Review| Hourglass Illusion Skin Tint

Hourglass Illusion Hyaluronic Skin Tint ($55) is currently my HG foundation. 

I match to Nude for NC25-30 and Warm Ivory for NC20-25. Nude is more peach toned and Warm Ivory is a cool yellow. 

It's not really a "tint" but a medium to full coverage foundation that's nice to dry, dehydrated, and mature skin. The bonus SPF 15 makes it a good "slap n' go" foundation for winter mornings. Most dry skin friendly foundations tend to fade and patch within hours but this one holds up in central heating and frigid 20 degree weather. Yes, it's on the pricey side. You'll only need half of a pea size to cover your entire face and I've used a sample jar for a full month (perhaps 1/5 of the full size).

It's not a liquid foundation and more similar to the BareMinerals Gel Rescue Cream or Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation in texture: thick and mousse-like but easy to blend. I really like applying it with fingers or a dense foundation brush. 

Although it's high in coverage it looks like dewy and healthy skin and you can always layer some setting powder on top like I do if you have an oilier t-zone. I don't find it settling into the sides of my nose or balling up with a moisturizer/sunscreen underneath. I wouldn't suggest layering it on top of itself since it may look *thick* on the skin. Overall, it's a lovely every day foundation that looks like natural skin. I ALWAYS get compliments on my skin (and beauty, duh *hair flip*) from both men and women when I wear it. 

Here are swatches in different sources of lighting: Hourglass Illusion Skin Tint, Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation in Light-Medium Sand, BareMinerals Gel Rescue Cream in Buttercream, D&G Lift Foundation in Caramel, IT Cosmetics CC Cream in Light. 

 I picked these base products to swatch since they are similar in effect on the skin or have a similar texture to the Skin Tint. The BM is a good dupe, but it doesn't last as well on the skin and can ball up if you apply too much. 

Lol, ignore the graphic puckered butthole inspiration that is the middle swatch. 

The HG Tint is also the lightest and most olive shade in this line up. I thought that the IT CC cream was olive since it matches me to a T but it looks the most neutral once swatched. Dafuq...

And here it is on the skin. It's literally the only thing I've been wearing since trying the sample. I always set my t-zone at the very least because it can get DEWY by mid-day. If I'm particularly active that day I'll blot the sides of my nose. 

This may be the first time I finish an entire tube of foundation without exasperation/desperation...

xo Be

First Look| Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Concealer in R30

Have you seen the hype on the new MUFE Ultra HD Concealers ($27)? I'm sure everyone who's anyone and their mom received the full collection for review. 

As I am only a lowly plebe, I picked up R30 for review. There are 10 total shades in R (for correcting peach and pink tones) and Y (for yellow brightening tones). I believe these are meant to be under-eye concealers that can be used on blemishes as well. You should be careful when picking out your shade, as these concealers actually cater to very fair skin. Their light-medium colors are truly light colors in any other line. I picked R30 for my NC20-25 winter skin, but R32 is much more orange and perfect for me at NC25-35. 

I did purchase Y23, but it was much too light for a "light-medium" shade and seemed to match NC15-20 skintones. I mean, it was HELLA brightening, but I also looked like a reverse raccoon in the mirror. Y31 seems to be much darker and more olive (around NC27-32!)

Much less is more with this concealer which offers a tidy squeeze tip. One dot is perfect for both eyes...seriously. 

Here's the shade on my hand which is around NC25-30. It seems light and pink, but looks more neutral-peach on my skin. 

To recap for those who can't believe the hype: it's real. The packaging is sanitary and compact. You have a great range of colors that can correct, conceal, or highlight. The formula is ultra lightweight (comparable to the Urban Decay Naked Skin concealers) but with more coverage (think NARS RCC) which makes it a match in heaven for those with creases/fine lines AND discoloration to conceal. They also don't set immediately, so you have some time to layer or set your concealer with a powder if needed. If you're wary of the tiny tube size, just know that a little goes a very long way. 

As for the wear? Phenomenal. I noticed minimal creasing (because, let's be real, I have fine lines under the eyes that won't plump up no matter how much sleep I get) and absolutely no fading under the eyes. However, I wouldn't say that this is tacky enough for blemishes and hyper-pigmentation on the face unless you set it down well. I always dot the excess on my chin, and with my slovenly eating habits, any base products will slide right off after a meal.

If you're in the market for a brilliant under-eye concealer that doesn't look heavy and cakey or lacking in opacity...this is it!

xo Be

Edit| Snippets of the 2016 Drugstore Launch

This is the year for drugstore products to raise prices and standards! I couldn't NOT go into a drugstore like CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, etc, etc... several times per week to scope out the new product launches. There's new "cheapie alternatives" from Covergirl, the L'oreal Infallible lineup, great stuff from Maybelline, and a lot of things from Wet n Wild that I've yet to see stocked on the shelves. 

For now, I want to share with you my thoughts about some stellar new products that are giving high end brands a run for their money. 

