ProductWhores

MUD You Want On Your Face

I was recently introduced to the MUD (Make Up Designory) brand and got super excited when I tried their Cream Foundation and it suited me perfectly (did I just say "suited"?  Do I think I'm British?)  I actually went right into their store in Burbank to be sure I got the correct color.  The girls who work there are fabulous - they knew exactly what I needed right away, just by looking at me, and happily chose the exact foundation for me.  The Cream Foundation is incredibly smooth (it can be applied with a sponge for more coverage or with a brush if you like the look of sheer), lasts all day with minimal touching up and covered all of my redness!  Plus, the huge benefit is it comes in a compact (easy for travel) and only costs $26.00 (unheard of for a department-store-quality foundation).  I just love, love this stuff!  It can be purchased at one of their retailers or at www.mudshop.com.

Airbrush Yourself

I've totally been wanting an airbrush machine for like, a year now, but that would be a patently ridiculous purchase because who has time to use something like that every morning?  I know it would be the kind of thing that I used every day for a week or two, then put in my closet, never to be seen again.  (Much like the robot I BEGGED my parents for when I was a kid, which they shockingly actually bought me for Christmas.  Needless to say, my sister and I played with it all the time until, oh, about New Year's Eve and then it disappeared into a basement closet, never to be heard from again).  So instead of an airbrush machine, I decided to try out the new Airbrush Spray Makeup from Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy.  (Phew.  That is a long product name).  You don't actually spray it directly on your face, which at first I was kind of disappointed by, but then I thought about it and realized the crazy mess that would probably make with my nonexistent sense of coordination and decided that was a good thing.  Instead, you spray the makeup onto your hand and then use a sponge or brush to apply it to your face.  I ended up really liking this way of working because you can more easily see where you need it and adjust accordingly.  The coverage is really nice - on me at least, it's sort of a medium level of coverage.  It doesn't feel heavy, but it does cover the majority of my flaws (or at least make them less noticeable).  It doesn't dry my skin out and it's easily blendable.  The only bad thing about the application process is that it wouldn't be easy to do on the go, since you need a brush/sponge and you would have to wash your hands afterward.  Then again, how many times do you really apply foundation on the go, really?  Not exactly something you'd be doing on a daily basis anyway.  It's also a much more budget friendly alternative to an airbrush machine at less than $15 a bottle AND you can pick it up at your local drugstore.  I think my old robot would definitely approve.  

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Sally Hansen

Get High-Def Ready Skin

Uhm, how excited are we all for "Sex and the City 2?"  I know I can't wait to get together with my friends and hit the theater.  Yeah, it might not be realistic and I admit, every time I see the commercial where Carrie runs into Aidan in the middle of a foreign country, I cringe a little.  (Although - true story - I once ran into a girl I went to high school with in a small village in the English countryside and I'm still shocked that it happened.  I mean, what are the odds that two people from a tiny, tiny town in NJ would both be living in London and BOTH happen to travel over three hours into the boondocks AND be on the same street at the same time?  I probably had a better shot of winning the MegaMillions, which... can that just happen already?  I want a beach house in Malibu, dammit!)  Anyway, back to "Sex and the City 2."  Yeah, it's probably going to be totally unrealistic story-wise, but I don't really care.  All I care about are the clothes and the shoes.  Oh, the shoes... 

In case you're curious about the makeup too, make up artist Nicki Ledermann used MAKE UP FOR EVER's HD Invisible Cover Foundation #155 on Kristin Davis’ to give her a flawless complexion on camera.  (High definition shows pictures that are six times as sharp as previous images, so the foundation was designed to hide fine lines and wrinkles, skin imperfections and shine, while still looking natural onscreen.  I may not be seen through the lens of a high-def camera every day (and thank God I'm not) but I have used this foundation and I really like it.  I thought it gave me great medium to full coverage - it definitely smoothed out my skin and took away the easily noticed imperfections, but it wasn't super heavy or mask-like.  It's kind of expensive at $40, but you do get an ounce of product and really, with foundation, if it's going to make my skin look glowing and close to perfect, I'm perfectly willing to spend a little more than usual.  (Especially to have a complexion that looks like Kristin Davis'.  She's gorgeous!)

