Face

COVERGIRL Trublend Matte Made Foundation Doesn’t Budge for Nothin’

July 6th, 2018 by Karen 6 Comments

covergirl trueblend matte made foundation T15 outdoors — Soakin’ up some early morning sunshine with COVERGIRL Trublend Matte Made Foundation in T15 Golden Honey on my face. I took this pic in natural light wearing only the foundation without any powder on top.

There are SOOOO many reasons for me not to wear white shirts.

Like cat hair.

Baby food, which is like Liam Neeson in Taken. IT WILL FIND YOU.

And makeup, of course, especially foundation.

Even before Tabs and Connor came along, I was never the type of person who could wear a white shirt without getting loads of foundation all over the place, but it’s never stopped me, which is why I was shocked to discover after wearing this epic new COVERGIRL liquid foundation a few times, coincidentally on days when I was wearing white shirts (go figure) that there was absolutely NO foundation on my clothes at the end of the day.

covergirl trueblend matte made foundation — It’s so good!

Like, none. Not even a smudge of foundation on my neckline, WHICH IS TOTALLY UNUSUAL FOR ME.

Since I’m pretty sure that my body hasn’t been taken over by aliens (yet), I think it’s safe to say that it’s the COVERGIRL foundation, which doesn’t go anywhere once it’s on your face.

Before finding this drugstore gem, the only liquid face base I knew of with this magnitude of staying power was MAC Face & Body. Trublend Matte Made has Face & Body’s mega-magnetic staying power, but the finish is matte instead of instead of dewy. But it isn’t so matte that your skin looks fake or weird when you put it on, ya know?

“From your favorite COVERGIRL foundation line comes a matte formula that isn’t drying or cakey. TruBlend Matte Made’s formula is developed with flexi-hold technology that creates a strong, yet flexible film on skin for durability and comfort, while the mattifying powders absorb oil and minimize pores for a soft matte, flawless finish. Up to 12 hours of wear. 12 HR comfort matte.
Pore minimizing. Oil control. Transfer resistant. All in 40 shades.”

— covergirl.com

covergirl truelbend matte made foundation trublend T15 flash — T15 Golden Honey indoors with a flash (I’m not wearing any setting powder, by the way, just the foundation)

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The BECCA Be a Light Face Palettes in Light to Medium, and Medium to Dark

June 26th, 2018 by Karen 10 Comments

becca be a light face palette medium dark — The BECCA Be a light Face Palette in “Medium to Dark” (there’s also one called “Light to Medium”) on my face and cheeks

If we’re talking about a palette from BECCA, invariably I’m gonna compare it to Chrissy Teigan’s, because it’s the best one BECCA’s ever made. Even after a year, I still go “HOT DAMN, THAT’S GOOD!” every time I bust it out.

So the question I faced (haha) today is, “Do the new BECCA BE a Light palettes kick Chrissy’s palette to the curb?”

Hey, phones can make you look like a cat now, so stranger things have happened. 😁

The BECCA Be A Light Face Palette ($46, two versions — Light to Medium, and Medium to Dark)

With the two Be a Light palettes, BECCA is introducing a new powder formula to their line. Allegedly, the powders bounce light and blur pores like the Hourglass Ambients…and they do!

That’s great, right?

They aren’t exactly dupes, though. The Ambient powders are finer, and I think they do a better job overall, but that’s not to take anything away from these.

“Introducing the next generation of glow. This palette features Sheer Glow Filter Powder, a brand new, skin-smoothing powder, in four different finishes designed to blur, brighten, contour, and add a radiant flush of color. Microfine, luminescent pigments diffuse light to soften the look of skin and blurring pigments even skin’s texture so light bounces off it more effortlessly. The light-as-air, buildable shades brighten, blur, and softly define the complexion to create a sheer, natural glow—effortlessly. Unlike heavier powders, the oil-absorbing formula retouches and sets without disrupting makeup, making it your perfect 3pm-pick-me-up in a palette.”

