Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Foaming Scrub, Pink Grapefruit, 4.2 Ounce

Goodbye Acne Hello Grapefruit!

Another Acne break out just is not an option! But some of the Acne washes on the market smell so gross and medicinal.  For a delicious change try My Beauty Match Insider Favorite Neutrogena’s Oil-Free Acne Wash in Pink Grapefruit! Clears up Acne and breakouts and is #1 recommended by Dermatologist!

Buy/More Info

Free Shipping on all Acne Orders. Enter Coupon Code ACNESHIP

Celebrity Bronzer

Bronze Like a Celebrity

Top Selling Bronzer – Dermatologist Recommends

Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Bronzer, Natural Glow Bronze Organics, 0.3-Ounces (See all Bronzers & Highlighters)

What did we do before there were bronzers?? Old fashion sunshine, I guess, but who really has the time for that these days… Thank fully there are Physicians Formula Bronzers!

>>>Get Your Bronzer Today

Physicians Formula is a true pioneer in the bronzer category. They really are the creators of the bronzers as drug stores really just sold mainly blush before this was available. According to My Beauty Match insiders, this bronzer will contour your face and help your skin look healthy. The collection is really user friendly as it allows you to build your on colors and routine. You can find this bronzer collection at any major drugstore chain for around $15.00.

Quick Tips:

• Leading Drugstore Bronzer
• Look Tan with out Sun
• Create your own color correction

Buy/More Info (See all Bronzers & Highlighters)

nars-holiday-makeu-up-2009-2

I think one of the best parts of the holiday season is being able to dress up for all those parties.

Think about it, you get to wear pretty clothing, beautiful shoes and incredible accessories that sparkle. This time of the year is also a great time to really be a bit bolder and more daring with your make-up.

When it comes to knowing the latest holiday 2009 make-up trends, Norman Sands is the master!

He’s going to reveal the top 3 holiday 2009 make-up trends and he’ll also include some great insider’s beauty tips to help you achieve the look at home!

>>>Who is Norman Sands?

nars_office_make-up_norman_sand

How often do you have a chance to get makeup tips from a Celebrity makeup artist and someone with Norman’s bio? So I do hope you’ll soak up Norman Sands knowledge as much as I do and I hope your holiday make-up will be fabulous!

>>> Here are holiday 2009 top 3 make-up trends!

1. The Immaculate Complexion

Flawless faces that look picture perfect.

The right foundation is key.  This season it’s all about being camera ready for any occasion.  “Three-Dimensional skin with light diffusion is a women’s best friend and secret.”

The new Sheer Matte and Sheer Glow foundation is perfect because it is light, natural and buildable coverage.

People ask which foundation is right for them, my answer:  What finish are you looking for? How do you like your skin to look? There is no right or wrong answer.

For a smoldering eye opt for a glowing complexion, for a more bold lip- try a matte finish.

Make-up artist tip:  Loose powder is a makeup artist best friend.  It’s the perfect way to set foundation.  Apply with a powder puff with a “rock and roll” application and buff with your favorite powder brush to give the skin an air-brushed finish.

2. Red Carpet Lips

Nothing creates a personal red carpet moment like the classic red lip.  This timeless trend adds drama and commands attention.  Shows like Mad Men have created a renewed attention to the vintage red pout.  Lana Horochowski, Department Head of Makeup for Mad Men loves using the NARS Velvet Matte Pencils.  On Christine Hendricks’ character Joan Holloway she uses Dolce Vita, Red Square and Forbidden Red.

Red in every shade is perfect for the holidays.  Anything from candy-apple, crimson, fuchsia, coral to brick, merlot and wine shades.

Make-up artist tip: Red lips are perfected with a lip toned or brownish lip liner pencil.  Try Amazon, Salsa or Borneo by NARS to give the lips depth and definition.  Remember, no harsh lines- so blend and feather your liner!

3. Luxe Lined Eyes

Liner is bigger than ever this season.  Everything from shadow smudged at the lash line to pencil in the inner rim to a classic swipe of liquid liner.  Liner is so big and can complete any eye look.

Make-up artist tip: Use an unexpected pop of color to line the eyes.  It draws the attention to the color of the eye.  Try:  Manon pencil liner (a true violet) topped with Blue Bayou Eyeliner Stylo (a true rich teal)… or line the inner rim of the eye with a bright navy or teal, classic black is always a tried and true.

