My Product Review For Naturactor Pressed Powder
                                                                        by: Candy Srey

I love this Naturactor Pressed Powder the most. This is the only pressed powder that makes my face well toned and able to absorb shine and oil on my face. I first saw this Naturactor Pressed Powder in one of my office mate when she was making a re-touch of her face with this Naturactor Pressed Powder. i cannot control myself to ask her about the brand of her pressed powder because it looks great on her. When she told me that it was a Naturactor Pressed Powder from Meiko Cosmetics, I never had a think twice of buying one for myself too, since I am an avid user of pressed powder products. So I asked her how and where can I buy that Naturactor Pressed Powder so she gave this site 

www.naturactorfoundation.com

Before, I was also using a branded pressed powder but still my face looks unevenly toned. But because I bought it for a cost, I have to use it. Until I discovered from my officemate about the Naturactor Pressed Powder, since then I discontinue using my old one and prefer to use instead the one from Meiko Cosmetics which is the Naturactor Pressed Powder. I chose the Stay Neutral shade for my type of skin the shade #430 and it looks so perfect on my face after I am applying the concealer  from Naturactor also. It leaves my skin toned evenly, oil and shine free all throughout the day, from morning to evening of after work. It maintains freshness without leaving any residue on my face.

This Naturactor Pressed Powder it never made my face looks dry like my old product does which makes me feel so uncomfortable. The texture of  this Naturactor Pressed Powder  isn’t silky smooth but it’s soft enough and it blends nicely without being powdery or chalky I can also use it for a touch up from time to time without feeling of cakey and greasiness like when I was still using a so called two way cake foundation. It gives my face a natural look especially with my chosen type of shade even I exposed myself to a summer heat. It can also cover some dark spot in my face without enhancing it. It can also easily wash by soap alone and I don’t have to use make up remover or cleansing oil to cleanse my face. Now, I get so much compliments from friends about how great looking my face is. And I feel so good about it. One thing more that makes it comfortable to use is its compact itself. It has a small mirror same as the ordinary pressed powder , a slight thin compact, with washable foam. Its price is a little bit more expensive than any other regular pressed powder but I see this as far better and much worth to have than to get a cheap one without giving my full satisfaction, and for the delivery it’s a bit slow but I received the package in a good condition.

I chose the Stay Neutral shade for my type of skin the shade #430 and it looks so perfect on my face 

There are four shades available:

#430: pinkish shade - suitable for very fairy skin
#441: for malay fair skin
#451: for typical malay skin
#470: white shade/ can be concealer  

 Direction:

1. Apply Naturactor cover face after base and sunblock.
2. Touch up as often as necessary.

Pros

1.  Easy to apply
2. I can be used on its own (primer) 
3. It easily hides blemishes, dark spots has a good coverage 
4. It provide a matte-like appearance 
5. This makes it the ideal choice for people with oily skin -- it doesn't add more shine to the face or clog pores 
6. It is good for sensitive skin with natural herbal essence. 

Cons

1. Its price is a little bit more expensive than any other regular pressed powder
2. Available online only

 My Final Verdict


All in all I have found the perfect pressed powder and I really love this Naturactor Pressed Powder and I will give 4/5 stars. So if you have problem with the shiny and oily face, you can have this  Naturactor Pressed Powder for finish touch up. There are four shades you can choose from, just look for the one that fits on your skin type. I am very much thankful to this pressed powder for making my skin look younger and fresh all the time. I am definitely recommend this product.

Review: NYX Hot Singles Eye Shadow in Club Crawl

Review: NYX Hot Singles Eye Shadow in Club Crawl

I've had my eye on Club Crawl since I very first posted about the new-for-2014 eyeshadow singles from NYX last year. I actually ordered this shadow from Ulta back in March and I almost forgot to review it! I rushed to get this up today so that, if you want it, you can get it for 40% off online and in-store at Ulta (sale ends Saturday, 7/5). Instead of paying $4.49, you'll pay $2.69 this week (and there are 87 other shades in the range in case this one isn't to your liking).

