A few of my favorite eye looks! Click to enlarge the pics & take a closer look(:
Spring Cleaning DONE! (:
I rearrange so often though that this will probably look different in a matter of days haha!
xoxo
Review: Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Melting Gel Cleanser
(coming soon!)
Review: Milani Even-Touch Powder Foundation in 01 Shell
I have been using my MAC Studio Fix Plus Powder Foundation and have been loving it! So when I saw this Milani Powder Foundation at Fred Meyer, I had high hopes that maybe this would be a good, much cheaper substitute.
One thing that sucks about this product is the shade selection. All the stores I’ve seen that have this foundation only have 4 shades! Since I am fair skinned, I grabbed the lightest shade, Shell. Which is a bit yellow for my skin tone, but I still really wanted to try it out.
I apply this with my Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki as a setting powder. I use patting motions, I do not buff it in with swirling motions as this just smears liquid foundation around and uncovers blemishes. I love the smooth finish this gives and it gives very good additional coverage. And for the areas that need even more coverage (over blemishes) I apply more with a powder puff, which gives more coverage than applying with a brush.
This product did a decent job not breaking down with my oily skin except around my nose, which is ALWAYS my problem area. It didn’t really control my oils, and I did need a few minor touch ups. But that didn’t bug me too much, because NOTHING can control my oil haha(:
The only reason I won’t be replacing my MAC Studio Fix Plus with this Milani Powder Foundation is because it simply doesn’t match my skin tone as well.
Review: Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray - Oil Control
I actually don’t have too much to say about this product.
I spray this onto my face after my moisturizer but before foundation, and then again after I’ve applied foundation but before my face powder. And it does a good job at absorbing my oils once it’s dried. However, it doesn’t provide oil control for my face the whole day. In fact, my skin still gets oily after a few hours.
Good spray, but for $30 I would expect something much more effective.
I have since given up on trying to find makeup products & setting sprays to control my oil and am changing up my skin care routine to try and actually balance my skins oil production. So I will not be repurchasing ):
Hope this review was helpful!
xoxo
Review: Maybelline Dream Matte Powder, Light 4-5
This is a good drugstore powder. I have very oily skin, & was desperately searching for a good mattifying powder with a good amount of coverage, since I’ve been steering towards using the Garnier Shine Control BB cream rather than a thick foundation, since the weather has been getting a lot warmer & I am getting ever more oily!.
I do like this powder, however I don’t feel like my search for my HG powder is over ):
This powder does have a matte finish, and it does have a very good lasting power(:
However, the only thing I don’t like is the coverage, or lack of actually. This powder has a light to medium coverage, depending on the method of application. However, I prefer a medium to full coverage powder, especially when I am not wearing heavy liquid or cream foundation to cover my acne & old acne marks.
I am going to try the MAC Studio Fix Plus next (which I will have a review about later), however that powder will probably be too thick & full to use to blot throughout the day. So I will happily continue using my Dream Matte Powder for touching up(:
If you like a light to medium coverage powder that will help control your oil, I would definitely recommend this to you(:
Review: MAC Studio Fix Plus Foundation, NW 20
I love love love this product! I set my foundation with this powder every day(:
This powder helps control my oil and gives my an AMAZING amount of coverage, which I am crazy about. When applied the right way, it goes give the skin a very natural, smooth finish & does not cake up on me.
In the past I applied this with a powder puff & would pat the product into my skin, which it what one should usually do to get the smoothest finish & most coverage with powders. You seriously don’t have to do that with this powder & you shouldn’t! That applies the powder foundation way too thick, which causes it to cake & look very unnatural.
