Beauty Product Reviews

It's all in the base.

L'Oreal Claims: Get the perfect skin texture, instantly. Wears all day. Smoothes lines Hides pores Banishes imperfections The silky, lightweight formula glides onto skin, leaving it velvety-smooth to the touch. The result-a unified matte finish that's flawless.

I never used a primer before I applied my make up and a friend told me that this would help my make up stay longer and help minimized the appearance of my huge pores. I decided to try it out since I really had nothing to lose. If I didn't like it I could just return it, there wasn't anything for me to lose.

When I first tried putting this on my skin felt like a babies bottom. Super smooth and perfect. The huge pores on my nose were down to almost nothing and my skin looked flawless even without wearing any type of foundation on top. I was truly shocked on how well it worked.

I decided to wear foundation and test it out. I can honestly say that this primer is amazing. I love the way it smells, the way it looks and how well it applies. The only down side of this product is that it doesn't really control oil the way other products do, especially M.A.C's Matte. M.A.C's also comes in a squeeze tube for easy application where this comes in a glass container. The glass container can harbor bacteria specially if you use your fingers to apply.

If I hadn't purchased M.A.C's Matte to help control my oil better, I would still be wearing this.

Pros: Smooth Application Minimizes Appearance of Pores Minimizes Appearance of Fine lines Can Be Worn Alone

Cons: Container Can Harbor Bacteria Poor Oil Control

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A True Gem

Sonia Kashuk Claims: This airy brush provides the sheerest application for foundation, highlighting, bronzer, or blush.

When I first started playing with make up the first brush that I ever purchased was M.A.C's 187. Reality finally set in that I had spent $42.00 on a brush that I didn't know how to use properly. I was barely getting into make up. I decided to return the 187 but desperate looked online for something comparable that I could work with. I found this baby.

The Sonia Kashuk Highlighting Brush is everything that I could ask for and more. Not only does it work identically to the 187 but it is also very inexpensive. It literally cost a fraction of the price of the 187. If I had the chance to change the past, I wouldn't. I'd keep this brush. I can use it for powder, liquid, bronzer, highlighting. It's a multipurpose brush that I always reach for.

I have a few very pigmented blushes that only this brush can work with. It picks up just the right amount of product. I'm glad I picked this one up.

Pros: Inexpensive Blends Well Airbrush Look Holds Right Amount of Product

Cons: Sheds a Bit at First

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It's a clean feeling.

M.A.C Claims This one product will clean, disinfect and condition the brush fibers so that brushes will last longer. It is convenient to use and is specifically designed to extend the life of high quality brushes. Brush Cleanser leaves your brushes smelling fresh and clean, and helps shorten their drying time

This Brush Cleanser is probably one of the best out in the market. It is also hands down the best one I have ever tried myself. It leaves a fresh clean scent on your brushes without the overpowering smells that other brush cleaners tend to leave behind. I use this cleanser to clean off my brushes after every use. I use Johnson's baby shampoo for a deep clean once a week.

I've tried using this brush cleaner in different forms and I've found out that using it with a spray bottle works the best. I went to my local Target and bought one of the empty travel size pump containers. I spray some directly to the brush and wipe on either a paper towel or a hand towel, whatever your preference is.

I also tried taking some brush cleaner and putting into an empty container, swirled my brushes around and then dried with a hand towel. I feel that this method can waste quite a lot of product. That is why I believe the spray bottle works the best, for me.

Pros: Cleans Very Well Dries Fast Not Very Pricey

Cons: Product Can be used up very quickly Can get expensive with constant purchase

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Johnson's Claims: This mild, tearless formula baby shampoo is as gentle to the eyes as pure water., Johnson's knows bath time is a special time to share with your baby, and when the two of you are bonding, there's no room for tears.

Some of you make look at this review and think, "What is baby shampoo have to do with make up?" Well, I don't use it as anything to do with make up itself. It does have to do with the process of cleaning brushes. I started using baby shampoo to deep clean my make up brushes because I thought it was something important to do. Since bacteria builds up and my M.A.C Brush Cleanser was getting really expensive to constantly purchase and clean my brushes. So I decided on this route.

