Review: Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous Foundation

Identifying Information Product name: Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous Fresh Complexion Oil Free Foundation in 115 Buff Beige, 30ml Price: PhP 495.00 Description: "One simple step for a flawless, natural look that lasts all day. The formula blends easily to even skin tone and reduces shine all day. Oil free. Won't clog pores. Suitable for sensitive skin. Lasts all day." Product Origin: USA Where I bought it: SM Megamall Department Store History: I purchased it about a month ago and I've been using it regularly since then. 
Physical Examination:

This was taken a few hours after the photo above was taken. Notice the shine on my nose and forehead. I have combination-oily skin and for me that shine you see is still tolerable. 

HAHAHA

Sorry for the poor quality of the photo. The point of this photo was to show how my face with foundation on compares (or matches) to the skin on my neck.

Ingredients:

Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propylene Glycol, Talc, Dimethicone, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Sodium Chloride, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, PVP, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylene/Methacrylate Copolymer, Trihydroxystearin, Arachidyl Behenate, Methicone, Silica, Sodium Benzoate, Synthetic Wax, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Hexyl Laurate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Ethylene Brassylate, Behenic Acid, Polyethylene. May Contain/Peut Contenir: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides.

Salient Features Positives:

• Feels lightweight on the skin
• Easy to apply using fingers and/or makeup sponge 
• I don't use makeup brushes to apply foundation so I can't comment on that aspect. I'm planning to buy a foundation brush soon though!
• Good oil control
• I used this on an extremely hot and humid day. I applied my makeup at around noontime and topped it off with a light dusting of the Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous powder foundation and 3W Clinic's Natural Makeup Powder. As this was a special occasion, I also used Innisfree's No Sebum Primer. I was sweating buckets prior to the graduation march because we lined up outside the venue and we were under the scorching heat of the sun. My makeup stayed in place! I didn't blot my face or anything but my makeup still looked good in photos after the event. My family, my boyfriend and I had dinner and I still didn't blot before or after that. Of course my face was getting oily towards the end of the day but it was the good kind. It was not the bad, gross kind wherein I needed to blot and touch up stat. 
• On a regular hot and sweaty day here in the Philippines though and using this foundation without any primer, my face would get oily at about 4 - 5 hours. Oiliness would be most evident on my nose. Shine would still be tolerable as I don't find the urgency to blot right away. The amount of oil is definitely reduced compared to when I'm using other products. The foundation does claim to reduce shine, not totally eliminate it. I believe this is what a natural look is supposed to be.
• Does not get cakey when layered, when I get oily, or when topped with powder
• I don't see any clumps of product on the sides of my nose even when the foundation has mixed with sebum.
• Has a demi-matte finish
• The packaging is superb. It is made of an easy to squeeze plastic tube with a nozzle. It dispenses the right amount of product and is not messy at all. No problems with breakage or taking it with you during travels.
• No allergic reactions, no skin irritations
• Barely discernible scent
• It has a faint chemical smell but I can only smell it if I put the nozzle extremely close to my nares (nostrils) and sniff it from there. I don't smell it when I'm applying it on my face. My nose is fairly sensitive and this does not trigger my allergic rhinitis. 
• Did not cause me to breakout
• Does not settle in or emphasize pores
• No SPF
• This is a positive feature for me since I needed a foundation with no SPF for the occasion I purchased this product for. I needed a foundation with no SPF to make sure that there would be no white cast during flash photography.
• The manufacturing date is printed on a sticker.
• Good for 12 months once opened

Negatives:

• Feels faintly sticky upon application
• Powders can be easily blended on top of it so it's not a big deal for me.
• Compared to other base make-up products I've tried, this would be considered as barely to not sticky!
• May oxidize a little bit
• However it's barely noticeable, well at least for me
• Limited shade range available here in the Philippines - however this is the company's or distributor's responsibility, not the product's fault
• No safety seal/sticker on the cap or nozzle
• I'm sure the saleslady gave me a new tube since she got it from a cabinet but this safety seal would provide more assurance as to the freshness of the product. :)

Impression/Rating: 8/10

Discussion: Graduation day was coming and I was in need of a new foundation for my graduation makeup. The bottles of liquid foundation I had were all old and needed to be disposed of. The other base makeup products that I had were all BB creams and powder foundations but I didn't want to use them for the occasion. This led me to research on good and affordable foundations. I watched several videos on YouTube about top drugstore foundations and saw this one. In depth video and blog reviews on it were all praises about it so I made my purchase and I'm glad I did. It's good for daily use and it also proved itself worthy of use during special occasions. 

