Category Archives: flawless face

sweet charity: make by we see beauty

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make by we see beauty
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it’s nice to be nice and we see beauty’s vision is just plain nice. with a shop full of gorgeous products, 1/3 of sales goes directly to the we see beauty foundation, a non-profit organization supporting women-led, worker-owned cooperatives. make is the first wholly for-benefit color cosmetics line launching on we see beauty’s online marketplace.

i got to play around with a few pieces of the collection yesterday and i am seriously impressed. the line has a fun freshness about it that makes the products completely unique and totally wearable at the same time. on top of that, the creators certainly did their homework, formulating products that are blendable, buildable, and long lasting.

matte finish blush in vegas, $22.50 – this electric pink requires a very light touch, but the high quality pigments are a piece of cake to blend so you’re left with a sheer fuchsia flush that’s ultra fresh.

soft focus corrective duo, $22.50 – i have been in the biggest concealer rut until discovering this concealing/setting pair. dabbing the creamy formula on to blemishes made them vanish completely and setting with the translucent powder kept them under wraps until bedtime – a huge win in my book.

defining mascara, $16 – i’m a mascara snob so i did not have high hopes for this. i was quickly proven wrong after applying the silkiest, blackest black lengthener ever. the tapered brush delivered crazy long, fluttery lashes that looked homegrown and did not flake or smudge. the biggest surprise of the day – love!

if you do nothing else, you must pay the website a visit. i’ve never seen a cosmetic collection so gorgeously represented online! beauty junkies who have to have it, will absolutely devour the comprehensive line complete with color, skincare, and tools ranging in price from $5 – $40.

summer skin savers from cover fx

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cover fx

the temperatures are rising which means it’s time for me to settle on a whole new face routine for the heat and humidity. i have historically turned to a powder foundation to keep my face matte and shine-free but in truthfulness, i love the fresh, natural finish of a liquid (i’m feeling that powders are starting to age me and look heavy). these two products from cover fx are running in strong contention to be the set that gets me through the summer.

cover fx mattifying primer with anti-acne treatment is a god-send for my problem skin! it has the same slip and shine-cancelling effects that i’ve loved in this primer and this one, but it has salicylic acid to actually treat and heal my acne while it locks down my makeup and keeps my oil glands in check. it’s completely non-irritating and it doesn’t clog my pores, but i just know it’s going to prevent the dreaded makeup slide come summer.

cover fx natural finish oil-free foundation is light and creamy, with a slight hydrating effect. i love it because it feels like a tinted moisturizer, but it’s heavy enough to cover my angriest acne spots without the need for concealer. the formula includes vitamins c and e so it actually soothes inflammation and reduces redness as you wear it and i’m left feeling like my skin is better off at the end of the day than if i wore no makeup at all. you can use your favorite foundation brush to apply and a little goes a long way, providing even, natural coverage with really long wear. i should also note that the color range in this line continues to impress me – with 24 shades, there is something for everyone.

shop cover fx at sephora >

wanted: dior bb eye cream spf 20

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dior hydra life bb eye cream

this little beauty from dior is next on my list! it’s popping up everywhere and i’m hearing that the stealthy triple agent actually de-puffs under-eye bags and lightens dark circles while protecting the delicate area from the sun.

umm…can it make my morning cup of coffee, too?

shop dior bb eye cream spf 20 ($45) >

hard candy cc correction creme

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hard candy cc creme

oh, alphabet creams.

first there was the bb craze, now cc creams are on the scene, with dd creams not far behind. quietly testing bunches and bunches of them, i have mainly stayed out of the conversation because…well to be perfectly honest, i haven’t been the biggest fan. (just a little proof for you that i will never post anything on this blog that doesn’t pass my test!) my skin is just not well suited to bb creams, so i kept chugging along with my typical primer-plus-foundation routine without complaint. when hard candy contacted me about their new cc cream, i was optimistic but skeptical. when i finally got around to giving it a test last week, i was floored. i seriously cannot believe that i let this $8 wonder sit in a drawer for so long.

but first, let’s back up. what exactly is a cc cream? cc stands for color correction (or color control, or complete correction…) and cc creams claim to retain all of the skincare benefits of a beauty balm while adding more effective and natural-looking skin coverage. cc creams include spf, come in multiple shades, tending to blend better with skin tone than a bb cream, and, with a lighter texture, they leave a less oily finish while still nourishing the skin.

