My Face Products (foundations, concealers, powders, hilighters)
Here is all my foundations, concealers and powders. I actually rotate what I use, so everything does get some love. I wish I could say the same about my other makeup! Ha!
Mineral Foundations:
Aubrey Nicole in Medium Light Natural (Full Coverage)
Femme Couture Mineral Effects in Champagne
Wet N Wild Ultimate Foundation in Stage Light (This from when WnW first released their mineral foundation a few summers ago)
Traditional Foundations:
Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy: Your Skin Foundation in Nude Beige (PERFECT MATCH)
Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse in Nude
Maybelline Mineral Power Liquid Foundation in Nude
Concealer:
MAC Studio Finish in NC20
The BodyShop Concealer Pencil in 03
NYX Concealer in a Jar in Light, Yellow and Green
Sephora Concealer Palette w/ green, lavender and flesh toned colors.
Pressed Powders:
Femme Couture Flawless Touch Pressed Powder in Light
Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in 4-5 Creamy
Maybelline Mineral Power Finishing Veil Powder in Light
Sephora Compact Foundation in D20 Warm Nude
Physician’s Formula Powder Palette Multi-Colored Corrector in Green
Loose Powder:
NYC Smooth Skin Translucent Powder
Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Truly Translucent Powder in Light / Medium
Aromaleigh Ultra – Resolution Finish Powder in Clear
Hilighters:
Femme Couture Flawless Touch Brightening Corrective Pen
Femme Couture Mineral Effects Illuminator
L”Oreal Glam Bronze in Illuminator
MAC Pearlizer Sheer Pigment in Good As Gold
Physician’s Formula Virtual Face Powder in Translucent Pearl
Jane Shimmering Blush in Wisteria
Revlon Bare It All Lustrious Powder in Peachy Tease, Buff Love, Goldi-Looks, and Pink A Boo
Wet n Wild Bronzzer in Acapulco Glow
Wet n Wild Silk Finish Blush in All Over Shimmer
Review: Olay Pro X Starter Kit
Name: Olay Pro X Starter Protocol
Product: 0.5/5
Price: $60-65
Available: Anywhere Olay is sold
This was my second foray into using an anti aging regime and this is the second time I have been throughly disappointed. It may just be my age, I’m 23 so I personally don’t have a lot of anti aging problems to deal with right now. Understanding this – I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect with these products, but it definitely wasn’t the results I was recieved. I’m going to review each product seperately, so that I cover everything I need to.
About Age Repair Lotion w/ SPF 30: I love SPF – the higher the better. I normally try to stay between 30-45 SPF, so I was happy to try this product out. When I used this lotion, it did not moisturize my skin, even a little – which is something I expect from something called “LOTION.” I was also turned off by this product, because it began to irrate my eyes when I applied it to my skin near, not IN my eyes. So I will not be using this product again. To be fair, I do have somewhat sensitive eyes, but you would not expect this from a product that is $40 or so dollars by itself.
About Wrinkles Repair Cream: I don’t really have any wrinkles, just a few expression lines on my forehead – which are perfectly normal for someone who is my age. I tried this cream on my forehead, and I got no results what so ever. It didn’t work on my shallow wrinkles – so I’m not too confident that it will do anything worth while for deeper wrinkles.
About Eye Restoration Complex: I actually have dark circles under my eyes – and the area is also pretty dry as well. I have never used an eye cream, so I had high hopes that this serum would zap my problems and make eventually make them better. Well, this cream did not moisturize my under eye area, which is one of the benefits that are advertised with this product. I also saw no difference in my under eye circles either. So this to me, makes this product basically useless.
As you can see, I really didn’t have anything good to say about this starter kit. From the reviews I have read on these products, I know others have had the same problems as well. To top everything off, these products were starting to break me out when I stopped using these items. I obviously don’t recommend the Pro X line – but I’ve heard amazing things from the Regenerist Line from Olay. Many members of my family use and love this line. Then again, there are family members that also love the Pro X line as well. So this line may work for you as well.
Get more reviews on these products here, here and here at Total Beauty….
My Skin + Winter = Serious Problems
I have amazing skin – I’m not bragging, it’s just honesty. I rarely get breakouts unless it’s a reaction to another product. However this winter has been uncommonly cold for N.E. Florida, and that has completely wrecked my skin. I usually have normal skin with an oily T-Zone, and it’s very low maintenance most days.
