Inglot Duraline and How to Use It

So lately I discovered this magic elixir that is Duraline by Inglot Cosmetics. I was researching on how I can revive my gel products; I have a Milani brow pomade and 2 Maybelline gel liners that noticeably dried and not does not apply as smoothly as before.One hack I saw as I surf the web was the misting the brush with MAC Fix+ before dipping into the product. But I was determined to find another solution and thus I saw various video and blog posts about Duraline.

It didn’t take much for me to be convinced that this is the best solution and in no time, I found myself wanting to buy one. Unfortunately, the product is out of stock in their SM Mall of Asia and Glorietta store. I bought mine from a makeup artist/seller in one FB group I joined. The product was reasonably priced at Php900.00 plus I paid the shipping fee of around Php60.00

Product Description:

“Duraline Mixing Liquid

Duraline mixed with a makeup product of your choice creates a liquid waterproof application.”

Duraline comes in small 9mL rectangular glass bottle. It has a glass dropper for dispensing the product.
Consistency is like oil but has no smell. It is also paraben-free and hypoallergenic J 

I’ve put 2-3 drops of Duraline in one section of my gel liner and let it sit for a minute.

Here is a photo comparing swatches of the product with Duraline and without. You can see that the swatch with Duraline is more pigmented and application wise, the gel liner went on smoothly.

Aside from the brow and eyeliner gel, I also used Duraline for the following:

1. For eyeshadow and pigments 

I pat a small amount of Duraline on the lid  before putting eyeshadow. The color payoff of this technique is amazing. I have also tried, mixing a drop of Duraline and powder pigment in a palette, and the result is the same. The product really brings out the color of the eyeshadow/pigment.

2. For various colored liners 

Now, I don’t need to buy every color or shade of eyeliner. I just scrape some eyeshadow or pigment; mix it with a drop of Duraline in a palette and then use my eyeliner brush. Red , yellow, green liner? No problem! The possibilities are endless J 

3. For highlighters and blushes

Using the same technique as I do with my eyeshadows/pigments, I scrape some of the highlighter or powder blush and mix Duraline. The result? I get a gorgeously pigmented liquidy highlighter or blush. Sometimes, I just dab some Duraline on the areas I want to put higlight or blush before putting the powder product.

4. For mixing foundations 

Ever since I used the RCMA foundation, I am always on the lookout for techniques on how I can bend it to my will. One technique I discovered is mixing it with Duraline. As I warm the foundation on my palette, I put 1-2 drops of Duraline. The application is smooth and blending the product is easy. Plus the foundation does not feel oily or heavy on the skin. 

Swatches comparing eyeshadow and highlight with and without Duraline.

Overall, I highly recommend this product to makeup artists and makeup enthusiast alike. With this product, you can maximize any powder product you already have as it instantly transforms them into a cream or liquid form. This will help you save money as well, as you don’t need to buy every product out there. It’s versatile, smudge proof and will last a long time. With its price and the many wonders it can do, Duraline is a steal and will surely be a staple in your makeup kit J

Is Your Morphe Brushes Palette Authentic?

While I was in 168 Mall in Divisoria the other day, I saw a lot of fake cosmetics and how crowds are totally digging those products. I can't blame them, I know how tempting it is to buy fake makeup. Just imagine having that cult favorite Nars Orgasm blush for a fraction of a price? Sounds like heaven for us tipid girls. 

I never patronize fake makeup, not because I can afford the real deal, but because buying counterfeit cosmetics is always a bad idea. Why? You don't know where they come from and what ingredients they contain. Some may even contain carcinogenic and other harmful ingredients like arsenic, lead and mercury.

Morphe is a popular brand among makeup artists and makeup geeks. They offer gorgeous eyeshadow and blush palettes as well as makeup brushes. So for this post, I am not gonna tell you why you shouldn't buy fake cosmetics. Instead, I'll share what to look for or how can you check if a Morphe palette you've been eyeing is the real one.

Morphe box (front)

First, the box itself is sturdy and not flimsy and is almost 1 inch thick. The color of the box is matte black and letters in the "MORPHE" (aside from the "M") and "www.morphebrushes.com" are written in gray and not white. At the back of the box, the letters in the ingredients section are also written in gray. Font style of looks like Times New Roman. 

Serial number at the lower right of the box (back side)

The serial number is printed in the box and is not a sticker. There are no stickers whatsoever on the box of an authentic Morphe. The square of the serial number is in white. Letters and numbers inside are written in black. You can also see the variant of the Morphe palette. Here I have the 35N which is an all-matte palette.

When you open the box, flap of authentic Morphe should face away from you and not facing you.

Morphe palette when you pull out from the box

 When you pull out the Morphe palette, it will be covered in bubble-wrap.

Bubble wrap of the Morphe palette inside

 The bubble wrap is a double layer. Most fake Morphe palettes only have 1 layer of bubble wrap.

Morphe palette (front)

Morphe palette (back)

Sticker of the Morphe palette

The sticker is a glossy grey and the text is in black. Font style looks like Arial Narrow.

