Upcoming products for review

Hello:
Today I picked up some items at Target that looked interesting and that I haven't seen much buzz on so we will see how they work...

I should have the 2 lips products up by this weekend.

Jasmine

Maybelline'sDream Fresh BB Cream...is a successful surprise!

Hello:

Today I tried Maybelline's Bream Fresh BB cream in Light Sheer.

It is an 8-in-1 Skin Perfector...8!  What are these 8 wonders?

1) Blurs Imperfections
2) Enhances  (I'm a little confused...it just enhances? That's not always a good thing).
3) Brightens
4) Adjusts to skin tone
5) Smoothes
6) Hydrates
7) SPF 30 protects
8) 0% oils and other heavy ingredients

Sooo...basically it's just like the 5 in 1 creams but they just used extras adjectives to get to 8.

But they had a tester at the store and the color was actually very light so I had to try it.

You can see it's a thinner consistency than so of the other balm's I've shown, but it blends in wonderfully.


Here I am with it on my face and nothing else.  It matches really well, and I am so glad there's SPF 30.  You can still see the blemish on my chin, but it looks super natural and it is definetly my new summer go to!  For $7.99 (Walgreens) I'm very glad I found this.

  Jasmine

The A to Z's of Me

Hello:

Whenever I come across a new blog that I think I might want to subscribe to (which is a big decision for me, as I ACTUALLY read the blogs I'm subscribed to everyday)  I always check out the "About Me" section on their blog.  Which got me thinking about my About Me section and how it really doesn't describe me at all!  So I decided to do an About me post.  Here are my A to Z's ~

A - Age : 33 (and I'm having a hard time with it, I want a 20's Do Over)

B-  Bed Size: Queen

C - Chore I dislike: Mowing the Lawn

D- Day: I don't like Tuesday's at work

F - Favorite Color: Black with a punch white, or pink, or turquoise

G - Gold or Silver: both?  It's the design of the piece that matters.

H - Height: 5'8

I - Instrument: Piano

J - Job Title: Creative Experience Manager

K - Kids: no thanks

L - Live: Chicago

M - Mom's Name: Lisa

N - Nicknames: Jazz, J-lo

O - Overnight stay at hospital: No, thank goodness

P - Pet Peeve: I have a lot...

Q - Quote from a Movie/TV show: Ron Burgundy: Brian, I'm gonna be honest with you, that smells like pure gasoline. Brian Fantana: They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time, it works every time. - From Anchorman

R- Right or left-handed: right-handed

S - Siblings: 3 younger brothers

T - Time you wake up: between 9am and 11am (but I work crazy late!)

U - Underwear: plain and comfortable

V - Vegetable you hate: I don't like red or yellow peppers

W - What makes you run late: not much unless, I oversleep 

X - X-rays you've had: my teeth and chest

Y - Yummy food you make: Comfort food - Lasagna, Enchiladas, Meatloaf...

Z - Zoo: I've been to many!  San Diego, Minnesota, Brookfield, St. Louis, North Eastern Wisconsin...

Ok... so that's me...Let me know about you!  Pick a letter any letter to comment on.

Jasmine

NP Set's Memory Foundation...is a just another name for tinted moisturizer.

Hello:

Last week I was strolling down the Target aisles and I came across NP Set's Memory Foundation and I was excited because they have a few different shades including "Extra Light", which you don't see often.  There were no testers, so I had to hope for the best.

Now, on the front of the box it says Memory Foundation, but as soon as you turn it around it says "A tinted moisturizer that recreates younger, dewier skin."  WHAT?  You can't call it one thing and then another.  I have very different expectations for a foundation vs. a tinted moisturizer.  But I'm going to go with it being a tinted moisturizer, as NP Set describes it as "Set 1 is an extra light shade, ideal for fair skin tones. Memory Foundation is a hydrating, nourishing tinted moisturizer that smooths the appearance of imperfections while promoting suppleness and radiance. Vitamins E and C condition, brighten and supply antioxidant protection while seaweed extract thoroughly nourishes. Skin is smooth, hydrated and flawless in appearance."

I like the plain bottle

Even "Extra light" is still a bit darker than my lovely skin - notice how close in color I am to a white wall.

It is very creamy in texture, as you would expect from a tinted moisturizer, and a little goes a long way.  I doesn't feel heavy on, and it blended nicely.  I'll agree it smooths imperfections, and gives the skin a dewy glow. 

After - I'm not "perfected" but smoothed out a bit and less shiny.

Here I am before a bit shiny.



