Review: Maybelline Super Stay Makeup 24hr

NAME: Maybelline SuperStay 24HR Makeup

PRICE: $9.99-$10.99 (varies by location)

AVAILABLE SHADES:  12 (check them out here)

DESCRIPTION: Liquid Foundation; Medium buildable coverage; Maybelline claims this foundation "stays comfortable and looks naturally flawless all day; Micro-Flex formula provides 24-hour wear and No Transfer; Withstands heat, sweat and humidity; Oil-free, dermatologist tested, fragrance-free. Suitable for all skin types."

SO?:  I bought two shades back in September '09 I think in one of Walgreens BOGO-free sales. I got #60-Classic Beige and #80-Natural Tan.  Shade #70-Pure Beige was way too pink for me.  I remember that I bought them as soon as I could because I read all those super excellent claims, ladies were raving all about it on the web on how soft and wonderful this was and how long it stayed on the face.  Well, this is what I wrote in Spectra.net back then:

"The texture of this Maybelline Superstay foundation is softer than that of the Colorstay. It feels great when I apply it on my face. It doesn't dry as fast as Colorstay, so I have more time to blend it. I really like the finish, yes, it's more natural than the matte look Colorstays provides. The coverage is medium to full. Again, I love how soft this liquid foundation is.

But I completely agree: the 24hr claim is a lie and it does not stands humidity and heat. In less than 2 hr. this product is "moving" all over my oily t-zone. It does nothing to help control the oil in that area---I have tried this foundation on top of different oil-free primers and alone and it just doesn't work. I hate to see the "patches" of foundation around my nose and forehead the moment I start sweating. I'm sorry but my Colorstay does stays for hours on my skin controlling the oil and looking great.

Not many colors available."

This review was written almost 4 months ago (you can say I gave it time...) and I still feel the same.  I thought this was supposed to beat Colorstay in every way. But the main reason I bought it was because it promised to stay on and look fresh for 24hrs (which I know was an exaggeration but I hoped at least 10hrs) and absolutely no-transfer.  What a dissapointment.  I mean, I knew all those claims were daring and I was willing to accept them not to be completely true (what company doesn't exaggerate?), but it turned out they are false false false. 

Honestly, where do they tested it (as they claim)? In Antartica? There's no way this withstands humidity and heat.  Also, it definitely isn't for combination/oily skin like mine. In less than 2hrs I have a terribly shiny face and I have to use lots of blotting paper during the time I have it on.

I really didn't care they didn't have my exact shade, I just mix 2 parts of Classic Beige and 1 part of Natural Tan to get my NC 35-37 shade. It has no terrible smell which is great and it provides medium to medium-full coverage.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the finish this foundation provides.  Not so matte, not so dewy. And it blends like a dream.  After trying various methods of application, I think my MAC 190 is the best brush for this (next to using my fingers).

For the first hour or two my skin looks almost flawless! And then... the makeup begins to melt. I have to be careful no to touch my face or I will leave a mark (yuck!)  and I also have to be careful not to kiss anyone and leave my foundation on their faces or clothes (NOOOOOOO!).  Oh, the foundation fades away to another dimension during the day, after a few hours I just see traces of it on my face.  

Another important detail is that if  I use it for more than 2 days straight, my skin starts to breakout horribly...no no no!  Oh yeah, as always I would prefer a bottle with a pump but there is no point at even taking that into account since many other foundations also doesn't have a pump.  I think if they add a pump, the product would be at least $2 more.

Sorry, this product just does not compares to Colorstay.

I'm disappointed and I know, this is just a drugstore foundation. But what makes me angry is how a company dares to make so many false claims.  ¡Mentiras!.  Or maybe, just maybe, this product just works in countries with cold weather but not in places like the Caribbean and the manufacturer forgot to be specific about that.  =P

LOL, this is more a rant than a review.  I haven't feel this way since my review of the Revlon Double Twist Mascara.

If this product worked for you, great! I wish it would work for me as long as I want to. I use it, yes: I don't like to throw my money to the trash. But I use it sporadically for short amounts of time, like when I do looks I will post here.  =(

This is me wearing the Super Stay 24hr Makeup in Classic Beige; it looks nice,

just a touch lighter than my skin tone so I add a bit of Natural Tan.

**CLICK to enlarge**

RATING:  2/5 (for great texture, finish and it blends very well; fails at everything else)

**--**I WILL BE POSTING SOON A MINI ARTICLE ABOUT THE VALUES OF MY RATING SYSTEM (nothing too complicated by the way)**--**

'Til next time my friends.

¡Hasta luego amigas y amigos!

ETA: I wanted to add a video about one of my fave cartoons, the HUEVO CARTOONS, just to end this review with a laugh.  (CC provided in English)

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

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Review: Marie Louise Restoration Clear Gel

A few weeks ago, I received a bottle of Marie Louise Restoration Clear Gel so I could try it and share my thoughts with my readers.  

From the company's website:

Marie Louise Cosmetics debuted in 2004 following founder Marie Louise Aberdein's (1875-1956) will of "fulfilling every woman's desire to be beautiful and using the main principles of Trust, Quest, and Innovation. As of today, these products are distributed in high-end spas, retail stores, both of the Marie Louise beauty academies, as well as government-sponsored beauty programs and academies all over Japan, Russia and Korea."

In all honesty, I'd never heard of this company until a marketing rep. contacted me.  I'm very careful when trying new skincare products because anything can make me breakout horribly.  After reading some information about the Restoration Clear Gel ($51 USD for 100ml/3.38 fl oz), which is an exfoliating scrub, I decided to try it.  I LOVE scrubs and I was curious how a gel could work as such.

