Liquid -Cover Girl - Queen Collection All Day Flawless 3-in-1 
dawndie23 4/10/2013 8:29:00 AM
THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE OUTLAST 2-IN-1 FROM THE COVER GIRL QUEEN COLLECTION. (LOOONG REVIEW!) Absolutely fantastic!! I've been wearing this foundation for a little over 6 weeks and am so happy with both the coverage and the finish. First, it was such a wonderful change to have a full range of colors specifically targeted to women of color to choose from at the store. Just as the regular line has 12 shades, the Queen Collection line also has 12 shades from which to choose your best color match. I purchased 5 shades (I'll break down the variances below) and have worn all of them alone and mixed together. The coverage is medium, buildable to full. It comes in a glass jar with a pump dispenser (yea!) and one pump is enough for a smooth looking complexion. 2 pumps give me a flawless finish. This foundation dries to a true matte finish and after 4 hours of wear with NO PRIMER OR POWDER, I still do not have shine to touch up! Let me repeat, 4 hours with NO PRIMER OR POWDER on top and I'm still looking like I just left the house! This has been huge for me because I really don't like to wear a ton of product on my face. When it gets warmer and more humid, I'll probably just need to wear a dash of primer only on my nose with a light dusting of powder on top. This stuff is that good! I've had no adverse reactions, it applies smoothly and once dry it doesn't transfer! If I apply 2 coats, I don't need to wear concealer. This really does provide great coverage for minor shadows or blemishes. I have worn concealer on top for days I've had darker spots or circles and every brand of concealer I have worn blends seamlessly with this foundation. I bought this in Spicy Brown, Almond Glow, Golden Honey, Warm Caramel and Soft Copper. If you line these up and only go by the color in the bottle you may think you have bought the same color. But Cover Girl really did a great job at addressing the minute variances in the undertones for women of color. Spicy Brown is a gorgeous, rich, true brown that is a touch dark for me now, but will be my color for the summer. Almond Glow and Golden Honey look identical in the jar, but Almond Glow is just a touch darker. These two have warm notes to them. Warm Caramel and Soft Copper look identical in the jar, but Warm Caramel is a touch darker thank Soft Copper. These two have cool note to them. So, Almond Glow and Warm Caramel are identical in color but the undertones are distinctly different. Warm and Cool. Same story with Golden Honey and Soft Copper. Colors are identical, but undertones are warm and cool. Spicy Brown has a warm undertone (more olive/orange than yellow/red). I have given my daughter Soft Copper and Golden Honey to play with. Once you figure out the best color for your skin tone I recommend keeping one cool and one warm to mix and match to your complexion if needed. I find that Almond Glow is the color that matches me the best overall. I grab it more than any of the others (at least during the winter). When I mix this with my moisturizer and wear this as a lighter coverage you absolutely cannot tell that I'm wearing any thing. Even in the full sun. You will see some slight dark marks or circles, but they are blurred and overall it just looks like I have great skin. I truly hope that this line gets the support it deserves. You can find it on sale and use coupons to get a great deal on these. I bought my five bottles online and only paid approx. $36 for all 5 bottles after sales and coupons (and free shipping!). BTW....I still really love my Revlon Colorstay foundation. I really only tried this one to review for a friend, and was very pleasantly surprised at the quality of this foundation. I think that the Cover Girl (Queen Collection) offers more shade choices for those women who have not been able to find a perfect match in the Colorstay line. I have to mix two colors in Revlon to get my perfect match....I don't mind, but still......Amber Glow in the Queen Collection is already a perfect match for me and I don't think I'll need to mix the Spicy Brown with any other color once my complexion gets darker over the summer.
