As Good As They Say? NYX HD Concealer

Today's product in the limelight is the NYX HD Concealer. I see this all the time in my Instagram feed, and people actually say this is good. I, of course, had to see for myself. I got it in the shade CW05 Medium and it costs Php 360. That's not a bad price point. 

It has a doe foot wand applicator so this is great for controlled use of the product. I was quite surprised upon discovering that this concealer has actually strong pink undertones. I should have swatched it, instead of just picking it up. They do have a yellow undertone shade which is Beige and I'm considering purchasing that one as well when I come across a NYX store again.

As can be seen, it looks really pink against my yellow skin.

Once blended out, the pinkness is still apparent.

I cannot use this on my face unless I want to look like a patched cow. But under the eyes, this concealer is phenomenal! I put it under foundation as a color corrector and it works great! Of course, I apply the foundation on with a beauty blender so as not to disturb the concealer and I only wait until its fully set. Which is quite a hassle if you're in a hurry, but if you have extra time, it really makes a huge difference.

This concealer hardly creases and when baked, will never crease at all. It won't quit until you want it to. It's very pigmented so it will really cover up and not just camouflage.

I'm really enjoying this concealer so far. So much, that I am considering buying other shades, hopefully my storage can take it lol! My acrylic cosmetics organizer is becoming overloaded. I need a new storage solution. But at Php 360, you just can't go wrong. 

August Haul

So, I went a little crazy this August. I've actually purchased more this month than I'd have any other month except for July of last year. I think something happens to me every mid-year and I buy stuff as therapy. Lol, that's still no excuse.

I got a little skin care stuff and a "few" makeup items. All of these I will blog about in the next few weeks as I'm still trying to get the feel of them and I'm still unsure of what I really think about them.

First up are the skin care products: the AC Clinic Daily Acne Foam Cleanser (Php 478) and AC Clinic Daily Gel Lotion (Php 548) from Etude House Philippines. I've been using these for a little less than two weeks now and I think these are phenomenal (so far). I haven't used my spot treatment for a few days now because I don't have any zits! I only bought the facial cleanser and the moisturizer because I'm not a fan of toners. They also have spot treatment and spot masks in this line.

Now on to the fun stuff. I purchased a mid-range (high end here in the Philippines) foundation from Benefit (well, their only foundation lol), the Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Brightening Makeup (Php 1,900) in the shade Petal. I was contemplating on whether to purchase Champagne, which seemed a better shade match for me, but upon comparing the two, I noticed Petal had more yellow undertones and I'm quite a yellow girl. I've used this thrice and it's been pretty good so far. It's lightweight and it does not feel sticky even after being worn for 12 hours on a hot, humid day. I haven't tested this with flash photography yet, but I'm expecting some flashback because of its SPF 25 PA +++. This foundation is oil-free and non comedogenic, and it hasn't caused me any break outs at all.

Upon purchasing the Benefit foundation that day, I told myself why not just go to town and purchase a well known good concealer. So I got the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer (Php 1,250) in NC30. And, yes, it is the best! This does not crease and does not budge at all! I haven't tried using this alone as I always set my concealer with powder, but even without baking my under eye with this, it really does not crease. This will be my last MAC product purchase upon learning they've been testing on animals. I will not purchase any more until they are cruelty free again.

I got another beauty blogger essential, which is the Inglot AMC Eyeliner Gel (Php 995) 77. AMC stands for Advanced Makeup Components. Inglot in SM Megamall had kindly held this in reserve for me. The first time I went this was out of stock and I inquired via Facebook afterwards when they would have it again. They informed me immediately once these babies were back in their inventory and had sweetly held one for me.

It's been said to be the blackest, mattest gel liner out there. I have found it easiest working with gel liners. I haven't had much luck with liquid eyeliners. They always dry out on me within a couple of months it's so annoying! We'll see how it goes, I haven't even popped this open yet teehee.

I got a few items from NYX as well. NYX is a drugstore brand in the US and they're cruelty-free! I've already had experience with their matte lipsticks and butter lipsticks and I've really liked them.

I purchased the NYX HD Concealer (Php 360) in CW05 Medium. I've heard good things about this concealer. I've used it only once so I don't know how I feel about it yet. 

It has a doe foot wand applicator just like my all time favorite drugstore concealer, the Maybelline Pure Mineral Concealer. But whereas the Maybelline concealer is yellow, this one has pink undertones. I guess it's good for the under eye which is what I've used it for, but I haven't worn it long enough to see how it wears throughout the day.

