An Indonesian Product : Wardah Pore Tightening Toner

August is nearly reach it's end, and i feel like i'm going to be more patriotic in this independence-month. Ugh well, USD is raising high compared to IDR during this month. So why not trying a local product?

Wardah is one of Indonesian raising cosmetic brand. They're mostly using woman with Hijab in their advertising even they doesn't get they Halal label yet (i think it's just about time). Their product are easy to get, not-so expensive and has a good quality. I haven't try their make up line, but i've read some really good review about it.

I was in search into alcohol free toner when i heard about Wardah Pore Tightening Toner. By it's description, i sounds like Etude Wonderpore Toner (my review is here, and yes i've emptied that one), without alcohol.

Brand : Wardah

Product Name : Pore Tightening Toner

Price : IDR 21,000 - 25,000 (depend on place, promotion etc) for 100ml

Limited Edition : No

Okay, again, no picture of it's box since i've thrown it.

The bottle is made from clear plastic, so you can see product inside between it's label. The closure is made from white plastic.

In my own opinion, 100ml toner for (let's say) IDR 25,000 is cheap. But compared to another local brand, Mustika Ratu, which has a long history in indonesian beauty market, Wardah sit in expensive side.

For comparison, Mustika Ratu's 150ml face toner are usually retailed for IDR 16,000 - 20,000 makes it approximately IDR 133,500/lt while Wardah is about IDR 250,000/lt.

In the other hand, Etude Wonderpore Toner is about IDR 400,000/lt (the 500ml size is about IDR 200,000 in most online shop). 

For my indonesian readers, you can read about the product directly from my picture.

For my international reader, here's the translation for you ^^

Pore Tightening Toner

An enriching toner with Aloe Vera extract (as moisturizer), Zinc Gluconate & Witch Hazel Extract (overcomes excessive oil production and tightens pore). This formulation would makes skin fresher, and less shiny.

How to Use

After cleansing, use Wardah Pore Tightening Pore all over your face.

For optimum result, use the whole Wardah Acne series line

(i wouldn't state the whole line).

And there's the ingredient list. I wouldn't translate again, because they're clear enough for indonesian and international reader ^^

As i said above, it's an alcohol free toner. The main ingredient is Water, followed by Glycerin. As the main introduce said, it's also contains of Witch Hazel Extract, Aloe Vera and Zinc Gluconate to tighten pores.

It contains of Benzyl Alcohol (3rd lowest in list). While Benzyl Alcohol is originally an natural ingredient, many companies are made them synthetically to lower the cost. It's mainly use as preservative, solvent and anesthetic.

 I don't know the one in Wardah's Pore tightening toner are natural or synthetic, but to prevent bad things, don't use it around your eyes (it could make sensitive area itching) and don't let children use it (it could be particularly dangerous).

Oh well, it's also contains of fragrance and coloring agents. I don't like it but at least it doesn't on top of list.

Even it does seems blue in the bottle, when it's thrown out, it's not that blue, if you know what i mean. It has a refreshing scent due to fragrance in the ingredient list, not strong as easily gone.

No alcohol doesn't means it's stay long on your face. In fact, it's absorbed pretty quick.

I can't say if it does do it's job to tighten my pores, but it doesn't causing breakout either. I wouldn't repurchase since i've found another local toner i'd like to try :)

Hope my review is helpful for you, have a nice day!

Tarte Clean State 12 Hours Primer : Brightening & Perfecting, an Opinion

I am not a big fan of Tarte.

I've tried some of their blush and palette (eye shadow, bronzer, highlighter, eye pencils and lip color), i like them but i think i am happy enough without them. Then i tried their Clean State Deluxe Primer Trio. This set contains of mini sample of 3 primers (clean state 12 hours brightening primer, clean state 12 hours perfecting primer and an eye primer). I think they're nice.. but not somewhat amazing.

I don't like the eye primer since it's easily separate inside the tube. And it doesn't work for me. Simply said, i don't like it and i've lost it. So this review is only for 2 mini sample of face primers.

I think this set is not available anymore. Tarte has change the mini set with the one with mini mascara.

Back to my blog, then here's our today's product :

Brand : Tarte

Product name : Clean State 12 hours Brightening Primer & Clean State 12 hours Perfecting Primer

Price : $30 for full size product (product shown here is 7.5ml size sample)

Limited Edition : No

Both are in plastic, tube packaging. Nothing so special about it's design but it's shown how Tarte is a natural brand.

