Skin care for combination/oily skin: Himalaya Herbals facial wash + witch hazel

3:32 PM Joanna C. 2 Comments

The horribly muggy weather has been making my skin oilier than usual. While looking around Watson's, I found an oil control lemon face wash by Himalaya Herbals for only P79. With that price, and because I've never tried anything by this brand before, I thought I would give it a try.

Himalaya Herbals lemon face wash and T.N. Dickinson's witch hazel

At first, I tried to use it at the end of the day, but it does almost nothing to remove makeup. So I tried using it at the beginning of my day when I have no makeup on. Wet the face first then massage on a pea-size amount of the face wash, then rinse. I followed it with my trusty witch hazel toner from Healthy Options, plus my Celeteque or Shu Uemura oil-free moisturizer.

Normally, when I use other mild facial washes followed by the witch hazel and moisturizer, then go without makeup, my nose and forehead will start to get oily two hours later. But when I started using this lemon face wash, I was amazed that the first sign of oiliness was not until five hours later. It is mild, not drying and skin does not feel tight. But I think it's important to follow it with the witch hazel and moisturizer so that skin is still well moisturized after using this face wash.

I believe this facial wash could work really well for people with combination to oily skin, especially with this weather. Let me know if you have tried this product, or if you will try it and see how it works for you.

Review: K Palette Lasting 2Way Eyebrow in 01 Chocolate Brown

11:20 PM Joanna C. 0 Comments

I've heard of this supposedly amazing Japanese product for a while, but hadn't bought one yet because I still have quite a bit of other stuff in my brown arsenal. So when my half-Japanese friend Yumi gifted me with one in exchange for some work I did for her, I was thrilled to finally get the chance to try it out.

K Palette Lasting Way Eyebrow in 01 Chocolate Brown

The packaging indicates the shade name, but the pen itself only says 01. The ends look like this:

One end has liquid with a very fine, soft brush (as opposed to a hard nib) as an applicator.

The powder end has a retractable sponge tip applicator.

Here are what my brows look like before and after applying this product, without other makeup:

Bare brows vs. brows with K Palette. Yes, I wear prescription contact lenses.

Because my brows are sparse, doing them every time I leave the house is an absolute must. This photo was the third time I'd used this product and I've experimented with different ways to apply it. You can either use the liquid to outline on top and bottom, then fill in the middle with brows, or use the liquid to fill in sparse areas all over then use the powder over it - or any other technique that might work for you, of course.

I've found that the latter technique lasts longer on me, but I don't really need to do it unless I need it to be as water resistant as possible. The first two times I used the product was at the beach, and I was amazed that although they were a bit faded, my brows were still there at the end of the day. I didn't exactly swim hardcore on those two occasions because I didn't have any goggles and my contacts would have popped out, but I was still in the water because of paddle boarding (and falling off once per occasion!) and I was completely submerged.

Here's how I used it for errands and going to the mall, to test how it would fare on a regular day:

Fresh application, taken in natural light

8 hours after application, in artificial light

Except for that area near my arch that had gotten oily (it was again over 30 Celsius today), my brows still looked the same, and the product had not faded or come off. I did not use any other brow gel or any other brow stuff, just this product on its own.

The product washes off easily with regular facial wash and water, so removal is no problem at all.

I'm convinced of this product's staying power, although I would call it water resistant rather than waterproof. Application does take some getting used to because it's unlike other brow products I have used. I've found that it helps a lot to blend it out with a spoolie, because it does get a little clumpy once you layer the powder over the liquid.

Overall, it's a great product to have if you're looking for something long-wearing, but it retails for P1,050 in Beauty Bar so it's a little pricey for a brow product. Yumi also told me that it there isn't that much product inside the pen, as it lasts only two or three months for her. I will not be using this on a daily basis, but it's definitely my go-to now for when I expect to have a particularly busy day with lots of running around - or for going to the beach, because as my friends know, I just can't be without my eyebrows!

