Jouer Cosmetics Mineral Powder Blush in Bougainvillea, $24.00

Becca Cosmetics’ Mineral Blushes got me into exploring other mineral powder blushes.  I loved the soft, creamy, pigmented look of their mineral blushes.  However, their blush shades are pretty limited.  I had to venture outside for a mineral powder blush in a different shade.  I picked up Jouer Cosmetics Mineral Powder Blush in Bougainvillea to add to it, which is described as a deep rose shade by Jouer Cosmetics.

This mineral powder was created with “light-diffusing minerals to create a soft finish” and contains green tea powder, antioxidant vitamins A, C, E to counter free radicals.   It looked nice in the pan but when I swirled my brush, mineral powder particles kicked up all over the pan.  When I applied it to my cheeks, the color was TOO diffuse and powdery looking.  I tried to increase the intensity of the shade and all I ended up with was powdery cheeks and this hazy shade of light-medium rose that did NOT want to deepen.  It was very muted but it did not evenly distribute itself over my cheeks no matter how I swirled or buffed my cheeks.   The pigment was definitely poor for a “deep rose” shade.

I think this would be a great shade for very fair individuals who want a soft, hazy shade of rosy-pink on those cheeks.  But even then, I still don’t think the lightness of skin could compensate for how unevenly this applies, or powdery it is.  I, also, do not suggest this for oily skinned individuals, or those with large pores in the t-zone, as I believe this increased the uneven application of the pigment.  I can see this working on very fair women, who have TINY, non-existent pores with a normal-balanced skin type.  Even then, though, I would not recommend this blush.  There are better quality blushes at this price point.  PASS IT.

I was really disappointed by this blush.

INGREDIENTS: TALC, SQUALANE, SILICA, BORON NITRIDE, LAUROYL LYSINE, ZINC STEARATE, KAOLIN, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, RETINYL PALMITATE, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN. MAY CONTAIN (+/-): MICA (CI 77019), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), RED 7 (CI 15850:1), RED 30 (CI 73360), CARMINE (CI 75470), ULTRAMARINES (CI 77007)

MAC Cosmetics Pro Burnt Pepper Powder Blush, 0.21 oz for $17.00

I’ve been digging warm blush tones for a while.  I picked up MAC Pro Burnt Pepper Blush and I like the ruddy, “I just ran for 45 minutes and almost puked” flush this imparted on my cheeks.  There isn’t much to say about this product.  I tried to line up a few blushes that were similar, but you can clearly see that they are not the same shade which is a plus.  What is the point of having blush powders in the same shade?  Redundancy is not appreciated.  No ma’am!

MAC blush powders have much more pigmentation than a drugstore product.  however, it is not as finely milled and creamy as higher end blush powders.  I could definitely feel a difference between Becca’s Mineral Powder Blush and the Mac Pro Blush.  The same could be said of the super pigment imparted from Make Up Forever Blush Powder. Mac Pro’s Burnt Pepper, here, can apply kind of patchy, unlike the other two blushes.

Below you can see how MAC’s Burnt Pepper compares to Becca’s Wild Honey and Make Up Forever’s Matte Cinnamon (164).  Burnt Pepper has NO SHIMMER or glitter.  I have decided that as far as blushes are concerned, major shimmer, or any glitter, in my blushes emphasizes my rather large pores.  Plus, since I already use an illuminating lotion, shimmer in my blush is too much.  Matte blushes ALL THE WAY.  However, the very refined, barely there shimmer from Becca’s Wild Honey is acceptable.  Burnt Pepper has a nice pinkish-red tone compared to the browny-brick color of Matte Cinnamon (164), while Wild Honey looks clayish with a hint of dulled peach.  However, I have to note Burnt Pepper appears VERY PINK because it is swatched between two warmer earthy tones.  Not sandwiched between the two, the warm red-tones are more prominent.

Hope you enjoyed the swatches.

Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Highlighter in Rose Illumination, $34.00

Back when I was lemming for Hourglass‘ new highlighting powders, I decided to jump back in with highlighting powders, which I normally do not like.  My first experience with a highlighting powder was with LORAC’s Perfectly Lit Oil-Free Luminizing Powder.  I could not figure out how to use it without looking like a disco ball.  I tossed that sucker after a few uses (oh, how some of you would quiver at how I disposed of barely used makeup that I did not figure out how to use back in the day).  Anyways, the specific shades I was interested from Hourglass were not available at Sephora at the time, so I just picked this up instead. 

First off, if there is any difference between this and a general drugstore powder highlighter, I can’t tell.  The powder in the compact feels rough to the touch, gritty.  The shimmer/highlight is not delicate, or refined.  While it did not look like large scraggle-rock glitter, it wasn’t very fine either, or sophisticated looking.  Even some of Hourglass‘ more aggressively twinkling shades like Radiant looked more refined than the pink-coppery-golden points of light this offered like a rough edged sandstone just glistening under the water. 

This wouldn’t be so bad though, if it weren’t so overpriced.  I feel like $34.00 for this is pretty high. I wouldn’t exactly call this a multi-functional product either.  Too golden shimmery to be used as a highlighter or a blush. This is almost like a duo chrome finish so I tried this as an eye shadow, too.  But there isn’t enough pink pigment in there.  This wasn’t a good purchase for me, overall.  The color is just not very skin tone friendly for me without it looking like I am  going to a 10 year old pink Disney costume party or clubbing like a 20 year old.  Unlike what the marketing for this product says, this rose-gold shade highlighter is not universally flattering.  Some will look good with this, others will not.

It is so nice to get through products.  It makes me feel less guilty about my skincare addiction.  Here is a pic of the most recent empties I have.  One bottle is missing because I accidently threw it out before taking this picture.  I will make note of it in the list below though.

