REVIEW: Benefit Erase Paste

Every once in a while, a chica deserves a product that can found outside of the glorious confines of CVS. I might have had a dirty martini, or two, and wandered into ULTA, whereupon I found an awesome product. I was totally swayed by the adorable Benefit packaging and the booze-soaked blue cheese olives, and I picked up a tiny pot of Erase Paste (around $24-26).

That's quite a few CVS items, but the smooth texture and pale color drew me in, and I deserved something nice damn it!

This stuff is great. You only get a small amount of product, but you really don't need that much. It's easily blended with a ring finger or a concealer brush, and provides even, believable coverage. I use it under my eyes, around my nose, and a little on my chin. It's pretty fab.

Go get thee some after you've had a few drinks.

Amanda

SGY Query

SGY writes:

"As I continue to purge my talc-infested products, thanks to your sage advice, I feel hesitant to dump my fave Revlon 12 hr eyeshadow. So tell me something to help me hate it: can talc contribute to my sometimes dry-scratchy-burny eyes , or shall I continue to blame my kids for this?
My children's future depends on your answer.
PS The rest of my talc-free face sincerely thanks you"

It's true. Revlon eyeshadow is awesome--unless you have a talc sensitivity. Finding an eyeshadow without talc is a pretty difficult task. Talc is everywhere, and is usually one of the top 2 ingredients in powders and shadows. I of course hussled us over to CVS (aka God's Country) to find a solution.

We found a few options:

Covergirl Smoky Shadow Blast (Review to follow later).
L'Oreal HiP Studio Secrets Rich Color Cream Crayon
Almay Intense I-Color Powder Shadow (Only the new line. The originals still contain talc, so read your labels).
Almay Pure Blends Eye Shadow
Physician's Formula Organic Wear Eyeshadow Duo (Mineral Wear Shadow is also talc-free, but isn't always widely available. It wasn't at our CVS).

Revlon also makes a talc-free shadow, but the product isn't on their website so it might be limited-time only. Just read the labels ladies. Also, if a product doesn't list the ingredients, stay away from it.You have the right to know what is going on YOUR EYES. They aren't only a window to your soul, but a membrane that allows pathogens and other debris access to that hot body of yours. 

Mica can also be an irritant to some, so if you are having issues do some "tests" to determine what the irritant really is. Another possible irritant is the age of your eyeshadow. It could be laden with bacteria and other irritants after months and months of use. I recommend 12-18 months as the throwing out point for shadows and eyeliners.

Alternatively, you can just blame your children, which I think is also a valid reason for itching, burning, and rage.

Amanda

My Make-Up Routine

It might seem like I spend a really long time on my everyday make-up. Not so. My work make-up takes 7-10 minutes each day. I don't mess around. Here's what my everyday routine looks like:

1.  Shower
2. Throw on SPF moisturizer and primer
3. Blow-Dry
4. Conceal
1. I conceal under my eyes, on my red-ass chin, and around my nose if I need it.
   
5. Smear on foundation if I need it
1. I start on and around my nose and move outward. I don't need it all over, and you probably don't either. Radiate it from problem areas and blend thoroughly. I like my finger or a foundation brush. Sponges soak up your product, so you use more while applying.
   
6. Blush it up
1. I swirl cream blush in the apples of my cheeks. 
   
7. Sweep on eyeshadow and liner
1. I use an E.L.F. Mineral Eyeshadow in Natural (light, coppery tone) applied with a brush. Then I use the Almay brighteyes white liner on the inside corners of my eyes and the lower waterline. Instant awake look. If my eyelashes are looking sparse, I rub in some brown eyeliner into the top lash line between the lashes, not above. 
   
8. Highlight if I need it/Powder the t-zone
1. Highlighter is what makes celebrities pop and people in the know look better than they should. I sweep a bit of a golden cream formula (E.L.F. Shimmer Palette) on my cheekbones. Again this fakes a good night's sleep, and gives you a healthy, not glittery, glow.
2. I only apply a dusting of powder on my nose, and forehead. Sometimes I hit my chin too if I sense an oil-slick coming on.Too much powder gives you dead, lifeless skin IMO.
   
9. Curl Eyelashes/Mascara
1. Curling my eyelashes changed my life. I have straight eyelashes that angle down. Popping those babies up made my eyes look 8 times bigger. Do it. If I, a rugby-playing former tomboy can embrace this practice, you can too.
   
10. Lips
1. I use a sheer lipstick, balm, or gloss. 
   

Having good staples makes your routine easier (and makes your look last longer). I also have everything organized, so I don't have to rummage for anything. It's always in the same predictable place. Also having a daily go-to routine makes you better and faster at applying your make-up.

Amanda

REVIEW: Sally Hansen Natural Beauty

I love that this shit is inspired by Carmindy. Whatever Sally Hansen Natural Beauty. Carmindy is hot though,and this line is paraben free, like department store brands so I had to try it. I've also really come into my own with my winter pallor, and my beloved Physician's formula is too dark for me now--they don't carry a color called "Caucasian Corpse" so I'm outta luck there.

