Dior DiorSkin Forever Extreme Wear Flawless Makeup SPF 25

Dior foundations  never let  me down. Even the ones I think won't work for my skin do  ( Like the DiorSkin Nude Creme Gel one which I  ended up using  much of last winter) . The new version of DiorSkin Forever- DiorSkin Forever Extreme Wear Flawless Makeup SPF 25 , is no exception.

The new foundation comes in both a powder and liquid and I've tried both without primer underneath.  Shade shown is 020.

Both are good coverage, semi- matte , and feel imperceptible on skin. The liquid is a thicker formula than many of the "your skin but better" foundations out there. This gives  good coverage, medium to full. Concealer is still needed on any big problem spots but that's all. It really does feel like nothing on and  skin looks soft and smooth.

The powder is much the same. Good coverage and a smooth, perfected finish . It feels like silk  on skin. This one has lighter coverage than the liquid  but is still  good  .

The formula for both is said to work with what skin needs and where it needs it. Oilier spots get mattified and drier get hydrated. I hyave oily skin and found both formulas to be great. They stayed matte all day on most of my face except the nose/chin and nothing keeps the oil back there. But it doesn't look dry or cakey. It just melts into skin.

Both are also long wear  and I have had great luck on that end as well. No touch ups needed through the bulk of the day, just a T -Zone blot. They coverage stays true. Dior says is in non transfer( which I would agree with) and waterproof ( can't say on that one).

This one is going right to the top of my tops list alongside DiorSkin Nude Natural Glow  which has been a long time favorite.

DiorSkin Forever Extreme Wear Foundation Liquid $ 46.00
DiorSkin Forver  Extreme Wear Foundation Compact $ 48.00

Available at Sephora.com and all Dior outlets.

Dr. Jart + Water Fuse & Premium Beauty Balms

 Count me in among the  fans of the new BB  or Beauty Balms .    Dr. Jart is one of the original BB purveyors from Asia and they  have 2 different ones here on our shores at Sephora.

Dr. Jart Water Fuse is the lighter  one  and perfect for me right now with my summer oily/sticky skin. It's  a very thin gel/cream which  made me wonder at first how it would be since  the others I had tried were thicker, but it ended up working great and I find I am using all the time.

It feels  very light on , almost invisible once it sets on skin which takes about a minute. I have had a spot or two where I needed to blend it more where it stuck a bit , but  a little extra effort was all that was needed. Overall it goes on easy , does a great job of keeping my makeup set and lasting far longer than normal  and adds just a smallest amount of moisture.

Dr. Jart Premium Beauty Balm  is the one I will reach for come colder weather and the one for you if you have normal to drier skin. In cooler temps my skin normalizes so I can use more moisture and products with more substance. This doesn't have a  lot of moisture mind you, it's just right, but more than the lighter one ( and all that my skin needs ). It's a thicker balm with a tint that really gets the job done . It has more coverage than Water Fuse and could  easily be used on it's own for those who like a sheer look. It smoothes, perfects ,eases makeup on and adds long wear and a more finished look with some light coverage. 

Bonus- these have very high SPFs. 45 for Premium, 25 for Water Fuse. When they say all in with BBs they mean it.

Dr. Jart Water Fuse Beauty Balm is $ 32.00 and Dr. Jart Premium Beauty Balm is $ 39.00  at  Sephora 

Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus All -Smooth Makeup SPF 15

Just in time for cooler weather Clinique is bringing out a new foundation - Repairwear Laser Focus All Smooth Makeup SPF 15. And yes that is one very long name.  The foundation incorporates the technology  of their  serum of  similar name.

This is a moisturizing, light to medium coverage foundation. Best for normal to dry skin. It  looks great on   and smoothes nicely as promised and gives skin a dewy look and feel.( Which is why it doesn't work so well for the oily skinned). Coverage, I think, is more medium than light. It covers pretty well.

The formula is said not only to help fight new UV damage but to repair past damage with Ultrasomes that gradually help skin damage. There are several ingredients with very long names that help plump skin and  Murumuru seed butter and Vitamin E for moisture.

While it's too dewy for my skin and I can't use anything like Murumuru Butter on my face, I like the finish of this and  all the good for skin ingredients. I've always been a big fan of Clinique's foundations. They do  some of the best  and at good price points. Acne Solutions is staple all summer and last winter I wore Even Better almost every day. 

