Powder -Bare Escentuals - Bare Minerals in 1.2, fairly light
bamabreeze 10/6/2007 10:44:00 AM
Love this foundation! I've been hesitant to try mineral foundations because I'm 46 and the thought of even the finest lines combined with an all-powder product scared me a bit. Well, after years and years of cream and liquid products turning color by the end of the day, or turning into an oil-slick on the hotter, more humid days, I bit the bullet and called the infomercial number. I chose the fairest kit -- light and fairly light -- but I only use the fairly light. I'm a fair-skinned Irish gal and need a golden/yellow toned very light foundation. I prepped my face as usual in the morning -- toner and a light gel-cream moisturizer -- and then took the tiniest drop of the sample packet of BE primer, rubbed it between my palms and patted it on top of my usual moisturizer. Full disclosure here: I do have a red mark right on top of the bridge of my nose, and for this I used a layer of Cover Girl concealer in "neutralizer" (it's the concealer that looks like a lipstick) before I applied the foundation. Then I swirled, tapped and buffed, using the light application brush, did a very natural/light eye shadow using the Well-Rested (great to brighten the dark hollows between the inner corners of the eye and the nose, too) and a touch of Warmth, added a light touch of Warmth as blush to cheeks, temples and chin (I was afraid this might be too dark, but the trick is to use the tiniest bit and add if you have to, and to use a light hand), and then went over everything with mineral veil (LOVE this finishing powder -- really blends out the look, takes away shine but leaves natural glow -- no heavy, uber-matte, old-lady look with this), and voila! The only non-BE products I used were my eyeliner, mascara and lipstick. I honestly do look like I'm wearing no foundation and very little of anything else. The only caveat is that this stuff really won't cover serious marks. However, combined with a sheer, light-weight concealer, it's just fine, and the concealer doesn't show through, or "grab" too much pigment from the mineral foundation, either. I think, for anyone with fine lines, the key is a light, light hand. You really don't need a lot of this at all -- the brush should look as if it has nothing on it at all when you begin to apply. Also, I do see how all that swirling and tapping of brushes can leave a fine coating of powder all over your countertop and sink, and where trying to carry this stuff with you and use it in a public restroom could get messy, but 'tis a small thing compared to the great results. UPDATE: I'm gushing now, sorry, but this makeup only gets better -- I had to go up to the upper East Side in NYC this morning to interview a woman for a piece I'm working on, so I walked to the commuter train, took it into the city, walked from Penn Station to the upper sixties and 3rd, did the interview, walked to the park, went through my notes, worked on the piece, read for a bit, blahblahblah, and then walked over to Columbus Circle, took the subway down to Pace University (across from City Hall), took my daughter out for a late lunch/early dinner (starving college student) at South Street, walked back over to her apartment (right smack next to what used to be the WTC), picked up her computer to take home to be fixed (such is my life -- motherhood never really ends), walked to the PATH, took it to Hoboken, took the train home, and walked the 9/10ths of a mile back to my house -- all in mid-eighty degree and HUMID weather -- without One. Single. Touch-up. No kidding. The BE foundation, my eyeshadow (Revlon 12-hour) and blush (Benefit Georgia) all look as fresh as when I first applied them (this same Revlon eyeshadow had always creased/faded on me after about five hours in the past, and I've always had to reapply the Georgia before, given how sheer and pale it is). The only thing that had faded was my lipstick -- and that's my fault -- all I did during the day was to apply more Softlips lip balm. Oh, and did I mention that this is the week during my cycle that my skin is always at its oiliest? And yet I didn't even need to re-apply the Mineral Veil.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Unlisted Brand - Natural Advantage kit
bamabreeze 9/17/2007 2:19:00 PM
Wow! My first week with this kit has been amazing, and I've never handled any kind of retinoid product well at all in the past. I ordered the larger kit first time out (and I'm dying to try those eye capsules -- will definitely customize to include those next time around), and my first pleasant surprise was the cleanser. It not only cleaned my face better than the Principal Secret cleansers, but it took off eye makeup and didn't burn or irritate my eyes at all. I used the blue-gel toner next which has a cool, tingly feel (but in a good way), and then the PM treatment. I follwed up with the eye cream and then the sample hydration cream. In the AM, I don't bother washing with the cleanser again, but merely use the toner after my shower and then the day moisturizer with SPF 15, followed by a little eye moisturizer. My skin is loving this routine -- it's softer, more supple, more even and the fine lines around my eyes are already noticeably diminished. I bought this on a PMS-driven whim, and I'm really glad I did. Definitely will continue with this product line. Can't wait to try some of the additional products included with the brochure enclosed with the kit. UPDATE: After a few more weeks of use, I have to ditch the day cream. Still love the cleanser and the retinol treatment, but the day cream is too darned greasy and heavy. I'm back to my usual, lighter day moisturizer and a foundation with SPF15. I also don't think my fair, fine Irish skin is up to both a retinol and a glycolic acid product on a daily basis. The night treatment is not irritating used daily, but the glycolic acid in the day cream is beginning to burn the area around my eyes in the morning. Still time to customize my perfect kit, though.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Vaseline - Petroleum Jelly
