First Look| MAC Prolong Wear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation

The time has come for me to give a detailed, in depth review for the newly released MAC Wear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation ($32). 

I couldn't quite tell if it was marketed toward oily or dry skinned people. In any case, it's supposed to be waterproof and really long wearing and all that jazz.

You're not getting a full 1 oz of product (just .85 oz) and MAC has declared that you can also see this as an over-sized concealer tube, if you will. Ha! At least the bottle is a sanitary squeeze-tube with a narrow opening so that you can't be too eager in the morning. 

I went in stores for a shade match, because the original MAC PLW is notoriously peachy in their NC range. I'm just too olive at NC20-25 and NC35+ and the sweet spot for MAC foundations, at least for me, exists only at NC30. For this formulation, NC35 was much darker and too beige-grey while NC25 looked ghostly pale. 

Besides the shade match (not olive enough) issue, this foundation is a winner in my book. If you're looking for a beefy version of their classic Face and Body, this is it. Why? 

• If you want waterproof... it's in the name. I have to use an oil cleanser to remove it properly at the end of every work day.
• You want coverage with none of the weight of Studio Fix or PLW? This does the trick! It's not ULTRA lightweight on the skin like F&B, but it doesn't feel like a mask either.
• Best of all, you get the same satin/skin-like finish of F&B with MOAR coverage. I'm talking about a solid medium coverage that can be build-able to full if you use two thin coats. 

Here's the first proof. This is me after a freshly applied coat. I don't have a setting powder on top or a primer/lotion underneath. My skin looks even without the need for concealer, because all of my redness is evened out. By evened out, I mean non-existent. The coverage could be considered full if you don't have consistent hyper-pigmentation or blemishes across the face. 

I thought the finish would be a semi-matte or full matte based on raves from oily skinned people, but it's surprisingly satin and skin-like. I think that truly oily gals would need to set this down with a powder, because even my T-zone got a little dewy as the day progressed. 

Here it is after 4 hours on that same day. I noticed No fading or separation on my chin (the most oily spot) and caking around dry spots near my nose. It looks fresh but could use a touch up of powder. Keep in mind that I have dehydrated/dry skin! 

For my drier under-eyes, I have learned to adjust the amount of product laid down. I can use a pea sized amount with a damp Beauty Blender, round buffing brush, or even flat paddled foundation brush (as the Sales Assistant did above) with marvelous results. There's no streaking or patchiness and the foundation is creamy enough to spread out on the skin. 

Quick Recap: 

• Satin finish. You should set it down to mattify the skin, but it won't migrate. 
• Waterproof, very long wearing. It look freshly applied after 7-8 hours (from a human distance) and I only noticed wear after 10-12 hours. Crazy! 
• Medium coverage. Can be built to full if you use light layers.
• Can be applied with any tools you have on hand: sponge, brush, fingers, etc. 
• Creamy texture that's not too thick or runny, and definitely not heavy on the skin.
• Suitable for drier skin to combination oily skin, not for either extremes. It CAN pick up on large flakes and won't control oil on its own. 
• For olive toned girls: this might not be a *perfect* match but I can blend a little down my neck and match it to my tanned chest. 

Here's another intriguing picture. This is the same foundation with a copious amount of MAC Fix+ underneath and on top. I am on the drier side but love a full coverage foundation that won't age my skin. This is it. If you moisturize and prime appropriately, you'll have a flawless base for the entire work day into your night. Partay 5lyf. 

In the end, if you're truly olive you may find that this still leans a tad peachy than you would like. Even though I don't have a complete shade match, I still enjoy the formula very much for its long-wearing capabilities and ability to last and last on the skin to cover up blemishes. It's also such a versatile base product for any skin type!

xo Be

First Look| L'oreal Le Matte and La Laque.

I finally have ventured outside of my 10 mile zone to another Target in search of these mystical lipsticks. And they are indeed mystical. I hadn't been able to find them for the past few weeks, even though it's been out for at least two months now. Such is the life of limited edition items; they get clamored over by crazy makeup enthusiasts and disappear, never to come back.

Ah, but I've finally found them. Here are some swatches and pictures for your enjoyment. You may live vicariously through me.

