Elf High Definition Powder Review

The e.l.f. High Definition Powder is a translucent, versatile loose powder that creates a flawless, "soft focus" effect to the skin. Masks fine lines and imperfections for a glowing, radiant complexion. This incredibly soft and invisible powder is ideal for everyday wear, either alone or over foundation. 

The microfine particles are designed to be used with high-definition camera technology or for everyday wear. Apply powder all over the face for a professional and youthful look of perfection.

INGREDIENTS: Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica.
AVAILABILITY:  eyeslipsface.com
PRICE: $6 USD
SIZE: 3.5 oz
VALUE FOR PRICE: 5/5
APPLICATION: 5/5
PACKAGING: 4/5
MEETS EXPECTATIONS: 4.5/5
OVERALL PRODUCT: 5/5 


PROS:
□ Very smooth, velvety texture
□ Face looks softer and smoother
□ Creates a flawless finish
□ Pores appear smaller
□ Makeup does not settle into fine lines
□ Keeps makeup in place
□ Helps to mattify the face
□ A lot of product in the jar
□ Lightweight
□ Translucent finish, great for different skin tones
□ Inexpensive alternative to high-end setting powders (e.g., MAC Prep + Prime and MUFE HD Powder)

CONS:
□ Messy
□ Packaging is slightly bulky
□ Does not control shine throughout the day
□ Can leave a white cast
□ Can look cakey if too much is applied

FINAL THOUGHTS:
□ As it states on their website it is great for photographing because it gives your skin a nice radiant look to it but I find that it doesn't last all day for me. Using it to set your makeup works great but if you tend to get oily throughout the day then you'll probably need to touch up after a couple of hours. I recommend this for all skin types but I suggest those who have dryer skin to use less because it can look heavy if too much is applied.

□ It's a little bit bothersome to see a white cast on my face because when I photograph myself there's an apparent difference between my face and my neck (which I hate!) So after doing a lot of trial and error I find that using less is more in my case. I like to use a fluffy brush to apply this powder all over my face such as Sigma's Kabuki Buffer Brush.

DISCLAIMER: The products reviewed on this blog are based on the opinions and experiences of the author. This product was purchased by the author and in no way was this review influenced by the company of the product.

Product Review: Petal Fresh Whitening Facial Clay Masque, Before & After

I went to this local cosmetics beauty store in San Diego (Chula Vista to be exact) called Cosmetics Palace. They sell a lot of inexpensive cosmetics in bulk such as nail products, false eyelashes, makeup brushes, etc. You won't find your high-end luxury makeup brands there that's for sure. To be honest, I even saw fake MAC products on their counter but of course I had no intentions of purchasing it.

The only time I stop by this place is to restock on false eyelashes because they sell one of my favorite brand of lashes, Elegant Lashes. They also sell a lot of NYX and Jordana cosmetics as well. My first time ever coming to this place I saw my favorite facial mask which is the Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque and at the time I was already stocked on that product. I recently ran out and decided to make a quick stop to purchase it but unfortunately they didn't have it. I did manage to find that masque at Bed Bath & Beyond but that's another story!

Anyway, I was looking at this section where they had other facial masks and I came across this one by Petal Fresh. Now to be honest, I have never heard of this brand but I was tempted to buy it because it was a WHITENING clay masque which I needed terribly because of my post acne scars that wouldn't go away. I was on the fence about purchasing it because it looked pretty generic to me and I was afraid to put any unfamiliar products on my face. But I went with my gut feeling and I bought it and I have to say that this product does work for the most part. Just look at the before and after picture! You can see exactly where I had the most problematic areas in the before picture. Although in the packaging it states that results may be visible within 8 weeks of continuous use, this is the result of just 4 weeks! Amazing right?! I could only imagine how much better my skin will be after 8 weeks of use considering the visible results I got in just half the time.

This is the result of just 4 weeks of continuous use

I try to use this product about twice a week.

Once on the weekdays and once on the weekend.

AVAILABILITY:  As far as I know I have only seen this at my local cosmetics store. I'm not sure about the availability of it online.
PRICE: $3-$5 USD

SIZE: 150 ml (6 fl oz)

VALUE FOR PRICE: 5/5

EASE OF USE: 5/5

PACKAGING: 5/5

MEETS EXPECTATIONS: 5/5

OVERALL USE: 5/5

WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT? For people who can't get rid of post acne scars and redness then yes, I highly recommend it!

WOULD I PURCHASE THIS PRODUCT AGAIN? Yes!

PROS:

→ Fast results although it may vary between others using it.

→ Inexpensive.

