Chanel Vita Lumiere Aqua

So I was in the mall last weekend and wanted to pick up another sample of the Pro Lumiere because I'm still kind of on the fence about it.  I like how it looks but I'm not sure if I'm ready to commit yet.  I was talking to the Sales Girl and she was telling me that Chanel is going to be doing away with Pro Lumiere in September to reformulate it and fix all the issues people have with it.  Good news on that front because I'd be sold on it if it would stay on my face.  On that note I decided to ask for samples of the Matte Lumiere and Vita Lumiere Aqua.  I've heard good things about Vita Lumiere Aqua but wasn't sure on specifics.  The Sales assistant went through the whole deal where they ask you about your skin and what kind of coverage you're looking for (oily and full coverage) and she determined that Matte Lumiere is the one for me but gave me samples of the Vita Lumiere which is supposed to be a fairly sheer coverage.  I left without purchasing either because I wanted to test them out at home before taking the plunge and I can say I'm very happy I did.  I have yet to try the Matte Lumiere because I love the Vita Lumiere Aqua so much!  It gives flawless coverage, keeps my oily skin in check, looks natural, doesn't transfer, and is long wearing.  I wore it for about 12 hours in 85° today and still had to wash my face twice with my Clarisonic to get it off.

Dear Chanel Vita Lumiere,

Would you like to permanently join my makeup collection as my holy grail foundation?

I think that was a yes!

$45 Nordstrom.com

Haul March 1st - March 7th

I have a little collective Haul from the past week.  I picked these items up from all different places on different days.  It's weird to see how much I actually bought in one week until I write it down.  At the time I didn't think I was purchasing that much until I went and brought out everything that I've bought over the past week.  That being said, I'm excited to share my new purchases.

Last week was really rough at work and I wanted to go to Lush to pick up some bath stuff to help me relax.  It has been working so far and I do feel less stressed out.  While I was at the mall I stopped in Nordstrom to pick up the Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base.  I heard about it a long time ago and was curious but every time I would go and look at it in the store it just didn't seem that special and seemed like it would make my skin look kind of orange.   I had gotten a sample of this earlier in the week and just fell in love with it.  

$48 Nordstrom.com

$15 Sephora.com

While I was at the mall I went into Sephora to get a new primer.  I've like the Philosophy On A Clear Day primer because it has salicylic acid in it to help fight acne.  I don't like wearing acne medication during the day but if it's built into my primer, I'm ok with that.  I used this about 3 years ago and really liked it.  Unfortunately, they no longer sell it at Sephora so I was stuck looking for something similar.  Call me crazy, but I prefer primers with silicone in them because I find that they stay longer and help smooth out imperfections.   I also like the way my skin feels when I wear them.  I chose to buy the Sephora brand Smoothing Primer because it does contain that silicone that I like but it also is mattifying.

Last time I was in Sephora I asked one of the sales girls if she preferred the Makeup Forever Smoky Lash or the Fresh Supernova Mascara.  She said she liked the Fresh one because it conditions your lashes and irritated her eyes less.  My allergies have been acting up so anything that will make my eyes water less is helpful.  I decided to purchase it this time because I am a mascara junkie and justified by saying that I wanted to take care of my lashes more and if I couldn't afford a lash growth serum, this would be a good way to do it.

$25 Sephora.com

I had over 100 points so I also received a sample of the Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash Mascara.  It's a pretty cute little mascara.  It has a rubber wand that does a good job of separating my lashes but I don't think it builds volume or lengthens well enough to actually purchase.  It is cute though and I'll use it if I want a natural look (like I ever do).

$18 Sephora.com

$8.99 Ulta.com

A few days later I was trying to figure out what hair style I wanted (I had a hair appointment the next morning) when my friend called and suggested we go to CVS to look at some hair magazines for inspiration.  I also had a coupon for 20% off your entire purchase so we decided to take advantage of that.  I walked around for a while in the cosmetics department and helped my friend pick out new eyeliner, lipstick, and lipgloss while I picked up and put back several things for myself.  The only thing that I did end up leaving with was the Revlon Color Burst Lipstick in Soft Nude.  I actually like this color.  It's a slightly more opaque and peachy version of Creme D' Nude by MAC.  We did end up looking for hairstyles and ultimately decided that I like how I've been getting my hair cut, I just need a trim...and full blunt bangs!

The next day I went to get my hair cut and it took 4 hours!!!  I went from a deep auburn to a light coppery, almost strawberry blonde color.  Not exactly what I asked for but I'm rocking it so whatever.  Upon my many trips from the color chair to the shampoo station I noticed a display in the manicure room that had they Katy Perry by OPI Nail Polishes and I spotted Teenage Dream!  I have wanted this color ever since I could no longer get it.  That's how things work with me though.  If I see swatches online and I fall in love with it, chances are it is already sold out.  I heard that Sally Hansen's Strobe Light nail polish is similar and so I bought that and I can now tell you that they are very different and I'm ecstatic that I was able to find it.  I might go back and get another one because they had several and do a give away in the future if I ever get more followers.

