Donnarence

This is the last cushion that I got from Etude House before giving birth. I was really curious with this cushion ever since Ma Dong Seong, one of the actors in Train to Busan, was featured in Etude House's commercial promoting this product. This has an innovative cushion that is features a net cushion different from the cushion compacts that has a sponge drenched with makeup. 

The packaging of this product is very pretty! The holographic design on the cover makes it a sight to behold! It comes with the usual puff sponge which I really like. I sometimes use this to blend out my concealer and it works so beautifully in spreading the product on my under eyes. 

A close up of my face with one side using the cushion and the other without.

I told myself that I will not get another foundation after buying two L'oreal Liquid Foundations as a gift to myself for my 31st birthday. (Taghirap so ayan lang ang gift ko sa sarili ko hehe).  I am almost done with my L'oreal Pro Matte Infallible Foundation (my HG drugstore foundation) that I had to get a back up. I also bought the L'oreal Infallible Pro Glow Foundation which I will be reviewing soon (hopefully I can do this before I give birth to my bebe ). Anyways, since it was my monthly visit to Etude House (where I get to choose product for review purposes), I saw this Moistfull Collagen Foundation. And the rest was history. Ayun, it was love at first swatch. Sadly, I got the wrong shade!! Kainis! More kwento on this later. haha

It comes in a compact with an air puff sponge. This is a cream foundation with pink and white swirls making the color lighter than usual. I got the wrong shade -Light Beige which is way too light for my skintone and the pink and white swirls make the shade look even more lighter (as in ghost like effect) on my medium yellow skin tone. On my initial swatch at the back of my hand, I got the Light Beige because it looked more yellow than Natural Beige.  This costs 1098 pesos. 

The product is very creamy. It glides easily and smoothly on my face. What I am impressed about this product is its medium coverage. This can cover up my redness. dark circles and even minor discoloration with just one layer. To prevent the foundation from further looking way too light on my skin, I try to scoop out the beige product more and veer away from the white and pink swirls. A spatula will be helpful in scraping out the product.  This feels lightweight when worn. It gives off a semi dewy finish perfect for my dry skin. Due to its finish, it has a tendency to move around. Thus, it is best to set it with powder. Since this is a cream foundation, one layer is enough to prevent caking. The puff also does a great job in applying the foundation seamlessly and evenly on the skin. I tried using it with a blender sponge and I did not like the heavy mask like finish on my face. This foundation settles on the fine line under my eyes and it can also emphasize my psoriasis flare ups (but not too much like  my other foundations). This foundation look so flawless on other areas of my face that does not have texture or any issues. This has SPF 50 ++. 

The staying power of this foundation is good. I need not retouch for half day when I used this and does give me an instant brightening and a slight dewy effect after a few hours. 

The con of this foundation (which is partly my fault) is the shade! I got light beige which looks terribly white and even grayish on my yellow skin tone. This gives a weird white cast on flash photography. 

Lately, I have developed an obsession for makeup removers. Yes. I got myself cleansing water, cream, bought a new Biore Cleansing oil and then, I chanced upon this newest product from Etude House.

From Etude House Website:

What it is 

The one-step cleanser effectively removes even waterproof mascara as the sherbet gently melts upon contact with skin.

How to apply

Circular massaging motion.

Once makeup and impurities are removed, wash off with lukewarm water.

This product reminds me a lot of Banila Co's Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm. This comes in a lightweight balm with a soft sherbet texture. This costs 748 pesos (again if I am not mistaken). This is slightly cheaper than Banila Co's Clean It zero. It comes in a jar but sadly, it did not come with a spatula/scooper. I had to scrape off the product using my fingers which I find really unhygienic. 

What I love most about this Sherbet Cleanser is its scent. It has a very refreshing fruity scent. This instantly dissolves makeup upon contact with my skin. It does a great job of removing my mascara even my current favorite Heroine Make Mascara which is known to be quite stubborn to wash off. However, I do notice that I had to make extra effort in massaging this cleanser on my lashes whenever I use waterproof mascara. This is gentle and does not feel greasy at all. It did not cause me blurry vision when I massaged it on my eyes nor did it cause any irritation. Even if it has a balmy texture that melts on the skin, it does not cause any oil build up. After thoroughly massaging it on my face for a minute or less, I wash it off with water. No need to use any cleansing wipes, cotton pads or tissue which makes the process of removing makeup faster (at mas tipid). 