1. Exuviance Vespera Bionic Serum, 1.0 oz for $72.00

• This stuff is amazing for all skin types.  I think dry and sensitive skinned types would love this even more than an oily skinned girl.  Give it a try.  It’s a bit sticky but the results are real and gentle.  I use this after I have nuked my skin dry.  At that point my skin needs moisture but also non-clogging exfoliation.  I reviewed it in a previous post.

2. Obagi Professional C-Serum 20%, 1.0 oz for $108.00

• I was supposed to review this stuff ages ago.  Problem was, I interfered with two many other products at the same time so I couldn’t tell if this serum alone did anything different.  Even though I ended up using most of it before it turned completely brown, I didn’t feel comfortable reviewing it just yet.  I have easily purchased half a dozen bottles in the past, but that was over five years ago, and I wanted to compare it now.  It is very pricey, which is why I ‘ve been looking for a substitute.  I feel like I only have 3-4 weeks to use it up before it turns really brown because it is the strongest form of vitamin c, l-ascorbic acid, which oxidizes super fast.  I refuse to use it when brown, even if it may still be “active”, although it is unlikely.  When I did use it ages ago my skin was firmer, even-toned, less oily and perfected with shrunken pores in my t-zone.  But that was before I was hit with adult hormonal acne and I really want to know if it will have same effect now.

3. PCA Skin Pigment Gel, 1.0 oz for $50.00

• I’ve purchased this and the hydroquinone-free version a couple of times.  I have never noticed any lightening of post acne marks with this.  But I did notice something else.  It actually degreased my pores and reduced breakouts significantly. It also mattified my skin for long periods of time, better than any mattifier I have used before.  But it still allowed me to layer other products on top without interfering with it, which is my issue with most mattifiers.  Go figure.  I wouldn’t purchase the regular version again with hydroquinone because I am afraid of it causing localized over pigmentation (which can be a side effect in some people and I think I am the kind of person who would be LUCKY enough to experience it).

4.  Pevonia Aromatherapy Face Oil – Sensitive, 0.5 oz for $23.50

• This was a face oil I purchased a while ago and reviewed in an essential oil post.  It is a cheaper version of the Decleor face oils I love.  The jar is cute but the packaging is not sturdy.  This version is meant for sensitive skin and it offered a nice thick protective coat to skin that had been nuked by retinoids.  This little jar was instrumental in preventing chemical sunscreen burn on my tazorac’ed skin.

5. Nuxe Crème Prodigieuse Anti-Aging Gentle Renewing Cream, Discontinued

• I went through a Nuxe moisturizer phase when I fell in love with their unbelievably delicious Nirvanesque moisturizers.  It smelled like mimosa-rose heaven.  I went through several jars and then decided to pick up a few other products.  I didn’t fall in love with the other products the way I did with the Nirvanesque line.  This was one of them.  It is really too mild for oily, acneic skin.  I didn’t notice a difference and I never felt the slightest irritation.  I don’t think they sell this anymore.  If you want a heavenly smelling, deliciously moisturizing cream for sensitive to dry skin, their Nirvanesque line is amazing.

6. Renpure Originals Argan Oil Luxurious Shampoo, SRP

• I liked Renpure’s Brazilian Keratin set, but this was BAD, which was ironic.  This was marketed as a moisturizing line, but the set (shampoo and conditioner) left my hair feeling like I had only used shampoo.  There was no moisture.  My hair was dry and tangled out of the shower.  I still have the conditioner bottle lying around which I will mix with something more moisturizing.  Maybe someone with super greasy oily hair will appreciate it.  Anyone with dry hair should stay away.

7. Phisoderm Anti-Blemish Body Wash, SRP

• I like to mix in salicylic acid body washes with my regular body washes to prevent body breakouts, which thankfully are not a problem for me.  But I like being covered.  This was nice and cheap.  I don’t like Neutrogena’s version because it’s hard to squeeze out of the tube and I don’t like the scent.  This was cheap and effective but a bit drying.

8. L’Oreal Youth Code Foaming Gel Cleanser, SRP

• I posted about this product in the drugstore cleanser-palooza post.  It’s great for folks who like mild exfoliation with gentle moisture.  Basically, if you have slightly dry skin – to slightly combo, oily skin, you will like this.  I didn’t like it when I needed to degrease my face because I felt like it left unwanted moisture.  However, I totally appreciated it when my skin was nuked by retinoids and very dry.  I’ve already repurchased it, though I have no need for it now because my skin has been very good for a while now.

9. Lumene Vitamin C+ Dry Skin Comfort Radiance Cocktail, SRP

• I accidently threw out the empty bottle before taking a group photo without realizing it.  I was going to go buy another vitamin c serum but then I decided I would rather just start using the backup bottle of this stuff I had purchased over the winter.  This is a gentle oil-based vitamin c serum that I guess is a bit similar to Ole Henriksen’s Truth Vitamin C Activating Oil I want to try.  I reviewed this in an earlier post.

One final goodbye to these empties.  It takes a lot for me to hold on to empty bottles.  I get immediate satisfaction  getting rid of them. 

Prestige Cosmetics: Flawless Touch Blushes, $6.95

You know, I thought about my drugstore blush ban when I was in my neighborhood Duane Reade for the sole purpose of getting money from the ATM because I am too lazy to walk the extra 30 yards to my bank.  Duane Reade sees more of my dollars compared to Sephora, my various ecommerce beauty haunts, and a few b & m stores by virtue of everything else I buy.  They see a chunk of my money weekly.  It’s like I am there to feed them or something.  But I digress.  I noticed some new updated displays for the Prestige Cosmetics brand.  (For the record, color saturated, almost neon-bright colors get me EVERY TIME.  Something to think about when color cosmetic companies advertise.)  To be truthful, I don’t think I have ever actually focused on this brand, dismissing it as a second tier cheaper drugstore brand with less quality products than the not so great major drugstore brands with more advertising dollars.  BIG WOOPS ON THAT! 

