Lunasol Shining Face Color Palette in Natural Bronze EX 03

This review is probably two years overdue, but I am hoping that it may be of interest to bronzer enthusiasts and Lunasol fans.

 

Lunasol's Shining Face Color in Natural Bronze (EX 03) was a summer 2009 limited release. It comes in Lunasol's signature bronze casing. 

Kanebo does not usually scrimp on Lunasol's design and materials, as can be seen with this palette. The first tier houses a very soft face brush. It lifts up to reveal a mirror of good quality.

The bottom tier keeps the face powder separated from everything else. 

Clockwise from top left: an off-white shade, a dark brown, a peachy rose, and a bronze-y light brown. All of them are shimmery and seem to be infused with a golden base. The two shades on the right vertical column are comparatively more pigmented than the off-white and bronze-y brown on the left.

 

The powder applies so sheer that there is almost no color payoff with a single swatch, as illustrated above. I can hardly make out any color except the shimmers. However, the colors can be slowly built up to achieve one's desired effect. I can say this is a versatile palette as the rose color can serve as a blush and the brown on the rightmost upper corner serves as the main bronzer because it offers the most pigment. The sheer bronze with the largest cut serves an all-over diffuser for the bronzer, while the cream shimmery powder on top lightens areas on the face.

I do love the huge plunger for opening the case.

It was quite tricky to use this palette, and I honestly did not enjoy it as much as I intended to. I find that most bronzers do not go well with my medium-fair, yellow-based Chinese skintone (NC 20), and unfortunately this palette isn't exempt. Applied too sheerly, I might as well not have put any on for I can't see the difference; applied a little more heavily and my makeup looks muddy. Otherwise, I am quite sure the light, beautiful shades of this palette will show up better on porcelain gals.

Aussie Mega Shampoo

There was something about Aussie Mega Shampoo on the shelves of Boots which appealed to me. The bottle looked clean, homey, and truthful; none of that ubiquitous flashy packaging which promised the impossible.  

This shampoo is actually an English brand, contrary to the confusing "Aussie" label which had me thinking it was from Down Under.

After successfully finishing my latest shampoo discovery, Soap & Glory's Glad Hair Day (love!), I hopped on to Aussie Mega. The shampoo is silvery white with a creamy consistency. It fills the bathroom with a soapy sweet (but not cloying) fragrance; it also lathers well. My hair did feel very clean after washing. The volumizing effects it delivered was also a big plus. I thought I found another perfect shampoo because it answered all of what I was looking for, but my forehead started breaking out after two days of use. I immediately eliminated all new products I was testing and went back to the basics except for this shampoo. After a two-week experimentation, I found the culprit. My breakouts cleared after I stopped using this product.  

It contains SLS (sodium laureth sulfate) which causes irritation some people. I do not particularly break out from SLS, but I do find better results with shampoos which do not contain this dreaded ingredient. I notice the long list of ingredients also contains a ton of chemicals, which is always a bad sign for sensitive gals like me. I am guessing I am allergic/sensitive to one of these chemicals.

Rinses clean? Check. No build up? Check. Caused breakouts? Unfortunately, yes.

Ipsa Skin Beauty Face Color in H562

Ipsa skincare and makeup are renowned for their quality and have also long struck me for the clean, beautiful lines of their packaging, perhaps because no other brand I know of has got the same look and feel as it does. 

Pictured above is the Face Color in H562 (now renamed Skin Beauty Face Color). On Ipsa's English website, the product description goes as:

"A face color that evenly adheres to skin with a smooth, moist texture to produce a finish irresistible to touch. Can be applied to various areas including eyes and cheeks."

The square case has rounded edges that keeps the case looking soft and elegant while being modern and futuristic at the same time. The center of the cover is a see-through plastic surrounded by a metallic, reflective border. It is easy to see the actual shade even when the lid is closed. The face color can also be clipped on and off from the container easily. The high-quality plastic case feels very sturdy and smooth.

