Beauty411

Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Makeup Inspired by Carmindy

Have you had the opportunity to try products in the Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy makeup line yet?  I discovered this line one afternoon while shopping at Ulta.  I was intrigued by the Luminizing Face Primer.  I bought that and the Sun Glow Bronzer and was wowed! The line was developed by Makeup Artist Carmindy, host of TLC's hit show What Not To Wear.

Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy cosmetics are formulated with minerals, natural extracts and active botanicals like soy, bamboo, papaya ad mango to benefit the skin and reveal te most beautiful you--naturally--and they are Paraben-free. 

The Luminizing Face Primer is a great product to use under foundation to give a radiant effect.  It's perfect for use under a tinted moisturizer, which is exactly the reason I had bought it.  Micronized pearls provide a subtle shimmer that is especially pretty on cheeks.  You could also use this primer on bare skin, to add a bit of shimmer highlight.  The only problem I had is with the pump; when you press down on the pump, the product has a tendency to shoot out.  I've used about a half a bottle and it is still doing this.  Obviously, not enough of a bother to not use the product, but it is a nuisance.

New MAC Colour Ready Collection

The MAC Colour Ready Collection offers the best of both worlds: new colors of eyeshadow and lipstick, as well as the skin prep products you need to create a flawless face.  MAC adds to it's Prep + Prime line with the release of three new products; blurring the line between science and beauty.  Read on to find out what my new Holy Grail product is!

The MAC Colour Ready Collection includes:

 

EYESHADOW
Bitter - Vivid bright golden green flecked with shimmer
White Frost - Vivid bright white with icy shimmer
Suggested Retail Price: $14.50 US/$17 CDN

LIPSTICK
Show Orchid - Vivid hot pink
Impassioned - Amped up fuschsia
Suggested Retail Price:  $14.00 US/$16.50 CDN

Prescriptives Flawless Face Primer

Prescriptives new Flawless Face Primer is a weightless, creamy formula that helps your foundation wear longer, your makeup look fresher.  Flawless Face Primer does so much more, though.  It smooths skin while helping to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles and also helps to even out skintone, reduce visible redness calm and soothe skin and blot excess oil.

I'm a firm believer that using a primer is a necessary part of your makeup routine.  A primer really is one of the best ways to achieve perfect makeup application and long-wear.  I've been using Prescriptives Flawless Face Primer and it's made it's way into my every day rotation.  Coming from Prescriptives, you know you're getting cutting-edge technology.  In a primer, you ask?  Absolutely.

Flawless Face Primer uses a combination of silicone elastomer technology and cross polymers to adhere to skin, fill in uneven surfaces, which allows your foundation to apply better and last longer, while providing a "soft-focus" effect.  You just apply Flawless Face Primer after your morning serum and moisturizer and follow with your foundation. 

I've used the Flawless Face Primer with both liquid, cream and stick foundations and have been really pleased with its' performance.  I didn't experience any sensitivity and I like the fact that Flawless Face Primer is oil-free and non-acnegenic.  It really does give your skin and makeup a flawless finish. If you've experienced sensitivity to silicones before, but still want to try this primer, do a skin test first.

Prescriptives Flawless Face Primer retails at $27 and is available at all Prescriptives counters nationwide and at www.prescriptives.com. 

You may also be interested in:

Skindinavia Makeup Primers and Finishing Spray

Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Re-Touch Skin Smoothing Cream

Skindinavia Makeup Primers and Finishing Spray

Skindinavia makes products that are solely dedicated to improving makeup quality.  I've always been a big believer in primers and other products that either extend the life of your makeup or enhance the quality of the finish.  Skindinavia products do both.  I have tried dozens of makeup primers in my lifetime and I have to tell you, these products are at the top of the list.  The products were designed with to withstand thermal conditions, prolong color and staying power, thanks to time release nano-sphere technology.

I've been alternating between the Face & Eye Makeup Primer and the T-Zone Makeup Primer for the past couple of weeks, as weather has climbed into the 80's with high humidity.  If ever there was a time to be roadtesting makeup primers, this was it!  I tested these primers with liquid foundation, as well as mineral makeup, and had equally impressive results.  Both the Face & Eye Makeup Primer and the T-Zone Makeup Primer performed exceptionally well.  At the end of the day, I noticed very little "fade" to my makeup.  It looked good hours later, with no in-between touchups.  When applied on my eyes, I didn't notice creasing or fading.  The T-Zone Makeup Primer did help to control shine in my t-zone, where I tend to be oily in the summer. I maintained a matte finish without looking like my face would crack.

The other star in the Skindinavia lineup is the Makeup Finishing Spray.  After applying makeup, you spray this product on for a lasting, flawless finish.  My makeup stayed perfect all day; that's up to 16+ hours most days.  I couldn't believe that it honestly looked as good when I went to take it off, as when I had applied it hours earlier. I have placed this product on my Holy Grail list; I never want to be without it.

It should be noted that these makeup primers do contain silicones, so if you're sensitive to products containing silicones you may want to do a patch test first.  A complete list of ingredients is available for reference. 

Skindinavia products are available online at Ulta, HSN, Beauty Exclusive, Beauty.com, SkinStore and other retailers, as well as on the Skindinavia website.

Napoleon Perdis Cosmetics

Napoleon Perdis is an Austrailian makeup artist with a philosophy of empowering women and having a transgenerational approach to beauty.  His cosmetics line launched in the U.S. in 2005 and has been a smash, especially with celebrities like Paula Abdul, Teri Hatcher, Kate Beckinsdale and many others. 

The Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Re-Touch Skin Smoothing Cream is a brilliant gel-to-powder formulation that is like your own version of an airbrush finish.  Once applied to the skin, you can see skin imperfections fade away, giving your skin a flawless finish.  I used the Re-Touch Skin Smoothing Cream prior to applying my foundation.  It is amazing to watch the gel finish disappear and when you touch your skin, it feels powdery.  The product fills in the small lines and allows foundation to sit on top of the skin, as opposed to settling in. The Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Re-Touch Skin Smoothing Cream retails at $70.  Although I did like this product, I would have a hard time justifying spending $70 on what is essentially a primer. 

The Napoleon Perdis China Doll Concealer is really a multi-tasking product.  In addition to using it as a concealer, you can apply it to eyes and use as an eyeshadow base.  I didn't experience creasing with this product; in fact, it dries to a matte finish and did a good job of minimizing my dark circles.  This long lasting concealer is enriched with antioxidants A, C and E, to give the product an anti-aging treatment edge over other concealers.  The Napoleon Perdis China Doll Concealer retails at $40.

Napoleon Perdis Cosmetics are available on HSN, at Sephora, DermStore and on the Napoleon Perdis website.