NYX Hot Singles Eye Shadow in Club Crawl

(retail: $4.49, 0.053 oz)

Made in People's Republic of China

Safety seal

How cute is that bow?

Obviously the packaging looks very much like MAC (with the addition of that adorable bow). Standard MAC eyeshadows contain 0.05 oz. of product for $15, whereas these NYX shadows contain 0.053 oz. for $4.49. But the diameter of the pans looks almost identical to my eye. So if you de-pot these, they should fit in any of your palettes that you would normally use for MAC shadow singles. 

The photo above does not really show you the fine iridescent glitter that runs throughout this shadow. Here's a macro:

Without primer, this is a cool-toned taupe-ish gray with reddish-purple undertones. It has decent pigmentation but it's a bit sheer without primer. It's also more of a satin finish without primer. Over primer, this shadow develops into a darker, shimmery gunmetal. There is a lot of iridescent glitter that you can't see above, so here's a photo I took in lower lighting--it's intentionally blurry because it's easier for my camera to pick up glitter when things are blurry:

Next, a comparison:

NYX Club Crawl vs. MAC Satin Taupe

(both shadows swatched on top of primer)

MAC Satin Taupe is a shimmery, warm-toned taupe. I wanted to show it to you next to Club Crawl not because I thought they might be dupes, but because I think this helps give you some perspective as to just how cool-toned Club Crawl really is when worn over primer.

All three swatches

Overall, this is a nice shadow, but not what I was expecting. I thought it would be more of a true, cool-toned taupe, but it actually looks more like gunmetal when worn over primer. I also had no idea that it contained fine iridescent glitter, which isn't something I like to contend with when it comes to my daytime looks (I purchased this specifically to wear in the daytime). 

The texture of this shadow is smooth but I wouldn't exactly call it buttery. It's not chunky or grainy, but it is a bit powdery and I do see some fallout when picking up color with my brush (and also during application). Staying power is decent without primer (4-5 hours before I see significant fading) but of course it's much better with primer (8-9 hours before I see fading or creasing). 

One more thing: if you have brown, golden-brown, hazel or green eyes, I think this color is going to make your eye color pop. I have hazel eyes and if I wasn't in such a hurry to get this review up (because NYX is on sale this week for 40% off at Ulta), I would have done an eye look to prove this. I think that the purple undertone in this shadow really complements brown/hazel/green eyes. 

FINAL VERDICT: If you don't go into it hoping that this shadow is a cool-toned taupe (like I did!), then I think you'll find this to be a nice, shimmery gunmetal gray. I was initially disappointed to find that it's not a taupe, but when I got over that I discovered that I don't have too many gunmetal grays quite like this. Most of the shades I own that are like this have a metallic finish, so it's nice to have one that's not uber-shimmery. I"m not huge fan of the iridescent glitter, but it's pretty for nighttime looks. This shadow is a bit powdery and you'll see some fallout during application, but it has great pigmentation and staying power when worn over primer. I think it's definitely worth $2.69 if you get it this week for 40% off at Ulta. I'm not sure I would pay full-price ($4.49) for it again though.

Boscia Luminizing Black Mask Review

Hello fellow Bloggers and beautiful Bloggees!

I ordered a new face wash from Sephora the other day, and when it arrived, my package contained several deluxe samples, including a Boscia Luminizing Black Mask, which I was simply thrilled to receive.

Boscia Luminizing Black Mask

I’ve been dying to use a mask for a few weeks now, because while my skin is looking pretty decent, I needed a little boost. I’ve had a light smattering of blackheads across the tip of my nose, and my complexion is a little dull right now. When I saw the little black tube, I couldn’t even wait to try it! But I did. Because I’m a freak about reading other people’s opinions on things. Instead of my go-to, of other blogs, I decided to read through the 18 billion reviews for the mask on Sephora’s website. Things ranged from it burning their skin and peeling off hair like wax, and it being the most luxurious thing to ever grace the face. Since I couldn’t come to a decision one way or the other, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

I washed my face and allowed it to dry. I used lukewarm water for this, as I had already washed my face today, but had my DermaDoctor DD Cream on that I wanted removed before I used any other treatment. I didn’t want to be too harsh on my poor, sensitive skin.