Repairwear Laser Focus All Smooth Makeup SPF 15 is on sale now at Nordstrom for $ 32.50 and comes in 12 shades. All outlets will have it in September.

MAC Prep and Prime Beauty Balm SPF 35

I have never used any Beauty Balm or BB creams before. I do know they are all over the market now and so I'm testing and reading up. My friend The Muse is the queen of BB's. She has used many  of the Asian ones ( called Blemish Balms there) and has written a lot of posts describing  the difference between Asian  and US versions. Thus far she's my education in these. Thus far too, I wasn't really thinking I needed or wanted to use one.

So MAC's new  Prep and Prime BB  was my first Beauty Balm and I have to say I really like it.  I didn't think I would and I honestly didn't expect much. I figured it wouldn't work with my oily skin but then I read the ingredients ( no emollients) and that it's a primer and perfector, not a tinted moisturizer, which I now know no BB creams are. I should say here too, that I rarely use primers for the same reason. Most are hydrating  and not for me. Only Cover Fx Matte Prep works  all the time and in winter  sometimes I use L'Oreal Studio Secrets base.  That said , I also well know how much a good primer can do.

MAC BB balm makes  a great canvas for makeup. It's not really meant to be worn on it's own ( as  Asian BB  creams are ) and if you do , you'll have a nice , smooth look  with pores filled in  but little coverage.   The finish is satin, not matte ,  and I  was  able to use it in the T -Zone. I wasn't much less oily but I wasn't more oily which is key.  I liked that my makeup lasted longer  and  that it looked better . I also really like the SPF 35. That's high for a makeup product and it seems to be a hallmark of BB creams.

The color here is flesh toned and very light , almost sheer. It should work on  a lot of skin tones. I'm fair  and it blends right in but it also blends  right in on my self tanned arm. In fact the swatch picture I took was useless since it did blend into the skin and you couldn't even see it.


MAC  Prep and Prime Beauty Balm is available online now  and will be only online. It will be sold at travel retail and in Asia it will be in MAC locations.

Mehron Celebre Pro HD Foundation

The Makeup Show gave up great finds this year as it always does.One this year was Celebre Pro HD foundation by Mehron.

Mehron is a pro brand but anyone can buy and it is very well priced.

The Celebre Pro HD is a cream foundation . It's oil and fragrance free and while creamy is not greasy or heavy. Cream formulas don't always work on my oily skin but this  was not only good, I loved it. Skin looked very perfected and smooth but not overdone . Coverage is medium to full and easly buildable.  I use it all over or sometimes just under the eyes as concealer. It's great for touch ups.

Ingredients include pomegranate and Vitamin E for antioxidants and aloe vera for hydration.

If you've been wanting to try a Pro line and an HD formula but not spend a lot , this is a great choice.  Shade shown is ME2 and the shades range from pale to very dark with eurasian skin suited shades as well ( Pull up the color chart on the site).

Mehron Celebre HD is $ 9.95 at
http://www.mehron.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=201

Lotus Herbals Swift Makeup Stick

Oh! How clearly I remember getting this product I had gone to the beauty store in search of a good concealer for my dark circles and ended up buying this. As soon as I entered the store I headed towards Maybelline counter in hopes of finding a concealer. I was disappointed to find that Maybelline didn’t sell any concealer in India. Just when I was turning away, a SA of the very next counter which belonged to Lotus Herbals started showing me something. I must tell that particular SA was so pushy !!

She got me to buy a lip gloss and other product which is lotus swift makeup. It is a 4 in one product which acts as foundation, concealer, compact providing matt powder finish and lastly moisturizing. She applied the product in the under eye area and it was successful in concealing them to an extent. So I finally got it and after using it for quite sometime now, here’s the review ---

PRODUCT:  Lotus Herbals Natural Blend Swift Makeup

PRICE: 249 rupees

QUANTITY: 10g

SHADE:  730 Creamy Peach

This product comes in a thick lipstick like case which has a transparent cover on the top. The top can be removed and the bottom is twisted up to use the product. It looks like an ordinary stick foundation.

I personally do not prefer stick foundations because they are too difficult to blend making the process of applying the foundation too tedious. 

I tried applying this foundation all over my face but I highly disliked the way it makes you feel.  It makes my face feel very weird. The foundation is not difficult to blend into the skin but it kind of feels very strange and abnormal to me when I apply it all over my face. It made me feel like I am wearing something thick on my face.

