Review: [Japonesque] Velvet Touch Foundation and Velvet Touch Concealer

Because I love Japonesque Velvet Touch Finishing Powder so so much, I might as well get other products with the name "Velvet Touch". A few weeks ago I reviewed the Velvet Touch Primer and today I will continue with the foundation and concealer, both are in shade #2 which is the second lightest shade of both products.

Velvet Touch Foundation

Rating kisses (out of 5): 

Pros:

- Velvet texture that is so easy to blend with a BRUSH.
- Beautiful matte finish that looks very smooth
- It feels as light as air! This is probably the most lightweight foundation I've ever tried.
- Pleasant scent
- Not accentuate dry patches or fine lines.

Cons:

- Light coverage
- Get shiny after 5-6 hours
- Jar packaging isn't ideal for travel.

I was so tempted to go back to Ulta to get another jar because I love the soft smooth finish and how it feels on my skin so much, but then stopped myself from doing so remembering that I normally require my foundations to be at least medium coverage. Nevertheless, I have been enjoying this foundation a lot.

Velvet Touch Concealer

Rating kisses: 

Pros:

- Creamy
- Very full coverage. A light dab can cover my red blemish completely!
- Long lasting
- Pretty packaging

Cons: None

This is such a beautiful concealer, from the packaging to the actual product! Note that this is a thick concealer so if you want to use it for under-eye areas, avoid applying too much product and remember to blend and set it very well.

Review: [Coola] SPF 30 Organic Matte Makeup Setting Spray

Before starting the review I want to apologize for not having a photo for the actual product. That is because I returned it after a week. My work schedule has changed so I now leave around 4 PM when I still need sun protection. I didn't want to mess up my makeup reapplying sunscreen so I wanted a facial sunscreen in a spray bottle and the only thing I found at that time is this Coola setting spray. I won't rate this product because I didn't use it as a makeup setting spray which it's supposed to be. I've seen many people like to use it as a touch-up sunscreen and that's the reason for this review. Sadly, it didn't work well for me as touch-up sunscreen.

Pros:

- Convenient
- Eye-catching packaging
- Provides enough sun protection

Cons:

- Stings my eyes badly
- Has a very strong alcohol smell
- The biggest con that made me return it: it makes my foundation feels thick and gross, although the finish isn't changed.

I was so sad because I thought this setting spray was my only hope. Fortunately, I found the perfect product for my needs: Skin Food Premium Tomato Cool & Dry Sun Spray SPF 50+. The review for this product will be in a different post so don't forget to subscribe if you interested.

Review: [3 Concept Eyes] Pore Velvet Primer and [Skin Food] Fresh Apple Smooth Pore Cream

I know that I owe you a review of these 3CE Pore Velvet Primer and Skin Food Fresh Apple Pore Cream for a long time so here it is!

3 Concept Eyes Pore Velvet Primer

Rating kisses (out of 5): 

Pros:

- Matifying
- Covers pore well thanks to the thick consistency
- Prolongs makeup
- Creates a smooth canvas for foundation

Cons:

- Not very sanitary because of jar packaging. I have to wipe the surface with alcohol often.
- Thick and hard to blend
- Hard to find. You will have to buy it from 3CE website or Amazon with $20 international shipping, unless you make a $100-worth purchase (for $10 shipping) or $200-worth purchase (for free shipping) on 3CE website.

Skin Food Fresh Apple Smooth Pore Cream

Rating kisses: 

Pros:

- Matifying

- Covers pore well

- Makes skin looks smooth

Cons:

- Doesn't prolong makeup

- Feels heavy on skin

Other characteristics:

- Fresh scent

- Thick and creamy. To me this feels more like a heavy mattifying moisturizer than a primer.

Review: [Japonesque] Velvet Touch Primer

Japonesque Color is the makeup line of Japonesque, a makeup tool brand. Their products are made in Italy. If you don't know, their Velvet Touch Finishing Powder is my "holy grail" powder and I haven't found anything better. The product I want to review today is another one from the brand that I like: the Velvet Touch Primer.

Japonesque Velvet Touch primer is not as thick and more moisturizing than Monistat powder-gel.

Rating kisses (out of 5): 

Pros:

- Luxurious packaging with a glass bottle
- You get more for your $32; the amount is almost as much as a liquid foundation.
- Very smooth and helps foundation blended on skin super easily
- Minimizes the appearance of pores
- Moisturizing
- Makes makeup last longer

Cons:

- Doesn't fill in pores as much as some thicker primers
- Not as matifying as I wanted it to be.


