Foundation Frenzy - Liquid Foundations

Foundations featured in photo (shades noted from memory! haha):

Make Up For Ever High Definition Foundation (#120)

*Annabelle BB Cream

Josie Maran Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation (Light/Medium)

*Gosh BB Cream

Clinique Even Better (#04 - Cream Chamois)

*Smashbox Studio Skin

Marcelle BB Cream

*Marcelle Limited Edition BB Cream

NARS Sheer Glow (Santa Fe)

Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation

Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream (Light)

Sephora Collection Perfecting Tinted Moisturizer SPF20

Cover Girl NatureLuxe Foundation

FusionBeauty Prime Results Tinted Moisturizer (Sand)

L'Oreal True Match

*NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 (Finland)

NARS Firming Foundation (Punjab)

Benefit You Rebel Tinted Moisturizer

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation

*Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation

*Dr. Brandt Flexitone BB Cream

Maybelline Dream Liquid Foundation (not in photo)

Clearly 2012 was the year of the foundation for me.  I will tell you right now that not every foundation has been opened and/or tried as of this blog post (as noted by the *asterisks*) however - some of them I have actually tried before...I just clearly have too many foundations open and I need to clean out some of them first!

What I wanted to do with this post is to give you a mini rundown on what I like about each of these foundations (or conversely, what I don't love quite so much...)  You will find clickable links [surrounded like this] if I have a review posted about these foundations on my blog.  Eventually I hope to have a more in-depth review for each foundation.  Feel free to click through and read :)

• Make Up For Ever High Definition Foundation - I think this foundation gives a great medium to full buildable coverage, while still looking like skin with a natural finish.  The pigments are wrapped into amino acids and what this will mean for you is that rather than the foundation sinking into skin texture, it closely mimics the skin and flexes with it as it moves - thus preventing that overly cakey foundation face that everyone runs away from.  All skin types can wear this but what I find is that drier skins need a hydrating base or a really good moisturizer underneath and someone who is very oily will want an oil control primer. (also of note: I don't normally say you need to use the matching company's primer with their foundations, but in this case the HD Primer and HD Foundation are a match made in heaven).  I personally don't use this very much as an everyday foundation because I find that (especially in the winter) because of my dry skin, it can cling if I'm not diligent about moisturizer - so I tend to save it for tutorials -- and in point of fact, I just gave my bottle to a coworker who suited the shade I had a bit better than I did...I prefer #125 on my skin.

• Josie Maran Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation - A lovely, creamy textured foundation spiked with Josie's secret ingredient - Argan Oil - a balancing oil great for all skin types (absorbs excess oils and hydrates dry patches!).  Chameleon pigments make this foundation a bit different than your typical ones.  It comes out of the bottle looking like a mottled white liquid that as you blend bursts and warms to your skintone perfectly.  There are 3 shade variants available (Fair/Light good for people with a pinker undertone, Light/Medium good for people with a more olive undertone, and Medium/Deep good for people with a darker and warmer skintone).  One of my all time favorite foundations with a glowy finish that's not too shiny (oilier skins may still want to set oily zones with a translucent or blotting powder) and looks great on my skin all day.

• Clinique Even Better SPF 15 Foundation - A great foundation for people who are looking to correct uneven skin tone!  Developed by Clinique's dermatologists, this foundation is said to visibly diminish age spots in 4-6 weeks.  I think that this may be a little far fetched as a serum or a treatment would give a better result...but I do love the finish it gives.  A more complete thought on this foundation can be found [here] but I find it's more of a full coverage foundation that feels like a medium.  Which is perfect for those people out there who want coverage but don't want it to feel too thick and heavy.  Clinique says it works best on dry-combination to oily skin.  I find oilier skin types don't always love it and may have to powder.

• Marcelle BB Cream - An 8-in-one multi benefit skincare/makeup fusion, this is another product in a long line on the train of both drugstore and high end BB creams.  But make no mistake...this one is my favorite so far.  BB creams should be skincare first and coverage second...this is rarely the case with our Western versions as they are akin more to our tinted moisturizers just souped up with a tiny bit more of a skin benefit (and I'm sorry to say that even Marcelle's falls into this category).  It does keep my skin nicely hydrated with a decent amount of coverage (I call it a light/medium...if I want a true medium I add some powder and it's flawless!).  Interestingly, this is the first BB cream I've met with  no SPF (though if I recall, there is one with an SPF available).  It is a Canadian product though so getting it outside of Canada may be a bit harder, but if you can get your mitts on it, please try it!  I'm smitten!  [Review can be found here]

• NARS Sheer Glow - If I could write a Sonnet to this foundation, I would.  This is my HG (or holy grail) foundation.  It's a perfect medium coverage, leaves my skin hydrated and glowing, and lasts all day with a primer.  It has antioxidants built into it and contains turmeric extract for improved skin radiance and and tone.  I have a comparison for this foundation [here] with the Sheer Matte finish.  If you have dry to dry-combination skin, please try this foundation.  You won't be disappointed!

• Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation - A more recent addition to my *ahem, little* collection, the KvD foundation is amazing as far as pigmentation, transfer resistance, and lastability go...but it falls short for my dry skin in that it dries to be way too matte of a finish for myself (it's listed as a soft matte finish, but on me it just looks unnatural).  But this also makes it an amazing foundation for someone who has that oilier skin type.  Interestingly, please note that I've also found that this foundation is fabulous as a concealer and offers quite a bit more coverage than her tattoo concealer!  If you are a drier skin type and you want to get the most out of this because you're looking for the coverage or long wear factor, you can layer with her priming serum (or any hydrating primer - the MUFE HD Elixir is fabulous under this!).

• Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream - Another fantastic BB cream, and probably my 2nd favorite of the ones I've tried so far...Smashbox offers you a higher SPF (35), oil control and hydration, primer built in, medium coverage that feels like sheer, AND it comes in 5 shades (typically a BB cream comes in one, maaaaybe two shades)!  Again I find that I can go either way with this BB cream and I can leave it without a powder or I can set it with one for more coverage...same goes for my oilier skinned friends...because of the nature of the oil control, you may not need to set it.

• Sephora Collection Perfecting Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 - Oil control, antiaging peptides, sheer color and sun protection!  This is a fantastic product for any age...from someone who is just starting out wearing makeup to the seasoned makeup enthusiast who just wants to lighten up a bit (especially in the summer months...how I wished I had this when I lived in Florida those many (read: 5) years ago haha).  The coverage is light enough to not feel like you've got anything more than a moisturizer on, but it does give a light coverage to just even out any light skin discoloration.  Spots, dark circles, and heavier ruddiness will need a little more concealer.

• CoverGirl NatureLuxe Foundation - I find that most people think that just because I have so many higher end foundations that I am a makeup snob.  This isn't the case, I just have more than enough to last me for a while before I need to buy anything myself (perks of working in cosmetics I guess)...but I am definitely a sucker for a bargain so when I saw the Cover Girl NatureLuxe foundation on sale at my local Hannaford because they weren't going to be carrying it there anymore, I had to get one.  Lightweight, blendable, soothing feeling on the skin...It's almost like the feeling of a tinted moisturizer but just a smidge more coverage.  My issue with drugstore makeup is that a) there are no testers and b) the shades are always orangey...and this stays true with this foundation unfortunately.  I can wear it in the summer, but only when I'm at my tannest as the orangey shade is more noticeable without that slight burn you get from a tan.  It's probably my least favorite looking foundation that I currently have going - but that's ok because I don't have to use it until summer ;)

• Fusion Beauty PrimeResults Tinted Moisturizer - If you can't tell by the sheer amount of BB creams in that picture, I kind of like things that are multi-taskers.  PrimeResults is an amazing tinted moistuizer that has a sheer coverage that weightlessly veils imperfections and fills in unwanted skin texture with it's built in primer!  This also has ingredients in it that deeply hydrate and re-hydrate your skin - again with my oilier skinned readers, you may find you need a powder to set this.  I find I get the most amazingly flawless coverage when I pair this with my MAC Studio Fix powder.  Probably because of the extra hydration from this it's best on drier skin types.

• L'Oreal True Match Liquid Foundation - This has to be one of my favorite drugstore foundations and has been for years.  While I tend to err on the side of Maybelline for my drugstore needs, L'Oreal stepped up their game and I am pretty sure this is one of the most extensive color matched foundations I've seen in a while.  Medium coverage, satin finish, and matching powders to boot (of which I will discuss that one in my powder foundation post when I do it!).  I think it's good for all skin types.  Typical to what I find in drugstore foundations...it will last longer when layered with a primer.

• NARS Firming Foundation - Sadly I do believe this has been discontinued.  Therefore, I don't feel it fair to talk about it at length.  Sorry!!!