All three of these trends actually work well together.  It’s about creating balance and playing up your best feature.  Whatever you do, holiday makeup is all about celebration and fun.

>>>> Here’s a great video  make-up lesson by a NARS make-up artist: NARS alluring eyes

Photos provided by NARS Cosmetics

© All copyrights reserved to http://www.mybeautymatch.com in all countries.

>>>> If you’re viewing this beauty tip as part of an aggregated content stream from different sites, or as a re-blogged post, please check out the content on the original Web site at www.myBeautyMatch.com

smashbox_photo_finish_color_correcting_primer

Review submitted by our product reviewer Eleni

I didn’t know what to make of this bottle of primer in an overly-pigmented apricot shade when I first got it.

I knew I had to test it in many situations – day, evening, office and exercise, but I was very reluctant to paint a layer of what could only be described as tanning salon fake’n'bake on my face.

I could just imagine walking into my office one Monday morning only to have the cute young 20-somethings snickering behind my back…and my favourite one – Lia, leading the pack and demanding to know why I looked that way! It’s not like she hadn’t already laughed uncontrollably at an early ‘80s pic of me on the beach with a perky figure (back then) and a mahogany tan. It was hilarious trying to explain the SPF only came in a 4 at the time and we actually sat out in the sun for hours.

The Smashbox website was my first stop for information. I got all the goods on this primer and WOW, there are many great features packed into one little bottle: color correcting, wrinkle reducing, and dark spot defying – talk about a miracle product. It claims that you can create a perfect canvas for foundation application and even out your skin tone with this silky, lightweight blend of antioxidants, vitamins A & E, and soothing botanicals like lemongrass, aloe and orchid complex.

The formula is oil-free formula and promises to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and pores. It can be worn alone or under any foundation. It comes with a new square airless pump that retains freshness to the last drop. I was ready to pump it out and get going.

Testing Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer:

Testing was quite straightforward. I cleansed my face and applied my usual light serum. Then I pumped out enough Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer and smoothed it on over my entire face (it can also be used just on problem areas) and I blended it lightly with my fingertips. Guess what? No streaky orange! My skin looked smooth and my color tone was even (and completely natural). On a Saturday afternoon, I could definitely go out for errands with just the primer on. I then applied my pür minerals foundation (which I LOVE) … and voilà!

The Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer really gives me soft, smooth finished looking skin!!!

Just to be thorough, I also tried a liquid foundation and a cream foundation a few days later and found that all formulations work well with this primer. I’m sold!!!

Did I see any results?

I got more of a poreless look than I’ve ever had in my life. It even softened the darker spots above my chin. My sister didn’t know that I was trying something new and commented on how good my face looked that evening at dinner.

This Color Correcting primer also comes in ‘BALANCE’ which is lavender-toned to brighten dull or sallow skin and ‘ADJUST’ in a green-tone to reduce redness.

Would I buy it? Absolutely, YES

Would I replace my current foundation primer? I haven’t really used a primer before, but I liked this product a lot and will definitely buy it. That’s a BIG recommendation from someone who didn’t think she even needed a primer!

The retail price for the Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer is $42 CAD/ $38 US.

OVERALL REVIEW:

4-star13

luminess-air-airbrush

I’m sure you’ve all seen those foundation air sprays that make-up artists use on TV whenever you watch any type of makeover show. I remember trying to look for one myself last year because I was so fascinated with it and how it worked.

I also thought it looked so fun to use and there was a different consistency that resulted. When the pros use this product you see how luminous and even the foundation looked on people’s faces. Why wouldn’t you want to try it yourself?

Luminess Air makes it possible for us everyday folks to try it out for ourselves. Their product is called Luminess Air Foundation Spray Wand.

I wouldn’t recommend just trying to use it yourself because you could end up with a big mess.

Luminess provides step-by-step instructions on how to use its product.

There are only three steps but you could easily mess up by putting in too much foundation instead of a few drops like they advise. There are also some videos that you can watch to really see how it’s done: Luminess step-by-step videos.

I don’t think it’s as easy as they show on their videos but there is at least one video to show how you can apply the makeup on yourself. Although they have different shades to match your skin tone, and luckily they have a video to show you how to do this too, this product doesn’t have any guidelines for how to match the product with your skin type.

