Showing posts with label FOTD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FOTD. Show all posts

Review: Etude House LUCIDarling Over the RainBlusher in #03 Apricot

Friday, November 01, 2013

Hey guys! I'm back with another much requested review from my last Etude House Haul. Today I'll be reviewing Etude House's LUCIDarling Over the RainBlusher in #03 Apricot.

Etude House LUCIDarling Over the RainBlusher in #03 Apricot Review

So this blusher claims to be a prismatic multi-colored cheek blush and highlighter for expressing all the coors of the rainbow. I wouldn't say all the colors of the rainbow, but it's pretty close ahaha.

Etude House LUCIDarling Over the RainBlusher in #03 Apricot Review

Like the packaging says, this is a blush-highlighter. If you're expecting a matte blush, you're going to be disappointed. This blush is shimmer galore! The back of the packaging gives you tips and instructions of how to use each color of the blush individually or how to use it mixed all together :)

Packaging, Durability Design and Quality
As always, Etude excels in its packaging with the cute girly ribbon accent in this chic blusher. The blusher is packaged with a good-sized mirror and the plastic isn't too flimsy either. It comes with a small brush applicator which is surprisingly soft. If it were a little bigger and denser, I could totally see myself using this everyday, but because it's so small, it's only ever good for light application or touch up.

Etude House LUCIDarling Over the RainBlusher in #03 Apricot Review

Etude House LUCIDarling Over the RainBlusher in #03 Apricot Review

The blush itself comes in five shimmery colors within the range of peach-apricot colors. There'a  pink, peach, apricot, light orange and champagne colors all arranged in a cute rainbow design on the palette of the blush. If there's one thing that the small brush is good for, it's for isolating each color so you can use it on its own, or mixed together with other colors! The shades range from a semi-deep peach to a nice light one for a highlight, so there's a lot you can play with when going for more dimension in the face.So technically, this blush is almost a five in one (more if you consider the permutations when you mix and match the colors).

Color, Finish and Pigmentation
I'd say this blush is pretty decently pigmented. The colors are very subtly different from each other, but what's really noticeable is the distinct sheen each one gives! This blush gives a lot of glow, so if you're into that nice fresh glowy look, this is the blush for you. I wouldn't wear this out in broad daylight however because the shimmer, although very fine, is a bit dense and can be a little overwhelming in direct sunlight. I wouldn't wear this out on a sunny day lest I be mistaken for a Cullen.

Etude House LUCIDarling Over the RainBlusher in #03 Apricot Review

When mixed together, the colors give a very 3D glow that gives flat planes body and volume. You can see this effect pretty well on the back on my hand, but it works wonders on the cheeks themselves. However, because this blush is so shimmery, it also has a powdery consistency to it, thus you can expect a lot of fallout on the palette itself. If you're using a brush ake sure to dip into the blush with a light hand to avoid the mess!

Below you can see how the blush looks when used s a highlighter on my cheeks (mixed all together) and with the darkest pink on the hollows of my cheek. The color isn't very noticeable because I have very yellow toned skin, but it's enough to give my face a nice natural glow. This color will probably show up better on people with lighter and pink toned skin :)

Etude House LUCIDarling Over the RainBlusher in #03 Apricot Review

Another use that I've found for this blush is for highlighting collarbones and parts of your neck/body which you want highlighted in pictures or for formal occasions. I've used this blush on more than one occasion for my collar bone and shoulders when wearing a strapless dress :)

Alternatively you can use this or the champagne color that comes with it for more subtle highlights on the nose, cupid's bow, ears (yes! you can highlight parts of your ear) and browbone.

So what do you guys think?

Look forward to more posts! And have a happy long weekend everybody!

Ada, signing out.

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Review: Etude House Etoinette Special Kit

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Hey guys! Like I promised, I'm back with one of the most requested reviews from my readers. I bring you a little walkthrough post of my experience with Etude House's Etoinette Special Kit, which includes an Etoinette Heart Blusher in PK001 Pink Petal Kiss, Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips in PPK02 Dewy Petal Kiss, an Etoinette Rose Brush and an Etoinette Princess Mirror.

