Favorite Blushes this 2015

This year has been a great year to try out many different blushes, both high-end and drugstore, and most of which are in the malls and drugstores in the Philippines. I organized them into different categories in terms of color:

Peachy to Apricot blushes

1. e.l.f. blush in glow

PhP 199.75 in PCX, SM Malls, and The Landmark

This is a nice peachy blush with shimmer.I love this product because it matches my medium skin tone. The only thing I don't like is that it emphasizes my pores. So the best way to use this like a highlighter on the cheeks, applied very far away from the nose and the center of the face where the pores can be obvious.

e.l.f. blush in glow

2. Sew Devitt lip and cheek primer

Okay this is not available in the PHL but I am just mentioning this because this innovation is to die for! Not only does it act as a primer for a highlighter and powder, it also acts as a glowy peachy blush! (A separate blog post has been made for this pretty product! Please click on this hyperlink: Sue Devitt)

Brick Red to Old Rose blushes

1. Wet and Wild in 831E Pearlescent Pink

PhP 299 at SM Malls, but I was able to purchase it on sale for only PhP270. I have watched great reviews on this specific color on youtube saying it is a dupe for Nars Orgasm blush. I coudn't say for sure because I have not used Nars yet. In my experience, this Wet and Wild blush is a classic cheek color. It can be a little strong in its shade, usually making me opt for a nude or toned down lip color, but it does stay on for hours. At a very affordable price, and if many say it resembles Nars Orgasm blush, this is definitely a steal!

There's a little shimmer but it really does not show much in my medium skin tone (my undertone is yellow).

2. Catrice Defining Blush in 080 Sunrose Avenue

Approximately PhP300 in SM Malls

I love the old rose, and this one has some shimmer so it can also double as a highlighter. This shade can  be really subtle and perfect for dark lip colors or smokey eye.

3. Pixy Colors of Delight Blush On in Passion Roses 04

PhP 285 at SM Centrepoint

If you are looking for a matte old rose shade, then this is the way to go. 
I did not particularly notice if it stays on for hours, 
but neither did I notice anything bad about it. To be honest, 
I am sold with its color and matte shade, it gives a simple and elegant look for an affordable price! 

Left: Pixy Colors of Delight Blush On in Passion Roses 04
Right: Catrice Defining Blush in 080 Sunrose Avenue

Shade showdown: Top Left is Catrice Sunrose Avenue, Top Right is Pixy Passion Roses, and Bottom is Wet and Wild Pearlescent Pink

Pink Blushes

1. Canmake Cheek and Cheek in 08

PhP416 at the Landmark or PCX Stores

Super love this set, which is actually something I had to take a risk in. First, I found it really bright, and second, I am so used to buttery textures, and this hard-as-candy  blush just made me feel hesitant. I tell you, don't hesitate!  This blush duo is very pigmented and it stays on your skin for a full day! It also applies lightly on the skin like it is made of really tiny particles, so that there is no fall out at all. No powdery texture, no cakey or buttery feel. It is truly one of my best finds, and a Japanese makeup brand, by my experience, usually steals the show when it comes to performance, regardless if it is drugstore or high-end.

It comes in 2 colors in one packaging: I got mine with a bright pink and a bright coral set. There are many other colors to choose from but this one is what suits my medium skin tone (My skin tone is Honey in Maybelline and Garnier powders, NC40 in Mac foundation, W45 in L'oreal True Match Foundation). You might think this set is soooo tiny but get ready because it packs on great pigments! 

2.  e.l.f. in flushed 

PhP 199.75 in PCX, SM Malls, and The Landmark
Okay I dropped this and so I broke it. I really love this blush for the very high pigmentation and satin finish. It can be really scary if you are not careful to take just a little because this is powdery and your brush can very easily pick up a lot. So just touch on it lightly with a blush brush and apply on your cheeks. I saved the rest of the powder by transferring it to a new container so now it looks like a loose cheek powder blush in the photo. Sorry for this!

Transferred the broken blush in a circular container, shown in photo, lower left corner.

3.  e.l.f. in blushing
PhP 199.75 in PCX, SM Malls, and The Landmark

Upper left corner: e.l.f. blushing

If you don’t want to take the extra care in the application, and just want a regular, not too strong kind of pink blush, and don’t mind the shimmer, then go for this shade. It does not come on too bright so you can get on with any blush and apply. It can be buildable but you don’t really need a lot.

