Ellana 2-in-1 Eyebrow and Eyeliner Gel in Light Brown, Dark Brown and Soft Black Review

I couldn't remember the last time I wore makeup outside because I rarely go out and if I do, I tend to skip that part and stop at sunscreen. But I've never felt this left behind when it comes to skincare and makeup trends. I've thrown away ALL makeups I had (except for a single tint) because I had them pre-pandemic. And I think they were just too old and their texture and pigmentation were all compromised. I tried being sentimental about it, but I still prefer starting all over again with few fresh makeups.

What we'll be talking about at this point are some new addition to my mini collection. These are Ellana Cosmetics 2-in-1 Eyebrow and Eyeliner Gels. I got all 3 available shades: Light Brown, Dark, Brown and Soft Black. If you buy them in singles, they retail at PHP499 each. I purchased them at a bundle price of PHP999 (I think?) during the 10.10 sale, comes with free shipping and a freebie primer.

Ingredients

This product claims to be 2-in-1 - an eyebrow and eyeliner gel. I like multipurpose products like this because they save money (and space in your makeup pouch lol). Ellana claims these gels lasts up to 24 hours, and are water-resistant, also has high pigmentation. We'll talk about more of that later on.

Instructions for Use

These gel liners come with a box as you can see on the photos above. Made of glass with silver twist cap, packaging is very simple and travel-friendly.

Ellana 2-in-1 Eyebrow and Eyeliner Gel comes in 3 shades, all perfect for Pinay skin. My personal choice is Dark Brown since my hair is currently not treated with any colors. If you have lighter hair, you can opt for the light brown one and if you have really dark hair, Soft Black might be the best option. All three colors are basic and suitable as eyeliners.

If the products seem dry and not too opaque, you just have swirl your brush continuously to reveal the moisturized layer. Or you can add a very small amount of moisturizer to wet the gel. Check the swatches down below.

I apologize as my brows are untidy, well, it's always like that LOL. To show you it's true color and pigmentation on its own, I skipped the brow gel part. It's just my eyebrows and Ellana 2-in-1 Eyebrow and Eyeliner Gel in Dark Brown.

On my lids, are very thin eye liner and I used the color Soft Black. I honestly like the very subtle colors these products give. However, if you are more into that really solid black liners, I'm sure these aren't for you. These can be a bit patchy as you can see, so you really have to be patient in blending.

I couldn't vouch that it's long-lasting because it cannot withstand my oily lids and skin. One of the things I do to improve its staying power though, is to apply black eyeshadow powder on top to mattify it. It's not completely smudge-proof too as you can see down below. I tried to run over the swatches with my fingers after they completely dried, but the colors still smudge. One of the perks I see is that it's easy to correct or wipe off and reapply as it doesn't completely settle on the skin. These are great options too if you would like to achieve feathery or smokey eyes.

If you are a newbie in makeup, having these products in your stash is beneficial as you can play around and improve how you draw your brows and eyeliner. I would recommend these for beginners because it's easier to correct than waterproof makeups. Staying power is not that impressive but given the price I paid for these, I should not expect so much. Any good eyeliners or eyebrow gels/pomade you want to recommend? :)

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New Product Release: EB Advance Shadow Stick For Bold, Beautiful Eyes

EB Advance Shadow Stick in Sapphire, Bronze, Black, and Copper

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, so make sure your peepers stand out with a bold, beautiful eye makeup look to make them even more expressive! 

To help get you started, EB Advance, the sister brand of Ever Bilena, has just released its newest product, the EB Advance Shadow Stick (P195) with four outstanding shades: Black, Bronze, Copper, and Sapphire. Best for beginners and makeup pros alike, these retractable eye shadow cream sticks glide on the lids and set to a smudge-proof and waterproof finish. 

With colors that range from every day to bold, you can definitely use these EB Advance Shadow Sticks to change up your look from daytime to nighttime in just a few swipes. The Bronze and Copper shades, for example, are perfect for daytime errands and would definitely shine as the sunlight hits the lids. To upgrade your look, smudge the Black or Sapphire shade on the corners of the lids and under the eyes for a smokey effect.

