Category Archives: Face

Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation 010 Light Porcelain 

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Soooooo, before I even get started, let me just say, this shade of this foundation is only sold in the UK, as best as I can tell.  The lightest shade of this foundation in the United States is Light Ivory, which you can see on me here:

  
HOLY CRAP, NO!!  I totally returned that the next day.  How about that fabulous lipstick though?  (Maybelline Creamy Matte Siren In Scarlet)

I knew that 010 Light Porcelain existed in the Rimmel Stay Matte (entirely too dry and not long lasting on me at all), so I did a quick search for this color in other Rimmel foundations.  Apparently 010 Light Porcelain is sold in Lasting Finish and Match Perfection, just not in the United States.  Our shades start one shade darker, because the company hates me.  (LOL)

I did what any reasonable person would do, and bought a bottle on eBay.  I paid $10.00 USD and got free shipping, so only $3.00 more than what the U.S. version costs, and the UK version HAS A PUMP!  And it’s a good pump!  BEHOLD, look how the other half lives:

  
Seriously, Rimmel?  Why do you cheap out on us in the U.S.?  WE KNOW YOU CAN GET THE PUMPS.

And look…oh my god.  If you’re a gal with Scots-Irish in ya, I guess you need to buy your makeup from across the pond:

  
AND THE ANGELS SANG!

As long as this doesn’t break me out, this could become my less expensive replacement for MAC Studio Fix Fluid.  I’ve been looking for something that doesn’t dry my skin out as bad as Studio Fix Fluid (which I cannot even wear in the winter) and has a slightly more satin finish.  This has that beautiful satiny look once it sets.  It supposedly has a “comfort serum,” and I can attest that it’s not drying and doesn’t make my face feel tight. This foundation is a similar shade to NW10 and has more coverage.  It’s definitely buildable and blends easily, which is nice.  I was able to blend a cream blush flawlessly over this with ease!  Most long wear foundations are hard to do that with, as they dry to a very powdery finish.  I set this with a loose powder (a super light dusting of MAC Set Powder) and it just looks beautiful.  I am wearing it quite full here, but it could be sheered out, too.  This does have a light fruity fragrance, but compared to most long wear foundations that smell like paint, I think it’s quite nice.  Between the bottle, the feel, and the look of the product, it seems like a higher end product.

Ok, fingers crossed for no reactions or breakouts or dehydration, etc.  I will certainly keep you guys posted!  American folks, if you don’t want to get this on eBay or Amazon, I have heard this is also carried on Asos! 

What’s your go-to foundation?  

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Hard Candy Glamoflauge Foundation – Oily, Pale Folks Rejoice!! 

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HAY GIRL HAY!  Or guy.  Whomever is reading, LOL!  I have been away for a few days having a great 4th of July here in the U.S., which for us mainly means cooking things on grills even if it rains, drinking too much, and blowing shit up.  WOO, AMERICA!  *ahem*.  ANYHOO.  Now that I’ve reinforced some stereotypes (giggle), I’ll tell you about a few things I picked up at Walmart from the Hard Candy line.

  
(Glamoflauge Foundation in Porcelain, Glamoflauge Concealer in Ultra Light, nail polishes in Bachelor Party and Crush on Lava)

So, something bizarre and REALLY unusual happened to me with the Hard Candy Glamoflauge Foundation in Porcelain.  Not only did I find a cheap ($7.00) drug store foundation light enough for me, this foundation is TOO light for me.  This stuff makes MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW10 look positively TAN.  This is why I had to come on here and tell you folks about this stuff.  You guys, this is LIGHT. 

  
I ended up with the Ivory shade in the Glamoflauge to try, and I did some swatches.  The bottom swatch is MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW10.  The one above that is Hard Candy Glamoflauge in Ivory (this too is lighter and more yellow than NW10!).  The one on the top is Hard Candy Glamoflauge in Porcelain – you can see it’s super light and very yellow.  Just for fun, over to the left I put Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless in Porcelain.  It’s also very light and yellow, but not as extreme as the Hard Candy (also much lighter coverage).

  
So, here I am in the Hard Candy in Ivory.  It blended out so easily over the NYX Photo Loving Primer I always use.  The Hard Candy foundation has a liquid texture, but has very high pigment and a solid medium coverage.  It dries quickly and is not really buildable after it dries, so you have to work fast.  I’m used to fast drying foundations so this isn’t an issue.  I used my Beauty Blender with this; I do not think it would blend as well with fingers.  It does not need to be set with a powder.  

