Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder

Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder
Price: 3oz Php1050 and 1.5 oz  Php700
Available: online (Digital Traincase)

Well, if you haven't heard of Ben Nye, you need to be penalized haha!

More than a year ago, Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder 

became an overnight sensation when 

Kim K posted her photos on Twitter and Instagram 

using the powder to highlight her face. 

Love her or hate her, we can't deny the fact that she's beautiful 

and though her make up is on the heavy side, 

it is very impressive...that perfectly contoured face.

Kim K with Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder
(Photo Credit: Kim Kardashian)

With the posts of  Kim K's photos with Ben Nye on 

and her make up artist's mention of the product, 

women around the world went crazy and started hoarding the powder that 

online order was set to 10 bottles limit per costumer.

The make up line is Ben Nye, it is a banana colored loose powder, thus, 

Ben Nye (Bella) Banana Luxury Powder.

The packaging is no nonsense. 

It's just a simple plastic bottle with a label.

What I do is tap a little product on the cap and use a brush to apply on top of foundation or made up face to set the make up and absorb oil from the face.

I have large pores and I noticed this tend to highlight it.  

I must say though, this setting powder will make you look good on pictures. 

After all, Ben Nye products are theatrical make up.

Before I bought this bottle, I got second thought because of the mix reviews I've read. However, I've been investing on make up needs for G since she got lots of activities which require her face to be made up. So, I thought this would be a good setting powder to use on her. And I was right! Even my niece, whom I do occasional make up, noticed how good her make up look when we use the Ben Nye Luxury Powder.

Yamaha Recital (unfiltered)

Ballet Performance (unfiltered)

Chinese New Year (unfiltered)

I don't want G to get make up from a salon or anyone who'd use products I'm not sure of. 

So, I practiced doing her face and stick to a routine which is easy and would look good.

Aside from being able to take care of her skin as she is young 

for make up, this saves me a lot of cash. :) I do her hair too.

What I do is prep the face with a moisturizer, 

then the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer, 

top it off with minimal bb cream or foundation, let dry then do the eye, face and lips, 

after then I dust the Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder. 

It never fail to give a good made up face every time and a good photo snap register!

Talc based, just like a baby powder.

Don't be discouraged by the yellow talc color, it perfectly blend with the skin, 

almost like you never dusted it to your face. It brightens the face a little too.

I like it that it is talc base which means it does wonders to control the shine.

Not only can you use it to set the make up but it is a good concealer too!

It is finely milled, it is silky but a good primer base is important to get that flawless silky look finish.

For the price, it is a good bargain. 

You won't finish a big bottle in a short period.

What I dislike though is its container. 

I have no qualms on the plastic bottle but the holes where the talc comes out is

 just too big it tends to be messy. 

It takes a little product to dust off the whole face but because of the big holes, it is sure you'll over spill. 

However, you can do something about it, like look for a better container to transfer the powder to.

Hope this review will help you ladies.

'Til Then!

XO :)

MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick

MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick is retro-matte and part of MAC's permanent line.

MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick

Price: around Php1000
Available in MAC counters: SM MOA, New Eastwood Mall, Trinoma, 
Glorietta 2, Powerplant Mall, Ayala Center Cebu
Finish: Retro-Matte

As I'm halfway on my Russian Red, I wanted to repurchase but I remembered that
I also wanted Ruby Woo at the time that I got the Russian Red.
So, I went ahead and bought this instead for a try.

Another thing I like about MAC lipstick is it's simple bullet like tube.

Because Ruby Woo is a retro-matte finish, it is super matte. It could easily dry out on the lips. What I do when I use this is to exfoliate my lips first and apply a lip balm for base. At first, I really have a hard time applying this lippy, it wouldn't glide that I rather use Russian Red. But hey, I always try to like what I buy, after all this purchase is a bit pricey. Other trick I do is layer on top some lip gloss, the color is beautiful.

One application doesn't do it for me, Ruby Woo is not as pigmented as Russian Red. 

Or maybe I'm just afraid to swipe harder, afraid I might break it tsk.

On my lips on it's own. Ugh! I really had a hard time applying this lipstick the first time. But see, how matte it is, looks like I used a lip pencil. Two more strokes and the color really popped beautifully!

Pros:

1. Pigmented. As I learned to prep my lips with a good moisturizer or lip balm; this gives good coverage in one swipe.

2. Long staying power. Though it makes fine lines on the lips visible and becomes dryer every passing hour, this definitely is the longest wearing lipstick in my list.

3. Super matte finish. Doesn't bleed or transfer. (hubby noted it too)

4. Vanilla scent.

5. It could easily brighten up your face!

6. Versatile. You could make it sheer with one swipe, then bold with one more.

Cons:

1. Yes, a little pricey. But you get what you pay for, I'm partial on this aspect. :)

2. Could be very drying.

Tips:
It's a must to exfoliate the lips and prep it with a good moisturizer or balm. 

Because of the beautiful color and it's very long staying power, I'm willing to overlook 

Ruby Woo's flaw being so dry as a desert! 

This is another must have red lipstick if you could just be patient on application and lip prep.

Would you purchase this, lovelies?

XOXO