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.

Where do I even begin. Revlon recently came out with their Colorburst Matte and Lacquer Balms (P575). If you've read my past reviews on the brand's lip products then you'd know I'm a huuuuge fan of them! I love the Colorburst line as well as the Kissable Balm Stains - so imagine that combination of bold color and moisturizing texture without your head exploding. Thought so.

But how are they, really?

All hyperbole aside, these new Revlon Balms are pretty good except for uneven application when it comes to some shades. The Colorburst Matte Balms look amazing in the packaging and arm swatches but tend to be rather patchy and a bane to all ye who have dry, flaky lips. Well I don't even have dry lips and only experience minimal flaking every now and then, but these mattes seem to not work out so well for me.

The Lacquer Balms, on the other hand, are WOW. I love them. The texture is super smooth, it stays on for a good four to five hours, and the finish is just so high-end! This formula doesn't just offer some meek, drugstore-level shine - it's brilliant and solid-looking at the same time, like a high-end color would look like.

Both formulas do not dry out my lips and I can even afford to skip lip balm (yes even with the Matte formula). The Lacquer is solid in two swipes, while the Matte takes more than that to build up. The Matte also fades rather easily and unprettily, but the Lacquer stays on reliably. I don't know if I just got the "meh" shades with the Matte but this has been my experience with the formula so far.

Swatches: Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm vs the Lacquer Balm

Overall, I love the Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balm SO MUCH while I feel just a grudging affection for the Matte for what it tried to do, which is offer moisture with the zero-shine finish. Can't wait for the day when Revlon would reformulate it or come out with something better.

Anyhoo, here are swatches of all the shades I have! Enjoy, and do let me know which ones rock your socks off. ;)

Believe it or not, the Revlon Super Lustrous Shine Lipstick (P545) is the closest thing Revlon has to the Clinique Chubby Stick. Not their Kissable Balm Stain, which is more like the Chubby Stick Intense. Okay, that might sound kinda confusing if you're not that into makeup. :P What I'm trying to say is that the Super Lustrous Shine is a sheer, moisturizing tinted lip balm that feels and looks almost like the Chubby Stick!

Fine. If you applied one on me and didn't say what it was, I would totally think it's a Chubby Stick. I would even argue with you.

The classic black and gold packaging of the Super Lustrous line is deceiving, because if you'd just go by the name you would assume that this is just a shinier version of the SL lippies. No. The Super Lustrous Shine Lipstick is in a whole class of its own!

Emollient, smooth, and plush on the lips, SL Shine is incredibly moisturizing, just like lip balm.

I realized, belatedly, that the BB creams I lined up for you this week are all from Western brands. I wasn't able to acquire Asian BBs for this round, but never fear! I promise to have an Asian BB cream week next time. ;) 

Allow me to discuss one last product to wrap up this themed week: the Revlon Photoready BB Cream (P725)!

I like that it has a brightening finish even though the coverage is quite sheer. The SPF30 is a good addition too! I also like that it didn't slide off after four hours of wear, even though others who have tried it say that the staying power is dismal. Remember people: setting it properly is key!

I found a great shade match in Light Medium. The shade is yellow-toned with subtle shimmer for that skin-illuminating effect.