I like that you can put in any type of product in the spray other than foundation like eye shadow, blush, or bronzer.

I do wonder whether or not if this product is suitable for all skin types. With any kind of new technology and one that seems to be replicating a pro tool, I would definitely be skeptical of the results.

They say that the Luminesss Air is a breakthrough product because they are selling it at 1/16^th of the price of other similar airbrush spraying systems. But at $199.95 USD I would think really hard before you spend all that money on this product and make sure it is something that you really want (especially in these recessionary times). Keep in mind that you may not get the results that they advertise on TV and their website.

If anyone has tried the Luminess Air Foundation Spray Wand with success, we’d love to hear about it!

covergirl_trublend_microminerals_foundation1

It seems like mineral-based foundations are catching on and everyone’s trying to create their own version. Well now it’s CoverGirl’s turn. CoverGirl’s got a whole collection called TRUBlend MicroMinerals aimed at giving us the natural look that we all crave.

CoverGirl’s providing a whole slew of cosmetics to compliment their micromineral foundation including blush, bronzer and a finishing veil – this is a translucent powder that is supposed to give your skin an airbrushed look. All of these products come with its own brush so you won’t have to fuss over getting one.

The nice thing about CoverGirl cosmetics is that their site always provides a link to show you how to apply their make-up. I would check it out if you’ve never applied mineral-based make-up before: How to apply your TruBlend MicroMinerals foundation.

1) TruBlend MicroMinerals Foundation

There are 10 shades for you to choose from:

- Ivory

- Classic Ivory

- Creamy Natural

- Buff Beige

- Medium Light

- Natural Beige

- Warm Beige

- Soft Honey

- Classic Tan

- Toasted Almond

>>> What are the benefits of using the TruBlend MicroMinerals foundation?

This foundation is that its lightweight coverage doesn’t clog your pores. The foundation can leave your face with a sheer coverage if that’s what you’re looking for or a full coverage that looks natural. That natural look comes from the fact that the foundation includes high amounts of naturally-derived ingredients and minerals.

“My preference is always natural looking skin … so if you’re looking to put your best face forward this season then the products in the TRUBlend MicroMinerals collection are your “go-to” for seamless natural coverage that allows you to build your look in the most effective and natural looking way.” – Paul Venoit, celebrity make-up artist, make-up consultant for CoverGirl and co-host of “Look Alike”.

2) TruBlend MicroMinerals Bronzer

It’s available in: Natural Bronze

>>> Benefits: The bronzer aims to please those of you who want that sun-kissed glow in a natural way.

3) TruBlend MicroMinerals Blush

colour: Natural Rose and Shimmering Sands

>>> Benefits: This blush adds another dimension to your natural look by the foundation and bronzer. But, this blush can also go solo for a natural-looking flush of colour. The application brush that comes with the blush helps you apply an even flush.

4) TRUBlend MicroMinerals Finishing Veil

colour: Finishing Veil

>>> Benefits: The finishing veil adds the airbrushed look that makes your skin look flawless. Again, like the blush and bronzer, you can wear this on top of the other TruBlend MicroMineral products or on its own.

” The look is clean and above all, professional with five times finer minerals than the leading minerals make-up…The Finishing Veil, this product, lightly dusted on the face at the end of your application gives you a natural looking airbrush finish … what girl isn’t looking for that?! ” – Paul Venoit.

Products in the CoverGirl TRUblend MicroMinerals collection will be available nationwide for $10.99 US/$13.99 CAD.

maybelline_lash_stiletto_mascara

I’ve been using Maybelline in between other mascaras I test for years. I find that their product delivers every time and there are so many different formulas that you can use.

I believe that as women age, mascara (that is well applied, aka NOT like Tammy Faye Baker) is such an easy way of opening your eyes and your face. I know that so many women have issues with the way their faces and bodies look, but from candid discussions with friends and contacts, women usually feel quite happy with their eyes overall. So I say … highlight your eyes as much as you can!

A few months ago I was going on-and-on-and-on about the Maybelline Colossal and the -Maybelline New York XXL Extensions mascaras because I really LOVE those two formulas and now you’ll surely hear me banter about the new Maybelline Lash Stiletto mascara.

