Review: Beauty Blender

9Ahhhh, the famous BeautyBlender ($19.95 for a single sponge): the oh-so-cute, egg-shaped, pretty-in-pink makeup sponge.  I've been watching this product for a long time now, thinking: "...Mmm...everybody says they get a perfect foundation application" and yes, I'm a fool for all things that may provide a flawless finish on my skin (which is no easy task). Btw, I'm not ready yet to admit how many brushes I have for that purpose... o_O.  So after months and months trying to decide if I was crazy enough to pay $20+ for a makeup sponge, apparently I am.

A few weeks ago I received my order from Beauty.com, I decided to get the BeautyBlender Double (two sponges) for $25.95 + Shipping.  First reaction? "Wow, this is small". Then of course, I dipped it into water and it doubled it size. Okay.

What I like

• It's true: you get a wonderful, even, well-blended foundation application, which is basically what I was looking for.
• Since I use it wet, my skin feels refreshed and at the same time, it's like the foundation stays sealed on my skin.
• Great for liquid and cream products like liquid/cream foundations and cream blushes. Some people use it for mineral powder foundation. I tried it, but didn't like the results.
• Use the bigger area (bottom) to cover more area at a time or the sides and the tip to reach the sides of my nose and inner eye area.
• I consider it dries pretty fast after I wash it, though it doesn't matters to me since I use it wet anyway.  FYI, I use Dr. Bronner's Baby Mild Liquid Soap (Castille soap with olive, jojoba and other essential oils--awesome product).
• What I love the most is that it's very easy to grab and work with, not like with smaller makeup sponges or wedges--to me, this is the biggest plus.

What I don't like

• Although it is wet, it does absorbs liquid and I have to use more foundation (they say the contrary on their videos).
• The coverage it provides is very sheer, I have to stipple it on my face to get more coverage (even with my full coverage foundations).
• I hate that I have washed it like 10+ times and it stills bleeds lots of pink dye. I didn't know it was going to bleed so much, not many reviewers mention that fact.
• OF COURSE, the price. It's ridiculous. I mean, how much can they spend making this sponge? The $20 for the single sponge is outrageous, I know it includes the packaging and subsequent mark-ups, but come on!  --but yes, they didn't point a gun at me and yelled "Buy it!", so it's completely my fault.

I admit it, I'm not happy that I bought it. IT DOESN'T MEAN IT IS A BAD PRODUCT, it is excellent! But I have many other brushes that provide the same flawless finish. I just don't feel it's anything special. THOUGH I have to say, it is one of two tools that have helped me deal with the MAC ProLongwear Makeup application. The other tool is, or I should say, are my fingers--that foundation is driving me crazy (but I'll talk more about it in a future post) .

Finally, I think you may like this product if you like sheer to sheer-medium application (though you can keep working with it to get more coverage); have issues with foundations that feels too heavy (I've applied EL Double Wear with it and it feels so light on my skin) and of course, if you don't mind spending the $$$.

RATING:  4/5 (Great product but I can get same flawless finish using other brushes or even, cheaper makeup sponges like this Sephora one). ETA 10/29/11: I've tried different sponges --including Sonia Kashuks's one-- and none work as well as the Beauty Blender, EXCEPT for the Alcone Sponges.  I bought mine on Camera Ready Cosmetics (excellent website). When wet, these sponges also double their size and are great to work with for a fraction of the BBlender price. I'm happy with both products.

++CLICK ON ALL PICS FOR ENLARGE VERSIONS++

Huge difference in size when wet (left)

Compared to the little L'oreal True Match Bottle (Left: dry)

 Close-Up (dry)

These next videos from YouTubers show you different ways on how to use the beautyblender:

Enkore Makeup

TiffanyD

 

That's all for now. Have a wonderful weekend! // ¡Lindo fin de semana!

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

TotalBeauty.com: Do you remember when these celebrities dated?

LOL, just for fun...

Do You Remember When These Celebrities Dated?

Take a walk with us down Hollywood's memory lane and see which A-listers were once paired up -- and which natural beauty features are their "type".

This is a TotalBeauty.com natural beauty article Being a celebrity is a lot like being in the "it crowd" in high school -- these people seriously only go out with each other. Take a gander at these former flames and you'll realize how closely knit that inner sanctum or celebrity "couples' circle" really is. So, what do you say? Are you up for a quick round of a little game we like to call, What's Their Type? See celeb couples

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

LOOK: Typical Everyday Look

This is eye makeup I wear to work almost everyday. Very easy to do and most important, the whole makeup (including foundation, concealer, eyes, etc) just take a few minutes of my mornings.

