It comes in two variants: BB cream #1 gives skin a shimmering effect; #2 looks natural and gives no glow or matte finish. I tried both and although I found both are very lightweight on the skin, I had a problem with the color – it doesn’t match my morena skin even after a few minutes after application, when the cream would have penetrated the skin. So I guess Laneige is perfect for those who have lighter skin tone.

Laneige BB cream, unlike other BB creams, is a multi-functioning BB cream – it has SPF41 ++ and claims whitening, smoothing, makeup base and foundation properties. Although a cream, Laneige made it into a liquid foundation formula that glides on smooth and provides light to medium coverage.#2 gives a no makeup finish while #1 gives a glowy finish.

The reason for this is that the product has fine two-tone hologram pearls that bring out a glowing and crystal-like effect when applied to the skin. The light-reflective particles make the fine lines and pores invisible, and instantly brighten the skin tone. It can be used on your body as well as your face. Can be used as a makeup base too

How to use: Dispense the appropriate amount and evenly spread from the large area of the face. If you re-apply onto the outer cheekbone area, T-zone area, and below the chin, the glow will be maximized to express more beautiful facial contours.

What then is a B.B cream and what’s the hype all the about? BB means Blemish Balm and is made for acne prone skin. Originally from Korea, it prevents breakouts and minimizes pores.  Now you need not wonder why Koreans have wonderful skin. The B.B cream is their secret. I used to wear tinted moisturizers from Laura Mercier but I think I can now switch to BB creams for the time being.

Maybelline’s version is in liquid foundation form packaged in an easy squeeze tube that is small enough to fit in your purse. The thing about B.B creams is that it contains little or no moisturizer so you need to apply moisturizer which really helps you get an even coverage. Maybelline has more than the usual SPF 15 in its BB cream at SPF 26!

Per package description, Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals Instant Skin Perfection Cream / B.B. Cream is a perfect blend of 8 mineral ingredients, which comes in an earth color shade that instantly improves and perfects skin.

Some BB creams leave the skin cakey or looking unnatural Maybelline blends well into my natural skin tone. I also like that it does not leave my skin glossy and shimmering as some products do. It also has a brightening and whitening effect on the face and keeps my skin moisturized. Perfect for taking pictures!

When I visited one of their stores I was offered a pink membership card for the purchase of the Precious Mineral BB Cream,one of their bestsellers, which I love so far since it gives my skin a dewy finish.

Korean women I see around the metro sport this dewy look. I’m not sure though if its really in the genes or, the products they use. At any rate, I can now say that despite my morena looks, I can approximate the glow and radiance of some of the Korean ladies I see. Nothing beats blemish-free, glowing skin.

Also, I love the concept of the store, particularly the pop princess feel of its interiors plus the fact that popular Korean actor Lee Min Ho (Korea’s version of F4) happens to be one of the endorsers of the product. I’ve been watching Perfect Match on local TV and I like him better sans the strong eye look he sported in as Gu Jun Pyo in Boys Over Flowers.

And speaking of Eye makeup, check out the Golden Eye Ratio Tear Drop, another product I liked which accentuates the eye with its light-diffusing pigments. I got the khaki shade which gives off an olive sheen to my eyelids but I love the other shades such as gold, brown and grey. This eye makeup is perfect when paired off with the other products from the Golden Ratio Collection such as Golden Ratio Contour Maker which can be used as highlighter, blusher and shading and the olden Ratio Face Glam, a contour make-up base with the perfect combination of dual liquid and cream highlighter.

Ahava Deadsea Algae Rich Foundation

One of the leading attractions of the Dead Sea is the  warm, soothing, super salty water, ten times saltier than sea water. This highly unusual characteristic has made the waters of the Dead Sea rich in chloride salts of magnesium, sodium, potassium, bromine, among other minerals. In ancient times, the beautiful Egyptian queen Cleopatra  luxuriated in its rich, black, stimulating mud to soak up the water’s healthy minerals.

Ahava, best known for its skincare line, has devoted years of research into the effects of natural Dead Sea minerals and algae on the skin. Their mud exfoliator and salt srubs is one of the best products around, having been featured in magazines (Us, Shape, Fitness) in the fall/winter of 2010.

Ahava Mineral Makeup Loose Powder

The brand’s most recent activity is the introduction of its own mineral makeup line, an especially skin-friendly makeup that has healthy benefits on the skin as it is paraben-free and all-natural. Formulated with a blend of hydrating Dead Sea minerals, natural pigments and age-defying, anti-oxidant rich Dunaliella algae, this new makeup line was designed for different skin types and tones and includes two types of foundation (rich and light) and two types of powders (loose and compact).

