Review | MAYBELLINE SUPER BB CUSHION

REVIEW: MAYBELLINE SUPER BB CUSHION

I am so happy that Maybelline finally came out with their very own drugstore BB Cushion.  It only retails for Php 749.00 at Watson's or any Maybelline stall, and as their special launch promo, they are cutting Php100.00 off from the orginal price until June 30, 2016.

BB Cushions has been very famous in South Korea because it gives the users the option to be able to apply a BB Cream or Foundation very quickly through the "tap tap" method by just gently tapping the product on to your face.  It's very quick, easy to blend, and it makes it easier to re-apply later on through-out the day.

I personally am a big fan of BB Cushion compacts because it's easy to carry around, easy to apply, and it gives that luminous, dewy, korean-like-celebrity glow.

So here's what you need to know about the new Maybelline Super BB Cushion:

What it is and what it claims to do:

1. Made with 60% Essence to help nourish and heal the skin
2. Has SPF 29 / PA +++
3. Has moisturizing  and correcting properties
4. Light to Medium Coverage
5. Flawless - Perfect Skin

The Packaging:

• Very simple yet elegant
• Comes with a full sized compact mirror (Not like those cheap mirrors in some compacts)
• Comes with a soft puff applicator (Unlike the blue puff that comes with other cushions but still effective)
• The cushion is sealed to avoid contamination of bacteria
• The compact is pretty thick compared to other BB Cushions

The Shades:

02 - Light

03 - Natural

I got 02 Light as my shade which is perfect because of the yellow base.

The Cushion

What I loved most is that this BB Cushion is packed with so much product, compared to other BB Cushions which has a lot less, and runs out very easily.  By simply tapping the cushion with my finger, I could already tell that Maybelline does know how to be generous.

The Application and The Coverage

As you can see, I only covered half of my face with the Maybelline Super BB Cushion, and you can already tell that the coverage is pretty great.

It did help minimize the redness on my skin, and also minimized the appearance of pores, fine lines, and dark spots.

It also has a cooling effect once applied.

So here's my full face of makeup using the Maybelline Super BB Cushion.

(Please note that I did not use a primer or any base, nor did I use a powder to set it when I used this BB Cushion to get the full effect)

PROs:

1. The packaging is bulky but very light
2. The mirror in the compact is good quality
3. The puff it comes with has the same effect as the Korean puffs from other BB Cushions
4. The coverage is really good
5. The finish is not as oily/dewy as other brands
6. It's very affordable
7. It doesn't sink in to the dry spots on the skin, doesn't cake
8. It's a very good everyday BB Foundation
9. Very blendable, easy to apply
10. The cushion has a lot of product compared to other brands
11. It lasted me 6 hours before it started to fade/brush off my skin

CONs:

1. It only comes in two shades (02 Light and 03 Natural)
2. I hope they can make the packaging a little bit thinner
3. The puff seems hard to clean, and since it is thinner, it looks not as durable as other puffs
4. If you have oily skin, this will make you oil up more
5. I think you need to set this with a powder because everytime something hard touches my face, the foundation will move (leaves a mark)
6. No available refils yet
7. I do hope that Maybelline will come up with limited edition cases for their cushions in the future to have more variety in the case.

So there you have it, over all I love this product and will consider re-purchasing this very soon.  I see myself using this more often than my other cushions as it is a very affordable cushion with very good quality.

I hope you girls find my review interesting and that you learned something.

Please subscribe to my blog and share with your friends!

xoxo,

Monica

BeautyCallManila

Tried and Tested : Long Lasting Beach-Proof Make-Up

Hi Sexies!

Summer is almost here and I wanted to share with you my beach/summer must-haves that I took with me on my trip to Maldives to get that perfect long-lasting summer glow!

So, this December 2015, I went on a trip of a lifetime to Maldives!

Maldives is a luxury travel destination somewhere in the Indian Ocean where the rich and famous go for a well spent vacation with the sun, sand, and sea.

So I thought that it would be a perfect time to test out some products that are long-lasting, water-proof, sweat-proof, and basically beach-proof.

I went on this trip with people from the company I work for, so it was really a must to making sure that I always look presentable despite the heat, the sweat, and the occassional dip in the beach.

My tried and tested, guaranteed to last choice products:

1. Sunscreen: UV Active Water-Burst Sunscreen from DERMAX Professional for Face & Body
(Available at SkinStation Branches)

I'm really not a fan of using sunblock because I hate that heavy-oily feeling on your skin, but this sunscreen is the lightest I have ever used in my life, and it has SPF 45+ PA ++++, it has Broad-Spectrum, its water resistant and has a hydrating formula that won't leave your skin thirsty for moisture like other sunscreen/sunblocks do.

The best thing I like about this product is that it also doesn't cake-up your make-up.  And not only that, another amazing thing about this sunscreen is when you pump it out of the bottle, it comes out in a cream form, but when you start rubbing it on your skin, it turns to little droplets of water hence the name "water-burst".  So it's just like splashing a little amount of water on your face without having to suffer from that heavy/oily feeling.  Pretty cool right?