For one thing, they are not necessarily that cheap compared to say Wet n’ Wild.  Their price points fall somewhere between Maybelline and Cover Girl.  While most of their stuff is cheaper than L’Oreal and Revlon, a few price around it or above it.

Don’t get me wrong, their packaging is definitely on the cheap-pans-flipping-out-of-pocket-flimsy.  Also, compared to higher end cosmetics, you will definitely note a difference in texture and application, but how great that difference is varies on the brand.  Plus, let’s not forget the price differential between say a sucky, powdery, diffusely pigmented Jouer Mineral Powder Blush at $24.00 and a powdery, medium pigmented, hint patchy, slightly dry-ish Prestige Cosmetics Flawless Touch Blush at $6.95.  For the record, the Prestige Cosmetics Flawless Touch Blush is better and less than a third of the price. 

For another, for a powder blush, Prestige Cosmetics, from the few items I have tried are REALLY pigmented for drugstore quality.  It’s like they saved money not using the silicone fillers and additives other brands use.  On the other, you do have to be careful when you apply.  While Revlon’s and Maybelline’s powder blushes are idiot proof because they deposit almost no color, Prestige Cosmetics requires some care and the right brush.

So, let me just say that despite my drugstore blush ban, I decided to try out this new to me brand.  I picked up Plush Plum because it was a color I have been looking to add to my blush collection and it was a cheap investment.  I was pleasantly surprised when I went home and tried it out.  Eventually I picked up all of the colors except for Candy Pink which looks like a full on Fuchsia.

What can I say about these in toto?  They are medium pigmented, on the dry side, very powdery, and mostly matte shades, except for two satiny exceptions: Amazing Apricot (more satin/microfine gold shimmer) and Sugar & Spice (less satin-y).  There may be a hint of satin within the Pink Sorbet, but it’s negligible.  The powder itself is soft, crumbly, and prone to dispersing pigment particles when the slightest pressure is applied.  You do have to show some care with application because it does not necessarily apply evenly all over – it can be overloaded easily into opaque powdery layers.  These can be used on their own, on skin that has already been given a highlighter treatment (I would avoid these powders on a matte or flat-looking base.  It enhances the flat-matte-dry look because the powder is dry looking).  However, the right brush (tapered) and sufficiently moisturized, highlighted skin will counter this.  The pigment lasts longer than any drugstore powder blush that I have used and it actually shows up on my skin.  (Take that REVLON and MAYBELLINE).  Maybe I set the standard  low for a drugstore powder blush, but since other brands cost anywhere from a few bucks more to double the price and suck much, I was just really impressed for $6.95.  Color cosmetics should have, you know, COLOR.

My two favorite shades are Sugar & Spice and Plush Plum.  Sugar & Spice actually reminds me of my favorite Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush shade, Coffee Cake.  Plush Plum reminds me of MAC’s Sheertone Powder Blush in Mocha, except MORE pigmented.   Surprisingly, while I did NOT like the swatch for Amazing Apricot, I actually like it on my cheeks and it reminds me of how Nars Blush in Orgasm looked on me, when I wore it almost exclusively for several years (gasp, I accidently picked up a peachy-pink with gold shimmer – eek.  Eh, I don’t mind).  Now, I am curious about Candy Pink. 

Anyways, I temporarily broke my drugstore blush ban, and I am not disappointed.  For around seven bucks, these are pretty good.  I’m not expecting designer quality at rock bottom pricing.  I’ve worn these powder blushes for the past week mixing shades and what not, and I am pleased.  These are a bargain buy.  They are also almost HALF the price of some Revlon and L’Oreal powder blushes!  They offer more pigment than the powder blushes offered by Revlon, Maybelline, and Sonia Kashuk, and they don’t throw in glitter like they are Tinker Bell.  While pigmented, they are not as sloppily pigmented as some of Wet n’ Wilds powder blushes (Wet n’ Wild powder blushes are really inconsistent when it comes to pigment).  Honestly, if you need to buy a powder blush on the cheap (and pick up a Real Techniques tapered blush brush), and you are not afraid of color, or applying some technique, you will like these powders as value buys.  Not everyone wants to spend $20 or more bucks on blushes.

You should also check out their new Total Intensity formulas for eye shadows and eyeliners.  I was really impressed at the quality for the price.

Here are the swatches. 

Drawer of Shame

I have been contemplating a no buy period for a while now.  Well, it’s official.  As of May 4, 2013 I am going on a 6 month official NO BUY. 

First of all, as of right now, I don’t need anything.  I have multiple back ups of all the different types of products I use.  Also, some of my makeup is getting old.  I just chucked a Revlon foundation bottle because it went bad (although it was still purchased less than a year ago).  My Urban Decay Naked foundation and Inglot AMC foundation look suspicious and they were all purchased less than a year ago.  This has gotten me to think about all the make up I have that may be about to expire.  I would hate to think of my Armani Fluid Sheers being chucked – that stuff was expensive!!!

So, I need to give myself the opportunity to use my older products before they go bad.  I’ve been jumping around way too much trying other newer products, letting older half used products languish.  Not allowing myself to try something new means I can use up what I already have.  Plus, I still have unboxed items I haven’t even tried yet.  I’d like to eventually get to those.  But I won’t allow myself to until I make a dent in older used products.

This mission is two-fold.  First, do not buy a single cosmetic, or skincare, product for the next six months.  My freedom day will be November 4, 2013!  Second, I must focus on using up my older products before they expire.  The only thing I am allowed to purchase are cotton balls and q-tips.  I’m going hard!

I have a particular focus on the products I want to use up:

1. Fluid Armani Sheers: I went nuts buying these because I used them EVERYDAY to color correct some older foundations and mineral sunscreens.  I don’t have the same need for them now because cosmetic companies have been getting better with their shades.   I can still use them, but I have way too many bottles and I hate the idea of these expiring.

