Concealers -Make Up For Ever - Full Cover Concealer
NickyZ 5/3/2013 10:47:00 AM
This concealer is truly amazing. It covers anything and is matte, stays all day if set with a setting powder. Stays for a long time not being set as well. I like the extra insurance. I'm about an nw20 in MAC shades. I first was matched to #4 in this, which works really well for my neck and blemishes but looks way too ashy under my eyes. Then I got my hands on #5 which has more warmth to it. And by warmth, I mean pink/red as per the color wheel. I am not sure if #5 is new but it went from being an 'ok' concealer to a 'great' one with the new shade 'vanilla'. I believe #4 is 'flesh'. There is a learning curve to this. I use it with an eyeliner brush for small blemishes. A little, and I mean little, goes a long way. One tube lasted me for a couple of years. For larger blemishes I recommend patting it with a flat brush and feathering out the edges. Under eye must be well moisturized because it is VERY matte, which I love. Normally tube concealers are a miss for me due to lack of coverage, but this is THE most pigmented tube concealer I've tried.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Cover FX - Conceal FX Camouflage Concealer 
NickyZ 9/1/2012 8:26:00 PM
I love this stuff. At first I thought I was a Light but it would NOT lighten up enough and the SA representative for the line said X-light was too light for me. I'm a MAC NW20, which seems to be the best match I suppose. The key to success with this product is that a little goes a LONG way. I use a pinpoint brush for blemishes or a flat brush for under eyes, but the pinkish tone cancels my darkness under eyes and the sticky texture allows it to stick to blemishes. I love this stuff. So, once you have the right shade and technique, you're good to go. It does adjust to your skintone with some blending. That said, I can't wait to try the newer shades and formula. My favorite concealer for blemishes though would have to be Becca's with its medium and extra cover formula. I'll have to write a separate review for it in Praline. It's a dead on match. ***Edited 5/3/2013 I'm noticing this doesn't wear well over my Shiseido spf eye cream. It's a little too light for me I'm thinking. I tried to make it work. The new Cover Fx shade range looks better.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Tarte - Matte Waterproof Mineral Powder Bronzer
NickyZ 3/4/2012 2:01:00 AM
Wow! I am on the lighter side of skintones and I suppose that is who this is meant for mostly. I've never seen a bronzer that's just so un-powdery upon application and leaves the most natural looking glow to the skin. It's not too brown, red or pink. I can't even describe it. It's not powdery in the least, seems pigmented but I never seem to overapply. It's perfect. I doubt I'll ever look to another bronzer again. It says it's waterproof, and I will take its word for it, but the only time it gets wet on my skin is when I sweat at the gym and I use a makeup wipe right after and nothing is left. I sweat heavily and blot with a towel my entire workout, so I can't attest to this claim.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -MAC - Pro Longwear concealer
NickyZ 1/30/2012 3:15:00 PM
Packaging is alright. You can't just press down and get product out or too much will dispense at once. You must gently press down. Ok, so the concealer itself seems thin and watery. I was matched to NC15 which seemed to go orangy on my neck where I wanted to cover some redness. Not sure why I strayed from my Make Up For Ever Full Coverage in No. 4, which is the perfect neutral and consistency. I returned it. The color is just wrong. I didn't inquire about a different one. Maybe this worked for someone else but not for me.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Physicians Formula - Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Pressed Bronzer in Light to Medium
NickyZ 1/30/2012 12:12:00 PM
