Empties: November through December 2015

Some of these things were used up completely, some of them I just felt it was time to finally let them go, like when it spanned multiple years of use.

Colormates Mascara in black:

While it is not empty, I have used it for three months and it is time to go. There is a 6 month icon on the back of the packaging, and while this did work well and I would be willing to use it for another three months, I already opened its replacement from e.l.f., the 3-in-1 Mascara my husband gave me during makeup advent.

One Note: Maybelline The Nudes

This was purchased for me, by my husband, once from CVS and then he purchased a second one for me from Rite Aid later.

The Maybelline The Nudes palette was used for two weeks for my What's New Wednesday and Second Try Saturday. For the first three uses I followed the suggested quad applications on the back of the palette, for the final use I came up with my own combination, something I do not normally consider myself very good at which is why I was interested in this in the first place. Used Wet n Wild Fergie Primer all four times.

Throw Back Thursday: My Original Makeup Collection

While I am not likely to ever share the full extent of my current makeup collection, when I was going through my Facebook photos a few days ago I came across an album I created and shared with my mother to show her what all I had in my makeup collection. This album was created in June of 2012, the reintroduction back to using makeup, and my husband's discovery that makeup is a good distraction for me, was in December of 2011. Once my husband realized makeup was a good distraction he started buying it regularly which is reflected in the quantity of makeup in the photos below.

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.

Review: Influenster: Maybelline Superstay Better Skin Foundation

I 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.

Maybelline's claims on their website:

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.

Preview: Influenster: Maybelline Superstay Better Skin Foundation

I 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:

Maybelline Superstay Better Skin Skin Transforming Foundation

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.

Sample: Maybelline FitMe Stick Foundation

The two samples of this that I had were sent to me in the mail because I ended up on a mailing list or clicked on something, not really sure.

Each sample contained three shades, 120, 220, and 355. The first time I tried the samples I used the 120 in the center of my face, the 220 around the edges, and the 355 as a contour. I also did not use a primer or setting powder on the first day as it has a powder core so I thought it shouldn't need one, turns out it did because the blush I applied over it appeared to be running down to my jawline after a few hours. The second time I used it I applied a primer first, the 120 through the center of the face and the 220 around the edges but did not contour. I topped it with my normal Physicians Formula setting powder but did not apply blush to be sure what I was seeing. It did show a little of the redness through from my cheeks, but the coverage stayed good enough for 10 hours that it just looked like I was wearing a light pink blush.

This foundation can be easily blended away, but when applied thoughtfully does seem to give enough coverage to even out skin tone and hide redness. It did not cover blemishes, concealer would be required for that.

This is one I would consider buying if I ran out of the foundations I already have.

Review: Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in 102 Brownish Black

So the first Mascara review will be of Maybelline Great Lash in 102 Brownish Black.  This is an older mascara as far as how long it has been around, but it is also one of the first mascara's I purchased so I need to use it up before I start using the newer ones that have been purchased.

Mascara:    Maybelline Great Lash Mascara - Brownish Black

Front of package:

Unsealed Makeup: Why do people open stuff they aren't planning to buy?

This is actually more of a problem for me at drugstores than at the Dollar Tree, but this is a reminder that you need to check your makeup is sealed, or at least looks like it hasn't been used, very closely before purchase.

My husband bought this for me at Dollar Tree - Original Instagram of the purchase here - and generally we have pretty good luck at the Dollar Tree we visit that stuff is new and unopened.  Sure there is the occasional, someone stole the item from the packaging problem, which if you have to steal $1 makeup you have bigger problems that need to be dealt with, but it is pretty obvious when that happens.  On rare occasion though, we find something that has either clearly been used, or is already broken.  If it is broken that could have happened at anytime and maybe some customer did it, or it happened during shipping, powder products break, and easily it seems so I try not to hold that against them.  But very rarely, at least at our Dollar Tree, something was clearly used, before it was repackaged for sale at Dollar Tree, and my husband is generally pretty good at weeding those out.  Unfortunately in this case it was an instant of it was already unsealed and clearly used, before being repacked for sale at the Dollar Tree, and because the packaging itself was dusty as well, my husband didn't catch it.  He said this batch was particularly bad and he had put back several other eye shadows because they had been obviously tampered with.