Jill Stuart Smooth Silk Powder Foundation N in 202 Ivory

At last I am blogging tonight! ^.^ 

Oh I really miss blogging! I'm still on my adjusting period; I'm still trying to adjust my body to the working condition, it's not that stressful but the traveling and commuting is because of the bottleneck traffic and rush hour in the Philippines' business district.

Tonight's blog would be the much anticipated review on the Jill Stuart Smooth Silk Powder Foundation N in 202 Ivory. When I was doing my 'research' on this foundation, I couldn't really find much info and actual photos except for two helpful blogs, I decided to post a lot of photos and comparison so I hope this could help Jill Stuart fanatics and makeup lovers out there who are also doing their 'research' before buying/investing on a makeup =p

Once again, Jill Stuart doesn't fail when it comes to details. I really love paying attention to details and that's why I love brands that do. When you open the box, a small dainty floral accent will greet you <3

This is how the case looks like

This costs NT$450 

What makes this compact different from the previous compacts is the hygienic separator from the sponge to the actual powder.

Here's the refill

It's interesting to take note that the plastic case is very very sturdy! If you don't have the budget to buy the case, you can opt to buy this first and buy the case later since I believe the clear temporary plastic case is sturdy enough.

This retails at NT$1050 which is pricey but I got this on a promo so it's definitely a good bargain for me!

I was surprised to see a clear plastic film with Jill Stuart print laced on top included below the plastic case!
Once again- Jill Stuart pays attention to details
You can use the clear plastic film to cover the pan for added hygiene if you are OC-like me =p

At the back, you must strip the white paper off to reveal the adhesive

On the compact's box, there's an instruction in Japanese telling you to also peel off the stub on the lower left side of the the sticker. I'm no expert in Nihonggo but common sense tells me it's telling us to also peel the '202 Ivory' just in case we ran out of the powder and we totally forgot our shade, we can always refer to the stub.

Here's how it looks like on my palm, a big gem eh?
If you have this, try to swirl it around and look at the pretty kaleidoscope like pattern emerging on your compact =p The prettier and colorful environment, the better!

Here's the comparison to my MAC blot powder
On the outside it looks pretty much the same but side by side, Jill Stuart is a lot bulkier and MAC is slim thin

Here's how it looks when opened

Taddah! Jill Stuart actually only has 10 grams as opposed to MAC's 12 grams 

Here's how it looks on my skin

I only applied Pure Lasting Make-Up Base and Smooth Silk Powder Foundation N so you could see the real coverage without any concealer hiding my eye bags.

Coverage is actually sheer! No matter how much you try to pile up it doesn't look cakey although this could be a con too because it won't hide your imperfections effectively- but of course that's concealer's work =p

This is great for the no makeup makeup look because you could see your skin, the foundation just creates a thin veil of foundation on your face to lightly improve the overall look and texture of your skin. This is great if you have healthy and flawless skin but if you're looking for a heavier coverage it's advisable to use their liquid foundations.

Here's how I tested it, I used the foundation along with Jill Stuart primers(Day Care Essence and Pure Lasting Make-up Base) on two separate days to check which is more effective in oil control which will keep the makeup last long- I didn't have the luxury of time to apply a lot of eye makeup these days because I'm always in a rush actually =p

Foundation + Day Care Essence

My skin became oily after a few hours although Smooth Silk Foundation's oil control did help control the oil for a couple of hours. Day Care Essence is really on the skin care line but SAs are also marketing this as a primer for those who don't like the heavy silicone feel.

Foundation + Pure Lasting Make-up Base

My skin was shine free for almost the whole day! I was surprised! My face was an oil rig for the past couple of months and I was surprised to experience an almost oil free day for once this summer.

I actually like Pure Lasting Make-up Base even if it seems like it's an unknown Jill Stuart product- I think this primer and Smooth Silk Powder Foundation N will work better in the Philippine sun.

Hope this review helps! ^.^ 

MAC Blot Powder in Medium Dark

May I say we're sizzling hot in here? Wooh! Yesterday reached around 37 degrees Celcius here in the Philippines and lucky for me, I've set a date with the boyfriend so we went strolling around in our favorite mall Rockwell. 

We also watched "Kick Ass" and it's really a kick ass! 

However, for a makeup addict, the best thing to do in Rockwell is to visit Shu Uemura and MAC counter- of course there's also Beauty Bar.

