FROM PRETTY TO PRETTY POWERFUL: THE MEANING OF EMPOWERED BEAUTY

“ I really believe that when you feel good about yourself, there’s no limit to what you can do in your life-and that’s pretty powerful stuff.”

- Bobbi Brown

When I was growing up, I never did care about my physical self. I would go to school without combing my hair nor putting cute clips or fancy headbands on my head like what other girls my age would do back then. And much worse, I would even go to school without taking a bath! Yes, that’s how I am when I was young.

And when I entered High School, I started noticing things about my physical appearance. I noticed that my skin wasn’t flawless, I was fat, dark, and my hair was lackluster, thin, and straight (I envied girls with wavy hair). And every time I look at the mirror, all I see is an ordinary and an (I would take a big gulp every time I’ll say this) UGLY me.

Then one fateful day, my mother told me that I should learn how to make the most of what I have, and that I should always try to make an impression by always looking my best.

And this remarkable quotation started my encounter with make- up and skincare.

Like all first- times, we always make a lot of mistakes before we learn. Make- up and skincare were my first tools in recreating my image. Make- up totally transformed me. Every time I put on make- up, I feel as if I’m a different Martha. My skin looked more flawless, my lips are red and juicy, and false eyelashes did the trick in making my eyes look tempting and pretty, contact lenses gave me a whole new look, and whitening scrubs and creams made me achieve beautiful and fair skin. I was enjoying my whole new image because I gained more confidence about myself. I started creating new friends and getting new suitors. Oh, the possibilities and attention are endless when you are extraordinary!

Me wearing hazel- colored Contact lens every time i'll go to school!

But at the end of each day, every time I remove every single trace of make- up, every time I peel off the false eyelashes and take out the contact lenses, I still see the same old me. All the painstaking and time- consuming process that I had to go through in putting make- up and using skincare stuff did not change the fact that at the end of the day, my face is still the same. And I realized that I am still on the road of frustration.

I recall the time when I had an epiphany about beauty when I was a sophomore in college. I was staring at myself in the mirror, and I started to really ponder on what my mom meant when she said “Look your absolute best everywhere you go”. Then I realized that no matter what I do, whatever God has given me will never change and can never be replaced. And if that’s the case, it’s a matter of MAKING THE MOST OF WHAT YOU HAVE.

And that’s the time where I started to appreciate the real meaning of beauty.

The fact that I told myself before that make- up TRANSFORMS me is the start of the disillusion. The fact that I want to be transformed is an indication that I do not love myself, when in fact I do. I’ve realized that make- up became my mask. It hid all the imperfections, but it never did eradicate them. The process of becoming someone else was tiring, yet unsatisfying. Then I started seeing myself looking like a clown or a geisha in pictures. I even tell myself “I ACTUALLY WORE THIS MUCH MAKE- UP???” whenever I come across an old picture of me wearing tons of make- up.

My mother was a faithful Bobbi Brown user. She has been using the brand for more than ten years. When I was younger, I used to see these Bobbi Brown make- ups, but I was more attracted to brands with brighter and bolder colors. I used to think before that Bobbi Brown is for older women because of the neutral and plain shades of the brand. She told me that she loves Bobbi Brown because the colors are natural and practical. The colors enhance your face without making you look too made up. She’s such a fan of the brand that she knows the fact that Bobbi is fond of pink on girls and women, because pink imitates the natural glow and tint of the skin.

I’ve been seeing the blush in Pale Pink in her stash years ago when it still came in round pots. And I recalled how in love I was with the shade because it just makes you look pretty without going overboard.

I got my own. And it’s now in the new flip top square packaging. And I still fall in love with the candy pink glow every time I swipe the color on my cheeks! And with this blush, I started to open myself up to the brand. I must say that this has to be my most favorite Bobbi Brown product of all time.

And I’m glad I did because Bobbi Brown has the most accurate shades for any skin tone in my opinion. The shades of the foundation are not color- correct, but skin tone- correct, making customers find their perfect match easily and precisely. The pink shades are mistake- proof because whether you choose any shade of pink, the color just naturally warms or cools the skin tone, without making your cheeks stand out in a weird way. And the creamy eye pencils are love! The pencil imparts a soft color that’s perfect in lining your brows and lower and upper lash lines without giving off a striking appearance.

