REVIEW: Laura Mercier Silk Crème Oil Free Photo Edition Foundation in “Ivory”

Since I’m getting married in February, I’ve made it a recent goal of mine to find the best wedding/photograph friendly foundation for the big day. There have been many that have come close, but recently, I decided to try the Laura Mercier Silk Crème Oil Free Photo Edition Foundation after reading some reviews. While I can say that most likely this won’t be my big-day-foundation, it did come dangerously close to being picked.

The Laura Mercier Silk Crème Oil Free Photo Edition Foundation a “long-wear, oil-free foundation for a photo-ready, natural-looking matte finish.” In addition, this foundation features “the same great formula with revamped packaging and a broader shade range” than the previous version of this foundation. It provides “12-hour wear, highly-pigmented formula that blends seamlessly onto skin, hiding even hard-to-cover imperfections. It leaves a flawless finish, making it ideal for video, photography, and special events. Infused with a silk powder blend, it absorbs oil and balances moisture for normal to oily skin. Get smooth skin and visibly even the look of skintone with this long-lasting foundation.”

I have to say that this is a good foundation. It provides a natural-looking finish and is oil-absorbing and non-drying on the skin. For these reasons, it feels light on the skin, conceals redness and pores, and doesn’t feel like foundation on the skin. However, what I didn’t really like about the foundation that it only looked great in the beginning right after application. I felt that this foundation was more full-coverage, but as the day wore on, it got patchy and parts of my face and when I would blot, the foundation that was sitting on my skin would move around. Then, coverage was compromised. I didn’t feel that it was particularly long-wearing because throughout the day it wouldn’t look as good, and even with a good primer and setting primer, the foundation would “lift” in odd places like my forehead.

The color match was pretty good. The shade “Ivory” was for “very fair with warm undertones.” The “Rose Ivory” was too pink for me, but it would’ve been better had “Ivory” been slightly on the peachy/pinky side. I’ve read that this foundation has worked great for other people, so take that into consideration. It’s not a bad foundation, but for me, I need something that’s a little bit more reliable. While the search for the most perfect wedding foundation continues, I think this foundation isn’t too bad and I still feel like there will be many people out there who will like this.

Retails for $48.00 USD.

REVIEW: Clinique Acne Solutions Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup in “Fresh Alabaster”

I don’t tend to use a whole lot of acne products, and I certainly haven’t used Clinique in about 15 years. However, recently I was in desperate need of some extra moisture for my skin, so I turned to the Clinique Moisture Surge Intense For Very Dry To Dry Combination Skin. When I made that purchase, I also got the Clinique Acne Solutions Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup in “Fresh Alabaster” because of MakeupByTiffanyD. I think it’s a great alternative for lightweight liquid foundations that are more expensive, such as the Chanel Perfection Lumière Velvet Smooth-Effect Makeup.

The Clinique Acne Solutions Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup is a “liquid makeup that neutralizes redness and blends away blemishes.” It contains 0.5% Salicylic Acid, which is the component that is used to treat acne. This is a very natural-looking non-irritating, oil-free foundation, and the 0.5% Salicylic Acid helps to control oil for me since I have an oily t-zone. I don’t think that the small amount of 0.5% Salicylic Acid is all that effective in actually treating acne or preventing it, however what’s great about this foundation is that it delivers that second-skin feel without looking heavy or cakey.

I think that despite its lightweight, watery feel to the foundation it provides great coverage and immediately gets rid of pores and tones down redness. The coverage is pretty good and this foundation doesn’t need a setting powder. I looks quite matte at first, but it settles and looks very natural on the skin. It’s also very long-lasting — probably because it’s designed for acne-prone skin, which tends to be much oilier.

I don’t think this is the best foundation in the world, and I don’t think it’s going to totally treat acne-prone skin. However, the 0.5% Salicylic Acid does help in controlling oil, it’s long-lasting, and it doesn’t require a setting powder. So, in that aspect, it’s a very low-maintenance product that is travel-friendly and doesn’t break the bank. I would consider using this in the summer months with the heat and humidity are high. If you’ve got major oily skin, then I think this would be a great option year-round since it curbs oil pretty well.

Retails for $27.00 USD.
Made in Belgium.

