QUICK TIP - Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + Foundation

QUICK TIP - Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + Foundation

From Make Up For Ever:

In case of very oily skin, mix Mat Velvet + with a small amount of All Mat. Aply where needed or across the entire face.

 I happen to own both the MUFE Mat Velvet + Foundation and the MUFE All Mat Primer but never knew about mixing the two together. After reading this advice on the Make Up For Ever website I had to give it a try. Who knew? This gives a great oil-free and shine-free matte effect which I love and this way I don't have to layer product on top of product. Just mix and apply. Interesting concept. Maybe it would work for other primers and foundations too....off to experiment....

Do you guys know any other tips and advice for commonly used makeup products? Feel free to share (you may be quoted in a TIP post). Thanks!

Eye Shadow Primer vs. Eye Shadow Base

Eye Shadow Primer vs. Eye Shadow Base

I have been asked many times why I use two eyeshadow primers or bases. Maybe this post can help everyone understand the method to my madness.

First off, this is based on my specific needs and preferences. I have oily lids and I like bright vivid eyeshadow colors.

The terms eyeshadow base and eyeshadow primer have been used interchangeably for as long as I have known makeup. I use the terms separately and I'll define them my way so you guys can see where I'm coming from.

MY Definitions and Uses:

Eye Shadow Primer
A lightweight cream/emulsion that is applied as the first layer to prepare eyelids for eyeshadow application and is usually a neutral color or invisible on skin. A primer creates a barrier between your skin and makeup. It seals the oils of your skin away from eyeshadow for long lasting wear and provides protection against creasing and fading of your makeup. It can also help to make eyeshadow easier to blend.

My picks...NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, Too Faced Shadow Insurance, Urban Decay Primer Potion (depot nightmare though).

Eye Shadow Base
A eyeshadow primer and base are similar but not the same in my eyes. An eyeshadow base is also cream/emulsion that is applied to eyelids prior to eyeshadow but is usually thicker in consistency and offered in a variety of colors. However, an eyeshadow base may not prevent creasing or fading of the colors or help with long lasting wear. The primary purpose of an eyeshadow base is to intensify the color of eyeshadow by providing a base for the makeup to adhere to. I add these on top of the eyeshadow primer.

My picks...MAC Paintpots, MUFE Aqua Cream Colors

I also like....Urban Decay Cream Eyeshadows, Too Faced Lock Down Cream Eyeshadows - both of these incorporate the brand's primer in their formula. You can also use gel eyeliners or NYX Jumbo Pencils but remember gel eyeliners are drier in texture so work quickly and NYX Jumbo Pencils are very creamy and may crease if you use too much. MAC Paints, Shadesicks and Greasepaint Sticks also do the job.

MY Why:

When I just started using makeup I was prone to my eyeshadow creasing after about 30 minutes because of my oily lids. Even without makeup my lids would have an oily film within a couple of hours. Add to that my eyeshadows had poor color payoff and blending was a chore. Too Faced Shadow Insurance came to my rescue and showed me the way.

An eyeshadow primer helps create a smooth, even, oil-free canvas for my eyeshadow application. My eyeshadows started to glide on easily and blending wasn't so much of a workout anymore.

And then came the eyeshadow bases and MAC Painterly Paintpot. For me eyeshadow bases helped with my eyeshadow vibrancy and created an even better canvas for eyeshadows. My colors really started to show up bright and vivid - love!

But why not just use the Painpot alone? Doesn't it do the same thing by itself?

Simple answer for me...NO! Maybe for others this is all well and good but for me not so much.

Here's why....

• Main reason for me..creasing! Any cream eyeshadow or product will crease on my eyelids without a primer underneath it. Yes even MAC Paintpots crease on my oily lids.
• MAC Paintpots, MUFE Aqua Cream Colors and other cream eyeshadows that I use for bases can be drying and tug at my bare skin. By using a primer I already have a smooth layer for the cream product to glide onto.

TIPS:

• Lighter colored bases help to intensify the color bright eyeshadows versus darker colored bases which can dull bright colors. Even for darker skin still use a lighter neutral color rather than one that matches your skin. the darker color will dull your eyeshadows.
• Dark colored or black bases bring out the hidden color in duo-chrome eyeshadows.
• Neutral or skin tone bases work well with all colors but using a similar color base will help bring out the true color of your eyeshadows.
• For subtle color just use a primer without a base.
• If you can get away with just using a base without creasing then by all means go for it!

Remember this is just MY way of doing things to achieve MY desired looks. Makeup is personal and you should always make it work for you. Do what you find works best for your preferences.

Hope that helps when wondering why I do the things I do.... : )

Stila One Step Correct - Thoughts...

Stila One Step Correct - Thoughts...

Skin tone correcting, brightening serum

swirl your way to perfect skin in one step.

this innovative triple-swirled helix serum instantly color corrects, brightens, primes and nourishes the skin.

one step correct immediately improves skin tone, evens out your complexion and helps smooth fine lines.

