Foundations -Josie Maran Cosmetics - Matchmaker
dearlymakeup 10/19/2012 10:35:00 PM
Before using this foundation, I was on my third bottle of Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua and about a 1/3 of the way into a bottle of Nars Sheer Glow foundation. Here's why I was looking to switch: 1. Although I love the look and and initial texture of Chanel's VA, I found the product was slowly wrecking havoc on my skin. I think it was the alcohol that features so prominently into the ingredients. By the time I took it off at night my skin was dry and tight and had made my acne scars look even worse than they did a few months ago. It also seemed to be responsible for the one weekly breakouts I began getting since using the foundation for almost 4 months. 2. I really enjoy the texture and ingredients in the Nars foundation, but the coverage was less than that of the Chanel foundation and it can be quite difficult to blend or buff into the skin. So, although this foundation did not cause any breakouts or dryness, it's difficult to work with. That's why I was ready to try the Josie Maran foundation. And just let me tell you -WOW. It's amazing. I've only been using it for a few weeks, but all those problems I was having with my other foundations (and the Chanel and Nars were my favorites...if that goes to show you anything) disappeared. I'm shocked at how long-lasting this is. With both of those other foundations I need to always set with a makeup spray and even powder the chanel in addition to that. Not so with the Josie Maran. Here are my main thoughts on the foundation: 1. Sheer to light coverage -I can build coverage and the application was so easy -a truly flawless finish. 2. Can work with fingers or a brush and it's EASY to work with -very quick 3. My skin has improved over time which means I can use a light coverage foundation and still pull off great looking skin. I did have breakouts for about a week once I started this, but they've all disappeared. Perhaps it was just a bit or purging. 4. This foundation is long-lasting on my combo skin and really moisturizes so that my acne scars don't look dry or prominent. I'd say it somehow perfectly balances the oil and dryness in my skin. 5. SO lightweight and comfortable to wear. So, it is definitely my favorite go-to foundation. I will try to use of my Chanel and that one does have great coverage, so there may be events that would work better for. The Nars Sheer Glow is something I will happily use up over time as the finish (when blended VERY well) is similar to the Maran on me, it's just less comfortable to wear and takes more time to apply/blend. I hope that helps!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Maybelline - Super Stay Makeup
dearlymakeup 6/27/2012 2:37:00 AM
I tested this for a week without a primer or a setting spray, but topped it off with a variety of powders. I tested this in the cooler weeks of summer in NY. I also prefer to apply it with a sigma buffing brush working in sections. I have combination oily skin with an occasional blemish to cover, and some yr old acne scars. Thougts: 1. great finish if you like matte foundations. Not TOO matte, but there was also no sparkle (that's for you, Revlon Photoready). 2. I actually found it quite creamy. HOWEVER, it will dry very quickly, so don't be misled and make sure you work fast. 3. This does not have the usual thick consistency of most longwearing foundations. Therefore, I do not consider it to be 'full-coverage.' Even though I think it is well-pigmented, you will need concealer for any scars. So, it's a trade-off in the sense that those who do not have a lot of scars or indents on their face will enjoy the lighter wear of this (in comparison to a lot of MAC foundations, EL Double Wear, or Revlon Colorstay) without sacrificing pigmentation, but it might be annoying for girls who don't want to stand around all day working with concealer. 4. I don't actually find this TOO long-lasting. I could use it with a primer, but I like having the option of skipping primer on days I feel like it. This probably only gives me a good 5 hr finish without a primer as opposed to Revlon Colorstay and EL Double Wear. Now, I really am not crazy about the finish of either of those. HOWEVER, the finish and apperence that you start with right after application is really the one you end up with for at least for 9 hrs +. That being said, I still prefer the Superstay in this category bc I think the finish you get from start to finish (even though it's worn off) is better than that of Colorstay or Double wear. Overall, I'll be keeping it in my bag for summer. It doesn't beat out my Dior Hydra Life BB cream (which is AMAZING for summer and the best of every world) and my Chanel Aqua Vitalumiere for the winter months. I was looking for cheaper alternatives and this is good enough for me on days other than special occasions. I'll probably use a Neutrogena foundation in the winter though...I think this might have a dulling or drying effect during those months. So, in the summer bag this goes! ps- I like to top this with a more luminous powder so I'm not sacrificing a healthy skin look with a matte foundation. Physicians Formula is a great option bc there's no talc in their powders.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Lancome - Teint Idole Ultra 24h
dearlymakeup 3/27/2012 11:13:00 PM
Ok...I've never really written a review on a product that I'm on the fence about, but there's a first time for everything.I'm holding out on this foundation based on all the other great reviews I've read, but I've actually had a very disappointing experience with this foundation. I have oily skin with some acne scarring and hyperpigmentation. COMPARISON: I find it comparable to Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua...but not in a good way. Both products have quite a bit of alcohol in them and while both products have a great finish right after you apply them, they wear in the most drying way...my skin looks pulled, patchy, and slightly irritated by the end of the day -except that the Chanel foundation gets better wear than this one in my mind. PROS: Feels like VELVET when you first put it on The 'matte' finish really has a lot of dimension and doens't look flat The color selection was awesome The bottlle isn't travel-friendly, but beautiful and has a pump! CONS: Does not react well to my Smashbox P. Primer light or Hourglass primer...the foundation looks so cakey over them...but I really like primers for resurfacing... Maybe it wears for 24 hours...but I'm lucky if I get 2 or 3 in before my face gets patchy and dry...ewww...it's basically unwearable. I'm better off with the Chanel Vitalumiere (also drying) or Mat Velvet + for foundations. If this doesn't preform somehow in the next week, I'll be retuning and giving it a low score :( ALTERNATIVES: If you're looking to try out something new and you aren't too pale, I HIGHLY recommend the Dior Hydra Life BB Creme...OMG. That was amazing. It had fantastic coverage, looked SO natural on my skin and best yet- had (in my opinion) NO bad ingredients. Quite the opposite in fact. My skin looks great each time I remove it at night and I find that it wears well. Even though it does fade a bit by the end of the day, I don't get any seperation, oilyness, patchyness... It just kind of fades. And if I touch it up, I don't get any caking...it has crazy coverage and my skin just drinks it up. I do wish the shade was a bit lighter, but I put a bronzer on my neck for now and will wear this exclusively in the summer. You also get a lot for your money -it is not a tinted moisturizer. A little goes a long way.
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Makeup Brushes -Sephora - Professionnel Platinum Air Brush #55
dearlymakeup 3/15/2012 4:35:00 PM
This really is a nice brush. Stress on the word 'nice.' At this point in my life, with the quality of products I use and time I spend researching different products, I definitely am looking for more than a nice product. That being said, this was a bit of a disappointment. Pros: -Quality appearence -Bristles do not shed -very little product get stuck to the bristles, so there is very little waste of the actual foundation or powder -Seems to stay cleaner for longer than most of my brushes -Seems to work well with very thick creme foundations -Seems to work well with loose powders HOWEVER I really do not like the finish this brush gives. I actually find it to work VERY poorly with the more liquidy foundations such as Shiseido SP liquid foundation and Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua. I do not like how this brush stipples the product on before you buff it in. I actually hate how it stipples the product on. I think the brush should be denser if it's being marketed for liquid foundations. Comparison: I have brushes from EL, Clinique, MAC, and E.L.F. I think my ELF flat top Studio brush just blows this one out of the water -for a fraction of the price. I haven't tried Sigma brushes, so I can't compare to those. The Verdict: I wish I had saved the packaging so I could return it. It is a nice brush for loose setting powder, but I paid $34 so my liquid foundation would apply smoothly and look natural while still being full coverage.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Make Up For Ever - Mat Velvet PLUS Matifying Foundation
dearlymakeup 3/15/2012 1:39:00 PM
Pros: -amazing coverage - amazing lasting-power -I do not need concealer on top of the light hyper pigmentation and small acne scars along the sides of my face. -great color selection! -I can mix with any of my other foundations without irritation or problems with texture -does not oxidize! -can be worn with or without a powder and still look finished HOWEVER All that being said, I really do not like to wear this foundation just as it is. If you want a very, very matte look to your skin then this would be perfect. I personally prefer if there is some sort of satin/natural finish to my foundation so that there is more dimension to my face and a more natural finish. hmmm...which leads me to mixing my foundations! No, this is not ideal. However, if I have a long day this foundation is the one that will hold up. I prefer to it EL Double Wear because of the color selection and lack of oxidization. And the feel is just so much lighter on my skin! I usually mix with one of these if I have an 8+ hr day: Chanel Vitalumiere Shiseido Sun Protection liquid Foundation Application: You could use your fingers, but I prefer a brush. I have a few mac brushes, an EL brush, Clinique brush, the Sephora #55 HD airbrush, but I definitely prefer my E.L.F flat top brush! I just can't believe how well that cheap brush works at applying my foundation. On long days where I have mixed my foundations I'll use my Sephora #55 to top it with some MUFE HD powder...just a little though!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Smashbox - Photo Finish Light
dearlymakeup 3/13/2012 4:45:00 PM
PROS I wanted to like this product. It sounded perfect for my sensitive, acne-prone skin. I loved the texture of the product and look of my skin a few minutes after applying. I like the lightweight plastic tube it comes in! CONS Anytime I apply my high-end foundations (Chanel Vitalumiere, Estee Lauder Double Wear Light, MUFE Mat Velvet +, Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation) on top of this primer I end up with dry patches and a tight feeling across my skin, I have never experienced this when wearing those foundations without this primer. I have also tried skipping any application of light setting powders and this didn't help at all. I naturally have oily enough skin that foundation tends to seperate a bit after about 5 hrs if I don't wear a primer and setting powder or setting spray. Perhaps the problem is that everything I put on my face now is long-lasting and oil-controlling. Who knows? What I'm not going to do is buy the full sized version of this primer. I like all of my foundations for different reasons and if they do better without this pricey primer, then I say 'Hooray' to that. Here's what I wear coverage-wise on a daily basis when there's little humidity and I just sit at a desk for most of the day: 1. ...a variety of primers till I find one I like 2. Vitalumiere Aqua or Shiseido SP Liquid foundation 3. Bobbi B. Stick concealer or Maybelline Dream Lumi Concealer 4.. MUFE Fix and Set spray I would not suggest this for anyone who already uses a long-lasting or oil-controlling foundation, a foundation with alchohol (sorry Vitalumiere Aqua...you're getting ousted), or a setting spray.
