In the Spotlight: Bare Naturals Ultra High Definition Mineral Primer

Struggling with oily skin and enlarged pores? Wanting a flawless and radiant glow? Needing something that'll look good on photos? Well, Bare Naturals has the answer to your needs and wants --- the Ultra High Definition Mineral Primer!


What Bare Naturals says about it:
UDMP is the powder version of SKIN PERFECTING (S5) Primer!
Promise of oil-control, lasting makeup and flawless look!

ULTRA-DEFINITION MINERAL PRIMER softens the appearance of imperfections. It has silica and Ronasphere LDP (Light Diffusing Properties) that make lines, wrinkles and minor imperfections unnoticeable.
It completely evens out the complexion for a glowing, radiant look!

Best thing about our ULTRA-DEFINITION MINERAL PRIMER it is slightly tinted! (which will suit any skin tone and skin shade)
You can use it alone, or as your base powder for maximum oil control and it will NEVER cake up on you!

When you touch or swatch our ultra definition powder, you will notice that it is indeed a cut above the rest! :)

Check out the swatches.

without flash

with flash

Yay!

• Price. For Php225 (around $4) for 10g, Php395 (around $8) for 20g and Php635 (around $13) for 40g, this UHD powder is a lot cheaper compared to a lot of HD powders in the market (with the exception of ELF).
  
• Texture. As soon as you touch the powder, you'll feel how smooth and finely milled it is.
  
• Dual purpose. Aside from being a primer, this mineral powder can also be used as a finishing powder or a blot powder.
  
• Matches any skin color. Despite getting a (an ugly tan, that is) tan lately (I hate the sun!!!), this powder still matches my skin color. I've also used this powder on ladies with a much darker color than mine and it has never made anyone of them look ghostly.
  
• Blends well. It will not look streaky or look obvious when used as a setting powder.
  
• Delivers. Everything that Bare Naturals said about the product --- keeps oil at bay, makes pores appear smaller, does not cake, and makes you look glowing and flawless --- is true! I haven't been wearing foundation for the past couple of weeks (just BB cream or tinted moisturizer and this on top) and my skin looks glowing and flawless.
  

Nay!

• Messy. Just as with any mineral makeup or practically anything in loose powder form, this can get utterly messy. Every time I open and close the lid, it just goes POOOF! and the powder flies everywhere.
  
• Inconvenient for traveling. If you're looking for something to throw into your purse for touch ups, this may not be the best thing to tag along UNLESS you're forgiving enough when the powder flies onto your clothes.

For repurchase?
Definitely. Since purchasing the product early January, this UHD Mineral Powder from Bare Naturals has never left my vanity table and purse, albeit messy and unfit for traveling, all because of the benefits I get from using it. The promise of shine-free and oil-free face, smaller pores and radiant and glowing look can be achieved with this amazing, heaven-sent product.

*This product was purchased by me for personal and review purposes. I am not affiliated with nor was paid by the company to write this review. This is an honest review based on my personal experience with the product.*

In The Spotlight: Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer

In a country like ours, primers are a must. These serve as a base for our makeup, enhance the vibrancy of the colors, and prevent makeup meltdown. These are just some of the many reasons why I always itch to try primers from different brands even if I already have more than enough primers for my personal use and occasional invites to do other people's makeups.

At the moment, I have about five (5) eyeshadow primers in my stash: UDPP, ELF Mineral Eyeshadow Primer, Smashbox Photofinish Lid Primer, TFSI and Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer. While I've never bothered myself to review UDPP, TFSI, ELF and Smashbox, I feel that Etude House's eyeshadow primer needs a bit of an introduction.

Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer

What the label says
Proof 10 Eye primer supplies coverage to eyelids and around the eyes to enhance eye shadow color and integrity for a longer lasting Perfect 10 look.

The applicator

How the primer looks like

EH Proof 10 Eye Primer is almost identical to UDPP, except that EH is a bit more liquid compared to UDPP and even TFSI. For a fraction of the price, I'll most certainly pick up EH Proof 10 Eye Primer over UDPP. On the other hand, the mineral eye primer from ELF remains to be my top eye primer of all time (unless I find an eye primer that can beat ELF). I mean, honestly, do I have to shell out $17 for a "[semi] high end" primer when a $3 drugstore eye primer can do the same job just as good as the expensive ones? I think not.

Yay!

• Price. It's pretty cheap at Php298 (around $6).
• It evens out the discolorations on our lids.
  
• It makes eye shadows appear more vibrant and last longer on the lids.
  

Nay!

• It dries a little too fast. You have to spread and blend the primer as soon as it touches your lids. This isn't a biggie, though.
  

