Urban Decay Alice Through the Looking Glass Lipstick in Mad Hatter

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Rachel

Mad Hatter: Have I gone mad?
[Alice checks Hatter’s temperature]
Alice: I’m afraid so. You’re entirely bonkers. But I’ll tell you a secret. All the best people are.

Hellooooo! Last night I was able to pick up the Urban Decay Alice Through The Looking Glass Collection lipstick in “Mad Hatter.” I found the Alice Lipsticks at Ulta for $18.00 USD (the eyeshadow palette is here for $60.00 USD). These products have launched early at Ulta; however, if you are a rewards member at Urban Decay or have Flash Shipping at Sephora, from what I understand, they both will be getting the collection fairly soon.

I really love the limited edition packaging. Even the box for the lipsticks is psychedelic, man!

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The tube is plastic and feels a bit more lightweight than the regular Revolution Lipstick tubes. That’s ok, because LOOK HOW COOL this packaging is. O_O

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I know this is an Alice Through the Looking Glass collection for the upcoming movie, but who else is getting a Price’s Paisley Park video vibe besides me?

Description From the Ulta Site:

Inspired by the fantasy-adventure film release of Disney’s Alice Through the Looking Glass, Urban Decay’s limited-edition shades of Lipstick pay tribute to some of the main characters from the film: Alice, Mad Hatter, Mirana (the White Queen), Iracebeth (the Red Queen) and Time, a peculiar creature who is part human, part clock.

Pair the Lipsticks with the Alice Through the Looking Glass Eyeshadow Palette and you’ll have everything you need to recreate the looks from the film. From sheer nude with a pink shift and bright red matte to gunmetal-navy with silver shimmer, these shades range from classic to edgy. Regardless of the finish (sheer, shimmery or matte), each shade has a super-creamy feel and provides rich payout.

Each Lipstick case features a colorful, kaleidoscopic pattern inspired by the film. Urban Decay debossed the top of the cap and the Lipstick with the UD icon and screened “Urban Decay” on the inside of the case.

My Take On Mad Hatter Lipstick:

Mad Hatter metallic lipstick reminds me a bit of Makeup For Ever’s #15 Pearly Violet lipstick. However, I always found that lipstick to be quite dry and that it tugged on the lips and was uncomfortable to wear. Mad Hatter is a little more sheer; however, that means that it can be changed up with different lip liners and be a bit more versatile. It’s a sort of matte metallic, if that makes sense, and it’s more of a violet purple than a blue purple It’s not drying and does not tug at the lips, which I definitely appreciate as I have dry lips. It’s not particularly hydrating, either. The metallic finish is not the kind that shows every lip imperfection, like some frosts do. I do not feel any glitter particles when I press my lips together (this drives me crazy). It lasts for around 4 hours before I need a touch up and stays on very well when I’m drinking water/coffee.

PICS!

I loooooooooooooooove this, guys! Check it!! (Worn here with NYX Purple Rain lip liner. Yes, Prince would approve.)

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And for fun, here’s a closed eye shot of my eye look, done with Urban Decay Vice 4 palette (Beatdown and 1985 shadows with Grasshopper):

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Will you be getting anything from the Alice Through The Looking Glass Collection?

First Impression – Josie Maran Vibrancy Argan Oil Foundation

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Rachel

With my last Sephora order, something unexpected happened – I actually received a foundation sample that was (gasp) pale enough to work for me! That product was Josie Maran Vibrancy Argan Oil Foundation Fluid ($45). The sample card had many shades to try, so if you get a chance to grab one of these, you may want to do so!

What Sephora has to say about the product:

What it is:
A revolutionary medium-to-full coverage skin care foundation fluid powered by 100 percent pure argan oil and nutrient-rich pigments for vibrant, glowing skin.

What it is formulated to do:
Activate your skin’s vitality with Vibrancy Argan Oil Foundation Fluid. Like a fresh squeezed juice, Vibrancy utilizes a revolutionary cold-pressed process that preserves the powerful, hand-selected ingredients for the freshest, most effective skin care foundation. Vibrancy energizes your skin with the essential nutrients it craves and is designed to interact and adapt to the movements of your skin with delicate fluidity for a radiant, dimensional finish. The breathable, lightweight, medium-to-full coverage formula features a powerful blend of moisture-enhancing ingredients that help soothe, smooth, and restore skin’s luminosity.

