Saturday, May 17, 2014

Serum Review - Racinne Youth Power Serum

*this is a sponsored review as a sample of the product was given to me to be considered.

A fountain of youth. Does that exist? Well the cosmetic industry will want you to believe that such thing exists. As you all know I am such a beauty product junkie, I will try as many as products as possible.
Racinne is a company represented by a branding company in Vancouver, run by a group of friends. It is a Hong Kong based cosmetic company, utilizing Korean skincare technology.

The serum is encased in a gold bottle with a lid. The bottle is made of plastic, so it is lightweight and easy to travel with. The serum is on the watery side and absorbs quickly.


I really liked its citrus scent because it was refreshing rather than overwhelming like some other heavily perfumed products.
After using the serum consistently for 4 weeks, my face looked brighter and felt more supple. It did not give any trouble (such as clogged pores, irritations) and kept my skin looking rather smooth.

Racinne Youth Power Serum is currently being sold at T&T locations and can be purchased online at around $60 for 30ml. Compared to the high-end serums at Sephora and the department stores, this is definitely a bargain in price for a well performing skincare.


Friday, May 16, 2014

Current Foundation Favourites


Since moving to the East Coast, my skin has been through hell and back (or at least it feels like it). Due to the extremely cold weather, wind and hard water my skin has suffered greatly. Initially it was so dry that the whole face seemed to be tight and flaky. Now that it is getting warmer, the humidity is adding to the assault by making my skin quite oily.

I do love my base products and have accumulated a number of foundations over the last 6 months. Currently here are 2 of my go-to foundations.

Covergirl Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 foundation (Medium Beige) - $12 CAD
This is a very good drugstore foundation that gives med-full coverage. It is promoted as a base with primer, concealer and foundation all in one and is a drugstore dupe for Kat Von D's Lock It foundation.




I really like that this foundation has a pump applicator with the SPF of 20. On my combination skin, it lasts up to 8 - 10 hours of wear. Even though the foundation has a high SPF, it does not create a white cast. This foundation, like other CG foundations, do oxidize a bit. It is advisable that you pick up a shade lighter than intended. 

Pros - affordable, high coverage, wide selection of shades, lasts a long time (8+ hours) on the skin
Cons - bit thick and needs a bit of time to blend

I use my Beautyblender to blend this foundation and can easily skip using concealer for daily use. 

Make Up Forever Duo Mat Powder foundation - $40 CAD
I don't remember the last time I used a powder foundation. The last one I used was Studiofix, probably more than 10 years ago. When I traveled to Chicago last month, I wanted to bring a quick and easy but still quality foundation and picked up the Make Up Forever Duo Mat during the Sephora sale. As suggested on its box, the powder is best applied with the sponge it comes with. I have tried to wear the foundation with a brush but the coverage is too light for my liking.



I love how quick it is to do the whole face with this powder. I tend to use it over a tinted moisturizer (current favourite is Laura Mercier) or a BB cream.
When I use concealer, I use it before this foundation. The coverage is medium but can be layered to full. It's best not to do more than a couple of layers or can get cakey.
The oil breaks through about 4 hours in on my nose and need blotting but overall it lasts about 6 -7 hours.
What I really like about this is the colour match - the yellow undertone makes this powder match my face perfectly (my shade is 203).