Maybelline Superstay Better Skin Foundation Review

selfies with Maybelline foundation on

First off, I should note that I received this free for testing purposes from Influenster. I received this to try at the warmest point of summer and I was a bit skeptical about how well it would perform in the Michigan heat and humidity. Usually I’m sweating off whatever I put on my face within minutes. I was pleasantly surprised at the staying power of this foundation though. When I’d blot my face (as I frequently needed to do) there was minimal transfer of make up. And one of the biggest benefits was the lack of break outs! My skin tends to freak out about things and did fine with this product even after wearing it several days in a row. After hours of sweating and blotting, it does wear off (the photo on the left is after quite a few hours of wear on a very hot and sweaty day) but on a cooler day, it stays put. It will eventually start to look gross in my t zone (I get pretty oily there) but responds well to blotting papers.

I would say that it gives light to medium coverage and is at least a little buildable, though I did not test that to it’s full capacity. I didn’t have too much extra to cover that needed a lot of building. It has a smooth, soft, not at all greasy texture. I would say this would be good for someone who likes a more matte finish, rather than dewy. I gave a bottle to my mother and she felt pretty meh about it. She prefers more of a dewy/oily finish and this does not give that at all. I would (and have already) purchase this again and would recommend it without hesitation.

Beauty Boxes Galore!

Fab Fit Fun Spring 2015

I have a ton of new things to test out. I hope to have some of it reviewed here eventually. I know I always say that and it rarely seems to happen. But it could happen! I actually designated a little notebook just for jotting thoughts when I try a new product to make it easier to write up reviews later. Now I just need to use it more consistently. 🙂

My most recent boxes (that are all still on the dining room table) have been my Spring 2015 FabFitFun box, Spring 2015 Walmart Beauty box, and my March Birchbox. My April Birchbox is on its way and should be arriving on Tuesday.

The FabFitFun box has some great items in it this time. But I do expect that, as it costs more and comes quarterly. That scarf (left side of the photo) is so pretty and makes me wish that I felt more comfortable wearing scarves (or had more things to wear them with?) I need to get over that. Peep the info card here for details on everything inside.

Walmart beauty box spring 2015

The Walmart Beauty Box was also pretty good this time. It was more focused on skin care than cosmetics this time, but that’s ok with me. I get my makeup fix through ipsy and birchbox. I am really excited to try that body wash. I’m all about smelling good.

And speaking of Birchbox… I had intended to film an unboxing video and so I never unpacked the box. I’m now wondering if I should just give up on that idea. I want to start using the things! Not that I remember anything that was in it aside from a blush that I’m really looking forward to trying. I’m thinking I should set a deadline for videos. If it’s not recorded within the first few days, it’s probably not going to happen and I should just open it already.

The Balm Read My Lips gloss

loving this. The Balm Read My Lips gloss in BAM!

In my February Birchbox, I received a sample of The Balm’s Read My Lips gloss in BAM! and I LOVE it. The scent/taste is fantastic! It is delightfully fruity. The color is very natural and just a little lighter than a “my lips but better” shade would be. I will likely purchase it again and might try out the ZAAP! shade as well. ZAAP! looks like it has a bit of shimmer in it though and that might keep me away from that one. I also have my eye on GRRR! Alas, one negative note: the texture does nothing for me, as it has that sticky gloss feel that I’m not fond of. And for some reason, glosses with that texture seem to wear unevenly on different parts of my lips. I like an even uniform slip feel when I rub my lips together.

Another note, since I’m just about to watch the most recent video, I’d like to recommend the What’s Up In Makeup series of videos from Jen Luv’s Reviews on YouTube. I have been loving these videos! I always find a few things I had not heard about yet that I want to check out.

Influenster Frosty VoxBox

***All products received free from Influenster for testing purposes.***

In this box, I received:

No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum – 3ml sample packet
Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Decaffeinated Green Tea – 2 tea bags
Ecotools Sleek + Shine Finisher hair brush
Rimmel Gentle Eye Makeup Remover – 125mL
Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal pencil eye liner – Black
Red Vines Fruit Vines Bites Strawberry Flavor – 5 oz.
McCormick Gourmet All Natural Thyme – .62 oz.
NYC Expert Last Lip Color – 418 Sugar Plum

So far, I have had the chance to try the NYC lipstick and the Rimmel eye makeup remover. I’ll review those soon. I feel positive feelings about both so far. I’ve had Candy Cane Lane before and I know that I like that.