I dislike the oily- kind of smell that this product has. Being a huge fragrance fan – oily smell is a total turn off for me. 

 I also dislike the fact that this product stands at the risk of getting contaminated. Everytime we apply this product on the skin the bacteria can keep on lodging itself on the top of the product which may cause acne or break-outs later on. You can’t risk applying the product with your bare hands until they are absolutely clean.    

Since it is creamy and moisturizing, I have broken its stick twice. :)

 

This product is good for covering acne and blemishes on your skin. It acts as a good spot concealer but certainly not as face foundation. 

It has SPF 15 which is also good as you won’t need to apply sunscreen separately.

LOVE IT OR CHUCK IT? : This product is definitely a pass for me. I use this product to conceal blemishes. I would definitely chuck it if I were to use it as a foundation.

HAVE YOU USED THIS PRODUCT? ? 

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Ultra Lift and Firm Makeup SPF15

Elizabeth Arden has a new foundation with a long name : Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Ultra Lift and Firm Makeup SPF15.

This new  foundation smooths and perfects giving you skincare benefits at the same time utilizing Arden's CPT (Ceramide Plumping Technology) to lift and firm skin as well as Ceramide Triple Complex for moisture.

The  foundation  is a very creamy formula, it has an almost whipped feeling and goes on  dewy at first. It needs a few minutes to set and once it does, your skin looks  great-smoothed and softened.   This is not heavy but it is full coverage.   Mica and Alumina give luminizing properties that are not visible but simply give you a little extra glow.

Excellent for more mature  or drier skins.

Shade shown in my image is Cameo.

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Ultra Lift and Firm Makeup SPF15 is $ 42.00 and available now at http://www.elizabetharden.com/ and all counters.

philosophy hope in a tinted moisturizer

Philosophy  hope in a tinted moisturizer brings a tinted moisturizer into their hope skincare line.  Hydrating and loaded with good for your skin ingredients  , it's especially suited to this cold winter many of us have been having.

Ingredients in hope in a tinted moisturizer include sodium hyaluronate, a peptide blend, vitamins E, C and Carnosine , mango seed butter, sunflower seed oil, lavender oil, as well as uva and uvb protectors  with an SPF of 20.

 The moisturizer  leaves behind a  hint of color with light  coverage. The pump bottle is a nice touch and the product blends easily and dries fast .  It had a  barely there  feeling on my skin . The shade shown is light, and is a bit darker than the palest skins  might need. I am pale but not the palest in foundations and this worked on me but was still a little darker than I would normally use. There are 8 shades in all.

If you love tinted moisturizers, then you might want to give this a try. All the added skincare ingredients plus SPF make it a good choice for normal to dry skins who like sheer coverage.

Available now for $ 38.00 for 1.7 oz

Maybelline Fit Me Collection

My post back in September on Maybelline's upcoming Fit Me has been getting a lot of readers. I only had the basic info then  but now have finally tried the products and have seen several of the colorway choices.

To re-cap ,Fit Me is  all about skin tone matching shades   across all products in the line.  There are 18 shades of foundation, 6 concealers, 12 blushes and 3 bronzers. Something for everyone and every skintone. Shades numbers begin in the 100s for lightest and go to 300s for darkest.

Once  you find the shade for  you in foundation, to get the right powder and concealer, simply pull from the row that contains that number.

 Now that you know that, what are the products like ? I was able to try a pre-selected group of the line recently.

Fit Me Foundation ( $ 7.99)  is weightless and light. It's light to medium coverage, dewy  and  natural looking . There are no waxes or oils according to Maybelline, which is good. The shade shown is 110 and is a bit too pale for me , but not by much.  I can wear it but one shade up to 115 would be perfect.   I think it's best for normal to dry skin . Us oily skins can wear it now but maybe not come warmer weather.

The  blush ( $ 5.51) that suited me best of what I tried was Deep Nude. Light Nude matches my shade also but was very light on me and less than I like ( it came off as a soft wash, nice, but I like a little contour).  Deep Nude  is shown  and is not dark at all but more medium. Depending on how pale you are and how much blush you like, you can  tweak here. All the nudes are nice and none are super dark.

Fit Me Powder ( $ 7.99) is again , light and feels soft  on skin. No heavy, cakey feeling. Shown is 120  which confirmed for me that I am shade 115 as this was the tiniest bit darker than I needed. The puff is in a lower compartment in the compact for no contamination and easy storage.