Smooth Operator

I can't believe I call myself a product whore but yet I had never tried a Tarte foundation!  Man, oh man, I have been missing out!  Smooth Operator, their fabulous oil-free tinted moisturizer is a killer (in a great way) and definitely gives Laura Mercier's tinted moisturizer a run for its money.  Smooth Operator comes in 9 shades (they recently added on a few new ones to ensure a perfect tint for everyone) which all boast an SPF of 20.  For a Los Angeleno like myself, that's uber-important (right up there with Ice Blendeds from The Coffee Bean).  Anyway, I was shocked that a tinted moisturizer could actually provide nice coverage - even getting rid of the redness around my nose.  In addition to being a great tinted moisturizer, it's nice to know that it's paraben-free, phthalates-free, dye-free, talc-free and is cruelty free!  While the list of the icky stuff it doesn't contain is lengthy (gotta love that), what it does contain is natural extracts, vitamins and a very-reasonable price tag of $36.00.  Smooth Operator can be purchased online and at Sephora.

Achieve The Perfect Balance

I'm not usually one to get super excited about powder, but I'm totally into Clinique's new Superbalanced Powder Makeup SPF 15.  (Apparently, I'm practically alone in my powder indifference because according to Clinique, loose powders have grown in popularity by almost 70% over the past several years.  Weird.  I always did like to go against the grain...)  This powder is the companion to their best-selling liquid foundation Superbalanced Makeup and the two make a great pair.  (Although I've also been using the powder on its own and I like that too).  What's super cool about it is the way you apply it - instead of it being like most loose powders, which inevitably end up all over my sink and floor, it's a compressed powder that gets turned into a loose powder when you twist the package.  So you can totally control how much powder you "shave," which means a lot less mess and a lot less waste.  (It's recession-proof powder!)  The formula works well on me too - it has something called "smart technology" which maintains skin's moisture balance and controls oil at the same time.  It definitely gives my skin a matte appearance, but it doesn't dry it out.  I like that it has an SPF 15 in it too - I never rely entirely on SPF in my makeup and always use some under it, but it's always nice to get a little more sun protection.  It comes with a little brush in it which is fine for touch-ups, but if you're going to use the powder for overall coverage, I'd suggest using it with a full-sized powder foundation brush for a more polished look.  Overall though, if you're a powder fan, this is a great one to check out.  (And using the shaver is kind of fun!  Which might be the saddest thing I've ever written.  Clearly I need to get out more...)

The Superbalanced Powder makeup is $32.50.  Find your perfect shade at clinique.com.     

Even Better

I love that makeup has gotten so high tech that now it not only does what it's supposed to, it also does extra things.  Clinique's new Even Better Makeup SPF 15 was dermatologist-developed, so the oil-free formula not only covers blemishes and other fun stuff you don't want anyone else to see, after using it for 4-6 weeks it gives your skin "improved clarity, a more even skin tone, and visibly diminished age spots."  I mean, that's just cool.  Because even though I have a ton of different products, I'm lazy and sometimes I don't want to go through all the trouble of finding them to use (especially at night, when I just want to go to sleep).  All of this wouldn't really matter if I didn't like the way it worked as a foundation though, but the good news is, I really do.  It covers great and blends into my skin nicely (no weird, dark streaks anywhere), plus it has the SPF 15 in it.  Also (and I'm willing to admit this is a totally shallow thing) I really like the bottle it comes in.  It's totally portable and the tip lets the foundation come out in drops, so you can always dispense only the amount you think you're going to use (no waste!)  I usually don't take foundation with me during the day, but if I decided that I needed to one day, I think Even Better would be my choice. Now if I could only get it to clean my apartment, too...

Even Better retails for $24.50.  You can find it on Clinique counters or at Clinique.com.

The Best Drugstore Foundation!