Above: I washed my face, but left my eye makeup and brows done since I wouldn’t be applying the mask on or around that area.

After my skin had dried completely, I looked at how to use the product. According to specialists and most of the reviews that I read, you needed to apply a fairly thick layer in order to get the full benefit. It had a tar-like consistency and I used most of the sample. I might get one more use out of it. The full size is 2.8 oz for $34.00 on Sephora. The sample I received is 0.7 oz. I would imagine that you would get around 8 uses from a full size bottle. Which is fair enough for the price. This isn’t the type of mask I would spread to my neck and decolletage, as I feel the skin there is too sensitive and thin, and might become irritated or even end up with micro abrasions from peeling it off.

Boscia Luminizing Mask

Above: The product as it looks when you squeeze it onto your fingertips.

The mask is deepest black, giving you the impression of having tar smeared across your face. I  It’s a pretty shocking look. The mask spread well enough, but it was difficult to get it even everywhere. I found that using cold water to rinse it off of my fingers worked far better than using warm or hot. It just melted away. I can’t stress enough how thick this is, and that you really, really don’t want to get it near your hairline, or if you have sideburns. I focused on the center of my face, since my nose is my biggest problem area right now. Also, with all masks, be careful if you have facial piercings! You don’t ever want to get any kind of mask stuck in those, as it can lead to infection.

Boscia Mask Complete

Above: As you can see, it’s a very surprising thing to see staring back at you in a mirror.

I carefully avoided my eye, brow, lip and nostril areas to ensure I wouldn’t wind up irritated. Now it was time to let the magic work. You’re supposed to use this for 20-30 minutes, or until dry. At about the 10 minute mark, I noticed it tightening up around my lips and on my nose and forehead, the places where it was applied in a less thick layer. I also noticed my eyes watering uncontrollably. The mask has a strange odor, which reminds me of pickled ginger, that you’d get with sushi! The smell didn’t bother me so much, as vinegar is one of my Holy Grail items, and that’s what it reminded me of, but my eyes hated it! The fumes irritated me until the mask dried up completely. However, they weren’t red, just watery.

At around the 25 minute mark, I tapped my fingers lightly around my face, checking to see that it was dry everywhere. It seemed even, so I smiled my biggest smile in order to get the corners worked up, and began peeling. I always start at the bottom of my face and work my way up. When I smile, it peels up around my lips and I’m able to have a good starting point. The first thing I noticed was it was really, really attached. Not that pieces were left behind. This thing peeled off, for the most part, in one large sheet. I’ve rarely had peel off masks stay together so well upon removal. As I did this, I checked out the part of the mask that had been attached to my face. And ew. Ew, ew, ew. There was so much gunk, little tiny hairs, dead skin cells, flaky bits…I could not BELIEVE the amount of garbage in my pores! My poor face! Anyways, even though it was a very stuck-on mask, it didn’t aggravate me at all. I have sensitive skin, but I would say if you have papery or thin skin, AVOID THIS AT ALL COSTS. You’ll most likely end up tearing your face and going all red and splotchy. My face stayed its normal Tim Burton White tone throughout the entire removal. I noticed in one or two spots on my cheeks, the product hadn’t dried completely, so I let that sit for another five minutes or so. There were a few little bits and pieces that hadn’t come up, and I took a washcloth with cold water and gently wiped them away. They came right off, no problem. I removed the rest of the mask and went to check out my face!

After

Above: After using the mask, my skin is a lot brighter!

As you can see, my skin has lost a lot of the dull, lifeless look from the first shot. Also, this was immediately after removing the mask, so while my face may not be bright red, it’s a little pink in spots due to the washcloth. However, my skin has brightened up considerably! I did a serious nose check, and I didn’t see a single blackhead. Most of the fine hairs covering my face were gone, which is a plus in my book, but you may enjoy your peach fuzz. I was quite pleased with the final result.

