Makeup Test – The Full Monty Redux (pt. 5)

And at last we get to the powder…

I’ve used CoverGirl’s powders in the past and thought they were pretty good (especially when my skin was dry and I couldn’t use my Revlon powder), so I went to buy some more and couldn’t find the stuff I’d used before. I picked up the Fresh Complexion powder, hoping it would be just as good.

The Good:

• Good application (It goes on smooth and even and hides the patches of dry skin rather than accentuating them.)

The Bad:

• More colors! (I bought the lightest color and it was still too dark. It makes my skin slightly orange.)

The Ugly:

• $6+ for .37 oz.
• CoverGirl tests on animals (Grrr!)

The Grade:  C

You can get better for less money.

On the whole, my second Full Monty was a lot less pleasant than my first. I ended up having to wash it all off and start again twice, mainly because the products weren’t right for my skin color.

Makeup Test – The Full Monty Redux (pt. 4)

Sorry that it’s taken me so long to complete my reviews, but I’ve had some internet troubles (it never seems to work when I need it to). It may be several days late, but here (at last) is the concealer portion of my Fully Monty Redux:

I was at the store with a Neutrogena concealer stick in my hand, when my sister guilt-tripped me into putting it back and getting a Physician’s Formula concealer instead (because PF doesn’t test on animals and Neutrogena does – it also helped that the PF was slightly cheaper than Neutrogena).

The Good:

• Physician’s Formula doesn’t test on animals
• Good application (It goes on smooth and isn’t too chalky or greasy.)

The Bad:

• More color options! (Fair, light and medium do not encompass the full range of skin colors.)

The Ugly:

• $6 for .15 oz (It seems like I paid less than this at Walmart.)

The Grade: B+

All in all a pretty good concealer. I do wish these stick concealers were longer lasting, especially when worn by themselves. It seems like they’ve faded away within hours of application (not just this one, but concealer sticks in general.)

Makeup Test – The Full Monty Redux (pt. 3)

And now let’s talk about foundation. I got a hold of some of Sue Devitt’s Whipped Foundation in Quiet & Still (the palest color they make, of course), a very expensive bit of makeup.

The Good:

• Good coverage (This stuff applies thickly and is just slightly chalky.)
• Sue Devitt does not test on animals!

The Bad:

• The smell (I know it says that it has seaweed in it, but I didn’t actually expect it to smell like seaweed. It’s not overwhelming, but it’s there.)
• The color (This was the palest shade, but it was not pale enough. It was extremely orange and left me looking like an Oompa Loompa.)
• The consistency (It says it is whipped, but it had a weird formula that was thick and muddy, like clay.)

The Ugly:

• $40 for 1 oz.!!!

The Grade:  D+

This makeup makes many claims, about how healthy it is for your skin and how it reduces the appearance of wrinkles. I can’t judge that because I only used it twice and saw no such benefits in such a short time. But I can say that it is not worth the money, especially if you can’t find a shade that matches your skin tone perfectly.

 

Makeup Test – The Full Monty Redux (pt. 2)

So remember how I said I wanted to try Hard Candy’s Skin Perfecting Primer because I liked their Illuminating Primer? Well, I tried it, and here are my thoughts:

The Good:

• Hard Candy doesn’t test on animals (And that’s pretty much the only good thing I have to say.)

The Bad:

• The Formula (Goes on pretty greasy and isn’t as light on my skin as the Illuminating Primer. I can’t imagine this being at all good for you because it feels like lathering oil onto your face.)

The Ugly:

• $8 for 1.3 oz

The Grade:  D-

I washed this stuff off immediately. It was awful. If you’re going to use Hard Candy’s primers, definitely stick with Illuminating or even the plain ol’ primer. Don’t waste your money on the Perfecting because it is anything but.

Makeup Test – The Full Monty Redux

So, I did it again…the Fully Monty using all different products from last time (moisturizer, primer, foundation, concealer and powder).  This week I’ll review each item (one per day), starting with the moisturizer.

I picked up this green moisturizer with quite a bit of skepticism. It was very green and I just didn’t see how all of that color could mix in to my skin without making me look like a leprechaun.

