Terremoto en Chile

Un abrazo fraternal a todos los hermanos chilenos debido a la tragedia por la que están pasando. Una situación muy fuerte por demás. Espero que puedan volver a la normalidad lo antes posible y a aquellos que han perdido familiares les ofrezco mi más sincero pésame.

AYUDA PARA CHILE (American Red Cross)

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

EOTD: A party of pink, red and coral!

So I have some ME time today and what did I do? Play with makeup, duh! LOL.

I just did my eyes, well, one eye.  I wanted to do something with various pigments I don't use much and a combo of fuschia, red and coral came up.

This look called for false eye lashes but, honestly, I wasn't going to apply just one hehe.  I also added a touch of glitter, not much, but its there. =P

What I used (applied in this order):

♥Too Faced Shadow Insurance as base

♥MAC Electric Coral Pigment all over the crease with MAC 217 brush

♥MAC Fuschia Pigment on inner 2/3 of eye lid and lower lashline with MAC 239 brush

♥MAC Basic Red on the outer 1/3 of the eye lid with MAC 239 brush

♥MAC Typographic E/S on outer "V" (to define and give dimension) with MAC 222 brush

♥MAC Honey Lust E/S in the tear ducts with a mini brush

♥MAC Vanilla and Shroom E/S mixed, above crease and browbone with MAC 272

♥MAC Gesso E/S on browbone with MAC 272
♥MAC Reflect Rust Glitter on outer "V" with MAC 242

♥MAC Blacktrack Fluidline Eyeliner with MAC 231
♥MAYBELLINE Lash Stiletto Waterproof Mascara in Black
♥L'OREAL Extra Volume Collagen Waterproof Mascara in Black on top the Maybelline one

♥Palladio Brow Powder in Dark Brown

MAC EYESHADOWS AND PIGMENTS

You guys know I'm careful with reds/pinks, but I think this turned out good. I do tell you, a lot of blending was involved. I think that is the trick to great makeup looks I see on the net.

**Click on All pics for enlarged versions**

 

 

I recommend using a soft pink blush with a soft violet lipgloss OR a coral blush with pink lipgloss. Remember that the eyes are the centerpiece of this look.  Hope you like it!

Lindo fin de semana. Have a nice weekend.

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Asian Celebrities Show Off Gorgeous Makeup Looks (Learn How to Get 'Em)

Yeah I know, I'm not asian but these ladies have amazing skin and their skintone and other features are very similar to those of latina ladies so I thought you may like this article by TotalBeauty.com. Kisses.

Asian Celebrities Show Off Gorgeous Makeup Looks (Learn How to Get 'Em)

From Sandra Oh to Lucy Liu, these celebrities know how to play up their Asian beauty.

One thing all Asian women do have in common? The ability to look absolutely stunning. These stars show off their radiant skin, pouty lips, flirty lashes and smoldering eyes, and here we'll give you the scoop on the makeup techniques they use. See looks

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

LORAC sale!

I really love LORAC e/s and they are on sale again on HauteLook.com. You may remember one of my past articles about them. Really good and just $4 USD (vs. $18)?? Ridiculous, but fine with me, LOL.  Many other goodies at a great price.  Oh, I fell in love with the little Snake Charmer Eye Palette, just $11 (vs. $35).  =)

Click the image to get to the Hautelook.com (my personal invite) or just go directly to their website.

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

REVIEW: Wet N Wild Intuitive Blend Foundation

NAME: WnW Intuitive Blend Shade Adjusting Foundation+Primer

AVAILABLE SHADES: 4 (Fair, Light, Medium and Tan); I bought the Medium one.

DESCRIPTION: As per the WetNWild Website: "This revolutionary shade-adjusting technology starts out white and adjust to match your exact skin tone. Unique primer properties smooth skin texture for perfect application."

PRICE: $6-$7 USD (I got it for $6.99)

MY SKIN:  I have combination skin (oily T-zone with normal to dry cheeks); A little sensitive (not much), may have some redness; I have NC 35-40 skin by MAC standards (depends on the foundation); I have acne and scarring; I suffer from Melasma (hyperpigmentation).

SO?:  **Sighs** Oh gosh, where to start --yeah, that gives you a hint of my experience with it.  