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Cover Girl - Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation
dawndie23 4/4/2013 3:13:00 PM
THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE OUTLAST 2-IN-1 FROM THE COVER GIRL QUEEN COLLECTION. (LOOONG REVIEW!) Absolutely fantastic!! I've been wearing this foundation for a little over 6 weeks and am so happy with both the coverage and the finish. First, it was such a wonderful change to have a full range of colors specifically targeted to women of color to choose from at the store. Just as the regular line has 12 shades, the Queen Collection line also has 12 shades from which to choose your best color match. I purchased 5 shades (I'll break down the variances below) and have worn all of them alone and mixed together. The coverage is medium, buildable to full. It comes in a glass jar with a pump dispenser (yea!) and one pump is enough for a smooth looking complexion. 2 pumps give me a flawless finish. This foundation dries to a true matte finish and after 4 hours of wear with NO PRIMER OR POWDER, I still do not have shine to touch up! Let me repeat, 4 hours with NO PRIMER OR POWDER on top and I'm still looking like I just left the house! This has been huge for me because I really don't like to wear a ton of product on my face. When it gets warmer and more humid, I'll probably just need to wear a dash of primer only on my nose with a light dusting of powder on top. This stuff is that good! I've had no adverse reactions, it applies smoothly and once dry it doesn't transfer! If I apply 2 coats, I don't need to wear concealer. This really does provide great coverage for minor shadows or blemishes. I have worn concealer on top for days I've had darker spots or circles and every brand of concealer I have worn blends seamlessly with this foundation. I bought this in Spicy Brown, Almond Glow, Golden Honey, Warm Caramel and Soft Copper. If you line these up and only go by the color in the bottle you may think you have bought the same color. But Cover Girl really did a great job at addressing the minute variances in the undertones for women of color. Spicy Brown is a gorgeous, rich, true brown that is a touch dark for me now, but will be my color for the summer. Almond Glow and Golden Honey look identical in the jar, but Almond Glow is just a touch darker. These two have warm notes to them. Warm Caramel and Soft Copper look identical in the jar, but Warm Caramel is a touch darker thank Soft Copper. These two have cool note to them. So, Almond Glow and Warm Caramel are identical in color but the undertones are distinctly different. Warm and Cool. Same story with Golden Honey and Soft Copper. Colors are identical, but undertones are warm and cool. Spicy Brown has a warm undertone (more olive/orange than yellow/red). I have given my daughter Soft Copper and Golden Honey to play with. Once you figure out the best color for your skin tone I recommend keeping one cool and one warm to mix and match to your complexion if needed. I find that Almond Glow is the color that matches me the best overall. I grab it more than any of the others (at least during the winter). When I mix this with my moisturizer and wear this as a lighter coverage you absolutely cannot tell that I'm wearing any thing. Even in the full sun. You will see some slight dark marks or circles, but they are blurred and overall it just looks like I have great skin. I truly hope that this line gets the support it deserves. You can find it on sale and use coupons to get a great deal on these. I bought my five bottles online and only paid approx. $36 for all 5 bottles after sales and coupons (and free shipping!). BTW....I still really love my Revlon Colorstay foundation. I really only tried this one to review for a friend, and was very pleasantly surprised at the quality of this foundation. I think that the Cover Girl (Queen Collection) offers more shade choices for those women who have not been able to find a perfect match in the Colorstay line. I have to mix two colors in Revlon to get my perfect match....I don't mind, but still......Amber Glow in the Queen Collection is already a perfect match for me and I don't think I'll need to mix the Spicy Brown with any other color once my complexion gets darker over the summer.
6 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Cover Girl - 3-in1 Stay Flawless Liquid Foundation
dawndie23 4/4/2013 3:12:00 PM
THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE OUTLAST 2-IN-1 FROM THE COVER GIRL QUEEN COLLECTION. (LOOONG REVIEW!) Absolutely fantastic!! I've been wearing this foundation for a little over 6 weeks and am so happy with both the coverage and the finish. First, it was such a wonderful change to have a full range of colors specifically targeted to women of color to choose from at the store. Just as the regular line has 12 shades, the Queen Collection line also has 12 shades from which to choose your best color match. I purchased 5 shades (I'll break down the variances below) and have worn all of them alone and mixed together. The coverage is medium, buildable to full. It comes in a glass jar with a pump dispenser (yea!) and one pump is enough for a smooth looking complexion. 