The ingredients are not written in the mini tube.

The ingredient list :

Tarte Clean State 12 hours Perfecting Primer

Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclohexasilixane, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Malpighia Punicifolia (Acerola) Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Passiflora Incarnate Fruit Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinsensis Flower/Leaf Extract, Mica, Echinacea Angustilfolia Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Phenoxyethanol.

Tarte Clean State 12 hours Brightening Primer

Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Ether, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Benzyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisopentadiene, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Silica, Mica, Tin Oxide, Lecithin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Arbutin, Glutathione, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Alcohol, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).

And since it's from Tarte, it's free from parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrance, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMOs and triclosan.

 In their full size product, the closure is made from bamboo. Here, they only give another plastic closure. Well ~ you got what you've paid for :p

heavily swatch on my back hand

lightly blended

Since it's a primer, i think back hand swipe is better, because it has more texture to help you see product better.

The brightening one is kinda runny (maybe because water is it's main ingredient), silicon free, and has slight yellow undertone. It turns out clear after blended and wouldn't change your skintone. It also has a slight lemony scent.

It has low oil control, only help a little bit in blurring pore, gives dewy finish and help foundation stay a lil bit longer.

I suggest to use foundation over it, it would calm down the brightening effect a lil bit, makes you ended with healthy glow.

The perfection one is clear and silicone-y. It leaves slick finish but does a great job on filling pore and fine lines. It slightly makes foundation stay longer.. but not that much.

No scent detected in this one.

Light and Heavy foundation can be use over this one. Even tinted moisturizer can do. It's better not to use foundation or TM with matte finish since it's would make you deadly matte (in my opinion).

i haven't combined them so i can't say about how they're while use together, but i think that might be good!

Let me know if you've tried it ;)

MAC Flatter Me Pearlmatte Face Powder (Review, Swatch, Comparison)

Hello Dolls, i'm just back from hiatus.. I know i'm not always be there for you, but you know i'll be back someday ^o^

Continuing my series about MAC Archie Girls Collection, today i'd write about their Flatter Me Pearlmatte Face Powder. Like Cream Soda blush (my review is here), it's from Betty Cooper's side. According to the stories, Betty is a girl-next-door kind of girl. She's sweet and have a kind heart. Physically, she's fair and blonde. I think she's the first girl in Archie's story.

Product Information

Brand : MAC

Product Name : Flatter Me Pearlmatte Face Powder

Size : 10 g

Price : $30

Limited Edition : Yes and it's not available anymore, but once in blue moon, MAC will repromote their limited edition product.

Both of Pearlmatte face powder has the same packaging. Betty in left side and Veronica in right side of Archie. Such a lucky red haired man, huh?

The back side seems very lovely, with the white background and black sticker.

This compact is very sturdy and has a full size mirror.

Box is unpictured, but it has the same design with product cover's.

Okay, you can definately see that only 3 hearts are in coral. The rest are in golden peach base.

I've used it in a month, and everything seems like new. Means they're embossed very well.

However, the design is not all original. Physicial formula has a heart embossed blush almost look like this.

Picture above is an eye candy for you.. The mirror showing my cream soda blush in behind. So lovely.

I've tried to swatch them to my arm, but really hard to make them shown. So there's a fingers swatch for you.

Flatter Me is described as "golden peach with coral hearts".

 Base shade is a warm golden peach with frosted finish. Some people side it's the same with Cream Soda blush. Well, perhaps. Cream Soda is less frosted and cooler.

Heart shade is medium pink coral with subtle golden sheen. It's impossible to catch the hearts color only with your blush brush. They're too small and hard to pick their color.

.

In my opinion, together they create a gorgeous coral shade for your cheek, if you take it using natural haired brush (ecotools blush brush is one of the example).

If you take it using fluffier brush (powder brush, bronzer brush etc), it would be a nice warm based setting powder, with subtle sheen (just enough to make your face glowing).

In the term of texture, it's really soft and finely milled. It doesn't emphasize your pore size and last for 6 hours before start fading on my oily-combination skin. 

And here's a swatch comparison for you..

As pictured above, pearlmatte face powder is HUGE compared to regular blush (cream soda).

[the picture above is originally posted in my review about MAC Cream Soda blush]

MAC Cream Soda shown most clearly of the three on my arm. While Benefit Sugarbomb is the most frosted shade.

MAC Flatter Me is somewhere in between. It's frosted but not as frosted as benefit sugarbomb and not shown up as Cream Soda.

