Liquid -Becca - Radiant Skin Satin Finish Foundation 
trautman 2/2/2013 10:27:00 AM
I was looking for a foundation with medium coverage and a satin finish, and found it! Wanted to review mainly to help others with a color match. Becca was tricky for me, as I can only order online. I am in the shade buff and am a MAC NC 25, and this is a perfect match. I would agree with the first review, in that this applies best with fingers. This works well with my normal to dry skin, and very long lasting. No oxidation and no shimmer. I have acne prone skin and this has not caused any problems. I can't detect any fragrance and this contains no parabens. Keep in mind this is a silicone based foundation. I was able to get 20% off from Dermstore and free shipping:) Ingredients posted. Hope this helps!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -It Cosmetics - Bye Bye Pores Poreless Finish HD Micro-Powder
trautman 9/23/2012 3:39:00 PM
I like a setting powder even though my skin is on the drier side. But I don't think this is the best one out there. Even though I use a small amount I feel it leaves my skin a little chalky looking and doesn't blur out pores and fine lines as well as my Laura Mercier translucent. Perhaps this is better for more oily skin. And the price of this powder is extremely over priced in my opinion. I wish I had returned to QVC:(
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -NARS - Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer
trautman 3/30/2012 8:44:00 PM
Sadly this didn't work for me. The shade Alaska oxidizes on my nc25 skin. Also the previous reviewer is correct about the silicones..10 to be exact. I can handle a few but 10 is so over the top. My skin also looks really fake and un natural with this product on:( For $42 I expect better. Perhaps my expectations are too high. Oh well back to my Laura mercier!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Naked 2 Palette
trautman 3/3/2012 11:16:00 AM
I have had this for over a month, and thought I would add to the reviews... This is a good palette, and I do like it, but I don't understand all of the hype. Maybe because I don't have the first one? I love these eyeshadows individually, but when I use snakebite or busted as a crease color(rarely do I use a matte black), the look looses the "naked" effect and mud's up a bit. So the only soft crease color is tease, which I find odd for a "naked" palette. My favorites are tease, bootycall, verve, suspect and YDK. I dislike the lip junkie. It smells like mint and is sticky. The brush is horrible! The flat side works better for cream shadows, and the blending side is way to big for my small lid space. My ELF brushes work better. A pencil and primer potion would have made this a better value. This was a birthday gift and I enjoy playing with it , but not a must have in opinion, especially if you own other urban decay palettes.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -L'Oreal - Visible Lift Smooth Absolute
trautman 2/11/2012 1:29:00 PM
For ref. I have dry skin with hyperpigmentation, and acne scaring. I have been really impressed by this foundation. I have never found a color match at the drugstore, until now! Nude beige is a perfect match for nc 20/25 range. This really gives my skin a smooth appearance and blurs out my pigmentation and scaring issues. I would call this a satin finish, perhaps dewy for oily skin. This can cling to dry spots so a moisturizer is needed underneath if your skin is extremely dry. I set with a light application of translucent powder(Laura Mercier) because this does transfer on my cell phone. I find this long lasting and medium coverage. I dislike the brush,like everyone else. But other than that a great drugstore find!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -L'Oreal - Colour Riche Balm
trautman 1/28/2012 1:56:00 AM
The formula of this product gives subtle color leaving you with a soft,smooth and shiny lip. My lips feel moisturized, and look natural. I can tell you my lips were chapped earlier today, and tonight they feel hydrated. The spf is a huge bonus in my book, and the packaging is sleek and functional. Can't wait to buy more in this line!
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Cleansers -Clinique - Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
trautman 12/14/2011 12:03:00 PM
I have been using this for a few weeks. I have dry, sensitive skin. I wear a full face of makeup daily, and this is a wonderful makeup remover. I was going through a ton of pads and wipes to remove eye & face makeup. No need for either with this product. With a warm wash cloth everything melts right off. No tugging @ the eye either! Will mention the first ingredient is ethylhexyl palmitate, which is a pore clogging ingredient. So I follow with the Aveeno moisturizing bar to remove all traces of the balm, and have had no breakouts.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Colorburst Lip Butter
trautman 11/6/2011 5:54:00 PM
I agree that these are over rated. I guess it depends on what your looking for in a lip butter, but I need moisture, and for that these sadly don't cut it:(For one more dollar I could go buy the korres lip butters, and actually have moisturized, plumper looking lips. I think Revlon put more thought in the cute packaging than the actual product. Pass for me.....
