I first noticed that a Davao-born mall (NCCC Mall) had an LA Colors section in their department store around December of 2011. The first time I knew that there were actually TWO sections (the other one was located at their pharmacy/health and beauty store, HB1) was 2 months ago. Each and every time I get to visit the mall, I find my trip to be unfulfilling if I never get to make a trip to either of those stalls, regardless of my real purpose in coming to the mall.
The thing that surprised me the most about LA Colors was their dirt-cheap prices. Many of their products actually cost less than those being sold by local brands, such as Ever Bilena and Nichido. Another surprise came as to the quality of these items: for the price, the quality is quite decent. Also, upon further research, I discovered that the Philippine prices of their products were pretty much the same as their prices in the US, which I found to be amazing! The same cannot be said about other foreign brands that sell here in the Philippines, unfortunately. Take a look at ELF, for example. In the US, their Studio products cost about USD 3.00, which should be around PhP 120.00 when converted. Sadly, malls, even Ebay sellers, sell ELF Studio products for twice as much.
For this haul, I purchased a liquid eyeliner, a baked eyeshadow quad, a mineral blush, 2 5-color metallic eyeshadow palettes, and 4 nail colors. All in all, I got to spend PhP 660.00 (~USD 16.00), which I think isn't bad.
Note: For hauls, I will be doing first-look reviews just to let you know what my first impression is on the products I have just purchased. In depth reviews with corresponding scores will be given at least 2 weeks of using the product, although I may choose not to make an in-depth presentation if my lazy bones come and take the best of me, or if I feel like I have nothing to say about the product at all.
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| LA Colors Liquid Eyeliner in Navy Blue (704) |
The entire tube costs just PhP 60.00 (~USD 1.50). Again, DIRT CHEAP. I am yet to come across a foreign brand that sells liquid eyeliners for this cheap in the Philippines.
Packaging:
This has always been my problem with LA Colors: most of their packaging is designed to target a much younger market. This eyeliner, though, is an exception to that rule, as the product comes in a generic tube that neither looks ugly nor aesthetically commendable. But then again, is there really a way to teen-ify the packaging for tube products without making your line seem like they belong to the toy section of the department store?
Quality:
The tube says smudge-proof, and I really do believe it. It doesn't smudge, but it does fade and flake off easily when rubbed. It is as water-soluble as water can get. A little teardrop can make you look like a blue panda in seconds. For its price though, I can't really complain. This is actually my first non-black or brown eyeliner, so I'm finding myself liking the color quite well. It dries matte, although it takes quite a while to do so.
Quantity:
The tube contains 0.25 fluid ounce, or 7 mL, which, I think is a good amount for the price.
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| LA Colors 4 Color Baked Eyeshadow in Cosmic (CBE423) |
At PhP 125.00 (~USD 3.00) per quad, I'd say this is another steal.
Packaging:
This is actually my second baked eyeshadow palette from LA Colors. I didn't like the packaging on my first palette, and nothing has changed my mind ever since.
Quality:
The reason why I chose to purchase another palette from their baked eyeshadow line despite the awful packaging is the product itself. I love my first quad (in Equinox, CBE 430) so much, that I have decided to give it to my sister just so I have a reason to purchase another one. When I got to the store this morning, however, I decided to purchase this one for the pretty colors it has. Upon dry-swatching, the colors are really light. They could even come across as a bit chalky. But the best thing about baked eyeshadows is that they look much, much better when used wet. I haven't tried that yet as I just ran out of some Eye-Mo. But with my experience with Equinox, I have reason to believe that this quad will turn out just as pretty when used wet.
Quantity:
There's 5.5 grams of product all in all (1.375 grams per color), and I'd have to say that that is a lot for the price.
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| LA Colors Mineral Blush in Naturale (CMB854) |
Price:
Another steal at PhP 125.00 (~USD 3.00) a pop.
Packaging:
I hate how the packaging is so thick, as it accommodates a mirror and brush under the blush. Seeing as I barely have reason to use the mirror, and I never really use the brush (although it is quite soft and can apply the product much better than I though it could), I really think this product would have been much better without them.
Quality:
There is a reason why I have 9 of these in different colors: the quality. These blushes are pigmented and they do last a long time. I love this shade particularly so, as it is true to its name, Naturale: it looks very natural. It is pinkish-brown with a little shimmer, and it gives me a similar blush that I normally would have if I stayed in the midday sun for 3 minutes.
Quantity:
There's 4.3 grams of product in this pot.
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| LA Colors 5 Color Metallic Eyeshadow in Unforgettable (EP24, Top) and Wildflowers (EP42, Bottom) |
These are definitely the cheapest eyeshadow palettes that I own at PhP 65.00 (~USD 1.50) apiece.
Packaging:
My brother told me the palette looked like the cheap watercolor palette he had back in preschool. I couldn't agree more. I think any kid would think the same way, too.
Quality:
These palettes aren't bad. They're not the most pigmented shadows out there, but they're not the worst, either. The lighter colors could come off as a bit chalky, however, it's nothing a good eyelid primer or cream eyeshadow base can't fix. The colors are really pretty, and it is fairly easy to build these colors up. For the price, I really can't complain.
Quantity:
Theres 7.5 grams all in all (1.5 grams per color). This is even more than the mineral eyeshadow quads, which happen to cost almost twice as much.
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| From L-R: LA Colors Color Craze Nail Polish in Circuits (NP412), Voodoo (NP466), and Fuel (NP418), and LA Colors Nail Lacquer in Berry (NP308) |
Price:
These are the cheapest items in my haul today. These cost PhP 55.00 (~USD 1.25) a bottle. There are cheaper nail colors in the Philippines, but seeing quite a few positive reviews of it online, I decided to give it a try.
Packaging:
It looks a bit like more expensive nail colors, such as OPI. Of all the products of LA Colors, I think they have to be commended most with their work on the packaging of this particular line.
Quality:
I have tried putting the colors on my toenails (seeing as I still have them left as I can't really bite them off), and so far, so good. The colors were easy to apply, were nicely pigmented (except for Fuel, which was a bit sheer in comparison), and they dry pretty fast. Circuits is a basic black color, which I think every girl should have as a staple. Voodoo, which happens to be my favorite, is a jewel-toned green color (but as I have a certain inclination towards bluish-greenish colors, this comes off as a little surprise.). Fuel is a hot pink that looks pigmented in the bottle, but came off slightly less pigmented (in comparison to the other colors that I bought) upon application. Lastly, Berry, a lovely deep red, which I can't wait to wear for when classes start on the 7th of May.
Quantity:
Each bottle contains 15 mL of product.
Have you purchased any of the items mentioned in this entry? If so, did you like it? If not, why? Are there other particular products from LA Colors that you think are worth buying as well? I look forward to reading your thoughts and comments below! :)
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