The Skincare Freak

Marc Jacobs The Face II - Sculpting Foundation Brush No. 2

Bought for: P2,647 or $48

Bought from: Sephora Philippines

I've always wanted to own a Marc Jacobs brush. It's one of the high-end brand I always look up to so when I got the budget, I immediately purchased a bestseller from their brush collection - The Face II - Sculpting Foundation Brush No. 2. I thought it over and over whether I'd get the The Face I, II or III (it was a hard decision, mind you) but because of the reviews and suggestions online, I settled for the No. 2. And because it's accompanied with a heavy price tag, I couldn't help but expect a lot. I know you are too so without further ado, let's start with the review! ***Okay I didn't expect it to rhyme hehe.***

CLAIMS

Cream Formulas. Full Coverage. Perfectly Poreless.

This innovative powder foundation brush has a smartly angled brush design lets you sculpt your foundation into a perfectly flawless finish. The Face II sculpting makeup brush enhances the application and finish of Perfection Powder, but can also be used with liquid and mousse foundations.

The Marc Jacobs foundation brush's innovative brush designed with oversized top allows for application and blending at the same time.The tapered bristles perfectly blend foundation, without leaving streaks or uneven spots. Can be used with other liquid foundation products.

This brush came with a sleek black cardboard box. I threw it even before making this review because I forgot that I'll be making one lol. My bad. Anyway, I love the black and silver look of the brush. The handle is sleek, sturdy and very easy to grip though a lot has been complaining that the print can be easily rub off. I had mine for like a couple of months or more, the pictures were taken just last week so the condition is very recent. I've washed it pretty much every single time but I didn't experience such. I'll wait and see after a few more months. What I would suggest is to always use mild soaps and gentle hands. Do not over-cleanse or rub on it so it would not remove the print.

The brush has an over-sized head that makes the job gets done a lot faster. It's also designed to be angled and it also has a domed head that's dense but still fluffy enough to move the foundation and distributes it in an even manner. The bristles are black then goes white on top and they are amazingly soft, nothing scratchy at all. It's overall flexible so you can really get into every nooks and corner of the face even with a large head like that.

The brush has a weight to it and I personally think that the weight actually adds to its precision. It buffs makeup onto the skin with less effort to give a skin-like finish. I'm used to dense buffing brushes that I can move in circular motion. But because of its unique brush design, you can only apply foundation either downward or sideways or just like how you would with a sponge which can be awkward at first. I got used to it though.

I've washed this brush a lot of times and I'm happy that this one doesn't shed like crazy. It also retains its shape even after several uses. I didn't have problem with staining too as it cleanses very well with my Beauty Blender Liquid Blender Cleanser.

Overall, this is a great foundation brush if you care less about price tags. If you are looking for a more budget-friendly alternative, go for Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, Morphe M439, etc which are my all-time current favorites.

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Zoeva #104 Buffer Brush

Price: P938

Bought from: Sephora Philippines

Here's another brush review I got years ago but never had the chance to talk about here. It's an item I got from a brush collection that I purchased from Sephora.ph way back 2017. I liked it before and just stopped using after I adopted too many brushes from different brands. I saw this one time as I was cleaning my collection and decided to reused it and well, just like the old days, it's still beautiful and functional.

CLAIMS

Dressed in remarkably dense, but soft synthetic hair, the Zoeva 104 Buffer achieves an incredibly natural-looking and flawless makeup finish. Perfect for an all-over application and impeccable blending of foundation, powder and mineral makeup, the flat top brush head easily picks up any kind of cream, liquid or loose textures without absorbing the product.

The 104 Buffer is a vegan foundation brush with a flat profile, great for applying and blending powder and mineral makeup. Its bristles pick up both cream and powder makeup without absorbing, making even makeup distribution possible for a flawless finish.

This brush comes with a chrome handle with shimmery design and a silver ferrule. Brush handle is short but the body itself is quite chubby. It reminds me of Morphe M439 Deluxe Buffer and Sigma F80 Kabuki Brush (brush top) combined.

The brush head comes in two-toned synthetic bristles which is very dense and flat. This makes it a great buffing brush whether you are using liquid or mineral products. It's also very soft and non-scratchy. The only thing I don't really like about it is that it sheds a lot. I'm not sure if I got a bad stock or this happens in general. Good thing, shedding is only evident during bath time and not during makeup application. It would be really annoying having to pluck out hairs while doing your makeup routine.

As I have mentioned, I knew I liked it so much before that I kept on using it for almost any base products I own. It works and blends makeup very well with zero streaks. It also gives medium to full coverage. It was left untouched in my vanity area when I got introduced to other buffing brushes like the Morphe M439 Buffer, Sigma F80 Kabuki, Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, Shiseido Perfect Foundation Brush, Sedona Lace Flat Top Buffer and many more. I like buffing brushes, just so you know. ;)

This is purely vegan so the bristles are synthetic and is soft to the skin. They say that synthetic bristles are better for liquid products but it works for powders too. It blends makeup seamlessly and I couldn't say anything bad about its performance. It's truly worth investing in! The price is steep for a single brush so I would suggest you get an entire set so you can save more. Not only you're able to save some bucks, you will also discover other great brushes from the brand!