→ No tingly feeling which is a love/hate factor for me. Sometimes I like it sometimes I don't.

→ Applies smoothly. It almost feels like you're just applying lotion on your face.

→ Consistency is great. It's not too thick.

→ No harsh odors.

→ Has a slight scent of green tea which to smells a lot better than perfume smells.

→ Dries fast.

CONS:

→ It does not say anything about preventing or diminishing the appearance of pimples.

→ May be difficult to find.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

→ When using products that whiten your face, it's important that you don't expose your skin directly in the sunlight especially after using a product like this. It may cause redness and irritation and could also defeat the purpose of the product. So I highly suggest using this product only at night.

OVERALL:
→ At first I didn't see any obvious differences when I would see myself in the mirror. But the pictures have made me believe otherwise. So I am very happy with this product! Even if my face isn't close to flawless yet, I'm extremely satisfied with the results. I have had a lot of problems with post acne scars and hyperpigmentation on my face and this whitening masque has helped a lot at diminishing them.

→ Although it says that it helps cleanse pores, I wasn't looking so much into that so I haven't really noticed any dramatic differences in my pores. I mainly bought this for the purpose of whitening my complexion.

DISCLAIMER: The products reviewed on this blog are based on the opinions and experiences of the author. This product was purchased by the author and in no way was this review influenced by the company of the product.

What's Inside Your Medicine Cabinet?

What's inside your medicine cabinet? I just randomly decided to take a picture of what's inside my medicine cabinet to share with everyone. It is somewhat beauty related so why the heck not! I have my own bathroom at home (I still live with my parents -__-) so it's nice to have a bathroom all to myself. This particular medicine cabinet is frameless with recessed mirrors and adjustable shelves. So basically, it's covered with mirrors! I usually keep my skincare products inside of mine since I'm at the sink washing my face anyway. That way I can reach for my facial cleanser and moisturizer when I need it. Keep in mind this is not where everything is kept. I have other shelves in my bathroom that contain other facial necessities and such but this post is only dedicated to my medicine cabinet. :)

Top row: I have a travel size baby powder for when I would travel. I don't use it that much but I have used it as an alternative to my dry shampoo even though it doesn't work nearly as well. It sucks actually, lol. I keep an empty spray bottle that had makeup remover in it but it's empty now. I keep Anbesol in the very back put you can't see it and my deodorant as well as this mud mask for your body from Bath & Body Works. I don't use it but I have no other place to keep it so it stays there! I also have a few hair styling products that have been collecting dust for quite some time now.

Middle row: This is where I keep my toners, pore masks, teeth whiteners and a few of my perfumes. I think my perfume looks really random there but again, I was just filling up space at the time so I decided to put a few in there.

Bottom row: This is where I keep some of my facial cleansers and face masks. I'm currently using St. Ives as my facial cleanser and exfoliator. Next to it I keep my contact lens solution. I don't usually wear contact lenses. The only time I ever wear them is to do a look or if I feel like being a little more festive. I have this Estee Lauder Night Repair serum and this prescription face cream when I used to have a lot of breakouts. Next to that I have this whitening mask which I'm currently testing out. I just bought it 2 weeks ago so I'm still on the fence about it. I'm hoping to do a review on it soon! The pink bottle is my moisturizer and next to it is my Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask which I recently restocked on. I couldn't find it at this place where I usually saw them but I finally found them at Bed Bath & Beyond. I also keep my Perricone eye cream, Cetaphil for when my skin gets oily, and mouth wash!

What's in your medicine cabinet?

Tina Marie's Current Summer Face

I wanted to share with my readers what my current foundation is during the summertime and all the necessities that I need to keep my foundation in place. It gets pretty hot where I live and that last thing I want to do is wear my high-end foundation when it's just going to eventually melt off my face. These products have so far lived up to my expectations and I hope it does for some of you.

My skin type: oily/combination (oily on my nose and forehead, dry on my cheeks)
Disclaimer:  Please be aware that these products may work well for my skin, but it may not work as well for others.

Products from left to right:
Oil Off Paper. Also known as oil-blotting sheets. You can pretty much use any brand you like. I hear Starbucks napkins and those disposable toilet paper seat covers work just as great! I bought this particular one at Mitsuwa. This works great for me because over time, my nose gets extremely oily in this heat. So it's important that I touch up with an oil-blotting sheet just to remove any excess oil on my face. Remember to blot, not wipe to keep your makeup in place!

L'Oreal True Match Foundation. I'm a W6 (Sun Beige) in this foundation. It matches my skin suprisingly well even though it looks dark when I swatch it on my hand. This foundation is great because it's lightweight, it's inexpensive, and it has SPF of 17. This also has great, buildable coverage without the look and feel of it being cakey.

Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder. In Translucent. This is by far my favorite setting powder. It beats my MAC MSF Natural. I can't even begin to tell you why I love this product. Not only does it completely set your entire makeup but it makes your face absolutely flawless. It makes your pores less visible, it gives you a nice smooth finish on top of your makeup, and you can easily powder this on over your blush and it won't budge your makeup at all. I used to use Bare Minerals Mineral Veil but ever since I came across this loose setting powder, I don't even think twice about using anything else to set my makeup. This is definitely a must-have if you want your makeup to last all day.

Sonia Kashuk Tinted Moisturizer. I chose the shade in Linen, although I would've picked Beige as well. I somehow leaned more towards Linen. Both shades blended well into my skin and considering that these were tinted moisturizers, I didn't expect too much coverage. But I realized that this particular tinted moisturizer is very buildable. I really like how this tinted moisturizer blends into my skin. It almost blends in flawlessly. A tinted moisturizer is a really good alternative to using foundation because it's not has heavy as your typical foundation and yet it's definitely buildable. I really like this tinted moisturizer because it has SPF 15 so I could be comfortable using this for a day out and not look crazy with a face full of heavy foundation.

What is your current Summer Face?

Perricone High Potency Eye Lift (GIVEAWAY TIME!) CLOSED!

If you're like me and you suffer from fine lines under your eyes, or even if you want to diminish the look of bags and wrinkles, then this product could be for you! I'm one of those people who naturally have fine lines under my eyes and in order for me to prevent from having any more lines and wrinkles, a really good eye treatment is in called for. If you're on the same boat as me or if you just want prevent any signs of aging before they even start then I am very pleased to say that N V Perricone is offering one lucky reader one bottle of their High Potency Eye Lift treatment. This fast absorbing eye treatment from Perricone MD cosmeceuticals will give you the instant eye lift that you need to help lift, brighten, tighten, and tone your delicate eye area.

How to Enter:

→ Leave a comment on this blog post telling me why the High Potency Eye Lift is the product for you.

Rules:
→ Entries must be submitted by August 1st, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST.
→ One submission per person.
→ Giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only.
→ The winner will be chosen randomly. If you don't have a blog please leave an e-mail address where you can be notified. 
→ The winner's information will be given to the sponsor of Perricone MD and they will ship the prize to you.

Product Review: Merlot Natural Grape Seed Moisturizer

The reason why I decided to try out this new moisturizer was because I noticed my face was getting really oily and the moisturizer I was currently using was not helping with my oiliness at all! It was actually making it a lot worse. I purchased this moisturizer with the help of Christiana Divine because she also uses this moisturizer and it seems to work wonders on her skin.


The reason why I'm using this moisturizer for my oily skin is because it's not like your typical creamy moisturizers that sometimes leaves your face feeling sticky. This moisturizer has a very light consistency and it absorbs quickly. This moisturizer reminds me of Clinique's Moisture Surge which has a gel-creme like consistency.


What it is: MERLOT is made of natural red grape seed polyphenals. It offers sensational antioxidant properties thereby helping to inhibit the aging process. MERLOT is fragrance free, non-oily, absorbs quickly.


AVAILABLE AT: Walgreens
PRICE: $15 USD
SIZE: 4 fl oz (118 ml)
VALUE FOR PRICE: 4/5
EASE OF USE: 4/5
PACKAGING: 3/5
MEETS EXPECTATIONS: 3/5
OVERALL USE: 3/5


PROS:
→ Comes in a big jar with a lot of product inside it. Can last you a long time!
→ Has SPF 15
→ Has sort of a pleasant soapy smell to it which isn't horrible. (Others describe it as grapefruit but I beg to differ)
→ Non-oily which is ideal for people who already have oily skin.
→ Leaves your skin feeling hydrated, refreshed, and smooth.
→ Can be used day or night.
→ Absorbs quickly
→ Made my skin less oily.
→ Has anti-aging antioxidants
→ It comes with a travel size container when you purchase it. (15 ml)

CONS:
→ I felt that it absorbed TOO MUCH of my skin's natural oils that it kind of made my skin a little dry around my chin.
→ My nose gets the most oily and this did maintain the oiliness around there but it was still slightly oily.
→ Because it's so light and absorbs almost like water, I feel like I had to put on more to feel like I'm getting enough moisture.
→ The packaging says it's fragrance free but it's not.
→ Having to dip your finger into the jar isn't very sanitary.
→ After my first night of using this product I grew about 3 pimples on my forehead but they've subsided quickly after that.
→ More ideal for people who have oily skin. (can also be a plus!)

