Fashion 21 Double Up Mascara

There are very few brands that earn my nod when it comes to mascaras. The price is not an assurance that it's a good one. The usual problem with mascaras is that they weigh down lashes that have been painstakingly curled, straightening them back. On the premise that I have super straight stubborn lashes,  the only brands that work for me are Maybelline and Cover Girl. Will Fashion 21 Double Up Mascara make the cut? Let's see.

Fashion 21 Double Up Mascara promises up to 2x longer and stronger lashes in an instant. It comes with the following directions:

1. Curl your lashes with an eyelash curler, if desired, before using a mascara.
2. Apply mascara starting at the base of your upper eyelashes.
3. Draw the wand gently outward up to the tips.
4. Hold the mascara wand vertically to color your lower lashes.

So how did it go? Let me put it this way, I'm glad that it was given to me for free. Fashion 21 has great and inexpensive products that I love, such as the 2 way cake and blush, but this Double Up mascara is a big disappointment, at least in my opinion.



After curling my lashes, I gently applied the mascara as directed. It yielded longer and thicker lashes but it was too heavy that it instantly straightened out the lashes I previously curled. I blinked, and the next thing I knew, it was all over my eye area. The consistency is too damp that it stains the skin, unless you prevent yourself from blinking for a few minutes or face the fan to dry it off. In the end, I noticed my lashes to be thicker and longer, but straighter than usual and pointed downwards.

I hardly use this because I don't have the patience to wait for it to dry. On a positive note, I think it can double as an eyeliner because of its rich formula. Still, it will take some time to dry.

Rating: 3/10

Pros:

• sturdy packaging


• no clumps


• thick formula


• makes the lashes longer and thicker


• affordable at Php 225

Cons:

• heavy, weighs the lashes down


• straightens curled lashes


• too damp


• takes time to dry


• stains skin when you blink

Although it didn't work for me, note that I have stubborn, straight lashes requiring special needs for mascaras. What might not work for me may perform well for you. If you want to try it out for yourself, it is available online at Weemall, The Philippine Online Shopping Mall. Get 5% discount when you apply the discount code: DOCTORISVAIN.

Be Your Own Bobbi Beauty Expert

In celebration of Bobbi Brown's 20th anniversary, Bobbi Brown Philippines is giving away treats to their loyal fans. A Facebook app was recently launched called the "Be Your Own Expert" which allows fans to choose their favorite Bobbi beauty tip that makes them prettier and more confident, and then recreate it.

You are invited to join this contest to get a chance to win Bobbi’s limited edition Party Collection Deluxe Travel Kit and PHP 10,000 worth of Bobbi Brown products.

Here's what you have to do:

• Like the Bobbi Brown Philippines Facebook Page 


• Look for the "Be Your Own Bobbi Beauty Expert" App on the left side below the page's profile pic


• Launch the app


• Register


• Recreate Bobbi's beauty tips on yourself, then upload your photo less than 1MB


• Answer a short question- "How does this tip make you pretty powerful?"

A winning entry per week will be chosen based on the quality of both the photo and the answer. A grand prize winner will be picked towards the conclusion of the contest.

Up for grabs are:

• A feature in Bobbi Brown Philippines' official facebook page


• Pretty Powerful makeup lesson


• Party Collection Deluxe Travel kit with Php10,000 worth of Bobbi Brown products

Good news, no purchase is necessary but then bad news is, it's only limited to Metro Manila Residents.

The contest will run until December 19, 2011 only. For more details, please read through the contest mechanics and official rules at the BB Philippines Facebook page.

hydraulic cartridge

Fanny Serrano Night Light Lipstick

I've been asked on my recommendations for lipsticks. Mostly, ladies are asking for brands that have long staying power. I can name a few but the hunt for affordable long-lasting lipsticks ends here with the introduction of the Fanny Serrano Night Light Lipstick.

What I initially noticed about this product is its gorgeous packaging: sleek black lipstick case that comes with a mirror on the side of the cap and LED light on both sides of the tube, which turns on by pressing the button below. The Fanny Serrano Night Light Lipstick comes handy even when it's dark. Whether you're inside the movie house, in the car, or out clubbing, the lipstick is like a secret weapon you can launch anytime as the need arises. Doctors can also transform this into a pen light when examining patients during emergencies.If you're the creepy type, you can likewise use it to scare off people during brownouts at night.