The Ahava Dead Sea Algae Rich Foundation, suitable for normal to dry skin, is a pump bottle foundation that has a creamy fluid texture. Its an ideal makeup for mature skin as it has antiaging benefits Shea butter and macadamia oil (that leaves  skin soft and supple), Avocado oil  and Jojoba oil (to moisturize skin) and  Omega 6 and Omega 3 acids (to prevent premature aging).

The light foundation, on the other hand, is designed for combination to oily skin. Its oil-free formulation provides light to medium coverage. It shrinks the pores and gives a matte shiny appearance to the skin with its natural pigments and minerals, leaving skin looking radiant.

The Ahava Dead Sea Algae Powder Compact provides a natural, matte complexion. Contains macadamia oil that provides a silky-soft texture for all skin types and evens out fine lines and imperfections.

The Ahava Makeup Loose Powder, featured in Oprah Winfrey’s “O” magazine, is not only a loose powder, it can also be used as a bronzer. This loose mineral powder, suitable for all skin types, is enriched with avocado oil to protect and nourish skin, allowing for a soft-focus effect when worn over your foundation.

The Ahava Mineral makeup line will soon be available in Ahava SM Megamall, Glorietta 4 and Shangri-La Plaza. Watch out for it!

The Base. First things first, create a perfect canvas for foundation. To counter the aging effect of late-night parties and booze, infuse skin with vitamin-enriched products. Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer, Winner of Best of Sephora Award for Best Primer, not only creates flawless-looking flawless complexion , its silky blend of vitamins A & E, grape seed extract and green tea is good for the skin. Need a hardworking foundation? Estee Lauder Double Wear Mineral Loose Powder  makeup has 12-hour staying power and great, buildable coverage. Soft-focus, skin-perfecting formula gives skin a flawless, semi-matte finish, without settling into fine lines. Stays fresh and looks natural even through nonstop activity. For touch ups, use  Revlon PhotoReady Compact Makeup, a bring-anywhere compact that gives you perfect, airbrushed skin in any light. Photochromatic pigments bend and reflect light to help erase every flaw. Hello new Facebook profile pic!

The eye. Glam up your makeup with eyeshadows that make eyes smolder.Be brazenly mesmerizing with Nars Okinawa Holiday Collection, a striking triad of silver, deep cobalt blue and onyx. Finish off with lash lengthening Revlon Custom Eyes Mascara. Adjustable bristles amp up the drama to your eyes.
 

Lips. If you choose to define the eyes, then tone down lip color with a sheer wash of color. Maybelline Colorsensational Lipstain gives a fresh barely-there feel and look to lips. Enriched with berry nectar to keep lips soft and moisturized. If you’re more a lips than eyes girl, go loud and proud on your pout. Red is hot this season. Revlon has brought back the iconic Fire & Ice collection. Get bold and fiery on your lips and on your nails with their super lustruous lipstick and nail enamel. YSL also has come up with its own version of red with the  Rouge Pur Couture. Gives intense, stay-true color that lasts all day. Comes in a luxurious gold case.

Developed by  Rebecca Morrice Williams, a makeup artist from Perth, Australia, whose mission was to search for “perfect foundation”, Becca is has now become a world-renowned brand of skin-perfecting products that make it possible for all women to experience the pleasure of a flawless and radiant complexion. The foundation looks  natural, conceals blemishes, feels weightless on the skin and stay fresh all day.

For the holidays, these must-haves will see you through endless parties from day to night:

The Limited Edition Prairie Moon Palette is a mélange of rustic and romantic shades from greenish grays, dark khaki to caramel nudes that radiate rugged femininity. For special day and every day use, try the Avalon Palette,  inspired by the classically pretty look of a blushing bride, with its collection of silvery pink, rosy nudes to burnished brown hues. 
Shimmering Skin Perfector is a water-based moisturizer that has light-diffusing particles of shimmer that illuminate darkened patches of skin, evening out skin tone. This can be applied all over the face but the secret is, pat lightly under your eyes and guaranteed you will look fresher than ever before.
Beach Tint is a swirl of Beach makes cheeks flush and glow. When lightly dabbed onto the lips, it adds a precious gleam.
All these and more are offered by the Becca makeup line.

Country music princess Taylor Swift, who will be in Manila for a concert on February 2011, is the new spokesperson for Covergirl cosmetics. Ffor her first ad she’s promoting the Nature Luxe Silk Foundation, a liquid, lightweight foundation that provides flawless coverage and goes on smoothly, covers evenly and leaves skin feeling soft, smooth and silky.