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Tinted Moisturizer -Laura Mercier - Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 - Oil Free
trautman 9/30/2011 10:37:00 AM
I have been a long time user of the original version, and have enjoyed it. But I heard this formula offered more coverage, so I jumped. For the most part I like it, but there are a few quirks that I will share. I find it odd that this is an oil free formula that is marketed towards oily skinned gals..I have dry skin, and find this very moisturizing and does leave a very dewy finish...For me great, but I can only imagine this product to be a greasy mess for those with oily skin. I powder using this and with powder I still get a a satin finsh..Again for me, great. But I would keep searching if you have oily skin and prefer a matte finish. This hasn't broke me out and I have acne prone/sensitive skin.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -TheBalm - The Balm and the Beautiful
trautman 9/19/2011 12:02:00 PM
I too picked this up at TJ Maxx for $20... Personally I don't get the hype of this brand and palette. Don't get me wrong...It's a good palette. The shadows are pigmented and I do like them. The packaging is cute, but the palette is big and awkward to use and wouldn't travel well. I wouldn't go out of my way to find this or pay the full $40...I would pay the extra money for the new makeup forever palette:)
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Concealers -Tarte - Maracuja creaseless concealer
trautman 7/12/2011 11:55:00 PM
HG for me! This stuff is thick, highly pigmented, creamy, and creasless! I mainly use this for blemishes and hyper pigmentation. But I do use it under my eyes also. Medium is perfect for my nc 25 tone. And I will say less is more with this product. If I use to much on my face, it will look cakey and un natural. Hasn't broken me out and I luv the more natural ingredients:) A huge recommend! Oh and an application tip.....I have found that pressing down with my fingers works best.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Tarte - Tarte Glow your way to gorgeous QVC collection
trautman 7/9/2011 10:25:00 AM
This kit surpasses the 8th world kit by far! I am an nc25 and the medium kit is a perfect match. The concealer is thick....BUT....a tiny amount is needed. I use this primarily for blemishes and hyper pigmentation spots. It will get cakey if to much product is used. The finish is almost satin like. Quite unusual in a concealer. But makes my skin glow! The mascara is one of my favorites. The blush is a peach color. Some say pinky peach, but I just see peach. The bonus oil is wonderful, and will be purchasing a full size. I would have loved for the sample bronzer to be in new matte version, as I already own pap. But a nice travel size bonus. The lip luster shade is flattering and the cool minty feeling is refreshing in the summer. At $24.00 retail I could have never tried. The eye pencil applies so smooth and stays on my waterline:) The cream shadow doesn't crease and i luv the brushes. They even throw in a sharpener! All of these products make for a really beautiful look. Highly recommend!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Josie Maran Cosmetics - My Favorite Powders
trautman 5/21/2011 10:15:00 AM
After drooling over this palette for over a year ( was just out of my reach at $45.00) I finally grabbed it off JM website for over 50% off. And I must say it was worth the wait. It's a neutral lover's dream with 2 blushes, a bronzer and 5 shadows. It's so small and compact, it's perfect for travel!
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Mascara -Josie Maran Cosmetics - Mascara
trautman 4/30/2011 9:52:00 AM
I bought this in the earth day set, and I really don't like this mascara at all. All of the product seemed clumpy and old. It's a shame, because I find this mascara to really darken my lashes, but that's about it.I have short lashes and this does nothing to volumize or lengthen, and I agree with everyone else, this smudges really bad:( I will use what's left up and avoid my bottom lashes, but what a disappointment.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Pixi - illuminating tint & conceal
trautman 4/23/2011 5:50:00 PM
Wow, when they say illuminating, they really mean it! I'm currently an NC 25 and No. 2 is a near perfect match for me. This has decent coverage that can be built up. I also feel like I have that "no makeup look". a feeling I love, especially that warmer weather is on it's way:) This for me really brightens my dry, dull uneven complexion. But I can understand why not everyone will like it. It does contain light reflecting minerals, which can to some seem like .....glitter. And for the oily ladies out there, you may find this makes you look toooo shiny. But on my skin which also has scarring, this product kind of blurs the scars...If that makes sense.....I find the concealer a nice added bonus, but not HG status. I just wish the pixi line was a smidge cheaper, considering for $30 bucks I could go to Sephora and buy something. FYI on target's website there is a coupon for $2.00 off on pixi, Jemma Kidd and NP. Oh and I luv the spf 20!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No