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

What else you need to know:
This product is dermatologist tested and clinically proven to hydrate and smooth even the most sensitive skin. Find your ideal shade with confidence. First identify your undertones: R is for rosey undertones, G is for golden undertones, and RG is for neutral or rose gold undertones. Next, you’ll choose the depth of your shade, with 5 being the most fair and 85 being the most rich.

Research results:
In a clinical study after 4 weeks:
– 100% of subjects experienced a significant increase of skin moisture by 106%
– 98% of subjects experienced a significant increase of skin smoothness and softness by 111%

In a consumer study:
– 100% said that their past feelings about foundation improved after experiencing Vibrancy
– 93% agreed Vibrancy helped visibly calm their skin condition, specifically scarring, inflammation, and rosacea

My take:

When first applying this to my skin, I loved the light neutral shade of RG5; however as I was applying this to my face and blending in with my fingers I noticed two odd things: It felt somehow very heavy, but did not provide full coverage. I definitely had to go in with concealer around my nose and on my acne scars, but I do with most foundations. I would call this medium coverage at best. This foundation feels very oily, which I suppose makes sense since is is an argan oil foundation. However, it really doesn’t seem to say anywhere in the description that is is for extremely dry skin, which is the only type skin I could really see benefiting from this type of texture. It is extremely dewy, almost moreso than MAC Face and Body foundation, but feels more heavy than that and has more coverage. I set it here with MAC Invisible Set Powder for a little mattifying and in hopes that it would keep it on my face!

And then…OH NO! Complete and utter meltdown in only FOUR HOURS. Now, I have somewhat combo skin, but it’s combination leaning on the drier side, so this just floored me! Look at the breakdown around the nose where my glasses were. The coverage around my nose and mouth is basically gone and my redness is showing. My chin is a greasy, hot mess! OH. Oh hell no.

I feel like this foundation could really only work for someone with super dry and dehydrated skin, especially in colder or dry climates. However, there is nothing in the description that says that this is for very dry skin. It does mention increased hydration, but that’s it, really. I feel like a better description of what type of skin this is for would be beneficial in helping customers chose. I also feel that calling this full coverage is really stretching. All in all, I’ll not be shelling out $45 on this, especially knowing a humid and hot NC summer is around the corner!

Have you tried any new foundations lately? What did you think?

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush Review – Beautiful Colors, Easy Depotting

Posted on April 9, 2016 by Rachel

I have a review today on this chilly Saturday! I have recently obtained 3 Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes. The first one was Fearless, a pinky coral blush I obtained in a swap (brand new!) on an Ipsy group on Facebook (hey thanks, friend!). The next one I got was Dollface, which I bought for a complete steal on eBay. At that point I knew that these blushes worked incredibly well on my super fair, combination, acne prone skin, so I did something I rarely do and splurged on the full priced limited edition shade, Celebrated (I usually do not buy limited edition shades because I get so mad when I cannot repurchase them).

From the Sephora website:

What it is:
A long-wearing, solar-baked blush that lasts up to 12 hours.

What it does:
Infused with natural clay harvested from the banks of the Amazon River and naturally baked by the sun, this nutrient-rich blush benefits all skin types for a fade-free flawless finish that lasts an amazing 12 hours. Inspired by tarte’s bestselling shades of cheek stains and lip tints, the colors range from soft to vivid to suit a wide variety of skintones. For oily skin types, Amazonian clay minimizes oil in and around pores to balance skin and keep product in place. Those with dry skin will benefit from the clay’s nourishing and hydrating properties, which naturally restore skin’s moisture. Combination skin types can rely on its ability to zero in on skin concerns and deliver benefits to restore complexion harmony. The result: Blush that wears better, longer, and truer.

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

What else you need to know:
This product is free of petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances, GMOs, and triclosan.