2.  Moisturiser: The Body Shop's Vitamin C Glow Boosting Moisturiser

When going to the beach, you want to stay fresh as possible so you do everything to avoid looking too oily, and maintain just the right amount of dewiness on your face.

The Body Shop's Vitamin C Moisturiser is light weight, and smells so good like a burst of citrus freshness.  It doesn't cake up my make-up as well, and despite it being light-weight, my skin still gets the right amount of nutrition before, and even after sun exposure.

3. Primer: Benefit Cosmetics Stay Flawless 15-Hour Primer

This primer claims to make your foundation last to up to 15 hours.  I tried it and with all the sun, sweat, and sea action, I got it to last for up to about 4 hours maximum before it wore out.  Which is actually pretty good since it doesn't even claim to be waterproof.


4.  Foundation and Concealer: MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation or Covergirl 

Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation and as for concealer, MAC Pro Longwear Concealer

MAC foundations and concealers always have the best results when it comes to medium to full coverage and lasting power.  So I decided to use their Mac Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation for this beach trip to make sure that I have the best coverage even when I'm swimming and/or sweating on the beach.  The foundation comes in a wide variety of shades available for Asian skin, and the only downside I could find is that it is a bit too expensive for a little small tube.

So I also used a less expensive alternative which is Covergirl's Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation which claims to have the coverage of a concealer, the lasting power of a primer, and the blendability of a foundation.  This foundation actually did a very good job when it comes to lasting power combined with Benefit's Stay Flawless primer.  The only downside I could find with this one is that it just didn't have my correct shade.

5. Brows: Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow or K-Palette's 24H Real Lasting Eyebrow Pencil Brush

Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow is my official holy grail brow mascara. I could go forever with just having this as a brow makeup because it can do the job of an eyebrow pencil, brow powder, and brow mascara in one.

It gives me the very natural look of having more brows, and the wand is fool-proof, which means that anyone can use it easily even when you're not used to doing your brows.

I have previously tried using other brow mascaras from different Korean brands, I used to love them, but if I rate Gimme Brow with 10 being the highest, I would give this product an 11 and other brands with an 8.

For a more defined brow, try K-Palette's 24H Real Lasting Eyebrow Pencil Brush to line and define your brows that will last under the heat.


6. Blush: Benefit Cosmetics ChaCha Tint

Benefit's ChaCha Tint is a peachy mango lip and cheek tint which gives out the perfect dewy summer glow.  It lasts longer than other blushes and I can use it for both my cheeks and lips for a very natural look.

7. Bronzer: Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Bronzer

Benefit's Hoola Bronzer is a perfect choice not just for the summer months, but all year round because its the only bronzer I could find that is very easy and buildable to use, and doesn't make me look like I've been punched on the face.

I use it to contour my face, and/or give my cheeks a natural summer flush.

8. Eyes: Benefit Cosmetics They're Real! Push-Up Liner and Mascara

When on the beach, I really don't like using eye products to avoid looking like a racoon later on when I get wet from swimming or when I sweat under the heat of the sun.

But there will be times where you need these products especially when you're attending a beach party for example.  Benefit Cosmetics They're Real! Push up liner and mascara are my holy grail eye products when it comes to long lasting waterproof and sweatproof power.  It even comes with its own remover because these products seriously won't budge once you put it on.

9. Lips: Covergirl Outlast Lip Color in Coral Sunset or Benefit Cosmetics HOOLA Lipgloss

When I need something that will last me the whole day even when I eat, drink, or go swimming, Covergirl's Outlast Lip Color is the way to go.

This lip color literally lasts forever and I usually need a makeup remover to get it off my lips.

The only downside to this is that you need to keep applying the lip balm that comes with it because it dries super fast and cracks up your lips if you don't apply the balm.

Coral Sunset is the perfect coral shade for the summer to match that natural beach glow I was trying to achieve weather I be hanging out by the pool, on the beach, or during a beach party.

Another alternative is Benefit Cosmetics' Hoola Lipgloss.  This is the best smelling lipgloss I've ever come across.  Gosh it smells sooooo good!  It's the perfect summer shade for that bronzed dewy beach look.

10. Oil Control Powder: Etude House's Zero Sebum Drying Powder

Oh boy, this powder is an absolute must if you're suffering from oily skin.  It keeps your face silky matte for hours even when you're going to a beach party or if you just need your skin to look super fresh all day long.

11. Hair Product: Moroccan Sea Salt Spray by OGX (Can be found at SM Dept. Store  or Watson's)

For that effortless sultry beach waves, I use this sea salt spray all over my dry hair, and I just twist and scrunch my locks to get that natural beachy tousled curls.

Please stay tuned for my tutorial on how I used these amazing products for my summer beach looks.

I do hope that you guys find this useful or entertaining and I wish you all a fun-filled summer!!!

XOXO,
Monica

Beauty on a Budget : The 1,000 Peso Makeup Challenge

Beauty on a Budget: The 1,000 Peso Challenge

Hi Sexies!

Due to popular demand, I have finally taken on the challenge of a full on makeup look on a 1,000 peso budget or less as most of you have requested.

