Makeover 911
Advance reviews on new makeup lines
By Kinny Salas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:09:00 08/14/2008
Filed Under: Health and Beauty Products, Lifestyle & Leisure
MANILA, Philippines—That time of year once again when I am most excited to wear make-up—Fall-Winter 2008-09—is fast approaching. This job enables me to get a collection before it hits the stores so I can road test it and have my reviews out on time. Digging through my birthday loot from last month I have picked out some of my favorites.
Revlon
Its Custom Creations SPF 15 Foundation (P875)—in shades 010 fair/light, 030 light/medium, 040 medium (Jessica Alba’s shade)—are notable.
Gone are the days when a meticulous woman buys several shades of foundation to match her ever-changing skin tone due to heavy sun exposure.
When I left for Bangkok I was happily a #2 working up to # 1 in the fair/light variant. But one sunny afternoon, at the handicraft market, my husband commented how darker my face was. Sure enough #2 no longer blended into my face and much to my dismay, I had to to go to #5 for my skin to look seamless. That would have meant a new purchase with another foundation. But Revlon saved me.
Note: The coverage is sheer so skin has to be in great shape texture-wise as it cannot cover blemishes. My very oily skin turned really greasy after two hours so I needed mattifying primer and powder to keep looking pristine. It’s best for normal to dry skin, but make sure to exfoliate as it sticks to flaky patches.
Nude lips will never go out of style so whenever Revlon has a sale, I look for my two favorite no-fail nude lippies of the Super Lustrous variety—Nude Velvet (beige/peach/pink blend) for light to medium skin, and Fleshtone (a brown-based rose pink).
Super Lustrous’ creamy texture soothes the most chapped lips while leaving an opaque satin finish, making lips look succulent.
Nars
Their lip colors have caught my fancy.
The double-sided Lip Stain Gloss in Victoire, a cinnamon rose shade, which looks like—and even applies like—gloss but dries to a silky matte powder finish that mysteriously holds in moisture as it fills lip cracks and lines with its alter ego lip gloss in Metis.
This double-tipped lip treat is my worthy splurge of choice.
Those who love the bronze J. Lo look may want to try Greek Holiday, a golden apricot gloss with shimmer.
Traditional girls would get a kick out of Nars Manhunt sheer lipstick. It looks bright orange red on the tube but goes on a sheer pinkish red as if one drank Cherry Kool Aid or bit their lips in cold weather.
Catch: Nars lip products are in the P900 and above mark.
Laura Mercier
I like its eye collection, particularly Wild Violet eye palette, which goes sheer. You can also build up color to your desired level of drama without sticking to boring browns or grays.
Purple is the one eye shadow color Asians can wear straight to skin without having to blend with a neutral brown.
Other colors risk looking clowny on most. Purple is dramatic. It goes well with Nars Victoire/Metis combo.
Lovers of bronze skin who hate purple will love LM’s Solid Gold Eye color pot and Golden Brilliant eyeliner that stays on without smudging and smearing. It goes great with Nars Greek Holiday.
Fanny Serrano
For those of you who love the packaging and presentation of Chanel and the iconic shades of NARS and other prestige brands but simply cannot spare the budget for it, Fanny Serrano has five sheer shimmer shades that will leave you giddy.
We have the classic black lacquered compact and quilted product design reminiscent of Chanel.
The Gold Peach shade is a dead ringer for Nars’ Orgasm blush.
Other shades are Angel Pink (pale beige pink), Tropical Rose (brown based pink), Silky Coral (bright pink with gold shimmer), and Earth Bronze comparable to prestige bronzers.
I leave it to you to figure which iconic shade and brand these are doubles of. Available at Watson’s SM, Landmark, Isetann, Cinderella, Metro Gaisano, Ever and KCC.
E-mail the author at kinnysalas@yahoo.com
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