Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream WetForce Broad Spectrum SPF 50+

Favorite heavy-Duty Sunscreen

I bought this for a trip to Hawaii, hoping to keep the melasma on my face at bay in the intense sun and also hoping it would stand up to a lot of swimming and snorkeling. This sunscreen really delivered! So, for the good: I liked the smoothness of this - it goes on nicely, rubs in, doesn't have an icky white cast even though it is high SPF. I can easily apply makeup on top of this. My skin is actually less oily when using this - and the makeup ends up staying better with less oil breakthrough. When using this more for outdoors (swimming etc) it totally holds up in the water. I would use this in the morning and swim much of the day and NEVER burn and hardly even get any color on my face! If you want serious protection this is the sunscreen for you. It really holds up. And I have no issues with breaking out from this either. The not-so-perfect: I actually had a little trouble with the fragrance in this for about the first three days - I kept sneezing! The fragrance is nice, I just didn't tolerate it well at first. But this problem stopped after those first days and I have not experienced it since. Someone particularly sensitive to fragrance might have trouble though. The only other issue is that you really need to take this off at night with a cleansing oil. It is very tenacious, which is good, but oil is the only thing that will completely take it off. I use DHC olive oil cleanser and there are other good brands of cleansing oil that do the job.

February 17, 2008

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup

Great Foundation

A few years ago, I noticed the ad campaign they launched for this and decided to try it. The search never ends for a "better" foundation! Since then, I have found nothing better. I actually prefer stores like Sephora where I can try on stuff myself, but I bit the bullet and hit the makeup counter. I usually am turned off by mediocre makeup application, sometimes poor color matching, and high pressure sales pitches. This day I got lucky though, and the woman gave me Ecru which is the most beautiful color I've had on my skin ever. It matches every tone, and even seems to work in summer and winter, when my skin is slighter darker and lighter (not too much! - I don't purposely tan!). I explained to her that I never buy unless I've tried a sample and she very happily gave me a vial sample. After a week of use from that vial, I was hooked! This has great coverage. It says medium, but it is pretty strong coverage for me. It has a beautiful finish - not chalky or matte but not shiny either, and it is not cakey. Does it deliver on the 15 hour claim? Well, not quite, but granted, I feel that is pretty much impossible on oily skin like mine. What I do get is many hours of budge-proof wear that I occasionally, towards the end of the day, have to blot a little and smooth over a few creasy areas (around nose etc), and a beautiful natural color on my skin! I haven't found anything better yet, although I regularly try other stuff. This tends to be my go-to foundation!

February 17, 2008

Stila Eye Shadow Pan

Haven't Found Better Yet!

I have tried eyeshadow brand after eyeshadow and haven't found anything that is better for me. Many of the colors are great for me (fair, blond, blue-eyed) and this shadow stays put after hours of use. Some of the good points: This glides on very smoothly and blends easily (assuming use of a good brush). I love the shimmer in many of their colors. I am not much for matte shadows in general - they tend to look muddy on me, and the shimmer in these shadows is very fine. I think they make my eyes noticably brighter. The overall effect of these shadows is sophisticated and beautiful without being too boring. Colors are multidimensional, which makes them even prettier. I have used other expensive brands that do not have colors that go on so beautifully. This shadow, of the many I have tried, stays on the longest. I get the tiniest amount of creasing in the crease of my eyelid after about 4-5 hours, which I easily blend away if I am out. Most other shadows I use crease fairly quickly and in a greater amount, even brands that are far more expensive. It is true that you either have to buy - for an additional $2 - a case to hold the pan, or if you want multiple pans, a compact holding 4 for $14. This is a bit expensive. I went for the compact of four and have filled it with my favorite shades and I love that aspect of it, despite the cost. I also have some of their special edition eyeshadows which come in a variety of cases already. Media Darling from 2003 was a great one with 4 shadows. Each season they tend to offer a more cost-effective option if that is what you are looking for. Look for Kitten, which is the best universally flattering basic colored shimmer (love it!!). Only con: be careful during travel - the compact does not necessarily protect the shadows from crumbling when tossed around on airlines.

February 17, 2008