Make your eyes the centerpiece of your face with the EB Advance Shadow Sticks available on EB Advance’s official store on Lazada. To know more about the product, like and follow EB Advance’s Facebook page (@EBAdvance) and Instagram (@ebadvance).

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Real Techniques Artist Essentials Makeup Brush Set Review

I haven't done a thorough research yet but I think there's not much written reviews about these Real Techniques Artist Essentials Makeup Brush Set. I am happy to be able to write one myself. I cannot help myself from buying makeup brush sets from Real Techniques whenever I find available stocks from legit resellers online. It's not everyday that local beauty stores here in the Philippines restock on brushes so I consider myself lucky to be able to snag this particular set when I had the chance.

Five (5) full-sized face and eye brushes make up the Artist Essentials Collection. They come in different solid colors and sheer brass handles that contribute greatly to the overall aesthetic of the brushes. Correct me if I'm wrong but all the brushes here are limited editions and cannot be bought individually. Most RT brushes in sets comes in different sizes and shapes and sad news, they aren't here for long. This is the main reason why I am buying them. For a makeup brush collector like me, variations of brushes are important, not just quantity.

I guess RT is finally clearing off the old RT packaging - the ones with black rubber handles. I like the old packaging but I think they have their reasons for the revamp. One of the good things is that we could have better options. There are a lot of counterfeit RT brushes that look similarly like the old ones so with these changes, we can now make sure that we're only buying authentic pieces.

The handles still have the brush names so despite their versatility, it's nice to get familiar with them and to know what purpose they serve.

The brush heads are made of soft, synthetic bristles and as always, the overall look and feel is very sturdy and definitely of quality. My old Real Techniques brushes have been with me for years. The oldest are like seven years old and with proper care and storage, they can even last for more years.

I have used and washed these for more than five times in two months and I'm not surprised at all that they do not shed and they also keep the shapes intact. A bit flaring occurs from time to time especially to the Spotlight Fan and Soft Accent but brush nets always are my remedy. They are also easy to clean with minimal to no staining with my BeautyBlender Liquid Cleanser.

The best thing  about RT brushes are the price! A set ranges from P1000-1250 depends on where you buy it but I got mine for only P1000 after applying discounts and points plus free shipping! Anyway, let's talk about each brush.

The RT 217 Expert Edge Large  has a symmetrical cut featuring five unique edges; precisely apply liquid or cream foundation and contour makeup. This is similar to one of my favorites - Real Techniques Expert Face Brush from my buffing brushes. It has a domed head but has three multifaceted angles that blends makeup seamlessly in all areas of the face. The tip allows it to apply foundations on hard to reach areas like sides of the nose and lips. The size is enough to blend your contour like a dream too. For an additional function, you can use it for baking and setting the under eyes. It works for both liquid and creams. 

The RT 421 Soft Accent has a soft, tapered cut that blend cream highlighter or blush. I tried it as a concealer brush but it doesn't work well because it's not as dense as I expected. For me, it's even small to be used a blush brush unless you really don't have a choice. I'm just used to medium-sized, fluffy brush heads to do my blush.

The Soft Accent brush has a tapered cut on one end and it's like a smaller version of Real Techniques Instapop Face Brush. The cut makes it easy to put on top of the cheekbones to apply highlighter. The size and feature make it more applicable for setting the undereyes and other smaller part of the faces. Despite not much uses, I'm still keeping it because again, I like variations in my brush stash and the pink handle is just too cute.

The RT 420 Spotlight Fan has a precision fan shape that softly glide powder contour makeup or highlighter. This is the very first duo-fiber fan brush I ever own and I don't know but I am liking the trend haha! I didn't like duo-fiber stippling brushes in general but if they are shaped like a fan brush, I think I am buying.

This particular brush has a light pink handle that adds an extra oomph to the overall look. The brush head is kind of dense on the bottom but sheer on the top part. It disperses highlighter in the most natural way possible. You can even use it to powder your face very lightly especially if your have dry skin that doesn't need to much setting. You can also use it to lightly contour and bronze. Just a very effective brush that's worth keeping.