I was excited to try this. Foundation and Primer in one? Wow, that is good. Sadly, this just does not works for me.  It doesn't show on my face. That's it.  You know me: before quitting on a product, I look for ways to make it work.  I have tried different methods of application, all to no avail.  I tried layering but it balls up a bit.  Maybe I need the next shade, "Tan". But I didn't buy it because I thought it would be too dark.

I think my dissapointment with this product is based on me instantly comparing it with the Almay Smart Shade Makeup.  I tried it last year (in "Medium") and though I didn't like it (it oxidized badly and didn't help in the oil-control dept), it did provided a natural finish with light to medium coverage.  The beads in the Intuitive Blend foundation are way bigger compared to the ones in the Smart Shade Makeup.  The packaging is similar on both and I have to say I like it very much.

The Intuitive Blend Foundation in the Medium shade is just invisible on my skin.  You would say "well, you are not supposed to see the foundation so that is great".  Okay, but it does not covers anything.

 

 

I know, I know: I don't have perfect skin, I suffer from Melasma and acne and have huge pores.  But I thought since the Almay one offer some coverage, I would try this for those days I don't want full coverage and my skin is behaving. I could always cover my dark spots with one of my favorite concealers.

Honestly, look at this pics.  It's like nothing's there.   

The other day I saw  this video from Emily Noel and felt she took the words right out of my mouth:

Completely agree with her "tinted primer" comment.

I should mention that when I apply it to my face, I feel this burning sensation for a few seconds and my face is red for at least a minute---not good!  (THANK GOD I tested this at home on a weekend).  Also the foundation dries really fast, and I think it caused some minor zits.

On the good side, I did noticed that it does a GREAT job keeping my oilies at bay. Also, it does not oxidizes.

Funny thing is I applied my Studio Fix Powder Foundation on top of it and I discovered the Intuitive Blend foundation is a perfect primer for the SFP, if not the best I've tried with it.  I would probably use it like that (with the SFP) but again, I won't because of the burning feeling. 

I feel this foundation will work perfectly for ladies with great, almost perfect skin that is not sensitive.  Or use it as a primer with other foundation on top.  I do recommend moisturizing your skin very well if you decide to try it.  

Me? Well, you guessed right: I'm not buying it again.

RATING:  2/5 (good packaging, controls oil, good primer;  burning feeling when applied (huge NO-NO)--btw, my skin is not that sensitive--, low almost non-existent coverage, dries too fast, "balls up" if too much is applied; I feel I didn't get a foundation as it is supposed to be)

NOTE: I do have some other drugstore foundations to review, but experiences like this make me want to save some money and try more higher-end foundations.  =/

Hope this review is helpful to you.

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Couple of new features and a Reminder!

Hola!

I wanted to point out a couple of new features I added to the blog: 

• A new gadget just below the "Followers" called "Recent Comments"---In this section you can see all the latest comments made to different posts and my replies to them.
• You may have noticed that when I list all the products used in one of my looks, I have added a link.  This link will take you to an specific post made by me about an specific product, like reviews or swatches.

Also, don't forget to vote in my poll about makeup trends set by fashion week!

Un abrazo.

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

LOOK: Just One Pink Eyeshadow! How easy is that?

Man, lately I just don't have it in me to do more of the colorful looks I like. My family and I are going thru tough times and I guess stress is finally getting to me --hello there, cystic acne!**waves**--.  I try to keep positive about things but sometimes I just want to be given a chance to breath. **Sighs** Nothing to do but to keep fighting for what I want.  These are hard times, not impossible times.

I like to take my time when I do my makeup looks and if I know I don't have it, then I will not do something mediocre (as per my standards, of course). 

But you know what? You can always add simple nice color on your eyes without using lots of shades. So that's what I did today.  I decided to wear pink. I have learned that I have to choose my pinks very carefully, like how to mix pink eyeshadow with blush and lipstick (do all the shades have to be similar? what about lipstick?).  Since in this case I was combining my eyeshadow with my lipstick, I decided the blush has to be of a slightly different pink hue. I liked it.

About the eyeshadow, I chose a pink color with a frosty buttery finish: LORAC Joy E/S. LORAC eyeshadows absolutely good quality based on my experience.  The good thing about Joy is that because of its frost finish, it gives dimension to the eyelids.  And the HIP Effervescent L/S is one of my favorite pinks ever.  =D

***NO FLASH PIC***

FACE

♥BORGHESE Prima Viso Face Primer

♥REVLON Colorstay Makeup in Golden Beige (C/O) mixed with Active Light Makeup in Toast and a pump of the REVLON Bare It All Lustrous Lotion in Goldi Looks

♥ELF Contouring and Bronzing Duo Powder

♥ELF HD Powder

EYES

♥MAC Painterly PaintPot as base

♥LORAC Joy E/S

♥L'OREAL Lash Out Waterproof Mascara in Black ---Love this!

