Makeup Favorites of the Moment!

1. Covergirl Outlast 3-in-1 Foundation in 357 Golden Tan

Long lasting, medium-full coverage, and all around great formula for oily skin! Dries quickly and to a powder-like finish. My favorite Revlon Colorstay has a different formulation and just doesn't set the same way on my skin and this foundation has definitely taken its place! 

2. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser- Neutralizer 

I've gone through 2 of the concealers from this line already and I can definitely say they're well worth the $5-6. This is my second tube of the neutralizing shade and I love the yellow tone to it. I use this over the high points of my face as a highlight, especially down the nose and the center of my forehead.

3. Etude House Drawing Brow Pencil in Shade 3

An everyday makeup staple for me; the pencil isn't waxy and lasts all day. The shade doesn't give off warm-red tones like some brown eyebrow pencils do. If you have dark brown-black hair, give this a go. 

4. Philosophy The Present Face Primer

A lavender scented skin primer; this tube of greatness has kept my makeup looking perfect during my longer days out. If you're looking for a new primer, try this out! It makes your makeup "stick" without being sticky itself, if that makes any sense.

5. Rimmel London Fix and Perfect Pro Primer

Now that my Philosophy primer is on it's last leg, my frugal self has started kicking in and I use this $4 foundation primer instead. They're not dupes of each other and this one doesn't keep my makeup on as long, but it does help in prolonging the wear time by a few hours. I also can't get over its clean scent!

Foundations [Updated List]

Updated: October 20, 2013

I just thought i'd list out a few of the foundations i've tried out so far.
I think this would help those of you who are either purchasing foundations online or just in a bit of a makeup rut and looking for something new to try!

Skin Type: I have sensitive, combination-oily skin, and an olive-tan complexion.
*= see notes below

NC 35 equivalents (Medium, warm/yellow/olive undertones):

1. Maybelline: Superstay 24 Hour in True Beige*
2. Revlon Colorstay in Warm Golden
3. L'oreal True Match Liquid Foundation in W4
4. Makeup For Ever Duo Mat in 207 (runs a bit neutral, not a true yellow undertone) [DISCONTINUED]
5. Makeup For Ever Face and Body in shade 32 (can work for NC 25 and 30)
6. Makeup For Ever HD Foundation in 128

NC 40-42 equivalents (For medium-tan skin with golden/yellow/olive undertones)

1. Maybelline Superstay 24 Hour in Honey Beige*
2. Revlon Colorstay in Golden Caramel (perfect match for NC42)
3. L'oreal True Match Liquid in W5.5, W6*
4. L'oreal True Match Lumi in W6  (a bit lighter and less golden than regular True Match)
5. Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Powder in Honey Beige 70*
6. Makeup For Ever Face and Body in Honey Beige 34 (runs a tad bit neutral, not as yellow as i'd like but due to the lightweight and relatively light coverage with one layer, can still look natural)
7. Makeup For Ever Face and Body shade 32 with shade 18 (mixed, I put either half of each or 2 parts 32 to 1 part 18 depending on how tan I am)
8. Makeup For Ever HD Liquid Foundation in 153 (NC 42)
9. Makeup For Ever HD Foundation in 153
10. Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation in 357 Golden Tan 
11. TheBalm Tinted Moisturizer in Medium (NC40 skin, if you're on the verge between NC35 and NC40, this is perfect; can work for NC42 with bronzer)
12. Sonia Kashuk Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in Tan
13. Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream Combination Oily in Medium Deep  a bit neutral, I occasionally mix this with my L'Oreal True Match foundation in W7 for my NC42 skin

If you are between an NC 35 to NC 45, you might want to check these out. Some are from the drugstore and are quite affordable.

*Note: I find that the Maybelline Superstay foundations tend to run more yellow or golden toned, so you may want to be a bit careful. I'd say True Beige would suit NC 35 skin tones, while Honey Beige would be best for NC 40-42, Caramel for NC 43-45 (a bit light for NC 45)

*Revlon Colorstay in Golden Caramel is not as yellow/golden toned as i'd like it to be, but under flash photography, the color seems to match the skin tone. As of late, the formula seems to be different; different finish, lacking in longevity (compared to the first few bottles I've tried before the label change).

