Bobbie Brown does it. So does Benefit,Nars and a host of others. What I'm talking about are those two in one products a cream formula color stick marketed to be used on lips and cheeks. I'm all for it. There's nothing like paring down the amount of cosmetics you tote around to make you feel like a natural beauty. However there's but no need to rush to Sephora to add another product to an already burgeoning collection. We already have multiple use products tumbling out of our makeup drawers and bags. It's just a matter of using a little creativity
A lipstick can easily duplicate as a blush, in fact many makeup artists have long used it as such. The trick in to have well moisturized skin at the site of application. It's also vital to blend well.
Concealer is probably your most versatile product. Nix the eyeshadow base the makeup consultants will tell you is a must; concealer applied with a brush works just as well. And here's a confession: I substitute concealer for eyeshadow itself on a regular basis. When used along with eyeliner and mascara, it gives a natural look that works well for daytime.
The possibilities for double uses are endless. When my daughter was in college she made her own tinted moisturizer be mixing a small amount of foundation with moisturizer. And speaking of moisturizer never ever discard or give it away. what wrecks havoc with your face will be heaven for your feet!
Cheers,
Barb
Showing posts with label blush. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blush. Show all posts
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Thursday, April 03, 2008
ORGASM............Again
A few years back NARS saw their sales sky rocket when they came out with a blush that some marketing genius named Orgasm. It immediately drew women's attention to a nice peachy shade that many of us may have been apt to overlook. In addition this new shade was billed as one that looked good on every skin tone .
I was among the first to arrive at the NARS counter. I liked this blush so much that it became one of my few repeat purchases. When I found it out of stock at Barney's the sales person recommended a new shade, Deep Throat which I guess the over- seers at Nars hoped would ride to success on Orgasm's coattails. It's a bit more pink, which is fine but it couldn't replace its predecessor for me.
Now Orgasm is out in a new version; a stick cream form. It is a perfect fit for their multiples line of products that can be used on cheeks, lips and eyes and of course I had to try it. I wanted to love it because having dry skin I prefer a cream blush and three products in one helps cut down on how many I tote around.
The product glided on my cheeks very easily and blended well. However the consistency is light and quite sheer and required quite a bit of layering in order to achieve the right shade. It worked better on my lips but again didn't add much color. Peach has never been a good shade for my eyes and this was no exception.
Looks as if I'll be purchasing the original Orgasm.....again.
Cheers, Barb
I was among the first to arrive at the NARS counter. I liked this blush so much that it became one of my few repeat purchases. When I found it out of stock at Barney's the sales person recommended a new shade, Deep Throat which I guess the over- seers at Nars hoped would ride to success on Orgasm's coattails. It's a bit more pink, which is fine but it couldn't replace its predecessor for me.
Now Orgasm is out in a new version; a stick cream form. It is a perfect fit for their multiples line of products that can be used on cheeks, lips and eyes and of course I had to try it. I wanted to love it because having dry skin I prefer a cream blush and three products in one helps cut down on how many I tote around.
The product glided on my cheeks very easily and blended well. However the consistency is light and quite sheer and required quite a bit of layering in order to achieve the right shade. It worked better on my lips but again didn't add much color. Peach has never been a good shade for my eyes and this was no exception.
Looks as if I'll be purchasing the original Orgasm.....again.
Cheers, Barb
Sunday, March 30, 2008
FOUND! The PRODUCT I'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR
It hard to believe that one could scour drugstore and high end beauty counters, not to mention Sephora and still be unable to find a finely milled pink powder that could be applied with a brush as a finishing touch after makeup.
Only pink, not coral, bronze or red gives that color that at a young age appears naturally. It lights up the face and brings it alive like nothing else, save vigorous exercise or sex can. In her later years my mother achieved it by combining three products together (don't ask). I wanted the same result from one.
I began to feel like an aging Goldilocks looking for that perfect porridge. At Este Lauder I discovered a bright pink pressed powder that looked great in the store but was far too matte when I tried it at home. Walking past the Bare Minerals display I stopped short when I spied a container of pale pink loose powder along side of which was a large fluffy brush. Certain that I
had found what I was looking for,I gave it a try only to find the result so sparkly that I felt ready to step out on the stage.
Then like a fairy godmother, Benefit appeared with a new product thrrrob which they bill as a"turned on" face powder. It is a bright pink pressed powder with just a hint of sparkle which I must admit gave me pause. But Benefit has never disappointed and now they've kept their record intact. I grabbed the accompanying brush with out a thought of who may have used it before and swept the powder lightly across cheekbones, forehead and chin. When I peered in the mirror I looked as if I had just finished a marathon or tumbled out of bed!
Cheers,
Barb
Only pink, not coral, bronze or red gives that color that at a young age appears naturally. It lights up the face and brings it alive like nothing else, save vigorous exercise or sex can. In her later years my mother achieved it by combining three products together (don't ask). I wanted the same result from one.