The clasp or closure of the palette looks like the photo above. It's square-ish, not round.

Morphe brushes 35N Palette (top view)

You can see that the palette is symmetric and perfectly aligned. The 35N palette is arranged in 5 pans per column or 7 pans per row.

Clear film covering the eyeshadows

The clear film is very thin. In fake Morphe palettes, the film is quite thick.

Close up of the eyeshadow pans

Since I bought the 35N palette which is an all-matte palette, I believe it is common sense that no eyeshadow should have shimmer or glitter on them. Also, the eyeshadows are flat and not in concave shape.

Morphe brushes 35N Palette

If you are really tempted to buy fake cosmetics, step back and think, "Is this really worth it?" "Am I willing to risk my health?". If you can't afford high-end or pricey makeup, just do your research and you will see tons of results for dupes of different makeup products. In fact, there are lots of good drugstore makeup, so better pick that than fake makeup. I hope this post has helped you! :)

Key Learnings from my Basic Makeup Course

It’s no secret that I am a beauty fan and certified makeup junkie. My makeup bag (well it’s no longer a bag haha) is home to different products. My lippies in particular are like my personal “heroine” and it comes in different brands, color and finish.

I’ve been playing with makeup for as long as I can remember and lately I’m feeling more passionate about it and want to try doing it professionally. A bit of research here and there and I found myself enrolling in a makeup school. Luckily, I chanced upon SoFA’s (School of Fashion and Arts) Basic Makeup Course. This class is in collaboration with MAC so the teachers are affiliated with the brand. The class was so much fun and I can't wait to share what I've learned. So here are my key learnings after attending the course:

1. Skincare is IMPORTANT

This one I’m really guilty of. I am one of those girls who love makeup but really tamad taking them off. I mean, I’ve put a lot of effort in putting them right? Well, it’s a big no no ladies.

We see pictures of models, celebrities etc. with flawless skin and we say “She looks so good, I wonder what her foundation is?” Well ladies, skincare, when taken seriously will make you look good even with minimal makeup. Yes you’ve read it right, MINIMAL makeup. Nowadays, the trend is LESS is MORE. So start taking care of your skin and you’ll be thanking yourself in the future for doing so. Having good skin won’t just make you look naturally glowing and healthy, applying makeup will be such a breeze too J

2. All about the BASE

For a girl who does her makeup like almost every day, you’d expect that doing my base/foundation will be such no brainer right? WRONG. In fact, this is the most difficult part for me during our hands-on exercises. Of course, you want to create a flawless base but you don’t want it makapal and cakey. You just want it to look like the best version of your skin. 
I know there are tons of foundations, BB creams, CC creams out there and I can totally relate how tricky and difficult it is to choose from them. Thus, it’s best to know your skin type and skin tone. One trick is swatching the product in your jaw line and see if it matches both your face and neck. You can also sample the product, let it rest for some time (like walk around the mall for at least an hour), and then check how it settles on your skin. That’s when you decide if you really want to get it. You might also want to check the following: Is it mattifying? What coverage does it give? Is it hypoallergenic or suitable for sensitive skin? Of course, all depending on your needs J

3. Blend, BLEND, Blend

The key to flawless and seamless makeup is blending. You don’t want harsh lines where you can see where a color starts and ends. Of course what we want to achieve here is a perfect blend of all that colors that you used, and your makeup to be a whole look. To achieve a flawless skin, you can use a sponge or a buffing brush to blend your foundation and concealer. As for your eye makeup, a good eyeshadow blending brush is your best bet. Blend all you can girl!

4. UNLEASH your inner artist

I fully understand when you feel too intimidated to try different colors especially for eyeshadows and lipsticks. We tend to stick on what already works for us and find it hard to step out of our comfort zone. Well, it's totally normal plus I assume you also consider that it will just be a wasted purchase if you don't get to finish the product. The thing is, this trial-and-error process of trying out various shades and colors will help hone your color combination and blending skills. Try practicing using drugstore makeup first since they are a lot cheaper (and some are of really good quality as well). Don't be scared to try different color combinations. If it doesn't work, relax coz its not yet the end of the world, you can easily erase it with a makeup remover *wink*

5. CLEAN and SANITIZE

So you've been practicing makeup a lot, that's great! But have you been cleaning and/or sanitizing your makeup and makeup brushes? As much as we love doing our makeup, we should make the time to clean and sanitize our makeup, tools and brushes. I know, it soo nakakatamad gawin but this is important ladies. Not doing so might cause you acne, skin irritation and lets bacteria spread in your beloved makeup and makeup brushes. For your makeup, lightly dust your powders (eyeshadow, pressed powders) and spritz with 99% isopropyl alcohol or makeup sanitizer. As for your makeup brushes, wash them at least once a week with a brush shampoo or baby shampoo.


Whew. That was a lengthy post but I do hope that you learned a thing or two J
Let me know what you think or share your hacks or trade secrets in doing makeup!