Since I've recently been on a roll with concealers, I've also purchased the NYX Dark Circle Concealer Correcteur (Php 390) in Medium. 

As can be seen it's a peach corrector for the dark circles in the under eye area. I've used this thrice and I don't know if I'm just not applying enough, but I really don't want to apply too much product in my under eye area and emphasize the fine lines even more. But no matter what I do, I don't think it makes any difference! Maybe you can comment down below to give me some tips on how this can be used? I'd be forever grateful!

I also picked up two eyebrow products from NYX. I really wanted to get the eyebrow gel, unfortunately, it was out of stock when I went to their SM Megamall store. First up is the NYX Tame and Frame Tinted Brow Pomade in Brunette (Php 460). I've used this thrice now and I've been loving it so far! 

Beware, eyebrow pomades are not for beginners, especially if you have a heavy hand with application. A little of this product goes a long way. This is fantastic really, it lasts a long time even by itself without using a brow mascara to set the brow hairs. Also, Brunette, is a great shade match for me. It's a lighter brown than my actual hair color, but has grayish undertones. It's not shiny either. Don't you hate it when your eyebrows are shiny? Lol!

And, lastly, I picked up the NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Brunette (Php 650). I think it's a little crazy that such a tiny eye brow pencil would cost so much. I've heard this is a great dupe for the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, which cost I think is even more insane! I'm not about to drop more than a thousand bucks for an eye brow pencil, come on.

Brow Product

Spoolie 

It's a two ended pencil with the retractable product on one end and a spoolie on the other. It's pretty convenient. I haven't used this one yet so I don't know what I think about it yet. It's pretty new to me since I'm used to a sword type pencil. 

Aaaaaaaannnndddd, that's all! I was going to get a new highlighter too, thank God, all the ones I wanted were out of stock, else my wallet would probably have a huge crater by now if it doesn't already. Feel free to give me suggestions on what other products I should try! 

REVIEW: The Face Shop Bye Bye Dark Circle Concealer

So, I was strolling in the mall with my little one last summer, just passing the time. I found another Korean cosmetics store and, of course, I had to go inside! I have a thing for Korean products, although they're mostly a hit or miss for me. And when they are a hit, I really love them to bits!

The Face Shop's facade and products are not as cutesy as Etude House's but, nevertheless, they also have very clever packaging. I picked up their Bye Bye Dark Circle Concealer. I completely forgot how much this was worth, but it was around 500 pesos. I can't justify this purchase. Including this, I already have six concealers and a normal person doesn't need that much. What makes this concealer unique is the fact that among my six concealers, this is the only one that boasts SPF30 PA++. When I swatched it in the store, I saw it had peachy undertones, so I was more than willing to say "Shut up and take my money!" to the counter.

It's a pen type concealer, and you need to push the button at the other end for the product to come out of the brush. I do not like the fact that it has a brush. I just think it's unhygienic so I have to clean it on a makeup remover wipe before I use it again and that's wasteful. 

(Photo taken in natural light)

The product itself is liquidy but not runny. I have to use my fingers to blend this one in. If I use a brush, it leaves streaky marks. If I use a beauty blender, it becomes patchy. I dislike having product on my fingers, but it needs warmth, so I just have to deal with it.

(Photo taken in natural light)

For the life of me, I cannot use this concealer on its own! It turns ashy and the dark circles peek through no matter how much I use! I hate this concealer on its own, I mean, I really hate it!

It's good for that extreme highlighting though, layered over another concealer. I have an L.A. Girl concealer which has orange undertones and I use that to correct my dark under eye circles before layering it with the Bye Bye Dark Circle concealer. And I do need to bake/cook it because if I don't, it'll be creasing til kingdom come. But the highlighting effect is extreme and unnatural although it does look good in photographs. It's just not for everyday.

Really, if this thing didn't have the sun protection factor, I would've gotten rid of it already. If you want something that works like the L'oreal Magic Lumi Concealer, which I don't believe we have here in the Philippines, then by all means, get this. Otherwise, stay far, far away.

Holy Grail Drugstore Concealer: Maybelline Pure Mineral Concealer

I've had quite a collection of concealers over the years. Concealers were among my first cosmetic products. I started wearing concealers back when I was a freshman in college. I remember the first one I've ever had was a Max Factor stick concealer. I used it mainly for my under eye area, because I have awful, awful panda eyes. Of course, since I was so naive back then, it was the wrong shade (too light!) not to mention it was the wrong formula (too stiff) for my under eyes. I also applied it in a half-moon shape which made me look like a reverse raccoon not two hours later! GOD, WHAT WAS I THINKING?!