I remember I really wanted to try MAC Blot Powder because I'm having a bit of problem with my T zone so I grabbed the chance to purchase one item from MAC. Just one ^.^ I'm a good girl, I wanted to buy Liberty of London's Free to Be eyeshadow since it's still available and MAC Cyndi lipstick but I skipped everything else and controlled my makeup appetite. MAC Cyndi resembles a bit like my Givenchy Rouge Interdit Satin Sensual Rose- both are beautiful rosy red coral shades but in my comparison, Cyndi goes on sheerer with a light touch of shine because it's a lustre lipstick.

MAC Blot Powder in comparison to my hands

MAC Blot Powder costs Php1200. 

When I checked the compact, I thought "Woah!" It almost slipped from my palm, no wonder I see a lot of broken MAC compacts on the internet =( I think the culprit would be the smooth matte finish that makes it slippery than the glossy ones plus MAC Blot Powder's case is thinner than the other MAC clamshell cases. However, I really love matte finish so I'm taking care of this baby.

I checked the shade selection, the darkest shade Philippines carry is Medium Dark but I disagree with the selection, a lot of Filipinas have beautiful tan skin tone and MAC ought to bring in darker shades ^.^

For reference, I am second to the lightest shade in Jill Stuart (a Japanese makeup, most Japanese brands carry lighter shades than most brands)

I checked Medium and I initially thought it was nearest my shade but the SA recommended me to go for Medium Dark. I forgot to check her name but I swear she's very nice also like Raymond who wasn't around that time. The SA said she's afraid Medium might look paler and espasol like though it goes on transparent. I agree! I swatched both Medium and Medium Dark, turns out Medium Dark looks more natural and invisible on my skin tone. 

MAC Blot Powder in Medium Dark

Here's how Medium Dark looks like, it doesn't actually look so dark, eh? 

I tried a spot on my forehead and nose to test how good the Blot Powder is on oil control. 37 degrees later, the small spot and my nose bridge remained shine free! ^.^ There was a teeny tiny bit of oil residue but it's nothing compared to the oil slick and shine I was having all over my face. MAC Blot Powder is good enough <3

MAC Blot Powder is a hefty 12 grams which would take me forever to use up. I often finish up powder compacts for a year to a year and a half with daily use so this is a good buy for me. Luckily, the shelf life is two years! ^.^

I'm still trying it out today for the second time using my own brush. It goes on smooth and silky; it doesn't look cakey at all! It's really transparent on my skin with or without foundation. I felt that my skin was soft to touch without much oil. I applied Blot Powder around 1pm and my face starts to oil up at 3:30pm which is pretty okay because usually my face would oil up after an hour. I just retouched, I normally start retouching by using a blot paper before layering another powder so my pores wouldn't be so clogged up with oil and powder but for now I skipped blotting paper and proceeded to brush on MAC Blot Powder just to see how good this is at absorbing oil, again it goes on smooth and silky and it did absorb the oil on it's own! It looks natural and not cakey. Great stuff in keeping oil at bay! Although my OC self would still want to use a blotting paper before applying Blot Powder ^.^

I will definitely repurchase this after finishing it up.

Beauty Dilemma III: Jill Stuart Smooth Silk Powder Foundation N or MAC Blot Powder?

Okay gals, welcome to another edition of Beauty Dilemma! Haha

Seriously I don't know who to turn to or ask for advice anymore

I'm going a bit looney thinking which powder compact I'm gonna buy.

What I want:

A good oil absorbing powder

Powder for setting makeup

Natural looking

Won't cake

Won't change my Jill Stuart Moist Silk Liquid Foundation's color 

An instant foundation I could use on emergencies when I have to dash out of the door a bare face

Am I asking too much? =p

Basically I will just use the powder most of the time for setting my makeup and absorbing oil since it's like summer all through out the year in the Philippines and I ALWAYS oil up on my T-zone.

I will only use the powder as a foundation at rare occasions when I'm in a such hurry that I will just have to do my makeup while on the road

I found two powder compacts that might be worthy looking at:

Jill Stuart Smooth Silk Powder Foundation N 

Pros:

• It has exactly my shade in Ivory
• Claims to be light, airy and non-cakey
• Claims to be have oil control properties while being moisturizing
• Other review say this makes the skin glow 
• Jill Stuart's liquid foundation does make my skin glow and there's a big chance it's the same with the powder one
• Handy in cases of emergencies where I have to rush without putting on any makeup
• Cutest powder compact I've seen
• Hygienic; puff is separated from the pan

Cons:

• Super expensive considering I'm just gonna use this as a setting powder, don't get me wrong, Bon sells this for Php2400 which is very cheap considering the retail price is already a whopping NT$1500.
• Silver compact's design is fingerprint magnet; needs cleaning every now and then
• It has a light floral scent, I use a lot of Jill Stuart products and the scent may pile up 
• Only has 10 grams
• This is a foundation and not a light pressed powder. Would light dusting make it look cakey? 

