PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: MAYBELLINE FALSIES MASCARA IN BLACK

Here's an initial review on MAYBELLINE THE FALSIES MASCARA IN BLACK

PRICE: AROUND $10- $15 EA. (BOUGHT A PACK OF TWO WITH FREE EYELINER KOHL FOR $16- $18)

PLACE BOUGHT: DUTY FREE, PHILIPPINES

OTHER LOCATIONS: MAYBELLINE COUNTERS ABROAD; DUTY FREE PHILIPPINES (UNAVAILABLE IN OUR LOCAL MAYBELLINE COUNTERS)

THE VERDICT:

I've always mused about my love for Maybelline's mascaras. They're cheap, yet they're the best mascaras in the whole wide world. Maybelline is still the mascara brand to beat. Why pay for an outrageously priced mascara tube if you can get the same quality at a cheaper price?

Maybelline has finally embraced their wonder product and has come up with 20+ mascara variants for every eyelash need. Every time I visit Duty Free, I make it a point to drop by the Maybelline counter because it has all of the unavailable mascaras in our local Maybelline counters.

I am in love with their The Colossal because I love how it gives me Snufflelufugus lashes sans the unnatural look. But during my recent trip to DF, this funky violet tube just caught my eye.

And if you think that The Colossal is the volumizing mascara to beat, The Falsies will definitely change the way you look at volumizing mascaras again.

Just when you think that "falsies- looking" lashes are only achievable by using false eyelashes, Maybelline has finally made every girls with sparse eyelashes come true. Falsies mascara was made to achieve that "false eyelashes" look sans the glue, and the heavy and unnatural look and feel of false eyelashes.

Let's now review the product. I love the violet tube. It's funky, and it makes it easy to spot in my stash or make- up kits.

Let's now review the wand.

The brush is flat, and kinda' curved. This kind of style makes it easier to apply mascara because the wand follows the natural curve and arch of your eyelashes. However, I do not know the reason why there's a dent at the brush holder located at just half an inch away from the brush.

Maybelline's mascaras can be quite tricky to apply at first. The consistency of Maybelline's mascaras are semi- whipped, and sometimes, wet, which makes the product hardly cling on your lashes. But after several uses, the mascara starts to whip up some more, and applying becomes a breeze.

I've had some tough love with all the Maybelline mascaras I've owned, including this one. At first trial, my lashes looked like a spider's legs, so I didn't use the pictures for reviewing. It would be unfair for the product to be judged after only one or two usages. So I've road- tested this mascara for 2 weeks. And this is indeed, another great mascara innovation by Maybelline.

Here are pictures of me wearing the mascara. Each picture shows how many coats I've put on my lashes.

My eyelashes curled, but without mascara.

One coat

Three coats

For doll eyes: APPLY 5 COATS! :)

Falsies in an instant, sans the glue! I love this mascara! And I'm looking forward to buying a tube again. :)

**How does it compare to the Colossal?

- There's little to no difference at all. But in my observation, The Colossal is good for you if you want fuller, thicker, and softer lashes. If you want extreme volume, ala- falsies, then you should get Falsies.

MY FAVE CONCEALERS

Here's a long overdue request post by one of my readers, Tala.

But as the ol' saying goes: 'tis better late than never! :)

I have tried a dozen concealers in the course of my addiction but these are the five concealer brands that will always come in mind whenever I think of a great concealer.

Without further adieu, let me tell you why I am in love with these concealers :)

KRYOLAN SUPRACOLOR FOUNDATION IN FAIR OLIVE

I love how it neutralizes my dark spots and dark circles. I also love the fact that it's a great base make- up before foundation because it gives the skin a nice glow from underneath. The yellow/cream color makes this a one-of-a-kind shade. It is a great neutralizer that doesn't look too yellow, and a great concealer that doesn't look too white. It also dries to a semi- matte finish. Definitely my best bet for professional use.

