Category: face

bareMinerals Correcting Concealer SPF 20

bareMinerals has been releasing rockstar complexion products over the last couple month: bareMinerals READY SPF 20 Foundation, bareMinerals READY SPF 15 Touch Up Veil and bareMinerals ‘Stroke of Light’ Eye Brightener. They are now rounding out their offerings with a creamy, correcting concealer. While I tend to prefer drier concealers for blemishes, this seems to achieve both creaminess for under eye, along with enough coverage and substance for blemishes, perhaps due to the mineral content.

The formula contains copper that helps camouflage imperfections. Lemon peel extract helps with discoloration over time – huge for me as hyper-pigmentation is my main complaint. And the added physical sunscreen (titanium dioxide) isn’t irritating and always welcome. The finish is radiant (not too matte), especially for a mineral formulation. They have eight shades – find four sampled below:

I’ve been using my finger to blend below my eyes and a more sheer layer over my sun-damaged areas. I then follow with the bare Minerals READY foundation. I like how it sort of sets the concealer. Over all this is a full coverage look. But you could use just concealer where you need it for a lighter coverage.

Shop my bare Minerals favorites:

 

Cenoire’s Novo Atomizer Facial Mist Spray

So, I have a weird confession: you know, during facials, when they use mist your face? Yeah, I am kinda obsessed with that. I love the hydrated, plumped look and feel my skin has after a little session with steam. So when a recent product launch crossed my desk, I had to check it out.

Cenoire, manufacturer of portable electronic accessories, just released the Novo Atomizer Facial Mist Spray. It creates the same sort of mist as in a facial, but at your fingertips. I have been taking it for a whirl and might be hooked. When I arrived home from NYC, I was exhausted and dehydrated. I filled up the water vessel on my Cenorie and sat down to a four minute session.

The water is atomized into nano particles (sounds daunting, but really cool) that come out of a little nozzle on the side of the cartridge. These small water droplets are better absorbed by the skin. It feels dewy and moisturized. Just move it around approximately six inches from your face. If you don’t want/need the four full minutes, you can manually shut it off as well.

The steam isn’t hot, so it isn’t exactly like a facial. But it is so lightweight and portable, that is would be a breeze to travel with. It fits right in my palm and  is incredibly lightweight.  And such a treat when I am suffering from the aforementioned airplane dry skin.

Cenoire’s Novo Atomizer Facial Mist Spray is available with an MSRP of $39.99 and can be found at Amazon.com and Cenoire.com.

Urban Decay Naked Liquid Makeup and Good Karma Optical Blurring Brush

In today’s world, we get to experience foundation that looks like skin. Technology has made these foundations easy to wear and beautifully undetectable. My current favorite version is Urban Decay Naked Liquid Makeup. It has balanced coverage and finish with great staying power.

The formula contains light-diffusing spheres – probably what makes this foundation luminous without being overly dewy. Urban Decay also managed to work in some skin care. Matrixyl 3000 is a wrinkle-fighting peptide, Litchiderm brightens skin, Green Tea works as an antioxidant and Sodium Hyaluronate hydrates. Urban Decay’s precise shade numbering system distinguishes between warm tones (ending in “.0”) and cool skin tones (ending in “.5”). With my light-to-medium skin with red undertones I am a solid 3.5.

I highly highly recommend picking up the Good Karma Optical Blurring Brush too. I certainly didn’t need another foundation brush, but this one is unique. The domed shape allowed me to buff foundation into the skin. This buffing technique, known as “Optical Blurring”, prevents streaky finish that can occur with a flat brush, fingers or a sponge. It makes the foundation look smooth, which is a huge plus for more mature skin. The dense brush is perfectly sized so you can get into the nooks and crannies (nose, eyes, brows) but still get fast, even coverage. The brush’s handle is made of recycled aluminum and the synthetic hairs are vegan.

I put two pumps on the back of my hand and pick up product with the brush as needed, starting from the center of my face (nose) and working outward. At first I thought 3.5 might be too light, but as it settled into my skin, it oxidized into the perfect match. Keep this in mind when you are selecting your shade.