the hard candy cc cream comes in four shades (i’m using fair), is oil free, and includes spf 15. the texture definitely leans on liquid, so i’ve been turning the tube facing up, squeezing a little out and then using my brush to pick up the creme straight from the top of the tube. it works well because my hands don’t need to be involved and i don’t waste any product. the creme is super easy to apply, needing hardly any blending at all. my skin tone is quickly improved by a light application and i absolutely love the way that this stuff wears. my skin is left looking not too matte, not too shiny, just flawlessly natural. i find that the coverage is more than a tinted moisturizer and the wear time is so impressive that this little tube has completely replaced my primer-plus-foundation routine. needless to say i am really loving this stuff – so, providing that you can find the right shade match i am highly recommending!

shop hard candy cc correction creme ($8) >

nyx wonder pencil

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NYX-Wonder-Pencil

what if i told you that for less than $5 i could solve at least three pesky beauty problems?

the new nyx wonder pencil is a nude multitasker that comes in three shades. the beauty of this pencil is that the unique hybrid formula means that it serves a variety of purposes. it’s softer than a typical eyeliner and more matte than a regular stick concealer. in short, it’s like a tiny magic wand that can be used to lighten, brighten, and conceal the different areas of your face.

for example, it serves as a perfect eyeliner at the water line to brighten my eyes. the slim pencil shape and fine point mean that i can also use it as the most precise blemish concealer ever. it’s as if i’ve got a little magic eraser and i can just dot it over any spots left peeking through after i have applied my foundation, without the need to blend – genius! it’s come in handy as a reverse lip liner to keep my bright lip shades from feathering and i’ve also used it under my arches to add shape and definition to my brows.

this is one of those products that you’ll wonder how you ever lived without. i feel as though i’m discovering new ways to use it daily, and there’s nothing better than that.

shop nyx wonder pencil ($4.50) >

it cosmetics ultra repair liquid oxygen foundation

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it cosmetics oxygen foundation

i’m very picky about what goes on my face, because breathe on it wrong and i’m suffering a massive breakout. i’m always skeptical about foundation and i’m intensely particular about formula and what something feels like when it goes onto my skin. when it cosmetics’ new ultra repair liquid oxygen foundation arrived, i had high hopes because there is a lot of buzz about oxygen-infused products and how great they are for your skin. your skin cells (and all of your cells, really) require oxygen to metabolize and boosting the oxygen level can give you more youthful, glowing skin.

this foundation goes on the most smooth of any other that i have found. it looks and feels like second skin – absolutely weightless. your face is left looking dewy with minor imperfections completely blurred away. normally with a foundation, i love the way that it looks or i love the way that it feels on my face, but rarely both. in this case, you get the best of both worlds plus amazing skincare benefits. the formula includes hyaluronic acid to keep skin supple (especially helpful in winter), it contains anti-aging ingredients like peptides (to plump and hydrate skin), hydrolyzed collagen (to help fight fine lines and wrinkles), and niacin (which minimizes pigmentation).

i will also note that adding the ultra repair liquid oxygen foundation to my regular routine and making no other changes to my skincare, i have noticed a real difference in my skin health and clarity. it’s calmer and much more clear – improvements that i can fully attribute to oxygen. if you’re skin is picky and you’re in the market for a new foundation, this is an incredible and innovative option.

shop it cosmetics ultra repair liquid oxygen foundation ($39.95) >

day to night: dark circles

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day to night: dark circles

i don’t know what is happening to me, but i have developed a crop of dark circles. they’re not so terrible, but definitely noticeable and it’s a minor imperfection, but certainly something that makes me look much less polished and put together than i feel. i’ve taken to fighting them day and night with a one-two punch of treatment and concealer, a combination that provides 24-hour moisture.

during the day, i cover them up with benefit’s new fake up, an ultra hydrating under eye concealer in stick form. the formula blends seamlessly, covers completely, and does not crease or wander. even though i’m pretty fair, the medium shade conceals my dark circles better than the light version, which was a surprise to me. it’s refreshing to swipe on in the mornings and it doesn’t cake or settle, keeping my under-eye area looking bright all day long.

