Right! To kick off this week's reviews, here is the popular Revlon Colorstay Whipped Creme Makeup (P975), a matte cream-liquid foundation hybrid that promises to be long wearing. I'm sure you've read a lot of good things about it already! I won't prolong the suspense, which is why I'll go ahead and say that it's a great foundation for the price.

Here's why.

What I love about the product

• Makes my skin flawless. Scary flawless but not in a bad way. The coverage is medium to heavy and it's even opaque enough to be a concealer.
• The matte, super smooth finish doesn't look flat and fake on skin - as long as you give it some minutes to settle. It looks weird upon initial application but after 15 minutes or so the foundation seems to blend better. It slightly oxidizes. Know this to be true: it looks better the longer you wear it.
• Looks amazing in any lighting - indoor, outdoor, in a studio, with flash. This doesn't have SPF I think so it's great for photo ops.

I'm sure you've already seen the raves about the Fairydrops Candy Bar BB Cream (P1,550) from the other beauty bloggers. No question about it, this stuff is da cheese! It's a great face base for two reasons: the flawless satiny finish and color match (at least on me). It's also the first BB cream I've encountered that has no SPF whatosever.

While other BB creams focus on skincare claims and sun protection, the Fairydrops Candy Bar is all about perfecting the skin. A Japanese newscaster, who needed something that will look good on harsh studio lighting, is credited for helping formulate it. It's supposed to have micro-gold pigments and soft focus powder in the waterproof formula.

Here's what I think!

What I love about the product

• It makes my skin look fantastic. Not just good or nice, but fantastic both in person and on camera. It has light to medium coverage, which evens out my skintone well. It won't cover major blemishes or acne but it can give brighter-looking skin.
• This has no perceptible shimmer. It has a satin finish which means that it's not glowy or dewy; more like matte but with a bit of fresh lustre to it. Like real skin.

How do you feel about face mists? I don't use them all the time but they're nice to have around. Say, you over-applied your foundation or powder and would like to take the thickness down a notch - spray some mist on your face. You want to intensify your eyeshadow or powder liner? Mist your brush before dipping it in the color. You want to moisturize your face in the middle of the day without actually removing all your makeup? Mist up! See I told you it's handy. ;)

Now there's an argument to be made for simply filling up an atomizer spray bottle with water. But I swear it's not the same. Proper face mists - the one you buy off the shelves for a price that sounds ridiculous for what is basically bottled water - is better than a DIY attempt. That's not to say that a DIY mist is not any good, I'm sure it will work fine, but it's not going to be quite as nice as a cosmetic mist.

The MAC Mineralized Charged Water is water infused with diamond powder (supposedly) and a nice citrus tea scent. It delivers a very fine spray to distribute the water evenly all over the face.

I've always thought of BB creams as just another form of foundation. Most of them have pretty good coverage already, but of course with the added SPF and skincare properties that can't be found in your usual bottle of face makeup. It's a marvelous idea for women who need multi-tasking products - who doesn't want their sunscreen, serum, moisturizer, primer, and coverage in one bottle? Provided that there's a good shade match that is.

One of the latest BB creams to hit the market is the Etude House Precious Mineral BBdation (P848 / with applicator P1,678). It's an out-and-out foundation that promises "zero defect skin", whitening, and anti-wrinkle. Let's go back to the zero defect skin part. What? Is that even possible? Well not really! However this does a bangin' job making skin look great. It doesn't cover dark blemishes but it blurs out lighter ones and fills in pores/ minor wrinkles as well, thus delivering a super smooth finish. You'll see a photo later.

Texture. It's a bit mousse-y, surprisingly. It applies thinly and is very emollient so I'm inclined to think that it moisturizes skin. You will only need one full pump to cover your whole face, which makes it economical.

What is the thing you want more than anything? I think life is simpler once you've answered this. Your relationship and career choices will follow if you know where you want to go and do. You will endure and survive painful situations because they're inevitable if you must get the thing you want more than anything. So what is it? :)

It's impossible for you to not know, on some basic level of your being. But it's possible to deny you want it.

