I have been asked time and again what two-way powder foundation I can recommended in place of other expensive brands.

I am happy to say that it is FS Two-Way Cake (it is actually powder), popularly known as Fanny Serrano two-way cake foundation powder. I have noticed that there was a change in the marketing strategy of this cosmetic line recently. It used to be marketed as “Fanny Serrano by F21 Cosmetics “. Now it stands simply as FS Cosmetics. I was having a conversation with a friend of mine and we discussed why this is so. Based on our deduction, we came to the conclusion that the cosmetic company might have used Fanny Serrano’s name for marketing purposes when it was launched into the market back in 2003. Over time, the brand has found its niche in the market and maybe due to the success of the line, the parties involved may not have come into terms when it was time to renew their contracts. That’s why it is now marketed as FS Cosmetics. Then again, this is just speculation on my part.

The packaging of this product has also changed. It still retains its round compact form. The see through cover has been changed into a full cover equipped with a mirror. Sponge is still included. The new packaging of the two-way cake is a step forward in terms of making it commercially viable. On a professional point of view, I liked the see-through cover better because I can see the colors of powder instantly.

The reason why I like recommending and using this product is because it provides build-able coverage. When using powder less is more. With this product, I advice to build the powder on your face slowly. Applying too much powder will give you a “thick” and “cake-y” appearance. It is similar to that of MAC’s Studio FX line. Whilst MAC’s Studio FX line can only be used dry, the FS two-way cake can be used wet or dry. My only qualm about the FS two-way cake is that the powder easily gets unbonded from the each other when I use a brush. It produces so much product excess that I find it wasteful. Unlike the powder foundations from MAC or Laura Mercier, as soon as I sweep my brush on top of the product, an ample amount of powder is picked up by the brush. No excess , no wastage.

One other reason why I like FS two-way cake is because of its color tone. I have noticed that most Filipinas purchase powdered compacts from drug store brands. I don’t have a problem with that except, most Filipinas want to appear “white” even if they are not. In addition to that, most powdered compacts come in one color, white. Remember, when the color of the powder that you use on is not your shade, you do not look white, but you look “ashy”. When one looks gray, one looks unhealthy! Plus, the mismatched color of your face and neck is not appealing at all. FS two-way cake has 7 colors available. It is a limited range but, the important thing is that they are yellow based. If a woman would be patient enough when choosing a shade, she’ll be able to get one that would closely match her skin tone.

The FS two-way cake line has a shade named Rajah. It is the darkest color of the range. I use it as a bronzing/contouring alternative because it has more red pigments iin it. I use this shade for contouring when creating a very natural makeup look. This product line is matte, so I do not worry about excessive shine as the day wears on.

I like things that smell good, and my nose automatically remembers scents that I like. The reason why I can’t forget about this product is because, it smells of vanilla and milk. I’m sure most girls would like to smell good. As a precaution though, only purchase this product if you are not allergic to any kind of fragrance!

This two-way cake aside from having Vitamin E, has an SPF rating of 35 due to the some mineral components* in the ingredients . To know more about sun screen and SPF click here to be brought to my previous blog.

Lastly it is very affordable. A compact retails at Php 399. I know that the price of this product places it in a specific market. But if you are like me who doesn’t really mind marketing ploys, this is a very effective product to use.

My very own FS Two-way cake sits comfortably in my Makeup kit between my MAC Studio FX and Laura Mercier foundation powders.

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To follow FS Cosmetics on facebook click here.

To know more about FS Cosmetics and their products click here.

FS Cosmetics are available at these locations (as taken from their website):

Cinderella Ermita                 Ever Commonwealth                  Ever Grand Central
Isetann Recto                        KCC General Santos                    KCC Marbel
Landmark Makati                Landmark North                          Lee Super Plaza, Dumaguete
Metro Ayala Cebu                Metro Colon Cebu                        Metro Gaisano Legazpi
RDS Bacolod                         RDS Cebu                                      RDS Dagupan
RDS Ermita                           RDS Filinvest                                RDS Galleria
RDS IMUS                             RDS MetroEast                            RDS Tutuban
Super Metro                          Watsons Bacoor                           Watsons Baliwag
Watsons Cebu D/S              Watsons Clark                              Watsons Cubao
Watsons Daimaru                Watsons Dasmarinas                 Watsons Davao Mall
Watsons Fairview                Watsons Gateway                        Watsons Harrison
Watsons Las Pinas              Watsons Makati                           Watsons Mall Of Asia Dept. Store
Watsons Marikina               Watsons Mega B                          Watsons North Edsa
Watsons Pampanga            Watsons San Lazaro                    Watsons Sta.Mesa
Watsons Sta Rosa               Watsons Mandurriao                   Watsons Manila              Watsons Mall Of Asia Mall 1

*Ingredients:

Talc, Dimethicone, Sericite, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Neopentyl Glycol, Dioctanoate, Nylon-12, N-Lauroyl Lysine, Synthetic Wax, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Magnesium Stearate, Silica, Dimethicone, Squalane, Isotearyl Isostearate, Cyclomethicone, DL-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyglyceryl-3-Diisostearate, Methyl Paraben, Propyl Paraben

May Contain:

Yellow Iron Oxide, Red Iron Oxide and Black Iron Oxide.

FS Two-way cake is made in Taiwan and is imported and distributed by Cosmetics Revelation Corporation in the Philippines.