- green - minimizes redness 

- lavender - counteracts sallow undertones 

- peach - brightens, illuminates and helps diminish the appearance of sun spots

YOUTH REVIVAL Bio-Available Mineral Complex from ARCLAY

- diminishes the look of fine lines & wrinkles

- minimizes pores

- hydrates & balances

- controls oil

I purchased this at the NYC Makeup Show back in May. I have been using this on the weekends when I use minimal makeup and focus mainly on the appearance of my skin. I didn't want to do a review until it was closer to the official debut. Stila is supposed to release this in the summer in addition to their new one step makeup line. They have already released the one step foundation which uses the same YOUTH REVIVAL Bio-Available Mineral Complex from ARCLAY.

Thoughts...

My 4 P's -

PRICE

This holds 1 fl. oz and I am not sure how much it will cost (I forget how much I paid plus it was discounted at the time). I assume it will be priced between $30 and $44 based on Stila's price line for their primers and foundations. This is in line with Smashbox and Make Up For Ever. 

PACKAGING

The product comes in a normal cylindrical container with a pump dispenser. This is one of the best pump dispensers I have ever encountered on a product like this. The pump is perfect for dispensing from a small amount to a full pump without any trouble. You only need a very small amount for your entire face so the pump works out perfectly.

PRODUCT

The product itself is a gorgeous swirl of green, lavender and peach correctors suspended in a clear primer/moisturizer. The overall look is enough for me to want to own one step. But the product is divine. It's a silky smooth but does not have the silicone feel of other primers. It dries to a semi matte finish and doesn't leave a greasy feeling behind.

PERFORMANCE

Stila professes that this is a multi-purpose product which combines moisturizer, skin corrector and foundation primer in one. 

Corrector...?

one step combines three color correctors in green, lavender and peach to help counteract redness, sallowness and dull skin. I don't have too much redness so I can't vouch for this one but it did help to even and brighten my skin tone. It left my skin with a nice subtle glow.

Moisturizer...?

There is also a moisturizer which work well on my oily skin without leaving me greasy. It absorbs well into the skin and dries down to a semi-matte finish but still leaves a glow to my skin. I was surprised by this because I didn't feel like I needed an additional moisturizer at all. It also claims to control oil which I have to agree with. It's not the best oil control product on the market but it did help to keep most oiliness at bay.

Primer...?

The correctors are swirled and suspended in a clear primer which should help diminish fine lines and wrinkles and minimize pores. Ummm...I don't know. I don't have many fine lines or wrinkles to speak of just yet and my pores weren't impressed by this. It did help my foundation apply smoothly but then again so does my moisturizer and kabuki brush. My foundation lasted as long as it does on most days so I'm not sure how much this added to that fact. I can say that my foundation didn't slip or slide off my face like with the MAC or Smashbox Primers I have tried.

Overall...
I find it to be a very very nice corrector, moisturizer, primer combo. The only one I know of on the market. I will not be surprised if we see others to follow. It's a serum so a little goes a very long way with this. Even if it's $40 a pop, I still still it's a good price for the amount of product versus amount for each usage. I do enjoy this product quite a bit and while it may not be a part of my daily regimen it's definite a must-grab for great skin days. I will repurchase...but maybe not for daily use.

MAC Oil Control Lotion REVIEW

MAC Oil Control Lotion REVIEW

From MAC:


The ultimate no-shine base for oil control. Natural exfoliants help improve texture and clarity. Lightweight and instantly matte, bonds makeup to the skin for fewer touch-ups. Oil-free hydration with natural colloidal minerals and antioxidants. Formulated to keep skin pH-balanced. Use day or night.
50 ml / 1.7 fl oz
US$29.50

From Me:

I tend to do some research before I invest in any makeup or skincare product and found that the MAC Oil Control Lotion received mixed reviews. So I wanted to test this product out for a few weeks before I did a review so that I could get a real feel for the product. 

First off I am an oily girl. LOL. Let's make that clear. I have major problems in my T-zone and can look like I had a grease bath by the end of a long day. But I'm happy to be oily since oily skin has less aging issues down the road.

My 4 P's...


The Packaging is ideal. It comes in a pump action bottle much like Fix + with the added locking function. The pump dispenses small amounts of product at a time allowing for great control of how much is used. It's compact and easy to travel with because of the locking feature of the pump. No unintentional squirting in your luggage here.

The Price is a bit on the high side but when compared to similar high end products it falls in line. One bottle will last almost a year or more depending on how much you use it so it's worth it to me.

The Product itself is a lightweight lotion that goes on clear and dries down to a matte finish. It leaves your skin feeling moisturized but not tight as a lot of mattifiers have been know to do. It sinks into the skin pretty well with no greasy feeling left over. It also does not have the slippery feel of silicone based primers. Many people use this as a primer in addition to their moisturizer because it is so lightweight. Personally I don't need an additional moisturizer since this gives me just the right amount I need. It blends well with my foundation and helps it stay in place all day.

The Performance for me has been superb! The effects are gradual as it is for many skincare products. The first day I used it I was impressed but not overly so since I still had to touch up during the day. By the 5th day I was down to 1 touch-up versus 3. And by week 2 I did not touching up over my 9 hour days. So don't expect instant gratification with this product. Just give it a week for better results.

 I will buy this product over and over! This is now my go to moisturizer/primer! This comes Highly Recommended by moi!