Fit Me Concealer ( $ 6.49) is creamy and blendable but like all the others a light feeling product. It has good coverage and dries to a powder soft finish.  I find the shown shade 10 to actually be darker than the foundation 110 and too dark for me, so know that the concealers might run dark.

Fit Me Bronzer might be favorite of all in this line. It's not easy to find a pale girl bronzer but thats just what Light Bronze ( shown ) is. Just  nice wash of golden color  to warm you up. More gold and beige than bronze.

I also have many shades in the deeper  300 category, so they are shown here in the lower image . Not all of us are pale and this gives you an idea of what other shades there are.

I see many people wondering what shades will look good on them  and for them, this is a great idea. No guessing. Just buy all in your shade number and you have a full set of makeup. If you consider yourself makeup challenged, give it a try.

Fit Me is also a nice starting point  for those wearing makeup for the first time. Teens can get makeup that will look good, but natural and not overdone on them and not have to guess what they need and get shades 3 times too dark. We've all been there.

Michelle Williams debuts new Chanel foundation at Golden Globes

I love Michelle Williams makeup here and she does the pixie do so well. Better that we can't see her dress because it doesn't come off quite as well. It was pretty but needed to be fitted more in the bodice. It's all forgiven for that gorgeous coral lip and peach cheeks. One of the highlights of Chanel's Spring line on counters now is blush in Espeigle used here.


Another of the products used by makeup artist Jeanine Lobell ( founder of Stila ) was a new Chanel foundation called  Vitalumiere Aqua in B10 .  This is out in March.

Jeanine's full look for Michelle :

“As a base, I used a new foundation from Chanel, Vitalumiere Aqua in B10 . It’s a super light, sheer formula with great coverage.

On Michelle’s cheeks, I used Chanel Powder Blush in Espiegle, a beautiful shimmery pink-coral .

Her eyes were Kevyn Aucoin Essential Eye Shadow Palette #2, and applied two coats of Kevyn Aucoin Lash Curler Volume Mascara. I set her brows with Chanel Perfect Brows.

Finally, on her lips I used Chanel Rouge Coco Lip Colour in Chalys.”

Omorovicza Complexion Brightener & Thermal Cleansing Balm

Omorovicza is a Hungarian based skincare line I've talked about once before.   Based on using  a patented mineral  delivery system  and Hungarian thermal waters, this luxury line has recently added some great new products to the line.

In my earlier testing I loved the Rejuvenating Night Cream( I've been using this all late fall into winter ) and the Radiance Renewal Serum.

Now for daytime I've got Complexion Brightener.  This has SPF 20 and is perfect for normal to oily  skin, but especially oily skin. It goes on very light  and sets to a slightly matte but glowing look while adding some moisture. I was surprised yesterday when I had applied this and  some blush thinking I wasn't going out and then I needed to make a quick run  to Walgreens in the snow. I looked in the  mirror and my skin looked great.  Finished  and bright . Off I went looking almost like I had a light foundation on.

The company says it conceals imperfections  and leaves skin porcelain, and they're right .  In warmer weather this will be  even better.

Also new is Thermal Cleansing Balm.  Here's what Omorovicza founder Margaret de Heinrich says about it  - " Thermal Cleansing Balm this really is my favorite product in the line (though I love them all, of course!)...You apply a small amount to a dry face (rub the balm between your fingers first so that it turns into an oil)...massage over your eyes (removes eye makeup) and then all over your face for about one minute. Afterwards, use a warm wet terry cloth mitt or hand towel to wipe off excess (must use a cloth as just water will not remove product).

"The mud we use is medical grade mud and comes from largest thermal lake in Europe (2nd largest in the world)...the lake renews itself naturally every 24 hours. It also contains sweet almond oil...as oil dissolves oil, this product is amazing for targeting and breaking up impurities (makeup, dirt, etc) and is fantastic for all skin types. Smells of orange blossom which is a scent created personally for us by same perfume house in Grasse that does all Hermes perfumes. Product detoxifies, removes impurities. "


 Personally  I liked how  this  worked but I simply can't get on board with  cleansing oils on my face, I have enough of my own. I know they say oil cleans oil, but I've tried other high end cleansing oils and have felt the same way.  It's a great cleanser for the right skin though, normal to dry in my opinion.  And it does have a lovely scent, which you wouldn't expect from a  mud based cleanser.  Also a little is all you need.  A small amount goes a long way.


