MAC Studio Fix C30, MAC Speak Louder lipstick and Few More Hauls...

                                                      
  Hello everyone, gosh! it's been like another century since I last posted. And it's already April! It's just that so many things are happening to me that i sometimes feel zapped of energy to even blog or talk. Most of the stuffs i bought are still unused and they just keep piling up. Will have to do something about that soon..hehe:-)


I arrived here in Manila 2 weeks ago. And for awhile jetlag hit me which is always a bummer. Also this coming April 22-May 1, my family and I are leaving again. This time we're going to Sydney, Australia to spend Holy Week there. Whew! So tiring! I just hope i'll be able to control my shopping urge again. 

MAC Studio Fix C30

 So the product I'm gonna be posting now is a popular one...MAC Studio Fix. I remember loving and being crazy about this way back in college. It gave me that faux flawless complexion look. I remember bugging my mom to buy me this and all she'd say is that I don't need to put too much makeup on. But of course, my stubborn streak always prevails. Hehe! :-)

Through the years, the packaging still hasn't changed

It's still the same old, black and dependable casing

Simple and nothing fancy

The powder is smooth but it's not as velvety as other high end brands like Lancome or Chanel.

It comes with a soft white sponge that blends the powder well with the skin

I chose C30 as its the closest to my face tone

Blend...blend..blah..blah.. :-p

This is excellent for covering minor blemishes and uneven colors. It has the right amount of thickness to provide a natural coverage that doesn't look as if i'm wearing a mask. One or two sweeps are enough to give me that soft and even look. But since i have oily skin, i notice that after awhile i would see my T-zone getting shiny again so i just use my  trusty T. LeClerc Banane Powder to keep the oiliness at bay.

I just use this on casual days when i feel like it and when i need a decent powder foundation to give me that instant flawless look. I never use it continuously coz' i noticed that it has a tendency to clog my pores. But i have a lot of friends who religiously use this without getting any bumps or zits. So it really depends on your skin type.

Overall, i like this product. But i'm not as ga-ga about this as i used to. Gone are the days when i was still clueless about makeup and deem this as the ultimate powder foundation of all time. After trying other brands (the more expensive ones), i realized there are better ones that actually work well with my skin.Though in my opinion this is not the best, it is still up there amongst powder foundations that really works.

                                                     MAC Speak Louder Lipstick

I was attracted to this bright pink color from the whole bunch of MAC lippies on the counter. I guess i'm really a sucker for loud colors! So instead of buying Creme d' Nude, i changed my mind again and opted for another vibrant shade.I'm beginning to see a pattern in my lipstick selection, they all look like happy colors! Hehe... The color is bold but not over the top. Just right.

The name itself speaks for the color alone...

The cremesheen formula is perfect if you hate the too drying variety (matte). It has blue fuschia undertones yet some people describe this as pink/red. I dunno but on my lips i could see more blue so i guess it also depends on your skin color. It suits most fair/cool toned skin. Even if it's quite sheer, it is very pigmented so it evens your lip tone in a breeze. It applies smoothly, no streaks or clumping there. Lasting power is also quite good.

The color somewhat reminded me of MAC Lustering except that this is brighter and has a tad more sheen to it. Whereas, Lustering  looks a bit redder on my lips.

This is what it looks like on my lips. I didn't add any lipgloss or whatsoever. It instantly brightens the face! Even with minimal makeup you will still stand out with this shade. It looks fun, girly and playful. Very wearable! I normally just wear this with taupe eyeshadow and a little blush.Great for everyday look when a bright lipstick is all you need to perk your day. I think this would be a nice color to use for summer or spring.

                                      AND A FEW HAULS...

So here's a few more hauls that i got. I bought these stuffs at our stopover in Taipei. I still had a few dollars left so i decided to bust it at Duty Free there. I was so happy to see so many brands that i like! I ended up buying a few stuffs that i really want and i'll make a review about them soon. I finally got the Chanel JC Rose Petale blush that i've been lemming for sooo long, 2 Nars lipstick in Love Devotion and Jungle Red, and Nars duo eyeshadow in Jolie Poupee. Weee!