The RT 317 Smudge Liner  has a thin, angled bristles to apply and smudge liquid or cream eyeliner. This brush feels and look just like my favorite Zoeva 322 Brow Line Brush - it's firm, thin, wide and it gets the job done faster. The size is about the same except the bristles of the RT brush is much more flexible. On the other hand, the one from RT is advised to be used an eyeliner brush. You know that brushes are supposed to be versatile so we can use it however it pleases us.

I think this brush is effective to create perfect strokes and to smudge it for a nicer effect. However, I have small, round eyes so I reach out to thinner and smaller liner brushes more. I think I will be using this as a brow brush and I will keep it because of the solid purple handle.

The RT 425 Lip Smudge has dense, domed bristles to apply and blend cream lipsticks and liners. This is like your basic pointed pencil brush and I'd like to use it to smudge and blend eyeliners on my lower lash whenever possible. What I like about this is the softness and density of the brush that makes gentle enough even for lip use. This brush works well for the lips but I would like it to be a little bit smaller.

Overall, Real Techniques Artist Essentials Makeup Brush Set is one of the best brush collection I purchased from Real Techniques. The bristles are incredible soft and the handles are really cute! I really like every single brush in this set and I think they are just a great investment whether or not you are a professional.

What is your favorite brush/brush set from Real Techniques?

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Maybelline Fit Me! Skin-Fit Powder Foundation Review

Maybelline Fit Me! Skin-Fit Powder Foundation in Warm Nude

Bought for: P349

Bought from: Maybelline

I would start this blog by venting out because our internet connection isn't stable right now. I had to keep on reloading and relaunching my browser just because the connection is very bad. So here's me - admitting that my rest day won't be as productive as I would want.

Anyway, for today, I will be sharing my thoughts on a powder foundation that has been out in the market for quite some time but is still one of the newest products of Maybelline. I purchased Maybelline Fit Me! Skin-Fit Powder Foundation in Warm Nude a few months ago but never had the chance to use as I limit myself to using makeups. When I had the chance to do a play time, I decided to open this one up and I'm really surprised. I feel like I've found my go-to powder foundation!

CLAIMS

Fit Me Powder foundation offers ultra-smooth poreless coverage that blurs pores on the face. It gives you the smoothest-looking skin with the smoothest powder.

Refined micro velvet powder fits perfectly to the skin's texture. No caking, lightweight and with SPF 32 PA+++. Available in 8 skin-fitting shades.

Shades available: Natural Beige, Porcelain, Classic Ivory, Warm Nude, Natural Buff, Pure Beige, Pure Beige, Sun Beige, Toffee.

PACKAGING

Product comes in a black cardboard box which contains a few information about the product such the shade and the benefits. The powder itself is housed in a sleek, black compact packaging with a full-sized mirror. It honestly looks aesthetically pleasing but is not exactly like my ideal kind of packaging. It's not very sturdy in my opinion. It's the kind of plastic that would go easily useless after you accidentally drop it. Also, it can look dirty as it attracts dirt and fingerprints would show up.

This isn't a major issue for me as I make sure to properly store my makeups in a way that they won't be disturbed. Also, I don't bring them with me often so. Still, I'd prefer the square type compact powders because it takes lesser space and is more ergonomic.

The product comes with a mini sponge. I don't really like this type of sponges to apply powder foundations as I prefer buffer brushes. I still keep them though because you reuse them as disposable sponges when doing someone else's makeup. Spare sponges like this can be used for baking too or removing excess makeup. So there - don't just simply throw out sponges!

TEXTURE AND EASE OF APPLICATION

It's true - this powder has a very refined texture so it would fit you whether you have smooth or textured skin type. The powder pigments is super fine that it fills out the pores making it look poreless and smooth. At first, I thought it's probably a reformulation of the old Maybelline Matte+Poreless Powder but it's actually way different. This is probably 5x more lightweight and it offers a very sheer coverage. It's very easy to blend and it doesn't crease or move around and it doesn't disturb makeup underneath.