You can read more about the line, and see/shop the products at : http://www.omorovicza.com/us/

Also at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman

Best of Beauty 2010

It's time for the best of the year , a look back at my top favorites. It's not always easy to slim the list down as I like so many products. But these that follow were the tops, or at least the ones that came immediately to mind. Most were reviewed here before so a link is there if you wish to read the original post. Please share your "best of" for the year in the comments. I'd love to know what's on everyones list.

Dior J'Adore L'Or- Full review coming soon on this as I only tried it at Christmastime.  An updating of the original J'Adore with a focus on purer , high grade essences and rose absolute and jasmine from Dior's own fields, this powerhouse white floral is beyond beautiful. So well done, and a bit more of an oil than as it's an essence of perfume rather than a  straight EDP.

Annick Goutal Ninfeo Mio- Another hit from the great house. Love at first sniff and few others came close to it all year. It's not like anything else out there and for Spring and Summer weather,  so beautiful, fresh and  green.

Clinique Acne Solutions  Liquid Makeup - Kept my skin in check all summer, the hottest on record here. Not as matte as I usually use but it worked so well at keeping acne  down and helped oilies as well, while also providing great coverage and good looking skin.

Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage- A genius idea. Cools, soothes , brightens and de-puffs all at once. Not it is not quite a miracle worker, you don't suddenly lose all puffiness etc.,  but it does make a difference and feels so good on. Anytime your eyes are tired or irritated , reach for this.

Dior Rouge Dior Haute Couleur Lipsticks- There were a lot of fabulous new lipsticks this fall, one from most major brands. I liked or loved  most , but the best to me was the new Dior. It feels like air on your lips but packs pigment and moisture and simply looks like lipstick should. 

Ellis Faas Makeup - Everything in this new  this year line but especially the Eye Lights metallic eye shadows.  With innovative colorways and packaging,  this became a huge favorite.

Origins Zero Oil Cleanser- Most amazing oily skin cleanser ever. Yes ,really. Did wonders for my skin in the super hot summer heat. Kept using all fall and into winter  even. Not harsh but cleanses well and helps bat down that pesky over oiliness. Zero Oil indeed. Maybe not all of it, but enough.

Chanel Les Khakis nail polish- The polish everyone at Fashion Week in Sept. 2010 was either talking about, wanting or wearing. I got more compliments on my Khaki Vert toes than I ever expected. I also didn't expect the  polish to look so good, but somehow it was perfect. The two other shades didn't move me as much but I still like them.

Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger - This new line  grabbed a lot of reader attention and deservedly so . Deeply repairing for damaged and very dry hair, it's that good. 

MAC Venomous Villains- One of the most hotly anticipated collections of the year . This was simply fun but also had some great colors. I know people who wanted it simply because it was Disney, but most of us I think wanted it because it was Disney and MAC.  The decals/logos were well done and I love having at least one lippie sitting out where I can see it.

Honorable mentions go to :

 1. Clarins Extra Firming Foundation-  they do know foundation as well as skincare there .  Super coverage, firming, radiance. Hits all the marks.

2. Atelier Perfumes- a new, niche line  of old  style cologne  scents modernized and better.  

3. Maybelline Age Rewind The Eraser Foundation - A drugstore foundation that truly competes with the high end lines.

Clarins Extra-Firming Foundation SPF 15

    Clarins newest foundation ( after the fabulous Everlasting from earlier this year) is Extra- Firming Foundation with SPF15. Both for,ulas get the thimbs way up . Extra Firming is more dewy/sation where Everlasting was matte.

Extra-Firming is medium to full coverage and really covers well. Skin looks smooth, more even and even a  little bit tighter. It created a beautiful canvas and feels good on .  It's  hydrating but not heavy with the company's plant based , time released micro patch formula .

Other skin helping ingredients:

-Oat Sugar extract contains natural skin tightening benefits by forming an invisible and flexible veil on skin.

-Greater Plantain offers anti-aging benefits and helps minimize appearance of dark spots.

- Light Optimizing Complex with refelcting microspheres.

Available now  for $ 42.00 for the  pump bottle at all Clarins locations.