2. Shiseido Sunscreens: I purchased the bulk of these in the last year.  Kept forgetting I had some stored in boxes.  Woops.  Now they are all out in the open.  These are all great for the summer months.  The original turquoise bottles will be my focus before I move on to the Urban Environment white bottles. Need to use up those almost finished tubes.

3. Other Sunscreens: If you follow dermatologic guidelines on usage of sunscreen, we should be finishing a bottle of this stuff almost monthly.  Woops.  I am going to be a sunscreen queen doing extra thick layers!  Plus, sunscreen loses potency.  Ugh, that Josie Maran bottle needs to be used ASAP.

4. Liquid Foundations: I’ve been loving powder foundations for a while now, but it means I’ve been letting my liquid foundations languish.  Not so bad it you have one or two bottles.  Really bad when you have like over a dozen.  Crap.  Retiring my foundation powders for a while because those take forever to expire.  My liquid foundations are another story.  I am going full face base for as long as I can before the real heat hits when I need to tone down the base because of excessive oiliness and sweating in NYC’s gross summer weather. 

5. Primers: I really love my La Roche Posay Anti-Aging Primer SPF.  However, I have multiple bottles of other primers that are older and sit unused.  I need to get through it.  I am not a fan of the Smashbox primer, but use it I MUST.

6. Moisturizers: This one is going to be hard during the summer which is why I need to get on this ball NOW.  I have a few jars of PCA Skin moisturizers, a Garnier, a Yes to Carrots (blech), and smaller assorted moisturizer creams I need to get through that are almost done but not quite.  I think I should only ever have two on call. 

7. Masks:  I have a few jars and tubes of masks that are a bit old but still useable.  I need to finish those up stat.  Part of the problem with some of them was the fact that they weren’t that great to begin with.  So I rarely used them.  Now, it’s on.  I am going to be heavily utilizing my masks like I am at my own spa.

8. Toners: I have way to many toner bottles.  Need to cut them down to like two – one for super oily skin and the other dehydrated skin.  I don’t need so many.  These won’t be difficult to use up, especially during the summer when my skin is a grease pit.

9. Sample Packets and Tubes: The stuff in sample packets can go bad.  I know.  I learned the hard way with some Khiels.  I felt like the lead singer of The Cult singing “FIIIIIIYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH.”  I have never experienced such a burning sensation on my face and I have used 15% salicylic acid peels.

10. Lipsticks:  I think lipsticks can last a long time, but I don’t want to risk it AND I rarely use it now.  I need to justify some of these purchases starting with my oldest lipstick products.  Laura Mercier’s Lipstick in Maple is going to be a particular focus, as well as a MAC Slim Shine I did not care for.  But I do not know what the hell I am going to do with the WORST lipstick purchase in HISTORY: NARS Cruise.  What the hell am I going to do with that sucker! But figure it out I will, even if I have to utilize the aid of my littlest helper: my niece.   

I’ve already isolated certain bottles, tubes, jars and pots that are near completion, and those that are the oldest.  That will be the subject of another post.    My blog won’t really suffer because there is so much stuff that I haven’t blogged about yet.  On the other hand, there won’t be any “new to the market” products for a while, since I can’t buy anything.  Oh well.  So there better not be some new blockbuster product launch for the next six months!  This will be a test of my restraint for all things beauty related.  AYYEEEEE.

I’ve got a game plan.  I may deviate a bit depending on my skin condition, but these are the first round of products I am focused on using up because they are nearly finished or they are in danger of expiring. 

Origins Stay Tuned Balancing Face Makeup in Warm Beige, $23.00

This is a really good foundation for oily skin.  What’s impressive about this foundation is that despite it being one of my OLDEST foundations it doesn’t appear to be in any danger of expiring.  However, it IS one of my oldest foundations and it’s almost used up.  I figure less than two more weeks of continued use and this will be done.  One thing I did not like about this foundation is that it can appear rather flat/matte on skin, especially under Shiseido Sunscreens.  I solve this by mixing in a luminizer.  This is best on oily, or well moisturized skin. 

MAC Cosmetics Blushcreme in Lilicent (DISCONTINUED)

This cream blush is one of my favorite shades.  It was discontinued, but there are dupes out there, not with the same finish though.  I have already hit pan on this.  This is not one of my oldest MAC blushes.  I believe I purchased this right before they discontinued it.  YAY for me!  I am not exclusively using this.  I have become rather attached to the very powdery matte blushes from Prestige Cosmetics.  I can’t always use a cream blush, but if I can, this is the cream blush I am using until it is completely used up.

Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheers in Golden Beige, Apricot (not shown), Golden Bronze(OLD FORMULA)

I really did go overboard buying these.  Both bottles are almost used up.  But these are very pigmented highlighters and it does not take a lot to get the desired effect.  I try to use these every day.  The travel size bottle can no longer be used with the pump, so I pour it out into my hand which is a good sign it is nearly used up.  The regular size bottle is almost at the pour into hand stage.  Still, it may take several weeks of use to use these up.  I will show more restraint with liquid highlighters.  They do take forever to use up. 

Inglot AMC Cream Foundation in MW 100, $22.00

It’s awful that I haven’t even posted this yet from my next foundation round up.  What’s the hold up?  Laziness.  I have the pictures, the swatches, thoughts – just can’t seem to write it.  Well, I guess this is a preview.   This is an interesting light-medium olive shade that is not commonly featured in foundations in the U.S.  Someone in a youtube video described it as gray.  No, it is not gray, but I can understand the confusion, since it does not have any strong yellow, pink, beige or orange undertones.  While I liked the shade, this was not a good foundation.  This is supposedly for all skintypes, ESPECIALLY DRY, but I found that you needed to lube up your face with moisture otherwise it highlighted dryness and flakiness.  Even when I did lube up, I still had issues with this foundation.   And, yeah, it is going bad way too soon!

Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 55, $35.00 (OLD FORMULA)

The current packaging for this sunscreen now says SPF 50 due to FDA regulation regarding listing SPF’s higher than 50 on sunscreens – you can’t.  This hasn’t gone bad, but it’s almost done.  I can’t squeeze anything out of it now, so I had to cut it in half to get the rest of the product.  I figure about a week’s left usage is in there.  Makes me happy.  Woohoo.

FrankenBalm

FrankenBalm primarily contains my Decleor Ylang Ylang and Rose D’Orient Essential Night Balms, a bit of the Darphin Aromatic Purifying Balm, with a few extra add-ons.  The Decleor balms are more than a few years old, while the Darphin balm is about a year and a half.  I have to be careful with how many balms I collect.  They take a REALLY long time to use up. 

I will be so excited when I start chucking these bottles left and right!

MAC releases new collections like every hour, or something like that.  I don’t pay them much mind.  So the fact that I picked these two eye shadows up a while back has nothing to do with the fact that they are new, but more to do with the fact that I wanted to try out mauve and pink-toned eye shadows.  I love mauve as a color and, as mentioned by Coco over at The Beauty Milk in her post featuring mauve-toned makeup, it is ultra flattering on many skin tones, but very much so on the light-medium, warm-toned. 

MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Eye Shadow in Mauveless, $21.00

I didn’t like this Pro Longwear Eye Shadow in Mauveless.  This shade resembled a dirty, muted brown plum – definitely not mauve.  It is also not very pigmented in the first swipe, although it is buildable.   MAC’s literature for this product says blendable, buildable and creamy.  I can’t say I was wowed with it.  It’s not really that creamy or smoothly blendable.  Seems kind of powdery and patchy to me on first application and becomes denser with most powders as you pack it on.

This color was not flattering on me at all.  There are drugstore eye shadow powders that are on par with this, even if a little less pigmented, but that’s a little less pigmented at a third of the price.  But why bother picking up a slightly crappier eye shadow at a third of the price or less, when you can pick a better one up for a third of the price.  NYX and Prestige Cosmetics’ Total Intensity eye shadow line are better than this particular product.  Save your money.

MAC Cosmetics Pressed Pigment in Sweet Acting, $21.00

I didn’t care for this product either.   MAC literature describes this powder as an intensely pigmented creamy highlighter powder that offers sheer to medium coverage with extreme pearlescence and versatile finishes.  You can use these dry for a glittery and shimmery spectacle of light or add some water for a metallic, watery look.  There was nothing spectacular about this shade or this finish, whether wet or dry. Also, they might as well just call this an eye shadow.  Unless you want to go looking like a Club Kid and apply this elsewhere on your face.  There are tons of other options in the beauty world at various price points, like Laura Mercier and Bobbi Brown sparkle/shimmer eye shadows – which give eye/face sparkle extravagant refinement - not Club Kid.  But if you want a cheaper subdued option with a cool duo chrome effect that actually could be used elsewhere on the face – discretely – even though it’s only listed as an eye shadow – I suggest giving Prestige Cosmetics’ Duo Chrome Eye shadow in Spellbound and Crave a whirl for $8.50 a piece.

Here are the swatches. 

On another note, I am so happy I am almost done posting the “Upcoming Posts” posts.  I really slacked off.  I have three more posts connected to that post, two of which are both foundation posts.  I will make it a point to get those soon.  Sheesh.

I used to buy these large powder blushes with the super fat brush heads that dispersed powder EVERYWHERE into the air.  I always felt as if I was being wasteful when I used these powder brushes for my powders.  I still have them, probably because I felt like I should have them, but I don’t really use them unless I am low on my other favorite powder brushes.  I find that full brush heads are best for quickly gliding over the face for setting powder or a sheer wash of color, but not really for applying foundation powders.

My favorite foundation powder brushes are by EcoTools.  The EcoTools Sheer Finish Kabuki Brush ($6.99) is my absolute favorite for home application of foundation powders.  I love the ergonomic handle and the flat bottom of the brush that allows it to stand on any flat surface ready for use.  The brush head is super soft and fine.  I don’t have a problem with application or coverage using this brush.  It also doesn’t kick up a lot powder when you rub against a powder surface, but it still picks up powder.  I can get sheer to light-medium coverage with this brush.  The brush head could be fuller and denser for fuller coverage, but I do not mind.  Also, after a while, the brush head can look a bit ratty/fuzzy after washings.  At that point, just swap it out.  I have paid multiples more for other foundation powder brushes that wasted more powder than applied it to my face, while somehow also managing to make me slightly powdery at the same time.  For around $7.00, this is a steal and I have multiple brand new brushes waiting in the wings when I need to replace my current in-use brush.

My second favorite powder foundation brush is also by EcoTools and it is the EcoTools Retractable Kabuki Brush ($7.99).  The denser, fuller brush head allows for more coverage with foundation powders, but it doesn’t veer into cakey.  I love that it is retractable and that it has a brush.  For around $8.00 it is also a steal.  It’s compactness and portability make it ideal for travel or regular commutes.  One caveat is that I try not to get the metal casing wet.  I am pretty sure the cheap cost of this item does not ensure against rust. 

I have more expensive brushes that sit unused by MAC, Shiseido, Bobbi Brown, and various Sephora Professional brushes.  I prefer these brushes by EcoTools.  They do what I want without being wasteful, making a mess, or costing me extra unnecessarily.  If I do decide to buy a more expensive brush, it will likely be one of those Japanese numbers featured in SweetMakeupTemptations’ blog, following the old adage: less quantity, more quality.

Over the past spring – technically it is still spring, but you sure wouldn’t think it-I started preferring powder foundations over liquid foundations.  This was mostly laziness and the fact that my skin has been looking pretty good for a while now.  Powder foundations allow for lighter coverage that you can quickly swirl and buff in in a matter of seconds.  Not so with liquid foundations.