Until Now.
Thanks to consistent 30-40 degree weather here, my skin has completely dried out, and my once mostly normal skin has turned into a red, dry, flaking irritated mess. I tried using the CVS dupe of Cetaphil moisturizing cream on my face, you know the heavy duty one that comes in the huge ass tub? Well, all this cream did was sit on my face and basically refused to sink into my desperately dry skin. Four hours after applying the stuff, I ran and finger down my cheek and came away with it loaded with grease basically. So I returned that and began looking for something else that would help my poor skin.
The combination of products that finally helped my skin rebound was quite surprising. I ended up using my Bath & Body Works True Blue Spa Lay it on Thick Shea Butter Cream and generic aloe vera on my face. I got my huge bottle of aloe from CVS for about $2.99. I applied the aloe first and then let that sink in for a few minutes and then I followed with the shea butter cream. The Lay it on Thick cream isn’t specifically designed for the face, but I had skin that was in major need of moisture, and that is what that product promises and delivered. The day after I started using those two products together I began to notice an immediate difference in my skin. It was smoother and the redness was beginning to go away.
So if you are dealing with the same problems I am dealing with this winter, give the shea butter cream a try. It’s a little pricey – but a little will go a long, long way and it made my skin feel amazing. 
Review: Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask
Name: Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask
Product: 5/5
Available: Sephora, BlissWorld
Price:$52
Would I Purchase Again: Yes
Description: Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask rang up the most sales of ANY mask in 2007.
A super-quick-fix for dull, tired, sallow, ‘I’m sick of my skin’ skin. Engineered to mimic the effects of our spa’s famous Triple Oxygen™ Treatment facial (but in seconds), this fabulous new complexion brightening formula uses every ‘tech’ in the book to furnish you with a fresher, younger-looking face.
Ingredient Highlights: The Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask is also formulated with:
• FluidO2™, a special ‘liquid ventilation’ system, to carry stable oxygen molecules and release them on your skin’s surface
• Sodium PCA, a fantastic humectant molecule that keeps your skin hydrated without ever getting greasy
• BV-OSC, the most multi-active powerful form of vitamin C ester available
Ingredients: Water (aqua), methyl perfluorobutyl ether, cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium laureth sulfate, coco-glucoside, glycerin, PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate, cyclopentasiloxane, chondrus crispus (carrageenan), polyquaternium-37, dimethicone PEG-7 phosphate, fragrance (parfum), propylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, sodium PCA, vitis vinifera (grape) seed extract, camellia sinensis leaf extract, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, gynostemma pentaphyllum extract, panthenol, polyhydroxystearic acid, ethylhexyl isononanoate, isononyl isononanoate, sodium cocamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate, hydrolyzed soy protein, potassium chloride, benzyl alcohol, phenoxyethanol, tocopheryl acetate, potassium sorbate, PPG-1 trideceth-6, citric acid, mica, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, ferulic acid, ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol manganese chloride, titanium dioxide (CI 77891), tocopherol, citral, limonene, linalool, red 40 (CI 16035), yellow 5 (CI 19140)
This product is actually my first foray into the world of Bliss – normally I do not like spending the big dollars on skincare, because I get great results from drugstore stuff, so why should I buy expensive products when the cheap ones work just as good. But when I got the chance to try out the Bliss facial masque, I jumped at the chance. And I’m glad I did.
This facial masque is a amazing. I fell in love with it after my first couple of times using it. You pump out a small amount of the gel onto your hand and then you spread an even layer over your face and it foams up and bubbles on your face. You can feel the bubbles fizzing and popping on your skin, it’s a very enjoyable feeling actually. You leave the masque on for about 5 minutes and during that time you will see the gel turn into foam, and then disappear into the skin. After I rinsed the left over product from my skin, I was FLOORED at how my skin looked. My skin had never looked brighter and it felt incredibly soft to the touch. I had that indescribable glow that everyone wants, but was never able to get.
Well, I got it big time!