It was hard trying to pick up H562 among the massive selection. I remember testing many colors in HK Causeway Bay's Lane Crawford counter (when it was still on the ground floor; Ipsa has now relocated to the basement level). My one perfect color had to satiate my desire for all the lovely, colorful shades laid out on the counter (I know, unreasonable), as well as serve as a functional "every day" eyeshadow. In the end, I settled for H562 because it looked like the holographic peach shade is basic enough to pair with any look, while the fine gold shimmers in it would help creating a lively 3-D effect. 

The texture is buttery soft and smooth.

The shade applies sheer with some visible gold bits that provide an ethereal, special finish. It doesn't wear well without an eye makeup base though. Perhaps because it is a multi-use product, it doesn't have the staying power of most Japanese eye shadows.The product can be slowly layered to build a strong wash of color. I wouldn't recommend piling on this color though, because it is a light color, too much of it made my eyes look unflattering-ly smaller. With a good eye primer, it stays put for a good 8 hours or so. I did try to use this as a highlighter on the cheeks, but alas, it turned out to be too shimmery and the result looked unnatural and greasy-looking.

The eyeshadow pan (I call it such since I mainly use this as an eye shadow) is clear too so that the color is still visible from the back (really cool). On both sides, notice the levers that make this eyeshadow clip in and out of the case easily. It contains a good 2g. The Face Colors now come in a new packaging that I have not had the chance to try. I do know they increased the price by ¥100 and there are 39 colors in all. This product only cemented my continuing love and support for Ipsa.

Batiste Dry Shampoo

Taking a bath at least once a day is a requisite when living in a scorching hot and sometimes humid country like the Philippines. That is why the idea of washing hair every other day as I read about in Western magazines is such a beffudlement. I can't, for the life of me, endure the grease and itchiness of dirty hair. There is one day each month though, that I have to contend with. On the second day of my period, when flux is at its strongest, I try to avoid washing hair, to keep the flow continuous and bountiful. (I found showering on this day staggers the process.) And so, I cope with this special day with some magic found in Batiste Dry Shampoo.

I got the original formula which comes in an aquamarine can. While the packaging is not very attractive, I do like the retro design. I'm not sure how long Batiste has been around, but I read that it's a pioneer in dry shampoos.

The spray dispenses into a fine mist which coats the hair white temporarily. The particles "dry" the hair and absorb oil through the process. After a few brush strokes, the white formula disappears. My first whiff caught a sharp aroma that was mixed with the smell of cornstarch. Don't expect a sweet or fruity scent; it has that distinct "aerosol smell" found in most spray-on hair products. It is very tolerable.

When I found this in Tesco, only a few of its companions remained. It seemed to be a highly saleable product.

 

Overall, this product does what it promises. I have oily hair to begin with, and this helps keep my hair "matte" and cleaner-looking. It can definitely replace shampoo for one day. I didn't expect any irritation using this product. The spray can is practical and easy to use. I can't really fault it for anything. I think this is one of those useful products that one should have around at all times, just in case.

Rose & Co. Apothecary's Rose Petal Salve

My first introduction to Rose & Co. Apothecary was by PJ of A Touch of Blusher, a UK-based beauty blog by one of the best writers I've come across online. I remember reading her positive review of the well-established Rose Petal Salve.  

It comes in a simple, attractive pale pink tin container with beautiful lettering and rose illustrations. The handy round can contains a lot of product at 20g. At £5 this is well worth it and I'll tell you why in the next few paragraphs. I've also reviewed another product by Rose & Co. Apothecary, Sweet Vanilla Salve, in a separate post. Fortunately, I didn't experience any irritation with Rose Petal as I did with the Sweet Vanilla variant.

Rose Petal Salve is pictured darker than its actual shade, which is a pale translucent red. The texture is quite thick and the formula is very emollient. The can states that it is "an excellent all-round salve." I can't vouch for the "all-round" part for I am wary to experiment on other parts of my face, but I can sing a week-long's praises for what it has done for my lips. I use it mainly as an overnight lip balm. It absorbs right away but still leaves a thin coating that reassures hydration. It's not tacky or sticky at all. It just sinks in comfortably and gives the general feeling of nourishment. I only use a little bit and it spreads generously over the entire lip area. In the morning, lip lines are smoother and my lips look plumper and younger. I can definitely see the difference between using and not using this salve on any given night.

