MUFE Mat Velvet +: Now that I finally have a bit more color to my face I was able to start using my Mat Velvet + foundation. This is probably my favorite foundation ever. It covers like a dream, leaves my face looking matte but not dry, and stays all day. Plus, if I do want to retouch it I can add some more at the end of the day and it never looks cakey. I'm not too keen on the higher price tag, but I really do think it's worth it if you have combination or oily skin. Covergirl Outlast Foundation: I feel like this a drugstore sorta dupe for the Mat Velvet +. It provides buildable coverage, leaves your face with a matte finish, and stays on almost all day long. However, if you have any dry spots on the face you will probably want to skip this. Whenever I have acne healing I almost always get dry patches. They look horrible when I used this foundation over them. I also find this foundation applies better when I skip a primer and heavy moisturizer. If I use either of them then I feel like the foundation never really sets unless I powder afterwards. Overall, even with its flaws, this is a great drugstore foundation.
I am kicking myself over and over again for not buying at least one backup of MAC's Viva Glam Cyndi lipstick. The coral red shade is a lustre finish which normally applies a bit sheer, but this shade packs lot of shine and color on the lips. I love it for day or night
but tend to only use it sparingly because I love it so much.
One day I decided to search possible dupes and stumbled upon a couple of posts that said Wet n Wild's Natural Blend Lip Shimmer in Spice #106 is a close contender. After searching my local CVS, Walgreens, and Wal Mart, I finally found it at the latter.
Here are closeups of the two products. Viva Glam Cyndi is discontinued but sold for either $14.50 or $15.00 (however much MAC lipsticks were running or run these days) and the Wet n Wild was around $1.99-$3.00 (I can't remember the exact price).
My beauty favorites for February are short and sweet just like the month was. Between traveling and lots of studying I used the same products every day. Here are some things that I discovered this month or that really stood out to me.
Skin and body: I've really enjoyed using Origin's Checks and Balances face wash and Modern Friction face scrub. I received these items with three others in a sample kit from Sephora. The face wash is labeled as "frothy" which is right on point. I use it with my Clarisonic Mia and this stuff foams like crazy. It has a minty smell which is nice in the morning especially when I'm sleepy. My skin hasn't broken out since using this and it removes all my makeup. Plus, a little bit goes a long way. I will definitely purchase a full size bottle once I use my sample up. The Modern Friction scrub is interesting to use. I apply a quarter size amount to my dry face using my dry finger tips. Then after about 30 seconds-1 minute I wet my fingers and scrub some more before rinsing with water. It has the perfect amount of roughness and gentleness. I like to actually feel a scrub but I want it to be gentle enough not to turn my face red. This definitely does the trick.
I also discovered a new razor that I received from BzzAgent. The Schick Hydro Silk for women has 5 blades and a water activated moisturizing serum strip that keeps my legs super smooth without breaking out in razor bumps. 99% of the time I will choose a men's razor over women's but this one did just as good as my favorite men's razors!
I found the Sonia Kashuk Limited Edition Brush Couture 4 piece Brush Set at my local Target. I love Sonia Kashuk brushes, especially the ones with limited edition prints. This set comes with a duo fiber brush, large eyeshadow brush, crease brush, and angled liner brush. My favorite brushes in the set are definitely the duo fiber which I use for bronzer and the liner brush which I use for cream liner and my brows. The best part? The $12.99 price tag!
My best friend passed along her ELF Eyebrow Kit in Medium because it was too dark for her. The $3 gem has a wax and powder that are so simple to use. I normally just use the wax to fill in my brows but if I have extra time I put some of the powder over it.
I also rediscovered my favorite cream blush: MAC's Blushcreme in Brit Wit. This is the original formula that MAC no longer sells. I use my Real Technique's Stippling Brush to grab a TINY bit of this pigmented cream and swirl in on the apples of my cheeks to my hairline. The color is a dusty mauve that is extremely pigmented and smooth.
Since I'm trying to go an entire year of not buying any makeup I decided to keep track of all the empty products throughout the year. Here are all the products that I (some with the help of my husband) finished in January.
A mini review will follow each as well as rather
I would repurchase them again or not.