Review and swatch: YSL Rouge Volupte Silky Sensual lipstick in 29 Rose Opera

8:59 PM Joanna C. 1 Comments

After seeing these beautiful golden tubes all over Instagram, I couldn't contain myself from getting one of these much-hyped-about YSL Rouge Volupte Silky Sensual lipsticks. Mine is in the shade number 29 or Rose Opera.

YSL Rouge Volupte Silky-Sensual Radiant lipstick in 29 Opera Rose

The packaging is definitely a show-stopper. Nothing cheap or flimsy about it; you definitely feel very luxurious when you're applying or touching up this lipstick. I love using this on formal occasions where you should look chic while touching up at the table.

Swatch: YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick in 29 Opera Rose

29 Opera Rose is a neutral medium pink that I think would be flattering on many skin tones. This is a single stroke, so color payoff is quite good...on the arm, at least.

Swatch: YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick in 29 Opera Rose

This lip swatch required two layers because I couldn't get the full color payoff on my lips with just one. Also, two layers helps it look more even. With only one layer, it actually kind of settles into lips and enhances lines.

It glides on very easily and has a glossy finish, and feels light on the lips. It feels more like a lip gloss than a lipstick. However, staying power is no more than three hours, and it's just gone after eating. It doesn't leave a stain, so reapplication is needed throughout the day.

With all the buzz that it gets on social media, I was expecting a lot more from this lipstick. Many local online sellers sell these lipsticks for P1,600 to P1,800 each. At that price, it's honestly not worth it. But I asked a friend of mine to buy this for me at the airport in Singapore and I only paid a little over P1,100 for mine, which is not too bad considering it's YSL and a MAC lipstick costs P1,000 at the counter in Rustan's. If you can get this lipstick for a good price then try it for the luxury - the packaging really is to die for - but for similar creaminess and better staying power, I would recommend MAC Cremesheen lipstick or Milani Color Statement lipstick instead.

Review and swatches: Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Glisten, Amused, Flushed

10:57 PM Joanna C. 0 Comments

The days are still sweltering, so I need to use makeup that can last all day. Tarte's Amazonian Clay 12-hour blushes have so far been the longest-wearing I've ever tried. If you haven't heard of these products yet, the hype is real: These are amazeballs.

Tarte Amazonian Clay blushes. Clockwise from top left: Amused, Glisten, Flush

The blushes are 5.6 grams each and come in these little compacts that match the color of the blush. I always like packaging that makes it easy to spot what shade I'm looking for - I tend to buy multiples of products I really like!

Here's how the blushes look inside:

Clockwise from top left: Amused, Glisten, Flush

I think it looks so pretty with the leafy design stamped on. The compacts also have mirrors but I opened these all the way so that the light wouldn't reflect on the products.

Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Glisten

Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Amused

Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Flush

Glisten is a peachy pink with gold shimmer. Amused is a bright dolly pink with a satin finish. Flush is a berry with more violet than pink in it, with a satin finish. Swatches below:

(L-R) Amused, Flush, Glisten

I ran the pad of my finger a couple of times on the product before swatching it on the inside of my wrist. These blushes are all pigmented, so just apply a little at first, then you can build up the color. Amused, in particular, is super bright and I only need a light dab from my brush to have enough color per cheek. They require slightly more blending than other blushes I've tried.

On me, all of these shades still look freshly applied after five hours. So far, Amused and Flush do last the products' claim of 12-hour wear on me, although faded by then. Glisten lasts for around eight hours on me. I have combination skin with an oily T-zone and normal cheeks, so these may last longer or shorter on you depending on your skin type.

For the beautiful colors and great staying power, these are some of my all-time favorite blushes. As long as you have a little patience with blending, try this if you're looking for a long-wearing powder blush.

Products to prevent makeup meltdown

9:37 PM Joanna C. 0 Comments

Lately, the weather's been 30-something Celsius with over 70% humidity, making it feel several degrees hotter than it really is. Some women may choose to simply give up makeup with this kind of heat and humidity. Most of the time, as mentioned in my previous post, I just go with BB cream and mineral powder foundation. But, being the makeup junkie that I am, I can't go without playing with eyeshadows and other makeup for an entire season!