Final Thoughts: I love this masque. When I finish this huge bottle (3.4 oz) you can bet I will purhcase another bottle. It’s interesting, many other bloggers who have tried this product has commented on the fact that it smells like citrus / oranges, to me it smells like the Froot Loop cereal. It’s not an unpleasant smell, but it is definitely an interesting scent that Bliss chose for this product. This is the only product in my possession that actually smells like cereal and doesn’t reside in my kitchen. To me this product is COMPLETELY worth it’s price, and I’m glad I was introduced to it. I plan on using this when my skin needs a quick pick me upper!
Review: DDF Protect and Correct UV Moisturizer SPF 15
Name: DDF Protect & Correct UV Moisturizer SPF 15
Product: 4/5
Available: Wherever DDF is sold.
Would I purchase again: Probably Not
Description & Ingredients:
Reclaim the natural radiance of even-toned, more youthful skin while helping to prevent future discoloration. This facial moisturizer contains a potent Micro-Radiance Complex™ and diminishes the look of discoloration for even, translucent, healthy looking skin. Also contains SPF 15 to help protect from UVA/UVB damage and future hyperpigmentation.
- Helps correct the look of discoloration
- Helps prevent future hyperpigmentation with broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection
- Evens skin tone for visible radiance
| ACTIVE INGREDIENT: | PURPOSE: |
| AVOBENZONE 2%……………………. | SUNSCREEN |
| ENSULIZOLE 0.9%…………………… | SUNSCREEN |
| OCTISALATE 5%……………………… | SUNSCREEN |
| OCTOCRYLENE 1.5% ……………….. | SUNSCREEN |
I received this product a couple of weeks ago to test out and I’ve been wearing it off and on for the past couple of weeks now, and I feel confident enough to review it. The bottle is a pump bottle, which controls the amount of product you put into your hand. I am really glad that they added this feature to their bottle, because this stuff costs $58 and I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want to be wasting a product that costs that much. The lotion glides easily onto the skin and moisturizes quite nicely. There really isn’t a strong smell to this lotion, so sensitive people shouldn’t have a problem with this. I put this on under my makeup in the morning and it gives all day protection.
All around, this is a great sunscreen. however there are certain things that I do not like about it. It’s not the product itself, that I dislike, its other factors. I tend to prefer lotions and moisturizers with a SPF level of 25+ so the level of protection isn’t as high as I would like it to be. For $58 I would expect any moisturizer to have a greater SPF than just 15. The size of the product is another thing I dislike about it, it only has 1.7 oz, which is quite small to me. I personally am used to picking up big 8-10 oz sunblocks with SPF of 30+. So this sunscreen was a big shock to me.
Final Thoughts: If you are someone who wants a good sunscreen moisturizer and you have no problem shelling out the big bucks for a sunscreen, then by all means give this product a look over. There is also the added bonus in this product of it being able to correct hyper pigmentation spots on the face over time. I have not used this product long enough to be able to comment on this aspect, but it’s not something that I would base my purchase. So if you are like me, who prefers cheaper sunblock with a greater amount of SPF, then I would bypass this product and head on over to CVS to pick up some of their sunblock, which I have reviewed on here.
Review: Burt’s Bees Rosewater and Glycerin Toner
Name: Burt’s Bees Rosewater and Glycerin Toner
Product: 5/5
Available: Select areas where Burt’s Bees are sold, on the Burt’s Bees Website, Drugstore.Com
I LOVE this product, for me, its a multitasking product that I use practically daily. This toner is created for Sensitive and Mature skin, but EVERYONE would benefit from owning this item. Unlike normal toners which can have a clinical smell to them, this one smells like roses, which is a nice change of pace. Another reason I love this product is that it has all natural ingredients and it does not cause my skin to break out.
I use this product as my sometimes toner when I want a break from my witch hazel, which I’ve been using for a long time. So when I take a break from the WH, I use my Rose Water toner. It makes my skin feel really refreshed after using it, and it doesn’t tighten my skin either.
My other use for this product is my main reason for purchasing it. I use this as my mixing medium for my loose eyeshadows. I fill a little spray bottle full of this stuff and I then squirt a couple of sprays onto my brush and dip it into my pigment / mineral eyeshadow then I apply it to my lid with the patting technique. This makes my eyeshadows very vibrant and it helps them last longer than using just water, because the glycerin in this toner helps adhere the pigment to the eye better. I still use a base before applying the pigments though. I’ve been using this far more as a mixing medium than I ever did as a toner, and it has yet to aggravate my eyes in anyway.