First off, it cleans my brushes magically and beautifully. It takes off all the color my other brush cleaners seem to leave behind. After I'm done cleaning them they are as white as they were when I first purchased them. Of course after I clean my brushes I add some hair conditioner to make them even softer. My brushes are in perfect shape and form.

Pros: Smells Great Gentle Cheap

Cons: Personally Use A lot

M.A.C Claims: A luxurious domed face powder with minerals, slowly baked to provide a dimensional yet natural-matte finish. Provides perfect low coverage. Use to set and fix foundation or as a touch-up throughout the day

The first thing I ever purchased when I started experimenting with make up was the Mineralize Skinfinish Natural. The reason that I decided to start off with this is because the make up artists told me that this product had coverage, but not enough to be visible to eyes. It's also buildable, lightweight and looks natural. When I first started applying this product I would use the Sonia Kashuk Highlighting Brush, since the brush itself is duo fibre it allowed a lightweight but airbrushed finish of the skin.

When I wanted to move up in coverage I asked the M.A.C Make Up Artists about the Studio Fix. She asked me what I was using on my face because it already looked good. I told her that I was using the Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus. Instead of suggesting a foundation that was higher in coverage she suggested the Fix + (spritz of vitamin and minerals, review coming soon). That in itself gave me awesome coverage without looking like I was actually wearing make up.

I own Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in two shades, Medium Plus and Medium Dark. The reason that I owe them in two shades is because in the winter I can go with Medium Plus and to contour or during the summer I can use the Medium Dark shade. To set my Prolongware Foundation I use my Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus to town down the pink undertones in my skin. Therefor giving me a natural even tone. I have also ran in to the problem where my shade is no longer matching me because my skin darkened during the summer, so instead of buying a darker shade of foundation I dusted on some Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Dark. That itself saved me not only a trip to the M.A.C Counter, but also money on a new foundation.

Not only can the Mineralize Skinfinish Natural be used to set and give warmth to your face, but it can also be used alone. This product itself is a product that I seem to purchase time after time. It's truly one of my favorites.

Pros: Light Weight Buildable Natural Used for Setting Gives Color/Warmth

Cons: Low Coverage

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Mac Claims: A virtually "invisible" foundation with coverage influenced by your own skin tone. A breakthrough patented formula technology with a spectrum of 14 light to deep dark shades. Discover shade intelligence!

When I first heard that M.A.C was going to release a new foundation that was suppose to blend into your skins undertone. I was totally hyped up and ready. I've had trouble with finding a dot on foundation that was just perfect for me. I have a weird undertone, for some products I am a NC for others an NW. For Studio Fix I am a C4, Face & Body C3, Pressed Powder NC35, Pro Longware Foundaton NW25. I can typically get away with either one, I just have to be careful with it.

When I saw news of a new M.A.C Foundation that was suppose to blend and adapt to your natural skin tone, I was super excited. Not only was this foundation suppose to be a true matched tone but also virtually invisible.

I ran to the store when I heard this new foundation had just hit stores. I was matched to be a shade 4 and this shade was PERFECT. It not only blended into my skin, but you couldn't tell I was wearing foundation. I still had that polished look, but you couldn't tell I was wearing foundation. My skin tone just looked amazing and polished. I purchase the bottle and was super excited because I felt this foundation was going to be my holy grail.

I tried applying this foundation in many forms and I felt that using my Sonia Kashuk Highlighting Brush is the best way to apply this foundation. I am not a fan of regular foundation brushes, I feel they leave me streaky and I end up applying more foundation than what I actually need. The foundation does dry fast, so you need to work fast with it.

This foundation stayed on my skin since 8am till roughly 8pm. Although it's not labeled as a long wearing foundation like Pro Longware, this foundation stayed on. I did get oily, but to me that is normal since I have very oily skin. It didn't make me more oily than usual, but it also didn't make me less. It was just a normal oily for me. Nothing crazy. It has a demi matte finish to it, which to me looks super natural. For better oil control I set it with M.A.C's Translucent Powder.

The coverage this foundation gives is a low medium, that that is very buildable. I would say the coverage would be alittle less than Pro Longware, but without that "I'm wearing foundation look."Since I'm a guy, one layer of this works perfectly for me. If I wanted go to up on coverage a little but more, I could. Which is something else that I love about this foundation.