In Betweens...

• Packaging. While the packaging appears to be cute, it's somehow reminiscent of Urban Decay's annoyingly packaged genie-in-a-bottle. I wonder how I'll be able to get the last drop of this primer. Break it perhaps? And what's with the handle? It gets dirty so easily! I guess the only good thing I can say about the packaging is that it allows you to see how much product you have left. Other than that, I have no other qualms about the it.

To show how well Etude House's Proof 10 Eye Primer delivers, I decided to take eye shots of my eye makeup for two consecutive days (NOTE: I've been road-testing this primer for two weeks).

My daily routine is: When my beloved doesn't take me to work, I walk a distance of about a kilometer or so, under the sun, carrying about 5lbs of weight; therefore, I sweat.

EDIT: For all the eye shots, I used UDPP on my left eye (your right), and EH Proof 10 Eye Primer on my right eye (your left). See any difference?

After application. Taken by the window around noon.

After 13hours. Taken in the bathroom, with flash, under yellow lighting.

After application. Taken by the window around noon.

After 13hours. Taken in the bathroom, with flash, under yellow lighting.

As you can see, my eye makeup did not crease nor fade even after 13hours of wear. What you are mistaking as proof of fading is the flash of the camera. Also, I think the difference in the lighting somehow affects the colors' appearance/vibrancy in the photos.

What do you think about Etude House's eye shadow primer? For me, it's at par with UDPP, Smashbox and ELF (why not TFSI? Because TFSI makes my eye shadows crease and fade). But since ELF's mineral eye primer is just half the price of EH, I'll probably stock up more on ELF. Sorry EH.

Others have sold/given away their UDPPs and TFSIs because of EH's Proof 10 Eye Primer. Will you ditch your beloved UDPP, too? I would, and I have!

In the Spotlight: Maybelline ColorSensational Lipstick in Madison Mauve

Whenever my beloved brings me cosmetics from the US, I always go to malls to check if these are already locally available. To my dismay, however, I'm almost always told, "I'm sorry but we don't have _____ here, ma'am and we won't be bringing the item to the country." This has actually happened to quite a lot of times in the past. Thank goodness my beloved always gets me what I want even without telling him! Well, I don't think I'll be asking him to get more of Maybelline's hottest new item because they're bringing it to us here in the Philippines! How did I find out? Well, I was lurking around the Maybelline counter in Robinson's Galleria during their holiday sale, when the SA mentioned that they'll be bringing this amazing line of lipsticks to the country next month. What is it? It's the ColorSensational Lipstick Line people on the other end of the globe have been endlessly raving about! Ah! Finally! I've been waiting for these forever!

From the Maybelline website:

Why You'll Love It

Fall in love with color, all over again:

• Crisper color from pure pigments
• Creamier feel from nourishing honey nectar
• Lipcolor so rich, so stunning… it’s sensational
• 48 Captivating Shades

Yay!

• Pigmentation. The color is very rich.
  
• Texture. The lipstick is creamy and applies smoothly on the lips.
  
• Finish. While I can't speak of the other shades available, Madison Mauve has quite a glossy finish, there's [almost] no need for a lipgloss. But if you want the extra shine and gloss, then gloss up by all means?
• Formula. This doesn't feel drying or heavy on the lips. It won't make your lips flake at all.
  
• Coverage. It can be applied sheer or heavy, depending on your preference. The color is definitely buildable.
• Color Range. They have a wide selection of shades from nudes/browns to reds to plums to pinks. They cover everything in the color spectrum (minus the shades you'd never really wear, i.e. blacks, blues, oranges, etc.)!
• Price. Depending on where you live in the US, Maybelline ColorSensational Lipsticks go for about $7. Not bad for a lipstick, don't you think? In the Philippines, however, I was told that the price will be somewhere in the 200peso range. Still reasonable, I think.
  

Nay!

• Color Selection in the Philippines. Maybelline won't be bringing the entire color selection to the Philippines. Just sad.
  
• Lasting Power. Just like most lipsticks, this'll probably last you a good 4 to 5hours before the color starts to fade (it probably won't survive eating and drinking. I can't really tell coz I haven't tried), leaving a hint of color and shine on your lips. Honestly, I'm not sure if this is a bad thing since this isn't a colorstay variant.
  

In Betweens...

• Scent. While some others complained of a scent that's a cross between coconut and chemical, I noticed only a faint pleasant scent from Madison Mauve. It's nothing close to smelling like chemical or wax, but I'm not quite sure if it's coconutty. Either way, I find it pleasant. Besides, it's not something you'd smell the moment you remove the plastic cap. You'd only notice that faint scent if you take a good whiff off of your tube.
  