COVERAGE AND LONGEVITY

As I have mentioned, coverage is sheer but it's still able to blur the pores and imperfections making you look fresh all day. Powder stays for a good 4 hours on my skin before I become in need of a retouch. I have a very oily skin so 4 hours is already an achievement for me. This product oxidize very little so that's a good thing. Since coverage is not very good (and if you are after it), I would suggest to use a liquid foundation underneath and the good thing is, it works well with anything I put on. I've tried almost all of my liquid foundations in my stash together with this Skin-fit and I'm amazed at how it's able to mattify the skin and make my base look even more flawless.

OVERALL PERFORMANCE

If you are looking for a powder foundation that would give you a very natural finish, look no further. This powder will definitely give you that 'skin but better' finish. It would fill in the pores without going overboard. This is even perfect for the kind of weather we have here in the Philippines. I, myself, doesn't really need heavy makeup so this is my preference. It's non-sticky and non-irritating. This is perfect to use on a daily basis especially it has a decent amount of SPF. Despite that, it doesn't look like it's giving me much flashback on photos. Also, it doesn't look too flat matte so your skin's natural glow will still show up.

Since it has a total of only 8 shades, those who have darker skin tones won't be able to find their exact match. That's the only thing I find off-putting. And I think that's it. You can never go wrong with a powder foundation worth P349 which usually go on sale from time to time. Let me know what you think of this product by sharing your comment down below! Thank you and happy blogging!

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Althea Korea Watercolor Cream Tint Swatches and Review

Althea Korea Watercolor Cream Tint (4.5ml)

Price: P940/set | P260/piece

Bought from: Althea Korea

I am so excited to share with you my review for these Althea Korea Watercolor Cream Tints! It's been a while since I stopped using tints because if you read my previous blogs, I'm very particular to lip products. I always get chapped, dry puckers from using such and it's even worse with lip tints. But then, we, girls, cannot resist beautiful things, don't you agree? So today, I am sharing with you my thoughts on these Althea Korea Watercolor Cream Tints which I already talked about during a makeup tutorial I did last February. I only had snippets back then so it's now time to make a full review dedicated only to this particular set.

CLAIMS

Get deliciously juicy lips with Althea's Watercolor Cream Tints! These pretty tubes give you the best of all worlds with the pigmentation of a lipstick, the long-wearing power of a stain and the moisturizing formula of a gloss. Bold, pigmented and equipped with a pretty sheen, these lippies contain hyaluronic acid and squalene to prevent chapped lips from flaking, perfect for stashing in your purse for easy touch-ups and comfortable wear. Pick from 4 different shades to suit your mood!

PACKAGING

It comes in black cardboard box and has information written only in Korean. I really do hope they will start revamping it as I don't read Korean. The tints itself looks really cute. It comes in a matte black cap and a transparent plastic material so you can see the actual color from the inside. The rectangle shape appears even more interesting and unique than those in tubing. These are travel-friendly and I also like the doe foot applicator as its functional and hygienic.

Althea Korea Watercolor Cream Tints come in four (4) shades namely: Plum Cream, Strawberry Cream, Peach Cream and Marron Cream - all sounds so delicious and yummy! They smell like candies too!

From top to bottom: #01 Plum, #02 Strawberry, #03 Peach, #04 Marron Cream

TEXTURE, PIGMENTATION AND EASE OF APPLICATION

These tints have watery consistency and is quite jelly-like because of the sheen finish. Despite the thin consistency, it leaves a very strong color payoff. In fact, one dot is enough to give the entire lips a pop of color. That is safe to say that a little goes a long way. A few more can give a pigmentation of a lipstick. After moderate drinking and eating, I'm amazed how there's still a strong stain of tint left. These tints last for hours and I swear by it.

PERFORMANCE

I've never tried a tint before that's so cheap at P260 a piece and but works so great. It can be drying but nothing a good lip balm can fix. The good news? You can use the code BFFTINTS when you shop at ph.althea.kr to get two (2) tints for the price of one! 

I truly love these products and it's a proof that Althea Korea never disappoints. It's very easy to do ombre effects with these tints because they settle on the lips quite fast and is very buildable. I just don't think it will make a good cheek tint because again, the color payoff is really strong and they settle quite fast when in contact with the skin, giving you minimum time to blend. I hate to be bias but my favorite among all 4 is the Plum Cream and it's what I always carry in my purse. Nonetheless, the other shades are great too!

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