Etude House's Etoinette Special Kit, Etoinette Heart Blusher in PK001 Pink Petal Kiss, Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips in PPK02 Dewy Petal Kiss, an Etoinette Rose Brush and an Etoinette Princess Mirror Review

Design and Aesthetics
I think one of the selling points of this Special Kit which accounts for its rather steep price is the sheer quality of its aesthetics. Never have I seen packaging as princess-y and intricate as this. These pieces, despite being functional makeup tools seem to deserve their own special place in anybody's makeup mantle. It's almost a shame to have to use these sometimes, and I'm sure most would probably prefer just leaving these as decorative accents to an everyday vanity desk.

Etude House's Etoinette Special Kit, Etoinette Heart Blusher in PK001 Pink Petal Kiss, Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips in PPK02 Dewy Petal Kiss, an Etoinette Rose Brush and an Etoinette Princess Mirror Review

Even the box has a quaint unique quality to it, and has a magnetic latch, perfect for keeping knick-knacks in if you can't find it in you to throw it away.

The one little qualm I have about this set is just how sickeningly pink it is, haha. That's not entirely a bad thing for people who love pink, but I think I've mentioned quite a bit that I'm not the biggest fan of pink. The pastel pink of this set is pleasant to look at despite my aversion for pink. I just wished it matched the rest of my room's interior better ahaha.

Etude House's Etoinette Special Kit, Etoinette Heart Blusher in PK001 Pink Petal Kiss, Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips in PPK02 Dewy Petal Kiss, an Etoinette Rose Brush and an Etoinette Princess Mirror Review

Aesthetics aside, I'm sure you're all quite curious as to how each piece of the set actually works. For this next part of this review or walkthrough, I think I'll skip the mirror, because you know, it's a mirror.

Etude House's Etoinette Special Kit, Etoinette Heart Blusher in PK001 Pink Petal Kiss, Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips in PPK02 Dewy Petal Kiss, an Etoinette Rose Brush and an Etoinette Princess Mirror Review

Haha. Scroll down for a review on the brush, blush and lipstick ;)

Etoinette Rose Brush
Okay, so this brush is ridiculously fancy. I don't entirely see the practicality of designing brush bristles into the shape of a flower, powder or foundation-finish-wise, and it really just makes it all the more painful to use the brush in the first place ahaha.

Etude House's Etoinette Special Kit, Etoinette Heart Blusher in PK001 Pink Petal Kiss, Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips in PPK02 Dewy Petal Kiss, an Etoinette Rose Brush and an Etoinette Princess Mirror Review

I mean, look at it. It's just so ornate and cute. It's like a really gay kabuki brush fashioned in Europe ahahaha. Again, I'm not fond of the pink but meh.
Where density of the bristles and softness is concerned, this brush is decent, but it isn't amazing. It's sufficiently dense that squeezing it and rubbing your finger against it puts up a little resistance as seen in the picture below.

Etude House's Etoinette Special Kit, Etoinette Heart Blusher in PK001 Pink Petal Kiss, Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips in PPK02 Dewy Petal Kiss, an Etoinette Rose Brush and an Etoinette Princess Mirror Review

The bristles are still a bit on the rough side IMHO. I think it's how they're cut and arranged into a flower shape. I'm just not used to it, so It's really weird running this brush against my skin. For powder blush, however, this is sufficient.

I just can't see myself using this brush for powder foundation because of the awkward feeling it leaves on my skin, and the uneven finish it tends to give because of the pattern. Plus, the bristles stain x_x And this brush also sheds.

I actually regret using this brush because otherwise, it would've been such a cute decorative piece. x_x Owell.

Tools aside, let's get on to the actual makeup!
Etude House's Etoinette Special Kit, Etoinette Heart Blusher in PK001 Pink Petal Kiss, Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips in PPK02 Dewy Petal Kiss, an Etoinette Rose Brush and an Etoinette Princess Mirror Review

Okay, so I got a little too creative with this review ahaha. Forgive me.

Let's start off with the 
Etoinette Heart Blusher in PK001 Pink Petal Kiss

Etude House's Etoinette Special Kit, Etoinette Heart Blusher in PK001 Pink Petal Kiss, Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips in PPK02 Dewy Petal Kiss, an Etoinette Rose Brush and an Etoinette Princess Mirror Review

I think this is my favorite piece in the kit, because not only is it ornate and pleasing to look at, the concept behind is also quite cute. Similar to pearl blushers by Physician's Formula, Etude takes it a step further by shaping each individual blush brick into a heart and then encasing it into this pink cup of princess-y goodness.

