James Cooper Jazzy Collections Eyebrow Gel

What is the biggest problem for girls dyeing their hair, besides hair damage? The brows. The brows have to be at least the same color family as the hair, to make things less conspicuous. So here I have a proud local eyebrow gel that I picked up because of reviews referring to this as a dupe for MAC's browset. Of course I can't vouch for this as a dupe.

Price: P329
Availability: All SM dept Store watsons
Content: 7mL

Jazzy Collections or James Cooper is a local brand that has beeen around for a while, but I've never gotten around to trying anything from them until I found out that they have great brow gels, I have the darker color in brown, but I can't use it as my hair is quite light.  So the next time they restocked, I picked up the lighter shade which is unsuprisingly popular. The quality of this brand is nice, and I would like to see their products expand their range and products.

Bare brows

As you can see my brows are black as it is my original color, the color of the gel is a shimmery golden tone, which can be intimidating but isn't too noticeable when applied directly to brows.

On my right brow only

Here I have applied it to my right brow, as you can see it has significantly groomed and lightened it.

Both brows

On both brows. But I kind of applied it a bit messily of on my left brow.

This is one great and affordable brow gel for you ladies out there who want to lighten their brows in a few strokes, it comes in 7 ml, which is a lot! And did I mention that this is waterproof? You'd be pressed to remove this with just plain soap and water, a pro and a con, but more pro for those days that you cannot afford makeup meltdown, so this is recommended for the beach, sports and long events that require makeup to be bullet proof.  But perhaps the only true con to this is the brush/wand it comes with, which can be difficult to work with, so do so lightly, as overdoing it is a very high possibility, it can pick up too much product at times, which can attribute to messy and crunchy brows. A little goes a long way for this one! So try to check it out if you're on the hunt for a cheaper browgel as it can get pricey for little product in other brands.

K-Palette Zero Kuma Control Concealer #02 - Yellow Beige

 Price: P795

Availability: Beauty bar shops

Content: 13 g

Description:

Zero Kuma Concealer (02 Yellow Beige) has a light shade that works wonderfully to cover dark circles caused by pigmentation or skin dullness. It contains brightening ingredients Vitamin C Derivative, Chamomilla Recutita Extract and Prune Extract.

All those nights reading strange articles, watching YouTube videos and reading novels sure take a toll on your under eyes, and this is where the K-palette O kuma concealer comes in.

Kuma means bear in Japanese, since pandas have dark areas around their eyes and they are bears, I'm guessing this is where they've taken this from. Pandas can rock the dark eye area, but not everyone can, including me.

This concealer is a very bright yellow shade, which is great because I'm very pale, which makes discolorations around the eye area apparent. I like that it doesn't give that reverse raccoon look, when your under eye area is a tad too bright for comfort. Of course there are other variants to cater to your specific concerns. But I feel my under eye are is a bit dark, I don't find any bluish or purplish undertones to the discolorations, but there is a significant different in tone, so I opted for brightening, which is this, Yellow beige tone.

Bare under eye area

Applied but not blended

Blended

It is rare for there to be a concealer with 13g. It may come off as pricey, but think about it, 13g is a lot of product! Since the consistency of this concealer is so thick and pigmented, you'll only need to use a very small amount, and boy does it pack a punch. Remember to blend well because the last thing you'll want is for it to crease/smudge or look painfully obvious you are wearing concealer and have someone else point it out.

For some bonus advice, put on some eye cream beforehand, because this concealer dries off matte, which makes it long-lasting but not exactly pleasing for those with dehydrated under eye areas.

But over all this is a good concealer, that does what its supposed to. And with the amount of product this will probably last you two years if it doesn't expire within that time.

Cathydoll C'est Bon Bon Sweet Ball Highlighter in Pink

Price: I bought this for P390 I think back when there was a sale

Availability: Cathydollphilippines

Content: 30g

Description: Sweet Ball Highlighter makes your face radiant.With the compatible combination of Pearl Crystal Ball, it colors your face, making it look brighter. Moisturizing properties ensure your facial skin is hydrated all day long.

I bought this a while back. And I have been neglecting it, but it's incredible how you fall in love all over again with a product. This is my first product that came in pearl/ball form. So imagine how intrigued and giddy I was over this. Most of the pearls are a pearlescent baby pink and an occasional white or bluish white pearl mixed within.

It comes with a puff, which I don't use, I use a powder brush to sweep this along my cheeks. And the effect is quite lovely. it leaves you with rosy glowy cheeks, yes thses balls are shimmery but the glitter particles are not chunky, just right.

Applied on cheeks

To be honest this highlighter was questionable for me, since it was really pink, I like my highlighters to be neutral. But after applying this, I get that glowing flushed look. It's quite subtle, if applied with a brush, my mom, who uses the puff gets much more pigment on her cheeks, so how you apply is up to you.

Shimmer is only visible with specific lighting and angles

And don't worry about overdoing it, it's very hard to overdo it with this, though you'd think it'd be more packed with pink, it's surprisingly light on pigment. Good for those who loathe the clown look. But if you are going for more pigment, use the puff, and yes, it is buildable.

The only gripe about this is the plastic-y smell, which I don't like, it's not very detectable when it's on your cheeks, and some may or may not mind it, but if it bothers you that much, you can spritz your favorite cologne or perfume on the balls, I did that and it still smells like it! It masks the plastic-y smell quite well I might say!

Closer look

This is a good find for girls who don't like overdoing their blush or want a blush/highlighter hybrid. And this will probably last you a few years, yes years, I mean 30g for powder is a lot of product even if used daily!

