Out with the ewww... in with the new...

Richard Theo

New year is approaching, and everywhere I look people already started their “New year, New me” bullshit. Well, writing the new year resolutions that they will forget just two days later and then back to their usual bad habits that will accumulate at the end of the year, which resulted in self loathing before NYE and back to square one, writing resolutions.

I don’t mean to start a new year on a sour note anyway, this year I managed to fulfilled several of my new year resolutions, which a resulted a shame and guilt free birthday, it finally happened after several years celebrating my birthday while thinking “another year passed and I haven’t do something meaningful with my life.... come on!! Get it together!!!”. This year I can finally called my parents and be genuinely happy with my new age. A lot of things to be grateful this year.

Well, the sense of dissatisfaction that happened the past years perhaps caused by my achievement hunter personality, combined with perfectionist trait and hot temperament. being the only child, there’s always a constant needs that come from within to make your parents proud, because I’m the only source of bragging material that my father have, and yes, my parents’ home is always become a creepy shrine for my personal achievement. well, this year I have loads of good things to write home.

Moving on..  I need a platform to rant, that’s why I’m reviving this blog. and I believe, I do a better job explaining things in writing rather than speaking....

The “It” Beauty: Lupita Nyong’o

Lupita Nyong'o

This Mexican born beauty emerge into the beauty map since her “12 Years a Slave” movie released, and initially gave her an Academy Awards, Lupita has been stealing attention in every appearances because of her spot on fashion choices, and her glowing complexion. Now, she is one of the beauty icon who inspired tons of people of color to embrace their natural beauty

Lupita Nyong’o “It” Beauty Factors:

The “It” Beauty: Gisele Bundchen

This Brazilian bombshell has created some serious name for herself inside and outside fashion industry, one of the model that recognizable even by a non-fashion community and in the fashion industry only Gisele and Kate Moss who can guaranteed the magazine will fly from the shelf when they are on the cover.

It will be a long time before any model can surpass ms.Bundchen $25 million dollars contract with Victoria’s Secret that put her in the supermodel Pantheon, and She ruled the #1 spot of world’s top earning models since 2007, so what makes her so special? Besides her business savy mind, this is the breakdown of her “it” factor from beauty point of view.

Product Review: NARS Translucent Crystal Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder

source: pinterest

source: pinterest

One of the most talked about powder, it felt like a powdery cream, with stark white powder appearance on the pan, but translucent when applied to the skin, I felt like it smoothen my skin texture and kinda blur my pores, well.. the powder has subtle glowing quality to it.

Pros:

• Glowing sheen quality, makes your foundation looks more natural
• Softens the appearance of the pores and skin texture
• If used as setting powder, prolong your foundation coverage by couple hours (but in my opinion, this product act more like finishing powder)

Cons:

• A bit pricy, but this product will last a long time
• Be sure to use dry sponge, powder puff, or brush to apply this powder, and let your foundation set before applying, because a damp applicator can harden the surface of the powder in the pan and makes it hard to pick up the powder

Product Review: Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation

This is one of my favorite drugstore foundation. easy to apply, last for a long time, satin fnished, so if you apply sparingly can look like skin, and a little product goes a long way.

I was matched with the shade “warm Golden”, and in Indonesia, this is the darkest shade I can found from this colorstay range, and kinda dissapointed with the color selection, because I am pretty fair and this foundation type does not cater to darker skinned customer.

For me, I like to apply this foundation with beauty blender or buffing brush for flawless coverage.

      Pros:

• Good quality for drugstore price
• Last for a long time, in my case without primer it can last for 8 to 10 hours, with primer 12 hours.
• Medium coverage (buildable to full coverage)
• Satin finish, look like skin
• This foundation doesn’t break me out

  

Cons:

• Heavy glass container, and the jar is prone to bacterial exposure
• Oxidizes 20–30 minutes after application, but barely noticeable and only ½ to 1 tone darker than the initial color
• Good for photography, but for shooting outdoor in the sun, with hot and humid condition, primer is recommended, because without primer the foundation can become blotchy around oily zone. If you shooting Indoor, this foundation can last long without primer.
• Limited color selection in Indonesia. Only from Ivory to Warm Golden

Product Review: Revlon Colorstay Foundation

Product Review: Revlon Colorstay Foundation

 

Revlon Colorstay cr:Ebay

I bought this foundation as an early investment for my makeup kit, because Revlon Colorstay has lots of great reviews and recommendations from fellow makeup artists, so if you just start building your kit or you just want a go to drugstore foundation with good quality, this is one of the best in the market.

For myself, I’m perfectly matched with shade “Warm Golden”, but since that shade only available in Revlon Colorstay Whipped, I don’t know why?, but in Jakarta, I cannot find “warm Golden” in Liquid form, so I  have to settle with “Medium Beige” , which is a match with my face, but a little lighter than my neck.For my case, fortunately this foundation oxidized within 30 minutes of application, so my face will be the same shade with my neck. 

I found this foundation best applied with stippling brush or wet sponge for airbrushed finish, the finish is semi-matte, must be blended fast, because this foundation set very fast, medium coverage but build-able to full coverage, for matte finish need to be set with powder.

Pros:

·         Good quality for drugstore price

·        Last for a long time, in my case without primer it can last for 8 to 10 hours, with primer 12 hours.

·         Medium coverage (buildable to full coverage)

·  With the right application, can look subtle enough, and the semi-matte finish is gorgeous

·  Huge range of color choice, too bad not all color available in Indonesia

·      Even tough it has SPF 6, this foundation will not cause a whitecast in flash photography

Cons:

·         No pump, harder to pour the right amount of liquid

·      The strong foundation smell, it fades once applied to the skin but for people who sensitive with strong aroma like me, it could be a problem.

·      Oxidizes 20–30 minutes after application, but barely noticable and only ½ to 1 tone darker than the initial color

·         Good for photography, but for shooting outdoor in the sun, with hot and humid condition, primer is recommended, because withour primer the foundation can become blotchy around oily zone. If you shooting Indoor, this foundation can last long without primer.