Makeup Forever Full Cover Concealer

RATING: 5

Pros:

-full coverage without being too heavy, cakey, or drying

-good color range

-only need a tiny bit to cover

-good staying power

-easy to blend

-fine tip nozzle, which makes it easy to dispense

Cons:

-a little expensive $30.00 for 0.5 oz

Overall: A really great product. One of my new favorites. Easy to use and while it is expensive, you only need a tiny amount.

My New Lucky Brand Purse

My newest Lucky Brand Handbag. I found this little jewel at T.J. Maxx. It was $100. T.J.'s is the greatest place to find really nice purses and random jewelry. Super pumped to start using the new purse!

TARTE CHEEK STAIN

RATING: 5

Pros:

-easy to blend

-easy application

-great lasting power

-multi purpose (cheeks, lips, eyes)

-fruity smell

-great for a powder blush base

-water based

-antioxidant formulation

Cons:

-expensive

-the taste of product used as a lip stain is a little off putting. I am not usually very sensitive to tastes and smells, but this bothered me.

Overall: I really like this product. Great for a quick and easy blush application. Don't let the colors in the packaging fool you. They look much bolder in the container than they will show up on your face. This product is pricey, but it will last forever. I can't wait to try some more colors!

NEUTROGENA HEALTHY SKIN LIQUID FOUNDATION

RATING: 5

Pros:

-beautiful finish

-easy to blend

-affordable, $12-13

-pleasant smell

-nice lasting power

-apparently the drugstore dupe for Nars Sheer Glow (I haven't tested this statement, but it seems to be a consensus amongst the Youtube community).

-medium, buildable coverage

-broad color range

Cons:

-no dispenser

-can be messy . . . formulation is very fluid

Overall: This foundation to provides a beautiful healthy glow. I have oily skin, and even though this product in not designed for oily skin, it did remarkably well. A primer or oil mattifier will help those with oilier skin. I found it easy to blend and it lasted all day long. The formulation is VERY fluid, so be careful when pouring it out!!!!

SOME RANDOM PHOTOS

Some random photos of the most important people in my life and myself!

TINTED MOISTURIZERS

Benefit: You Rebel Lite:

Rating: 5

Description: This product comes in two shades: You Rebel and You Rebel Lite. If you are fair, I would recommend You Rebel Lite. All further comments are based on my experience with You Rebel Light. This product is creamy in texture and has an orangish color. No need to worry, the product does not look orange on the skin. A perfect color for the summer (mostly because of the orange tone of the product). Provides a light coverage, helps to even out tone. Great for days when you don't want to put on a full face. Very easy to blend. Pleasant smell, reminds me of summer and suntan lotion. Not greasy, but moisturizing. Provides and SPF of 15. Great for all skin types.

** $30.00 for 1.7 fl. oz.

** Take care with product around eyes. Can irritate. Very common with products that contain SPF.

Opinion: When I started wearing makeup again . . . I wanted a product that would provide coverage without looking heavy. I started with tinted moisturizers and You Rebel Light was the first. I really like this product. Even though I have oily skin this tinted moisturizer works great. I use this on a regular basis and would purchase it again. A little goes a long way . . . the tube lasts a long time! Worth the investment!

Mac: Studio Moisture Tint Medium

RATING: 4.5

Description: This product comes in 3 shades: Light, Medium, and Dark. I own Medium and can only speak for my experience with that shade. I am fair skinned and this color is not too dark. The product is creamy in texture and has a yellowy base. Not as orange in tone as You Rebel Lite. Great for all year round. Provides a light coverage, which helps to even out skin tone. Easy to blend. Provides and SPF of 15. Has a subtle suntan smell. Great for all skin types.

** $29.50 for 1.3 fl. oz.

** Can irritate eyes.

Opinion: I also really like this product. It worked well with my skin type and provided a nice light coverage without looking cakey. I have fair skin, and I found the medium to be the perfect shade. I would purchase again, but it is a little more pricey for the amount you get.

REVIEW: SHISEIDO SUN PROTECTANT LIQUID FOUNDATION

RATING: 5

Description:

Has an SPF of 42. Sweat proof and waterproof to a point. Light to medium coverage. Smaller range of colors, but I found I was able to use several of the shades. Very smooth texture. Easy to blend. Nice scent . . .reminds me of summer. The perfect foundation for the summer. Suitable for all skin types. If you are dry make sure to use a moisturizer before you apply. Available at Department stores. Cost for 1 fl. oz $32.50.