Prognosis: I will continue using this product and it is highly likely that I will repurchase it once I run out. I may try other foundation makeup in the future (like the Covergirl Outlast 3-in-1 foundation, but that's more expensive) but the important thing to me is that I now know of a foundation that I can rely on. If you're looking for a new foundation and you'd like to try something affordable but has good quality, I highly recommend this one.

Other things I want to say not related to the product being reviewed:
Hello! If you're reading this part of my blog post, I would like to thank you for the time you spent reading! I'm going to try and blog more regularly/often from now on. I will also try to take photos using a proper camera for better quality. I do not edit my photos or add filters to them. The only editing I do is adding my blog's URL on the photos. I'm not really the artistic type so I'm also not adept at taking pictures. *Cue Bigbang's Loser*

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, feel free to post it below or reach me thru different social media. :)

Review: Nature Republic Aloe Vera Soothing Gel

Identifying Information Product name: Nature Republic Soothing and Moisture Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel 300ml Price: PhP 245.00 Description:

According to the Korea Department Store website:

• FREE from paraben, mineral oil and artificial color
• Has a mild formula
• It is a soothing gel made from organic aloe certified by the California CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers).
• It has a mild and moisturizing effect for the face, arms, legs, and hair. It has multiple uses!
• It is rich in soothing effect with 92% Aloe Vera leaf extract with non-sticky fresh absorption for moisturized skin.

Product Origin: Korea

Where I bought it: Nature Republic, 4th floor, Atrium, SM Megamall History: I've been using it almost everyday since April 2014. I've used up around 60% of the content and I've purchased a back-up tub.
Physical Examination:

Salient Features Positives:

• Feels cool on the skin
• Has a pleasant smell--sometimes it can smell like alcohol but it doesn't bother me. It does not trigger my allergic rhinitis. I like how it smells.
• Works as a great moisturizer for my face
• I use this with my acne medications. Normally my acne medications would cause some irritation on my skin. My skin would feel dry and it would desquamate (not in big flakes though) to the point that my skin feels like its burning when I get sweaty. This product has helped soothe my skin and keep that from happening. I'm more compliant with my acne medications now because of this!
• Does not feel sticky once it dries
• Does not make me oilier than I usually am
• Does not cause any kind of skin irritation--like I said above, it soothes my skin!
• Does not cause any breakouts
• Inexpensive product with a lot of uses

Negatives:

• It can take a bit of time for the product to completely dry after application.
• It comes in a tub without any spatula so you'd have to dip your fingers in or transfer a bit of gel onto the lid to get the product out. This can be unhygienic. Just make sure your hands are clean before dipping your fingers into the product and touching your face.
• The big tub it comes in makes it bulky to take around. I'd love for this to come in a squeeze tube as well so I can bring it with me to the hospital or when I travel.

Impression/Rating: 9/10

Discussion:

I've read many good reviews about this product and I know that it is very popular in Korea. Many brands also came out with their own version of this aloe vera gel and that just proves how popular and profitable it is.

Aloe vera gel can be used for the face, body, hair, nails, minor burns, etc. I've tried using this once on a first degree burn and it did help soothe it. It is not the most moisturizing product out there but it does the job for me that's why I am very satisfied with it. :)  

Prognosis: I will definitely repurchase this product. As I've mentioned earlier, I have a back-up tub of this waiting for me. I've also purchased 2 other products from the aloe vera line (shower gel and cleansing gel cream) and maybe I'll post reviews of those too in the future. 

***I'm using a new format for my blog entries. This is actually an edited format of what we call a "patient write-up." A patient write-up is often required of us medical students/doctors-in-training to discuss diseases and their appropriate management specific to the patient. I was working in our health hub one day and thought of using a similar format for my blog entries which are basically product write-ups too. :)) I hope this makes it easier for everyone to read my entries! 

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Review: Nature Republic Botanical Green Tea Fresh BB Cream

*Edited to include swatches of both 21 Bright Skin and 23 Natural Skin

The product: Nature Republic Botanical Green Tea Fresh BB Cream in 23 Natural Skin 30mL

Price: PhP 680.00
Where I bought it: Nature Republic, 4th floor, Atrium, SM Megamall

Rating: 10/10

Pertinent positive/s:

• The cream is lightweight. It is not sticky at all.
• Easy to blend with fingers
• Perfect for summer or for extremely warm and humid days!
• Has a matte finish but it doesn't feel drying on the skin
• Very good oil control
• Does not end up being cakey
• Natural, buildable coverage
• Sleek packaging
• Pump works well
• Has SPF 30 PA++
• Mild, non-irritating scent (It did not trigger my allergic rhinitis!) which goes away after application
• No adverse reactions caused on my skin: no breakouts, no allergies, no redness, no irritation
• Great value for money!!!

Pertinent negative/s:

• Comes in only 2 shades, 21 (Bright Skin) and 23 (Natural Skin)