MAC STUDIO FINISH CONCEALER W/ SPF35

Concealers with SPF are quite rare. And this makes Studio Finish a winner. It protects the thin skin on our under eyes from the damaging rays of the sun. This is long lasting, durable, and it will last you longer than you can imagine.

MAC CHROMAGRAPHIC PENCIL

The best concealer innovation ever made. It's convenient for hard to reach areas on the face. Plus, it lasts long, and it can also double as an eye brightener!

MAKE UP FOR EVER LIFT CONCEALER

It's water- resistant, which makes it perfect for humid countries and conditions. Consistency is liquid, so it settles and spreads easily. The shades adjust to your tone. And it helps brighten the under eyes, giving your eyes a "lift".

MAC STUDIO SCULPT CONCEALER

Consistency is mousse, which makes it easy to apply. It also gives a natural coverage. Studio Sculpt does not conceal. It helps your dark circles adjust to your normal skin tone, making your overall make- up look more natural.

PERFUME LOVE

I'm obsessed with perfumes as of the moment. Maybe it has something to do with my business. Sometimes, when customers ask me: "How does ____ smell like?", or "Is ____too strong?", etc., etc. I dunno. Maybe the reason why I'm into buying perfumes right now is because I want to familiarize myself more with various scents so I could recommend something to my clients.

Anyway, here are my perfumes as of the moment. I've accumulated four perfumes in a span of two months. Here's a comparison of the 6.

ECLAT D' ARPEGE BY LANVIN

My HG scent. Smells light, fresh, fun, and pretty. It's hubby's fave perfume on me too.However, staying power sucks. But I still love it!

RATING: 5 NOSES

DAVIDOFF COOLWATER FOR WOMEN

A classic scent that I used to love when I was in Highschool. Smells sporty, fresh, and feminine. Staying power used to be so good during its hey days. But now, the smell fades off easily. Sillage is very strong.

RATING: 4 NOSES

TOVA TOVA SIGNATURE EAU DE PARFUM

Bought this because of the hype. It smells beautiful and unique when it settles, but I hate that it smells like a popular and cheap cologne on my first spray. And it's too expensive as well.

RATING: 3 NOSES

LOLITA LEMPICKA EAU DE PARFUM

This perfume is also one of my classic faves. It's the only sweet scent that I have ever loved. It's a musky vanilla scent that is not too strong and sweet. It settles on your skin as a fine powdery scent that doesn't smell much like the generic powder- scented perfumes. Definitely a must- try!

RATING: 5 NOSES

KENZO FLOWER EAU DE PARFUM

The biggest bottle that I have ever owned. I love the smell. Smell has a mature quality, but it doesn't smell too strong. This smells beautiful, and will perfectly fit any woman of any age. Stays on for a good amount of time. But I hate the fact that I can't bring the ginormous bottle with me anywhere. It just eats up too much space in my bag!

RATING: 4 NOSES

RALPH LAUREN ROMANCE ALWAYS YOURS EAU DE PARFUM

I've fallen in love with the original RL Romance perfume. And this is such a disappointment though because it doesn't smell original. Once it settles on your skin, it definitely smells like the original Romance. The hint of ginger is quite off as well. It made the perfume smell spoiled and near expiry. But staying power is very good.

RATING: 2.5 STARS

BEAUTY BATTLES: RED LIPSTICKS

For this edition's Beauty Battles, let's look at Red Lipsticks.

Just like the little black dress, a woman should always have the perfect red lipstick.

I have three red lipsticks in my stash:

GUERLAIN ROUGE DE GUERLAIN (GEISHA 23)- 2500+PHP
CHANEL ROUGE ALLURE LAQUE (DRAGON 75)- 1800+PHP
M.A.C. MATTE LIPSTICK (RUSSIAN RED)-950PHP

L- R: Guerlain, Chanel, M.A.C.