• Benefit You Rebel Tinted Moisturizer - A great sheer coverage foundation (because really, that's all tinted moisturizers are!) I love the Benefit products because of their quirky packaging (which to be honest sometimes is over-priced...and yes I'm looking at you box powders!) but the products are 9 times out of 10 good!  (Following this one is one that I'm not so hot-to-trot for though...whoops).  This is a great tinted moisturizer, and it does come in a lighter shade as well (aptly named You Rebel lite).

• Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation - Light in texture, an SPF of 25, and buildable coverage don't save this foundation from my list of "foundations I want to love but for reasons [x,y,z] I just can't."  If I had to pick my top reason though, it would be that on my dry as a bone skin, it makes me look oily after 2 or 3 hours - and it's an oil free foundation! o_0  That aside, it is buildable and it is light in texture and there are plenty of people out there (and many of them are oily) who love this foundation.  I say set it well with powder and maybe it'll be ok.

• Maybelline Dream Liquid Foundation - This is probably my favorite drugstore foundation ever created.  Big claim, I know...but it comes in a great range of shades and it is this very strange consistency that works well with my skin.  Best for normal to drier skin types (may make oilier skins feel too slick)...It comes out a mousse type consistency but then goes to almost a gel-like consistency.  This leaves my skin with a great dewy finish (on days when I feel more normal than dry, I do find I need powder) and with a primer it stays all day.

One Woman With Many Faces [Face Charts]

One of my favorite things to do is to play around with face charts.  Ever since I worked counter for MAC, I've loved taking products and literally grinding them onto the paper to create something three dimensional and beautiful on something that's a very two dimensional surface.  (By the by...back in the day that I *did* work counter, you really did have to grind the colors onto the charts...haha)

I've done face charts on all different types of pre-made charts (and I kid you not...I've even done them on plain computer paper...HARD!)...and I got some in the mail about a month ago that really take the cake.  I know that he is still working on them and improving them -- but seriously...get thee to Dustin's site and get some of these bad boys for yourself if you're a chart person!

[LINK TO DUSTIN'S BLOGPOST!]

Also, I kept the images kind of big so that when you click on them you can see the texture. you're welcome -- haha!

I think (and maybe it's just my own personal preference) that I'd almost like to not even have the eyebrow guides...When I do charts that don't have brows...or when I want an unnatural brow shape I feel like I can always see the "ghost lines" beneath...again, it could just be me being weird haha!

Lots of room to write your products - and you don't have to have itty bitty handwriting either!

I absolutely adore that he designed this with both eyes open!  The shape lends itself to many different eye shapes and look types.

The only thing that took me a while to get used to was the actual construction of the face -- it actually looks like a human!  Hehe.  The *only* reason I say that is because I'm used to working on charts where the faces look like robots.  Seriously guys...have you LOOKED at a blank MAC chart?  Or a chart from Sephora? Creeeeeeeepy.  The year there was a tin man in MAC's halloween looks, I seriously thought to myself: "Gee...whoever designed that must have forgot about it until the day of..."

The texture is fantastic for blending...I don't have to grind colors into the paper!  I also like the lashline that's drawn in on the top - I feel like it's more realistic looking once the chart is finished...

All in all, these are fantastic and I will be ordering lots (um...but probably not till tax refund time though - mama needs to pay for her car to get fixed from the accident haha) -- but I need hoardes of these STAT!

The face charts are currently $10.50 USD for a pack of 20 (limited time on this price if I recall correctly) and have the option of being pre-drilled for three hole punches.  All the information is linked above to Dusty's post on his blog about it.

I'm serious guys...go get some...these are the bees knees!



*the face charts featured in this blog post were provided to me.  i am not being compensated for this post and this does not have any influence on what i think about them -- if they were crap I'd tell you!  or i wouldn't even waste a post on them haha*

Glamcor Hygienic Hand Palette

Every once in a while something comes along, and you think to yourself: "WHY did NOONE come up with this idea earlier?"

The Glamcor Hygienic Hand Palette is one of those little things!

Now I have to take a moment to tell you that I had a first impressions blogpost on my blog before as I had been asked by Erik (Glamcor founder) if I would be interested in testing the prototype...but when my blog went screwy...I lost every. single. post. and. photo.  Can you say angry?  Because I sure can.   Thankfully I have emails with my first impressions!  Thank goodness for archiving!

So a few months ago (meaning like...4 or so)...Erik was kind enough to send me a box of the final product to test out!  I am not being paid to write this blogpost nor do I have to say anything other than my own opinions so head past the jump for photos and what I think!