Coral to Orange blushes

1. BYS Blush in Trio Endless Summer 

PhP399 at SM Malls

I super like this trio blush because it totally has 3 different colors of different shades in one sleek pack - pretty much reminds me of Sleek brand of blushes. The first one is pink, the second one is coral with shimmer, and the third one on the rightmost part is a two-tone orange pink. It is highly pigmented so be very careful as you tap your brush! I think this is a nice blush palette that can totally make your day just by opening it! And with the fact that it has 3 different colors, it can be a nice travel blush kit. It is very sleek and flat so don't worry about bringing it anywhere. Also, since it is very affordable, I will not cry should anything happen to it while travelling. For sure I can afford to buy another one and just about any SM Mall or Watsons store has it. 

The problems I have with this set:

• There is a faint smell of chemical like you know it is not just some natural powder with natural pigments. I asked a friend who also purchased a BYS blush and she told me her kit doesn't have any annoying smell at all. I should mention that this faint smell is not super annoying, just that if you put your nose very close to it, there's a hint that reminds me of chemical powders being put together in the kit. 
• My skin breaks out after 5 consecutive days of using it. It could be just my skin type, or maybe I am not suited for the ingredients. Too bad because I really like their colors and the staying power of the blush.

2. Canmake PhP416 at the Landmark or PCX Stores

Just adding this because it comes with the coral shade on the right, but you already know that!

3. Sleek Blush By 3 Palette PhP734.50 at Luxola.com

A dedicated review on this recent favorite blush palette is in this LINK.

Affordable Drugstore Eyeshadow Primer

It goes without saying that my all-time favorite eyeshadow primer is the Urban Decay brand. But of course this brand is not yet available in the Philippines (only through online sellers), and we are always on the look out for affordable products. 

Here are my 2 recommended drugstore brands of eyeshadow primer that are available in the Philippines:

1. Etude Proof 10 Eyeshadow Primer   
This eyeshadow primer lasts long  because
a) It does not dry out too fast
and
b) It actually contains a lot inside that you can really use it for long. The box indicates that it has 10g.

This product is sold for only PhP 298 at etude shops, SM Malls, and the Landmark. If you are going to apply this, make sure you do not apply it on top of foundation or creamy concealer, or else you will experience some caking. Pay close attention to how you apply it on the outer sides of your eyes. This where the primer and the foundation usually meet and it can look patchy. I have to mention that I personally do not put foundation on my eyelids. I just put a primer from my eyelids up to my eyebrows and then put the eyebrow products and eyeshadows next. The foundation and concealers only touch my under eye parts, never on my lids. I don't know but my eyeshadows last longer that way. Maybe because I have oily skin on my eyelids.

It has a doe-foot applicator.

2. e.l.f. Essential Shadow Lock Eyelid Primer
I like this because it is a good product for only PhP 199.75 per tube. The problem is this product is always out of stock in SM Malls and the Landmark, I ended up testing Etude's product. 

Sorry for the worn-out bottle mark! As you can see, I have used it a lot!

What I noticed about this product is that it dries pretty fast, so make sure you have your fingers are ready to tap once you apply it. I do not recommend using a brush as it may only dry up within the fibers of your brush.


Any other affordable eyeprimer recommendations that are available in the PHL? Let me know by posting a comment below! I have checked L'oreal, Maybelline, Revlon, and many other brands but they do not carry eyeshadow primers here, so I am really glad that Etude always has its product on stock just when I need to repurchase :)

My Favorite Mascaras this 2015

I have had too many favorite mascaras this year and I will need to categorize them. Some are very much available in the Philippines, while some are given to me as gifts, so please forgive me for those brands. My goal is to share with you some brands that I have tested to last long and make your lashes look pretty!

Let's go to category number 1: WATERPROOF MASCARAS

I have never been into waterproof mascara, but recently, since I have been attending too many gym classes, I have been able to test some products that are 100% rain-proof, gym-proof, sweat-proof, bodyjam-proof. Believe me when I say I have been sweating like a pig and these mascaras are still hangin' in there without leaking or smudging!!

1. Dolly Wink Volume Mascara in 04

This mascara does provide volume. The moment you apply it, you can instantly see a difference in how your lashes open up. It gives a certain sense of thickening without the clumpy feel and also does not come on wet, but neither is it dry. If you are asking if it is hard to take off, don't worry because it isn't. It's not that kind of formula that's good while you are wearing it, but will take off all your lashes by the end of the day. Those formulas were just horrible and this is the reason why I stayed away from waterproof mascaras. Surprisingly this one is really amazing! All you need is your ordinary facial wash, and some gentle rubbing, patting your eyelashes as if they are feathers, and you will feel it coming off easily. It is not flaky or gluey (you know, it does not feel like you are taking off dried white glue from your lashes). 

