Liquid -Smashbox - Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Fdt.
Lomelindi 5/21/2013 1:35:00 PM
I was skeptical of this foundation but boy, was I proven wrong. First, I LOVE the glass pump bottle, it feels both sturdy and high end (although sort of boring-looking). Secondly, I was pleasantly surprised that this foundation is high coverage, skin-like AND buildable! Most high-coverage and long-lasting foundations (Revlon Colorstay, etc.) tend to look and feel heavy on the skin, but this one is super blendable and feels very light on the skin. I apply by either stippling the product on with a damp Beauty Blender or buffing it on with a flat-topped brush. I didn't notice any issues with either method. One layer gives you medium-coverage, whereas a second or third layer on top of trouble areas will give you full coverage. The finish is ABSURDLY beautiful! The first thought that comes to mind is that it makes my skin look like silk. It has a dewy, skin-like finish, with a bit more glow than demi-matte foundations like UD Naked Skin. It sits well on top of my big pores and easily survives my long work days, although I have yet to try it out for longer than 12 hrs. I am oily-skinned and noticed that I don't have to blot nearly as early as I usually do (noon), only much later in the day. I might come back and edit this review once I figure out how long this foundation actually lasts! My major complaint about this product is that the shades run both warm and dark, and most of the colors lean toward peach. I'm a very yellow NC25 Asian and the closest shade I could match to is 2.1. 2.1 is neutral-warm with some peachy-yellow undertones to it. It's NOT yellow enough for me and looks a bit too neutral on my skin, but it's passable because it's the right depth of color. 2.2 is darker and has strong peach undertones, while 2.3 is darker still and has yellow undertones. I tried mixing 2.1 with both 2.2 and 2.3 in varying ratios and all the combinations looked a touch dark on me (and still very orange or peach!) so I gave up and stuck with 2.1. (NOTE: This foundation oxidzies in the first minute or two. It goes on ashy and warms up considerably.)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Neutrogena - Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Power - Cream Wash
Lomelindi 5/21/2013 9:40:00 AM
I am recovering from half a year of severe acne (on medication for it now) so I picked up this cleanser and left it in my shower so I could use it every time I washed myself. I lather it all over my face (avoiding my eyes), do something else like wash my hair, then come back and wash off the cleanser. About 15-30 seconds after application, this cleanser will start to feel "cool" and tingling. It's probably a gimmick, but I don't mind because it's a fun feeling. I THINK the acid in this product is working when I feel it burning on newly popped acne, although most of the time, it applies painlessly. I haven't noticed any vast improvements to my acne, but I do notice that my skin is soft and clean after using this product. Overall, it's a pretty good cleanser. I'm not sure if it does what it claims (prevents acne) but I don't see my acne getting any WORSE while using this product, so I guess I can't complain.
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Eyeliner -Rimmel - Scandaleyes
Lomelindi 5/20/2013 11:27:00 AM
I have both Black and Brown in this line, and I LOVE them. The black is a deep, matte, creamy black, whereas the brown is a shimmery expresso shade with gold shimmer. I wish that there was a matte brown instead of a shimmery brown, but to solve this problem, I layer a matte brown eyeshadow on top of the brown e/l to tone down the shimmer. PROS: -Very soft, does not tug on eyelid -Lasts ALL day without smudging once you let it set. (NOTE: I always use eyeshadow primer underneath) -Fades only minimally after about 12 hrs (not too noticeable) -Super pigmented, needs only one stroke to get full color -Cheap, usually about $4.99 at full price CONS: -Sometimes too soft so it can be easy to "mess up" your line -Point gets blunt very rapidly (I have to sharpen every 3 uses or so) -Can smudge in the first few seconds before setting
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Blush -Tarte - Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Dollface
Lomelindi 5/9/2013 10:59:00 AM
I have a hard time finding light pinks that will show up on me and won't oxidize darker, but Tarte Dollface might be it! I'm NC25/30 and very warm, and this blush shows up as a matte, neutral, light pink on my cheeks. I can layer it if I need to, although the blush is quite pigmented and doesn't need that much layering. (It looks like a pastel pink in the pan, but it's not as cool as it looks. TheBalm Down Boy is slightly darker and cooler.) This blush gives me youthful, slightly-flushed cheeks with every use. I was worried that it might look pastel or cartoony on me, but it looks very, very natural. I also never noticed it turning orangey or red by the end of the day. It only faded a little by the end of my 14 hr work day. The Tarte AC blushes never fail to impress me with their staying power!
