Beauty Product Reviews
the last brush you'll ever buy
I bought my MP brush 8 years ago - it's the only brush I'll use when I actually do use one to straighten out my curly hair. Why? Well, read on...
The combination of boar and nylon bristles give you the right amount of tension and grip to get through any thickness or texture of hair - without snagging or causing breakage. I'm convinced that it's the only brush to give you sleek hair without fuzz or frizz.
The price on the MP brush is a little spendy (mine was around $100), but unless you lose it, it really is the last brush you'll ever buy. It even comes with a separate brush to maintain the bristles, and a manual on how to care for it. Follow the directions, and you'll be brushing your hair in luxury for years!
great on drier skin
I really wanted to believe the hype, so when I was given a bottle to try on clients, I was excited.
The packaging is really the best part of it; it's a pump, so it's hygenic. And it's small enough to pack into your makeup bag to go.
I found that the coverage was a little heavy on most people, including myself. After trying it with both brush and sponge, I felt that while it was very blendable, it didn't make that much of a difference in the appearance of skin tone, fine lines, etc - all the things that Lancome claimed it would do.
It did wear quite well, but that could be because I layered it with concealer and powder; it's perhaps best reserved for evening full-coverage wear, or for photo ops.
Perfect for curly hair + after color service
I can't go on enough about how much I LOVE this product. Being a curly girl, and not shampooing every day (more like once a week), it's a blessing-in-a-can for fluffing my hair back up without weighing it down with a ton of creamy products or having to wet it down. Also essential for post-color treatments, since shampooing is a no-no for a day or so after, espesh if you're a redhead (like me!) =)
It works best if you spray from a minimum of 6 inches from your roots, and then hit it with your blowdryer on a medium setting afterward. Bonus: it doesn't smell like your grandma's perfume.
I hoard the stuff, and keep a travel-size can in my bag for touchups throughout the day. Love love love!!!
Featherweight, not greasy
This is GREAT under makeup - the SPF I usually use is Pharmaceris 50, but it's very thick and leaves my face looking a little too shiny for everyday use. The LaMer 30, though is kind of miraculous - it doesn't leave a trace of shine, and I don't feel sticky afterward.
The packaging is interesting - it's got some sort of shaker in the bottle, and I'm guessing that it's to give a complete, homogenous mix to the product. Worth every penny.
a little goes a long way
Just the tiniest amount of this cruelty-free, vegan lip pigment gives full coverage - AMAZING. I've been wearing Trollop, and I have to say it's one of the prettiest colors I've seen in full strength, but mixed with a little balm and it's sheer and very day-wearable.
Have to stress - the stuff is potent. Not like a gloss you can apply straight from the tube - squeeze out just a drop onto your brush and go to town! Be sure to use a good lip balm first - it tends to stain the lips, so it needs a bit of a buffer.
It works. Buy it.
I was super excited when I learned that my favorite brand was formulating a BBcream, as I'd been using Missha's for awhile and hadn't found its match. But Illamasqua really did the product justice, and on so many levels.
First, it comes in a bazillion shades (well, 18 - but that's still a wide range) so you'll definitely find the shade to match your skin. The packaging is great and very kit-friendly.
Texturewise, it's silky and packs a highly opaque punch, so you don't need a lot - unless you're going for full-on coverage. I tend to go for sheerer coverage on myself, so I first applied with a brush, and then blended with a sponge - I was surprised to see I didn't need much concealer after.
I also tapped a little extra on my eyelids to see how it works as a priming base - NICE.
It wears quite well, also. Highly recommended.
lightweight, illuminating
I have to admit, I was pretty skeptical about its "brightening" power, which was a selling point.
After a few uses, I found it to be a quick-absorbing, line-diminishing wonder product. Not enough for nighttime, but perfect under makeup. Probably best for skin over 30 (like mine) that needs a little more hydration.