October Favorites!

October 2013 Products of the Month:

Oh boy!  It's been a bit since I got around to doing a favorites post, and even longer since I did a video for one.  Sometimes I get so caught up in the individual daily reviews that I forget to add some other types of content to me blog here.  This is kind of like a review of course, but at least it's in a different format and is a bit more conversational.  Hope you enjoy! 

Lips:

Urban Decay Stardust Lipgloss- I think I picked this lip gloss up from Ulta.com one day.  One of those random things you just throw in your online cart to reach the free shipping qualifications, but it was one of the best random buys I've ever made.  It's got a minty taste and smell to it and the color is a cool and funky iridescent pink with hints of peach, gold, and even lavender shimmer.  It goes perfectly over bare lips for an interesting take on glossy lips.  It's available from Ulta.com and in Ulta stores, and it's currently on clearance from UrbanDecay.com. 

Sonia Kashuk Lip Crayon-  Red lips are all the rage this fall, and I've been trying a ton of different red lip products because I intend to film a video on the best red lip products.  We'll see if I get around to it, but in the meantime it did lead me to an amazing lip crayon by Sonia Kashuk.  It's the perfect deep red for my fair skintone, and it doesn't clash at all with my red hair.  I think it'd be a pretty universal shade for just about everyone.  I love that I can just draw it on and fill in my lips, so it doubles as a lipstick and liner in one product.  It's easy to tote in my purse or even my pocket, but I don't feel that I need a lot of touching up.  It stays really well, and the satin matte finish is really flattering.  It's not the uber dry looking matte of some lipsticks, but it doesn't look like freshly applied "moist" lipstick either. Sonia Kashuk products are available online at Target.com or in Target stores nationwide.

Face:

Tarte BB Treatment Primer- I got this in my QVC set last month and have been loving how it sits on my skin and preps it for the perfect foundation finish.  I don't get a lot of coverage with the BB treatment alone, and I'm pretty sure that's why they call it a primer rather than a BB cream.  They have their own separate BB cream product that has much more coverage to it.  This is truly more like a primer, only tinted, and combines the skincare benefits of a BB cream with it.  This is available QVC.com, Tartecosmetics.com, Ulta.com, and Sephora.com as well as in stores.  I recommend picking it up from QVC, as for only $1.68 more you get a buffing brush with it!


Tarte BB Concealer- Along the lines of the BB cream, Tarte has created a skin beneficial concealer as well.  I go more into depth on this in my review of the set as a whole, but it's a very similar product to the Maracuja Creaseless Concealer only in a compact form rather than a tube.  It definitely needs to be set, especially under the eyes, but I love how well it covers and how convenient the packaging is.  Something about compact/cream concealers that I just love.  I think I've used this product ever day since I got it (that I wear makeup of course! cuz honestly who really needs makeup being a housewife with no one to impress? can I get an amen?).  This was a life saver out in San Fransisco with the long flights and taking the red eye back.  Side note: remind me to never again fly home on the red eye when I have to check out of my hotel at noon.  Almost 10 hours of nothing to do and needing to store my luggage at the concierge desk is not very smart of me.  I can't find this product listed individually anywhere, but the QVC.com website lists it as being an exclusive to them until 11/30/13 in the Beauty Without Boundaries Set where I got it from.  I assume that after that time it will be available from the other outlets for Tarte products.

Tarte Dual Sided Concealer Brush-  This is one of the best concealer brushes I've ever used, and I wish that it was available for individual purchase!  I'd buy a ton of them!  (I'm a total brush whore...)  It's such a unique concept that it combines to different textures of hairs to give you a different finish depending on which side you use.  I love to apply it with the light colored side and then flip it and blend it in with the darker side.  I haven't tried it out with other concealers yet, but if I can get my hands on any more without having to buy the whole set over again (which is seriously tempting because the price is so amazing for how much you get) I'll be using them on clients and recommending them left and right.

Body/Hair:

Perlier Volcanic Spa Scrub-  You can read my individual review of this product here, but now that I've been using it for several weeks I have to say that my skin has never felt or looked better.  I have keratosis pilaris, which means that the hair follicles on my body produce too many skin cells and clog/block my hair from growing correctly.  This creates a lot of ingrown hairs and little bumps all over my body, but particularly on the backs of my arms and on my thighs.  Since I opt to wax my legs every few weeks instead of shaving daily, it's essential that I keep my body properly exfoliated so that I can keep the bumps at bay.  I really love how this scrub isn't oily, so I don't have to worry about slipping in the shower.  And the smell is nice and refreshing, not overly sweet or heavy.  Perlier products like this one are available on HSN.com.

Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Milk Shampoo-  You can read a review of the Healthy Sexy Hair soy line here.  Honestly, my hair has never felt softer or been more shiny since I started using this shampoo!  It has a great subtle smell and suds up nicely without stripping the moisture or the color from my hair.  It's been really nourishing on its own.  You can purchase from Sexyhair.com, Ulta.com and Ulta stores, even Target.

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. This article contains some affiliate links provided through Viglink.com. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Product Review- Eve Pearl Concealer Trio

Eve Pearl Concealer Trio

From the Brand:   

This luxurious, lightweight cream provides the most versatile sheer - medium - full coverage with a non-greasy texture that glides on the under eyes area or face, while allowing your skin to breathe. It blends into the skin and the universal spectrum of color in the pigments adapt to the skin tone and the changes caused by body chemistry, weather and sun exposure. Ideal for use when flawless precision is required with High Definition Cameras, Lights and REAL LIFE...for all ages.

For all skin types, especially sensitive skin.  No more blotchy skin. No more redness!!