When you first get your kit, each heart is carefully packaged in this plastic container. It's pretty powdery and full of fallout and each heart is particularly delicate, so you have to be very careful so as not to break a heart. (Just like in real life! Lol)
Etude House's Etoinette Special Kit, Etoinette Heart Blusher in PK001 Pink Petal Kiss, Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips in PPK02 Dewy Petal Kiss, an Etoinette Rose Brush and an Etoinette Princess Mirror Review

The hearts themselves come in three shades of pink, from left to right in the picture  below: a shimmery fuchsia pink, a pearly baby pink and a pale pink-white. You could probably use an individual heart like chalk but I don't want to chance breaking one ahaha.

Etude House's Etoinette Special Kit, Etoinette Heart Blusher in PK001 Pink Petal Kiss, Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips in PPK02 Dewy Petal Kiss, an Etoinette Rose Brush and an Etoinette Princess Mirror Review

I'm sure there's a way of pulling off each shade individually and I'm particularly interested in using the lightest shade as a highlighter because it's has a very iridescent color to it. You can't really tell from the picture below but the pearl color is my favorite :) They all have very subtle shimmery finishes to them however, so if you're not a fan of shimmer and glimmer, this probably isn't your type of blush.

Etude House's Etoinette Special Kit, Etoinette Heart Blusher in PK001 Pink Petal Kiss, Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips in PPK02 Dewy Petal Kiss, an Etoinette Rose Brush and an Etoinette Princess Mirror Review

Mixed together the blush has a multi-dimensional feel to it and shows off different depths of pink from different angles, but again, it's a very subtle blush that can be layered on as heavily as needed.

For that purpose, the puff that comes with it is quite useful. It's good at packing on the blush, but not very useful for actually getting the color from the blush bricks onto the puff itself. I find myself having second thoughts about patting the puff onto the hearts themselves for fear of breaking them.

Etude House's Etoinette Special Kit, Etoinette Heart Blusher in PK001 Pink Petal Kiss, Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips in PPK02 Dewy Petal Kiss, an Etoinette Rose Brush and an Etoinette Princess Mirror Review

It's a lot easier to use a soft fluffy brush or a kabuki brush (like the one that comes with this kit) for that purpose.

Etude House's Etoinette Special Kit, Etoinette Heart Blusher in PK001 Pink Petal Kiss, Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips in PPK02 Dewy Petal Kiss, an Etoinette Rose Brush and an Etoinette Princess Mirror Review

So how does it look when applied?


Etude House's Etoinette Special Kit, Etoinette Heart Blusher in PK001 Pink Petal Kiss, Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips in PPK02 Dewy Petal Kiss, an Etoinette Rose Brush and an Etoinette Princess Mirror Review

Okay, so I'll be really really honest. This blush looks AMAZING on camera. It really does. There's this nice glowy feel to it, and the pink shows up wonderfully against my skin. But IRL, I'm really not a huge fan of overtly pink blushes. I always want my blushes to have a hint of orange, red or plum in them and something that's just plain pink just sits really oddly on my natural skin tone. Plus the shimmer is definitely not something you'd like dealing with on a normal day.

I can see myself wearing this blush for a gala occasion (on the level of a ball/prom but not for a formal dinner or function) for that additional oomph and pop, but definitely not for a normal day out.

How about the lipstick though?

Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips in PPK02 Dewy Petal Kiss
Like the blush, the Crystal Shine Lips is really pretty look at from its aesthetics alone. It's one of those lipsticks you can imagine Princess Aurora using or packing in her purse haha. The gold detailing on its cover and around its rim is also really eye catching, and even the bullet is designed with the signature Etoinette 'E'.

Etude House's Etoinette Special Kit, Etoinette Heart Blusher in PK001 Pink Petal Kiss, Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips in PPK02 Dewy Petal Kiss, an Etoinette Rose Brush and an Etoinette Princess Mirror Review

The lipstick itself is a bright mauve-y old rose type of color. In natural light it's a very neutral pink, but in fluorescent light it comes up a little more on the blue-er tone. It looks really opaque and creamy on the bullet, but when applied it's actually quite sheer and natural looking.