Bobbi Brown is known and appreciated worldwide by women because of her signature philosophy: And that is to enhance women through make- up, not transform them. And that philosophy is reflected in her products.

Recently, she launched the Pretty Powerful Campaign in New York. It is a campaign that aims to help women find the true meaning of being beautiful, and appreciate their natural beauty. Along with the campaign comes two limited edition make- up palettes: PRETTY (For young ones) and POWERFUL (For mature ones). Each palette is customized in such a way where all the colors will compliment each other, making it completely wearable.

I was one of the chosen few who got an invite from Bobbi Brown Phils. to take part in their Pretty Powerful contest. Apart from the fabulous prizes, I took part primarily because of the essence of the campaign. I have always supported and helped girls and women who appreciate and who try to appreciate real beauty. I don't have an online signature campaign nor an organization, but by simply reaching out to women who ask me daily on what make- up would look good on them is my crusade in promoting real and natural beauty.

The Pretty Powerful Palettes will be launched this February 2011 in the Philippines.

Ladies and Gentlemen, here is moi without make- up. And at this moment, I appreciate that pretty face!

Products used: Bobbi Brown Skin foundation (Warm Natural), Bobbi Brown Pretty Palette (Blush: Pretty Pink; Lipstick: Sandwash Pink; Eyes: Chocolate Caviar (creases) and Pink Flannel (lids))

And here’s moi wearing the colors of the Bobbi Brown Pretty Palette. And that’s more like it! It’s still me, only prettier. There are little pimple bumps on the cheeks, semi- concealed dark circles, and slightly covered- up marks. But I don’t mind. These tiny imperfections make me look and feel like… ME!

Make- up now has a whole new meaning to me. It is something that slightly tweaks my face without completely changing it. It is something that makes my face look better, but not different. And knowing that I can still be me without having to morph my appearance makes me feel more confident, and more appreciative of what God has given me. My journey with make- up was a fun one, and it is one of the things that made me who I am today.

I am so happy for having that epiphany about personal beauty. And whatever make- up fad comes out in the market, I am confident that I will still stick with whatever it is that enhances my natural beauty. After all, make- up should make you feel confident for who you are, not for what you will look like after. And make- up should never be something scary or too complicated for beginners. In the first place, make- up should be the solution, not the obstacle. Fads will remain fads. They will be gone after some time. But the basic, simple, clean, and natural beauty will stay forever. It will always captivate and illuminate. It will make you happy and confident about yourself. And being contented with what you have is the key in finding beauty amidst imperfections. Now that’s PRETTY POWERFUL!

Check out other pretty powerful stories by joining BOBBI BROWN'S FANPAGE. Find out what's the latest with Bobbi Brown and know all about the Pretty Powerful campaign!

"The love of beauty in its multiple forms is the noblest gift of the human cerebrum."

~Alexis Carrel ~

HOW ABOUT YOU? WHAT MAKES YOU PRETTY POWERFUL?

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: BOBBI BROWN POWDER BLUSH IN ROSE

Here’s an initial review on BOBBI BROWN POWDER BLUSH IN ROSE

PRICE: 1300PHP

PLACE BOUGHT: RUSTANS, MAKATI CITY

OTHER LOCATIONS: RUSTANS SHANGRI- LA MALL, ORTIGAS, MANDALUYONG CITY

THE VERDICT:

Vintage is the new modern. Because blue denims and neutral make- up with a hint of rose is making a comeback. It’s one of the latest trends for this autumn/rainy season.

A rose blush might be the last thing you’ll wear if you’re in a generation where candy cheeks and lips, and sunkissed glows are the popular make- up looks.

But if you’re a kid of the 90’s (like me), you’d probably appreciate the good ol’ rose blush.

Here are the reasons why I bought a Rose- colored blush.