Here are the swatches of the lipsticks:

L-R: Guerlain, Chanel, MAC

GUERLAIN
- This jewelry--err--lipstick is a wonderful accessory to any make- up kit. The exquisite bullet- shaped lipstick packaging is sleek and beautiful. It comes with handy mirror that pops up. It has a magnetic closure to ensure that your precious lippie is locked in place. This baby is priced at 2500+php. I honestly won't pay a hefty amount for a lipstick. Because honestly, you do pay a lot for the wonderful packaging if you buy Guerlain's Rouge G! At least it has great quality as well. The lipstick itself glides like satin on the lips. And it settles to a satin finish. Geisha 23 is an orange- toned red lipstick which can be great for the summer. And this baby stays put, and the color looks very vibrant under natural lighting, thanks to the ruby powder that's included in the lipstick to enhance the color. But honestly, this color is dupe-able by its cheaper counterparts like MAC's Lady Danger or Marrakesh.
THE BEAUTY JUNKEE'S SCORE CARD: 7

CHANEL
- A lipgloss with a lipstick finish. Its more of a liquid lipstick to me 'cos RA Laque settles to a semi- matte finish. You gotta love the lovely perfume smell that the lipstick has. Dragon 75 really lights up the face and looks very nice under natural lighting. But on camera (film), it sorta looks like a violet- toned red lipstick when in fact, this is a cherry red lippie. Hmmm.. Dupe- able by Nars' Manhunt and MAC Red. But you do pay a hefty amount for this baby too. It is priced at around 1800php in our local retailers. Packaging is made of glass so if you're clumsy, be extra careful or your 1800php will just end up on the floor! But the lipstick does stay for hours even if you eat, smoke and drink.
THE BEAUTY JUNKEE'S SCORE CARD: 8

M.A.C
- the famous red lipstick of MAC. This blue- based red lipstick simply compliments any skin color and is very fresh and young- looking. Russian Red is the safest color if you're on the search for your very first red lipstick. And out of the three, this is the most affordable at 950php. It is a favorite of actors like Demi Moore and Angelina Jolie. However, this matte lipstick can dry your lips out. Make sure to put lip balm underneath for protection and lubrication.
THE BEAUTY JUNKEE'S SCORE CARD: 9


THE WINNER FOR THIS EDITION IS:
M.A.C

BEAUTY BATTLES: PINK LIPSTICKS

For this edition of BEAUTY BATTLES, Let's look at PINK LIPSTICKS.

I have three good brands of Pink Lipstick

ILLAMASQUA MATTE LIPSTICK (CLIMAX)
KRYOLAN MATTE LIPSTICK (LCF04)
ANNA SUI ROUGE M (350)
CHANEL ROUGE ALLURE (COMEDIA 74)

I've always had this love for pink lipsticks. Pink is my go- to color for a fresh and pretty look on a daily basis.

L-R: Illamasqua, Kryolan, Anna Sui, Chanel

Here's a swatch photo of the 4 brands compared side by side:

L- R: Illamasqua's Climax; Chanel's Comedia, Kryolan's LCF04, and Anna Sui's 350

Illamasqua
- It's the only matte lipstick that didn't dry my lips out. This is probably the most unique pink color that I've ever seen. It's a cool- toned medium pink that is not too dark nor too light. It also makes teeth look white! It has a waxy smell and taste though, but I've gotten used to it because I'm in love with the product so much. This retails at $20 and is unfortunately unavailable in the Philippines.
THE BEAUTY JUNKEE'S SCORE CARD: 9

CHANEL
- Chanel has been known for their exquisite lipstick color selection (at least in my opinion). They also do have a lot of unique shades. Most lippies are in the glossy and satin formulation. Comedia is part of the Venice collection and when I've swatched it on my lips, it's the only candy pink color I've liked! I'm not partial to candy pinks 'cos they make my teeth look garish but Comedia's too good to pass up! Unfortunately, Comedia is out of stock when I asked the SAs from the ATC, Makati, and Shangri- La branch. And they don't know if they will re-stock again since it's part of a collection. But abroad, this is part of the permanent line. This baby is truly a gem of an item. Packaging is sleek and convenient. No need to worry about losing your cap because of the cap lock system. A great item always come at an expensive price tag. And this one is no exception. And if you like it too much, you'll use it up too quickly. That's why I seldom reach for this because I got mine from the States!
THE BEAUTY JUNKEE'S SCORE CARD: 10

