Review : Canmake Blessed Natural Foundation

Hello loves!

About ten years ago, I remember how important a powder foundation is in my makeup application. I usually wear a liquid foundation then top it off with a powder foundation. That's like double coverage. It made my face look flawless, but my foundation looked thick. As I learned more about makeup and skincare, I lessened the amount of makeup I put on and find which ones would make my skin look better but still have a natural finish.

Now I still go for liquids just because they have thicker coverage and more natural finish and then set it with transparent powder. However, I still have at least one powder foundation that I carry for retouching. The one I'm currently using is...

Canmake Blessed Natural Foundation
It costs PhP 770.00.

Below are the labels on the packaging:

Info from the website:

SPF25・PA++

Cosmetics that reward your hard-working skin! Happy skin through the bounty of nature. The gentleness of a skincare regime. What busy girls have been waiting for! The new foundation to give your skin a holiday♥

Give your hard-working skin a holiday!"I'm worried about the condition of my skin because I wear full make-up every day.""I don't like foundation because it feels heavy.""I don't have time to spend on a skincare regime."

"But I just can't do without make-up!!!

"We can solve all these problems of busy girls who can't do without make-up!!!Reward (1) Natural design that cares your skin

Chemical-free formulation - No silicon, parabens, tar-based pigments, ultraviolet absorbers, mineral oils, synthetic perfumes, synthetic preservatives or petroleum-derived ingredients.*Please avoid applying water directly damp sponge to the puff (do not use the method).

We have created this using no petroleum-derived raw materials.Reward (2) Simple and beautiful, without feeling heavy

The light, non-powdery texture won't clog your pores, creating a soft, comfortable finish as natural as bare skin.

Contains highly transparent crystal mica that covers pores and patchy complexions for hours on end, without fading.Reward (3) Reassuring UV-reducing effect

Worried about the UV-reducing effect of natural cosmetics that contain no ultraviolet absorbers?

If so, you'll be reassured by this foundation's SPF25, PA++ formulation.

Ultraviolet rays bounce back off the natural titanium dioxide, preventing UV damage, such as sunburn and dryness.Reward (4) Organic and natural ingredients (moisturizing ingredients) care your skin

Organic basic ingredients: Edelweiss extract and jojoba seed oil keep your skin moist.

Natural basic ingredients: Plant-derived squalane is an ingredient that moisturizes your skin.

Contains Rosehip extract, lavender oil.Reward (5) Saves time - no cleanser required

You can simply rinse off your make-up at bath-time with your usual face wash.

The biggest reward for your skin ♥ Getting plenty of sleep is the key to achieving beautiful skin.

Contains :  Organic and natural ingredients (moisturizing ingredients) care your skin

● Organic basic ingredients: Edelweiss extract and jojoba seed oil keep your skin moist.

● Natural basic ingredients: Plant-derived squalane is an ingredient that moisturizes your skin.

It's available in two shades—01 Light and 02 Natural. I have the shade Natural.

It cased in a compact with mirror. When you open it, you see the powder, and there's a second layer where you'll see the sponge applicator.

I like this kind of packaging because it's more hygienic. I also like the simple design. It's a bit more bulky than those without extra compartments, but it still doesn't take up much space in my bag and it's not heavy at all since the compact is only plastic.

The reason I bought this product is when I swatched it, it felt so soft and smooth. The shade Natural is also close to my skin shade.

Here's the swatch. It looks powdery here but it's not that powdery. I guess it's because I swatched it heavily. Anyway, check out the before and after photos below to see how it works on my face.

Left: Bare face
Right: With the product on

The first thing that I noticed is how awesome the coverage is. You can go from medium to heavy depending on how much you apply. I actually like the matte finish BUT I have to make sure to contour and highlight to give depth to my face, or else it will give the skin a flat finish. The shade is more yellow and maybe a shade lighter but once it sets, it blends to my skin and looks pretty natural. I have an oily skin so it adheres to my skin pretty good. It can last the whole day when used alone (no other foundations or BB Cream) when I'm in the office!

