Thursday, March 29, 2012

Estee Lauder's Invisible Fluid Makeup...was an unseen misstep

Hello:

Yesterday I tried Estee Lauder's Invisible Fluid Make-up which the company describes as: "See no makeup. Feel no makeup. First-ever IntuiTone technology guarantees your true-to-life shade and keeps it real in every light. Fresh, flawless, radiant. Ultra light, ultra breathable, oil-free."

The foundation went on very smoothly and did give my skin a "fresh, radiant" look.  Although in the picture above it looks warmer than my skin tone the IntuiTone technology must work because it blended with my skintone very well. It also made my skin feel very soft. The coverage is moderate. This foundation reminds me of Lancome's Teint Miracle in that it starts of as a very natural, dewy look but thru the day it breaks down and your face looks oily in about 5 hours.  With a mattifying primer underneath I think it would retain its begining look.



With Invisible Fluid
Before

The dissapoint is if you have use a primer to keep from turning into an oil slick than you might as well just use a product like Estee Lauders Double Wear or Lancome's new Teint Idole 24H. 

Next up... Eyeshadow Primer,

Jasmine







Monday, March 26, 2012

Estee Lauder's Illuminating Perfecting Primer ... did not light up my life

Hello:

Today I tried Estee Lauder's Illuminating Perfecting Primer.  It's a bit different from traditional primers in that it gives your face a hint of shine (illuminating), where traditional primers are usually ment to make the face less shiny and keep you matte throughout the day.  Estee Lauder describes the product as: "Discover the power of a primer with this targeted formula that adds instant brightness and radiance so makeup looks smooth, fresh, flawless. Soft-reflection optics minimize the look of pores and flaws to create an even, supple canvas. Special hydrators and skin-soothing Vitamin E, Rice Bran Extract and Shea Butter nourish and perfect. Ideal for Normal/Combination and Dry Skin."




It definetly made my skin soft and gave it a soft, dewy glow.  I would most likely wear this alone on a "natural" day, as I didn't see a lot of difference once I put my foundation on.

Before Illuminating Primer
After Primer - you can see I am bit more even





















It helped my foundation stay on all day, but I am definetly more of a fan of primers that give a matte effect.  But if you have really "dull" skin or want something to use with a tinted moisturizer for a dewy effect (especially if you are tan!) it could be good for you.

With Illuminating Primer and Teint Miracle on

Next up...Estee Lauder's new Invisable Fluid Makeup,

Jasmine

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Lancome Teint Idole 24H Foundation...is Fantastic!

Hello!

Today I tried out Lancome's new Foundation Teint Idole 24H (the old formula was the Teint Idole Ultra).  I am not even going to really compare the two as the formulas are quite different, but both are a moder/full coverage.  The new Teint Idole 24H is described by Lancome as: "The full coverage you need – flaws, pores, redness and all imperfections visibly disappear. The velvety finish you love for 24-hour lasting perfection and comfort. Full coverage. Velvety matte finish with no powdery effect.  Oil-free. Fragrance-free. Transfer-free. Non-comedogenic. Tested on sensitive skin. Tested under dermatological control."

I'm shade 100 by the way
Although it looks yellow on my skin this is the closest foundation match I have ever found
It went on really smooth and it lives up to it claims of a lightweight, flawless finish all day.  Not a hint of oiliness seeped through and I didn't use a primer.  It comes in 28 shades and you can usually get a 10 day sample to try if you ask at the counter. 

with Teint Idole 24H





If you are looking for a long lasting foundation in a wide variety of colors this may be the one for you!

Next up...Estee Lauder Illuminating Primer,

Jasmine




Friday, March 23, 2012

Face of the Day! #3 Smokey Blue

Hello:

Today I did a smokey blue eye with a severe cut crease (which I didn't manage to capture at all in the picture) I used a deep matte blue and a cream color for the lid.  It turned out quite well and the picture doesn't do the color justice!


I'll put up info on the products I used soon (it's a lot!)  I also should have a review of Lancome Teinte Idole Ultra 24H and Estee Lauder's Illuminating Primer coming soon.

Jasmine

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Face of the Day! #2 Under the Rainbow

Hello! 
 Here is my face of the day - I really wish I could get the colors to show a little more "true".  It's based on a look I saw on Pinterest but with a few tweaks. It's beining to feel like summer here so I thought a burst of color was appropriate!


Products Used:

Face-
MUFE HD Primer
Teint Miracle Foundation in Ivoire 1
Ageless Mineral Powder in Translucent
Physcian Formula Bronzer (Healthy Wear SPF50)
Loreal The One Sweep in Flush Rose
Chanel Crayon Sourcils Sculpting Eyebrow Pencil in Blond Clair
Hard Candy Nobody's Perfect Concealer Palette

Eyes-
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Too Faced shadow in TotallyToasted & Silk Teddy
Tony & Tina eyeshadow in Kinetic and Magnetic
Covergirl eyeshadow in French Vanilla
Lancome Ocillation Mascara



Hope you all are enjoying the nice weather !


Jasmine

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Bright Expert Exorcises My Face - Week 6

Hello:

One again it's time for my Bright Expert comparison, I have been using this day and night for 6 weeks now and it's definitely made my skin brighter and more even and had eliminated about 50% of my freckles. But I think to get to pure white, even skin I'm going to have to do a series of chemical peels.  And with summer coming up I'm going to have to increase mt SPF application to more than once a day.  I was outside for 20 minutes today and even though I put on my SPF 70 this morning a whole new batch of freckles appeared :( 
After using Bright Expert for 6 weeks
Before Bright Expert





















Overall I think it's a good product for more mature skin with age spots that are larger in size and not my freckles that pop up with very little provocation.