Caolion Premium Hot & Cool Pore Pack Duo

I’m all about masks and pore treatments. Unfortunately, it’s truly difficult to find pore masks that really do the job. I can’t tell you how many times I’m amazed with my pores after a mask session until I look really, really closely…and they’re still clogged up. On a whim, I purchased the Caolion Premium Hot & Cool Pore Pack Duo when Sephora was advertising their Kbeauty stuff. And, I have to say, I’m quite happy with this product and I would definitely recommend it. Right off the bat, it’s pricey because it’s $30.00 and you don’t get a lot of product. That’s a bummer because I think that this mask is quite good.

The Caolion Premium Hot & Cool Pore Pack Duo is a “detoxifying duo featuring a steaming mask that opens and deeply cleanses pores, then a cooling mask to tighten and minimize the appearance of pores.” It’s a double-decker product with two different masks housed in its own tub. It’s stacked together, which makes using it and traveling with it much easier. The set contains the Premium Blackhead Steam Pore Pack and the Premium Pore Original Pack. Step 1 is the top layer and step 2 is the bottom layer.

It’s best to use the masks at night after you’ve removed your makeup and cleansed your face. On dry face, I use Step 1 (the black one) and apply it to my nose, chin, and forehead since that’s where my pores are most clogged. There’s small granules in the mask, so you gently massage the targeted areas for about 2 minutes. The granules won’t dissolve and it will feel grainy, like you’re exfoliating. But it doesn’t hurt or feel uncomfortable. The mask will start to cool your face and you’ll feel like a menthol-effect. Leave the mask on for about 15 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. Be careful around your eyes because the cooling sensation will make you eyes irritated and red!

After rinsing off Step 1, dry your face again, and immediately apply Step 2 (the gray one). There’s no need to massage this product, so just slap it on and leave it on for about 15 minutes. This product pretty much tightens your pores after you’ve removed the gunk with the first step. Rinse, dry, and apply your nighttime skincare products afterwards. Your skin will feel super soft and smooth, and whiteheads and blackheads have been removed. I will say that the first 2-3 times you use this mask, you’ll see a drastic difference in your pores and the pore size. I felt that the second time I used this mask I saw much better results, and I think it’s because the first round just got the “initial gunk” out and the second round got the rest out lol.

I really recommend this mask duo and it’s a great maintenance product too. However, the set is quite small and won’t last long. For example, you have to use heaping amounts of the products to get the desired effect. Taking out one scoop won’t do; for me, I needed one full finger-scoop for all areas of my face (nose, chin, forehead). I don’t use this on my cheeks, but if I did I would need 5 finger-scoops of each of the masks! When you use this product generously, you’ll run out quickly. I’ve used my set about 4 times now and I’m pretty much done with it. It’s such a shame since the product works well, but you don’t get a lot of use out of it unless you’re only treating your nose. But that wouldn’t make sense to just do your nose. I still recommend it, but for the small amount you get, I feel like this should be half the price.

Made in Korea.
Retails for $30.00 USD.

The set contains:
– 0.7 oz Premium Blackhead Steam Pore Pack
– 1.05 oz Premium Pore Original Pack

Clinique Moisture Surge Intense For Very Dry To Dry Combination Skin

I’m the last person on Earth to have dry skin, but lately, it’s been a strange problem of mine. I live in Texas and the fall/winter season is pretty non-existent. If anything, the weather is cool and nice; but it’s never been to the point where I’ve needed to switch out my moisturizer. I’ve needed something extra to add to my skincare routine during the day time, and because I didn’t want to spend too much money on a new moisturizer, I decided on the Clinique Moisture Surge Intense For Very Dry To Dry Combination Skin.

The Clinique Moisture Surge Intense For Very Dry To Dry Combination Skin is a “cream-gel that instantly rehydrates for 24 hours while helping fortify and repair skin’s moisture barrier.” It’s super lightweight and smooths onto the skin very easily. I like that even though it’s for drier skin types, it sinks into the skin quickly and doesn’t look or feel oily afterwards. I’ve noticed that even though I have combination skin with an oily t-zone, applying this allows my skin to not feel dehydrated, and the best thing is that I like the extra moisture even when my skin isn’t all that dry feeling.

