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!)