Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15 Review

I picked up this mighty primer upon curiosity. I got the travel size (0.33 oz) and it is packaged beautifully in a frosted glass bottle, the full sized (1 oz.) is packaged the same way. Powered up with naturally derived titanium dioxide and zinc oxide instead of chemical sun-blocking agents helps prevent the skin from sun damage. However, beware of having white cast upon applying this primer. Veil Mineral Primer is totally fragrance-free! I just love how it doesn't smell like how sunblocks usually do! 

my almost empty mighty primer *sobs*

 I would admit that this mineral-based and water resistant primer actually prolongs makeup wear. Plus it helps to smooth out skin surface and fill in pores. I still get oily after hours of being in humid, hot climate. But this primer just tend to extend makeup wear. And I feel my face appears brighter with this primer! The Veil Mineral Primer won't efficiently reduce any redness or discoloration, you will still need more coverage to hid those. I was experiencing some dryness around my mouth and nose. They were flaking like crazy and I tried applying this primer after my usual skincare routine. I wasn't surprised that it didn't do much for the dryness or flakiness nor did making it worse. Those with drier skin might want to extra moisturize before putting on this primer and makeup afterwards.

This Veil Mineral Primer feels satin smooth and quickly disappears into skin. On my first trial of this primer I was pretty shock that it really sinks into skin super fast, like in seconds fast! Upon initial application it will leave a slightly white cast (due to its color) but it's nothing to worry much about. Some might say it lighten the color of foundation that applied afterwards. I tried the Chanel Perfection Lumiere with and without this primer and overall the color stayed pretty much similar. A tad darker shade of face powder will do the trick!

Best thing of all, you need just a teeny tiny bit of product for the whole face! One pump is enough! For those who's getting the full size doesn't need to worry about splurging in this product because it will last for a very long time. I loveeee this primer and would buy the full bottle when my travel size officially runs out! <3

Buy this product at:
Sephora
0.33oz - $18
1 oz- $52 (Gasppp!)


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Too Faced Primed & Poreless Skin Smoothing Face Primer Review

Hey guys! Today's post will be an addition to My Sephora Mini Haul reviews. Makeup primers could be a quick fix product for those who have troubles with pores, redness, dullness, or even dryness. This Too Faced Primed & Poreless Skin Smoothing Face Primer is one of those best selling primers out there. What is it? Too Faced describes this product as:

Our one-of-a-kind makeup primer was scientifically formulated to wear under bronzers and foundation powders or alone to achieve the look of flawless skin without makeup. Vitamins A & C, Mulberry Extract and a powerful dose of Retinol virtually banish pores while tired skin is left hydrated, firmer, and detoxified. Primed & Poreless creates the perfect canvas to allow powders, bronzers and foundations to airbrush onto the skin seamlessly and perfectly blended. Skin appears brighter, fresher and younger. Color stays true and in place all day. 

More To Love: 

• Erase Pores & Imperfections: Virtually erases pores, softens lines and perfects your complexion leaving skin ready for bronzer, powder, makeup or nothing at all. 
• Customized Formula: Provides an airbrushed canvas as it preps skin for bronzers, powder products and liquid foundations. Bronzers glide on without grabbing or looking heavy. Powders float above imperfections. Makeup applies like magic onto skin. Color stays true and in place all day. 
• Mulberry Extract & Arctostaphylos UVA URSI: Protect, brighten and lighten skin for a renewed freshness and soothing effect. 
• Retinyl Palmitate & Cyclodextrin with CAVAMAX Retinol: Restores moisture, elasticity and suppleness with a powerful combination of anti-wrinkle, youth enhancing, skincare ingredients. 
• Camellia Oil & Vitamin A: Essence of the white tea plant and the free radical fighting vitamins are nature’s most powerful antioxidants. Skin looks firmer, brighter and more resilient, even up close. 
• Colorless: Great on any skin color! The nude tone becomes invisible once applied.

*Vegan-friendly

**Paraben-free

(retrieved from Too Faced) 

This primer came in a squeeze tube in such a sweet pink color. The primer was nude colored but turned clear after applied. It feels powdery and velvety, glides on smoothly, and does a great job in filling pores and blur lines. I use my fingers to apply this product. The formula contains silicone which visually smooth skin, though some might actually break out from silicone should watch out.

 You need just a tiny bit for each application, a tube would last for a very long time. I find that this primer doesn't correct any redness or discoloration, as their main concern is to banish pores and lines. I also think that this won't help too much in evening skin tone. But it is true that it makes my skin appears brighter. As for the oil control, it does an okay job. Under powder/foundation, it helps those products to stick better and didn't change the color. This primer tends to be matte rather than dewy, glowy, etc. Barely has no scent to it. 

Blended

I believe the vitamins infused to it haven't improved my skin condition so far. Maybe they only help in fixing how the skin looks like by the time we're wearing the product. And yay, it didn't make me break out/made my skin irritated! So would you try this primer? Yes or no? :D   

Bottom line: Great for those looking for pores/lines concealer! The brightening effect is a sweet bonus. Feels silky, velvety. Slightly mattifying and helps prolong makeup wear. Not very good in concealing discoloration nor helps with redness/evening skin tone.           


