Chanel Double Perfection Compact Powder Foundation Knockoff/Dupe/Drugstore Double

I know many, many ladies love Chanel Double Perfection Compact Powder Foundation, but hate the price tag... $50. I would wear this stuff every day, year-round if I was a rich girl. I've tried all the drugstore brands of powder foundations and Maybelline Pure Stay Powder Foundation is about as close as I have come to Chanel DP.

The thing I love most about Chanel DP is the ever-so-slight shimmer, or "light-reflecting pigments" of the powder, and the fact that it covers great without a chalky, mask-like look. It really blends well with the skin. Much better than MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation, which tends to sit on top of your skin.

 Maybelline comes pretty darn close to matching all the great qualities of the Chanel DP. The only drawback of the Maybelline Pure Stay is that the colors are a teensy bit ashy... Not quite right. But for about $42 less than Chanel, it is a steal at $8.

If you usually wear Vanilla in Chanel DP

Try Ivory 10 in Pure Stay

Go Ahead, Pop That Pimple—Just Be Careful How You Do It!

Go Ahead, Pop That Pimple—Just Be Careful How You Do It!

Here's a new article that I just love telling you how to pop a nasty white head pimple... like anyone would just let one hang out on their face all day!

It recommends the use of a comedone extractor, which I own and love. My boyfriend loves it too. Everyone get zits once in a while and you just can't help but to try to pop those suckers.

When I get one, I warm the pimple with a washcloth that I soak with hot water. I let the pimple warm for about 2 minutes and then use my comedone extractor. After that I use some Neosporin and sleep on it. Even though you will have a bright red spot on your face, I am sure the pimple starts to heal faster after it has been popped and treated. I recommend popping your pimple at night so it has a little time to heal before morning.
Comedone extractors are great for blackheads around your nose too. They hurt a little more because you have to apply a little more pressure to get the blackhead out. Do this at night, too. You will have tiny red spots where the blackhead was, but they should usually disappear within 12 hours.

Want to cover that zit?? Use Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer. It's the shizz.

Read my review on it here

Besties: Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer

This concealer is hands down the best concealer on the planet earth. I was searching for a concealer that would cover my horrendous under-eye circles and this is the only concealer that I've tried that actually works. The color is perfect. I am a MAC NC 15-20 and I wear this in shade # 4 Flesh and sometimes  #2 Porcelain for a highlighting, more dramatic effect. The product doesn't cake or look cakey. Some reviews I read on Sephora.com and MakeUpAlley.com said this concealer is cakey and sets too fast. These people need to be wearing a good moisturizer. I swear it looks like real skin! I am so glad I got this product, even though the price tag sucks...$30. It is worth it. It is so densely pigmented that a little goes a long way. If you lightly pat this product on (as opposed to blending it in) It will cover anything flawlessly esp. zits, pigmentation and capillaries. It is supposed to be able to cover tattoos, but you would def need a color corrector (pink for light skin or salmon for med-dark skin) to cover a tattoo effectively.  
This concealer is as close to perfection as it gets. It is completely waterproof too. I wear it jogging and it stays put.
The packaging is a tube with a small twist off cap (similar to MAC select cover except MUFE has a longer tube) you can dispense a little or a lot easily. A little of this concealer goes a long way.

From Sephora.com
Full Cover Concealer

What it is:
An ultra long-lasting, matte finish, oil-free, waterproof, full coverage concealer.
What it is formulated to do:
Designed to cover major imperfections like scars, hyperpigmentation, major discoloration, burns, and tattoos. This light and creamy concealer contains a high concentration of pigments that stay put, making it perfect for use on the face, as well as the body.
Clinical Testing/Results:
Clinically tested on sensitive skin and dermatologically controlled for gentleness.

NARS blushes... LOVE!

My fave NARS blushes - they are:

TORRID-a coral shimmer fair - medium skin tones
EXHIBIT-A-a bright red with a slight coral tinge - looks great on dark skin tones
ORGASM-a natural flush pink with gold shimmer - fair-medium skintones
AMOUR- a pinky coral with some slight bronze undertones for medium skintones - it's a great natural color

can i just say that i LOVE every one of my blushes and they LAST FOREVER! i use these colors on everyone - all shades! i even use EXHIBIT-A on myself and i am paler than casper the friendly ghost.
they are highly pigmented, come in matte and shimmer varieties, even glittery varieties (SUPER ORGASM). they go on sheer to bright with application and are completely and totally worth the price!! ($26)

P.S. i love that the new spring 2010 campaign is using Amber Valetta as their model. she is soooooo gorgeous! and she's 36!

Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder Review

this powder foundation comes in a cool compact with a mirror. you twist the rim and powder is shaved off the top for a user friendly, less messy mineral foundation. it gives sheer-full buildable coverage and imparts a glow to the skin. the application brush it comes with is NOT recommended. this foundation is best for younger skin that doesn't need a lot of coverage. bonus: comes with a sample of smashbox photo finish primer (there are better primers out there). for $59 it is expensive!

From Sephora.com:
"Smashbox HALO Hydrating Perfecting Powder HALO is the first anti-aging powder with the science of skin care built in. It's advanced formulation of pure gold, 48 minerals, 11 amino acids and a powerful peptide deliver powerful anti-aging benefits while the patented hydration system continuously revitalizes skin and provides a hydrated look that won't accentuate lines and wrinkles. The built-in shaver allows for the convenience of a pressed powder combined with the radiant finish of a loose one, and the super-sized brush deposits the perfect amount of powder every time."

THE VERDICT

PROS
* paraben and talc free.
according to A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients by Ruth Winter, "Talc is a finely powdered magnesium silicate, a mineral. It usually has small amounts of other powders such as boric acid or zinc oxide added as a coloring agent. Prolonged inhalation can cause lung problems because it is similar in chemical composition to asbestos, a known lung irritant and cancer-causing ingredient."
don't freak out yet! Paula Begoun says talc does not cause cancer by inhalation here but her most recent medical references are from 2006.

* contains antioxidants & peptides that are good for your skin

* would look amazing on anyone aged 16-25, or if you had really good skin

CONS
*i don't think this foundation is good for anyone with large pores or fine lines/wrinkles. it has a "shiny" illuminated look that gives you the j-lo glow, but the shine will only enhance your pores and lines.  if you need medium-full coverage i don't recommend this foundation. the more you apply the shinier it looks

* the kabuki brush that it comes with SUCKS! it is very stiff and when you wash it it bleeds black from the dye used for the black color of the brush hairs. i've washed mine several times and it still bleeds.

 *the shade ranges are not that iompressive. i am a MAC NC20. i tried this in "fair" and it was ghost white. "light" is a little too dark and yellow for me unless i do a very sheer application

LAST WORDS
i use this powder on my good skin days when i don't need much coverage. it would be a good choice for younger girls with good skin...not fair :(