One of the reasons that I love Make Up For Ever’s HD Invisible Cover Foundation so much is how easily and naturally my foundation looks when applying it with the beautyblender sponge.  It was like these two products were made for eachother!  Mo and I both listed the beautyblender sponge and cleanser kit as one of our favorite beauty finds for 2008.  

Mo’s review of the beautyblender:

I have never really liked makeup sponges, even back in the day when I got paid to use them. This latex free, odor free, non allergenic sponge changes all that. Thoroughly wet the sponge and then squeeze as much of the moisture from it as you can. The egg shaped applicator will have doubled in size to a super soft, super smooth sponge. A simple stippling motion leaves even the heaviest of foundations with a smooth, even finish every time and does wonders with my under eye concealer. I bought the double kit and use one for foundation/concealer and one for cream or gel blushes/highlighters. Throw in the lavender and soy cleanser that gently removes dirt and oil from the sponge and I am hopelessly hooked.

‘Nuf said, the  Blender Sponge & Cleanser Kit  sells for $39.95 at Beauty.com.

I was fairly content with my foundation choice this year (Prescriptives Flawless Skin with SPF 15), however, after reading several five star reviews about Make Up For Ever’s HD Foundation, I had to try this one for myself.

HD Invisible Cover Foundation ($40):  An oil-free medium-to-full-coverage liquid foundation that covers skin imperfections flawlessly while remaining invisible on-screen and in real life.  This Sephora-exclusive foundation comes in 25 different shades to suit all skin tones.  

You will particularly love this foundation if you have oily or combination type skin, this is an oil-free formula that absorbs into the skin easily and blends beautifully.  No breakouts or irritation while using this foundation!   Because of the large selection of shades, you will also be sure to find your exact skin color match.  The light diffusers are very subtle and give your skin a natural glow.  The build-able coverage is very impressive, and a little bit goes a long way.  The $40 price tag may scare you, but if you are looking for a lovely foundation, HD Invisible Cover Foundation is a must try.  This foundation has become one of my top beauty finds for 2008.  

One perfect way to apply this foundation is by using the BeautyBlender (Blender Sponge & Cleanser Kit, $39.95 at Beauty.com) .  Mo reviewed this amazingly versatile and wondeful sponge applicator, and we cannot say enough great things about it!  Seriously, it is like these two items were custom made for each other.

Okay, everyone always talks about making sure you have your “Basics” and about what products you should get to supplement your “Basics”. The thing is, if you’re just jumping into cosmetics, or if you’re looking to branch out a little, you may not be sure where to start. In a (possibly misguided) attempt to be helpful I give you: “Mo’s Rough Guide to The Basics.”

“The Basics”, in this case, refer to cosmetics only, not skincare. We’ll assume you have a decent regimen that includes good cleansing and moisturizing, because pointers on those things are a whole post on their own. Well cared for skin really is the first step to great makeup.  For simplicity sake, in this discussion we’re starting at a washed and prepped face. Everyone’s basics are different but similar. Personal preference, skin type, budget…all are factors and I’ll try to be as broad as possible to help you get an idea of what your basics should be. I’ll start with a very general category and then break it down a little to explain. (more…)

The Body Shop recently released a new mineral makeup line called Nature’s Minerals.  The Nature’s Mineral Line is best for those wanting to achieve a healthy, radiant complexion with ultra-fine minerals that blend evenly to protect skin and reduce redness and imperfections.

Nature’s Minerals might be a great match for you if you have: normal to dry skin, sensitive skin, and you are looking for light to medium coverage.  This mineral makeup line contains:

• Kaolin clay and Mediterranean clay that are absorbent minerals that provide long-lasting coverage.
• Mica adds luster that has light-diffusing properties to help disguise fine lines and pores.
• Titanium dioxide and iron oxide protect skin from the sun without clogging pores.
• Dermatologist-tested with no added fillers, preservatives or fragrances.