I've been relying on primers to help my makeup stay put. Here's a roundup of my favorites:

Primers for face and eyes

Face primers: Maybelline Baby Skin pore eraser, The Balm Time Balm,
Monistat chafing relief powder gel

A lot of vloggers rave about how fantastic the Maybelline Baby Skin pore eraser is. I honestly don't see any difference in my pores when I use this, but I do like to use it as a primer. I noticed that my T-zone stayed more matte for an extra two or three hours as opposed to when I don't use it. Not bad for P300.

Time Balm is another product that a lot of people recommend. It does help makeup apply more smoothly and last longer, but I would recommend this more for normal to oily skin. It might be too dry for dry skin. If I remember right, I got this for around P895 at Beauty Bar. It is a little pricey, which is why I decided to try the Maybelline and Monistat for cheaper alternatives.

This Monistat gel is often compared to Smashbox primer. I've never used the Smashbox primer so I can't compare, but it feels very similar to Time Balm, although it has a more liquid consistency. I got this from a friend who gets stuff shipped from the US from time to time.

All three of these primers do work quite well at smoothing and mattifying skin and helping makeup stay in place longer, so the choice may depend on budget or accessibility. Time Balm does perform better than Baby Skin, but it's three times the price. Monistat, to me, is easiest to apply and performs similarly to Time Balm, but it's not readily available here.

Eye primers: Urban Decay Primer Potion, Benefit Cosmetics Stay Don't Stray,
Lorac Behind the Scenes

I have so many sample sizes of these Urban Decay primers because they often come free with their eyeshadow palettes. They do work best with Urban Decay eyeshadows, making them extra smooth to apply and also helps prevent creasing, but they also work well with other eyeshadows.

I mentioned the Benefit Stay Don't Stray primer in my review on the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette. I noticed that Stay Don't Stray works great at priming both eyeshadow and undereye concealer. Give this one a go if you're prone to creasing on upper and lower eyelids. I only have a mini one because it came in a set, but when I use up all my primers (which will be a while because I still have backups) I'm probably going to get this in a full size.

Lorac Behind the Scenes primer is also quite good and performs about the same as the Urban Decay primer potion. I got it free with one of my Lorac eyeshadow palettes.

Cream shadows: Maybelline Color Tattoo,
Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place shadow creme, Make Up Forever Aqua Cream

I've found that using a cream eyeshadow alone or under powder shadow is the best for making eye makeup last all day. All of these are crazy long-wearing. On me, they won't start to crease until maybe six hours of a busy day or partying. The Color Tattoos here, from top going clockwise, are Gold Shimmer, Audacious Asphalt, Barely Branded, Pomegranate Punk, and Tough as Taupe. I also have it in Test my Teal, which I won in a giveaway. All the colors are gorgeous. They're pretty thick in consistency so I prefer blending them with a finger than with a brush to help the product melt. Color Tattoos are finally available in Watsons for around P400, but I got most of mine online from bonmarchepage.com.

My lone Estee Lauder and Make Up Forever cream shadows were purchased in Sydney, so I don't know where they can be found in Cebu. They are in Lilac Petals and Shade 16, respectively - a lavender and a pink, so I'm pretty set for the whole color spectrum!

I also use NYX Jumbo Pencils as primers, but I've found they don't hold up quite as well as these ones in the current weather. For the cream shadows here, especially the Make Up Forever one, you're going to need a separate eye makeup remover. In my experience, they're so budge-proof that traces will still be left on eyelids even after washing the face.

Urban Decay All Nighter and De-slick makeup setting sprays

When I'm done with all my makeup and know that I'm going to have a long day (or night) I set it with either of these sprays by Urban Decay. They really do help set makeup and keep me oil-free for longer. I've had people ask me "Why are you still so matte??" when I use these and it's really humid. I definitely do still get greasy, but these sprays are life (and makeup) savers. The only annoying thing I've found with De-slick is that it tends to get kind of gross and cakey after several hours on my the oiliest parts of my forehead like near my eyebrows, so bust out that oil control film when this happens.

