Face Atelier Foundation and Ultra Sheer Reviews

Face Atelier Ultra Foundations and Ultra Sheer

 

I got some samples of Face Atelier foundations recently and I wore it for about a week.  I wanted to test these more so because I wanted to update and add some foundations to my makeup kit. First off, the samples are enough to wear 3-6 days, depending on how much you use. I used mine for a week because the coverage is really good and you don’t need a lot of product.

The foundation is really lightweight and it feels nice on the skin. It is silicone based  so it acts as a 2 in 1, face primer and foundation, however I liked it best when I wore my Laura Mercier Primer underneath. This is great for a makeup artist, or makeup addict, because of the build-able coverage. There is also no SPF which is perfect for photos and because it is silicone based it’s mature skin friendly because it helps fill in fine lines.

There is a wide range of foundation shades so it’s a pretty good chance you can find your shade and they mix easily to customize shades. What I LOVE about Face Atelier is that they have foundation adjusters; Zero- is a white color to lighten a shade if it is too dark, Zero+ is used to darken a shade that’s too light and Zero++ is if you need a shade for beautiful, chocolate skin. There is also Heat, a reddish orange color, to add warmth to foundation or can be used to color correct medium-darker skin(IE. discoloration, dark spots, acne scarring, dark circles). I actually used the foundation with and with Heat and I really liked the foundation with the adjuster in Heat. My skin looked a lot less flat.

Face Atelier Heat Swatch

 

This foundation gave great coverage and covered my dark spots without a problem. The finish was smooth and dewy but not oily or greasy. It really did look like skin. I wore the foundation all day. After about 5 hours I noticed my skin was a bit oily but my skin still had good amount of coverage. Not a lot of fading at the end of the day.  I was really impressed with this foundation.

I used shade 10, Cocoa, which was a little too light for me initially so I also added a bit of Zero+ to darken it a bit and it matched Nicely. Also I found that Zero+ could possible be a match for someone with a darker skin tone, like NC 45-50. I am definitely more of Zero+.

Face Atelier Ultra Foundations 10 and 0+

Face Atelier Ultra Foundations 0+ and 10 and Ultra Sheer 2 and 4

Face Atelier Ultra Sheer 4 and 2

I also got samples of Face Atelier’s Ultra Sheer. It’s a liquid highlighter to mix with foundation or moisturizer to make the skin look more lively and glowy. I am a fanatic for highlighters. I’ve tried some great ones and some that were just glitter for the face-not so great in my opinion especially if you’re trying for a natural look. I really liked these highlighters because it wasn’t glittery at all and it gave a nice subtle sheen to the skin. It’s very subtle and natural. 2 is a champagne color, 4 is a peach color. Both are great for all skin tones.  Again the formula wasn’t greasy. It was super lightweight

Face Atelier Ultra Sheer swatches 2 and 4

Wearing Face Atelier Foundation 10 and 0+ mixed with Ultra Sheer 2 on cheeks.

Wearing 10 and 0+ mixed with Ultra Sheer 2 on the cheeks.

Wearing Face Atelier Foundation Zero+ mixed with a bit of Heat with Ultra Sheer 4 On the cheek bones.

Skin Authority Reviving Eye Brightener

Iv’e been using this gem for over a year now and have no intentions of taking it out of my skin care routine. I even bought my mom a bottle who doesn’t sleep well so you know what that does to the eyes. This is an eye brightening cream that helps with dark circles and eye puffiness. It also helps with fine lines.  With ingredients like Vitamins  E & K, Green Tea, Chamomile, Ginseng, Kinko Biloba who wouldn’t love this? The product is very lightweight, non greasy, non sticky. The cream absorbs really well and leaves around the eye area feeling really soft and bright looking instantly. Over time you can definitely see the brightening effect.

One pump is all you need

I like using this the morning after a long night, or morning. I find that it reduced the puffiness around the eyes. Makeup or concealer glides on when you prep the under eye area with this.  I find it really perfect around this time because the winter, drier months makes my skin really dry and dehydrated and this really does help with the tightness I feel sometimes around my eyes.