Opinion:

I really like this foundation. I found it easy to blend and it looks very natural. It has nice staying power.

PERFUME OF THE WEEK

GILL HICKS: KIRRAWEE

RATING: 5

This is the perfume I reached for all week. It has hints of marigold, pink peony, and soft woods. It's a very nice scent, not too overpowering. It lasts all day long. There is nothing worse than a perfume that doesn't have good staying power, but this one is great. 1-2 squirts will do the trick.

MY MAC LIPGLOSSES

In order from left to right: Full For You (Plushglass), Hush, Hush Rose (Lipglass), Viva Glam VI (Lipglass), Do It Up (Dazzleglass Creme), Totally Fab (Dazzleglass Creme), and Boy Bait (Cremesheen Glass) (it is very light in the picture).

DESCRIPTIONS:

Full For You (Pluglass): Pinkish/puple color with multicolored glitter. This is a plumping lipgloss . . feels a little tingly on the lips, but only if directly placed on lips. It has a gummy texture and very stale smell. Even with that, I love the color and it works very nicely with most lipsticks.

Hush, Hush Rose (Lipglass): Rosey pink lipgloss with orange and pink glitter. This is a very pigmented lipgloss that can be worn without lipstick and still provide a vibrant color. Very smooth on the lips. It has a nice sweet smell. Not gummy.

Viva Glam VI (Lipglass): mauve toned color with multicolor glitter. This is a very neutral toned lipgloss that is great for all skin tones. Also great for a start color. Smooth on the lips. Sweet smell. Not gummy.

Do It Up (Dazzleglass Creme): Hot pink color with glitter. It is very pigmented and can be worn in place of lipstick, but can also be worn lightly for a light dash of pink. Slight gritty texture. It has a sweet smell. A little gummy. Comes with a brush applicator.

Totally Fab (Dazzleglass Creme): Bright read color with silver and hot pink glitter. Highly pigmented and can be worn in place of lipstick, but also can be worn lightly for a pop of color. Sweet scent. Gritty texture. A little gummy. Brush applicator.

Boy Bait (Cremesheen Glass): Light baby pink, with a hint of shimmer. Not glittery. The perfect color for almost any shade of lipstick. Can be used to tone down a bright lipstick or worn without lipstick for a neutral and very subtle pop of pink. Very easy to wear. Sweet smell. Smooth on the lips.

REVIEW: LAURA MERCIER OIL FREE FOUNDATION

RATING: 2

DESCRIPTION:

This is a medium to full coverage foundation that is buildable. Liquidy formulation. The formulation is oil free, which should be more suited for people with oily skin. Cost $42.00.

THE GOOD:

1. Nice Initial Finish

2. Descent Color range. The shade I was matched to blends nicely with my natural skin tone.

THE BAD:

1. Does not stay fresh looking all day. My face became very oily after only a few hours and it looked terrible.

2. Very transferable. Rubs off with the hint of a touch. I wore some sunglasses and the foundation completely wore off where they lay across my nose.

3. Very expensive. Not worth the cost.

4. The packaging is terrible. The cap to the foundation does not stay on, and I almost dropped the product several times.

5. The foundation does not set on the skin. If not set with powder, it feels like an oil slick on your face. It is a MUST to cover with powder.

OVERALL: I would not purchase this product again. I can hardly bring myself to finish the product, which is a shame because it was expensive. Not worth the money.

TIPS FOR PROM

CLOTHING:

1. Find a dress that you feel comfortable in. You will be wearing it for a long time . . . and you want to be able to pull out the dance moves on the dance floor.

2. Pick a classic dress. It's fun to follow the fads, but in 10 years when you look back you might think to yourself "what was I thinking?"

3. Get a pair of comfortable heels! And wear them a couple of times before the night of the dance. Break them in . . . you don't want to be hobbling around all night because you have blisters.

4. Your dress doesn't have to cost a fortune. My prom dress was the cheapest of all the dresses I bought to go to dances. It was only a $100. JCPenney's actually has a great selection.

5. A dress with pockets can be your best friend! Anything you bring with you will have to be carried all night long. Pockets are a great place to keep lipstick and other random items.

6. Use fun accessories. I wore a tiara to a couple of my dances. And I added little crystals and bows to my hair for a couple of dances.

MAKEUP:

1. Don't go over board. Keep it simple.

2. Pick 1 feature that you would like to highlight. For instance, if you want a bold smokey eye, do a subtle lip and visa versa.