It's a pretty good product. I like it. It's affordable, easy to carry, and works well in giving my skin a flawless look. Pair it with a primer that lessens the appearance of pores and you'll get that beautiful skin finish!

To summarize:

What I LIKE:
- Great coverage (medium-heavy)
- Warm tones for my warm skin
- Packaging has mirror and double compartment
- Matte finish and lightweight
- Decent lasting power
- Locally available
- Affordable at PhP 770.00
- Has SPF25 and PA++
- No irritations
- No breakouts
- Can be used with a brush (for sheerer coverage) and also wet sponge (heavy coverage)

What I'm NEUTRAL about:
- No oil control. It doesn't claim that it does so it's not really an issue. I just appreciate products that help control the shine.

What I DON'T LIKE:
- Only available in two shades

Would I buy again? I probably will... it's just that I wanna try more first! It's still something I would recommend.

And that's all for my review. What are your thoughts on the Canmake Blessed Natural Foundation? 


Cheers,
DAWN

Review : Ellana Pressed Mineral Powder Foundation in Hazelnut Latte

Hey loves!

Ellana Mineral Cosmetics has impressed the hell out of me when it comes to wearing mineral makeup. I used to avoid mineral makeup because I thought they're not good enough in concealing my acne marks and that they wouldn't last long on my oily face. But if you've read my review on their Smile Concealer/Foundation, then you know I became an instant fan after the first try!

One of my concerns though is that it's hard bringing loose powder for retouching. It gets very messy! So it's a great relief that Ellana has a pressed powder form which I can take with me wherever I go!

Ellana Pressed Mineral Powder Foundation in Hazelnut Latte

This is Php 650.00

(You can get a 15% discount if you click my affiliate banner)

So here are the details about the product from the website:

What it is:

Can’t take your sweet time applying loose powders? Do we have something for you!

Our Ultimate Pressed Powder foundation combines the convenience of traditional makeup and the skin-friendly benefits of minerals in one compact.

How to Use:

Swirl your kabuki or powder brush on the powder, then shake off the excess. Apply the foundation on your face in circular, motions to get the best coverage. Add more layers on problem areas as needed.

Tips and Tricks:

This pressed foundation is ideal for oily and troubled skin due to its superior coverage and oil-absorbing properties. It comes in a variety of carefully designed shades to match Asian complexions.

Ingredients:

Mica, C9-15 Fluoroalcohol Phosphates, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Kaolin, Magnesium Stearate, Allantoin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Silicone Dioxide, Yellow CI 77492, Red CI 77491, Black CI 77499, Green CI 77288, Blue 77007

So my shade is Hazelnut Latte and I'm happy to say that this foundation comes in many shades, around nine I think. You can find your shade by visiting their branches or ordering a free samples kit from their website!

The packaging is pretty much the same as some of their blushes and lip and cheek creams. It's a simple mirror compact that's non-bulky and the beautiful illustrations by Soleil Ignacio gives that artsy, glam, kikay vibe. The powder stains the white material of the packaging though. I have to use some makeup remover around it to clean it.

It has a fine texture, not buttery smooth but still very fine.

The impressive part is how pigmented it is. I just swirled my finger a couple of times and I get this much product!

It's so pigmented that when I retouch in the afternoon, my skin looks as beautiful as it was when I just left the house this morning!

Above are photos of my face before I put on the powder and after I applied it. I didn't use any concealers or other products underneath. It's all the pressed mineral powder goodness! At first, you may find your face kinda flat from the powder but give it some time and it will set on your skin like it's your second skin!

The coverage of the foundation/concealer is still better but this is a great back up when I'm out of the house. It's just pricier than the loose powder versions but I just use this for retouching so I don't use as much product as when I use the loose form so it will last me a while.

