Mascara -Smashbox - Full Exposure
ElissaP 1/8/2012 12:03:00 AM
Best mascara Smashbox has to offer. The brush is comparable to Diorshow (which I also love) and BadGal by Benefit (not bad, but formula is a little flat and dry - I need to layer a second mascara over this to get a desirable finish). I have very long eyelashes naturally but they are light and fine. This was the first false fiber lash mascara I've tried and I was pretty impressed but I'm still not sure if the fibers have much to do with this. It's just a good overall mascara - lengthens, builds volume and separates. Great shade and texture and builds easily. I don't find it to be flakey even after 12+ hours of wear - people having this experience could be applying it too thickly? I've seen people put mascara on like without much care to their technique and I tried mimicking this before to see what would happen and it wasn't pretty. To get the best results from any mascara you have to try for a nice, even application from root to tip and this doing this can require applying a few LIGHT layers. Too thick too quick = globs, flaking and other less than desirable finishes. I digress... good work Smashbox, keep working on those Mascaras, they seem to one of the few things you put out that need work :)
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Liquid -Vichy - Aera Teint Pure Fluid Foundation Finish Up to 12 Hour Wear
ElissaP 1/7/2012 11:42:00 PM
I love this foundation. My skin has been break out prone through most of my 20's and I attribute the reasonably lengthy stretch of nearly flawless skin I've been experiencing in part to this product. I just repurchased for the third time so I thought it was time to write a review. The colour range is somewhat limited but I find the formula kind of adjusts to my skin tone (NC20) and blends naturally. I had originally purchased it in 35 Sand in 2010 for the summer when I had a tan (it's great for hot weather when you want a glowing and natural -NOT matte - finish). When the tan began to fade I picked up 12 Opal and mixed the two until the lighter shade worked well enough on its own. I thought it was a bit unflattering and washed me out so I recently picked up 23 Ivory and I'm in love. I worried it might be a bit yellow (my skin tone is fairly neutral with some pinkness in certain areas) but no - it's perfect. My morning routine is to use Bioderma Hydrabio or Reversa Green Tea Serum, then Biotherm Deep Hydration Replenishing Gel For Normal/Combination Skin. Then I apply my Cover FX SkinPrep FX Nourishing Primer. This creates a great base IMO for any foundation I've used. I squirt half a pump onto the back of my hand and apply it with my fingers (brush works well also). I then set it with Cover FX setting powder. This manages to mask the bit of acne scarring I'm left with around my chin without concealer, but lets my skin show through (which I like). I couldn't be happier with my skins naturally glowing appearance and I literally get compliments daily on my complexion. Wouldn't be the case without this foundation - HD for me!
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