Baby Lips and Mascara Madness: Maybelline Great Lash - Lots of Lashes

Ok.  I caved.  I found a pretty good deal at WalMart one day...I was in getting something for my grandmother and happened across this little gem:

It was around $5 and change and you got both a Great Lash and the Baby Lips.  I've been itching to try Great Lash Lots of Lashes - even though I despise the original Great Lash - and everyone has been talking about Baby Lips so I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone.

First thing I want to say is that I do like the texture of Baby Lips.  I do not like Pink Punch the color.  At least, not on me.  I'd heard a lot about it from Tanya (pixi2woo on youtube) and it looks fabulous on her but I think I'm a little too olive toned for it...it's just too pepto pink on me for my tastes.  I think that I'd love the clear ones though!  So I'll have to check it out the next time I'm in a drugstore to see if I can nab one because it did make my lips super soft, I just can't get past the color.  To my sister it goes!

Then onto Great Lash Lots of Lashes.

My initial gripe with the original GL is that it's too wet and the brush doesn't do anything...now I'm not expecting any miracles with the second one - but I'm also not jaded enough to go into it hating it!  I was actually very excited because the brush reminded me of the new Lancome Doll Lashes brush (or should I say that in reverse since the Maybelline one came out first? haha)

So I tested this both alone and over my love - the Tarte MultiplEYE primer!

Great Lash Lots of Lashes alone

 Great Lash Lots of Lashes over Tarte MultiplEye primer

So here's my take on it.

Much like the original Great Lash, I find the formula is SO WET.  It can get clumpy if you try to build it...and I found the wand to be almost too flexible so that I felt I wasn't actually getting my lashes....however on the plus side, it didn't run on me throughout the day and it didn't flake onto my skin!  Points there Maybelline!

BUT.

It can be saved!  I feel that I mentioned in my love review for my Tarte primer that I said you can put any mascara over the top of it and it's fabulous!  I still hold this to be true.  Just look at my lashes in the photo!  Not clumped, nicely separated, well coated.  It is almost like it's a completely different mascara!

So I would say that if you're looking for an okay mascara from the drugstore, yeah, it's ok.  I'd still take my CoverGirl LashBlast over this one though (which someday I will repurchase and review for you guys - it's my absolute favorite drugstore mascara since the US discontinued my ULTIMATE favorite drugstore one - which is MaxFactor 2000 Calorie if you were wondering!)

Thoughts: Marcelle BB Cream

The current trend in foundations right now kind of runs the gambit from liquid powder foundations (hello Hourglass Immaculate or Tarte Amazonian Clay) to the glowiest of them all (hello Tarte Miracle Maracuja or Lancome Teint Miracle)...to the hottest buzz right now -- BB Creams.

I know that western BB creams differ quite a bit from the Asian varieties that are quite popular...and I won't start an argument about which is better because I think that when you make a product you have to keep your consumer in mind...What I can tell you, coming from my medium-full coverage foundation loving self, is that I am smitten with our version of BB creams right now.  So many brands from higher end (Smashbox, Dior, Dr. Jart) to drugstore brands (Garnier, Maybelline) have one!  And while there are some differences as they crossed over borders, there is a unifying theme of what they should be.  Skincare PLUS makeup.  Our BB creams here in the west are much more like a tinted moisturizer (texture wise) but will still offer  more coverage than said tint and still quite a bit less than a medium coverage foundation.  Again, you will find that this is going to vary between brands.

I die over foreign drugstore brands because I find them far superior to 90% of American ones...so imagine my sheer delight when Em brought me a tube of the Marcelle BB Cream from Canada on our past vacation :)

Head past the jump for more information and in-depth thoughts!

Thoughts: Clarins UV Plus HP SPF 40

This is truly a sunscreen for people who (like myself) do not like typical sunscreens.  I personally find traditional creamy sunscreens to be too heavy (especially for my face).  I will use them on my body [ahem when i remember to] and that's pretty much it.

The difference for myself for the Clarins one is that it's liquid and lighter than most foundations - almost watery!  Give it a good shake, drop out a few drops onto your palms, emulsify, apply, and you're off!  

Clarins says this sunscreen has 100% mineral filters for UVA/UVB protection (SPF of 40) and includes an anti-pollution complex.  Cantaloupe extract is the antioxidant of choice in this particular product.

At $38 it is pricey for a sunscreen but it performs fabulously and I'll never go back to thick creams for my face.

Head past the jump to see more product photos!