Unfortunately, the formula of this foubdation does not work for my 44-year-old skin.  I’m combination to dry with some fine lines, and this foundation showed off every wrinkle I have.  I think, however, it would be a fabulous foundation for younger, oily skin.  It also really exacerbated the dehydrated skin of my cheeks and made them feel very uncomfortable and tight.  To be fair, Studio Fix Fluid does this too, just not this bad.  All in all, if you’re very fair and have oily skin, you may love this.  Sadly, there were not many deep shades, which really sucks.  Step it up, Hard Candy. 

I went out today looking for something more suited to combination/dry skin and came up with Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation, so look for a new review in the future after I try that for a while! 

I’m going to try these nail polishes over the next couple of days.  Hope they are as awesome as they loo in the bottles. 

Oh!! Sad to say, the Ultra Light Glamoflauge Concealer doesn’t really color match the foubdation, so it’s sort of useless.  I exchanged it as it is just too dark.  If your shade in the foubdation is “Fair,” you may like it. 

What’s your go to foundation this summer?  Or is it too hot where you are to wear it?  (Looking at you Kristin) 

Makeup of the Day – with Guerlain Meteorites

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You guys.  I really need to get out the Guerlain Meteorites more often, right?  I look like I used a beauty filter on my camera or something…except I didn’t!  

  
What I used:

Kat Von D Lock-It Featherweight Primer (this sadly was too rich for my combination skin), MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW10, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly, NYX HD Concealer in Porcelain around the nose and to spot conceal, MAC Invisible Set Powder to set concealer, NYX HD blush in Taupe to Contour, Smashbox Baby Pink blush (Wondervision Mega Palette), Guerlain Meteorites in Clair all over to brighten, MAC Mineralized Skinfinish in Lightscapade on cheekbones

EYES:  Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Duo in Ebony (light side) with angled brush set with ELF Clear Brow Gel, Bobbi Brown Cream Eyeshadow in Bone, Smashbox shadows in Beige, Fawn, and Blue (Wondervision Mega Palette), L’Oreal Infallible Gel Liner in Black with MAC 210 Precise Liner Brush, Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara

LIPS:  NARS Rikugien satin lip pencil (Sephora 2015 birthday gift)

What are you wearing today? 

Kat Von D Lock-It Featherweight Primer — First Impression

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I got a sample of this foundation primer with my last Sephora order and kept forgetting to try it!  I finally got around to using it today.  Here’s what Sephora has to say about the product:

What it is:
A lightweight, water-based face primer that hydrates, smoothes, and protects skin while it reduces the appearance of pores—creating the perfect canvas for long-wear foundation application.

What it does:
Get locked-in hydration, locked-up comfort with this fast-absorbing, water-based primer. It’s the ultimate prep step that hydrates, protects skin, and smooths the appearance of pores for flawless makeup application. This innovative, lightweight formula is formulated with advanced polymers that help even out the skin’s surface while it provides a flexible, protective barrier to prevent foundation from settling into fine lines and pores. Scentless, colorless, and weightless, it delivers essential hydration and its infused with vitamin B5, aloe vera, jojoba, and shea to bring nourishment to the skin’s surface, leaving it feeling refreshed and comfortable all day—even underneath long-wear, full-coverage foundation.

My take:

I sort of had a feeling this product was not going to be for me, but I wanted to give it a shot.  I felt like maybe this was going to be more suited to normal to dry skin types and I am more normal to combination.  This is a water based primer, but I was not prepared for it to feel like…well, it just feels like lotion.  Just plain old straight up…lotion.  Like lightweight plain old buy-it-at-the-drugstore lotion.  I guess I’m not used to primers that don’t feel…primer-y.  Like, oil controlling, or siliconey with some slip, or something.  I was putting this product on and kind of not seeing the point?  It didn’t really blur pores or minimize fine lines or anything like that.  It definitely felt hydrating, which is nice, but I get properties like that from my skincare, which I always use before I use a primer.  I suppose if you are extra dry and need that little boost of moisture, this could be great.  But, this is an extra step for $32.00, and as far as actual foundation priming, I didn’t see it doing much.  It did give a dewy look to the skin, which can be nice.  In my case, in the summer, I need something that will control oil and fill pores, so this product isn’t right for me in the first place.  If you’re very dry and like a dewy look to the skin, you may love this.  I would definitely get a sample first!  I for sure was shiny in the t-zone in no time and I had to powder my face more often throughout the day than I do with my Smashbox Photo Finish Primer.  Like I said, I’m not really the target audience for the Kat Von D Lock-It Featherweight Primer, so give it a shot if you’re looking for a water based primer for dry skin.  (Note, this is water based but it does contain dimethicone halfway down the list, so it is not totally free of silicone based ingredients.)