3. If you don't normally wear a lot of makeup, don't feel the need to cake it on for prom. BE YOURSELF!

4. Make sure that you are nicely groomed. If you are going to have your eyebrows waxed, make sure to do it at least a week in advance. I made the mistake before one of my dances to get my brows waxed for the first time the day before the dance. The waxing ripped my skin and I had little scabs all around my eyebrows!

MY FAVORITE BRONZERS

Here are my favorite bronzers:

1. NARS Laguna: The perfect bronzed glow. Not orangey or too dark. Perfect for almost all skin types, even very fair skin. Has a minimal amount of shimmer, not too over the top. Great for contouring or getting that all over glow. Pressed powder.

2. Benefit 10: A two in one product. One half of the powder is a light pink highlighter and the other half is a bronzer. The bronzer is goldish/brown toned, with a tiny amount of shimmer. Not too dark or over the top. Very easy to work with. Not as dark as Laguna from NARS. Really hard to add too much . . . . perfect for the heavy handed person. The highlighter is also great. . . perfect for giving a glow to the cheeks and any other area naturally highlighted. Pressed powder.

3. Benefit One Hot Minute: This product is a loose powder. Very easy to work with. One hot minute is also the most shimmery of my favorites. Perfect for the summer. It is a little more orangey than the other two. I also really love the smell of this product!

**I am still working on trying some drugstore bronzers for a little more affordable bronzer, but I have so many products to work through at the moment.

Here is a video I made of my current makeup collection.

Urban Decay Alice In Wonderland Palette

This palette is $52 and can be found at a variety of stores including Sephora and Ulta. It comes with 16 shadows, 2 eyeliners, and a small primer potion. The palette has a wide variety of colors. Every shadow in the palette is highly pigmented. Great color payoff. About half of the shadows are shimmery, the other half are either shimmery with glitter or matte with glitter. The shimmery shadows include: Underland, Alice, Oraculum, Queen, Muchness, Mushroom, Vorpal, Absolem, and Drink me Eat me. The shimmery shadows with glitter are: Chessur, White rabbit, Wonderland, Curiouser, and Midnight tea party. The matte shadows with glitter are: Mad hatter and Jabberwocky.

This palette is amazing. However, you do have to have a gentle hand to work with the glittery shadows. Pack on the color, and blend lightly and minimally. Use a clean fluffy brush to flick off any fallout or random glittery particles.

Favorite Foundations

Rating Scale:

5/5 Excellent (something that is part of my makeup arsenal . . . I use daily and can't live without it!)

4/5 Very Good (something I use regularly, would repurchase)

3/5 Good (something I enjoyed but don't use often, probably would not repurchase)

2/5 OK (Will use if I have no other options)

1/5 Bad (Does not work well. Doesn't do what it is supposed to)

0/5 An abomination . . . . a waste of money.

***Anything below 3/5 is in troubled water. . . . don't waste your time or money!

HIGH END:

Makeup Forever HD Foundation: Rating 5/5

This foundation provides medium to full coverage. It is buildable, meaning you can add more layers until you are satisfied with the coverage. The formulation is liquidy, but not quit as liquidy as the Revlon Colorstay Foundation. It has a creamy and luxurious texture! It blends effortlessly into the skin, providing a flawless appearance that looks completely natural. Not heavy on the face and is long wearing. Oil free.

Makeup Forever HD Foundation is $4o for 1.00 fl. oz.. This foundation is a little pricey, but it is worth the investment. And remember the average person uses between 1-2 pumps per application. It would take a minimum of several months to work through the product. The packaging is simple and very easy to use. The bottle has a cap that easily stays attached and there is a squirt top dispenser which makes using this foundation very easy.

It is available at Sephora in 25 different shades, amazing right! While the shade range is very good for accommodating most skin tones, I can't stress how important it is to get color matched. Make sure that you have NO residual tanning products or any other type of product that can alter the natural shade of your skin. I also recommend going online before getting color matched, to check out the range and read the descriptions on Sephora.com. They provide a brief but useful description (ex. for fair skin tones with pink undertones). It is important to be an educated consumer. The shades are named with numbers 107, 110, 115, 117 . . . . they are not all sequential . . .

LORAC Natural Performance Foundation: Rating 5/5

Lorac Natural Performance Foundation is a medium to full coverage foundation. This foundation has a creamy consistency, and is very easy to blend into the skin. It feels very light on the skin. The foundation gives the appearance of no makeup at all and lasts amazingly all day long!

