May was a tricky month in terms of beauty (when I use this word, I mean hair, makeup and skin-care products and services), because it was so hot that anything I applied seemed to melt even before I could step out of the house.
But there were really products that stood out, not only because they were heat- and sweat-proof but also because they really worked. So here are my favorite products for May:
HyC 150 Powder Dietary Supplement
I never thought the day would come when I’d start taking oral supplements for good skin and hair but HyC 150 is something I’ve been drinking on and off for two years.
It really works. If you take it for five straight days, you’ll really notice the difference. Your skin will be softer and have that elusive glow I would normally get after leveraging of a bottle of MAC Strobe Cream. HyC 150 contains hyaluron, collagen and ubiquinol, which are powerful anti-aging ingredients. It also has pearl coix, or what is known as Job’s tears.
All major ingredients promise to make your skin suppler and your hair, teeth and bones healthier. The taste is inoffensive and is, in fact, milky. I take one sachet dissolved in a glass of cold water once a day (I wish I could afford to drink it twice a day but once is fine with me). I happen to like the taste of HyC 150. Other people dissolve it in a cup of hot coffee or tea as a creamer and that is fine, too. One sachet is about P120 at Watson’s.
Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Fluide
I received a tube of this foundation from my friend Rae in the shade Butterscotch. It seems to be my exact shade. This is the first Laura Mercier foundation I’ve tried and can I just say this brand is so underrated. I have three of its lipsticks, and they’re so pigmented and nondrying. The Smooth Finish Fluide is light, buildable and dries to a matte finish. “This revolutionary biphase, two-part formula is designed to deliver the most natural-looking color and lightweight coverage. Brilliant color-true pigments rest at the bottom of the foundation while reflective waters [Hydro-Brilliant Technology] float to the top,” says Laura Mercier on the brand’s web site. You don’t need to set it with powder and, like all fluid foundations, has to be shaken before application. I used to apply this with a Beauty Blender until I read somewhere it’s better to do so with your fingers (true). There’s a bit of transfer when you sweat but it’s no big deal for me.
Pink Sugar Creamy Matte Lipstick in XOXO
My family and closest friends know it’s very rare that I wear the same lipstick for several days in a row. Well, I’ve worn XOXO for almost a month every time I went out. This is the matte version of MAC Twig, a pinkish brown that I’d say is the perfect nude lipstick for morenas. The lipstick is very matte but nondrying. If you need a lipstick that’s office-friendly, this is it.
MAC Eye Brows in Spiked
I always use MAC Eye Brows in Lingering. I received Spiked (the fat pencil version) as a part of a press kit. I thought it would be too dark on me but it’s just perfect for days when I want a stronger brow. I like it, because it’s easy to use and, unlike the thinner eyebrow pencil, is more economical. Plus, you know when you’re about to run out of the product (one thing I don’t like about the thin eyebrow pencil).
Benefit Sun Beam
I am a huge fan of strobing, but I can’t do those whitish highlighters that make me look almost ashy. Sun Beam is just perfect for my skin. I love how it makes my skin look like it’s glowing from within. Newbies may find application a bit tricky. I dab a bit of the product on the back of my hand and apply with a damp Beauty Blender.
Maybelline Fit Me Pressed Powder in Sun Beige
On days when it’s too hot to even bother, this makes me look more presentable. It absorbs oil without making you look too powdered. I normally use this over Benefit Porefessional on days when I have events and it’s too hot to do a full face of makeup. n