These products will help makeup last longer and keep oil at bay, but I'm not sure there's any way to completely melt-proof your makeup if you're having a particularly busy day or evening with weather like this. Always carry good old tissues and oil control film with you to lift sweat and oil.

summer essentials

2:33 PM Joanna C. 0 Comments

My friend Kaith was featured yesterday in SunStar Cebu's Shopping Bag section, and as it turns out, we have and recommend the exact same favorite sunblocks. I thought I'd round up the other things that I've been constantly reaching for this summer.

Fragrance, sunblock, face stuff and lip stuff

Fragrances: Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau so Fresh, DKNY Be Delicious

Eau so Fresh is the lighter and fruitier EDT version of my favorite Daisy perfume. My dear old dad likes to gift me with a bottle of different versions of Daisy perfume every year even though I haven't used up my first one yet! The fragrance's notes are on the Sephora website.

Be Delicious is a recent purchase. This is quite a bit more subtle and mellow on me, which I love because it is different from other fragrances I own.

As you might gather from these picks, I do like light and fruity/floral fragrances, but nothing too sweet. I also have other fragrances on rotation for when the weather isn't as warm.

Because I don't always like to carry around these glass bottles with me when I'm out (especially the Eau so Fresh, which is 125ml), I often refresh throughout the day with a body mist by Bath & Body Works or Victoria's Secret that I transfer into purse-friendly plastic spritzers.

Favorite sunblocks

The leftmost Neutrogena one has SPF 30+ and is part of a bundle of products I picked up on eBay. It's a hydrating one, so it does get a little oily after a few hours on my combination skin. I love the Neutrogena Dry-Touch sunblock in the middle because it's not heavy or sticky at all. I have it in SPF 30+ for day to day and SPF 55 for days when I know I'm going to be under the sun a lot, like at the beach.

I received the Belo sunblock spray in a gift bag from a Zee Lifestyle event. It has SPF 50 PA+++ and it's great for easy application. It delivers a good, even spray also upside down. I tried it on both face and body and it makes skin feel super soft after it's completely dry.

Face essentials

I do still use some lightweight matte foundations in the summer, and my favorite BB cream is still the Rimmel 9-in-1 Skin Perfecting Super Makeup, but this Revlon Photoready BB Cream in Medium works best with my current tan. Since it has SPF 30, I don't apply moisturizer or sunblock anymore. I feel that this works best for dry skin. It does get pretty greasy after a few hours on my T-zone, but I'm working on using it up since it's the only BB cream I have in a darker shade.

This is my second jar of Maybelline Pure mineral foundation, and I love it for summer because it evens out skin and helps control oil without looking made up at all. Mine is in the shade Beige Ochre 2, which is a little darker than my usual skin tone, but I repurchased this especially for summer when I know I'm going to be tan and don't want to wear a lot of heavy makeup. I used up my first jar when I was still at my luxury resort job, and I was impressed with how well it stayed on even after a whole day under the sun.

My holy grail allover bronzer is this bronzing powder in shade 2 from The Body Shop. It's perfect for complimenting a tan all over the face, since it's not too orange nor too muddy. I'm not sure if they have this product in store here, since it was gifted to me by my aunt from Canada.

I've found the Ben Nye powders to be the absolute best I've tried for setting makeup. I also have it in Buff and a sample size of Neutral from my MUA friend Khymm. Because Buff is too light for me right now and I have both the small jar and big jar of the Banana powder (practically a lifetime supply because you don't need much), I use Banana everyday. I use it with a makeup sponge on my undereyes to set concealer, and on my nose and center of the forehead where I tend to really work up an oil slick. For all over the face, I shake a little bit onto my Fanny Serrano two-way face cake and dust it on with a large powder brush.

In trying to rotate my lip products, I try to reach for a different lipstick or gloss everyday, but the Maybelline Baby Lips Color in Neon Rose and Alba Terra Tints in Blaze are great for just a hint of color. I got the Maybelline one for P99 in Watson's and the Terra Tints one in Healthy Options for something like P130. Both are moisturizing, not the kind of lip balm that just sits on your lips, but Terra Tints has SPF 15 while Maybelline doesn't.