I look forward to trying all of the things in this box, with perhaps the exception of the brush. I’m pretty attached to my Mason Pearson. I’ll still give it a try though!

Some things I have my eye on

My latest thing has been YouTube. I have been watching many, many YouTube videos. And very recently, I have been watching many many beauty and make up channels. This has been awesome and inspiring and has made me want to get out my make up and play. It has also made me want to shop, and my budget is not really allowing that. Alas. But here are a few things that I *would* be snatching up if I could.

The first time I fell in love with a perfume was around age 14. One of the ways my friends and I liked to spend our weekends was walking around the local mall. Around this time Elizabeth Taylor’s perfumes seemed to be pretty popular and one of the varieties that existed was Diamonds and Sapphires. I LOVED it. Every week, we’d wander through all the stores, and I’d spray myself with the sample. Eventually, when I was a little older, I got a bottle of it for Christmas. It was discontinued, though I’m told one can maybe still find it through the online discount perfume stores. I had forgotten just how much I loved it. Until the other night when I was walking around Meijer in search of a Wet & Wild eye shadow palette (which I did not find. I think I missed the boat on the after party palette.) and I passed a display of Coach fragrances. Two of the three were labeled fruity florals so I sprayed one on each wrist and went on about my business. Then I actually sniffed them. And one of them smells JUST LIKE DIAMONDS AND SAPPHIRES YOU GUYS. I kept sniffing my wrist and happily sighing. I went back to the display and sprayed myself more times than I’m going to admit to. Wrists, neck, coat. As much as I could with it being a stuck down sample bottle. I wanted to bathe in it and buy it on the spot. But I restrained myself. Because it was $45? I think? Maybe $42. More than I could justify at any rate. But that was fine, because then I found it for much less on Amazon and Sephora, which will make it much more do-able. Perhaps if I have any birthday money to spare. Coach Poppy Flower will be mine.

Moving on to the make up!

Next on the list of pretty new things that I would like to own: Divergent Multi-Piece Collectors Kit

I just watched a video reviewing/swatching everything in this kit. Everything in it looks so pretty! It’s a lot more neutral than I tend to want to buy but there is a lot of shimmer, which I am definitely into.

It includes a bunch of eye shadow, a couple blushes, a highlighter, a bronzer, 4 lip glosses, and a dual ended brush. It’s just under $60 and this is why it will not be coming home with me, much as I would love it.

And finally, Divergent Multi-Piece Collector’s Palette

This is a smaller collection with some more similar mostly neutral colors. Still so pretty! It includes 3 eye shadows, a blush, a bronzer, and a lip gloss and is $32.50 (sadly, still not coming home with me.)

I’s still been on the sample kick and have had a lot of things that I’ve been intending to review. They’re coming. Hopefully. Maybe. We’ll see.

Too Faced Naturally Naughty for Fall 2009

Ooh! I get all sorts of things in my email but an email I got today from Too Faced really makes me want to hit up a Sephora sooner than later. It’s too bad that I don’t have one anywhere near me and tend to only go when I’m in Chicago. It might be a while before I make it back.

There are a few things in their Naturally Naughty fall lineup that I would love to check out. Here is a list! I love lists!

Absolutely Invisible Candlelight pressed powder: I like things that are supposed to make me glowy. I know there is a chance that it might not be *good* glowy, which is why I want to try these things out in the store, of course. But in theory, it would be a good thing! It’s supposed to be vitamin and antioxidant enriched and warm and illuminate the skin. Wee!

Primed and Poreless face primer: If this worked, it, too, would be fabulous! I use an eyeshadow primer (Urban Decay’s Primer Potion) and it has made such a huge difference in how my eye makeup wears and lasts. I don’t know how I survived so long without it, actually. So if I could find something for my face that would make me similarly happy, then yay! I’m always looking for things to make my skin prettier and this might be a winner.

Lip of Luxury lipstick: There are a few shades I’d like to try. Like Sex Kitten. Bonus that it’s a “sparkly berry wine” shade which I might actually be able to pull off. Mostly I just want it because of the name. I’d also like to try Drop Dead Red and Cupcake.