From left to right: 414 I Lacque You A Lot, 413 Lacque-onic, 409 Matte for Me. Below, the order is reversed.

 

Matte for me is a blue based pink, in the same family as MAC's Girl About Town/Crosswires/Impassioned.

Lacque-onic is my favorite, a true red with a shine. 

I Lacque You A Lot is an orange-red that seems similar to MAC's Lady Danger with a shine. 

None of the colors are particularly wearable for every day (work/school) unless you're the adventurous type, but they are beautiful nonetheless. They remind me of NARS' matte and satin lip pencils with a much lower price point, and dare I say they are much less drying? I'd love to pick up even more, but I received the matte shade in a swap and only found the other two at Target. Also, I believe they retail for about 8 to 10 dollars (if you can find them, try to buy a few just in case!)

All three shades are very opaque and pigmented, long wearing, and not prone to bleeding or drying. The matte shade applies like a satin and dries down to a matte and wore down to a light stain after three hours. The La Laques are a little more prone to feathering if not laid on top of a liner, but they do not slide around.

The only downside is that they smell rather outdated and "drugstore", which is a given. I really hope that these are just L'oreal's way of testing the waters before jumping in with a more extensive collection.

Have you been able to find these at your local drugstore or Target? I think most people are having good luck with Target. Let me know what you think!

Be

Review: MAC Cremesheen Glass

Richer, Lusher?

Is there such a product that makes me richer while plumping up my lopsided sausages?

Sadly, the answer is no. These cremesheen glass, or fancy tinted lip glosses, from MAC run about 20 dollars at Nordies. Surprising, since MAC lipsticks are only about 15 dollars. Good thing the mother offered payment in exchange for giving her advice on a new red lipstick shade and foundation. I recommended Studio Fix Fluid for a summer foundation and Viva Glam I (one of my recent finds) for a sexy red shade. She actually gave her SFF to me in an act of great charity, and upon seeing its finish on my skin, she had to re-buy. Women logic. SFF's full coverage and strong oil control makes flaw covering and tone-evening a one step process for lazy summers (no concealer or powder needed).

Anyway, I digress. Richer, Lusher is a beautiful coral/orange shade that looks lovely on its own or over a pink lipstick for more dimension.

PROS:

- Non-sticky. Lip gloss reminds me of the third grade. Sticky lip gloss reminds me of my third grade frenemy. Associations are powerful. This gloss doesn't stir up any old memories.

- Color is semi-opaque. In the tube, it looks like a heavy liquid gloop lipstick. The color payoff is a little less sheer than an actual Cremesheen lipstick but is more...

- Moisturizing. Even more so than its lipstick counterpart. The gloss can pair with any lipstick in order to prevent cracked lips or settled lip color.

- Doefoot applicator makes it easy to apply, though not precise enough without some reference to a pocket mirror.

- In general, a beautiful and subtle color that can lean nude for a smokey eye or brightening on its own. It is not opaque enough to clash with another lipstick but only helps amplify another lipcolor, either from a lipstick or lip liner.

- The Cremesheen Glass line has many beautiful, collectible, wonderful, obsession-inducing shades to choose from.

CONS:

- What the expensive heck? 20 dollars for a lip gloss? Good thing lip glosses last me for ages until I get annoyed at the sticky caps and throw them away.

Would I repurchase? Not likely. Would I purchase another shade in the collection? Yes, given that the color was absolutely to die for. I spotted many other lovely shades, but the price tag induced rational hesitance. My wallet actually screamed "No!" audibly. Just kidding. But 20 dollars for a lip gloss? Am I wrong for thinking that lip gloss shouldn't be more than 5 bucks under any circumstance?

Anyway, I am heading back to San Diego tomorrow to start my summer classes and clean up the house in order for a big move to another part of town. The upside is that I won't have to unpack anything, but I would still love to do a collective haul for you guys if you're interested. I'm not meaning to brag, a lot of the stuff I got were presents and gifts from my family for graduation who knows how much I love makeup and cosmetics. I got hooked up with some really great gems like a BeautyBlender, Origins face products, MAC products, and plenty of stuff from Sephora. If I do a collective haul, I'll be posting it up as a video on Youtube and link it here.

Tata for now,

Be