BlushPretty: Make-up Artistry Weblog

covergirl clean pressed powder

by Siobhan B.

I have recently been using COVERGIRL’s Clean Pressed Powder for Sensitive Skin in Buff Beige and I’m torn in several different ways.

First, the colour looks like it would suit my skin perfectly but tit does go on a tiny little bit too dark - just a bit. Second, (as almost all the reviews I read online about the product said) the packaging is absolutely horrific. It’s very bulky and extremely difficult to open.  Last but not least, with respect to the coverage and finish of the foundation - I liked it. I don’t like it as much as the COVERGIRL Smoothers Pressed Powder but it does give my skin a natural, soft look.

On the website they say that this powder is supposed to control oil and shininess. I found that it worked just like any other powder and there wasn’t anything particularly different about this one. It has no smell, my skin didn’t get irritated, and I didn’t have any breakouts from wearing it so I would say that it delivers on the sensitive skin bit.

What I have been doing with this powder is wearing my normal foundation and powder (which is the COVERGIRL Smoothers) and then swiping this across my cheekbones and collar bone, sort of like a contour. There’s no way that this powder is THAT off from my colour, but it does tend to give my skin a little bit of a pop. I don’t, however, like to use it all over my face.

All in all, I give Clean Pressed Powder for Sensitive Skin by COVERGIRL a 6 out of 10 - mainly bumped down because of the annoying packaging!

-bp-

that's what the intern says ... herbal essences set me up gel

by Siobhan Beyer

Hair, hair, hair, hair, hair!

Every girl loves talking about this topic, right? Well, I’ve got the down low on some Herbal Essences gel I’ve been trying out. So to start off, I should probably let you know that I don’t have long hair. My hair is JUST long enough to put in a tiny little pony tail, but it’s extremely fun to style. So, naturally, I’m a bit of a hair product junkie. 

Herbal Essences Set Me Up Gel is maximum hold, so you would assume that it would have lots of super holding powers. The first time I used it my hair was dry so ... it sort of worked ... but not as well as some of the other products I have.

I read on the back that to get the best results, you run it through your hair when it’s damp and then blow dry your head. Okay. Well, problem number one: I don’t blow dry my hair … ever. But for the sake of the gel (and this review), I tried it. My attempt at blow drying my own hair was sort of sad but when I was finished it actually looked pretty good.

To be honest though, it doesn’t hold up as well by itself as some of my other products. As I saw my hair getting flat throughout the day,  I had to “re-activate” the gel by running my fingers through my hair and messing it up a bit, which is what I do with most hair products.

What I liked: this gel did not leave my hair feeling stiff or heavy. My hair could still breathe.

Like any other Herbal Essences product, Set Me Up gel smells like heaven on earth. Its Lily Bliss fragrance and I looooove it. It also says that it’s humidity-resistant but I can’t judge on that one because it’s -10 outside.

All in all, I will continue to use this gel because it does make my hair soft, and the hold does last for a few hours, just not as long as I would generally like it to. I give this Herbal Essences Set Me Up gel an 8 out of 10.  I suggest giving it a try, especially if you want your hair to smell like you just woke up from taking a nap in a bed full of flowers.

-bp-

That's What the Interns Say: Traditional Lash Glue or The New Self-Adhesive

Alrighty if you love lashes, you need to grab a cup of tea or coffee and have a seat.  This post will be a long one.

So, recently Revlon sent over to BlushPretty.com a few sets of their new Revlon Fantasy Length Maximum Wear Self-Adhesive Eyelashes.  Yes, I said self-adhesive.  Yes, that means no glue. Yes, that means no chance of possibly gluing your eyelid shut.

And then I thought ... hmmmm ... self-adhesive?  As in possibly coming undone before I walk out the door?  As in maybe it might fall off in the middle of dinner and into my spaghetti? Hm.

And then, I followed that thought with ...  BEAUTY EXPERIMENT.

I sent my two interns, Christine and Siobhan, home with a pair of fake lashes each.  Christine got the traditional Ardell lashes that require that smelly white glue and Siobhan left with the new self-adhesive.  The instructions were simple: wear the lashes for the day and report back on wear, look, compliments, and most importantly, what lasted the whole day and what didn't.

Anyway, this post is a long one because you're getting two reports from both girls - and they provided the good sh*t.  Take a look at Christine's images too!

And let it begin - the battle of the fake lashes!

Revlon Fantasy Length Maximum Wear Self-Adhesive Eyelashes
by Siobhan

    If you’re one of those women who is slightly terrified of trying out false lashes - do not try these ones. False lashes can be wonderful; they make your eyes look bigger, brighter, sexier, and your whole makeup so much more put together. However, having tried the lashes that do not require glue, I have come to the conclusion that false lashes can completely destroy your makeup and hurt your eyes.
    For a long while now I have been using false lashes where you glue them right above your lash line. They can be a little bit tricky, but most women get the hang of it quite quickly. The self-adhesive lashes are very beautiful and the idea seems genius. No sticky glue getting all over your fingers, and removing them should be so much easier right? Wrong.