I purchased mine at Sephora for $30 (1oz.). Psstttt.. Too Faced Primed & Poreless Primer also comes in oil-free  (Pure) and bronze tinted-SPF 20 infused version. Primed & Poreless (pink packaging) series also came up with priming powder & finishing veil (loose powder) and pressed powder to enhance your makeup wear.

Origins Clear Improvement™ Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores Review

Origins Clear Improvement™ Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores is raved by so many fellow bloggers and I was so excited to try this! I picked this up on my Sephora Mini Haul  I wasn't familiar with this kind of masks as I usually use paper masks. So I tried to look up on HOW TO's to put on this particular mask but I couldn't find any! I ended up using my fingers to spread the mask. Before I go on to that part I'll make sure you know better about this product.

This mask is a mud mask and it's made of Activated Charcoal to draw out deep-dwelling pore-cloggers, White China Clay to absorb environmental toxins, and Lecithin to dissolve impurities. The mask is grey in color and smells like clay (of course)! Here's how Origins describes the product:

Clear Improvement®

Active charcoal mask to clear pores

When environmental toxins, dirt and debris get under your skin, its waste-filtering system gets jammed, pores get clogged, skin looks cloudy. Nature's complexion clean-up crew gets to the bottom of skins overcast condition and clears the way for it to act its best. Activated Charcoal acts like a magnet to draw out deep-dwelling pore-cloggers, White China Clay absorbs environmental toxins, Lecithin dissolves impurities. Without all that "stuff" down there, skin "breathes a sigh of relief."

HOW TO USE: Once a week or as often as needed, open pores with warm, moist towel and layer mask on. Allow to dry, rinse well. Watch your skin shake off the shroud of dullness and take on a new clarity.

Best for all skin types

(retrieved from Origins)

So this is how I use the mask:

After washing my face, I put on warm moist towel for 5 minutes to open pores. Then I dispense the mask then spread it thinly and evenly on my face avoiding eye area. I was surprised that this mask spreads easily and feels smooth! I didn't expect that before.   

Spread it thinly and evenly

The mask will begin to tingle and dry within 10-15 minutes. As it dries, you won't be able to move your face and maybe you shouldn't because it hurts (your face will feel really really tight!).  

Completely dry

After the whole mask is completely dry you can wash it off using warm water (I find that using warm water to wash off is easier rather than using cold water) then towel dry. My first impression was my skin felt smoother, brighter. My pores looked smaller and I swear my blackheads went far away. It didn't help with my blemishes but the other day I tried putting it overnight on spots and the day after the pimple looked less red and smaller.

    
Origins recommends to use the mask 1-2 times a week and I predict that this tube will last me at least 3-4 months. You don't need much for an application and my tube looks like brand new even after 5 usages. If you're looking something to help with the pores or blackheads this might worth a shot!      

I bought mine at Sephora ( 3.4 oz for $24).

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion Review

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion (DDML) has been a world-wide cult favorite moisturizer for years. Clinique describes it as "Step 3 in Clinique's 3-Step Skin Care System. The moisture "drink" developed by Clinique's dermatologists to maintain optimal moisture balance. Softens, smooths, improves."

Clinique DDML-Used around 30 pumps/more

This one best selling moisturizer (1 is sold every 3.5 secs all around the world) has been there for ages. DDML was first launched in 1968. It is meant for dry to very dry skin. My skin is supposedly combination as I tend to be oily on my T-zone and normal on cheeks. So actually DDMG (Gel) might suit me more? I don't know haha.

The lotion itself is yellow colored, has no significant fragrance, and feels and looks quite creamy but not thick. I pumped out 1-2 pumps and it's enough for my entire face.


Note that my skin was pretty troubled by the time I tried this on. The lotion sinks in quickly and leaves my skin moisturized with no residues. However, it doesn't reduce breakouts (I know it's not meant to do so) or improve anything beside moisturizing. I don't see any differences from using this product and since I still have so many left I decided to use it as a body lotion LOL (I don't know if it's okay but it has been working fine for me).  

Spread

I tried putting on makeup above this and it works just fine. Nothing less nothing more. It comes in a plastic bottle with pump but there is a tube version of the packaging. DDML is $25 for 4.2oz (with pump), I purchased mine from Sephora.

DID YOU KNOW?? After more than 40 years Clinique finally reformulated the phenomenal DDML ! Now this revamped best selling beauty product is called Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ ! Find out more about it HERE !!!

My Sephora Mini Haul !

