Blogtember Day One: Cover FX review

Cover Fx Total Cover Cream Foundation 

Hello Friends!

The quest is over!!  I've finally found my holy grail foundation! (Well, two of them, but that's another post)

As many of you guys know, I've been searching and searching for the right foundation for the last year. Every time I found one, I was disappointed in it within a few months. This time I thought I'd wait to let you know about it for a while to make sure I loved it- erand I do!

I had tried the Cover Fx foundation before (in shade N20- a neutral), but had gone for a cheaper option at the time. After returning that one, I got rematched in the Cover Fx to shade G20 (for "light skin with golden undertones). I had always been matched to neutral colors in the past, so I was a bit skeptical, but after trying this stuff for a few days, I was convinced. (I suppose I shouldn't be surprised with Native American and Filipina heritage on my mother's side.)

The cream formulation works surprisingly well with my oily skin, although I do use setting spray and sheer powder with it. I find it very buildable, and great for medium to full coverage. It's not too heavy on the skin, but it's not my favorite for hot days.

I think one of my favorite things about this foundation is how great it's been for my skin. The MAC foundation I was using was very hard on my skin, and I've been having pretty bad breakouts since then. This foundation is free of a ton of acnegenic and irritating ingredients, and it almost seems to be be aiding in clearing up the acne. It also works very well to cover any redness I have.

The foundation is available in a wide range of shades in Neutral, Gold, and Pink undertones (a total of 26, I believe), with mineral powder foundation and cream concealers to match. It sells for $42 at Sephora, and it has lasted me about two and a half months so far. I have hit pan, but their is a lot of product left around the edges, so I think it will definitely last the month, and possibly into October.

All in all, this is a great product, and I recommend it for anyone looking for a light wearing cream foundation!

Always,

Nani xx

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They Broke My Face!!! Or "How Smashbox Nearly Ruined My Graduation"

Hello Friends!

Normally I'm try to keep things pretty positive on this blog... But everyone needs a rant sometimes, don't they? If you're not up for a rant today, now would probably be a good time to click away... 

Anyway, it all started with Sephora's 15th birthday party. I had gone in to get a refill of my Caudalie cleansing water the week before, and one of the attendants offered my mom and I appointments for "Free Smashbox Makeovers!!!" that Saturday. It seemed like a good plan to me, so we signed up for the last two spots.

As I've said before, I have several friends who work in Sephora, and so I'm used to getting treated like a princess there... so this might be a bit of an overreaction, but bear with me. When we arrived, there were two "guest artists" from Smashbox waiting to do our makeup. 

The whole experience was a little strange. Neither of the artist introduced themselves. The one working on my face (let's call her Jen), asked what my skin type was, and a general idea we wanted to go with. Since I tend to wear either natural or purple-ish toned eyemakeup, I asked that we stay away from those (so she used a dark champange color with a palette of purples.. but I digress), and left the rest of it up to her. (Apparently the other one, [who we'll call Katie] had similar listening skills... My mom was also unimpressed.)

Jen said that she also has oily skin and that their Photo Finish Targeted Line and Pore Primer (above) was the only thing that worked for her, so I was game to try it. She put it on my T-Zone, and across the tops of my cheeks. 

Fast forward through a truly unimpressive appointment (which they then informed us was "free with purchase," not free) to Friday, the date of my graduation ceremony.

I got up that morning, and went through my normal morning routine, not noticing anything unusual, until I went to put on my foundation. It wouldn't stick to my forehead. At all. I use a great primer, and I've never had any problems with it before... it just wouldn't stick. So I tried another foundation. And another primer. Nothing would stick. I should have taken a picture. I looked like a baby with an angel kiss/stork bite birthmark on my forehead (google it, if you're not sure what I'm talking about). It was bizarre.

In a bit of a panic, I asked my mom what she thought I should do, and we tried several more things... Nothing worked. Eventually, it clicked. Jen, the Smashbox artist, had gone back over that area (the one that would not hold makeup) with that primer a few times- more than anywhere else on my my face. 

Totally discouraged, we called Sephora and arranged an appointment for that afternoon (this time with someone I knew). At the appointment I explained my theory. SB, my friend at Sephora agreed. She had heard some bad reviews of that product (and those artists- it really was free, not free with purchase!), and reported the incident to her manager.

Inspecting my "bald" spot, she decided that the top layer of skin had died, and gave me a free chemical peel. Afterwards, the spot gave her a little trouble, but she went well over the normal 40 minute appointment to make sure I looked okay, and really saved the day.

I'm not sure if there's a moral to this story... more of just a rant. I also don't recommend that primer!