A rose blush is a color that gives you a primp yet tamed look. The dusty shade gives you a warm glow. It is a color that can go from a neutral look, to a made- up one.

And for this cold season, a rose blush, for me, is definitely a must- have.

Skin swatch

Bobbi Brown’s powder blush in Rose is the perfect rose shade for me. The dusty mauve shade warms the color of my face, thereby enhancing my skintone. The hint of warm pink is just what made this blush perfect. It gives me a pretty glow without looking too young, too old, nor too.. pink. For girls with fair skintone, this can double as a contour and blush in one.

This also pairs well with a rose- colored lippie. But you don’t have to worry about looking too old, nor too serious. The color might be warm, but it’s still pink. However, young adults should steer clear from this blush, unless you want to look a tad older than your age, and finally get a movie ticket for an R-18 film.

Rose on my cheeks

Back to ze blush.

BB’s blushes are very pigmented. A little goes a long way. There’s also no fall out upon application. The pan is sleek, and classy. Definitely suits my taste. The buttery texture makes application a breeze. No need to blend, or acquire any make- up application techniques. This baby follows every stroke of your hand. Whether you want the application to be light or dramatic, just layer it, then you’ll get the effect that you want.

I always find myself reaching for this as of the moment. It’s a great break from screaming corals, orgasmic peaches, cheerleader pinks, and sun goddess browns. It’s just the classic rose blush that reminds me of my favourite era, the glorious 90’s.

I would also recommend the following rose blushes:

Nars- Dolce Vita

MAC- Desert Rose

Bobbi Brown- Sand Pink

Try these rose- colored lippies:

Nars- Dolce Vita

Bobbi Brown- Rose; Nude

Giorgio Armani Cosmetics- Shine Lipstick (Dusty Rose 4)

MAC- Brick- O' La

**For an in- depth review of the Bobbi Brown blush, check my review on the Bobbi Brown Powder Blush in Pale Pink.

**Reviews for the GA Shine Lipstick in Dusty Rose and Nars Dolce Vita Lipstick are available in my blog.

EOTD: PINK FAIRY+HOW TO MAXIMIZE THE USE OF BOBBI BROWN'S SHIMMER BRICK OR ANY OTHER SHIMMER POWDER

Shimmer bricks also come in handy as an eyeshadow palette. Here's a tutorial plus an EOTD which I would like to call PINK FAIRY (oh how creative haha).

The finished EOTD. :)

First, let's have a look at my shimmer brick. There are 5 strips that compliment each other. I will refer per strip as 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Oops! Forgot to rotate the pic. Anyway, From right to left: Shade 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

TUTORIAL:

First, use 4 as a base. Cover the entire lid with the shade.

Use 5 to outline creases. Apply on the entire crease line. The best way to know if you've covered the entire crease line is to apply the shadow in an arching motion.

Use 3 on the outer crease. It's the darkest among the three strips. It adds depth to the eyes, faking my way to deeper creases. The hot pink shade also adds a pop of color to my eyes.

Use 1 as a highlighter for the inner crease. This will make the colors pop out, and will add more attention to the eyes. Apply as close to the lash line, as if you're applying a gel liner.

Use 2 to highlight the brow bone.

Use 1 on the tear duct to make eyes look brighter.

OPTIONAL:

- APPLY EYELINER OR MASCARA FOR MORE DRAMATIC EYES

- LIGHTLY DUST SHIMMER ON APPLES OF THE CHEEKS WITH THE SHIMMER BRICK TO GIVE THE FACE A GLOWING LOOK. DO IT IN A SWEEPING HORIZONTAL MOTION. IT ALSO COMPLIMENTS THE EYE MAKE- UP LOOK WITHOUT GOING TOO OVERBOARD. I DID THE SAME IN THE LAST PICTURE. I DID NOT APPLY BLUSH BECAUSE I FELT THAT THE LOOK NEED NOT ANY. JUST A TOUCH OF SHIMMER ON THE CHEEKS, AND IT'LL BE PERFECT.