I have seen a significant change in the my mom’s dark circles and she doesn’t even use it daily.  I also don’t use it daily, even though I should, but when I do use it frequently my dark circles are almost nonexistent. I don’t have fine lines so I can’t speak on it’s effect for that but I can really see this working because of the ingredients and the fact that the product is really soothing to the eye area.

It lasts a long time since you really only need 1 pump for both sides.

A+ for the Reviving Eye Brightener! It’s magic in a bottle!

What product do you use for dark circles and puffiness?

Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener

Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener

So according to the Bobbi Brown site they redesigned this product. This is my first time using this product so I’m not sure if the product or the packaging was redesigned.

So first thing first. This is not designed to be a concealer. It doesn’t conceal. It brightens under the eyes. It’s more of a corrector. If you need something that hides or conceals dark circles you could use a concealer under This product or just buy a brightening concealer with a yellow, peach, or salmon undertone.

This is very effective and is a great under eye highlight. It’s like an instant eye lift so it’s great after a sleepless night or early morning. It gives you that extra pick me up. It brightens the entire face and brings everything up. This shade in particular is Dark Peach and it works great on deeper skin beauties.

The texture is really light and fluid. It’s like the liquid version of Bobbi Brown’s corrector in the pot. When I apply this I only use a few tiny dots and blend it in with a fluffy brush. If you use too much it could crease and look a bit cakey.

How I use this: prime or moisturize, apply concealer , apply tinted eye brightener, then foundation.

Have you tried this tinted eye brightener from Bobbi Brown, old or new?

Related articles

• Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye brightener vs YSL touche eclat radiant touch (thescribblingtrain.wordpress.com)
• Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit (beauteamoureux.com)

 

Skin Authority Calming Mask

Skin Authority Calming Mask

 

This Face mask from Skin Authority is a clarifying face mask to help exfoliate, clean your pores, calm inflammation and dry blemishes. There’s 10% Sulfur in the mask which is important to dry pimples and pull or suck up oil in the pores. It also helps kill bacteria.

I really like this mask because I find that it does really well in calming my skin if I find that I am starting to break out. If I have a stubborn or painful blemish I put a dab of this on the spot and leave it on for an hour, or I sleep with it, and the pimple goes down or goes away completely.

After I cleanse my skin I apply my mask to dry skin- I like to use this after a hot shower because the pores are open and the mask can get in there and clean out all the debris. I leave it on for about 15 minutes to as long as 25 minutes. I feel a cooling effect and it feels nice. I like that it doesn’t burn or sting.

After the mask my skin doesn’t feel tight and dry. My skin feels clean but a bit moisturized; probably because of the aloe and vitamin E in the product. Those ingredients are moisturizing to the skin without being oily.

Since I have added this to my skin care routine my skin has had less blemishes and has been a bit more balanced; not too oily and not dry. My skin is left feeling and looking smooth, healthy and most of all clean.

Have you used this mask before?
What’s your favorite face mask?

Clean Face After Mask

Smashbox Artificial Light Illuminizing Lotion- Glow

I’ve been wanting to purchase this product since I received a sample of this some time ago. I really love this product because, as the name says, it gives the face a really beautiful glow. I am such a fanatic when it comes to highlighting products; powders, creams, liquids, you name it I love it! But of course only if it feels good and looks great. These come in 3 different shades, one ideal for just about every skin color.

Glow is a bronzey golden highlight lotion, although don’t get turned off by the word ‘lotion’ because the texture is very lightweight and it’s not oily or greasy. I have really oily skin and this didn’t make me oily. The product is shimmery but not glittery. I don’t like glittery highlighting products because it doesn’t look natural. On a normal day we don’t just spontaneously break out into glitter(unless you’re a Twilight Vampire). The products have  ingredients.