Retails for:   $49.00-$52.00

Where to Buy:   EvePearl.com, CameraReadyCosmetics.com, Amazon.com

My Thoughts:   This has honestly got to be one of my Holy Grail kind of cosmetics item.  For someone who attends the makeup shows in New York faithfully for the past five years and trolls the makeup world forums for information on the best products, this has been recommended over and over and over again with good reason!  I actually read Eve Pearl's book "Plastic Surgery Without the Surgery: The Miracle of Makeup Techniques" back when I was working at the Prescriptives counter at Dillards just after my oldest had been born.  It wasn't until a few years later attending the Makeup Show NYC that I got to hear her speak in person and try out her cosmetics line.  She is who convinced me that conventional makeup wisdom that using a yellow tinted concealer under your eyes or a pink tinted concealer even was not the proper way to cover dark circles.  Peach (or salmon as she refers to it) is the proper way to neutralize the blue shadows under your eyes and cover without having to pile on the makeup.

I purchased the concealer Trio "A" while at said makeup show about four years ago.  It has done wonders for me!  Not only does it counteract the blue tint under my eyes and that of my clients, there are two shades of concealer for blending around the rest of the face.  It's a pretty universal palette for the fair to medium shade skin tones, which is the primary clientele I seem to work on most in my professional life, and of course it fits me perfectly as well.  Even though the salmon color looks really dark, even with my fair skin once I put it under my eyes the circles are immediately gone!  I apply it under my foundation so that it does match a bit better, but I'm using a sponge (like the one from Qosmedix.com) to stipple it over the top for a really seamless coverage.

You can see in the photo just how much use I get out of it, and it got a little hot when I was trying to photograph it and melted a bit.  I've also dropped it a few times, and eventually the lid snapped off.  I think I've gone through 3-4 of these over the years, picking up a new one at the makeup shows every time I'm there.

The formulation of these is super creamy, so make sure you use it sparingly.  I pat some on under the eyes and give it a few minutes to warm up with the heat of the body.  This will cause a bit of slip, so I then rework it over the skin with either a sponge, my fingertips, or a fluffy brush like the Real Techniques Setting Brush to give it the perfect thin layer, and then use a single ply tissue or toilet paper square to blot off excess oils and set it into the skin.  Then, top with foundation of your choice or powder.

Final Verdict:  Holy Grail product for sure.

 

 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Product Review- Dr. Brandt BB Matte Cream

Dr. Brandt BB Matte Cream Review


From the Brand:
What it is:
An all-in-one oil-free beauty balm designed for oily/combination skin that provides instant mattifying coverage and oil-control for flawless, youthful, and healthy-looking skin.

What it is formulated to do:
Developed to treat, protect, mattify, and even skintone, BB Matte with signature Shinerase™ leaves combination, oily, and acne-prone skin looking fresh and flawless. It blends seamlessly with the skin providing an instant skin makeover, erases shine for a matte look, and covers skin imperfections like post-blemish discoloration, redness, enlarged pores, and acne scars. A highly effective treatment as well as a great alternative to makeup, this product doesn’t clog pores, hydrates, minimizes the appearance of line and wrinkles, brightens skintone, and provides full broad spectrum protection from UVA/UVB rays.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Phthalates

What else you need to know:
BB Matte is an oil-free mattifying formula ideal for hot and humid weather with 100 percent mineral filters. Recommended for oily/combination skin, blemish-prone skin, sensitive skin, or anyone looking for a shine-free complexion, it is available in two shades, can be used with or as a substitute for foundation, and offers buildable coverage.

Retails for:  $39.00


Where to Buy:  Sephora.com and Sephora stores, Beauty.com, DrBrandtSkincare.com


My Thoughts:  This came in one of my Glossybox monthly subscriptions a while back, and while I'm very happy that the shade matched me, I'm a little disappointed that it doesn't work that well with my dry skin.  That being said, I'm not sure how it would work on someone with oily or combination skin, as I didn't find much mattifying at all with this product.  It does have enough pigmentation to do a decent job of evening out my skintone without looking like foundation, but I noticed that my skin looked almost dewey for a while before any shine went away.  I'm not sure how long is normal or if it's supposed to mattify the skin immediately.  If it's supposed to be a mattifying BB cream, I'd assume that it should mattify the skin right away.  I'm curious to see how people with combination skin or oily skin feel about this product.  I'm a little torn, because I did like the coverage but felt that it's not the right product for my skin.


Final Verdict:  Not for me, but it may be a perfect BB cream for those with oily skin.

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. This article contains some affiliate links provided through Viglink.com. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Product Review- e.l.f. Eyeshadow Primer

e.l.f. Essential Eyelid Primer Review


From the Brand: Preps your eyelid for smoother, longer-lasting and crease-proof eyeshadow. The lightweight liquid formula quickly absorbs into the skin for comfortable wear and increases eye color longevity.

Retails for:  $1.00



Where to Buy:  eyeslipsface.com, select Target stores


My Thoughts:  For only one tiny measly dollar, this eyeshadow primer sure packs a punch!  I wouldn't put it up on the same tier as the Too Faced or Urban Decay versions, but this is more than sufficient for people on a budget who want their eyeshadow to last longer than on bare lids alone.

It's easy to apply with the wand, although I caution against using it on the lid directly if you'll be applying it to multiple people.  Even when using it on myself, I still put some on the back of my hand then work it in an even layer over my ring fingertip for the most even and sanitary application.  Since this has no color to it, it's great for any skin tone, but if you have discoloration on your lid that you'd like to hide, be sure to add some concealer or foundation over your eyelids first before applying the eyeshadow primer.


Final Verdict:  Don't let the price tag deter you!  This eyeshadow primer really works!

 

**Disclaimer:  This article contains affiliate links.  As with all my articles, the opinions expressed herein are fully my own.  For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.