Hopefully I’ll get the chance to try these out soon. Anyone tried any of the new products yet? What do you think?

holiday party must-have set from Tarte cosmetics!

Received an email this morning about this set – a $57 value – for $25. It’s available online only and there are only 150 of them so if you want one, you should probably snag it fast.

The set includes: rejuvelash, to revive and restore your lashes; blotting papers; fRxation, to exfoliate and soothe your lips; and vitamin infused lipstick in “vinyasa (siren red).”

I think I kinda want one!

Too Faced Lash Injection Pinpoint Mascara

I don’t think I’m a mascara kind of girl. It always looks clumpy to me, particularly when applied how “they” recommend with multiple coats. I think it’s clumpy after one, much less several! I like the *idea* though. I like the idea of my lashes being darkened and lengthened. Particularly since my lashes are long enough but really light at the tips so you can’t actually tell. But any time I’ve worn mascara, there’s the clumpy look to deal with and then I always forget and rub my eyes so I end up smudgy or with mascara in my eyes or both. Bleah!

A while back I had a couple of formal occasions coming up so I decided to give some mascara another try. I’m a fan of Too Faced cosmetics in general so I acquired a tube of their Too Faced Lash Injection Pinpoint Mascara and hoped for the best. I figured it would be a good idea to give it a test run. So one evening when I didn’t have anywhere I had to be (which I figured would be good if this experiment didn’t turn out well), I curled my lashes and then applied my first coat. My first coat that ended up being my only coat because I almost immediately washed it off. It was kind of sticky and kind of gunky and definitely not the look I was going for.

But I was determined to not give up! The next time I tried, I applied it so lightly I almost couldn’t see it. This was good, since it eliminated the gunky, crusty look. Bad because it lessened the lengthening possibilities. In the end,  I decided that getting my lashes a little darker was the more important feature.

My verdict: If you like and wear mascara, by all means give this one a try. It seemed to be very mascara-y! It did lengthen and darken my lashes. But with a price.

(Too Faced Lash Injection Pinpoint Mascara review)

Mineral Face Powder

Note: This post brought to you no thanks to my very bad cats.

Mineral PowderI’ve been meaning to try mineral powder for a while. I keep seeing advertisements for it and it sounds like a good thing. (I’m a sucker for advertisements. I didn’t get to be a product whore without them!) Every time I’d go to the store for my regular old non-mineral powder I’d see more and more options as more companies jumped on the bandwagon.

Last week I went to the store for things completely unrelated to make-up. I needed powder, though, so I finally decided to bite the bullet and go for it, though they all seem to cost about three times what I pay for my usual. Don’t let that scare you though, I just like cheap make-up. 🙂 So I grabbed a compact of Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Face Powder. As a backup, I got my tried and true Cover Girl as well.

So far, so good with this stuff. Today someone even told me that I had beautiful skin! Can I attribute this in part to the newMineral Powder with brush powder? I don’t know. But I don’t usually get out-of-the-blue skin compliments so it’s possible! I’ve been wearing it every day since Thursday. I like the soft matte texture. It leaves me non-shiny and that non-shininess lasts at least as long, if not longer, than the non-shininess I get from Cover Girl. I also use less of it to get the same amount of coverage. This pleased me, given it’s slightly fatter price tag. It even comes with it’s own mirror and brush. This would be good for on the go, though I prefer to use my large, fluffy e.l.f. brush.

As a side note, the big fluffy e.l.f. brush also can double as a fine cat toy, a fact of which I was unaware until I got jumped by a furry hoodlum while trying to take the photos for this post. So grab a few! At only $1 each you can afford to!

(mineral face powder review)

Blistex Lip Tone

I always loved Blistex Lip Tone but I haven’t been able to find it in forever! I thought they stopped making it. But now, since I googled it, and it’s still on the blistex site, I’m not so sure! So, then, why is it not available here?? Dammit!

I love it so because it’s not sticky like a gloss; it’s definitely a lip balm. But it’s not waxy like Chapstick (bleah). It’s soft and satiny smooth. It has a light, subtle flavor that’s sweet but not overpowering. And it has a hint of color that looks natural. So it feels like lip balm and looks like a natural lip, but better. Rosy and soft and kissable.

Are there other products that are similar? If I can’t buy the real thing, I need to find a good substitute…