What I LIKE:

- Awesome coverage

- Beautiful packaging

- Available in many shades suited for Asian skin

- Locally available

- No irritations nor breakouts encountered

- Easy to carry around

What I'm NEUTRAL about:

- The price is higher than the loose form but I use more of the loose powders more so I'm not complaining! :P

What I DON'T LIKE:

- Nothing!

And that's my review! Hope that this was helpful! Let me know your thoughts on the comments below! :D

For more info about Ellana, check out their:

Website
Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Ellana is available online and at the following branches:

The Ramp, 2nd Floor Glorietta 3, Makati City, The Ramp; 2nd Floor Shangri-la Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City; The Ramp, 1st Floor Trinoma Mall, Quezon City; Unit 203 La Fuerza Plaza 2, Chino Roces Ave. Corner Sabio St., Makati City

Disclaimer: If you click the Ellana links on this post (or the Ellana banner at the side bar), you get a discount when you buy online and I get a part of the money in return because I joined their affiliate program. Even though I benefit from this, rest assured that all I stated in my posts are honest reviews. :)

Cheers,

DAWN

Look Flawless with Ellana!

Hello loves!

Ever since I first tried Ellana Mineral Cosmetics, I became an instant fan. 

I've actually avoided mineral makeup until I attended one of Ellana's blogger events which gave me the opportunity to take home some of their products. I've already shared the reasons why I was hesitant to use mineral makeup and how Ellana changed it in my previous post, so for today's entry, I'll share with you how I achieve a flawless look using 3 Ellana Mineral Cosmetics products—Let's Make It Last Makeup Primer, Smile Cover It Up Mineral Powder Concealer, and Sheer Velvet Mineral Finishing Powder.

I've already made a review on the Let's Make It Last Makeup Primer so I will be skipping that one for this post. You can read the full review here.

And let's go to the product that saved mineral makeup for me,

Ellana Mineral Cosmetics Smile Cover It Up Mineral Powder Concealer

This is their medium shade with warm tones and it's only for Php 460.00.

Why saved? Because it gave me the coverage I wanted that I didn't get from the mineral makeup products I tried from other brands!

Smile is exactly my shade! I'm happy that Ellana's products have warm tones so it blends well with most Filipina skin. Their Mineral Foundation and Concealer products are available in other shades as well:

Radiant—Light with warm tones

Cheer—Light with cool tones

Revive—Medium with cool tones

Before I go on with the product details, let's admire the very fab packaging first. The beautiful illustrations were made by Ms. Soleil Ignacio. 

Here are product descriptions from the website:

WHAT IT IS

Complete coverage without the mask-like finish - that is the promise of our new Concealer Foundation. This dual-purpose product can be used to spot-conceal and to cover up under eye circles. It can also be applied, in sheer layers, as a foundation for maximum coverage.

HOW TO USE

As a concealer: Use your fingers or a concealer brush to pick up the product. Blend onto your eye bags and blemishes in quick feathery strokes. 

As a foundation: Pick up a small amount with your kabuki or powder brush. Apply only a sheer layer to color correct and/or cover problem areas.

TIPS AND TRICKS

This is a foundation for oily and extremely troubled skin. As a

concealer, it can work with all skin types. It comes in five color correcting

shades to effectively keep imperfections under wraps.

Ingredients:

Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Mica, Methicone, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Kaolin, Magnesium, Stearate, Allantoin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Yellow CI 77492, Red CI 77491, Black CI 77499, Green CI 77288, Blue 77007

Swatches on my hand

This product has heavy coverage, great for those who suffer from acne and dark spots. If you have clearer skin, I suggest you stick to their mineral foundations which also has good coverage and carries more shades.

The product is fine and soft and it feels very light on skin. Application is very easy. I use a flat top synthetic makeup brush or a flat kabuki brush for application.

The next product is the finishing powder:

Ellana Mineral Cosmetics Sheer Velvet Mineral Finishing Powder 

This is also worth Php 460.00.