FOR THIS LOOK:

FACE

ELF Primer (Note: I use a different one everyday; it also depends on the foundation)

L'OREAL Visible Lift Serum Absolute Makeup SPF 17

MAC Select Cover -UP Concealer, NC35 (under the eyes and top of the cheeks)

BENEFIT Powderflage (under the eyes, to set the liquid concealer; awesome stuff)

BEN NYE Banana Powder

NARS Laguna Bronzer

MAC Beauty Powders in True Romantic & Shy Beauty (mixed)

EYES

TFSI

MAC Painterly PP

MAC E/S in: Grain (eyelids), Satin Taupe (crease, outer V), Brule (browbone)

MAYBELLINE The Big Falsies Mascara in Black

MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Stud

LIPS

SALLY HANSEN Healing Butter for Lips

L'OREAL HIP l/s in Effervescent mixed with Colour Riche l/s in Mica

I hope you are having a nice week!

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

TotalBeauty.com: 20 Best Drugstore Products

I definitely love Maybelline's Full+Soft Mascara, Revlon's Colorstay Makeup and always have a tube of Cetaphil moisturizer in my purse.What do you think about this list?

 

20 Best Drugstore Products

Save money on beauty product essentials with these reader-tested and approved goods.

This is a TotalBeauty.com beauty products article You see, drugstore-aisle enthusiasts like us believe, and for good reason, that it is possible to improve your look and trim your budget at the same time. See products

No. 20: Arm & Hammer Essentials Natural Deodorant, $3.49

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.3

"I have tried just about all of them and this is the first one that works."

No. 19: Olay Regenerist Thermal Contour and Lift, $25.72

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.8

"Short of an expensive spa treatment, this product cannot be beat."

No. 18: Maybelline New York Full 'N Soft Washable Mascara, $5.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.8

"I've spent top dollar on mascaras -- but I keep coming back to this."

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

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

LOOK: Blues + Greens w/ MAC E/S

So these past days I've been busy with what some people call "shopping my stash". There are colors I have not used in a while, more like months. Now I want to make different looks mixing all of them, hehehe.  Today's turn was Humid, Freshwater and Steamy. Great combo. I love the combination of green and blue shades.

(NO FLASH)

FACE

ELF Mineral Face Primer

MAC Pro Longwear Makeup in NC 40 mixed with a drop of REVLON Color Stay Makeup in Caramel (N/D formula)--I applied it with my Sigma F82 Round Top Kabuki brush --love how it helps my skin to looks flawless

MAC Select Moisture Cover Concealer in NC35 -- applied with the MAC 188 brush for a perfect finish

BENEFIT Powderflage Powder Concealer-- awesome product!

NARS Laguna Bronzer

MAC Beauty Powder Blush in Shy Beauty

BEN NYE Banana Visage Powder (my new love!)

EYES

TFSI

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk -- great quality at a great price

MAC E/S:  Steamy (inner half of lid & lower lash line); Humid (outer half of lid & lower lash line); Freshwater (outer 'V' and crease & lower lash line); Shroom mixed with Vanilla (browbone); Ricepaper (inner eye area, near tearducts)

MAC Feline E/L on both waterlines and top lashline (I smudged it and then apply some Humid+Freshwater on top)

MAYBELLINE The Big Falsies Mascara in Black

MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Stud

LIPS

SALLY HANSEN Healing Butter for Lips --This product has been discontinued; I bought it on Ebay

L'OREAL HIP l/s in Effervescent mixed with Colour Riche l/s in Mica

I had fun doing this look, I like 'playing' with colors again.

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

LOOK: MAC's Swish+Nocturnelle

It's been a long time since I've used these two colors. I wore this look during the day, so that's why I didn't apply eyeliner. To make it a night look, just add eyeliner and more coats of mascara!

On a sad note, I finally realized my eyes are allergic to some MAC e/s like Nocturnelle, Sketch and some others that (I think) have the red dye.  I love those colors so much, specially Sketch, but my eyes get all red and infected and teary along other symptoms, signs of allergic conjunctivitis. I basically can't use eye make up for a few days.  Boo!!!  So this is the last time I'm using so much qty of these shades in a look, maybe as an accent but still have to be careful. I love my eyes more than the e/s, of course, lol.

