Tinted Moisturizer -Physicians Formula - Healthy Wear SPF 50 Tinted Moisturizer
loverofmkup 8/13/2012 9:38:00 PM
I am so happily surprised at how much I love this TM! I have tried so many TMs from Cover Girl to Amore Pacific & this one surprisingly wins hands down. I have combo skin, oily in the t-zone, around NC35 & have this in natural to tan, which at first I thought would not work, but once you spread it on, it matches my now tan summer skin. It definitely feels too thick when you first put it on, but just give it a few minutes to settle in & it melds & blends into my skin very nicely. For a tm I find it gives great coverage, only thing I use after is concealer for my under eyes & powder to set it. It gives me skin a really nice almost airbrushed look that lasts all day long & best of all is that it does not oxidize! I had terrible oxidation w/Laura Mercier's oil free tm & I didn't like that it only contained chemical sunscreens in it. This TM offers a physical sunscreen (titanium dioxide) which I need because since I am olive toned, my skin eats up any chemical ss (weird,I know!) so I have to have physical ss, but physical ss usually have a terrible white cast & this does not so I'm super happy with it. I would highly recommend! It makes getting ready for me in the am so much quicker. Also this comes in a pump form, perfect for travel or doing your makeup/face on the run (which I regularly do, being a mom of 3 little ones!). So some of the pros: -awesome coverage -UVA & UVB protection -does not oxidize -lasts all day -great color selection for tanned skin -can be built up a little Cons: -can feel a little thick at first -lighter skinned gals might not find a shade -you need to set w/powder I just wanted to add that I have used several powders to set & it works with all I have tried which are: MUFE hd, Maybelline dream matte, Ben Nye banana powder, and Laura Mercier loose powder. -
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
BB Cream -Clinique - Age Defense BB Cream SPF 30
loverofmkup 7/5/2012 12:59:00 PM
I am on an endless search for a bb cream that gives me good coverage, sun protection, ease of application, and one that doesn't feel like I'm wearing a mask. This bb cream did not fit my criteria, unfortunately. I'm an nc30-35 and chose the shade 03 because 02 was a little light. The 03 to me, has a red/pink undertone that no matter how much I blended never seemed to melt into my skin. I tried different moisturizers underneath, to nothing under, and still the shade was just off. Plus no matter how little product I used, it always felt like I was wearing something on my skin, which I really don't like. Even after using several different setting powders (MAC msfn, Makeup Forever HD, Maybeline dream matte powder) this bb cream just never set, so I could feel it on my skin,& if I ran my fingers on my face (or my sons scratched my face by accident) then it would come off. I liked the ingredients, the clean tube packaging, the fact that they have more than one color, but all the cons outweigh the pros for me. I really tried to make this bb cream work, but it just didn't, so I would not recommend & def. would not repurchase. I really like Clinique's products, love their brush on cream liner, but just not this bb cream.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Clinique - Brush-on Cream Liner in Deep Brown
loverofmkup 11/12/2011 12:05:00 AM
I love, love this eyeliner! I had taken a break from cream eyeliners to save time in getting ready as I have little ones who don't give me much time! A few days ago I decided to give them a try again, so I opened my MAC fluidline & was shocked to find it all dried up and have had it about 6 months. Then I opened this Clinique one & it was smooth and creamy as the day I bought it! Big plus! The color is a nice dark brown that lasts all day on my upper lash line, not as long lasting on my waterline which is the only downside. The brush, like some others have mentioned is not that great, I use an angled brush and it works great. The consistency is smooth & creamy, gives you enough time to smudge it if you like before it sets, I sometimes have used it as a base & it goes really nicely with my dark brown eyes and dark hair. There are no sparkles or glitter either, it is just a basic dark brown everyday eyeliner. I def. recommend and will repurchase when it runs out.
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Scrubs -St. Ives - Green Tea Scrub
loverofmkup 2/26/2011 2:08:00 AM
Love love this scrub! I recently started getting pimples all over my forehead & being in my mid 30s & having to treat acne is no fun. I was using Paula's choice BHA lotion with bp for spot treating & honestly it really wasn't doing much. I saw some reviews about this scrub & thought 'why not?' Well, this one little scrub made all the difference! My pimples started to diminish on the first try. Now I use it every night after my cleansing oil & my skin is almost 100% clear! This scrub is finely miled & it smell so nice, I look forward to using it every night. I strongly recommend it & they sell it in small travel sizes, so if you want to try it out first, you can always try this size & you wont be disappointed!! Will def. by again once I run out.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -E.L.F. - Waterproof Eyeliner Pen
loverofmkup 2/8/2011 1:04:00 AM
By far this is the cheapest, longest lasting liner I have ever tried. I actually like this much better than my Revlon colorstay, L'oreal liner as well, as the tip is very easy to work with & I can get it to give me such a nice & precise line. Very easy to build up too. I have bought several of these, in both black & brown, and have found the brown not to show up much (maybe I purchased a dud!) but the black is just great! I haven't had drying up issues either, so maybe I have been lucky with the black ones not drying up on me. I have combo/oily skin & these do not smear, which is great even on my sometimes oily eyelids. I highly recommend, for a dollar, you can't go wrong!
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Blush -Physicians Formula - Happy Booster™ Glow & Mood Boosting Blush in Natural
loverofmkup 2/8/2011 12:46:00 AM
Love this blush! After searching for it in several stores, I finally found it & purchased it along with the Rose shade. Out of the two shades I prefer this one, as the Rose while really nice, limits me to only using it with purples & pinks, because it is so rosey/slighty plum. I have to say I am very happy with this blush, it is such a beautiful, easy color to wear. For reference, I am nc35, brown hair/brown eyes & this shows up very nicely on my coloring. It is a pretty combination of pink & peach, with a little bit of shimmer, no glitter, no chalkiness. I was rather surprised at how good of pigmentation this provides, & it actually stays on for me all day. You do have to be careful not to over-do it though, as the shimmer can over-power the color. I just do one good swipe across all the colors & one good swipe on my cheeks, blend out the edges with a kabuki & I am good to go. The packaging is adorable too! Can't say enough wonderful things about this blush, sent is really nice, but not overpowering. I have to really get up close to the blush to smell it & once you put in on, I don't smell it at all. The little brush that comes with it too is adorable, pink with red, cute, but I haven't even tried to use it as I prefer to use my own brushes. Since I am a neutral kind of gal, I have found that this color works so well with all of my e/s & pink/neutral l/s & l/g. If you can find it, I would highly recommend it!!
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Blush -Bobbi Brown - Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks - Calypso Coral
loverofmkup 1/31/2011 7:03:00 PM
I don't know why I waited so long to try this, because I LOVE it!! For reference I have combo/oily skin, nc35, BB 4.25 natural tan & this color is a great pick me up (sorry for the cliche phrase!) It looks great with my coloring, brown hair & brown eyes. But what I love most about it is how long lasting it is, yet it manages to look natural. Even though I own several blushes, I reach for this one the most. Like others have mentioned, it is very pigmented, so a little goes a long way. I have tried using my 187 brush, & others to apply it, but I love how easily I can blend it with just my fingertips. What I do is (with very clean hands) I tap it into the pot, then wipe some off onto the back of my hand (so I don't get the direct color) & then tap it into my cheeks & keep tapping until it is all blended. It is by far much easier to work with than MAC's blushcremes, & not tacky feeling once you have blended it. This pot rouge has restored my faith in cream blushes. I can't wait to try other colors, & I highly recommend it & would repurchase if I run out. Since a little goes a long way though I can't see myself finishing this! Oh & I like it as a wash on my lips too, with a bit of chapstick underneath & I line my lips with spice l/l from MAC, this gives me a great put together look. Since I have combo/oily skin, I use a little tiny bit of setting powder over it & it doesn't make me look oily at all or emphasize my pores. If you are considering getting, try it out & see how amazed you will be with the staying power!
