Showing posts with label Good For. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Good For. Show all posts
Wednesday, 6 May 2015
I've already rounded up my thoughts on the gel moisturizers, foundations, mascaras, lip balms and dry shampoos I've put to the test, so I thought it was about time to talk about concealers. There are so many amazing affordable options at drugstore prices, but different concealers can used for different purposes so here are my thoughts for navigating this space in the drugstore.
Maybelline Cover Stick | I feel like this is a hidden gem at the drugstore. This concealer was my secret weapon when I was working as a swim instructor because it is both high coverage and waterproof. I still to this day keep one on hand for the summer when I know I'll be at the lake or pool, or just generally spending time outdoors. It is a very thick consistency so I warm it up first with my fingers and then blend out with a fluffy blending brush so it doesn't appear cakey.
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind | The brightener shade of the concealer is amazing for counteracting dark circles and bringing back some life to your face. It is a thick formula so a little goes a long way, and I always top it with something skin toned to make sure it blends into the face.
Coastal Scents Camo Quad | I know this isn't drugstore per se, but it is available for a drugstore price and I love it too much not to include it! This is my favourite concealer for covering blemishes, as it is so easy to get the perfect colour no matter how much of a tan you've got going on. It's a gel-like formula so it blends seamlessly and provides great coverage.
Maybelline Fit Me | This is a very popular concealer, and for a good reason. The moisturizing texture makes it useful for both under the eyes and on the face. If you're battling dry skin or even dry spots from acne treatment this may be something you would love. Just note, the coverage is medium and it definitely benefits from being set because of the creamy consistency.
Garnier Anti-Dark Circle Rollerball | Since I already use a brightening product underneath my eyes, I love that this formula is very thin and doesn't feel like you're caking up the product. It's not very high coverage, but it covers what I need and it doesn't crease on me throughout the day making it perfect for everyday wear. The amount of product you get in this is crazy so even though it is on the higher end of prices, I know it will last me for at least a year.
What is your favourite affordable concealer?
Monday, 15 December 2014
I first fell in love with Gel Moisturizers when I was in university
dealing with oily skin. It was a constant struggle to find
something that wasn't full of acne medicine, leaving my skin dry and tight, or
too rich, leaving me looking like a grease ball. Once I found the gel-cream category, I never looked back,
even as my skin has become more dry. Since I seem to have collected a ton of Gel Moisturizers over the past year, I thought it was about time I resurrected my "What Are They Good For" round up series and gave you my feedback on everything I've tried.
The Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel was the one that started it all. This was an HG product for me during my university days. It is extremely light so perfect for balancing really oily skin. Now that I have more normal to combo skin, I prefer to save this in the summer months as it doesn't quite give me enough hydration to be used in the winter. I love the packaging, the fact that it comes with a pump is really ideal. The only downside is the price, coming it at $32 it's a little steep, but you get a lot of product so it lasts me forever.
When I started to look for a more budget friendly version of my Clinique gel, this Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream was the first I could find on the drugstore market. If you can't tell by the fact that this jar is almost empty, I'm a big fan of this product. I've used this for years now and it has been a great everyday moisturizer for my normal/combo skin. It's a little bit more hydrating than the Clinique gel, but still absorbs quickly and doesn't leave a sticky feeling on the skin. It is less expensive at around $8-9 per pot, but I do go through it fairly quickly.
While the Combo version of the gel-cream is a great day cream it just isn't enough hydration for what I look for at night. When I saw they had a version for dry skin I thought I would test it out to see if it would fit the bill. I wouldn't be deceived by the label, this definitely wouldn't be enough moisture for anyone with really dry skin, but it works decently well as a night cream for someone with more combination skin. It doesn't absorb quite as quickly, and initially leaves a bit of a tackiness to the skin, but it doesn't bother me. It is at the same $8-9 CAD price tag, and seems to last me longer than the day cream.
Clean & Clear's Hydrating Gel Moisturizer is definitely on the more heavy duty end. It is much thicker in texture and took a little bit more effort to work into my skin. It has pretty strong fragrance, which I didn't love, but if you're not sensitive to scent then it probably would not bother you. I could see this working better for someone with combination/dry skin. For me, it just felt a bit too heavy compared to my favourites above, even at the low price point of $6-7.
Olay's Fresh Effects Dew Over Gel Moisturizer has a great texture - it looks like it would be on the thicker side in the pot, but feels much more smooth and thin once applied to the face. I think I could have loved this one, but unfortunately there is something in it that seems to break me out! If you don't have sensitive or acne prone skin, I would definitely say it's worth a try at $12-13.
I told myself I was done searching out more gel formula's, but then Miracle10 gave me their skincare line to test out, and the Light Serum became my new favourite for winter. It looks like a typical gel moisturizer, but feels almost like water that packs a pretty serious punch. I was having some dry skin on my forehead, and this is the only one of this bunch that cleared that up without having to load on extra product. It is pricy, at $69 per tube, but it has had a noticeable positive effect on my skin. The only negative: it has a pretty strange scent. My boyfriend says when I use this my face smells "like a vitamin" (who knew that was even a scent), but I guess it makes sense since the main ingredients are Vitamins A, B, D3, E and K.