With all this said, I would recommend this foundation to others. I actually have recommended this to both of my sisters. They love it.

Pros: Natural Stays On Adapts to Skin tone Buildable

Cons: Dries Fast

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LOVEEEEEE

Maybelline Claims: Does For Lashes What Stilettos Do For Legs 55% LONGER LASHES, shiny patent finish Waterproof I am very scared when it comes to trying out a product that I cannot return or exchange with a breeze. I'm also not the biggest fan of waterproof mascaras. The reason being is that most waterproof mascaras tend to get hard, flaky and end up leaving specks all over my face.

The reason that I decided to look for a good waterproof mascara is because my bottom lash area tends to get very watery and other waterproof mascara seemed to always smudge. I was on the hunt for the perfect waterproof mascara that I could use on my bottom lashes. I wanted to look for one that wouldn't run down my cheeks. I spoke to a friend of mine and she recommended the Lash Stiletto Ultimate Length Waterproof Mascara. We ended up at the store the same night and I decided to give it a try. I tried it on my bottom lashes and was satisfied with the fact they didn't smudge. I decided to go that extra mile and see what this mascara did for my top lashes. Needless to say, I don't think I can ever look at another waterproof mascara the same way. This mascara accomplished everything that I was looking for in a mascara. It gave me length, volume and kept my top lashes curled. Keeping my lashes curled is something that I've struggled for quite some time and I think I found my solution.

Although this mascara does everything my other mascara haven't been able to accomplish, there is one down fall. It's almost impossible to remove with eye make up remover. I feel like I have to rub my face for ages before it actually comes off and still manages to leave some residue.

Although it is a pain to take off, I always reach for this before anything else in my make up bag. This mascara is truly amazing. I guess now I shall be on the hunt for a perfect eye make up remover.

Pros: Longer Lashes Thicker Lashes Volumizing Smudge Proof Waterproof Keeps Curl

Cons: Hard to Take Off

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Return to Sender.

Make Up For Ever Claims: The MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Complexion products use innovative formulas to create a new generation of make up which is both invisible on HD cameras and to the naked eye. The HD Foundation is an oil-free medium-to-full coverage liquid foundation which covers skin imperfections, while remaining invisible on-screen and in real life. Its extremely fine texture is supple and easy to apply. Enriched with moisturizing agents, it leaves the skin soft and radiant. It is available in a wide range of shades to suit all skin tones. When I first walked into Sephora I practically ran to the Make Up For Ever section of the store. I wasn't sure what color I would be but I knew I was going to be around the medium range of the foundation. I was promptly matched by one of Sephora's sales associates. She was truly a doll and helped me out with this product. The one thing she didn't mention is that this product has no type of oil control or mattifying properties. The thing is I have oily skin, and this foundation can't battle my dangerous t-zone.

In store the associate applied the product with a sponge, which I am personally not a big fan of, since sponges harbor bacteria and soak up most of the product. Once she was done applying it on my whole face I was really satisfied. It truly looked like I wasn't wearing any make up. The sales associate decided to set it with the Make Up For Ever HD Powder. Once it was set with powder, the appearance of make up was more noticeable. I was truly happy with the end results and was sure this was going to be my Holy Grail Foundation. The associate offered me a sample so I decided to try it out and buy it if I liked the results.

I am truly happy that the associate offered me a sample of this product. If she hasn't offered the sample, I would have bought the foundation and returned it the very next day. The foundation started melting off my face once I stepped outside my home the next day. I applied it with M.A.C's 188 brush, and I apply almost everything with this brush. My t-zone looked super oily and very unflattering. I really wanted to love this foundation.

Pros: Blends Well Good Color Match

Cons: Low Coverage No Oil Control Doesn't Last Long

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LOVE IT!

When i first started using mac, i swore that i was going to stay away from this. im glad i didnt. i use to see girls with caked on faced and was like WHOA. but once i tried this on i realized its not the product itself that makes it look cakey, its the person. i use this whenever im on the go. just dust a little bit and im ready to go. it covers redness and imperfections without having to put on too much. its perfect. i love it. glad i didnt stay away.