— sephora.com

becca be a light face palettes — Medium to Dark (top) and Light to Medium (bottom)

In fact, if it weren’t for one thing, I’d be proclaiming my undying love for them. I even love the way they look from the outside (the rose gold is pretty!), but dang the shade selection, though!

The girls in the middle like me are getting the short end of the stick. The “Light to Medium” palette is too light for me (I’m an NC42 in MAC), while the “Medium to Dark” is a smidgen too dark.

To the powers that be, why didn’t you make a dedicated Medium version?! That said, I can get Medium to Dark to work for me, but only if I use the sheerest application and do an annoying amount of buffing.

If the shades work for you and you have combo or straight-up dry skin, you’re in luck, and the powders will do what they’re supposed to. Your skin will look effortlessly satiny and beachy with a touch of glow. Very, very BECCA.

On the other hand, if you have oily skin and want to completely matte everything down, well…you’ll be more shiny than dewy after a few hours (which is what happens to me on the oiliest spots on my face, like my forehead). The lack of oil control is another weakness, but, on the flip side, the powders layer really well, so even if you have to touch-up often, these powders won’t look heavy, which is always a plus.

As for the blush, it’s not my fave… It’s awfully shimmery, but at least the pearl particles are fine, so your pores shouldn’t look crazy big.

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Benefit Hello Happy Soft Blur Foundation Has Potent Pore-Pleasing Power

June 19th, 2018 by Karen 6 Comments

Things that make me happy:

Baskin-Robbins ice cream cake
Lifting heavy weights
Cats (obvs)
Sleeping in
Hearing Connor say her name for the first time (“Cah-nah”)
The happy heart eyes on these Benefit Hello Happy Soft Blur Foundation bottles

Benefit Hello Happy Soft Blur Foundation ($29, 12 shades)

I like this lightweight matte liquid foundation primarily for its pore-blurring prowess and SPF 15, and as long as I only blend the tiniest amount on my combo dry/oily skin — literally, just a few drops! If I use any more than two or three drops on each cheek, and yes, YOU KNOW I COUNTED THEM, it looks pretty obvious.

“Hello YOU! This lightweight foundation evens out skintone and blurs imperfections with soft-focus optical blurring spheres. With a natural-matte finish and light-to-medium coverage, it looks like skin and feels like nothing at all. Happy looks good on you!”

— benefitcosmetics.com

Use a few drops, a few gentle taps with your fingers or a damp beautyblender (don’t rub, lest it pill up), and poof! — homegirl be like WHAT PORES? Of course, my pores aren’t completely vanquished, because this is light-medium coverage makeup, not magic (although, one could make the case that makeup IS a form of magic, but that’s another discussion for another time), but still, the difference is significant enough to make me go DAYUM! — I see you Benefit. I see you. 😉

benefit hello happy swatches — For reference, I’m a MAC NC42, and I wear shade 6 (I could probably also go with 7 as well).

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Have You Tried Clinique Beyond Perfecting Super Concealer Camouflage + 24-Hour Wear?

June 15th, 2018 by Karen 4 Comments

clinique beyond perfecting super concealer review — uh…24-hour wear time = wishful thinking

Once upon a time, after seeing a picture of myself in cropped, flared capris with a camo print, I made a pact with myself to stay far, far away from camouflage.

“Karen,” I said to myself, “no. Stop. Don’t do it, unless you wanna look like a sassy Filipino Oompa Loompa.”

I did not.

So I stopped. (Clinique Beyond Perfecting Super Concealer Camouflage + 24-Hour Wear doesn’t count because it’s a concealer, so it’s exempt from this pact.)

Clinique Beyond Perfecting Super Concealer Camouflage + 24-Hour Wear ($19.50, 0.26-oz. tube)

It’s a highly pigmented liquid concealer available in 18 shades (including a color-correcting Apricot one), and I really like a few things about it, like the fact that it hides everything, it doesn’t settle into the lines under my eyes (although the matte finish might emphasize severely dry spots), it’s easy to blend, and it doesn’t look cake-y or obvious. Even when I get all up in my scary magnifying mirror, I can’t tell it’s there.

At least in those ways, it’s like Make Up For Ever’s amazing Ultra HD Concealer, which I love beyond reason.