Instead, I use my Sigma F80 (the same brush I use to apply my liquid foundation) to apply this powder. I still do not ‘buff’ the product in though, I just swirl the brush lightly into the powder, and then press it into my skin with the flat top kabuki. This gives such a gorgeous, smooth, full coverage finish & I’m OBSESSED with it. I would also like to add that I work 9 hour shifts at work, and this powder over my HG foundation lasts for the 9 hours I’m at work plus another 5 hours after, with only 1 or 2 small touch-ups/blotting needed <3
I would not recommend this for those with dry skin, as it would probably further dry your skin out and would really accentuate ant dry spots you have…
However, for those who get a pretty oily t-zone or for those like me who have very oily skin all over, I would highly recommend. Very much worth the $30 for me. I have a drawer full of face powders & I never even think about reaching for anything else(:
Review: Garnier BB Cream - Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector
for Combination to Oily Skin in Light/Medium (SPF 20)
I was very excited when I saw this at my local Target, finally a BB cream for oily skin! I have tried other BB creams, the original Garnier, the Maybelline, Rimmel…None of them seemed suited for oily skin, seeing as they all gave the skin a very shiny finish, barely had any coverage, and lacked staying power even when set with powder. So I was thrilled when I found one that claimed to control oil!
Even in the lightest shade, I still found this BB cream to be quite a bit too dark/orange for me. However it was getting much nicer out & I was self tanning, so I thought that would balance itself out so I overlooked that.
However, when I applied this BB cream, it still gave a very shiny finish, even though it claims to control shine :/ I overlooked this also, because I knew I was going to be setting it with a powder anyway.
This did give me much more coverage than the other BB creams I had tried though, & that was comforting. I applied this with my Sigma F80 and with my hands, and patting the product into my skin with my fingers actually seemed to give me the most coverage so that’s how I continued to apply this.
In the end, I have stopped using this BB cream. I have come to realize that BB creams just might not be for me. I have VERY oily skin, & this product did last much longer than the others I had tried in the past, but still not long enough considering I work 9 hour shifts at work. It also just did not seem to cover like I would have liked & it did not control oil & shine as well as my HG foundation, Revlon Colorstay.
This is a great BB cream though, and I would definitely recommend it, I just think my skin demands more coverage, oil control, & lasting power than this was equipped to provide. I think it would be ideal for someone with combination skin, who just gets a little bit of shine in their t-zone throughout the day. Those with very oily skin like me, You’ll probably need something more heavy duty.
Overall, great product! Just not for me.
Review: Boots No7 Beautifully Matte Make Up Base
Let me just start by saying I have oily/combination, acne-prone skin, so I was SO stoked when I say this at my local Target! This product states: “Keep shiny skin under control all day long, with this mattifying oil-free base. Light reflecting particles help disguise fine lines and flaws, while Meadowsweet helps regulate oil production, to minimize blemishes, without blocking pores. Contains Cucumber extract to help soothe skin and Salicylic acid to help fight against spot causing bacteria.”
I applied this primer after my morning moisturizer had been completely absorbed. It was a very thick consistency so I could not smooth it over my skin, it had to be pressed into my skin. After I finished applying it, I looked at my fingers and noticed a bunch of white flakes. I then looked closely at my face, & noticed my face was also covered in a white film that was peeling and flaking HORRIBLY! I tried applying my foundation anyways, to see if I could still work with it. However, my BB cream clung to the flaky patches and looked terrible. I had to re-wash my face & redo my morning routine :/ I am not even going to try giving this product one more go, & I definitely would not recommend this to anyone ):
Review: Maybelline The Flash Clean, Clean Express! Makeup Removing Lotion
I just want to start this review by saying that I wear waterproof mascara daily, & a full face of makeup (foundation, powder, blush, & brows).
I have been on a long search for a product that would remove my full face of makeup, mascara included, very easily & quickly. I have finally found that product.
This product is basically a white lotion that you apply to your dry face & work in circular motions until your makeup feels removed. Keep your eyes closed, it does sting a little bit if it gets in your eyes.
Because this product is not oil free, water alone won’t rinse it off. The packaging says you do not have to rinse this product off, but I would recommend washing it off because it leaves an oily residue. So once I feel my mascara & face makeup are thoroughly removed, I get my face wet, & use any extra face wash I have lying around to wash off any residue. From there I use my regular nightly facial wash to cleanse my face.
This product works amazing at removing my makeup. It breaks down waterproof mascara very effectively & quickly, & is very moisturizing on the eyes. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone who has a difficult time removing their makeup, especially waterproof mascara.
Pros:
Removes waterproof mascara easily & quickly
Removes face makeup easily & quickly
Moisturizing
Cons:
Requires an extra step because it needs to be washed off
