Review: MAC Studio Careblend/Pressed Powder!

Formulated to provide a smooth, virtually invisible, fresh-looking finish, this soft, cream-like powder is carefully blended to provide the skin with extra care, nourishment and comfort. (MAC COSMETICS)

"Studio Careblend Pressed Powder provides sheer to medium coverage with perfect skin adhesion that helps to create a more flawless, refined look to skin. Studio Careblend Pressed Powder’s versatility allows users to apply it alone, over moisturized skin, atop foundation to set, or simply to touch up and perfect skin throughout the day." - Nick Gavrelis, Vice President, Global Product Development (read more here)

MAC Studio Careblend/Pressed Powder is available in eight (8) shades: Light (soft pale beige), Light Plus (pale golden beige), Medium (soft creamy beige), Medium Dark (caramel beige), Medium Plus (tan beige), Dark (deep caramel), Medium Deep (rich golden tan) and Dark Deep (rich golden bronze).

What really lured me into wanting Careblend is the claim that it doesn't look powdery and it isn't drying. Not to mention the amazing rating on Makeupalley (4.4/5 with an 86% re-purchase rate based on 79 reviews). I had a little bit of a tough time trying to pick a shade for my current NC30 skintone - I was debating with Light Plus (mainly because it has some good golden tones), Medium or Medium Dark. I figured that since they are sheer, there will be a little room for error, but my favorite MAC Sales Assoc. informed me that they do indeed pack pretty good pigment, so I played it safe and purchased Medium. I purchased this powder to solely use it as a setting powder. Other powders I'm currently using for a quick dusting across my face are Chanel Double Perfection Compact, MAC Studio Fix Powder or Rimmel Stay Matte Powder (I also love MAC Blot Powder, but I'm currently out of it).

MAC Studio Careblend Powder in Medium

Medium is a good match for my skin. It lacks yellow though if you're medium skinned and particular about having the right amount of golden in your foundation or powder. I compared it to my MAC Studio Fix Powder in C3 for reference. Of course, C3 has a stronger yellow tone as all "C" powders do in the SF Powder range.

The consistency of this powder to the touch, feels like your average powder. Studio Fix Powder actually feels softer to the touch. But, once smoothed on the skin, Careblend feels much smoother, whereas Studio Fix feels a bit dryer and powdery (ironic, huh?) The powder isn't completely sheer - it does have some pigment, so if you have relatively clear skin and need little coverage and oil control, this can be worn alone. I like using a large fluffy powder brush such as my Sigma F30 (FAV) and swirling the product all over my face to set my foundation. If I want a little extra coverage, I'll use a more dense brush such as my Sephora Pro Platinum Bronzer Brush or a standard Kabuki. The finish with this powder indeed is not powdery at all. It gives a velvety satin finish that even reminds me a bit of my beloved Chanel Double Perfection Powder.

Here's a little comparison. You can see a big difference in the finish of Studio Fix and Studio Careblend. Studio Fix is much more dull and powdery, whereas Studio Careblend has a bit of luminosity.

Left to Right: MAC Studio Fix Powder in C3, MAC Studio Careblend Powder in Medium and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Medium/Natural & Shimmer (the medium/natural side) Limited Edition

I don't need all that much oil control, just a little bit in my t-zone, and this keeps my skin from getting shiny throughout the day very well. Based on some reviews I've read, some don't recommend this powder for those with oily skin as it may not control oil well enough, but I've also read that some oily skin found it works great. The reviews are pretty mixed. I think it would work particularly well for those with dry skin as contains moisturizing oils (Safflower, Meadowfoam & Olive) as well as Shea Butter and it doesn't seem to accentuate dryness. I really love this powder and will continue using it for an all over setting powder. I still plan on purchasing MAC Blot Powder as well because I like to have a powder on hand that won't deposit any color (mainly to powder my under-eyes).

MAC Studio Careblend/Pressed Powder is $23 for .35 oz, $4 cheaper than MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish (plus Careblend has a mirrored compact & powder puff, the MSF has neither). It's slightly more expensive than MAC Blot which is $23 for .42 oz (.07 oz more product).

.35 oz really isn't a lot of product, and with the silkiness of this powder, you can probably easily go overboard with it without realizing. When I used my MAC Blot Powder daily, I would hit pan very quickly with it, so I'm going to make sure to use my Careblend sparingly.

What's your favorite setting powder?

Testing out Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation!

I got a hold of a couple sample packets of Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua a couple of weeks ago and finally decided to try it out today. When I asked for a sample, I expected they were going to pour some product directly from their counter tester bottle, but they actually had sample packets of each shade. I was a little disappointed because the packets are so small, I figured I'd need both to cover my face. With the little bottles they fill up from the testers, they can typically last me a week - sometimes more if I'm lucky.