I bought these like 3 days before leaving LA. I got the snake ring from Cabazon outlet, the owl ring at Charlotte Russe. I forgot where i bought the owl pendant. Geez! what's up with me and these owls? haha! I also got 2 nail polish. One from NYX-Lingerie and Opi-Paint my toes-moji red. I intend to use these nail polish for my feet as i still don't feel like using them on my fingers. Hmm...maybe in the near future:-)

I got all of these at a Korean mart at Cypress area also in LA. I was happy to see The Face Shop inside the grocery. So while my aunts were busy buying vegetables and stuffs i was happily lurking at the makeup corner and i bought all these. The Shiseido oil makeup remover i got at the toiletries aisle. I still haven't tried em' yet coz' i still don't know where to begin with all my previous hauls. 

So that's all folks! so many products to review and so little time. If you're interested in something just do let me know which one you would like me to try first hehe. Thanks for visiting me again and expect to see more in the future. For now, i badly need to be in shopping rehab! It's just that i can't help it sometimes...such guilty pleasures! Sigh..but i'm really gonna try working on that aspect. Love you all!:-)

The Balm's Mary-Lou Manizer and Sexy Mama Anti-shine Translucent Powder

Price: Mary-Lou Manizer: 895 pesos ($22)
Sexy Mama Anti-shine Translucent powder:775 pesos ($19)

Hello pretties, how are y'all? i missed posting for a week coz' i was swamped with so much work. I cannot wait to de-stress and bloghop again:-)

For this post, i played with several images and came up with my own concept (just for fun)...

***Mary-lou Manizer***

This is one of those products that i've been wanting to try but never got around to actually buying. Why? because i'm already "cursed" with oily skin, and any product with the word shimmer would instantly make me quiver *rhymes;-)* The last thing i need is another layer of unnecessary shine.

But all of that changed when i used  Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick, it was like a wake-up call that "Hey! even oily-skinned girls like me can glow without looking greasy". So when Mary-Lou Manizer re-entered my sphere of thought,  it became easier for me to purchase this item without feeling doubtful or least bit apprehensive. 

Love the cute tin can 

Smooth texture

Shimmery swatch

This versatile product can be used as a shimmer, highlighter (on the cheekbones, chin, nose,brow bone or decolletage), and eyeshadow. 

The pale gold shimmers doesn't overpower at all! 

It looks so subtle, so natural...like wisps of light tenderly kissing the skin

. 

It's pearly beige/champagne shade will match most skin tones beautifully, leaving you a sheen that seems to radiate from within.

 It gives 

you that dreamy candlelit glow that you usually only get during romantic dinner dates. 

It is buildable so you can control the amount of sheen that you desire. Best to apply lightly since it's highly  pigmented. Too much can make your skin look unnaturally shiny/chalky. The coverage is sheer yet it doesn't accentuate fine lines because the light-reflecting particles diffuses blemishes and minor imperfections. I also didn't get any allergic reactions or breakouts while using this. A huge hooray if you have uber sensitive skin. Plus, it's paraben and talc-free!

One pan could probably last me for ages. As i only need minimal amount with each use. This is fast becoming my favorite item, i can't help but smile everytime i look in the mirror and see how dewy soft it looks on my skin. No wonder Mary-Lou has so many guys lining up the wall!

***Sexy Mama***

Before trying this product i was actually crossing my fingers that this will work for me since i've been on the lookout for a cheaper alternative to my T.LeClerc powder. One that I can use on a daily basis without putting a huge dent on my wallet and at the same time without sacrificing quality. One that can still make me look "oh-la-la-ish" even when I'm doing the most unglamorous thing. One that would make me stop feeling guilty everytime i use my Lancome or Chanel when all i'll do is just go to the deli to buy bread.   

Handy-sized compact

Soft buttery texture

Blends oh so easily on my skin

Guess what? Sexy Mama covered all that and even more! The moment I applied this powder on my face I knew that I am holding a keeper. True to it's anti-shine claim, it is an awesome oil-buster! It left my skin fresh and matte looking even with just one swipe. It's like pacman gobbling those pellets, only this time it's made of oil. Sorry for the weird comparison I just dunno why I keep picturing that image whenever I sweep all those grease away! Haha! It left my face shine-free for several hours which is a major *weee* considering how fast my face gets oily!

