Beauty Product Reviews | Page 6

One amazing foundation

The cost of ColorStay (30 ml/1.0 fl oz) can range from $10-$15 and can be purchased at nearly any drugstore and big box store. There is a wide range of shades. More importantly, there are different formulations for dry and oily skin types. I use 370 Toast for combination/oily skin. When pairing ColorStay with a primer and translucent power for setting, I only have to slightly pat with oil control sheets in the early afternoon. The coverage is also incredibly buildable.

Often there are two major complaints with Revlon ColorStay (which is the reason why I gave it 4.5 stars). First, there is no pump. Second, the smell is less than desirable. Both of those problems are addressed with using an airless pump (please see picture) which I purchased 2 for $6 on eBay. Of course, I would prefer Revlon begin to sell the product with a pump, but I doubt that will ever happen. My pump is reusable and can hold 30 ml of product. It also nearly eliminates the smell since I’m not opening the top.

My favorite method is to use the Sigma F80. Being a synthetic brush, it did not absorb the product. The dense bristles also stood up to the thick formulation. A spot clean got enough product out of the brush so that I could elongate my times between deep cleaning to once or twice a week for the brush.

Other methods of application: When using my fingers, it blends well but I must give my hands long wash to get it off. Due to the mess, and the cleanup involved, I would use my fingers for a last resort. A dampened sponge also works without using up too much product. A new sponge must be used with each application. Depending on the price of sponges, it may be cost prohibitive to use this route on a daily basis. It works well with MAC 109 and can spot clean but I must perform a deep clean every other day. There is a great deal of shedding with the MAC 109 with liquid products. Revlon ColorStay is no exception. A MAC 190 worked well but took a bit longer to get blended. By far, my least application is the MAC 187/188 brushes. The thick formulation doesn’t work with the stippling brushes. In order to blend, I had to try a buffing motion. The black natural bristles quickly absorbed the product. In the end, I saw no better result than a damp sponge and had to perform a deep clean every time I used this type of brush, which was a pain.

With the cost, availability, wide selection of colors, and the choice between dry and oily skin formulations, Revlon ColorStay is the workhorse of my beauty routine. It’s a great everyday foundation during these difficult economic times.

Similar results with balm + liner for less cost.

For most people, the effect of MAC Prep+Prime Lip (1.7 g for $15) is negligible. It does smooth out the lip and help the lipstick last longer. However, the same effect can be done with a good balm and liner for far less cost.

A fantastic product crippled by the packaging.

The primer definitely made my eyeshadow last longer and the price point is fantastic. Unfortunately, the packaging is less than desirable. The hard plastic casing makes it near impossible to get out the entire product and the black color makes it impossible to see how much remains. Though the applicator is soft on my eyelid, I do worry about contaminating the remainder inside of the package. By switching to a tube, the product could be dispensed in a more sanitary fashion. It’s a pity because I really liked the product itself.

A must for blush and fantastic for lighter liquid foundation

I purchased my MAC 187 (18 cm) last summer. I probably use it around five days out of the week for blush. Originally, I bought the 187 to apply MAC Studio Fix Fluid, which it did a fantastic job. It’s also great with foundations that are more liquid such as L’Oreal True Match. It’s made of goat hair (short black) and synthetic (longer white) fibers. By lightly tapping the brush in the product before stippling on the face, it offers a nearly airbrushed finish. However, I found it more difficult to solely stipple with heavier liquid foundations such as MAC Pro Longwear. Though I could use a stipple and swirl method with the 187 for such foundations, I decided I was defeating the purpose. This is because the synthetic fibers do not absorb as much product as the goat hairs. When swirling, the goat hairs tend to absorb more product.

That’s when I switched the 187’s use to blush products and I’ve never gone back. The synthetic fibers make it easy for me to build powder and cream blush. Because of this, I’ve been able to use more pigmented blushes. Likewise, I have been able to expand my range of colors.

In these difficult economic times, $42 for a brush is a bit steep. Crown (C406 $8.49), Sigma (F50 $16), and nearly every major brand offer a similar skunk brush. I have the equivalent of the MAC 188 from Crown (C404) and see little in the difference in quality. If I had it to do all over again, I’m not sure that I would spend as much for the MAC. Nonetheless, I truly adore the MAC 187.

