Product Review: IN2IT 2-way Oil-Control Foundation SPF 25

Hello everyone! I know my posts have become rare, it's just that I've been very busy lately but I think I'll have more time for the next week. Anyway, back to business. Recently, I went looking for an affordable pressed powder foundation. I narrowed down my choices to Fanny Serrano and In2It, both well within the below P1000 ($20) range.

So I tried Fanny Serrano on one side of my face, and then In2It on the other side. In the end I decided on In2It because it looked less powdery than Fanny.

I, of course, got the Oil-control variant since I have extremely oily skin, and I need all the help I can get. The coverage is light, so if you are looking for a heavy coverage foundation, this is not for you. This can be used two-way, though. It can be applied wet for more coverage.

I'm liking the finish. It's matte but not flat, and just enhances your skin, but not really covers blemishes. 

Here are the pros and cons:

PROS

• affordable and locally available
• natural finish
• lasts long on my oily skin
• did not break me out
• has SPF 25
• the sponge that comes with it is quite good
• the powder product is silky

CONS

• may cake when retouched
• will not replace concealer
• I tried the tester which was almost empty and when I tried to get powder from the edges, the powder kind of crumbled. That's something to watch out for when the product hits pan.

Here is the compact when opened:

Where to buy and how much? SM Department Stores, Robinson's Department Stores, Watsons, etc. for approx. P624.

Will I buy again? Yes.

TIPS

• In2It frequently has sales, so if you're not in a hurry, you can wait for one but this foundation normally goes on a 10% discount only.
• Wash or replace your sponge regularly to avoid bacteria build-up.

MAC Mineralize Blush in Stereo Rose

Hello everyone! I'm sorry I've been neglecting my blog. The ber months have started which means that my schedule gets more hectic. Anyway, today I'd like to share with you one of the most coveted products this year, MAC Mineralize Blush Stereo Rose from the In the Groove collection. I know I'm behind everyone else, but I had this ordered from the US so it took a while to get here.

Stereo Rose is a nice, coral flush. Of course, this is a mineralize blush so this is very shimmery, ( quite frostly actually) but this one has fine glitters, not huge chunks of glitter. I got this because I don't really have a coral blush, and the reviews are really good.

Here's me wearing Stereo Rose on my cheeks:

It actually comes out pretty sheer but layerable. The shimmers are not obvious in the photo but more noticeable in real life. If you're not a fan of shimmer on your cheeks, though, stay away from this. You might want to use this just on the apple of your cheeks and not your whole cheekbone.

Here's a closer look on Stereo Rose on my cheeks. What do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

New Favorite Blush: NARS Matahari

Everyone loves NARS blushes, and it's really not hard to see why. It has very good pigmentation, can last the whole day even in my oil-mine skin. At this rate, it will take forever for me to hit pan. It may be expensive, but at least you get your money's worth.

I purchased NARS Matahari recently. Since I love pink blushes, I've found that I've been reaching for this almost everyday lately. NARS Matahari is a matte, darker pink as opposed to NARS Desire which is a bright pink. If you plan to use this, please use a light hand, or else you might end up looking like a clown.

Here's me wearing NARS Matahari sparingly. And yes, even after 12 hours, I still had a trace of color.

Have you tried this? What do you think?

Product Review: Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash

I admit I have never heard of this brand before, but thanks to Skincarerx, who were very generous with their freebies during my order with them.

Product Description:

This daily face wash stimulates the skin's natural cell renewal cycle, actively smoothing and refining whilst sloughing away dead skin cells which dull the complexion.

When I received this as part of my package, I immediately researched to find reviews, and I got excited when I saw that they were very positive! I found out that Elemis is a luxury brand from Britain. I'm happy to have gotten to try something like this.

So I've been using this for more than a week and I'm happy to say that I am one very satisfied user. This product says that it is for all skin types, so at first I was skeptical. Since I have very acne-prone skin, I prefer to use products that are meant for oily skin. Thankfully, though, this did not give me breakouts. In fact, I'm finding that my skin is softer and smoother.

The liquid itself really smells luxurious. It doesn't foam, instead, it's more of a milky lather. You only need a little amount so one bottle is sure to last a long time.

PROS

• Smells luxurious
• I believe it really is suitable for all skin types as it is non-drying
• Did not break me out
• helped my skin look and feel better

 CONS

• has hydrogenated castor oil
• not available locally
• expensive at around $47 for 200 ml

Ah if only it weren't so expensive, I'd buy this again :( But for those who have the budget, it's a good product to try.

Urban Decay Book of Shadows III Out Now!

The Urban Decay Book of Shadows III is already out but got sold out right away! I checked the website before I went to sleep and it wasn't even posted yet, now it's already temporarily sold out! Thank goodness more stocks are coming soon. I'm so desperate to get my hands on this!

Who's going to order? Wah!! I want!

August Collective Haul

Wow, it's been a while since I hauled stuff. I'd just like to share with you some of the stuff I bought this month.

A trial set from L'occitane. I've been very curious about their hand cream for a long time now so when a seller sold a trial kit, I grabbed the chance!

I actually just bought this today: false lashes from Saizen's clearance sale for P25 each only.

My new MAC 187!

MAC In the Groove collection: Mineralize blushes in Stereo Rose and Candlelight. I know, I know I'm late but I had mine ordered from the US so they just arrived. Will do a review on these :)

Lastly, around two weeks ago I got my prizes from Aileen's giveaway! Two mineralize e/s also from MAC In the Groove collection.

Makeup-wise, August has been good to me. Pocket-wise, not so much! LOL

Product Review: Garnier Overnight Whitening Peeling Cream

Phew, what a long name! Nevertheless, I've read some good reviews about this, not to mention  it's affordable! So I decided to give this a try.

According to Garnier, the active ingredients are pure lemon essence + natural peeling fruit extracts.

I don't really want to have fairer skin, but since my chest is much lighter than my face, I have to even out my skintone. Of course, I don't expect miracles from this cream, but I think it does help. After using it for more than a month, a few of my friends commented that I have gotten fairer, so I guess it works, since this is the only whitening product I'm using on my face as of now.

Here are the pros and cons IMO:

PROS

• very affordable
• does help whiten but don't expect miracles
• nice lemon-y scent

CONS

• It's not easily absorbed by the skin so it does leave a bit of a sticky feeling in the skin especially for an oily gal like me
• You have to dip your hands in the tub so some people find this unhygienic. Use a spatula if you want it to be more hygienic
• Can sting a bit if you have sensitive skin

I don't recommend that you skip moisturizer after using this despite the slightly greasy feeling.

This is a good choice for people who are on a budget.

How much? P199 for 50 ml.

Will I buy again? Maybe.

Rating: 3.5/5