4U2 Dream Girl Duo Blush Review

I was feeling a bit sad yesterday, and I decided to combat a bad case of the blues with some pinks! There is nothing quite like make up to cheer me up on a gloomy day (food comes in at a close second).

For some reason, I've been gravitating towards pinks and stuff with pretty packaging lately. Those are practically the reasons why I got these in the first place. Oh and the prices, of course! :)

I went to my favorite place to get make up- the department store. I got a matte pink lipstick from Nichido and a duo blusher from 4U2. I'll do separate reviews for each to avoid feekchoor overload :)

This is my second purchase from 4U2, the first one was lipstick. I was satisfied with the quality so I wanted to try something else from them. 

I was actually supposed to get Elf's Duo blusher/bronzer but then after browsing some more, I saw this and got this one instead. Did a road test today and I must say I did not regret switching Elf for this!

Swatches (Middle: pink shade, Bottom: bronze shade)

What I Like:

• Like I said, pretty packaging! I also love that it's small and compact and already has a mirror and a brush included inside. This baby could easily fit into your make up kit or small purse for night time events.
• The brush included is pretty decent, no shedding (yet) but this type of brush is easy to replace and cheap
• It's a duo blusher, so you can contour with the darker shade and color with the pink shade. There are also other shades available, so you can choose one that matches your skin tone best
• It has a pearlescent finish- no messy glitters or shimmers. I hate products that contain a lot of shimmer because sometimes it just ends up everywhere- my clothes, hands, stuff, etc. Good thing this one isn't like that
• Very pigmented. A few strokes will go a long way. 
• Staying power- it lasted a good 10 hours on me without any retouching in hot and humid weather. In fact, the longer I wore it the more natural it looked

What I don't like:

None!

Would I repurchase?

Definitely :)

Where to get?

4U2 counters at department stores and Watsons, for Php 194

Tips on How to Use:

• When using pigmented products, just remember to apply make up in a place with adequate lighting (you don't want to look like you literally did your face in the dark) and to build up the color gradually. Tap out excess product from the brush too before applying it on the face.
• Use the pink if you want a nice rosy blush, the bronze for a contoured look, or combine both for a sun-kissed effect.

How about you? What's your favorite blush/bronzer? 

Plum or Pink?

When I was a teenager, the only thing I felt comfortable enough to put on my lips on a daily basis were lip balms and lip glosses. Lipsticks (especially dark-hued ones) were saved for dressier occasions and the very few parties that I were allowed to attend. Very manang right?

Today, I got two lipsticks that looked like throwbacks to high school days. I got them from lines actually targeted for teens. One is a deep, dark, plum (which my mother would have banned me from using 10 years ago) while the other is a nice, pale pink (mom-approved for high school me).

First up is Avon's Simply Pretty Colorbliss Lipstick in Pure Plum. I actually discovered this from a friend- I took one look at her plum-colored lips and fell in love. I had to have one. I didn't know that Avon made dark shades like these for their teens' line; and what's even better is that it's such a steal at only Php 109!

I got the 4U2 lipstick in Pink 02 while browsing through the department store's beauty section. The cute, girly packaging caught my eye. It's small, pink, with polka dots, super girlaloo! All of the shades are in Pink (from 1-6) and since they had no testers, I had to rely on the swatch on the front of the packaging to select a color. I got number 2, the lightest among all the shades (number 1 wasn't available anymore).

Super dark, pigmented, with a very slight glossy finish if you apply it without blotting. I tried blotting it out with a tissue and I was left with a very deep, dark matte berry stain on my lips- it looked like what I'd imagine a vampire would look like after drinking blood haha.

In contrast to the more mature and vampiric quality of Very Plum, this pale pink lipstick just evokes innocence and youth. It has a glossy finish which kind of reminds me of Maybelline Watershine lipsticks, only less greasy- looking. I like this a lot and I think the shade is very wearable for young girls.

Individual Reviews:

Avon's Simply Pretty Colorbliss Lipstick in Pure Plum

What I like:

• Super pigmented and doesn't smudge. 
• Staying power is good, 6-8 hours if you don't eat/drink/do anything with your mouth; and if you do something with your mouth, it still manages to leave a nice, berry stain. 
• Feels hydrating, doesn't dry out my lips even after hours of wear
• It's also very affordable at only a Php 109. There are 2 other colors from this particular line (Valentine Colorbliss Collection) so do check them out if you like pinks more than plums.

What I don't like:

• I'm not exactly a fan of its packaging
• Some Avon stocks are pretty limited, so it might take some waiting time to get your order if they ran out of stocks

Would I repurchase? Yes

Where to get: Your nearest Avon lady/outlet

 4U2 lipstick in Pink 02

What I Like:

• The packaging! It's practically the reason why I bought it in the first place
• The finish- what I had hoped for in Maybelline Watershine (but had failed to deliver)
• The versatile color, great for daily use

What I don't like:

• They don't have product testers, so if it's your first time buying this and if there's no sales lady around, you wouldn't be able to know how the actual shade looks like, and if it's matte/shimmery/glossy
• Limited shades available, only pinks (great for pink addicts)
• Affordable at only Php 154

Would I repurchase? Maybe not. Ok product over all, but I find it a tad bit mediocre. Nothing special, and at that price point there are so many other better lipsticks out there available which I would rather buy (NYX, Wet n Wild, Ever Bilena)

Where to Get: 4U2 counters at Watsons and SM Department Stores

So which one do you prefer? Are you more of a pink girl? A plum girl? Or both? Feel free to drop me a line! :)