Dior Diorskin Nude Creme Gel Compact

  The DiorSkin Nude foundation line is one of my all time favorites. The DiorSkin Nude Natural liquid  is a winter staple and in my 2009 post on it , I called it one of the best ever.   The powder version- Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Sculpting Powder- is a summer staple. Easy to use and perfecting on skin.

Now we have a new addition, Diorskin Nude Creme Gel. Was I excited ? Yes.  This one is hitting all the marks as well.  The foundation is very light and imparts a light to medium finish. It manages good coverage while still being a more sheer formula than it's predecessors.  The formula is a cream in the compact but it's not greasy ( no oil or heavy hydrators in there) and goes on easily with the added puff. Even though it  dries to a powder like finish, you still have plenty of time to blend and the finish is not dry at all , and really not overly powderlike.  My skin looks very perfected, smooth and even.

For the normal to oily skinned like myself, it's lovely. Drier skin will have to give it a test but it should be ok.

The foundation according to the box is infused with Mineralized Water. This gives glow and radiance . Your skin, but better basically.

Available now for $ 48.00

Maybelline's New Fit Me

Maybelline is bringing a whole new line called Fit Me to  stores  in January 2010 . Fit Me is  aimed at both new  makeup wearers as well as longtime users. The idea  here is shade matching  and true shades. The line is powder, foundation, concealer, blush and bronzer.  All are coordinated so there is a shade match across  product categories and powder and foundations will both have the same product number.

According to WWD ,  Maybelline  is using " skin merge technology". which is a patented formula to match skin tone and blend easily.

The foundations and powders will be available in  18 lightest to darkest shades, and will retail for $7.99 each. Concealers come in six shades and retail for $6.49 each. Blush and bronzer will retail for $5.51.

 *** Ed. note - full review finally up here  as of Jan. 27

All info/image: WWD

Christina Hendricks Previews New Lancome at Emmys

The stunning Christina Hendricks wore the new , upcoming Lancome foundation Teint Miracle -Lit From Within  to the Emmys last night. Much of her makeup was Lancome and was done by Vanessa Scali.   Hendricks dress was Zac Posen.

The look :

Face:

Vanessa prepped the skin with Lancôme’s La Base Pro. To perfect Christina’s already luminous skin, Vanessa used Lancôme’s new Teint Miracle Lit-From-Within Makeup. “It has an amazing transparent quality that leaves the skin looking flawless and luminous without being shiny,” said Vanessa. “I applied it with a brush and then blended with my fingers.” Blending with her fingers heated up the foundation a bit, allowing for a seamless finish. Vanessa followed with Effacernes Concealer under the eyes, her “all time favorite concealer.”

Cheeks:

For a fresh pop of color I used Lancôme’s Blush Subtil Shimmer in Pink Pool on the apples of her cheeks. Dabs of Giorgio Armani Beauty’s Fluid Sheer #2 highlighted Christina’s cheekbones.

Eyes:

The eye shadow was mix of YSL’s Ombre Solo Eyeshadow in Cashmere Brown and Midnight Black. “I applied these all over her lid, under the bottom lashes and blended it out past her natural lash line to softly elongate the eye,” reported Vanessa.

Eye Liner:

To define and elongate the lash line, Vanessa lined the eyes with Lancôme’s Le Crayon Khôl in Black. “I used a touch of liner under her bottom lashes but smudged it for a softer look,” said Vanessa. For added depth, Vanessa used Artliner Precision Point Eyeliner in Noir at the very base of Christina’s lashes.

Mascara:

Several generous coats of Lancôme Définicils Waterproof Mascara in Black were used on the top and bottom lashes.

Lips:

Christina’s lips were a mix of Lancôme lip colors for an effect that Vanessa described as “red with a little dash of pink.” A sheer coat of Color Design Matte Lipstick in Corset was topped by La Laque Fever Lipshine in Cyber Coral.

photo:getty images

MAC Mineralize SPF 15 Foundation - New

I don't like to print press releases verbatim, but sometimes ones come that are really exciting and I haven't yet tried the product, so it's what I have to go on. That's the case with MAC's new Mineralize foundation , in a cream compact. Their Mineralize Skinfinish powder foundation is one of my best ever, so hopes are high for this new addition.



Info per MAC:

"By fusing minerals and water, Mineralize SPF 15 Foundation is the synthesis of earthly essential elements in the form of a rich, luxurious solid cream compact with a liquid mineral infusion. This uniquely textured, medium buildable, foundation delivers immediate hydration while revitalizing the look of dull and dry skin. Used backstage during the Spring/Summer 2010 fashion shows of; BCBG, Carolina Herrera and Baby Phat, it is both a makeup artists dream and a real woman’s skin saving grace.