Makeup Memories: MAC Shell Pearl Beauty Powder

 I'm sure that many of you, like myself, have fond memories associated with makeup!  Yes?  yeah?  No?  Oh.  Ok, so I'm weird!  SO WHAT?!  Haha!

This is a different kind of post because not only do you get a review, you get a story of my life...and if that bores you...please just skip and click on the jump to go to the review (don't worry, I don't blame you if you don't care haha)

So when I first started watching videos on YouTube, one of the original "guru's" I watched was MakeupbyRisa (pretty sure she went by SonRisa on Specktra or the MAC Community on livejournal? Yes?  Wow that was a long time ago...) and I clearly remember her mentioning a beauty powder that MAC made called Shell Pearl.

Shell Pearl was originally launched in 2006 as part of MAC's summer collection SUNDRESSING and it was a hit back then too!  Relaunched in 2010 with MAC's Liberty of London collection, I recalled how much I adored the finished looks I'd seen with it and was convinced it had to be mine.

 So the release date comes, and at 10am I phone MAC (and 5 minutes later called MAC PRO) to place an order with my PRO card.  No can do...it sold out online from both the PRO site and the regular site (remember that time when they were 2 different sites?)

So I dialed my local counter (since where I live we only have ONE counter for the whole state).  They only had received a couple and they were on hold.  *breathe* ok...I dialed the store I used to go to when I lived in Florida (I had moved back home in October, it's now March) Nope..they didn't have any available either.  ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!?  And this was a time before people were literally INSANE about limited release collections...and I could ALWAYS find things that were sold out at my counter because COME ON, IT'S MAINE.  Haha...if you live here you'll get it.

So I had been on twitter and posted a tweet about how frustrated I was because I literally couldn't get my hands on the one item I'd been talking about since I'd heard rumours that they were bringing it back.

An at-reply came back fairly soon after from someone I'd only known through Irene, Naomi, and Chris' blogtv chat days (when I lived in Florida I got heavily into makeup communities via youtube and we used to do blogTV chat nights weekly.  It was so much fun!  At any rate...)

I got that at-reply from someone I barely knew offering to pick me up a Shell Pearl because he'd already put one on hold at his local counter that he was picking up later that week and did I want one?  DID I WANT ONE?!  UM....YES!

Who is this kind stranger you ask?
You may know him.  I may have mentioned him a few times.
He may just be the Will Truman to my Grace Adler.
He's my favorite Canadian ;)

Em Wyllie and I in Jasper, Alberta

And the story and shenanigans never end...We became best friends in about 5 seconds and to this day, two years later...we owe our friendship to Shell Pearl Beauty Powder (I wonder if MAC would ever print this as a story?  Bahahaha!)

Of note, Em will be back in America visiting me exactly 2 weeks from today!  YAY! :)

Head past the jump to see my thoughts on Shell Pearl :)

Thoughts: Clinique Even Better Foundation SPF 15

I am going to start out being 100% honest.

Clinique and I [generally] do not get along and I am not a fan.  Especially of their skincare.

3-step?  No.  I don't think you can pigeonhole people into one whole line of cleaners/toners/moisturizers.  I dislike the cleansers, the toners have WAY too much alcohol in them, and the DDML/DDMG (aka Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion/Gel respectively) quite frankly, suck.

Now.  That being said.  I understand that for many people the 3-Step program works wonderfully.  I am not here to dispute this.  I simply am stating my opinions based on personal trials as well as feedback from others.

HOWEVER

Then there comes a product or two that for one reason or another will just blow you out of the water.  I have 2 such products from their cosmetics range (most of which underwhelms me too, for the record) and I will probably love these 2 products until either a) they're discontinued or b) i die.  One is a mascara will will be included in a Mascara Madness post when I open my new tube...and the star of the post today is Clinique EVEN BETTER SPF 15 Foundation!

Head pas the jump to see my thoughts and opinions on this product!

Mascara Madness: Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes Mascara

I'm going to wholeheartedly admit that I am one of THOSE PEOPLE when it comes to mascara.  I have the ones I love...and then I have a graveyard area where I toss the rejects to save just in case I need one for theater/I run out of my favorite and I need something until I can get another one.

But when it comes to Givenchy's Phenomen'Eyes mascara...it kind of lives in this weird limbo area between the two.  I simply cannot decide one way or the other about it.

Head past the jump for more of my thoughts and photos of application!

