I've spent almost half a decade wondering at RMK's Stick Foundation on their website. I was drawn to it because it is RMK, and also because stick foundations are not so widely used. There was nary a review of it to be found, so at RMK's counter I gave my beans and got it to try.
It comes in RMK's trademark silver packaging with the enticing words, "Choose me, Take me, Open up..." Of course I'd take you, RMK, I have always had a weak spot for you.
I got it in 102, the second lightest shade.
I've come to expect the shinier silver trimmings inside RMK's boxes, besides the matte silver finish outside. It also comes with a styrofoam to further protect the product.
Out of the box!
Here the giant bullet (well, compared to lipstick) gleams like an alloy, with RMK subtly engraved in the middle.
It comes in a twist up tube that feels quite substantial but not too heavy.
The product weights 12g and offers SPF 20 PA+++ sun shield.
Above, swiped once. It is at first glance a medium coverage foundation with a cream-to-powder texture. It settles somewhat into the natural lines on one's skin.
The shade may be a tad darker and I may have been better off with 101, but on the face 102 translates as a very natural shade that closely matches my skin tone. Had I wanted to look brighter and more made up, I would have strayed from my usual 102 and went with 101 instead.
The RMK Stick Foundation sets very quickly so it is necessary to be swift with blending or else it can be quite hard to spread. I am always at a loss when using this foundation for on a properly moisturized and primed face, it seems to be too thick for my skin type and just slides off and leaves me with an oily look. When I do skip moisturizer it goes on too cake-y and clumps around dry patches.
While it may look like it immediately gives heavy coverage, it blends quite sheerly with either a sponge or fingers. I would have to swipe it on the face a number of times to cover the redness on my cheeks and the rest of my face to achieve a unified complexion.
It provides build-able coverage; one can adjust from light to medium to full. However, each time I end up with a not-so-clean look -- a little oily and patchy here and there; also it settles into my pores at the end of the day. It is apparently a well-made foundation as one can feel with its texture and finish; it is unfortunately just a mismatch for my skin type.
Overall, I find it to be a difficult foundation to work with. Too oily a skin and it slides off, too dry and it won't blend well. Still, it is a good product for the skin type it was made for.
I would probably recommend this to people with normal skin types. For these people, this foundation offers the convenience of a stick foundation and the lovely cream-like sophisticated finish/polished look this foundation is meant to provide.
RMK knows base makeup; now I just have to quell my curiosity and know which formula to choose.
Not all that glitters is gold. But all sparkly stuff still draw me. YSL's opulent gold packaging notwithstanding. I've been searching for the perfect bases -- primers included. High praises for Yves' Matt Touch yet again sent me bartering my monies for results.
It was hard to take a proper picture because the packaging is made of ultra-reflective golden cardboard. Excuse the dark angle.
It used to come in a range of shades; now it comes in a single transparent shade, hence the opaque packaging whence before it was see-through. The 30ml tube is the epitome of elegant discretion.
It promises what I'm looking for -- smoothes, mattifies, prolongs foundation.
Open me.
Read above.
The opening came sealed in foil; now removed. The design is quite helpful in managing the amount of product to be dispensed.
Out comes a waxy substance, the shade almost like the first extracts of boiled rice. It really just spreads as a colorless primer.
True it feels soft on skin when applied. But I guess that's the quick happy ending for me. It seems to just sit on top of my skin, much like Smashbox's famous primer. I was looking forward to its oil-controlling abilities, but sadly paired with my RMK Stick Foundation, or even Nars Loose Powder, it didn't take two hours before the natural oils surfaced. It somehow blurred pores, but it was definitely not the soft-focus type of concealment. At the end of the day, my pores are clogged and my foundation seems to be gone and everywhere at the same time (is that even possible?).
This is one of those products that works for most but for some twist of fate does not for me.
Ingredients list.
The back of it.
Numerous times have I read Lucas' Papaw Ointment as an excellent lip/multi-use balm that when my sister asked what I would like from Oz, undoubtedly it made mention (thank you 二 姐).
It comes in a bright red tube (25g) and tub (75g) which my sister kindly brought home.
The triangular indentation on the cap was used to unscrew the seal on the tube.
Squeezed out, a yellow jelly-like transparent concoction.
It can be used for various things, of which I haven't tried, except as a lip balm. It spreads easily on the lips and leaves a shiny finish. In the morning, lips are soft and moisturized.
The tub.
Yellow glory.
Description.
A solid recommendation.
