Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Liquid Foundation

Excellent coverage

I have oily, acne-prone skin that is prone to scarring. My sister had bought this foundation for herself but ended up not using it because it wasn't her skin tone. Lucky for me, it matched my skin tone perfectly, so I have been using it ever since. This is a great foundation if you are looking for medium to heavy coverage. It gives a very natural look and I find that I don't need concealer. I apply this product using a synthetic foundation brush. I found that my acne does not get better or worse with this product. It wears pretty well, maybe 6-8 hours, but the longer you have it on, the more shiny-faced you get, so I recommend using a powder in conjunction with this product or carrying blotting sheets. If you like the coverage of Bare Minerals (and that made you break out) or Make Up For Ever's Matte Velvet , then I would recommend this product. It gives the coverage of mineral makeup minus the mess and it is more affordable than MUFE products.

May 2, 2013

Lush Jungle Conditioner

Underrated product that needs extra work on your part to really love it

I used to work for Lush, and before that, I was a customer for several years (so that makes about 6 years altogether, give or take). I remember when Jungle came out. The hardcore customers (Lushies) were excited, because for years they were asking for a solid conditioner to go along with the solid shampoos that Lush sold. Okay, on with the review. This is one of those typical pain in the butt products Lush is known for, where you have to put in a bit of effort to really "get" it. Once you get the hang of it, you realize how versatile this product is. So it's solid. How do you use it? There are various ways that customers use it, and the sales associate may show you another way. If you stroke it directly on your hair, you're not going to think you have enough conditioning, and will keep on adding more conditioner, only to realize after washing your hair that it's become a gross greasy mess. Here's how I use it, and here's how I demoed it to customers: pinch off a bit of Jungle, about the size of your thumbnail. Put it between the palms of your hands and rub vigourously until the product is emulsified and makes a creamy white paste. Then apply it to damp hair, concentrating on the ends. Leave it on as long as you like (it is a conditioner that doesn't contain silicones so I leave it in for the duration of my shower). Rinse out. Lovely soft hair! I have typical stick straight, slightly coarse, fine Asian hair, and I love this product. I also have used it for shaving and sometimes as a lotion if my hands got dry in the store. You can also take a little bit (just a little) and use it as a pomade. I would also take a piece and mix it with a salt or sugar scrub for extra moisturizing properties. That's one of the things about Lush products: you end up finding other uses for them. I love the scent, too. There is no patchouli oil in this product. It smells very green and fresh, but not in a dirty hippie way. Usually, I like to buy a chunk (as soft of a batch as I can get) and put it in my own container and mash/whip it with a fork. Then it's a lot easier to use when you're in a rush. Sadly, this product has gotten very expensive so it's not something I would buy anymore. But if you travel or are open to trying new thngs, give it a try. I recommend going to a Lush store and requesting a sample of Jungle versus buying it online.

April 30, 2008

Murad Waterproof Sunblock SPF 30

Smells good but is really greasy

I impulsively bought a small tube of this at Sephora (that point-of-purchase area always gets you!). I had been using Neutrogena Dry Touch Sunblock with SPF 30/45 for a few years now and wondered if high-end products were better. Conclusion? Depends on the brand, but Murad's sunblock is not it. It smells great but it is very greasy and took a while to absorb into the skin. I primarily used this on my face, as I was looking for sun protection in that area, and the tube I bought was more of a trial size. I do not spend a lot of time in the sun and therefore couldn't really judge if this product helped prevent sunburn. For $8 for a small tube, its price tag was reasonable enough. I'd rather spend that $8 at Target and get my tried and true Neutrogena Dry Touch Sunblock, though.

April 30, 2008