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Concealers -Make Up For Ever - Full Cover Concealer
Lomelindi 5/3/2013 10:37:00 AM
I had a sharp learning curve with this one. YES, it is very pigmented, and YES, it can cover moles/birthmarks/tatoos, but only if you're patient and know how to use it properly. First, the packaging is AWESOME. The squeezy tube has a tiny noozle, so you can really control how little or how much comes out. It's easy to travel with and doesn't take up much room. Even better, you ge a LOT of product because you need only a pinhead worth of this concealer for every blemish. I feel like I might pass this concealer on to my future grandchildren lol I'm around NC25/27 and very yellow, and I matched shade #6 the best. I normally use this concealer to hide stubborn acne marks or, on occasion, some of my very black, noticeable moles. I first apply a tiny dot of this concealer to the blemish and then let it just sit there for a few seconds before blending out with my finger. The wait time is super important because I feel like this concealer "adheres" to the skin better when it's warm. If you try to blend it out immediately after applying, it looks too sheer and won't cover much of anything. If you wait a few seconds first, then it will mainly "stay put" on top of the blemish. To conceal really dark areas (and/or tattoos if you have them), the technique I use is that I'll add 1-3 thin layers of this concealer on top of each other until the dark patch is pretty well concealed, then roll or pat on some powder across the area with a sponge. Don't drag the sponge across the concealed area because you may pull some concealer off. "Blotting" on powder is the best way to set this concealer while allowing it to hide whatever it is that you're hiding. It's not 100% perfect because sometimes the mole/tattoo is not 100% concealed, but in pictures, you can't tell. Sometimes this concealer can emphasize flakes underneath depending on the skin texture of the area you're trying to hide, so I always recommend hydrating well underneath. Overall, I love this concealer and plan on buying it... IF I ever run out, which might be never!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -MAC - Fix+
Lomelindi 4/9/2013 11:09:00 AM
This is an odd one. It's one of those products I didn't know I needed until I used it. I have oily skin, so I tend to gravitate toward products that have a matte finish (especially foundations). However, looking TOO matte means that I look like death, so I use this spray to fix that issue. First, I love MAC's pump bottles. This one dispenses a very fine mist and you can (sort of) control how much comes out with how much pressure you use. One way to use it is to spray some all over your face before you apply foundation to hydrate your skin before you apply anything on top. Another way is to use a spritz of it to dampen your sponge/brushes before using them to apply / blend / buff in foundation. This will give your foundation -especially matte ones- a more hydrated, skin-like finish. However, my favorite way of using it is just to use a few spritzes all over my face AFTER applying powder foundations or setting powders so that it takes away that dry, "dusty" look. This is a fantastic way to quickly replicate how your skin / makeup looks after the initial hour of application (when your skin oils kick in to make everything look more natural). The final effect is subtle, but it just makes everything look more natural and less "obvious", if you get what I mean.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -BeneFit Cosmetics - The Porefessional
Lomelindi 4/8/2013 5:58:00 PM
PROS: - It definitely does "blur" my pores a bit. It won't make them vanish, but for someone with big pores like me, this primer makes them a lot less obvious. - Awesome packaging, I like the little squeezy tube. - Makes my skin soft and smooth, but I'm pretty sure that's just silicone at work as usual - It does improve the look of my foundation on top, but marginally so. I don't look photoshopped but it does my rough-looking skin look "better" for longer. CONS: - I'm oily, and I didn't notice any oil-control from this primer. I still had to blot around my normal time. - It's scented vaguely like aloe or mint or something. I don't mind, but some people might. - Kinda pricey at $30 for a small-ish tube. :( I wonder if the Too Faced primer is just as good, since that one also claims to blur your pores... Overall, great product, although not a miracle worker that some people claim it to be. It's a tad pricey, but if you really like the effect, I can see this being worth the money. I only use it in specific parts of my face (T-zone, focusing on the giant pores on my cheeks) so I don't think I use too much at a time, so a tube should last me a while!
