[REVIEW] MAYBELLINE White Super Fresh Long Lasting UV Cake Powder

Hi guys! I've been missing in action for quite some time because I was really busy with my internship. Also, I've been trying out some products that I will be soon reviewing so stay tuned!

So! Enough with the excuses and let me start with my review. Before I officially begin, I'll tell you my skin type. I have oily, acne prone and sweaty face, and! I live in a really hot city (Tuguegarao).

While I was window-shopping, I found these new things from the Maybelline section in my local Watsons. At first, I disregarded it because I don't really use pressed powders that much. (I use baby powder XD) But what made me buy this product is it's promising claims and based from the reviews online, I thought it was a great deal so I went ahead and bought it,

I saw four shades from the display. I was debating on getting 04 or 05 but I thought 05 would be too dark so I got 04 Honey.


PACKAGING

It came in this cute little white packaging. It actually looks exactly like their pink ones but I think I find this cuter than that. It's just made up of plastic with "Maybelline" in it.

They came in refill compact and a compact with mirror and a different compartment for the sponge. I got the refill ones since I just really wanted to test it out and I was not really sure what my shade was so I decided to pick this one up (I actually like its size too, perfect size for my makeup bag)

Though it didn't come with mirror, I like that even if it was a refill, it still have sponge (useful) and a plastic thingy that separates the product and the sponge (Hygiene!)

Here's what the back of the refill pack looks like. 

PRODUCT

Honestly, when I first got it, the shade was lighter than my skin tone. I looked like a ghost when I wear it. But since my skin is getting lighter (since I rarely go out and discovered a thing called umbrella and sunscreen), it actually matches me now.

I usually use this with my powder brush and I always reach out for it.. Here's a swatch of the powder.

Here's when it is blended in.

It has this distinctive smell. It's not a really bad smell, it smells good actually but if you're sensitive to smell, you better sniff it from the samples before buying it.

Here's the list of ingredients if you're interested.


PERFORMANCE

I use this with a big fluffy brush most of the time. I just use it alone right after I'm done with my skin care routine.

It does mattify my face and it evens out my redness. You'll probably need concealer if you have lots of scarring or imperfections to cover though. (I appreciate that they placed the manufacturing date :))

It claims that it is the no touchup powder foundation but my face gets oily with anything! This powder can't control my oils just like all the powders I've used. It may not have mattified my face all day, (I get oily after 4 hours), I wouldn't mind retouching with this powder. It doesn't cake up on my face, unlike the Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder that it cakes up especially on my forehead.


WRAP UP

Overall, I really like this powder. For PHP199, it's pretty good and is widely available in supermarkets and maybelline counters. It feels so smooth on the face and given that I really do sweat alot because of the hot weather in my city, I give it two thumbs up! :)



How about you? Have you tried this product yet? What are your thoughts? Comment below to also help the other readers.

Do you have requests on what I should review next? Comment below.
If you have questions, feel free to do so. I'll try my best to reply as fast as I could.

That's all guys! I hope you find this review helpful.


~Jeni


For business inquiries, e-mail me at grnjnfr@gmail.com

What's in my Makeup Bag?

Hello ladies! (and gents if there are male readers out there)
So, here's what I keep inside my makeup bag whenever I go to school or wherever I may go.

So this is my makeup bag. It's just a small pouch with leather at the bottom and blue fabric with white polkadot print.

I got it from "EGG" which is a stall which sells lots of cute pouches and purses. I'm not really sure where I got it, but I think I got it at SM Mall of Asia or SM Dasmarinas for 100-125 pesos. 

It's just a small pouch that I could easily put on my bag no matter I use my back pack or my sling bag.

Let's jump right into what I have inside.

TADA!! That's how it looks like inside.

FACE:

The first thing I have here is the Nichido BB Cream Every Day Wear in BB 04 Beige. This is what I always use whenever I go to school. It has light coverage bur it evens out my skin tone. I don't necessarily always bring a bb cream or a foundation since I rarely retouch them when I'm out since it tends to get a little messy.

Next up is a loose powder.

