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Showing posts with label face. Show all posts
Showing posts with label face. Show all posts

Product Preview: Oil Free Supreme Foundation

I've been having a hell of a time finding a decent foundation lately.  I've tried a bunch of budget-friendly drugstore brands and have been disappointed by them all, in unique ways.  Some seem too light.  Others don't go on well.  I have yet to really fall in love with anything lately.  And I've spent a pretty penny to be disappointed.

When I was approached with an email about a new foundation by Laura Mercier, I couldn't wait to give it a try.  Laura Mercier makes very nice, high quality products, so I had my fingers crossed that this would be good.

Here's the deets: The new foundation is called Oil Free Supreme Foundation and it's an innovative new oil-free foundation that gives skin the ultimate coverage, comfort and wear for a flawless complexion. It is an oil-free, non-drying, lightweight formula that glides on evenly on to skin and does not settle into fine lines.  It claims to minimizes the appearance of pores for smoother skin and provides buildable coverage, from moderate to full, while it evens skin tone.

I've been wearing this foundation for a week now, and I think I'm in love.  YAY!  My skin has been looking pretty good--my normally visible pores are not as noticeable.  My skin tone is evened out and my face doesn't seem to get as oily as it has been with cheaper products by the middle of the day. My skin feels hydrated but not greasy, and I haven't noticed any annoying slippage.  It's easy to apply (I like the pump bottle), and has very little fragrance.

At $42, this product is a bit spendy, but I am really happy with the results.  To  me, it's worth the price.  Look for Oil Free Supreme Foundation in April.  It will be available in Porcelain Ivory, Blush Ivory, Warm Ivory, Sunny Beige, Vanilla Beige, Golden Beige, Shell Beige, Tawny Beige, Honey Beige, Suntan Beige, Toffee Bronze, Rich Sienna.

Holiday Wish List

Wow.  I still can't believe that 2011 is almost over and that the holidays are here. If you're still working on your wish list, here are five things to consider:

Clinique's Black Honey Glow ($28.50): I  have had a pretty long-term love affair with Clinique's Black Honey.  I use it on my lips at least a few times each week, so it's no surprise that I love this kit.  You get mascara, blush, lipgloss, and an eyeshadow duo....everything you need for the perfect face.  And the shades are going to rock and be very flattering...it IS Black Honey, after all!

mark On the Dot Natural Eye Color Compact ($15): finding the perfect eyeshadow shades is an on-going quest for me.  I like a wide range of neutrals to play with (to dress up or dress down, as my mood or the occasion dictates). This compact includes 9 of mark's best sellers, so getting the right look will be a snap!

Sephora by OPI Glimmer Wonderland 18-Piece Mini Nail Colour Set ($48): this is the perfect gift set if you're like me and you paint your nails every week. For the cost of a few mani's you can get 18 different colors to play with.  The shades included range from fun and flirty to classic.  I bet you'd be happy to get this under your tree!  

Rembrandt Deeply White 2 Hour Kit (about $22): white teeth are always in, and this is the perfect addition to your beauty routine this season. The Deeply White 2 Hour Whitening Kit is a fast, enamel-safe way to whiten your smile in just two hours.  I've spent a ton of money (and time) on dental work in 2011, so making my teeth look great is high on my list as of late. Head over to the Rembrandt website for deets...and for a coupon!
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BirchBox (amounts vary; you can get a year for $110): this is the gift that keeps on giving!  Every month, you'll get a lovely little box filled with high end beauty samples.  I gave myself this and look forward to what's inside every month.  You can also buy products from their website and get discounts on featured products.  You never know what you'll find with this!

    Are you still shopping? You might want to consider checking out sites like HauteLook.  Every day, they offer great deals and, often, products from some of the best prestigue cosmetics companies.

    If you're wasting time on facebook, you should check this out, from Sephora:

    Make Your Holiday Beauty Dreams Come True This Season
    With The New Sephora Wish List App for Facebook

    Whether you’re dreaming of a palette filled with endless colors, sensational skincare or a signature fragrance, Sephora wants to help make all of your beauty dreams come true this holiday season with the Sephora Wish List App. Available only on Sephora’s Facebook page, The Wish List App helps you create your ultimate beauty list to share with family and friends, while providing the chance to win a $100 Sephora Gift Card daily.

    Go to www.Facebook.com/Sephora to access the App and build the product list of your dreams. Select from thousands of items using Sephora’s online product finder, featuring the hottest beauty gifts available at Sephora, including exclusive sets and best-selling items from brands such as Dior, Make Up For Ever, Nars, Tarte, tokidoki, Philosophy, Hello Kitty Beauty, Buxom, Josie Maran, T3, Fresh, Urban Decay and so much more. You can also view wish lists from Sephora’s own trend spotters, international style experts and celebrity brand founders, including Tarina Tarantino, Kat Von D and Charlotte Ronson.