I think I'm quite the authority on concealers. Currently, I have six concealers. I use all of them differently, from correcting, to camouflaging, to highlighting. I know, this is just my excuse to justify the number that I have, no normal person really needs this much!

But for today, let me discuss my holy grail drugstore concealer: the Maybelline Pure Mineral Concealer (Php 419) in the shade #2. This shade is light-medium (good for NC25 to NC30 skin tone) as opposed to #1 which is reaaaaaaally light. It comes with a doe foot applicator which is perfect for that precise application. This is the kind of concealer that I would recommend just for personal use. The applicator makes it unhygienic (disgusting, really) for use on several people.

I can honestly use this concealer all ways: for under the eyes, to hide my blemishes and also for highlighting (I really just highlight under the brow bone.)

The formula is creamy, a little more dense than my holy grail high end concealer which is the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer. MAC's is a little more liquidy and runny. What I do is to apply the concealer on my under eye area (in a reverse triangle shape now lol!) and then I don't blend it in immediately. I cover my blemishes first, just use the warmth of my finger to blend those spots in before finally blending my under eyes when the concealer has "dried" a bit. This gives a fuller coverage for my under eye area. And it's really best to just use your fingers to blend this concealer in, the warmth makes it easier. This baby also sets fast, so work quickly.

(As can be seen it did a really good job at concealing the blemishes)

If set with powder, this concealer will not budge and will not crease. Yes, truly, even in this hot, humid, sweltering Philippine weather. At the end of the day, mostly, this concealer is the only thing that usually makes it through on my face.

For its price, it's a really good product. Imagine, a drugstore concealer that performs just as well as a high end one. And also one that can be used in a variety of ways.

I cannot recommend this concealer highly enough. It's so good, my sister raids my vanity for it before finally taking it for herself and I had to buy myself a new one, because, really, nothing can stand in for it. 

Maybelline is available in department stores, Watsons nationwide. Link to their Philippine website: http://www.maybelline.com.ph/ and their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/maybellinephilippines

Back to Basics: Nature Republic Botanical Concealer

I have a lot of concealers. I'm a self-confessed concealer junkie. Whenever I have good skin, I skip the foundation and just spot conceal instead. Also, I really have bad panda eyes that make me look tired and hungover if I don't cover them up. I think concealers are a must have in every beginner's makeup kit. It's also among my top three makeup products (brow pencil comes second and third is lip balm) I simply cannot live without.

The Nature Republic Botanical Concealer (Php 395) was my first liquid concealer when I was just starting to build my collection. I decided to buy a Korean product, because everyone knows their skincare lines are out of this world so I thought maybe they'd have a concealer that's good for my dehydrated under eye area. I also got hooked on the word "botanical" and I have a thing for using natural products on my face. And, come on, the brand's Nature Republic, you'd think they were using all things organic (are they?!).

I have it in the shade 23 Natural Beige, their "darkest" shade, and it is reeeeaaallyyyy light for my NC30 skin tone. It has peachy undertones that I noticed when I first swatched it on my hand so I thought this would work great. It comes in a white little tube package, you just need to squeeze out the product which is okay. Mine is a bit discolored now since I've had this for several months now (I think I've had it for a year now). 

(Photos taken in natural light)

As you can see in the photo, this shade is too light for me. And dare I say a bit cakey too?

I really can't use this for spot concealing. I'd probably look like a speckled egg if I did. I did use this for my under eye area. It was fairly okay, but after a few hours, it was just not pretty because it turned ashy on me. It didn't matter how I applied it, I could use my fingers or a brush or a sponge, it always, always emphasizes the grayness of my under eyes. Erm, I want to conceal it, not feature it. And, oh boy, did it feel like it was sucking the life out of my under eye. It was drying as hell!

It is great for highlighting though. This is my go to concealer when carving out my brow bone area for those sharply defined brows. *Eyebrows on fleek!* And it does not budge, it does not crease. Once it's on, it's going to stick and you'll want an oil-based makeup remover to take it off completely.

Korean products are usually a hit or miss for me and, unfortunately, this one was a miss. Unless you're fair, if you're looking for a good concealer, save your money and skip this one.

Nature Republic is available in the Philippines in the following locations: SM North Edsa, SM Megamall, SM Fairview, Festival Mall Muntinlupa, Fairview Terraces, and Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall. They also have kiosks in Wellworth, Fairview Terraces, Landmark Trinoma Dept. Store, and Landmark Makati Dept. Store.

Their website link is: http://naturerepublic.com.ph/