I haven’t used Clinique in probably 15 years, but I think it’s a good fail-safe option for everyone. I’ve found that with the temperature changing, my skin has been adjusting slowly and it feels more comfortable with something extra. With this, I like how it locks in moisture and allows my skin to feel hydrated and healthy without looking like a grease ball. I don’t like heavy creams, or anything heavy in general on my face. However, this feels nice and absorbs quickly.

“This rich, oil-free cream-gel instantly rehydrates. Skin stays comfortably plumped, even 24 hours after you put it on…[and with] daily use [it] helps fortify and repair skin’s moisture barrier to keep moisture in and environmental irritants out. A better barrier means happier skin.” This made a huge difference for me. Before, my skin would feel tight and uncomfortable even after moisturizing and applying primer. My skin would continue to get and feel oily, but the tightness around my mouth and eyes persisted. I finally decided to give this a go because I wasn’t a fan of heavier creams, and everything else I tried left my skin looking SO oily and slippery. I use this in the mornings after I’ve cleansed my face with Cetaphil. I allow just a few minutes for it to fully absorb and apply my sunscreen and foundation afterwards. It’s made a huge difference for me and how my skin feels, so if you’re having the same issues as me I would recommend this!

Retails for $39.00 USD.
Made in USA.

SK-II Facial Treatment Foundation

The SK-II Facial Treatment Foundation is not available in the U.S., but I was able to get my hands on one through a friend who was recently traveling. I’ve been loyal to SK-II products for quite some time now, and I wanted to explore the ‘makeup’ options that SK-II has to offer. Unfortunately, I didn’t really like the SK-II Facial Treatment Foundation that much and that was disappointing.

The Singaporean website that I found explains that the “look of lines is less visible, and the infused oils and nutrients give the skin a radiant and refined glow.” Additionally, it states that “With the highest concentration of Pitera™ among all SK-II foundations, this satiny foundation results in clear, even and medium coverage while locking in moisture for 24 hours. The look of lines is less visible, and the infused oils and nutrients give the skin a radiant and refined glow.”

As with any SK-II product, I had high expectations for this foundation. In fact, I hyped it up so much in my mind that it would be great that I, at one point, had traveled with only this foundation thinking I wouldn’t need any other. After the first few uses, I regretted not having a trusty foundation that I could rely on while on my trip.

The SK-II Facial Treatment Foundation’s “creamy formula glides easily onto skin for even coverage.” In addition, the texture of the foundation is actually quite heavy because it’s thick. It doesn’t thin out and stays quite chunky even while blending onto the skin. Because of this thick, creamy texture it looks and feels heavy on the skin — it also never fully absorbs because it just sits on top of the skin without melding into the skin’s surface. Instantly, it felt awful on my skin and I felt that the makeup had actually exaggerated imperfections on my face that weren’t even that bad. Peach fuzz, discolorations, and any raised surface on the skin was made to be seen much worse, which didn’t fare well for this foundation AT ALL.

Honestly, for the price this was a horrible choice. Furthermore, despite it being SK-II and packed with skincare ingredients, I felt that my skin was worse when I used this foundation and that was quite irritating. Also, the giant tub that houses the foundation is so not practical, and these days, makeup companies are quite aware of issues with having a jar for foundation. Needless to say, I didn’t like this foundation and wouldn’t recommend it. It was not only disappointing, but it was irritating to have such high hopes for this foundation and not being able to return it since I didn’t purchase it in the states.

Made in Japan.

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer in SC-2

I’m picky about concealers, but for the most part, I don’t really use them to begin with unless I really need it. I’ve tried expensive concealers like the Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer, to the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer from the drugstore. For awhile, I used the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, which has been a longtime favorite of mine. Recently, I decided to abandon regular foundation wear and just use BB/CC creams. However, I got bored of that when I re-gained my love for mineral makeup. While those foundation offer a decent amount of coverage, I kept going more and more minimal.

For my minimal-look, just a setting powder wasn’t enough and didn’t do much for my skintone either. I came across the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer out of curiosity and by total accident. As a “two-shade concealer that can be color-customized to address your tone and imperfections,” this was perfect for what I was trying to achieve.

