Foundations -Neutrogena - Healthy Skin Glow Sheers SPF 30
whoiskelley 2/4/2012 11:27:00 PM
I've been a makeup artist for seven years and have access to really expensive tinted moisturizers, and truthfully I've hated them all. Generally I find tinted moisturizers in department stores to be more like foundations, which I don't use on myself very often. I read some reviews on this that complained about it being too sheer - I don't get that, because it seems to me that this is the point of tinted moisturizer... it's not supposed to cover, it's just supposed to even out your skin. If it's too sheer for you, get a foundation. I was addicted to CoverGirl tinted moisturizer for years - $6.99 a tube, it lasted me three months at least, and had SPF 15. I went to pick some up a couple of weeks ago, and the store didn't carry it. I freaked out for a second, and then looked at other options. There aren't a whole lot in a drugstore, unfortunately. However, I settled on Neutrogena's tinted moisturizer, and I'm officially obsessed and never buying CoverGirl again. It's SPF 30 (and it actually smells like sunscreen), blends in better and more evenly than any tinted moisturizer that I've ever used, and lasts all day after setting it (I use Makeup Forever HD powder - amazing amazing amazing). It evens out my mild acne scarring and red blotchiness really well. Most importantly (to me), it feels awesome on my skin. Tinted moisturizer in general isn't for everyone, but if you like them, try this one... it's fabulous!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Bobbi Brown - Skin Foundation SPF 15
whoiskelley 2/4/2012 11:13:00 PM
Let me preface this by saying that I'm a Bobbi Brown makeup artist, so take that as you will... but in any case, I had a struggle figuring out which Bobbi foundation I'd be best in after leaving my last job (with Benefit Cosmetics). I've tried them all - and tried them on countless other people now, also! The Bobbi Skin Foundation is probably my favorite out of all of the Bobbi foundations (and let me tell you, there are a ton!) for several reasons - It truly, truly almost always looks the most natural. Its thin consistency glides onto skin really easily (as long as it's properly hydrated) and "settles" into the skin well. Even though it's thin - almost to the point of being runny - it has amazing coverage. It's build-able and has awesome staying power. Here are a few things to keep in mind about it: - I see a lot of people writing that it's not suitable for oily skin. It's MADE for oily skin. It's oil-free and very breathable - it won't clog your pores. Other skin types can definitely wear it (I'm just normal). - A lot of people are also commenting on the shade being wrong... a thing that I learned about the Bobbi foundation (and this might go for all foundation, I'm honestly not sure) is that oil-free foundation dries SIGNIFICANTLY darker than what it looks like when it goes on. It dries within a minute or two, so just sit patiently and let it develop before deciding one way or another. -Also, Bobbi foundation shades work like this: "Cool" shades are less yellow (i.e. Cool Sand, Cool Beige), shades that don't have a preface are yellow (most of the shades - Sand, Beige, Natural, etc.) and shades that have "Warm" in front of them are MORE yellow (Warm Beige, Warm Natural, etc.). So, while the shades are also numbered 00-10, if a color seems too dark that doesn't necessarily mean go down a number - that's why it's hard to guess on a shade.
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Blush -BeneFit Cosmetics - Bella Bamba
whoiskelley 1/11/2011 1:06:00 PM
I've been a huge fan of Benefit products for years now, and Bella Bamba is another great product to add to my collection. The good news? I truly haven't found a color like this before. Just like their boxed powders of the past, Benefit has managed to come up wtih a color that's flattering to all skin tones and yet is completely unique. It's extremely pigmented - a little bit will go a long way, and I do think that this will make up for the fact that it weighs in as the Box 'O' Powder with the least amount of product (Bella Bamba is 0.28oz, the powders vary but go up to 0.42oz, I believe - not terribly significant but when they're all equally priced at $28USD...). I get the 3D thing that it's trying to promote... lightly dusting a bit right at the hairline really does warm up and contour the face, but keep in mind that any blush, bronzer, etc. will do the exact same thing. The glitter thing that everyone is complaining about is strange to me, because I really would consider it shimmery, not glittery. The comparison to Nars Orgasm is definitely valid - keep in mind that Orgasm has won every award out there for blush... if you're turning into a glittery fairy with Bella Bamba, there's probably user error going on. Now for the qualms I have with it. Number one, the packaging. I don't care about the product amount difference, but one of the things that I thought was so genius about the boxed powders in the first place was the packaging that Benefit placed them in. Strong, sturdy boxes - no plastic to break - that also allows you to tap off excess in the cap and save it for next time. I have every boxed powder that Benefit has come out with for this very reason. The new hinged and mirrored packaging simply annoys me. There's nowhere to remove the excess product easily - an important thing considering the pigment of Bella Bamba - and it's a bit difficult to open the blush when it's new, then a bit difficult to close the blush when you've had it for a while. It's like the hinge shifts or something. I know that Benefit is changing all of its boxed powders into this packaging, but I feel that it's a mistake! If it weren't for the packaging, I would give this product a 5 - it's worth a try for just about anyone.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No