Actually, I just transferred some powder from my Nichido Final Powder in Ivory Glow in a smaller container since Nichido Final Powder is too huge to fit my little makeup bag. I love carrying around loose powder (you could use pressed powder if that's what you're comfortable with) to freshen up my face. This powder doesn't really do much on my face, but still, I love keeping this on my makeup bag. (I need a powder for my oily face!)

EYES:

Next up is this gorgeous eyeshadow. You guys know this. Everyone's raving about this eyeshadow in the Filipino beauty community. It's an eyeshadow from San San and this is in the shade Deep Earth Brown. Ok, I don't usually use this when I'm out, but it just comes in handy, just in case I need it. I use this mainly as an eyeshadow, but you could use this also for contouring and filling your brows.

Next is my holy grail mascara. This is the San San Waterproof Thick Lash Mascara in Black. I love this mascara. I sweat alot and this one stays put! I even rubbed my eyes with this on but it didn't budge. I'm almost out of it though so I might need to use my other mascara before purchasing a new one. But yeah, keeping a mascara just in case you'll need to touch up for your lashes

Next on my kit is an eyeliner. I don't really recommend this eyeliner especially if you have oily lids. It smudges so bad but hey, it's in my makeup bag. I don't even know why it's there. I barely even use an eyeliner so err.

I have naturally thick brows. I don't need an eyebrow pencil but, this Essence Eyebrow Designer found it's way on my makeup bag. I use this on the blank spaces on my brows to make them look a lot fuller. (a little trivia, two other girls from my class uses the same thing in the same shade)

LIPS:

I've been using alot this new lipstick (review coming soon!) from Ever Bilena which is from their Supreme Lipstick line. I use this in the shade Audrey (from the creme line). It's just a subtle red color (a little hint of pink) with small shimmers on it.

Next is this Jordana Twist and Shine Moisturizing Balm Stain in Honey Love (that's a long name). This is my most used product when I'm out. I don't even bring a lip balm because of this. This thing keeps my lips moisturize all day. I love putting this on top of any lip product (lipstick, lip tint, etc.)

TOOLS:

Of course I'll need something to apply my powder right? It's always handy to bring retractable powder brush. I just got this from an accessory counter at a mall but the bristles feels soft and smooth. It's hygienic that it has cover to prevent bacteria from residing in the bristles of the brush.

Last is this blending brush from Estee Lauder. I use it to put on eyeshadow. It helps my shadows to blend better and look more natural.

So that's what's inside my makeup bag. Aside from these things, I normally have my mirror and blotting sheets residing on my makeup bag, but for some reason, they're not on my makeup bag today/ Maybe they're somewhere in my bag. XD

I hope this post somehow helped you (in any case). More reviews will be coming up soon. We still have class so I'm still quite busy.

If you have requests, recommendations and questions, just comment them on the section bar.

For business inquiries, contact me at grnjnfr@gmail.com

How about you? What do you keep in your makeup bags?

~Jenn

PS: I was too lazy to edit the photos so I'm really sorry if the lighting is off.

Study Tips

I'm not the best person to give tips on studying since I'm really bad at it, but still, here's what I "ideally" should do.

Let's start!

1. READ AHEAD OF TIME
At my school, they usually give the course outline for us to be guided accordingly on the order of discussions at the first week of school. That would be our basis on studying. Reading your notes the night before the day of the discussion would help you to understand it better. Usually, when you read your textbooks, you would have some questions in mind and you could raise that in your class. This is also a preparation in case there would be a surprise recitation. (Like we do in Rizal)

2. TAKE DOWN NOTES
In class, you should at least bring a pen and a paper for quizzes and notes. Writing it down would help you remember your discussion at class. Take down importany facts stated by your teachers/professors. Sometimes, what they say repeatedly comes out on the exam. If you're lazy like me, you could use your phone to do voice recording and listen to it when you get home. I do this especially if they talk too fast or they move their slides like Flash. Also, you could use your phone yo take pictures on the slides shown. Be sure to ask permission from your teachers/professors though, they might find it disrespectful in any case.