You already know that I went batshit crazy searching for the L'oreal Pro Matte Glosses, but their display also had a tantalizing offer of 3 contour kits for light, medium, and deep skintones. The Infallible Pro-Contour looks decidedly more ashy and golden in real life, but it's perfectly pigmented to be buildable and not *too* pigmented. That's not to say it's sheer or patchy, just very softly pigmented and doesn't have any chunky glitter. 

The brush is a gimmick. Throw it away and depot this if you can. For $12.99 at CVS you too can poke a tiny brush in the pans (try Wayne Goss 02). 

There are instructions on the back for those new to contouring. I really enjoy using the contour shade to shade in the sides of my nose, but you need an eye blender brush. Don't even try to use a fluffy powder brush with this stuff...it just won't fit inside the pan. 

My lemming for the Marc Jacobs contouring disc is quelled for the time being. 

Next up, the Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid lipsticks ($7.99 at Walgreens) are quite similar to the L'oreal Pro Matte Glosses, but there are several key differences. 

For one, the doe foot applicator is stiffer and doesn't spread the product out as easily, but you definitely need less product than a usual gloss or liquid lipstick. The point makes it easy to sharpen lip lines. 

I picked up Nude Thrill and Orange Shot. Nude Thrill is a peachy nude (think NARS Audacious lipstick in Raquel) and Orange Shot is your typical red-orange (think Estee Lauder in Restless). Both are pretty cheap thrills for a liquid "lipstick" that stays on for 3-4 hours. The red does dry down nicely to an even stain. I would be careful to use a minimal amount of product to coat the lips since they do not set down as matte as a true liquid lipsticks. 

I think these are well worth the pricetag. There's a great color selection and they feel comfortable with enough slip on the lips that won't slide right off your lip lines. You can switch colors throughout the day and not have to worry about your lips shriveling up to die. 

Because I am a total foundation hoor who doesn't need any more base products, I picked up the Maybelline Dream Velvet Soft Matte Hydrating Foundation in 60 Sandy Beige ($10.99 at Walgreens.) It's a miracle that 60 turned out to be a great yellow/olive match for me at NC20-25, even if the product looked ORANGE when I squeezed it out. I do think it oxidizes to be a more peachy NC25 halfway through the day.

I hate this shiz. 

It's a light-medium coverage with a satin finish. I still needed to add concealer on my spots and hyper-pigmentation. The foundation has a thicker whipped mousse consistency, but you need more product than you think for decent coverage. 

The claims for hydration seems feasible but the oil control is really strange. It's a matte-r *looking* foundation, but it really likes to slip and slide. I can see that it likes to sit on top of peach puzz and settle into the pores besides my nose, thus making my skin look drier. The foundation also feels like it has a lot of silicone, so it likes to bunch up in the middle of my nose and slide right into my laugh lines.  

Lastly, this is one of very few foundations that oxidizes on my skin. I couldn't stand looking orange just hours into the wear time and had to scrub it off on multiple test runs. Disgusting.

I'm wandering back to the drugstore to see what else I can find!

xo Be

First Look| L'oreal Pro Matte Gloss

You'll notice that I have a "thing" for these certain nude colors and drugstore brands are starting to cater for this "thing." I mean, brown and warm nudes are universally flattering, aren't they? 

Tati on YouTube had great reviews for the L'oreal Pro Matte Gloss ($9.99 each) and I picked up 2 of the 3 nudes online: Statement Nude and Bare Attraction. I didn't trust the germ-fest of opened tubes in Ulta. I'm on the lookout for Nude Allude to complete my collection, but L'oreal offers a bigger range that includes deep berries, reds, and pinks. 

They're not quite liquid lipsticks (apocalyptic world-proof) since they feel like a gloss when you press your lips together. Still, it will look like a matte lipstick in the mirror. See what L'oreal did there with the name? They last for 2-3 hours before touch-up and they don't make my lips peel or crack though they do make my lips feel "tight" after an entire day of wearing and re-application.

Overall, they go on like a Jeffree Starr or KVD liquid lipstick with less staying power, if that makes sense. They aren't tacky or sticky and the wide doe foot applicator makes getting corners and edges a cinch. The best part? They don't have the typical L'oreal lipstick scents UNLESS you really take in a deep whiff. Otherwise, they're scentless and tasteless!

Here are swatches in different lighting. From right to left: Statement Nude, Bare Attraction, KVD Lolita, KVD Lolita II, Colourpop Grunge, TF La Creme in Sweet Maple, MAC Velvet Teddy. 

Under warm indoor lighting:

Natural (gloomy) lighting. You'll see that the KVD lipsticks actually set matte very quickly, while the L'oreal products stay glossy for a while longer and look like the other lipsticks in the line up. 

Flash. 

TLDR: These are the best "liquid lipstick" dupes that I've found at the drugstore so far. Soon, everyone will be able to rock the matte brown and nude lip trend without spending $20 and upwards at a department store. 

xo Be