$29 Sephora.com

I woke up early the next day to go to a kickboxing class with a friend which was truly one of the most difficult and painful experiences of my life.  I have decided that I need to start eating better, working out and most importantly quit smoking.  We went back to her house and had smoothies then went to a park in our city to walk around their 3 mile lake.  After that it was lunch at a health food store, shower and a trip to Sephora again to help her mom pick out new makeup for an upcoming performance.  While I was in Sephora, I decided to treat myself to a new eye cream I've been wanting for some time.  I had a sample of the Clinique All About Eyes Rich eye cream and enjoyed it very much.  Despite it being so rich, it sinks into your skin quickly and doesn't cause any extra creasing of my under eye concealer.  So far, I'm pretty happy with it but I haven't noticed any major improvements. 

$48 Ulta.com

While out shopping yesterday for a new dustpan and cleaning supplies I tricked my boyfriend into going to the shopping center where our Ulta is by saying that I wanted to pick up a movie from the Best Buy that was close by.  We found the movie and then I made an excuse saying that I had to run into Ulta for bobby pins and he could meet me over there when he was done.  I actually wanted to get the John Frieda Radiant Red color glaze to help deepen up the red in my hair.  Turns out they don't make that anymore so that was a bust but while I was in there, I did see that they had an Urban Decay Naked Palette in a display.  Eager to snatch up this coveted palette, I literally ran back to the Urban Decay section to pick one up.  They weren't there so as I made my way back up to the front of the store to ask if I could buy the display one (it was unused and in a clear box to protect it from the elements) I saw a whole stack of them.  I was tempted to buy two as my sister's birthday is coming up this week but settled for just the one because $48 is a lot of money to spend on her when she does not appreciate hard to find makeup as I do. 

$19 Ulta.com

If you purchased over $25 worth of Urban Decay products at Ulta right now you get three free samples. They're really small but I'm actually enjoying them and thinking about purchasing the full size of at least two of them.  The first one was the Lip Junkie Lip Gloss in the color Midnight Cowboy.  This has become a color that is gaining a lot of hype like Stila's Kitten did a few years ago.  They're branching out from just the eyeshadows to an eye liner and now lip gloss.  Like the eye shadow it is a shimmery beige color with silver flecks in it.  It is a plumping and cooling lipgloss that is not uncomfortable like lip venom.  It is sticky but I think the very wearable and beautiful color makes up for it for me.  I like MAC  lipglasses so I rarely have issues with stickiness.  Also included in that was the Lip Junkie Lip Gloss in Wallflower.  This one is a neutral pink my lips but better color that would be very flattering on a variety of skin tones.  The last thing that I got was a sample of the Stardust eye shadow in the color Retrograde.  It's a mid-tone purple with a lot of silver glitter in it.  I don't buy a lot of Urban Decay eye shadows because 1. They're really expensive and 2. They tend to have a lot of glitter that falls out on to your face and is impossible to get off.  It's not really pigmented and the glitter would drive me crazy so I don't think I'll use this.  I'll probably give this to my friend who's birthday is coming up. 

Well that's if for my haul.  As you can see I didn't get a lot at each shopping trip but did end up going out a whole lot.  I really have to stop this.  Being a makeup artist, I can write these purchases off on my taxes but that doesn't help me with money until next year.  I think I'm going to start a project 10 pan in the very near future.  Anyway, as always let me know if there's something you'd like reviewed or if you've used any of these in the past and what you've thought of them. 

Thanks so much!!!

February Favorites

Another month has come and gone and now it's time to share my favorite beauty products for the past month.  I've really been trying to shop my stash this past month but there are some new products featured in this post.

My favorite eyeliner for February was the MAC Creme liner in black.  It has definitely lived up to my expectations.  Once activated with water, it becomes a very inky black that does last all day.  This is by no means waterproof but I have had no issues with it moving until I wash it off at the end of the day.  The best part is that it doesn't take a lot of product compared to MAC's fluid line so I think this will probably last me for the rest of the year.

$16.50 MACcosmetics.com

My next favorite is a paint pot by MAC in the color Rubenesque.  This is a peachy shade that suites my skin tone nicely.  It can be worn on its own or layered under shadows for more color impact.  I find myself reaching for this over any other bases that I own.

I purchased the Vichy Dermablend foundation at CVS earlier this month and while I find it to be too thick for foundation, it really has made its way into my routine as a concealer for my face.  This creases a little too much to be worn as an under eye concealer but it covers blemishes and discoloration very well. A little goes a long way so if you use it sparingly, it is undetectable once blended.