++Yes, my hair is wet because I'd just got out of the shower and wanted to let it air-dry++

(AS always, click on all pics for enlarged versions)

 

FACE

ELF Mineral Face Primer -- great product

MAC Select Cover-Up concealer -- NC 35 (love it)

ESTEE LAUDER Nutritious Vita Mineral Loose Powder Makeup -- Intensity 3.0

NARS Laguna Bronzer

MAC Beauty Powder Blushes -- Shy Beauty mixed with True Romantic (LE)

EYES

TFSI

MAC Painterly PP as base

MAC Swish e/s on eyelids; Nocturnell on the crease on outer 'V', also lower lash line

MAC Brule as highlighter under the eyebrows

MAYBELLINE The Big Falsies Mascara in Black

MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Stud

LIPS

SALLY HANSEN Healing Butter for Lips

L'OREAL HIP Lipstick in Effervescent (I think it's discontinued--I love this color)

MAC Hello Kitty Collection Lipglass in Fast Friends (LE)

Are you having a nice weekend?

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

I lost Eversun...

The other day I lost one of my all-time fave blushes from MAC when it fell from my bathroom counter...MAC Eversun Beauty Powder.  =(

Yes, yes, I know. It's just a blush, but what a blush. So beautiful. Gave my skin a healthy bronzy look without too much shimmer and I just love the beauty powder formula, so silky and pigmented.  I think I bought it when MAC released the Beauty Powders collection in 2008. 

Sure gonna miss it.  Some looks with MAC's Eversun BP.

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Pssst...Yes, I'm a makeup addict in case you hadn't noticed.

TotalBeauty: Finally Figure Out Your Face Shape -- We'll Show You How

An interesting Beauty Bubble.

Finally Figure Out Your Face Shape -- We'll Show You How

All your hair and makeup conundrums will unravel once you understand what your face shape really is.

This is a TotalBeauty.com hairstyles by face shape article So, are you ready to unlock the mystery of your face shape once and for all and begin to reap the haircut and makeup benefits that finally knowing it will surely bring? Find your shape

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

REVIEW: Estee Lauder's Nutritious Vita-Mineral Loose Powder Makeup SPF 15 (swatches+pics)

I had the chance to try Estee Lauder's Nutritious Vita-Mineral Loose Powder Makeup SPF 15 ($34 USD for 15g) when I received a sample of it a few months ago with an order I placed at the EL website.

Estee Lauder makes beautiful claims with this mineral foundation:  

"Nutritious creates a healthy, radiant look.

• Erases signs of fatigue.
• Enhances the beauty of your skin with a natural, vibrant finish.
• Oil-free.
• Controls and absorbs oil, without drying skin.
• Is gentle enough for sensitive skin."

I haven't given mineral foundation a chance since my makeup addiction started in 2007, mainly because my skin can't stand bismuth very well. I decided to check this one out since it mentions it's 'gentle enough for sensitive skin'. Though I knew it probably had bismuth (and it does), I thought maybe it wasn't in big quantities, or I should say, in a concentration that affects my skin as soon as I apply it.  I guess I was right. I consider my skin looks great with this foundation and really believe EL's claims about it enhancing my skin with a radiant finish. I wouldn't say it's very sparkly (sadly, many companies equate radiant finish with sparkly ingredients and/or glitter!), but my skin looks...wow. Very refreshed.

I apply it using the method explained by EnkoreMakeup in this VIDEO. I use my Sigma 197 brush or my Coastal Scents Bionic Flat Top Buffer Brush. I pick some product, spray the brush with MAC's FIX+ Spray and then apply first by stippling the product on my face, then buffing it in. My skin then Iooks almost poreless! I think it does a decent job controlling oil, not top of the notch, but good.  Intensity 3.0 works nice for my NC37 skin and IMO, it provides medium coverage at most.

But sadly, now comes the 'bad things about it' part:

--It tends to oxidize: my skin gets darker (and I have used it with/without primers, different primers, etc)

--My skin does start to itch a little if I begin to sweat a lot--and remember, I work at a construction site...so yeah.  Sometimes I'm in my Site Office, sometimes I need to be walking around the whole site...

--I find it to be long lasting if I stay in a cool environment, but the foundation does transfer and rubs/off as soon as I start to sweat. So I have to be careful not to touch my face specially at work...which is kinda impossible.

All in all, I REALLY like it.  I usually wear it on weekends. My skin has not reacted to it badly (i.e., pimples) except for the itching if I get hot.  Though it never feels like the mineral powder I once tried from Physician's Formula. The horror, lol.

RATING: 4/5

+++ALL PICS ARE CLICKABLE+++

The amount they sent is good enough for 10 applications, 

I find I don't need too much of this product on my skin

 

.

This is a look I did the other day using this product; sorry I can't remember what else I used... =(

Hope you find this review helpful!

¡Vivan, amen y rían!