3. ASK QUESTIONS
As you go on with your discussions, you could ask your teachers for clarifications. You may ask them during discussion or even after discussion. I'm sure most of the teachers wouldn't mind that. They would even appreciate it. Afraid of your teachers? Then, I'm sure you guys have friends. Ask them if they understand the topic and ask them your queries. No friends? Oh please! That's impossible. But, if your questions are unanswered,  you could go to search engines and type in your questions. I'm sure there are questions around the internet. Be sure to check for the site's credibility though.

4. REVIEW YOUR NOTES
Reading your notes and listening to your recorded files will help you remember your lessons. Be sure to have sufficient lighting and water beside you when you read your notes to prevent damagr on your eyes and to keep you hydrated. You need water in your life. I usually have a liter of water beside me. This would make you feel fresh and keeps you going. You may also want to have some foods at your reach in case you get hungry.

5. TAKE A BREAK
You cannot study the whole night without taking a break. You need to rest your eyes, brain and your body. I personally rest longer than I should but I can't help it. No matter how you do it, just drop your books and review materials and have a little time for yourself. You may conyinue reading after a few minutes and somehow, your brain will digest your topics better. Come on, it's not only me who gets tired of studying right?

6. TAKE ENOUGH SLEEP
When you have exams the next day, you need to sleep! Even if you don't, you need to sleep. If you won't sleep, it will be hard for you to concentrate and answer your exams. Sleeping would help you regain your strength. Your body needs it. Taking enough sleep would make a difference. Having a nap at least would help. But I still recommend a whole cycle of sleep.

7. REMEMBER YOUR MISTAKES
Remembering your mistakes during recitation or an examination would help you to correct it in your head. It's painful my dear friends, rereading your notes after an examination? That's depressing. Believe me. I know that feeling. BUT! At least you learned.

8. BALANCE
Balance your time frame. Balance your time for study, social networks, play and social life. Know your priorities. Know which comes first. When it's study, just let it be study. Focus on whatever you are doing. Do not do any other things.



So that's it guys. I hope these tips would help you out. I'm not expert on this but somehow, I just wanted to share it to you guys. I'll be posting more tips soon. I think I would be doing a Exam tips next. Write your suggestions anyway in case you wany me to write something on the comment section.

Also, share your study tips with everyone on the comment section. I'll talk to you guys later. Bye. :)


~Jenn

[REVIEW] JORDANA Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara

So here's another review (I've been active lately eh?). Another mascara to follow up from my latest mascara review.

I got this from Nyxwholesaleph which is already MakeUpInboxPh. You could go and check them out. They have bunch of American makeup. It's a pre-order site though so you need to wait for at least a month before it arrives on your doorstep. But hey, it's worth the wait. They offer the cheapest price anyway.

So back with the review, I got it for Php 145 pesos. Pretty cheap for a mascara.

I got this mainly because of the raves on youtube, blog posts and everywhere so I was intrigued with this product. Let's see if this lives up my expectations.

PACKAGING

I got it in a 301 Black. I believe they only came out with one color. The packaging came in a black tube with purple print on it. It came in sealed when I first got it which I really appreciate.

I like how on point the shade and shade number on the bottom of the tube.

On the back part of the tube, it has the shade, the amount of product, address of the manufacturer, website and on how long does it take before tossing it on the bin. 

I love the wand on this mascara. It's not too huge and it doesn't poke my eyes.

(Close up look on the wand)

As you see, there are lots of product on the stopper. How did I manage to do that? Well, it's because of a downside of this mascara. When you pull out the mascara, it gets more products than you actually needed and I hate it. They placed stopper on the opening of the tube, why isn't it doing it's job?

UPDATE: I use the excess product as an eyeliner using an angled brush and I actually like how it turned out. What I do is I first draw a line on mu upper lids which serves as my basis, then I take the angled brush and follow the black pencil liner that I placed and tada! A super black eyeliner that dries easily on my lids.

APPLICATION

Moment of truth! Here's the mascara on action.

Look at those bare lashes.I was so tired so you could see my under circles. And, my eyes are naturally puffy so I really cannot do anything against it.

You see, you really can't see my lashes. (This photo made my eyes so light, maybe because of the lighting)

So that's a thin coat of mascara. Wait, no. This is not a thin coat. I think saying that this is one coat is better.