KRYOLAN
- And I thought that Illamasqua is the only matte lipstick brand that has never dried my lips out until Kryolan came along. LCF04 is a lovely nude mauve pink lipstick. It's the kind of lipstick that Nyx or any other drugstore brand can reproduce but the difference lies in the quality. Kryolan's lipstick has good staying power and pigmentation. However, just like Illamasqua, it has a waxy smell and taste. But it goes off after a few seconds. And did I mention that this product is only 600php? Yep. Ya read it right. 600php for the quality of great lipsticks. Kryolan, you never fail to impress me!
THE BEAUTY JUNKEE'S SCORE CARD: 10

ANNA SUI
- The seductive allure of Anna Sui's packaging just draws me in every time I see it online. And when I had the chance to see it in actual, I was like in fairytale heaven! If there's one beauty item that has excellent packaging, it would be Anna Sui for me. 350 is a lovely pink shade with a coral undertone. Color is dupeable by other brands. Rouge M is a matte-but-not-matte-at-the-same-time lipstick. It has a satin feel, but with a matte finish. It also has this divine rose scent that I really love. It does stay long too, but it does make my lips crack a bit but is completely tolerable, unlike MAC's matte lipsticks.
THE BEAUTY JUNKEE'S SCORE CARD: 8

SO FOR THIS EDITION OF BEAUTY BATTLES, THE WINNER IS:
ILLAMASQUA
- BECAUSE IT'S THE LIPSTICK THAT I ALWAYS REACH OUT FOR IN MY STASH. :)

BEAUTY BATTLES: MY FOUNDATION COLLECTION

For this edition of the BEAUTY COMPARISONS, I will compare all of my foundation products.

Here are my standards for a good foundation:

- DOESN'T LOOK CAKEY

- BLENDS LIKE SECOND SKIN OR IMPROVES MY SKIN TEXTURE AND TONE

- STAYS PUT THE WHOLE DAY

- DOESN'T STING

- HAS NO FUNKY SMELL

- HAS GOOD YET NATURAL COVERAGE

- DRIES QUICKLY

GRAFTOBIAN HI-DEF CREME FOUNDATION (DESERT SAND)

This is an HD foundation. It is actually a good product. It is unscented, and cheap. 800php for a pan. It is a lightweight cream that blends evenly and easily. It is also buildable. However, you can look a bit too made up if you put too much of it. But when it settles on your skin, it looks natural. My only qualm is, it dries slowly. A little goes a long way and coverage is really good. It evens out my skin tone and has the ability to tame down redness (e.g ripe pimples, minor skin redness).

RATING: 8/10

MAKE- UP FOREVER HD FOUNDATION (160)

Honestly, I bought this just to see what the hype is all about. It does give amazing results because when you put the right amount, it makes your skin look flawless and almost perfect. It also has the ability to control facial oil the whole day. However, some shades available are pink toned so it literally changes the color of my skin if I put too much of it. It is quite costly. Price is 2150php (?). Pump is not convenient because it is not controllable. If you have heavy hands, chances are, you can squeeze too much of the product out of the tube. I actually had the mistake and was forced to put all the excess gunk on my skin. Hubby told me that I was wearing a too obvious foundation. I looked at myself in natural lighting and my face looked pinkish and darker! I was slowly losing my interest in the product so I sold it.

RATING: 6/10

PAUL AND JOE LIQUID FOUNDATION N (50)

A lot have been raving about the Paul and Joe foundation line. So you might infer that I bought this just because of the hype. The packaging is exquisite and lovely. It costs 1950php. The bottle can be used as a display or as a container for another liquid. But, it doesn't have a pump, spatula or anything so it can be quite messy when using. This line promises a glowing effect for the skin. The coverage is medium- heavy. The coverage is impressive, but the foundation feels kinda' hot on the face. It dries ever so slowly and can run off within the day if you're in a very hot place, or if you sweat profusely. The glowing effect seemed oily to me. So after two trials, I sold this foundation. I actually managed to solve the oily- look, but the staying power is not good.

