2012 Favorites: Face Products

Okay, so I could start out the New Year by providing excuses for my absence over the last few months, but what would be the point of that? Instead I've decided to make my triumphant return to the blogosphere by reflecting on my favorite products of the previous year, since I've so enjoyed watching and reading these types of posts. So let's get this underway, as we all know I wasn't going to be able to make this brief...

Favorite Tinted Moisturizer: Tarte Agent 00
I don't think I've ever spoken about this product on my blog before, but it's an old standby. Back in the glory days when my skin was virtually devoid of any imperfections, this was the only base  I owned. I actually used up a whole tube of this stuff before repurchasing it. I still love it, although some days I find myself desiring something with a touch more coverage than the sheer to light amount this provides. The one complaint I have about this product is that the color definitely changes from when you first purchase it; I think this is due to slightly faulty packaging with the cap. When I have a fresh tube of this, it is a very pale shade, but a few months into owning it I find it has transformed into a darker color. Not so much to render it unusable, but I definitely have to blend it down my neck, so just be wary of this phenomenon if you are purchasing it, and perhaps go for a shade lighter than you think you need (too bad I'm in the lightest shade, of course.) Still a great product though.

Favorite Liquid Foundation: Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua
I did a whole post on this foundation, so I won't blather on about it for too long, but I will just quickly reiterate that despite the shortcomings I outlined in my previous post, it is still my favorite I've tried to date.

Favorite Powder Foundation: Laura Mercier Mineral Powder
I also did a post on this, so again, I'll be brief and simply say that this product deserves all the hype it seems to be garnering these days. My favorite summer foundation by far.

Favorite BB cream: Missha Signature Real Complete BB Cream
It actually took me a while to form an opinion on this BB cream, and I didn't love it at first. I think it took me a while to figure out the best way to apply it (this is the only base product I've come across that I think you truly do need to use a brush with it for it to apply well,) but once I did, I really haven't looked back. The best thing about this is that the shade 13 is a great match for my skintone, which believe me, is not something I say too often. I got this for 50% off during one of Missha's flash sales, which is the way I would recommend trying it, as otherwise it is regularly quite expensive. My only complaint is that it doesn't seem to work too well when my skin is at it's most dry, but since nothing really does when my skin is at that stage, I can't really fault it for that. I would say this is on the lighter side of medium coverage.

Favorite Finishing Powder: Maybelline Dream Matte powder
I'm not a huge powder fan, but when I do set my makeup, I use this. I hate the messiness of a loose face powder (excepting my beloved LM, of course) and this does a nice job of mattifying without looking too, well, powdery.

Favorite Undereye Concealer: By Terry Touch Expert Advanced Concealer
Okay, so this product is not a bargain by any stretch of the imagination, but I really do think its incredible performance warrants the high price tag. This is probably the best undereye concealer I've ever used--the only drawback to this for me would be the packaging. I despise clicky-pen applicators; they are both product wasters and time wasters. Otherwise, the light peachy-pink shade is perfectly calibrated to mask undereye darkness while still looking incredibly natural. Plus, if you play your cards right, you can snatch this up during one of beauty.com's frequent 20% off sales, in addition to applying their drugstore dollars for additional money off, which is how I acquired this.

Favorite Face Concealer: Hard Candy Glamoflage
I can't bestow enough praise onto this steal (found at Walmart.) It will cover anything, and now that they have added additional shades to their line, I feel like everyone should at least give it a try. Plus, if you are looking for an extremely pale concealer, their new Ultra Light option is the fairest concealer I've come across in the drugstore; it may even be a fraction too light for me (depending where I'm using it on my face), so sometimes I mix it with the Light shade to create my perfect match. An additional perk is that since the product is so richly pigmented, you only need tiny amount, which means a tube will last ages.

Okay, so out of consideration for anyone reading this I am going to do a separate post on my other top picks, as this is already long enough. So I'll talk to to you then, and in the meantime I hope everyone is having a wonderful 2013 so far!

Foundation Frenzy: Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B10

 So, long time no posting...I won't go too in depth explaining my absence, but the main culprit is my computer is on it's way out. These days I am averaging a blue screen shutdown per day, so it's only when I have access to another computer, or when I can get my computer to stay on for longer than an hour that I can write, so, yeah, that is why posting has been sporadic. I actually have a couple of posts that were written but unable to be posted in the last week and a half, including my part 2 of August faves, and I think I will still post them as soon as I am able to. Anyways, on to another foundation review!

This foundation has fostered a great deal of hype ever since it was released, and since there is already a wealth of information and no shortage of opinions out there on it, I was debating whether to post this review or not. However, I pulled this out of my cupboard last week after months of unwavering devotion to my Laura Mercier Mineral Powder, applied it on my face, and felt a rush of nostalgia for the time when I first tried this last summer, and made the bold proclamation that it was the best liquid foundation ever. Was I wrong on that? I'm not so sure. But I think it certainly warrants a discussion.