First Impressions: Almay Clear Complexion Foundation

Far Right:  Almay Clear Complexion

Shade: 220 Neutral

So I was at work last week.  And I kept seeing discounted cosmetics come through my checkout lane.  And I was intrigued.  So I checked it out on my break and while most of the lighter shades were gone I did manage to grab a couple light shades in this foundation and the Cover Girl NatureLuxe foundation (review forthcoming and will be linked when I've had a chance to test it!) for only $1.50 USD each!  I think my store is just discontinuing these particular products...I don't think the companies are...but correct me if I'm wrong!

So at any rate...on to my first impressions of the product (head past the jump!)

Thoughts: NARS Sheer Glow vs. Sheer Matte

Very few foundations have crossed my path and have wow'd me enough to purchase it outright.  4 to be precise.  Maybelline Dream Nude, Maybelline Dream Liquid, Clinique Even Better (review forthcoming!), and NARS Sheer Glow.  Yes, Glow...not Matte.

Did I mention that Sheer Glow is my #1 foundation of all time?  No?  It is :)

This is going to be a comparison between the two finishes of the NARS Sheer foundations.  While I prefer Sheer Glow on myself, this in no way means that I dislike Sheer Matte.  It's just not formulated for my particular skin type.

Firstly I need to let you know that judging from the photo above you may think that these foundations come with a pump.  You would be wrong in your assumptions and I am sorry if I misled you :)  You do have to purchase a pump if you want one - and as far as I can tell, you can only get them from their website (narscosmetics.com) for $6.00 USD.  I purchased mine around a time when Temptalia had an offer for a free mini gloss trio and I would highly recommend that if you are going to purchase a pump that you make sure you need something else as the shipping is minimum of $4.00 (bringing the cost of your lone pump up to $10!?)

That's pretty much my only con with the foundation.  The price isn't a con for me because I will pay for it if it's that good. I absolutely ADORE the coverage and the texture of this foundation.  It's light...buildable...and it's actually made for fingertip application!  I know that in a lot of my videos you'll see me using a brush, but when push comes to shove and I'm getting ready in the morning, you can bet your boots that I'm using my hands - it saves me time (and I'm not acne prone, so I don't find a problem with applying foundations this way).  Alright enough rambling...here's the skinny on these foundations!!!

NARS SHEER MATTE:
While I will admit that sheer matte is not for my skin type (it's primarily best for normal/normal-oily/oily skin types) it has the most gorgeous soft matte finish that I've ever seen coming out of a matte foundation.  Some matte foundations tend to pull rather chalky and look unnatural...this one doesn't do that - even on my dry skin!

It is oil-free, absorbs oil, and controls shine.  It also contains antioxidants and NARS' Complexion Brightening Formula so not only does it help mattify your skin, it doesn't make it look fake in the process while giving it an overall even and bright look.

As I have said, this is not the foundation for my skin type.  I received my bottle of Sheer Matte from my job, used it a few times, and passed it along to my sister (who has just done a skincare guest post for my blog!) as she has a more oily skin type.

NARS SHEER GLOW:
Now this foundation...I could write a book on this one (ok, maybe not a book...).  This is my own personal holy grail of foundations!  I. LOVE. THIS. STUFF.  So much that I purchased my very own bottle haha!

Sheer Glow is best for normal/normal-dry/dry skin types as it imparts a dewy glow to your skin to keep it from looking dull.  It's also hydrating, contains antioxidants, and contains turmeric extract to help improve the radiance and tone of the skin.  I've been using this since last summer and I can definitely say that when I'm wearing this,  I get more compliments on the appearance of my skin than any other foundation I own.

Even having dry skin I do like to set this with a translucent powder.  I work 17 hour days and I found it will NOT hold that long...even with primer.  So the powder locks it down without taking away the glow.

Have you used NARS Sheer Glow or Sheer Matte?  If so, what do you love?  If not, why would you try it?

Product: NARS Sheer Glow, NARS Sheer Matte

Availablility: sephora.com, sephora stores, narscosmetics.com, nars counters

Price: $42.00 USD

Thoughts: Caudalie Vinoperfect Complexion Correcting Radiance Serum

don't you feel accomplished when you see a completely empty bottle of skincare?

When you think of grapes, skincare is probably not the first thing to come to mind.  A tasty snack from the produce department (made better when frozen...don't believe me? try it in the dead of summer, you won't regret it!)...or perhaps a fabulous bottle of wine.  But a skincare routine???

Allow me some backstory.

French-based brand Caudalie (created by Mathilde & Bertrand Thomas) was conceived and born between the years of 1993 and 1995 out of the discovery of the anti-aging benefits of grape seed polyphenols.  Before I keep going with that I'm sure you're staring cross eyed at the computer silently going "....o_0..." in your head.  Let's get nerdy.

