ProductWhores

Get Your Blemishes Into Therapy

I'm all about the new mineral makeup craze, especially if it can help keep my skin clear.  Who doesn't want a treatment that's good for your skin AND keeps it looking good?  The RareMinerals Blemish Therapy from Bare Escentuals is my latest discovery.  It's different from any other spot treatments I've tried, but I'm finding it very effective.  It combines the gentle, exfoliating properties of the 100% pure RareMinerals concentrate with natural sulfur to treat acne, while at the same time keeping future breakouts from taking place.  Plus, it's super easy to use.  It comes with a brush and a little pot of powder that you sweep onto the troubled areas of your skin.  You can use it during the day under makeup to help conceal any skin imperfections or at night, which is what I've been doing.  (I admit, it does feel totally weird to clean my face with my entire skincare routine and then put on a powder, but since it seems to be clearing up whatever blemishes I get, I'm going with it).  According to the packaging on the box, 82% of people who used it felt like it effectively reduced blemishes, which is pretty consistent with my results.   I also like that with the amount I'm using, the pot seems like it'll last for a long time (unless my skin goes crazy haywire and then I'll have bigger problems than worrying about the size of this product).   Test it for yourself - I'd love to know what you think.

RareMinerals Blemish Therapy retails for $28.

Photo courtesy of Sephora

Be A Pussycat Doll

I love the look of a good smoky eye.  Ask my friends - when I had my makeup done by a professional a few weeks ago, I couldn't stop talking about how much better my eyes looked when she did it as opposed to when I attempt the look.  So I'll use any excuse to try products that can help me in my quest to mimic how the experts work.  Bare Escentuals' Pussycat Eyes kit is my newest acquisition as I go after the holy grail of the perfect eye makeup for a night out.  The kit includes three shadows and a brush to apply them with.  The shadows come in Catwoman Glimmer (a dark black), Meow Glimmer (a yellow amber), and Pussycat Glimmer (a khaki green). 

Everybody is Swirling, Tapping and Buffing

I have always been skeptical about powder foundation. Something about it always made me think I would have cakey, flaky face (hmm, perhaps my autobiography title?) I would see women gathering around the Bare Escentuals rack at Sephora and I was stunned. What the heck are these women doing? How can this stuff really cover well? So, I gave in. Yes, yes, I know it’s hard to believe that I, a ProductWhore, would break down and try a new product. I can’t believe I wasn’t on this mineral foundation train before - all the time I’ve wasted having mediocre foundation on my face. bareMinerals Foundation is truly incredible. You just do that whole dance thing they recommend - the swirl, tap and buff (not to be confused with Da Butt, Da Dip or the Electric Slide) and then swipe on the face in circular motions. I realize I’m making it sound like you have to play a game of Twister to apply the stuff, but it’s really not that complicated. Regardless if you use the technique recommended or not (yes, I’m a rebel and tried a few mornings without the dance moves) you will have sheer coverage that is buildable depending on how much foundation is on your brush. I was stunned at how well this stuff (my new drug) covered the redness in my nose and my icky blackheads. It also made my face incredibly soft and wasn’t drying at all. I always wear moisturizer, though, so I can’t speak for what it would do on a bare face. I was very impressed with how well it lasted throughout the workday, as well. I did re-apply before I went for drinks but that was mostly because I wanted to do a little dance in the bathroom and add a little extra coverage before I went into a hot bar. My only complaint is the packaging is a little messy. Even though I just have it sitting on my dresser way too much foundation has creeped its way through the holes. I would recommend keeping the little sticker on and maybe just pulling it halfway back? If anyone has a suggestion on how to keep it from spilling, I would love to hear it. That little nuisance aside, this product is a keeper for me. And with all the swirling, tapping and buffing I’m thinking of pulling out my old “Walk the Dinosaur” cassette and twirling my ass around the living room. I know, I must be the only idiot to have bought that cassette single. 

Rosey Complexion

I went into Sephora desperately seeking blush and came out with a product I didn't realize I would like so much.  I bought All-Over Color by BareMinerals (the people who make the mineral foundation that everyone raves about but I have yet to try) and it's really fantastic.  I bought Rose Radiance which leaves a lovely sheer pink color on my cheeks, as well as a small amount of glitter.  You can use it all over the face (which I believe is its original intent), on the cheeks (which I'm currently obsessed with), on the eyes (very sheer so I would layer over another color) or on lips (too drying for my taste).  It lasts the better part of the day (I applied at 8 am and re-applyed around five before I met people for drinks) and the color is so sheer you can add a little or a lot.  You can also layer over another blush to give a little more color and shimmer (I suppose that's pretty high-maintenance to worry about two blushes) but even alone it gives cheeks a wonderfully healthy glow.  While it comes in twelve shades, there are a few colors that Sephora does not carry instore and are only featured on their website (boo!).  But, if you visit an Ulta store or a BareEscentuals store you may be able to see the entire twelve shades in person.  Don't quote me on that, though, I'm just guessing.  Actually, I really should use this as an excuse to visit the Ulta and BareEscentuals stores near me tomorrow... purely for research... I swear...