By Zsarlene B. Chua
Reporter
AMERICAN direct-selling company Amway has brought to the Philippines the second collection off of its Artistry Studio line which takes its name and design cues from Paris. It features three eyeshadow palettes, cheek and lip duos, liquid lip colors, brow shapers, and a setting spray.
“Artistry Studio is all about helping beauty lovers have fun, express who they are, and ultimately treat themselves,” Amway Philippines Country Manager Maria Elenita Olmedo, was quoted as saying in a press release.
“[We aim to] attract the younger generation, that’s why we’re making it fun and playful and trendy,” Daniela Farnache, Amway Philippines’ Head of Market Innovation, told BusinessWorld during the launch on May 29 at Amway Place in Makati City
Last year, the line launched its first collection which was inspired by New York City and featured an on-the-go palette with eye shadows, highlighters and finishing powders; tinted lip balms; two-in-one lipsticks and eye sticks; an illuminating powder palette; and a three-in-one lash boosting mascara.
(The mascara — priced at P1,415 — is one of the best mascaras I’ve tried so far: one can twist the mascara wand to the desired size — full blast for really thick, long lashes or one can turn it into a mini wand to really get at those inner lashes or bottom lashes. The formula also does not smudge, clump or move around. It can also last 12-hour work days. It’s magic.)
This year, the focus in on the City of Lights as the brand took cues from “Parisienne’s minimal yet bold looks, lit-from-within skin and effortlessly styled hair,” according to a press release.
The collection’s art was created by French artist Adolie Day.
The collection includes three eyeshadow palettes, each with six shadows: Macarons, which features pastel colors, City of Lights which has bolder grays and blacks, and Sparkling Watercolors which has lighter shimmer shades.
All three palettes (P1,675 each) have shimmer shades which are completely fine if one prefers a sparkly look, but I confess that I had to pick up several matte shades from my own personal stash to provide a base for my eyeshadow look for the day. I would prefer a couple of matte shades especially since the release noted that the colors in the palettes were done so they can be used as “base shades, highlighter, color or contour,” shades.
But that is not to say that the products aren’t any good — they are very pigmented, especially the City of Lights palette which I’ve continued to use on and off for two weeks now, especially the icy white shade which is a good inner eye highlight, and the bronze shade which gives my lids a pop of color.
What I particularly liked from the line was the Cheek and Lip Duo (P1,265) which is available in three shades: Pantheon Peach (coral and light pink), Polaris Pink (hot pink and blush), and Rouge (dark red and pink).
The formula is creamy, pigmented, and very long-lasting. I’ve worn Pantheon Peach for an entire week and it has lasted longer than my current top shelf favorite from Generation Happy Skin Active, the On-the-Go Cheek Stick in Glowing. I didn’t like how the Cheek and Lip Duo applied on my lips though, as it is incredibly drying and patchy though it does last long.
The two products I felt ambivalent about were the brow shaper (P1,115) and the liquid lip (P1,190). From the liquid lipsticks, I tried the shade Notre Dame Nude, a brown with a hint of pink liquid lip that functions more like a gloss than a proper liquid lip. While the color was flattering on me, I have never been a fan of glossy lips.
Meanwhile, the issue I had with the brow shaper — though it applies well (I used the shade Creme Caramel, a medium ashy brown) — is that the brush was a pain to remove from its place. The entire packaging looks like the Eiffel Tower — cute — but the effort I had to use to pull out the brush from its scabbard was enough to throw me off. I also fear breaking everything off because unlike the other products’ packaging, this one feels a bit flimsy.
While not included in the Artistry Studio, I think the Amway Artistry Exact Fit Cushion Foundation All Day Cover SPF50 PA+++ (P2,275) deserves a special mention because it is the first cushion foundation that has worked on my dry, sensitive skin without issues. It has a dewy finish and stays until the end of the day even without using the Artistry Studio Setting Spray (P1,450).
Sadly, the cushion is only offered in two shades, light medium and medium.
Oh, the setting spray is good: the nozzle spritzes enough product on my face without drowning me and does its job of keeping the makeup on my skin even during the hottest day, though I would say that the makeup itself does a good job on its own even without the setting spray.
The Artistry Studio Parisian Style Edition is available at My Amway Place in Makati and Amway Distribution Centers. For more information, visit amway.com.ph or its corresponding social media sites.
