Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes

I'm really into the Korean actress look these days which involves a flawless looking face and well defined eyes with a mere hint of eye shadow in almost nude colors. Well, to achieve that you really need to find a good eyeliner. One that glides on smoothly and stays on until you remove it at night. Of the dozen eyeliners I've used, there is only one that meets my criteria. I'm a bit fickle so I have been on the lookout for a new liner recently. MUFE Aqua Eyes have more than 1000 reviews on the Sephora website and I thought why not give it a try. The one I bought is 0L which is mat black. The black is very intense and it glides on effortlessly. I really love it in terms of the look it creates. It enlarges my eyes so much that I don't even feel the needs of putting on eye shadow. Unfortunately, it smudges a bit. I will have to test it out for a few more days before I give its final verdict!

Shu Uemura UV Under Base

This is a signature Shu Uemura product that caught my eye ten years ago. It used to be a product that I would buy again and again until one day I got sick of it. Three months ago, I took a makeup class at Shu Uemura's workshop and once again went back to this old favorite of mine.

This UV Under Base is a primer with SPF. What sets this different from other primers is that it is light and airy which is great for combination/oily skin. It also evens out skintone and minimize pores. If you have great skin, just apply this Under Base and a little powder and off you go!

I know a lot of people rave about Laura Mercier's Foundation Primer, but I would definitely pick Shu Uemura's UV Under Base over LM's any day of the week! I can't stand putting too many thick layers of stuff on my face every morning and this mousse primer makes life a little simpler and lighter for me.

I guess some things just never change. I think I'll buy this again after finishing the bottle!

Dior: Forever Compact

I saw my cakey face from the mirrors at Bloomingdale's last week and knew it was time to let go of my Everyday Minerals powder foundation. It had such promises, but it never can achieve the kind of makeup free face I love so much. I walked around the different makeup counter looking at compact foundations and had my eyes set on the Dior Forever Compact.

Some of the things that caught my eyes were:
- SPF 25 (awesome!)
- Long lasting
- Non-transfer
- Waterproof

After the first trial, I stopped using anything else! It looks so natural and sheer and make my skin look beautifully glowing. With the Forever Compact, I feel as if the pores on my skin have been minimized. Can't recommend this enough...

Makeup and Shelf Life

I recently found my makeup primer that went missing for the past few months. I should have known better not to use it because of the funny smell, but I was overjoyed to be reunited with my makeup primer. Two hours later, my face broke out and little bumps emerged everywhere! The moral of the story is that cosmetics have expiration dates too! Now throw out all the expired products in your makeup bag and go shopping!

Here is a general rule of thumb on makeup and their shelf life:

Oil-Free Foundation: 1 year

Cream or Compact Foundation: 18 months

Concealer: 12-18 months

Powder: 2 years

Blush and Bronzer: 2 years

Cream Blush: 12-18 months

Powder Eye shadow: 2 years

Cream Eye shadow: 12-18 months

Eyeliner: 2 years

Liquid eyeliner: 3-6 months

Mascara: 3 months

Lipstick: 2 years

Lip liner: 2 years

Lip gloss: 18-24 months

Nail Color: 1 year

Benefit: She-Laq

I really like eyeliners, but I rarely wear them because no matter if they are liquid, gel, or waterproof, it always gets smudgy after a few hours.

My curiosity peaked when I see my coworker R comes to work every morning with chicly drawn black lines that stay nicely on her eyes through the day, rain or shine! Curious of her eyeliner’s staying power, I asked her about her eyeliner. Turned out that we’re both using the same eyeliner but the secret lies in a makeup sealer called She-Laq from Benefit. Ah-ha!

Verdict: I have always been skeptical of makeup sealers in general, but She-Laq is different from the ones I have tried. It is much easier on the skin and does not burn or sting. The package comes with various little brushes for different applications. It seals eye shadow, mascara and eyeliner! I have to say this thing work miracles! I no longer have smudged panda eyes by the end of the workday! Word of caution, a little goes a long way with this potion. Don’t overdo it, and remember to clean the brushes frequently!

Skintonics Rating: ****

DDF Organic Sun Protection SPF 30

Ok, I’m a sucker when it comes to organic skincare. I love all-natural products that do not harm my skin. So naturally, DDF’s Organic Sun Protection SPF 30 immediately caught my attention when I was in the market for a new sunscreen. This sunscreen applies easily, and it does not make me look like a ghost! Note of caution: it does sting the eye a little, so be careful around the eyes.

Of all the sunscreens I’ve used so far, this is definitely one that I would purchase again. It’s great under makeup and the SPF is just enough to protect my skin every day.

Skintonics Rating: ****

Bare Minerals

The first time I heard of Bare Minerals was during a trip to San Francisco back in 2004. The t.v was playing their infomercial and I was instantly hooked. Every woman on the infomercial kept repeating the phrase “it is makeup so pure that you can sleep in it” and it seemed unbelievably easy to apply. Needless to say, I rushed out the next day and bought two jars.

The verdict? Let’s just say, it wasn’t love at first sight. I had refused to buy the kabuki brush with my powder because I thought the brush was more of a marketing gimmick. Boy was I wrong! Using just my own brush, the powder just looked caked on and was uneven on my face! After seeing my friend M’s results with Bare Minerals, I decided to ask her for tips. It turned out that the kabuki brush is a must! With the kabuki brush, you can gently buff the powder onto your skin to create an even sheer coverage. I was surprised by what a difference it made!

So for those of you who have given up on the powder, try getting the kabuki brush! It will work wonders! Now I just love the powder. It brightens my face without looking like I have makeup on, and best of all you can sleep in it!

Skintonics Rating: *****