Category: Self help

Pit Stops and Contentment


The great Tolkien once wrote, “Not all those who wander are lost.” -That is so true! In the end, Destiny always reveals itself, no matter how far you’ve walked, no matter how long. 💭

It may take you a while to get where you want to. Maybe even longer than planned. You may need to rest, go on pit stops once or twice… maybe countless times. It may become more difficult as you go further. It will be tiresome and relentless.  You’ll probably trip and fall and lose your spirit at times.

You may lose people along the way; possibly even yourself. There may be distractions. There may be obstacles. People to deal with. Things to figure out. Your own demons to face. It could go on and on and the list of negative forces that test your courage may never end. 

The journey might exhaust every bit of your existence and test your will until the last second. It may be a rollercoaster ride. It can be.. and it will be tough without a doubt. But the path goes on and the stakes get higher everytime, leaving you no room for weakness. 

The possibility of failure lingers every step of the way and it’s terrifying. The tides will roll in and they’ll be unstoppable. You must not let yourself be swept away in oblivion, defeated in every way. You’re going to need to learn to pick yourself up and feel good about it everytime. You’ll gain people as you move on-friends, lovers, family. It will be tempting to depend on them; but you will only TRULY have yourself to rely on about pretty much everything when the shit hits the fan.

It will be tough. It will be risky. . You may lose courage and think about giving up. It’s not going to be a smooth sail, it’s not going to be a walk in the park. It’s going to be overwhelmingly difficult but it will be one hell of a challenge, one hell of a ride. 

So, go where your passion leads you today. Don’t think twice and better set your heart for pain and greatness at the same time. Expect the “dreadful” unexpected. Psych yourself and temper your mind. Don’t settle and never falter until you reach where you picture yourself to be. That is your real stop. And it’s called SUCCESS-where the winner is yourself and the prize is contentment. 

#JustLive

Maybelline Dream Velvet Soft Matte Hydrating Foundation: first impression

It’s Matte. It’s Hydrating. No, it’s not a dream. 

Getting the right foundation for your skin type is probably the most difficult struggle a makeup enthusiast has to deal with. When it comes to foundations, it’s always a must to zero in on a few factors-It has to be the right formula, the right finish and most importantly…the right shade!

If you’re like me who has combination type-warm, medium skin tone, you’ve probably also gone through great lengths in the search for your holy grail foundation. I am yet to find mine 😭. Although, I have a couple of favorites in my stash- the MAC studio Fix Foundation and the L’Oreal Infallible ProMatte 24hr foundation– which I have struggled finding the right shade for my skin. It’s always fun to shop for foundation but when you can’t find the right shade for you, all hell breaks loose. 🙈

I have recently gotten hold of Maybelline’s Velvet Dream Soft Matte Hydrating Foundation. I know this product was launched more than 6 months ago in the US but it was just released recently in the Philippines; hence, my anticipation 😁. This product has long piqued my interest given the contradiction- it’s matte and hydrating at the same time! How does that work? Well, being the newbie makeup geek that I am, I got crazy curious when the sales clerk handed it to me and I couldn’t wait to test it.

It comes in a 30 ml/ 1 fl.oz size squeeze tube packaging which is so convenient for me. I like that it gives me control over the amount of product I use. Many would have probably preferred it with a pump. However, it’s just easier  this way for me. Given the consistency of this product, the good old pump won’t probably work that well anyway.

This foundation promises a matte finish with a lasting moisturizing effect that leaves your skin flawless and hydrated for that airbrushed look. It’s hard to believe, I know. But you’ve got to, at least, give it a chance 😁. The formula is perfume free and is very creamy; it truly has that velvety mousse texture that feels so lightweight on the skin. The consistency is almost similar to frosting! (The first thing that came to mind!) Yes… CAKE FROSTING! 🍰 It’s thick but so smooth to touch, I almost wanted to take a pinch and taste it!  (Sorry, I just have a thing for frosting.) 😂

It has a semi-matte to powdery finish. It blends quite well even without applying primer on the skin. I like how it easily blends with it’s smooth texture. I use my good old damp blending sponge for application. You can use a brush if you want but I personally think that it blends better with a sponge than a foundation brush. It feels so light on the skin but the coverage, I would say, is just light to medium. Although, you can try to put on another layer to build the coverage you want.

Product transfer is minimal.  It doesn’t feel tacky at all and some of you will probably go on with your day without setting it with powder. However, I still prefer setting it with  loose powder (as with any foundation I use) to get that right kind of matte finish that I like. I am not really into the tacky, dewy kind of feel when it comes to foundations. Hey, I’m all for matte 🙋🏻. You can never go wrong with matte!

What I like about this product is that it doesn’t cling on the dry areas and fine lines of my skin. I have a bit of dry patches on my chin and it really fixed it up quite well. It didn’t, however, do a good job controlling the unwanted oils on my T-zone. I had to blot a few times in the five-slow-hours I’ve worn this foundation in a cool air-conditioned room.

 

Photo grab from www.maybelline.com
There are a bunch of shades available for fair to tan skin tones. This is definitely good news for those who lament the always limited shade options  for most foundation brands. I got the shade HONEY BEIGE and it blends quite well with my medium skin tone. It retails for 499.00php-not too bad for drugstore makeup. I got my stash at the Maybelline NY counter at Watson’s SM Mall of Asia in Manila.

If you’re still looking for a matte finish, lightweight foundation with good enough coverage, maybe this Dream Velvet Foundation is just what you need. It’s matte. It’s hydrating. No, it isn’t a dream. Believe and slay your way to glamness.

May your foundation match your neck.

May your concealer be crease free.

May your winged eyeliner be sharp enough to kill.

#justLive