A Review: L'Oreal's Infallible Eye Shadow

I went to Target and came across L'Oreal's new Infallible Eye Shadow. I wasn't expecting much from this product and picked up a couple shades out of curiosity. To my surprise, I found that this wasn't any ordinary eyeshadow. This must be somewhere along the lines of a new beauty invention! 

It applied silky smooth like pigmented powder eyeshadow, but not particularly loose and without the fall-out. One swipe of the fingertip and it goes on super pigmented. Sorry for not putting up swatches. The shade is true to what it looks like in the pot. I found that it was easier to apply using my fingers over a brush because, but this was only personal preference. 

L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow= $7.99

L'Oreal Infallible Eye Shadow in Amber Rush 892

L'Oreal Infallible Eye Shadow in Eternal Sunshine 997

The brilliance of this product is that it reminds me of a drugstore version of Georgio Armani's Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadow, that has been making lots of buzz in the beauty world, but this is for a fraction of the price!! I waited awhile before making a post on this eyeshadow because I was testing to see if it wasn't too good to be true. In fact, it is true. I first tried using these shadows with primer to see if there was any creasing and there wasn't any after an 8 hour workday. I tried it today WITHOUT primer and was thrilled to come home and find no crease line! This convinces me that this is a genuine dupe for Georgio Armani's version so if you're like me and have a hard time justifying $32 bucks for one shadow, this is for you. The only downside is I like the GA shades better than L'Oreal's. To see all the shades L'Oreal offers, go here.

This product is perfect for those who really like PIGMENTS and SHIMMER on their lids. It's ideal for a night out to town, the packaging quality is superior for being a drugstore find, it's super soft in texture, and best of all, this will last you all day long.

j

A Review: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer

Before going into my review on Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer, I want to add that I use under-eye concealer as a staple for everyday no matter if I am using tinted moisturizer or full coverage foundation because it helps to brighten the eye, allowing me to look less tired. I've mentioned this in a previous post on my Everyday Foundation Routine, but Bobbi Brown's Creamy Concealer is AMAZING for getting rid of unwanted dark spots.

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in 'Warm Ivory'

I use this concealer after using foundation or tinted moisturizer and then set it using a pressed powder. Be sure to choose a concealer shade that is one or two shades lighter than your skin tone and blend, blend, blend! If you don't blend well, a line of demarcation between the concealer and foundation will appear obvious in photographs.

Now, onto the tinted moisturizer...

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer (right)= $30
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in 'Nude' (left)= $42

I have heard so many great things about the full coverage of Laura Mercier's Silk Creme Foundation, but I have yet to finish up my Lancome foundation. However, I felt like I was abusing my skin each day for using a full coverage foundation even when my skin was acne-free and didn't really need it. I was afraid that I was clogging my pores more, which was only setting the stage for future break-outs. That's why I went on a hunt for something I could wear when I needed only minimal coverage but still wanted to achieve the luminous look that foundations created for my skin. I stumbled across Laura Mercier Foundation Primer and Tinted Moisturizer in the shade "Nude".

This product is great for my oil-prone skin because it is oil free and the moisturizer is spf 20! Some people like to forego using the foundation primer, which isn't spf, but I can truly see a difference between not using a primer. The tinted moisturizer foundation claims to "help control oil breakthrough while providing hydration to prevent dryness". I can honestly say that I can't tell if it controls oil, but it definitely doesn't make the oily-ness worse.

As for the shade, there are not a wide array of colors to choose from. However, this product reminds me of a BB Cream in the sense that it has the ability to blend with MANY skin tones because it isn't full coverage in nature. When I wear this product, I am sure that my face color will actually match my neck color. Thank goodness! To add, this product feels great on the skin. It's a lightweight formula that feels just like you are applying moisturizer.

L to R: Warm Ivory, Nude, Nude blended out

Mysteriously, even though the product is only a tinted moisturizer, it is somewhat buildable. Whatever I am unable to conceal with this product, I cover using Bobbi Brown Cream Concealer and Maybelline Dream Matte Powder. 

All in all, I recommend this product to those who are not accustomed to using foundations but are looking for a gradual progression into using them, or for those who just don't need foundation but want a skin brightening boost with some spf protection. 

Would I purchase this product again? YES. 

j

Stila Haul

I am loving this set of Stila products that my friend, Grace, got me for Christmas! She gave me the eye shadow trio, "Goddess," which can be applied wet or dry in all neutral shades because she knows me too well. I tested this palette out today and adore it's high pigmentation and bronze finish. What's great about this palette is that it has three highly complimentary shades in one compact case that is no wider than 3 fingers and is 3/4 inch thick. I'm actually more impressed with Stila's packaging compared to MAC eyeshadows. I also got a beautiful Stila lip glaze in 'Grapefruit', that is a really cute frosted pink color with subtle bits of shimmer. This will be perfect going over my new Mac Lipstick in Gaga 2 which is a extreme nude. Can't wait to put this look together for work come Monday!

Stila Eye Shadow Trio in 'Goddess'
L to R: Champagne, Bronze, Copper

Stila One Step Primecolor
L to R: Capri Coral, Kitten, Pop of Pink

These Stila One Step Primecolors are AWESOME. It's called 'One Step' because it combines the benfits of a primer, lip color, eyeshadow and cheek color in one formula. I like that, not only is it versatile, but it is build-able in coverage and doesn't have those funky smells attached to it.

