Fab Five Express Review Feat. Estee Lauder, BECCA, NARS, Tom Ford, Shu Uemura

Much as I enjoy blogging, I'm telling you right now that I don't get to review every product that lands on my desk. While I'm the type who takes photos before attempting to touch or use an item, there are days I just can't do it, let alone write a full-length review. Brain constipation? possibly. Uninterested? not really. So for today's post, I decided to feature some of my favorite products express review-style without compromising brevity.

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Let's start with Estee Lauder Double Wear Light in Intensity 2.0 ($33, 1 fl oz). If you like the staying power of Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place foundation but find it too thick for everyday use, this lightweight foundation is your best bet. The consistency is thinner and has light to medium coverage. It dries to a matte finish so setting it with powder maybe unnecessary. Just so you know, my skin is undergoing metamorphosis lately (coming from extremely oily to combination) so I don't use setting powder whenever I use matte foundations. Like its predecessor double-wear stay in place, this foundation does not oxidize, melt, budge or turn my face into an odd greaseball. Interestingly, it does give a tightening sensation as the day progresses, more like "oil being sucked"; with that said, I don't think this will work if you have dry skin. I wear Intensity 2.0 (light to medium beige) as per recommendation of the associate but for my next purchase, I'm going one shade darker 3.0 (medium beige).

Another product you've seen consistently on my FOTD posts is NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer ($29, 0.22 oz). Sold in ten shades, I have Custard which has golden undertone for medium complexion. The formula is creamy but never cakey. This has been my go-to lately, replacing my used-to-be holy grail Cover Fx cream concealer (reviewed here).

A mainstay in my vanity, I use BECCA Skin Mineral Powder to set BB cream (alternately with Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder) and under-eye concealer. It goes on smooth with remarkable lightweight feel.

Probably the oldest in my stash, this Shu Uemura eyelash curler is 9 or 10 years old. Yep, I've had it wayyyy before I started beauty blogging. I've tried some prototypes here and there, including the S-curler (from the same brand, reviewed here) but hands down, this remains my favorite. It looks beat up from the photo but this bad boy is still kickin' it.

My makeup mantra has not changed: groomed brows or go home! I don't know about you but I get distracted by bushy and neglected brows. For quick and natural-looking brows, I opt for Tom Ford Brow Sculptor in Chestnut. It has an angled tip, spoolie and built-in sharpener which makes it multi-functional. Quite spendy at $44 but it's all worth it.

Here's moi featuring the "Fab Five"

on my lips: Gucci Lip Audacious Spring Rose (reviewed here)