Product Review: Milanis' Eyeshadow in Caramel Brown

Product Review: Milanis' Eyeshadow in Caramel Brown

Cost: About $6
Where to Purchase: Drugstores or Target

Claims: A super pigmented, easily blendable, crease-proof, silk-like powder eyeshadow.

Thoughts: I think I held a day of mourning when Milani got rid of their original shadows some years back, however I was able to stock up on all my favorite and created a palette for them. To me, they're still brilliant. About two years later I'm exploring CVS when I spot this beauty and instantly choose a color I know I'll use and bring it home to see if it's just as pigmented as their original pressed shadows used to be. Score! I don't know why Milani stopped making these, these were their best product. The texture of these shadows is just like they state, silky and buttery and very pigmented. I still wear primer under all shadows so mine lasted all day. I did a swatch comparison below next to MAC's Tempting so you can get an idea of what it looks like, the texture of these is just like MACs, and they comes in 12 different colors. My one complain is the packaging. Now, they have this nice heavy plastic case which feels much richer and nicer than their previous covers however... they're now larger than the MAC shadow and to depot them would be out of the question.
How I use it: Using a flat brush I apply it either all over the lid or on the crease.

Rating: A+

Product Review: NARS Blush in Torrid

Product Review: NARS Blush in Torrid

Cost: $28
Where to Purchase: NARS counters or Sephora

Claims: A light application of even the highest-intensity hues delivers a natural-looking flush. Silky texture in matte and shimmering shades  Micronized powder ensures soft, blendable application

Thoughts: NARS, hands down has my favorite blushes and I'm a bit of a blush whore. Yet, hands down my very favorite NARS blush ever is this one, Torrid. I don't know if it just goes really well with my skin tone by my friend who is considerable lighter tried it on and it complimented her too. It's got some shimmer but it's not frosty like I think Orgasm is, it's definitively more peachy-toned than pink toned and it's one of my favorites from Spring until the end of Summer. Plus, this stuff lasts forever! I've had mine for over a year and look! I haven't even hit pan.
How I use it: I apply it with any blush brush I find handy.

Rating: A+

Showdown: Estee Lauder, L'Oreal and Maybelline BB creams

Showdown: Estee Lauder, L'Oreal and Maybelline BB creams

I didn't want to jump in to this new BB fan craze so somehow I was there the day these hit the drugstores. Originally this was just going to be a comparison between the L'Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream and the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream... however after going to Nordstrom I got this generous sample of the Estee Lauder Day Wear BB Cream so I decided to test the three of them.

Let's hit them all individually. I should say that these all come in a squeezy-tube which is perfect.

Estee Lauder:

• Cost: $38
• Claim: This lightweight BB Creme delivers: An instant, even-toned, healthy look. Powerful protection with our proven Super Anti-Oxidant Complex and SPF 35. High-performance, oil-free hydration for All Skintypes. This comes in two colors; light and dark. I used the light and I'm NW25, olive complexion.
• Scent: It's got a foundationy-scent. I don't mind it at all.
• Results: This product, I have to say was my favorite of the three. For the following reasons: it wasn't liquid-y, it gave the most coverage though I still needed foundation, had SPF35!! The best protection thus far, and it helped control the oil in my face, I used it instead of my favorite primer. I was very impressed with this BB cream, I still would've preferred better coverage - it felt like a tinted moisturizer but with more oil control. So if you're looking for a tinted moisturizer for like oily skin you might like this, pick up a sample at your local Estee Lauder counter and see if this works for you.

L'Oreal:

• Cost: Around $10
• Claim: This multi-tasking beutifying cream delivers multiple beautifying actions: hydrates, corrects, evens and perfects. It's ultra lightweight and blends in seamlessly for a perfect natural finish.  This comes in 4 different colors ranging from light to deep which I think will serve all skin tones. I thought the "light" was going to be too light for me but it ends up blending in perfectly to my skin.
• Scent: It also smells like foundation type of scent, I don't mind it.
• Results: My biggest problem with this is that it's got no SPF. This, I think, is the worst of it all because it's encouraging you to use this as a moisturizer. What I ended up doing was using my regular moisturizer which has SPF and then this on top. I thought that once you get used to the 'grittiness' that the formula has this was a very good product. It covered like a tinted moisturizer, it controlled my oil and it didn't feel heavy at all. I still would've liked it to have a bit more coverage because I need it. But if you've got pretty good skin and have SPF in your moisturizer this is a good buy. 

