Weekly Favourites #17

This was supposed to go up on the weekend but I've been so busy! So... what I've used most and have been loving last week were -

Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation in 143 - One of the sheerest foundations I own, but if you like your skin to look like skin or if you have perfect skin (jealous!), then you will love this on its own. This doesn't quite justify the price tag of $80 bucks for me, but when mixed with other thicker foundations (I favour the Shu Uemura Lightbulb Foundation to mix or MUFE HD Foundation), the results are darn natural yet still with an oomph of coverage.

Marc Jacobs Re(marc)able Concealer in 04 Glow - Refer to glowing review here. I've been getting so carried away in the morning just spot concealing but it's been worth it.

Hada Labo Air Aqua UV SPF50/PA+++ (fresh) - This sunscreen is HG material, babeh. Goes on like a serum, sinks in instantly, so lightweight that I can't feel it, leaves no white cast and keeps me matte all day long. This is a sunscreen like no other, beats the Biore ones hands down.

Selsun 2.5% suspension - This is a very strange item to be in favourites, but here's the backstory. I was stalking reddit/r/skincare as per my recent nighttime reading addiction, and came across some posts that talk about acne being caused by fungus rather than bacteria. The signs of the fungal acne include many small bumps around the hairline and jaw area that don't go away despite using all the traditional acne medications. The anecdotes refer to using anti-dandruff shampoo as a wash or a mask (diluted and spread as a thin layer), specifically Selsun or Head & Shoulders which have the active ingredient of Selenium Disulfide and Zinc Pyrithione respectively. I decided to hunt the Selsun down (no silicones) and give it a shot and whaddayaknow, my little bumps pretty much decreased by 50% after the first use. It also seemed to do wonders for cleaning out my sebaceous filaments (these are not blackheads as most people think!) on my nose and cheeks. I won't say the bumps have completely cleared, but they don't make me want to squeeze them out anymore! So if you are at your wits end like I was, maybe using an anti-dandruff shampoo will work for you. Also, this does tend to be drying so use with caution.

Have a good start of week everyone, and as always, let me know your favourites too!

Marc Jacobs Re(Marc)able Full Cover Concealer Review

Can we just check out this gorgeousness that is the Marc Jacobs Re(Marc)able Full Cover Concealer? Extra points for the punny name too!

This is the most lux concealer pot that I've ever laid my grubby large hands on. It's rather solid, hefty almost and is actually a good substitute as a paperweight, a beauty addict's paperweight that is. I particularly like the filleted (architectural software command that joins 2 lines perpendicular to each other with a rounded corner. hur hur) edges of the glass.

I know that the Marc Jacobs Beauty line does go quite high end, but this concealer retails for SGD$36 which is actually not too bad given that Tarte, MUFE, Nars etc. go for much higher, and even MAC concealers are SGD$30 which is not that much cheaper than the Marc Jacobs Concealer. It's probably one of the more value-for-money items in the range in my opinion ( and also because I might be concealer obsessed).

Enough of the case/tub-gasm. The product inside is unlike any concealer I've ever felt before. I highly suggest that if possible, do go down to a sephora/marc jacobs store to feel it. It's super duper creamy and silky, yet it's almost like all that silky creamy goodness got pressed at an intense pressure to form dense yet airy texture. I am so bad at describing it, so let me give it another go. It feels like an ultra dense meringe mixture before it's been baked. For those who are familiar with the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer, it's like someone whipped that formula then pressed it into a more solid form.

It's whipped delight, that's what this is. (sidenote: this also feels and is chock full of silicones that is probably what gives it its delightful texture)

MAC Studio Fix Fluid NC30, Marc Jacobs Re(Marc)able Full Cover Concealer 04 Glow

I have the shade 04 Glow, which does well on my NC30-35 skin when used on pigmentation and scars. It's not brightening under the eye so if you're looking for an undereye concealer do go a shade lighter. 04 Glow also has peachy undertones, so it would do well if you're a NC35 and above and looking to correct dark circles. I can't use this in large portions because I'm more yellow undertone than peach, but in areas to correct the colour of pigmentation, this does wonders.

For demonstration purposes, I have used my dark eye circles as the rest of my face is being a bitch. When Marc said full cover, he was not kidding. My favourite way of using this concealer is going in with a small brush and to pinpoint conceal lisa eldridge style. It blends out seamlessly into the rest of the face while still giving any marks the coverage that you so desire. I find that using a finger really just wastes product because a finger smears the product around. Also given the relative softness of the product (as compared to other cream concealers), using fingers seem to create a dent in the tub really fast!

Texture wise, it's so creamy that I thought it would be a really hydrating concealer. I was disappointed because the texture actually exposes the rough texture and any dry patches that I have on my skin. Another reason why pinpoint concealing is the way to go. Folks with nice smooth skin/well hydrated skin would best benefit from this concealer.

Longevity is where the other portion of the name comes in - re(marc)able indeed. My combination dehydrated yet oily face went a full 9 hours with minor fading of this concealer in portions of my face that I do not touch like my cheeks. Considering that I find this concealer to be one of those do not not truly set to a finish that doesn't transfer (like the Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer), it is very impressive! I wish it did set someone like the MUFE Full Cover Concealer though, would really appreciate something that doesn't transfer.

All in all, aside from the rather crappy shade range, if you're someone who has PIH and smooth skin, or are willing to put in the effort to pinpoint conceal, this would be a comparable concealer to the likes of MUFE Full Cover Concealer but with a better, softer finish. Folks with more textured skin or matured skin, if you enjoy the skin-like texture (because this concealer does reveal the skin texture through it's pigments), then this is also for you.

This is an A product for me, now if only I had smoother skin to make using this product easier. -wistful-