 

MAC Blot Powder

Pros:

• Drastically cheaper and reasonable price for a setting powder, retails for Php1200
• Claims to be translucent which makes choosing shades easier
• Sleek professional black packaging makes it low maintenance to clean
• Has 12 grams (that's 2 grams more than JS)
• Has a lot of good reviews in terms of oil control
• Unscented

Cons:

• Can be drying and flaky if you have dry skin areas
• Other reviews say this is starchy but makes it a great oil absorber
• Powder's MAC logo and other writings will fade easily- that's what I usually see with the other MAC compacts
• Puff is placed on top of the pan, not so hygienic but that can be easily resolved

Another fact for me to consider is that powders lasts me a year because I only use it for light dusting and setting. 

Oh I forgot to include that Bon's gonna go backpacking trip to Aussie soon so this might be my last chance to get Jill Stuart! Jill Stuart's pretty hard to come by to the Philippines and I don't know any other importer already while MAC is just a car ride away.

Watcha think gals? 

Where I've Been to These Past Few Days

Wooh! It's been very hot and humid these past few days. Sometimes it's not the heat that's bothersome but the high humidity level we have here in the Philippines that's unhealthy and uncomfortable. 

We went somewhere very near to the beach in Subic but we didn't get to go to the beach, it did brought me to tears because the last time I went to the beach was more than 10 years ago. 

We had to cancel it so we would make it to the US warship tour (which doesn't interest me) but invitation to highly restricted areas comes once or twice in a lifetime. 

We aren't really allowed to take photos but one of the head gave us the liberty to do so.

I have a lot more photos but as courtesy I'd restrict releasing so much especially those taken inside the captain's room and other control rooms which are awesome! That's all I can say. My lips are sealed =p

But I think these harmless fun facts won't hurt:

It's like a whole new city inside, you'll get lost very easily.

They have a nice hospital inside complete with ICU section

They also have morgues inside, it's creepy but I think it's very very cool and considerate because I get the point if you're away for months from the land and you suddenly die, they give due care and respect to the dead who did great service to their country. 

They have a library and computer room where the crew can use the computers to get in touch with their loved ones. 

They have barbershops too, but I wonder if there's a salon for the women because I saw a lot of women too.

They have Vendo machines but you have to use an issued card in order to buy- meaning no outsiders could get to use the Vendo.

What's cool is that their Vendo sells everything from chips to toothbrush but of course these are in separate Vendo machines. 

They get TV signals especially the Manny Pacquiao fights in live streaming.

Food and drinks are great- The head was hospitable and we were invited to eat and drink to get the experience of being part of the US Navy but we didn't get a lot since we're not really doing anything to benefit from the US taxpayers' money. I see how Philippine politicians pocket the taxpayers' money without doing much service to the county and how we taxpayers suffer so it's not right to do it to other people when you know how it feels to be robbed. 

I love the trip but I would love to go to the beach, still. 

I didn't get to put on make up that day because I thought we were going to the beach when they canceled it when we're leaving the house. Good thing I brought my Jill Stuart Day Care Essence with SPF30, Kanebo powder, Clinique lipgloss and Kiehl's lipbalm so I'm pretty much all set.

*****

LBC shipment has arrived last Monday! ^.^ Another reason for being busy sending packages.

I've been double wrapping everything especially Alice in Wonderland because I want them to arrive in the safest condition possible. I enjoyed wrapping one in bubble wrap because it's so plump you can already use it as a pillow :)) You almost can't see through due to the layers of bubble wrap and extra styro lining inside.

This package has arrived just tonight to it's lucky and nice owner in Baguio City ^.^ 

Gimme Some More Jill Stuart Lovin'

Why am I in the Jill Stuart phase right now? 

It's a blessing and a curse haha

It's a blessing to own these great make up and it's a curse because it's creating a big hole in my wallet...

God bless Taiwan for great make up finds!

Jill Stuart is pretty hard to get but so far I'm getting it easily plus the Taiwan price is cheaper than Hong Kong or Japan price. 