In the mornings, I’ve been applying this concealer around my nose, my chin, and on spots or redness before setting everything with whatever setting powder I have on hand. What I’ve come to realize is that this “customizable concealer naturally and completely covers dark circles, blemishes, scars, minor imperfections, and discolorations with a unique two-shade system,” and is perfect for the lazy girl like myself who just can’t be bothered. I like that “one shade is formulated to match skin’s depth of color, while the other matches skin’s undertone. This dual-shade camouflage makes it possible for everyone to custom-blend her own perfect shade.”

This concealer is very thick, so a little bit goes a long way. Seriously, a swipe of a finger is literally all the product you need. I use that one swipe and dabbed little bits of product onto my face, and the “high-level of pigment requires very little product to achieve perfect coverage that lasts for up to eight hours.” It certainly doesn’t budge because of its waxy texture, so it’s easy to slap on and go without worrying about the product budging or smudging.

I’m using the shade SC-2, which is for fair to light skin tones. The light shade is a perfect match for my skintone, and the salmon shade is perfect for under the eyes. For severe discoloration, mixing the two shades is an amazing way to customize a shade for your skin. In addition, this compact will probably last forever since it takes so little to get the coverage your need. For some like myself, you won’t be using this everyday; however, if you did, you wouldn’t make a dent in this product for a long time — like, probably years LOL. I recommend this and it’s worth the money. If you need concealer and find it annoying to use/but, this is a great deal and great product for the low-maintenance and high-maintenance makeup individuals. :)

Retails for $34.00 USD.

REVIEW: Urban Decay Brow Tamer Flexible Hold Tinted Brow Gel

I’ve been eager to try a new eyebrow gel, and just had to give the new Urban Decay Brow Tamer Flexible Hold Tinted Brow Gel a try after Claire Marshall raved about it. She recently featured this product in her video “Monthly Beauty Review.” I’ve tried it out for the last few days and I’m totally thrilled that I love it so much. The Urban Decay Brow Tamer Flexible Hold Tinted Brow Gel is a “lightweight, water-resistant brow gel that provides flexible, comfortable hold and eight-hour wear.” Before this, I was using the Benefit Gimme Brow for months now. I was itching to try something new and I’m so glad I stumbled across the Urban Decay one. While I loved Gimme Brow, the product got goopy really quick. It was great for the first week or so and then product would start to collect around the opening. Eventually, it would make it difficult to close and twist the top/applicator properly because of the goop that would collect. Then, its itty bitty brush would get goopy and I would just throw it away to purchase something new.

The Brow Tamer Flexible Hold Tinted Brow Gel is said to “tame even the unruliest of brows,” as it promises to “groom, define, and set brow [to look]…fuller, more polished.” I like how this brow gel is really lightweight, so it doesn’t feel cakey or sticky. It’s kind of a pet peeve of mine when brow gels make my brows stick together. I like for the hairs to be separated and look full. The great thing about The Brow Tamer is that “its water-resistant formula offers flexible, comfortable hold that lasts all day. The universally-wearable tints create natural-looking definition with a clear or tinted shades. The easy-to-use spiral microfiber brush, is designed to give you precise control for individual hairs and sculpt the perfect brows. It dries down quickly without getting stiff or sticky, leaving brows feeling soft and never crunchy.”

In addition, the brush is really nice too. Other brow brushes have been either really chunky and difficult to maneuver, or they’ve been too small or too skinny. While Gimme Brow was a long time favorite of mine, the brush only worked great (because of its size) until the product began to goop. Once that happened, the product would also collect in between the bristles, making it difficult to smoothly apply the product. However, with The Brow Tamer, the brow is still small, but much more slender in length. It’s pretty skinny, which makes it easy to use in a small space –like in the brow area. However, it’s substantial enough to deposit a good amount of product thinly into the brow hairs.

I’m using the Warm Brown shade, which is a great match for my dark brown hair. I thought about getting the matching eyebrow pencil too, but I decided to wait until I used up what I’m currently using. I found that the Dark Brown was very, very dark (almost blackish) so I decided to choose the warmer, lighter shade. It all worked out in the end because it looks very natural on my brows, and doesn’t add too much of the light color onto my hairs. Overall, I’m quite happy with The Brow Tamer and I recommend it. I think that it’s the best of both worlds right now, but I think what I miss about the Gimme Brow is the texturing and volumizing formula. The Brow Tamer does all those things, but I have to put a little bit more effort to get the result I want. I don’t mind because I really like Urban Decay’s The Brow Tamer, and I think it’s worth checking out especially if you’re in need of a new brow gel!

