I've Found An Amazing Combo In Revlon's PhotoReady Foundation & Concealer!

A month or two ago, I wondered whether or not I should fake tan over Twitter. I eventually decided that I would and so began my search for a new drugstore foundation that would better match my darker colouring. I was leaning towards Cover Girl's new natureluxe Silk Foundation, but went with Revlon's PhotoReady because it came with a bonus concealer, which I've wanted to try for some time.

I'm not new to Revlon's PhotoReady foundation, though I wasn't using it much because I had purchased the wrong shade. But the beauty of getting a darker foundation is that I can always mix my previously purchased PhotoReady to create the perfect shade.

I'm quite enjoying this foundation at the moment and find myself reaching for it the most these last few weeks. It gives great coverage and the small shimmery particles give my skin a nice glow. 

It gives the exact type of coverage I want: enough to lessen the look of any imperfections and even out my skin tone, but not too much that it looks like a mask. It's easy to apply, doesn't streak, and blends nicely on the skin. It lasts quite a bit of time, too! I wore it a few nights ago for 13 hours and it held up beautifully.

Now that my skin isn't so dry anymore, I find that I prefer the finish and feel of this foundation over my other staples (Chanel Vitalumiere and Revlon Colorstay). Because it's not as moisturizing as the other two, it feels lighter on the skin and keeps it feeling fresh for longer. 

Now this product was what really impressed me! I've got pretty bad dark circles and I have tried a few concealers in the last handful of years but none have worked as well as this baby. I was using MAC's Studio Finish concealer (which I don't really like, I just kept purchasing it because I was too lazy to look into other products) previously, but it's safe to say that with Revlon PhotoReady concealer, I will never go back.

before and after applying concealer

It doesn't cover my dark circles completely, but it definitely does the job better than Studio Finish. It doesn't settle into fine lines as much and doesn't look cakey either. It's so easy to use, too! I simply swipe the product onto my under eye area and blend it in with my finger. No fuss, just the way I like it. With other products, I've had to heat it up with a blow dryer just so I could apply it smoothly. Not so with this! I have yet to find a way to use it that makes it apply badly.

Also, this stuff sticks around! I typically need to top up my Studio Finish after just a few hours but I've gone full work days wearing PhotoReady without needing to reapply. Of course, it does fade a bit after a while, but I find it does in a more subtle way. It doesn't pull a disappearing act like other concealers I've tried, which I appreciate.

wearing a mixture of Revlon PhotoReady foundation in 003 Shell & 005 Natural Beige, Revlon PhotoReady concealer, Joe Fresh Style cream blush, and Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner.

Revlon PhotoReady foundation with bonus concealer was purchased at Superstore for $17.99. If you find any at your local grocery/drug stores, definitely pick one up! Both products are lovely, especially the concealer! 

What is your latest go-to foundation/concealer combo?

Collection Spotlight: J. Mendel - Spring 2011

(photos from style.com)

Ethereal and sexy.

Love the draping, the mostly neutral palette, the pop of orange, the pleated skirts and the fur boleros.

So gorgeous, no?

Any favourites?

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser: One-Step Cleansing At Its Finest!

Fact: I can be pretty lazy.

How else can I explain why I decided to try a product a second time after it gave me a bad reaction the first time? The promise of one-step cleansing always lures me in, I tell you.

Lately I've been using Boots' Original Beauty Formula Cleansing Milk to remove makeup and then cleanse again with another product. It's a good enough system, but sometimes I yearn for something simpler without having to sacrifice efficacy.

Well, I'm happy to say that I have found that in the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser (say that 10 times fast :p)!

(comes with two muslin cloths)

(Various booklets & pamphlets that have more info on the Cleanse & Polish cleanser as well as other Liz Earle products. Very handy for those who are new to the brand!)

From Liz Earle: We only make one cleanser because this formulation is the ultimate in concentrated yet gentle cleansing power and works on every age and skin type.

Our plant-based cleanser has a 2-phase action, phase 1 is the cleansing. Free from mineral oil, it has a  rich and creamy texture and swiftly removes all traces of face and eye make-up, even stubborn mascara.

Phase 2 is the polishing. Polish off the cream using the pure muslin cloth to help gently dislodge dead skin cells and help reveal clean, soft and radiant skin.

Naturally active ingredients include eucalyptus and cocoa butter for smoother, clearer skin.

Suitable for all skin types.