Ok, WOW, those are some crazy claims. Here’s my take…I don’t think anything can be really moisturizing and oil controlling at the same time. I have 3 matte shades and I find them, well, mattifying. I get shiny throughout the day and if I touch up with these (which is not necessary as the color really does stay all day), it does take down oil and shine! I would say these are great for normal to oily skin. If you’re super dry, you may find that you would want to stick to liquid or cream blushes, of course. I don’t think they have found the magical moisturizing powder formula (is there such a thing?). As for ingredients harvested from the Amazon and dried in the sun…really? I’m just not even touching that. For Pete’s sake, Tarte. I do find it interesting that there are lots of non-natural ingredients in here, but we’re supposed to buy the product based on what’s *not* in the product. Wow, that’s some marketing! But hey, I’m glad it doesn’t contain hand sanitizer ingredients! LOL!

Ok, let’s get to something about this product that I LOVE, the packaging. First of all, the compacts match the product inside. If you’re in a hurry, you don’t need to fumble around, just grab what you’re looking for based on color.

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(Tarte Fearless, Celebrated, Dollface)

Now, here’s what I love even more. As an ex-makeup artist, I got used to using palettes. I have most of my powder products in palettes as it’s just easier for me. These blushes are actually made for popping out of the compact easily and popping into palettes if you want to, without having to de-pot them with heat or sharp objects and possibly ruining your product! There is a hole in the back of the compact to push a pin through, but I have found that you can just tap the compact into your hand with a little force and the pan will come out…be careful, you don’t want to drop and break the precious! The AMAZING thing they have thought of is the big magnet in the compact so you can *put the pan back in* any time you want to travel with the blush in the compact. So, for example I’m going out of town next week and will take just one of these with me and will pop it out of my palette and into the compact and away I will go.

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OMG seriously?! THANK YOU, TARTE!

When I’m not traveling, I can have them all in my Z-palette (I love the lavender one).

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(Top row: Tarte Dollface, Tarte Fearless, Tarte Celebrated, MAC Pink Swoon, Bottom Row: MAC Full of Joy, MAC Well Dressed, MAC Unconventional, La Femme Misty Plum, La Femme Scarlet)

And now, photos of me wearing each Tarte blush! I have found these particular shades to work well on my NW10 skin, apply easily, blend out well, and wear well for 8+ hours, though I usually don’t wear my makeup for 12 hours.

Tarte Celebrated:

Celebrated is the softest of the softest nudes. This is the blush I reach for when I want my blush soft and “foolproof.” It’s listed as a pink nude, but it goes peachy on me. I adore this like I cannot even tell you. It is one of the most pale-friendly blushes I’ve ever found.

Tarte Dollface:

Dollface is a very cool toned blue based pink. It looks beautiful on pale skin, but has enough color to look great on medium skin as well. It blends out beautifully and can be worn with a number of lip colors. I rocked it with red lipstick yesterday and it looked oh so retro.

Tarte Fearless:

Fearless is a coral pink that is more pink than orange, which means I can actually wear it. Fearless is everything I wanted MAC Fleur Power to be, which was too deep and too orange for my fair, pink skin. This is a super fun spring and summer color!

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In summary – will Tarte overcome my beloved MAC as my favorite blush? Hmm, Tarte blushes are $29 and MAC pro blush pans are $17, so probably not. However, the packaging is superior in being able to re-use the compacts (although you can Back To MAC the compacts at MAC if you do not want them). I would say the quality is similar, so it is just up to you as to what you want out of your blush, as well as finding your perfect color! For me, finding pale girl friendly blushes is really difficult – I have been putting that palette together for a looooooong time.

What are your favorite blushes? Do you wear powder blushes, liquid, cream? Have you tried Tarte? Let me know in the comments!

NYX Wonder Pencil First Impression

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Rachel

I’ve been trying a lot of NYX lately now that it’s available in CVS and Target. I have quite a few reviews in store!

The NYX Wonder Pencil may just be my new best friend! For years, I have used the MAC Chromagraphic Pencil in NC15/NW20, but it’s always been just a bit too dark for me. Other skin tone liners have either been the wrong shade or irritated my eyes, plus I wanted something that would work for other makeup multitasking purposes. Leave it to NYX to make another professional type product available at the drugstore!

My MAC pencil is a bit used up. You do get more with the $16.50 MAC pencil, but the NYX product is only $4.50.