2 pumps give me a flawless finish. This foundation dries to a true matte finish and after 4 hours of wear with NO PRIMER OR POWDER, I still do not have shine to touch up! Let me repeat, 4 hours with NO PRIMER OR POWDER on top and I'm still looking like I just left the house! This has been huge for me because I really don't like to wear a ton of product on my face. When it gets warmer and more humid, I'll probably just need to wear a dash of primer only on my nose with a light dusting of powder on top. This stuff is that good! I've had no adverse reactions, it applies smoothly and once dry it doesn't transfer! If I apply 2 coats, I don't need to wear concealer. This really does provide great coverage for minor shadows or blemishes. I have worn concealer on top for days I've had darker spots or circles and every brand of concealer I have worn blends seamlessly with this foundation. I bought this in Spicy Brown, Almond Glow, Golden Honey, Warm Caramel and Soft Copper. If you line these up and only go by the color in the bottle you may think you have bought the same color. But Cover Girl really did a great job at addressing the minute variances in the undertones for women of color. Spicy Brown is a gorgeous, rich, true brown that is a touch dark for me now, but will be my color for the summer. Almond Glow and Golden Honey look identical in the jar, but Almond Glow is just a touch darker. These two have warm notes to them. Warm Caramel and Soft Copper look identical in the jar, but Warm Caramel is a touch darker thank Soft Copper. These two have cool note to them. So, Almond Glow and Warm Caramel are identical in color but the undertones are distinctly different. Warm and Cool. Same story with Golden Honey and Soft Copper. Colors are identical, but undertones are warm and cool. Spicy Brown has a warm undertone (more olive/orange than red/yellow). I have given my daughter Soft Copper and Golden Honey to play with. Once you figure out the best color for your skin tone I recommend keeping one cool and one warm to mix and match to your complexion if needed. I find that Almond Glow is the color that matches me the best overall. I grab it more than any of the others (at least during the winter). When I mix this with my moisturizer and wear this as a lighter coverage you absolutely cannot tell that I'm wearing any thing. Even in the full sun. You will see some slight dark marks or circles, but they are blurred and overall it just looks like I have great skin. I truly hope that this line gets the support it deserves. You can find it on sale and use coupons to get a great deal on these. I bought my five bottles online and only paid approx. $36 for all 5 bottles after sales and coupons (and free shipping!). BTW....I still really love my Revlon Colorstay foundation. I really only tried this one to review for a friend, and was very pleasantly surprised at the quality of this foundation. I think that the Cover Girl (Queen Collection) offers more shade choices for those women who have not been able to find a perfect match in the Colorstay line. I have to mix two colors in Revlon to get my perfect match....I don't mind, but still......Amber Glow in the Queen Collection is already a perfect match for me and I don't think I'll need to mix the Spicy Brown with any other color once my complexion gets darker over the summer.
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Concealers -Bobbi Brown - Corrector
dawndie23 3/20/2013 11:21:00 AM
I have this in dark peach. This corrector has been a tremendous help with covering up any dark spots and circles on my face. I must admit, I was skeptical about the results I was reading about in various review sites. I'm glad I decided to give this a try as it really works for me. I apply this with my fingers and blend well. You don't need a lot of this product for it to work. I then apply a very light brush of concealer over the top and set with a light dusting of powder. It gives my face a more brightened look. I have not experienced any creasing with this....I've applied it both before and after foundation and it seems to work the same either way for me. With a full-coverage foundation, using this gives me a totally flawless face. It was a bit pricey, but it will last a very long time since I don't need a lot to get great results.
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BB Cream -Iman - Iman Skin Tone Evener BB Creme SPF15
dawndie23 2/19/2013 6:36:00 PM
How disappointing! I got this in Earth 2 which is a little too dark for my complexion but the closest color they had to my skin tone. I have yet to find a true color match in Iman products for me. Long story short, this BB Cream broke me out with the worst case of cystic acne I have ever suffered. I stuck with it for a week in order to really test out the longevity and wear. First, the color was not a match for me, but I tried to work around it with my powder. Second, while it applies very smoothly and evenly, it left me with a very shiny finish after 10 minutes. Even after applying my primer and powder, I was an oil slick with this BB Cream Third, it broke me out so horribly. I'm not sure which ingredient set me off, but I opted to pitch this product rather than inflict it on someone else! Finally, I had to order this online. Iman products are difficult to find in my area and the online color matching system didn't work very well for me. I also found the price to be a bit high. I was really bummed out, even though I always strike out with Iman's foundations, I do like a lot of her products and love supporting her company. Alas, I will stick with my Smashbox and Maybelline BB Creams. Smashbox is the best for my oily t-zone and Maybelline is perfect for me in the fall and winter when I'm a little drier.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
BB Cream -Smashbox - Camera Ready BB Cream SPF 35
dawndie23 2/19/2013 6:26:00 PM
