Powder -Korres - Mineral Powder Foundation
Missy 2/19/2011 3:21:00 PM
I find this to be a very average mineral makeup. First, I was really worried about the shades. There are only 4 and I'm super pale. The shade I ordered, "Fair", actually looked fine on my NC15 skin. What I didn't like was that I started getting itchy right after application. Even though this doesn't contain bismuth oxychloride, there's something in it that my skin doesn't like. It didn't make me break out, which is a huge feat in itself, but I didn't like the way it looked on my skin. It's quite sparkly like Bare Minerals, Laura Mercier mineral makeup and Merle Norman minerals, which I hate. That sparkle just seems to emphasize every little flaw I have. It wore pretty well throughout the day, but I wouldn't have minded if it didn't! LOL I've included a picture up top of "Fair" compared to some other pale mmu shades, for comparison. Korres is definitely the most sparkly. The others are all pretty matte, but Naturale Beaty seems to be the most matte, with Sephora in second.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Tarte - Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Dollface
Missy 2/18/2011 12:32:00 PM
I have to admit, I'm disappointed in this blush. Dollface is described as a light pink, but it looks more like what I would expect Amused to be. On me (I'm a MAC NC15, by the way), it's a sheer berry shade that makes my skin look slightly ruddy. It's also not nearly as pigmented as I thought it would be. I need to apply a few layers to make it look even because it applies sort of patchy, even on well-primed skin. It also has a "sheen" to it, which is nice if you like glowy blushes, but I like my blushes matte. If you like natural blushes like these, I would highly recommend 100 Percent Pure blushes. Their "Chiffon" shade is pretty much what I expected Tarte's Dollface to be- a pale, cool pink. Overall, I'm giving this a neutral rating of 3. Cute packaging, nice concept and I LOVE that it's natural. It's just not for me.
8 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -100 Percent Pure - Fruit Pigmented Blush - All
Missy 2/17/2011 12:49:00 PM
I absolutely LOVE this blush! I have it in Chiffon, which is a super pale pink with barely noticeable shimmer. I can't see the shimmer on my face, but if I swipe it across my hand, I do notice it. Weird. Anyway, I'm super pale, around NC10-15 in MAC and this looks lovely on my skin. It doesn't scream "PINK!" like a lot of pink blushes do on me. It's a lovely flush without looking red or ruddy. The formula is also very nice to me. It's not so sheer that I have to pile it on to notice it, but I also don't have to blend it out like crazy either. Overall, I LOVE this blush and I'll definitely be buying more shades! Oh, one last thing...the packaging is adorable! It's the same color as the blush and is a gorgeous metal tin with embossing. Very chic!
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Pressed Powders -Cover Girl - Advanced Radiance Pressed Powder
Missy 2/2/2011 3:54:00 PM
I used Cover Girl's fragrance-free pressed powder in the green tortoise-style shell for years and was peeved when they discontinued it. I tried the newer powders that were meant to replace it (the dark green one and the blue one) and hated both. I left CG for a while, but just had to go back because every other powder on the planet seems to break me out. Off all the ones they offer now, this is my favorite. I've even bought a couple back-ups, just in case. The coverage is great for a pressed powder, but not cakey-looking at all. I find that this provides adequate coverage to replace my everyday foundation with just a bit of concealer underneath. It's not drying, yet it controls oil well. The best part is the color. CG has the best shades for PPP skin tones. I found the lightest shade just perfect for my NC10-15 skin. Will repurchase until/unless they discontinue!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Maybelline - Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Concealer
Missy 1/31/2011 7:47:00 PM
I saw such great things about this concealer on Youtube and I just had to try it. I already have tons of concealers in my stash due to my never-ending hunt for the perfect concealer (not for fun, but out of need), but I couldn't resist giving it a try simply because I'm a total sucker for wand-style concealers. Anyway, I am completely shocked by this concealer! The coverage is amazing. Totally opaque and completely natural looking. I goofed at first and tried the shade "Fair" because I'm always the lightest shade in any line, but it was very pink and dark. Oddly, "Light" is much lighter and more neutral-toned. In fact, it matches my NC10-15 skin PERFECTLY. Previous to this, I was alternating between Make Up For Ever Full cover concealer and Cinema Secrets cream concealer and I've actually tossed BOTH into my swap pile! I actually purchased a back-up of this already (something I've NEVER done before), just in case. It's equally amazing at concealing under eye circles, blemishes and scars. Will repurchase over and over again!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Hard Candy - Glamoflauge Concealer