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Concealers -NARS - Radiant Creamy Concealer
Lomelindi 4/4/2013 10:21:00 AM
Nars is on a ROLL lately! I bought this concealer because I wanted to replace MAC Studio Finish, which has great coverage / staying power but tended to emphasize any flakes I had. For reference, my skin is very yellow, oily and somewhere around NC25 to NC30. I matched Custard in the Nars Radiant concealer. This concealer has medium coverage by itself, but can be built up to full coverage with a second layer. (It has slightly less coverage than pot concealers like MAC Studio Finish and doesn't have tattoo-level coverage like MUFE Full Cover, but given that this product is in liquid form, I was still surprised by how much pigmentation it had!). I like dabbing the doe foot on top of my blemishes / undereye bags and then blending it out with my finger. You really only need a TINY bit in the vicinity of any blemish because this concealer is super blendable and will spread out considerably when you pat or buff it into your skin. (Don't use too much under your eyes or it'll give you reverse panda eyes and/or crease throughout the day.) My favorite part about this concealer is that it has a natural, satin-y finish that doesn't emphasize flakes or peach fuzz, so it looks indistinguishable from real skin once blended on to the face. Once I set everything with a powder, I didn't see any fading or creasing throughout my 12 hr workday. The only reason why I took off a lippie is because I REALLY don't like the doe foot applicator and sticking a used wand into a tube of fresh product. That's just asking for germs to breed in the bottle. On the bright side, the lipgloss-like packaging makes it super easy to travel with. Also, given how much you get in a tube, this product should last me quite a while because you only need a little at a time! I can see myself using this concealer daily, so yes, it's worth the price.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Kat Von D - Lock-It
Lomelindi 4/4/2013 9:44:00 AM
Oh boy, where do I begin. I hunted for this product for months until it was finally back in stores. Shade 52 was a perfect match for my very yellow NC25 skin, which made me very happy. The bottle is beautifully designed, feels sturdy and comes with a sanitary pump. The pigmentation of the foundation is UNBELIEVABLE and the coverage is about as high as you can get without getting into clown makeup territory but sadly, the pros stop there. I couldn't figure out a good way to apply this foundation because it was naturally so thick and dried so quickly. If I applied it with fingers, it'll look like concrete and look way too heavy. If I applied it with a damp Beauty Blender or another sponge, it'll look better, but I had to add multiple layers because it gets so sheered out. The fastest way to get full, even coverage was for me to buff it into my skin with a flat-topped brush. Still, I wasn't happy with how dull and matte it looked, so I mixed it with moisturizer and/or primer and felt like it applied a lot better / easier that way. However, regardless of what I mixed it with or how I applied it, I could NOT get this foundation to look good on me. I have clogged pores, big pores and generally rough skin, and Lock-It emphasized every skin flaw I had. It also emphasized my facial peach fuzz, which I didn't know I had! After a few days of trial and error, I've decided to return this foundation. It might work really well on someone with smooth skin who wants to cover discoloration, but it aged me and didn't look flattering at all. If you're going to give this foundation a try, make sure you have time to play with it because it is NOT a foundation you can just slap on and run out the door.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -TheBalm - Down Boy
Lomelindi 4/2/2013 9:43:00 AM
I have oily, suuuper yellow NC25 skin, so a lot of pink blushes pull coral or peach on me. However, this is the one true, light pink blush that I can wear which stays TRUE to its color throughout the day and doesn't look ridiculous on my skin tone. It applies lighter than it looks in the pan, so don't be fooled into thinking this is your everyday, generic pink. I'd describe the exact shade as a matte, cool-to-neutral, light (but NOT pastel) pink. It's easy to use and quite buildable, so you can make the color as subtle or as dramatic on your cheeks as you want. The staying power is great even on my oily skin and will easily last through my 10 hr work day. The price is in the low $20-ish range, but you get a big pan of product so it should last you a while. The packaging is retro and made of cardboard, which I don't mind because it takes up minimal space and is quite light. Just be careful not to throw it around needlessly - I ended up with a large crack in my blush after a month or so of use. (Repress it IMMEDIATELY if this happens because this blush will start to crumble immediately after cracking and you'll lose a lot of product that way!)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Can't find my czechbook
Lomelindi 3/19/2013 2:22:00 PM
Wowza, this color was an unexpected hit with me. I normally don't like blues, but this pretty teal creme caught my eye. Since it was an LE polish from OPI's Euro Centrale Spring 2013 collex, I figured it can't hurt to try in case I love it and regret not buying it. I DID end up loving it. It dried into a rich, bright teal that's a bit darker than what it looks like in the bottle. I wouldn't describe the color as either dark or pastel but more of a vibrant intermediate (almost like a crayon color). There's less green in it than I expected but it still has enough that it doesn't clash with my NC25/30 skin. I have no real complaints about the formula - it was a bit streaky on the first coat, but the 2nd coat made it completely opaque. It dried quickly and I had no issues using it with any of my base or top coats. EDIT: Taking off a lippie because this seems to be prone to chipping after about 2 days. Other OPI cremes last longer than this.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - You're Such A Budapest
Lomelindi 3/12/2013 3:10:00 PM
I hate being vague in a review but this is just a CUTE color. It's a blue-leaning periwinkle creme that falls into the pastel category without being TOO pale. It has faint silvery microshimmers that are only visible up-close and aren't visible at all in the bottle. I have to say, I don't think I own a dupe of this one because it's such a unique color! On my NC25/30 skin, it's both eyecatching and flattering without being too over-the-top. It really reminds me of summer flowers or something similar. The formula was a bit watery and sometimes prone to bubbling, so I'll take off a lippie for that. Otherwise, it was easy to work with and was opaque with three thin coats. This is part of the Spring Euro Centrale 2013 collection, so if you're interested, I'd get it before it goes out of season.