Anyway, the Sales Associate matched me to B30 Beige Sable. My shade in the regular Vitalumiere is 40 Beige. Right away, I noticed that B30 looked a little light, but when it was applied to an area of my face, it was undetectable. I'd say it's a good MAC NC30 color match.

I've read several reviews for Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, and the majority of the reviews stated that this particular foundation looks best when applied with the fingers. I tend to use more product when I use my fingers, and considering I only had a couple of small packets, I wasn't about to waste any product. I first moisturized my face with a little DDF Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew and then I applied the foundation like I normally would any foundation. I squeezed out a small amount and placed a dot on each cheek, nose, chin and forehead. Then, with my Sigma F80 brush, I lightly buffed it in my skin with small circular motions. I then placed a tiny bit more product on my cheeks to build the coverage and again, buffed it in with my brush.

The consistency is a bit different than any foundation I think I've tried. I figured because it's water based, it would be really thin and watery. It's incredibly light and has an airy, whipped texture. Once applied to the face, you can really tell it water based because it has that slight cooling sensation of water. The color seemed to oxidize slightly after a few minutes, but it didn't oxidize too dark, orange, etc. The color is perfect. I was a little surprised by the coverage. It evened out my skintone beautifully and even covered my blemishes pretty good. It's a light coverage and can be layered easily to medium coverage. The finish is a lovely illuminating satin. I'm wearing it right now and it still looks great after almost 7 hours, with the exception that my chin and nose has become a little shiny.

Really loving it so far - and I'm pretty confident that I'll be purchasing it for my summer foundation! I'll have a FULL review to come later!

FACE: DDF Ultra-lite Oil Free Moisturizing Dew

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer in Light & Medium (mixed 50/50) applied under my eyes

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B30 applied with my Sigma F80 Brush

Chanel Bronze Universel/Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronzer applied with my Coastal Scents Tapered Duo Fiber Brush

BROWS:

MAC Espresso Eyeshadow

ELF Eyebrow Treat and Tame in Medium

EYES:

Urban Decay Naked Palette ("Naked" and "Buck" blended in my crease and smoked outward, darkened my outer V with "Smog") 

Nars Coconut Grove Eyeshadow lined my upper and lower lashline

Wet n Wild Silent Treatment Trio applied the pink browbone shade to my lid

Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy Eyeshadow applied on my lid over the Wet n Wild shadow, and my inner corners

MAC Blackline Pearlglide Eyeliner on my waterline 

Covergirl Lash Perfection Mascara

Revlon Beyond Natural #91169 False Eyelashes snipped in half

LIPS:

MAKE UP FOREVER Aqua Lipliner in #4C

OCC Lip Tars - Divine and Hush mixed 50/50

Sally Hansen Lip Inflation Extreme Lipgloss (clear)

Hope you all have a wonderful night! And, if you haven't already, please check out my giveaway HERE!

Review: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Foundation!

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup - Natural Beige 60

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup - Natural Beige 60

Product Description: Neutrogena Healthy Skin^® liquid makeup takes over where your skin care leaves off. Silky-light coverage glides on for a perfectly natural look, while the exclusive blend plus SPF 20 work together to visibly improve skin's luminosity, tone, and texture.

• Flawless coverage, lightweight, silky formula
• Exclusive blend of antioxidants and SPF 20
• Maintains skin's young and healthy look
• Available in 12 new shades 

(Source: http://www.neutrogena.com)

My color match is Natural Beige. It seemed to have the best yellow tone of the bunch in my range and swatched next to MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC30, they are almost identical, except MAC is slightly more yellow. (see below) 

I think the problem with drugstore foundations is that they often lack a variety of undertones. Many drugstore foundations are too neutral for my skin, and few offer a good yellow undertone. With that said, I was very pleased to find a close match. I also have this foundation in the lightest shade, and I use it often to lighten other foundations of mine. It works fantastic for that.

Left: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup Natural Beige (bright sunlight, no flash) Right: MAC Studio Fix Fluid NC30 (overcast, no flash)

Again, Neutrogena on the left and MAC on the right. This is the foundation smoothed out a bit, not blended.

