Saving Face

For a long time, foundation (and finding the perfect foundation routine) has been the absolute bane of my existence. I live in hot and humid Florida, and have oily skin. Good luck keeping anything on my face, huh!

 

After a few years, I finally found a routine that works (for me), and I love sharing about the products that I've found that help keep my skin looking matte and smooth all day.

 

There's two products that I swear by, and are my must haves whenever I put my face on.

 

The first one is what I use as a primer.

Monistat Chafing Powder-Gel.

Yea... bear with me for a bit, because I get a lot of strange looks when I admit to using this.

 

I've used a lot of face primers, and this, by far, has been the best thing I've used as a primer.

While it may seem strange, it works.

 

It has often been compared to Smashbox Photo Finish Primer.

One of the main active ingredients in both products is Dimethicone. This is a type of silicone that is used in many makeup and hair products. It acts as a filler, and until it's washed off, it fills and smooth's lines and pores.

 

It creates a better canvas, and my makeup goes on even and even more smooth than without it.

 

It makes my skin feel so smooth, and look smoother (even without makeup on) after it dries.

 

 

 

 

The next is my absolute MUST for makeup. My setting spray. I've tried some higher end brands, but the $3 e.l.f. Makeup Mist & Set is my absolute favorite.

It gets rid of that powdery look that I often get with my makeup. It also keeps my makeup from transferring to my clothes, and other peoples (lets face it: I'm a hugger! Nothing more embarrassing then giving a hug to someone and having half your face wind up on their shoulder or clothes).

 

 

It's always the little things that count with makeup, I believe.

And for me, it's these little invisible products that can make or break my days when I use makeup and want to look my absolute best!

 

I love hearing of other little unheard, or under appreciated products...so tell me!

 

What are your favorite products that you use to keep your makeup looking flawless?

 

--<3

I'm back

It's been a while since I've posted anything, and am trying to get back into the swing of it. Hopefully I can stick with it this time. 

So much has changed over the course of time. 

Keep an eye out for me, and feel free to leave a comment or shoot me a message

--💕💋

Wet n Wild CoverAll Cream Foundatiom

Whenever my foundation starts to  run low, I start getting antsy to try a new one. So while I was at CVS, I saw Wet n Wild had come out with a foundation and powder combo. I hadn't heard of it before, though with it being less then $10 for both items, I figured why not. The colour selection is very limited (only consisting of 7 foundation shades and 8 powder shades). I grabbed the foundation in 816 Fair/light and the powder in 822B Fair/Light.

The back of the bottle says this foundation is made for all day wear, provides medium to full coverage, is lightweight with a satin matte finish, and has "Visibright" complex that helps to reduce winkles.  The powder says pretty much the same thing (sans the coverage and finish part) and had a "radiant, weightless finish".

I've been using it daily for the past 2 weeks now, and I'm in LOVE with this foundation.

What I like...

I was a little iffy at first, seeing that it was a cream foundation and having flashbacks of wearing that thick mask on stage (if you've ever been in theater, you know what I'm about). I was surprised (and happy) that this foundation doesn't have that thickness that I've come to associate with cream foundations, and provides a semi-matte finish (a blessing for my oily and shiny face). Having normal/oily combination skin, keeping that oil under control is very important for me. While powers (and this ones powder is no different) always helps, but what I like most about this product is that it contains silica (which is used as an absorbing agent in makeup, along with other benefits).

This product, for me, is so buildable. I judge coverage of foundation by my freckles. If I can still see them pretty easily, I don't feel that I have full coverage. Sometimes I want that, and sometimes I really just want to cover up some redness in my face (and am not super concerned with "looking like a Barbie", as one young girl called me one day...). A quick, thin layer of this can cover up the redness, and then another layer can provide that wonderful, heavy coverage WITHOUT feeling heavy or looking cakey.

A problem I've always had with foundation is that, throughout the day, the oil in my face starts to break up the foundation on my nose and chin, making it look blotchy (and me feeling very self conscious). So far, I haven't had any sort of problem with that. And when they say all-day wear, they weren't kidding. I haven't any problems with it melting off during the day, separating, or wearing/rubbing off. Even after 8 hours, I notice it still looks fresh (and even after all day wear, I only have to brush a bit of powder over my t-zone to refresh it).

What I Don't Like...
I've noticed that this product, on my, oxidizes a bit. It's not enough to be a complete turn off though, because it only turns it a shade or two darker.

The powder is very soft and tends to get everywhere when I pull my brush away (though perhaps I am just too heavy-handed?).

The smell of it is not one that I terribly care for (though again, not enough of a factor to turn me away from it at all). It disappears rather quickly, though I can only think of acrylic paint when I put it on my face.

The packaging is something I'm having a love/hate relationship with. I love the squeeze tube, though the dispensing hole is quite large and if I'm not paying attention, I tend to squeeze out more then I need (fixable by just sucking it back into the tube though).

I'm confused by if the product has any sort of SPF in it (the website say it has SPF 15, though the tube says nothing about it at all).


So, taking out all that fluff, here is...

What I like:
- Doesn't feel too thick/heavy
-Contains silica
- Semi-matte finish
-Does not get cakey/separate/oily
- The price of it

What I don't:
-Oxidizes
-Soft powder
- Scent
-Packaging
- SPF???

Will I buy again?: Absolutely!