• Glitter. If you love [high] shine, you'd love this li ne from Maybelline. Like Madison Mauve, I read that a lot of shades in the ColorSensational Lipstick line are glittery. Some complain about the glitters being chunky, gritty and scratchy, which I didn't notice with Madison Mauve.
  
• Packaging. Some ladies found the packaging cheap, but I think otherwise. While the plastic cap has the tendency to come off easily in your purse, I actually like how the plastic cap looks like. I also think it's pretty cool how Maybelline color-coordinated the shades under each family - all the reds and peaches have a red plastic cap, the pinks with a pink plastic cap, the purples/mauves with a purple cap and all the browns/nudes with a brown cap. The only thing I don't like about the packaging is that it can be easily scratched. See photo below.
  

  

Tips:

• Always exfoliate and moisturize before applying lipstick.
  
• Blot the excess moisture off of your lips.
• Conceal your lips' pigmentation by applying foundation or concealer. Set with powder. This makes the color of the lipstick appear more true when applied on your lips.
  
• If you desire more defined lips, line your lips with a lip liner that's close to the shade of the lipstick. Lining your lips with a lip liner also makes the lipstick stay on your lips for a longer time.
  
• If you desire shiny, pouty lips, gloss up.
  
• If you want your lips to appear fuller, highlight your Cupid's bow and your lower lip by dabbing a bit of a shimmery powder on the said areas.
  
• Want a flawless look? Apply concealer to the edges to correct/erase any mistakes.
  

Madison Mauve on the lips.
Pardon the photo. This was done in a rush

Just one swipe. It's pretty pigmented, eh?

Like I said, color is buildable.

Will you be snagging some of these babies when they arrive on Philippine shores? I know I will! Leave some for me, please!

In the Spotlight: Urban Decay Book of Shadows Volume II

The Urban Decay Book of Shadows Volume II ($48) is the second installation in Urban Decay’s Book of Shadows series. The palette offers 16 gorgeously pigmented eyeshadows, half of which are new and exclusive to the palette, a travel size version of the cult favorite UDPP, two travel sized 24/7 Eye Pencils, and a look book.

On to the packaging

The packaging is rather simple and dainty with peacock feather prints but is at the same time awfully bulky and heavy. With that said, this palette isn’t exactly something you’d like to tote around on a daily basis. The 16eyeshadows, 2travel sized 24/7 eye pencils and travel sized UDPP are all housed in a drawer that doesn’t slide off as breezily as I wish it would. Other than these minor complaints, Urban Decay is a little more generous this year by including a ginormous mirror and a look book that’s kept inside a secret compartment.

On to the contents

The palette offers an assortment of colors ranging from neutrals to bright and fun hues. AC/DC, Nylon, Mushroom, Sphynx, Jinx, Homegrown, Misdemeanor and Perversion are new and exclusive to this palette. The existing eyeshadows are Sellout, Gunmetal, Ecstasy, Midnight Cowboy Rides Again, Half Baked, Twice Baked, Flipside and YDK. The palette also includes two 24/7 eye pencils and a travel sized bottle of the UDPP which make this palette handy when traveling (NOTE: Traveling, meaning that you’ll throw this huge book into your luggage, not your purse).

At first thought, $48 for a 16pc eyeshadow palette with some extras on the side may seem a little too pricey for some. But if you examine the palette, you’ll be surprised to discover a huge amount of savings that this palette offers. Let me show you how much you can save with this palette by doing a little bit of math.

The eyeshadows in the BOS Vol. II are .03oz each, whereas a single eyeshadow (not the deluxe eyeshadow) that’s .05oz retails for $16. With only a .02oz difference, let’s put the eyeshadows in the BOS Vol. II at $10 a piece. The travel sized UDPP included in the BOS Vol. II is 3.75ml. On the other hand, the full size UDPP that’s 10ml sells for $17. In this case, let’s put the travel sized cult favorite at $6. Finally, we come to the two travel sized 24/7 eye pencils that are .8g each. The regular 24/7 eye pencil that’s 1.2g is $17 while a mini 24/7 eye pencil is $4. Wondering how I come up with $4 for the mini 24/7 eye pencil? Simple. Divide $36 to the nine 24/7 eye pencils included in the 24/7 Super Stash Set and you’ll end up with $4. Now we can assume the worth of the travel sized 24/7 eye pencil at $8.