The reasons I love the Maybelline Colossal so much is because it gives you arresting eye lashes while the Maybelline New York XXL Extensions gives me lashes that look like they are two kilometres long! I’d say that the Maybelline Lash Stiletto mascara is a more natural look … you know a more Julia Roberts type of natural.

Like most Maybelline mascaras, this is a clump-free formula that will have your eyes ready for the gym, a day with the kids at the park or for hanging out with your girlfriend over brunch!

The Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara retails for $9.99 CAD/$ 6.99 US and it’s so easy for you to find it at most drugstores and Wal-Mart across the US and Canada.

Here are some pretty cool photos from the advertisements shots of the Maybelline Lash Stiletto mascara:

Maybelline model being prepped for her photo shoot:

maybelline_lash_stiletto_mascara_model

Maybelline model getting the last minute touch up on her make-up (are those fake eye lashes I see? – WOW do I ever love the rings on that make-up artist)

maybelline_lash_stiletto_mascara_model_2

Another Maybelline model getting ready to strike a pause:

maybelline_lash_stiletto_mascara_model_3

A few last minute lighting adjustments around the Maybelline model:

maybelline_lash_stiletto_mascara_model_4

Voila – the finished Maybelline look:

maybelline_lash_stiletto_mascara_model_5

Here are a few of the posts I’ve written on the Maybelline mascaras:

Should you buy Cover Girl Lash Blast or Maybelline Colossal Mascara?

Review: Which are my favourite mascaras?

yves_saint_laurent_ysl_beauty_matt_touch_compact_foundation

If you’ve been reading my site for a while then you know that Yves Saint Laurent Beauty is the first line of make-up I bought as a teenager with my allowance money. The colours were perfect then and they still are now.

Now, when it comes to foundations … alas, YSL’s shades don’t suit all shades of skin. I’ve found their dark shades to be a tab bit too ashy or too light or too something.

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to find the right shade of foundation as you age ladies. Nothing (I mean NOTHING) will age you faster than the wrong shade or foundation or wearing too much foundation.

After years of trying dozens of foundations, there is only one brand that does it for me … and that’s Virtual Make-up by Prescriptives.

That said, since the world is made of so many beautiful skin complexions, so those who can find their shades under the YSL label will be happy to know that now they can take their foundation on the road with them in a stylist and elegant way. The new YSL compact comes in the trademark golden box that is soooooooooooooo beautiful. It also comes with the sponge applicator that is conveniently stored in a hidden compartment.

The new Matt Touch Compact Foundation by YSL Beauty is ultra soft and has a comfortable texture that gives your complexion a flawless and long-lasting finish that will remain matte throughout the day and will keep oiliness and shine to a minimum. And your skin stays protected from the sun by the SPF20.

The new Matt Touch Compact Foundation by YSL Beauty comes in 10 shades (ivory, blond, opal, sand, peach, gold beige, pink beige, amber, honey and cinnamon) … so you might be lucky enough to find your own perfect shade!

The entire YSL cosmetic line has never been recession-friendly and it’s not going to start now. Yves Saint Laurent is a luxury brand and you will have to fork out $72 CAD/$57 US for this foundation!

You’ll find YSL beauty at major department stores in the U.S. and Canada. You can also buy it directly from their Web sites: Yves Saint Laurent YSL Beauty

micabella_blush

I was asked to do a review on a blush from a cosmetic line that I had never heard of – Micabella and I said “why not?” Blush is normally a straightforward product to play with. I would say I’ve used it every day since the age of 15, so I know what I like and what works for me.

Before beginning the review, I wanted to read a bit about this company and found out that Micabella products consist of all natural powders which are made of 100% pure mica and minerals and that sounded great to me. They don’t pack their products with any preservatives, chemical dyes, talc, oils, or other fillers so all skin types should do fine with this makeup. In addition, Micabella claims that “their makeup has a high antioxidant level to help protect skin from future damage, premature aging and reduce the appearance of damaged skin.” I liked that and I was ready to give it a go.

Testing Micabella blush:

micabella_blush_autumn_sunset

Did I see any results?

I had a nice soft glow and colour that looked really good with my skin tone. It was not at all a drying or clogging powder and it lasted all day long. The colour didn’t change throughout the day even when my face became a bit oily later on.

Would I buy it? Yes

Would I replace my current blush? I would use it in rotation with a couple of other favourites to create different looks for day, evening, casual and business.