After washing my face with water (Etude House recommends using a lukewarm water to rinse the cleanser off), my face feels very clean, hydrated and supple with no trace of makeup at all. Since I am a fan of double cleansing, I follow up by washing my face with my current favorite Etude House Pure Baobab Cleansing Foam.

 Years ago, (way back in 2010 or 2011?), finding a good eyeshadow primer that is light on the pocket seemed impossible. The famous UDPP (as makeup bloggers call back in the days) or what we know as Urban Decay Primer Potion was way above my student budget back (well hanggang ngayon naman dahil kuripot ako). I could still recall that I was trying to get my hands on the Etude House Proof 10 Primer because it was hailed as an affordable dupe of the Urban Decay Primer. I searched high and low but was not able to get my hands on it or perhaps I forgot if I have bought one before. Moving on, during my last trip to the Etude House Store, I chanced upon new stocks of the Proof 10 Primer and another Eyeshadow Base - the Look At My Eyes Pearl Eyeshadow Base.

 ETUDE HOUSE PROOF 10 PRIMER

This is one the best affordable eyeshadow primers available locally. It weighs 10 grams and it only costs 298 pesos. For the price, one may not have high hopes on this primer as it is way cheaper than the Urban Decay but the performance of this eyeshadow is amazing. It comes in plastic tear drop bottle with a doe foot applicator. It is sheer and has a subtle milky tint. Due to its consistency, it does not alter the texture or the coverage of the eyeshadow. It applies beautifully on bare lids and takes a good amount of time to dry. However, if applied on lids with makeup (liquid foundation and powder), this have a tendency to dry too quickly and I experienced difficulty in blending the product. I make sure to apply less product on the lid or none at all to make this primer work its wonders on my lids. This technique will also lessen any appearance of streakiness. This primer works well on both matte and shimmery shades. This makes my eyeshadows look more vibrant especially matte eyeshadows. 

 The consistency is sheer and the colour is milky. The colour is almost transparent when blended on the lids. The primer is not too sticky and it reminds me of the UDPP but this is thinner in texture. 

 This is cream base and goes really smooth on the lids. It has a pearly and luminous colour. It looks  whitish champagne on my lids. It made my eyeshadows pop and made the colours look more vibrant. Due to its finish, it looks lovely as a base for highlighters even on the cheeks. I find that it works better with shimmery shadows. This does not work for oily lids and those with such skin type may find this greasy. This made my eyeshadow crease a bit but since I had super dry skin this worked very well on me. It made my eyeshadow last for 4-5 hours. I also love how it made my shimmery shadows look extra glam. I find this easier to apply than the Proof 10 primer because it is a cream base. I usually use this when I am in a hurry because I just use my fingers to apply and blend this base and the shimmery eyeshadow of my choice. 

 This is how the eyeshadows look like using with the pearl shadow base.

Overall, I am definitely repurchasing both products especially the proof 10 Primer because it makes my eyeshadow lasts the whole day.

What is your favorite eyeshadow primer?

 P.S. congratulations to Emily Gatus for winning my Reader of the Month Giveaway!I love reading your insights and comments on my blog!!  Please email me at mylucidintervals@gmail.com

Godbless

To my surprise, I am so in love with this cushion!!!!!! I was not expecting that I will love this more than the Real Powder variant. I find myself reaching for this compact everytime I go out of the house. This has a nice pigmentation and can cover some discolorations. It can also tone down the redness of my rashes. I do need to conceal my undereyes and some of my prominent rashes and discolorations. What I love about this is that this feels so light on the skin yet it delivers a decent coverage and natural finish! I can also layer the product without fear of caking or product build up. I love the fact that it has a high physical sunscreen of SPF 50+ PA+++. 