“Cover up without touching up for 24 life-proof hours. Instantly and easily blends into skin to flawlessly conceal imperfections. Transfer-resistant formula stays put—even through sweat and humidity. Provides immediate hydration to keep eye-area skin feeling comfortable, looking fresh and natural. 18 shades in total—including a must-have apricot-colored corrector shade to help tackle dark circles and discolorations.”

— clinique.com

clinique beyond perfecting super concealer — I’m wearing a mix of Medium 18 (which is yellowish) and Medium 22 (which is peachy) under my eyes. Because it’s very matte, I skipped setting powder… I’m still in awe of how you can’t see it at all in this pic.

clinique beyond perfecting super concealer review swatches medium — Medium 18, Medium 20 and Medium 22

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The NARS Orgasm 2018 Collection! (Yes, More Orgasm)

May 31st, 2018 by Karen 8 Comments

nars orgasm blush lip balm k — Bare skin (just under-eye concealer), with NARS Orgasm Blush on my cheeks and Afterglow Balm on my lips

NARS Orgasm will forever and ever be the most embarrassing blush to say in front of your grandma. Or your kid! Gee, I wonder how that conversation’s gonna go. (Connor: “Mama, what does orgasm mean? Is it a color?” Me: “Ummm…”)

Chances are you’ve heard about NARS Orgasm… Yeah, I figured. It’s iconic. This golden peachy pink gets written about all the time and described as “universally flattering,” and it’s one of the cornerstones of the NARS color collection. Every year NARS does a few limited edition items with different iterations of the product, and this year there are three pieces in The Orgasm 2018 Collection — an LE oversized Orgasm blush for $38 (if you can’t get enough of it!), a loose highlighting powder ($28) and a darling lip balm in rose gold packaging ($28).

Oversized Orgasm Blush ($38)

My relationship with Orgasm blush runs hot and cold. I’ve worn it, but not much lately. Sometimes I feel like it’s too shimmery for me, like whenever I’m wearing a good amount of base makeup, ’cause then all I see are PORES, PORES, PORES!

But lately, since I’ve been doing the whole minimal base/no base thing, which is what I did over the Memorial Day weekend, I have a greater appreciation for Orgasm. It’s fabulous on bare skin or on top of a minimal base, like a tinted moisturizer.

nars orgasm blush 2018 — NARS Orgasm Blush 2018

All weekend long I wore under-eye concealer and really nothing else on the rest of my face to even out my skin, and with this blush, I find that the less you’re wearing under it, the better, because when the shimmer isn’t sitting on top of foundation or concealer or powder, it doesn’t highlight pores as much it does otherwise, so what you mostly see is the peachy pink color, which just looks so fresh and youthful.

It looks exactly like my cheeks after I finish a HIIT workout — flushed and healthy and a little bit dewy — and maybe even 5 years younger? (Keep tellin’ yourself that, Karen, LOL!) And that’s when I totally get the magic of NARS Orgasm. So, yeah, I’m feeling the oversized blush a lot this year — but only on bare skin! If you’re a makeup minimalist, you’ll like it.

By the way, if you have this blush sitting around but don’t wear it often because you feel like it’s too shimmery, try buffing it down like CRAZY with a clean blush brush after you apply it. A powder blush works too, as does a skunk brush. Any big face brush with a fluffy head should work. The buffing disperses most of the golden shimmer, so all that gets left behind is the peachy pink (just be mindful of not buffing away your foundation and concealer, if you’re wearing them).

❤️❤️❤️❤️ 4 out of 5 hearts.

Orgasm Illuminating Loose Powder ($28)

The loose highlighter caters to the “more is more makeup crowd” that likes a lot of bling. I’m not into a frosty highlight, so it’s too shimmery for my taste, but you might like it if you love highly reflective cheek bones.

nars orgasm illuminating loose powder — NARS Orgasm Illuminating Loose Powder

And even though I feel like the 0.09-oz. jar is small for $28, on the plus side, you don’t need to use a lot…and the powder grains are very fine.

❤️❤️ 2 out of 5 hearts.

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