    Once your list is compiled, share it with your friends and family so they know exactly what you’re dreaming of this year. Sephora gives you the option to create and share multiple lists so you can customize by category or price and send to select recipients.  And since lists can be accessed beyond the holidays, finding a last minute gift will be easy for your friends and family.

    Still wishing for more? With each list you create and share through December 23rd, you have the chance to enter a daily sweepstakes to win a $100 gift card.  There’s never been a more beautiful way to give and receive the perfect beauty gifts of the season.

    10 Ways to Make Your Foundation Stay On All Day


    Here are 10 ways to make your foundation stay on the entire day without touch up. Use these tips for a flawless complexion all day. Whether you purchase cheap drug store or expensive luxury foundation, there are ways to prolong the wear of your foundation. Some low-end foundations actually stay on better than high-end foundations if used the right way or paired with other products.

    .........................

    1. Choosing the right formula of foundation:

    Different foundation formulas tailor to different skin types. If you have dry skin, use a cream or liquid foundation. For oilier skin, choose oil free liquid formulas, powder, or mineral foundation.

    2. Priming your face:

    Priming your face with a silicone based primer not only help you save the amount of foundation you use but also create a flawless canvas for your foundation to go on. Think of it as prolonging the wear of a nail polish with a base coat; same idea.

    3. Apply with a brush:

    Applying foundation with a brush can help you achieve flawless coverage without using too much product. The brush helps to deliver the foundation seamlessly into your skin. A kabuki brush helps to buff mineral foundation on and a flat top brush helps to evenly distribute liquid foundation.

    4. Use the right amount of product:

    Less is more. Start off with a bit of the product on your brush and build coverage by gradually applying more product. Excess amount can easily rub off and crease on your face.

    5. Keep your skin clean, exfoliated and moisturised:

    Clear, exfoliated skin allows the foundation to go on effortlessly and smoothly since the foundation lies evenly on the skin.

    6. Use a finishing powder:

    When using liquid or cream foundation, always finish off with a finishing/translucent powder which helps to seal the product just like how a top coat seals the nail polish color. For mineral foundation users, the equivalent of a finishing powder would be a mineral veil.

    7. Set the foundation with a spray:

    Makeup fix sprays are growing popular for a good reason. These water based sprays not only make your makeup last longer but give you that dewy, fresh, au natural skin. A cheaper alternative would be to load up a spray bottle with water.

    8. Choose Oil free and long lasting makeup:

    Generally oil free makeup stay on longer. Look for foundations that say long-lasting or even waterproof. Many makeup lines such as Rimmel or Revlon make extremely affordable foundations that last between 8-25 hours!

    9. Try a mineral foundation:

    Mineral foundations tend to stay on the skin for longer period of time, especially for oily skinned individuals. They are weightless and most have oil absorbing properties.

    10. Reduce oil on your skin:

    Keeping your skin matte and shine free can reduce the amount oil on your face, which can then minimize the chance of the foundation sliding off your skin. Using a matte, oil control moisturizer and blotting paper throughout the day to keep the excess oil at bay.

    Please also visit my posts on 10 ways to make eyeliner stay put all day and 5 ways to make eyeshadow stay on all day

    How to contour your face and look 10 lbs skinnier


    Welcome back to another video. How many of you have had days where you just wish your face weren't so bloated? Well, I certainly do almost everyday. Contouring has been a necessity for me because of my face shape and it really dramatically transforms your face. Here is my preferred method to contour your face, cheeks and nose. It literally makes me look like I shed 10 lbs.

    Products Used:

    MAC 269 brush
    MAC 219 brush
    Coastal Scents C 108 flat bronzer brush
    Stila #9 brush
    NARS Laguna bronzer
    Urban Decay Naked Palette in Buck
    NYC Color Wheel Mosaic Face Powder

    Stay Protected Under the Sun


    GIRLS, as much as we love the sun, sun damage is no joke. You may not see the visible damage of the harmful UVA and UVB rays now but trust me it is perfectly concealed and will show up in your future. By that time, it may be too late. So let`s list a few simple sun screen rules to follow for these sun shining days.


    1. Use a sunscreen whenever you go out


    Don`t neglect those cloudy days because around 80% of the rays do penetrate. There can be damaging rays even on the cloudiest days that isn`t visible to the eye. Apply at least an SPF of 15 for cloudy days and SPF 30 for sunny days.


    2. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen

    This means it blocks both UVA and UVB rays. So do look for sunscreens that target both rays as they both can be damaging


    3. Use an oil free or non-greasy formula

    The worst thing you want is to look greasy, waxy and white all over. Choose a non-greasy formula that can be easily absorbed into the skin. This will also prevent clogging of pores and breakouts.