Covergirl  NatureLuxe exchanges certain select heavier synthetics for carefully-chosen natural ingredients such as natural jojoba and rosehip extracts along with cucumber water, which provides a refreshing and lightweight feel to balance creaminess on application. Oil-free and paraben-free, this foundation is available in 14 shades and has the SPF 10 for sun protection. Suitable for oily, normal and sensitive skin types.

Also in the NatureLuxe line is the  NatureLuxe Gloss Balm, a two-in-one product that gives a wash of natural sheer color while protecting lips against the drying elements of sun and wind. Formulated with SPF 15 and available in 16 shades, this luxury lip gloss/balm contains a  lightweight blend of mango, shea and other natural butters to moisturize and keep lips soft and supple.

Estee Lauder Pure Gloss Lipstick
Six brilliant shades, in different high-impact finishes, all in a golden case you can either keep for yourself or gift to friends. It’s a perfect touch to dress up holiday lips. Try the Passion Fruit (Shimmer), one of the beautiful shades in this set.

Bobbi Brown Limited Edition Pink & Gold Lip Palette
The ultimate holiday lip palette, this collection of fresh pinks, deep roses and a beautiful golden nude can be mixed and layered for a custom look.

Pur minerals Pur Rocks
Multi-tasking Pür Rocks help to enhance and brighten eyes, lips and cheeks with a dose of luminous colour. Vibrant, organic jewel tones of garnet and pink zircon capture the splendor of a desert sunset, illuminating the face with shimmering, rosy undertones.Work the bristles of your makeup brush into the rocks to unlock the pure pigments and apply on lips, cheeks and eyes.

The Body Shop Winter Trend Make-Up Collection
It’s a makeup designed for partying. Add a touch of festive magic to your holiday look with The Body Shop’s catwalk-inspired Winter Trend Collection. Eyes are dressed in feminine pink, gold and silver while glossy lips are shot with iridescence for a look that’s pure glamour.This season’s lust-have, the limited-edition Sparkler is a gorgeous boudoir-style bottle full of iridescent sparkle-dust. Its elegant atomizer ingeniously delivers a completely even veil of sparkle to the skin, while the clever combination of different sized pearls and glitters creates a sophisticated multi-dimensional shimmer. Lightly spray over the face, décolletage, shoulders, and neck for a flirty, sensual shimmer effect.

Guerlain KissKiss Strass lipstick in Rose de la Reine
It’s the perfect pink to ring in the holidays with. Adds a softer and more subtle yet festive touch to your lips with its opalescent flecks that give the color luminosity.This high-shine lipstick formula is lightweight and has a comfortable texture.Comes in a beautiful golden case.
 

Perfect Pink Lipstick from Colour Collection
Colour Collection, the premier cosmetics line of direct-selling company Tupperware Brands Philippines, co-created the Perfect Pink Lipstick with  versatile actress and primetime princess Bea Alonzo, the brand’s endorser. This new exciting, limited-edition collection has a sheer and crystal shine finish in dazzling pink hues.Choose from Perfect Pink Lipstick shades Pretty Pink, Power Pink, and Fab Pink to match your fair or medium-toned skin.

What do we love about the holidays? The endless parties  make dressing up and accesorizing more fun than usual.  Makeup  goes all out glam of course and this year’s look harken back to the hey days of Hollywood in the ’50’s. Let’s take a look at some of the newest holiday makeup collection….

Estee Lauder Pure Color Collection is a play on the eyes and lips translating ordinary everyday shades to vibrant, intense color. Comes in a slim, gold compact that you can easily slip inside your tote bag as you party on.

The five-color lip palette in rose to rich berry tones provide instant hydration and shinier, fuller lips while the five- color compact eyeshadow in hues of light to dark blue and ochre make eyes come alive. Use the highlighter wand to brighten and widen eyes instantly and build on color to varying degrees of intensity and finish — from matte, satin, shimmer to metallic. This long-wearing eye makeup runs velvety smooth on application.

Bobbi Brown Modern Classic Lip & Eye Palette

Bobbi Brown pays tribute to Hollywood’s golden age with the Modern Classic Lip & Eye Palette. Ten beautiful grays, bronzes and plums for eyes let you create any look from a soft wash of color to a dramatic, silver screen smolder.

Four exclusive shades of Glitter Lip Gloss add a hint of shiny, sparkly color. The colors are very wearable and versatile as it can go from day to night.