Have you ever had bad makeup counter or makeover experiences? Let me know in the comments below!

Always,

Nani xx

Big NARS Haul + Review!

Hello Friends!

A few weeks ago Sephora had their big Very Important Beauty Insider (the upper level rewards program) event, and they sent me a coupon, so I went in in search of one thing- concealer... But that day they had a consultant from NARS there, and she gave me a makeover.. I came out with five. But they were on sale, and one was free... so that helps... I guess. -_- I have the self control of a two year old!

I have been having a HECK of a time with my skin lately. I think it's the cause of the "foundation quest" I've been on. It's super oily, and I've been having a problem with my makeup sliding, so the NARS consultant, Kellie, suggested I try out their primer.  This is the NARS Oil-Free Pro-Prime Pore Refining Primer ($34 - NOTE: I can't find my receipt, but I can tell you I did not pay full price for these products! I think I had about 20% off... I wish I could remember!)

When I tried it in-store, I was pretty pleased with it, but I'm not sold on it anymore. I think that it would work better for someone with a fairly normal skin type. It's a great primer- it smooths over pores and some fine lines, and evens out the skin, but I find that it doesn't hold very long. It really helps with application, but I'm not sure that it does anything (for my skin type) in the long run. 

Verdict: I'll finish it, but I don't think I'll buy it again.

This next product will probably come as no surprise to those of you who read my blog regularly... I got a new foundation, guys!

This is the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation ($44 full price) in Light 02 "Mont Blanc," a color they describe as "fair with slight pink undertones." Now there's three words in there that would normal make me steer far, far, away from this product- sheer, glow, and pink. With my acne-prone oily skin, I tend towards things that say "matte" and "full-coverage," and my skin is generally considered neutral... But Kellie convinced me otherwise, and as far as I can tell, she was right.

This color isn't too pink at all- I would have called it a neutral. (For those of you who watch Zoella, this is her go-to foundation shade that she wears in most of her videos.) Also, I wouldn't call it a sheer or light-coverage... I'd call it a build-able medium. Unless I have a very red blemish, I don't wear any spot concealer with it. Kellie suggested applying it with fingers so that it would emulsify well, and that definitely works well, but it also works well with a buffing-type brush, for those of you that, like me, don't like to use your fingers.  It's not a long wear foundation, but it does last well. The only time that I have had any problems with it is when I don't seal it.

My favorite thing about this foundation is actually the thing that scared me the most: "Glow." As most oily-skinned people do, I shy away from anything labeled "glow," but this really doesn't make me look shiny- it just makes your skin look like SKIN. Matte foundations often make the skin almost look dull or ashy, and this makes it looks so healthy without adding any shine.

I only have one complaint about this product, and it's not a fatal flaw. In the store, they all have little pumps on them, and with that giant cap, one would expect them to to come with one, but they don't. they come like this:

Unfortunately, Sephora doesn't carry the pump tops, and it's $6 (plus $5 shipping) to buy one from NARS. It's not a huge deal, but it's a little strange.

Verdict: I would definitely recommend this, and I am almost certain I will be buying this foundation again. (And that's a big deal, coming from me!)

Since I've been making forays into the world of contouring, we picked out this Radiant Creamy Concealer ($28 full price) in 01 Chantilly as a highlighting concealer. This is a "true ivory" color, and, I kid you not, it looks like corpse flesh in the tube. I was so skeptical about it! It works well as an under-eye concealer/brightener, though, and I really like it. HOWEVER. Beware- if you use too much under your eyes, you will spend the whole day having people comment on your "sunglasses tan." (Yeah... That happened. It's a learning curve.) A little goes a long way!

Verdict: Yes, I will purchase it again, but with the speed I'm using it, It's more likely to be because it has expired than run out!

The last item I bought was their Light Reflecting Setting Powder ($34 full price). It's a microfinish powder in a compact- something I've been looking for. It looks very shimmery in the palette (it doesn't show in the picture), but it doesn't wear like a shimmer powder, it just adds a dimension to the foundation. It came with a cute little padded pouch with pockets for the the palette and the velvet "puff" (the little rectangle over the mirror), but it makes it very bulky, and I prefer to apply powder with a brush, so the little bag just hangs out in my makeup drawer.

Verdict: I like this stuff- it's not a holy grail product, but I'll probably buy it again.

Since I purchased NARS products during their special promotion, Kellie gave me a free Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil ($25) in New Lover. It's a "gold infused strawberry" color, so it's basically the lip equivalent of their Orgasm blush, and it's great!

Verdict: I love their lip pencils (I'm wearing Cruella in my profile pic), so this is definitely a yes.