Etude House's Etoinette Special Kit, Etoinette Heart Blusher in PK001 Pink Petal Kiss, Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips in PPK02 Dewy Petal Kiss, an Etoinette Rose Brush and an Etoinette Princess Mirror Review

It's also really moisturizing without being too thick. I've said before that I'm not fond of pinks on my skin, and I prefer them much less on my lips considering how naturally dark my lips are, but I actually quite like this pink. It gives my lips a healthy glow and sheen with a similar finish to a the My Jelly Lips Talk with more color pay off. It has sheer color coverage but it can definitely be built up for more color. I'm not entirely sure you can bump this up to be completely opaque however, so if you want to hide your original lip color completely you may want to consider a lip concealer :)

Etude House's Etoinette Special Kit, Etoinette Heart Blusher in PK001 Pink Petal Kiss, Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips in PPK02 Dewy Petal Kiss, an Etoinette Rose Brush and an Etoinette Princess Mirror Review

So unlike the blush which I wouldn't sport on a daily basis, I definitely think this lipstick is a keeper :) It's a bit shame to bite into the bullet with everyday use though -- but at least when you finish the lip color you can always keep it as a decorative piece.

All in all, the blush and lipstick that come with this kit are supposedly complements of each other, but doubt I would use the blush and the lip together. I think for the brightness that the blush gives, I would use a nude-er lipstick or for the lipstick, I'd use a more muted cheek color. So either one or the other, probably not both.

In pictures, however, this duo works amazingly well haha.

Etude House's Etoinette Special Kit, Etoinette Heart Blusher in PK001 Pink Petal Kiss, Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips in PPK02 Dewy Petal Kiss, an Etoinette Rose Brush and an Etoinette Princess Mirror Review

Wow, looking at the above picture is like a trip down memory lane haha. I've lost so much weight since then D: This picture was taken late August so you can pretty much tell how long this review has been sitting on my blog pending list X_x I'm sorry for the delay!

So what do you think? Is the Special Kit worth the extra price? :P

Expect more backed up posts and some new ones quite soon!

Ada, signing out!

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Review: GEO Angel Grey (CM 835) Contact Lenses from MapleLens.com

Friday, August 23, 2013

Hey guys! I'm back with another contact lens review! Don't worry, this will be the last in a while (unless I happen to get another pair hehe).

So I've been having this little love affair with grey lenses lately. I usually go for brown because of my natural eye color, but I find that grey lenses suit me just as well. These GEO Angel Grey (CM 835) lenses have been on my wishlist for quite a while now and the awesome people of MapleLens.com were kind enough to make one of my wishes come true haha. These are now currently one of my all-time faves at the moment

Review on GEO Angel Grey (CM 835) Contact Lenses from MapleLens.com Ada Agupitan

Design
They're not the most natural looking of lenses but their design is subtle enough to get away with wearing them without makeup that's too heavy. The design is actually quite pixelated and there are times when it just turns me off, but the pixelation of this design makes the lenses blend a lot better into my naturally dark brown eyes. The limbal ring on this one is also quite thick, so while they're only 14.2 mm they still have that very very subtle enlargement to them.

Review on GEO Angel Grey (CM 835) Contact Lenses from MapleLens.com Ada Agupitan

I wouldn't call these lenses "dolly" because they don't give you that dolly-doe eyed look, but they're perfect for that chic fashion statement when you just want a little bit of oomph in your makeup for the day.

I apologize for the lack of window/natural light shots for this review. The weather's been ridiculously bad these days and even in midday it feels like it's six o'clock in the evening. So I've had to deal with flash lighting for this entire post. I can definitely say, however, that the design on these ones are quite striking, even in natural light, without being too vampy or unnatural looking.

Enlargement
You can pretty much tell from the pics that these lenses don't really enlarge the eyes too much, but I actually really like that! Some people prefer their lenses to be a bit on the smaller diameter side and I am definitely one of those people.

The subtle enlargement makes it so that even with very simple makeup (as in the pic below), you can still pull off the look :)

Review on GEO Angel Grey (CM 835) Contact Lenses from MapleLens.com Ada Agupitan

Comfort and Wear
At 38% water content, these lenses are pretty comfy to wear! I didn't feel them all that much on my eyes and they didn't dry out! If you're wondering about the redness of my eyes, however, it's because I had just woken up in the pictures hahaha. I hope you guys don't mind.

I wore these lenses for 5 hours straight with no signs of blurry vision or drying :) Yay for comfy lenses!