*L'oreal True Match foundations to me are some of the easiest to match my skin tone to, I would recommend W 5.5, W6 for those of you with NC 40-42 skin, if running towards NC43, i'd suggest mixing W6 and W7 which is the mix i've been using as of 10/12/2013

*Neutrogena Mineral Sheers in Honey Beige 70 is best for NC 40, NC 42 can pull it off

MUF Duo Mat- 207 suits skin tones that are around NC 35 the best; not a true yellow based powder. Tends to have more of a neutral undertone)

If you have any direct questions or comments, feel free to email me at lealeablog@gmail.com 

(it's the fastest way to get a response!)

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Foundation: New Shades!

Hello everyone!

For those of you who couldn't find a great match with Estee Lauder DW before, you might want to consider heading over to your closest counter to try out the new shades!
I fell in love with the staying power, coverage, and overall formulation, but I just wasn't satisfied with the shades available.

I picked up two shades: Cashew (3W2) and Honey Bronze (4W1). These two would suit skin shades that are similar to NC 42; Honey Bronze better suits NC42 skin, Cashew is just a touch lighter but no major difference.

I have been testing these out for the past week, and i'm not sure if it's just me or their formula has changed as well, but the consistency is a bit thinner and (dare I say) not as long lasting...?!
I'll continue to work with these and make another post later on.

Estee Lauder Double Wear  retails for $36 USD
Click the above link for more information about the product from the Nordstrom's site

RAMBLE: MUFE's Waterproof Brow Corrector in No. 3... Too dark?

Hello everyone!
In a previous post of mine, I did a review on Make Up For Ever's Waterproof Brow Corrector in Shade 3.

Ooh Jay-Z, lookin fioooone!
From Cholafied, click for more chola madness

After months of using this product, I found that it can look a bit too dark if not carefully applied. Too-dark eyebrows can definitely be a bit aging and unnatural. There's a fine line between bold and beautiful brows to "sharpie-d on" black brows, and I think there have been a couple of situations in which I deffffinitely crossed the line onto drawn-on eyebrow land. To know how I use this product, read on!

RAMBLE: Makeup For Ever Face and Body for NC 42 skin!

[To skip the mini review/ramble, feel free to scroll down past the 3rd paragraph]

I've tried this foundation out several times and have just been itching to purchase my own bottle of the foundation despite the price tag. I'm usually a person who goes for medium-full coverage, long lasting foundation that I can quickly and easily apply. Given that I have oily-combination skin, I was a bit hesitant about even trying this foundation because of the dewy appearance it seems to give off of the several reviews that I've seen.

Just try it. 

Seriously. 

It feels light, looks natural, and is long wearing. 

Though it does not completely cover my acne scars and other dark marks on my skin, it has enough coverage to even out the skin tone and give a healthy and smooth look to the skin. 

With it's unique gel-like consistency, applying it using your hands seems like the best way to go, but flat/round top synthetic brushes like the Real Techniques stippling brush or the infamous Sigma synthetic brush collection work just as great. 

It claims to be water resistant but I have yet to test to what extent that is... I'm hoping it's closer to being waterproof because it would be amazing to not have to scare people every time I go to the beach without makeup. ;D

ANYWAYS, MAIN POINT:

If you're around an NC 42, it may be a bit hard to get that perfect shade match.

Shade 34 seems to be the best option, but I find that it does tend to run a tad bit neutral. 

It's not a huge difference and given the consistency, it isn't hard to get away with; it can actually look natural. 

BUT I just have this pet peeve about foundations that don't closely match my skin and if you decide to use this alone and feel the same way as I do, here are some ways to ameliorate this little setback.

OPTIONS TO SOLVE THIS:

1. Mix 2 foundation shades. Yes, yes, I know, pricey. But if you love this foundation as much as I do, maybe you wouldn't mind. (4 fl. oz. does last quite a while...) The two foundation shades I would probably purchase would be 32 (more suitable for NC 25-35 skin) and 18 (around NC 43-45). 

If you can reach a free standing MUFE store, they custom mix shades. Not sure about the MUFE counters, but I know the one in NY does custom mixing)

2. Set with a true yellow based powder The neutral tone isn't extremely noticeable, but like I said, pet peeve. I'm yellow, I need yellow. 