While I've always been a snob about my foundation (department store only, I always said), I have started singing another tune now that we're in a recession.  As much as I hate to force myself away from my fancy foundation, I realized if I'm going to try and create one of those "savings accounts" people talk about, I would have to start my cut-backs somewhere.  So, with coupons in hand, I dragged myself to CVS where I decided to try a foundation one of my co-workers raves about (and she does have glowing skin, so I figured she had to be on to something).  L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable foundation is absolutely department store quality at the most non-department store price.  Not only does it blend incredibly well, but its medium coverage does not look cakey and dries instantly (none of that crappy dewy, smudgy stuff you sometimes get with cheaper foundations).  I am absolutely impressed with how smooth my skin feels and how much it's really glowing.  Also, it contains SPF 17, which is a bonus.  Now, the very difficult part is finding your shade because they don't have any of those fancy testers out at a lot of drugstores, so you're left putting your hand next to those oh-so-inaccurate swatches in the plastic sleeve.  The sign asked me (yes, it spoke to me) which colors I looked best in and therefore was helping me to determine if I was warm, cool or neutral, but I strongly disagreed with the results and just chose my shade on my own (which turned out to be a better plan because I found my perfect shade).  The sign told me I was "cool" if I looked good in pastels (of which I do not) but I happen to know I'm "cool" (no pun intended) because I have pinky undertones and am very pale.  Anyway, the point is, don't go by the sign, but really go more by your gut.  If all else fails, buy the foundation at a store you know has a great return policy in case you choose incorrectly.  The short of it:  this foundation is a keeper and it taught me a very valuable lesson - fancy foundations aren't necessarily the best (see, Dad, I can pick and choose what to waste my money on).

Photo courtesy of Walgreens

Laura does it again!

When I was at the Laura Mercier counter recently (when am I not there, actually) I picked up and bought her Mineral Powder foundation without even trying it in store - I'm wild and crazy like that.  I was absolutely thrilled with how fantastic this product is.  I have used it every single day since I purchased it and can't stop singing its praises.  For the first time, I am using a mineral foundation that actually goes on beautifully and makes my skin look flawless.  It contains SPF 15 (awesome!) and the shade I chose (Tender Rose) has a lovely pink undertone to really make my face glow.  The powder goes on evenly and manages to conceal every imperfection.  It's oil-free, water resistant and lasts the better part of the day.  The only thing that would make this foundation better is if it came with a little compact so I could take it in my purse for touch-ups (I so hope Laura is reading this).  At $35.00, this is truly a bargain and has already lasted me much longer than any liquid foundation I've owned.  Oh, and traveling with this is a breeze because the container has a little cover that slides closed so the powder can't come through the holes.  I don't know why more companies haven't thought of this (I mean, my spices have this, so why can't my powder makeup?)  Right now, I'm actually wondering how I remembered my spice containers have this feature considering I don't even own a spice rack. 

Photo courtesy of Laura Mercier

Another Love Affair With Artistry

I have become more addicted to Artistry with each product I've tried, which is especially wonderful because I feel as though I am taking a leap of faith by ordering something sight unseen.  The latest and greatest product to add to my regular rotation is the Mineral Foundation.  This foundation goes on smooth, covers slight imperfections and gives a lovely, natural glow.  I am amazed at how light and non-cakey it goes on.  Even the blackheads on my nose (thank you, genetics) are concealed with this stuff.  Another huge bonus, because it's preservative and fragrance free, every skin type can use it without irritation.  Gotta love that everyone can share in my new love affair.  Wait, that came out wrong.

Mineral Foundation retails for $19.50 and comes in Light, Medium and Dark. 

Photo courtesy of Artistry.

Minimal Makeup That Makes Skin Glow

I definitely went through a long phase in my youth where I thought that more foundation was better.  If I was to have the perfect flawless complexion, I needed to coat my face so thick that it was actually hard to smile because of the weight of the foundation.  As I've matured (physically not mentally), I have really started to believe in that whole "less is more" thing and find myself always reaching for more sheer foundations.  I decided to try Minimal Makeup by Napoleon Perdis and am so happy I did!  This wonderfully sheer foundation leaves a beautiful glow and helps protect skin with PABA-free sunscreen (SPF 10).  It contains antioxidants and actually manages to mask the redness around my nose despite its light coverage.  It's oil-free (no breakouts), hypoallergenic, and the company is against animal testing so I can really feel good about myself when I wear it (it's all about me, naturally).  I have to say, what impressed me most, aside from making my skin look like a supermodel's, is that it doesn't dry out my face and wears the better part of the day without having to re-apply.  For someone with more skin imperfections, I would reach for Napoleon Perdis' Foundation Stick (where you control the level of coverage) but for someone looking for a very natural look that will even skin tone, pick up the Minimal Makeup.  You won't be disappointed.  If you are, well, it's definitely not Kris writing this post.

Photo courtesy of Napoleon Perdis