Details about the product from the website:

WHAT IT IS

Look poreless, matte, and ultra-smooth up close with our best-selling Sheer

Velvet HD Powder. This translucent powder can set your makeup and help ward

off oil during the day! The pure white shade matches all skin tones.

HOW TO USE

After your foundation, use only a small amount of Sheer Velvet

on the center of your face. Simply retouch as needed!

TIPS AND TRICKS

This powder is recommended for oily and troubled skin. It can

also diminish the appearance of pores. It’s great to use with all

skin tones due to the colorless coverage.

INGREDIENT LIST

silicon dioxide, nylon-12, mica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Who doesn't want poreless skin??? It has been a dream for me especially since I have acne-prone, oily skin. As mentioned in the description, this product is recommended for my skin tone! Yay! 

Swatches on my hand

This powder is silky soft! It's also very fine that it gets in and fills those pores and lines thus giving you that smooth and silky finish. It sounds too good to be true but I'm not kidding! I'm impressed! It mattifies the face making it a great product to lessen shine (whether it's from your natural oils or if you use foundations or BB's that give dewy finish).

With the combination of this and the Let's Make It Last Makeup Primer, you would really get that lovely poreless finish! Don't believe me? Then check out the next photos below!

Here are shots of my bare face...

My skin is slowly clearing up (thank goodness... it may not look like it but it was worse before) but I'm still suffering with acne scars, especially on the jaw line. I also have enlarged pores on the cheeks and forehead.

After I cleansed and moisturized my skin, I apply the  Let's Make It Last Makeup Primer first. It's transparent so it doesn't make much difference so I didn't take any shots of my face anymore.

And then I apply the  Smile Cover It Up Mineral Powder Concealer...

I apply a very small amount on areas that are not so problematic like the apples of my cheeks and forehead. I concentrated more on the jaw area where many acne scars need concealing.

See how great it works on hiding those dark scars? Amazing! And I didn't have to use so much product.

And then I top it off with the Sheer Velvet Mineral Finishing Powder...

All smoothened now! Skin looks matte and feels so soft and pores are smaller!

I actually put the Sheer Velvet after the foundation but it can also be used as primer before you put on your mineral foundation to smoothen your canvas aka your face. :P

And then I just add some color on my face...

I LOVE the finish! It looks natural and my skin looks like it's glowing! The products feel so light on my skin that I don't even feel like I'm wearing makeup! Besides these, Ellana Mineral Cosmetics are cruelty-free, paraben-free, and fragrance-free! 

As for the staying power, well, it doesn't really control oil so I give around 2-3 hours before my face starts getting shiny. I have to blot and retouch using the Sheer Velvet powder. But even if I get very oily, the makeup doesn't fade. I only reapply foundation (I use the pressed powder form of their mineral foundation in Hazelnut) once for the whole day when I'm at the office. And does my makeup cake? No, it does not. But I'm not completely sure if the concealer/foundation will if it is applied on top of a non-mineral liquid foundation because I only use this with other Ellana products.

Overall, I love these products. I strongly recommend them! Like I said, I am now a fan!

For more info about this primer and other products from Ellana, check out their:

Website
Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Ellana is available online and at the following branches:

Glorietta 3

The Ramp, 2nd Floor Glorietta 3, Makati City

Shangri-la Plaza

The Ramp, 2nd Floor Shangri-la Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City

Trinoma Mall

The Ramp, 1st Floor Trinoma Mall, Quezon City

Pasong Tamo

Unit 203 La Fuerza Plaza 2, Chino Roces Ave. Corner Sabio St., Makati City

And btw, If you click this link (or the Ellana banner at the side bar), you get a discount when you buy online and I get a small amount of money because I joined their affiliate program. But even though I benefit from this, rest assured that all I stated in my posts are honest reviews. :)

So that's how I achieve a flawless face with Ellana! Hope this post helped you. :D

Cheers,

 DAWN