It did shed 3-4 goat hairs each of my first few deep cleanings. However, I’ve yet to experience additional shedding over this past year. I do spot clean after each use and do a deep clean every week (with blush). With foundation, I did perform a deep wash every two days. A touch of makeup remover cleaned the more difficult stains. A large brush guard kept the shape.

A fantastic, but not essential, highlighter & all over lid brush

I purchased the MAC227 (18 cm) brush in autumn of 2010. I wanted something that would relieve the pressure of using my MAC 217 for so many areas of my eye. It’s fantastic for applying highlighter to the brow bone and blending my transition color to my highlight color. To my amazement, it also does a wonderful job with applying and blending out an all over the lid color. Because of the black goat hair, I do not worry about staining the brush. Moreover, I can wash the brush in the evening and know it will be dry the next morning. I use a small or medium Brush Guard on the MAC 227 to keep the shape. It’s a welcome addition to my collection.

There are alternatives to the $30 MAC 227. Sigma offers the E50 at $9 and Crown sells the C407 for only $3.11. I do not own either the Sigma or Crown versions. Though I personally adore this brush, I do not consider it to be an essential brush like a blending brush (MAC 224 or 227), a lay down brush (MAC 239), or pencil brush (MAC 219). I think of the 227 as a technical brush where one has already assembled the core components of the brush collection and is interested in a unique brush for a more specific application.

Big results with a small price tag.

The Original Mint Julep Masque by Queen Helene has been a staple of my beauty regimen for as long as I can remember. The bottle reads “No Animal Testing” and “No Animal Ingredients”. It is sold at many big box retailers as well as drug stores. Though the price varies from store to store, I found a nearby store selling the product for $3.99. It’s a good, inexpensive product that, in my opinion, rivals similar items with more than twice the price.

The Masque is sold in two formats. The jar is 12 oz while tube form is 8 oz. I would strongly advise you not to do purchase the 12 oz. jar as it is prone to drying out (like many jar products such as gel liners or MAC Paint Pots). What good is buying more product if half of it is rapidly rendered useless? Apart from being able to use the entire product, squeezing it out onto your fingers is much easier than digging into a jar if you have long nails.

I cannot write that it is specifically due to this product that my pores shrink. I can write that it is specifically due to this product that the impurities that lay within my pores are removed and because of the removal, my pores appear to tighten. It’s a small but important point to make.

For oily or problematic skin, I recommend two treatments. The first way is, after cleaning, apply a layer on your problem areas and allow drying before removing with warm water washcloth. Then, apply a layer to the entire face and neck. By doing this, I find the impurities in my problem areas such as around my nose and the indent between my bottom lip and my chin are removed. I might caution those with dry, sensitive skin, and frankly anyone to be careful with this process. Test a small patch before beginning such a treatment as it deviates from the directions. For many people, one treatment may be all it takes. My skin responds to two treatments.

The second way to use the Mint Julep Masque is to spot alleviate the redness and intensity of any breakout. Again, I use two doses completely washing away the first dose before the second spot treatment is applied. I would caution you not do this and go to sleep wearing any dose as it may stain white or light pillowcases.

Brides, please do not use this treatment the day of your wedding. There is nothing worse than to drop or brush up against something and wind up with it on your dress. Do yourself a favor and don’t have the tube anywhere in the same room as your dress on that special day.

My go to eye brush.

The MAC 217 (17 cm) brush was one of three of my first brush purchases. I’m happy to say that I still own and use the same brush I first purchased. It is my most important eye brush in my collection. Obviously, it is a fantastic blending brush. Its tapered top is excellent with getting into the crease and the semi-stiffness gives the right resistance with blending out colors. The brush works as well wet and dry eye shadows. Likewise, it’s great with power or cream products.

There are similar products to the MAC 217 ($22.50). Sigma has the E35 ($9) and Crown Brush has C433 (I paid $5.49) Sadly, I do not own the former and happily purchased the latter. I breathed a sigh of relief when my Crown C433 arrived, so much I relied on my MAC 217. Though I constantly use my Crown C433, I first grab my MAC 217.

There is one con with the brush. It is made of white goat hair. I would advise caution with using red or orange eye shadows. It’s ok to use them, just wash your brush immediately after use to keep from staining the hairs. Additionally, I would suggest reshaping the brush after washing either by using a Brush Guard or gently wrapping the brush head with paper towel.