I can't deny that maybe one of my favorite things on earth to do is browsing around Sephora's website. I can do it for hours and hours, aside from clicking the tabs of beauty blogs and vlogs on the left and right. So some time around last month I received some things from my friend who purchased them from Sephora US , some kind of a mini haul. I was having a serious stomachache by the time I received the items, but after being overjoyed the pain seemed to go away! Hahaha.
Things I got were:
-Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. Review here
-Origins Active Charcoal Mask. Review here
-Too Faced Primed and Poreless Skin Smoothing Primer
-Beautyblender Set
-Some samples!

http://instagram.com/p/b6VivbRAh1/

I sure did quite some research before buying so now I'm going straight down into thoughts about those top rated products. I'm going to post reviews on those products. It's important to note that my reviews are based on my experiences and thoughts, my skin is different than yours so it might work for me but not for you or vice versa. If you recently did hauls feel free to share with me! ;)

All products were purchased from www.sephora.com 

CHANEL Perfection Lumiere Foundation Review

I came across Chanel's Makeup counter at Ion recently and thought that I need to pick something up from the store. I asked for a foundation with good coverage, fluid texture, and not-too-matte finish. She directly recommended me Chanel Perfection Lumiere (SGD 80). So after 5 minutes contemplating (yes that fast), I ended up purchasing it.

   

CHANEL describes Perfection Lumiere as --- "Effortless to apply, with seamless blendability for a naturally flawless effect, this breakthrough foundation is the ideal all-day, everyday formula – available in a diverse range of 20 shades." (from CHANEL).
As it holds up to the CHANEL brand, we all hope that this foundation stays true to the quality it offers. The packaging is kept simple with a glass bottle and a pump and CHANEL logo embossed to its cap. It has SPF10 so for those wearing this for daytime needs to apply additional sun protection beneath. For those who will be photographed with flash need to try it first to see how it turns out (SPF tends to reflect light. No one likes ghostly-pale-faced look on their pictures!) It is available with 20 shades, quite amazing! The lady at the counter recommended the shade 20 Beige for me. (I just got a tad darker over holiday!)

CHANEL  PERFECTION LUMIERE

CHANEL PERFECTION LUMIERE-B20

It has a nice scent (to my nose) when first applied but it disappears within several minutes. It might be annoying for some, but not for me. The texture is of course, fluid, yet it's not too runny. Should I say a little bit creamy. Applied to skin, it first appears matte yet after blending it becomes more satin, not too luminous. Even though it offers coverage, this foundation feels very light on skin. It feels velvety soft and be careful, it dries up quite quickly! The finish is very natural, matte-satin, it blends seamlessly into skin , and no where near dewy. One layer gives you natural coverage but this foundation is build able from (I say) light to medium. Yes, this evens out skin tone, but it won't cover imperfections very well so you need to conceal any blemishes/under eyes areas.  I find that this might be too dry for those with drier skin and might enhance dry patches. I recommend moisturizing the skin properly before putting the foundation on.

Half right-blended with fingers (With  flash)

Half down-blended with fingers (With Flash)

I wore this on the humid Singapore weather without primer/powder and it lasted at least 6 hours on me without blotting/powder. This does transfer without primer/powder. I recommend powdering the oilier parts of your face, make sure you don't overdo it. On my combination skin, my face didn't appear oily but it sure didn't stay matte-satin all day. It appeared more luminous over time, though I should say it held up very well. At the end of the day, my face looks pretty matte with a little glow on the T-zone. Impressive staying power indeed! It didn't oxidize throughout the day or crack. 

Bottom Line: For those who's searching for dewy finish, this isn't the right one for you. It didn't give the glow or dewiness. But Perfection Lumiere offers flawless, polished look. The texture is as wonderful  as the staying power. Alone, Perfection Lumiere tends to be more matte-satin-finish. Overall, I like this foundation and I'm sure I'll be using it for different time and occasions. It is long-wearing, it is flawless. It is simple and easy to use (blended with brush/fingers/sponge/etc.) , but I can't say I looove this foundation. Still this might be a good purchase for some with oilier skin or those who need perfect polished look!



Where to purchase?
Any Chanel Makeup counter.

My Makeup: Sheilla's Pre-S17 Photo Shoot

My friend Sheilla asked me to do her makeup for her Pre-Sweet 17 photo shoot. All the photos were taken by her own brother and also a friend of mine, Ricky Njoto (reminds me how much I wanted a brother:p). Sheilla is a young fashion designer, the dress she wore for the shoot was designed by her and it suited her very well!

Before-After. Nude lips here

Her theme for this photoshoot was Diamonds, as a part from her S17 Birthday Party "Diamonds and Roses"

Kept her makeup and hair very simple and youthful. I don't want to turn her into someone people won't recognize, but into a better version of her.

Sheilla didn't want her makeup to be heavy as well. I applied black eyeliner above her upper lashes and brown eye shadow to liner her lower lash line. Created soft brown smokey eye to enhance her eye contour and applied white eye shadow for the inner corner. I used around 2-3 layers of eyelashes for this look but it looked very natural in pictures. I contoured her face and didn't play on much on blush. For eyebrows, I did some trimming and followed her natural eyebrow shape with eyebrow pencil. 

Pictures credit to: Ricky Febrian Njoto. 2013

Product List:

Hair: Joico Joimist Firm Finishing Spray 

Vidal Sassoon Tourmaline Ceramic 2-in-1 Straightener and Curling Iron

The pictures turned out gorgeous don't you think? Please follow my twitter and instagram for daily updates! <3