My thought:

I feel that this primer is very similar to the Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief Powder-Gel and Smashbox Photo Finish Primer, from consistency to performance so if you like Monistat gel and Smashbox primer, you would like this primer as well. What making me like this one more than the other two are the packaging and how much product you get.

Review: [Make Up For Ever] Mat Velvet + Mattifying Foundation

I have been looking for a matifying foundation for summer and I tried 3 popular ones: MUFE Mat Velvet +, Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage and Estee Lauder Double Wear. MUFE Mat Velvet + is the only one I actually bought and tried continuously for a week. I will also write a little about the other 2 since I did try the samples a few times.


1. MUFE Mat Velvet + Matifying Foundation

I tried this foundation with matifying primer and setting powder using both beauty blender and a flat kabuki brush.

Pros:

• Full coverage
• Not heavy if applying the right amount
• Nice soft matte finish

Cons:

• Doesn't stay matte, turns to dewy finish in 1-2 hours
• Comes off easily around my T-zone
• Oxidized
• Becomes cakey and heavy if applying too much
• Accentuate dryness

2. Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage

Pros:

• Full coverage
• Long lasting

Cons:

• Settles in pores
• Feels heavy

3. Estee Lauder Double Wear

This foundation feels very similar to the Too Faced Born This Way foundation, except that it dries to a matte finish as compared to the natural finish of the Born This Way foundation, doesn't feel as lightweight but provides more coverage.

Pros:

• Full coverage
• Creamy texture that blends easily.
• Dry to a nice matte finish.
• Long-lasting

Cons:

• Doesn't have a pump (NOOOO!!!)
• A little heavy (but can still be used as a heavy-duty foundation for special occasions)

I had a very high hope for the MUFE Mat Velvet + but unfortunately it didn't work for me. Estee Lauder Double Wear seems nice but wouldn't be the one I'll reach to on a daily basis. Tarte Amazonian Clay settling in my pores is a big "no no". It means I'm still trying out matte foundations so stay tune for more foundation reviews!

Review: [Too Faced] Cocoa Powder Foundation

Since I bought the Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer, I had been thinking about getting another product from Too Faced's cocoa product line. I know most of you would think about the Chocolate Bar or the Semi-sweet Chocolate Bar Eye Shadow Palettes right away, but I already have quite a few palettes with similar shades in my collection so I decided to get this Cocoa Powder Foundation. You'll see that in this post I'm comparing this powder with my most favorite powder foundation and setting powder, the Benefit Hello Flawless Powder and the Japonesque Velvet Touch Finishing Powder.

I wanted to get the shade Light but but I thought it was a little too pink for me while the shade Golden Light was a little too dark, so the only option I had left is Fair. Now, I kinda regret not getting the shade Golden Light.

Claims:

• Exclusive Cocoa Complex is a proprietary blend of antioxidant-rich cocoa powder and moisturizing cocoa butter that work together to hydrate and smooth skin and boost your mood
• Eight flexible shades work on almost any skin tone
• Oil-absorbing
• Medium-to-full undetectable coverage
• Hyaluronic filling spheres diminish the appearance of fine lines and pores and aid with long-lasting hydration
• Crystalline Powder is made up of hexagonal-shaped platelets that slide over each other to bring out skin’s natural radiance while added pearl powder creates a soft focus effect leaving skin with a luminous rose petal finish
• Vegan Friendly
• Paraben Free

Rating kisses (out of 5): 

The packaging is very similar to the Soleil bronzers except that the color is black, not gold and that there's a sponge included underneath the actual powder.

It also smells like yummy chocolate just like the Soleil bronzers, which I love. Also, who doesn't like cocoa powder that is antioxidant-rich and may prevent or delay some types of cell damage?

It is claimed to "glide on seamlessly, blending into skin for a weightless, plush-matte, rose petal finish." Although I can see some particles in the pan, these particles don't show up on skin at all. Thus, the finish is somewhat matte and pretty smooth so I guess that looks like rose petal finish. The powder is also very fine so it does feel weightless on skin.

Now, because it is a powder foundation, I have to talk about its coverage. The coverage is light to medium; it is not medium to full like the Benefit Hello Flawless Powder. That is the reason I don't like to use it as a foundation but as a setting or touch-up powder instead.

