I was seeing a number of posts on Naturactor products around Instagram. These are face products like powder, foundation and concealer that a...

Review: Naturactor Cover Face Concealer

10:03 PM Joanna C. 1 Comments

I was seeing a number of posts on Naturactor products around Instagram. These are face products like powder, foundation and concealer that are made in Japan. Most people were raving about the concealer in particular, so I decided to get one for myself.

Naturactor Cover Face Concealer in Shade 141

How it looks inside

I had no idea what shade to get, so I had to ask the seller to make a recommendation for my NC25 complexion; she said 141 would suit me, and it does. Here's how the concealer looks next to Studio Fix powder so that you can compare the shades.

Naturactor Cover Face Concealer 141 next to MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC25


My problem area has always been the dark shadows under my eyes. I have them no matter how much sleep I get. So this is pretty much the only area I use concealer.


Eye area without concealer


 Eye area with Naturactor Cover Face Concealer


I love how it covered up my undereye shadows pretty much better than any other concealer I have tried. The redness on the outside corners of my eyes were completely concealed, too. I only use a little bit of product with each use and it's very easy to blend. Just to test it a bit more and see how it performs on other areas of the face, I used the concealer on the bridge of my nose and also on the sides, and on my upper lip. When I set it with Ben Nye banana powder or any loose powder, the concealer does not fade, cake or crease anywhere it is applied, even in humid weather.

I would definitely recommend this concealer to everyone looking for medium to full coverage. I purchased it for P700 from the Cebu-based Instagram seller @vanillafab.

I just picked up a couple of items from the MAC Temperature Rising collection that is currently at my counter. So far, most of the lipsticks...

MAC Temperature Rising: Bare My Soul and Soft Sand

11:20 PM Joanna C. 2 Comments

I just picked up a couple of items from the MAC Temperature Rising collection that is currently at my counter. So far, most of the lipsticks have already sold out, but I wasn't too drawn to them anyway because of their highly metallic finish. I decided to get a bronzer and an eyeshadow quad instead. The collection has two eyeshadow quads, one with a purple-y palette and the second with a warmer palette. Temperature Rising also has four bronzers, two in the normal formula and two in the long-wearing formula.

My picks from the MAC Temperature Rising collection. The bronze packaging feels so good to touch!

The eyeshadow quad I decided on was Bare My Soul, which I found attractive because of the two brown shades that I can use for an everyday look, and the gold and green shades that I could use for more color. I thought it was a good balance of neutrals and colors that could transition well from day to night. I also read some reviews that the other purple-y quad didn't have very good color payoff, and I found that to be true as well while swatching in the store.

Here's what the Bare My Soul packaging looks like at the back:



And the product itself, with the lid up:



These were my swatches at home, by natural daylight:

Left to right: Friendly, Romantico, Bare My Soul, When in Rio
I LOVE these colors! They're all so wearable yet not boring. When in Rio is a really pretty teal shade that I think would look great for a smokey eye, day or night. I love that all the shades in the quad are pigmented, because not all of MAC's eyeshadow duos or quads are.

Next is the Soft Sand bronzer from the back:



Swatch at rightmost:

Bare My Soul eyeshadows plus Soft Sand to the very right

I used both products today. I love that the eyeshadow stayed on pretty much the whole day from application at 2:00 PM until I washed my face at 11:00 PM, even without primer. I used Soft Sand as a contour, and the product had to be layered on quite a bit before the color showed. I used Cover Girl Cheekers blush with it, and the blush lasted longer than Soft Sand. Still, I'm satisfied with Soft Sand because I can use it as a contour if I layer it on, or as an allover face bronzer with a fluffier brush. I guess I could have gone for the Pro Longwear bronzer formula but didn't feel like spending an extra 200 pesos for it, and it was also more shimmery than this one. I figured I can just reapply Soft Sand if I need a touch-up - great excuse for touching that luxe packaging!

Most of the items in the MAC Temperature Rising collection are still available at Rustan's in Ayala Center Cebu. I'm very excited for the next collection coming - Tropical Taboo. From the reviews and swatches I've been seeing online, we can expect some beautiful MSF's and blushes in that one!

This is a re-post of my original article that was published in SunStar Cebu, with a few extra thoughts added in. Many thanks to Bobbi Brown ...

Summer beauty using Bobbi Brown products

9:21 PM Joanna C. 1 Comments

This is a re-post of my original article that was published in SunStar Cebu, with a few extra thoughts added in. Many thanks to Bobbi Brown Philippines for inviting me to their press event earlier this month!
Rising temperatures shouldn’t equate to melting makeup. With the summer heat upon us, our beauty arsenal requires all things long-wearing and smudge-proof, while making the most of that rosy, bronzy glow from languid days at the beach. Get the look with products from natural beauty guru Bobbi Brown.

Face: Thick makeup combined with oilier skin from the heat and humidity may result in pimples and clogged pores. For light coverage, use Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15, followed by Illuminating Finish Powder with SPF 12 to even out skin tone and remove excess shine. To play up skin with just a hint of color, dust on Brightening Finishing Powder. The Shimmer Brick is also a popular choice. Nectar is pretty on fair to medium skin; try Bronze for deeper complexions.

Shimmer Brick. I have one in Rose.

Summer is the best time to use bronzer to make the most of your tan. Pick one with a warm, slightly orange undertone instead of a cool brown one to avoid looking muddy. Dust on the temples, cheekbones, jaw line and a little on the nose and chin using a fluffy blush or powder brush for the most natural look.

Cheeks: A tanned face is perfect for experimenting with brighter blush. Tap on and blend Pot Rouge, which can be used for both cheeks and lips, for a shot of color. Powder Blush provides buildable color for the intensity you’re comfortable with.

Pot Rouge

Eyes: The new Long Wear Cream Shadow sticks deliver smooth color that lasts up to eight hours without creasing or fading, common challenges with eye makeup in sweltering weather. Try Metallic Eye Shadow if you prefer a powder formula. If you can’t be bothered with shadow at all, define eyes with liner and mascara. Bobbi Brown is famous for its Long Wear Gel Eyeliner, which glides on without tugging, and stays on for hours. Black Ink is an all-time classic, but for something a little softer, try Espresso Ink or Denim Ink. Intensifying Long Wearing mascara gives lush and natural-looking eyelashes. I love this mascara! It won’t smear or flake even on the most humid evenings, but is still easy to remove with a regular facial wash before bedtime. Don’t forget to curl lashes before brushing on mascara.

Metallic Eyeshadow

Lips: Vampy lip colors won’t look quite right sipping piña coladas, and the wrong nude can wash you out. Corals and pinks look pretty with a tan. Try Bright Pink Lip Gloss or, to avoid getting windblown hair stuck on lips, Creamy Lip Color in Hibiscus or Bellini Pink.

Bobbi Brown believes that beauty is enhancing a woman’s features, not covering them up. This practical philosophy works for any season, especially the easy-going feel of summer. Visit the Bobbi Brown counter at Rustan’s in Ayala Center Cebu not for a makeover to transform you into someone else, but for beauty lessons to help you look like your best self.

 Photos courtesy of Bobbi Brown Philippines.
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