I'd love to see another pearlmatte face powder from MAC in future. It's un-understand-able but so lovely!

Tarte Lip Surgence in Exposed : Review, Swatch & Comparison

In order to fullfill my promise in about Tarte's Lip Surgence, i'd write a review about another shade, Exposed.

Exposed from Tarte is one of the most popular blush in 2012. I have and love it (here's my review about it), and i was curious about how's tarte matte lip surgence would be, because i don't really like lip surgence in Elite. The shade and formula are simply not me.

Tarte Lip Surgence come in pencil form. It's made from plastic with twist base to push up the product inside.

The cap is gold colored and made from somewhat metal-like.

The product colors are the supposed to be the same with the shade inside. In this case, Exposed's outer packaging is in matte, dusty brown rose.

This baby has been loved, so it doesn't looks so well.

under direct sun light

under my shadow

Tarte lip surgence in exposed over my lips.

For me, it does agree with sephora's description as "nude".

No, it doesn't cancel out my lip colors, it's MLBB shade, with matte finish. Seems like my naked lip it self.

Talking about texture, i like Exposed a lot way better than Elite. Exposed doesn't emphasize my lip's dryness nor make it worse.

Exposed smell minty. And it does feel minty on lips, but not as strong as Elite.

I love wearing Exposed. It feels so comfortable. I got 2 hours with it, without any drink or meals.

If you're aware about product ingredients, you'd be happy that tarte lip surgence are formulated without parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrance (the minty scent is from peppermint that infused to product), synthetic dyes, petrochemicals and phthalates.

Things i dont like about Exposed are :

Is not staying all day long (like tarte claims in sephora.com)

It left dark stain on my lips, and it's hard to clean. The dark stain became worse after several uses.

Expensive ($24), but tarte usually add exposed to their holiday kit.

And about Comparison Shades :

under direct sun light

under shadows

Here i compared tarte lip surgence exposed with different product, with (almost) the same color family : dusty rose.

As the picture above, the product are : tarte amazonian clay blush in exposed (the same name, same color family, sama description) and benefit ultra plush lip gloss in dallas (same color family).

Tarte amazonian clay blush in exposed is simply describe as "nude".

On my skin, it's reddish brown. My skintone always make Exposed seems redder than usual.

Lip Surgence in Exposed is bolder, and a tad glossier. If you already have blush in Exposed, then you know how's lip surgence in exposed look like.

Benefit Ultra plush lip gloss in dallas is describe as "dusty rose".

Under the sun light, it seems more orange (maybe it's sun light's reflection?!) but under the shadow, they're almost the same.

However, i dont like to use them together.

Below is how benefit ultra plush lip gloss in Dallas used over tarte lip surgence in Exposed :

My lips seems so pale and looks like i wore nothing. Crazy eh? I dont understand why.

Dusty Rose's nude is one of my most favorite shade. They're so easy to use, looks so natural and not intimidating. I wish tarte lip surgence in expose could stay longer, and doesn't leave dark stain on my lips.

I wouldn't repurchase once it's finish.

I'm sure i'd finish this one, it's pretty!

My July 2013's Favorite : The Rockstar Palette

Okay, after a while, i feel that i want to continue "favorite" section which i always forget to write about.

For July 2013, it's The Balm Jovi Rockstar Palette (see my review & swatch here)

The eye shadows are in wide variations, great texture and stay long even without primer. The Mary Lou (Solid Gold) is so pretty, i like how it appears on my skin. While Frat Boy (pop! pop! blush) doesn't stay long on my cheeks, it's very pretty in color. I also love the milly and vanilly. They're not drying on lips and pretty on cheeks. I've just tried them on cheek in the latest week of july, but found i really love them. Vanilly is the shade i hope benetint gave me. I suggest swipe a little amount on each cheek, blend using synthetic angled brush, and set it with soft blush to make it last longer.

Talking about eye shadows, my current favorite is combination of adagio (base), iron maid-in (lid) and allegro (crease). This combination also can be use with The Balm Nude tude palette (my review & swatch here)  using sassy (base, shimmery), snobby (lid) and sultry (crease).

I know there's so many palette that contains of wide variety of product (eye shadows, blush, highlighter, lip and cheek cream, and sometimes eye liner too) and most of them aren't work so well. This Rockstar palette isn't like that. They're come in high quality product.. and a good price.

What's your favorite in july? :)