Shade comparison of MAC NC15/NW20 and NYX Wonder Pencil in Light (this comes in 3 shades):

I used the NYX pencil today for cleaning up and highlighting around the brow, reverse lip lining (really great since I have freckles around my lip line), and concealing a few dark spots on my face along with lining my waterline. CAVEAT: If you use this on your face and the waterline, sharpen that sucker to a clean point for fresh product before going near your eyeballs! Also, clean your sharpeners from time to time with alcohol. Ok, enough lecturing. 😉

I am super pleased with this multitasking pencil! Have you tried it?

NYX and Stila Eyeshadow Swatches

Posted on February 22, 2016 by Kristin

This is the Stila “Eye for Color” eyeshadow palette. It has 13 eyeshadows in it – a light and dark of six colors, plus a shimmery black.

They seem to overall be well pigmented, which is great! The Petal Pink color is pigmented as well, but it is very light and so is my skin. 😜

Top (L to R): Petal pink, burgundy, bronze, coffee, moss, green

Bottom (L to R): Blue green, navy, lilac, orchid, porcelain, bisque, black

There are the three NYX eyeshadows Rachel sent me — good god look at how richly pigmented these are! Wow. And go on silky smooth… I think I’ll have to do eyeshadow with these tomorrow.

Swatches (L to R): Rock, Bright Green, Lime Juice

Well COLOR me excited to try these out.

See what I did there?

Color?

Lol.

Tarte BB Tinted Treatment 12-Hour Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen – FIRST IMPRESSION

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Rachel

Well that’s a mouth full, isn’t it?

I got a sample of Tarte BB Tinted Treatment 12-Hour Primer with my last Sephora order. I’m so pale that usually when I get a sample card of foundation stuff, I chuck it immediately; however, when I glanced at this, I noticed the “fair” shade was actually pretty fair. I did just glance at the card, though, and I mistakenly thought this was a typical BB cream. So, I sat down to do my makeup with this and just went a-slappin’ this all over my face.

As I’m applying this, I’m thinking, “Uh. What. This feels like a primer. With silicone. And silica. And it feels WEIRD. What…….the…………HECK?” Yet, it has color to it. The fair color oddly matches my skin tone, which is around a MAC N10 or NW10, which is crazy because that never happens. The strange thing about it is that Tarte claims you can wear this alone as a BB cream/tinted moisturizer type thing, or under foundation. I’m here to tell you that as a BB cream or tinted moisturizer, it has basically no coverage and a completely weird finish. I did attempt to wear this by itself with just a bit of concealer (NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer) and the lame thing about that was, it didn’t play nice with the concealer…I feel like primers are supposed to make blending easier, but this made it harder to move the product around. ANYWAY, as I was applying it, I looked at the sample card a little better and was like, “OHHHHH, you can use this as a primer, too.” But the other thing about this primer is, it didn’t really seem to fill pores or blur fine lines, so I’m not sure why I would. My Tarte Clean Slate Poreless primer does that in spades!

This product also has an SPF of 30 and the sample size has about the amount you would need for a full face to get that SPF…except there’s no way you could use that full amount without being a hot mess. So, you’re not going to get the full amount of sun protection claimed when using this product. You’re about to see where I’m going with this, but first, let’s see what the claims are on the Sephora website:

Indulge your skin with this powerful multitasker that works as a primer, moisturizer, light foundation, antiaging treatment, and sunscreen to give you a youthful-looking glow. Worn alone or as the perfect base for makeup, this 12-hour, age-defying, oil-free primer offers light-to-medium, buildable coverage that helps even skintone and other skin imperfections while diffusing light to minimize the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and pores. The creamy, silky formula goes on smooth and blends easily, leaving you with a natural-looking, flawless finish with a broad-spectrum, chemical-free SPF 30 that offers ideal protection from the sun’s harmful UVA/UVB rays.

What else you need to know:
Beauty Balms or BB Creams were originally developed as a perfect post-procedure cream used to treat, hydrate, prime, protect, and camouflage the skin. Great for all skin types including those with sensitive skin, these versatile “five-in-one” formulas are designed to do it all: treat with high levels of active skincare ingredients; moisturize and smooth dehydrated skin; prime and perfect skin’s surface; camouflage and color correct the skintone; and protect skin from the sun with SPF. They can be used as a last step for their skincare benefits or used on their own as an instant beautifier.

This product is powered by tripleB complex, a proprietary blend of natural diamond dust, plants, and lipoamino acids that diffuses light and minimizes the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and pores while improving the appearance of skin luminosity.