Due to the hydrating properties of this BB Cream, this does not cling on the dry patches on my face. I also notice how refreshing this cushion bb feels when worn. (Or guni guni ko lang ito!!) This does not make my skin look greasy nor oily by mid day. This Cushion BB has a natural finish which is great for everyday wear. 

http://www.mylucidintervals.com/2016/07/mli-reader-of-month-giveaway_6.html

Firstly, I really like the rose gold packaging. It looks so posh and elegant. The Spong that came with it has a nude/peach shade compared to the usual blue cushion sponge of Etude House. The compact of this Cushion BB is slim as compared to the usual bulky cushion bb/foundation in the market. Due to this, I immediately checked the weight and found out that it is only 14 grams as compared to my 15 grams Any Cushion and April Skin BB Cushion. I also noticed that the inner flap cover that holds the sponge and covers the cushion itself has tiny clickers around it securing the flap unto the compact very well. This prevents the cushion from drying too fast. I do notice that my first any cushion from Etude House does not have this kind of lock function hence, it dried up easily. The mirror is also big enough. The sponge that came with felt more fluffier and smoother as compared to the more rubbery texture of the any cushion sponge. The label does not only mention of the product's shelf life but it did mention the expiration date which is very useful. 

 There are three shades availabel: Light Beige, Natural Beige and Honey Beige (pls correct me if I am wrong). I did not get the Honey Beige, although being the darkest amongst the three, this shade somehow looked light on my skin and appears a bit pinkish. The shade Natural Beige is one shade lighter than my skin (NC30) but since I am acidic, the shade somehow blends with my skin giving a brightening effect. I love how this cushion bb applies smoothly and covers my redness instantly with just one layer. I just need to tap the product on my face faster than usual because this product sets very fast. I also need to use a much heavier moisturizer to make the product work for my dry skin. This cushion keeps my face mattified throughout the day but I do notice cakey build up on the sides of my nose and chin area. Compared to other bb cushion, I prefer a thin single  layer of this product as opposed to piling up  two layers because this product cakes easily. The coverage of this bb cushion is medium and can cover up my redness except for the inflamed psoriasis flare ups. 

Here is a photo of my face with psoriasis flare ups on my forehead. You will notice that Natural Beige cushion on my lower cheek has a yellow tone and it lighter than my skin color.

 1.       Etude House Oil Control Film (Price: 148 pesos)

 This is not my favourite but my husband’s. Yes, my ever supportive husband who allows me to buy makeup every now and then and would actually compliment my contour when it is on point has an Etude House Favorite!!!!! My husband has a super oily skin. He has tried a lot of blotting papers even those popular blotting sheets made specifically for men but this one from Etude House stood out from the rest. He said that this is very durable and sturdy and does not tear easily. It absorbs oil very well and one sheet is enough to zap all (sobrang dami) oil in his face. Also, he said that this does not irritate his oily skin and does not cause any pimples. Every time I will drop by at Etude House to check products, my husband never fails to request me to two or three sachets for him.

2.  Heart Shaped Sponge (Price: 178 pesos)

 This is the cutest sponge I have seen aside from the tiny beauty blender sponge that is too pricey (for my taste). This tiny heart shaped sponge can be divided into two and works great when damp. I used it for applying my liquid foundation and concealer. It does absorbs a lot of product as compared to my beauty blender but for the price I can not complain. I find the size perfect for applying products on the lid and under eye. When used for applying foundation, the size of the sponge can make the process a bit tedious. The sponge does not have that rubbery texture and blends the product well. One pack contains ten hearts that can be divided in two.

3. Etude House Brow Shaper and Tweezer

This is a power combo for kilay lovers out there. I received this as part of Etude House Mother’s day gift. They were the first to give me a mother’s day gift at medyo nasenti ako sa thoughtfulness nila. Hehe Anyways, I love how the blade is not too matalas. Also the tweezer picks and pulls even the tiniest and thinnest of brow hairs. This has been my power duo when I am in the mood of cleaning up my brows.

 I do not need a new lash curler but the moment I saw this curler, it was love at first sight. This curler comes in a unique semi brassy gold shade. It has light pink rubber paddings. It is one of the sturdiest and heaviest curler I own aside from Shu. This has another version for monolids but I opted for this one because I have round eyes. The one for monolids costs 199 pesos. The SA said that the monolid version has a smaller curve and opening compared to the round eyes version. This has a very firm grip and curls my lashes pretty. I do notice that I need to press several times to achieve the curl that I want. It does make my lashes look longer and has a great curling power (after several pressing). Look at my lashes below. I love that I can use it even after my mascara has dried up to give my lashes that final press to achieve lasting curl. My only problem with this curler is that it is too wide  that the edges pokes the sides of my nose.