The equation:

2 .8g 24/7 Eye Pencils x $8 = $16

1 3/75ml UDPP x $6 = $4

16 .03oz eye shadows x $10 = $160

Total: $182

You read that right, ladies. By purchasing this palette, you save a whopping $134, give or take. Now if that’s not enough to convince you to shove this palette to your cart, I don’t know what will. Just think about it this way: the 16 eyeshadows included in this kit make this palette worth your every penny. Now think about the add ins. Don’t you think Urban Decay was nice enough to add in a few extras for you for being a good girl?

On to the quality

Urban Decay is known for highly pigmented eyeshadows that have a smooth creamy and buttery texture which was not sacrificed with this palette. They apply smoothly and beautifully and can easily be blended. They won’t crease nor fade given that a good base/primer is used underneath. On the other hand, if you’re not big on eyeshadows with a shimmery, frosty and/or metallic finish, you may not like this palette. But if you love colors and shimmer, I tell you, this palette worth your $48. The inclusion of two other cult favorites, the UDPP and 24/7 eye pencils, makes this palette of even greater value. Since I’m quite certain that we all know how amazing Urban Decay’s 24/7 eye pencils are, I won’t go on and talk about these anymore. If you haven’t tried Urban Decay’s much talked about eye pencils, you can read my review on these by clicking here.

On to my gripes

I commend Urban Decay for including a look book in this palette; however, it would have been so much better had they included some how to’s because, let’s face it, one can get lost in a sea of 16beautiful eyeshadows.

The colors are beautiful and highly pigmented; however, an inclusion of a highlight shade and/or matte eyeshadows could certainly make this palette even better.

Yes, the packaging is pretty as it is, but I would love it even more if the eyeshadow box is detachable from the rest of the packaging just like how it is with my Too Faced Glamour Revolution Palette.

On to the swatches

This is an incomplete swatch. I couldn't fit the last four colors on my arm.

First Row

Second Row

Third Row

Fourth Row

A side by side comparison of the travel sized 24/7 eye pencil and mini 24/7 eye pencil

A side by side comparison of Bourbon & Corrupt

Must-have or pass-up? Let me know in the comments!

(I'll try to include a breakdown of the shadows included in this palette, although that would make this review even longer. If you think it is needed, let me know by writing it in the comments section)

Urban Decay 24/7 Super Stash

How many reviews on the Urban Decay 24/7 eye pencils have you read? How many swatches of these gorgeously pigmented eye pencils have you seen? A thousand, perhaps? Does it matter? I don't think so. Personally, I don't think anyone will ever get enough of how bold, rich and vibrant the hues of these eye pencils are.

Urban Decay on the 24/7 Super Stash...

You asked for more! This set includes NINE mini-sized 24/7 Eye Pencils, including FOUR shades exclusive to this set: Corrupt (brown sparkle), Binge (navy – finally!), Eldorado (a new gold), and Oil Slick (black sparkle). Also included are your favorites Zero, Graffiti, Ransom, Rockstar and Stash.

This rainbow of shades is the ultimate kit: the right balance of neutrals and brights for any look. Need to modernize your little black dress? Try bold strokes of gold, green or blue shades for some exotic flair. Wearing that bold-printed tunic? Try smoldering layers of neutral Eye Pencils to add depth and gleam without competing. Use them in combination, use them alone, give a few away. (Okay, don’t do that.)

Small enough to fit in a wallet or slimmest of evening bags, these mini-sized pencils still feature the exact formula you love in our full-sized pencils: extra creamy, easy-glide, and waterproof. Any UD junkie will pee their pants at the sight of this amazing set.

Urban Decay on the 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils...

The best Eye Pencil ever, ever, ever! Never before has a pencil this creamy and brilliant been waterproof, too. Velvety-soft, this never-before-seen formula stays soft and creamy for blending (about 30 seconds), then dries down to a long-lasting finish that WILL NOT budge. Line eyes with a hint of color or go for the full artistic, multi-hued effect with the wide selection of lush tropical hues, deep metallics and unusually vibrant neutrals. Incredible with Urban Decay Eyeshadows!

Created with 50% moisturizing ingredients suspended in a sophisticated waterproof formula, 24/7 Eye Pencils offer long-lasting color and a dreamy, creamy feel when applied. With Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E and Cottonseed Oil.

Yay!

• Highly pigmented. Just look at these swatches! All nine of them were swiped once on my hand without any base/primer. The colors are rich and vibrant and stay true to each shade's description. Aren't the colors beautiful? (I know you can't really see the glitters/sparkles in Corrupt, Graffiti and Oil Slick. I'm sorry, my poor point&shoot camera doesn't capture details so well as compared to DSLRs. If only my beloved could do this for me. Sigh.)