In the past, I have overwhelmingly preferred liquid foundations.  This was mostly due to the fact that powder foundations were very thick AND they did not come in shades that matched me.  Liquid foundations were more forgiving and adaptable.  I am pleased that along with the expansion of shades for liquid foundations, powder foundations have also gone through a shade expansion. 

Maybelline’s new FIT ME! foundation line is probably one of the best drugstore foundation lines out there next to Revlon’s.  It was a huge improvement compared to their previous foundation lines and I find that it offers better tone variation than the very peach/orange leaning L’Oreal True Match foundation line or Revlon’s Nearly Naked foundation line, which is what I refer to as blazingly orange.

I picked up Maybelline’s FIT ME! Pressed Powder ($7.99) in Natural Beige (220) and I was able to compare it shade-wise to my oldest sister’s powder match in Natural Buff (230),when she visited for a weekend.  The swatches are below (each window contains both shades in different lighting) and I do think the names are a bit deceptive.  I would assume that Natural Beige (220) would be darker than Natural Buff (230), but it is not.  Even in the powder form, Natural Beige (220) looks darker than Natural Buff (230), but when you swatch it, it is the opposite.  Natural Beige (220) appears lighter and less orangey than Natural Buff (230).  My oldest sister has a neutral, light tan skin tone, compared to mine which is lighter with yellow-green undertones.  However, both powders oxidize significantly.  Initially, Natural Beige (220) looks like a fantastic skin tone match for me, but then it turns considerably darker as it mixes with my skin oils.  It actually doesn’t turn a vibrant orange, like Revlon’s Nearly Naked Pressed Powder, but a beigey, light tan brown color. It’s actually a lovely color.  It is less jarring than an orange face.  However, I look like I have brown face on a light yellow neck.

Aside from this issue, which I try to control by not using as much of the powder,  using a highlighter to tone done how dark the powder will oxidize, or using mineral sunscreens that leave me white, I actually do like this powder.  The powder is blendable and does not appear cakey – like ever.  It provides a natural skin-like finish and it never appears too powdery.  This is a great budget powder, and I believe it is actually my FAVORITE budget pressed powder.  If you are within the light to medium range, this is a great foundation line to check out.  I am also super excited to say that Maybelline seems to have added some new shades to the foundation line.  I am excited about the new shade, Golden Beige (240), which appears lighter than Natural Beige (220) on Maybelline’s website.  I hope they create a matching powder for it.  Also, if you are within the deep range, Maybelline has extended the shades to actually reflect DEEP skin tones, and not the medium shades they try to pass off as Deep.

Ingredients: Talc, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Magnesium Stearate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Nylon 12, Caprylyl Glycol, May Contain (+/-):, Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), CI 77491, CI 77492, Iron Oxides (CI 77499), F.I.L. D43256/1

I happened to stumble on Gorgeous Cosmetics within days of their introduction to the U.S. market when I was scanning Nordstrom.  Any time a new cosmetics brand is made available in the U.S. I get super excited because I feel I have tried almost all the brands available to me, so being introduced to something new is refreshing.  Gorgeous Cosmetics is especially interesting to me because it hails from Australia.  The only other Australian brand I am aware of is Becca Cosmetics and since I loved them, I was anxious to try another aussie brand. 

Of course, these brands couldn’t be farther from each other from a branding perspective.  Becca Cosmetics favors a skin-natural look with textures and shades that favors a beach, bronzey, sultry look with an emphasis on sheered out skintones.  Lately, I have noticed with their new production introductions that they are going more for the “made-up” face with opaque, matte colors. We will see if this fundamentally changes the branding dna and philosophy of the brand over time, if it does at all.

Gorgeous Cosmetics branding appears to be more of a traditional red carpet, or C-suite executive, or politician on the stump, fully “made-up” face.  A power face brought down to a minimum of various standard looks and textures.  However, they have not invested in promotional images the way Becca Cosmetics have.

As always, I stayed within my bread and butter for trying out a new cosmetic brand.  I picked up a foundation.  Earlier in the winter, I reviewed Gorgeous Cosmetics Sheer Brilliance foundation here.  It was not a good option for me shade wise. So those went back.  I also picked up the Base Perfect Foundation in two colors since I wasn’t sure which would work out: 2Y and 2N.  I figured Level 2 shades would be equivalent to a light-medium depth and it is, but on the darker side.  I actually fall on the lighter side of light-medium.  I am usually the darkest shade in the Light category, or the lightest shade in the Light-Medium spectrum.  However, my undertones are closer to medium shade undertones that favor yellow-olive skin.  Gorgeous Cosmetics shades are a better fit for beigey skintones, which is not a good fit for me.  Oh well.  But this actually makes sense if you consider the ethnic origins of the bulk of early immigrants to Australia, primarily English and Irish.

As you can see from my swatches below, these were not a good shade option for me because the undertones were off and it actually oxidizes a bit deeper over time.  If you look at the outer edges of the swatch you can see where the color is turning darker and more soft orangey/peach.  I returned these because these were not a good shade match for me, but I received PRESS SAMPLES of all of the Level 1 shades of the Base Perfect Foundation and I was able to find a close shade match.  Yippee! (Disregard the red inflammation as a result of me scrubbing off staining swatches on my arm!)

I will reserve my comments on the pros and cons of the foundation for the PRESS SAMPLE post simply because it was with a PRESS SAMPLE foundation that I was able to see how this works on my oily, acne-prone skin.

*On another note:  I am soooo happy I am getting through my “Upcoming Posts Sneak Peek” posts.  I thought that previewing products that I would post about would light a fire under my butt to get them posted sooner, but the opposite happened.  I had less desire to post about them.  I now realize the error of my ways and will not do posts like that because it actually kills my desire to post full reviews. 

