Taking a break...

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Hello friends. I just wanted to tell you that I'm taking a little break to recharge batteries. I'm not on vacation (not yet...) but there always comes time when I just need to take some time off this blog. It is after all a hobby of mine which I love to share with you. Hope to be back soon with pics, swatches, reviews and looks!

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

TotalBeauty.com: 12 Amazing Makeup Primers

To be honest, after years of using primers, I've found just a couple of them that work for my combination skin. And I mean 'work' in the sense that I can feel the difference when applying my foundation (a few minutes after the primer is totally dry and set on my skin) and on how longer my foundation lasts. 

The one I like the most is Borghese Prima Viso Face Primer. It's moisturizing but not in a way that it makes my T-zone go super oily in a few hrs. The MAC Prep+Prime SPF 50 is also great, but now my issue with it is that I get almost the same effect as when I use my Neutrogena SPF 50 Liquid Sunscreen (love it, works so well under makeup and flash photography too!).

Do you use primers? Which one works for you?

12 Amazing Makeup Primers

Keep your makeup from melting off your face with these primers

This is a TotalBeauty.com best and worst makeup products article Makeup primers are crucial for keeping oil at bay, filling in fine lines, and providing a smooth canvas for your foundation to stick to. So, if you don't have one yet, choose from these reader-approved favorites. See the best

No. 12: Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy Luminizing Face Primer, $19.99

TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 7.8

"I love that post-gym workout glow and I can achieve that (minus the workout on those lazy days!) with Carmindy's Luminizing Primer."

No. 11: Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer SPF 15 with Dermaxyl Complex, $42

TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 7.9

"My makeup stays on all day and night. And, it also minimizes my pores, which is a plus."

No. 10: Bare Escentuals Prime Time Brightening Foundation Primer, $21

TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 8

"I have tried many primers and this one actually does what it says! I am a Mineral Makeup girl, and this definitely sets it for the day."

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

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

MAC Look in a Box: A very stylish girl ;-)

A little more than a month ago MAC released their 2011 Look in a Box sets and I just had to grab one. I got one for the face -- "A very stylish girl" (USD $59.50) since it included MAC's 'Glamour Check' and 'Dreammaker' E/S and the Refined Golden Bronzer -- all of them products that I've been interested for quite some time. The set also included the Zoom Lash Mascara in Zoom Black and a Cremesheen Glass in the shade "Looks like Sin".

Right away, I loved the eye shadows shades. Though I'm not a huge fan of the Starflash e/s finish, Glamour Check is this beautiful reddish copper shade that I personally find very easy to work with and Dreammaker is perfect as a highlighter over the highest point of my brow bone and the tear duct area. Beautiful shade! The Starflash finish is supposed to be creamy and very pigmented, but I just don't obtain those qualities from it. I guess the color payoff varies by shade maybe? I absolutely love my Smoke & Diamonds e/s but then I also have Lotusland and although I love the color, I find I have to apply lots of it to make it noticeable.  I do recommend applying them over a creamy base to obtain a greater shade intensity.

More after the jump...

Totalbeauty.com: What Not to Eat for Acne-Prone Skin

What Not to Eat for Acne-Prone Skin

Prevent acne by adopting this healthy skin die.

This is a TotalBeauty.com healthy skin diet article If you're eating the wrong foods, chances are high that it will literally show on your skin. According to dermatologist Elliott Weiss, M.D., new research suggests that diet may play a role in exacerbating acne. See what not to eat now. Get tips

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

TotalBeauty.com:

This is one of those Beauty Bubbles that I totally agree with...I've made many of the mistakes described here! Too much foundation, lips too dark, etc. Hehehe.

7 Reasons Why You Look Older Than You Are

We can't stop time, but we can hide the signs of aging on our face. See the makeup blunders that make you look older.

This is a TotalBeauty.com anti-aging skin care article Of course you don't want to look older, but there's a good chance your hair, makeup and overall look are -- gasp -- aging you. Luckily, we've pinpointed seven easy-to-fix mistakes, once you fix them you won't believe how much younger you look. See tips

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss

So the other day I decided to buy one the Revlon Colorstay Lipglosses--the Strawberry shade just called my name. So pretty!!!  The Super Lustrous l/g are one of my Drugstore favorites so I thought these must be good too...*sighs*.

 Here is how Revlon describes this product on their website:

So...

+Yes, it provides a beautiful shine to the lips, very glossy--but it does not lasts as much: in 30 minutes my lips started to look more opaque.

+The plush applicator is just weird, but I guess one could get accustomed to it.

+I do not like how the 'micro-crystals' feel on my lips once the lipgloss starts to fade. Very glittery when the color wore off...not nice.

+Elasticolor? What is that? Though the Strawberry shade is very pretty (it really is!), it was not as pigmented as they claim. It goes on more sheer than it looks.

+I certainly don't feel the 'almond oil' and 'vitamin E'--this is the kind of gloss that when it fades it makes your lips feel very dry. And grainy. No no no.

+It does not feels sticky on the lips. Then again, that may be the reason it wears off pretty fast.

+Very nice packaging, average drugstore price.

Sorry, this is at most an average lipgloss. Too bad because at first, it just looks amazing.  It's just very low quality.

Better stay with my Super Lustrous l/g. Now those are pretty amazing.

  

RATING: 2.5/5

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Happy Mother's Day!

I wish a wonderful day to all the gorgeous ladies out there known as Mom/Mommy/Mum/Mami/Mamá/Mamita. What makes us beautiful? The way we love and care for our children, raising them to be good persons that will work for a better society (hopefully!). No other person loves and nourish them as we do--even if they are not babies anymore!!

God bless!