Suhweet! 

I'm just waiting for the latest powder compact to come out in March

Now, I wish Philippines would come out with these set promos instead; it's cheaper up to a certain point but at least it's a guarantee that their stocks are moving.

See? One value set in Taiwan was sold out... 

What's Inside Jill Stuart News 2010

Bon sent me this along with my Jill Stuart haul.

How thoughtful of her! ^.^ She knows how much I love lurking on Jill Stuart's website to check out new stuffs to hoard but my problem is that the internet sucks so it takes a while to load the website.

So she shipped this out along with my first Jill Stuart haul so I could just browse through in the catalog instead of waiting a great deal of time just waiting for the site to load. 

I'd like to share this catalog with you especially those Jill Stuart fanatics in the Philippines 

This is a labor of love since I squeezed the whole catalog into our new scanner printer in one (it almost chewed the catalog in the rollers huhu)

*click on the photos to enlarge*

I want another Jewel Crystal Eyes in Ruby!

And Dazzling Moon...

And Eye Jelly in Platinum Satin...

And Midnight Shine...

I want Mix Blush in Little Bouquet

Fresh Apricot

Fairy Rose

*uh oh this is the start of the blush phase!*

I also want Jill Stuart lipstick in Rosy Coral

I want to sneak some lip gloss too but all these lemmings are already making me feel so guilty... 

I don't like nail polish since it smells bad, it chips easily and I feel like my nails can't breathe...

 But lovely shade Sweet Syrup is luring me to get one!

Thank God I got their great foundation already...

Whew! I'm clear in this category =p no wallet burning lemming in this page

Nada! Not here too =p I got the Day Care Essence already...

 the lemmings mentioned above are all wallet burning enough for me...Haha! 

I'm not done yet! 

I recently saw Haru's post on Jill Stuart Smooth Silk Powder Foundation N 

Ah... I've been waiting for this since I am planning to get this once my current Kanebo powder foundie is finished... <3

Graduation Came

At laaast!!! After almost four years of studying at De La Salle University-Manila

Graduation came...

It was a bittersweet moment for all of us

We're happy that we're done and we're ready to embark to the next journey of our lives

We're sad that we won't be seeing each other often.

I'm glad I graduated with my close friend and block mate Abi

I'm sad I didn't graduate with my other block mates and friends (same sentiment with Abi haha)

But at least we got through college together though we're colleges apart.

Fixing my tassel in this pic, I think =p I just had this funny expression haha

When: Feb 6, 2010

Where: PICC

Time: 8am to 11am

Honorable Mention (but my 'badge' can't be seen coz of my long hair) 

P.S. I love Bro. Armin's earring haha, love him for tirelessly shaking our hands and smiling all through out handing diplomas to 900+ graduates and calling us with our nicknames.

Since this is a beauty blog I won't let this pass without a break down of my graduation FOTD:

Jill Stuart Day Care Essence primer

Jill Stuart Moist Silk Liquid Foundation in 202 Ivory

Shu Uemura Pro Concealer 3YR Medium Light

Kanebo Media PO-BI Powder

Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Frame Mascara

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Urban Decay eyeshadow in Ecstasy from Book of Shadows 2

Urban Decay eyeshadow in Sellout from Book of Shadows 2

Jill Stuart Jewel Crystal Eyes eye shadow palette

L'oreal Blush Delice in Fresh Papaya

Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited in PK308

Shiseido Primalise Gloss in 92

Powder Dilemma: Jill Stuart or Paul and Joe?

I'm having a bit of powder dilemma since I'm soon gonna throw my current powder in the trash bin.

I just use the powder to lightly dust and set the liquid foundation.

I'm thinking... What should I get? I just want a powder that's light, non shimmery and something that would keep oil at bay although this is just a plus since I don't produce a lot of oil and I use oil blot paper regularly. When I dust the powder on it would not look fake as if it's just powder sitting on top of my face (ehem, I'm describing the one I'm currently using, so you get the drift why I wanna change it already).

 Choices are:

Jill Stuart Moist Silk Powder Foundation

20 grams for HK$260 (approx. Php1560)

I haven't read much reviews or infos for this one

Jill Stuart Pressed Powder

20 grams for HK$260 (approx. Php1560)

Although I heard this has shimmer

Paul and Joe Pressed Powder N

7.5 grams for unknown price (haha!I'm gonna find this out soon)

I heard this has shimmer too