Grape seed polyphenols are Caudalie's patented, potent, and powerful anti-aging antioxidants.  They give you 100% protection against free radicals, help protect your collagen and elastin, and improve the microcirculation in your skin (giving it the ever popular radiant glow!).

Caudalie went on to open their own spa in 1999, and have since taken on 2 more patents: Resveratrol and Viniferine.  For the purposes of this blogpost we're going to be focusing on the latter, however you can find more information on Caudalie's website!

Viniferine is an molecule extracted from the grapevine sap which aides in the fight against dark spots and uneven skintone.  It reduces the existing dark spots by targeting the cause of the over-production of melanin (tyrosinase if you're interested), it helps to prevent the formation of new dark spots, and evens and brightens the skin's complexion.  It's also 62 times more effective than Vitamin C...

The Vinoperfect Complexion Correcting Radiance Serum is a liquid serum containing Viniferine that is applied twice daily under your moisturizer.  It is dispensed via dropper (a full dropper is too much product for myself, I only used half each time), emulsified in your fingertips or palms, and pressed into the skin on your face/neck/decollete.  I find I use less product when I'm pressing it into the skin rather than smearing it all over...just for my two cents on that subject :)

I absolutely loved the texture of this serum!  It's liquidy, but not so thin that it will run everywhere once you get it into your hands.  It has a pleasant smell which is not overwhelming (I like my products to smell nice but not "fragranced" if that makes any sense)  I used mine over the course of about 5 or 6 months and I feel that I saw a more even tone to my complexion.  As I am still fairly young, I don't have any dark spots or severe discoloration that I'm treating...but I can absolutely speak to the radiance and evenness that this has left me.

As far as who can use it, I have very dry skin, and I have friends with oilier skin who have also used it and none of us have had any issues.  It always bears repeating that everyone's skin is different so patch test if you have any hesitations!

The price is pretty par when compared to other high end serums.  I personally would pay up to $80 for a decent serum that works for many reasons (of which I will go into and link here when I write my serum post!)

Have you tried any Caudalie products before?  What are you thoughts?




What: Caudalie Vinoperfect Complexion Correcting Radiance Serum
Where: Caudalie-usa.com, Sephora.com, Sephora Stores, wherever Caudalie is sold!
How Much:  $79.00 USD


















*the product contained in this review was provided by my job.  this has no influence on my opinions of the product as vigorous testing has taken place by myself and no one else*

First Impressions: Maybelline Dream Nude Airfoam Foundation

I'll avoid the long, drawn out introduction to this blog post - instead I'll direct you to the previous post for that.

Onto the impressions!

Maybelline Dream Nude Airfoam

(shown in shade 240 - Natural Beige)

Head past the jump for my thoughts :)

First Impressions: Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse Foundation

So I did it.  I broke down and bought foundations from the drugstore.

[personal disclaimer]:

Now...before you start calling me out on the fact that I only use high end foundations...I'd like to justify my decisions on not getting drugstore ones to the fact that I already have around 8 foundations I've recieved from my day job that I rotate on any given day (although, three I purchased on my own [Clinique Even Better, Josie Maran, NARS Sheer Glow] and three of which only get rotated in the summer because they're tinted moisturizers [one of which I purchased myself...FusionBeautys...] and not heavy enough for my already super dry skin in Maine wintertime).  So do I really NEED another foundation?  No.

HOWEVER.

I'm also finding as I rotate my usual favorites that I'm dangerously low on a couple...and that my dear readers, is because of YouTube videos :)

Now again, don't get me wrong.  I love making my videos and sharing them...I actually get very bummed out when I don't have time to film a video for the upcoming week or two...but I can't justify replacing my very favorite foundation until summer (and honestly it's only because it costs $42...of which I don't have extra of in winter...NARS Sheer Glow in case you're wondering).  But this blog post isn't about that foundation.  It's about my first impressions of:

Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse

(shown in shade Light 3.5 - Nude Beige)

Head past the jump for my first impressions of the foundation and a photo of it on my skin!

Thoughts: Benefit's Finding Mr. Bright

Finding Mr. Bright is a cute and kitschy set of 4 mini products and a MANual housed in an obnoxiously bright pink box (and I'm not using the word obnoxious in a completely negative connotation here...just to set the record straight! Haha.)

Head past the jump for all the details and a photo of the contents! 