RATING: 5/10

L-R: ULTRA AND SUPRA

KRYOLAN ULTRAFOUNDATION (FAIR OLIVE, CONCEALER SHADE)

Another great foundation for professional use. Almost similar to Supracolor but Ultrafoundation dries faster than Supracolor. While Supracolor has a glowing, moist finish, Ultrafoundation dries to a matte finish. It just blends into skin, making it look 100 times better. Ultrafoundation is buildable. So you can go from light to dramatic. However, this is more costly than Supracolor. A refill costs 650php and a palette of 6 can cost around 2- 2500php.

RATING: 10/10

KRYOLAN SUPRACOLOR (W SHADES (PINK TONED SHADES), 8W)

A foundation for professional use. Coverage is very thick. It literally changes the color and texture of the skin. It is sweat- resistant and works very well with any setting powder. A palette of 6 costs 1700php. Has a lovely and light perfume smell that is not over- powering. Contains no mineral oil, which makes some foundation run off of the skin. Glycerin- rich, so it moisturizes as well. Can be a bit hard to remove but it's very efficient for performers who sweat a lot during performances. A palette can contain 6 colors, from the concealer to special shades. It's in a stainless palette. A little goes a long way so the palette will really last the user long. Supracolor foundation is available in refills so you don't have to buy another palette again. However, this can dry slowly, as compared to Ultrafoundation.

RATING: 10/10

BOBBI BROWN SKIN FOUNDATION (WARM ALMOND 4.5)

The best foundation for everyday use. It is very costly. A bottle costs 2450php. It's in a glass bottle and the pump is better than MUFE. It's much easier to control the amount that you pump out with Bobbi Brown's pump. It literally blends like skin! I love it because its the only sheer foundation that gives good coverage! It stays put the whole day, but can run off just a teeny bit in very hot places. It balances the color of my skin tone and it kinda' covers my redness. It's water- based so it's spreadable. It's absorbed easily by the skin and dries quickly. It is unscented, so you don't have to worry about perfume clogging your pores.

RATING: 10/10

LAURA MERCIER OIL- FREE TINTED MOISTURIZER (ALMOND)

A lot have been claiming that this is the best alternative for foundation. I decided to get this one because I'm using up my Bobbi Brown too quickly. It is a tinted moisturizer. It costs 1450php. Laura Mercier's line is kinda' cheap as compared to other make- up brands in Rustans. It comes in the TM and Oil- Free TM variant. I have oily skin so I opted to get the Oil- Free one, since I have oily skin. Honestly, it really acts like foundation, even if it's a tinted moisturizer. It improves skin's texture while looking oh-so-natural.It stays put the whole day, is unscented and it is literally absorbed easily by the skin. At last, a perfect alternative for my Bobbi Brown SKin Foundation!

RATING: 10/10

KRYOLAN TV PAINT STICK

A cream foundation in stick form. Specially made for the television and film. Blends and settles into a like- skin finish, which makes it a favorite tool among t.v. and film artists. It also proves to be functional for theatre performers too! Layer it so it coverage will thicken, and apply a sheer amount for television and film. It can also be used for everyday. Just apply a sheer amount. Lasts long, sweat- resistant, and has a mild, perfume- y scent. The stick will last you for decades! But unfortunately, I got a very dark shade, because I badly needed one for a play. So it's rotting in my stash, waiting for another play where I'll star either as a black woman, 'taong grasa', or something. :p

RATING: 9/10

TOP 5 PICKS (IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE)

1. BOBBI BROWN SKIN FOUNDATION

2. LAURA MERCIER OIL- FREE TINTED MOISTURIZER

3. KRYOLAN SUPRACOLOR

4. KRYOLAN ULTRAFOUNDATION

5. GRAFTOBIAN HI- DEF CREME FOUNDATION

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE FOUNDATION BRANDS? WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN A FOUNDATION? :)

