The thing about having a bunch of stuff is that you forget the nice things you already have. This always happens to me! It usually takes a bit of kismet for me to sorta "rediscover" amazing things that I've acquired in the recent past. Anyway, one thing I'm loving lately is the ZA True White Liquid Foundation (P595) which I got last November and, until this week, forgot.

The thing is my skin is really, really horrible right now. If you look at my latest pictures closely you may have noticed tons of bumps on my face! :( I tried this new high-end skincare for a few days and, well, it obviously didn't work out. I should be freaking out but I know that if I just stick to my normal skincare regimen, this nastiness will come to pass.

In the meantime I am so glad I found the ZA True White Foundation in my stash.

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.

If it's your first time to try Shiseido - gosh I hope not though because you're missing out! - anyway, if it's your first time at a counter you must consider getting three things first. That would be a lipstick, a foundation, and a skincare product. I've tested many of the brand's products extensively and these are the things that just stand out. You're not really experiencing Shiseido if you haven't gotten one or all of those three!

Anyway, here is my latest foundation find from the brand: the Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Spot-Control Foundation (P1,998 for the refill and P1,500 for the case). It's an ultra-silky, mid-coverage foundation with a matte finish and sun protection. I like it because, as with all the Shiseido foundies I've tried, it gives my skin a radiant, creamy finish even though I'm not wearing a liquid base underneath. You'll see a pic later!

What does it do? This foundation is supposed to whiten skin and help erase blemishes faster (hence the "spot-control" in the name), but perhaps I just haven't used it long enough to see results. Besides, I already use Shiseido Ibuki and have little blemishing left over.

I've had my eye out on this the Shiseido Sheer and Perfect Foundation (P2,200) ever since I spotted it in counters last September. It promises to correct the "color noise" of the skin, which I understand to mean discolorations and general imperfections. It's also meant to be sheer - however, it's definitely not what I expected after the initial swatches!

This tiny bottle packs a punch. It has a medium coverage, just enough to even out the skintone and to soften blemishes as well as fine lines. It has a beautiful, dewy finish that intensifies as I oil up. Unsightly? Gross? Not at all! My skin looks very nice even though it's shiny with this foundie - it's like, I have another layer of skin, but better! It's not that much of a hassle for me to retouch every 2-3 hours.

Small bottle, yes, but it contains the standard amount - 30ml. This foundation is said to be equal to the Chanel Vitalumiere.

You know what (and this is just an observation, not a complaint) having a beauty blog and getting sent a lot of free stuff takes all the fun out of makeup shopping. Whenever I see something that makes me go "oooh-I-want-that-looks pretty-awesome!", that enthusiasm is quickly followed by a dour practicality "But-I-have-like-twenty-of-those". 

Every so often I do buy something because I feel that I absolutely need it and don't have something like it yet. However, it ends up getting buried by all the other products that I still need to start using and reviewing. I told you. It's sometimes not at all fun to be a beauty blogger.

Image credit: muza-chan.net

That's why when I went to Japan a few weeks back, I only grabbed three beauty products for myself. These were things I felt I needed at that time. Besides, they were inexpensive so it'd be totes fine if I don't use them often or like them at all. :P

I stopped by Matsumoto Kiyoshi in Akihabara to look for some pabili and to check out the drugstore beauty stuff (of course). Here's what I got!

Here are my current favorite foundations. I wanted to list only five but I didn't want to cut down any more than I already have, hehe. Also I have yet to review two products (the Ellana and Happy Skin ones) in this line-up so you'd have to be contented with a summary. :P The rest, you can find full reviews linked to their names.

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation (P2,650). This is my most reliable foundation, ever. It looks great no matter how bad my skin looks, it's photogenic, and lasts all freakin' day. It's a pain to apply unless you have a Beauty Blender. So get a Beauty Blender sponge if you want to maximize this particular base.

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Even Finish Compact (P2,400). And here's the no-fuss version of the liquid foundation. This requires very little blending or layers.

Have BB creams gone the way of the dinosaurs? Certainly not. BB creams are here to stay no matter how many alphabet creams come after. It revolutionized the way everyday makeup should be, with its thinner texture, skin-friendly ingredients, and high SPF protection. Think about the options we had before BB creams came. This type of makeup opened up a whole dam of possibilities!

This week, I'll be talking about some of the newer BB creams I have in my kit. :) Let's begin with the best one I've tried to date: the Bobbi Brown BB Cream SPF35 PA+++ (P2,000+).

Yes, you heard it right - this is my new favorite! The best thing about it is that it comes in five shades* that are yellow-toned and works best with our Asian skin. You never have to worry if your face flashes gray or beige (a chronic problem with BBs); you can easily find a perfect match! I have yet to see a locally available BB cream with a better shade selection that this one.

Texture, coverage, and finish. The Bobbi Brown BB cream has a light yet creamy texture that would suit dry to combination skin best. It has a dewy, illuminating finish that looks like second skin - a trademark characteristic of all Bobbi face bases. Coverage is sheer but can be layered up to medium. It looks really beautiful when worn!

Realization: my Tweets read like t-shirt slogans. They are vague, sometimes sardonic, but often obnoxious. I write them when I am seized with A Thought that just needs to be farted out to the world. If I don't say it, then it will die in my head and no one else will know how witty I am.

That's what I think anyway. I'm not really a witty person, I just have witty things to blurt out from time to time.

So! Today I'm going to review the Shiseido Sheer Matifying Compact Foundation (P1,650 for the refill). This is a lovely foundation with a crazy smooth texture and medium to heavy coverage. It's something I can recommend to oily girls, since it delays The Shining longer and wears well throughout the day.

Let's do a rundown!

What I love about the product

• It delivers a silky smooth finish that makes my face look flawless. It's predominantly matte, but there is a sliiiight hint of glow on the high points of my face, when I'm looking at it in direct sunlight. 
• It has medium to heavy coverage; if you use the sponge, it can already cover minor blemishes and uneven areas by itself. If you want sheerer coverage then use a powder brush.

Yesterday I managed to get home juuust as the rain started to fall. The storm raged in earnest soon after, and Snaps came close to hyperventilating because of his thunder phobia. That said, Manila is supposed to have a Signal #1 storm right now but I don't see it yet - I hope I don't! I have a lot of plans this weekend.

Anyway, I just wanted to update you about the Naturactor Cover Face Foundation. You might remember that I loved its finish and texture, but was sorely disappointed about the shade selection. The 141 was way too light, so I thought the darkest shade won't work for me. Well, it did! The 151 is about half a shade lighter and leans more towards beige than I'd like, but it looks okay on me even though my neck is darker than my face.

You know I gotta mention the Beauty Blender sponge here, right? It's only proper. :P I've never tried it before so unfortunately I can't compare, but I was just never convinced by the hype. Sure the sponge is conveniently shaped for reaching awkward areas around the face, but a thousand bucks for one sponge? Hmm, I don't think so. Maybe I'll change my mind in the future. Until then, I'll go for more reasonable alternatives!

The Too Cool For School Marshmallow Puff Sponge (P279) has been sitting on my vanity since March. I never got around to using it after my first try though, because I felt that the sponge just ate the liquid foundation and didn't do a good job of applying it. BUT! I was just using the Puff all wrong, it seems.

Instead of sheer watery foundations, the TCFS works amazingly with cream compact and thick liquid foundations. It does a wonderful job of buffing in such formulas seamlessly!