This cleanser comes in different sizes (50mL, 100mL, 200mL) with an easy to use pump that makes it super easy to dispense the exact amount of product you want to use. Even people with lead fingers (i.e. ME) won't have much difficulty. 

The product itself is creamy and has a very pleasant minty scent. It doesn't cause any tingling sensation on any part of my face at all (unlike the Burt's Bees Soap Bark & Chamomile cleanser), so for those of you who have sensitive skin, this would be a good option for you.

I massage it well onto dry skin, then wet my muslin cloth with hot water and proceed to wipe off all traces of makeup. I've used this on my eyes as well and it doesn't cloud or irritate my eyes.

before

 after

the mess

Pretty impressive, no? I absolutely love how this product removes all my makeup but still makes my skin feel clean afterwards. The Boots cleansing milk left residue behind, which meant I definitely needed a second cleanse. But the Cleanse & Polish eliminates that need completely because there is zero residue. It also doesn't leave my skin feeling tight at all. It just feels... Normal. Which, if you've been following my blog for a while, was something that my skin was not for a long time. 

The only thing I have an issue with, which is so easily fixable, is the muslin cloths. The brand recommends washing the cloths after every 3 or so uses. It's totally doable, but like I mentioned: I can be lazy and sometimes I forget... I'm hopeless, aren't I? If this sounds like you, fear not! You can purchase muslin cloths separately at the Liz Earle online store (2 for £3.55/$6.00 or 6 for £8.65/$15.00), which I should probably definitely do.

Speaking of muslin cloths, I love these babies! My skin always feels so utterly smooth after a cleanse but it's never abrasive. Also, as I said to another blogger at one point, I expect my cleansers to not only do the job, but to entertain me as well. I find that using muslin cloths kind of ups the entertainment factor for me since I've never cleansed this way before. What can I say? I think it's fun! 

Going back to the cleanser, I've been using Cleanse & Polish for almost a month now and I have definitely seen an improvement in my skin. It's clearer, I had less hormonal breakouts, and my skin feels balanced. In fact, I find a lot of my skin products are a tad too rich for me now (just a tad) that my skin is no longer so dry. For someone who has dealt with a complete skin meltdown, having the skin finally behaving is a relief! 

Have you tried Liz Earle's Hot Cloth Cleanser before? 

Share your experiences with me! :)

*Disclaimer: This product was a PR sample sent for review consideration.

Collection Spotlight: Gucci - Spring 2011

(photos from style.com)

You may have seen various pieces from this collection already. I believe Olivia Wilde has worn it on the red carpet, Jennifer Lawrence can be seen wearing it on the cover of Flare... And I totally get it. Because this collection is sexy.

I love the first and second sets the most because of the use of colour. Orange and purple? Why not? Love the dresses with the gold, tasseled belts and the jumpsuits (I think I will always love jumpsuits from now on).

Also, the very last dress is just divine! The gorgeous emerald colour would look gorgeous on just about everyone; I also like the Y-shaped halter and floofy skirt. Floofy is my new favourite non-word word :).

Are you a fan of non-traditional colour combinations?

Sun Care With Neutrogena!

I have a confession to make: Up until approximately 5 years ago, I pretty much never wore sunscreen. I was, by no means, a sun worshipper. But I used to be quite active and used to stay outdoors a lot. As I think about it now, I'm so thankful that I'm not suffering from any sort of skin disease.

As I'm getting older, skincare has become more important to me. I'm glad to say I'm not yet dealing with wrinkles or any other pre-mature aging symptoms (I almost typed "skyntoms." Aren't I clever :p), but prevention is definitely something that is occasionally on my mind. I was religiously using Clinique's City Block for some time but I kind of fell off the bandwagon a year or two ago.

Now, I'm trying to get back into being consistent with my sun care and these Neutrogena products are certainly helping me in that area.

Neutrogena Ageless Essentials Moisturizer with SPF 25

I've been using the Josie Maran Argan Oil as a moisturizer for a few months now and while I still love it, it doesn't give me the sun protection I need for the day time. Since I've been really trying to stretch my funds nowadays, I wanted to get a drugstore product. This moisturizer costs $17.99 CAD for a 50mL tube so, bonus points for being fairly inexpensive.

It contains Neutrogena's patented "Helioplex" technology; which, according to their website, "helps stabilize sunscreen filters for broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection from the sun's harmful rays." It also contains Glycerin, which "helps skin build and hold on to moisture longer by treating dry skin deep within skin's surface."