Review: Aside from the good color match I really like the consistency of the foundation. It's lightweight and blends very easily. In comparison to other drugstore foundations, it's thinner than Revlon Colorstay, thicker & creamier than L'Oreal Truematch and less creamier than Maybelline Fit Me. It's a good in between - not too creamy, not too liquidy. The coverage is a pretty good medium coverage. It can of course be sheered out or applied sparingly for a lighter coverage, and it builds well for a more opaque medium coverage. I wouldn't consider it to be full coverage though. Redness slightly peaks through from any blemishes I may have, so buffing a little concealer on blemishes after I've applied my foundation is sometimes necessary. The finish is very nice.. it's slightly dewy, but more-so like a satin. It's luminous and healthy - no dullness in sight. It doesn't get very oily throughout the day, but I like setting the foundation with a powder in order for it to last longer. I love the fact that it has an SPF of 20, so this is a foundation I'll most likely be wearing throughout the summer. Many compare this foundation as a "dupe" for Nars Sheer Glow.. I can't really say I agree completely. They do have similar consistencies and a similar finish, but Nars has a bit more coverage and lasts longer throughout the day. One thing I don't like about this foundation is the packaging. The pour spout is very large, so every time I pour a little in my hand, too much always pours out and the spout always gets messy. A pump or smaller opening would of been great for this foundation. With the foundation itself, I don't have many complaints. My probably only complaint is that I wished it lasted longer throughout the day. Eight hours is pretty good, but it fades a bit by night.

Overall, I do think it's a great drugstore foundation and I rank it #2, with Revlon Colorstay being #1.

Have you tried this foundation? What are your thoughts about it?

Review: Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation!

Product Description: This long-wearing foundation evens out skin tone as it increases skin luminosity and clarity for a radiant glow. The rich, creamy texture glides over the skin effortlessly for perfect application and blendability. Perfect for rosacea and hard to cover pigmentation. Ideal for all skin types, and oil free & fragrance free. 

Directions:

 -Place a small amount on the back of your hand and work the foundation into the narrow end of a sponge.
-Apply to your face, working on one area at a time.
-Set with translucent powder if desired. 

Available in 9 shades, and is $42 for a 1.18 fl. oz./35ml tube. 

Review: My initial thoughts of this foundation is that it's exactly like MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation, which was one of my past favorite foundations. From the consistency, to the finish and wear time, they are extremely similar. The consistency of Silk Creme is fairly thick, yet lightweight.. almost like a mousse/gel, and very creamy. It does have a chemical smell like MAC Studio Fix Fluid or Revlon Colorstay, because it's fragrance free, but it's not bad and it doesn't linger. Like mentioned above, the foundation is available in 9 different shades which range from Light to Medium Skin tones. I'm not sure why, but there aren't any shades for Dark or Tan skintones. The deepest shade is "Hazelnut Beige", which is the match for MAC NC35-37 coloring. So, not very dark at all. The shade I chose was "Bamboo Beige", which is a golden beige for light-medium skintones. It's a good MAC NC30 color match. The coverage is excellent, and what I expected from reading reviews. It's full coverage, but can be sheered out as much as you'd like. 

Here's a comparison of MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC30 (top) and LM Silk Creme in Bamboo Beige (bottom). If you find that MAC looks orange on you, LM has more of a golden beige tone.

Application: As far as application goes, it depends on how much coverage you need for your individual needs. I like a nice medium coverage, so I first mist my face with a little bit of MAC Fix Spray, or apply a light oil-free moisturizer and then dot a little foundation on each area of my face (cheeks, nose, forehead, chin) and then I take a Flat Top Foundation Brush and blend the foundation. On areas where I need a little more coverage, I like taking a Duo Fiber Brush and tapping more foundation on areas that need more coverage, such as any blemishes I have on my cheeks. For the fullest coverage, you can use your fingers or a standard foundation brush. For a lighter coverage, you can mix it with a light moisturizer or apply it with a moistened sponge.

The finish is gorgeous. It actually contains several silicones, so if you have enlarges pores, this foundation will help conceal them. My pores seem much less visible, and my skin looks completely even. I suppose it depends on your skin type (dry, normal, combination, oily).. but my skin is pretty normal, sometimes a little oily in the t-zone. It starts out for me as a satiny, luminous finish, and as the day goes on, it becomes a bit dewy. The foundation states that it is suitable for all skin types, but I think this foundation would work best for dry and normal/combination skin types. I believe dry skin will most benefit from this foundation as it doesn't accentuate dryness and it contains moisturizers. Because of the dewiness of this foundation and the silicones, oily skin types may find that this foundation will slide around your face throughout the day and settle in fine lines. I recommend using a setting powder with this foundation, as with most cream formula foundations, because they tend to transfer easily. By the end of the day, this foundation has typically worn off my nose and lightened up around my t-zone. I wouldn't call it long wearing, but I do think it will get you through a typical work day. I do think it photographs nicely, and although it doesn't state there is an SPF, titanium dioxide is at the end of the ingredients list, which is a sunscreen. 

The following photos were approximately two hours after application, and after being outside in 85 degree weather. I wanted to show what my face looked like without powder, so I didn't set my face with a setting powder as I normally would. As you can see, my face became a bit oily.