Well that's a damper. :/ I just really want to talk about the Snoe Poudre Extraordinaire (P799)! I've been using this powder since I got it two weeks ago because it gives me three things I need most in a powder: SPF protection, a bit of coverage, and a fantastic finish. It's just an extra treat that this particular powder smells like sweet berries and comes in a huge 35 gram jar.

What I love about the product

• Has a demi-matte finish that gives light to medium buildable coverage. It evens out and smoothens skin nicely - not quite foundation but if you have fairly good skin then this is enough to just polish what you have.
• Texture is fine and easy to spread around with any brush. It doesn't look caky or powdery even if you use a lot. 

The Bobbi Brown Illuminating Face Base (P2,650) aka the reason I can go out without foundation is now a mainstay in my routine. It has SPF25 which is always useful during the day, but most importantly, it makes my skin look amazing. You'll see a photo later. For now, lemme run through what's awesome about this product!

What I love about it

• The micronized pearl pigments infused in this cream base gives skin the perfect glow. You'll see a bit of shimmer if you look reeeeallly closely but when worn, there's just a can't-put-your-finger on sheen to your skin. Don't worry, it's subtle that it won't make oily skin look oilier.
• Helps makeup glide on better as it smoothens skin. It also helps keep your makeup look fresh longer, although it won't block oil in my experience.

Oooh my first time to try Laneige! Other bloggers have raved about the brand so naturally I want to see what the fuss is about. That said, I got the Laneige Snow BB Soothing Cushion (P1,950 with refill) a few weeks ago and have been using it every so often. Not as often as I would like, to be honest, only because I chose the wrong shade. 

First off, this is not foundation. Laneige primarily describes it as a whitening product with SPF which is pretty much how many BB creams are. The Snow BB provides just enough coverage to even out skin and give it a dewy glow, but it won't hide blemishes or pimples you might have. It's really more of a tinted makeup base that anything else.

Here's a quick rundown!

What I love about the product

• Gives a dewy, super natural finish on skin. It doesn't look like makeup because it's sheer and allows your real skin to show.
• Has SPF50 PA+++. That's a pretty good number if you're looking for extra sun protection!

I love the VMV Skintangible, but as fantastic as it is it has limitations due to it being a tinted moisturizer at best. Girls who are looking for better coverage, shade match, and higher SPF may not find it compelling enough. But never worry! Skintangible has a grown-up sister who can take all the heavy lifting: the VMV Hypoallergenics Skin Savvy 60 Foundation (P1,840).

This foundation is exactly like Skintangible in terms of packaging and how it's dubbed to be 75% free of common allergens. But that's where the similarity stops. Skin Savvy is a cream foundation with SPF60, six available shades, and full coverage. It lasts fairly well under the tropical heat, too! Just set it with loose powder and you're done.

However, because of these "extra" features, Skin Savvy has some down sides.

I'm in a contemplative mood today. I've just been thinking about responsibility and what it truly means. The hardest way to learn it is when something needs to be done, you don't want to do it, but there's no one else so you get on your knees and get to work. You are not truly responsibly for something unless it's a thing you have to do completely alone.

My, what heavy words to start the week! Back to makeup. I want to talk about a really nice foundation I've been test-driving for a while now - the Human Heart Nature Perfect Coverage Mineral Foundation (P475). It's 100% mineral makeup, it's pressed, and it has heavy coverage! Products like this usually cost a pretty shiny penny, but thanks to Human Heart Nature it's now affordable and easily available.

Here's what I think about the foundation!

What I love about the product

• It delivers medium to heavy coverage while only requiring a bit of product. It's heavily pigmented, not chalky at all, so opacity is easy to achieve.
• Smooth, matte finish evens out minor imperfections and discoloration. My skin looks like a doll's whenever I wear it!

I have so many new finds that I'm just bursting to share with you guys! That said, however, I don't want Project Vanity to be a blog that just keeps pushing you to buy things you may not even need. This whole beauty thing is not about getting the hottest products in the market. More than anything, it's about finding, out of the hundreds of products out there, the one that works for you. That's the bottomline.