Bonus product:

I bought the Blush/Bronzer Duo in Orgasm/Laguna ($41) a while back, and I never reviewed it. I use this palette ever day. This picture really doesn't do it justice, but those two colors are the best blush and bronzer I've ever worn. Laguna is a matte, so it's great for contouring, and the gold in the blush... I love this stuff.

Verdict: Do I even have to say?

Alright guys, sorry for the delay in getting this post up! I'd love to hear what your favorite NARS products are, or if you have used any of these before, and if they worked for you!

Always,

Nani xx

Sephora Haul! 02.05.2013

Hello Friends,

As you will soon learn, I have an addiction. I can't go into Sephora without spending money. When I say addiction, I'm not kidding. The employees literally know me by name.

Anyway, I went into Sephora in need of foundation the other day, and came out with ten products. Sigh.

I've been using various shades of Make Up Forever Mat Velvet + foundation,

but I found that before the expiration date comes, the foundation oxidizes, and turns pink. Since I have fair skin with golden undertones, the pink looked ridiculous, so it was time for a change.

Felicia, a wonderful employee at my local Sephora (although she's leaving for Rhode Island soon!), introduced me to the new Make Up Forever Pro Finish powder foundation in 113 Neutral Ivory ($36).

Normally, I don't like using powder foundation, but I love this foundation. I can't rave about it enough. It goes on very smoothly and has a good coverage. I get bad breakout when I'm stressed, and as I'm a college student going in to midterms, I'm definitely stressed, and it covers the spots very well. For best results, I apply it with the Sephora brand Perfectionist Makeup Sponge (A molded Beauty Blender dupe, $12).

It can be used wet or dry, although I prefer dry, since the wet application is a little sheer for me.

Since I have oily skin, a good primer is essential for me. Something I hadn't realized is that oily skin also tends to be dry skin- your face produces more oil to make up for it. Because of this, Felicia found a really nice hydrating primer, Smashbox Photo Finish in Hydrating ($42)

It has a really good feeling to it. It's very sheer, and smooth. It soaks in nicely, instead of sitting on top if the skin, and it smooths out the skin to leave it ready for the makeup, which is especially important with a powder foundation.

She also recommended another primer for the under-eye area (which was her very gentle way of saying "Those dark circles under your eyes are horrific," which they are), Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer ($29).

The information on their website says that it reduces under eye circles, puffiness, bags, and fine lines. I'm not sure how much I believe them. It does hide the circles to an extent, since it refracts the light, but I'm not sure I'll be buying this product again, especially since it's almost thirty dollars.

Since my foundation changed, I needed a new concealer, too. Felicia found the Cover Fx Cream Concealer in N Light ($27). (I ended up exchanging it for the G Light, as the N was too orange-y for me.)

I'm having a learning curve with this stuff. It is so concentrated that I only need a tiny bit, and I still find that I tend to put on too much, causing it to show through my foundation. It does totally wipe out my under eye circles and spots though! For now, the jury's still out.

Since I was going for a 1940s glam look, Felicia set me up with some neutral eye shadow. She actually used three, but I had some similar to the other two. I ended up purchasing Urban Decay eye shadow in Secret Service, a lovely matte brown ($18).

I love this color. It's so beautiful, and very natural. It blends well, and as an added bonus, it is exactly the right color to fill in my eyebrows.  I'll definitely be purchasing this again.

We chose a red lip color, Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella ($25).

This is one of the best lip colors I've ever used. It 's highly pigmented, glides on, and lasts a very long time. I have very dry lips, and it moisturizes really well. I appreciate that once it's on, I don't notice it anymore. The color is opaque, but it doesn't dry harshly. I'm very pleased with it.

In the picture at the top of the page, there's also a cream eyeliner, and two brushes. The cream liner is Sephora Collection Waterproof Smoky Cream Liner in Must Have, a matte black ($12). I like it, but it's pretty generic. My only complaint is something I should have expected- because my eyelids are a little oily, if I don't put a powder over it, I get a mirrored image of my eyeliner in the crease of my eye. The brushes are both Sephora brand, a fluffy eye shadow brush, and an angled flat liner.

For a finishing touch, I got a setting spray (since, like I mentioned, I have oily skin, it's a must). I settled on Urban Decay's De-Slick Oil-Control Makeup Setting Spray ($29).

I didn't think it helped that much, until I went without it. With the spray my makeup lasts all day, but without it it only lasts about 4-6 hours. It's definitely worth the price.

Since I spent a ridiculous amount of money on this stuff, and I'm a student, I have grounded myself from going in there until... I'm not sure. But not for a while.

Always,

Nani