Drugstore MVPs

Fall trends are quickly approaching and there is no better way to try on a trend than your drugstore beauty aisle. For the autumn months, I am liking a natural, healthy-looking face with a bold lip. After months of wearing a bun in this hot weather, I am excited to stretch a blow out for a couple days – finally possible without the excessive heat. And for weekends, I love a super hydrated nude lip. Don’t forget to reassess your skin care and make sure you rotate out those more drying items.

1. Aveeno Ultra Calming Makeup Removing Wipes are the perfect “too tired to wash my face” cheat. I love how gentle these are on my drier skin. Literally, you have no excuse for going to bed with makeup on.

2. L’Oreal Colour Riche Balm in Caring Coral is another version of the lipstick/balm hybrids. This is a little thicker than the Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter, with better staying power.

3. Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk was the first dry shampoo I ever tried. It might even be the best. While it does have a white coloring, it absorbs well and works even on my dark brown hair.

4. Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick has to be one of the coolest celebrity/beauty collaborations. Leave it to Kate Moss to create classic colors that look polished but utterly fashionable. They aren’t drying and stand the test of time (literally and figuratively).

5. Rosebud Perfume Co. Smith’s Rosebud Salve is always at my desk (I also like the mint variety). It is super hydrating – a must to prep for the vampy shades that will be popular this fall.

6. Maybelline Dream Fresh BB 8-in-1 Beauty Balm Skin Perfector SPF 30, not to be confused with a foundation, is a ultra-light tinted foundation that has a radiance. It feels like you have nothing at all on, but it magically evens skin.

Note: I received the Aveeno Ultra Calming Makeup Removing Wipes as a Klout perk. All other items I purchased myself. 

Laura Mercier Ovarian Cancer Fund

September is officially Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and also the launch of the Laura Mercier Ovarian Cancer Fund. And it is always a no-brainer – support a brand and cause that is important by buying new makeup! All September, Laura Mercier will donate 100 percent of the profits from the sale of two products – Bonne Mine Healthy Glow for Face & Cheeks Crème Colour Palette and Rose Hope Lip Glacé – to the Fund.

Join me in supporting Laura Mercier. The lip glace is a rosy, shiny gloss that I love alone but would also worked layered for depth of color. I am already smitten with the palette – super portable bronzers and blush that blend beautifully. These are a go-to for me for creating a natural, sunkissed, look. Use your fingertips to apply Bronzer Veil over areas where the sun naturally hits, like cheeks, nose, browbone, forehead and chin. Use your fingertips to blend Cheek Veil over the apples of your cheeks. You can apply either shade alone, or blend both shades together for a custom color. Use your fingertips to blend Glow Veil over the high points of your face – cheekbones, center of nose, browbone, cupid’s bow and top of forehead.

Both Laura and her President and CEO, Claudia Poccia, have been personally touched by the disease – Laura through a dear friend, and Claudia through her sister. Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death among gynecological cancers in the United States, and the fifth leading cause of cancer death among American women. The mission of the fund is to raise awareness and fund research and educational efforts that will help diagnose, treat and support women with ovarian cancer.

bareMinerals ‘Stroke of Light’ Eye Brightener

Do you ever wish there was a happy medium between cake-y concealer and a luminizer? Well, may I present the bareMinerals ‘Stroke of Light’ Eye Brightener. This formula has light to medium buildable coverage and also adds luminescence. The brightener conceals fine lines and reduces dark circles. The tint especially comes in handy to make a tired face look refreshed and even.

The light formula blends beautifully. And the four shades cover a wide range of complextions. I like luminous 2 (Yellow/Light) to counter the redness in my skin. I use it below and in the corner of my eyes. Any leftovers on my finger goes down my nose, on the brow bone and on my cheek bones. Those days I need a little more coverage, it layers perfectly over a heavier concealer.

I’ve been so impressed with recent bareMinerals launches. The have expanded their mineral foundation empire to cover a range of needs. Formulas are exceptional across the board. Check out some other favorites below: