Liquid -Giorgio Armani - Maestro Fusion Makeup
nhuthao 2/7/2013 9:13:00 PM
Skintone: NC35
Color in this product: 6.5
This is my HG everyday foundation. It's quite pricey for a product that you use everyday - but I don't mind paying more for something that makes me look awesome when I step out the door :) I'm acne-prone but this has yet to break me out.
I have lots of acne scars on my cheeks and a bit of redness. Because of this, I start with one layer all over and then stipple a second layer over problem areas. You're told to use this with your fingers. When I do so, I feel like I rub away all of the product and don't see any left on my skin - in a bad way! So I do a stipple and blend motion with my angled kabuki, Sigma's F84. I dot the foundation onto my face and in one area, stipple with the brush, blend, then move onto other areas.
When you wear this, people won't ask, what foundation are you wearing? They'll ask - what are you using for your skin? This blends flawlessly and color corrects to fit your skintone. It doesn't just look like skin, it feels like skin - like you have nothing on at all.
My favorite part about this is that it gets better throughout the day. It controls oil relatively well, as it doesn't allow the oil to separate the product on my skin. When I blot, all is well again. When I get into work about 2 hours after I put this on, it looks better than I applied. When my workday is done, it looks a little more dewy but still flawless.
Final tips: try this if you have oily skin. Don't use more than 2 layers, it'll start to feel greasy. Try it with a dense, synthetic brush.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Giorgio Armani - Master Corrector
nhuthao 2/7/2013 8:58:00 PM
Skintone: NC35
Color in this product: #2 Orange
This corrector is my HG for three reasons: it covers my dark circles, it does so without causing fine lines and it covers my pigmentation above my lip.
I've never found an under-eye product that doesn't crease up. This does the trick. On "easy" days, I only use this corrector and it can cover all my dark circles. Some days I need a little more help and dab on a light layer of concealer over it.
This is the only product that's ever covered the dark pigmentation around my lips. I use this with a drier concealer over it (like Laura Mercier Secret Camoflauge, or theBalm's Time Balm -in a pot-) and the darkness is gone all day!
Don't be afraid of the color. Somehow it just seamlessly blends into my skin and I can't even tell that I have it on.
For everyone else without specific needs - I think this could be an HG for a lot of people. I think the trick is the brush, which is similar to that of a traditional liquid eyeliner. It applies so little - which is important when you have fine lines. When I use this corrector up I'm going to use the brush with other eye products!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Urban Decay - De-Slick in a Tube Mattifying Gel
nhuthao 2/7/2013 8:50:00 PM
This is the longest lasting mattifier I've found to date. It doesn't last on me ALL day, but it's lasted longer than everything else. It is also great for reducing makeup separation. Whenever I wear this, I see less oil on my face and I have to blot less throughout the day. When I do have to blot, after doing so my makeup looks completely fresh like I just applied it.
I don't have any of the application problems that other people have experienced. Once in a while, I'll apply it and it'll feel tight. That's because my skin is too dry and won't absorb the product. If this happens just go over the tight areas with a moisturizer, or mist your face with a spray.
This little tube is pretty small, however I use a pretty small amount every day (less than I've used for other primers), therefore I think this will last pretty long!
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Bronzers -NARS - Laguna
nhuthao 2/7/2013 8:47:00 PM
Skintone: NC35
I only have deluxe sample sizes of Laguna, which turns out to be a positive for me b/c I don't see any shimmer in these sample sizes. The color provides a beautiful natural contour for light-medium skin tones. It really does give you that 'glowy' look since it has the slightest sheen to it. It's buildable if you like to go heavy on the contour. The color doesn't look orange at all on me.
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Misc Beauty Tools -beautyblender - the sponge
nhuthao 2/7/2013 8:45:00 PM
If you're looking to create a more natural look for everyday use, this is the product for you! I've used kabuki brushes and stippling motions for a long time now, only to realize that I would use more product all over my face and make it look cakey.