From L to R: Stash (dark golden green), Rockstar (dark purple), Ransom (bright iridescent purple), Binge (navy), Graffiti (bright green with silver sparkle), Eldorado, (a new gold), Corrupt (brown sparkle), Oil Slick (black sparkle), Zero (black)

• Smooth, creamy, buttery, soft feel. I don't know if those adjectives are enough to describe how perfectly these eye pencils glide on the lids. These eye pencils make applying eyeliner so stress free and easy. There's absolutely no tugging, whatsoever --- 100% guaranteed.
  
• Long Wearing. Never in my entire life have I owned an eye pencil that stays on my waterline, lower lashline and upper lashline with no smudging and/or fading. Well, okay, it does budge very very slightly on my upper lashline without a primer on. It's nothing noticeable, unless you inspect it at a very close distance in front of a mirror. To tell you honestly, not even the infamous Zero transferred to my upper lid. It should be able to hold up to any circumstance unless your lids are an oil mine.
  
• Smudgeable, great for smokey looks. Haha! I coined the word. While these eye pencils can be smudged within 30seconds after application, they're bound to stay on your lashlines regardless of the heat or the rain. So if you're aiming for a smokey look with these pencils, be sure to smudge them in under 30seconds, coz once they're set, no amount of smudging can be done.
  
• Color Variety. Whether you're a neutrals loving girl, a bright-colored makeup lover, or a rocker chick, you'll surely have use of the colors included in this set.
  
• Come off easily. These pencils are not a pain to remove as they come off quite easily with makeup remover or just any facial cleanser. The downside, they do leave some stain on your lower lashline. Well, nothing a q-tip can't remedy.
  

Nay!

• Price. Okay, let's be honest, $17 for a single regular-sized eye pencil is a bit steep. What about nine mini eye pencils for $36? That would make it $4 a piece. Worth it? I'd say, YES. I just wish they weren't as small as they are.

See how small they are compared to my Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner Pencil? Well, the "eyeliner" inside Revlon's tube is probably just 1/4 of the entire length of these UD eye pencils.

• Availability. Sadly, Urban Decay is not sold at any counter in the Philippines. I wish they had even just a small counter in the metro so we wouldn't have to go about purchasing through online sellers and waiting for a month for our orders to arrive.

My verdict
These eye pencils, though a bit heavy on the pocket, are worth every cent. They come in a wide selection of colors from neutrals, to plums to bright hues that are just as vibrant and rich as you would imagine them to be. They're smudgeproof, budgeproof, and waterproof but are a breeze to remove as you retire at night. All in all, these eye pencils make a great addi(c)tion to anybody's makeup arsenal.

TIP
As you all know, ZERO is not the most smudgeproof and waterproof eye pencil of the bunch (though I really never had any issue using it on my lashlines and waterlines) so if you intend to use ZERO on your waterline and lower lashline, set it with an eyeshadow to prevent it from smudging.

To prove that these pencils are smudgeproof and waterproof, here's a little experiment.

After swatching these eye pencils on my hand, I rubbed them quite a few times to see if they would budge. They didn't at first, but after rubbing them consistently for a couple of minutes, they all showed signs of smudging. (I don't know what happened to the photo that I took after smudging them about a hundred times.)

I didn't stop with my first experiment, so I took the swatches in the shower and rubbed them off under running water. Wanna see what happened? Check the two photos below. As you can see in the first photo, Zero faded quite a lot. It lost its intensity with continuous rubbing under running water. The other swatches still look good, in my opinion.

This is how they looked like after rubbing them off with a soapy/sudsy exfoliating skin towel.

After completing my experiment, I was able to successfully remove the swatches off, leaving me with a very red burning hand. I'll have that disgusting photo uploaded tomorrow morning. I can't wait to get some shut-eye.

I hope my little experiment enlightened you guys a little bit.

But wait! There's more! (Haha. No, I'm not trying to sell you anything.)

Here's a photo to show you how beautiful Binge is. Be sure to slip on your Rihanna persona when you have this on ;)
I barely have any make up in this photo except for Skinfood Peach Sake BB Cream, a light dusting of ELF Studio blush in Peachy Keen, NYX Round Lipstick in Perfect on my lips and UD 24/7 eye pencil in Binge. My lashes look non-existent! Ugh. That worthless Smashbox Bionic Mascara's gonna get it one of these days!

You probably can't see it well, but I'm wearing Rockstar in this photo.

I wasn't expecting this review to be this long. Nevertheless, I hope you'll find this review helpful, especially if you're planning on purchasing this set, or the individual 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils.