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: *****

Malin + Goetz: Grapefruit Face Cleanser

Malin + Goetz is an apothecary and lab in New York that focuses on skin care products that are irritant-free and pH balanced. It is a perfect brand for people with sensitive skin because none of the products contain colorants or synthetic fragrance.

The Grapefruit Face Cleanser contains 0.5% grapefruit extract and smells heavenly. The thing that caught my eyes is that this cleanser promises to "pH balance" my skin, "reduce epidermal stress", and remove make-up!

Verdict: The cleanser lathers up well, and the scent is pleasant. I like it because it cleans my combination skin really well and my skin never feels dry afterward. This is quite rare because gentle cleansers never seems to clean my skin thoroughly. It is a bit pricey, but a bottles goes a long way!

Skintonics Rating: ****