This Ageless Essentials moisturizer does exactly what I want it to: give me sun protection while keeping my semi dry skin hydrated. A little bit of this product goes a long way and I find a small dollop to be enough for my face (extra dollops are for the neck, of course). It also gets bonus points for not making my skin break out!

I love how this product sinks into my skin. I typically don't like moisturizers that sink in too quickly because my skin feels dry right away and I end up piling more on. Not so with the Ageless Essentials moisturizer! It sinks in just enough to make my skin non-greasy but still feel hydrated.

Neutrogena UltraSheer Water-Light Daily Face Sunscreen

I've reviewed this product before, but I thought I'd revisit it for this post. Like the Ageless Essentials moisturizer, this the UltraSheer Water-Light sunscreen contains Helioplex for a "combined UVA/UVB protection." It is also waterproof, sweatproof, non-comedogenic, oil-free, and PABA-free. 

This is a fantastic product! I love how lightweight it feels on the skin and like the Ageless Essentials moisturizer, it sinks in so wonderfully and leaves a natural finish. 

Neutrogena states that it works well under makeup and I have to agree with this. At times when I have applied makeup on top of this product, I found my makeup to apply more evenly and gave a great finish without making my skin look too dewy like the Clinique City Block sunscreen did.

Dear 16-year-old Me

Sun protection is so important and yet so easy to take for granted. I wanted to share this video with any of you who have yet to see it in hopes that it will open your eyes to the realities of sun damage. 

I hope you lovelies will join me in taking better care of our skin. Whip out those self tanners and sunscreens! Our future selves will thank us later :).

What's your favourite sun care product?

Milani Cosmetics' Lip Flash in Photo Flash Is NOT For The Timid!

Ah, Milani... Yet another drugstore brand that I ignored until now and this product blew my mind. I've been rather impressed with the drugstore purchases I've made as of late and I can't wait to share them with you guys!

Milani's Lip Flash Pencil is described as a full coverage, shimmer gloss pencil and that pretty much describes it to a T. 

I first heard about these babies through Makeup and Beauty Blog; I was so impressed with the pigmentation that I just had to pick some up for myself. In the end, though, I only purchased Photo Flash because the locations near me did not have any of the other shades I wanted. 

Photo Flash is a "fuchsia with gold and fuchsia shimmer," a.k.a. complete and utter gorgeousness (with a healthy dose of fierceness) in pencil form. I seriously cannot get enough of this product that I find myself putting it on after I've changed into pajamas and am just lounging in bed late at night (don't judge me).

This shade is definitely not for the timid or the faint-hearted, but if you love bold lips, these lip flashes are for you! I love how incredibly pigmented they are and how easily it applies on the lips. Its "anti-feathering" formula means you don't need to apply a lip liner first so it's pretty foolproof and easy to use.

Milani also states that these lip flashes are "non-tacky" and with that, I have to disagree. These feel quite tacky and if that bothers you at all, stay away. It personally doesn't and wouldn't bother me since I don't see myself wearing this for an extended period of time. With testing, I've determined that 3-4 hours of wear time is expect, maybe even 5-6 if you're not doing much drinking or eating. But the pencil format makes it really easy to apply so this is a non-issue for me.

No Flash

With Flash

Close Up

Lip Flash is so much FUN and I can't wait to rock it on a night out. The bright colour paired with the shimmer is very sexy, so expect to get a few double takes when you wear this. I definitely want to get my hands on Hot Flash (red with red shimmer) so I can wear it for the holidays! Yes, I'm already thinking of the holidays. You can blame Rae at TheNotice for that :p.

Milani Cosmetics is available in Royal Canadian Superstore and Sears Canada. I purchases it for approximately $7-8 CAD.

Have you tried Lip Flashes before?

NOTD: Sally Hansen - Mint Sorbet

Normally the beginning of Spring is when ladies whip out the pastel shades, but I seemed to have skipped straight to summer with tangerine tangerine and coral shades. Now, I'm in the mood for something softer, but no less vibrant. 

At first I started with Sunshine Sparkle by Revlon but was disappointed when I couldn't seem to not get any streaks. So I gave up and tried Mint Sorbet by Sally Hansen. Mint Sorbet is a gorgeous, creamy mint green shade, which is a colour I've been craving for some time now. I love the shade (especially now that I've darkened myself up a bit), I love the thick, flat brush and I love that I only needed two coats to achieve full opacity.

What are you wearing on your nails, lovelies?