Above: Direct sunlight, up close, further back, and in the shade. All photographs were taken outdoors to have the most natural light.

Verdict

Packaging: 8/10 – I guess I’m going to have to get over hating tubes of product, because that’s what people keep coming out with. This wasn’t bad though. A very simple black tube with white writing on it. Since this was just a sample, I didn’t receive a box with it.

Look of Product: 10/10 –  Okay, I’m a sucker for funky masks. I like green ones, gray ones, black ones, red ones…You name it. And this is one of my favorite looks. The pitch black, shiny mask is just…neat.

Smell of Product: 3/10 – Alright, I know I said above that I don’t mind the smell of pickled ginger, which is what this smelled like, seriously, but the fumes irritated my eyes to the point where I considered just removing the mask and scrapping the whole project. It’s the main thing that would keep me from purchasing a full size, but it may not stop me completely.

Texture of Product: 8/10 – While it’s not bad, it’s incredibly thick and tar-like. This can make it difficult to apply evenly. I didn’t mind too much, as it wasn’t tacky like some masks I’ve tried, that feel like glue. This was a whole different can of worms. In a way, it reminded me more of a homemade honey avocado mask, just because it didn’t pull when applying, but it was just so heavy!

Using Product: 8.5/10 – I’m conflicted here. I already put above, in the Smell of Product category, that the fumes irritated my eyes. So I’ll go ahead and give it this rating, because other than that, the mask felt really luxurious on my face. It was like I went somewhere and got a facial! I didn’t tingle or burn as with some masks, and even when it dried, it never felt too tight.

After Using Product: 10/10 – My skin was bright, my blackheads were gone, the excess oil on my nose left, and it livened up my dull complexion. Peeling the mask off may end up being harsh for some people, so be careful! My skin is sensitive, but it’s thick, and I use a collagen booster so it keeps it from getting papery.

Overall Result: 7.91/10

Not bad, Boscia! Highly recommended! Now this is all with the caveat that you have a skin type close to mine. That you can handle pulling something like this off of your face. Imagine duct tape. Now imagine pulling it off of your upper lip. Can you handle that? I would recommend purchasing this product in its full size if you’re okay with that one thing. It definitely illuminated my skin and it removed all the gunk from my pores. I think my skin looks and feels really nice right now, very light and very clean. I stress the importance of using cold water to remove from your hands, or any that’s left on your face. And if your eyes begin to burn, don’t be a martyr unless you’re a blogger like me. Take it off. 

What do you think? Have you tried Boscia Luminizing Black Mask before? Have you tried other black masks? What would you like to see next? And as always, thanks for reading!

Review: Hollywood Style Whitening Scrub and Whitening Lotion

Review: Hollywood Style Whitening Scrub and Whitening Lotion

My heart goes to all victims of Yolanda, the recent super typhoon that hit the Philippines. Let us all do our part to help them! 

The operation I underwent last Sunday caused me to take a short break from blogging. Most of time, I bear and work with the pain it is causing me. If you follow me on Instagram (@jesroque), you probably saw how swollen my face is now. The pain and the healing will take a while so please bear with me if I can't and won't post anything 'face' related. :(

Since I don't want to freak you out with how my face looks now, I am compiled all my pending reviews of body-related products. Let us start with Hollywood Style Whitening Scrub and Whitening Lotion.

When it comes to skincare, I am not a one-brand only kind of girl. I tend to use different products from different brands as long as they work good on me. But I find the partnership of Hollywood Style Whitening Scrub and Lotion to be an exception. Since it focused on whitening body parts, I though it would be best to use them together to see the optimum results.

Since whitening doesn't happen overnight, I gave it a good month before sharing my thoughts on it. Please take note that I am not into whitening my whole body so I use it more on areas that needs to be whitened also known as the knees, the elbows and the toes. Let's go into details, shall we?