So yeah, that's why I write about the things I love. :) One of my new favorites is the VMV Hypoallergenics Skintangible SPF30 (P1,050). This for me is the ideal tinted moisturizer/ BB cream. It makes my skin look healthy ang glowing, with SPF30 to boot!

Texture and oil control. If you love the Armada Face Cover 30 then you'll definitely love Skinangible with the same sun screen properties plus a skin-enhancing tint. It has the same light texture that dries down quickly and doesn't feel sticky. It also would not exacerbate oiliness - in fact, in my case (combination skin), this product helps with oil control!

I work mainly from home, as you know, but there are days when I am rushing all over the place. Contrary to popular belief I do have a life and a real job! Lol. One example: I went to the Ferretti office in Marikina to coordinate with one of our suppliers for a shoot. Afterwards, I went to Eastwood with my Ferretti boss to meet my Pinkbox boss to talk about stuff. Then, I headed to The Spa with my Pinkbox boss to try Barre3 (easier than Plana Forma btw). 

These women, I swear, are more of a riot than I am! They are hyper all the time! They are also my pegs in life.

Suffice it to say, I am haggardo versoza that day. It was super hot too so I was sweating buckets. However, I am very happy to report that my foundation didn't quit on me even after the Barre3 work out! Care to know what it is?

Ta-dah! It's the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation (P2,650). This foundation is specifically formulated for Asian skin, with a lot of consideration for our hot and humid weather. As far as I am aware this is available in Asia for now. That says a lot about Bobbi Brown's dedication to the needs of a specific market, don't you think?

Anyway, here are my thoughts on this foundation after using it for a few weeks!

What I love about the product  

• Delivers an uber-smooth, flawless, and heavy coverage that doesn't look like a thick mask. Just remember to set it with a sheer translucent powder instead of your normal pressed powder / foundation powder; otherwise, your makeup will already look too heavy.

In a day this gloomy and wet, it's hard to imagine that summer ever happened. But hey, that's not an excuse to come in to work (or wherever you're going) looking like a drowned rat! Or even a rat expecting to be drowned for that matter. Er. Well my point is that it's important to have some life and color on your face whatever the season is, which is where the Benefit Cabana Glama Makeup Kit (P2,000) comes in!

This palette has everything you need to fake that glowy summer tan. In keeping with my past experience with Benefit products, the items inside are well-formulated and designed to flatter. Here I will discuss them one by one!

Oily girls, listen up! I have a great reco for you: the Etude House Precious Mineral Sun BB Cream (P978). It's a long-lasting, water and oil resistant BB cream that has SPF50 to boot. It's ideal for those days when you need to hustle under the sun for long periods of time - super useful here in our country where summer is the default weather.

I'm really diggin' this product, and here's why!

Coverage and finish. The Sun BB Cream has a medium to heavy coverage. It can hide minor blemishes and eyebags - really useful for those who have far from perfect skin. The finish is quite matte (not flat though) and very smooth. Just remember to blend it very carefully to avoid uneven coverage.

Shade selection. There are three shades available, Light Beige (for fair skin), Natural beige (fair medium), Sand Beige (dark medium). The one I have, Natural Beige, is roughly two shades lighter than my skin upon application but it settles down to one shade lighter.

This is not a good morning for me. I woke up with an aching body (damn Barre3) and a mild headache. I've been staring at the screen for about two hours just thinking about what to write. Hay! I have several meetings today on top of this. But the show must go on! Today I'm going to write about a powder foundation that I've been testing for week.

Being a fan of the Lancome Teint Miracle liquid foundation, I was excited to see if the new Lancome Maqui Blanc Miracle Foundation (P1,895 for the refill, P995 for compact) is as good. Well it is (subject to the limitations of a powder foundation of course), and here's why!

What I love about the product

• Delivers a natural-looking, satin finish with a bit of glow. This is the ideal finish for me.
• Coverage is medium to heavy. It can cover minor blemishes and uneven areas by itself.

Oh, if we all woke up with perfect skin then the beauty industry would be out of business. We'd be cleansing our faces with only water, wearing only sunlight and a smile when we go out. But that's not meant to be, at least for me. I have several blemishes that need to be covered up while they're fading to oblivion. 

