Farhana J's Blog: January 2013

Thursday 17 January 2013

Review: MAC Blot Powder / Pressed

Finally, I've been wanting to do this review but I always forgot about it and do something else.

I've use this for a while and I do love this and recommend for those who wants to battle shine on their complexion.

Before I got this powder, I used MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Natural in Medium Dark to set my foundation and that powder is great and all, but my skin tend to look too shiny after a while.
Then I watched a beauty vlogger that use MAC Blot Powder on top of the Mineralized Skinfinish Natural and she was giving praise to the product, so I was sold! I got it.

From MAC

"A unique pressed powder designed primarily to provide shine control without adding any noticeable colour or texture. Sets foundation, finishes faces. For use in professional situations and for frequent touch-ups. Blot Powder contains Mica and Silica to adsorb excess oils and reduce shine on the skin's surface. Can be applied with the puff that comes in the compact or with a powder brush like #129 Powder/Blush Brush. Perfect for touching up Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation throughout the day."

Hit pan! after those regular use, :)

The MAC Blot Powder does reduce my shininess and oiliness and I think my makeup last better and my Mineralized Skinfinish Natural work better with this powder. This combination gave me a natural glow with reduced shine.You definitely don't need much and currently I don't wear it as much as before. I used to dust it like crazy before when it's actually not necessary, but I learned now.

Generally, I think my skin is less oily than it used to be, even in the summer or when I'm back in Ampang's hot tropical climate *generally my skin improved with age, lol*. I still use this but more sparingly and really that's enough.

I have not got any bad reaction from this and I trust this product. Though this product is a simple science of being heavy with MICA and SILICA which absorbed the oil, as MAC has clearly claimed. So those who obviously have problem with these ingredients, just stay away or use it to your own risk.
When I had issue with flaky dry skin I would avoid using this or just use this on tip of my nose *because oily nose tip is never flattering* as I think it's unnecessary. I wouldn't say this powder worsen it though.

One thing I notice, when comparing Medium Dark Blot Powder with the one from Mineralized Skinfinish Natural, it's lighter in shade. So it does not really matches my skin tone and I'm annoyed as it does give off a bit of ashyness after I got the 'perfect' second skin look with my Mineralized Skinfinish Natural. Nevertheless, it is light in texture so it doesn't affect much. Probably if I get my exact shade it looks better? or better, if it's a translucent instead.

The compact is fine, come with a mirror and the price is MAC standard, £20.00.
It last long as you don't need to use much so it's worth the spend.
Overall I am satisfied with this product but I'm not sure if I want to repurchase it. I would like to try a real translucent powder since I notice the issue *the only one* I had with this.
So I will try MAC Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder as that claim to mattify as well. We'll see how that goes.

Rate: 4.5 out of 5

PS: I got the MAC Prep+Prime powder, but I haven't use that yet. I just realized I had not done any shopping hall this semester. Maybe because I'm ashamed of how crazy ignorant shopaholic I've become, lol. A bit too late don't you think for a haul? hehe.

Thursday 10 January 2013

Makeover - past runway inspired Twinkle Fall 2009

So I thought of this look from this video that feature Gregory Arlt from MAC for Twinkle Fall 2009.

Despite that it's from 2009, it still relevant and this look good for all year round.

It's inspired by the 50's although much more softer as Arlt says it's the teenager daughter that watch her mum do her makeup, so instead of a cat eye, it's a 'kitten-eye'.

Instead of a flat matte as in the 50's, it's more luminous and shimmery with the eyes are swipe with something silverish pink (Naked Lunch by MAC) and an orange red lips (Lady Danger).

So I did the look on my sister and I notice how this look very good with a cream headscarf.

Base:

Mix of Revlon Colourstay in #Toast and Photoready Makeup in #Vanilla and adjust to my sister's skintone. The finish of this mixture will give the right amount of dewyness and shine control.

Conceal under eye darkness and any blemishes with MAC Studio Sculpt in NC30

Set with MAC Blot Powder in Medium Dark.

Eyes:

Sweep MAC Naked Lunch eyeshadow to the lids.

Line the upper lid with MAC Fluidline in Blitz and Glitz (the only one I had)

The eye-liner should quite thick and not too extended. Then the outer corner slightly flick (very subtle)

Lips:-

Line and fill the lips with orang tone lipliner, MAC Lipliner in Mouth Off and follow by MAC Lipstick in Alibi. I made the lips less red and more orange peachy than the Twinkle one, but it's still matte.

Face colour:-

Soft contour with MAC Minerealize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Dark. This should be more subtle for that younger 'teenage' look, if the contour too apparent it's more mature than it should be.

Blusher on the apple of the cheeks Elianto Studio Blush in Nude Pink.

Dot the liquid hightlighter Tony Moly Crystal Light Pink Beam on the cheekbones and other high planes of face. Set it with MAC Irisdescent Powder in Verve-acious.

I blend it more freely into cheeks and get the hyper-luminous cheeks and dewy complexion which is in contrast with the more matte complexion of the 50's.