Too Faced Shadow Insurance Primer

Good Stuff But...

I like it, but I don't know if mine is getting old, (it might be more than 6 months old) or what, but it seems to be very oily now. I squirt some out and the cream is always sitting in this oily puddle. I do get creasing, and I think it's because of the oil, I've tried mixing the two components together, by smooshing (scientific term involving something like spaghettification - haha) the tube up - kneading it I suppose - but it doesn't really work, I definitely get more cream out, but it still is sitting in a puddle of oil? I'm not really sure, maybe it is old? I think it worked well when I first got it... ? It definitely is better than wearing eyeshadow on its own, and on the plus side I got mine with a palette of 6 eyeshadows supposedly infused with it, and they are awesome, love the texture, blendability, pigmentation, colors, everything really. Fantastic shadows... plus they come with insurance!

December 8, 2009

MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15

Not for me

I really didn't like this foundation. Let me start by saying that I wore this a lot during my senior year of college, I walked everywhere, I lived about 15-20 minutes from most of my classes, and the walk back was always uphill. I lived about 10-15 minutes from the main street where all the bars, restaurants, etc are, and again back uphill to go home. Suffice it to say I did quite a bit of walking. This foundation always looked great when I put it on, but by the time I had walked down to class, my face was totally oily, and the foundation was breaking down, sliding around, getting darker, and looking generally unappealing. Additionally I'm pretty sure that this was breaking me out, or at least contributing to my probably stress driven break-outs. The reviews on this are very mixed, it really works for some people. My advice to you is to try for yourself, it really isn't that expensive compared to other high end brands, but better yet you can get samples of it at MAC Stores (I don't think counters have them?). Foundation is as the name suggests a pretty important part of makeup, so you really need to find one that works best for you.

December 8, 2009

Revlon Colorstay 12 Hour Eye Shadow Quad

Nice but not unique

I like the shadows, they stay on quite well, though I use Two Faced Shadow Insurance underneath always, they colors are very pretty, and the palettes do have a nice array of colors, as well as having some more unique combinations, I particularly like the smokey one that has both a reddish purple, and a dark blue color in it. I will say that most of the colors themselves are not very unique, I have found colors very similar existing in my collection already (for example that blue color reminds me of mac's contrast, as well as another mac color that was LE - I think cloudburst or maybe thunder?). They are like I stated put together well though, so if you're traveling these are nice package deals to have with you. Nice that they are often times on buy one get one. Overall the texture is nice, the blend well, I consider most of them to be somewhat satin in finish. A good drugstore staple to have.

December 8, 2009

Revlon ColorStay Makeup for Combination/Oily Skin

good stuff, but...

I like this foundation. I had been using the Clinique Superfit for a few months, but found that the texture of the actual foundation in the bottle had changed - separated and liquidy and generall gross - it did not do well controlling my oily t-zone. Before that I used Mac's studio fix fluid which is very thick, gets darker through the day, and worst of all broke me out. Revlon Colorstay has lasted better than both of these, its stays on all day, it only gets a bit oily for me in the t-zone, it's got a good selection of colors, and I like they way it feels on my skin. Now I will say that when I used Clinique and Mac I was a college student, and walked to class 15-20 minutes each way, plus walking everywhere else I needed to go, so I led a more active lifestyle. Now using Revlon I am a teacher... which I feel does take energy, and involves stress, but I definitely am not nearly as active. Overall I like this foundation, it holds up well, it has good coverage, it does stay on for long - and looks reasonably fresh for that time, it doesn't react badly with my skin, however it dries very fast on the skin and thus you must work it in very fast, it is not the easiest to blend to begin with, and doesn't blend after it dries. The packaging looks nice, but is not practical as it has no pump, so I often times find myself pouring too much out.

December 8, 2009

St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub

NOT Daily Cleanser

I love this cleanser, but it is an exfoliating scrub, and should not be used every day in my experience. I do like it as an exfoliating scrub though, to be used once or twice a week... smells kind of nice too.

December 8, 2009