Maybelline:

• Cost: About $8
• Claim: BB creams combine skincare + makeup in 1 simple step 8-in-1 Skin Perfector: Blurs imperfections, Brightens, Evens skin tone, Smoothes, Hydrates, Enhances, Protects with SPF 30, 0% oils and heavy ingredients
• Scent: I had no problem with this scent, smells like a tinted moisturzier.
• Results: This is a tinted moisturizer, it's as simple as that. I didn't feel that it burred anything, didn't even out my skin tone, didn't prime or control oil. It does have SPF which most tinted moisturizers do which is why I think it should be used as such. I didn't like it, it was even messy to apply because too much product came out of the top and it was very liquidy. I don't even think I'm going to finish my bottle, it felt too greasy on my skin as the day wore on.

Final Thoughts and Verdict: If you can afford it, get the Estee Lauder one. If you cannot, go for the L'Oreal one. However, if you have dry skin you might like the Maybelline product. Remember to use moisturizer with SPF if you're going to use the L'Oreal one. Hope this helps some of you, I've added some shots below!

Left to right: Estee Lauder, L'Oreal and Maybelline. Click to enlarge.

UPDATE: Today I went out and used the L'Oreal BB cream as foundation by applying 2 coats instead of one and set it with loose powder. It looked GREAT, I think this is my clear favorite over the Maybelline. 

Product 's Review: Almay Nearly Naked Loose Powder

Product 's Review: Almay Nearly Naked Loose Powder

Cost: About $10
Where to Purchase: Drugstores or Target

Claims: Infused with nourishing grape seed and ginseng helps to protect skin and antioxidant vitamins a and e to help prevent dryness.

Thoughts: I've been testing this for a month and I have to say I actually really enjoy this powder. As it claims, it's not drying at all and I can have dry skin patches in my face. It offers a bit of coverage and I think I could get away with just concealer and this dusted on the face. It's been a month, I've been using it nearly each day and I'm only halfway through it. This lasts a very long time. This comes in three different colors, I wish they made more variety or at least had a translucent one.
How I use it: I dust it on my face using a large powder brush.

Rating: A

Product Review: Real Techniques Powder Brush

Product Review: Real Techniques Powder Brush

Cost: $10
Where to Purchase: Real Techniques or Ulta

Claims:  Evenly apply powders and mineral foundations for smooth, high-definition results.

Thoughts: I've owned this brush now for 3 weeks and I usually like to use a product for longer before I post a review but I've been so enamored with this that I just had to share my thoughts. This brush is brilliant. I'm quickly becoming a big fan of Real Techniques brushes like many people and I have to say that this is my very favorite of them all. I had been searching for the perfect brush to apply my loose powder and I happily found it in this one. This brush is dense enough to work in the powder without it looking cakey yet it's soft on the skin and easy to clean. I compared it in the shots below to my MAC150, same size only a couple of $20s cheaper. Never again purchasing the MAC150 as long as I can find this. I actually prefer this one to my MAC because this one doesn't shed AT ALL while the MAC one does.
How I use it: Use it for loose powder or even bronzer.

Rating: A+

Product Review: Victoria Secrets' Silky Eye Shadow in Lose Control

Product Review: Victoria Secrets' Silky Eye Shadow in Lose Control

Cost: $12.50
Where to Purchase: Ebay as it's discontinued but can be found online

Claims:  Unveil eye-catching color. Pigment-rich formula drapes lids in pure color and a satin sheen.

Thoughts: This is such a brilliant line of products, I've enjoyed the Victoria Secret eye shadows for a few years now, they don't get nearly as much love as they deserve. This eyeshadow is super pigmented and very blendable.
How I use it: For best use, apply with a stiff brush, as it's got a near 'creamy' consistency to it but on top of primer it should last all day. I use it with a Sigma E60 brush, this way it grabs a lot of products and really packs it on the lid. I then blend it up into my crease it works a really attractive and simple brown smoky look.

Rating: A

On left is with a stiff brush, the shade is more concentrated. The swatch on the right is with a soft fluffy brush and it took like 5 tries to get it this dark. Lesson? Apply with stiff brush, q-tip or finger.

Product Review: MAC's Lip & Cheek Colour in Out for Fun

Product Review: MAC's Lip & Cheek Colour in Out for Fun

Cost: $20
Where to Purchase: MAC counters

Claims:  Versatile, lightweight all-in-one colour for cheeks and lips. Creamy, super-blendable, barely there formula. Contains Vitamin E to help keep skin and lips nourished.

Thoughts: I have a special spot in my heart for cream blush so when I swatched this at my local MAC counter I HAD to have it. I was not disappointed, I love this color on my cheeks, it stays on for over 9 hours and it's not thick or oily like one might assume it would be. I have not tried it as lipstick but for the purpose of this review I put it on my lips and it felt a lot like lipstick. A very nice consistency.
How I use it: I use a RealTechniques Stippling Brush and I pat it directly on the product and then apply it lightly on the apples of my cheek, blending it in. For it to stay all day I set it with my favorite powder coral blush on top of it and I swear I get home from work and my cheeks are still rosy.

Rating: A