Thursday, August 20, 2015

Review: Colormates Lipstick & Lipliner Pencil in 62621 Ginger Spice

This was purchased for me, by my husband, at Dollar Tree, a few days before the posted date of this review.





Characteristics of the lip liner:
It is clear when applied
It is smooth when applying, feels like a wax.
Should probably hold the point at a 90 degree angle to the lip because the wood of the pencil can rub up against the lip even at a 45 degree angle due to shallowness of point.

Characteristics of the lip stick: 
Creamy in consistency when applied
Comfortable to wear throughout the day
Has micro-glitter within it, but cannot feel the micro-glitter when rubbing lips together
Does transfer onto teeth when first applied, did not find it there again later in the day when tested.
When wiped off with a napkin, micro-glitter stays attached to lip and also transfers to the chin; would recommend not wiping off, but dabbing off if not in front of a mirror and without access to water to remove glitter.
Does transfer off when eating and drinking
Wear time was at least 3 hours, I always removed before it wore off. I do not tend to wear lip sticks for extended periods of time.

A note about the appearance of the lip stick depending on how you apply the lip liner: 

The first time I applied the lip liner, I applied it just outside my lip line to keep the lip stick from transferring outside of the lip line, with the lip stick being applied only to my bare lips, which worked just fine. The second time I applied the lip liner just inside my lip line along the edge of the lip line only with the lip stick being applied over the top of the lip liner and my bare lips. This resulted in the lips appearing two different colors. The inner part of the lips where the lip stick was applied to bare lips is a slightly lighter, less opaque shade than the outer part of the lips where the liner was applied. I would recommend that if you are used to lining the inside line of your lips with liner only, that you may want to completely fill the lips with the clear liner if you do not want to apply it over whatever makeup may be just outside of your natural lip line. It is only a shade or two darker with the liner under it as opposed to on bare lips so it may not be an issue for some, I myself do not really find it a problem, but I did want to mention it since it may be an undesirable result for others.

I like this lip stick and lip liner duo and will continue using it regularly.

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Review: Maybelline Great Wear Lip: 120 Woodrose

This was purchased for me by my husband at Dollar Tree. Availability is questionable.



The Maybelline Great Wear Lip stick in 120 Woodrose is a creamy matte lip stick when applied. It does have some shine to it initially, particularly if you apply it over a balm, but does dry down to a matte. If you use it without a balm it will dry down more quickly and can make the lips feel dried out which is why I do recommend using a balm under the lip stick. The color is opaque and bright on the lips with a several hour lasting time. Though it will transfer off with eating and drinking, a pink stain does seem to be left behind.
In regards to the balm suggested for use with the lip stick to keep it feeling more comfortable to wear for multiple hours, I would recommend a waxy balm that will help to hold the color in place. On one of the occasions that I reapplied this, I tried it on top of a slick balm, and it did not adhere to the lips well at all, giving a very patchy appearance. When used with a thicker, modestly waxy balm, it goes on smoothly. While I can see the lines in my lips with it on, it does not sink into them and it does not seem to cause problems with any flaky spots on the lips, at least for me.

I enjoy this lip stick and it will stay as part of my day makeup.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Review: Influenster: Maybelline Superstay Better Skin Foundation

received this product free from Influenster for the purpose of testing and review.  The test requested was for the #betterskinchallenge, a test that would see if the foundation could actually improve the appearance of ones skin over the course of three weeks. I unfortunately was not able to complete that challenge because it appears I am allergic to it. I do not recall ever being allergic to a foundation before, though skin care can be a little more hit and miss so I am guessing it was the skin care part of the foundation that was a problem.




Since it did take a few days to realize what was causing the allergic reaction on my skin, because it built up slowly, I am able to talk about how the foundation looked as a foundation, so I will go over how it worked for me here.


Foundation is medium to full coverage
Longwearing foundation, gives all-day flawless coverage

My plans for the test were to try three different application methods: fingers, makeup sponge, and brush. From there I would use the method that worked best for application for the duration of the three week challenge and onward until I had used up the foundation. I applied the foundation directly on my skin, by-passing my usual moisturizer and primer so that the skin care ingredients would have no barrier to prevent them from working. I also did not use any setting powder, concealer, highlighter, blush, or bronzer so that I could monitor the foundation's appearance on the skin and length of wear with nothing to confuse the results.

Brief summation of my results: 

Light coverage (redness/yellowness only)
Lasts three hours without primer and setting powder on normal skin
Clings to dry patches
Best applied with makeup sponge or brush
Not buildable

Detailed summation of my results: 

The foundation applied best with the makeup sponge and with a brush, specifically one used in a buffing motion. I am including a link to the post on my tumblr showing which brush I found worked best for me. Third day of testing, applied with brush. Because the brush worked more quickly than the sponge, that was the method I opted to continue with for the remaindered of the foundation's use.