Face: MAC Mineralized All Over Lotion (as a base)

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer in Light mixed with Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in #20 (under my eyes)

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation in Bamboo Beige

Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder (to set concealer - applied under my eyes only)

Nars Irresistiblement Bronzer (on cheeks and up forehead, blended into my hairline)

MAC Coppertone Powder Blush (applied to the apples of my cheeks and blended up my cheekbones)

Eyes: MAC Nehru Eyeshadow (smudged into top and bottom lashline)

MAC Espresso Eyeshadow (smudged into Nehru on top lashline)

Stila Amethyst Kajal Liner (on waterline)

Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara

Brows: E.L.F. Studio Eyebrow Kit in Medium

MAC Brow Set in Girl/Boy

Lips: Rimmel Tiramisu Lip Liner Pencil

Wet n Wild Mega Matte Lipstick in 901B Think Pink (blotted with a tissue)

MAC Like Venus Dazzleglass

You can also click here, to view a recent FOTD where I set this foundation with powder.

FOTD Using Guerlain Parure Extreme #3!

Hey Everyone!

I thought I'd do a quick update how my Guerlain Parure Extreme Foundation is working for me. (I apologize for all of my foundation posts and if you can't keep up with them all!) So, I purchased Guerlain Parure Extreme in #4 back in December (click here to view original review + fotd) and although I loved the foundation, it was a terrible color choice for me. To make it work, I would use a foundation in the lightest shade (Neutrogena Healthy Skin in Classic Ivory) to lighten it up and then I would a drop of Coastal Scents yellow corrector to give it a more yellow/golden tone. That was working great for me, but I really wanted to find my correct color match, so I wouldn't have to go through the hassle of mixing foundations all of the time.

Earlier this month, I decided to place an order for Guerlain Parure Extreme in the shade #3. I had no idea until that point what Guerlain's numbering meant for the foundation, until Lisasz09 on youtube let me know that even numbers are actually pink toned, and odd numbers are yellow toned. So, I was please to know that it isn't the whole line that is pink toned. I'm happy to say that #3 matches me beautifully, and is a good NC30-35 match. It doesn't have a strong yellow tone, per say, but it matches me very good.

Swatched Top: Guerlain Parure Foundation #3, Bottom: Guerlain Parure Extreme #4

I've been wearing this foundation almost every day, with the exception of the days where I've tested out Chanel Vitalumiere, Laura Mercier Silk Creme & a couple days of Neutrogena Healthy Skin. I love that it looks so natural & with setting powder, lasts all day. It has climbed up my list of favorite foundations, and made it to my top 5.

I didn't set my foundation with powder, because I wanted to show the santiny finish. It was a bit cloudy today, so my skin looks a little beige? I assure you though, the color match is excellent, and this is just not the best lighting. I'll be wearing this in FOTD's to come. My FOTD today is nothing spectacular, because I was about to go grocery shopping for a BBQ and didn't want to go too heavy on my eyes in the day time.

Weird lighting & I look washed out because I switched the Auto I-Contrast setting on my camera

Face:

 Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer in Medium under my eyes, around the corners of my nose and under my brows

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in #20 under my eyes over the Hard Candy Concealer for a better color match

Guerlain Parure Extreme Foundation #3 applied a sheer layer with my fingers, and built a thin second layer with my MAC 131 duo fibre brush

Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder in Brunette 02 applied to the hollows of my cheeks & extended up my cheekbones

MAC Cremeblend Blush in Obviously Orange applied to my cheekbones

Hard Candy Blush in Moneymoon applied over Obviously Orange for a soft, shimmery peach sheen

Brows:

MAKE UP FOREVER Eyebrow Corrector in #3

MAC Brow Set in Girl/Boy

Eyes: 

Dior 5-Colour Iridescent Eyeshadow in Crush Glow (golden shade all over my lid, brown in the outer V)

Bobbi Brown Long Wearing Gel Ink in Black Ink (lined my top and bottom lash line)

Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara in Very Black

Revlon Fantasy Lengths Professional Self Adhesive Eyelashes #99500

Lips:

MAC Lip Erase in Light applied as a light base to my lips

MAC Lip Liner Pencil in Subculture

YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick in #26 Tender Peach (this shade looks much different.. lighter and more pink - with lip erase as a base.. I love it! But we all know RV lipsticks have the worst staying power and it was practically gone in these photos despite I had just applied it.)

My Face Today: Testing out Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation!