That's What the Intern Says ... China Glaze Nail Polish in Flying Dragon

That's What the Intern Says ... China Glaze Nail Polish in Flying Dragon
by Amanda McGhie

Editor's Note: I asked my intern, Amanda, to test out a really hot purple nail polish by China Glaze.  Chine Glaze is available at most nail salons, but I find my colours at Sally Beauty.  Amanda not only looked into the brand, but she gave you a little insider scoop on how the polish wore over one week!

Most women who go for regular manicures and pedicures choose the China Glaze brand because of its long lasting, non-thickening formulas AND its reasonable price.  China Glaze also has nail art packages that allow you to create your own unique design and have a new look for a new season or special occasion. In addition to China Glaze's nail polishes, there is also an entire nail treatment line of white tea extract containing anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.

I had the chance to test out “Flying Dragon (Neon).” It definitely lived up to its non-thickening claim, however, its long-lasting claim wasn't as promising for my lifestyle.

I got fabulous comments for the first two days about this being the correct shade for me and about it helping to bring out my complexion a little more ... but by the third day of doing my little experiment, it started to chip.

By the fourth day, people started to ask if I had come up with a new design.

Overall, it was good beauty experiment because I was able to try wearing a colour that was darker than what I've picked out and bought for myself before. I think I’ll be wearing China Glaze a little more often!

-bp-

That's What the Intern Says: Concealers

Before the holiday break, I asked three of my interns to test out three different drugstore concealers.

I'm recently in the market for the absolute PERFECT concealer (read my reasons here) but need to find a solution FAST!  It would take me a whole year to go through all the great concealers out there ... so I enlisted help!

They, the best interns on earth ever locked it double stamped it, had to report back to me ... to us (as in YOU) ... what they liked, didn't like, and what was okay but needed some changes.  Their "assignments" were due back just this past week.  So here's what they thought!

Siobhan the Intern and COVERGIRL CG Smoothers Concealer:

I own a lot of concealer, a whole lot. Being a student in a cosmetic course I am always up for trying new things. With that being said, I have concealers by Makeup Forever, Faces, Mac, Benefit, Quo, among several others. A girl’s gotta look good right?

My latest concealer is by Cover Girl. It’s in a stick form, and it’s called a "Smoother". The name is extremely appropriate. I adore this concealer; I have been wearing it for about 2 weeks now and it’s wonderful. It works to cover up blemishes (you can put it on before or after your foundation), and it made my dark circles so much less noticeable. It’s rare that I find a concealer that covers up my blemishes, redness, and dark circles. This concealer has Aqua Current Science and is referred to as a conditioning concealer.

Having pale skin it's usually hard for me to find a concealer that blends into my skin without looking obvious.  This concealer blends to the exact colour of my face and it LASTS.  Another problem I find with some concealers is that they tend to cake, making your foundation look very amateur.  CG Smoothers goes on easily and there is no caking at all.

This is a very effective concealer and I will definitely be purchasing a few to add to my makeup kit as a must.

Christine the Intern and OLAY Touch of Concealer Regenerating Cream:

If you didn’t already know what concealer is used for or how to properly use it here’s a quick summary: concealer is used to mask any or all imperfections (i.e. dark circles, acne...) and only needs to be applied in small amounts. And I know what you’re thinking, isn’t that what foundation is used for, technically yes but it doesn’t always do the entire job of hiding things that are not meant to be seen on a perfect face, which we all desire. Foundation is meant to create a neutral background and the concealer comes after to hide what still comes through. 

What I found out recently, that 100% confirms what I already knew, is that your concealer should be at least 2 shades lighter than your natural skin tone. Me being extremely white, and already having a hard enough time finding the correct shade of foundation, came to the conclusion that this concealer was definitely way too dark for me. Yes it did cover my dark circles and acne but it then instead of making these imperfections disappear it created new ones. It made my eyes look like a raccoon and made little dark spots here and there, all depending on where the blemishes were.

In the end this concealer was not right for me at all. Although, I can say that what puffiness around the eyes I did have reduced after using the concealer for a couple of days. I of course didn’t leave my house wearing the concealer but wore it safely in the comfort of my own home.

This product did what it said it should do in my personal experience but unless they come out with a colour that matches the colour of the tube itself I doubt I will be buying this product.

Amanda the Intern and Revlon Beyond Natural Concealer:

While many concealers are more often than not noticeable under foundation, Revlon's Beyond Natural Concealer and Highlighter blends in perfectly.  It allows for natural coverage over blemishes and dark circles and the highlighter shade also adds a pearl sheen to areas that you would like to give a silky polished look too.

Available in several shades, you get coverage with less makeup.  It really does work!

-bp-