Chanel says: "The tiniest drop of this new hybrid fluid creates a fresh, natural complexion. Skin looks refined, dewy, and feels refreshed, creating an exquisite makeup experience. The fluid formula has a soft, water-light texture, and comes in 10 shades that match perfectly to skin’s undertones, whether pink or beige."

Can there possibly be any truth to these claims? Yes and no. I definitely think that this product mimics the look of skin in a very believable way, and falls into the category of "your skin but better," which I think is ultimately what we all strive for to find in a base product. However, I don't agree with the statement that this is a glowy or dewy foundation; I have heard other people say that this is a dewy foundation, but I personally find it to be a semi-matte finish. Like I said earlier, it looks like skin, and that extends to the finish as well. For me, it evens my skin out by providing light to a slight medium coverage. When I was wearing this last weekend to a family friend's function, one of the other guests remarked to me that I had the "most amazing skin," and that it looked like I had never had a zit in my life. Now, I am not repeating this to brag, but rather as a testament to this foundation, as although my skin has improved greatly the past couple months or so, I had a few breakouts a few days prior to this compliment, so was surprised and flattered to hear this.

Top is B10 blended into my forearm, underneath it's unblended, and below is my pasty bare skin. Looks like skin, right?

Are there any drawbacks? So far this sounds like the stuff that dreams are made of! The answer to that is yes, there are. First off, the price is going to put many people off, and at $45, it is on the pricey end of products, but recently I have noticed foundation prices creeping up in "less" high-end brands (for example, the Urban Decay Naked Skin foundation is $39, and the Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation is $42), so with that context and considering it is Chanel, I don't think it is too outrageous. Another slight drawback is the shade selection: there are only 10 colors, and the one I was matched to, B10, is slightly too dark and yellow for me. However, the other lightest option, BR12, was extremely pink. I will say though that if I take the time to really blend it in with my fingers, it seems to adapt to my skin tone well, and since it is on the sheer side, it doesn't really matter that it is not my perfect color. I have also heard some people complain about experiencing breakouts from this; personally, I have never broken out from this, and I have sensitive skin, but each person is different, and since this is fragranced and does contain a small amount of alcohol as one of its ingredients, I can see how it might be irritating to some people's skin. The only real problem I face with it is that I do find it to be pretty drying due to the alcohol component. This time of the year, it is fine, but last fall and winter I noticed it would cling to dry patches and make my skin feel tight, so perhaps if you have extremely dry skin, this isn't your best bet. Conversely, if you have oily or combination skin, this might work out well for you.

Since this has hit the market, it seems like there have been an increase of similar lightweight, skin foundations being released, and I have had samples of a few of them. Most notably, Estee Lauder has produced their Invisible Fluid Makeup, which is extremely similar, and comes in more shades at a lower price point. However, I found that the EL made my face look too flat and matte, and I experienced a bad breakout from it, so I was afraid to compare the two further. If you are interested in this type of product, maybe pick up a sample of both the Chanel and the EL, as I don't think you would need both, and you can see which works best for you.

Bottom line--is this my perfect foundation? No, it is not; I would like something more hydrating and with a better color match. However, it is the best foundation I have tried to date, and if you are someone who doesn't like the feel of foundation on your skin, and usually prefers a tinted moisturizer, this might be something up your alley.

August 2012 Faves Part 1

 So here is the part where I exclaim that I can't believe how fast the month of August has passed by, express disbelief that we are approaching fall, blah blah. Actually, for me, August was a long month; don't the Olympics feel like a lifetime ago? They only ended on August 17. Anyways, let's get on with my favorites, shall we?

Becca Petal and Hard Candy Spicy and Sweet

Hard Candy Fox in a Box in Spicy and Sweet: This summer, this was the blush I reached for anytime I was in a hurry or didn't have a specific look in mind. It can be purchased at Walmart for $6.00, so it is a steal. Why do I reach for this over many of my high-end blushes? Probably because it is so versatile--it has four shades that can be customized to create the flush you desire. There is a light sandy brown, a creamsicle color, a bright bubblegum pink, and a pinky-red which, when swirled together, create a shimmery coral color. Love this.

A rediscovery for me has been the Becca Lip and Cheek Creme in Petal. I picked this up ages and ages ago in a Hautelook sale, and I remember being rather intimidated by the color when it arrived. It is a bright coral peach, and I bought this back when I was first getting really into makeup a couple years ago, and when I was still subscribing to the maxim that pale people have to wear really pale blush (a theory which I abandoned long ago--you just need to use a light hand and you can wear any color!) Anyways, it kind of sat in my drawer for sometime, and I pulled it out recently, dabbed some on my checks, and was in love with the effect! It is very flattering, and the texture just glides across your skin, while it is not sticky or difficult to blend. However, like most products marketed as lip/cheek multipurpose ones, it doesn't really work on the lips, but that's okay. It's gorgeous for summer!