Research results:
In a consumer panel study:
– 100% of women immediately saw an improvement in the surface texture of skin for smoother makeup application
– 97% of women saw and felt smoother, softer skin
– 91% of women said fine lines appeared minimized
– 94% of women said pores appeared less visible after 4 weeks

Pretty hefty claims for a primer!

In conclusion, basically I have a beef with BB creams in general that are trying to be all things at once, and that is that they usually fail to do any of those things well. Skipping steps may seem faster, but you’re going to lose out in the end – lose out on sun protection, coverage, the actual function of a good primer, and the skin care benefits you’d get from a great skin care regimen. Products that claim to “do it all” rarely can. Since this is a first impression, I cannot speak to the results over time, but I can say that it did not blur fine lines or fill pores and it did not hydrate my skin and I was not able to use enough to get good sun protection and the coverage was slim to none. I have yet to try it underneath a foundation, but I can tell from the consistency I probably don’t need to…no need to fix what isn’t broken. I’ll stick with my great skincare (including antioxidant serum, high SPF, and a badass primer) and take that extra 5 minutes to use seperate products rather than trying to use one product that’s trying to be all things.

For reference, here’s me wearing the product just after applying. It’s hard to tell about the coverage, because I did go in and spot conceal because I just couldn’t stand it, LOL! It didn’t really control oil and I did have to blot after about 2 hours.

Your mileage may vary with this one, but I’m going to say DEFINITELY get a sample before shelling out $36 for 1 ounce!

Have any of you found an all-in-one product like this that actually works for you?

Benefit They’re Real Tinted Lash Primer Review

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Rachel

So, for once, I have something to review for you guys before it’s released! I don’t get PR products, but Sephora had promo sample sizes of these available, although they will not be for sale until 2016!

Here’s the package it came in. Pretty hefty claims!

They’re Real Tinted Primer is a lash primer that’s unique in that it can be worn alone or under other mascaras. It is a gel formula that is in a natural medium taupe brown shade. I find that worn alone, it real does define and lengthen lashes, but I wear nothing but black mascara, so I would only use this under other mascaras. I tried to get a photo of it alone, but my camera would NOT focus…

To be fair, I have REALLY long eyelashes to start with, so I feel a little guilty reviewing mascaras. But the definition and separation this stuff gives is excellent. It has a flexible wand, which I don’t love, though I know that’s a popular feature right now. The bristles are the same as They’re Real Mascara, which is one of my favorite mascara brushes of all time, since you can use the spiky ball on the end to really fan out corner lashes.

And here it is underneath Covergirl Clump Crusher! HOLY COW!!!

Like I said, I alread have long lashes, but this result is kind of INSANE.

And with my eyes open…

The great thing about this product is that UNLIKE They’re Real mascara, this stuff is easy to remove! I was able to easily take this off (including the extra coat of Covergirl) with nothing but Simple Micellar Water on a cotton pad. I had stopped buying They’re Real because taking it off at night was a pain in the ass!

Lash primers are a luxury “extra” that I never spend money on, but this product is making me reconsider. If I’m buying this at $24, and Covergirl at $6, then how is that different than a $30 Dior mascara? THAT, my friends, is your introduction to “Rachel logic!”

Do you ever use a lash primer?

Makeup of the day – Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in Lovecraft

Posted on August 12, 2015 by Rachel

So, I needed to replace my Bobbi Brown Cream Eyeshadow that I use as a base, so I made a small Sephora order and got my double points and this adorable Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick mini in Lovecraft. First of all…that name. HELLO. I love Lovecraft’s writing and the Cthululu mythos, so this is one of the coolest makeup names ever. Plus, look at the studded tube:

How cute is that?

The color is a muted, warm rose mauve, basically one of those colors that looks amazing on my cool toned fair skin. It’s also really, really matte. I have heard that some of the mattes in this line apply patchy or are too dry, but this one applies nicely and feels comfortable to me!

I have it on here with MAC Soar lip liner – perfect match!

Have you tried any Kat Von D products? So far, I have loved everything I have tried from the line.

Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation 010 Light Porcelain

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Rachel

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?

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

Posted on July 6, 2015 by Rachel

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)

A Bad Homance

Fabulous is a State of Mind

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