$19.50 MACCosmetics.com

I have been loving the peachy warmness of MAC's Style blush.  The slight shimmers make my skin look radiant without accentuating skin texture.

Chanel Pro Lumiere has fought its way back into my heart this past month.  If I make sure to wear a primer and powder, it looks absolutely flawless.  It's a lot of work but if I am planning a night out, this is my go-to foundation.

I've been wearing a lot of neutral eye shadows this month which makes me think I really need to purchase the Urban Decay Naked Palette.  If only it would come back in stock anywhere.  My favorites include Soft Brown, Sable, Saddle, and Honey Lust.  I'll generally wear at least two of these colors every single day.

Another favorite of mine has been MAC's pearl glide eye liner in Industrial.  I like wearing this light shimmery blue on my lower lash line to bring out the blue-ish tones in my eyes.  I do have green eyes but they are quite light and paired with the right color shirt or eyeshadow they can sometimes look more aqua than straight green.  I wore this eyeliner with MAC's Yogurt, Soft Brown, Saddle, and Brown Down eye shadows on Valentines day and it looked really beautiful.

My Favorite bronzer of the month has been Benefit's Hoola.  This is a new product to my collection and will probably remain there for as long as Benefit keeps selling this product.  This matte bronzer is perfect for contouring as well as giving the sun kissed look to my face when I feel like being tan.  I like to bring this down my neck to blend my foundation with the rest of my body as well.

$8.95 LushUSA.com

Before I get into brushes I'd like to mention a product that I purchased a few months ago from LUSH.  I used it a couple of times as a toner but didn't really think it did anything special.  It is the Tea Tree Water and I recently started using this before my moisturizer.  I find that it wakes my skin up in the morning and helps control the oil throughout the day.  It doesn't smell pretty but it smells clean - Kind of like lemon juice concentrate.


As you know I purchased some brushes from Sigma this month and wanted to give myself ample time using them before I did a review.  I still find myself reaching for these more than my MAC brushes every day.

I find that the Chanel Pro Lumiere foundation goes on best when used with a traditional foundation brush as opposed to the flat top kabuki brush I generally use.  I like the Sigma F60 for this because of its synthetic bristles and smaller shape.  It applies the right amount of product without absorbing and wasting too much.

When I'm not using the Chanel foundation I like the F82 for liquid foundations.  I find the smaller, denser brush gives me more control than the F80 and allows me to get into smaller places on my face like under my eyes and around my nose.

Like the MAC 252, the sigma E60 is great for applying all over color.  The tip is great for applying color along the lower lash line as well as into the crease and on the outer V.

I think my favorite of all the sigma brushes is the E40.  The MAC 224 was my favorite brush of all time for a long time and the E40 is coming in a close second.  The larger, fluffier head is great for blending out the crease as well as concealer on the face and under the eyes.  I find this to be much more versatile than the MAC 224.

Well those were my favorites.  Most probably came as no surprise because they are such tried and true products.  As the weather is getting warmer I've been finding myself getting a little more bold with colors and using a lot less on my face.  I can't wait for spring to come.  I desperately need a change.  Please let me know if you want a review of any of the products mentioned above.

Upcoming reviews:
Mabelline One By One Mascara
Vichy Dermablend foundation
Pantene Beautiful Lengths conditioner
Milani HD concealer
Clarisonic Mia

FOTD

Today's FOTD is inspired by my new makeup from CVS and Lisa Eldridge's video on concealing spots.  I started breaking out again recently (it's hormonal) and so I've been trying to figure out the most natural way to cover my breakouts.  I stumbled upon Lisa Eldridge's video on concealing acne a while ago and have wanted to try her technique ever since my face blew up a week ago.  She has a wonderful philosophy that instead of covering your whole face with a mask of makeup, you should use a really sheer foundation all over to even out your skin and then conceal spots with a concealer or heavier foundation.  I tried it today and I have to say, I'm really pleased with the outcome.


I started out by priming my face with my Murad Oil Control Primer down my nose and on my forehead.  I then mixed Chanel Pro Lumiere in the color Shell (1.5) with my Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation SPF 42 and then added some of my MAC Lightful Deep Ultra Moisture Creme to thin it out a bit.  I squeezed out a little bit of the Vichy Dermablend Foundation and mixed it with my MAC Pro Long Wear Concealer in NW25 because the color was a little light.  Using a MAC 217 Brush (like Lisa in the video) I lightly brushed the heaver foundation over the spots that needed some more concealing.  I wouldn't say it looks natural...I defiantly look like I'm wearing a lot of makeup and there's nothing any cosmetic can do about texture but I do like the final outcome. 