The Good:

• Good application (The green mixed in pretty well. I wouldn’t say that it was perfect, it definitely left a greenish cast to my skin, but once I put the rest of my makeup on, it wasn’t even noticeable.)
• SPF 15
• Physician’s Formula doesn’t test on animals. Yay!

The Bad:

• The Green (I wouldn’t recommend wearing this alone, unless you like looking like a zombie.)
• The Red (This supposedly corrects redness, but it wasn’t effective enough on my problem areas to make it worth the money.)
• The Formula (It applied sort of chalky. It wasn’t too bad once it was all rubbed in, though.)

The Ugly:

• $17+ for 1.7 oz.

The Grade: C-

A good product from an awesome company, but this one’s not worth the money, in my opinion.

Extra Credit

I’ve always been a huge fan of Victoria’s Secret Love Spell products (more on that later), but I’d never really experienced any of their other scents. One day, my grandma gave me a tube of VS’s Blossoming Romance body lotion (a scent they apparently don’t sell anymore, but is still available elsewhere), which I unceremoniously dumped with the rest of my lotions and never gave it another thought. Then, when I ran out of the Gold Bond lotion I use for my dry elbows, I desperately searched for something in my stash to replace it. Although the Blossoming Romance was too thick to use on my hands, it works just as well (if not better) than the Gold Bond I had before. I apply it shortly after I get out of the shower when my skin still retains some of that moisture (but not when it is still actually wet or it doesn’t work as well) and I’m good until my next shower. Yay!

Makeup Test – Face

I did the Full Monty last week for the very first time. And by Full Monty, I mean Moisturizer, Primer, Foundation, Concealer and Powder. (I know Full Monty means to take it all off, and I’m talking about putting it all on, but this is my blog and I can do what I want.) How has she gone this long without wearing all of these products at the same time? you may wonder, but the simple answer is: I am a beauty dunce. It was only very recently that I learned that foundation and concealer were two different things (foundation is to even your skin tone and concealer is to hide the more glaring blemishes). And I had never even heard of primer until my sister and I bought some at Wal-Mart last year. So without further ado, here is my review:

I got a travel-size Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer in my stocking at Christmas (because Santa loves me) and didn’t really pay it much attention to it until my sister raved about her own Aveeno lotion, so I decided it was time to check it out.

The Good:

• SPF 15 (Always a plus! They also have an SPF 30 variation.)
• Instantly brightens skin (You’ll notice there are tiny flecks of shimmer in the formula.)
• Feels clean (Isn’t thick and oily like some moisturizers I’ve tried.)

The Bad:

• The smell (I’m not a huge fan of smelly facial moisturizers. Why can’t this be scent free, like Aveeno’s body lotion? Which I shall review in the near future.)
• I want more (Travel-size isn’t doing it for me, Santa.)

The Ugly:

• $13+ for 4 oz.
• Aveeno tests on animals (Grrr!)

The Grade: B

Totally worthwhile if you can stomach the price (and the animal cruelty). But then, can you put a price on a good facial moisturizer? (Free would be awesome.) And now for the primer:

The aforementioned primer that I bought at Wal-Mart was Hard Candy Sheer Envy Skin Illuminating Primer (what a mouthful!).

The Good:

• Good application (Goes on light and smooth.)
• Instantly brightens skin (More of that shimmer. I probably looked like a vampire in the sun…but I felt pretty!)
• Hard Candy doesn’t test on animals (Hurray!)

The Bad:

• Be careful (A little goes a long way. This is probably a good thing, but when your hands are covered with excess primer, you won’t be too happy.)
• Clumpy formula (This stuff might separate in the bottle – something I’ve noticed with primers in general.)
• Flimsy bottle (The cap on mine is broken and the tube is a little leaky.)

The Ugly:

• $8 for 1.3 oz

The Grade: B+

I would definitely buy this stuff again (although there are two other kinds of Hard Candy primer, so I might look into Skin Perfecting on my next go).

I had heard good things about Revlon Colorstay foundation and since I already had the pressed powder, I decided to get a matching set.

The Good:

• Long-lasting
• Good coverage (I applied this with a makeup sponge – also a first for me, but more on that later – and I really liked the even-ness of my complexion.)
• Good application (This doesn’t feel thick and chalky like other foundations I’ve used – I’m looking at you CoverGirl!- and goes on light and smooth.)
• Revlon doesnt’ test on animals (Hurray!)

