This month I have been sincerely unappreciative of the entire klutz in me, the uncanny 'unco" moments that cause minute destruction and bust joy. Sometimes what can just ruin your day are just spatters of mental vacancy really that cause you to do half-second mistakes that will annoy you for months to come. In many cases for me, this last month, I'd try to be careful then it would all backfire because of something I could never ever foresee. For example, half-wittingly setting down a cleaning basin on my new marble-top dining table, the basin was unknowingly contaminated underneath by the bleach used to disinfect the countertop it rested on previously causing an odd- colored ring to form on the dining top it was transferred to. I whined and nearly played dead on the dining table when the rings formed. However, in this first case, miraculously, the rings disappeared after half an hour, after a wipe down with hot water, and a quick desperate prayer on my part. Or for seconds, in another instance, my setting down our new Crate & Barrel stoneware/pottery/clay dining plates on my glass work desk in our parents' southern home, thinking all was well...until I saw that 4-inch petite but obvious scratch trail on my desk after my blog shoot, caused when I lightly slid a bowl across the surface to position it.
- HOLIKA HOLIA Aqua Petit Jelly Foundation (Shade 02 Natural, two shades available) Php755.00 at SM Makati
- (MUFE Step 1 Primer, yellow, "serving suggestion" only...for girls with warm skin.)
Finally, yesterday I had come across a water-based Korean foundation that flitted in and out of my mind for a little over two years since I saw Michelle Phan use it (we're the same skin shade so that always helps). When I picked it up I felt like I picked up a Wonka bar from a cosmetic candy shop. I got it gleefully for myself from SM Makati, all shiny and new in its pretty package (the MUFE yellow primer is just a serving suggestion because the foundation's shade isn't warm enough for me, but I didn't use the primer in this post). I got Holika Holika's Aqua Petit Jelly Foundation which feels basically like a drugstore version off MUFE's jelly-esque Face & Body foundation...coverage is medium. How did this fit into the klutz saga? On my way up the stairs at home while carrying an armful of bags the box of this newly purchased foundation fell out and onto the stairs. "Nothing happened" I thought. I picked the box up thinking no big deal, no harm done until I opened it this morning highly annoyed to discover that... (Click to continue reading)
...the glass bottle of this lovely foundation had cracked, and it wasn't just fractured. When I picked up the box this morning with plans to shoot the product my heart stopped when I heard crumbly rattling from within. Complete pieces had broken away from the bottle last night, compromising proper storage for this beautiful formula. If you look closely I rested one of the pieces back on the bottle's neck just for this photo.
On the bright side, you can completely tell why I wanted to feature this foundation. The packaging is adorable albeit impractical for transport. The foundation itself is a water-based formula with medium coverage and a low SPF of 20, whether it's oil-free I'm not so sure, but it does feel oil-free. The only thing that super peeves me is that it's not fragrance-free. What I do like is that it dries down to a soft matte finish and I don't need to use powder on it before applying other powder cosmetics like blush on top. Since it dries down to a lightly matte surface products like bronzer, contour, or blush don't "catch" upon application and don't turn patchy in attempts to blend. The first few minutes, my sensitive skin put up with a mild itchy reaction on my cheeks and jawline which I'm certain is caused by the fragrance in the formula which isn't too strong but noticeable (my face's pet peeve is scented makeup/skincare). Once the foundation dried down after application, the itching disappeared, no rashes or red patches surfaced which was a relief.
Coverage is surprisingly very good, a solid Medium coverage, and I only applied swipes under my eyes, around my nose, around my mouth, and a dot for each cheek then began blending with my fingers. You can double up in areas where you need more concealing instead of using a separate concealer. Do note that there are only 2 foundation shades available, 01, and mine is 02 Natural. If you compare my face with my neck in this photo you can tell the foundation shade isn't spot on. The foundation is a bit too neutral for me, not warm enough, so it gives a very slight, and I say very slight grey cast which is why I suggest adding the MUFE yellow primer just in case (which I didn't here). In this photo I didn't feel the need to set with powder. The wear is very lightweight once it's set and this product easily fits into my "foundations that wear like skin" stash. I have every intent of getting a new bottle of this that I won't break, but I guess next payday has to come around before I do. I plan to transfer the contents of this one into a bottle for my pro-kit, then purchase a new bottle for myself eventually. Holika Holika cosmetics is available at SM Beauty...in the bigger malls I'm certain, I got this from SM Makati.