The first thing I noticed about the product was, of course, that it comes with a pump. That's a plus for me.  I was not too crazy about the packaging because it looks cheap for a product that retails for $51 and is sold in high-end spas.

Before using it, I read the instructions carefully because I wanted to get most of the product.  These are the steps I follow: I pour some gel on my fingers (about 4-5 pushes)  and apply it on my clean face. After rubbing it gently against my skin for a few seconds, the gel begins to dry and becomes "grainy". The soft grains take with them dead skin cells, thus exfoliating the skin.  When I see no more new "dry grains", I rinse my face with warm water.  Mmmm...my skin is so soft.  Not only soft, but my skin texture feels "even".  I have huge pores and acne and my skin always feel so rough but after using the gel it felt amazing.  

Left--the gel soon after applying it on the skin; Right--"dry grains" begin
to appear as the gels dries (I know it looks a bit gross but it's nothing terrible)

 

I have to admit I get similar results with other much less expensive grain scrubs but what  makes this one different is that my skin doesn't feel as dry or tight as with my other products. This gel gets rid of all the flakiness in the sides of my nose (funny, I have an oily T-zone but the sides of my nose can get very dry) and the areas of my face that I have acne (I treat my acne with medication that leave my skin very, very dry).  The gel is described as hydrating: Glycerin is listed as the second ingredient.  I have to say that statement is true.  That was what I liked the most.

I tried this product for more than 4 weeks and while I can say it "improved the appearance of dullness" as it says in the packaging, I don't feel it did anything for dark spots in my face.  I do suffer from Melasma, so I didn't have high hopes. 

Price is a little steep for just a 100ml bottle but honestly it is a bit difficult to go back to regular grain scrubs after trying this gel.

RATING:  4/5 (Excellent formula; packaging should be changed for something more modern; also, price is too high for just 100ml).

Hope this review is helpful in any way to you my beauties.

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

IMPORTANT NOTICE! This review was possible thanks to a sample product sent for my consideration by a PR Agency/Marketing Firm/Brand Representative. My reviews are based on my personal experience with each product. I don't get paid to do my reviews, I do get to keep the samples the companies send me. Also, any link provided in the review is for your convenience only, I don't get paid if you click on it... I will tell you the day I do.

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My first ELF Studio Cosmetics products

Hello! I know I've hardly post anything new in the past few days. I haven't had too much time to blog because well, my kids started the new semester at school. That alone means crazy time around my house.  I also had to deal with one of them having an eye infection and then I had a mini car accident, nothing serious but still... Ahh, all crazy, I tell you!

Anyway, I recently ordered some ELF products from their Studio Line. I think I spent like $16 USD for what I consider a lot of good stuff.  Yes, I already tried most of them and I AM impressed.  Now, I will start by telling you my that thoughts about these products are profoundly affected by how cheap they are.  So based in that, I think the products are really amazing. 

I liked how smooth the whole the transaction went: I placed an order and received it in less than 7 calendar days.  I paid with Paypal and since I didn't have an account to check my order status, I sent ELF an email which was quickly replied with the info I required.  Shipping was free, I used one of ELF coupons.  So that was a good start.

**All Pics Are Clickable**

Here's what I got:

1.  HD Loose Powder  -- $ 6.00

2.  Contouring Blush&Bronzing Powder -- $ 3.00

3.  Blush in Candid Coral -- $ 3.00

4.  Eyelash & Eyebrow Brush -- $ 1.00

5.  Studio Powder Brush -- $ 3.00

The HD Powder goes on invisible as they say. It does have a small amount of reflective particles but nothing that will make you look like a disco ball. No smell, super smooth texture and it controls oil really really well. The packaging is beautiful but I recommend keeping the plastic protector that the powder comes with (covering the small holes) so the it doesn't get all out. If not...well, I imagine it can get really messy. This product hasn't broke me out so that's super good.  Honestly, this is HG stuff for me and I rarely use that term.

The Contouring Blush&Bronzing Powder supposedly is a NARS Blush/Bronzing Duo dupe. I don't know about that but I think it is pretty good, I really like the colors!  The powder is not as finely milled as I would like and the compact can get a bit messy. But I do not care about that.  Lovely packaging, very elegant.  The blush does have a tiny bit of shimmer in it.

The Candid Coral blush is quite good too, but I don't love it just because the color is similar to the blush in the blush&bronzing duo, they look almost the same on my NC 35-37 skintone.  Texture is the same as the products on the Duo, can be considered a bit chalky, pigmentation is decent.

Oh, I read about the blush of the Blush&Bronzing Powder Duo being similar to NARS Orgasm Blush.  It is not.  Orgasm is more pink and has more shimmer.  Here are some swatches of the products.

About the brushes, I just had to try the Studio Powder Brush. Wow, it is ridiculously soft. I haven't used it yet, it looks promising. I'm looking to use it for foundation, powders and blending products on my skin.  I wanted the spoolie brush just to have it on my makeup bag at all times and hey, it was just a buck. =)

All in all, I'm very satisfied with my haul.  Hope my pictures are helpful to you.

¡Hasta luego mi gente!

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Just a short reminder...

Two things:

1.  Don't forget to vote on my latest poll: "Do you prefer a bar of soap or a body wash (any brand) when bathing?" located just below the "About me" section at the left of your screen.

2.  Remember to keep donating to Haiti, not only because of the earthquake, but also for the fact that this is a country that had lived in extreme poverty for years and years.  Its people really need our generosity. I know, you may think "sure, now everybody is helping, what about before the earthquake?" I say, well for some reason this tragedy has happened --there have been other subsequent earthquakes too-- so we need to focus on the now and aid them in any way possible.  And we need to understand that they require long-term help.

Image: Photobucket.com

Have a wonderful weekend!

¡Lindo fin de semana!

¡Vivan, amen y rían!