FACE:
Murad Oil Control Mattifier
MAC Lightful Ultra Deep Moisture Cream
Chanel Pro Lumiere (Shell 1.5)
Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation SPF 42 (#20)
Vichy Dermablend Foundation (Opal 15)
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer (NW25)
MAC Blot Powder Loose (light)
Benefit Bronzer (Hoola)
MAC Mineralize Blush (Nuance)
MAC Blush (Dame)
MAC MSF (Shimpagne)

BROWS:
MAC Eyeshadow (Embark)

EYES:
Urban Decay Primer Potion (Sin - all over)
MAC Paint Pot (Indianwood - Lid, Up to crease)
MAC Pigment (Jardin Aires - Inner Corner)
MAC Pigment (Tan - Lid and into the crease.  Also smudged out eyeliner on top and bottom)
MAC Pigment (Chocolate brown - Crease)
MAC Eyeshadow (Carbon - Outer V and smudged out eyeliner)
Milani Liquif'eye Liner (Black - Upper lashline and water line)
MAC Haute And Naughty Lash

LIPS:
MAC Lipstick (Honeylove)

Hoola Barbados in a box

Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Sin Eyeshadow Primer Potion from Urban Decay is unmatched by any other in the beauty industry! The genie in this bottle fulfills three wishes: eyeshadow that lasts, more vibrant and lasting color, and absolutely NO creasing.

The Search For The Perfect Foundation

I've been thinking about starting a blog for a while now so I thought why not start now.  I'm on the hunt for the perfect foundation right now.  I've used a lot and I still haven't found my Holy Grail foundation yet.  Having lost my tan from the summer now, I'm in need of my winter color so why not take this time to search for the right formula for my skin as well. A little background on my skin first. I have very oily acne prone skin with dark circles under my eyes, lots of acne scaring, large pores and a few new pimples that my proactive has not taken care of. 

Foundations I'm considering:

$42 NARScosmetics.com

NARS Sheer Glow - I used the color Stromboli in the summer when I had a very deep tan.  In MAC terms I was probably a NW30-NW35.  I thought it was the best foundation ever.  Less noticable pores, excellent full coverage, long lasting.  Seemed to be the holy grail for me.  I am now using the color Deauville which is the perfect color match for me.  Unfortunately, it always seems that when my skin is lighter, foundations don't cover as well.  I've found that my large pores are back and the acne scars aren't being covered as well.  The dark circles aren't being covered as well any more and it doesn't seem to be lasting as long either and my face looks oiler faster. I may be returning this but I think I'll give it a little more time. 

$54 Nordstrom.com

Chanel Pro Lumier - I used the color Cameo.  I like this foundation. It made my skin look even but for $54, it should do a whole lot more than that.  Despite some of the reviews I've read for this foundation, I did not have a problem with it staying.  It covered well enough but I found that I needed to use a concealer for spots on my face too.  It was really liquidy and was kind of messy.  I only had a sample so I can assume that it's not quite as messy when you get the full bottle. Another draw back was that you definatly need to use a setting powder.  There is no way around this.  Powder powder powder.  I had to use a setting powder and a mattifying gel but it looked pretty nice after all of that work.  No real caking.  Overall, it was ok but it's way too much work for a product that I think should do it all at that price point.  I will not be purchasing a full size bottle.

$42 Nordstrom.com

  

Laura Mercier Silk Cream Foundation - Initially I got a sample of the rose ivory which was PINK! Not the right color for me so I kind of ignored it for a while.  I recently got a sample of cream ivory which was the right color for me.  This foundation is also only ok.  It didn't do anything very special.  It looked nice but didn't really stick around either.  Didn't cover as well as I would expect either. Probably not going to get the full size either. 

$40 Sephora.com

MUFE HD foundation - I had this in the summer too and when I first got it, it was the best thing I had ever used.  Since I've tried other foundations, I've found that there are better ones out there.  I wish this was the perfect foundation for me because I get a professional discount at MUFE. Once again, needed concealer, not really buildable, didn't help with the oil.  Just nothing special.  I did however notice that my pores appeared smaller when I used it. 

$26 MACcosmetics.com

MAC Studio Fix Fluid - I used this foundation for really long time.  I never had any problems with it breaking me out or anything.  It lasted for a long time and didn't make me look oily or anything but it sometimes did look a little cakey.  I liked it but the color wasn't exactly right.  I tried NC 15 and NC 20. The NWs were too pink for me so that wasn't an option.  I probaby won't go back to this.







I'm not sure the perfect foundation is out there for me.  It's the one thing that I just can't find that suits me.  I don't like using the matte foundations like NARS Sheer Matte or the MUFE Matte Velvet Plus because I don't find that they keep me matte any longer than other foundations and they tend to looke cakier on me.  Maybe it's out there, maybe it isn't.  Today I'm going to give the Laura Mercier a little more love.  I recently got the LM primer so maybe it'll work with that.  We'll See.