Beauty Enthusiast in Cebu

There are different varieties, but the particular one I have is the Cooling Post Shave Balm for Sensitive Skin.

It just looks like a moisturizer, white with a quite watery consistency. It absorbs immediately into the skin and gives the slightest cooling sensation. I used this on top of my daily sunblock and it was not at all sticky or heavy.

I noticed immediately that my foundation applied more smoothly with this. To test this balm, I specifically picked one that tends to get streaky upon application if my skin is not well moisturized. With the balm, it applied super smoothly. My skin looked "naturally" smooth and flawless, like I wasn't wearing foundation at all. 

This is not really a product for oil control, but more to help your makeup glide on more smoothly and last longer. 

I do have two concerns with this product, though. First is that the mouth of the jar is wide, so you have to be careful when tipping out just a small amount. I think a smaller hole would make it a lot easier to manage. Second, the fragrance! The smell is so manly and lasts so long, I could still smell it on my skin four hours after application. I'm not sensitive to fragrances in beauty products, but this one definitely stood out to me in the wrong way, so I would recommend looking for an unscented variety if it is available.

Despite those two cons, I am still happy I got my hands on this, and will definitely use it regularly. You only need maybe a 25-centavo size amount of product (I know that sounds awkward, but you know what I mean) so this 100ml bottle will last a while! I think it's only $6 or $7 in US drugstores.

I don't think cosmetics have to be imported nor expensive to be good, so I do buy local and natural when I find a line that I feel I can trust. So far I have bought from Echo Store at Streetscape and from Skin Potions, who has a reseller in Cebu, and I have enjoyed pretty much everything I've tried from there.

I was pleased when the seller of Faith Hope Love Soap contacted me and kindly offered to send me some natural, locally made products. This review will be on the Argan Glow ultra hydrating lip and cheek balm in the shade Hillarie. The seller says this product is vegan, organic, and cruelty-free. Ingredients include argan oil, shea butter, sweet almond oil, grape seed oil, and virgin coconut oil, all known for their hydrating and nourishing benefits. If you prefer using natural lip balm, this is a good one to try.

A Google search told me that Flormar is a Turkish brand. I was intrigued, since I'd never tried Turkish cosmetics before. The first shade I picked up was 210, which doesn't have any other name on the label.  I wore 210 for several days straight and fell in love with the formula and color, so I ended up getting two more! I got 212 Vintage Pink and 207 Lovely Pink.

210 is a beautiful burnt rose color; a muted red with berry and brown tones. On my NC25-30 skin this looks a little bit dark, but not too much that it stops being office appropriate. I normally don't look good with reddish browns, but I really like this one because the brown deepens the red just enough without getting too warm. I can imagine this would be a flattering color on many skin tones.

212 is called Vintage Pink but doesn't look pink to me at all, more of a lightened terracotta. On my lips, it looks a little more orange than the swatch. Another beautiful shade that is the most subtle of the three.

207 is called Lovely Pink and is in fact pink in the swatch, but pulls more coral on my lips. This is a wearable coral-pink that is not too neon and I think will brighten up fair to medium complexions.

All of these apply creamy, smooth and pigmented, with a lightweight, comfortable feel on the lips. The texture reminds me a lot of the matte Rimmel Kate Moss lipsticks in the red tubes, but these ones are more pigmented than the Rimmel line's lighter shades. One application of Flormar Supermatte gives full color payoff, with no slip since it is matte, and lasts about five hours on me. It does not feather but does fade in the center, although without that ugly ring. It has a slightly citrusy smell that I don't notice after application. The tapered bullet tip makes it particularly easy to apply on the corners of the mouth. I feel like the color selection is perfect for Filipinas because these will suit many skin tones, whether light or dark, and any undertone too.

Flormar Supermatte lipsticks are P399 each at Watsons in SM Seaside City. The last time I visited, many colors, including 210, had already sold out, so it must be getting popular! For similar shades of matte lipstick at a cheaper price, check out my review on Jordana Modern Matte lipsticks.