What’s your favorite primer?  Do you even use one?  Sometimes I skip it altogether, but lately I’ve been switching between the Smashbox one (thanks, Ipsy) and NYX Photo Loving Primer (the two are very similar).

Makeup of the Day 

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Going to keep this short since we’re about to make dinner!   Today, I paired Urban Decay Naked2 Basics eye shadows with La Femme blush in Flamingo Pink and Wet N Wild Fergie Creme Lipstick in Penthouse Sweet.


What are you wearing this weekend?

Makeup of the Day – Everything amazing gets discontinued 

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So, today I felt a little opalescent.  I got out my favorite moonstone jewelry and I used my MAC Vellum eyeshadow, which I’ve been hanging onto forever, because it’s been discontinued a long time.  It’s a gorgeous frosty white multichrome that flashes blue-purple-pink in the light when you move.  I’m wearing it today as a brow bone highlight.


It’s hard to see the reflections of color here, but if you move in the light…


Last night I was bummed out to read that I missed a re promote of this color that was limited edition – I didn’t even hear about it!  So, I started looking for dupes.  Apparently, Milani made a shadow that was similar called Moonlight – discontinued, nowhere to be found.  NYX made a single in the old square packaging called Opal that’s a pretty close dupe for Vellum – oh hey, they still have these on Amazon!  I grabbed one with my Prime membership, because yeah…this will also go the way of the dodo.  Makeup companies…WHY YOU DO DIS?!?  Stop taking away my preciouses.

The other product of amazing I have on today is Notoriously Morbid’s loose mineral highlighting powder on my cheekbones (or complete lack thereof) in “Osteomancy.”  Ok, seriously?  How cool is that name?  I got a sample of this that is so generous I won’t have to buy a container for a while, but when I run out?  I totally will!  This powder highlighter is a super fine shimmery white.  It’s so super ethereal and gorgeous.  And not subtle.  Heh!

BREAKDOWN:

FACE:  MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW10 with Sigma F82 brush, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly under eyes with Luxie Tapered Blending Brush, NYX HD Concealer in Porcelain to spot conceal, MAC Set Powder in Invisible with MAC 134 Large Powder Brush, Urban Decay Afterglow Blush in Bittersweet with MAC 116 Blush Brush, Notoriously Morbid Highlighter in Osteomancy with Sigma Tapered Face Brush, ELF Mist and Set spray

EYES:  Wet N Wild Fergie Eyeshadow Primer in For My Primas, MAC Mega Metals eyeshadows in Mating Call and Noir Plum (Noir Plum beneath eyes with MAC pencil brush as well), MAC eyeshadow in Vellum to highlight, It Cosmetics Brow Power Universal brow pencil, ELF Clear Brow Gel, L’Oreal Infallible Cream Liner in black with MAC 210 Precise Liner Brush, Dolce and Gabbanna Passion Eyes Mascara in black (on bottom lashes with Bdellium Tools Fan Brush)

LIPS: Maybelline Rebel Bloom Lipstick in Lilac Flush topped with L’oreal Extraordinaire by Color Riche Lip Color in Purple Prelude

FRAGRANCE: TokyoMilk Dark Tainted Love

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What are your go to products when you’re feeling glowy?

Makeup of the Day 

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I tried and tried to get the green in MAC “Shade” Fluidline to really show up in my pictures today, but it’s just really overcast!


Blurry in the bathroom…


Light from the front door is blown out on the chest, shaded on the face…better luck tomorrow for a sunny day, I hope!

MAKEUP BREAKDOWN:

FACE:  Smashbox Photo Finish Primer (thanks for the sample, Ipsy), Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless Foundation mixed with L’Oreal Lumi Primer for some luminosity (applied with fingers because I was messy/lazy today), NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer under eyes also applied with fingers, no spot concealing on face (so lazy today), MAC Invisible Set Powder lightly dusted to set face, NYX HD Blush in Taupe for contour, Benefit Dandelion blush, MAC Lightscapade Mineralize Skinfinish for highlight (I swear, you really can see this in person)

EYES:  Bobbi Brown Cream Eyeshadow in Bone all over lid, MAC Vex on lower lid, MAC Satin Taupe in crease, MAC Vanilla to highlight, MAC Shade Fluidline with angled brush for eyeliner, Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara, Anastasia Beverly Hills Ebony Brow Powder Duo (light side) with angled brush for brows set with ELF Clear Brow Gel

LIPS:  MAC Soar Pencil with MAC Brave Lipstick and Smashbox Radiant Lip Gloss

Goth Night!