There you go! A nice wash of pink and peach that's perfect for day or night. The trick to daytime wear is to not go overboard. Bobbi Brown's shimmer brick is well, shimmery, so too much can make you look as if Tinkerbell threw a bucket of fairy dust on your eyes. The pink shade makes the eyes look brighter and fresher. It also gives the wearer a more youthful, and carefree look.

This trick can also be done on shimmer, glow, highlight, or whatever palette there is. It doesn't necessarily have to be Bobbi Brown. Palettes always have complimenting colors. So for newbies to beauty, it's best to buy a palette so you'll get to see what shade goes well with what. That way, there's less room for mistakes and time waste. And it also saves you space in your make- up kit too!

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: BOBBI BROWN SHIMMER BRICK IN PLATINUM PINK

Here's an initial review on BOBBI BROWN SHIMMER BRICK IN PLATINUM PINK

PRICE: MOM AND I COMPLETELY FORGOT THE PRICE IN BAHT. BUT THIS RETAILS LOCALLY AT 2450PHP

PLACE BOUGHT: THAI AIRPORT

OTHER LOCATIONS: BOBBI BROWN STORES (RUSTANS, SHANGRI- LA AND RUSTANS, MAKATI CITY); BOBBI BROWN ONLINE; CCOs

THE VERDICT:

I know for a fact that Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Brick is one of her best- selling products. Apart from it being expensive, I'm not really the type of gal who would dust shimmer all over my face on a daily basis. In fact, I don't even dust shimmer all over my face even on special occasions! So I wasn't really inclined to purchase one, though the Shimmer Brick in Nectar from the Cabana Corals collection looks really enticing.

This Shimmer Brick is part of a collection. The shade and packaging are LE. The compact looks very classy, which is a signature of Bobbi Brown cosmetics. But the compact is so huge and thick, it eats up the space in my make- up kit!

Platinum Pink goes off as a silver shade with various pink undertones (rose, baby pink, light pink). And the gold- silver strip gives the color a different dimension by giving the shade a hint of gold.

Here's a pic of the shades. I've swatched per strip at the back of my hand. And the vertical strip is the outcome when all of the colors are combined.

This baby goes off REALLY shimmery. I even had to blot my face with tissue to lessen the shimmer on my face! But the good thing about it is, it actually tells me that the pigmentation of the shimmer brick is very good. This shimmer brick can also double as an eyeshadow palette.

Here's moi with the shimmer brick dusted on the apples of my cheeks and on the bridge of my nose (okay I don't have a visible nose bridge. But that's what it's called :)). It gives my face a nice illuminating effect. To achieve a natural glowing effect, be careful not to go overboard. Slowly but surely, build the shimmer on the apples of your cheeks. That way, you can control the amount of shimmer that you want to put on your face. In my opinion, this is not advisable though to dust on the clavicles because of the obvious pink undertone. I've tried this on my clavicles and it gave this HEY-LOOK-I'M-WEARING- AN-OBVIOUS- SILVER-PINK-SHIMMER-ON-MY-DECOLLETAGE-BECAUSE-IT-MAKES-ME-HOLLYWOOD-RED-CARPET-WORTHY-WOOHOO! effect. You may actually, but that's unless you want to look like bicentennial (wo)man.

I like it, but I don't love it. Because as aforementioned, I'm no fan of shining, shimmery, splendid make- ups. But I'm happy 'cos it's so sweet of mom to get this for me. It's a win- win situation for us too. She got to pick the color that she likes. If I had it my way, I'll get the Nectar Shimmer Brick. And, I've finally fed my curiosity on shimmer bricks. I don't see myself using this everyday, but I know that this will come handy as of the moment because it's summer time.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: BOBBI BROWN POT ROUGE IN CALYPSO CORAL

BOBBI BROWN SPRING COLLECTION FOR 2010 CABANA CORALS

POT ROUGE:
CALYPSO CORAL (A bright coral)
CABO CORAL (A pink nectar)

SHIMMER BRICK:
NECTAR
PINK QUARTZ

SHIMMER LIPGLOSS:
CORAL SAND (A golden peach)
SUNSET BEACH (A golden pink coral)
GOLDEN NECTAR (A peach coral shimmer)