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Liquid -Lancome - Teint Idole Ultra 24h
Lomelindi 3/11/2013 9:52:00 AM
This foundation is an odd one. It was gifted to me so I can't say say I paid the full price for it, but it is pricey! The packaging feels very "high-end". It's comprised of a heavy, frosted-glass bottle with a strong cap and a sturdy pumpl. The pump doesn't seem to push out a lot of foundation so I need about 3 full pumps to cover my face. I'm a very yellow NC25/27 and can wear 230 W alright, although it's a TOUCH too neutral for me and allllmost too light. I think my best match might be 250 W. This foundation does oxidize as it dries so it doesn't wear true to the color in the bottle - if you're in between colors, I'd give the lighter shade a shot because it probably will oxidize darker! I applied this foundation with a damp Beauty Blender to give it a more skin-like finish.I only needed about 1-2 thin layers for full coverage, although I still needed concealer for some of my reddest blemishes. Since I have oily skin, I'm initially set this foundation with a powder out of habit, but it looked horribly cakey after a few hours. The second time, I tried NOT setting it wiith anything and found that it had a beautiful, skin-like, demi-matte finish on its own. I would actually recommend wearing this product with NO powder on top and some hydrating spray (like Fix+) on top to help with how drying it can be. I've found that I didn't have to blot at all during the day with this foundation on, so it's great against oils! Not sure I would recommend for anyone who is dry-skinned, I can imagine the alcohol in this product drying them out immediately. One major con is that I ended up breaking out from this product by the second day. I got a string of minor white heads across my cheeks and my chin, so I would recommend being careful when using this foundation. For those of you who are acne/clog-prone like me, give yourself a few days to try this foundation out before wearing it to a special event!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -Sana - Salon De Porejo Peeling Gel
Lomelindi 3/7/2013 10:13:00 AM
Disclaimer - This is one of my first peel-y exfoliation products so unfortunately I don't have much to compare to. HOWEVER, I do think it's a wonderful, gentle but very effective exfoliant. All you do is put a big dollop of this gel on your fingertips and spread it quickly across your face (even under your eyes, I think it's safe to use there). It has some beads in it but they vanish once they come in contact with your skin, so it does not feel like a scrub. After a few seconds, you can gently start to rub at your skin with your fingers or your palm. You'll start noticing dead skin rolling off in noticeable, white peices. This is a PAINLESS process, and I'm pretty sure half of it is just some trickery with the ingredients in the gel because it doesn't seem possible to lose that much skin at once. Anyways, once you notice that you're not getting more of the 'peices', you've basically pulled off all the dead skin that's going to come off at that time. Just rinse the white stuff and any remaining gel off with water and you're done! My skin is left feeling very smooth and soft, and I notice that my face looks brighter for a day or two afterwards (probably because this got rid of all the dull, dead skin sitting on top.) I can't read Japanese but to be safe, I think this product is only meant for 1-2 uses a week. Your skin needs time to recover in between! I got this for about $18 off Amazon. While it's not the cheapest thing out there, I think this is one of the cheaper AHA peeling gels I've seen that actually WORKS. I highly recommend for someone who wants a quick but fast way to brighten their face and exfoliate at the same time.
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Primer/ Corrector -Hourglass - Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15
Lomelindi 2/20/2013 9:43:00 AM
I don't get the hype. This isn't a BAD primer, but it wasn't noticeably different from any other silicone-y primers that I've tried like Smashbox or Tarte's. The price was quite high, so I expected something exceptional and didn't get it. I felt like I paid mainly for the packaging, because it came in a nice fogged glass bottle with a sloping black pump head. Overall, this primer does soften the skin and help hide your pores (a little, not by much). It helps your foundation glide on more easily and maaaaybe lengthens wear-time, although I think my old MAC Prep & Prime gripped on to foundation better. In the end, this is a good silicone primer but you can find much cheaper ones out there that do the same thing. Good thing I only got the small size!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No