So what makes it different? Benefit claims that it is not really a foundation, but rather a foundation faker! It is sheer and transparent that it can match just about any skin tone (they only make three shades of it). I have to say that I found it's ability to cover my flaws and make my skin even without looking caky or fake is amazing.
I really like the texture of it, my skin is covered easily in just a few swipes, there is no fussing with blending or matching my tone for the day and best of all it is really light feeling.
It comes in a horrible kitschy package (big shock there) that is made of white plastic and has a horrible sticker on it for a label that looks like a record. Inside is much nicer with a large mirror and the foundation, underneath that is another compartment to hold a sponge.
I of course have after only a few uses completely messed up the mirror and made it a goopy mess, I'm bad that way.
Benefit only makes this baby in three colours, light, regular and deep. The light is so new I haven't even seen it in stores yet. I bought mine in regular, but when I see the light I will be picking that up instead.
Biggest downside (besides the ugly packaging), since it is so creamy I don't feel you get enough in the package for the price and amount you end up using. I hit the pan (and big time) after a week and a half. That is crazy! For $39.99, it should last me more than 3 weeks, and at the rate and consistency I was using it, that is all it would last me
Pros:
- light feeling
- no colour matching for you skin needed
- blends easily
- covers well -very little concealer was needed on me
- sturdy packaging
- dries to a powder finish
Cons:
- hit the pan in less that 2 weeks (crazy) - you use a lot and don't get a lot in the package
- pricy - $39.99
- hideous packaging
Overall : I like this stuff a lot (oh I really do), I would use it every day if I could, but there is only 0.34 oz in there and it goes fast for the price. I hope someone knocks this baby off soon so I can afford to use it for everyday foundation.
Mark Hold Please is an eye primer and eye concealer all in one. It is flesh tone and comes in both Light to Medium and Medium to Dark. I thought I would like this stuff a lot but was quickly disappointed as soon as I swatched it.
It has a similar packaging to Benefit's Lemonade. A mirrored black flip package. It's shinny black packaging is a fingerprint nightmare, but it still looks very stylish.
The product on the other hand is super slick.Slick, slick, slick. The closest thing I can think of that had a smoothness like this is Sheer Cover's Concealer. I really questioned if this was the best idea for a eyeshadow base. As well it has a slight shimmer in it. Although not really noticeable, it is still there and I just don't like the shimmer.
I tried it a few times the other week to much dismay. It did nothing to help with my eyeshadows staying power. No primer would have been better than this. The concealer idea was ok, but nothing special.
I even tried my Urban Decay Primer Potion under it, but everything I applied creased and very early in the day (in fact worse than Benefit's Lemonade).
On the bright side it is cheap, only $10.
Pros:
- Nice packaging (despite fingerprints)
- Big mirror
- Portable
- Concealer and primer in one
- Cheap - $10
- Mark/Avon has a good return police so no risk in trying it.
Cons:
- Causes creasing
- Too slick
- Slight shimmer in it
Overall:
Once again my love of eye primers has led me astray. This is not for me at all. In fact I returned it. Creasing in the AM is not my idea of a good idea.
Despite never really loving Benfit's kitschy packaging and image, I seem to own quite a bit of their stuff (although much of it was ether free or a gift) and I do like or love most of it. Lemonade falls into a strange place in the Benefit world for me, it doesn't have a kitschy package, actually it is quite mature for Benefit, but I just don't like it.
I have only heard great things about Lemonade, fantastic ravings, so I chose to get it recently when my friend let me abuse her Shopper's Optimum points (once again making it that I did not spend my own money on a Benefit product). I was excited! I was eager to try out yet another eye primer, and one that neutralizes the purple tones on my eyes and brightens the area for bolder colour application. This sounded like it was the primer for me. But sadly it wasn't.
It seemed I had to use quite a bit of it to get a consistent finish, I worried that I was over applying it, but I could see blank spots, I blended but it wasn't that creamy (a good thing in an eye-primer) so more was needed. I then applied my eyeshadow, looking good, alls well so far. Then 10:57 am happened and so did creasing. CREASING? Before 11:00 in the morning? What was going on? Well, the answer was Lemonade wasn't doing it's job for me.
I gave it a few more shots over the past few weeks and the same thing happened. I tried less Lemonade, still creasing in the AM! I was upset. I know it is the summer and it is humid and hot, but my Mac Paint Pots were holding up to the heat. So was my Urban Decay Primer Potion. Even my Elf eye primers were doing better than this.