METALLIC LIPSTICKS:
CALYPSO GLAZE (A golden pink)
CORAL GLAZE (A nude nectar)
CORAL REEF (A medium pink coral)

LIP COLOR:
GUAVA (A medium tone nectar)

Photos and descriptions are from bobbibrowncosmetics.com

Here's an initial review on BOBBI BROWN POT ROUGE IN CALYPSO CORAL

PRICE: 1450PHP
PLACE BOUGHT: RUSTANS, MAKATI CITY
OTHER LOCATIONS: RUSTANS, SHANGRI- LA MALL, MANDALUYONG CITY

THE VERDICT:

I finally caved in to my lemming. I was actually thinking hard before purchasing this but the image of me after trying the Calypso Coral Pot Rouge haunted me. Pretty sun- kissed cheeks, deeper tan, and a beach goddess glow.

They say if you can't get something out of your head, you should pursue it. Because chances are, getting what you want will literally make you happy.

I'm a sucker for pinks and corals. I'm actually more biased to the former than the latter. But Bobbi Brown really does have a unique eye for colors. Her Cabana Corals collection carry the loveliest coral lippies and blushes I've ever seen!

Cabana Corals is just a simple and sweet collection. But everything is totally beautiful!

Here's what I scored from the collection. I was opting for Cabo Coral but Calypso Coral is truly a unique color.

When I finally decided to get this, the SA told me that the last stock was bought. Just as when I was about to exit Rustans, Makati, the SA shouted my name and when I looked back, she's waving the pot rouge right at me.

Lucky me, I got the last stock. I love you lady luck. :)

Let's now review this baby!

Calypso Coral is described by the official website of Bobbi Brown as "A Bright Coral".

For the 2010 summer season, Coral is the new Pink. Thanks to Bobbi Brown for setting a wonderful standard for corals in her new spring 2010 collection called Cabana Corals.

The Pot rouge is actually big. Two reasons why I was having second thoughts of purchasing this: I thought that the pot is too huge, so it would take me forever to finish it. And cream- based blushes are not recommended for oily skin.

But the Pot Rouges are indeed great! It's not her best product for nothing.

The pigmentation of BB's Pot Rouge is amazing! Two swipes of the product literally gave me a nice summer- y glow. I like layering it so the coral glow literally pops out of my cheek. Calypso Coral gives me a lovely surge of color without looking too made up. I suspect that the coral shade looks more natural as opposed to louder shades like pink and red.

Texture is like a hardened cream. It's easier to apply and blend. It's unlike MAC's blush creme which is too whipped and sticky. This cream blush has a lightweight formula.

And it also gives a lovely effect on my lips. Two swipes on my upper and lower lips completes the whole summer look.

Between Cabo Coral (which is a darker, more neutral coral) and Calypso Coral, Calypso Coral and morena girls is a match made in heaven. I like that it enhances my tan skin more, making it deeper and vibrant. But if you're afraid of bright colors, Cabo Coral can also be your best option. It's for those who would want to sport a more toned down coral at work or school.

And regarding the staying power: Pot Rouges are known for their incredible staying power. This lightweight wonder lasts the whole day. At the end of the day, I can still see a bit of the coral glow on my cheeks. And it also lasted on my lips without drying them out.

Here's moi in artificial florescent lighting. Check the lovely summer look it gave me! It's so natural and pretty!

Of course I would buy this again, but the pot is so huge and a little goes a long way, I'm pretty sure this pot will last me for years! :p


**WILL POST ANOTHER FOTD USING CALYPSO CORAL!

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: BOBBI BROWN CREAMY CORRECTOR IN DARK PEACH+HOW TO USE PROCEDURE

Here's an initial review on BOBBI BROWN CREAMY CONCEALER CORRECTOR IN DARK PEACH

PRICE: 1250PHP
PLACE BOUGHT: BOBBI BROWN, RUSTANS, MAKATI CITY
OTHER LOCATIONS: BOBBI BROWN, RUSTANS, SHANGRI- LA MALL, MANDALUYONG CITY

THE VERDICT:

I have serious dark circles. My MAC concealer can actually tolerate them but the MAC concealer fades a bit during the day, so my dark circles are somewhat revealed.