I like to use this mixed with my foundation. One pump of Glow and my foundation gives a beautiful finish. The name definitely suits the product. For fair skinned beauties this is nice as a bronzer though I wouldn’t mix it with your foundation unless you are going for the bronzed look. It’s perfect for that, otherwise I would recommend using it on the cheeks as a bronzer. For darker skinned beauties this gives a natural, healthy look. You may also add this to your moisturizer or sunblock. There are numerous possibilities with this products which is why i really love it. It’s great for makeup artists and for the run of the mill makeup addict!

I’m a little sadden because I feel like this might be getting discontinued because this product is no longer on the Smashbox website nor is it carried in Sephora but I did find it on other websites like Nordstrom and Amazon. So I really hope it’s not being discontinued 😦 I might have to buy backups just in case!

Wearing Artificial Light mixed with my foundation

My Favorite Skincare Products and Routine

Skincare is a very important routine for anyone. It’s more important than makeup because everyone wants to have healthy, clear skin without makeup. I’ve had horrendous acne in my teens and also in my adult years. I’ve battled the ups and more downs with bad skin and you just don’t feel good when you think you don’t look good.

I’ve probably tried almost every skincare product known to man; OTC, prescription meds, gels and creams, chemical peels, mircrodermabrasions just to name a few expensive things. After years and lots of money, I finally got it right! I have been using the same stuff for over 2 years and I am quite happy with my routine. I do think it’s important to find what works best for your skin and stick with that routine and not keep changing products.

In the morning:
1) I wash my face with Lush Angels on Bare Skin Cleanser
2) *Optional if the weather is hot and sticky or if my skin stills feels a bit oily, I wipe my face with pure Witch Hazel
3) Skin Authority Vit. D Elixir
4) Use Mac Prep and Prime SPF Lotion(if foundation doesn’t have SPF)
5) I apply foundation or tinted moisturizer or I just go bare faced
*If I have a bad pimple or breakout I use the Sulfur Ointment as a spot treatment right after I cleanse and tone for a couple days and then my breakout is gone.
*I also use Lush Grease Lightning gel when I have a stubborn pimple or as a scar treatment.

At Night Before bed:
1) Wash my face with Lush Fresh Farmacy cleanser
2) Lush Ocean salt 2-3 times a week to exfoliate
3) Skin Authority Calming Mask 1-2 times a week; I use Lush Fresh Face Masks every now and again for a little skin treat, especially Cosmetic warrior if my skin is acting up.
4) Skin Authority Accelerating Gel for 1 week then I stop so that I don’t get a tolerance to it.
5) Essential Oils/ when I’m not using the Accelerating gel or if my skin is really dry

April Favorites

My Favorite Things In April

April has come and gone and it proved to be a great month for me! I got a lot of things done and got to see some amazing things last month. Kind of sad to see it go but happy for what’s next to come. Here are some of my favorite things in April. I just couldn’t get enough of these last month.

Face Products
Nars Tinted Moisturizer– I wore this daily, day and night, and took it everywhere. Such a nice tinted moisturizer. See my review here

Smashbox Halo Highlighting Wand– A nice edition to my personal collection. See my review here

Tarte Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder– I love this because it’s really fine and it doesn’t leave a white cast. It blends beautifully.

Lip Products
Mac Heroine Lipstick & Lip liner– So Sad these were limited(freaking Mac). I missed the initial launch date because I was in Ensenada on Vacation and I was so bummed but I accepted the fact that Mac is dumb with these L/E shades and chalked it up as a loss. LUCKILY, my pro store restocked on these for an event and I was able to get them. It was meant to be! It really is a lovely and original shade. I thought the Lip liner was a dupe for Mac Magenta but it’s really not. You can see the difference; Heroine lip liner is more purple.