BEAUTY BATTLES:BATTLE OF THE BEST- SELLING CONCEALERS

For this edition of Beauty Battles, Let's compare two best- selling concealer brands

Let's compare these from my stash:

MAC STUDIO SCULPT CONCEALER (NC35)

950PHP

LAURA MERCIER SECRET CONCEALER (3)

995PHP

Both products are said to be part of the best- sellers in both respective brands. Let's see which one does the trick! :)

L- R: MAC and Laura Mercier

Let's first look at MAC:

PACKAGING- A bit heavy due to its thick and unnecessary glass base; eats a bit of space inside make- up bags

BEST- SELLER- Yes

PRICE- A bit expensive but relatively cheaper compared to other high- end brands

TEXTURE- Gel- based; creamy

STAYING POWER- Impressive

COVERAGE- Impressive, but Studio Finish give better coverage

Finally, let's look at Laura Mercier:

PACKAGING- Convenient, lightweight and easy to store inside make- up kits without eating too much space

BEST- SELLER- Yes

PRICE- A bit expensive than MAC, but is relatively cheaper as compared to other high- end brands as well

TEXTURE- Creamy and Dreamy :)

STAYING POWER- Good. It just fades a bit throughout the day but it doesn't leave nasty streaks

COVERAGE- Impressive

FINAL VERDICT:

Laura Mercier's concealer is creamier as compared with MAC's Studio Sculpt but MAC's not that hard to blend as well. Both do cover my dark circles but for some weird reason (and I don't know if it's just me), I can still see my dark circles (just a teeny bit! not horribly expose). I think the problem lies within the consistency. Since gel- based and creamy concealers have the tendency to spread on it's own very well and blend with the skin, it fails to completely camouflage the dark circles, as opposed to hard- textured concealers, which don't blend evenly unless you blend it yourself evenly. Hard- textured concealers act as barriers or coats for the under eyes, making those nasty circles completely concealed. But both have their own pros and cons. Hard- textured concealers are quite hard to blend so you'll experience tugging of your under eye skin during blending which can lead to a wrinkled under eye. So that's why soft- textured concealers were formulated.

But both brands do a good job in terms of concealing. I might not be satisfied because my under eye circles are THAT bad. But as far as I'm concerned, out of 10, I give both a 9.4.

But in terms of price, MAC is cheaper by a mere 45 bucks. But 45 bucks can still afford you a meal. I suggest you get MAC's Studio Sculpt since I find its color range more extensive than Laura Mercier's. Also, the pot's bigger as compared to LM's. And since Asians are yellow- toned, MAC's variety of colors can definitely let you find your match, as opposed to Laura Mercier's selection of three shades only.

SO FOR THIS BEAUTY BATTLE, THE WINNER IS:

MAC

BEAUTY BATTLES: BATTLE OF THE SILVER EYESHADOW

For this edition's Beauty Battles, let's look at Silver Eyeshadows

I have two silver eyeshadow brands, Shu Uemura Pressed eyeshadow N ME Silver 900 and MAC Frost Eyeshadow in Electra.

Let's look at the packaging. Both have non- detachable covers, which is convenient for me. I don't have to worry about me losing the eyeshadow pot covers.

Here are the swatches. Left is Shu Uemura and the latter is Electra. 

In terms of consistency, Shu's consistency is so silky and it glides on smoothly. MAC's eyeshadow is buttery and it glides on easily as well. The differences between the two are, Shu's eyeshadow is softer as compared to mac's texture. 

Both are extremely pigmented. It took me one swipe of each to achieve these uber pigmented swatches.

In terms of staying power, both held up the whole day. 

As for the price, Shu's pretty steep than MAC, but MAC is at par in terms of quality with Shu. But Shu's eyeshadows have great quality so it's also a good buy. But since we're not having a good economy right now, we should always opt for the cheapest yet great alternative.

SO FOR THIS EDITION, THE WINNER IS:

MAC