Love this pigment stack from Naked Cosmetics in Naturally Nude that I picked up at IMATs this year; it's comprised of rosy, natural colors which I can just quickly pat on my lid. I know pigments are a polarizing topic, but I am personally a big fan. I might do a post with swatches on all of my Naked Cosmetics pigment stacks.

Bare Minerals Duo in Top Shelf

For anyone who hasn't tried the Ready eyeshadow pressed formulation by Bare Escentuals...what are you waiting for? These are seriously amongst the best eyeshadows on the market, and I particularly love the bronzey-gold shade in this duo (Bare Minerals Top Shelf). I think it is similar to MAC Woodwinked, but less orange and more metallic. I sweep it all over the lid, and it has plenty of dimension to wear on its own.

Bobbi Brown Face Touch-up Palette in Porcelain (you can tell I use this!)

 I picked up this Bobbi Brown Face Touch-Up Palette as part of a QVC Today's Special Value, and while the rest of the kit isn't a necessity, this is great! Super compact, and includes concealer, corrector, foundation stick, and powder all in one. I have especially been loving the foundation "stick" as a lightweight face concealer for the summer.

I really like the L'oreal Caresse Lipsticks in general (totally my type of formula: lightweight, but pigmented) but I found myself reaching for this Pink Cashmere shade over and over again. It is a perfect medium between wearable and statement lip; just another effortless summer product.

Okay, so I have already rambled on for way too long, so expect a part 2 with nail and random faves!

What have been your recent favorites? Hope everyone has a nice, long weekend!

Update!

So, the plans for a blogging marathon this week have been a bit derailed...the past two days I haven't been able to upload any photos to blogger due to some sort of technical glitch. Hopefully this will be resolved by tomorrow, so stay tuned!!!

Alert! BB Cream at...Costco?!!

Imagine my surprise when I was perusing my local Costco this afternoon, (primarily trolling for samples, in all honesty,) and I spotted a display of Hydroxacone BB Creams. The display was nearly empty, so I decided to take the plunge and purchase it without knowing much about this particular iteration, especially as my mom was interested as well, and since it comes with two full-size products for the price of one (which was under $48). I decided to pick it up, do some research when I got home, and decide if it was worth keeping. There actually isn't a wealth of information about this product out there other than from the brand themselves, so I don't know much other than the claims espoused by the company. They claim it contains ingredients that support the natural renewal process of skin, such as:

• Vitamin C: Support optimal skin health by promoting the skin’s own regenerative properties help stimulate collagen used during the skin’s own regenerative process
• PhytoCellTec: Formulated with an ingredient that help skin stem cells maintain their natural renewal capacity
• PhytoCellTec & EMortal: Formulated with ingredients that increase the vitality of the skins’ stem cells.
• SPF 40: SPF 40 Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB protects the skin from the elements including harmful UV rays and oxidative stress

Certainly sounds interesting! From what I can tell, this is a primarily skincare focused US brand, and they at least get brownie points from me for trying to incorporate a lot of active ingredients in the fashion of a traditional Asian BB cream, which differentiates their version from many of the US ones I have seen.

However, I do have a bit of a dispute with the way this is being marketed at Costco...it clearly states in multiple spots on the Costco packaging that this is a Universal shade product, that will work for all skin tones and skin types. I was already a little wary of the product when I saw this claim, as most shades that are allegedly "universal" tend to turn a fetching shade of Oompa Loompa orange on me. But I became even more suspicious when I did my research on the product and discovered that it actually comes in three shade options (light, medium, and dark) when sold at any other retailer, as well as on their own website, on which it doesn't make any sort of universal claim. So it is my conclusion that this is most likely a medium shade which they are just repackaging as a universal shade in the hopes that the casual consumer doesn't catch on. It really bothers me when companies insult our intelligence like that, yet I am still very intrigued by this product. I am still not sure if I will be keeping this and giving it a try; Costco does have a good return policy though, so I suppose I can test the shade out, and if it is an atrocious match return it. We shall see.

Anyways, just wanted to hop on here and share this find in case anyone else is interested in checking out their Costcos. If nothing else, Costco stocking this product demonstrates just how prevalent BB Creams have become in the Western market; I remember even a few months ago when mentioning the idea to someone not immersed in the latest and greatest in beauty's offerings and they would have no clue what you were talking about. And now they are everywhere, including Costco!
 