Wearing Mac Heroine Lipstick and liner

Illamasqua Eurydice Lipstick– Loving this lipstick. It’s so bright and eye catching and I love the name! All my Greek mythology geeks know who she is. Pictures can be seen here

Eye Products
Mac Brazenly Eyeshadow– I loved this metallic purple eye shadow! See pictures here

Nars And God Created the Woman Palette– Pictures and review can be seen here

Lorac Front of the Line Pro Liquid Liner– Love, love this liner. It’s so easy and smooth. see my review and pictures here

Activities

I went to Ensenada with friends for a much needed, super fun and relaxing ladies weekend. It was a nice getaway filled with laughs,, drinking, cooking, wine tasting, delicious street food and more drinking. Here are a few pictures. If you’d like to see more I have tons of pictures on my instagram! Check em out! lady_d_makeup

Winery in Ensenada

My Beautiful Girls

La Bufadora

I went to a few Mac Pro social events; One was the pre launch of the Baking Beauties and Extra Dimension party that was super fun. And the second was an installation for celebrity Makeup Artist Val Garland. Such beautiful work! More photos on my instagram.

Mac Baking Beauties Event

Val Garland Installation

Movies
Haven’t gone to the theaters much in a while and when I did, I saw crappy movies. But I have been watching Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion on cable all month. I have seen this movie numerous times but lately just couldn’t get enough of it! It’s a classic with great 80’s tunes and a sincere message about the bonds of friendship. It doesn’t matter who invented post-its or who’s the Mary. LOL

What were some of your favorite things In April?

My Favorite Highlighters

My Favorite Highlighters

I am obsessed with highlighters. A good highlighter will make the skin look healthy and fresh. It’s supposed to brighten the face. It shouldn’t look fake or extra shimmery. The particles are meant to reflect light to make you glow, not make you look glittery. As you can see all highlighters are not the same. There are different textures from powder to creams, different finishes from sheen to glittery, and different shades from the lightest pink to the darkest bronze. I like powder and more gel or liquid consistencies.  Here are my favorite highlighters that I use often.

Nars Albatross– A white gold Highlight; perfect for all skin tones

Mac Semi-Precious Pearl MSF– If Mac ever re-promotes this, I would get it! It’s gorgeous pearl but its not too pale or cool because of the warm tones in the center. Nice on fair to medium skin, it might look a bit ashy on darker skin tones if too much of the pearl is used.

Smashbox Halo Highlighting Wand in Gold– Review here

Mac Brunette MSF-Another Limited edition by Mac, it’s a golden pink shade; Great for all skin tones. If it’s re-promoted get on it!

Inglot Face and Body Illuminator #62– Review here

What’s your favorite highlighter?

L-R Smashbox Halo, Mac Semi-Precious Pearl MSF, Nars Albatross, Mac Brunette MSF

Skin Authority Resurfacing Accelerator

Last month I went to an event at Naimies that was a launch party for the brand Skin Authority. I’ve never heard of this brand before nor have I read anything about them. Being a skin care, beauty junkie who’s always researching and learning about new brands I thought I’d go and see what this brand was all about. I attended an informative workshop lead by the creator of Skin Authority, Celeste Hilling and learned a lot about general skin care, the brand and their products. Celeste was AMAZING! Super friendly, warm, inviting and just an all around wonderful woman.

The brand is used on movie sets or photo shoots to get quick, instantaneous results. Celeste showed us how quickly the wrinkle serum works by applying the serum on an audience member and there was an instant lift. I was pretty amazed and it’s pretty hard to wow me with these types of demos. I can only imagine how well it works with continuous use.

I didn’t want to get too many products, as tempting as it was, so I decided to try out one product because 1) Naimies doesn’t have the best return policy and I need to be able to return something if it breaks me out or doesn’t work. 2) My skin is really sensitive and temperamental, it doesn’t like a lot of different products. SO I settled on the Resurfacing Accelerator. This product spoke to me more than any of the others because I have been struggling with discoloration from acne scars for some time now and it seems like nothing works to get rid of them for good.

Company Description: “This powerful, exfoliating gel derived from sugar cane accelerates the body’s natural cellular turnover cycle to improve rough, scarred, dry or dull skin caused by aging, acne, or sun damage. Regular use helps smooth rough texture and brightens treated areas. Glycolic Acid 15%, pH 3.69.”