I was sent the shade in Pink Vodka. It is bright and strong enough to perk up your look but not as tacky as red. It's perfect when you're on the go and hardly have any makeup on except powder and lipstick. This perky shade makes up for the lack of color on the rest of your face. What's interesting about this is when it's applied to the skin for swatching, it' appears faint, but when put on the lips, it transforms the puckers into a bold, seductive arsenal that speaks power. Go easy with the application as the color can be very strong if too much is applied.

I go for lipsticks that don't have an annoying scent. I'm glad that the Fanny Serrano Night Light doesn't have this problem. But what I love most about this product is that it lasts long! I can put it in the morning and come home in the afternoon still with it on, albeit lighter after some meals and snacks. This is a lipstick you can trust that you won't be looking drab by mid-day just because your lipstick wore off after a few hours. This is best for weddings as the makeup artist won't have to worry about the color fading after the bride has eaten lechon from the banquet.

For a smooth application, put on lip moisturizer prior to the lipstick. Otherwise, I noticed it to stick to outer areas of the lips and I have to apply another layer to ensure its even distribution.

As to the dilemma of long last lipsticks that tend to be more drying on the lips by nature, I can't really conclude that this has a drying affect as I have dry lips to begin with. For all its worth, at least I didn't find my lips to be cracking or more dry than ever.

Rating: 8/10

Pros:

• Long-lasting


• Comes with LED lights


• Can double as a pen light


• Mirror on the side


• Sleek packaging


• 12 colors to choose from


• No annoying scent


• Affordable at Php 299

Cons:

• Needs lip moisturizer for a more even application

I'll post the swatches soon in a separate post.

The Fanny Serrano Night Light Lipstick is available online through Weemall, The Philippine Online Shopping Mall. Great news for readers of vanityclinic.com, as you can avail of 5% discount for products appearing on "The Doctor is vaIN" page at Weemall. Just enter this discount code upon checking out: DOCTORISVAIN. Happy Shopping!

 

Fashion 21 Fine Blush Powder

When it comes to makeups, I invest on the best ones even if they're a little more pricey because sacrificing quality turns out to be more expensive in the long run. The cheaper and poor performing ones usually end up collecting dust because I hardly use them.  However, there are cosmetics that I don't mind spending less on, such as eyeliners and  blushes.  There are a couple of local brands for these products that effectively do the job, lessening the need to look for their expensive counterparts. Fashion 21 Fine Blush Powder (Mineral Based) may qualify as one of the affordable local brands that does the job well.

I was sent the Fashion 21 Fine Blush Powder in #5.   When I saw its packaging, I doubted that it will make it to my staple of makeups as the brush looked rather stiff. Since it was given to me for review, I had to try it out  and give it a fair chance.

The blush comes in loose powder form that has its own dispensing container with brush.  The powder gets through the holes towards the brush when you tap it downwards.  Sometimes, I have trouble getting the product out so I have to tap it again to be transferred to the brush. This can be a good thing, coz it prevents the too much application of the blush. I love how it fits on my bag and the fact that I don't need to bring travel size brushes to put it on.

Upon testing, I was pleasantly surprised that the brush wasn't as bad as it looked. I was expecting an itchy, abrasive feel but did not get it. Although not as soft as Suesh brushes, it's not stiff either. Just right to get the job done. The container can be opened so washing the brush requires detaching the head from the lower part.

The #5 shade reminded of of merthiolate, but nonetheless pretty when applied. The shimmers are kept to a minimum, so there's no worry about ending up with  sparkly or oily cheeks. The shade is peachy pink that's subtle on the skin, leaving a fresh and glowing look.



Pros:

• convenient to bring along


• fine powder


• no break outs


• brush is tolerable


• has UV protection


• distributes evenly


• leaves a fresh, glowing appearance


• affordable at  Php 155

Cons

• difficult to get the product out


• have to detach brush from the lower part of container to wash it


• average staying power

Rating: 7.5/10

Fashion 21 Fine Blush Powder is available online at Weemall, The Philippine Online Shopping Mall.

Fanny Serrano Liquid Eyeliner

Fanny Serrano Cosmetics produces some of the best makeups in the Philippines. That's probably due to the fact that the owner, Fanny Serrano is a makeup artist himself who understands the standards of quality cosmetics. Among my personal favorites is their concealer stick, so when I was sent the Fanny Serrano Long Last Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, I got so excited that it was the first one I grabbed from the loot bag.

Does it measure up to our standards? Let me dissect its performance.