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Last night was our local goth night!  I turned on my Spotify Joy Division radio station and had a blast doing this makeup look – too bad I had allergies the whole time and borked up my stupid eyeliner before I could even get done.  It was glorious…while it lasted.  😉

My amazing raven necklace is available on Etsy here.

MAKEUP

FACE:  Tarte Clean Slate Poreless Primer, MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NW10, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly under eyes, NYX HD Concealer in Porcelain to spot conceal/around nose, face set with Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder in Translucent, contour with NYX HD Blush in Taupe, blush is NARS Sin, highlight is MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade

EYES:  Wet N Wild Fergie Eyeshadow Primer in For my Primas, MAC Vanilla shadow as brow bone highlight, MAC Mineralize eyeshadow in Cinderfella on lid with damp brush, Urban Decay Mushroom in crease with Cinderfella blended in, L’Oreal Infallible Gel Liner with MAC 210 liner brush, MAC Mineralize eyeshadow in Cinderfella patted on top, Ardell 110 lashes with Covergirl Clump Crusher mascara, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo in Ebony with ELF Clear Brow Gel (this eye look was all great until the itching and eye watering began…)

LIPS:  MAC Burgundy Lip Pencil with L’Oreal Endless Lipcolor in Sangria

SHOES

I even busted out some very special shoes, the John Fluevog Esoteric Temptations Odette!

KITTEH

And just for fun, here’s my kitty up on the table today where he’s not supposed to be, contemplating the consequences of eating my freshly cut roses from the garden.  Sorry this is blurry, but I grabbed this photo fast as I knew he was about to run!


Did you do anything fun this weekend?

Makeup of the Day 

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So, I feel off my makeup game today.  I decided I wanted to give MAC Chromaline in Rich Purple another try today, although the last few tries had me feeling this plum-purple cream liner just had too much red for me to pull it off.  I should have known better, because I’m having allergies today already.  Sure, it matches my shirt, but I don’t think it’s doing me any favors.


Yep…off day.  I also used my sample of MAC Strobe Cream under Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation, hoping it would make it look a little more satin and life like and less flat matte.  Well, it did at least a tad…but the color is still a bit too light or something and oh my GOD you guys…the fragrance of the Strobe Cream is not going away!  I did my makeup an hour ago.  No Bueno!  Yeah, I’ll stick to L’Oreal Lumi Primer, thanks.  :-/

At least my NYX lipstick in Hunk looks awesome.  Thanks, Ipsy!

Ok, here I am 5 hours later, at 9:00 pm.  I added Sephora Contour eyeliner pencil in Eccentric Diva, which is a blue purple, which I think looks a bit better.  However, I think I’ve gone from “satin glowy skin” to straight up shiny (hard to tell here since my house is dark).  Not sure how I’m going to like Strobe Cream in the summer (regardless of the scent).  I am just so…combination.  *gets out Blot Powder* I switched here to Wet N Wild Fergie lipstick in Ferguson Crest Cabernet.  This lipstick has such great staying power!


Ever have makeup off days?

How I learned to love the MAC 190 foundation brush

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I’m a former MAC artist…ok, that was many years ago, but I still use some brushes by MAC (as well as many by other less expensive brands).  The 190 foundation brush is a flat, paddle shaped foundation brush that has always vexed me a bit when I try to use it with liquid foundations, especially ones with a texture like Studio Fix Fluid that can be prone to streaking.


The MAC 190 foundation brush is a natural fiber brush (horse hair) and great for application of liquid and creams, but blending was where I was having a problem – this is because I was using back and forth “painting” type motions to work the product onto the skin and continued trying to blend this way.  Eventually, I became disenchanted with my somewhat streaky results and stopped using this brush altogether, which sucks, because it’s expensive ($34.00 USD).  One day I was feeling bummed out about it and started looking around YouTube for some tutorials on how to get better use from this brush.  Low and behold, Wayne Goss (I love him!) had tips including using the side/tip to stipple and pat any streaky texture away once the product is on the skin, working in small areas of the face.  This absolutely works wonderfully!  I feel like I’m having a renewed love affair with an old brush now, as I have gotten my 190 out and have been using it for days.

Awesome!


MAC 190 brush with Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation in Porcelain with MAC 134 brush and Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder in Translucent

Have you rediscovered any old favorites or learned to love something you thought you didn’t like?