    4. Reapply often

    Even the strongest SPF sunscreen requires constant reapplication. I would recommend reapplying at least once every 1-2 hours depending on the intensity of the rays. Please don`t be lazy. Research also states that an average individual only applies 30% of the effective dose of sunscreen so please apply a generous amount to your body before heading out.


    5. Incorporate SPF into your daily skincare routine

    Tinted moisturizers are the hype right now and some of them have SPF 30 which is very impressive as it does the trick of 3; moisturizer, light coverage foundation and sunscreen. Other than that, a finishing power or foundation with SPF 15 is sufficient for cloudy days. A moisturizer with an SPF of 30 can also be used during the day time to kill two birds with one stone.


    My Personal Recommendations

    Shiseido Ultimate Sunscreen Protection SPF 55 – Winner of Sephora`s sunscreen award. Best sunscreen I`ve tried personally.

    La Roche Posay and Vichy Sunscreen- Great texture, broad spectrum, easy to apply and relatively affordable.

    Clarins UV PLUS Protective Day Screen SPF 40 Oil Free- It`s oil free and feels like a moisturizer. It has great protection and is small to fit in the purse. Great on the go sun screen.

    Clinique City Block Oil Free Face Protector SPF 40 or 25- Love the tint in this sunscreen along with its non-conventional smooth and light texture. It does even out the skin tone a bit without looking greasy.

    THE MINERAL FOUNDATION HYPE



    Minerals are huge right now. It's on TV, in the store, ads, everywhere. I do love the fact that it is great for your skin. But honestly I have tried at least 10 kinds of mineral makeup right now and I will share with you my experience with them. Hopefully this will help you to decide which ones to start with. Let me know if you need help deciding.

    Bare minerals

    My Experience: I love the matte yet dewy finish. The coverage is a lot better than just a regular powder. I enjoyed it quite a lot and would purchase it again.

    Pro: Great finish, buildable coverage, natural-looking, waterproof, flawless finish

    Con: Expensive, cakey if applied too much, slides off on oily skin

    Suitable for: those with combination and sensitive skin

    Rating: 8 stars


    Sheer Cover Minerals

    My experience: This to me was similar to Bare minerals. The one thing that was different was that it was a lot lighter than Bare Minerals. The shades also adapted to my skin color easier. The concealing power isn't so great but then they have the best creamy concealer so that makes up for it.

    Pro: Light weight, natural, decent coverage, flawless finish

    Con: Poor packaging, expensive, messy to use

    Suitable for: Those with not much to conceal wanting a light coverage.

    Rating: 7 stars


    Pur Minerals

    My experience: I personally love this. Some people have a problem with this but I tried it on and it was instant gratification. It was flawless, matte and makes you look like you are about to do a photoshoot.

    Pro: flawless, not messy(comes in a pressed powder form), great coverage, natural colors, matte finish, multipurpose (4 in 1)

    Con: sometimes drying, not much color selection

    Suitable for: Quick, on the go, perfect skin.

    Rating: 8.5 stars


    Everyday Minerals

    My experience: This is my most recent purchase. The first time I put it on, it had a nice texture. Overall, the coverage is good, not great. What I like about it is that there is such a wide selection of shades available, you are bound to get the true shade. Also, it looks oh-so natural on everyone.

    Pro: Natural, Affordable, Choose from various finishes (original glow, intensive, matte, semi-matte), long wearing

    Con: not flawless coverage, packaging too plastic

    Suitable for: everyone depending on which finish you want.

    Rating: 8.5-9 stars (not so sure because the coverage is not as great as Pur Minerals)


    Physician's Formula Mineral Foundation

    My experience: I use them on a regular basis. I only use them on top of liquid foundation as a setting powder. The foundation is rather natural and doesn't cover up but it makes a nice and matte finish.

    Pro: cheap, good for sensitive skin, convenient packaging (do not use brush)

    Con: comes off easily, doesn't cover much

    Suitable for: those with sensitive skin or not much to conceal.

    Rating: 6.5


    Prestige MultiTasking SkinLoving Minerals

    My experience: I bought this on a whim because it was a multitasking powder with concealing properties. This fits my busy lifestyle so I gave it a try. Much to my surprise, it was a lot better than I expected. Cheap and worth your money!

    Pros: good coverage, buildable coverage, cheap, easy to use, fast fix

    Cons: medium staying powder, little shade selection

    Suitable for: those who wants to get out the door in 5 minutes and pay little.

    Stars: 8.5 stars


    L'oreal Bare Naturalle Mineral Foundation

    My experience: I heard some good things about this so I bought it. I was not really impressed. However I do believe that it is because I have much to conceal and it didn't do the job. Overall, it was a decent mineral foundation with normal staying powder.

