Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Sephora Favourites Lash Stash Mascara Deluxe Sampler: Blinc Tubing Mascara Review


Blinc Mascara (formerly known as Kiss Me Mascara) is the original tubing mascara. Tubing mascara is mascara that creates tubes around your lashes, as opposed to regular mascara which paints your lashes. Blinc created the first tubing mascara and it's also water-resistant.

I received a deluxe sample of Blinc Mascara in the Sephora Favourites Lash Stash Mascara Deluxe Sampler.


A full-size Blinc Mascara is $24 US at Sephora and is only available in black. On the Blinc website, it's $25 US and is available in black, dark brown, medium brown, dark purple, dark green and dark blue.


Application-wise, it goes on just like a non-tubing mascara and builds just like a regular mascara as well. The only time you might notice the difference between this and a tubing mascara is when you're removing it but more on that later.

Blinc Mascara doesn't run, clump or smudge once it's applied. I found that it didn't do any of these things but I rarely have problems with mascara once it dries. 


As for the look it gives, I think it's very natural and soft-looking. My lashes look enhanced but not overly dramatic.


Removing it took a little bit more effort than I was used to. You have to work the mascara off your lashes with makeup remover or cleanser. It's water-resistant so unlike most mascaras, it takes a bit of work. I took a photo of one of the tubes that came off when I was washing my face one night. Odd, no? It looks like one of my lashes but it's not. 


I will be using our 5 point scale to rate and review this product.  To read a full description of the scale, please visit this post: http://beautysquared.blogspot.com/2009/11/beauty-squared-review-scale.html  


Value: 3
$24-$25 is pricey for a mascara. It's a good mascara but I don't know if the tubing quality makes it worth it. There are plenty of mascaras that don't run, clump or smudge that don't cost $25. But everyone is different and if this mascara makes your skirt blow up, it's worth it. 


Application: 4
I liked the brush of this mascara and it went on easily, building nicely. In applying it I got some on my eyelid, as I normally do with mascara. It didn't come off easily when I tried to wipe off the smudges on my eyelid, so points off there. 


Effectiveness: 5
This mascara gives a dramatic, but natural boost to your lashes. It does not smudge, run or clump as it promises it doesn't. It's also water-resistant.


C.



Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Carol Baker Mineral Matte Cream to Powder Makeup Review


A friend recommended this foundation to me, so I picked up a tube to try out.
Here's what Carol Baker Visage has to say about it on their website: Oil-free and hypoallergenic, this new cream-to-powder formula is fortified with a multi-mineral complex. Glides on smoothly and sets to a soft powder finish. Skin enhancing soft focus diffusers reflect light and reduce the appearance of skin imperfections. Contains sunscreen and antioxidants to heal and protect skin. For all skin types. Good for those who want more coverage. It retails for $32.50 CDN for 2.5 g.


It's a creamy foundation that does set, but not to the powder finish described above. It definitely needs powder on top to help set it. The finish is soft and smooth once it's on the skin and wears quite well throughout the day. It offers good coverage and is buildable if you work fairly quickly. I find that it can start to ball if you try to apply it when it's started setting. 
 
I use a foundation brush to apply it but fingers work as will makeup sponges if that's your preferred method of application.





The Mineral Matte foundation comes in 11 shades. My match is Peau de Soie. It's best to go and try the foundation in person even though it's available to purchase online. This is a good idea irregardless of the product you are trying but if this isn't possible, avoid trying to match your skin tone to the colour swatches on the website. They do not appear to be accurate in the least.  




Mineral Matte Foundation swatched


Mineral Matte Foundation drying to a powder finish


The foundation give a soft, even coverage to my skin. While it does not give a matte finish as it claims to, it does provide good, even coverage. The coverage is a creamy texture, not matte and it does dry almost to a powder finish so you must work quickly or it'll start to roll into balls as you work it. 

I used our 5 point scale to rate and review this product.  To read a full description of the scale, please visit this post: http://beautysquared.blogspot.com/2009/11/beauty-squared-review-scale.html 

Value: 3
This foundation is pricier than I like to pay for foundation and you do use a fair amount per application so the 2.5 g doesn't stretch as far as you might like it to.

Application: 3
The texture is a medium cream thickness, so it requires some blending and a foundation brush might be necessary to get the correct effect. The swiftness it dries with is also a drawback for those who might struggle to blend it.

Effectiveness: 5
I'm impressed with how this foundation wears. I've worn it out dancing and I've come home at the end of the night to it looking almost freshly applied. 

Have you tried Carol Baker Visage Mineral Matte Cream to Powder Makeup? What are your thoughts?

C.