So, what makes this foundation special? Well there is a long list. First, this foundation is formulated without parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes, and phthalates. Parabens have been shown to be absorbed into the bloodstream within a few minutes of application and there is some evidence that this chemical is associated with cancer. This foundation is also oil free, which makes it the perfect foundation for those of us with oily skin. The foundation also contains active ingredients such as: xyleine, olive leaf extract, and vitamin A.

This foundation can be purchased at a variety of stores including Sephora and Ulta. It comes in a range of 10 shades, which are distinguished by a number (NP1-NP10). This foundation is a little pricey, $36 for 1.00 fl. oz.. However, I always like to remind people that the average person uses between 1-2 pumps per application. At that rate is takes several months or longer to use an entire bottle. The bottle is all one piece, no cap. The lid rotates to bring up the squirt top dispenser. Very easy to use!

LOW END (meaning more affordable)

Maybelline Super Stay 24HR Makeup: Rating 5/5

Super Stay 24HR Makeup is a medium coverage foundation, however it is buildable. The formulation is a thick liquid, very viscous. Be careful, it takes a little patience to get it out of the bottle . . . if you are too forceful it will end up all over the place. It is smooth in texture and easy to blend into the skin. Provides a very natural looking coverage. Oil free. Apparently transfer free, but there is always a little transfer . . . especially in heat, or moist situations.

This product is available anywhere drugstore makeup is sold (CVS, Walgreens, Target, Walmart, Ulta, Grocery Stores, etc). The cost varies between $7.99-9.99. Look for sales, especially at CVS, Walgreens, and Ulta. You get 1.00 fl. oz. per bottle. It does not have a squirt top dispenser, which makes it a little more work to use. This product comes in 15 shades. These shades are classified as Light, Medium, and Dark. Each specific shade is also given a name and a number.

Revlon Colorstay Foundation: Rating 4/5

The Revlon Colorstay Foundation is a full coverage foundation. It can be applied lighter for a more sheer coverage, but it is generally intended for full coverage use. The formulation is very liquidy, be careful . . . you might end up with it all over your hand! It has a pleasant smell. I really like it for some reason, but I have also heard people liken it to a paint smell. I don't get that comparison, but everyone is different. It has a smooth texture. Takes a little bit of work to blend into the skin and can dry very quickly. It is helpful to work in sections. The finish is flawless. It can look a little heavy . . . so use a light hand. Even if you have skin issues . . . it doesn't help to cake it on all over! Looks great all day long! Oil free! Non-transfer . . . one of the best!

This foundation is available wherever drugstore products are sold. The product is between $9-13 (look for sales). This foundation comes in two formulations: combination/oily and normal/dry. The normal/dry comes in 12 shades and provides and SPF of 15. The combination/oily comes in 20 shades and provides and SPF of 6. There is no pump for this foundation . . . so use with caution!

Maybelline Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Foundation: Rating 4/5

This is a lightweight foundation. It provides a natural looking coverage, but is also buildable for pesky discoloration or problem areas. The formulation is not quite a liquid and not quite a cream . . . somewhere in the middle. It has nice staying power throughout the day. Feels natural, not cakey. This foundation is oil free, talc free, and fragrance free. It has been clinically proven to improve the texture and appearance of skin. Will not clog pores! Contains an SPF of 18. Very easy to blend into the skin. Truly a no fuss foundation!

This product can be found wherever drugstore makeup is sold. It can be purchased for $7.00-$9.00. I always recommend trying to buy drugstore products when on sale! The bottle contains 1.00 fl. oz.. It does not have a dispenser, but it does have a narrow opening which allows for more controlled release of the product. This foundation has a nice color range: 14 shades ranging between light, medium, and dark tones.

Revlon Colorstay Active: Rating 4/5

This is a lightweight foundation that provides surprisingly good coverage. The formulation is liquidy. It is designed for the active person: sweat proof, heat proof, smudge proof, and long wearing. It is oil free, non-pore clogging, and non-irritating. Contains an SPF 25. Perfect for outside use. A very nice product!

This foundation can be found anywhere drugstore products are sold. The foundation can be purchased for $9.00-$12.00 for 1.00 fl. oz.. This product has a slightly restricted color range, only 8 shades. The container is also solid, so it is a little hard to get a feel for the exact color. The color of the packaging changes based on the color of the foundation, which I believe is supposed to mimic the actual color of the product. Nonetheless, it is still hard to get an idea of the tone.