How would you like to try this new mineral makeup line?  This week Mythbuster Beauty is giving away one set of Nature’s Mineral Makeup including one full size foundation, blush, and eye color of your choice (total retail value of $56!). 

Rules:  To enter this giveaway enter your name and email address in the contest machine box below.  One entry per person and the deadline is at 1 am (EST) Monday, November 17th, 2008.  One winner will be chosen via Random.org and will be announced on Mythbuster Beauty, PRIZEY.Fetch, and contacted via email.  MBB will not share your email address with anyone, and only uses your email address to contact you if you are a winner.  This giveaway is open to residents of the USA and Canada only.

Best wishes to all of you and keep posted for two more giveaways tba soon!

Do pre-foundation primers make a visible difference?

Pro makeup artist Molly Stern says primers are meant to serve as a layer between skin and foundation to create a more even surface. But not everyone needs them. “The best candidate for them would be someone who is very oily or has a lot of scarring from acne,” she says. But do primers actually make a difference? We had two women of different ages each test a top foundation primer geared toward their skin type. Find out if their makeup looked better … and if anyone noticed.
See primers

Starting today, tarte is offering a 40% off Friends and Family discount through Sunday, July 27th.  This is a great opportunity to try or stock up on some fantastic tarte cosmetics. 

My suggestions? 

Looking for a new foundation/ tinted moisturizer?   I highly recommend trying tarte’s smooth operator foundation with SPF 20.  This is my absolute favorite… lightweight, protective foundation smoothes and perfects the skin with potent a SPF 20 sunscreen, vitamins and natural extracts.  My skin looks natural – never cakey – always gorgeous.

Need some gorgeous sheer color on the apples of your cheeks?  Try any shade of tarte’s cheek stains and you cannot go wrong.

And finally, for you women that are mascara junkies, tarte’s Lights, Camera, Lashes!  is a rich, powerful formula, that will really rev up your lashes.

Another tip, don’t hesitate.  At this discount, supplies are limited, and the best sellers will be out of stock very quickly (as we discovered with the Cosmedicine deal).

 Code:  FF08     VALID:  July 24, 2008 – July 27, 2008

Tarte just released a new exclusive at Sephora including some of Mo and my very favorite tarte products. 

Tarte’s skinvigoratingâ„¢ Complexion Collection, (retails for $54 and is a $153 value)

What it is:
A Sephora.com exclusive collection of Tarte’s skinvigoratingâ„¢ complexion essentials.

What it does:
Unlike products that simply hide the problem, Tarte’s skinvigoratingâ„¢ Complexion Collection includes products that help treat the problem while concealing it.  The result?  A healthy, glowing complexion–because natural beauty is always in style!

What else you need to know:
This exclusive kit includes Tarte’s Clean Slate Primer, Smooth Operator Foundation with SPF 20, The Eraser Smooth Concealer, Provocateur Pressed Mineral Powder with SPF 8, and a glam-on-the-go Kabuki Brush.

Between the Clean Slate Primer and Smooth Operator Foundation this is a fabulous deal.  I have also read fantastic reviews about their concealer, and haven’t had a chance to try their mineral powder.  But as Mo says, “Can tarte do no wrong?”  I really don’t think so!

I just noticed that this complexion kit in “light” is temporarily out of stock, but you can request to be contacted by email when they are available.

Spring colors that are light on your face AND easy on your pocketbook.

Since you already spent most of your cosmetics budget on some Naughty Nauticals or a way to be safe in the sun, it’s about time I step up with some great summer products that are easy to find and easy to afford.  Mass market products are plentiful, and with rows and rows of colors and formulas spread out before you, it can be hard to know where to start, not to mention exhausting trying a ton of things that don’t work just to get to the one that does.  If only there was somewhere you could go to find out about products like:

 

Almay Smart Shade foundation. My  husband saw a commercial for this and told me I had to try it. Who am I to argue with such a smart man? Smart Shade works by, aw heck, I don’t know how it works. But somehow this lightweight foundation turns from white to a perfect tint of color while you smooth it on with your fingertips. Slightly heavier than my favorite MAC tinted moisturizer, it offers a nice natural coverage that evens skin tone and feels great.  Let me just say, 3 different people with 3 different skin tones, yet we all used the Light and we all got a great match? I’m sold.