Ingredients are listed above. This is a godsend, an exceptional product that I hope would never be discontinued or reformulated.

Pigeon Baby Powder (Pressed)

I've been reading a lot of good things about Pigeon's Pressed Baby Powder, especially the Japan release. The other variant, which is made in Indonesia, is available in two colors and comes in a mirrored compact. I shied away from these because I heard they caused breakouts.

The box is plain and looks medicinal. In fact, it states that this is a medicinal product. I am not sure as to what part of it medicates exactly, as the packaging is all in Japanese.

From the top.

On the side.

At the back, it states the product description, function, usage, and ingredients. I don't understand a word of it but I took my shot because this product is very popular for those with sensitive skin. Besides, if a baby's skin can handle it, I figured my intolerant skin surely could. The prices can't be faulted either; at P280 for a hefty 45g of product, this is a really affordable face powder for all the purported benefits and positive reviews it has been receiving. 

It comes covered with a clear plastic.

The round compact has a smooth surface. It closes and opens with a purse-like clasp. The white plastic cover is flimsy and had a thin layer of oil on it when I first took it out from its clear plastic wrap. I am not sure where this greasiness came from, but it was easily removed with some wet wipes.

The back side is equipped with a U-shaped part that I am guessing is for the easy dislodging of the powder pan from its case.

This compact holds no mirror. The only thing separating the sponge and the powder is a clear plastic cut-out. The sponge is very thin with a soft texture. Although it does not pick up powder easily, as the powder by itself is pressed on very hard, it gives more coverage than a brush would. 

There are more Japanese text on the separator for those who could understand.

Here is the powder in all its whiteness. It is a huge pan that I am not used to. The expansive circumference made it enjoyable to swirl a brush on or swipe the sponge to my heart's content. Honestly, 45g of pressed powder is a lot. Added to the fact that one does not need so much of this product to complete a powdered face, this compact can last for more than a year with every day use. The texture is very gritty; if you are looking for fine, silky smooth powder, then do not attempt to purchase. Also, I brought this powder along with me on a weekend trip, intending to use it solely for slight cover and as a mattifier, and after two days of using it, my skin totally broke out. My skin has protested into small and big pimples, rough and uneven surface. It has been two weeks of nightmare. 

I always wanted to believe that products that come with low price tags are actually worth keeping, but the more I test them, the more I end up inflicting self-damage. I learned that quality is usually compromised with cheaper products because they use worse ingredients. While expensive products aren't guaranteed to keep skin safe from breakouts, more often than not, through my experience, I get what I pay for. Yes, this Pigeon Baby Pressed Powder turned my ideal shade of translucent and kept my oily face matte for hours after application, but the unfavorable results that I had to suffer and pay for at the end of the day puts this powder on my beauty blacklist. It is only second to that vile tube of Vitacreme B12. My skin is still recovering from using these two products. Hypersensitive skin, stay, stay away from this powder!!!

Biore Makeup Remover for Eye & Lip

Kao's brand Biore evokes quality and comfort for me, it being around for a long time and is generally well-received by consumers. I chanced upon this attractively packaged eye and lip makeup remover in Hong Kong Mannings.

It's made in Japan, which always adds points in my book.

Description and instructions in Mandarin.

Above, in English.

The cleansing liquid is divided into three phases. There's definitely some oil included, but it doesn't apply uncomfortably on the eyes.

The pretty pink cap has smooth edges; it flip-opens and closes securely.

The body is "carved" to a few angles.

Here it is all mixed up. It turns into a milky white concoction.

It looks good enough to drink! Biore Makeup Remover for Eye & Lip cleans without stinging or burning. It is very gentle and lifts eye shadows easily. Stubborn mascara can also be removed with about two times the application. I would say this removes mascara a lot better than Kose Cosmeport's Softymo Super Point Makeup Remover. Overall, this is an effective and affordable point makeup remover.

One downside is that it gets used up easily, although I guess 130ml of product is already quite a lot.