So, how much is the Micabella blush?

It retails for $44.95 CAD/USD (but we’ve seen it on some sites as low as $34.95 USD)

OVERALL REVIEW:

4-star16

covergirl-olay-simply-ageless-foundation-ellen-degeneres

If you’ve seen the Simply Ageless Foundation, you probably thought it was odd to see this new foundation with clear white swirls in it. Well, this combination in a match made in heaven in the form of partnership between CoverGirl and Olay to create a foundation that will de-emphasize your wrinkles and fine lines.

The secret addition to this foundation is Olay’s Regenerist serum (this is a combination of vitamins, skin conditioners and anti-oxidants) found within the product that makes it stand out from other anti-aging foundations.

You might be skeptical at first of the powdery-looking substance. However, if you take the sponge out from underneath the powder, you’ll find that when you spread the foundation on your skin that it actually feels more like a liquid. That’s because the heat from your skin transforms it into a cream to give a smooth finish on your face.

What makes this product stand out for me is that Ellen DeGeneres is the spokesperson for this foundation.

We’ve talked about this amazing discovery a couple of months ago: Ellen DeGeneres is the new face of CoverGirl Simply Ageless!!!

Here’s what Ellen had to say about her new role as a spokesperson for a cosmetic line giant:

“I’m thrilled. I think that CoverGirl is onto something very exciting and it’s about time. I mean really, seriously, why would you want to put makeup on your face that seeps into and accentuates your lines? That’s not the look anyone is going for so I am thrilled to be part of this cutting edge technology.” – Ellen

Here’s what Ellen DeGeneres had to say about Simply Ageless Foundation:

“You can’t start a relationship, you can’t build a house, and you can’t have a good face without it. Foundation, foundation, foundation.” – Ellen

I’ve always admired Ellen DeGeneres’ straight-forwardness and blunt personality. These are the qualities that really make her the perfect fit for this foundation designed for women over 35!

Are you curious about the product yet? Are you itching to try it out? Keep in mind that it takes about four weeks before you notice a difference with skincare products, but the direct results of the foundation itself will be noticeable as soon as you try it on.

I’m sure you’re wondering how much this new Simply Ageless Foundation will set you back by. Well, the Simply Ageless Foundation is priced in a very recession-proof way at only $18.99 in Canada and $15.99 in the US!

micabell_blush_review

I was asked to do a review on a blush from a cosmetic line that I had never heard of – MicaBella and I said “why not?”

Blush is normally a straightforward product to play with. I would say I’ve used it every day since the age of 15, so I know what I like and what works for me.

Before beginning the review, I wanted to read a bit about this company and found out that MicaBella products consist of all natural powders, which are made of 100 per cent pure mica and minerals and that sounded great to me.

They don’t pack their products with any preservatives, chemical dyes, talc, oils, or other fillers so all skin types should do fine with this makeup. In addition, MicaBella claims that “their makeup has a high antioxidant level to help protect skin from future damage, premature aging and reduce the appearance of damaged skin.” I liked that and I was ready to give it a go.

Testing MicaBella Blush:

The colour I tried was Autumn Sunset – a healthy, neutral blush that looked absolutely soft and natural. I used a good blush brush to apply this product which is sold in a loose powder format. It went on well. I did the apples of the cheeks and also a bit on the temples and I thought it looked warm, glowing and youthful. The next time I tried it, there was more powder than I needed on my brush, so I got more colour than I’d normally apply but I buffed it down with a foam sponge and a touch of loose mineral powder and it looked great that day too.

Did I see any results?

I had a nice soft glow and colour that looked really good with my skin tone. It was not at all a drying or clogging powder and it lasted all day long. The colour didn’t change throughout the day even when my face became a bit oily later on.

Would I buy it? Yes

Would I replace my current blush? I would use it in rotation with a couple of other favourites to create different looks for day, evening, casual and business.

Retail Price: MicaBella Blush is one of the most expensive blushes we’ve tried at Beauty Match. It retails for $44.95 CAD/USD (we have seen it as low as $29.95 online at Amazon.com), so it’s not exactly a recession-proof option. If you are shopping for a new blush and if you are on a budget, this might not be the option for you. If you want to splurge, than that’s a different thing. Since there are many other options of mineral makeup on the market that are much cheaper, you might want to shop around if you don’t want to drop that much on blush.