Overall, it's the best tinted moisturizer I've come across froma non-speciality store an at $28 a bottle it better be :)  But you get 1.76 oz.   I wore it on a hot, humid day with a little powder and I didn't have any seperation or oil splotches.  It's probably best for those with combination to dry skin as it is definetly a moisturizer and not a foundation per se.  Just wish it had some SPF!

Jasmine



Today I tried a "blog hop" !

Hello:

Lately I've realized I can't hope that people will randomly find my blog thru Google and just like it.  If I want people to read I have to network...just like "real" life.  So I linked up with This Girl's Life's Wednesday Blog Hop
Check it out Here!

I have looked a lots of blog hops and actully follow about 10 new blogs because I found site's I would have never found any other way!  So go find something good to read :)

Jasmine

Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain... Kiss-a-licious but misses out on the Stain

Hello:

Recently I tried Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous, a fun wearable coral. 

You can see some gold fleck in this photo, but I really didn't see it once it was on.

The product goes on smoothly, and has a slight minty smell.  It did not feel as rich and creamy as the Pixi Balm stain I tried recently (see review here).  To me it seemed more like a tinted chapstick, not a stain.  It  came off quite easily with eating and drinking and just...wearing.  It's a lovely color though, and definetly hydrating, so I would wear it just for that.  But I was hoping for the long lasting performance of a stain.

Bare lips

With Rendezvous

Overall, I'm glad I got this color, it will be great to throw in the purse.  But if I'm looking for a stain, I'll have to go elsewhere :(

Jasmine

Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm...is brilliant

Hello:

Today I am reviewing Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm in #7 Rosy Red, which I got at Target for $16.00. 

Pixi's website describes this product as:

"Super-nourishing, lip-staining balm that keeps lips in optimum condition while giving them lush colour.
What it is formulated to do:
Packed with lip-loving ingredients, this glossy gel balm protects & hydates lips instantly. After the balm wears off, lips are left tinted with a flattering, personalized hue just for you (colour & intensity depends on pH level of lips).
Twist-up crayon requires no sharpening."

I wanted to see how this compares to the other tinted balm "lipsticks" like Revlon and Tarte have out.  I really like the color first of all, it's not as much coverage as full on red lipstick, but not a 'GLOSSY' gloss.  It feels GREAT on!  Just like I'm wearing my favorite lip balm.  It does settle into dry spots though...you can only really notice it up close, but a good exfoilliation would have probably helped.  It felt moisturizing for a good few hours, and is definetly perfect to throw in the purse because touch ups would be a breeze.  

Bare lips

2 swipes of tinted balm

 I think I got lucky that I like the color so much, as there are not tester to see what the colors "actually" look like (at least not at my Target).  However I never met a red lipstick I didn't like so the $16 choice wasn't such a gamble, I really like the formula so I may just HAVE to try the others :)

Jasmine

L'Oreal's Youth Code BB Cream... is not "fair" friendly

Hello:

I'm not sure I've ever mentioned why my blog is @ formosacandidus.blogspot.com, it is because formosa candidus means beautiful pale in Latin and as a very pale individual I have a hard time finding beauty products that are light enough or have enough sunscreen.  When all these Beauty Balms started coming on the market I was excited because a true Asian Beauty Balm is protective form the sun and aims to give more even, "whiter" skin.  And of course most Americans do not find pale well, pretty.  So I have tried 5 BB creams with little success and L'oreal's Youth Code is no different. 

As you can see from the box it claims 5 main benefits:

• Evens
• Illuminates
• Perfects
• Moistuizes
• Corrects 

 I got mine at Walgreen's for $17.99 plus tax (Which is 9.75%) here so it is like $20 when you are said and done.  It does have a small amount of sunscreen but not the SPF 35 it needs to have to not just be another tinted moisturizer.  Also it only comes in Light and Medium and as you can see from my swatch below on a truly "light" person it is quite dark.

 The consistancy is thick and a little goes a long way.  It did feel moisturizing and it claims the "perfecting" part comes from a week of use, but if it's not a good color for me, so no way I'm looking like an oompa loompa to see results.  I buried my vanity for the pictures below to show that it does NOT correct you can see the small blemish on my chin fully before and after.

before

After

I think in fact I look worse after becuase as you can see on my neck I look orange and I BUFFED that stuff in.  I also look very shiny which is not my cup of tea. After a bit it "soaked in" and I will have to store this for use as a possible primer for dry, winter days.  I said I wasn't going to review any more BB's but at this point I just need to order the "real" deal from oversees and save myself some $. 

Jasmine