I received a message on formspring a few days ago asking if I've tried Laura Mercier's Silk Creme Foundation & what my thoughts were about it. Well, I actually haven't tried any Laura Mercier products, but decided to give myself an excuse to go to Sephora and pick up a sample of the foundation. I didn't do any prior research of what my shade would be, but with a little swatching, I decided on Bamboo Beige, which seems to be a pretty good NC30 match. The Sales Associate gave me a pretty nice sample that should last me a full week, possibly more. Today is my first day wearing it, and so far I think it's great. It actually seems like a spinning image of MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation. I'll give you a full review on it soon!

Sample of Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation - Bamboo Beige

I used my Dior Crush Glow palette (I posted about here) for today's look, and I've actually been using it just about every day as my "go-to" product. It's just so convenient that all of the shades go so well together and the palette is fairly small and lightweight. I actually think I'm going to start investing more in Dior quints rather than any other brand of shadows. Although I love MAC, I'm over the obsession of owning so many eye shadows. I just don't use them enough, with the exception of a small handful.

Face:  

Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream as a base (2nd day trying this out)

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Conealer in medium under my eyes

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation in Bamboo Beige applied with my Sigma F50 Duo Fibre Brush

Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder to set my foundation

Bare Escentuals Well Rested applied lightly under my eyes

MAC Dainty Mineralized Blush

MAC Golden Bronzer

Brows:

MAKE UP FOREVER Brow Corrector in Medium

MAC Brow Set in Girl/Boy

Eyes:

Dior Crush Glow Quint (Taupe in crease, copper brown in crease and outer v, gold on lid, frosted pink by the tearducts and blended into the beginning of lower lashline, copper brown all the way across lower lashline)

Nars Coconut Grove Eyeshadow (deepened my lower and upper lashline)

Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara in Very Black

Dollar Tree False Lashes (cut in half - seen in this post)

Lips:

MAC Subculture Lipliner

MAC Shygirl Lipstick

Nars Chihuahua Lipgloss

Oh! Also you may notice I'm sporting a little colour, which I've been lacking lately. I purchased Clarins Intense Bronze Self Tanning Tint to use daily on my face. Day two, and no breakouts.. so I'm being very hopeful! A review for it coming up soon...

Review: Shu Uemura Face Architect Smoothing Fluid Foundation!

Shu Uemua Face Architect (Fluid) #754

Product Description:

Smooth and refined texture with control. Just the right amount of coverage allows skin to look flawless, yet natural. The gliding formula fits lightly on the skin.

 

Recommended for those who:
- prefer a fresh and natural look with comforting fit
- prefer sheer to medium coverage
- prefer semi-matt finish, but hydrating sensation

(source: http://www.shuuemura-usa.com)

I was originally interested in trying Shu Uemura's Face Architect Cream Foundation, but the availability differs in each country and I couldn't find it anywhere. (Anyone know if the cream was DC?) If you didn't know, last summer, Shu Uemura withdrew themselves from counters in the US. So, the only option for US consumers is to purchase their products online. Anyhow, because I couldn't get my hands on the cream, I thought I'd try the fluid. Not realizing when I ordered this product, that the coverages of both foundations are completely different, with the creme being full coverage and the fluid being sheer to medium.

For my coloring, I chose #754 Medium Beige. It's a pretty good match for NC30-NC37. Because it's so sheer, it's pretty forgiving if the actual shade is too dark. (You can view all shades swatched here.)

Here is a comparison to MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC40 (left), Shu Uemura Face Architect #754 (middle) and MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC30 (right). You can see that although it has a warm undertone like the MAC foundations, it isn't as yellow. They are similar in depth, but NC40 is slightly darker. Its very close to NC30, but the undertone is slightly different, making it appear a little darker.

From left to right: MAC Studio Fix Fluid NC40, Shu Uemura Face Architect #754, MAC Studio Fix Fluid NC30

From left to right: MAC Studio Fix Fluid NC40, Shu Uemura Face Architect #754, MAC Studio Fix Fluid NC30

Review: I've actually had this foundation for months now. I purchased it around Christmas time, and have only used it 3-4 times. The product basically is what it says. It is very lightweight (can't feel it on), creamy, has a light coverage with a semi-matte to matte finish.

This foundation is probably the sheerest foundation I own. It is slightly buildable from sheer to a light-medium. It will not build to a true medium. Once it's built, it doesn't look thick or heavy. The redness from my cheeks as well as blemishes peek through. I find that this foundation oxidizes slightly (Gets darker), a couple of minutes after applied. When I'm tan, it's a great color match. When I'm not tan (currently), it makes me look a bit orange. The finish of this foundation is matte. If you have oily skin, or apply a moisturizer prior, you may have a semi-matte finish. I don't find this foundation to be long lasting, as it starts to fade almost right away. I don't really care for matte foundations, with the exception that they have great coverage (EL Double Wear for instance). This foundation is sheer AND matte.. making my skin look dull, with imperfections not covered. Each time I wore this foundation, I tried to like it.. but I just don't. It's not for me.