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As I was browsing online and looking for an organic, water-based deo, I stumbled upon this set from the brand Piel Skincare. I'd like to support local brands and it's ideally one of those fast-growing, reputable shops we have in the Philippines. I assumed because there are loads of purchases and great feedbacks that was built from quality and honesty. I tried googling and I wasn't able to find a full review for this particular set (other than the shop's rating page) so I think this may be a good chance. Hesitation was inevitable at first because as a beauty blogger, I know that some only become a hype for great marketing even though the products were not good enough. Some posts hoax reviews and falsified claims - you know what I mean. In short, in the online world, it's very easy to deceive and get deceived.

This set isn't exactly an impulse buy. I made sure to read some of the thousand ratings available before I finally carted and paid. Also, I was looking for a good maintenance cream and a deodorant that is fast-drying and generally, these matched what I was looking for. It's pricey for P1,050 a set but it's kind of a practical buy considering you get a total of 3 items.

CLAIMS

The new and improved formulation made even better! No more underarm worries with Piel! Whiten, freshen and renew your underarms the Natural way. The set is good for 3- 4 weeks depending on your usage.

Inclusive of: Piel Underam Toner (50ml) - this serves as your deodorant and removes dirt not removed by your ordinary soap. Intensive UA cream (10g) - prepares your underarms for rejuvenation. Use for 7 days only. Perfect Smoothing Cream (15g) - renews your skin while you sleep 100% effective and safe even for lactating or breastfeeding moms. (Always consult your OB 1st for consent before using any whitening products)

STEP 1 - INTENSIVE UNDERARM CREAM

This is the first step and you have to be careful because you can only use this cream in the first 7 days. This works like a bleaching cream only with zero peeling. It claims to to be the #1 Exfoliator that will renew your underarms from within and will continuously exfoliate your underarm's dead skin cells to aid in smoothening out.

The Intensive Underarm Cream comes with 10g of product inside and it's good exactly for a week as long as you use it day and night. It's recommended to do just that so product will really penetrate and work its wonders. I did what I was told and it's true, my skin felt smoother afterwards.

Cream has a bouncy consistency and I like that it dries fast without leaving a sticky residue. It doesn't stain white clothes too. It's isn't exactly a deodorant but I'm amazed how it keeps me odor-free the entire day. Cream itself smells subtly of chemicals but goes away after few minutes.

Using it for the first 7 days, I noticed that it leaves white marks and it settles on the folds of the skin. Make sure to cleanse your underarms well. During this period, my skin feels more sensitive to friction as it stings a bit especially during cleansing. I kind of expected it, at least, it means that it's actually working to exfoliate the skin. Just make sure not to over-rubbed at this period to avoid any adverse reactions.

STEP 2 - UNDERARM LIGHTENING SOLUTION

This is the easiest to use among the 3 products as it works like a toner and a water-based deodorant for the skin with extra whitening benefits. I use it every morning after the 7th day. It claims to keep the underarm dry and odorless for as long as 24 hours. This is quite true. I like that it's very easy to apply and that it gets absorbed by the skin quickly too. It doesn't feel sticky or uncomfortable which is why I am liking it.

It's instructed to use this product with a cotton. You have to dispense an appropriate amount and then gently rub on both underarms. You'll be surprised how much dirt will show up on the cotton ball! It definitely will remove remaining dirt and oil that your ordinary soap weren't able to remove. The only thing I probably find off about it is the fact that it's so small and steeply priced that it only lasted me about a month or so. I don't mind repurchasing though.

Now, here's to the last and final step!

STEP 3 - PERFECT SMOOTH UNDERARM CREAM

This is the 3rd step that claims to smoothen out bumps or chicken skin in as early as 2 weeks, leaving it flawlessly smooth like baby skin. This product is what I use during night time before sleeping.

This cream has 25 g of product inside that I think will last you for a while. You don't have to use a lot as a little goes a long way. The opaque white, mousse-like consistency will actually give your skin a brightened appearance which may look ghostly and awkward when you put too much.

I like this product but one thing I find off about it is that it also settles in the folds of the skin and the stain is really hard to get off. It's best use with the Underarm Lightening Solution in order to take it off. I won't dare using it alone for this fact though.

As I've mentioned, the cream is quite easy to blend (with proper amount used) and it dries without any stickiness too. It gives an illusion of a brightened skin but goes away once cleansed. Though good thing, regular using of this cream will actually make skin soft and supple.

VERDICT

Depends on the color of the skin, this may take a few months to see significant effects. I've been using mine for exactly a month and I haven't seen much lightening because IT. FREAKIN. TAKES. TIME. Miracles don't happen overnight. I still see some hyper pigmentation but my skin has improved a lot in terms of its texture. I still have a few left but for back up purposes, I already repurchased the set from the retailer and is waiting for it to arrive at my doorstep. All I can say right now is that this set will really benefit those who are looking for something to smoothen out and improve the overall look of the skin in a short span of time. With regards to its lightening claims, I will update you from time to time of the progress.

Until then, happy blogging!

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