Where do I begin. The Ellana Intensive Blend Mineral Foundation (P460) has been an old favorite of mine, way back when I was in college and couldn't afford high-end foundations. It's the foundation that made my acne and blemish-devastated skin glow, the one that make made it look even - against all odds. And, it was just 400 bucks then! 

With the relaunch of Ellana, I've had the chance to finally try this foundation again. Is it as good as I remember it? YES. Whenever I have it on, people always ask me what foundation I'm wearing! Even makeup artists ask about it. Seriously, the feedback has been amazing. 

Here's a rundown of what's awesome (and what's not) about this foundation!

What I love about the product

• It gives me medium to heavy coverage with a beautiful dewy finish. It doesn't look like makeup - it looks like healthy skin, which is how your base should be. It covers minor blemishes and redness by itself yet it never appears too heavy. This is ideal for troubled, acne-prone skin!
• Texture is very silky and smooth - unlike other mineral foundations, this doesn't require tons of blending to get an even finish. I recommend using something dense like a kabuki or flat top brush to apply it, but any ole powder brush will do the job too.

• I never break out from this. If you want to just chill from your normal heavy makeup, this is a good alternative. It'll let your skin breathe, and heal it over time since it actually has vitamin C, E, and allantoin.

Morning, guys. Today we have a pretty guest blogger to review an interesting liquid foundation. Say hi to Tracie, and don't forget to read her blog, Tracie the Diva! 

We all know that mineral foundation is healthier for our skin, especially for problematic skin. Without the harsh chemicals, the skin could benefit from fewer breakouts. But the annoying thing about mineral make-up is the mess since it’s usually in loose powder form. It takes more effort in applying the make-up and cleaning up your dresser. 

I think Kanebo has heard the woes of MMU users and created the KATE Mineral Liquid Foundation (P900). Though they are not the first to release mineral foundation in liquid form, so far it is one of the best I’ve tried!

Texture. As most liquid foundations are applied with either a sponge or a brush because most are thick and getting it even on the skin is a challenge, the texture of this liquid foundation is light but not runny so you can use your fingers to blend it out when you’re in a hurry.

I am a foundation monster. I love foundations. By now you should know that I have far from perfect skin, so I try to enhance it as best as I can.  

I already have a few favorites, but right now I am really loving the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Mineral Makeup SPF15 (P2,200). It's the most natural-looking foundation that I have ever had the pleasure to try! It really looks like skin - silky, luminous skin - an effect that some foundations can fake but never truly mimic. With other foundations, I still add a luminizing finishing powder to get that effect, but I don't need to do that with Bobbi's mineral foundation.

What I LOVE about the product 

• Natural, beautifying finish that looks like skin. Check out my photos!
• Pretty good lasting powder. It stays put for 5-6 hours without primer. Longer with primer, of course.

One of my readers requested for a tutorial on how to apply mineral foundation. I thought that was an interesting question. After all, mineral foundation IS different from normal powder foundation and therefore requires a slightly separate set of tools and techniques. 

But wait, why use mineral makeup? It depends on your needs and preferences. MMU is great if you want a smooth, luminous finish without all the added chemicals traditional foundations have. You also don't need to use a lot of MMU to get the skin you want, which means that you only use a thin layer that lets your skin breathe.

Unlike normal powder makeup where you just pat it on to get your desired coverage, you have to sort of break down and really spread mineral makeup all over your face. That's why even if you only use a small amout of mineral powder (well, good MMU anyway), you get a lot mileage out of it. It's basically concentrated pigment, unlike traditional makeup where there are comparatively more binders, extenders, and preservatives included in the formula.

That said, I'd just like to share the tools and techniques I use in applying loose mineral foundation!

Choose your weapon

Dense brushes allow you to break down and spread the MMU efficiently.

I just got the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Mineral Makeup SPF15 (P2,200) last Saturday so I can't give a full review right now. Still, I want to share an FYI on the product because I find it super intriguing!

Bobbi Brown says that this foundation is lightweight, shine-free, and long-wearing. I've worn it only twice so far, and only on short trips out, so I can't say how long-lasting it actually is. But by golly this is the lightest and most natural foundation I've ever tried so far. 

Agree? I didn't edit this photo at all.

I mentioned before that Clinique has some of the best foundations out there, and with the brand's latest product called Clinique Superbalanced Powder Makeup (P2,400) I haven't changed my mind! The Superbalanced is a pressed mineral foundation that you can shave off to turn into loose powder. It has physical sunscreen at SPF15 with UVA/UVB protection, a shield that's good for a neat three hours.

Other than that technical stuff, this foundation delivers a beautiful, smooth finish that seems to look better as you wear it. I must admit I raised an eyebrow when I saw it on my face the first couple of minutes I applied it. it looked too powdery! After a while though it started melting on my skin and it looked absolutely amazing.

Case in point:

What I love about the product

• Looks beautiful when worn. I like how it makes my skin look glowy and natural without shimmer or shine. Coverage is light to medium so don't expect this to cover blemishes; use a separate concealer.
• Has the benefits of mineral powder (friendly to sensitive skin, doesn't clog pores or make you break out) combined with the convenience of a pressed compact.

One of my most fervent dreams is having an affordable mineral foundation that's actually in pressed powder form. Imagine all the benefits of mineral makeup - all in a travel-friendly compact! No more messy loose powder that sticks everywhere and needs a special brush to use. So when I got my hands on the Kanebo Kate Mineral Powder Foundation (P900) I was hoping for a winner.

The newest foundation from Kate delivers well in terms of finish, texture, and reasonable price point. I love how it looks like on me and the convenience of being able to use the compact anywhere, but then there is one major caveat: my skin (stubborn as it is) does not like it. 

What I love about the product

• Smooth, flawless finish. The coverage is light to medium and doesn't get cakey when you build it up.
• The texture of the powder is finely milled and soft. Feels like powders from luxury brands!

I got a couple of comments yesterday regarding my "glowing skin" in this post. It's mainly due to two things that I have been using religiously in the past week (meaning I am not trying out any other skincare product): Pond's Pure White facial wash and Clinique Moisture Surge. My skin has finally calmed down after yet another nasty breakout, but I have a few pimples again because I used this face sunblock yesterday. Ugh. Must. Stick. To. Routine.

Anyway, other than skincare, a marvelous foundation called the Colorescience Pressed Mineral Foundation Compact (P3,750) contributed to the glow. I've had it since October last year but I haven't reviewed it for some reason or other. I don't have a good excuse!

What I love about the product

• Beautiful, glowy finish. I prefer this over matte finishes, but I guess it depends on preference since some girls may not want to highlight oily skin. In any case Colorescience has a very fine sheen, not oily-looking at all.