My Daily Essentials

As a beauty junkie (cough, hoarder!) there are very few products I turn to every single day. Most eyeshadows, blushes, and eyeliners are more or less interchangeable, mascaras just depend on what I am trying to use up, and the foundations, concealers, and even moisturizers I use changes based on the season and how my skin is behaving. In fact, when I really contemplate this, there are really only two specific products that I use every single makeup application, rain or shine, all-year long. These are:

Physician's Formula Eyeshadow Quad in Canyon Classic--this is what use for my eyebrows even though it is marketed as an eyeshadow quad, and I have never found a better kit for filling them in, and even for highlighting the brow bone. This quad comes with four matte shades: a cream (the one I use for the browbone,) a slightly warm light brown (I use this for blending eyeshadow out as a "best friend" color 99 percent of the time), and a cooler light taupe brown which I mix with a touch of the charcoal to get the perfect match for my ashy eyebrows. Everything else I have tried in the past has been too warm, which even though I have some auburn tones in my hair, is really jarring on my very cool toned eyebrows, rendering them very fake-looking. As you can probably tell from the photo, this little quad is very well-loved, and I will be repurchasing it in a heartbeat as soon as it runs out. It really is an essential for me.

CVS Ultimate Sheer Liquid Daily Sunscreen--this is my favorite facial sunscreen, and I have repurchased it numerous times. I think this is the generic version of a Neutrogena product, but as this is cheaper, I go with this one even though I am sure they perform in much the same way. As its name suggests, it is a light and sheer formula, not sticky or greasy feeling. It dries matte rather than shiny like most sunscreens. It also doesn't make me break out, in addition to being invisible under makeup. I can't really speak to if it gives a white cast, as since I am so pale I tend to not really notice it when I am wearing products that purportedly cause this phenomenon. Basically, this works for me and is very affordable, so I don't have too much of an inclination to try anything new for a while.

What about you? Do you have any products that you use every day, all year round? I would love to hear about them in the comments!

Also, I am going to be blogging every day this week, so be sure that if you are interested to keep checking back; you can also follow the blog by clicking the icon on the right hand side of the page so you are notified when the new posts are published.

Hope everyone had a great weekend, and thanks for reading!

Review and Swatches: Jesse's Girl Palette in Brown Eyed Girl

    Just wanted to hop on and share my excitement for this absolute bargain of a palette...it is a collection of nine warm-toned neutrals which retails at Rite Aid for $3.99. I originally went to Rite Aid to try and snag some of the new Maybelline Color Tattoo shades, which of course my location did not have yet, so I was feeling that itch to buy something. I spotted this and decided to take a gamble on it, as I rationalized to myself that even if I only liked one of the nine shades, for $3.99 that would still be worth it. Of course, I swatched the shades as soon as I got to the car after purchasing, and was really pleased with the pigmentation and quality! My only minor complaint is that the two lightest shades in the palette, a pale white/yellow color and a soft gold, are a bit on the sheerer and more chalky side of the spectrum, but hey, I sometimes find that to be the case with high end light-colored eyeshadows, and the rest of the colors are very nice quality and more than compensate for those two.

    
     The other colors are: a muted tangerine, a minky taupe, an unusual dirty mustard color (reminds me a bit of that shade Outre that came out with a MAC collection last fall), a rusty copper, a brick red-orange (I thought a possible Nars California dupe), a warm brown, and a cool medium brown. The overall color scheme seems quintessential fall to me, echoing the changing leaf colors that those of you in other parts of the world are lucky enough to experience. Personally, there are a few colors included that I do not have anything in my collection similar to, and let's just say my makeup stash falls somewhere between "more than recommended" and "a few items away from the camera crew from hoarders making a surprise appearance," so that is quite a feat. This largely orange and copper-based palette is great for someone like me, as I like the idea of them for bringing out my blue-gray eyes, but tend to be a bit wary of a lot of these types of shades as I find I really have to work to get them to complement my porcelain skin, but for $3.99, or $0.44 a shadow, I can experiment without feeling guilty if I can't get some of the colors to work for me. The finish is basically the same on all of the shades: they have a subtle sheen, and are not matte, but also are not overtly shimmery. The packaging is pretty cheap-looking, but compact and certainly not bulky. The only product I can think of where you get similar bang for your buck is the Wet N Wild Comfort Zone palette, but that is usually around $5, although you do get an extra shadow, and I would say the quality is a little better on that one.

  
      But overall, I am pretty thrilled by this drugstore gem: good quality shadows (no one is confusing these for the likes of, say, Burberry Eyeshadows, but I would say only Wet N Wild makes better ones for a comparable price; definitely surpass almost all other drugstore eyeshadows I have tried), some unusual shades (it's not just another neutral palette as I thought at first glance,) accompanied by a $3.99 price tag. I don't really think you can go wrong with this one--low risk, high reward in my opinion.