Sign. So I gave up. Lemonade may be fantastic, but just not for me. Disappointed? Yes, but not everything works for everyone and was a million times better than Mark's Hold Please Eye Primer.
Pros:
- Nice packaging - matte black with pretty lettering and big mirror
- light yellow colour creates a great colour base
- gets rid of nasty blue/purple tones on eye (cover veins well)
- creamy but not slick
- portable
Cons:
- Slightly pricy -$29
- Didn't last for me at all, creased in the AM!
This week at Rexall/Pharmaplus there is a sale and deal on NYX Cosmetics. 20% off and a free liner with $10 purchase.
I grabbed:
- 4 peal loose eyeshadows ( LP28 Orange Zest Pearl, LP26 Yellow Pearl, LP30 Jade Pearl and LP05 Charcoal Pearl - I meant to grab Black Pearl but messed up) - they came to $3.99 after discount but before HST
- 1 Glitter Mania (GP10 Hot Pink) $3.99 after discount but before HST
- 1 Nail Polish (NP26 Gold Sparkle) $4.99 after discount but before HST
- 1 Jumbo Eye Pencil ( 604 Milk --this was my first time seeing this at my Rexall) $3.99 after discount but before HST
I got for free 2 liners, 1 lip (846-Tangerine) and 1 eye (929-Moss)
Tangerine lip liner on the left, Moss eye liner in the middle and Milk jumbo eye pencil on the right.
The past few weeks here in Toronto have been scorchers, in addition to the strong heat the humidly has made some days feel like they are in the 40's. Like many out there I still want to wear my makeup, but it doesn't want to stay put. Here are a few things that might help.
Mac Paint Pots - while not sweat-proof they do stay put very well in the heat and dewiness. I even mixed my Magenta Chromaline with Girl Friendly Paint pot for a more bold medium pink colour and wore it as an eyeshadow, it was waterproof to say the least (waterproof isn't the word for it, budge-proof maybe?). This stuff stayed put all day, plus running around at night and sweating like I never have sweat before (bolting around an agility class in a building with no AC making it hotter than outside), I ended up with zero smudging.
Makeup Forever Aqua Creams - These babies are gorgeous and meant to be waterproof. They were even tested by Cirque de Sole and one of their water based shows. If you want something that stays all day in this heat and humidity these will do the trick
Mac Pro Chromaline - I reviewed these recently, but I cannot say enough good things about them. If you love Fluidlines but they smudge on you, this is what you need. I wore it all day and it never budged, EVER.
Air Brush Makeup - Even if you don't have an airbrush and compressor, the formulations of the makeup can go on with a sponge, brush or even your fingers; they stay put and are meant for long hot days. Water-based is great, but I sweat a lot on my face in this weather, and sweat is water-based too, so I opt for a silicone-based formula like Temptu's S/B foundation that is waterproof.
Of course other hot weather tips are sunscreen, tinted moisturizer, and waterproof mascara, blotting paper/powder.
I, like many makeup addicts, have organization issues, trying to fit everything where it belongs, in limited spacing is not always as easy as it may seem.
A few years back I discovered these drawer organizers at the Dollarama. They are to be snapped and broken into the lengths you need and the sled together in a grid pattern to create the custom storage you need. I have a rubbermaid style drawer storage system in my washroom, and I use these in 3 of the 4 drawers. I must say that I love them, I sometimes wish they were a little shorter so they didn't hit the top of the drawers, but I could snip them with some sheers if I really wanted to.
what the inserts look like snapped
Pros:
- Cheap, $2 a pack!
- Easy, anyone can use them
- Sturdy
- Multi-Purpose, I also use the in my knife and sock drawers to organize things
- Durable and washable (you spill some pigment and you'll be glad of this)
Cons:
- You might need more need more than one, one does a drawer for me.
- Once you snap them that's it, so mesure carefully
- Can take some time, getting the grids right takes some time (not much)
- May be too tall (I cant put one at the front of my drawers or they wont shut)
I love my Mac Fluidline, really I do, but it just doesn't have the staying power I need for my day to day life. I decided that when I used up all my Blacktrack Fluidline I was not going to repurchase it (gasp), and instead get Mac Pro's Chromaline in Black Black. I have tried Chromaline in Process Magenta and loved how opaque it went on and how incredibly stay put it was, so logically black immediately put onto my shopping list
Since getting Black Black a few months back I must say it has put me back in love with gel/cream liners. It never budges, it goes on in one swipe completely opaque and as black as in the jar and oh so smooth.