Rave: Inglot Duraline

Let's be real here.  I love eyeliner...but I have a problem.  I'm rubbish with pencils (unless it's specifically for lining the waterline) and nine times out of ten I just can't stop the slight shake in my hand that you get when you're using a liquid...so I've been living off of my cream and gel liners!

(for the record...personal favorites for cream/gel liners are:  MAC Chromaline, YSL Gel Liner, Clinique Gel Liner, and L'Oreal HiP gel liner)

MAC does a mixing medium - both water based and others (I own the water based) which is great and I love using it for pigments to foil them onto my lids...but it just doesn't hold up to my sneezy, itchy, watery, allergy prone eyes (aka, it's not waterproof).

Dear Stupid Allergy Eyes:  meet Inglot Duraline (clear bottle on the right).

Head past the jump to hear my thoughts on this [fantastic] product!

Haul: Inglot Round 2!

Dear Inglot,

Why must you be so amazing.  Rarely do I find a cosmetic company that every time I order something new to try, I love it.  Thanks for being so awesome.

Love,

Me

Head past the jump for photos and opinions of my new (small) haul!

NAILS: Illamasqua "Phallic" Nail Varnish

Do you like nailpolish?  yes.
Do you like vibrant colors?  yes.
Do you like a variety of finishes?  yes.


Illamasqua is pretty well known in the makeup community for having some of the most versatile and pigmented makeup on the market today.  It *is* makeup for your alter ego after all and it holds true straight through to their nail varnishes.

They are long wearing and chip resistant (although admittedly I've yet to find a chip-resistant nail formula working 2 hardcore retail jobs...) and come in a huge range of colors from white all the way through to electric purple and blood red to black.

Phallic is definitely one of my favorite nail polishes in my collection - it's pretty unique to my collection, though I'm sure you can find something similar in other brands.  It's a deep midnight blue with blue and purple shimmer shot through it -- one color I did recently purchase is Sephora by OPI's "Countdown to the Kiss" which is an opaque royal blue with shimmer shot through.  Close, but not a perfect dupe.

Head past the jump for the photos and more information!

Thoughts: Sephora Jumbo Liner 12-Hour Wear Waterproof

The very first thing I have to say about this product is that the name is SO DARN LONG and I never remember what it actually is.  Haha.  Bad me.

The Sephora Jumbo Liners are akin to many jumbo shadow pencils (Tarte has some, MAC at one point had a lovely range shadesticks, and we can't forget the ever infamous NYX Jumbo Pencils).  Akin to the Tarte pencils, and differing from the MAC and NYX ones - these ones really do live up to their claims of 12-hour wear, and they're waterproof.  Did I mention they're waterproof?  Because they really are - I can't get them off without a dual-phase remover (think Lancome Bi-Facils or Clinique's Take the Day Off)

I have a handful of these - not only the three pictured after the jump but also a grey and a deep purple as well (I took these photos before the tragic loss of the original blog posts *tear*)

They are creamy and easy to apply, but don't fall apart when you try to sharpen them - at least - not in my experiences.  You do need a larger sharpener (and I'd like to interject here with a tip that the best pencil sharpener I have is a NARS one - best $6 I've ever spent in my life!) but they don't mush into the chamber as you turn the pencil against the blade!

I still like to use mine over a primer (and I've got an upcoming blogpost about favorite primers!) but they wear anywhere between 12 and 15 hours on me without one (please note that I have a fairly normal eyelid...I don't have oily lids at all...oilier lid types may still want their primer of choice underneath as oil melts makeup)

They're super affordable at $10 a liner and come in a bunch of amazing shades ranging from a shimmery white to the blackest black I've ever seen!

Head past the jump for photos!

Thoughts: Tarte for True Blood (palette)

I will admit.  I did read Twilight when I was living in Florida (I mean, I literally had nothing better to do with my time) and despite it's angsty teenage terribleness...it threw me back into the VampHype that was going on at the time -- and is still going on...

Which leads me to True Blood.  I started watching the show before I'd ever read any of the books and I adored it!  I literally craved the next episode when the first one was over.  True Blood was also something Florida offered me that Maine wouldn't have (we don't get HBO in our cable package here - but when I lived down there my roommate was a TV-holic and so we had super premium cable).  Then I read the books...and goodbye tv show (I think I made it through all of season one and part of season two and I haven't watched it since).  The books far outshine the show.  But that's not what this review is about is it?

Head past the jump for thoughts, photos, and my ever helpful rambles about the TARTE FOR TRUE BLOOD palette!