When I swiped it at the back of my hand, it gave a rich consistency which stayed even after washing it off. I had to rub it with soap, then apply a Bobbi Brown cleansing oil to totally erase it. Pretty impressive, I thought to myself. But then here lies the problem with waterproof eye products: they can stand water but not oil. The lids have oil glands, and for walking oil mines like me, it can be a problem.

When I lined my lids, as it's where it's intended to be used, it relatively went well. I tried another brand before that left me with raccoon eyes even before I got out of the house. Smudging did not happen with the Fanny Serrano Long Last Liquid Eyeliner. However, after about 3 hours, I noticed the lines have faded away. It blended with the rest of the eye makeup. No distinct line remained.

At another time, I applied a thin line very close to the lash line and it disappeared more quickly. I decided thicker lines should do the trick. But then after putting on thicker lines, they still faded. I guess it will work on non-oily lids like how it lasted long at the back of my hand.

Liquid eyeliners are generally more difficult to apply than gel forms but the Fanny Serrano Long Last Liquid Eyeliner doesn't require makeup artist skills to put it on. The brush evenly distributes the product which dries quickly.

Pros:

• Minimal or no smudging


• Waterproof


• Dries fast


• Rich consistency in one swipe


• Easy to use


• Applies evenly


• Affordable at Php 195

Cons:

• Fades easily on oily lids

Rating: 5/10

 

Fanny Serrano Long Last Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner is available online at Weemall, The Philippine Online Shopping Mall.

Fashion 21 Two Way Cake

I was sent  a loot bag containing local brand makeups from Fashion 21 and Fanny Serrano cosmetics.  I have road tested most of them over the past few weeks and  I decided to launch the first review for the product I like best, so far.  I decided the Fashion 21 Two-way cake with Papaya Extract deserves the first spot.

I honestly wasn't expecting much from this local brand but the instant that I swiped it on the back of my hands, I went "whoah!" for its velvety smooth texture.  For it's dirt-cheap price of Php 185, it wasn't the result I had in mind. It totally caught me by surprise. The next thing I knew, I was looking forward to using it to work.

For the first few days of trying it on, I took note that the coverage was moderate to heavy. There were times I would glance at the mirror while driving, and thought to myself that I looked "made-up." I normally wear mineral makeup for foundation because it looks natural and feels light on my skin, so it took some time getting used to a two-way cake foundation on my face. But then this was a good thing for my scar-ridden skin. Fashion 21 Two-way cake smoothened my complexion like miracle although I still needed a few dabs of concealer powder for a perfect finish. It felt light even if the coverage was on the heavy side.



Two way foundations are called as such because they can be either applied as is (dry) or with a damp sponge. The latter yields heavier coverage which can lead to a mask-like effect if not done properly. So far, I haven't tried applying it wet although I use it over  liquid foundation.

Apart from the texture that earns my approval, I love its oil-control properties! It's been a while since I used a foundation that tamed my  facial oil factory. I work at one clinic in the morning and drive for about half an hour to another one in the afternoon. There are times I hardly have time for touch-ups. Once, I rushed to my afternoon work without applying oil blotting agents or powder and found that my face wasn't as oily as expected.

I can't attest that it won't cause breakouts coz I had some zits (mild, not cystic ones that usually terrorize my skin) on my forehead after a few days of using it. The powder has very mild scent. I usually get breakouts when a cosmetic has scent. It can either be  due to the  powder or my crazy hormones and idiosyncratic reactions. I can't conclude which caused it.

Papaya supposedly functions to brighten the skin. Indeed, I feel that my skin is brighter whenever I use this. But then it could be due to the shade of the powder that they sent me. It was in shade 2. Fashion 21 Two-Way Cake with Papaya Extract comes in 4 shades, with #1 being the lightest. I think 2 is slightly light for  me although after oxidation (acidic skin that darkens the makeup), it suits just right.

Summing it up, I'm  highlighting its strong and weak points:

Pros:

• smooth velvety texture


• superb oil-control


• scent is very mild and not annoying


• feels light on the skin


• not chalky nor cakey


• finely milled powder


• UV protection


• brightens skin


• very affordable: Php185


• refills available

Cons

• has tendency to look heavy and  unnatural- solution: apply lightly, choose best shade
• packaging that screams "I'm only Php185!"

Overall, this product should be included in our "cheaper but effective makeups" list.

Rating: 8/10

Fashion 21 Two-Way Cake with Papaya is available for Php 185 only at leading department stores and online through Weemall, the Philippine Online Shopping Mall.