Monday, June 27, 2011

MAC Semi Precious Preview



SEMI PRECIOUS

We can all admire a girl with a 30 – carat diamond. But the NEW dazzle is SEMI PRECIOUS. Gems that are rare in spirit, rich in substance and worn fluidly, on the skin. In M·A·C SEMI PRECIOUS, four finely milled gems- bronzite, black tourmaline, gold pyrite and lilac lepidolite – bring their own earthly and spiritual affluence to three key elements of the mineralize collection: Eye Shadows, Skinfinish and Blush. Setting them off: a collection of colour, two mineralize skincare formulas and four NEW LIMITED-LIFE split fibre brushes. Like everything this precious, these elements start off rare and tend to get rarer… get rich while you can!
 
M·A·C SEMI PRECIOUS
Available July 7, 2011 through August, 2011



MAC Split Fibre Eye Blending Brush 234
$27 CDN/$22.50 US


MAC Split Fibre All Over Eye Brush 235
$36.50 CDN/$30 US






MAC Mascara in Zoom Fast Black Lash
Deepest black
$17 CDN/$14 US


MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Blue Sheen
Mélange navy, black and peach
$24 CDN/$20 US


MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Clarity
Mélange light pink, off white green, gold and black
$24 CDN/$20 US


MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Dark Indulgence
Mélange forest green and black
$24 CDN/ $20 US


MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Faux Gold
Mélange coral, gold, lime and bronze
$24 CDN/$20 US


MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Golden Gaze
Mélange gold and black
$24 CDN/$20 US 


MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Hint of Sapphire
Mélange pink, violet, teal, copper and blue
$24 CDN/$20 US


MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Jade's Fortune
Mélange bright yellow, blue, lime and black
$24 CDN/$20 US


MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Mineral Mode
Mélange white base with copper and gray
$24 CDN/$20 US


MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Quartz Fusion
Mélange soft pink, silver, deep pink
$24 CDN/$20 US


MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Rare Find
Mélange violet, brown and gold
$24 CDN/$20 US


MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Smoked Ruby
Mélange burgundy and black
$24 CDN/$20 US


MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Unsurpassable
Mélange green, teal, purple and copper
$24 CDN/$20 US


MAC Split Fiber Cheek Brush 128
$38.50 CDN/$32 US


MAC Angled Split Fibre Buffer Brush 179
$56.50 CDN/$47 US




MAC Cremesheen Glass in Geo Pink
Strawberry pink
$22 CDN/$18.50 US


MAC Cremesheen Glass in Looks Like Sin
Mid-tone reddish plum
$22 CDN/$18.50 US


MAC Cremesheen Glass in Natural Flare
Light caramel nude
$22 CDN/$18.50 US


MAC Cremesheen Glass in Pure Magnificence
Light grey pink
$22 CDN/$18.50 US


MAC Cremesheen Glass in Richly Revered
Deep brown plum
$22 CDN/$18.50 US




MAC Lipstick in Gem of Roses
Mid-tone strawberry pink
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US


MAC Lipstick in Lush Amber
Light nude beige
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US


MAC Lipstick in Musky Amethyst
Deep plum
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US


MAC Lipstick in One of a Kind
Mid-tone rosy neutral
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US


MAC Mineralize Blush in Feeling Flush
Mélange pink, deep blue, pink, soft brown
$27.50 CDN/$23 US


MAC Mineralize Blush in Pressed Amber
Mélange nude, beige, brown
$27.50 CDN/$23 US


MAC Mineralize Blush in Warmth of Coral
Mélange coral, peach
$27.50 CDN/$23 US


MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Semi Precious Crystal Pink
Base - pink champagne
Inner circle - pink, dirty green and bronze
$33.50 CDN/$28 US


MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Semi Precious  Goldstone
Base - brown
Inner circle - rosy pink, white, gold
$33.50 CDN/$28 US


MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Semi Precious Pearl
Base - beige champagne
Inner circle - white, plum and bronze
$33.50 CDN/$28 US


MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Semi Precious Rose Quartz
Base - rosy pink
Inner circle - silver, lime, white pink and copper
$33.50 CDN/$28 US






MAC Mineralize Charged Water
Revitalizing Energy
$27 CDN/$22 US


MAC Mineralize Face + Body Lotion
$38 CDN/$29.50 US


MAC Mineralize Satinfinish SPF 15 Foundation NC35
$35.50 CDN/$19.50 US


Oooooh, can't wait for this collection. WE WANT EVERYTHING!!!

We can all admire a girl with a 30 – carat diamond. But the NEW dazzle is SEMI PRECIOUS. Gems that are rare in spirit, rich in substance and worn fluidly, on the skin. In M·A·C SEMI PRECIOUS, four finely milled gems- bronzite, black tourmaline, gold pyrite and lilac lepidolite – bring their own earthly and spiritual affluence to three key elements of the mineralize collection: Eye Shadows, Skinfinish and Blush. Setting them off: a collection of colour, two mineralize skincare formulas and four NEW LIMITED-LIFE split fibre brushes. Like everything this precious, these elements start off rare and tend to get rarer… get rich while you can!

M·A·C SEMI PRECIOUS
Available July 7, 2011 through August, 2011