Dolly Wink products are available in Landmark and SM Malls and retails for PhP 699. You can buy a  PhP 999.75 combo pack which includes the Dolly Wink Liquid eyeliner. I was actually just looking for the liquid eyeliner because I have heard way too much good reviews about its tiny tiny tip. So when I was offered the combo pack, let's just say I found a Holy Grail Mascara too!

2. Lumene Blueberry Wild Volume Mascara in Deep Blue

This was given to me as a gift. Lumene is a Finnish brand and I have a review about its stellar smudge-proof liquid eyeliner (Lumene Blueberry Liquid Eyeliner). So let me just say I already have a heads up that this product is good! Turns out, yes! This mascara is really good! It is actually not a waterproof mascara, but it dries as if it is. I have tested this in the gym, running in the rain, body jam dance class, name it! And taking it off is so easy, as if washing off any regular, non-waterproof mascara. I don't know how but this lumene mascara is really good. The only down-side of this is that it does not give you any wild volume at all. It just delivers a natural lash with a little definition. The end-result is a natural-looking lash with just a little bit of volume. The deep blue color is supposed to cancel out the redness in the eyes and bring out the brown eye-color. I personally don't see any difference, but maybe it is also because my eyes are very dark brown.

3. Canmake Gokubuto Mascara in Antique Chocolat Rose
I have heard good reviews about Canmake. In general, I have always believed in Japanese products when it comes to skin care and eye makeup, so I gave this mascara a try, even though again, this is water proof. I normally don't put mascaras if it is raining or if I will be hitting the gym, I mean why bother? How could I have overlooked the possibility that formulations change through time, and makeups just get better and better? 

This product is also 100% rain-proof, gym-proof, sweat-proof, bodyjam-proof... but! And there is a but... I do not like removing it because it feels like soft dried white glue when I take it off. I am bothered that if I am not too careful, it might damage my lashes or my eyes. So what I do is I use Celeteque facial wash first then rinse, then use Johnson's baby shampoo to wash it off very gently then rinse. Then go back for a final rinse with only water. It has also been my normal night routine to put warm compress on my eyes for 10 minutes so that helps soften the dried mascara away. Don't get me wrong, this mascara does not make you lose your lashes. I just don't like the consistency that it turns into once it is time to take it off.

Verdict: It is reliable as waterproof mascara, but a little so-so when it comes to washing it off. This product is available at Landmark and at PCX. PhP 599. At first I thought I would like to wear something brown, but after using this, I realized I should really stick to black because that is the color that brings out the best in your lashes.

Let's go to category number 2: REGULAR MASCARAS (not waterproof)

I only have one product to recommend under this category only because my ever favorite Urban Decay Big Fatty Mascara (Reformulated Urban Decay Big Fatty Mascara) has changed its formula. So now I am into the L'oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes. It is a dry formula so I make sure I don't overdo it or else it will get clumpy. A maximum of 2 applications and together with the false fibers in the formula, my lashes look wispy and I look like tweety bird! This product dries too fast, so don't expect to use it for a long time.

This was given to me as a gift so I don't have the local price for this, sorry.

If you have tested other great mascaras that are available in the Philippines, do let me know by leaving a comment below :) Please add the price is you may!

Review on Sue Devitt Eye, Lip, and Cheek Primer

For people with oily or combination skin, this cheek primer is the way to go! Not only does it glide on nicely as you apply it with your fingers, it also stays on the cheeks for hours. I usually stay away from cream blushes because they tend to cake up on me, or go in patches eventually, or just look out of place after a few hours since I have combination skin.

It is a primer so it is fine to put anything on top. I personally dust a face powder on top of it (my favorite is Canmake Marshmallow Finish)

I like the peachy color, and it gives a slightly golden peachy finish that you can actually leave on without any additional highlighter especially if you are only using it at daytime.


You can also dust a pink powder blush on top to create a different color tone and 3D effect. If I want to maintain the peachy golden hue, I bring an e.l.f.  powder blush in my purse (Color is "glow", and it comes in the same peachy golden hue with very fine shimmer), and dust some using a kabuki brush to retouch, especially after 5 hours from the time of application of Sue Devitt.

I will not recommend using a brush to apply this cheek primer as I have not been able to achieve the same beautiful golden finish with a brush. Fingers would be the best applicator. Also, it is positioned as not only a cheek primer but also an eye and lip primer, but I have not used them for those 2 other ways. I still use my eyeshadow primers (e.lf., etude, urban decay) just because I feel like my Sue Devitt should be reserved for my cheeks and cheeks alone! Hahaha

So try this one, if you want a long lasting, not so creamy cheek tint, and if you feel like trying on a cream blush despite having an oily skin, this might just work for you!