For a portable eye shadow in fun spring colors, try:

 

Max Factor’s Vivid Impact eye shadow duo. This loose eye shadow has a sponge applicator attached to the base for each of the two colors. This makes it easy to apply either color on the fly, though you’ll need to tap off excess before attempting to blend.  I’ve only tried one combination, but they seem to be fairly matte, with a hint of sparkle throughout. Not quite as smooth as the loose pigments I’m used to, but the color is very true and stays well when used with a base. Several color combinations to choose from let you be mild or wild.

Found, the perfect red lipstick!!

 

I have invested so much time, effort, and money into finding the perfect red lipstick. Without fail, $20 tubes of red lipstick become $20 tubes of berry lipstick when applied to my pucker. I had given up until a friend gave me her most recent find. L’Oreal Colour Riche lipstick in Target Red. A true red lipstick that is worth every little penny you’ll spend on it! Light and shiny, it garnered compliments from 3 separate people during one shopping trip alone. This is it people, with a quick trip to Target your search can come to an end. Remember to pair it with a lip liner for perfectly placed, lasting color. This is a must have!

What cosmetics regimen would be complete without a good makeup remover for the end of the day? If you love Lancome’s Bi-Facil (as you should, it’s great) but can’t afford to replenish regularly, how about:

 

Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover. Word on the street is that this is just as effective and gentle, for a fraction of the price.  Also helpful in removing every last bit of those long last lipcolors you can never get to come off.

 I guess sometimes you really can have your makeup and remove it too!

Until recently, Sephora was the end all and be all for cosmetics stores as far as I was concerned. With the exception of MAC, they carry every major brand that I whole-heartedly love, and a few I only adore. Everything is set up in an easy to to try manner that just begs you to play. Mirrors and all the other accouterments for cosmetics application are placed throughout the store, and there are samples of just about anything your little heart desires.

Ever since they broke into the market they’ve pretty much had it cornered. Everyone wants shelf space at Sephora, and they’re willing to offer exclusive items to get it. With special gift sets and constant specials, as well as incredible perks for insiders, Sephora is THE name in prestige cosmetics, skincare, and fragrance. The clean layout, black and white theme, and helpful staff are consistent and predictable. Their Sephora brand cosmetics are well made and reasonably priced, and they have the perfect red nail polish.

I just recently heard of Ulta and used my last trip to Seattle as an excuse to go check it out. Unlike Sephora, they offer both mass market AND prestige brands of cosmetics. They also have salon and some spa services, like waxing. I was impressed that they offer what appears to be the entire line of Rimmel cosmetics, while other stores carry only the basics. Their selection of prestige lines isn’t quite as extensive as Sephora’s. They do carry Dermablend though, which I was very excited about since I wanted to find something to cover tattoos, but didn’t want the trial and error of ordering online and risking getting the wrong color. Their store brand cosmetics are buy one/get one, though I’ve not been over the moon for them up to this point. They are on par with most other mass market brands though, and they do have a fair selection of products and colors. I can only speak for the one location I visited, but the staff was sparse and less than thrilled with my presence.

The one thing that really sets Ulta apart from Sephora is convenience. If some of your faves are prestige and some are mass market then you have the ease of picking them up at the same time. Need a haircut and some foundation? Ulta’s the way to go. However, you WILL pay for the convenience. For instance, I saved $10 on only 3 items by stopping at Target on the way home. If cost is a concern to you than you’re probably better off going elsewhere, but if you’re running short on time and can only make one stop then Ulta would be your best bet.

We don’t have either an Ulta or a Sephora in our city, so visiting either requires a side trip during vacation. For my time and money, I’m sticking with Sephora.

Looks like Ulta gets the knock down punch from Sephora, ka-pow!