Beauty Product Reviews | Page 2

This mineral blush is so soft and finely milled--it's a dream to apply! It lasts all day and doesn't settle into fine lines or emphasize dryness. Don't be afraid of the shade Nightingale--it may seem too intense, but I find it provides a remarkably realistic, romantic glow to my skin. Apply very lightly for the most natural finish.

I have been using Tweezerman tweezers for as long as I can remember, and recently had the chance to (attempt to) shape a friend's brows using generic tweezers. I was astonished by the difference. What had always been easy and quick to me was suddenly laborious, and it seemed like every other hair slipped out of the tweezers' grasp. I noticed the same thing with a different pair my boyfriend purchased--completely ineffective! Tweezerman really is above and beyond other brands in precision and efficiency. I'm a lifetime customer!

This is the perfect foundation for any St. Tropez self tanner. It moisturizes any dry areas without leaving a problematic residue, and works especially well after exfoliating. I have tried St. Tropez self tanner with and without this product, and it lasts a bit longer with it.

On very rare occasions, I like to transform my very fair skin into the bronzed goodness of a Victoria's Secret glamazon. This is the product that takes me there, without any of the patchiness or orange tones of every self tanner I've tried before. The level of pigmentation in the bottle is terrifying, but it miraculously applies evenly and leaves behind only the most natural of sunbaked tones behind. Two important notes: exfoliate and moisturize thoroughly (when you think you've exfoliated and moisturized enough, do it one more time) and do not sleep in your most luxurious bedsheets after applying. Excess product will rub off on the first night after application, though your next shower should take care of the rest.

I'm so happy with the new packaging! The wand is a big improvement and makes application so much easier. I own this in several colors and notice that OCC is particularly skilled in creating dark, vampy shades. They seem to know exactly how to balance the tones so that a color is universally flattering, no matter how outlandish it might seem in the tube. This is no small feat, and it's one of the many reasons I consistently purchase OCC products. One caveat: this will cling to dryness (like most other long-lasting products), so exfoliate and moisturize well before applying.

Shade 84 imparts such a beautiful, soft glow to the skin. It's a bit more subdued than the other shades in this range. It blends wonderfully with a stippling brush or sponge, and leaves behind none of the greasiness you might expect from such a creamy formula. Apply very lightly, as Inglot takes the pigmentation of their products quite seriously! Just a small dot will do. Setting powder was unnecessary for me; I noticed all-day wear without it, which is very rare.

This is the perfect no-frills moisturizer for normal and dry skin. I've recommended it to numerous friends for use when skin is reacting to nearly everything else. When my skin is being particularly finicky and irritable, I like to apply natural oils (rosehip seed is my favorite) before sleeping, but I reach for this as a morning moisturizer before makeup. It calms any irritation throughout the day and provides my skin with a layer of protection from potentially irritating cosmetics. It absorbs quickly and increases the longevity of foundation. Try it if you're looking for a minimalist cream that can be used anytime, anywhere!

Subtlety is the name of the game with this luminizer. I use a stippling brush to blend this onto my cheekbones and browbones. If I'm feeling especially glamorous, I'll add a touch to the inner corners of my eyes and my cupid's bow. It blends flawlessly with your foundation, leaving no obvious traces behind. I love it, and I love very, very few products in this category. Another winner from RMS.

I love this formula so much that I keep three shades on rotation in my cosmetics collection. Illusive (a warm rose shade) gives the most beautiful, otherworldly glow to my cheeks. It applies beautifully with any brush or sponge, and leaves a dewy finish that lasts most of the day. Beloved is a show-stopping bright poppy red that brightens my skin when worn on the lips. Diabolique is the most beautiful, deep burgundy color that is incredible as both a sheer wash or a dramatic layer on the lips. Both of these can be worn sheerly on the cheeks as well. Diabolique in particular provides a gorgeous, youthful "just in from the snow" rosiness, though I prefer the more subtle rms shades for blushing purposes.

My very dry skin tends to play best with cream and liquid blush, so I was excited to try this formula. It applies beautifully and lasts for around 6 hours without setting powder; setting prolongs it to a full day for me, but sacrifices dewiness. I like a soft, natural, dewy look, and both Guava (a peachy hue) and Raspberry (a darker berry shade) are my go-to shades to create that result on my very fair skin. Apply lightly and build up to the level of color you prefer. This applies easily with fingertips, but a brush or sponge will help blend it seamlessly into your foundation.