THIS IS THE REAL DEAL! (my original review from 9/13/2012) I finally broke down a bought this about a month ago. It does exactly what it says on the packaging. Smashbox and Maybelline are the only two companies selling B.B. Creams that offer options for people who are darker than just light and medium. While I like Maybelline's version, Smashbox is wayyyyy better. I don't have to apply anything to my skin before this product. I literally wash my face, apply the b.b. cream and go. It smooths out my complexion with one light coat. I only apply a light dusting of transculent powder to my t-zone and I'm set for the day. It lasts me about 8 hours and has not irritated my skin. You can easily build this up for a full coverage look (you'll need to add a powder on top). The price tag is my only complaint. It does not need to be as expensive, but you don't need alot to get good coverage. I wear Revlon Colorstay in a Carmel/Cappuccino mix, Mac in NW45 and MUFE in 173/175. The color (dark) is spot on for my skintone. You can't tell that I am wearing anything when I have this on, it makes my skin look beautiful! This is a definite win for me. I'm looking forward to seeing how it works when the weather gets cooler and drier. ***EDIT*** (2/2013) I'm still loving my Smashbox BB Cream, but now that my skin is in it's 'winter phase' the color is not as great of a match as last summer. If I wear it alone, it washes me out. I can correct this easily with my powder but shouldn't have to do this. It still has wonderful coverage and I have not had any breakouts with this product. I guess I'll just have to keep this one for the summer months. Thankfully Iman has finally come out with a BB Cream exclusively for women of color that I can't wait to try!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -L'Oreal - Telescopic Explosion in Blackest Black
dawndie23 2/19/2013 1:21:00 PM
I love this mascara. I use it underneath Lash Stiletto to get a perfect lash every time. This mascara is great at separating and capturing in inner and outer corners. It does not give volume as much as it gives lift and length. When I top it with the Lash Stiletto I find I get a very intense, gorgeous lash. I had to take off a lippie since I have to apply another mascara on top of this to get it to work for me. It also takes a lot of time and work to apply this mascara so I don't wear it much on its own/everyday. Just when I want to rev up my the more natural look I get with Lash Stiletto. Good buy if you are willing to work for it.
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Toners -Thayers - Rose Petal Alcohol Free Witch Hazel
dawndie23 2/6/2013 4:04:00 PM
Alas, this toner gave me horrible and painful cystic acne. Thankfully I realized very quickly that it came from the toner as this was the only new product I used on my face. I'm not sure what triggered the break-out but I suspect it is probably the fragrance. Overall, I liked the rose scent but not the acne!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Revlon - Double Twist Waterproof
dawndie23 10/16/2012 5:42:00 PM
This mascara was a total fail for me. It was very dry, it clumped and just didn't cover my lashes evenly. I had to apply 3-4 coats to see any product and had serious fallout on my lower lashes. I love my Maybelline Lash Stiletto and have no idea why I decided to try this one.....I'd pass on this.
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Skincare - Face -Unlisted Brand - Dickinson's Witch Hazel
dawndie23 9/7/2012 7:06:00 AM
Witch Hazel is a great toner for my face. I only use it on my oily T-Zone and it helps tremendoulsy to control the shine in that area. There is nothing fancy about Witch Hazel, it is an astringent that can be used for several other applications. I've been using this on and off as a toner since I was a teenager. I've tried other brands but nothing has worked as effectively. You also can't beat the price (approx. $4-$5). I do not like the smell however, it's not pleasant at all. Thankfully, it quickly dissipates and dries with no lasting odor.
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Powder -Ruby Kisses - Mineral Powder - Cognac
dawndie23 8/31/2012 5:12:00 PM
**EDIT*** 4/26/13 So I found after I lost my summer color Cognac was a little too dark for me. I ended up using it during the winter as a very nice, subtle bronzer/contour. Since I use liquid or cream foundations during the drier winter months I didn't try this in a lighter color. I will absolutely go back to using this once I get a little more sun for the summer however. This is still a fantastic powder. **EDIT*** This one passed the "High Noon" sun test!!!! Wow! I spent 1/2 the day outdoors last week and forgot to bring my pressed powder to blot. I stopped at a local beauty supply shop and decided to give this a try just for kicks. The price was right ($3.50) and it was so nice to see a display of colors that cater to women of color. I bought RMP15-Cognac and this stuff disappeared into my skin. The color was a true match for my skintone and it totally eliminated the shine on my T-Zone. I was outdoors for the next 4 hours, cloudless sky and I could not tell that I had this stuff on my face! Cognac has a slight reddish undertone that suits my darker, summer complexion perfectly. I am definately going to try a lighter color once my summer glow starts to fade. This comes in 8 shades. You get a very generous 10 grams of product. Mine did not come with a sponge (some do) but I picked one up at the counter for $.50 and it fit perfectly in the compact. I first wore this powder over my liquid foundation and it provided a long-lasting, full-coverage look. I also wear it alone, over a spot concealer application and it looks even better on its own! It completely fades away any discolorations or marks and just seems to become like an extension of my natural skin. It does not look powdery, cakey or ashy. If I want a 'dewy' look, then I just mist some Fix+ over the top. It lasts me about 8 hours, I only have to blot a couple of times. This powder is marketed for sensitive/acne-prone skin (it has .5% Salicylic Acid). I've had no breakouts using this powder. The compact is simple and sleek. I highly recommend my darker complexion friends give this wonderful product a try before shelling out major money at a dept. store for something that is not formulated for your skintone. I've found some of Ruby Kisses products to be hit or miss, but the Mineral Powder is a definite Hit for me.