I began to feel like an aging Goldilocks looking for that perfect porridge. At Este Lauder I discovered a bright pink pressed powder that looked great in the store but was far too matte when I tried it at home. Walking past the Bare Minerals display I stopped short when I spied a container of pale pink loose powder along side of which was a large fluffy brush. Certain that I
had found what I was looking for,I gave it a try only to find the result so sparkly that I felt ready to step out on the stage.
Then like a fairy godmother, Benefit appeared with a new product thrrrob which they bill as a"turned on" face powder. It is a bright pink pressed powder with just a hint of sparkle which I must admit gave me pause. But Benefit has never disappointed and now they've kept their record intact. I grabbed the accompanying brush with out a thought of who may have used it before and swept the powder lightly across cheekbones, forehead and chin. When I peered in the mirror I looked as if I had just finished a marathon or tumbled out of bed!
Cheers,
Barb
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Beauty Product Rebellion
I've made up my mind and I won't be swayed. From this point on I will never purchase any two step beauty product be it mascara or anything else. Ditto for the primers that are flooding the market to be used prior to applying foundation. I am also swearing off the double blush application as touted by a Bobbie Brown sales associate. She swirled a cream pink blush over the apples of my checks and then addressed my cheek bones with a swipe or two of bronzer. Yes, I looked rosy cheeked and healthy and my cheek bones appeared more prominent that they usually do but it is nothing I would ever do at home.
Multiple products and numerous application steps remind me of a good friend who has since moved on to a place where adornment is unnecessary. When earthbound, her face while never shouting makeup, always looked great. Of course I had to learn her secret and she was happy to share it. The process involved layering and mixing three different foundations and two concealers for starters and then moved on to multi step processes for eyes,lips and cheeks. It ended with brushing a pale pink powder over her entire face with a big fluffy brush. As much as I admired the finished product, I didn't posses the patience or own the fluffy brush(which she insisted was key), to even try to replicate it
There are increasingly a ton of tricks and products available to seduce us in our efforts to present a more attractive facade. It's easy to be tempted especially if we compare ourselves with celebrities who spend hours being styled,buffed and Botoxed to within an inch of their lives. As vain as I may be, I'm still not willing to spend an iota more time than I already do applying cosmetics. Time is precious and there are too many other more interesting and rewarding ways to use it.
I'm still a beauty product junkie and will be forever on the lookout for that perfect product that will help transform or cover whatever is bothering me, the only criteria being that it's quick and easy to apply.
How much time to you spend putting on your makeup? I'd love to know!
Cheers,
Barb
Multiple products and numerous application steps remind me of a good friend who has since moved on to a place where adornment is unnecessary. When earthbound, her face while never shouting makeup, always looked great. Of course I had to learn her secret and she was happy to share it. The process involved layering and mixing three different foundations and two concealers for starters and then moved on to multi step processes for eyes,lips and cheeks. It ended with brushing a pale pink powder over her entire face with a big fluffy brush. As much as I admired the finished product, I didn't posses the patience or own the fluffy brush(which she insisted was key), to even try to replicate it
There are increasingly a ton of tricks and products available to seduce us in our efforts to present a more attractive facade. It's easy to be tempted especially if we compare ourselves with celebrities who spend hours being styled,buffed and Botoxed to within an inch of their lives. As vain as I may be, I'm still not willing to spend an iota more time than I already do applying cosmetics. Time is precious and there are too many other more interesting and rewarding ways to use it.
I'm still a beauty product junkie and will be forever on the lookout for that perfect product that will help transform or cover whatever is bothering me, the only criteria being that it's quick and easy to apply.
How much time to you spend putting on your makeup? I'd love to know!
Cheers,
Barb
Friday, March 16, 2007
Does Smashbox Have Another Hit?
Well that depends on who is using it. Let me start out by admitting that I was a reluctant Smashbox user. I heard great things about their primer which is applied under foundation but didn't buy it. Much as I like looking good I don't want to devote too much of my time to the process . I strive to keep my required beauty products to a minimum and thus try to avoid any two step procedure.
Then my daughter Joan,also a beauty product junkie, gave me a sampleof the primer. Yes it does make a difference. Lines are diminished and makeup goes on more smoothly. It also makes thin skin look thicker. I save it for evenings out or those occasions such as meeting someone I haven't seen in a while, which raises the looking good stakes!
Then I heard about Smashbox's latest product, a blush that goes on over bare skin and adjusts to your complexion. It's said to give a natural,fresh from a run, flush. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Any product that even hints of natural speaks directly to me. Even as beauty products clutter my drawers and spill out of my medicine cabinet I try to kid myself that my looks are almost natural.
At Sephora I actually snatched the small tube filled with clear liquid gel out of the twenty something sales assistant's hand. I smoothed a generous amount over my cheeks and looked in the mirror. I had that healthy pink natural looking flush but interspersed were dots and patches of bright pink. I knew immediately what had happened and looked in dismay towards the sales assistant. "It's making my age spots darker. " Lets try a little less," she suggested. In my eagerness I had put on a large glob . She removed what was on my face and applied it more sparingly. The pink spots were not as bright but were still visible. I've had the same trouble with self tanners. My skin tone is just too uneven.