Have you tried a gel formula moisturizer? Whether you deal with oily skin or occasional dryness, I highly recommend checking these products out!
Have you tried a gel formula moisturizer? Whether you deal with oily skin or occasional dryness, I highly recommend checking these products out!
Monday, 21 July 2014
Do you ever have one of those days when you feel you just need to take a vacation from your computer? Even though I just finished patting myself on the back for keeping up my posting schedule, this weekend I chose to shut down my computer and phone and focus on quality time. Well I'm back in the saddle today with another round up post of one of my ultimate hair product loves: dry shampoo.
If you're a fan of big hair, you may take a fancy to the Herbal Essences Body Envy dry shampoo. It provides a ton of volume with the same slightly tacky feeling of a volumizing powder. The down side - you don't really get the clean feeling of something like Lush's No Drought, which is on the opposite side of the spectrum. Not so much in the volume department, but it leaves you with super fresh feeling locks. Note: this one can be quite messy, but it will last you much longer than any of the aerosol offerings.
If you've been around these parts for a while, you know that Batiste is my holy grail. I think it provides the perfect balance of volume & freshness, comes in a ton of different scents, and even gives colour options which can be amazing when it comes to keeping up your colour.
The Salon Graffix dry shampoo really does leave you without any powdery residue, but as a blonde that never gave me a problem. It didn't do enough in terms of the look of my hair to warrant a repurchase. And finally, the Tresemme Fresh Start dry shampoo may have been a bit too much for my fine hair, but I know for a fact that some ladies with thicker hair find it to be great at absorbing oil and adding back some bounce to limp locks.
I'm always looking for new ones to try! What is your favourite dry shampoo?
Wednesday, 14 May 2014
Mascara is a make-it-or-break-it product for every single makeup look, but not everyone may be looking for the same things when it comes to performance. There are so many varieties available at different price points that sometimes it can be overwhelming to just pick one. Here's a round-up of some of my favourites, and why they made the cut.
If length is your end-game Benefit's They're Real and Too-Faced Better than False Lashes will help you get the most out of your lashes. They're Real is great for day-to-night because of it's budge-proof formula. The Too-Faced system is a little more time-intensive, but worth it for special occasions!
Ladies looking for volume should check out Jordana Best Lash Extreme or L'Oreal Volumious Carbon Black for great dramatic intensity. Volumious works a little harder in the lengthening department, while Best Lash Extreme is the darkest mascara I have yet to find. It's no secret I'm a huge fan of both of these - take your pick!
Looking for some other product round ups? Check out more posts from this series!
What do you look for in a mascara?
Sunday, 6 April 2014
After my first round up post on Foundations, I thought I would next tackle my biggest weakness when it comes to beauty buying - Lip balm. Where I live it's cold probably on average seven out of twelve months of the year, and I suffer from chronically dry/cracked lips for the majority of those seven months. Of course I like to put to the test all the things, so here are some of my most used lip balms and what they bring to the table.
Lipsticks tend to look uneven on your dry lips? The EOS lip balms make a perfect not-too-slick base to help your lips maintain their moisture. Soft Lips are great to throw in your pocket or purse on the way to the beach or pool since they are super slim and have SPF.
The Nivea Lip Butters are best kept at home for an overnight treatment. Sanitary reasons aside, they are thick and moisturizing enough to stick around all night. If you're looking for something with a wide range of colours that still provide a good amount of moisture, you should look into the Sugar Fresh range. They may cost you a pretty penny but they are the best of the hybrid lip balm lip colours that I've found.
Last but not least, if scent/taste is big in your world, The Body Shop Lip Butters should hit the spot. There have so many flavours to choose from, they ought to have something for everyone.
What would you suggest for my next lip balm impulse purchase?
Thursday, 6 March 2014
If you couldn't tell already, I'm a bit of a product junkie. Not quite at hoarder status yet since I do tend to finish things before moving on to the next in line, in my long and complex relationship with makeup I've tested out my fair share. So, why not put my purchase history to good use?
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If you're looking for something light that still has coverage and combat's shine, Bare Minerals Matte formula may be your cup of tea. Cover Girl Stay Flawless 3 in 1 is perfect for the every day wear. Good coverage, SPF and lasts well enough through the typical 8 hour day.
Going out on the town? MUFE HD won't cake up your face and looks especially great in photos since it is sans SPF. Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse is a great foundation to slap on and head out the door if you're in a rush. It's super easy to blend and feels really comfortable on the skin.
Milani Multi-Tasker Powder may not be a foundation per-say, but it helps even out the skin and has a really natural finish. And finally, the mac daddy of the drug store, Revlon Colorstay is not for the faint of hart, but it will definitely last you through your entire day and can be sheered out with a damp sponge.
What does your ideal foundation do for you?
