I have some pics to show, for the new MUFE Aqua Creams and some of my favorite brushes....but alas Google is experiencing issues with photo upload....so we'll just have to wait.
On the haul front, I finally have my MAC To the Beach collection (can I just say WOW) and am enjoying it a lot! I might even post an FOTD if I'm feeling particularly bold :).
I also recently came across some Chanel glossimers that (gasp) had been hiding from me in the black hole of my closet - I was astonished to discover some oldies but goodies, all new and pristine. It was like finding a treasure given my renewed Chanel obsession. I also recently received my Chanel Dreams quad, which I am anxious to try today - very pretty colors, and my first 'non-US' version of a Chanel quad!
In other news, I'm really liking the sample of Chanel Hydramax+Active Nutritive moisturizer. Maybe this will be part of a permanent skin care regime.....I also picked up the Ultra Correction Lift lip contour cream, and I'm really liking it. Hopefully I'll see some long-term benefit!
Yet to try:
Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base - I had heard that this is a really interesting product, and since I'm not the biggest fan of bronzers, I thought I might have better luck using something that was more of a base to my makeup, rather than applied as an almost-last step.
Shu Uemura Pink Gloss collection in #333 - I saw these on Nordstrom's website and thought I would give one a try - the color is beautiful in the tube - very fine particles of shimmer in a perfect pink base - Shu's glosses generally have an almost weightless feel to them - I have a few others that I use from time to time (I'm on a Chanel glossimer kick at the moment, fickle me ;) ), so we'll see how this one does. I think it will be a great addition to my summer lip collection.
Nars Albatross highlighter - again, given the rave reviews, I have to see if it lives up to the considerable hype. This weekend will be a good time for me to try some of these new goodies!
Chanel Nude lip pencil - this was a must-have for me, given the various very positive reviews I've seen around the net. I'll be using it today to see what all the fuss is about! Hmmm.....maybe with the Shu gloss over it?
Smashbox Second Skin Longwear Concealer in Light (Waterproof) - I just received this product from QVC, and am excited to try it out. I'm a huge fan of MUFE's Lift Concealer, so that will be a tough act to follow, but I'll give Smashbox a whirl!
New additions to my collection, tried, using and loving:
Chanel Inimitable mascara - this is a favorite among some of my Spektra sisters so I had to give it a try - I liked it so much I bought it during the 'buy 2 get one 1' mascara offer at Nordstrom this past Saturday. Very black, not clumpy, it elongates my lashes nicely. A keeper!
Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing powder in Antigua and Maui - these came highly recommended by a dear friend from Spektra.net. These are beautiful powders! I love the colors especially - Antigua is a pinky-nude color and Maui is a golden rose. Both have subtle shimmer, and I love using them on my cheekbones and lightly at my temples....haven't quite gone the true 'bronzer' route with the application yet, but I'm very happy with my application results!
That's it for this post - I'll patiently (?) wait for Google to fix their photo upload issues, and hopefully give you something to look at soon!!
Make it a great day! I'm too blessed to be stressed!
Showing posts with label concealer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label concealer. Show all posts
Friday, June 4, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Now on to makeup basics.......
This particular topic could take days, so I'm going to take it in stages :). I'll start off with what I consider 'essential' products - again, ones that I use everyday, and that give me predictable results.
Foundation Primers: Makeup Forever HD Primer in #0 and Chanel Base Lumiere: I use a brush to apply these primers - I've been using the MUFE primer for about 3 months, and the Chanel primer for about 3 weeks. I like them both quite a bit, but find I reach for the MUFE primer more (maybe because it's cheaper to replenish?). I apply it all over my face and on my neck as well. They really do help my foundation last the day. I never retouch at work (don't have to with these) and they provide a nice smooth finish for my liquid or powder foundation (depending on which I'm using on any given day). I think what I like most is the texture and the fact that they have slip (as opposed to primers in a jar that are thicker in consistency). I always apply my primer before I do my eye makeup so that it can absorb into my skin well before I apply foundation as my last step.
Eye Shadow Primers: Urban Decay Primer Potion: This is really sort of what I just use, rather than a favorite. I've tried many primers, and though I get the results I'm looking for (crease-free, shadow doesn't fade), I can't say that I'm in love with the formulations. Sometimes I use MAC paintpots, which I like every now and then (they can be 'draggy' and harder to blend, depending on the color), and sometimes I use Too Faced Shadow Insurance. Maybe it's just my eyelid texture, but I have not yet found the 'holy grail' shadow primer. UDPP comes the closest in that it leaves an invisible base, which I quite like. Sometimes, however, it does crease before I can get my eyeshadow on - which just means I have to blend it down again.
I did just place an order with Sephora for a few of the new MUFE Aqua Creams (which may fit the bill) and redeemed VIB points to get a deluxe sample of a new NARS shadow primer. I'll try both of these and maybe amend my opinion.
Setting Powder: MUFE High Definition Powder and MAC Prep & Prime Transparent Finishing Powder AND Bare Minerals Feather Light Mineral Veil: I'll start with the last one first. I've been using BE FLMV for many years, and I love it. It's got just the faintest bit of sparkle (though not in the disco ball sense) and it gives my face a bit of a glow. I use it to blend my eye shadows as well for more of a soft-focus kind of look. I hope I never run out of this. Hands down one of my all-time favorite beauty products.