On the way out, after buying a new lip gloss to lift my spirits, I picked up the blush again. It's not for me but it's still a great product and if I were to bet I would say it's destined to become an even bigger hit than the primer.
Cheers, Barb
Well that depends on who is using it. Let me start out by admitting that I was a reluctant Smashbox user. I heard great things about their primer which is applied under foundation but didn't buy it. Much as I like looking good I don't want to devote too much of my time to the process . I strive to keep my required beauty products to a minimum and thus try to avoid any two step procedure.
Then my daughter Joan,also a beauty product junkie, gave me a sampleof the primer. Yes it does make a difference. Lines are diminished and makeup goes on more smoothly. It also makes thin skin look thicker. I save it for evenings out or those occasions such as meeting someone I haven't seen in a while, which raises the looking good stakes!
Then I heard about Smashbox's latest product, a blush that goes on over bare skin and adjusts to your complexion. It's said to give a natural,fresh from a run, flush. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Any product that even hints of natural speaks directly to me. Even as beauty products clutter my drawers and spill out of my medicine cabinet I try to kid myself that my looks are almost natural.
At Sephora I actually snatched the small tube filled with clear liquid gel out of the twenty something sales assistant's hand. I smoothed a generous amount over my cheeks and looked in the mirror. I had that healthy pink natural looking flush but interspersed were dots and patches of bright pink. I knew immediately what had happened and looked in dismay towards the sales assistant. "It's making my age spots darker. " Lets try a little less," she suggested. In my eagerness I had put on a large glob . She removed what was on my face and applied it more sparingly. The pink spots were not as bright but were still visible. I've had the same trouble with self tanners. My skin tone is just too uneven.
On the way out, after buying a new lip gloss to lift my spirits, I picked up the blush again. It's not for me but it's still a great product and if I were to bet I would say it's destined to become an even bigger hit than the primer.
Cheers, Barb
Friday, December 01, 2006
CRAZY FOR CARGO
We sit three chairs in a row at my hair salon,our wet hair slicked back baring our faces, eyes straight ahead appaising our reflections. Not my best moment. It's at this point that I usually wonder why I didn't apply more,concealer, blush or what have you. I also wonder why the quality of the mirrors is so poor,given that this is a temple of beauty.
As the scissors snip above I usually continue to pretend to stare straight ahead but instead move my eyes to the side just to get a peek at how my neighbor is faring. Are the lines between her nose and mouth as prominent as mine appear in this questionable mirror? Are her undereye circles as dark?.
At my last appointment I arived late and hadn't had a chance to touch up my makeup since I'd applied it early in the morning. I slipped into the chair and bracing my ego, eyed my reflection. Where were those undereye shadows? And those lines were not nearly as definded as I expected. Had they changed those mirrors? Could my vision be worsening? My eyes stayed peeled at my reflection. What had I done differently?
Then I remembered. Instead of my usual blush I had used a new one sent to me by my daughter. It's realy a bronzer,she wrote, you brush it all over your face.
This little wonder is put out by Cargo and it's called Beach Blush. The shade she picked out for me is Coral Beach and its tin container gives no hint to the magic inside. This multihued wonder, which you swirl arond with a brush (not included) defuses lines and imperfections, and softens shadows. I've tried several bronzers but never, until now,found one that I absolutely loved. The rest were either too creamy,drying,or orange. Cargo's a winner!
We sit three chairs in a row at my hair salon,our wet hair slicked back baring our faces, eyes straight ahead appaising our reflections. Not my best moment. It's at this point that I usually wonder why I didn't apply more,concealer, blush or what have you. I also wonder why the quality of the mirrors is so poor,given that this is a temple of beauty.
As the scissors snip above I usually continue to pretend to stare straight ahead but instead move my eyes to the side just to get a peek at how my neighbor is faring. Are the lines between her nose and mouth as prominent as mine appear in this questionable mirror? Are her undereye circles as dark?.
At my last appointment I arived late and hadn't had a chance to touch up my makeup since I'd applied it early in the morning. I slipped into the chair and bracing my ego, eyed my reflection. Where were those undereye shadows? And those lines were not nearly as definded as I expected. Had they changed those mirrors? Could my vision be worsening? My eyes stayed peeled at my reflection. What had I done differently?
Then I remembered. Instead of my usual blush I had used a new one sent to me by my daughter. It's realy a bronzer,she wrote, you brush it all over your face.
This little wonder is put out by Cargo and it's called Beach Blush. The shade she picked out for me is Coral Beach and its tin container gives no hint to the magic inside. This multihued wonder, which you swirl arond with a brush (not included) defuses lines and imperfections, and softens shadows. I've tried several bronzers but never, until now,found one that I absolutely loved. The rest were either too creamy,drying,or orange. Cargo's a winner!
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