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Ruby Kisses - Blemish Control Powder
dawndie23 8/31/2012 5:10:00 PM
This one passed the "High Noon" sun test!!!! Wow! I spent 1/2 the day outdoors last week and forgot to bring my pressed powder to blot. I stopped at a local beauty supply shop and decided to give this a try just for kicks. The price was right ($3.50) and it was so nice to see a display of colors that cater to women of color. I bought RMP15-Cognac and this stuff disappeared into my skin. The color was a true match for my skintone and it totally eliminated the shine on my T-Zone. I was outdoors for the next 4 hours, cloudless sky and I could not tell that I had this stuff on my face! Cognac has a slight reddish undertone that suits my darker, summer complexion perfectly. I am definately going to try a lighter color once my summer glow starts to fade. This comes in 8 shades. You get a very generous 10 grams of product. Mine did not come with a sponge (some do) but I picked one up at the counter for $.50 and it fit perfectly in the compact. I first wore this powder over my liquid foundation and it provided a long-lasting, full-coverage look. I also wear it alone, over a spot concealer application and it looks even better on its own! It completely fades away any discolorations or marks and just seems to become like an extension of my natural skin. It does not look powdery, cakey or ashy. If I want a 'dewy' look, then I just mist some Fix+ over the top. It lasts me about 8 hours, I only have to blot a couple of times. This powder is marketed for sensitive/acne-prone skin (it has .5% Salicylic Acid). I've had no breakouts using this powder. The compact is simple and sleek. I highly recommend my darker complexion friends give this wonderful product a try before shelling out major money at a dept. store for something that is not formulated for your skintone. I've found some of Ruby Kisses products to be hit or miss, but the Mineral Powder is a definite Hit for me.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Ecotools - Bamboo Bronzer Brush
dawndie23 8/15/2012 8:43:00 AM
5 days ago x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x Many, many uses for this brush.... First, the construction of this brush is fantastic. Very sturdy and I personally like the fat handle. The bristles are about the softest I've felt and the price is cheap, but it is not reflective of the quality. I have several of these....I use it mostly to apply my MSF. It's my final step when I'm going for a total flawless look. You don't need alot of product, the brush applies the msf perfectly. I also have been using this to apply bronzer and surprisingly, cream blush! I love how this brush gently presses the product into my skin. I highly recommend trying out all of the EcoTools products. They are a great company who provide high-end quality at the drug store.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -NYX - Full Coverage Concealer Jar
dawndie23 8/15/2012 8:42:00 AM
Gets the job done!!! Wow! I have this in both Nutmeg and Chestnut and am very impressed with the coverage. This concealer is easy to apply....very creamy, but not slick and greasy. It works beautifully underneath my eyes (you do need to set this with powder to prevent creasing). I use Chestnut to 'erase' any small marks on my face and it gives me a flawless look. I don't recommend using this paticular concealer as an eyelid primer, you may have some creasing. For the price, you really can't go wrong. I'm surprised that I don't hear more about this great product.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Ecotools - concealer brush
dawndie23 8/15/2012 8:39:00 AM
My FAVORITE brush.....and I have ALOT of brushes! ;-) Where to begin, where to begin??? The construction of the brush is superb like all of Eco Tools products. The bristles are crazy soft and the handle fits very comfortably in my hand. This brush works brilliantly for blending out concealer. It's soft enough not to tug at the delicate under-eye area, yet firm enough to spread the concealer in an even and concise manner. I have several of these brushes that I also use to apply my cream eyeshadows and bases. It blends perfectly over my eyelid with 1-2 swipes! I also use this to clean up my brows. For some reason, this brush works better than my fingers at shaping and cleaning up my brows. I've used it to apply pigments....it's a little big for intricate applications, but works like a charm if you're apply a single color on the lid. I could go on-and-on about this brush! This is my 'workhorse' brush. While I have several of these brushes, I have been using them for quite a few years with no apparent wear and tear. What a great quality brush!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No