It come is a larger jar then the Fuidlines, in fact it is the same size as a Paint Pot (5 g / 0.17 US oz). Only available at pro stores and on Macpro.com, they come in 9 shades that tend to be more bright (after all they are pro products that are meant for more artistic uses). Many are not eye or mouth safe, such as Process Magenta (which I wore on my eyes 6 times on my eyes with no reaction before learning that, so I will keep on doing so).
Discribed on the MacPro site as:
A waterproof gel/cream liner that provides all the smooth graphic benefits of a liquid liner. Creates precise, long-lasting lines of intense colour with dense matte coverage. Versatile palette offers both vibrantly bright and blackened shades. Applies smoothly, sets quickly. Waterproof and smudge-proof. Best when used with professional tools and brushes.
Black Black and Process Magenta
Pros:
- Last all day
- Large pot (Paint Pot sized)
- Made In Canada
- Opaque
- Smooth for applying
- Non-smudging
- Waterproof (Jillojello waterproof is not normal waterproof, I mean it is really going to stay put)
Cons:- Only available at the pro store or macpro.com
- Not all shades are eye safe
- Not much variety in colours; Only 9 shades
Links:
Overall:
Creamy, smooth, opaque, long lasting, non-smudging, waterproof, what else could a girl want??
Personally I think I will slowly get the rest of the CMYK graphic colours (Cyan Magenta Yellow blaK) and white, I'm such a graphic geek that way. BTW those are the 4 colours your printer uses to make all the colours you print, in theory they are the only 4 colours you need to create all the colours you could ever need (in theory).
Today with
Naomi, I went to the Mac store and exchanged the Vanilla pigment I was contemplating returning in my last blog. I instead got Frozen White pigment (a beautiful duo-chrome white with blue sheen). As well I caved and got Partylicious from the Alice + Olivia collection and Delft Paint Pot (brining my paint pot collection to a total of 7).
I love how the Partylicious looks over delft, so in love.
Bottom Delft Paint Pot, right Partylicious Pigment, Left Partylicious with Delft over it.
I also love Frozen White, it is so neat how duo-chromes change when put over a black base.
Frozen White over Black Black Chromaline
Today was the launch of two new Mac Collections, the very large and mineral based In The Groove and the much more modestly sized Alice + Olivia collection.
In The Groove featured 9 Mineralized Eyeshadow Trios, 3 Power Point Eye Pencils, 1 Mascara, 1 Brush, 6 Lipsticks, 6 Creamsheen Glass Lip Glosses, 4 Mineralized Skinfinishes and 5 Mineralized Blush Duos. It is one big collection.
I got a Minerlized Skinfinish in Petticoat, I had never bought a Mineralized Skinfinsh that was not a natural or natural with shimmer, so I thought I would check this pretty pink out.
The Alice + Oliva collection had 3 pigments, 3 nail polishes and 3 Dazzle Glass Cream lip glosses.
I loved the lip glosses but passed on them since I had so many already, defiantly wanted the nice tealy green pigment (called Partylicious) and the white with pink shimmer (If It Sparkles) but I quickly learned that despite the items being in plane packages they were not elligible for Mac's pro discount. Being horidly disapointed I decided I would get Teal and Vanilla pigments from Mac's regular collection. I might exchange the Vanilla pigment for something more like If It Sparkles, like Pink Opal, but I'm still not sure.
Teal and Vanilla Pigments, blended left and unblended on the right
By
Jill Oliver-Fox
Sunday, July 04, 2010
Mac,
mac pro
I remember when I was a teen in the 90's (now I feel old) it was trendy to take a white eyeliner and use it on your waterline to brighten up your eyes, make them look bigger and make them look less red. In fact back then that was the only thing that was used on your waterline (it wasn't heard of to use anything like black or bright colours).
I also remember that I too had followed this trend, not all the time, but enough of the time that I remember liking it. Then time and trends past and I probably haven't done that since around 1998, but it still holds my memory.
Recently I picked up from Mac's Pro store MAC Chromagraphic Pencil in NW25/NC30, it is a nude pencil that works wonders on the waterline. It brightens up the eyes without over powering them like the old white liner would, as well since it is so close to my natural skin colour it can be used to cover any small red areas on my skin.
I feel I can make this work with every look I do, from bold to natural, it ads a little bit of extra contrast to my eyes and makes them pop just right.
Personally my favourite thing about this pencil is how it transforms my eyes from missing something to being done when I use it. I think for any skin tone one of the pencils would beneficial, but I must say for me this is the one.