Second, I can now understand the slippery slope of posting about press samples.  I haven’t even done a press sample post yet, but even referencing a future post felt funny.  It was foreign territory for me to be contacted by the public relations department of a cosmetics brand.  Do I try to be all professional? Do I just act like a regular ‘ole consumer who is tickled pink about getting to try a new product for fun and FREE?  This isn’t a business for me and I don’t need to receive press samples go review stuff.  It doesn’t mean that I would be reluctant to growing my blog and investing more time and money into it to take it to the next level.  It’s just that my interests and time (or skills!) aren’t there right now.  Right now, this is fun and a way for me to share my interests and opinions on things that I enjoy.  But my thoughts definitely flirted with the dark side of beauty blogging and all the ramifications it came with.  I had to step back, re-center, and plug along as usual.

I love minis.  You know this.  This is my second Monday Minis post.  Woohoo.  The first is here.   I have made headway on using the minis in the first post.  About half are almost used completely.  Unfortunately, the packaging has made some minis difficult to use up completely.  But progress has been made!  With that I introduce to you my second set of mini’s for your review.  I don’t want to slap things on my face just to use them up with these newbies.  I prefer care to distinguish products I may purchase full sizes of. 

Currently, only Josie Maran’s Argan Oil sample has been used.  I am still trying to make headway through my older used products, but some have passed their expiration date and had to be trashed.  It could not be helped.  You win some you lose some.  These minis were accumulated a few weeks before the start of my ban, so I am not worried about them going bad.  Either way, in my gym bag and makeup case they go for eventual exploration.

There is one particular brand I have to rave about in this assortment and it is Atelier Cologne.  I was given a sample of the Orange Sanguine Cologne Absolue, which is fine.  I am not a fan of orange scented perfumes.  However, I love their Bois Blonds Cologne Absolue.   I am not a perfume nose and I hate jarring noticeable strong scents. So I have a preference for subtle softer scents, but not powdery ones.  Atelier Cologne’s Bois Blonds Absolue is the perfect subtle scent that skims the senses.  I am not anywhere near picking up a bottle just yet – 1) hello! ban! and 2) it’s rather pricey ($170!).  However, when the holiday season pops up – conveniently around the corner after my ban - I will be picking up a bottle.

These four liquid foundations were the last foundations I purchased before I went on my beauty spending ban.  Sadly, one of these bottles may already be on it’s death legs -err bottle.  These foundations get the least usage from me for one very big reason…they are mostly too dark, with the exception of MAC’s Face & Body Foundation in C2.

By far the DARKEST foundation I own is Rouge Bunny Rouge Milk Aquarelle Liquid Foundation ($64.00 for 29 ml) in Cashew Milk Parfait.  I had been staring at the few online swatches I could find and I was stuck between Cashew Milk Parfait and Chestnut Milk Parfait.  I decided to err on the darker side because it was described as olive.  But this is what I call a Eva Mendes with a tan olive – very orange olive.  I tried to pass it on to my really golden tanned sister, who was rocking a MAC NC 42 tan, but it was too light for her.  Now, I just use a teeny amount of this stuff mixed in with a too light foundation, or highlighter, and use it like a tinted moisturizer for warmth.  I can’t really comment on how this feels on it’s own long term on my oily skin because I have to dilute it significantly with other lightening products.  But I will say it has a lovely blendable gel-texture.  There is a slight scent to it and it has moisturizers in it like shea butter and skin conditioners like panthenol.  This foundation DOES oxidize darker on its own and it’s not great for oily skin.  I like the idea behind Rouge Bunny Rouge, but their foundation range is incredibly limited, so I would not purchase any of their foundations again, until they expand AND I can test it out.  I purchased this from BeautyHabit.com.

The second darkest foundation I own is Make Up Forever HD Invisible Cover Foundation in 123 Desert ($42.00 for 1.01 oz).  Unlike the Rouge Bunny Rouge foundation, which I purchased based on online swatches, I actually sampled MUF HD in 123 for a while during the fall.  I knew it was too dark for me, but I LOVED the way I looked with it on because despite it being too dark, it worked with my undertones.  I eschew tanning of any kind because I know that it will make my future skin leathery and wrinkle-y (and I suffer from melasma) but I look GREAT with a strong tan.  This foundation represents the sun burnt shade I would be if I didn’t have to work for a living.  Plus, I felt ooooooooooooh so exotic in this shade, like I was from one of those teeny French Polynesian islands.  I know I should not have purchased this shade, but I did.  I have worn it occasionally at night in the winter (with a turtleneck and long sleeves), or during the daytime lightened up with highlighters and moisturizer.  This shade leans more yellow-brown with a hint of orange.  It offers an incredible satin-finish to the skin but my skin did look oily very quickly with it on.  This is not a good summer foundation, so I suggest avoid it during the summer if you have oily skin.  Honestly, I should not have gotten this color and this is not a good foundation for oily skin, but drier skin types will likely love it.

My Inglot AMC Cream Foundation in MW100 ($22.00 for 1.0 oz) was purchased last year and I was super excited with it’s very olive-tone.  I saw a youtuber describe it as almost gray, but it’s just a very green tone.  I was stuck between MW100 and LW600 and just decided to go darker.  I loved the shade, which looks darker in the swatches than the other shades but it does NOT oxidize darker unlike the other shades.  I do lighten it a bit but it works with my undertones.   The color is the only thing I loved because this is not a skin friendly formula.  This cream foundation emphasized dry patches on skin, even on my oily skin.  I found I had to excessively exfoliate my skin and use Japanese toners to remove the loose skin flakes for even application and then slap on some moisturizer, but it didn’t matter because an hour or so later I would see lose skin flakes separating on my face along with the foundation.  I understand I was using strong retinoids, but even when I wasn’t I would have the same issues. I would not purchase this again.  It is not a good foundation, but the shade is great.

