REVIEW: Top 5 Products for 2011

Good day~

It's the last day of the year and with that in mind I thought of coming up with a list of products that I've loved this 2011. I read similar entries from other bloggers and here I am joining the bandwagon. I'm hoping that I don't make this into a very long blog entry and bore you though. ;)
To make up for the lack of blog entries, I will be typing a short review for these five products!
Now I present to you SUNSETGLOWLOVE's TOP 5 Products for 2011:

(L-R) Maybelline the MAGNUM volum' express super film mascara, HANSKIN Super Light Touch BB cream, Tony Moly Expert Triple BB Cream, Maybelline Baby Lips lip balm, Tonymoly Luminous Sheer Powder

5 product reviews and lots of pictures ahead!

The product: Maybelline The Magnum Volum' Express Super Film mascara in washable black (non-waterproof type, as the name implies)
Price: ~400pesos
Rating: 10/10
Where I bought it: Watsons, SM Supercenter Pasig
(+): doesn't smudge, holds curl, increases the volume of my lashes, easy to remove unlike other Maybelline mascaras (-): None that I can think of.
This is my mascara for everyday use and by everyday I mean every school day. ^__~ It's everything that I'm looking for in a mascara. Despite it being easily washable, it lasts a whole day without smudging or making me look like a panda. I sometimes use it when I go out too and it still works! I will most likely buy another tube when I'm done with this one.

The box has a product insert but it's in Hangul!

Photo on the product insert which shows how to apply the cream.

Thinner than most BB creams I've tried but not so runny!

Not yet blended completely

Without flash. Blended well with my skin!

With flash

The product: HANSKIN Super Light Touch BB cream
Price: 26,000won (but I got this at 50% off, lucky me!) --> 13,000won = ~520pesos
Rating: 10/10
Where I bought it: HANSKIN shop in Myeongdong, South Korea
(+): thin consistency so it's easy to blend, covers the redness of my skin, makes skin look clear and smooth, didn't cause me to break out, has SPF30 PA++, blends with my skin tone, makes my skin look glowing instead of just oily, moisturizing so it's good for those with dry skin (but oily ones can use it too!)
(-): Has a very slight chemical smell (which I'm okay with!)

During our Korea trip last June 2011, one of the tourists asked Yoona (our DMZ tour guide) which BB cream is the best for her. Yoona said that she uses HANSKIN BB cream and that many Korean women use it and love it too. While walking along Myeongdong I saw the HANSKIN shop and got curious so I went inside. This BB cream was on sale at 50% off so I took the chance and bought it! Too bad that I didn't know how good it was then because if I did, then I would've gotten the special which was something like Buy 3 (at the 50% off price if I remember correctly) Get 1 free. Wait, was it Buy 4 get 1 free, aahhh never mind! :)

I told one of my new friends about it (Kay, a Filipina who's studying in Korea) then she told me that I should've informed her about the sale because she would've traveled to Myeongdong just to buy from HANSKIN. ^__^

How I wish HANSKIN was readily available here in the Philippines. I'm sure many Filipinas would love it too.

This BB cream is on the thick/viscous side. Good for oily skin.

Blended, without flash.

Blended, with flash.

The product: Tony Moly Expert Triple BB Cream (for oily skin)

Price: ~13,000won (around 500pesos); available in Tony Moly Philippines for 928pesos

Rating: 10/10

Where I bought it: Tony Moly, South Korea (I had a friend buy it for me, and for the same price it came with a free full-sized Tony Moly Marine Bubble Bright Cleansing Foam)

(+): has SPF45 PA+++, blends on my skin and looks natural, doesn't break me out, covers my skin's redness, light to medium coverage but is buildable, pump is very good

(-): thick consistency makes it a bit harder to blend than the thin ones (like HANSKIN) so I apply it before my moisturizer completely dries, medicated smell (which I don't find bothersome, but others may not like it)

I discovered this BB cream when I was given 3 sachet samples when I purchased stuff from Tony Moly in Korea. I tried it and it lasted a whole day of walking in Seoul up to a night of partying in Hongdae. I liked it so much so I decided to buy a full bottle.

During my last visit to the dermatologist, she thought that I stopped using makeup altogether and she commented that my skin looks better. (My skin has broken out; I have yet to determine the exact cause.) I told her that I still used BB cream because my family and I went to a trip to Tagaytay earlier this week. This was the BB cream that I used and it didn't aggravate my skin condition.

A classmate of mine also said that she gave this BB cream to her sister and it seemed to have helped clear her skin. :) I've also received several compliments regarding my skin with this BB cream on. ♥

The product: Maybelline Baby Lips in Smoothing Cherry 

Price: ~70-80pesos if I remember correctly

Rating: 10/10

Where I bought it: Mercury Drugstore

(+): moisturizes my lips well, smells good, very affordable

(-): None that I can think of.

I bought this on a whim and I've been using it ever since I got it. I love using it on top of my lip tints. It makes my lips look glossy and healthy.

With flash

With flash. Notice the pinkish tone of the powder.

Without flash

The product: Tony Moly Party Lover Luminous Sheer Powder

Price: 748pesos

Rating: 10/10

Where I bought it: Tony Moly, SM Megamall

(+): makes skin look glowing, can double as a light blush, photographs well, can be used for other parts of the body as well

(-): None that I can think of. It works great as a shimmer powder.

"Loose powder containing Pearl powder that elegantly shines with hologram effect to create a brighter and more luminous complexion. Porous powder effectively controls excessive sebum secretion to keep your skin shine-up. Jojoba and Vitamin E derivatives help to keep the skin soft and silky." (from Tony Moly Singapore)

I went to Tony Moly looking for a finishing powder but got this instead. I don't regret buying it though because it does a very good job of making my skin look healthy and glowing. I use it on the last step of makeup application and just put it on my cheeks, on my nose and a little bit on my forehead.

I do not recommend using it as an overall finishing powder because it has a pinkish shimmer to it. I just don't think it'll look nice on a person's whole face. It's best to use it as a highlighter. :)

Here are some photos of myself using Tony Moly Expert Triple BB cream, Maybelline The Magnum Volum' Express mascara, Tony Moly Luminous Sheer Powder and Maybelline Baby lips:

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I hope you enjoyed reading this blog entry as much as I enjoyed typing it. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to post it here. :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR! ^___^