If you have pretty good skin and are looking for a foundation with light coverage that will even out your skintone and you prefer a matte finish, you may like this foundation. Or if you have oily skin and need little coverage. I do not recommend this for dry skin or for those who are looking for a good amount of coverage. 

Here it is on me today.. The color is a bit darker in person, but it photographed a little light. I apologize for looking like a deer in headlights (lol)

Testing out L'Oreal MagicSmooth Souffle!

You might have been hearing about L'Oreal MagicSmooth Souffle since the near year. It launched January of 2011 like Maybelline Fit Me, but was spotted in some stores a little earlier. The first time I came across this foundation was when I spotted Maybelline Fit Me and purchased it. It was something I was interested in purchasing, but with the close to $15 price tag, I decided to hold out until some reviews popped up for it. What's pretty cool is that the display for L'Oreal MagicSmooth Souffle has little samples that you can take for free to try it for yourself. Each display doesn't have very many, so I took one each time I went to a different drugstore. I accumulated four.. so I thought it would be a good time to try it out.

What I don't like about the sample is that for some reason, it isn't labeled what shade it is. The color is light/med neutral beige. The sample is the smallest smudge of product, that you wouldn't even be able to cover your chin with one packet. With a free sample, you'd expect at least a full face application.. but I can't complain, right? At least there are samples so you can at least test it and feel the consistency.

Swatched on my hand, the color is a little on the pink/orange side..

I knew that even the 4 packets weren't going to be enough for the type of coverage I'd want, so I decided only to apply it to half of my face and on the other half of my face apply Revlon Colorstay - mostly to compare the coverage and finish.

As you can see, the left side of my face is slightly shinier - or brighter than the right. Revlon Colorstay (for combination skin) gives me a satiny matte finish with a heavy medium coverage. The right side of my face is completely matte, and slightly dull. The dullness may be due to the incorrect color match though. The coverage I received from using 3 packets was a medium coverage (a light-medium). I have a few blemishes (you can't tell from the photo) and the redness from them peeked through.. but my overall skin tone was evened out. I'm sure if I had more product, the coverage would be buildable to a solid medium or a bit of a full coverage.

To apply the foundation I moisturized my face with Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel and then swirled the foundation into my face with my ELF Studio Duo Fibre Brush. I think the Duo Fibre is the appropriate brush for this type of foundation. I was actually happy with the coverage considering I used such a little amount of product. The only thing I didn't really care for was the very matte finish (I prefer satin or slightly dewy). Also, I wasn't very happy with the dullness my face had wearing this foundation. But, like I said it may be due to the incorrect shade. I wore the foundation for around 5 hours to see how it would hold up and my face didn't get oily at all, despite I didn't set it with a powder. Most of the foundation stayed in tact, but because I took a nap.. a little bit had disappeared. So, I can't really say how the lasting power is.

I actually do plan on purchasing the full size product, but only if it's on sale.

Have you tried this product or are you planning to? To read more about this product, click here.

Review: Revlon Colorstay Makeup with Softflex SPF 6 for Combination/Oily! + FOTD!

Hey guys! I purchased Revlon Colorstay Foundation last month while it was on sale at my local drugstore for 40% along with L'Oreal True Match Foundation. This is actually the third or fourth time I have purchased this foundation. Each time I have purchased a different color and wasn't happy with any of the shades. So basically, I gave up on Colorstay due to the color selection. But, I was determined to find a decent match.. which is why I decided to yet again give it a try. It has great ratings and I've seen so many gorgeous faces in the makeup community use this foundation and love it. Many claim that it's the best drugstore foundation. With such positive feedback.. I was very eager to try it for myself.

I did a little research, and found that for MAC NC35-37, "Golden Beige 300" and "Warm Golden 310" were the best matches. One up, "True Beige 320" is too pink and is better suited for NW30.. and the next up from True Beige is "Natural Tan 330" and is best for NC40.

I did a few hand swatches and liked the way "Warm Golden" looked the best.. so that's what I purchased.

I did a few swatches of "Warm Golden" next to MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC30 and NC40. Unfortunately, I didn't have NC35 or NC37 on hand. You can very visibly see that the MAC foundations are much more golden.. where Revlon is slightly more neutral/beige. It may be difficult to distinguish because the undertones don't match.. but Warm Golden is darker than NC30 and would fall in the NC35-37 range.