The Bad:

• Formula (If you have dry skin or blemishes, be sure to exfoliate before using, as this stuff makes them stand out.)
• Color (I have a problem with foundations in general because the color match is never perfect. But that’s something I’ll just have to live with. I used 110 Ivory and found it to be fairly close.)

The Ugly:

• $13 for 1 oz.

The Grade: B-

I really like this stuff and would recommend it to anyone, but I just wish it didn’t make my dry skin stand out so boldly.

I’ve used Neutrogena’s Healthy Skin Smoothing Stick as my go-to concealer for many years. The claim that it was good for my skin was a big draw (of course!), but I’m starting to rethink my devotion to it.

The Good:

• Good application
• Good color (for a concealer – see above for my views on skin color matching)

The Bad:

• I haven’t noticed any vast improvements to my complexion while using this concealer.
• Doesn’t last as long as I would like.

The Ugly:

• $6+ for .1 oz
• Neutrogena tests on animals (Grrr!)

The Grade: C+

I like it, but there are definitely better (and less expensive) options out there.

I was a pretty devoted CoverGirl when it came to pressed powder, but my sister guilted me into switching over to Revlon by pointing out that CoverGirl tests on animals and Revlon doesn’t. So I picked up some Revlon Colorstay Pressed Powder instead of my usual.

The Good:

• Good coverage (Maybe a little too good.)

The Bad:

• If I put too much of this on, I look a little zombified.
• Makes my dry skin stand out (Be sure to exfoliate before wearing.)

The Ugly:

• $10+ for .3 oz (although I don’t remember paying that much, so look around.)

The Grade: C+

As I stated above, you could probably do better for less $$$.

Extra Credit

Recently, I was cleaning out the junk under my bathroom sink and discovered I had a pumice stone. I’d never used it before, even though I’ve struggled off and on with dry feet for years, so I thought I’d give it a try. Just after I got out of the shower, I sat down and rubbed the rough rock across my heels, then applied lotion and put on socks. I have to say, it’s made a world of difference! Lotion alone was not enough and now the pumice stone is my foot’s best friend.

Face Wash Final

Dunce Cap Moment:  I was a lucky teenager. I never had much of an acne problem, just a few flare ups every once in a while. I very rarely washed my face and usually slept with my makeup on.  By my junior year of high school, I realized that all of my friends washed their faces and that I probably should, too.  Without any money to buy some fancy face wash, I decided to use a product that I knew was a cleanser (of wounds) – hydrogen peroxide! This seemed to work pretty well at first, although I’ve recently learned that it can cause massive drying. Sadly, by my senior year, my eyebrows and the hair around my face was bleached blonde and I had to darken my brows with eyeliner every day. By graduation, I bit the bullet and bought some real face wash.

Lesson Learned:  Hydrogen peroxide is great for cleaning cuts, but if you use it to wash your face, you might just clean your eyebrows right off!

Now that I’m in my twenties, my acne is worse than ever. Hormones! I’m always on the lookout for a better face wash and several months ago I picked up some Biore Steam Activated Cleanser for about $7 at a grocery store. There was a sticker on the bottle declaring that it was one of Marie Claire’s best beauty products of 2010 (and I’m a sucker for positive endorsements, even slightly outdated ones), so I thought I’d give it a try.

The Good:

• A tingly, icy mint feeling on my skin
• My face feels very clean and smooth after use
• No greasy residue
• Leaves my skin looking radiant

The Bad:

• A new design by Biore means that the easy to use pump has been replaced with the regular squeeze tube (Blech! How many hands to they think I have? and in the slippery shower, too!)
• Doesn’t do much for hormonal acne or deep down pore clogs
• May cause over-drying and/or irritation for those with especially sensitive skin

The Ugly:

• Retails for around $7.50 for 5 FL oz. (You can get it for less if you’re a smart shopper, though. I managed to get my second bottle for $4.50)
• Although Biore does not test on animals, it’s parent company, Kao Brands, owns other enterprises that do (Grrr!)

The Grade:  B+

I’ve used this stuff consistently for almost a year now, and I think for an everyday cleaner it’s pretty worthwhile.