Ok, I have light skin and have tried many bronzers but this is the first I am reviewing. I have a Bobbi Brown bronzer in 'golden light' but it's very pigmented and I have to be careful with it, and in some lighting situations, even with a fan brush I feel like it just looks like I have brown powder on (not that it looks powdery or anything) but it doesn't look tan or warm to me. This bronzer from Physician's formula seems to be the right tone to add warmth. I am far too light to expect a full on tan from just a bronzer - it never looks natural when I try to do that. I was on the fence and nearly wanted to try the 'fair to light' but I'm glad I bought this one. It's perfect. The price is up there for drugstore products but it's still cheaper than h/e stuff. Also, I buy at CVS so I can return it if I don't care for it. Sorry, Target. Oh, and one more thing - although the shimmer is super subtle, I avoid using this on my forehead because it makes me look greasy (I have a very oily t-zone). Otherwise, I can't detect shimmer once it's on. I'll report back on the brush. I use my Becca fan brush to apply and blend, blend, blend. Edit: This has become my favorite bronzer to take with me. The half-moon brush in the compartment underneath is actually a useful brush. I still never see shimmer in this when applied. I do notice it adds to shine in the t-zone if I apply it there, so I only do temples and tops of cheekbones for warmth and it looks fantastic.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Neutrogena - Clear Pore Cleanser Mask
NickyZ 1/30/2012 12:39:00 AM
Please don't discontinue this product! I love the smell and texture of it. I haven't been using it long but it dramatically clears up any breakouts and doesn't overly dry my oily skin, but it seems to control oil somewhat. The concentration of BPO is 3.5%, which seems to be a good concentration to do its job and not be irritating. I'm not sure if it's the BPO or the kaolin in the cleanser that sucks up all the oil, but I love it. There aren't many cleansers at the drugstore that have a lower % of BPO that I've come across.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -Neutrogena - Healthy Skin Enhancer SPF 20
NickyZ 1/29/2012 6:41:00 PM
This stuff is fantastic! I'm combo/oily and this stuff lasts on me all day. I wear spf under it but I always appreciate additional in my color products. It does a lovely job of evening me out without looking like anything on the skin. I'm an NW20 for reference and wear shade 10. I'm sure I could get away with the 20 shade as well. I use this and some concealer, sometimes some powder over it and it looks like I just have naturally flawless skin. It's much nicer in texture than Bobbi or Laura's tinted moisturizers and I much prefer the color. It also has treatment and a reliable spf in it, so I think this is a big win overall. I have to say that I'm a fan of Neutrogena overall though. They have lots of products to choose from for all skin types. For a drugstore product, the price is decent I suppose. I haven't compared this to the per ounce price of h/e tinted moisturizers but I think this product does more (retinol treatment and zinc oxide spf) than Laura M's or Bobbi's, so IMO it's superior. It's practically a foundation though in terms of coverage so I don't like to use it all over lately.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Neutrogena - Sensitive Skin Sunblock Lotion SPF 60+
NickyZ 1/26/2012 10:58:00 AM
This stuff is fantastic. I'm somewhat sensitive but use retinoids and acne treatments from time to time. I'm fairly oily and am very active. I can use chemical sunscreens and do when the situation calls for it, but when I know I'll be sweating I use a physical spf like this one so I won't sting my eyes. This is so light and non-greasy. Finally, a drugstore physical spf that isn't super shiny and heavy feeling. I'm loving Neutrogena lately. Great formulation. I'd highly recommend this. It does take a little time to rub in and I'm light to begin with, so the white cast is minimal. Not my spf of choice if I'm wanting to look my best though. For that I use La Roche Posay Fluid spf 60, the shaka shaka matte one from CVS in the US.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Self Tanners -Jergens - Natural Glow - Light
NickyZ 1/19/2012 12:58:00 PM
I'm writing this review so I don't stop using this for a while and start again. ALL the inexpensive self tanners I've tried at the drugstore STINK badly. For some reason at that price range they can't mask the smell of the DHA. I'f had samples of St. Tropez gradual tanner and its smell is tolerable. I just can't justify paying that much for self tanner. I love being tan but that I balk at the price of that every time I enter Sephora. I have pretty light skin (MUFE HD 117) so it only takes me 1-2 light applications to get color with this, which is nice. The downside is that the smell is SO overpowering. It makes my fragrance smell off if I wear one during the day. I wouldn't wear it to bed because I wouldn't subject my SO to that. This was the gradual tanner that started the craze, and for that I give them props. I'd rather go au natural that smell like this crap.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No