When I really like a foundation, I know right away. And usually, I'll review it fairly quick. This foundation took a while to grow on me. I applied it in several different ways. I applied it to a dry face, moisturized/primed face.. with a standard foundation brush, duo-fiber brush, fluffy synthetic brush and with my fingers. And I found that the best way for me to apply this foundation for the best result is, by first moisturizing my face prior to application and using my MAC 131 (smaller version of the 187 skunk brush), dampened with water to stipple it all over my face until blended. Applied to a dry face, this foundation looked terrible on me. But, this foundation is meant for combination to oily skin.. so it should be perfect for those with oily skin. I have pretty normal skin.. but I would also call it combination.. because I tend to get an oily t-zone (but not overly oily).. so thats why it applies better with some moisture on my face. 

The foundation itself is creamy.. but a little heavy. If you find it to be too thick, heavy or cakey.. I recommend mixing it with a couple drops of your facial moisturizer or a tinted moisturizer. I tried this with MAC Face & Body and had great results (But my F&B is a little dark for me right now.. so I didn't post a photo).

Even though the undertone doesn't have that much yellow - it works perfectly fine for me right now since my coloring is a bit lighter than usual.

The coverage is pretty good. It's a medium coverage that is buildable for a heavier coverage. I prefer the way it looks when it is sheered out a bit with a moisturizer or thinner foundation. I find myself using this pretty often in conjunction with lighter foundations to over areas that need extra coverage.

It claims to last for 16 hours, which I think is a bit of a stretch. MAC Studio Fix Fluid definitely lasts longer on my skin than this foundation. This foundation can probably get me through a full work day.. but I don't agree that it will look flawless until I take it off at night. For me, after some hours (maybe 6?) it starts to fade and areas that were once concealed aren't very well concealed any more. What I really like is that it keeps my face matte.. and I have no signs of oil on my forehead or nose. So, again.. a great foundation for those with oily/combination skin. 

I prefer setting it with a setting powder, as it made my face feel a little wet? tacky? after application. 

Overall, I do think it's a nice foundation and in terms of coverage.. probably has the most out of any drugstore foundation I've used. Also, I love the fact that it keeps my skin matte. My only complaints are that I'm not really fond of the chemical smell (yuck), there is no pump (my bottle is looking a little messy), I don't like the way it fades after hours and I wish there were more golden/yellow shades.

Here's me wearing it... (excuse my pjs)

FACE:

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NW25

Maybelline FIT ME Concealer #20

Revlon Colorstay Foundation #310 Warm Golden

Rimmel Stay Matte Transparent Powder (to set the foundation)

NARS Madly Blush

Benfit Hoola Bronzer (just a tiny bit in the hollows of my cheeks)

MAC New Vegas Mineralized Skinfinish (LE) (highlight the top of my cheek bones)

BROWS:

Ardell Medium Brown Brow Powder

MAC Girl Boy Brow Set

EYES:

MAC Point Black Liquidlast Liner

MAC Gilt By Association Mineralized Eyeshadow (LE) (smudged under eyes)

Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara

LIPS:

MAC Stripdown Lip Liner

MAC Pink Fish Lip Conditioner (LE)

OCC Cha Cha Lip Tar (tiny bit)

Revlon Life's a Peach Lipgloss (LE)

*(LE) = Limited Edition shade.

Review: Maybelline FIT ME Foundation & Concealer! + Photos & Swatches!

Hey Everyone! Hope you're all having a great Friday.. it's finally the weekend.. yay!! I have a review for you today for Maybelline's FIT ME foundation and concealer. The first time I caught a glimpse of this line was at Wal-mart a couple of weeks ago. I was right away very interested because of the sleek packaging and the golden shades this line offers. I didn't see a price thought.. so I just walked passed it (thinking it would be around $12-$15). So, it wasn't till last weekend when I was at my local Osco drugstore I saw the set-up again and the price for the foundation was only $5.99. I was so surprised.. so I decided to get a bottle. Once, I got home I did a little research on the line.. Keep reading for my findings and my review! 

Product Descriptions-

Maybelline FIT ME Foundation - "Blends beautifully for an undetectable finish. It does not clog pores. Leaves your skin the way it is supposed to be.. Fresh, Breathing & Flawless. The secret to the weightless coverage & natural finish is the translucent base & ultra light weight pigments. Fit Me's translucent base is less opaque so your natural hues will come through for a better match. Sheer to Medium coverage that is buildable. SPF 18. Comes in 18 shades."

Maybelline FIT ME Concealer - "Apply to spots, blemishes & dark circles. The concealer uses similar technology to the foundation so you can cover imperfections seamlessly. There are 6 shades that coordinate with the foundation shades."

Maybelline FIT ME Powder - "Like the foundation, the powder is never cakey & completely natural looking because the ultra light pigments are so blendable and gives skin the most natural finish with the perfect shade match. Comes in 18 shades, that coordinate with the foundation colors. Apply after your foundation and concealer for a flawless look for the day."