Swatches: Maybelline Baby Lips in Neon Rose, Alba Botanica Terra Tints in Blaze, Maybelline Pure mineral foundation in Beige Ochre 2, The Body Shop bronzing powder in shade 2,
Revlon Photoready BB Cream in Medium

What are your summer essentials? If you live in a hot and humid area like I do, I would love to hear your recommendations.

Also, I've changed the URL of this blog from Azullejo to Beauty Enthusiast Cebu, to make it more cohesive with my weekly column in SunStar. I first named it Azullejo because I also wanted to blog about travel, but I haven't gotten around to that just yet!

Review and swatches: Too Faced Chocolate Bar eyeshadow palette

12:26 AM Joanna C. 2 Comments

What girly girl wouldn't love an eyeshadow palette that looks and smells like a chocolate bar? For someone like me who could never choose between a love for makeup and sweets, this seemed like the perfect combination!

Too Faced Chocolate Bar eyeshadow palette

Such adorable packaging, with the cute box and metal tin!

Comes with a how-to guide.

The carton box says this on the back: "Indulge your craving for chocolate with these 16 antioxidant-rich cocoa powder infused matte and shimmer shades. Inspired by our best-selling cocoa powder based Chocolate Soleil Bronzer, Chocolate Bar comes with our signature Glamour Guide with three beauty looks to get you started."

Get a whiff of chocolate when you open the box. Mmm.

This palette has 16 eyeshadows. 14 are .95 grams while two are 2.8 grams.

Left side of the palette

Right side of the palette.

(The smudge on the largest pan was already there when I opened it.)

Left side of the palette.

(L-R) Gilded Ganache, Salted Caramel, Hazelnut, Marzipan, Creme Brulee, Semi-sweet, Haute Chocolate

Closer look: Gilded Ganache, Salted Caramel, Hazelnut, Marzipan

Closer look: Marzipan, Creme Brulee, Semi-sweet, Haute Chocolate

Right side of the palette.

(L-R) Milk Chocolate, Strawberry Bon Bon, Cherry Cordial, Black Forest Truffle,

Candied Violet, Triple Fudge, Amaretto

Closer look: Milk Chocolate, Strawberry Bon Bon, Cherry Cordial, Black Forest Truffle

Closer look: Candied Violet, Triple Fudge, Amaretto

These are the shadows in the two larger pans.

(L-R) White Chocolate, Champagne Truffle

I did these swatches with two swipes from the pan on the pads of clean fingers, before doing one swipe each on the inside of my arm. The outer packaging says this has "matte and shimmer shades," but to me it actually has matte, shimmery and sparkly textures.

Matte: Salted Caramel, Semi-Sweet, White Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Strawberry Bon Bon, Triple Fudge

Shimmery: Gilded Ganache, Hazelnut, Marzipan, Creme Brulee, Haute Chocolate, Amaretto, Champagne Truffle

Sparkly: Cherry Cordial, Black Forrest Truffle, Candied Violet

Although the matte shades swatched poorly, White Chocolate, Milk Chocolate and Triple Fudge were fairly pigmented and blendable when I used them with a brush on my eyelids. The shimmery shades like Marzipan and Hazelnut were wonderfully smooth, buttery, and pigmented. As of this writing, I have not yet used any of the sparkly shades.(I will update this post once I have.) The shades that I did use lasted nine hours before the first sign of creasing, although I'm not sure how much my Benefit Stay Don't Stray primer had to do with that. I am quite impressed, considering it was 31 degrees Celsius today with over 70% humidity.

For the other shades I haven't mentioned, I haven't used all of them yet, but based on the swatches I think they will probably deliver the same way as they swatch.

As you can see, the palette has a range of cream, brown, pink and purple shades. I think one grayish shade couldn't have hurt; gray veers a little from the chocolatey theme, but so does Gilded Ganache, which is a khaki green with gold shimmer. But I still love all the beautiful colors that went into this palette.

The only thing I wish Too Faced had done differently with this palette was the labeling. I wish they had put the names of the shadows on fine print by the pans, instead of just on the box and on the printed plastic insert. This palette is also a little thick and isn't the handiest to tote around, but you might still want to, just to have its cuteness and chocolatey smell close at hand!