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Liquid -Giorgio Armani - Luminous Silk Foundation
loverofmkup 1/21/2011 9:55:00 AM
I am in a constant search for the perfect foundation. Just like most of us, I look & try many different ones to find one I'm happy with & then use it until a new marketing campaign lures me in or a new product is raved about on the boards. So with that being said, I have to say I really, really like this one. It gives a beautiful finish to my skin that I find hard to describe. It isn't dewy, it isn't matte, it is just perfect. I don't usually feel the need to set it with powder most of the time. For reference I am nc35, combo/oily& I wear this in 6.5, which is a great match. I use my fingers to apply, which is new to me as I am a huge brush fanatic, specially for liquid foundation. I have found that this foundation blurs so many of my imperfections & I can even skip using my concealer, which is unheard of for me! Even when I have used a few layers of it to cover my undereye darkness, it has never looked cakey or overdone. Also, for me, this lasts all day long, photographs beautifully as well. There's so many great qualities about this foundation, that it almost makes me want to stop looking for my hg. But I am a sucker for new products & have a few foundations already in rotation, that I can't promise I wont stray, but that is not this foundation's fault! I would def. recommend though, & if I run out, I would repurchase. Wish it were not as pricey because it is my most expensive foundation I own.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -MAC - Lustre in Lovelorn
loverofmkup 1/21/2011 12:24:00 AM
As you can see from the reviews this lipstick has a good mix of pros & cons, depending on skin tone. On me though (nc35/brown hair/brown eyes/olive tone) this was just too cool toned for me, maybe because of the blue base of it, but no matter how many different types of l/l I tried to pair it with, it just did not work. The texture was ok, it wasn't too drying, I always paired it with lip balm underneath & the staying power was ok too. I think this would work much better on cooler toned gals, so for me I would not repurchase. My HG for soft pink l/s would be Hug me, so if you find this shade is not working out, try hug me!
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Blush -MAC - Prism
loverofmkup 1/21/2011 12:16:00 AM
Like many others have mentioned, Prism is a very neutral blush that is very easy to wear. It is one of those 'I don't have to think what colors to match it with' kind of color, because it truly goes with pretty much everything. I am a neutral kind of girl, nc35 for reference & combo/oily. I find that the color pay-off is pretty decent as well, when I pair this with MAC's prep & prime spf50 it lasts all day long, which is a huge plus. Also I find the color to be very buildable, has a matte texture that is so different from my Nars blushes, no glitter, no sheen, just a dusty muted pink/brown/slightly bronzey color on me. The only downside I can think is that it can sometimes be a little boring, so I pair it with some kind of highlighter (Guerlain's meteorites at the moment) and the combination is a pretty one.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Pur Minerals - Pur Minerals Mineral Melt
loverofmkup 1/15/2011 12:30:00 AM
So I was running out of my beloved MAC Cleanse off oil & I saw this oil cleanser at my local Ulta & decided to try it. Well, this is so much different than MAC's in that it does not take off my eye makeup. I have been using oil cleansers for a while now, so I know how to use them properly, dry hands, dry face, massage & rinse off. I do the same process with all oil cleansers & this one is truly bad. It is oilier than all the others I have tried (DHC, Shiseido, MAC, Origins) & the worst thing is that this leaves me with the blackest racoon eyes after I have rinsed it off. It does not remove mascara or eyeliner, in fact I have to always use an eye makeup remover after I use this. I wish I could return it because it is a waste of my time & makes me use more steps than I need. All of that & the fact that it was $20 for a 4 oz. bottle (making it $5 for 1 oz) , when MAC's is $24 for 5 oz. (making it $4.80 for 1 oz), so MAC's is cheaper & much better in the long run. I would not ever recommend & will not repurchase.