Maybelline FIT ME Blush - "Designed to find the right shade that will compliment your skin tone, rather than clash with it. Comes in 12 shades of blush and 3 shades of bronzer."

(Source: Gabriel Almodovar)

Considering Maybelline doesn't have this line on their website yet, the only info I could find was from a youtube video that appears to be an informational video about the line. I'm a little confused why the video I watched said it comes in 18 shades, but in stores I have only seen 12 shades? Hmm. I guess we'll have to wait and see when Maybelline adds the product to their website. I linked the source, so you can check it out of you'd like. The line was supposed to launch Jan 2011, but it looks like several stores launched the line early.

"Let's the real you come through" is one of Maybelline's slogan for this line. All of their shades of foundation, concealer, powder and blush coordinate with each other. The product display racks are set up in different rows of light, medium and dark. In each row, there are the foundations, concealers, powders, blushes and bronzer for your skin tone. The idea behind this to make it easier for you to pick out a shade that is going to work for your skin tone instead of having to look elsewhere for each product and guess if it is going to match you. For each foundation shade, the rack is labeled with what exact shade of concealer and powder will work for you.

I think it's a great idea & will definitely make it easier for consumers. With each foundation, there is also a small tester so you can swatch the color on your hand to give you a better idea if it is your color match.

While in the store, I swatched three shades on my hand that appeared the most yellow/golden and in my skin tone range. They were the shades 220 Natural Beige, 230 Natural Buff & 310 Sun Beige. I didn't have my digital camera, so I used my phone to snap a couple of pictures for you guys.

All of the shades were very similar.. but the one with my favorite tone of the three was 220.. it had a very nice amount of golden beige and yellow. I swatched 220 next to MAC Studio Fix Fluid and they were almost identical.. but 220 was very slightly deeper. It may be the undertone.. as MAC appeared more warm (orange) and 220 appeared slightly more golden. I think its a good match for NC35.. but it will probably work if you're a NC30 as well. 230 is a little more peach toned than 220 - but should be a good NC37-40 match. I didn't swatch 235 as it appeared too pink. I swatched 310 because of the yellow tone and it should be a good match for NC42.

Here is Maybelline FIT ME Foundation in #220 and Maybelline FIT ME Concealer in #20.

And, both swatched on my hand in better lighting with my digital. (Indoors, no flash with natural light)

Review: I love this foundation! The first thing I noticed about this foundation is the wonderful texture. It is light, thin and very creamy. It blends very easy and evenly and has a nice natural, satiny dewy finish. I do notice a fragrance (some have mentioned it has no smell).. but I noticed a scent the first time I applied it. It's a very nice scent.. It actually smells just like Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation. It's kind of like a fresh shampoo/soap smell? I would say it's a medium coverage. It's not heavy at all.. or mask-like. The only con I found with this foundation is that it's not long lasting.. which is something I look for in a foundation. I can't tell you exactly how many hours it lasts on my face.. but I wore it for New Years (applied my makeup at around 6 PM) and around 12-1 AM I had noticed that the foundation had faded almost completely off my nose and chin area. But! It didn't look bad. There are some foundations that fade blotchy.. but this foundation just seemed to evaporate to a lighter coverage - does that make sense? This factor has not stopped me from wearing this foundation for the past week. Just after maybe 5 hours I touch up my nose or chin with a tiny bit of foundation on my foundation brush. Adding extra foundation doesn't ruin the rest of my foundation or make it blotchy. Although I love the finish of this foundation, you definitely need a setting powder because this foundation gets very dewy after a bit. I have normal to combination skin and I haven't had any problems being oily.. because I always make sure to set with a powder. This is a foundation that is probably most suitable for dry to normal skin types. If you have oily skin, you may not like this foundation.. but if you want to give it a try.. I suggest using a mattifying primer and or a good application of setting powder.

As for the concealer.. I really like it. I usually like full coverage concealers.. and this one isn't full coverage. It's more of a natural medium coverage.. with a satiny finish. I use it under my eyes and it doesn't cake or sit in my lines. I would compare it to MAC Moisturecover - it has a similar runny texture too. On days where I like a little more coverage, I'll maybe use a heavier concealer and a couple of dots of this concealer over it to add a little lightness to my under eyes.

Here's me wearing Fit Me in #220. (Sorry for the bad quality photo - it was taken on my phone)

Both were awesome buys.. I'm so happy that Maybelline has come out with such an affordable line. Some of the blushes looked very pretty. One was a bright fuchsia color and there was one that looked just like NARS Madly. I've never tried any Maybelline blushes though.. so I'm not sure how the quality is. What do you think??

I've been seeing so many new drugstore products for 2011! I can't wait to try them all! :)