OVERALL REVIEW:

4-star16

laura_mercier_primer

smashbox_photo_finish_primer

I know Paula Begoun, author of “Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me”, snubs primers and thinks that you should only need a good moisturizer, but I bet you a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes that the makeup artist who prepped her for the “CityLine” Show I saw her on surely used a primer.

You can read more of my beef with some of Paula’s views here: I don’t agree with Paula Begoun author of “Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me”.

I don’t know too many professional makeup artists who don’t swear by primers because they see what it does for their clients’ skin and as long as a primer helps my skin look flawless … I’ll be the first one to whip out my credit card to buy a tube.

Primers are fantastic and they actually do make a huge difference in not only how easily you apply your makeup by they also make a difference in how smoothly your makeup stays on throughout the day.

I would never dream of applying makeup before an important event without using a primer first (PERIOD!).

Ladies, as we age, anything we can do to hide or conceal fine lines that doesn’t involve pain or disfiguration is good in my book. A product like primers will help prevent makeup from sitting in your fine lines. No gal wants that because makeup that sits in your fine lines screams: look at my wrinkles!

I found two new primers recently, but I wanted to highlight a few other primers that are incredible. I’ve tried a lot of primers and they all work well. That said, I do have a preference for Laura Mercier, NARS Cosmetics and Smashbox.

I’ve found that primers ranged in price between $27-$42 USD and $30-$44 CAD. NARS Cosmetics and Laura Mercier and Smashbox were at the higher end of the spectrum.

7 primers that will help your makeup look flawless:

nars_cosmetics_primer

laura_mercier_primer

3)  Smashbox Photo Finish Primer: Smashbox’s Photo Finish Primer is the company’s signature product. This silicone-base primer was also voted “2007  and 2008 Winner Best of Sephora“.

smashbox_photo_finish_primer

tarte_clean_slate_primer

5)  Lorac AquaPrime^TM: Lorac AquaPrime primer does not use silicone in its formulation (which other brands do use). Instead it’s a water-based makeup primer.

lorac_aquaprime

spray_foundations

prescriptives_magic_primer

covergirl_trublend_blush_with_minerals

Review submitted by our product reviewer Eleni

I checked out this product recently and immediately noticed that it felt light and the colour was a natural, believable shade of sunny sand (I tried #430 in Shimmering Sand).

This loose mineral powder can be used all over or just as a natural-looking blush on the apples of the cheeks.

You’ll never get great results by using the puff/applicator that comes with any product, so please forego that and always use a good brush – it does make a difference.

If you decide to use the powder for an all-over glow, just remember to tap off any excess powder from your brush. This mineral blush powder should just illuminate your skin – use a light hand. It also looks quite good over powder foundation as well as liquid foundation. Just stroke it across the forehead, nose, cheekbones and décolletage, or keep it on the cheeks.

TruBlend mineral blush contains natural minerals. Although I don’t have any details about what these natural minerals are and where they come from, I still think the product provides lots of impact at a great low price.

Packaging is on the “cost-efficient” side – a round, clear, plastic loose powder container with sift holes in top and a powder puff/press under the lid. It’s not really a portable container.

Work with a tissue or two on your dressing table/makeup table because just like any other loose powder, you’ll invariably get spillage.

I thought it might be just another “young girl” product but it looked great on me as blush and I’m 50!

That made me happy because I’ve been a fan of CoverGirl since the 8^th grade when all the girls in my grade received their very own, first make-up – and it was from CG. It didn’t even matter that we all got the same colours – a little bottle of beige foundation, a tiny compact with beige pressed powder, and a mini-lipstick in coral. The set was our very own and I have had a soft spot for CoverGirl ever since.

Would I buy it? – Yes – It provides a good “pick-up” for the complexion and good value. Would I replace my current mineral products with this? No.

CoverGirl TruBlend Minerals Blush retails for $11.99 in Canada and $6.99 in the US (yes, there is a huge difference in price here).

OVERALL REVIEW: Better than average

3-star

laura_mercier_secret_brightening_pen

I get to try so many different brands of skincare and make-up and most of them are good, but every now and then there is a product that really stands out that you just have to tell all of your girlfriends.