My longest record of usage for a concealer is 4 years. My MAC Studio Finish lasted me that long. But right ow, after 6 months, I've almost hit the bottom of my Studio Sculpt. It's either my dark circles are that bad, or the product is not great. Well, I think it's a bit of both.

The very nice SA named Linda introduced me to Bobbi Brown's correctors. All shades are meant for correcting purplish, black, dark brown, or vein- y under eye skin.

According to the website, Bobbi Brown carefully selected the colors so as to cover each and every under eye discoloration problem of each and every woman in any skin color. The correctors come in shades ranging from light to dark with peach undertones. Peach undertones help neutralize discolorations.

So let's now review the product. Let's review first the packaging.

First, the packaging is small and compact. The old Bobbi Brown concealers come in a twist cover pot. This new design is very convenient, and the mirror inside is a great plus for quick touch- ups.

The actual product is quite small, in my opinion. You might think that it's too steep for 1250php but let me change your initial reaction. :)

The texture of Bobbi Brown's creamy concealer corrector is very creamy, and almost whipped. Others might say that oily skinned gals should skip this because this will run off during the day. I have oily skin, but great products really give you a run for your money. According to the official BB website, it is intended for any skin types. Indeed, it is! The concealer never faded during the day. In fact, it even made my MAC Studio Sculpt concealer last longer!

This baby blends evenly and easily. And if you think that the size of the product is too small, fear not, the pigmentation is very good so a little goes a long way.

It has a very slight perfume smell. You can't even smell it, unless you smell closely.

Actually, I can even use this alone! The effect of the corrector is it adjusts the discolorations to your normal skin tone. I've tried using this without any concealer, and I love that it even made my morena skin look vibrant. My face also seemed even with my skin color!

USING THE BOBBI BROWN CORRECTOR ALONE AND ON TOP OF MAC'S STUDIO SCULPT

Here's my bare under eye.

Apply a good amount of the corrector. Make sure the entire under eye is covered. Apply the product with a concealer brush for precise application.

TIP: AFTER COVERING YOUR UNDER EYES WITH THE PRODUCT, WARM A FINGER BY RUBBING IT AT THE BACK OF YOUR HAND AND SLOWLY DAB THE CORRECTOR FOR IT TO SET. AFTER THE CONCEALER HAS SETTLED A BIT, WIPE INWARDS SLIGHTLY, ALTERNATING WITH THE DABBING MOTION. DO THIS UNTIL THE CORRECTOR HAS COMPLETELY COVERED THE DARK CIRCLES.

Now the corrector has settled on my under eye.

Here are my under eyes, covered with the corrector. Notice that my dark circles are already even with my skin tone. The slight peach tone is quite visible, but it evens out when set with a powder that's almost the same shade as my skin tone.

*Using the corrector itself might not be applicable to some skin tones. I am just lucky because Dark Peach is almost an NC42 shade, which is my 90% shade match.

FOR THE BRIGHTENING EFFECT, USE A CONCEALER ON TOP OF THE CORRECTOR

It is advisable to use Bobbi Brown's creamy concealers because the colors will complement each other. But any good concealer will do. I used my MAC Studio Sculpt concealer to make my eyes appear brighter.

Apply the concealer on your under eyes when the corrector has settled. Do the same procedure in applying the corrector. Apply with a concealer brush also for precise application.

Concealer finally applied

Here's a comparison picture. My left under eye has the corrector and a concealer, while the right eye only has the corrector. In my opinion, the one with the concealer made my eyes appear bright and fresh, while the one with the corrector made my dark circles even with my skin tone. I actually like both effects. :)

Here are both under eyes with MAC Studio Sculpt. Goodbye dark circles! :)

I've always loved Bobbi Brown's products. Now, I'm loving them even more. Though they're quite expensive, the quality of the brand's products really give you a run for your money because their products have excellent staying power and pigmentation. So I'm expecting that this small pot will last me for around 2 years or more. :)

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? :)