And yes ladies, it is definitely possible!  Check out the look I did for less than 1,000 pesos:

So here's what I did, I went to SM Makati Cosmetics Section in the department store, to look for great finds that is within the budget.

And here's what I found:

1. EB ADVANCE BB CREAM (WHITENING, ORIENTAL) - Php 220.00

After skincare, dab a small amount of the BB Cream on the back of your hand, and blend using a sponge.  I used my favorite Beauty Blender sponge to make sure the BB cream is spread out evenly and flawlessly on my skin.

This BB Cream has a sweet scent, and gives a long lasting coverage but with a natural finish.  It had a satin finish, with just the right amount of glow.

If you hate using liquid foundations or BB Creams because you have oily skin, you can also use the EB ADVANCE TWO WAY CAKE FOUNDATION / POWDER as an alternative since the price is the same.  This 2-Way Cake Foundation can be used either wet or dry, and is very buildable for the right coverage.  I have noticed that when you use this product as a face powder, it really lasts longer than most face powders in the market today.  It also helps control oil a bit and doesn't cake much on the skin.

2. CARELINE MEDICATED PIMPLE CONCEALER - P90.00

For a P90.00 concealer, this product should be worth a lot more.  It is actually a good concealer, and is medicated with tea tree extract to help heal pimples as well.

I used this to cover up the dark areas around my eyes, some dark spots on my face, and I also used this to highlight the bridge of my nose.  Then blended it well with my Beauty Blender.

And since I am on a tight budget, I also decided to use this concealer as an eyeshadow primer.

It surprisingly worked out well by giving me a smooth eyelid right before eyeshadow application.  And it also helped cover up the purple veins around my eyes.

3. EB ADVANCE EYEBROW PENCIL IN BROWN - P60.00

This is now one of my favorite eyebrow pencils in the market.  Surprisingly, did you know that EB Advance is a local brand but the product is actually made in Germany?  The pencil is so easy to use, glides on easily like silk, and gives me a well defined brow.  It also includes a little brow comb on the cap to help comb your brows in place.

I begin by using this pencil to draw the outline of the shape that I want my brows to be, which usually involves a well defined arch, and then filling them in before blending them out with my angled brow brush.

4. FASHION21 COLOR BAR PALETTE (EYESHADOW AND BLUSH) - P160.00

To make sure I stay within the budget, I decided to get this palette from Fashion21because it already includes 2 colors of blush and a wide selection of colors you can use for different looks.

I decided to go on a natural everyday daytime look.  And here's how I did it:

Step 1: Apply a matte brown color as your transition shade.

Step 2: Apply a gold shimmer shade all over the entire lid.  Pat the color for more intensity.

Step 3: Use a darker bronze shade by applying it on the outer-v of your eye, and smudge a little bit of the color in your waterline below, just up until the middle point of your eye, as seen below.

Step 4: Using a small detail brush, get a white shade that can serve as a highlight, and place it at the corner of the eyes.

Step 5: If you dont have a matte highlight shade available, you can use your face powder as a highlight shade right under your brow bone.

5. NICHIDO MINERALS PRECISE LINER - P150.00

Apply a winged eyeliner with a small flick at the end.  Remember that if you have monolid eyes like me, it is better to put a bigger or thicker line to make your eyes bigger.  If you have bigger eyes, make the line as thin as possible and closest to your lash line.

6.  SHAWILL AMAZING CURLS MASCARA - P160.00

Curl your lashes then apply a heavy amount of this mascara on the top lashes, and a few coats on the bottom lashes.


Then going back to the Fashion21 Palette: Apply blush on the apples of your cheeks:

You can also use the light brown shade in the palette to draw a well-blended noseline.

Then using your finger, use the white shade as a highlighter by dabbing it and blending it on top of the apples of your cheeks, and the bridge of your nose.

7. E.L.F. LIPSTICK IN POSH - P139.75

Last step would be to apply a lipstick of your choice.

And here is the final look for my P1,000 Peso Challenge:

See?  It looks very presentable, and that I took a lot of effort to do it, but it only took me 15 mins or less to achieve a simple and natural makeup look on a budget.

Below is the breakdown of how much in total I spent:

EB Advance BB Cream -            P 220
EB Advance Eyebrow Pencil -    P   60
Careline Concealer -                   P   90
Fashion21 Color Palette -           P 160
Nichido Liquid Eyeliner -            P  150
Shawill Mascara -                       P  160
E.L.F. Lipstick -                           P  140
TOTAL                                       P 980 ONLY!!! (I saved P20!)


So now I challenge you girls to also show me your P1,000 peso makeup challenge looks!  Do share with me on my Facebook page your "Beauty on a Budget" photo and I will choose a winner on July 31, 2015!  The winner will get a gift pack from EB Advance (Foundation and Eyeshadow Palette).  You can share with me your photos here: Beauty Call Manila Facebook Page

I hope you find this post useful and that you've learned something!  I always love sharing beauty tips, tricks, and hacks with you girls!

Till next time!

Ciao!

xx,
M