Review: Beauty Republic BB Creams in Original Dramatic and Dramatic Green Touch

On a day-to-day basis when I'm just going to the office with no work events after, I skip foundation and just use BB cream because it's quick and not too made up. I think BB cream is all you need for a fresh everyday look, especially for people who hate looking or feeling too made up.

I got these Beauty Republic BB creams from Carmen Claire in two varieties, the Original Dramatic formula and the Dramatic Green Touch formula.


Both of the boxes indicate that these are made in Korea, and are for whitening/anti-wrinkle/UV protection. I love that they both have SPF37; sunscreen is a daily must, even on cloudy days. I use this as an all-in-one product, without using a separate moisturizer or sunblock. Great for when you need to get to work or school quickly!

Here's what they look like when squeezed out of the tube:

The products do come out looking very light, but they quickly blend into the skin without leaving an unnatural cast. You can see the Original Dramatic formula in action in this makeup tutorial with my friend Jacklyn of The Sunday Project. The green formula also blends in just as easily.

Both formulas are moisturizing and work very well at evening out the skin and giving a dewy but not oily radiance. Because I have combination skin, the green formula worked wonderfully for controlling my oily T-zone. I only had some greasiness on my forehead and nose at the end of the day. Because of its very slightly greenish tint, I think this would be great for people with a lot of redness from blemishes or capillaries.

I think the original formula may work better for people with normal to dry skin. The original formula worked great for the drier parts of my face like my cheeks and chin, but I had to touch up my T-zone a couple of times throughout the day.

You don't need much product at all to cover the entire face, so these will last a long time even if used on a daily basis. The BB creams are 1oz or 30ml each, meaning that they're a great size for traveling.

You can purchase these BB creams for P695 each on CarmenClaire.com. As a special treat for you guys, you can get 15% off all orders on the website when you input the code JOANNASENTME. The website also offers free shipping for all orders worth P1,000 and up. Happy shopping!

How to wear a bright lip and brighten teeth + my discount code on CarmenClaire.com

I had so much fun collaborating with my friend Jacklyn Uy of The Sunday Project for this tutorial on how to wear bright lip color! Check out the video below:

Review: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Dark Brown

I've heard a lot of good things about Anastasia Beverly Hills brow products, so I recently decided to try the Dipbrow Pomade since I didn't have anything like that in my brow arsenal yet. I got mine in the shade Dark Brown.

I had forgotten to take a photo just as I'd gotten it out of the box, so this has a little dent in it where I had dipped my brush.


This is a highly pigmented product that goes on very smooth. Its texture is very much like gel eyeliner and I am sure you can use it that way too. For me, just two dips in the product is enough for each brow; that pigmented! This pot will definitely go a long way.

I used a stiff angled brush to outline and then fill in my brows, and a spoolie to brush it out and avoid a matted-down look with my brow hairs.


I don't really like showing my entire face on my blog, which I know is strange for a beauty blogger, but here's how Dipbrow Pomade looks like:


It gives quite a strong brow look but doesn't overpower the rest of the face if you wear a little bit of other makeup.

You need a steady hand to use the Dipbrow Pomade. I've used it twice so far, and I still need to get used to having a steady hand with it. Application does take patience and precision, but it's worth it if you need a brow product that really lasts all day.

Our weather's been topsy turvy, being rainy at times and hot on others. This adds up to some pretty intense humidity and makes my T-zone and brow area pretty greasy. I used this product alone with no setting gel or anything, and it was still intact after eight hours with just a little fading on the tail. I purposely smudged it with a finger at the end of the day to see how it would stay on, and it barely moved. Smudge-free, indeed, but easily removed with Shu Uemura cleansing oil.

Because this product is designed for "carving perfectly precise brows that won't fade" according to the Anastasia website, the look is just that: perfectly precise. If you prefer a really soft and natural brow look, this may not be for you, unless you combine it with a brow powder or pencil that will help achieve that look.

The Dipbrow Pomade is a very good product for smudge-proof eyebrows, but remember to allot a little extra time for application. I got mine from facebook.com/makeupyourmind.store for P1,100.

When storing this, remember to screw the cap on tightly and store it upside down, to prevent it from drying out. I use the same storage trick with my gel eyeliners and it really works.

If you prefer long-lasting but more natural-looking brows, I would recommend K-palette instead; you can check out my review on that here.

Review: the Sigma F80 flat-top kabuki brush and its awesomeness

Can you believe that up until a few weeks ago, I had never owned a Sigma brush? They are simply not that easy to come by here because they have to be ordered from the U.S., and I am already happy with my current brush collection. My other favorite brushes for the face are the Real Techniques buffing brush and expert face brush. Those are still very good brushes, but the F80 is something else.

Review: Tom Ford Lip Color in 22 Forbidden Pink

I was on the fence about Tom Ford lipsticks because they are so expensive, and I simply could not justify spending over P2,000 on a lipstick. But when a friend in Singapore said she was selling one for a low price because she has other Tom Ford lipsticks, I jumped at the chance to get it.