Hair Products:
I'm not very picky when it comes to my shampoos and conditioner. I normally buy them for under $1 or get them for free when I coupon. As long as they get my hair clean and moisturize my hair I'm happy.
Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly shampoo: Got my hair clean and I loved the smell. No complaints from my husband or me. I would repurchase this.
Pantene Nature Fusion conditioner: I LOVE this stuff. I hadn't used this line from Pantene before and I was very surprised when I started using it. It moisturized my hair without leaving it limp or heavy feeling. I will definitely repurchase this.
Body and Skincare Products:
Secret Deodorant in Va Va Vanilla: This is the only antiperspirant deo that I use. It does what it's supposed to do, smells good, and doesn't irritate my underarms after I shave. I will definitely repurchase.
Bath and Body Works Shower Gel in Be Enchanted: This wasn't my favorite scent from B&BW. It was a bit too sweet for me, so I wouldn't repurchase.
St. Ives Green Tea Scrub: I really liked this face scrub. It was gritty enough so it didn't irritate my skin. I used it with Clarisonic Mia and the scrub would foam up which I enjoyed. I think this is a great drugstore face scrub option, especially for those with oily or acne prone skin.
Nivea Creme: I stock up on these .99 hand cream tins. The thick cream sinks into my skin quickly so it doesn't feel greasy. It smells faintly of roses and does a good job of moisturizing dry areas like elbows, knees, and palms. I am stocked up on these, so I won't be repurchasing them until I run out.
Lumene Sensitive Touch Cleansing Wipes (2): These makeup removing wipes did a good job of removing all my makeup, other than multiple layers of mascara which isn't a big deal to me. What I liked most was the fact that my skin didn't feel dried out after I used them like some wipes do. My only gripe? I had to store them upside down with a book over the packages so the wipes didn't dry out. I would repurchase them if I found them on sale.
Random Products: Walgreens Isoproyl Alcohol 91%: After watching Lisasz09's video about cleaning makeup brushes with rubbing alcohol, I decided to give it a try. I use this cleaning method about once a week and deep clean my brushes once a month using baby shampoo. My brushes look good as new and haven't dried up any which was my main worry when I first started this. Below is the video if you want to learn how I clean them.
Makeup Products:
L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara: I tend to go back to this mascara over and over. The blackest of black formula gave my lashes volume, length, and thickness. I liked to layer it with the Extra Volume Collagen and Falsies Flared mascaras.
L'Oreal Extra Volume Collagen Mascara: This was the first time I had used it and I must say I was impressed. I used to be a die hard Maybelline mascara fan, but I'm slowly going to L'Oreal's side of the tracks. This mascara did everything that the Voluminous did but tended to get a bit clumpy at times.
Maybelline Falsies Flared Mascara: The first few weeks I use this mascara I hate it. It definitely needs a few weeks to dry out before it lives up to its full potential. I will say that when combined with the other two mascaras I get a falsies look without the actual falsies.
I would repurchase all three mascaras. That might happen if I run out of the mascaras that are in my collection. Mascara is one thing I cannot live without.
MAC Viva Glam V lipstick: I finally finished up an entire lipstick! This pinky nude color was my go-to natural color on days when I didn't want a fussy lip color or had a colorful eye look going on. The best thing? 100% of the $15 goes to AIDS research. I will repurchase this once my makeup ban is over or when I have enough MAC products to Back 2 MAC.
Fresh Sugar Rose Lip Treatment mini: I received this for Sephora's birthday gift last year. I know the full-size of this product is pricey at $22.50 but I would pay that. Not only was the subtle rose tint beautiful but my lips felt so smooth after using it. The best thing about it was that I didn't have to reapply it every hour like normal lip balms. Maybe I'll receive it as a gift for my birthday or a holiday (hint hint everyone).
2012 has been a crazy year for me. I got married, started graduate school, and celebrated my 1 year anniversary at my big girl job! 2012 has also been a crazy year in the beauty world. So many new products have surfaced during the past 12 months which meant lots of money and time were spent searching for products. Here are my favorites that I discovered or kept using during the past year. Drugstore= any product that can be found at Wal-Mart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, etc. High end= any product that can be found at the high end section of Ulta, Sephora, or department store counters.