Made in Italy.
Retails for $20.00 USD.

REVIEW: Skinvolve Body Boost Gel

I’m not one to spend a lot of money on body products, and most of the time, I find myself too lazy or forgetful to even apply lotion. However, lately I’ve been concerned with body-related concerns like cellulite and things like that. When I was 18, obviously, these concerns didn’t really cross my mind. But now, I find myself being more aware these concerns and I’ve been looking into finding products for these concerns.

Recently, I was recommend the Skinvolve Body Boost Gel, and I’ve been surprised by results. Now, you have to be realistic with things like this. Obviously, it’s not a miracle product and it doesn’t replace a healthy diet or exercise. The body booster gel is designed to work alongside a proper routine. What I’ve found is that this product is great at ASSISTING.

“Body Boost Gel’s power ingredients rev up the “lipolysis” of your skin cells. Essentially that means, it is the releasing of “fat cells” within your skin to give you tighter, smoother skin, free of lumps and bumps. This works through the stimulating ingredients used and the concentration of each ingredient within our Body Boost Gel. Ginseng, Green Tea, Guarana, Menthol, Aloe Vera, & Vitamins A,B,C,E are our boosting properties that take us to the next level of skin perfection. Massaging into skin alongside daily use and healthy diet are key to see results.”

How to Use:
Apply a spoonful amount and massage into any part of the body until dry, especially stubborn fat areas like lower stomach, back of legs, and booty. You will feel a cooling effect.

I like to apply this before I go to yoga. I slather on the gel onto my tummy, butt, and thighs and wait for a bit to dry. You’ll feel a cooling sensation that’s kind of intense…but it’s bearable and doesn’t hurt. After letting it dry, I put on my usual leggings or work out shorts and go to yoga. Afterwards, I rinse off in the shower and apply the gel on again. But I leave it on overnight and let it do its thing. The benefits of this gel is that it claims to fight cellulite, smooths, moisturizes, and tones your skin. I like how my skin feels and it looks and feels nice. Although your existing flaws are still present, it’s less noticeable and you feel like you’re doing something about it — which is always a good thing.

I recommend the Body Boost Gel and it’s great for allowing it to work in a small way.

REVIEW: Yves Saint Laurent Fusion Ink Foundation SPF18

As you know, foundations and base products are always on my radar. I get into moods when I’m really into YSL makeup and sometimes I get into moods where I don’t feel interested in them at all. Lately, I’ve been in the mood for YSL makeup and decided to get the Yves Saint Laurent Fusion Ink Foundation after reading reviews online. To get to the point (lol) I love this foundation and it’s quickly climbed its way to the top of my foundation list. It’s well worth the high price tag and I recommend it for all occasions and all seasons.

The Yves Saint Laurent Fusion Ink Foundation is a “revolutionary, fine-as-ink foundation with broad spectrum SPF 18 that perfects the skin while it wears weightlessly for 24 hours.” Designed to be long-wear, it’s deceivingly lightweight and completely natural looking on the skin. If you’re one to not wear foundations or you’re just plain afraid of foundations…I’d suggest this one. It’s undetectable on the skin because of its texture; it’s impressive that it provides a skin-like finish and controls oil very well.

The Fusion Ink Foundation is named correctly, lol. It’s very much like ink for the skin. It’s also very watery, so you need to shake it really well before applying. It blends like butter on the skin and disappears into nothing; surprisingly, it provides really great coverage so a little bit of product goes a long way. In addition, when you apply more coverage since the formula is buildable, it doesn’t get thick or cakey on the skin.

