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

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