Laura Mercier’s Secret Brightener Pen is a great little makeup trick that you can quickly and easily use to instantly open the eye area and brighten your entire face. On top of all of that, this magic pen will also give you that smooth and youthful appearance because it reflects light away from darkness while boosting radiance.

laura_mercier_secret_brightening_powder

I’m not the only one who thinks this product is super. Laura Mercier’s Secret Brightener was voted Allure Best of Beauty Award Winner!

To enhance the brightness effect, you might want to pair the Secret Brightener Pen with Laura Mercier’s Secret Brightening Powder!

prescriptives_mineral_makeup

For months now, I’ve wanted to try mineral makeup, but every single time I run to a cosmetic counter to try this new wonder makeup I’m always told the same thing: “I’m sorry, but we don’t have your shade”.

Some companies have shades that will only suit very fair skins and when companies do have darker shades, they are either too red or too ashy.

I was stopped dead in my tracks as I was running to the gym when I noticed in the windows of Holt Renfrew (the Canadian equivalent to Neiman Marcus in the U.S. and Selfridges in the U.K.) that Prescriptives had a new mineral makeup collection.

I should preface by saying that I’ve been wearing Prescriptives foundations and powders for a decade now because they are dead on. I mean no other makeup company comes close to matching my skin tone so perfectly … and I buy the off-the-shelf colours … I don’t get the custom blends.

I returned the very next day to try the mineral makeup to figure out which colour I needed to get. I cannot tell you how very excited I was to finally understand all this enthusiasm over mineral makeup.

I tried two different shades and from two different colour families (Prescriptives has shades in warm and cool tones). The beauty expert who helped me used this special little brush created specifically for the application of mineral makeup.

The first colour we tried was too dark, the second from the cool family was too ashy. She went down one shade and it worked on my cheeks and the rest of my face, but forehead was incredibly ashy looking so she went back to the darker shade to compensate.

When I looked in the mirror I could see that the mineral makeup was superb at hiding my acne scars. The beauty expert invited me to step out of the store and check out the finish in broad daylight. I did take her up on that offer and I must say that mineral makeup gives you an incredible finish and your skin looks like porcelain.

When I asked my beauty expert from Prescriptives if she was wearing the mineral makeup she responded that none of the shades were light enough for her perfect and fair complexion. This is a problem my fair-skinned-half-Irish girlfriend Natasha has been lamenting about since mineral makeup started becoming popular – she could never find the right shade.

The conclusion is a sad one for me – I cannot wear mineral makeup because the finish was way too ashy. When I got back home, I could tell that the colour made me look ill … which might not have been the idea.

Mineral makeup gives you a wonderful finish if you can find the right shade for your complexion.

The new Prescriptives mineral makeup is a weightless long-wear powder foundation that comes in 18 shades (nine warm shades and nine cool shades).  I love everything Prescriptives because it always works for my skin tone, but I have to say that not even Prescriptives was able to come out with a shade of mineral makeup I could wear.

In the world of beauty, I’d say that facial sweat in the middle of a heat wave (and I’m not talking about menopause) might be what I would qualify as not being all that pleasant.

Since most of us gals love our makeup … wearing it during summer months might make things a bit complicated and sweaty.

For most women it’s a question of pulling out a sheet of blotting paper and voilà, but for other women facial sweat is quite serious (and in many cases it doesn’t matter if it’s freezing outside … these women will still have to deal with facial sweat).

Jurlique (one of my absolutely favourite skincare lines on the planet) has ingeniously come up with a way of reducing facial sweat and it’s called Rose Silk Finishing Powder.

Now before you shout at me that you can keep using your current loose powder and just keeping piling it up during the day, I have two words for you: build up!

Not only will you end up looking quite caked up, but you are also creating a bacteria fest that will surely cause you to break out.

No, there is a far better solution and that’s Jurlique’s Rose Silk!

Jurlique Rose Silk Finishing Powder is a naturally fragrant translucent powder that uses organic and biodynamic ingredients (like all of Jurlique’s products) to absorb perspiration. This organic botanical powder contains wonder ingredients like daisy, witch hazel, arnica, licorice, juniper berry, sage, green tea, lavender.

Jurlique Rose Silk Finishing Powder will leave you with a fresh and matte complexion without the dreaded build up and it’s excellent for those with oily skin!