3. Use a yellow color corrector Coastal Scents has a nice variety of color correctors that are a light, watery consistency and easily blend into foundations and other products to create the perfect shade. I lost my yellow color corrector but it works great and it doesn't seem to affect the original foundation at all. If you purchase this, just mix in a drop or two of the corrector and blend together (one drop should be sufficient)

If you have any questions, please feel free to message me or leave a comment down below! I'll be glad to help in any way I can. (Especially for those who are purchasing online! I know how hard it is to purchase these things via internet.)

REVIEW: Milani Brow Tint Pen

Hello everyone! New review on the Milani Brow Tint Pen in Dark Brown.
I picked mine up at Target a few weeks ago and have been using it consistently since then.
I was quite skeptical about using a "brow marker" on my eyebrows, but it actually gives a natural, well defined look to the brows.
Unfortunately, the brow pen has been lost to the dark depths of the messy abyss I call the trunk of my car, but I was able to use it enough to get a good feel of how to use the product.
Since I don't have any pictures to put up, i'll try to be as descriptive as possible! So please bear with me!



LONGEVITY: I used this product during my long 12 hour days as well as a graduation and a few parties. It didn't smudge, color payoff looked just about the same as when I applied it that same morning, just with a tad bit of fading. I would assume that it's not waterproof, but I would say that this lasts a good amount of time. I didn't experience any smudging, either. 9/10

APPLICATION: I imagined the marker and the color payoff to be similar to that of a regular crayola marker from my childhood days. But this actually comes off as an almost "faded-brown" so it isn't an intense dark-brown shade and in my opinion, looks very natural. The marker is thin, and I found it to be a bit difficult to get used to. The felt tip was wearing down a bit, but that is to be expected with constant use. 9/10

IS IT WORTH IT? I purchased the product for roughly $6 USD with .07 oz/2.1 grams of product, and I would say I would repurchase it after I go through my list of brow products to try. For those of you with thin sparse brows, I think that this product would really help you in easily creating great looking arches because of the natural look it gives. My brows are quite full, but I find that this gives me a good amount of color and definition to really keep my brows looking freshly done up. TRY IT!

--This product comes in two shades, Taupe and Dark Brown. If you have medium-dark brown/black hair, the brow tint in Dark Brown would work best for you. Anything lighter, I would probably go for Taupe, but that's just for reference and to stay on the safe side if you are purchasing these online.--

UPDATE- 8-29-2012: I've used this product consistently and it still seems to have enough product to last me another month or so. So far, it has not dried out. Be sure to store it horizontally!

REVIEW: Clean and Clear Finishes:Oil Free Mattifying Moisturizer [PICTURES TO BE ADDED LATER]

Hello!
Another review, finally!

So last year, I purchased the Clean&Clear mattifying moisturizer after seeing it on Casasanchez's Youtube channel. I have sensitive combination/oily skin and had a problem with having my makeup last through my long 12-13 hour days. So anything that helps keep the oils away sounds good to me!

(Please excuse the condition of the container, I threw it into my makeup bag and my eyeshadow got everywhere)

LIKE:
-Oil free
-UVA/UVB protection
-Quickly absorbs into the skin
-Relatively thin consistency

DISLIKE:
-White cast/lightening effect
-Does not live up to "all day shine control" claim (What product does, anyway?!)


Okay, so to keep this short and sweet, it works. Somewhat.
If you have light skin/light-medium and are looking for a simple moisturizer that won't give you a greasy feel, this is or you. You would be able to pop this on your face in the morning and not have to worry about anything else, like a normal moisturizer. Now for those of us with medium-tan/dark skin, we have to put in a little extra work. I find that this leaves a noticeable white-cast, or light color on the skin.
I feel that the product has been blended in well, but the white cast is still there. So I only use this I will be applying foundation on my skin to cover up the "lightening" effect.

 It leaves a smooth finish to the skin and keeps my oily skin matte for about 4-5 hours (alone) but that lightening effect just kills it for me. It's not a terrible product, but not something I'd be picking up again.
OVERALL: 7/10