I got the following items:


Luminizing Face Primer
Your Skin Makeup Foundation in Ecru Beige

Sheerest Cream Blush in Beaming
Truly Translucent Powder in Neutralizer
Luminous Matte Pressed Powder in Light

Let's describe my skin issues first, so you know where I'm coming from. I'm pale with combination skin and redness around my nose. My t-zone oil could be used as a form of alternative fuel, while my cheek and chin can be flaky. In other words, I'm a hot mess. On to the reviews.

Luminizing Face Primer
This is great on the dry areas of my face. It helps calm and smooth the bumpy, flaky bits, and imparts a gentle shimmer. Not so great on the greasy bits, but I forgive it for the way it preps the other areas. A great first experience for primer virgins.

The bottle is crap though. It squirts product out all over if you don't watch it. Nas-tay.


Your Skin Makeup Foundation
I LOVE THIS. I'm more of a tinted moisturizer gal, but sometimes you need to step it up. This is pale without being pink, and has a lovely neutralizing yellow tone. It also comes in a color lighter than the one I purchased, so get on with yo fair self. Not much here for the dark-skinned diva though. The color range currently stops at a mid-deep tone. So boo on them for that.


The product comes in a pump (a working one unlike the primer) and you only need half a pump for a thorough yet natural-looking application. Without prepping (aka exfoliating, moisturizing, priming) this will settle into flakes and faults. However, you should be doing those things anyway. Make-up isn't magic ladies. You need to help your products out.

This is my new go to, and I would purchase it again.

Sheerest Cream Blush 
Another new go to. Sheer application with a natural flush of color. Totally beautiful. I like a cream blush in the winter so my cheeks don't look parched and dried out by Chicago winters (aka totally brutal, bastard, in-your-face, sub-zero weather). Rosy without being clown-like, which often happens to white bitches like me.  Go buy some now. You will be amazed at how fresh your look is with just this one product change.


NOTE: Do not use a cream blush over a powder or mineral foundation. Tragedy will ensue.


Truly Translucent Powder
When battling extra redness, I dust this across my nose and forehead, ever so lightly. Too much and I look yellow like the powder. Just a touch nixes shine and the reds in my tumultuous t-zone.


Medium-skinned ladies take the best to color-corrective products, so if you fall into that category and need some redness fighting assistance, get this.


NOTE: Rip out the nasty, useless sponge applicator in the lid and use a powder or kabuki brush instead.


Luminous Matte Pressed Powder
I grabbed this as a purse touch-up. So glad I did. Great compact with mirror and a great oil-absorbing, sheer product.


In Conclusion
This is over-all a great product line. It's comparable to more expensive brands and you look just as good. It's also available at the drugstore, so you can grab it when you run in for tampons and the latest In-Style mag.

UPDATE: Beautiful Lengths

While in the midst of my Pantene Pro-V Beautiful Lengths trial, I cut my hair. I'm an asshole, I know.

I have fine, thin, color-treated hair. When my hair was longer, Beautiful Lengths worked well. It helped coat the damaged areas, and I could concentrate the conditioner on the ends. Now that I have a bob, the silicone in it makes it flat and greasy-looking after a while.

In conclusion, if you have long, lovely locks, go for it. Stuff works great. Just use a clarifying shampoo once a week to remove any silicone build-up.

If you are short and sassy like me, pick another formula.

Review: ALMAY Pure Blends Foundation and Loose Powder

I like ALMAY and I really, really wanted to fall in love with this product line and run away together to some tropical island, but it wasn't meant to be. My skin is super sensitive, so I thought the 97.4% natural ingredients would be a totally refreshing change.

Not so much.

The only change I noticed from the foundation is that I was a greasy mess. It provides little to no coverage. I don't mind light coverage. I like make-up that lets your skin breath and show through. Make-up is an enhancement, not a disguise. This formula just did not work for me. It was also extremely pink. I looked like a mortuary cosmetic school fail.

I held out hope, however, for the radiant loose finishing powder. I've expressed my dislike of being completely matte before, so I of course purchased the formula with what I though was going to be a a little pearly.

This shit had Edward Cullen sparkles in it. Large flakes of mica. It was kind of tragic. Much like Twilight.

In closing gentle readers, I suggest staying the hell away from ALMAY Pure Blends. Try Physician's Formula Organic Wear instead. It doesn't make you a twinkling vampiric shell of your former self. 
Amanda

review: ALMAY bright eyes liner/highlighter duo

ALMAY is usually a safe-bet for affordable goodness (with the exception of Pure Blends which I will review later). I have been lusting after the bright eyes liner/highlighter combo since it hit the shelves. Since I I had some cash in my pocket, and I may have been a little drunk, I finally picked one up.

The Good:

• Nice size. Larger than average pencil makes it easy to hold and gives you lots o' product for your dollar.
• Nice texture. Creamy and rich feeling, glides on for easy application.
  
• The highlighter end is amazing. I'm rocking it on my lower waterline, inside corners of my eyes and under my eyebrow arch as I type. I look AWAKE and that is a total lie. I woke up looking like a backwoods zombie. 

The Bad:

• The eyeliner end goes on well initially, but isn't super long lasting.

The Ugly:

• I'd recommend this product for a cheap alternative to BeneFit's "Bright Eyes" liner. It serves the same purpose for less than half the price. I'm not as in love with the traditional eyeliner. It's meh.

Amanda