that Luster would be really flattering especially to those with lighter skin tones. Madly, a shade that is similar to Luster, is said to be more flattering to those with darker skin tones. By the by, I am happy that I found this because it provides me with an alternative during those times when I don’t feel like wearing the more common peach-pink blush shades. 

I was not able to take pictures of Nars Luster swatches but I will leave you with an FOTD. Trust me, its shade on the pan may look like blah but it really is gorgeous when appplied on the cheeks.