And there's more great news, I can use this powder alone (without foundation or anything) and still be able to go out and face the world with confidence. It's supposed to be translucent but I really cannot explain how it manages to make my skin look even and nice. It is great coz' i can practically skip using other stuffs on my face and still look as if I'm all made up..in a most natural way! Whoa! how cool is that?

. Who know's this might actually bring out the inner Sexy mama in you? Cheers to that! ;-)

"Two-gether"

Under natural daylight

 Under halogen light...

I only used Sexy Mama and the Loumanizer here

Okay enough of the gushing, i'm very pleased with these two products. I love the catchy names, affordable price tag, cutesy casing and coquettish 40's sexpots that adorn each and every packaging. But most of all i love the kind of quality these stuffs are made of. I highly recommend these things. I'm so excited to try more products from The Balm. And it's not hard to understand why...these goodies could easily give more expensive brands a run for their money.

Also thank you to the sweet Dinorah for this wonderful award. She is such a cutie:-)

The rules:

1. Thank and link back to who gave you the award

2.Share 7 things about yourself

3.Pass it along to 7 beauty blogs you've recently discovered and enjoy

4.Leave your recipient a note telling them about the award

7 Things About Me:

1. I am an obsessive-compulsive person (i think hehe)

2. I finished interior design 

3. I am a voracious reader but recently i've been too lazy

4. I hate crowded places

5. I love drinking energy drinks

6. I love artsy-fartsy stuffs

7. I am very moody

Instead of only 7 i want to tag anybody who is interested

Just make sure to let me know hehe...

Thank you for taking the time to read this :-)

*Hugs to everyone*

Acmedica Face Powder

Teeny tiny round face powder

Separate compartment for sponge...hygienic!

Made in Japan

Nice flower design in the middle...i hated to destroy it :-)

Powder is soft blue in color that becomes translucent with skin

   If you have annoying oily skin like mine and you hate putting loads of makeup coz it makes your face look unnattractively cakey, then this teeny tiny powder might just save the day!

   At first, it sure feels scary to try the blue powder, I'm sure nobody likes to look like smurfs. In case you don't know what smurfs are, they are tiny blue-colored cartoon characters popularized during the 80's. Ok i know im exagerrating a bit here, i just wanted to insert and write about smurfs coz i find them cute, haha!...so now lets go back to the main topic...hmmm...like what I've mentioned, the finely-milled blue powder actually becomes translucent once applied to skin. It instantly absorbs unwanted oils and grease, leaving your face matte and shine free! 

   I didn't experience any skin irritations or breakouts. Which is good when you have sensitive skin. I like that the sponge has a compartment of it's own for hygienic purposes. The packaging is so small it could practically fit in the palm of your hand. Its a perfect on the go makeup coz it's very handy. The only thing is that it sort of feels weird whenever I apply it coz it's so small and I'm used to regular-sized compacts.

   I forgot the price of this one but I remember it being so cheap. It's great for casual everyday use. My makeup still looks fresh even after a sweaty day, thanks to this. Just a few light pats and voilà! No more shine! Acmedica face powder is so small, so cheap and so convenient. That's all folks! Have a happy week ahead:-)

 

     

T.LeClerc Face Powder

Classy looking powder

Under flourescent light

It's is pale yellow almost transparent

I've been using T.LeClerc face powder for several years now. I personally like it's Banane shade coz it complements my skin. Here's my take on this product:



-nice metallic embossed compact case
-good oil absorption
-keeps skin matte and natural looking
-doesnt look cakey or thick
-doesnt cause pimples or breakout
-takes a long time to finish the powder



-quite pricey
-doesnt cover blemishes or freckles

The pros clearly outweighs the cons of this powder. It works well for me that's why up to now I'm still hooked with it. My oily skin is always under control everytime i use this. If you're looking for a high quality powder, this is definitely worth a try! Ciao:-)