VMV Hypoallergenics Skin Savvy SPF 60

I'm probably flooding the blog with VMV's now, but just so to get it over with, here is the Skin Savvy SPF 60 indoor-outdoor protective perfector in the new 12ml packaging. 

 Again, in a glue-free box. 

Peek-a-boo!

This is the VMV Armada 60 in a tinted form. 

Creamy, reflective liquid. 

Medium to full coverage indeed. 

Warm-1 corresponds the best to my skin tone. The formula is quite thick for my skin type. While it covers blemishes well, it can sink into the pores at the end of the day. I like that I do not have to apply a separate sunscreen as I am very sure this protects me well from the dreaded rays. It also doesn't smell of sunscreen. For normal to dry skin types, this is a great tinted sunscreen -- on the foundation spectrum, not a tinted moisturizer do note. 

This is probably a great tag-along to the beach or outdoor excursions. The 12ml pump bottle is handy too, and quite practical as it is a product I wouldn't typically use the whole year round.

An introduction to VMV. 

Some skin care warning.

Ingredients list above. 

RMK Stick Foundation SPF20 PA+++ in 102

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.

Jane Iredale PurePressed Base Pressed Mineral Powder in Warm Silk

Since I came across Jane Iredale in makeup school, I have been very curious about the brand. Jane Iredale is known for being the first brand to offer mineral-based cosmetics, touting its popular slogan, "the skin care makeup." Even my dermatologist only recommends this line for my hypersensitive skin.

It usually retails for an arm and a leg, but happily I came across its warehouse sale and got it for a good 40% off. This pressed powder foundation contains 9.9g and offers SPF 20 with UVA and UVB filters. 

The shade matched for me: Warm Silk, which is described as an almost universal shade on their website. 

The sleek, matte gold compact is barely an inch thick. It clasps on and off with the help of a tiny round magnet. The packaging has considerable weight, and while it is marketed as a luxury product, it has an earthy quality that well reflects its "natural" roots. 

The shade up close. I quite like the artful "i."

It comes with a flat puff that is not very useful (not pictured) and a plastic separator. The standard mirror is present. 

The back.

This foundation in particular is popular with The Skin Cancer Foundation.

The ingredients are made up of mineral components, truly a confirmation of their natural origin. I had high hopes for this foundation because of the excellent reviews on Makeupalley. I found that it does not irritate my skin -- meaning no red blotches or breakouts after use. The shade Warm Silk is also a good match for my skin tone. My gripes are probably longer. On its own, without the help of an oil-controlling primer, it does nothing to control the oilies (I was told this pressed type is the one recommended for oily to combination skin). So, be warned, and whip up the primer. It is not the easiest pressed powder foundation to blend on to skin. My only comparisons would be Japanese brands RMK and Lunasol, which are very easy to apply. However, since Jane Iredale PurePressed Base hardly contains any synthetic ingredients, that part can be overlooked. The key is to apply the product little by little, building it up slowly, otherwise piling it all at once leaves a caked up face. It does take a while to build up coverage, but it happens. It also does not have the best pore-concealing abilities, but again, that must be a primer's function.

It is recommended to use a hydration spray to set it.

Instructions on how to apply. 

Jane Iredale's Handi Brush is best paired with this pressed powder foundation, however, it is out of stock in Manila, and I couldn't pin it down in Hong Kong either.

Above is what the Handi Brush looks like. Overall, it is a good mineral powder experience, and I would probably continue using it, but I would not buy again because it can be quite a fuss to use. I would not want to keep brushing product on sensitive skin because it irritates the epidermis further. The finished look it gives is acceptable, but not very exceptional. For its retail price, I would gladly try other brands. 

As they were clearing out most of the products, the kind SA gave me freebies!

Clockwise from left is PurePressed Eyeshadow in Blue Moon, which makes an excellent liner and contour color. It has a very nice texture. The sample loose powder in Radiant is great as a blusher, adding subtle color and contouring the cheek area nicely. I quite like the loose powder texture more than the PurePressed Base. Lipglosses in Blackcurrant and Cosmos -- good color payoff, but I do not like the minty sensation and the sticky texture; the colors are not very flattering on my skin tone, but Cosmos would look great for ivory beauties and Blackcurrant would be phenomenal for dusky ladies. 

Swatches of the above. 

Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation

While purchasing Koh Gen Do's lip gloss, I was give samples of their Aqua Foundation. KGD products, while marketed toward the U.S. market, are all made in Japan.

 The samples came in a paper pamphlet.

The brand's deep-sea water -based ingredients remind of Shu Uemura's skincare and base makeup recipe.

The Aqua Foundation (SPF15 PA++) comes in five colors, one of which is a highlighter (WT-00). The other four colors offer quite a limited shade palette, mostly catering to fair to medium complexions.

From left to right: OC-1, PK-1, WT-00. See above photos for shade descriptions.

Although the samples state they are good for one use, I was able to do two full face applications with PK-1.

WT-00. This is a very unusual foundation. Few brands label highlighters as foundations, but KGD formulated the WT-00 as a foundation and highlighter in one. The consistency is very light and liquid. A little goes a long way, since this highlighter is not meant for the entire face. I applied it on the apples of cheeks, forehead center, and nose line. The white pigment blended into the skin with no white cast, but there was a slight "sheen of light" and the littlest bit of shimmer. Overall, it created a noticeable illuminating effect. For day, it might be over the top, but for an evening soiree, I'd say this is just about right. The formula is commendable. It is not sticky. Alas, though this was a already a light formulation, it was still too heavy for my skin type. It made me look extra oily in a matter of an hour. Sadly, it also clogged my pores. I didn't break out from this though.

Blended out. WT-00 delivers with its superb formulation and finish. I see how it can do wonders for those with normal to dry skin types.

OC-1 turns out to be too yellow for my skin tone. I usually am an OC-02 in Kanebo foundations, so this was quite a surprise. (OC stands for ocher, and is a common labeling method of Japanese base makeup; the others being PK for pink, YO for yellow, and sometimes N for neutral.)

Blended out, this shade looked too dark and yellow against my natural shade, so I didn't bother testing it out on my face.

PK-1. Ah, this one looks much more familiar to my foundation shades. The shade is a perfect match to my skintone. The formula is concocted so well it looks good enough to drink (gulp!).

This foundation felt very light against my skin. It offers sheer coverage, covering minor blemishes and some of the redness on my cheeks. It also gave a slightly glowing, illuminating effect. I like how light the formulation is. The problems I had with the foundation were that, again, it gave me the oilies and clogged my pores. Also, it broke me out around the cheeks in small spots at the end of the day. I can't vouch the same experience for every one, but please do note that my cheeks are extra-sensitive because of mild rosacea, and reacts to products quite often. Other reviews have been very positive with Koh Gen Do's Aqua Foundation. I can already tell that KGD foundations will work very well for people with normal skin, given that they are well-formulated and of high quality.

The ingredients list.