I LIKE that ...

• both come in a squeezed-type kind of packaging. It is less-messy to use and a lot more practical since I can cut the tube in half to scrape of the remaining product once I run out of it.
• both are well-sealed upon purchase.

• the particles of the scrub are big enough to get rid of dry cells but gentle enough to not cause skin damage.

• the lotion is thick enough to adhere onto my skin better and keep my skin moisturized the whole day.

• both significantly work on whitening my knees, elbows and toes.
• my skin feels soft and supple after using the scrub.
• both do not cause me any skin-related issues.
• Hollywood Style is available in leading department stores like Rustan's, Watsons, Shopwise and Landmark. It is also available in www.tcat.com.ph.

I DON'T LIKE that ...

• both have very strong scent. It smells good but I find it too fruity and too strong. If you like that, you would love that the scent stays on for a long time. 
• the lotion doesn't have SPF. It would be best if the lotion can double up as a sunscreen so no need to pile products on the skin.

Will I repurchase?

If I need to further whiten my skin, yes!

Hollywood Style Whitening Scrub and Whitening Lotion obviously did a good job making my elbows, knees and toes whiter and smoother. Don't get me wrong, those areas are still not even with the rest of my skin but they are getting there. And yes, I will be using the Hollywood Style Scrub and Lotion until I get the result I want! :)

To know more about Hollywood Style, visit www.hollywoodstyleusa.com and like Hollywood Style Philippines onFacebook.

I can't wait to get well and be back reviewing to makeup and face-related products! Oh dear swelling, don't be too clingy! Let go of me na! 

YULI PANACEA ELIXIR 

The Tuesday Toners series is back with a long overdue review of one of the toners that I have enjoyed the most this year (so far!). As you may have understood by now, I am a toner hoarder. I am fully sold on the benefits of using toners and my skincare routine would not be complete and effective without a balancing, soothing, and hydrating facial mist. The formulation of the Panacea Elixir is, as per usual with YULI Skincare, achieved with the finest botanical ingredients and is particularly suited for normal, combination, oily, or blemish-prone skin.

The base is pure Aloe Vera, whose pH level (usually between 4.5 and 5.5) is almost identical to that of the skin (normally slightly acidic, below 5¹). Therefore, Aloe Vera helps to restore the skin’s pH balance. Cucumber is included in the formula because of its cure-all properties: it’s hydrating, soothing, and anti-inflammatory. Another anti-inflammatory ingredient, which is great for detoxifying the skin and healing, is Watercress. It is high in Vitamin C, beta-carotene, and lutein (a powerful carotenoid that has been shown to prevent UV damage). The formula also features Rose, which prevents wrinkles, fine lines, and is high in antioxidants that fight-off free radicals. It also contains a Trace Mineral Complex that stimulates collagen production, soothes inflammation, and regulates hormones that can contribute to finicky skin.

I have been using the YULI Panacea Elixir for about two months before I ran out of it, (I am now using YULICocoon) and I especially liked it for post-cleansing use: to hydrate, close the pores, and balance my combo skin. Occasionally I spritzed my face with it throughout the day when it felt dehydrated. It hydrates the skin without leaving it shiny/oily. I also found it very soothing on the occasional blemish and it seemed to help with calming down the redness and inflammation. The scent is light and slightly rosey, and does not linger.

I only have one word of caution: try not to get it in your eyes! Although the label on the product warned me, I accidentally spritzed my face with my eyes open and it was slightly irritating. Keep your eyes closed while spritzing, or cover them with a face towel.

I have not yet repurchased Panacea, simply because I am using Cocoon. I am having a special thing forchamomile lately, and the Cocoon Elixir (formulated to benefit sensitive skin types) contains this soothing ingredient, which is amazing on stressed, easily irritated skin. Love, love, love YULI Elixirs. They are my favorites together with the Kahina Toning Mist.

I purchased mine from Spirit Beauty Lounge, and you can find it here.