I was actually feeling quite Japanese that day with my little odango bun and fluffy gradient Promod wool sweater. I bet this is how those Japanese Pop Magazine models feel hahaha.

Review on GEO Angel Grey (CM 835) Contact Lenses from MapleLens.com Ada Agupitan

So what do you guys think? You can check these lenses out at MapleLens.com.

Also, don't forget to join my ongoing Etude House Product Giveaway which runs until September 18! Click the image below for more details:

Ada no Nikki's Etude House Giveaway

Ada, signing out!

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Etude House Play House Princess Academy + Pink Artiste 2013

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Hey guys! This post has been put off long enough! Today I'll be blogging about my fantasmical experience at Etude House Philippines' Play House Princess Academy 2013 held at SM North EDSA The Block last July 28!

Etude House Philipppines Play House Princess Academy + Pink Artiste 2013

Needless to say, this was undeniably the pink-est event I've ever been to, and I'll be honest -- I'm not usually the biggest fan of pink, but Etude really knows how to pull it off and the air of princess-y (and prince-y) cuteness was saturated all throughout the event!

Etude House Philipppines Play House Princess Academy + Pink Artiste 2013

The Play House Princess Academy is, I think, Etude's way of saying thank you to all its valued customers out there with two days of fun activities, makeup workshops and cute pink sweets. The event played host to a number of different attendees - little kids, teens, girls who will stay forever young ;) (*coughmecough*).

Etude House Philippines' President, Andrea Amado wasn't lying when she said that Etude aims to make every customer feel like royalty. So I tried my best to live up to the occasion and dressing in my best cutesy outfit.

Etude House Philipppines Play House Princess Academy + Pink Artiste 2013 Showdown Ada Agupitan

Okay, so it's not exactly that cutesy. My makeup was pretty neutral with nude-pink accents on the eyes and lips and my hair was more of an intricate cheat than anything. And while I tried to look as cute and pink as possible to suit the occasion, my outfit turned into more of a pin-up crossover with a milkmaid than a princess haha. But really, I'm not one of those cutesy types of girls - I'd rather stay true to my style but also bring some of my own princess-y cuteness to the table :P

While engaging yourself with the various activities, you also have the opportunity of brushing up on your makeup and fashion know-how with all the workshops Etude House organized just for you!

Etude House Philipppines Play House Princess Academy + Pink Artiste 2013

Activities like Kiss the Prince were definitely a huge hit and there were free makeovers galore to make you feel like a true Etude House Princess. Not to mention you get a cute princess-y souvenir photo afterwards.

Etude House Philipppines Play House Princess Academy + Pink Artiste 2013
*Ninja Shot of my good friend, Amz from Punky Bunny http://amz88.blogspot.com/. Please don't kill me haha*

Unfortunately, I wasn't exactly in the position to enjoy all the activities of the event, having been asked to be on standby backstage. As a result, I didn't even get a chance to meet all the awesome blogger people I had hoped to see during the event itself D: *sadface*. I eventually just gave my ticket to my good friend and partner in girly-crime, Joanna haha. Full support all the way :P

Etude House Philipppines Play House Princess Academy + Pink Artiste 2013 Showdown Ada Agupitan

While Joanna was out enjoying the activities, I was backstage, being utterly starstruck at the number of celebrities there. I'm not a huge follower of local media so I barely knew anybody, but good thing Kyala, one of my fellow Pink Artiste Finalists, and her sister were there to clue me in.

Etude House Philipppines Play House Princess Academy + Pink Artiste 2013 Showdown Ada Agupitan Kyala Cristine Oplado Shebby Liquete
Backstage with the Pink Artiste 2013 Finalists, Shebby Liquete and Kyala Cristine Oplado

I was surprised as to how down to earth all the celebrities were, and while I didn't exactly have the guts to muster up the courage to actually talk to them, let alone ask for a picture with them, at least I can say I got to see them face to face haha.

Etude House Philipppines Play House Princess Academy + Pink Artiste 2013

The event kicked off with a few words from Etude House President Andrea Amado and the bulk of the event was hosted by the lovely Carla Humphries. There were guest workshops by Ryuji Shiomitsu and the lovely Bianca Valerio, not to mention appearances by Coleen Garcia, Brett Jackson, Miles Ocampo, Paul Salas, Niel Coleta, Ella Cruz, and Dominic Roque! Whew! I'm surprised I remember all of their names LOL. Not to mention, last year's Pink Artiste, Orange Tuazon was there as well!

