CARGO Liquid Powder

very useful tool for your makeup bag

this product is very versitile - you use it as you would a loose powder, but it's not going to offer a lot of coverage. instead, it finishes off a look with a radiant finish, and gives you a bit of a glow. this will NOT mattify, but it will help to perfect. if you rub this on you can get very sheer coverage, but you can also pat this on with fingertips and press into the skin for more of a medium coverage. this product is very buildable. my favorite use of this product is to remove makeup! after i've applied eye shadows (particularly very powdery formulas) i often find that some of my shadow has fallen onto my cheekbones. gross! this product is absolutely perfect to remove that - simply put a small amount on fingertips and rub underneath the eye area to remove that fallen shadow and get a perfect look! this product has saved my face on more than one occasion.

September 24, 2008

Cover FX Setting FX Loose Setting Powder

worth a shot

cover fx is a pretty cool line - their foundations cover absolutely everything and look amazingly natural when applied properly, but this setting powder is a complete necessity when using their other products. the foundation never dries on its own, so in order to get a natural finish you MUST use this powder to set! a few tips that i learned from the brand representative - use very sparingly with a large brush, and don't sweep the powder over your applied foundation - instead, pat gently into the skin. once you've applied a layer of foundation and set it with this powder, you can apply more foundation for additional coverage - just remember to set it again! this powder is designed to work with all 32 shades of their cream foundation. i have very fair skin so it hasn't been an issue for me in terms of being too light, but the brand rep that i worked with had beautiful deep chocolate brown skin, and she used the same powder right in front of me - it looks flawless, and not ashy or gray at all.

September 24, 2008

Korres Natural Products Almond Meal Soft Natural Scrub

beautiful product!

if you've never used korres products before, do your skin a favor and try some! gorgeous products with effective and natural ingredients, at a fantastic price point. you can't go wrong! this scrub is incredibly soft, with no rough scrubby bits to irritate the skin. i have very dry and sensitive skin so i'm very critical of scrubs and exfoliants that are marketing towards more delicate skin, but this scrub dramatically improved the texture and moisture levels in my skin. i use it twice a week and it never irritates or damages - just leaves me with smooth, amazing skin! i follow up with their yoghurt cream or wild rose cream. fantastic!

September 24, 2008

Sally Hansen Lip Inflation Extreme

ouch!

i was very excited about the prospect of this product - i am a firm believer in fusion beauty, but the price tag is a bit high! however, when allure magazine sent me a full-size version of this product to try and i gave it a shot, it burned my lips! at first i enjoyed the stinging sensation, although i didn't notice much actual plumping. it did make my lips pinker, as promised. but after an hour or so, i realized that blisters were forming on my lips and my skin was totally dried out. i spent the next few days putting on as many hydrating balms as i could get my hands on, with no relief - and i work at sephora! be aware before you test this - i'm not sure if the product was too strong or i simply had an allergic reaction, but i'm just now recovering from trying this!

September 24, 2008

Nars Blush Bronzer Duo

fabulous!

i simply can't say enough good things about this product. nars o- is one of their best-selling products, as well as one of the most popular blushes out there, and it's easy to see why - the lightweight, peachy-pink gold shimmer blush works on almost every complexion, has a beautiful finish, and is very buildable. and its perfect compliment, laguna bronzer - again, a fantastic product with a gorgeous glow to it. combining the products is a brilliant move by nars, and puts together two of the most beautiful complexion products you can find. even if you don't have time to put on a single other product in the morning, these two colors light up your face and give you a natural glow.

June 5, 2008

Ojon Rub Out Dry Cleanser

not my favorite

this product is great to use occasionally, but i can't use it every day or every other day - my hair is pretty oily, and the buildup leaves it more dull than i'd like. the other big problem is the pump - after awhile, many tend to get stuck and stop working.

May 1, 2008

GoSMILE B1 Whitening System

best whitener i've tried

teeth whiteners are rough because of sensitivity - and goSMILE beats them all in this category alone! the product itself is really simple to use. make sure the product is distributed onto the pad when you apply and you can use the shape of the applicator to really get into all the nooks and crannies afterwards, which i love since my teeth aren't very straight. i didn't use it super consistently - sometimes once a day, sometimes twice a day, and sometimes i'd skip four days before i remembered to do it again - and i still got great results from this product. plus, my gums and teeth have no sensitivity, which i really struggled with using crest whitening strips or other products of this variety. i was surprised to read some negative reviews - you do have to wait 20 minutes after applying before you can eat or drink (even water), and you want to be sure to squeeze all of the product out of the ampoule. other than that, there isn't much that isn't easy about this product. i love it!

May 1, 2008

Vincent Longo Eye Shimmer Souffle

absolutely stunning

I feel like this product is a hidden gem that gets seriously underrated. These shadows blend beautifully into skin and dry into a shimmer, gorgeous powder that lasts all day and never creases or runs. They have a smooth and creamy texture, and a shimmer quality that always gets me compliments when i wear it. Just blend the product over the lid with your fingertips - you can layer and combine several shades, or just wear one alone...they're that beautiful! I like to apply a shimmery powder shadow base (I often use Stila's Kitten) all over, then focus this near the lashline and up to the crease. Gorgeous!

April 24, 2008

LORAC Breakthrough Performance Foundation

fabulous!

I love this foundation! Lorac's entire prime and perfect lineup is a great start for a flawless face, but this foundation really completes the look. It has a creamy, thicker consistency than some (not runny at all), and you only need a small amount to cover the entire face. Plus, the formula is very buildable - if you want more coverage in a certain area, or want to apply more later in the day before going out, it still looks natural. One thing I've found is that if you use your fingers to apply instead of a foundation brush, you can rub in circular motions (the way you would apply moisturizer or night cream) and get heavier coverage.

April 24, 2008

Tarte Cheek Stain

definitely worth a try

Tarte's cheek stains are a really unique type of blush product. The gel base and push-up format make it easy to build color, and the natural-looking stain never looks cakey or fake. They come in a variety of colors for every complexion, and even have some bronze tones as well (the bronze goddess shade gives a beautiful glow for the summer!). All have a gorgeous dewy glow and great staying power. In my experience, the best way to apply it is actually not directly from the tube, but with your fingertips. Rub some onto the back of your hand or right onto your fingers, then start with the apples of your cheeks in circular motions. You can apply several layers or even mix shades to get exactly the look you want.

April 24, 2008