Coverage is my best friend when it comes to powders, but since it's summer I prefer sheerer, lighter products on my face. I mean, seriously, who has the time to deal with icky cakey products when you're sweating buckets uder the sun? So lately all I've been wearing are super thin liquid bases, mineral makeup, and this - the Revlon Nearly Naked Powder (P525).

Here's a rundown of why I think this powder is totally worth a trip to the counter!

Coverage. This powder has sheer but decent coverage, just enough to even out your skin if you prefer to use it alone, or to set your makeup. It's also a great retouch powder! It won't look cakey no matter how many layers you pat on. (Within reason of course)

Texture. The texture is extremely smooth and silky. I daresay it's the best-milled drugstore powder I've tried to date. When I touch it barely any product sticks to my fingers - this makes the Nearly Naked ideal for setting concealers, liquid/cream foundations, and for removing shine during the day. It doesn't feel heavy at all.

Finish. It's matte, with a petal-like effect on skin. I mean, just look at this picture of me wearing it. I just applied it on top of the Nearly Naked Liquid Foundation, a bit of concealer, and it looks lovely already! No need for extra products to achieve the matte-yet-healthy skin finish.

According to a top makeup artist, the best way to conceal pores is to mattify them. Piling on primers and makeup will only make them more obvious to the eye; it's best to mattify the offending area to make the craters of those pores recede! So yes, if you have big pores, avoid products with any shimmer or sparkle in them. Go for matte and mattifying makeup.

Anyway, let's continue with my last post for Oil Control Week! Here I have the Ellana Sheer Velvet Powder Primer (P460) an ultra-fine, zero coverage powder with the sole purpose of smoothing out skin and absorbing oil. It is marketed both as a primer and finishing powder (I'll explain why later) but personally I prefer to use it as the last step in my makeup routine.

Primer, what? I know it can be confusing to claim a powder to be a primer, but this is a primer in the sense that it can absorb oil under your makeup. It can also make your powder base go on more evenly since this powder fills in pores and lines, thus smoothing out such imperfections even before you wear foundation.

Texture. But, you say, can't any other translucent powder do that? Not really. This powder is so cushy and fine that I advise you not to inhale while applying it or your throat will feel weird. It's so cushy and fine, Ellana can't make a pressed version because it will fall apart. It's just one of those things you need to touch first to understand!

The fine powder can get into those hard to fill areas on your face, thus creating an ultra smooth canvas.

Mineral makeup used to be a messy affair - well, I suppose it still is if you like the loose formulas (I do). But if you're rushed for time but still like the flawless, glowy finish that only mineral powders can provide, go for pressed! There are lots of great ones available now. One of them, an oldie but a goodie, is the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural (P1,700+). 

Coverage and finish. The Mineralize Skinfinish offers sheer to medium buildable coverage that has a slight sheen to it. It could be a setting or finishing powder due to the glowy effect, but it can also be used as a daily base if you don't need a lot of coverage. 

This has an extremely lightweight formula that feels like nothing on the face! It also doesn't cake due to the thin texture, yes, even when layered heavily.

We've already talked about products that can somehow lessen the oil that makes it to the surface of your face, right, but they aren't going to stop your skin from producing oil. That's just a fact of life. No matter how effective your skincare is it'll only be a matter of hours before your face shines up. Accept it and move on...to makeup!

It's SOP to have blotting paper, powder, and a brush in your bag wherever you go. This trio is the best way to remove shine without ruining the stuff you have on underneath. However, what if there's a way to streamline and simplify the shine-busting? Do away with the blotting paper, and combine the brush and powder in one product?

And thus the Benefit POREfessional Agent Zero Shine (P1,600) powder was born. This is a talc-based powder that promises to blur pores and smoothen your complexion while mattifying your skin. It is super silky and finely-milled, containing mineral ingredients that are highly oil absorbent.

Single shade, simplified. There is only one shade available - a peachy one that provides translucent coverage. It should match all skin tones without leaving a white cast. This will melt on your skin quickly enough, giving it a flawless matte finish.

One of the more frequent questions I get as a beauty blogger is: what do I do when I receive a product I don't like from a friend of mine? Oh, the answer is boring. There isn't any drama involved, lol. I just tell the other person why I don't like what she sent and then give some suggestions on how it can be better. If the person is a real friend then she'd know why I can't in my good conscience promote her product on my blog. If the person isn't a real friend but is nevertheless a shrewd businesswoman, then she'd know why it's best if I just don't write about it.

I write tons of positive and so-so reviews, but rarely an all-out negative review. If you don't see it here, then I simply don't like it enough to spend two hours post-processing photos and writing about it. I don't want to waste my time, your time, and a perfectly good relationship.

Anyway! Today I just feel like raving about one of the best brushes I came across last year. Even better, it's created by a good friend of mine! Sophie Uy is the woman behind Charm Brushes. Late last year she finally released her luxe line called SOFFIA - more expensive than Charm, certainly, but with a higher level of quality. I have three brushes from this line and they are all exceptional.

This is a true story: after I got the SOFFIA Opulence All Over Face Brush (P2,500), I didn't use it immediately. I placed it in my bag for two weeks and showed it off to everyone I happened to be meeting. I'll say, "Guys, this is the softest brush ever! Touch it! Be blown away!" and they'd all coo. I just felt so proud that a fellow Filipina can come up with something this awesome.

But why is it awesome? Imagine shampoo commercial hair...on a stick.