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Liquid -Chanel - Vitalumiere Aqua
dearlymakeup 2/16/2012 4:04:00 PM
***Update: After 4 months and 2/12 bottles later, I can say that this did end up drying out my skin, caused infrequent breakouts, and needed to be heavily set with either a powder or spray to last. The alcohol in the ingredients is a real shame. I've switched to Nars Sheer Glow and that is having a much better effect on my skin. Skin type: Uneven texture, slight hyper-pigmentation and a few acne scars, redness, combination skin. Previously used foundations for a year or longer : 1. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Glow 2. Revlon Colorstay 3. Estee Lauder Double Wear 4. Clinique Super Balenced 5. Clinique Superfit Review of Vitalumiere Aqua: 1.You must shake the bottle well before each application to get the creamy gel-like formula. 2. I apply with a flat top brush in sections and find that the formulation is extremely forgiving and can be used in this way. 3. If I do need to layer, I don't notice any caking (unlike my Clinique and Revlon foundations) 4. I do not need to use any primer with this foundation!!! 5. If I will be out for 4+ hrs I need to set with a loose powder. ****The BEST thing**** about this foundation is the amount of product that sits on my skin all day. There really is something to the 'light-bending' properties of this foundation. I use very little and the result is flawless skin. No oxidization, no patchiness, no irritation...just lovely natural skin. Before, I was layering and layering and using quite a bit of setting powder and concealer to try and achieve the same results. Warning: This is probably not for those who like a MATTE or opaque complexion. The result is very natural and if you prefer something else, then I would not recommend this foundation.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Quick Sizzle
dearlymakeup 2/10/2012 5:29:00 PM
An epic shade! Non-drying, great pigmentation, long lasting power. I'm not sure which I love more: the shade when I first apply it or the beautiful stain that's left over at the end of the day. Really makes my green eyes POP!
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Lips -MAC - Lustre in Lovelorn
dearlymakeup 2/10/2012 5:25:00 PM
Unbelievable. It's everything a lipstick should be. It does apply a bit differently than you might expect. I might not have tried it if I were just looking at the actual product, but the result on my lips is incredible. If you have any doubts from looking at it, try it on your lips!
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Eye Shadow -E.L.F. - Studio Cream Eyeshadow
dearlymakeup 1/16/2012 4:58:00 PM
These really are the perfect drugstore-level cream shadows. This line offers truly beautiful shades and they last all day for me. However, I'm giving these a '4' instead of a 'five' for the following reasons: 1. They can be a bit dry which makes them hard to blend -particularly the shade in Candlelight. I've found that by mixing a little moisturizer (one w/o SPF) I can really change the texture of the product while retaining the pigmentation and shine. However, this is just one more step in my routine that I'd rather forego...leaving me disappointed that I couldn't work these into my daily routine. 2. There is more shimmer in them than I would have initially thought...it's not noticable in most swatches, videos, and the product description -but the sparkle is def in there. Even one of the more subdued shades 'Dawn' has quite a bit of glittery sparkle and I now hestitate to wear it to work. If these had a more Satin or Shimmery sheen to them, I would be much happier. EDIT: The Maybelline Tattoo eyeshadows are so much better, but with very different shades and formulations. I just prefer these over the elf for a drugstore eyeshadow
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No