Last, but not least, is my MAC Face & Body Foundation in C2 ($27.00 for 1.7 oz).  This is a very sheer foundation, but it offers more color coverage than Becca’s Luminous Skin Colour Foundation, which is super duper sheer.  Unlike Becca’s Luminous Skin Colour Foundation though, MAC’s Face & Body Foundation offers flexible, buildable coverage.  This foundation, like most warm-toned MAC foundations leans orange so I went with the lighter color, although I could have gone with C3 just as easily.  The shades overlap into each other.  I have used this foundation for a tinted moisturizer look.  It is not the best for oily skin, but it can be blotted rather easily due to it’s satin-finish that reads humidity-dewy on me.  It does not emphasize dry flakes of skin.  It is also water resistant, which makes it great for body cover-up.  This product is probably one of the most used foundations in fashion shows.  I know it is constantly mentioned in backstage beauty breakdown lists.  I do have a packaging caveat – it is not leak proof.  The cap does twist off easily  when in a make up bag and product can collect in the cap while it is closed creating a mess.

As you all know, I am officially banned from buying anymore beauty products until November.  However, I will go on a modified quantity restriction for certain products even after the end of my beauty ban.  I have WAY toooo many foundations.  Yes, my overall number has decreased because of expired bottles and what not.  But no single human should have like a dozen or more liquid foundations, that’s like ridiculous.  I am going to cap myself to six, which in truth is still a lot, but still manageable because I do use a lot of foundation to cover up acne or discoloration.    Six is an arbitrary number, but it’s a hell of a lot better than like 15!  I do want to get better at discarding USED UP products and not expiring ones.  Therefore, it will be a while before I purchase a new foundation even after the ban because I still have more than six bottles left and in non-expiring condition.

Here are the swatches.

Is there nothing more awesome than finding something you had forgotten about?  For instance, if you are in the habit of frequently swapping out handbags day to day, you may forget to remove cash from the bags.  It’s nice to find money in bags or jackets.  If you’ve misplaced a really cool doodad and just gave up on looking for it, but then find it during a new reorganization session, you get giddy from finding it again.  Or what about that little pot of multipurpose color you have been looking everywhere for, and you get a nice little surprise when you look inside a cargo pocket and find it.  Awesome, right? 

What about when it’s not?  I was clearing out some space in my closet to move in boxes of paperback books I had either read and loved, or not read yet, but for which I did not have the time for, and I started clearing out a large Muji brown paper bag filled with items I had thrown in there from an old “cleaning” session.  Sometimes these “cleaning” sessions involved me dumping things in a bag, letting it sit there for a while, and then shoving it some place where it won’t disturb the pseudo organization I had completed.  On the surface everything looks sparse, neat and organized.  Under that shiny, sparse exterior lurks the dirty, messy, disorganized and clumped truth – the mess I shoved off the tops of surfaces and stored in dark corners not to be seen again – for a while. 

In this Muji brown paper bag I found the tape measure I had been looking everywhere for, the booklights I wondered what I had done with, the rolls of extra packing type I could have sworn I had tons of, but had purchased more of because apparently it had been a figment of my imagination – which it wasn’t, tons of little odds and ends…OH, YEAH AND A SMALL SEPHORA BAG FILLED WITH A RECEIPT AND BRAND NEW ITEMS - circa a 2012 shopping trip.

!@^%#(&!

I had completely forgotten about these items.  What were they exactly?  A Laura Mercier 500 point Sephora VIB gift and the  Boscia mini kit deal, along with several lovely long-wear, matte Sephora brand lipsticks.

Instead of being pleased by these re-emerging gifts, I was hit with a sinking feeling.  Like WTF! Not only do I have to worry about a horde of mid-use make up expiring and cool minis that won’t get the same level of enjoyment and appreciation I normally give because I can’t soak in the experience, now I have “new” boxes of unopened stuff from last year? 

This is all very Dantean, you know.  I love beauty and skincare products so much that I went a bit overkill.  I love trying new things and I love trying to find something that will fix a skin issue, but I crossed a threshold.  I wasn’t getting the same level of enjoyment and appreciation.  Throwing in some economics - I did not maximize the optimal level of satisfaction for beauty.  I overran it and each additional util of enjoyment decreased until it became displeasure.   I am soooooooooooo over that point.  It’s sad.  I find it ironic that I need to abstain from new beauty products for a while in order to regain the sheer joy I gained from a new product. 

But this wasn’t just it.  It was something more.

My “Mission to Finish” and “Beating the Beauty Clock“ sucked the fun and pleasure out of beauty.  Beauty isn’t a speed contest on usage.  It’s an experience.  A luxury.  My overkill in the foundation, highlighter, and sunscreen department, along with my sense of guilt on waste, made using my beauty products seem like a chore.  A CHORE!?!

Needless to say…that focus on using up certain products exclusively?  Gone.  Beauty is as much fun as it is purpose for me.  I stripped the fun and it became all purpose…and then I couldn’t care less.

If a product spoils, it spoils.  So be it.  I will need to make better “inventory” decisions.  That means, as I mentioned before, no new foundations for a while.  No new highlighters either. Ditto sunscreens.  But in the meantime, I won’t hesitate to use a different foundation, if it’s the texture I want, the application technique I want.  Same goes for sunscreen.  I am not only using my Origins Stay Tuned Makeup, I am using my “no where near expiring” Lancôme Teint Miracle Foundation, as well.  When I feel like it.  And you know what?  I am enjoying my Origins Stay Tuned Makeup even more now, because I am not forcing myself to use it all the time.  Allowing myself to be free is increasing my enjoyment of all of my makeup.  And that means, even if I am only able to get a few uses out of it before it goes bad, I am actually appreciating it more, enjoying it significantly more than if I had forced myself to use every last drop exclusively.

I am sure the applications and analogies for this are RIPE for exploration.

If you love something, SET IT FREE. LET IT BE.

That’s maybe easier said than done in certain situations, but on this one…I am coastin.’

As in most things in life, there is collateral damage.  Expired bottles?  Ehh, I can live with that.