It gave me that volume, yes. But It clamped on my lashes like crazy. You really cannot tell it on my photos but I fixed it with the tip of an eyeshadow brush. I blame the stopper!

You see, it gave me volume than I wanted. It curled my lashes pretty well. I don't curl my lashes but this does the job, at least for me.

PERFORMANCE

Honestly, I'm not really into this mascara. For me, the formula is pretty heavy and somehow after application, I could still feel how wet it is, though when I blink, it doesn't really smudge on me. I don't see myself wearing this often. I usually go for natural looking lashes. 

I don't know but I prefer my San San Mascara. It doesn't claim to be waterproof but it stays on all day, considering how hot and humid is it, here in the Philippines.

I'm not saying that I wouldn't use this forever, but I just hope that they do something on the stopper, make it narrower or something. The formula is good, the wand is good. My only problem is on how the bristles gets too much product which makes my lashes clamp. What I do is I wipe off the bristles on the edges of the opening of the tube and separate my lashes with something.

I can't see myself placing an order for this mascara again, not unless they change the stopper.

That's it for this review. I might be posting another review on Jordana products soon, so watch out for that.

Did this review help you? Have you tried this product? What are your thoughts? Write your thoughts on the comment box.

For business inquiries, email me at: grnjnfr@gmail.com

~Jenn

[REVIEW] SAN SAN Waterproof Thick Lash Mascara

Hey there beauties. Another review! Yay! So here's a review on a mascara locally available in the Philippines. This is the San San Waterproof Thick Lash Mascara with Vitamin A, C and E.

Woot woot! So this costs more than a hundred pesos I think, I don't clearly remember. I have the worst memory in terms of prices. But I believe this is cheaper than some of the local mascaras available.

Together with this line, they also came out with "Long Lash". They only differ on the packaging (the long lash was in blue packaging) and the wand but pretty much, they look the same to me.

PACKAGING
It came in a silver and black packaging and as I remember, it came in a blue box when I bought this. I'm not really sure if there are other color aside from black which I got, but I'll update you on that soon. Nothing special on the packaging really.

I really like the wand though. It was originally straight but I bended it to make it easier to apply. Personal preference. It is a silicon brush by the way.

The stopper on the packaging helps you get the appropriate amount to avoid getting more product than you actually need which is a good thing.. at least for me. Getting more products makes my lashes clumpy and ugly and I do not want that.

APPLICATION
I love the formula of this mascara. It's not too liquidy but not too heavy too,

(Sorry for the puffy eyes and dark circles)

(Bare lashes)

(Sorry for my untrimmed and ungroomed brows)

As you can see, I naturally have long lashes (genes baby), well, at least that's how I see it.

(Side View with one coat of mascara)

(Front view with the mascara)

This mascara gives off natural looking mascara. It is not spidery and it doesn't clamp my eyelashes at all. It makes my lashes fuller and gives more volume. I like wearing my mascara as thin as possible so basically, you can apply more coats of mascara to achieve more intense look.

I don't usually curl my lashes, but with this mascara, it manages to curl it alone. I don't know if this works for others though but I like it that it gives me those curls.

PERFORMANCE
Honestly speaking, I really love this mascara. Yep, it has that awkward smell which may be bothering to some but at least for me it's not as bothering. Those who are super sensitive to smell should sniff the testers on store before buying it. I always use this at school and my classmates would complement me on how this baby makes my lashes so beautiful.

I don't know how it works on the "waterproof" part, but I remember that I cried once with this on and rubbed my eyes but it didn't smudge on me. I think it did a smudge a little bit on the outer corner of my eyes. Other than that, I really like it.It stays on for hours. It is easy to remove with my PureDerm Skin Solutions Make Up Remover.

I recommend this. :)



What are your thoughts on this mascara? Are we on the same boat? Do you love it? Do you have any suggestions? Post it on the comment box,

I hope this helped you on deciding on getting this mascara or not.

Note: Have you noticed that all pictures are taken on my left eye? Well, another review is coming up later tonight or tomorrow. :)


For business inquiries, email me at grnjnfr@gmail.com


~Jenn