As a foundation, I don't think it is enough to diminish the appearance of fine lines and my large pores! Because the coverage is too light, it is also hard to tell if it lasts long or not as a foundation.
As a setting powder, it does help blurring fine lines and pores but not as well as my holy grail Japonesque Velvet Touch Finishing Powder. My T-zone starts to get shiny after 4-5 hours with this powder as compared to 7-8 hours if I use the Velvet Touch powder. Thus, it's oil-absorbing feature is average

My final thought is that I really like it because of the fact that it has a very nice soft texture and smells amazing. I don't love it like I love my Japonesque Velvet Touch Finishing Powder which actually blurs my pores a lot or my Benefit Hello Flawless Powder Foundation which has more coverage, but I can see myself repurchasing it just to bring it with me everyday to touch up. I really enjoy putting this powder on.

So ... if you've tried it before, let me now in the comment section below!

Review: [Too Faced] Born This Way Foundation

I want to introduce my new favorite foundation: the Too Faced Born This Way Foundation which currently has 12 shades and my shade is Ivory. There are not a lot of shades for people who are too fair or too dark but I've heard there will be 2 shades lighter than Porcelain and 4 shades darker than Caramel coming this Fall.

Now, let's check out the claims ...

Reviews

Rating kisses (out of 5): 

I won't say so much about the packaging since you might already see it in the picture ... gorgeous, isn't it? I also love that it has a pump for easy control of product amount!

An important thing I need to say before getting into the review is that I use this foundation with silicone-based primers and I find that they work well together. The primers I'm using are Japonesque Velvet Touch, Monistat, and ELF Poreless. I saw a girl on YouTube changing her opinion on this product from "hate" to "love" after changing the primer she used with it from Maybelline Master Blur and Smooth to Smashbox Photo Finish. I also saw many people who love the foundation tend to be the ones who use silicone-base primer. What I'm trying to say is if the foundation seems to not work out for you, you might want to look at what primer you're using with it.

Let's check how it holds true to its claims:

+ Oil-free? - YES. It doesn't make my skin any oilier than normal.
+ Moisturizing? - YES. It doesn't make my skin dry throughout the day.
+ Blur imperfections? - YES. My pores appear smaller and my complexion looks smoother.
+ Medium-full coverage? - YES. I need only half a pump to achieve a medium coverage.
+ Natural/ undetectable? - YES. The finish is natural, not matte, not dewy and doesn't look cakey.
+ Perfect? - NO. There are a few things making this foundation not for everyone:

• It doesn't claim to control oil so very-oily-skin girls who prefer a matte finish might want to look for a mattifying foundation instead although they might be able to get away with it by using a mattifying primer and a setting powder.
• I find that the foundation sometimes accentuates dry patches on my chin when my skin is very dry or when I don't moisturize well enough. However, this drawback isn't as bad as most foundations (I'm looking at the Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Foundation) so I think only very-dry-skin girls need to be careful.

There are other benefits this foundation isn't claimed to have but actually offers for your makeup:

+ Long-lasting? - YES. I said it doesn't control oil so I still see my oil starting to come out after 4-5 hours; however, the magic happens when I blot with a tissue paper and my face looks fresh again. The foundation is still there and not separated! It won't be melted by heat, sweat or oil like other foundations! This never happened to me before! What else? ... It isn't oxidized. Don't believe that I leave it on my face long enough? Well, I leave the house at 8 AM so I put the foundation even before that, drive almost 2 hours to my work place (yes, 2 hours ladies!), stay at work for 8 hours, drive back for another 2 hours (T.T!), and arrive home at 8PM. Except for the oil it isn't claimed to control, the foundation looks the same after 12 hours!!!
+ Light-weight? - YES. I don't really feel anything when wearing this foundation, but only when I use the right amount for my face, which is only half a pump.
+ Looking good in photos? - YES. Not only the foundation doesn't have that white cast in flash photos 'cause there's no SPF, it also makes skin look brighter and blurred in non-flash photos.


That was a long review to read; I tried to cover everything you should know to consider buying this foundation. My final thought is that although it is not a perfect foundation for everyone, it is for me and has been my go-to everyday foundation. I have combination skin so in the Summer my skin won't get as oily as the oily skin type and in the Winter it won't get as dry as the dry skin type. Also, I don't mind blotting once before going out for lunch (I normally have lunch pretty late, around 2PM), so I have nothing to complain.

I'm still in the market for a non-heavy full-coverage matte foundation though so I'll try out some famous ones out there and write a post about what I find. Hope this review helps!