    Pros: cheap, easy to apply applicator, very natural looking, lightweight

    Cons: poor brush, not flawless coverage, not super longlasting, powdery looking

    Suitable for: oily skin, those wanting natural coverage with not much to conceal

    Stars: 6.5 stars




    MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: PICKING THE RIGHT FOUNDATION


    I have a problem with picking the right foundation. Honestly, I can never find the right color. When I do find the right color, I don't like the texture of my skin and so on and so on. I give up! So I want to take some time to share with you some foundations that I have tried and liked. Again, I'm grouping them into categories since not everyone have the same foundation needs.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For acne prone skin:
    Recommend: Neutrogena Skin Clearing Oil Free Makeup


    Purpose: It is oil free so it won't clog pores and worsen acne. It also helps to conceal redness. I love this one especially because it is affordable and contains salicylic acid, one of the most effective pimple-fighting ingredient.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For dry skin:
    Recommend: Almay TLC Truly Lasting Color 16 Hour Makeup Skin Nourishing Longwear SPF 15

    Purpose: It comes in a cream-like texture
    and contains antioxidants to make up for the lost H2O in your skin. Your skin will look non-greasy and moisturized the whole day.

    --------------------------------------------------

    For skin with fine lines:

    Recommend: Estée Lauder Resilience Lift Extreme Ultra Firming Makeup SPF 15

    Purpose: Heavy makeup make lines look deeper, so this is a lightweight formula made of soy. Soy helps to tighten lines that dwell around the eye and mouth area.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For uneven skin:

    Recommend: Chanel Mat Lumière Long-Lasting Soft Matte Makeup SPF 15

    Purpose: Created with a matte base containing light reflecting molecules to camouflage those spots, uneven surfaces and sallo
    wness. Definitely my lifesaver!

    HOW TO CONTOUR YOUR FACE

    It's been a while! Here's my video on how to contour your face! I personally do not like my face shape and want to create the illusion of a slender face so I've decided to post this up for all you girls out there who doesn't like a chubby face! This doesn't take too long and makes you look lie you lost 10 lbs!Please let me know what you think! ENJOYYYYY:)


    BEST BLUSHES FOR ALL BUDGETS!

    Alright, I've gotten a few questions about the blush I use! I know some ladies are all about being natural and believe it or not, choosing the RIGHT brush can make the difference between a CLOWN look and a FLUSHED look. Blush needs to look natural and make you look like you've just run 4 miles. So I've done some research and testing and want to introduce 4 best blushes. 2 of them are HIGH END and 2 of them are LOW END. I always do this because I know some of you (like me) are pretty broke! So here it is:


    [ HIGH END ]


    NARS ORGASM BLUSH


    Made with transparent pigments for a soft and sheer look. Imparts a natural, healthy glow for any skin tone and may be worn alone or layered together for more depth and intensity. This sheer look gives you a natural glow. It is a great blush especially for fair skinned people because of its discrete color. It's Nar's best selling product.


    BENEFIT DANDELION BLUSH
    Fake awake with Dandelion - Benefit's ballerina-pink pressed highlighting powder. Just one stroke of Dandelion takes your complexion from dull to radiant in an instant. It's shimmery, satiny, radiant, perk-me-up finish is guaranteed to make them wonder ..."How do you look so pretty at eight in the morning?" Unlike the other blushes, this blush comes in a very fancy packaging, sort of in a treasure box with a brush included. I bought this for my best friend. She BARELY uses wear makeup but this is all she uses.


    [ LOW END ]

    PHYSICIAN'S FORMULA MULTICOLORED BLUSH PALETTE


    This is what I use everyday in my videos. Cheap and the multicolored palette creates the PERFECT blush. A beautiful mosaic of complementary hues to contour and accentuate cheekbones with soft color and discreet shimmer.It’s the perfect combination of colors that blend together to naturally enhance your cheekbones.The finest Italian talc provides a silky-smooth application that blends easily without streaking or irritating sensitive skin.

    Almay Smart Shade Blush ( for those who can't pick a PERFECT shade )

    With smart shade blush, there’s no more guessing about how to find your perfect blush shade. This revolutionary blush contains microscopic shade-sensing color beads that are activated when you smooth it on—transforming into a shade that perfectly complements your skin tone. Simply pick your favorite shade, smooth it on and watch it instantly blush for you. Plus, the antioxidant blend of vitamins and grapeseed nurtures your skin. For sheer, radiant color every time. I haven't given this a try yet but heard MANY positive comments about it. Plus, the grapeseed and vitamins is definitely a plus. There aren't many blushes that contain vitamins yet.

    There it is! Tell me what you think and submit your favourite blushes. I will add it to the list. Thanks:)

    Here are additions to the list based on comments:

    fabu-less beauty said:
    Milani Luminous is a dupe of NARS Orgasm. It's cheap and sold at drugstores.

    Ivy said...
    Benetint
    Anna Sui Face Color