The Jewel of MAC Foundations: MAC Face and Body

I'll never understand why the MAC Face and Body Foundation (Php 2600 for 120mL and Php 1900 for 50mL) is not getting the love and attention it should in this country. I understand Filipina women are all about the matte finish because, seriously, our climate is enough to make one oil up like a bacon grease pan. But I see a lot of Filipina women opting for the MAC Studio Fix Fluid and MAC Pro Longwear Foundations and those, in my experience, are so heavy and clog up the pores so much, it feels like my skin can't breathe when I put those on. Not to mention, I broke out so horribly after wearing the Pro Longwear Foundation.

Now I have found the perfect MAC foundation that works so good for me and one that I can actually use on a daily basis. It took me so long to love the MAC Face and Body Foundation, but now that I figured out how to use it, I cannot not have this product ever. This is the foundation that I swear by, and I can honestly ditch all my other foundations and just use this for life. That's how good it is.

Texture is extremely runny and watery.

When I first got this foundation, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. I thought, what the hell, this is just water. But as I went on using it, because, come on, I need to get the value for my money, MAC foundations aren't cheap, I figured out that I needed to blend and buff the crap out of it on my skin! And the tool that I use to achieve the finish that I want is none other than my hands!

Now I'm usually one who doesn't like using my hands because I don't like getting product all over the place; I am a very clumsy person and it happens a lot. But I've found that using a brush with this foundation just wastes product, the brush soaks it all up. So what I do is blend, blend, blend it with my hands and then when it starts to get tight and tacky, that's when I go in with the brush. The finish is undetectable and skin like.

Coverage is nearly sheer, it only evens out the skin tone with one layer, but hey that's what concealers are for. This is even sheerer than most tinted moisturizers. It has a satiny finish, not overly dewy. This foundation is buildable, but I won't go as far as saying it can be built to full coverage, which it won't, no matter how many layers you put on. But with that being said, this is a foundation that will NEVER look cakey, even if you decide to put on a dozen layers.

This foundation looks fantastic in photographs! It makes the skin look like real skin, not with a lot of makeup on, only better. 

Now if you're one who looks for a lot of coverage, this is not the foundation for you. However, if you're all about that no makeup makeup look, all natural, lightweight makeup, this is one that you will absolutely love.

Snoe BBfied HD-BB Pigment Mix

I had a Snoe haul a few weeks back and since I reached a certain amount of purchase I got their BBfied HD-BB Pigment Mix (Php 799) as a freebie. This, by far, is the most interesting cosmetic product I've come across with. Here's what it says on the box:

"Transform your favorite daily facial cream or lotion into a BB cream, tinted moisturizer, foundation or concealer! Get all the benefits of your favorite skin care products with the coverage of Snoe BBfied! Cover all imperfections such as spots, uneven skin tone, pimples and even under eye circles. Be amazed, be BBfied!"

So, simply put, this is a powder pigment that I can mix with my skin care products and it'll have coverage. It's actually a brilliant idea, especially, ironically, I'm not exactly the type who likes to pile on a lot of product on my face. Besides having a toddler I need to constantly keep up with, the climate in the Philippines just makes it uncomfortable.

So according to the directions on the box: "Custom mix your cream or lotion by applying lotion at BBfied's powder case cover. Sprinkle a little bit of BBfied powder and mix with the spatula that comes with the kt. Keep adding more powder till you get the right coverage. Apply all over face and neck, like you would apply your regular cream. Finish off with Snoe loose powder products."

Product mixed with my gel moisturizer

I got it in the shade X2 Marble, Light with Yellow Undertones. They only have two shades and, unfortunately, the other, X1 Porcelain, only works with light skin tone with pink undertones. I wish they'd come up with a wider range of shades. I can make this product work for me, though, by just setting it with a powder that's in my shade.

I'm not a big fan of the seal on the packaging. It was kind of annoying that it was papery and stuck on the lid. I spent quite some time scratching it off because I didn't want to waste any product.

It's interesting that although this product does not have SPF, one of the ingredients listed is Titanium Dioxide. It does have a brightening effect because it has a white cast due to this component. By the way, I also did try dusting just the pigment onto my face. It didn't work like how I wondered it would. It was quite difficult to blend out.

I actually like this product. Despite of the fact that I need to keep the whole thing, container and spatula and all, constantly clean. It's not as long lasting as a foundation or even a real BB cream, but it's lightweight and you can basically mix it with anything you want to have coverage with. I've mixed this with a primer as well and it worked just as fine. I also like the fact that I can customize the coverage. I can have very light coverage to however much I want.

Product without setting powder. It looks way too light for me. Wet hair, don't care lol.

Product after setting powder. Still looks light, but kind of works because of the yellow undertones. It does oxidize throughout the day and with a dusting of bronzer, hardly looks off.

I would repurchase this product if they come up with a shade that's more a match for me, which I strongly hope for!

Snoe Rouge Deluxe Complete Lip Care

So I've been on break from the blog for quite a while. I actually got a bunch of new stuff that I really wanted to put to the test before I can feel confident enough to post a review about them. I had a post about a fiber lash mascara and it was merely a first impression review. Oh boy, did I have quite a reaction to that. My right eye swelled for almost a week! So I'm not so sure I want to write about first impressions anymore. From now on, I would prefer writing full on reviews about products that I've used for some time.

On to the review! Today's is about the Snoe Rouge Deluxe Complete Lip Care (Php 399). Snoe Beauty Inc. is a local brand in the Philippines that has a considerable cult following. And now that I've tested a few of their products, I can actually, in good authority, say that their products are at par with international high end brands. I got their blushes and they are perfectly comparable with the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush. But that's a post for another day. I picked up four of their lipsticks, with most shades appropriate for the fall season.

First off, let's talk about the packaging. I mean, how cute is that?! They're almost too pretty to use. I love bringing these in my makeup bag just as much as my MAC lipsticks and just pop them out in public to reapply. (I'm such a show off lol!) But, really, this is the kind of packaging that's just so adorable you need to whip it out. 

The formula of these lipsticks is almost equivalent to the Satin finish of MAC lipsticks. They're not matte, but they're not super moisturizing either. However, they are very creamy during application, except for the shade X10 Plum Crazy which kind of "skips" whenever I put it on and is a bit patchy. These lipsticks are also very pigmented. One swipe and you get full blown color. And they last for quite sometime too! They last some 4 to 5 hours on me, but that's without eating. If I eat, especially it it's something oily, I will need to reapply especially at the center of my lips because I don't wanna look like a chola lol. They do wear off nicely though. I noticed that the lighter colors leave off a stronger stain than the darker ones. Weird huh?

So now, onto the swatches: 

 X19 Mauve Movement

X19 Mauve Movement is a very bright pinky mauve. This is actually better to wear during the summer, but hey, it's always hot as summer in the Philippines, so why not?

X12 Vintage Rose

I love this color for everyday. This is a very fall appropriate nude because it's a deep nude color that leans toward brown. This is my favorite among the four I have and I can totally see me repurchasing this once it runs out. I think this shade is most flattering for light/medium, medium to deeper skin tones.

X10 Plum Crazy

This lipstick is purple! When I swatched it at the store I thought it would look like MAC Rebel on me but it just doesn't. I had the most difficulty with this shade because it was patchy, application was uneven. I had to swipe it on several times to even out the color. It's not very flattering on the teeth either. It makes my teeth look more yellow. This shade does brighten up my complexion though, so I'm still on the fence about this one.

Marsala 2015

And, finally, this beautiful shade is a limited edition, which happens to be the 2015 color of the year. It's a gorgeous deep berry shade that's bound to look complimentary across all skin tones from very light to very dark. 

Summary:

1. Price: 10/10. At Php 399 a piece, these lipsticks perform just as well, if not better, as international high end lipsticks. 
2. Packaging: 10/10. I have to give them ten, the packaging is beautiful! The pattern on the lipsticks is intricate and very "mandala" looking.
3. Formula: 8/10. I absolutely love the formula of these lipsticks even if Plum Crazy did disappoint me a little. They don't look flat, and they don't look too overly glossy either.
4. Longevity: 8/10. I just hate that I look like I have chola lips after eating with these lipsticks on, otherwise they actually have decent lasting power.

VERDICT: 9/10

I definitely recommend these lipsticks. They are fantastic, just wonderful! The formula of these products were very well thought of and I cannot speak any more highly of them.

Snoe Beauty Inc. is available in the following locations:

NCR

QUEZON CITY

Wellworth Mall – G/F Department Store 

Landmark Trinoma – G/F Department Store

SM North Edsa – Main Bldg, UG/F (beside Aficionado)

MANDALUYONG

SM Megamall – Cinderella Department Store 

SM Megamall – G/F (Beside Foodcourt)

Robinson's Galleria – 3/F (in front of Lee Pipes)

SAN JUAN

Greenhills Shoppesville – 3/F

PASIG

SM Supercenter Pasig – G/F (near Land Transportation Office)

TAGUIG

Market! Market! – G/F (in front of Forme)

MAKATI

Glorietta – Cinderella Department Store 

Landmark Makati – Department Store, G/F

MANILA

SM City Manila – 3/F (beside Folded & Hung)

Robinson's Place Ermita – G/F Cinderella Department Store 

SM San Lazaro – 2/F (beside PrimaDonna)

PARANAQUE

SM City Sucat – G/F

LAS PINAS

SM Southmall – G/F (beside Sunnies by Charlie)

SM Center Las Pinas – UG/F

MUNTINLUPA 

SM Muntinlupa – 2/F (along Fashion Ave.)

Festival Mall – G/F (near the entrance of Shopwise) 

Alabang Town Center – Metro Gaisano Department Store

LUZON

LAGUNA

Shopwise San Pedro – (in front of the Supermarket)

Salon 28 – Pacita Rd, San Pedro Laguna

SM City Sta Rosa – G/F (near Banco De Oro)

CAVITE

Ayala District Mall Dasmarinas G/F (near Bench)

Ayala District Mall Imus – G/F (in front of Payless)

RIZAL

Sta. Lucia Grand Mall, Cainta – Cinderella Department Store

Robinsons Place Antipolo – G/F Activity Center

PAMPANGA

Marquee Mall – Metro Gaisano Department Store

ILOCOS NORTE

Red Dot Boutique – Laoag City

VISAYAS

CEBU

Ayala Center Cebu – 2/F, New Wing

Ayala Center Cebu – Metro Gaisano Department Store

Metro Gaisano Colon – Department Store

One Pavillion Mall – Department Store, 2/F

BOHOL

Island City Mall – Department Store

MINDANAO

DAVAO

Abreeza Mall – 2/F (in front of Robinsons Department Store) 

CAGAYAN DE ORO

Ayala Centrio Mall – 1/F (CM Recto Entrance)

GENERAL SANTOS

KCC Mall – Department Store

SM City General Santos - 2/F (in front of Max's)

Selected items available:

Common Thread – PowerPlant Mall Rockwell 2/F

Common Thread – Greenbelt 5 2/F

GLAMOURBOX PH

www.glamourbox.com

SEEK THE UNIQ

www.seektheuniq.com

MALILIBULLE (Europe)

http://www.malilibulle.com/41_snoe

Full list of products can be found:

CLICK SHOP ONLINE ON:

www.snoebeauty.com