Basta Igat, Sikat! by MyMaria: japan

Review: Octard Cover Foundation, the best thing since Naturactor!

At last! After two months of officially using this daily, I think I've had enough time to test the product out to finally write my full unbiased review of Octard Cover Foundation by the Japanese-made beauty brand, Meiko Cosmetics, who are the makers of the famous Naturactor Cover Face. This particular product is hard to come by but I finally got to score some from PrettyAngelShoppe. So what is this Octard Cover Foundation and what's the difference between this and Naturactor Cover Face? Lemme show you.

They are both 20g and physically, the only difference is the color of the container. Naturactor in white and the Octard in salmon. Judging by experience, the Naturactor Cover Face product which I had used almost daily has lasted me more than a year. It's super sulit!

The formulation between the two, however, is very different. You've probably heard about it so I'm going to confirm it yet again. Octard will give you a matte finish, while Naturactor Cover Face will give you that dewy, soft focus finish. Frankly speaking, I prefer a matte finish because I have oily skin so I'm not fond of dewy looks.

Octard Cover Foundation S52

I got the Octard S52 shade because it's darker than my Naturactor 151 and I was initially planning to use it for contour. But it's actually just a little bit darker than the Naturactor 151, so on some days I can even get away with using it on my entire face then just setting it with a light powder. The actual equivalent of Naturactor 151 is S51 for the Octard line. It is creamy, just like Naturactor, however, it dries fast! So you need to speed up your application plus using your fingers is a pretty good idea because it will warm the product up. Once it sets, it would be hard to move it (and remove it!). Is that good or bad? For me, it's a good thing because just like the MUFE Aquabrow, once it sets, it will really stay there. With that said, make sure to use makeup remover or wash your face thoroughly at night.

Octard Cover Foundation S71

I also got the Octard yellow concealer in the shade S71. Now you've seen the 171 green concealer from Naturactor that I use for my acne and red blemishes. So this yellow concealer, on the other hand, is meant for brightening up dark under eye areas as well as for highlighting the face. Think: Ben Nye Banana Powder. What I did before was use the Naturactor 151 and set it with the banana powder (which is yellow). This time, I don't have to do that because the Octard S71 does exactly that. Now I only need a colorless or translucent powder to set it. Take note: Concealers need to be set with powder.

Using Octard S71 for dark under eye circles in an inverted triangle technique.

For a more detailed and step-by-step process, play video/see photos below.

PRESS PLAY ▶️ // I wish I always wake up looking like a million bucks but alas, sleepless nights are here to stay. Now that I subsist on heavy doses of caffeine and energy drinks, there's nothing like a hot damn foundation-concealer routine to keep my sanity further intact and make me look like a normal human being. 😋 tee hee! For anti-zombie effect and to banish dark circles, I highly recommend #Octard by the makers of the famous #naturactor cover face. I got these Japanese goodies from my favorite IG seller @prettyangelshoppe. 👍👍 The S71 yellow concealer is for highlighting and I use it to hide Panda eyes then the S52 is perfect for my blemishes. Et voila! Instant perk me up, absolutely no caffeine needed! 😊 For someone with oily/combination skin, I'm very happy with Octard because it leaves a matte effect versus the dewiness of Naturactor. Full review and comparison between the two will be featured on my blog soon. So stay tuned! ✨ #bastaigatsikat #makeup #instamakeup #asian #look #meiko #fresh #face #nomakeupmakeup #beauty #bbloggers #beautyblogger #cosmetics #review #demo #prettyangelshoppe #feedback #fotd #eotd #muotd #motd #lotd

A video posted by ✨✨✨✨💖💜MyMaria💜💖✨✨✨✨ (@bastaigat_sikat) on Jan 17, 2015 at 1:13am PST

See? It's super easy to use with guaranteed amazing results!

Most of the time, I simply set it using the Naturactor Silky Lucent loose powder, but you can use any powder you like. Other times I will use a powder foundation over it if I will be out for long. To be honest, without primer and setting powder, both Naturactor and Octard will not last very long. Although Octard does last quite longer due to its matte properties. But when primed and set properly, you can get a full day's use without hardly re-touching it, just simply blotting oils if you have oily skin like me but absolutely no need to add more products on your face. It's that convenient, I tell you!

Say hello to my 5-hectare forehead. 😂 I used to be so insecure about this and wore bangs a lot back then but fuck that, I conclude bangs give me pimples. The more I keep my hair away from my face, well, apparently no acne!!! So I'm gonna stick to the belief that a high forehead indicates intelligence and portends good luck. ☺️ Office #FOTD for today's travel training session. Using @revlonph Colorstay foundation, #Naturactor and #Octard concealers from @prettyangelshoppe, @anastasiabeverlyhills dipbrow pomade in blonde, @urbandecaycosmetics eyeshadows, @heroinemakeph mascara, @nyxcosmeticsph soft matte lip cream and wonder pencil, @pixyphilippines blush, and #FannySerrano two-way cake for contour. #bastaigatsikat #muotd #motd #lotd #eotd #makeup #instamakeup #beauty #bbloggers #instabeauty #beautyblogger #pinay #nyx #revlon #pixy #heroinemake

A photo posted by ✨✨✨✨💖💜MyMaria💜💖✨✨✨✨ (@bastaigat_sikat) on Jan 26, 2015 at 6:57pm PST

TIP: Whether you have normal, dry, or oily skin, it is wise to moisturize first before applying makeup products. If you have eye creams, use that!