MAC EYESHADOW FINISHES

Hey Guys! In this video I go through 8 of the 9 eyeshadow finishes from Mac. The 9 categories are: Frost, Satin, Velvet, Veluxe, Veluxe Pearl, Lustre, Matte, Matte^2, and Starflash. I do not own any Matte^2 eyeshadows so I can't really describe them for you.

Frost: Shimmery, provide a nice highlight effect, very cream and soft in texture, great to blend. Good Colors to start off with: Nylon, Satin Taupe, Juxt.

Satin: Light sheen, soft and creamy, easy to work with. A good color to start with is Shroom.

Velvet: Flat matte base color with a very small amount of a shimmery particle running through the shadow (the shadow does not look shimmery on the eyelid), soft in texture, easy to work with. Good colors to start off with are Mulch and Vanilla.

Veluxe: Flat in color like a matte shadow, very pigmented, dense/chalky in texture, easy to work with. Good colors to start off with: Kid, and Brown Down. I believe there are only 3 of these types of shadows currently on Mac's website.

Veluxe Pearl: holographic, metallic, multidimensional, they have little flexes of other shimmery colors running through the shadow, very soft and creamy, very easy to work with. Good colors to start off with: Gorgeous Gold, Woodwinked, All that Glitters, Sumptuous Olive,

Lustre: Glitter, shimmery, soft in texture, very messy, I don't recommend buying these.

Matte: Completely flat, No shimmer or glitter, highly pigmented (a little goes a long way), hard/chalky in texture, but still easy to work with. Good colors to start with: Embark, Carbon.

Matte^2: Don't own any, couldn't tell you!

Starflash: Shimmery with a gold tone running through, also soft and creamy (probably not as soft as frosts), easy to work with. My favorite is Go, but it is discontinued. I have found it at a CCO near me though . . . so it is still out there.

I also tried to show examples of each finish and also recommend good colors to start off with. I hope that you all enjoy!

Let me know if you need recommendations on colors to try. Most of my recommendations are really good foundation colors, meaning neutrals, highlights, or crease colors. I didn't go too much into any bright colors.

First Blog! Welcome!

Hello Everyone. So, this is my first blog. I am hoping to create a fun, informative, and positive environment with this website. I am obsessed with all things makeup and beauty related. I hope to use this website as a way to provide informative information to women of all ages, with all types of skin issues, at all price points regarding makeup and other related issues. I will also post random information about things that inspire me or things that really interest me. I think it's important to spice it up sometimes!

Well, I am sure you're all interested in hearing a little more about me. So here it goes. I am 26 . . . turning 27 in May. I can't believe how the time flies. I don't feel old, but the numbers are starting to get a little scary. I have my masters degree in Entomology, which is the study of insects. So, yea, I'm a science nerd at heart, but I also have a lot of creative interests as well (scrapbooking, cooking, photography, etc). I have lived almost my whole life in the Chicagoland area. I have two younger brothers, and very supportive parents.

You may ask yourself, "Why is she so interested in makeup?". Well, here goes. I wore a minimal amount of makeup all throughout high school and college, but when I was studying in graduate school, I didn't have time for all the little extras. So, I abandoned spending time on my appearance for 2 years. When I finished my masters, I started working and I met a lovely coworker, young, beautiful, and intelligent. She inspired me to take a more active interest in my appearance and she introduced me to MAC. I am truly obsessed. Up until that point, I used drugstore products and the only high-end product I used occasionally was Clinique. I turned to YouTube for tutorials on how to apply makeup and taught myself all the basics. I came across some wonderful people on YouTube. One of the first was Lauren Luke. She is truly inspiring.

I spent several months practicing with makeup and developing my skills. After finishing my masters, I had so much free time on my hands, I just didn't know what to do with myself. I realized that my Mac Laptop had a built-in camera and I taught myself how to make and edit movies in imovie. I decided to start making videos because I was bored, but also because I thought that I had a lot of information that would be helpful to other women out there. It's been about 4 months since I started making videos and I already have a more than 300 subscribers. Thanks so much to everyone that supports me. I never really expected to have this many supporters. I was very shy and quiet in the first videos that I made (it is quite daunting to sit in front of a camera, look pretty, sound intelligent, and get all the words to come out correctly), but I became more confident and my real personality started to come out. I love making videos! It has really pushed me to try new things, and to think outside of my safe little box.

Anyhow, I hope that you enjoy! I love hearing feedback! Let me know if there are any specific topics you would like me to address, questions you have, or requests for tutorials.


I hope that you all have a wonderful day!