OVERALL:
→ I have only been using this moisturizer for about a week. So far I like it, but I don't love it. It has its up and its downs and I'm going to continue using because it does a much better job at maintaining the oiliness on my face than my previous moisturizer. The only irritation I've had with this product was the dry patchiness around my chin but I'm not sure if this is caused by the moisturizer. I also let my boyfriend use the small travel size container that it comes with because he CLAIMS he has oily skin. But he said it left his face feeling irritated.

WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT? Yes only if you have oily skin.
WOULD I PURCHASE AGAIN? As much as I like this product, I have to love it before I consider repurchasing. And so far this product is just okay for me.

DISCLAIMER: The products reviewed on this blog are based on the opinions and experiences of the author. This product was purchased by the author and in no way was this review influenced by the company of the product.

Product Review: Ly-Na Pearl Cream

For starters, I've grown some major balls to post these pictures of myself without any make-up on. So what you are about to see may not be at all appealing. So if you just had a big dinner or if you're the type to get queezy fast, keep in mind that viewer discretion is advised. LOL. Haha just kidding. It ain't THAT bad! I hope...

PRODUCT DISCRIPTION:
→ Removes blackheads, pimples, ephelis and wrinkles.
→ If your acne becomes worse, it is because you haven't properly cleaned your skin prior to application.
→ When using this cream, protect your skin from sunlight.


ACTIVE INGREDIENTS:
- Stearic Acid, Centanol, Lanolin, Glyceryl Monostearate, Isopropyl Myristate, Sulfur, Perfume, Ion Exchange Water, Glycerine, Potassium Hydroxide, Pearl Powder.

CAN BE PURCHASED AT: Seafood City, other asian markets. veryasia.com, etc.
PRICE: $2.79
SIZE: 10 g
VALUE FOR PRICE: 5 out of 5
MEETS EXPECTATIONS: 3 out of 5
OVERALL RATING: 3 out of 5







HOW I USE THIS PRODUCT:
→ Cleanse face thoroughly
→ Spray face with water using spray bottle
→ Apply a lot of cream and massage onto face [applied heavily to certain areas]
→ Cleanse face the next morning

PROS:
→ Inexpensive
→ Leaves your face feeling soft & smooth
→ Brightens your face
→ Makes pimples less visible & removes redness from pimples


CONS:
→ Smells like an old lady [you get used to it so after a while it's not so bad]
→ Not easy to find, depends where you live
→ Packaging sucks & it's too shallow


OVERALL:
→ When I first bought this cream I was excited to try it since a lot of you ladies swear by it that it's the "holy grail". When I first tried it the first time, I didn't see much of a difference. Then Anne told me not to apply too much. So the next time I tried it, I made sure I applied only a thin layer. The next morning, still... no difference. So for about a week I stopped using it.

Then I saw that Iyah did a product review on this cream and the results were so crazy! Her face looked so good I was jealous. She told me she applies A LOT of this stuff to her face. So I thought that if it didn't work using a little bit of this product the first time, then maybe if I apply a lot of it, it'll work better. In the end it did clear up for the most part but just not completely. Which is why I give this product an overall 3 out of 5.

I still plan on using this product and I'm still hoping to see a difference. I also don't use it every night. I use it about 3 nights straight and I skip about another 3 nights and I continue using it again. Not only do I not want to make my face too white but it's also a pain to make sure you don't get it on your pillows when you're sleeping at night. Hehehe.

BEFORE

AFTER

DISCLAIMER: The products reviewed on this blog are based on the opinions and experiences of the author. This product was purchased by the author and in no way was this review influenced by the company of the product.

Ly-Na Pearl Face Cream

I finally bought the Ly-Na Pearl Face Cream because I've heard so many good reviews on it. I bought it at Seafood City for $2.79. When I bought it, I imagined it being a little bit bigger but for the price it gives, I firgured it was well worth the cost. The packaging is also pretty cheap and it's pretty funny because when you open the box you see a picture of a man. Haha, big shocker!


Anyway, the smell isn't too bad but it reminds me a lot of my grandma. I don't know if that ever happens to you, but you know when you're so used to smelling that familiar smell, and you smell something just like it, it brings you back. Haha, I don't know if that makes sense but right when I smelt it, I automatically thought of my grandma. Haha. Maybe she uses this stuff. :P


I'll most def do a review on it soon with before & after pictures. I have a few pimple scars on my forehead and around my chin area so hopefully this stuff will work its magic on me. :)