Jasmine

Thursday, March 8, 2012

NP Set Calming Pre-Foundation Primer is a solid contender

Hello,

Today I tried NP Set Calming Pre-Foundation Primer ($29 at Target).  It is green in color and relatively creamy for a primer the company describes it as "The liquid goes on without leaving a trace, and its calming formula helps to reduce redness and even out your skin tone. " 
         
The green tint is really subtle you don't really notice it all once it's on (and as green cancels out red generally, one would think this would help with any redness).

Before Primer
After primer I notice a slight reduction in redness and shine





















I think my foundation went on about the same but I got a nice finish and it really helped it stay in place through a busy day that normally would have left my face a chalky mess.


It's a good deal for 1.7oz (almost twice the size of most primers), and works pretty well so if you are looking for something to tone down a little redness and keep your makeup on this is you stuff .

Jasmine

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Bright Expert Exorcises My Face - Week 5

Hello:
5 weeks after Bright Expert

Once again it is time to look at my face and decide if the freckles are fading.  This will been the 5th week I have diligently used Bright Expert AM & PM before moisturizing.  There is definitely been improvement but I was really hoping for more.  But I think often what you hope for skincare-wise might not be available in a bottle :)










Well that's all for tonight,

Jasmine

Monday, March 5, 2012

Lancome's La Base Pro is another Promising but Pricey option

Hello:

Today I tried Lancome's La Base Pro $42.  The company describes it as "This amazing oil-free makeup base creates a smooth, radiant, and long-lasting canvas for a polished look. Exclusive Lancôme Elasto-Smooth technology refines skin's texture and diffuses light to visibly reduce imperfections, creating a satin-soft finish. Makeup glides on seamlessly. Color stays more true and vibrant for an air-brushed look all day." 


It has a bit of the weird thick, soft feel, but once its on it is weightless.  And it does make your skin feel satin soft.  It definetly helped my foundation go on smoother and helped control oil for the day.  As you can see in the pictures below I don't know if it reduced imperfections but it gives a nice finish for applying your foundation.

Before La Base Pro
After La Base Pro






















I don't think it gave me the airbrushed quality it claims but it is a good primer and helped keep my foundation from getting chalky over 10 hours.

With La Base Pro and Teint Miracle Foundation



It's another good Primer but at $42 for 1oz, and MakeUp Forever at $36 for the same ounces, I'm going to save the $8 and put towards some more products :)

Next up Napolean Pardis Anti-Redness Primer,

Jasmine

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Arbonne Primer is Pricey but Pleasant

Hello:

Today I tried Arbonne's Makeup Primer (it is sold like Avon thru their website or a representative - $36).  I like the feel and the smell of this product for than others I've tried so far, it has all natural ingredients which is a bonus too. 
As with all the primers I've tried a little goes a long way

The company describes the product simply as "Vitamin-rich makeup primer visually diminishes fine lines and pores, creating a canvas for flawless makeup application."  I think it did make my face look less shiny and smoother. 

Before primer
After Primer application























Interestingly I actually needed a little more foundation than I normally do to cover my face, but my foundation went on smoothly and I got no oily spots thoughout the day.  It's a very nice, very pricey primer.  So if you want something natural that works great this is your stuff!


With Primer and Teint Miracle on
Next up La Base Primer by Lancome,

Jasmine

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Bright Expert Exorcises My Face - Week 4

Hello:

Today marks my 4th week of using Lancome's Bright Expert to treat the hyperpigmentation on my face (also known as freckles).  I still am not sure how much is actually fading and how much is hopeful wishing... My skintone is more even and my skin is "brighter" and healthier looking so I'm going to give it another 2 weeks and after that I'm going to chemical peels.
Before I started Bright Expert
Bright Expert Week 4
Now I just need to find a dark circle miracle cure!

Jasmine

Hard Candy's Face Primer is "Hard"ly worth it

Hello,

Yesterday I tried Hard Candy's Face Primer (the Sheer Envy Version, the have an Illuminating and a Skin Perfecting version).  You can buy it at Wal-Mart for around $8.  I believe it's definitely a silicone based primer, as it is clear and has that strange overly soft, thick gel feel.
Be forewarned a little goes a LONG way!

Hard Candy's website describes the product as "Sheer Envy Primer helps to even out the skin while reducing shine. Improves foundation application while minimizing skin imperfections. Make-up lasts longer and skin is left velvety smooth."  Those statements my be true for some but I didn't see the effects.  I got really oily throughout the day.  I don't think my skin likes all that silicone!  As you can also see from the pictures below - I don't really think it evened out my skin.  Skin Imperfections - I don't have a lot right now so it's hard for me to judge, but I think it would exacerbate any on coming acne I had.
Before Primer
After Primer




















As you can see there is little difference in the Before and After.  My foundation went on as smoothly as it does without primer but as I said I got abnormaly oily within a few hours.  It's not a BAD primer per se, but I don't think most would be a fan and for a few dollars more you can get better product.

With my Teint Miracle foundation on


So onto the next primer...Lancome's La Base,
Jasmine