And you know something else? This is probably the best thing about Octard Cover Foundation for me. After 2 months of using it, I DID NOT HAVE ANY ACNE FLARE-UPS! Yessssssss!!! Automatic HG product! *cartwheels*

If you pay really close attention, you can see the yellow highlight using Octard S71 under the eyes and on my T-zone. You can also spot my contoured nose on the sides and my cheekbones with the Octard S52. But who does that? Would you really stare at someone's face to see if she used any highlighter or contouring product? No, don't do that! That's just rude. Tee hee! But seriously, at first glace, it really does give the first impression of just having a really nice and bright face. I mean, as a highlighter, the Octard S71 does a really effective job at it and as a concealer for blemishes and/or contour, the Octard S52 simply excels! Hands down.

With Octard, it's so effortless to look flawless from all angles! I can't get enough of its matte effect! Now I resemble a human being and not a zombie anymore! ^_^ If you're a fan of Naturactor, you're gonna love Octard! And if you have oily/combination skin, you are going to dance for joy! ^_^

To sum up this review, go for Naturactor Cover Face if you're happy with a dewy skin effect or if you have normal or dry skin. But if you have oily/combination skin and want to steer clear from looking like a grease-ball, then by all means get OCTARD COVER FOUNDATION! The active ingredients are hyaluronic acid, royal jelly extract preparation, and honey. I don't know anyone who might be allergic to those things, but just FYI. By the way, Octard is fragrance-free so not to worry, it is really non-irritating. Trust me, I would know. :) In comparison, the ingredients of Naturactor are listed as jojoba oil, mica, and Tocopherol (Vitamin E).

You can get your own Octard Cover Foundation from Pretty Angel Shoppe under their current promo for only PHP 700 with FREE SHIPPING! (Click links to inquire on Instagram & Facebook!)

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Tuesday, March 10, 2015
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Cure Natural Aqua Gel Review: Hands down best skin exfoliator EVER!

beauty

ヾ(＾∇＾) Ohayou gozaimasu. おはようございます。(Time to brush up on my Japanese/anime lingo!)

Guys, you know for a fact that I am an insanely huge fan of everything Japanese -- geography, food, culture, tech, anime, fashion, music, and most of all, beauty products!!! Ever since I started investing on skincare as well as food supplements, I always ended up buying Japanese products more than anything else. I could not, for the life of me, read the labels but that's okay. Thank goodness for the Internet, you can basically Google everything. Just a few keystrokes and *POOF* instant translation. It may not be 100% accurate but there are online reviews and forum sites that you can visit to find out about something. Also it's good to keep in mind, upon checking the 13-digit or 8-digit bar codes, that items from Japan start with either 49 or 45.

Alright, moving on to this review. Let's check out the Cure Natural Aqua Gel samples that I got from Sample Room last week.

Visit http://www.sampleroom.ph to get your samples!

It contained 5 trial packs that should be good enough for 2-1/2 weeks of use, since you're only supposed to exfoliate twice a week. I used to exfoliate up to 3 x a week before using different kinds of scrubs but come summertime when I get loads of sunburns, the scrubs are a big no-no! It would be like using sandpaper on my skin... so again, no, thank you. ~(>_<。)＼

FACEBOOK ¤ TWITTER ¤ INSTAGRAM

So when I found Cure Natural Aqua Gel on Facebook, I got curious. The product claims to be 91% made up of water and natural plant extracts of aloe vera, gingko, and rosemary. Hmmm. Interesting. It probably won't get the title of being Japan's No. 1 exfoliator for no reason. I just had to check it out for myself.

Yes, I do apply sunblock generously when I hit the beach. But that's just me. My skin burns bad. Boo!

I dare not use any peeling creams during the hot summer months so this Cure Natural Aqua Gel is the perfect solution to all my skin problems. You see, I love summer and well, I love it so much that nothing stops me from soaking up the sun, complete with SPF 50 or 70 sunblock. In spite of this, I still get vicious sunburns and uneven skin color. For the rest of the year, my goal would be getting rid of my tanned skin and going back to its normal color. And so the journey to the world of exfoliation begins.