Blemishes? What blemishes, you ask? Well, you can't see them because I am somewhat of a camouflage expert. Teehee. Modesty aside I know quite a few tricks about faking flawless skin so today I'm going to share them with you! You'll find them useful if you have rough and uneven skin that may have acne/blemishes. Also, if you need heavy and long-lasting coverage.

If you already have good skin, go on your way and put my envy in your pocket!

What type of foundation should you use for maximum coverage and comfort?

Invest in a good liquid foundation that matches your skin and your skin type perfectly. Not BB cream, powder, or cream foundation. Liquid foundation. Out of all the foundation types I've tried, liquid has the best, more natural looking coverage that has a version for all skin types (dry to oily). 

Read my top six foundation picks to see recommendations!

How to apply the foundation

With a stippling brush (I'm using the one from Charm), dot or pat the foundation on the outer sides of your face moving inwards.  You can swipe the brush to blend it better. Apply a heavy layer (as needed) on the outer area of your face, not on the T-zone as most people would recommend. Why? Because the fringes of our face like the sides of the cheeks and chin tend to break out/ blemish more.

The Palgantong Theatrical Powder (P600/10 g from Beauty and Minerals) is a loose powder that's made of ultra-fine particles which deliver a smooth, photogenic finish. I've read that it has a quiet fan base among makeup artists and those who know makeup! True enough, Sophie and Brigitte (makeup artists and beauty blogger friends) are huge fans of this powder.

After using it for a few weeks, I can see why! 

What I love about the product

• This is the clincher: this loose powder delivers a super smooth, flawless finish. Doesn't matter what foundation you're wearing - it looks smooth even close up.
• Looks great in photos! I imagine that this is perfect to wear to events when you have heavy coverage foundation on. It helps your foundation look more natural.

BB or blemish balm creams have gone a long way. From being overly thick and white just a few years ago, they have now evolved into light textured semi-foundations that come in different shades. Everybody wins, really! 

Today I'll be reviewing the Etude House Precious Mineral BB Cream (P798). It's a nice BB cream with heavy coverage and the lasting power of your average liquid foundation. No, it can't be categorized as tinted moisturizer. It's a nice brightening foundation that comes in four shades which can accommodate Pinay skin.

What I love about the product

• It delivers an even, smooth finish that looks like skin. It has brightening properties so you get a glowy finish!
• Medium to heavy coverage with only a small amount.
• Has SPF30 PA++! Pretty good sun protection, so even if you only use a little, you still get adequate cover from the sun.

I've never tried mousse makeup before so I have zero expectations when I started using the Revlon PhotoReady Airbrush Mousse Makeup (P925). Apparently, mousse makeup is just an aerated version of liquid foundation. The air makes the foundation easier to spread and control, so you get to avoid streaks and uneven patches.

Okay, back to the PhotoReady mousse! This foundation is extremely watery once the foam settles down. I love the texture and natural-looking - dare I say "airbrushed" - finish. Let's see!

What I love about the product

• It's lightweight on skin. It doesn't feel greasy or oily at all so you get maximum comfort.
• Coverage is medium to heavy, so it covers up most of my blemishes in one layer! Even with the heavy coverage, it doesn't look cakey or makeup-y. It has a dewy finish.

I've been awake since 5 am today and so many things have been running through my head. Work, random bits of information, what I'm going to say online today. Those kinds of things. In the wee hours of the morning when I am the most alone, it's my dog who keeps me sane.

So! It's going to be an extremely busy week! To kick it off, here's a review of a couple of Estee Lauder CyberWhite Brilliant Cells products.

I'm not really into BB creams per se, but I do like tinted moisturizers when they actually have skincare benefits. The Estee Lauder CyberWhite Brilliant Cells Extra Intensive BB Cream is a skincare product first and makeup second. It doesn't have much in the way of coverage, but my skin always feels smooth and bright after using it.

It's the kind of product you throw on when you just want an evened complexion and SPF protection (it has SPF35). It does stay on for at least four hours, and works with my combination oily skin once set with powder.