Swatches of Stila One Step and blended out
L-R: Capri Coral, Kitten, Pop of Pink

I use Carpi Coral and Pop of Pink on the lips as well as the cheeks as a cream blush and it seems to last all day and is nicely blendable. I like this product as a cream blush much better than Maybelline's Dream Matte Mousse because it leaves a smooth, non-sticky texture. Kitten is probably my favorite and most used because I use it on my cheekbones, I place it on the center of my bottom lip, and I also use it on the center of my lid as a cream eyeshadow. The idea of being able to get several different uses out of one product tickles me and the Stila One Step achieves this beautifully. I appreciate how it comes in a tube because it feels more sanitary that way.

Thank you, Grace!

Did you get any beauty products for Christmas that you love?

j

Everyday Foundation Routine

Lancome Photogenic Lumessence in Bisque 1(N)= $42
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in Warm Ivory= $22
Maybelline New York Dream Matte Powder in Light 4-5= $6.94

As I've mentioned in a previous post, I get a bit fussy about foundation. Things I look for in a good foundation is that my skin reacts well to it (and I don't break-out with acne), it has coverage that is also long-lasting, and lastly, it has to match the color of my neck. Nothing is worse than having a demarcation line of foundation between your face and the rest of your neck. My current foundation routine achieves two of my three criteria as of now. I am looking to explore another shade of foundation that will better match my paler skin tone for Winter, but I first have to use up the rest of what I have left (which is less than half the bottle) of my Lancome foundation.

With that said, I love using Lancome foundation in general. Amongst all the different brands I've tried, I just feel that Lancome makes a solid foundation that not only feels great when applied, but matches Asian skin tones beautifully. The coverage is amazing since it isn't as heavy as Chanel Pro Lumiere but is still able to erase my blemishes without leaving me with cupcake-face. 

Bobby Brown's creamer concealer is something I recently purchased over the holidays and I think I found something that can truly cover dark circles. I don't use it for this purpose (yet), though I use it under the eye and near the nose to cover my freckles and brighten my eye (almost like a highlighter above my cheekbones, too). It goes on quite thick and truly conceals problem or redness areas. There is a powder that comes with this concealer, though I chose to go without since I enjoy my drugstore brand powder so much. 

To create a smooth complexion, I use Maybelline's Dream Matte Powder, and this sets my foundation and concealer with a matte, non-oily finish. 

This routine lasts me approximately 8 hours before I may have to touch up with some more concealer and powder. 

What is your foundation routine?

j

Natural Brows

The perfect brow: subtle definition of the borders, angle begins above the outer rim of the pupil, extends from a line drawn from the corner of the eye.
(Image Credit) 

If you are like me and deficient in the eyebrow area, you have no choice but to draw it in every morning. I have a lot of thick hair on my head, but my eyebrows literally fall short. When drawing in the brows, you have to be careful not to draw them in too dark or thick, otherwise you will end up with harsh lines and giving off a 'severe' appearance. I was guilty of this at one point, but was lucky to have a friend gently point out to me, "Whoa, your eyebrows are REALLY dark today". I was thankful for the wakeup-call because the last thing I want to do is stray from a natural look as well as give off the unfriendly look of overly angled brows.

For my brows, I don't invest in the brow palettes or pencils because I find that they tend to apply too intensely. A heavy hand can make a real monster out of me and affect my whole look. Instead, to compliment my black hair, I use any dark brown eyeshadow and apply it lightly with an angled brush starting from the outer brow line and then using the remaining powder on the brush to fill in the inner brow line. 

If I start to see that I'm applying too much and crossing over to the dark, unnatural side, no sweat. A trick I've learned is in those little disposable mascara wands that stores like Ulta and Sephora carry as complimentary applicators. Otherwise, you can buy a whole pack off Amazon for less than five bucks. Just one lasts me forever and when it starts to collect to much product, I just wash and re-use. 

Disposable mascara wands
(Image credit)

After I've drawn in my brows into my desired shape and length, no matter how much pigment I've added, I can subtract the pigment particles with a clean mascara wand. It works so well because it also diffuses the outer edges of your brows to create a very blended out and natural result. 

Let me know if you have any makeup application tricks!

j

SEE YA, 2011!

The past year proved quite difficult for me and I am so looking forward to 2012. It sounds silly, but makeup and its mysterious ability to transport your mindset has given me a lot of relief from the highs and lows. For the upcoming year, I wish you, my family and my friends nothing but happiness and fulfillment in your lives. Don't forget to treat yourself well to the little things when times get tough!

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!

j

Rimmel London's Kate Moss Lipstick Collection

Kate Moss released a lipstick collection that was inspired by the colors she carries in her purse. These are only available in the UK. What a tease. Here are some of the colors:

If anyone's going to be across the pond...holla ;)

***Update 1/10/12: Kate Moss's lipstick line has reached the States! Only a few shades aren't available here.

j

Wish List: Dior Amber Diamond

Perhaps, a New Years splurge? What a beautiful highlighter.

picture taken from here.

j

Merry Christmas!

Neutral Saga: 28 Neutral Palette by Coastal Scents

Coastal Scents, 28 Neutral Palette= $18.95

If you are a sucker for neutral like me, you'll love this palette. They have even larger palettes that you can check out right here, but this one has enough colors to play with to make you feel like a true makeup artist.

The palette is about 9" by 6", so too large to fit in a purse. The packaging quality is decent, and the pigment quality and texture is comparable to drugstore. The benefits of this palette is the awesome price and the selection of shadows all in one place. The combination of neutrals are endless.

j