COLLECTIVE HAUL: DRUGSTORE, MAC, NARS, YSL, JBF 113009

Here's a slideshow of my collective haul.

These are the items I've acquired from the time I've been absent from blogging to my most recent buys. Enjoy!

Product Find/Rave/Review: Maybelline 2in1 Impact Shadow Liner by Eyestudio

Last week,I was cruising around Watson's health and beauty section, when I spotted the Maybelline counter. I was attracted by the Eyestudio eyeshadow quads, since the packaging was quite pretty and luxurious as compared to the old quads, and the new quads reminded me of Kate and Visee eyeshadows. I was going to get the neutral quad with the really pretty rich chocolate brown color but it was out of stock. Mind you, many of the items were out of stock, so I was a bit disappointed. Then I saw the new Maybelline 2in1 Impact Shadow Liner by Eyestudio and swatched it. I was impressed at how beautiful the purple was, and after letting the liner set for a few seconds  rubbed it hard and to my surprise it didn't budge at all! The liner was so so so creamy, as creamy as the Stila Kajal Liner, and it didn't budge! I was so excited and amazed that I bought the black one too along with the purple and went home immediately to try it out! Let me tell you that this stuff is absolutely pigmented and super creamy! This glides on my lids like buttah! Glides on as wonderfully as Stila Kajal Liner. Eventhough this is as creamy as the Stila Kajal Liner, this isn't as soft which is a major plus in my book! Meaning you don't need to sharpen it more often as you do with the Stila Kajal Liner, more bang for your bucks! This stuff has a great staying power too! Smudge-free and flake free for both my upper and lower lashlines. This stuff stays in my waterline too! AMAZING!!! 

I have also tried this as an eyeshadow, and it works really well! It gives you about a minute to blend it and then it sets and it won't budge nor crease! I seriously love it! It's also an amazing base, better than my paintpots, since the shadows will really stick to the liner and the colors will just pop!

This will replace my Stila Kajal Liner as my HG liner! This stuff is way better than the Urban Decay 24/7, MAC Powerpoint, or even MUFE Aqua Eyes, since this stuff is the creamiest of the bunch and last as long as the MUFE Aqua Eyes in the lashlines and last longer in the waterliner, and it's the most pigment of the bunch! The only category where Stila wins is the pigmentation, the Stila is just a tad bit more pigmented, but the Maybelline one is right there with the Stila in pigmentation. You guys need to seriously get this stuff! What's better is that this stuff only cost P359 which is about $6-7! Really affordable!!!

1st row: Stila Kajal Liner

2nd and 3rd row: Maybelline 2in1 Impact Shadow Liner in black and dark purple, respectively.

1st column: Liners were vigorously rubbed wet for 3 minutes.

2nd column: Freshly applied liners

3rd column: Maybelline 2in1 Impact Liner in black

As you can see in the first column, the Maybelline one retained more pigment after being rubbed wet than that of the Stila Kajal Liner.

This eyeliner is 9.5 stars out of 10 since there's always room for improvement, though there's very little need for this to be improved. This is my perfect liner! Luveet!

BTW I went back earlier to Watson's to grab another one of of the black one! Since the stocks at the Maybelline counter was replenished, I was also able to get the Eyestudio quad I was eyeing along with other Maybelline stuff and Revlon items. I'll post my drugstore haul next time so watch out for it! I'm beginning to like drugstore makeup again, though there would still be stuffs/brands that I will continue to despise unless they put their act together and give us decent quality products!

I'm doing a project 5 pan starting today, so the drugstore haul might be my last haul for this year, but I might finish up 5 items sooner than I expected since I have several makeup I've hit pan and my Clinique 3 step is nearly finished- just 2 more weeks use. Let's just see if I will be able to shop one more time before the year finally comes to an end.

Stay tuned! More reviews coming!

Product Find: Nfu-Oh Nail Lacquer

I LOVE THIS NAIL LACQUERS!!!

Nfu-Oh nail polishes are the most gorgeous nail polishes ever!

Look at those multidimentional flakies and the duochromes formula!

The pictures doesn't do these justice!

These are perfect for layering too, like what I did in the pictures above.

I layered 2 Nfu-oh polishes over Chanel Vendetta.

You can appreciate these flakies goodness here:

http://www.scrangie.com/2008/06/nfu-oh-shiny-opal-swatches.html

You can get them at FABULOUSTREET.COM

One word for these polishes: WOW!

MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation Review

This is a review of one of MAC's latest addition in its foundation range.

I'm going to review the MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation.

This particular foundation has a concealer counterpart - Studio Sculpt Concealer.

I like the foundation, but I love the concealer, which I'll review soon!

The MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation has a mousse-y / aerated thick gel consistency.

This stuff doesn't give the lightest feel but doesn't give a heavy feel.

This foundation is concentrated with pigments that I only need a pea size, even when I need to cover up numerous blemishes. It also provides medium to a full coverage.

I don't even need concealer when I use this.

Even if it gives good coverage, this foundation gives a nice finish to the skin.

This can look cake-y if excessively used, but you barely can overuse this stuff.

I really like that even after long hours of wear, my face still looks fresh.

However, this stuff doesn't provide any oil control. I need to blot my face for just an hour of wear. Using primer that's meant for oil control is highly recommended.

People with drier skin may enjoy this, since its more of hydrating instead of mattifying.

This foundation also have a better transfer resistance than that of Studio Fix Fluid, but stiil there's still room to improve on under this category.

Doesn't settle on to the fine lines or the flaky ares in the skin.

I haven't tried its waterproof capacity yet- that's to follow.

My skin didn't react to this foundation, but I heard people gets bad reaction with the shea butter in this foundation.

I found that this applies smoothly, flawlessly, and seamlessly when I use my MAC 180 or ELF Studio Powder Brush. 

Due to it's formula containing SPF, it will give you a whitish cast when used in flash photography. But when used under normal lighting, it photography fairly well.

 I like that it's on a squeeze tube rather than the normal bottle packaging, since I can travel more easily with this and less tendency to break.

Verdict:

 I like this foundation, but not enough for me to love.

6.5/10

I would recommend this for people with normal or dry skin.

But if you have oily skin and don't mind blotting once in a while, then I say go ahead and grab one!

Shu Uemura Face Architect Smoothing Fluid Foundation Review

This is a review of the shu uemura face architect smoothing fluid foundation.

This is one of my favorite foundation.

This foundation has a slightly thick liquid consistency. 

I really like that this is water based but with a more thicker consistency than with other water based foundation. There are lots of times when foundation accidentally drips at the back of my hand or in a palette since it's too liquidy (this happens alot when I use my Clinique Superfit and my NARS Oil Free Foundation). With this one, no mess!

Even with the thicker consistency, this feels so light even lighter than the Clinique Superfit.

This foundation also gives a great coverage,  better than the Clinique Superfit.

This is the only water based foundation that I have tried that gives similar coverage to oil based foundation.

This stuff is perfect for summer, when you don't want to pile makeup.

This also gives a good oil control - atleast 6 hours shine free face. 

I also like that this gives my face a nice glow, but not overly dewy finish.

This is also about 90% transfer resistant even with my super oily skin!

The best thing I like about this foundation is that it makes my face look fresh all day even under the scorching heat!

I must say that this stuff is true to its name that it is smoothing. There was a time that I got tons of super small bumps in my jaw and upper cheek and this was the only foundation that  helps to conceal the look / texture of it. (BTW I got those bumps from MAC Face Protector SPF50.)

You also won't get the sticky feeling on your face even when you don't set this powder.

Blush and what not goes and blend smoothly too even when not set with powder.

For oily skin, I suggest to set this with powder to help with oil control, but people with drier skin can skip this step. For dry skin people, this stuff is amazing since it feels hydrating and doesn't gather around the flaky areas of the skin! 

No breakouts on this foundation too!

One more thing, this is the best foundation I have for photography! I had my picture taken for my sister's debutante ball and the photographer/owner of the studio really like how this foundation looks on the skin/photo and even asked me where to buy this foundation as he will buy some for his makeup team!

Another plus of this product that it has a pump so virtually no wastage!

Verdict:

This is a light weight, oil free, transfer resistant, hard working, and hydrating but has a good oil control foundation. This stuff makes me photogenic :)What more can you ask for? Love this stuff!

9/10 (There's always room for improvement!)

MAC Studio Fix Fluid Review

This is a review of the MAC Studio Fix Foundation.

Unlike the first two foundations I've reviewed, I must warn you that I don't love this even half way as I loved those foundation. Better read on to find out why...

The MAC Studio Fix Fluid has a very thick liquid consistency. Actually, this has the thickest consistency out of all the foundations I've tried.

With that being said, this stuff feels so heavy on the skin! When I use this stuff, I feel like I'm wearing a mask and it feels like its suffocating my skin! This stuff also cakes up easily. However, this foundation has a really good coverage. It covers everything! That's one of the reason why this is really popular among the TV and print industry. Even though this has SPF, I didn't find that it gives that whitish cast when used on flash photography. I must say it photographs really good.

I really have oily skin and this foundation can keep me shine free for just the first  three hours regardless if I set it with powder or not.

This foundation needs to be set with powder or else you'll be left with a bit of a sticky feel, and you'll have a hard time blending in your blush, contour, highlight and what not.

I find that this foundation is best applied using a damp sponge, and damp dense fluffy brushes. Since water would thin out the consistency a bit and the foundation wouldn't feel as heavy as it would on the skin.

I feel that this foundation melts a bit when its used in a super warm environment, but not excessively though.

This stuff isn't transfer resistant too, actually I think that this stuff has almost a ninety percent probability that it would transfer into the surface it makes contact to. 

This stuff do gather around flakey/dry patches of the skin so do moisturize first before using this!

I heard alot of people having bad reaction to this foundation, and I am one of them unfortunately. I get acne even after just a few minutes of wearing this foundation. I used this for one straight week and my face was filled with acne! After that I consulted a dermatologist and she freaked out and scolded me badly when she learned that I was using this foundation!

BTW you need to buy a separate pump with it. For me, it's fine as long as it's available! Which sucks for us here in the Philippines since our MAC doesn't carry the pump for ages now!

(I just got mine from Mona! Thanks dear!)

Hello, MAC?! Send some foundation pumps here!!!

Verdict:

4/10

2 points for giving incredible coverage and 2 points for how well it photographs.

I wouldn't mind using this up, even with its heavy feeling on the skin and even if it cakes up easily, if only this doesn't ruin my skin and cause me to breakout so bad!

Make Up Forever Face and Body Liquid Makeup Review

Today,the spotlight is on Make Up Forever Face and Body Liquid Makeup.

Before I begin, I just want to tell you that I really like this foundation. Why? Read on...

The Make Up Forever Face and Body Liquid Makeup has more of a gel than a cream texture. However, this foundation has a fluidy gel consistency rather than a thick gel consistency like the MAC Studio Sculpt. The foundation comes out like a fluidy blob of really soft Jello if not shaken, so shake the bottle of foundation prior using the foundation to liquify the foundation thoroughly.

This foundation can give sheer to medium coverage and medium to full coverage. This foundation when applied gives a sheer coverage, but can be layered for a heavier coverage. I find that this foundation no matter how much you layer on will not look cakey. This is the most buildable foundation I've tried. This foundation is so light, you wouldn't mind layering it on. I've tried using different brushes with this and I find that using my MAC 180 or shu uemura #18 foundation brush gave me that airbrushed, flawless, and seamless look. What I also like with this foundation is when blended into the skin, it sort of like "become" your skin, so it's really natural looking. I find that it's the foundation that most easily blend into my skin and doesn't give me that mask look even when I use shades lighter than my skintone - in short it's very forgivable!

The formula in this foundation is so amazing (Take note it's oil free)!

It's sweatproof, waterproof, transfer resistant- even with my oil slick face, and can resist high humidity! I have used this when I went to the gym, I swam with it, jog with it, and did more strenuous activities, and to my surprise it didn't bulge!

This stuff photographs really well too!

With this foundation, you don't need to set it with powder since it sets it self. Once this stuff dries, it will transform into a satiny smooth finish. I also find that this stuff doesn't settle into fine lines, though it may gather around extremely peeling skin, so to those with extremely peeling and flaky skin, I suggest you moisturize properly before using this. This has a good oil control too it leaves my skin shine free for atleast 5 hours - used without any powder on top to atleast 9 hours when set with powder. btw I have super oily skin!

The only problem I encountered with this foundation is wastage. Since, this product doesn't have a pump nor a pout controlling the amount of product can be a problem. So I suggest getting a long spatula if you plan to buy this foundation.

I love this as much as the Clinique Superfit. I love Clinique Superfit for its instant coverage while I love this MUFE Face and Body Foundation for it's extreme long wearing ability. Whenever I get lazy I use my Clinique, but when I want super long staying power and I have time to spare I use this!

Verdict: 

8.5/10

I will repurchase this!

I would give this a 10 if they improved the packaging to prevent wastage.