♥MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Stud

LIPS

♥Sally Hansen's Healing Butter for Lips

♥L'OREAL HIP L/S 162-Effervescent  <--Wow, I love this but I think this is discontinued ?   =(

This small touch of girly color just made me feel better today, lol.  Hope you are having a great week chicas y chicos! 

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Laura Mercier on sale HauteLook.com

Hey! Just wanted to mention that HauteLook.com has Laura Mercier Cosmetics on sale.  I saw lippies, blush, brushes, eyeshadows and more.  Up to 65% off.  As always, these are the kind of sales I like, lol.  Sale ends 17/2/2010.

Click on the image to get there (my personal invite!) or go directly to HauteLook.com.

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

TotalBeauty.com: 10 products for sensitive skin

10 Best Products for Sensitive Skin

See the products that treated our readers' delicate skin best

Say buh bye to breakouts and irritation from beauty products. We've got the scoop on all of the best products for sensitive skin -- everything from cleansers to foundations. See products

No. 10: Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Mascara, $7.95

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.4

"The first mascara I have ever used that did not bother my eyes …"

No. 9: Olay Gentle Foaming Face Wash, $4.49

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.6

"When you have super sensitive skin, it is nice to know you can trust …"

No. 8: Bare Escentuals i.d. bareMinerals Blush, $18

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.9

"Like many people I have hypersensitive skin and this is the ONLY blush …"

Want to see what other products made the list? Click here!

Look: Happy St. Valentines Day =)

Hi guys! Hope you are having a lovely day! Today we woke up early to go to church and then we had lunch at Chili's (Mmmm...Molten Chocolate Cake....yummy!). Money has been tight in my house these past few months, but we saved a few bucks just to go out to eat today.  We had such a nice time at the restaurant talking with the kids about their Nintendo games and other stuff. I just love to hear them laugh and make jokes. 

Of course, I wore red today: a red blouse/black trousers with red sandals and red lips, hehe  ;) 

My rule for red lips: keep everything else simple.  Honestly, I don't want to look like a clown. OH, since I was going out for about 4 hrs, I used the Maybelline Super Stay 24hr Makeup. You may have read my REVIEW about it and know that I have a huge love-hate relationship with it, mostly with all the claims made by Maybelline.  In the next pictures pictures you can see the makeup looks really nice. Love it.  But again, I took it off as soon as I got home because it was starting to get really oily all around (and I did have to blot twice in less than 2 hrs). Booo!  =(     

Again, you ask: "WTH is she using it?" Because it looks good for a couple of hours AND I'm will not throw my money to the trash. LOL, I'm stubborn like that.

Anyway, here is my simple red lips look:

 

Here is what I used for this look:

FACE

Clinique Pore Minimizer Refining Lotion + T-zone Shine Control

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

Maybelline Super Stay 24hr Makeup in Classic Beige mixed with Natural Tan

NARS Exhibit A blush (love it, I apply it with a fan brush)

LAURA MERCIER Star Dust Loose Powder mixed with L'OREAL Translucide Loose Powder in Translucent (to highlight the top of the cheeks)

ELF HD Loose Powder <--- Awesome!

EYES

Elizabeth Arden Eye Fix Primer

MAC Prep+Primer for Eyes --->not such a good product

MAC Phloof! (all over the eyelids up to brow bone area)

LORAC Reverie E/S on the crease

MAC Prep+Primer for Lashes

MAYBELLINE Lash Stiletto WaterProof mascara in Very Black (Review coming soon!)

MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Stud

LIPS

SALLY HANSEN Healing Butter for Lips

REVLON Super Lustrous L/S in 740-Certainly Red 

Hope you are having a fantastic weekend!

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

PSSST!...Are you watching the Winter Olympics in Vancouver?  I've just seen a few competitions but wow, the scenery out there is breathtaking.

New Poll: Do you follow makeup trends in Fashion Week?

I was very happy to see the latest poll got more votes (29) than the average.  I thank those of you who share your thoughts/opinions with me.

The last poll was about bodywash vs. soap ("Do you prefer a bar of soap or a body wash when bathing?") Body wash was the winner, I guess many of you just love the benefits many body washes provide nowadays.