Cure Natural Aqua Gel is very gentle on the skin. In fact, it uses a protective solution that is applied by ophthalmologists for eye surgery. There is no need to apply pressure to your skin when applying Cure. It only works on the skin and not on other surfaces such as glass or ceramic dishes. And, dead skin cells will no longer come off if you use it twice on the same skin area. It gently removes unwanted dead skin cells unlike chemical peels which use strong acids to dissolve protein. (http://www.toyojapan.net)

It's unlike any other skin exfoliator I've tried in the past. As soon as I put some gel on my face it magically turned liquid-y of sorts. I wanted to let my skin soak it up at first, you know, just to get the product really in there, but I figured I don't want to be dripping all over the place so I massaged it gently and in ~~less than~~ a second, I could feel tiny balls of dead skin forming under my fingertips! And the whiteheads on my nose and chin? Gone in just a blink of an eye! WHOA! That was fast! I mean, I've tried scrubs before and I really am not sure if those really exfoliated any skin at all because all I could feel then were the slowly dissolving grains of whatever the scrub was made of. But with Cure Natural Aqua Gel, there's no doubt about those dead skin cells coming off! Even when the product all ~~evaporated or~~ disappeared, the white balls (rolls?) remained as seen in the photos.

Cure Natural Aqua Gel gently removes the dried surface of rough skin. It is a very simple product as approximately 91% of Cure Natural Aqua Gel is water. It is fragrance free. Has no artificial colors or preservatives. (http://www.toyojapan.net)

I still had much product left in one sample sachet after doing my face, so I went ahead and exfoliated the heels of my feet and some scars I have from erythema nodosum. As expected, stubborn dead cells came off so easily. I didn't even have to scrub like a madwoman to get some results! It really is amaaaaaaazeballs!

First time *EVER* to post my bare face! LOL! Absolutely zero makeup; nothing applied. not even a toner.

Four days later since the first time I used Cure Natural Aqua Gel, I went ahead and opened a second sachet and braced myself to be amazed once again. However, this time I didn't get as much dead skin cells off. I guess I should do a week's interval in between skin exfoliation as it seems like I don't need to exfoliate 2 x a week. Perhaps my skin cells don't die so fast after all. (ñ_ñ) Tee hee. (∩_∩)

And since I'm loving the product so much, I just had to let Noodle Boy try it! I'm guessing that it works for the male species, too! It's not just for women I believe. Beauty products like these tend to be tried and reviewed more by females. But what the hey, right? It didn't say anything like guys can't use it, did it?

*BEST* husband in the world! Letting me do what I want with him. Mwahhh.

As advertised, 1 bottle is sold every 12 seconds in Japan! I think it's really cool that we don't need to buy this online because we can do away with international shipping now. Why? Because Cure Natural Aqua Gel is now available at Beauty Bars! I will surely buy a bottle when I run out of these samples. It is absofrigginlutely now my HG skin exfoliator!!! I have oily/combination skin and also acne-prone and sensitive. Now I can't stop touching my face (when I really shouldn't be!) because it is so soft just like a baby's bum! Kyaaaaaaa! Ｏ(≧∇≦)Ｏ\

Also I noticed that it is so much easier to apply BB creams (or foundations) now that my face is all smooth! It is feels easier to blend it for even coverage so what's not to love about it?! My face has never felt this squeaky, but not dry at all, clean before! OMGWTFBBQ! You really have to try it for yourself so you'll know I'm not making things up! Try the samples!!! Don't buy the whole bottle first because I think it's a bit expensive at PHP1,500.00 for 250 mL. It comes with a pump and dispenses just 1 mL each time; therefore, a bottle should last you a good 3-4 months depending on use. Then again, trust me, you'll get your money's worth!

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT CURE NATURAL AQUA GEL:
1. It just works! Best. skin. exfoliator. EVER.
2. They give out samples/trial sachets you can test out.
3. It's Japanese. ( ^_^)／
4. The "peeling" part does not hurt one bit! Perfect even for the most sensitive skin!
5. You only need a small amount to get a lot of dead skin cells off.
6. No weird smell.
7. No sticky-icky sensation.
8. Face feels a whole lot cleaner and so so so smoooooth!
9. Applying make-up especially BB creams seems easier. Products like foundation and powder feels like they glide smoothly on my face.
10. It's available here in the Philippines at Beauty Bars.

WHAT I DISLIKE ABOUT CURE NATURAL AQUA GEL:
1. It's a bit pricey but it's a high-end product. What do you expect?
2. Comes in only one-sized variant (250 mL). Maybe if they had like a 100 mL bottle, that'd be more affordable for me. LOL.

Guys, it is an amazing product and I'm not exaggerating! FYI: I'm not paid to do this review. I requested these samples because I've read the reviews of others. So many have tried and so many can attest to its effectiveness. I wanted to find it out for myself and I can't believe I just found out about it! So if you're reading this review because you're also curious about Cure Natural Aqua Gel, then what are you waiting for?

☆*:.｡. o(≧▽≦)o .｡.:*☆ Ganbatte! がんばって！