The other 2 powders I use when I just want a finished look with no glow. Some would say that powder on mature skin is a no-no, but these powders blended into the foundation just provide 'set' for me, no powdery look at all. They soften the whole look without caking. I also find that if I'm going to use powder blush it works better over another powder. I never apply any of these products underneath my eye. My application tends to be T-zone and along my cheekbones and that's it.
Concealer: MUFE Lift Concealer in #3: I have finally found a concealer I can use under my eyes. I'm sure this sounds a bit goofy, but I have tried many products with less than acceptable results. I don't have dark circles, but I do like to lighted that area (I do have darkness in the area at my nose, like most people do). This concealer is invisible, but it works. It blends beautifully, and doesn't creep into my fine lines. All I can say is FINALLY! :)
Mascara: Mally Volumizing and DiorShow in black: Mascara is such a personal thing, and I'm pretty fickle in that I'm not really a brand loyalist in this category. I have tried them all (except YSL and Chanel) and I have to say that Mally and Dior give me the best results. As we age, our lashes become less full, and these mascaras give me some oomph without clumping or the spider effect. If I spend the time, I can get quite a bit of length out of my lashes, but who has that kind of time? I don't. I want to use two coats and walk out the door without a lot of fuss. These two fit that bill. If I take a break from these (or just want to save $$ and time), I will use anything by Rimmel or L'Oreal, as their products are quite good drugstore varieties. I get Mally from QVC.
That's it from a basics perspective - I have a lot of thoughts on color products. That will probably be an installment kind of thing, as it's hard for me to pin down just one or two faves in each category.
In closing, I just want to say count your blessings each day and tell your family you love them.
Foundation Primers: Makeup Forever HD Primer in #0 and Chanel Base Lumiere: I use a brush to apply these primers - I've been using the MUFE primer for about 3 months, and the Chanel primer for about 3 weeks. I like them both quite a bit, but find I reach for the MUFE primer more (maybe because it's cheaper to replenish?). I apply it all over my face and on my neck as well. They really do help my foundation last the day. I never retouch at work (don't have to with these) and they provide a nice smooth finish for my liquid or powder foundation (depending on which I'm using on any given day). I think what I like most is the texture and the fact that they have slip (as opposed to primers in a jar that are thicker in consistency). I always apply my primer before I do my eye makeup so that it can absorb into my skin well before I apply foundation as my last step.
Eye Shadow Primers: Urban Decay Primer Potion: This is really sort of what I just use, rather than a favorite. I've tried many primers, and though I get the results I'm looking for (crease-free, shadow doesn't fade), I can't say that I'm in love with the formulations. Sometimes I use MAC paintpots, which I like every now and then (they can be 'draggy' and harder to blend, depending on the color), and sometimes I use Too Faced Shadow Insurance. Maybe it's just my eyelid texture, but I have not yet found the 'holy grail' shadow primer. UDPP comes the closest in that it leaves an invisible base, which I quite like. Sometimes, however, it does crease before I can get my eyeshadow on - which just means I have to blend it down again.
I did just place an order with Sephora for a few of the new MUFE Aqua Creams (which may fit the bill) and redeemed VIB points to get a deluxe sample of a new NARS shadow primer. I'll try both of these and maybe amend my opinion.
Setting Powder: MUFE High Definition Powder and MAC Prep & Prime Transparent Finishing Powder AND Bare Minerals Feather Light Mineral Veil: I'll start with the last one first. I've been using BE FLMV for many years, and I love it. It's got just the faintest bit of sparkle (though not in the disco ball sense) and it gives my face a bit of a glow. I use it to blend my eye shadows as well for more of a soft-focus kind of look. I hope I never run out of this. Hands down one of my all-time favorite beauty products.
The other 2 powders I use when I just want a finished look with no glow. Some would say that powder on mature skin is a no-no, but these powders blended into the foundation just provide 'set' for me, no powdery look at all. They soften the whole look without caking. I also find that if I'm going to use powder blush it works better over another powder. I never apply any of these products underneath my eye. My application tends to be T-zone and along my cheekbones and that's it.
Concealer: MUFE Lift Concealer in #3: I have finally found a concealer I can use under my eyes. I'm sure this sounds a bit goofy, but I have tried many products with less than acceptable results. I don't have dark circles, but I do like to lighted that area (I do have darkness in the area at my nose, like most people do). This concealer is invisible, but it works. It blends beautifully, and doesn't creep into my fine lines. All I can say is FINALLY! :)
Mascara: Mally Volumizing and DiorShow in black: Mascara is such a personal thing, and I'm pretty fickle in that I'm not really a brand loyalist in this category. I have tried them all (except YSL and Chanel) and I have to say that Mally and Dior give me the best results. As we age, our lashes become less full, and these mascaras give me some oomph without clumping or the spider effect. If I spend the time, I can get quite a bit of length out of my lashes, but who has that kind of time? I don't. I want to use two coats and walk out the door without a lot of fuss. These two fit that bill. If I take a break from these (or just want to save $$ and time), I will use anything by Rimmel or L'Oreal, as their products are quite good drugstore varieties. I get Mally from QVC.
That's it from a basics perspective - I have a lot of thoughts on color products. That will probably be an installment kind of thing, as it's hard for me to pin down just one or two faves in each category.
In closing, I just want to say count your blessings each day and tell your family you love them.
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