Despite the star-studded ensemble of guests, we were all surprised to hear that the "main event" was actually our makeup showdown.

Etude House Philipppines Play House Princess Academy + Pink Artiste 2013 Showdown Ada Agupitan Kyala Cristine Oplado Shebby Liquete

I am hardly an expert at applying makeup on other people. I can only reall vouch for makeup on myself. That being said, I tried my best to do justice to the products provided by Etude. We were all rather caught off guard actually. We were hanging on the basis of having 5 minutes to pick up and organize the products we were to use, but because of time constraints, that entire segment was cut and we had to just go straight on ahead to the actual application :P

Despite that, we all managed to finish a Glam Princess look within 15 minutes - albeit my model looked like a hot mess haha. I definitely don't do makeup well under pressure x_x

Etude House Philippines Princess Academy
Not your best angle Andie -- blame the photographer haha.

A special thanks to the lovely Andie Reyes, one of my underclassmen in college, for allowing me to ravage her face with my lackluster professional makeup skills haha. Just goes to show you how she could probably pull of any look :P Seriously, you could probably paint her face brown and she'd still look high fashion.

In the end, Shebby bagged first, I got second and Kyala walked away with third! But by the end of it all, we all felt like winners. We also felt like ants, by the way, considering how tall Bianca and Carla are. We look like hobbits in comparison haha! But like I told Kyala - we're not short. We're FUN-sized. haha

Etude House Philipppines Play House Princess Academy + Pink Artiste 2013 Showdown Ada Agupitan Kyala Cristine Oplado Shebby Liquete
Shebby's absolutely glowing, isn't she? Congrats and do us proud!

Despite not getting first, this truly had been a wonderful learning experience for me and has motivated me to try and pursue makeup to greater heights :) That way I can be the first Molecular Biologist / Makeup Artist / Fashion Model / Blogger to grace the covers of renowned magazines haha.

Also, I got to walk away with these awesome prizes. Tada~! Three mystery bags of Etude House products worth 20,000PHP!

Etude House Haul

There's still a lot more in store for me, and for my readers *wink wink*. I really would not have been able to come this far without you and your support, so I have a few things planned ahead!

Stay tuned for Part II of this series of Etude House posts, my Etude House Play House Princess Academy Haul! Stay tuned~!

Ada, signing out.

Photos courtesy of Brandon Sy.
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Review: ARTDECO Long-Lasting Oil-Free Foundation #18 Sweet Honey

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Hey guys! I'm back with another review, and this time it's on my first foundation in ages. I've laid off foundation after the advent of BB Cream, but I've found that for occasions that require a more put-together look that isn't very reflective, it's easier to pull off the look with some good old foundation.

When I saw ARTDECO's impressive display at my local Beauty Bar I was enamored by their face products. And if you've been following my blog you'll probably have seen this foundation on my June 2013 Wishlist. Yep, ARTDECO's Long-Lasting Oil-Free Foundation in #18 Sweet Honey is definitely one of my faves right now.
ARTDECO Long-Lasting Oil-Free Foundation #18 Sweet Honey Review

Claims
So the product is pretty straightforward and basic. It's a "long-lasting oil-free foundation with naturally mattifying effect and protects against UV rays."

"The delicate formula with medium coverage allows an even application, refines pores and stays fresh for hours. Oil-absorbing agents control shine. Hyaluronic acid provides your skin with extra moisture and a balanced complexion. Additionally SPF 20 protects against UV rays. Enriched with vitamin E and suitable for all skin types".

 I like the fact that it's oil-free, mattifying and controls oil, as well as has SPF without the pesky reflectiveness to it. For the actual product write-up and ingredients you can click the images below to enlarge them :)
ARTDECO Long-Lasting Oil-Free Foundation #18 Sweet Honey Review

ARTDECO Long-Lasting Oil-Free Foundation #18 Sweet Honey Review

Packaging and Dispensing
The product comes in a chic squeeze bottle which makes dispensing the product straightforward and easy. It reminds me of my old MaxFactor foundation. Only thing is I can predict having difficulties getting all the product out once I start running out and it'll be difficult getting every last bit of product out. But that's a problem I'll deal with when I reach that point.