“Get all-day comfort, broad spectrum sun protection, and a soft-matte finish with this featherweight foundation that suits every skin type. Its innovative hybrid stain technology provides a lightweight yet high-coverage formula, and its exclusive extendable polymers offer buildable coverage that lasts for a flawless finish.” I’m very impressed with this foundation and I highly recommend it whether you like foundation or not. More importantly, whether you have good skin or not, this foundation will help both and makes the use versatile as well. I’ve worn this for weddings and nights out, but I’ve also worn it to work and on the weekends — just with a lighter hand.

I purchased the shade “B10 Porcelain” and I’m quite happy with it. It’s the lightest shade in the range and leans towards a neutral-peach undertone, rather than pink. It matches my skin nicely and blends out seamlessly, which I find to be the most important feature in foundation. I’ve applied this with a buffing brush, a foundation brush, and my fingers. However, I’ve noticed I don’t like how it looks when I’ve used a damp Beauty Blender. I think it’s because it breaks up the natural formulation of the foundation. The best thing about this foundation is the “special sweat and sebum-controlling agents” that allow for 24-hour of coverage and wear. I would never wear makeup for 24 hours, but even on long days (12+ hours), this foundation has held up nicely.

Oil-control is great without the skin feeling or looking dry, and even through humidity, heat, and and sweat, this foundation has looked great. It doesn’t budge and it doesn’t wear off in weird spots like some foundations do. Additionally, the foundation’s “dry oil complex allows it to set in seconds,” which makes application really fast and there’s also no need for a powder since the foundation works well on its own.

I love this foundation and it’s one that I reach for every day almost. Even on weekends or when I’m going to an evening yoga class, this foundation doesn’t bother me or make my skin look bad. Even when my skin isn’t doing as well, I find that this foundation helps you cheat a little bit. Because it’s “formulated with pure-micro-coated pigments, it delivers lasting, radiant color, and the face-zoning applicator allows you to perfectly apply it to the face for precise, easy-to-use application that’s never cakey or heavy.” I highly recommend this foundation because it’s well worth the price tag. In fact, if I didn’t have any other foundations to wear and I was left with just this, I wouldn’t even complain. :)

Retails for $60.00 USD.
Made in France.

Dior Addict Lipstick in “Bright 260”

The Dior Addict Lipsticks have been re-formulated for the new season’s release, and of course, I had to go and check out what all the hype was about. Now, they’re being described as a “lipstick with a hydra-gel core for a top coat effect that flaunts audacious shine.” I’m a huge fan of Dior lipsticks, even though they’re super pricey for what they are. I was particularly interested in the new formulation because of the “hydra-gel core.” For me, however, the range of lipsticks were just okay; and, I don’t plan on making any more purchases in the future.

Dior’s Addict Lipstick is “infused with expert oils and has an ultra-moisturizing soft core that runs the full length of the stick. It’s enriched with Shield oil to ensure that lip color adheres to lips and stays put. Layer after layer, it works like a top coat, leaving lips with a boost of shine and high-impact color with unbelievable comfort.” There are a variety of formulas, textures, finishes, and colors — which makes the Dior Addict Lipsticks worth the money and the attention. For me, I have high expectations of a lipstick that costs almost $40. The concept of the “hydra-gel core” was nice in theory, but it did little for me and I didn’t notice any drastic differences. In addition, I felt that the new Addicts made my lips develop that weird filmy top, which made my lips peel and feel goopy throughout the day.

Eventually, I removed the lipstick, wiped what seemed like dead skin cells off my lips, washed them, and then applied lip balm instead. The wear-time was not that great either, but I didn’t expect it to be since the original Addicts were the same way. So far, I just feel MEH about the whole thing.

I got the shade “Bright 260,” which is really not that interesting. Perhaps I could’ve picked a more dramatic or bold color, but I really wanted something that was more every day since I wanted to use it regularly. It wasn’t quite ‘my lips but better’ because it was so sheer. It looked more like a really expensive lip balm that was slightly tinted — only my lips weren’t tat hydrated and that weird peeling thing my lips were doing was annoying. I tried this lipstick again for a few more days and then eventually gave up. It was just too high maintenance for me — I was constantly checking in the mirror to see if my lips were peeling, or if the corners of my mouth had collected that lipstick goop. GROSS, I know. I apologize for that image lol.

I’ve read mixed reviews on the new lipsticks, but one thing is for sure…and that’s I’m not really a fan.

Retails for $35.00 USD.