Canmake Perfect Serum BB Cream Light

This is my second BB Cream from Canmake, as I gave the original version away, I couldn't retake pictures. This post was originally a comparison between the two, but now it will be a more focused review on this BB Cream.

Price: Variable from what I've seen online

Content: 30 mL

Description:

The BB cream born from beauty serum - A light version with natural coverage!

Contains 21 types of beautifying ingredients.Natural coverage creates moist, silky, baby-soft skin ♥

SPF50 & PA+++, with a formulation that's gentle on your skin ♥

Light, whisper-soft texture! Barely-there feeling, as though you aren't wearing any make-up! Your skin feels moisturized even after removing your make-up☆

I have the shade No. 2 Natural. It's a yellow toned BB cream that looks thick on the picture above,  but as the name says it is light, very spreadable and light weight. To be more specific it feels more like a tinted moisturizer, true to its word: barely there feeling.

And it may scare off other girls for looking too dark, but it can actually cater to fair-medium skin tones. 

No base makeup

Applied

Blended

I'd say it has light to medium coverage, it does a great job at evening your complexion but dab some concealer or get the original Canmake BB cream that has heavy coverage. For oily girls, you're going to need to powder, but good news for dry-skinned girls, this is pretty moisturizing and gives that dewy glow. And it really feels barely there, a plus for those who hate the heavy feeling of some rich BB creams or base products.

A nice solid BB cream that has a warm undertone, good for girls who are tired of getting pink and grey toned BB creams.But for those who are looking for some heavy duty coverage, go for the original version, it may not feel as light as the light version, but it does its job!

Photogenic Makeup + Tips

So yesterday, a friend and I decided to get our Philhealth ID, so we can finally get a legal ID, ohhh the problems of post grads. But we both didn't have 1x1 pics that were required, so we had to get our pictures taken on a white background, I'm about to take the Pharmacy board licensure exam so I need new pictures too, a passport type, unfortunately, I smiled in the photo, so I can't use it for the actual passport application but I can use it for the PRC requirements. But the next time I'll be taking photos to apply for my passport, I'll be sure not to smile and I have the makeup look for it. 

The Products I Used in Order:

Etude House I'm Blooming Sebum Control Mist
I am an oily oily girl. I get oily fast and furiously. But thanks to this I stay matte and powder fresh longer. Perfect when you apply makeup in the morning and have to get your picture taken in the afternoon.

Makeup Forever HD Foundation
This is my go to foundation if I have to go anywhere and do anything that involves flash photography, this has no SPF which means no white cast in photos.

MAC Prolong wear Concealer
This concealer stays put, has great coverage and also doesn't have a white cast in photos.

Essence Fix and Matte Translucent Powder
The MUFE foundation is by no means matte, but with this powder I can banish shine with the extra help of the mist. I don't wanna look like I can fry eggs on my face in my photos

The Body Shop Honey Bronzer
Nothing washes away your complexion than the flash, and bronzer will bring that back, you don't necessarily need the "works" but a good bronzing gives you the lost dimension from flash.

NARS Orgasm Blush
A nice flush to bring color back on your face.

James Cooper Jazzy Collection Eyebrow Gel
Brows always get washed out, even in my photo it looked more grey than brown. I'll work on that next time.

Nyx Adorable Palette
I just put the matte white shade on my inner corners and brow bones. Then I took the matte brown shade on my crease just to define it more.

L'Oreal Miss Manga Mascara
Because your eyes need definition. I applied lots because I didn't have time to line my eyes.

Happy Skin Shut and Kiss me Lippie in Honeymoon Glow
A nice warm nudy shade that doesn't look overpowering. Just right for taking photos because it's not drying but it's not reflective like glosses either.

In natural light 

Studio lights 

Makeup Forever HD Foundation Review

Hear ye hear ye! Here is another product of my impulse buying! Well it was a bargain in my defense. Got it from @beautybazaarph on instagram, who incidentally had in in one bottle in my exact shade and was considerably priced less than other stores.

Price: P1500

Availabilty: Online stores

Description:

The MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Complexion products use innovative formulas to create a new generation of makeup which is both invisible on HD cameras and to the naked eye. HD Foundation combines flawless coverage and an extremely natural finish.

The Sericite contained in HD Foundation heightens the diffusion of light and intensifies the glow of the skin. Enriched with moisturizing agent, HD Foundation moisturizes and prepares the skin for makeup. Its usually smooth and elastic texture makes it easy to apply and a pleasure to wear. Skin texture is refined to give a very natural complexion.

HD Foundation is an oil-free medium-to-full coverage liquid foundation which covers skin imperfections, while remaining invisible on-screen and in real life. It is available in a wide range of shades to suit all skin tones.

Bare face

Not blended

Blended with fingers

After a full face of makeup

I have my shade in 120 Soft sand. To be honest this was never in my foundation wishlist, but I was intrigued with the term HD. I have seen it in action on people with severe acne scarring and was curious for a while but I read that it wasn't matte, but here I am now with a bottle of it. It has a smooth, really blendable consistency, it literally melds into skin. It looks so natural but provides coverage almost as well as ELDW. And I wear this if I wanna be photographed at night, ELDW doesn't hold up well under flash.

It is good in covering flaws. One gripe, it is very almost too moisturizing that it is very difficult to keep it matte. And I get oily under it pretty fast. So I would not pick this as a daily wear foundation. Good for special occasions though, like prom or graduation. But beware oily girls, you have been warned.

Recommend? Yes to girls who want a photo friendly choice for base makeup. Blot up for oily girls. And as much as coverage goes, you're still gonna need a concealer if it's that severe. I used some for the photos above. Some have said that this is comparable to Revlon Photoready foundation so you're welcome to try it if you're not willing to spend a pretty penny for the MUFE one.