Consistency, Coverage and Color
So the consistency of this product is pretty much typical of any liquid foundation. It's not particularly runny and because it's oil free, it feels a little thicker and less greasy. It's somewhat of a challenge to blend, but nothing that isn't workable with a good foundation brush, sponge, or even your fingers.

ARTDECO Long-Lasting Oil-Free Foundation #18 Sweet Honey Review

It's medium coverage, as you can see from the above image, but it's definitely buildable. From the tube, #18 Sweet Honey it has a nice yellow undertone, which I thought would suit my skin quite well. But for some reason, the yellow undertone disappears when blended out. Which isn't actually a bad thing in my case, since it neutralizes the yellow tone on my face without being too light or too dark on my face. I think this shade is perfect for Filipina skin and a plus is that ARTDECO has a pretty decent range of color to choose from :)

ARTDECO Long-Lasting Oil-Free Foundation #18 Sweet Honey Review

It goes on pretty nicely and if you apply it moderately it barely feels like I have anything on. Which is good considering the coverage and mattifying effect it gives despite its light-weight consistency. But a word of caution, this foundation is very easy to over-apply. People who are used to BB Creams are particularly susceptible to this because BB Creams are usually more forgiving with heavy application, but for this foundation, less is more.

Wear and Longevity
This foundation doesn't kid when it says it keeps your face matte. The first picture below is with the foundation applied freshly (and yes, my bangs are back. I had my hair cut a month ago, I just wasn't able to make a post about it haha). Might I say I love the finish it has on my skin! Plus it suits my skintone perfectly and there's no white cast. I didn't even need to set it with powder. But for people with oilier skin, I'm sure wear would probably be better with a nice thin setting powder.

ARTDECO Long-Lasting Oil-Free Foundation #18 Sweet Honey Review

This is my face after six hours of wear. Practically no difference if you ask me. Just a little bit of wear under my eyes, around my nose and mouth area but that's it. My face is still pretty much matte (just a little bit of shine) but overall I'm pretty impressed with this foundation.

ARTDECO Long-Lasting Oil-Free Foundation #18 Sweet Honey Review

Of course, this doesn't have any supplementary claims like whitening or anti-aging, but it's pretty good for what it claims to do.

I don't use this foundation everyday of course. My face dailies are comprised of my Face Shop Aqua Tinted BB Cream or FairyDrops Candy Bar BB Cream applied on top of either Etude House Baby Choux Base or Tony Moly Luminous Pure Aura CC Cream.

But for special occasions this one is my new HG Foundation.

Price and Quantity
Despite how well this foundation functions however, I'm a bit miffed about the price. I'm fortunate to have received this foundation as a gift from my friend, but normally this would have cost a whopping 1,350 PHP (~31 USD) for only 30mL of product. I'd probably repurchase, but I'll definitely try to make this tube last before I do haha.

So to sum it all up:

Pros:
Matches my skin tone (also has a very wide color selection)
Doesn't oxidize on my skin
Doesn't break me out
Medium-to-full coverage
Not too heavy
Controls oil very well
Matte finish
Lasts six ours or more
Water-resistant
Oil-free
Doesn't smudge or rub off on clothing

Cons
Somewhat difficult to blend
Pricey
The squeeze bottle may be problematic in the future

So what do you guys think? I have more reviews coming up on a new mascara and a lot of new lenses, so watch out for those! See you soon!

Ada, signing out :)
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Miss Bella Cosmetics X CL The Baddest Female Makeup

Sunday, June 09, 2013

Hey guys! Today I'm back with a rather exciting post which includes a some wonderful goodies sent to me by the wonderful people at Miss Bella PH as well as some pretty inspired makeup using the products I'm just about to show you!

Miss Bella PH Cosmetics 120 Color Warm Rainbow Combo Blush Contour Palette Review and Feature


The people at Miss Bella PH were kind enough to send me a few makeup palettes to review and use to create some looks to share with you today!

Miss Bella PH Cosmetics 120 Color Warm Rainbow Combo Blush Contour Palette Review and Feature

Today I'll be sharing with you a few looks that I've created with the Miss Bella Contour and Blush Palette (Top), the 120 Color Warm Palette (Bottom Left), and the 120 Color Combo Palette (Bottom Right).

These palettes are extremely versatile and contain almost every shade you can possibly think of! And if you're a fan of color, there is also a 120 Color Rainbow Palette available, that has rainbow brights in matte, shimmer and pearlized shades.

The colors available on this palette are reasonably pigmented, and are dupes for countless shadows out there in the market. They're not too chalky and are very easy to blend and don't crease over time!  The removable tiers also make them really convenient if you want to mix and match the colors from different palettes and the packaging is chic, practical and no-fuss.

I spent a few days wracking my brains as to how to properly make use of the wonderful colors that these palettes had to order and the answer was right in front of me with one of the latest releases 1/4 of the female K-Pop Group, 2NE1 - CL The Baddest Female.

I can't exactly say that I'm the biggest fan of CL's latest release, but the song's MV is alive with rich fashion, style and not to mention the wide array of makeup the CL sports in the MV.

2NE1 CL Baddest Female Makeup Tutorial FOTD

2NE1 CL Baddest Female Makeup Tutorial FOTD

See what I mean? CL is known as a huge style icon, and while her makeup isn't always the most wearable normally, it's perfect for parties or if you just want to make a huge impression right when you step through the door. Her makeup focuses widely on thick eye liner which draws attention to the eyes and works for both people with double lids and those without. There's a lot to choose from in her repertoire of looks, ranging from dramatic neutrals to pops of bright citrus-y color. I've recreated two of the looks from her MV below using the palettes sent to me by Miss Bella.

2NE1 CL Baddest Female Makeup Tutorial FOTD

One of my favorite looks from the MV is the strong liner + neutral eye that CL sports at the start of her MV.  The muted shadow draws a lot of attention to her smooth skin an sculpted face structure, and the soft but prominent brow frames the eyes subtly.

2NE1 CL Baddest Female Makeup Tutorial FOTD

I used colors from the 120 Color Warm Palette to create depth in my eye, and thick liner to mask my double lid. The range of browns available also make useful eye brow powder, and when set with a clear eyebrow mascara or gel, stay put for an eternity.
Miss Bella PH Cosmetics 120 Color Warm Rainbow Combo Blush Contour Palette Review and Feature

Miss Bella PH Cosmetics 120 Color Warm Rainbow Combo Blush Contour Palette Review and Feature Miss Bella PH Cosmetics 120 Color Warm Rainbow Combo Blush Contour Palette Review and Feature

For this look, the Miss Bella Blush and Contour Palette's darker bronzer is perfect for the cheek contour, and blending in can be achieved with the lighter bronzer. The orange-red blush also matches CL's look perfectly and the matte white contour powder adds dimension to the cheeks, nose and browbone.

Miss Bella PH Cosmetics 120 Color Warm Rainbow Combo Blush Contour Palette Review and Feature

Another look that I thoroughly appreciated was the citrus eyesheadow she sported at the last minute of her MV. It gives a perfectly tropical feel and the strong liner makes it look even more dramatic.

2NE1 CL Baddest Female Makeup Tutorial FOTD

The citrus colors in the 120 Color Combo Palette are perfect to recreate this look.

Miss Bella PH Cosmetics 120 Color Warm Rainbow Combo Blush Contour Palette Review and Feature


Miss Bella PH Cosmetics 120 Color Warm Rainbow Combo Blush Contour Palette Review and Feature Miss Bella PH Cosmetics 120 Color Warm Rainbow Combo Blush Contour Palette Review and Feature

I used two different shades of light green on my lid, a deep green for the outer corner of my eye and a bright orange for my crease, trying to make out the blending of colors as much as I could in CL's MV. I also highlighted my brow with a lemonade colored shade and muted some orange with a bit of brown for my lower lashline.
2NE1 CL Baddest Female Makeup Tutorial FOTD

2NE1 CL Baddest Female Makeup Tutorial FOTD

So as you can see, the colors are pretty pigmented and there's a lot you can do with this palette. Not to mention the Miss Bella PH shop is based here in the Philippines, so no international shipping fee!

You guys should definitely check them out if you have the time! They sell a wide array of cosmetics, cosmetic organizers, accessory organizers and hair accessories. It's basically a kikay girl's dream come true haha.
So that's it for now! I hope you enjoyed these looks and the product feature! If you guys have any questions, comments or suggestions, please do feel free to leave them in the comments below! I really love hearing from you guys.

Ada, signing out.

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