Missy 1/27/2011 11:32:00 PM
I already own tons of concealers, but I'm always on the lookout for "the one". I was excited after watching several videos on youtube all raving about this. For $6, it's a pretty darn good concealer, but for a concealer addict like me, it's just "meh", The coverage is quite good, but it's kind of obvious looking on my skin. The most comparable concealer I own is Make Up For Ever's Full cover concealer in the tube, which is also pretty average, in my opinion. It contains mineral oil, which I wasn't particularly thrilled about, but it gave it a nice slip that lets it spread and blend easily. The lightest color is just 1/2 shade darker than MUFE's lightest shade, which is still too dark for me, unfortunately. The thing that made me return this was the fact that is creases like CRAZY under my eyes, like worse than any other concealer I own. No amount of powder could prevent it from happening. There are way better concealers out there, but if you're looking for a pretty good concealer at a great price, this could be it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Super Lustrous- Love That Red
Missy 1/21/2011 5:18:00 PM
This is definitely the brightest lipstick I've ever worn. I was looking for Revlon Really Red Matte lipstick, but CVS was out and I settled for this. It's definitely a very true red with no orange/yellow tones at all. I'm very pale, so this color is a bit shocking on me. My husband stared at me after I put it on. When I asked if he liked it, he replied with a grimace, "It's just so......bright.". On the bright side (LOL), it's a very nice formula and doesn't dry my lips out at all. It's really comfortable and wears extremely well throughout the day. After several hours of wear, it faded into a flattering mauve-berry shade. In the end, I decided to return this. I just don't think I'll wear it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Cetaphil - Moisturizing Lotion
Missy 1/21/2011 12:20:00 AM
No no no!! On my face, this stuff is horrible! It sounded like it would be great for my oily, but dehydrated skin, but no matter how little I applied, my skin looked like a shining disco ball. To make matters worse, my skin broke out horribly all over, even on my cheeks where I seldom break out. Though this stuff sucks for my face, I discovered it's an incredible hand and body moisturizer. In the winter, my hands get so dry, they crack and bleed and no amount of moisturizer usually makes them feel better, This, however, leaves them soft and smooth. Will definitely use the rest of the bottle for this purpose, but probably won't repurchase when it's empty. Little pricey for a hand cream. LOL
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Cleansers -Cetaphil - Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar
Missy 1/12/2011 1:32:00 PM
I am in LOVE with this soap! Wow! I have super duper sensitive, oily, acne-prone skin with rosacea and I have a very difficult time finding products that my skin will tolerate. For the past few months, my skin has been breaking out in tiny little clogged pores and closed comedones that just wouldn't go away for anything. I was using Dove unscented bar soap for the longest time. It would always work great at first and then begin to clog my pores like mad after a few days. Then I would switch back to my Aveeno ultra-calming foaming soap that would feel nice, but would make my skin feel a bit dry and rashy. I was really reluctant to use this soap, but I couldn't ignore the great reviews! First, I LOVE the scent! I've always avoided soaps with fragrance because my skin reacts to it, but not this! It's so pleasant to use and the smell lingers for a while. It's oddly comforting to me. After washing, my skin doesn't feel dry at all, just clean and fresh. After using for only 2 days, all the clogged pores on my forehead VANISHED. Gone! I couldn't believe it! My skin is so smooth and soft now. It's so wonderful to wake up in the morning and not have to worry about piling a ton of makeup on to make my skin look "normal". Let me tell you, covering bumpy rosacea is no small feat and this incredible soap has shaved at least 15 minutes from my morning routine! One last thing... This isn't a huge deal for me, but make sure you keep your eyes closed when washing because it burns my eyes like CRAZY. I'm not sure how it's so gentle on the skin, yet stings the eyes like acid, but I'm not put off by it. For reference, I bought this at CVS for $4.99, which I thought was a bit pricey for a bar of soap. Then I saw it at Wal-mart for only $3.27. Grrrrrr.... I'll have to remember to buy it there from now on! Actually, I'm going to stock up on a few bars so I'll never be without!