So, Fashion Week is here and we get to see all this fun and crazy designer outfits. Makeup is a very important part of the whole look a designer wish to show and many times they just set new trends.  I'm not too crazy about many looks I get to see on Fashion Week, but I appreciate the artistic side of them.  What about you?  Share your thoughts with me.

As always, the poll is at the left side of your screen, just below the "About me" Section.  Feel free to leave your comment on this post.

I love this lady. I don't know how she does it, but she always looks amazing with
very dramatics makeup, hair, everything. Even when she isn't wearing makeup or designer outfits she looks gorgeous.

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Lip plumpers: The good and The Bad

Honestly, my experience with lip plumpers hasn't been that good or I'm just simply not impressed.

What about you?

Lip Plumpers: The Good and The Bad

See which plumpers gave readers full, kissable lips (and which ones did absolutely nothing)

Jealous of Angelina Jolie's lips? Our loyal readers share the lip plumpers that gave them just the right amount of plumping, shine and color, as well as the ones that gave them red, swollen, bee-stung lips. Ouch. See products

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

My rating scale explained ('bout time, hey!)

By now I've done lots of reviews in this blog.  Some of them has a rating value, some of them don't.  Sometimes you just get to read some of my thoughts about an specific product.  I always thought it was pretty logical the meaning of the values but for some reason, after all this time, I think it's time to write down the a-b-c of it.

My rating scale is very simple; it goes from 0 to 5:

0 -- Product is so, SO bad, it should be taken out of the market. Period.

1 -- Product is bad/very bad; Poor quality; It does not delivers what it promises; Manufacturer needs to change many things to make it at least regular or average.

2 -- Regular product; It may have more bad than good qualities, could have been better; Looked promising but then it's was just...blaaah; It has a couple of nice qualities but I wouldn't buy again nor recommend it.

3 -- Good; Could be consider an average product; Meet expectations; It has nice qualities/characteristics but doesn't have that certain something-something that will make it stand-out from the rest; I would consider buying it again.

4 -- Very Good product quality; Delivers almost everything it promises; Just one or two minor details to improve; Makes me happy; Exceeds expectations; I would buy again and recommend it.

5 -- Magnificent/Excellent product; Outstanding performance; Definition of perfection, nothing wrong with it; Super great packaging, delivers what it promises, and goes above and beyond all expectations. Money is no problem.

 

Besides establishing these values, you've already seen that I like to provide pictures, swatches and my overall experience with the product.  When I rate a product I usually write at the right of the rating the reasons for giving it that specific value and sometimes I also comment on what could be improved.

This rating scale can be edited and/or change.  You will be notified if or when I do it.

 

Hope this helps.  Thanks!  =D

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 in the web about 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 presumed this was supposed to be like Colorstay, even better.  My presumption was wrong.  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 disappointment.  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 mostly false. 

Honestly, where do they tested it (as they claim)? In Antartica? There's no way this withstands humidity and heat but I guess this could work if you live in a very cool place and have dry skin.  I find it is definitely not 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; one of the best foundation finishes ever for that matter.  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). ETA: I find I get a beautiful result when I apply this foundation with the ELF Studio Powder Brush.

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 shirt or else I will leave a mark (yuck!).  I also have to be careful not to kiss anyone and leave my foundation on their faces or clothes (the horror!).  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.  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.

Has to be said: this product just does not compares to Colorstay.

I'm disappointed and I would really love for Maybelline to check this formula again to see how the can improve it.  And deal with the marketing: as a consumer I just feel cheated.  Maybe this product works as advertised in countries with cold weather+low humidity but not in places like the Caribbean and the manufacturer forgot to be specific about that.  =P

If this product worked for you, great! I wish it'd stay on my face for a longer period of time.  Maybe you have some tips for me?

I will still 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**

So you may like this if you are looking for a foundation with a nice satin finish and medium to full coverage,  live in a country with cool weather, don't mind to blot after a couple of hours and just use makeup for a few hours.

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

**--**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!

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

TotalBeauty: Top 27 Multi-Tasking Beauty Products

Top 27 Multi-Tasking Beauty Products

These amazing products pack a lot of punch in one bottle/tube/compact.

Clear out those cluttered makeup drawers and shower caddies -- now you can save space, time and money with these multi-tasking goodies. See products

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 to see 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 at 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.