What's Inside Hard Candy Look Pro! Eyeshadow Palettes

A lot of makeup junkies out there would probably agree with me when I say, that the feeling of opening our new make up palette is the same as unwrapping Christmas presents. You get really excited to see what's inside and of course finally trying them out! I definitely felt this as I unwrap these beautiful and undeniably sassy Hard Candy Look Pro! Eyeshadow Palettes.

Let me first make a special "THANK YOU" shout out to my good friend Fran for bringing these lovelies for me all the way from US! 

J J J

First is the Natural Eyes Palette. By the looks of it, I bet you can already guess that this palette is a dupe for the highly coveted Naked palette. 

And according to some reviews I found online, this is indeed a good substitute. As we all know, Naked palette is very pricey. 

Each palette contains the following: 9 different eyeshadows which you can creatively mix and match, 1 double-end applicator, 1 black pencil eyeliner and 1 eyeshadow primer (both measures around 3 inches), a mirror and wait for this...a style guide! 

Definitely a steal for only $8!

Eyeshadows in the Natural Eyes Palette.

Next is the Sassy Eyes Palette. This is Fran's pasalubong for me and I can't be any more grateful for it!

It's content are same as the Natural Eyes Palette but the eyeshadows are more...as the name of the palette suggests, sassy. 

This is good if you want to add a dash of color to your lids and be a little more girly. 

Eyeshadows in the Sassy Eyes Palette.

Admittedly, I fell in love with this palette because of its packaging. The tin can for me is well thought of, it makes everything compact and travel friendly. Two thumbs up to Hard Candy for this! I think the Style Guide in this palette is also a good bonus. It saves you time on thinking which shades will go well together. Great help especially to those who are afraid or are new in the art of mixing and matching shades. 

So far, I already tried the Day Look for both palettes and they are amazing. And the eyeliner? Don't underestimate it because of its size coz it gives a nice matte black finish and glides easily on the eyes. I'm looking forward to finally try the Evening and Drama Look of both Natural and Sassy Eyes Palette. I'll keep you guys posted!

Naturactor Cover Face by Meiko Cosmetics

One boring day, I was searching (and researching) about concealers, foundations and what-have-you, when I stumbled upon a blog reviewing a Japanese concealer/foundation. Apparently, this product is famous among celebrities and is used by the likes of Jennelyn Mercado and Rhian Ramos. If you're a certified beauty junkie or simply gaga over makeup (just like me!), maybe you've already guessed what it is...yes it’s the Naturactor Cover Face by Meiko Cosmetics!

After reading a couple (or more) reviews about it, I was more than convinced that it is indeed a product worth trying. I know that there are already a dozen of reviews out there, but here is my review on this product. Btw, this is SFE’s 1st review evuhh, so don’t be mean okay? Happy reading!

According to my research, Naturactor Cover Face has 5 shades.  Actually it is more of a concealer but it can also be used as a foundation. And since I'm planning to use it as a foundation, the next question is what shade to pick?  

 I was really torn between shades 141 and 151. Shade 141  seems too light  for me so I'm guessing 151 but just to make sure (plus I don't want to waste money hehe), I asked the online shop where I intend to buy my Naturactor. By the way I purchased mine at Naturactor Online Shop on Facebook They also have an Instagram account or you can simply text or Vibe them for your questions or orders.

Anyway, they were very accommodating to my inquiries and they asked me what foundation/shade I am using, so I sent them a picture of my CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous foundation in 842 (Medium Beige). They instantaneously confirmed that 151 indeed will suit me. So 151 it is! They charge Php550.00 inclusive of shipping fee for all their Naturactor products. Transaction with Naturactor Online Shop was suuuppperrr fast and hassle-free; I placed my order and paid them on a Monday and I got the item by Wednesday! Two thumbs up for the great service!

Here is the product. It’s all in Japanese so I don't understand whatever is written in the box hehe. I just wish it has an English translation.

The packaging is simple and compact. I’m guessing it’s about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and 1 inch in height. 

Comparing the (1) Naturactor Cover Face in 151 and (2) CoverGirl foundation in 842.

The latter seems darker huh?

The product is lightweight but is good for medium to full/ heavy coverage. For major blemishes, you will have to layer more of it, it’s easily buildable though. Here are the swatches in 1, 2 and 3 layers.



When applying the product, I tried using a foundation brush and a sponge but the best way to even it out is using my fingers. So gals, make sure that your hands are clean before applying the product *wink*wink*

By the way, it has a very faint scent; reminds me of Johnson and Johnson’s baby powder or lotion. Not too strong though, but you might want to take note on that. Of course before using the product, I did first my usual cleansing, toning and moisturizing routine.

Here is a picture of me using only the Naturactor Cover Face and MAC lippie in Mocha.

Hi Ma!!! #nokilayday #nofilter

The product gives a smooth matte finish and lasted for about 6 hours without touching up.

It gave my skin a natural and flawless finish, that makinis but not cake-y look. Overall, I am impressed with this product! I'm thinking about buying the remaining shades of Naturactor Cover Face for concealer purposes :) This is will definitely be a mainstay in my kikay kit from now on.

Have you tried the Naturactor Cover Face?