Final Thoughts: The only problem I have with this particular product is that it is IMPOSSIBLE to find in stores. The first and only store I’ve seen carry this toner was a college bookstore in Gainesville, where I went to college. I bought it there for $12 and I’m still using the same bottle. However I’ve amped up my usage of this product a lot since I purchased it, and I’ll probably run out of this stuff before long. So I am going to have a hard time of finding it again. I’m weary about ordering off the internet because it comes in a glass bottle – it’s a sturdy bottle, but I’m not all together comfortable ordering glass containers filled with liquid off the internet. I still strongly recommend this product as an alternative to MAC’s water based Mixing Medium, which is more expensive and it has been known to cause allergic reactions to some people. I think everyone who uses loose eyeshadows, or wants to start using them needs this product. It’s a great steal, knowing that there is more than just one use for it.
MAC & Bath and Body Works Haul!
I hit up the local mall today, and to my complete and utter surprise my MAC counter in Belk had the Volcanic Ash Exfoliator in stock. Both of the free standing stores in my town have sold out of this black goopy gold, but I now have in my possession this product!!!
Review: CVS Sunblock With Zinc Oxide SPF 45+
Price: $4-$6 at CVS and CVS.com
Product: 5 of 5
Ingredients |
Active Ingredients
|
Octinoxate 7.5%; Octocrylene 8.0%; Zinc Oxide 6.86%
|
Inactive Ingredients
|
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice; Beeswax; Cetyl Dimethicone; Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone; Cyclomethicone; Diazolidinyl Urea; Disodium EDTA; Ethylhexyl Stearate; Hexyl Laurate; Hydrogenated Castor Oil; Methylparaben; Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate; Propylene Glycol; Propylparaben; Sodium Chloride; Tocopheryl Acetate; Triethoxycaprylylsilane; Water
|
Even though I reviewed another version of CVS sunblock, I didn’t feel that it blew me away with it’s quality and usability. However I ended up buying the SPF 45 version with zinc oxide that was specially made for the face, ears and nose. I have to say, I completely fell in love with this sunblock, the lotion is very creamy and thick, which is a complete turn around from the SPF 30 version that I reviewed.
There isn’t much I can really say about this product, the lotion is thick and spreads easily on to the skin and unlike the SPF 30 version of CVS sunblock, there is very little to no scent that I could detect. The bottle holds 4 oz of product – making it slightly smaller than the SPF 30 bottle which is a 6 oz bottle. After I had applied the lotion to my face, I was surprised at how soft and silky my skin felt afterwards, with no grease residue on my already oily / combo skin.
Final thoughts: I think everyone would enjoy this decent and affordable sunblock. I highly suggest that everyone who is in need of sunblock check out this line at CVS before hitting up more expensive brands.
Review: CVS Sunblock SPF 30
Price: $6-$8 found at CVS
Rating: 3 1/2 of 5
I recently was given a bottle of this sunscreen by my boss, who had no need for it. Since I have been on the search for new sunblock, I was more than happy to take it off her hands. This sunblock is in the form of a very thin, white lotion with a very tropical / fruity smell that is not unpleasing. However, the smell does not last and fades shortly after applying it.
When I went to apply this sunblock I used quite a bit of it, smearing it liberally over my legs, arms, and face, to make sure that I covered all my skin before I headed out on my bike. I live in a very sunny place, Jacksonville, FL and it does not take a long time for a person to turn into a ripe tomato in this weather. After spending about an hour or so in the sun today. I came back in and saw that my face was slightly flushed from the sun, but I did not get any sun burns from being outside. My face was the only part of my body that showed any redness and I think that was because I forgot to put a lot of sunblock on my face.
Final thought: I think this is a decent, cheap sunblock that everyone would benefit from owning. The price of the sunblock is low enough that everyone can use with abandon. The only thing I think that would keep people from using this sunblock is if they are turned off by the scent, or by the texture of the lotion. If neither of these things bother you, then definitely check this and the other types of CVS sunblock the next time you hit up CVS.