at night, i’m hooked on yes to grapefruit dark circle correcting eye cream. it’s creamy and non-greasy and one application will have you instantly feeling its nourishing effects. after a long day, it’s a soothing addition to my bedtime routine and it provides an instant boost of moisture to the under-eye area. i can’t tout any miracle capabilities in the disappearance of dark circles, but i do think that the skin under my eyes looks a touch brighter and my dark circles and puffiness are definitely held at a minimum the morning after a healthy dose.

how do you fight dark circles?

benefit the POREfessional

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benefit professional

i don’t know why i held off so long on giving this little beauty a try. it’s not new and there’s no shortage of rave reviews so really, i had no excuse. but, as i was prepping my skin for a photo shoot over the weekend i found myself in need of a lightweight primer that would do a little legwork, evening out my skin tone before i applied my makeup. most primers out there work to adhere makeup to your skin and elongate its staying power (also helpful) but benefit’s the POREfessional goes above and beyond those expectations to basically airbrush your skin.

the silky (i mean super) silky formula has a hint of tint that evens out redness, hides pores, and minimizes imperfections. it’s an easy step that gives your foundation an added boost to really make you look flawless. i love that it absorbs fast leaving skin insanely smooth and ready for the foundation brush. i find that i’m using less concealer and also enjoying long-term mattifying effects – two major bonuses in my book. all in all, i’m obsessed with the results – which are as if someone waved their tiny photoshop wand over your face and left you looking like a more perfect version of yourself. (as if that were even possible.)

shop benefit the POREfessional ($30) >

almay smart shade mousse makeup

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almay smart shade mousse makeup

i consider myself a bit of a foundation naysayer. i want all of my flaws masked for a perfectly poreless finish that doesn’t look like i’m wearing makeup. oh, and i also don’t want to feel like i’m wearing makeup. it’s a constant struggle.

i’ve loved the almay line for a long time. it’s always touted by my derm as the best possible makeup brand for sensitive and breakout-prone skin. so, when i was flipping through instyle a couple of months ago and saw the new almay foundation teased, i waited patiently for it to hit drugstore shelves. after scooping it up at target a couple of weeks ago, we have become fast friends.

i’m always leery about shade matching makeup (it’s good in theory, but for some reason it never works out quite right) but the 100 shade (light) has been doing a bang-up job of matching my skin tone more perfectly than most foundations. there are four shades in this lineup, so i’m not going to be so bold as to say that there’s something for everyone but i’m definitely impressed with the match on me. this stuff is light as air, yet heavy on coverage, and it somehow goes on to feel like you’re wearing nothing at all. it gives my skin a smooth, even appearance that has been working as a great base for a variety of makeup looks without looking cakey.

there are a couple of caveats, though. the first is that since the mousse goes on white and then “transforms” into your ideal shade, it can be very easy to overdo it on coverage. i got the hang of it after one application though, and it’s been a breeze since then. second, you’ll find that the finish on this is almost powdery which leads me to believe that it might not be so friendly to those with drier skin. the rest of you light-handed, combination-oily gals will definitely enjoy the silky texture and flawless finish with a drugstore price tag.

shop almay smart shade mousse makeup ($11.89) >

trish mcevoy beauty booster tinted moisturizer

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trish mcevoy beauty booster tinted moisturizer

my face has a new obsession.

trish mcevoy’s beauty booster tinted moisturizer is my favorite skin perfecter of the moment. it feels cool and smooth going on after my moisturizer, glides over my skin and  has just the right amount of coverage to it. the formula isn’t too heavy or sheer, easily hiding imperfections and bringing out the best in my skin.

you can apply with your fingertips (i’ve been using my favorite brush) and along with the benefits like antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, you also get spf 20 which coincides perfectly with my ‘wear spf everyday’ resolution. after it’s applied, it feels as though i’ve got nothing on but my face looks almost airbrushed, it’s so flawless.

if you suffer from dry winter skin, but like to keep things matte throughout the day this is an excellent option for you. i know it’s not the most wallet-friendly choice, but it might be worth the investment for your face to feel comfortable and look beautiful in the extreme weather.

trish mcevoy’s beauty booster tinted moisturizer is available in stores and online for $75.