FOTD: Phoenix

Products used

FACE:

Burt's Bees Natural Acne Solutions Moisturizing Lotion

Revlon Colorstay Foundation110 Ivory

Revlon Colorstay Presssed Powder: Translucent

Physicians Formula: Shimmer Strips: Custom Blush and Highlighter: Sunkissed Glow

Milani Powder Bronzer #00Radiant

EYES:

NYX Eyebase:01 (all over lid and up to brow)

Coastal Scents Matte Palette: H9 (applied to crease and blended upwards)

Coastal Scents Metallic Palette:  H8(applied to lid, wet), H9 (applied over H8, dry), H11 (applied to crease and blended), H10 (applied to outer lower lash line and blended with Legend), B5 (applied to inner corner of eye)

Tarte for TrueBlood: Legend (applied to crease and blended, used on upper lashline, used to set eyeliner, and to draw eyebrows)

e.l.f. Waterproof Eyeliner Pen 7303 Black (to create wing)

Milani Liquif'Eye Metallic Eyeliner Pencil 01 Black (on lower waterline) 

Physicians Formula: Shimmer Strips: Custom Blush and Highlighter: Sunkissed Glow (very top highlighter used as brow highlight and inner corner highlight)

e.l.f. Waterproof Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara: Black

Ready To Wear Lash Extensions

Rimmel Glam'Eyes Mascara: 001 Black
Too Faced Brow Envy Brow Powder: Blonde (inner corner contour)

BROWS: Too Faced Brow Envy Brow Powder: Brunette

NYX Auto Eyebrow Pencil EP08 Black

Tarte for Trueblood: Legend

LIPS:

Revlon Colorstay Foundation110 Ivory

Revlon Colorstay Presssed Powder: Translucent

e.l.f. Matte Lipstick: Nearly Nude

InColor by Jordana Lip Shine Shimmer Glaze: 09 Vanilla Bean

Everything set with e.l.f. Makeup Mist & Set

FOTD: Chartreuse Pink

(something I forgot to mention in my update is that I dropped my camera a bit ago and now I'm having trouble focusing on small things, so pictures of things like my eye up close don't come out too terribly well. Still trying to see if there's a way I can fix it)

Products used:

FACE:

Burt's Bees Natural Acne Solutions Moisturizing Lotion

Revlon Colorstay Foundation110 Ivory

Revlon Colorstay Presssed Powder: Translucent

Physicians Formula: Shimmer Strips: Custom Blush and Highlighter: Sunkissed Glow

Milani Powder Bronzer #00Radiant

EYES:

NYX Eyebase:01 (all over lid and up to brow)

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil 628 Cucumber (all over lid)

Coastal Scents Matte Palette:  C3 (all over lid), G7 (from crease, blended upwards)

MAC Chrome Yellow (swept over CS: C3 and focused on inner part of lid)

Tarte for Trueblood: Glamour Me (in crease and on lower lash line), Legend (used in crease and to set eyeliner)

e.l.f. Waterproof Eyeliner Pen 7303 Black (on upper lashline)

Milani Liquif'Eye Metallic Eyeliner Pencil 01 Black (on lower waterline) 

Physicians Formula: Shimmer Strips: Custom Blush and Highlighter: Sunkissed Glow (very top highlighter used as brow highlight and inner corner highlight)
Too Faced Brow Envy Brow Powder: Blonde (inner corner contour)

e.l.f. Waterproof Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara: Black

Ready To Wear Lash Extensions

BROWS: Too Faced Brow Envy Brow Powder: Brunette

NYX Auto Eyebrow Pencil EP08 Black

Tarte for Trueblood: Legend

LIPS:

In Color by Jordana Lip Shine Shimmer Glaze in 09 Vanilla Bean

Everything set with e.l.f. Makeup Mist & Set

We're All Mad Here

Today felt like an "Alice in Wonderland" sort of day. This was a re-creation of a look by xBeingNEONx (sadly though I can't find the video where she showed her look :( I think she might have taken it down? I believe she said she was inspired by the older version and the new version of the Cheshire cat and sort of meshed their colours together. I love ittttttt♥).

Products used:

Biore Nourish moisture lotion SPF 15

e.l.f. Mineral Infused Face Primer

NYX HD Studio Photogenic Foundation

Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder

Milani Powder Bronzer #00 Radiant

Hard Candy Blush Crush Baked Blush: 126 Pin Up

Tarte for TrueBlood ES: The Light (face highlight)

Eyes:

tarte for trueblood: Lifted (primer)

NYX Eyeshadow Base: 01 White

NYX ES02: White (on inner corner and as brow highlight)

Coastal Scents Matte palette: A5, B6, G5, H5 (in order of colour fade on lid and brow)

Lower lashes:G7, F7, G8 (in order)

Tarte for Trueblood ES: Nocturnal (darkest blue) and Glamour Me (darkest purple

Milani Retractable Eyeliner 06 Black Rocks

e.l.f cream liner (black)

tarte mascara: Lights, Camera, Lashes

elf Lash Extending Mascara in Black

Ready to Wear Lash Extension

Too Faced Brown Envy:Blonde (brow powder used for inner eye contour and under pinks and purples to help blend)

Too Faced Brown Envy:Brunette (brow powder)

NYX Auto Eyebrow Pencil EP08 black

Lips: e.l.f. matte lip color: Nearly Nude
e.l.f. Minty Lip Gloss 82422 Nashville

Everything was set with e.l.f Makeup Mist & Set

Makeup Tip #4: Mascara

When applying mascara to your upper lashes, apply a coat of mascara to the tops of your lashes (the side that usually catches fall out from eyeshadows) by brushing them downwards and then apply a coat to the bottom (the "front" of your eye lashes)  side of your upper lashes.