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Unlisted Brand - Pharmaceutical Specialties Vanicream Lite Lotion
Missy 1/1/2011 8:00:00 PM
I wrote to Vanicream for a few samples of their products (they're VERY generous with samples, by the way) and this was the first product I tried on my rosacean, acne-prone, oily skin. It felt very nice when I first put it on and my face felt clean and fresh. In the morning, I woke up to an explosive rash and breakout all over my face. Nice. My forehead was downright sore to the touch with tiny little bumps all over and blinding redness. I can't believe that a product that is supposed to be formulated for sensitive skin could cause this many problems in one night. Regardless, I'm afraid to try the other samples now and this one is most certainly going in the trash. =(
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Liquid -Boots - Lifting & Firming Foundation SPF 15 [DISCONTINUED]
Missy 12/30/2010 4:02:00 PM
Coverage is medium and buildable, formula feels nice, though a little dry, even for my oily skin. The color range is terrible. I tried New Ivory in the store, which was slightly too dark and yellow for my NC15 skin, so I purchased Porcelain online assuming that it would be light enough. Oddly, I don't find the color much different from the New Ivory. It's still slightly too dark and too yellow. As far as the skin benefits go, I haven't noticed any. In fact, I start developing small, white bumps on my jawline shortly after application. This is a no-go for me. For those with light-medium, yellow-based skin, this could potentially be a HG foundation. Just not for me.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Estee Lauder - Double Wear Light SPF10
Missy 12/21/2010 6:41:00 PM
To me, this is an extremely average foundation. It does cover well. When I wore it, I could use a bit under the eyes and on blemishes and I wouldn't even need a separate concealer. That's pretty much the only positive thing I can say about this. First, it smells like I'm applying perfume to my face. It contains a LOT of fragrance. Blech! Secondly, the color range is horrible. The lightest shade looked okay indoors on my NC15 skin, but outside, it just seemed to glow an unflattering shade of pink. When I took it off, it seemed to have irritated my skin a little (not much, but enough for me). All in all, typical mediocre department store foundation.. "old lady perfumey smell" with that classic pink tone to give a boost of color. No thanks, Estee Lauder. =P
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Blush -Wet 'n' Wild - Silk Finish Blush - Mellow Wine 833D
Missy 12/8/2010 2:46:00 PM
I can't get over the quality of WnW's color icon products! This blush is no exception! I purchased heather silk first and was so impressed with the quality, I ran out and bought another. I have to apply these with a very light hand or I end up looking like a clown. This color on me (MAC NC15) is a russet color, mostly rose with an orange tinge. The orange can be really prominent if applied too heavily, but it's really lovely when applied sparingly. The best part is that they're only $2.99 at my local Walgreens! I just wish they would come out with more colors.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Unlisted Brand - Microfiber cloths
Missy 11/27/2010 2:37:00 PM
Me: Extremely sensitive, rosacean, acne-prone and oily. Fun times! I've had problems with my skin since I was 12 years old...mild acne, then cystic acne controlled by a round of Accutane, more mild acne accompanied by plenty of scarring in my twenties, a diagnosis of subtype 2 rosacea at 29 and now, in my thirties, generally bad, uneven acne-prone skin with the beginning signs of aging. Previous to these amazing little cloths, I'd tried literally hundreds of dollars worth of skin care products, a few "natural" remedies and even a Clarisonic to try and solve my skin woes. I wish I'd known years ago that a $1 cloth at the dollar store was the answer! I use mine with nothing but water and gently wipe off my makeup. It removes EVERYTHING, even waterproof mascara. I didn't believe it until I tried it. After removing makeup, I scrub yucky spots a little bit (acne, rosacea papules & pustules, dry spots, scars) and then rinse with water. My skin is a bit pink afterwards, but when I wake up in the morning, it's clear and brighter than it's ever been! I do the same thing in the morning, only using less pressure, top with a sunscreen and I'm good to go! I find myself using WAY less makeup (especially concealer!) and also using lighter formulas than my old heavy foundations. If you have skin problems and nothing else has worked, give these babies a try. Give it at least a week before making up your mind. That's how long it took for me to see noticeable results. I've stocked up so I'll never be out, but I will definitely repurchase when they starting looking old. UPDATE: 1/24/11 These are overkill if used too often, I've found. I alternate now with a gentle cleanser in the morning and use these about every other night. Nothing works better at gently exfoliating and removing makeup! ANOTHER UPDATE: 3/9/11 I've decided that chemical exfoliators are best for my skin type. Scrubbing with these cloths definitely removes makeup and grime, but my skin gets a little irritated when I use them consistently. I now save them for occasions when my skin is really flaky and then only use them gently.
13 out of 14 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Cover Girl - TruBlend
Missy 11/26/2010 1:17:00 PM
I've been on the hunt for a good foundation that my sensitive, rosacean, acne-prone skin can handle for YEARS and sadly, this one isn't it either. I LOVED the coverage of this and the lightest shade was actually a decent match for my NC15 skin. I apply with my flat top ELF brush and then stipple on a little more in areas that need more coverage. I actually need barely ANY concealer when I use this foundation, which is unbelievable for me! With a light dusting of my ELF HD powder, it lasts most of the day. Sadly, my face breaks out every time I wear it. *Sigh* Back to the search!
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