Overall I'm very happy with this palette for its range of textures, smoothness and blendability during application, and the range and wearability of its colors. And again, the adorable packaging and luscious smell!

I purchased this palette for P2,700 from Karryl @makeuplush on Instagram, whom I regularly buy from as she's a former school mate, very nice and easy to deal with, and regularly ships about twice a month from the US, so she's always got new and fresh products.

What do you think of this palette? Do share your thoughts if you've got one as well.

Review and swatches: NYX Butter lipstick in Fireball, Hunk, Licorice

9:12 PM Joanna C. 4 Comments

I'm back "for the first time in forever," to borrow a line from Disney's Frozen. I'm terrible about blogging because I was too lazy to take and upload photos with my old digicam, but now that I have my iPhone 5S, taking pictures has become much easier. For more regular beauty updates, follow me on Instagram @cuencojoanna.

After seeing quite a few positive reviews from American beauty vloggers, I became curious to try out NYX Butter lipsticks. I decided to get mine in Fireball (BLS06), Hunk (BLS05) and Licorice (BLS11) to veer away from my usual pink and red selections. Photos below were taken in natural light.

NYX Butter Lipsticks (L-R) Fireball, Hunk, Licorice

I would call the packaging more fun than chic. I do like that the tubes match the color of the lipstick inside so that it's easy to see what I'm reaching for.

Swatches (L-R): Fireball, Hunk, Licorice

These are swatches on the inside of my wrist, one swipe per lipstick. You'll notice that the opacity isn't the same. Hunk is quite a bit more sheer compared to Fireball and Licorice. It also had a little bit more streakiness than the other two shades.

Lip swatch: NYX Butter Lipstick in Fireball (BLS06)

Fireball looks quite orange in the tube but goes on coral on me. It's a very pretty shade for spring and summer, but it has the tendency to settle into lip lines. Make sure lips are super smooth before putting this one on.

Lip swatch: NYX Butter Lipstick in Hunk (BLS05)

I was the most skeptical about Hunk because it looks like a pretty scary shade of electric violet from the tube. But because it goes on sheer, it's actually super pretty. This did not settle into my lip lines the way Fireball did.

Lip swatch: NYX Butter Lipstick in Licorice(BLS11)

Licorice is not the kind of shade I usually pick up, but as I was trying to get out of my red/pink lipstick comfort zone, I decided to try this one out. Among the three, this was the truest to its shade on the packaging and from the bullet. It's quite a vampy burgundy color that I think looks great at night (or day, as you please). Because of the slippery formula, though, be careful when applying this one. This probably needs a lip liner more than the other two shades.

All of these lipsticks are a little slippery and have a rather thin formula, so they glide on easily when being applied. Their somewhat glossy finish after initial application doesn't last long. But I like that the lipsticks leave a stain, Hunk and Licorice more so than Fireball. Fireball began to fade after two hours, while Hunk and Licorice left stains for over four hours. I wouldn't call these lipsticks particularly moisturizing even though they are slippery, but they aren't drying at all.

Overall, these lipsticks are all quite comfortable to wear and have a great range of colors, but some settling does occur, and pigmentation and staying power vary between shades.

I bought these lipsticks from Instagram seller @beautylabbyjoan, who has a lot of drugstore products on pre-order basis, and whom I've purchased from several times hassle-free. There is already a NYX store in SM City Cebu, but I must confess I haven't been there yet. I haven't really done a lot of shopping at the mall in quite some time.

I hope you found this review helpful, and I hope I can find the discipline to blog more regularly!

Beauty Enthusiast in Cebu

Skin care for combination/oily skin: Himalaya Herbals facial wash + witch hazel

Review: K Palette Lasting 2Way Eyebrow in 01 Chocolate Brown

Review and swatch: YSL Rouge Volupte Silky Sensual lipstick in 29 Rose Opera

Review and swatches: Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Glisten, Amused, Flushed

Products to prevent makeup meltdown

summer essentials

Review and swatches: Too Faced Chocolate Bar eyeshadow palette

Review and swatches: NYX Butter lipstick in Fireball, Hunk, Licorice

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