When I applied the foundation with my fingers, the foundation skunk into the larger pores on my nose and cheeks, which gave the appearance of tiny, almost white poka-dots on my face. It was also challenging to smooth out the foundation on the skin so as not to have any streaks in the foundation. It also made my skin look very dry as it seemed to develop a flaky appearance no matter how much I tried to smooth it out.

When applied with the makeup sponge, the foundation did not sink into the pores, though it did take a few minutes to blend out on the skin and give an even layer, it did still cling to the dry patch of skin on my chin. When applied with the brush, the foundation did not sink into the pores and it only took a minute or two to blend out over the face in an even layer, it did still cling to the dry patch of skin on my chin.

For all but one of the attempts at use with this foundation I used one pump of the foundation which easily covered the entire face. I would not consider it a medium coverage foundation when one pump is used, but since I sometimes think my definition of what constitutes light, medium, and full coverage, may be different from other's definition, I will explain exactly what it did and did not cover on my skin. 

It did cover the redness of my cheeks and nose well, though the coverage only lasted for three hours before the redness of my nose was completely back and the redness of my cheeks was becoming more apparent. It did reduce the appearance of the yellow under eye circles I have, though it did have a tendency to crease within the first few minutes of application, though a light press of the finger over that part of the skin always seemed to sort that out. It did not cover, in anyway, my freckles, it did not even make them appear less noticeable. When someone describes a foundation as medium coverage, I expect my freckles to be less apparent from how they are without the foundation, this is also why I am usually disappointed by foundations I have tried that have been described as medium coverage. Lastly, it did not in any way cover the darkened spots on my face from healing blemishes. 

I would consider this a light coverage foundation because it did conceal the redness in my skin. I would have almost considered it medium coverage for concealing the yellow under eye area, if it had also faded the appearance of the freckles, but as it did nothing to reduce their appearance, I could not call it medium coverage. I am not sure in what way Maybelline used the foundation to claim a possibility of full coverage, as when I did try to build the coverage by using a second layer, the foundation took on an unfortunate appearance, which I will go over shortly.

The appearance of the foundation on the skin with one pump was good, standing at the counter in front of the bathroom mirror under various light levels, I could not see the foundation itself, only the lack of red cheeks/nose and the lack of obvious under eye circles. When up very close to the mirror I could see the foundation, but its appearance was nearly skin like. There was one area of my face that there was an exception to the skin like appearance though, and that was where my skin was a bit dry. I do not normally get blemishes on my skin, unless in the crease between the nose and cheeks or on the jaw line. A couple of weeks prior I had a couple of blemishes around my chin that were still in the process of healing when I tried this foundation, and so the skin around the healing blemishes was dry. When the foundation was applied over the dry skin, no matter what method, it looked obvious, like it was clinging to the dry patch. Since my skin is very rarely dry, generally only when I have a healing blemish and possibly on my nose when I am having allergies, I didn't see this a problem for me, but someone with dry skin may find this foundation less appealing.

When I attempted using a second layer of the foundation to see if I could build coverage, the foundation looked caky on the skin and was apparent even from the distance of the edge of the bathroom counter to the mirror. It did fade the appearance of the freckles, but I could still see them in the mirror behind the bathroom counter as well, even without leaning forward. Because of this I would not recommend trying to build up the coverage of the foundation, because any improvement in coverage would come at the expensive of very obvious foundation on the skin. I think this occurred because while the foundation never seemed to set quickly, it does set on its own. By the time I would be finished blending it in with the brush, within a few seconds it was set. So when I put the second pump of foundation on the skin and started buffing it in with the brush it lifted the first layer off the skin and mixed it with the second. It took significantly longer to buff the second layer of foundation onto the skin, to get a smooth even layer, and even then it did not look that good. Even though I was able to build the coverage to an extent, given the caky nature of the appearance of the foundation once a second layer was used, I would not consider this foundation buildable.

If I had not been allergic to the foundation, I think this would have quickly become a favorite because of its ability to conceal the redness of my nose/cheeks and to conceal the yellow under eye circles, as I do not mind having my freckles be apparent on the skin. While it did only last three hours on the skin, that was without primer or setting powder, as I developed an allergy to the foundation before I could test it with a primer and setting powder to see how long it would last under normal circumstances.

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Keep In Mind: July 2015

This month's thing to keep in mind is not a makeup product, but a tool to help brushes dry more quickly and prevent water from softening the glue on the bristles, therefore making the brushes last longer.




This is something I have been wanting every since I first learned of them as a couple of my early brushes did end up with some unfortunate misshaping of the bristles due to them laying on one side too long when I was unable to turn them at regular intervals. I had mentioned to my husband at the beginning of the year or the end of last year that I would like one of these one day when he was searching for something else online and, because he occasionally orders makeup for me online, an ad popped up for a brush tree on Amazon. He saved the brush tree to his wish list and then later, when it got closer to my birthday, he did some research into brush trees, found the best reviews on this particular one, and emailed my parents that this would be a good birthday gift for me if they had not already thought of something (my husband had already blown his budget for my birthday an then some when he emailed them). My parents order two of them and they arrived a week or two before my birthday. I was over come with joy because of how much I had wanted to have one of these and now I have two. 