Product: The main ingredients in this product are Glycolic Acid (Exfoliates skin and lowers its pH to increase absorption of topical applications and helps reduce oil and bacteria), Epilobium Angustifolium/Canadian Willowherb Extract (Reduces irritation and inflamation without steroids. Helps kill p. acnes bacteria) and Allantoin (soothes and hydrates
dry, irritated skin). This product is specific for those who suffer from dull or uneven skin tone, wrinkles and/or oily skin. It’s a clear gel that sinks instantly into the skin. Once applied the skin tingles a bit, more than likely because of the glycolic acid eating away at the surface skin. Celest Hilling, the creator and founder of Skin Authority, described this product as “an overnight peel” and I can definitely agree with that. I’ve gotten many peels during my acne struggles and what I don’t like about peels at spas or at the dermatologist is that the skin gets really red and there’s lots of peeling and flaking involved. I mean the end results of a peel is fabulous but the between stages of a peel is anything but.

What’s brilliant about this product is that the skin doesn’t flake or “peel”. I also didn’t get that tight, or dry feeling that usually comes with a facial or chemical peel. My skin feels very comfortable using this product. You apply this right before bed and overnight it works its magic. 15% glycolic acid is usually the norm that dermatologists use for their peels but this product isn’t harsh on the skin at all. I had no adverse reaction to this product and this is coming from someone who gave up on glycolic acid products because they always broke me out! This product seemed to suck up the oil on my skin and balance me out while not being too over drying. And of course, like with all glycolic acid products, its important to apply SPF daily. Even if the forecast is overcast, you must wear protection or your skin will darken.

I saw a change in my skin the next day. The dark spots weren’t gone but my skin tone seemed brighter and tighter without that tight, dry feeling. As the days passed the results kept getting better! Today, a little over a month of use, my skin is brighter and tighter and I don’t feel like I need to wear foundation everyday because of an uneven skin tone and discoloration. I am in love with this product and I will probably be using this forever! I am excited to try other products from the brand.

Price: $21 – $50 depending on what size you get. They come in two sizes; 0.7 FL oz and 1.7 FL oz. A little goes a long way. One pump is all I need for my entire face so this should last you at least 2-3 months.

Where to buy: http://www.skinauthority.com; http://www.naimies.com

Final Grade: A+

Product: 5/5

Not wearing makeup

Today after roughly one month of use. wearing no makeup! Only Moisturizer.

May Favorites

 

Here are some of my favorite things from last month. Is it me or did May go by in a blur? Time to say goodbye to a successful month of accomplishments and fun and time to bring in a new month! I’m so happy Summer is here which means lots of bright colors and fun beach days ahead. 

Do Tell, What were some of your favorites for May?

My Favorites:

Lipstick– Mac Sail La Vie: Gorgeous shade for summer. Suits everyone beautifully and very wearable I think.

Lipgloss– Mac Riviera Life: Perfect Orange gloss for the season, not super bright but very pigmented for a gloss. I wore this almost everyday from the day I bought this.

Eye Shadow– Mac Jaunty: A great everyday shade that could be worn in lots of different ways.

Night Serum– Skin Authority Resurfacing  Accelerator: Skin Authority is a new brand I got to try out and I am really liking them so far. Definitely loving this particular product, which purpose is to lighten skin discoloration. Review coming very soon!

Blush– Nars Exhibit A: Bright but when used lightly, gives a gorgeous flush of color. Perfect for my darker skin beauties.

Favorite New Eating Spot– Thyme Cafe in Santa Monica, CA. My intention is to try at least two new restaurants a month so I can get out the habit of going to the same places and ordering the same foods. When I find a spot I love I find it really hard to try something new.

Weekend Activity– I got the opportunity to work with a talented photographer this month to create some beautiful faces for some beautiful shots. Orville of Yogi-ni Photos. Check out his work! Very talented!  http://www.yogi-ni-photos.com/

Accomplishments– Working on another theater production at El Camino College and doing body and face painting free hand. Never thought of myself as a painter, or a face and body painter, and never really had interest in it until doing so. Never underestimate your abilities!

Movie– The Avengers: For the comic geek inside of me, really great movie. I laughed, I teared a bit and best of all got to see lots of hotness in this movie…Chris Evans…HELLO!! Great movie!