bamabreeze 8/22/2007 10:23:00 PM
At the end of the day, this is the best beauty product investment anyone can make. Super general moisturizer, from head to toe. I use it on my heels in the winter, and I use a light touch of this under my eyes at night year-round. Makes my skin soft and supple, and you sure as heck can't beat the price. Only caveat is that this is decidedly NOT a day-time under-eye moisturizer if you plan on wearing mascara. Edit: This is NOT a dangerous product. Anyone who believes this is an ejit. Vaseline has been around for decades, has been used by zillions of people from infancy to old age, and has never been linked to cancer. Also, the person who wrote that review specifically mentions a link to breast cancer, which the highly specious article she "copies" doesn't even mention. As a breast cancer survivor, and as the daughter of a mother and grandmother who both died of the disease, I find this truly offensive. There isn't a lot I don't know about breast cancer, including some of the more obscure theories regarding cause, and Vaseline just ain't connected in any way, shape or form.
51 out of 52 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Smashbox - Photo Finish Primer
bamabreeze 8/22/2007 10:21:00 PM
I received a sample of this product and gave it a test run on a day I knew I'd be working long hours in the office. It did indeed tame my usual late afternoon shine, but it also broke me out faster than any product I've ever used before. Next day I'd developed two deep blemishes that I can only attribute to this product. Also, while it tamed the shine, the product actually accentuated fine lines under my makeup. Glad I got the sample and had the opportunity to check out what all this fuss about make-up primers was about without having to invest any money on one.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Revlon - 3D Extreme Mascara - Blackest Black
bamabreeze 7/25/2007 8:28:00 AM
This could be a great mascara, a drugstore contender for DiorShow, but for the fact that there is nothing at the end of the tube to control the amount of mascara on the brush. The brush is great -- I have trouble with the big "teddy bear" brush of DiorShow, so I love the shape and size of the brush. But it comes out of the tube just gobbed with mascara. If you were to clean it off on a tissue each time, you'd easily lose one half to two thirds of the product in the tube. That's too wasteful for me. How could Revlon have missed this? This is a standard feature on any tube of mascara. Plus, I had to use an old mascara brush to clean up the clumps and separate out my lashes a bit. On a snarky note (yes, I know I'm going straight to hell for this), it's a darned shame Tammy Fay Baker passed away before she could get her hands on this -- if you want Tammy Fay Baker lashes, this is your mascara. On another note, I don't like products I have to "work". Work is where I go to earn a paycheck. Unless Revlon is planning on cutting me a check at the end of every week, I'm not going to learn how to "work" their product.
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Crème -Cover Girl - Advanced Radiance Restorative Cream [DISCONTINUED]
bamabreeze 7/19/2007 6:44:00 PM
I use the CG Advanced Radiance in the compact and love it. Tried this version on a whim, and love it even more. It's somewhere between a good tinted moisturizer and a rich liquid foundation. It isn't nearly as heavy as I thought it would be, and it evens out my skin tone nicely. Classic Ivory (110) is a perfect match for me. I'm 46 with very fair skin and some tiny lines around the eye area. I didn't find it settled into those lines, or slipped off my face even on this soggy, hot, humid mess of a day here. It's a keeper for sure!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Paula's Choice - All Bases Covered Foundation SPF 25
bamabreeze 7/18/2007 6:38:00 AM
What struck me the most about this foundation is how heavy it is while providing so little coverage. It's thick and almost stifling on, yet I never needed to use so much concealor. The colors are good, but the packaging leaves a lot to be desired. Also, I think for what she charges for shipping, Paula's products take far too long to arrive. I suspect she's making up for her competitive pricing and her return policy by padding her shipping and handling charges.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Cover Girl - Advanced Radiance Age-Defying Makeup
bamabreeze 7/8/2007 5:15:00 PM
Love this foundation! It's sheer and creamy without being greasy, doens't slip into fine lines, and it makes my skin glow. I do use a light brushing of powder over my T-Zone, but I'm pleased with the look I get without using powder all over my face. I haven't even been tempted to try anything else since this product came out.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No