Mineralize SPF 15 Foundation features an innovative gel based system that provides extreme comfort and creaminess in application, making this formula appealing to all skins but especially normal to dry. The gel fuses the formula’s high water content (30.5%) with the polymers and coated pigments for the ultimate in silky smooth, yet long wearing (up to 8 hours), colour payoff.


Natural Ingredients Equal Flawless Skin:

A special blend of 77 minerals that have been bio-fermented into a yeast extract and our Multimineral Complex IV, a water-based solution of Potassium,Magnesium, Sodium and Zinc, work together to help nurture skin.

Beta Vulgaris (Beet) Root Extract, Haberlea Rhodopensis Leaf Extract, and Faex (Yeast) Extract help moisturize and give skin a more radiant, re-energized look.


Silicone Crosspolymer and a combination of lightweight, luminous oils provides a smooth even finish that is soft and silky to touch.


Mineralize SPF 15 Foundation’s mineral rich formula also provides UVB, SPF 15 protection and is non-acnegenic, dermatologist Tested and fragrance free.

Edit: Have now had a chance to test this. It's very creamy, good full coverage but not heavy. Skin looks smooth , hydrated.


On counter now .


Suggested Retail Price $32.00 U.S./$38.00 CDN

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind- The Eraser

The name almost sounds ominous but The Eraser aims to help you turn back the clock a bit. This is not simply makeup but a treatment containing Goji Berry and Collagen.

Maybelline states that years of research have gone into this product and it holds many patented innovations.

The foundation goes on with a "micro-corrector " applicator. Now I bet we all think the same thing- will it work ? Well yes it does. I did still need to use my fingers a little, but overall the sponge did it's job. It blended really well and evenly. This makes it easy to use quickly or on the go.

The Mom tried it as well. She obviously has more mature skin and is pretty devoted to a couple high end foundations. She loves it. It looks great on her skin and she feels it compares very well to those higher end ones.

The foundation leaves skin looking very smooth, with a lightly illuminated look although there is no shimmer here. More like a hint of a soft focus . It has medium coverage , not heavy or full, feels good on skin and is very moisturizing.

Instant Age Rewind -The Eraser is in stores now and retail $ 12.99 , but I have seen it for much less. At Target it's $ 10.99




*press sample

YSL Teint Resist Foundation

After looking in many stores I finally managed to track down a sample amount of the new YSL Teint Resist foundation at a Nordstrom stop last week.

I had high hopes for this as it is supposed to be long wearing, absorb oil , look and feel great on skin. In the end I had good results but not perfect.

I love the feel of it. Thats the major selling point here for me- this foundation truly feels like you have nothing on your face. It melts right into skin and is weightless. It lasted long but not quite the 14 hours stated. I did get oil breakthrough on my T Zone , the nose ended up shiny. Even though this is considered a more matte foundation, it isn't super matte. The wear and look on the rest of the face was good.

The finish is fairly light. I expected a medium -full coverage and this is more light to medium. That's ok as long as you know you may need to build it up a bit and use more in trouble spots. It looks nice on, blends easily, and sinks right in leaving no cakey-ness. Skin looks very smooth and soft. I don't want to say natural but it's more your skin looking finished than heavier coverage.

So mostly I do like it and for the feel and look of it, that makes it tempting to buy a full bottle.

YSL Teint Resist is $ 55.00 at http://www.yslbeautyus.com/ , Department stores and Sephora.com

Clinique Superbalanced Powder Makeup SPF 15

Clinique Superbalanced Powder Makeup SPF 15 is a good powder makeup for those who have fear of powder.

This powder is actually creamy in texture. After testing on my hand, my hand felt soft. It has hydrators in it, so thats where the softness comes from. It blends well, has medium coverage and will work on most skins except the super oily or super dry. I liked it a lot, but fear it's too creamy for me. I fall into that super oily group.

The neat part is the container that shaves off just the amount you want from a solid piece underneath. It's fun and a good idea. Makes it easy to carry if needed( although it is a large container) and no waste .

I believe Macys is having their Clinique bonus time now, so if you're thinking about buying, why not get some extras too?

Retail is $34.50