One of my fave clips from Family Guy!!! =)

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Estée Lauder Double Wear Makeup Lesson

A couple of months ago (I think--times passes by so fast!) Estée Lauder came up with a kit they named "Estée Lauder Double Wear Makeup Lesson". It's a kit they claimed to be worth  $65 USD but they were selling for $37.50. The kit included the Double Wear Light Makeup, the Spotlight Skin Tone Perfector, a smaller version of the Double Wear Concealer, a foundation brush and a CD with the 'makeup lesson': a set of videos on how to get 'flawless' natural looking skin. The videos were already on the website and on Youtube, so I didn't care for the CD much.

As many of you know, I love the regular Double Wear Foundation. It just rocks. It suits my needs of good coverage and makeup that just stays looking fab through my whole day, no matter if I sweat much or the high humidity.  I've been curious about trying the Light version of this foundation, so I thought this was a great opportunity to get it, alongside a few other goodies.  I wasn't let down.

The EL Double Wear Light Makeup (Reg. $34 USD) is just amazing! Just as its names states, it's a lighter version of the regular one and I should also say it's less matte, more natural finish.  This provides a sheer to light-medium  coverage at most (as interpreted by my skin, lol). I find it looks better when I apply it with my fingers. This foundation takes a bit longer to dry. Combined with the DW concealer, I do find my skin looks pretty good: not perfect but almost --for a 'light' foundation anyways (it doesn't cover my Melasma dark spots completely and huge pores--but I already knew that).

I do have to mention that I find this particular formula more on the yellow side than the regular DW shades. Here are swatches of the DW Light--Intensity 3, DW Makeup in 3W-Tawny and 4W-Shell beige:
 

++Double click on all pics for full version++

 Left: EL DW Light--Int. 3; Center: EL DW--3W Tawny; Right: EL DW--4W Shell Beige

Left: EL DW Light--Int. 3; Center: EL DW--3W Tawny; Right: EL DW--4W Shell Beige

 Left: EL DW Light--Int. 3; Center: EL DW--3W Tawny; Right: EL DW--4W Shell Beige

Left: EL DW Light--Int. 3; Center: EL DW--3W Tawny; Right: EL DW--4W Shell Beige

(DRY) 

I bought the kit in Intensity 3, which I was afraid was going to be a bit light for my skin but I remembered trying once the Intensity 4 (at an EL counter) and it was way too dark. The shade is perfect for my skin right now (I'm between NC 37-40). I'm really trying to stay out of the sun, protecting my skin more and more since my Melasma has gotten worse (hormones and genetic predisposition, says my derm =[ ). This has SPF 10 which is not much, but ok.

About the Spotlight Skin Tone Perfector I'd say it reminds me of MAC's Strobe Liquid Lotion a bit, but the EL looks more 'pink' when I applied it on my skin. For now...well, not a big fan. I prefer the MAC Strobe Liquid because it's just a touch more dense and less pink. Though both liquids makes too matte foundations to look less 'flat'. I think I'll use the Spotlight with foundations like the MAC Pro Longwear one, which is way too yellow (--yes, a review will be posted soon).

Left: EL Spotlight; Right: MAC Strobe Liquid

 Left: EL Spotlight; Right: MAC Strobe Liquid

I think I've mentioned the DW concealer before. That stuff is amazing, it will not budge once it's set. Covers well, not full coverage though. Lasts all day.  Oh, and the foundation brush, lol, it's too small for me. I mean, it would take forever to apply foundation with it. I haven't used it yet but it would be perfect for blending concealer and cream shadows/bases.

The small foundation brush compared to the MAC 190

This was a good deal. I'm very satisfied.

RATING:  4.5/5

A pic of me from a few days ago, wearing the EL DW Light foundation and concealer. Neutral makeup for work.

(L) No flash; (R) W/ Flash

 

FACE

+No primer (just my Olay moisturizer and Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid Sunblock--love it).
+EL Double Wear Light Makeup Intensity 3.0
+EL Double Wear Concealer in Medium
+BEN NYE Banana Visage Poudre--to set makeup
+MAC Powder Blush in Blunt--to contour my cheeks
+NARS Laguna Bronzer
+NARS Orgasm Blush

EYES

+EL Double Wear Concealer in Medium--this concealer also works great to even out the eyelids
+MAC Powder Blush in Blunt--on the crease, to contour
+MAC Naked Pigment--from lids to just under the eyebrows
+COVERGIRL Professional All-in-One Curved Brush Mascara in Very Black--Meh...I just like the brush.
+MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Stud

LIPS

+SALLY HANSEN Healing Butter for Lips--I didn't apply gloss when I took the pics because I hadn't had my cup of coffee yet.   =)

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

I love the Aussie one. Also, summer is near...so don't forget to protect your hair too!

11 Great Deep Conditioners for Damaged Hair

Got damaged, dry hair? These reader-approved hair care treats are exactly what you need

This is a TotalBeauty.com healthy hair article Attention all of you gals out there with damaged, over-processed and dry hair. We'd like to introduce you to your new hair savior -- damaged hair meet deep conditioner. We think you two will be very happy together. See products

No. 11: Biolage Hydratherapie Conditioning Balm, $26.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 9.4

It "has the perfect balance of what my hair needs to make it feel like real hair and stay shiny, bouncy and lightweight."

No. 10: Aveda Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment, $26

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 9.3

"When I deep conditioned with it, I was so taken aback by the softness and shine that my hair had. My damage was virtually gone."

No. 9: Frizz-Ease Reinforce Strengthening Triple Creme Masque, $14.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 9.3

"My hair was breaking and falling out like crazy, but this put a stop to it."

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

¡Vivan, amen y rían!