Using the BB with any foundation will help to thin it out while still reaping the benefits of the foundation. I use this with foundation then follow up with concealer in problem areas.
This is also great with powder for under the eyes. When I remember to do this, I notice my undereye concealer doesn't cake up all day. I've never experienced that before!
I wash this with my daily face wash every time I use it and then once a week, I use dish washing soap. Keep in mind that heavy duty soaps will remove more bacteria but will also remove the pink color.
Lastly... don't let kids around this fuzzy ball of fun. They'll dig their nails in it and poke holes in your expensive new sponge...
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Bare Escentuals - Well Rested
nhuthao 2/7/2013 8:42:00 PM
Skintone: NC35
If you're looking for a powder to set your undereye concealer and brighten the area at the same time, this will work for you. If you like that area to be really, really bright-- you'll probably love this. It is definitely lightweight - throughout the day, I don't feel it drying up either.
It doesn't do much to prevent fine lines though, which is one of my main concerns. Try using it with a wet sponge or Beauty Blender -- this really helps to blend the powder with the concealer underneath, and it helps to prevent fine lines. If you have neither, use a fluffy brush. A dense one will apply way too much product.
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Concealers -Make Up For Ever - 5 Camouflage Cream Palette
nhuthao 2/7/2013 8:37:00 PM
Skintone: NC35
Color in this product: #2
With most concealers, I find that they only excel when I use them in one area. For ex, I have one concealer for scars and blemishes, another for under the eyes and another for redness. This palette has it all. I have a medium warm skin tone and I have the #2 palette.
I got this mainly for the purple concealer to cover up darkness on my upper lip. It does the job better than anything else I've tried but it still doesn't conceal completely. Regardless, I like this palette also because I can use it for a quick out the door routine since everything is in one place. I will apply the fourth color over any red areas and use the first three skintoned concealers over other problem areas. They just blend seamlessly and are so easy to use and layer. I would definitely repurchase this and see myself getting a lot of use out of it.
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Liquid -Shiseido - Perfect Refining Foundation
nhuthao 2/7/2013 8:34:00 PM
Skintone: NC35
Color in this product: Ochre 40
This foundation is great for everyday use. Overall it has light-medium coverage but somehow it manages to cover scars really well. I have very oily skin and this is the only dewy finish foundation that I like. The wear is not very long lasting - 6-8 hours and redness peeks through - but the other benefits outweigh this one minor con.
About the shade. It's hard for me to find a color that fits my skintone because my skin is medium with warm tones. I use Ochre 40 which looks so light out of the bottle, but once blended the color blends into my skin pretty well!
This can be difficult to apply if you have the wrong tool. It dries really quickly and can look patchy if you don't blend fast enough. I use a stippling brush and apply with my fingers to one area, blend with the brush and continue allover, doubling up wherever i need it.
I love this for the winter but this will probably be too dewy for me in the summer. I've found that as winter fades I like to mix this foundation with my Revlon PhotoReady foundation. The textures mix really well and don't separate on me throughout the day.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -NARS - And God Created the Woman Set (LE)
nhuthao 2/7/2013 8:26:00 PM
This would be a great quality set for you if you like (or don't have) all of the items (the eyeshadows, primer and brush).
The palette is smaller than I expected - but I actually prefer the small size. The palette is portable and practical. I could carry only this set in my purse and do my makeup on the go.
I've never had NARS eyeshadows so I can't compare the quality to the NARS singles/duos, but in my opinion the shadows are pigmented and buttery smooth. I don't experience any fallout and they are easy to blend. They are buildable and great for everyday and for special occasions.
Is this set worth the price? The palette alone is worth the price because each shadow is about 1/2 the size of a NARS single. The brush can be used for packing on color and blending (think MAC 217!), and the primer is a great travel size as it's 1/3 of the full size ($24).
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No