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Lipstick -Giorgio Armani - Shine Lipstick #18
loverofmkup 1/11/2011 5:09:00 PM
I love the look & feel of this l/s. It is just like the other reviewer mentioned, a nice nude with a hint of a soft caramel. This lipstick is creamy not drying at all & for me it is a little like MLBB. This is what I wanted most of my nudes to be (MAC's Creme d' nude, blankety, etc) I see no hint of pink at all btw. Because it is creamy though, it isn't as long lasting as I would like it to be, but it's ok. I can wear this with so many different l/l too, to change/add to the color so that is a big plus. Armani products have not let me down so far, the quality is really nice. For reference I'm nc35, Armani 6.5.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Kanebo - Lunasol Lightning for Eyes 04 Neutral quad
loverofmkup 12/21/2010 10:47:00 AM
I am very new to the Lunasol lighting for eyes quads, but I have to say I am in love! I own e/s from different brands (UD, Chanel, Dior to name a few) & none have impressed me as much as these. The pigmentation is unbelievable, they are also so easily blendable. These are what I wish my Dior quints would be. I have found Dior to be very pretty in the container/quint, but not so pretty on my eyes, I just can't get enough color payoff. Not so with Lunasol. For reference I am nc35, & these do tend to be a tiny bit on the warm side so they compliment my coloring very well. They have so many different color selections though, so if you are fair, don't be afraid to try them. These quads though are very pricey, and somewhat hard to buy if in the US (try evilbay, they have a great selection there) but completely worth it. There is a little fall out, but nothing a little shaking of your brush before application can't fix.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Bioderma - Bioderma Photoderm Max Tinted Cream SPF 50+
loverofmkup 12/21/2010 10:17:00 AM
In my never ending quest to find the perfect sunscreen I tried this one as I want the protection that is not readily found in US s/s. The pros: -The packaging is great, a small squeeze tube that has a flip top, it does however get somewhat messy, so I would have to clean it every few days, as the sunscreen would collect in the rim. -It has a light smell that goes away pretty quickly, so that is not an issue. -The texture is very creamy, very soft feeling. -The coverage is amazing for a tinted s/s, I would have never imagined that I can skip my foundation, as this provides enough coverage for me to skip it & only needed a little concealer on my undereyes. For reference I am nc35 & this s/s is a somewhat good color match. The cons: -It is very heavy feeling for a s/s (I was using my Sofina Lucent before this & they are night & day) -It gives a sticky/tacky feeling that never sinks in-I feel I could easily scratch it off during the day (which defeats the purpose if you want protection from the sun) -You MUST powder over it, even using my MUFE HD it felt sticky, so I sometimes tended to over-powder. I have combo skin btw. -I'm not sure about the waterproof abilities, as I once had a cough attack (when I had a really bad cold) that made me tear up & this s/s seemed to actually streak down my face. I have yet to try it in the water though. -Although the color is ok for my skintone(nc35), I can't see it working on fairer skins & as much as I wanted to like it, it did look a bit orange to be honest. All in all, it was ok at best, this is my first try with Euro s/s & so far I'm not impressed. I will try the LRP tinted fluid next & hope that one fairs better.
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Masks -Boscia - Luminizing Black Mask
loverofmkup 11/12/2010 12:40:00 AM
I received a very generous sample from a super helpful SA at Sephora & she said this mask was very popular. I thought ok, I'm not really into peel off masks, but I will try it. Upon application I had to close my eyes as it made them tear up, so not a good first impression. For reference, I have combo/oily skin that is not really sensitive to anything. So onward I went with my teary eyes to wait the 20 mins or so to let this mask dry. And dry it did, very well to the point of it looking very S&M, pleathery like. Then the removal process is what really made me even more teary eyed. Trying to remove this mask was to me, literally like pulling tape off my face. It hurt, even when I pulled my skin taught with one hand & pulled slowly with the other, it still hurt. The worst part is that I couldn't pull it off evenly, so I had to do one half of my face first & then peel off the other side. It was like torture & my skin feels almost abused. I do have to say though, that after the torture that it is to peel this thing off, I did see all the gunk that it removed, and my skin is incredibly baby butt smooth. But honestly, to go through all of that again, I would rather not & just use a good scrub. Even an hour later my skin was still sore from the mini wax job this peel gave me. So I would not recommend it if you are not a peel off mask kind of person at all
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No