Currently I only have one that I keep put together and the other stays flat because I am running out of room to store things that are not makeup. I know you are supposed to be able to take them back apart to store them flat after use, but it was so hard for me to get it put together (because of my disability, not the product) that I thought it best to just leave it in its ready for use state. Also I wash which ever brushes I use immediately after I have completed my makeup so they get washed every day and therefore, it is rarely not in use. I am grateful to have these and I am glad that one brush tree looks like it could hold all of the brushes I might use in one day, and having two of them means that if for some reason I cannot wash my brushes on one day, I still have the second brush tree so that I can wash two days worth of brushes the next, assuming I am able to.

So far it has helped to cut down the drying time of the brushes that I have dried in it, some more than others. I am also glad to know that my brushes should now last longer and will not be in danger of becoming miss-shapened because for one reason or another, after I washed them, I could not get back to them. It is also making carrying the brushes to be washed and after they are washed easier as I would often drop them before because of my disability again making it challenging for me to hold on to things sometimes.

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Preview: Influenster: Maybelline Superstay Better Skin Foundation

received this product free from Influenster for testing purposes.



The Maybelline Superstay Better Skin Foundation, a foundation that Maybelline claims will make your skin appear better, even when you are not wearing it, after three weeks of use.  They are even specific about how it will improve your skin's appearance in that it should be brighter and more even. I received the foundation in the shade 10 Porcelain, which appears to be a reasonably good match.




Maybelline's statement about the foundation on their website:


Longwear foundation that improves skin's appearance every minute you’re in it.
With the antioxidant power of Actyl-C, a more durable form of vitamin C.
For all skin types. Medium to full coverage.
Why You'll Love It

Superstay Better Skin Foundation gives an all-day flawless coverage and better-looking skin in 3 weeks. The foundation reduces the appearance of spots, dullness and uneveness and gives you a brighter, more even and stress-free skin.
For Best Results

Apply a layer of Superstay Better Skin on skin.



Plans for test:
So now that we see what Maybelline says about their foundation and how they say to use it, let me layout how I plan to do this three week test.
First, since this is supposed to be skin care and foundation, I will be applying it directly to my skin, so no primer for three weeks. This will allow it to do whatever it is supposed to be doing with no barrier at all. This will also allow me to see how long it stays on the skin assuming I can see it. I am also skipping the normal daily moisturizer, though I will continue to use the night one, my skin is not normally dry unless there is a blemish healing or allergies which can cause my nose to be a bit dry.
Second, I am not going to be using any concealer. I have gotten in the habit of putting concealer on first, then foundation, because my concealer I have been using is not a color match for me, so since the concealer would go where I would most need the skin improving benefits, no concealer for now.
Third, I will also be looking at how it looks when applied with fingers, a brush, and a makeup sponge. Once I have decided how I think it looks best for me, I will continue with that method for the rest of the three week challenge.
Fourth, I will not be using any highlighter, blush, or bronzer during the test, just so that I can actually see what my skin looks like with the foundation and if any redness/freckles are showing through the foundation over the course of the day.
Fifth, I will be making any notes I may have about the foundation's appearance on my skin, on my tumblr each day I apply, so you can get an idea what I think of it just as a foundation before the final review post in three weeks.
All little about my skin:


My skin is very fair, something I don't really see when I look in the mirror, but this picture makes it very obvious. I have under eye circles that end up looking yellow/brown most days, but can go dark blue when my body is not processing food correctly. I also have freckles, I don't mind the freckles, but when something says medium-to-full coverage, I expect not to see them, or at least not see them well when using the foundation. My skin also gets red in the cheeks very easily; it is not that red in the picture because I have been being very careful about the food I eat and what I am using on my skin, but that doesn't mean that something won't inflame it during the test.  Since the redness is primarily caused by physical pressure on the skin, poor food choices, and allergic reactions to any number of things, I am not really expecting this foundation to do much for that, but we shall see. I don't really think my skin looks dull, but I am not sure I would say it looks bright either. It is neither normally dry or normally oily. If there is any dryness, it is usually on my nose when I have allergies or when spots on the face are healing, the immediate area around it can appear dry.
I shall do my best to use this foundation every day for three weeks. Once the three weeks is up I shall continue using it until it is empty, but in a more normal fashion, and from there, if there is any added information I can give about the foundation, I will give an updated post from the final review. Since the request for the review from Influenster seems to revolve solely around the skin improving benefits of the foundation, that is why I am testing it for the first three weeks in the way that I am.