Currently Loving: Cargo Cosmetics HD Picture Perfect CC Cream and Translucent Powder

Product Sent for Review


Recently, Cargo sent me a few of their HD products. I honestly have not even had a chance to take pictures of most of it, which I usually try to do before I allow myself to start using a product. But, I admit that I pretty much tore open two of the boxes and started using the products immediately and have been using them about every other day since then. (Ok, the powder every day, the CC cream every other, I'll share my alternating day choice with you tomorrow!)


The CC Cream (shown here in medium) is one of those lotions that comes out looking like a vanilla bean ice cream. It's white with little specs in it, which I have to say never really inspires much confidence. Especially when you have pretty fair skin and your tube says "medium".... Somehow the technology really does work, and when you start smearing it around the cream really does adjust to your skin tone. That medium vanilla bean ice cream lotion becomes my perfect color. It's pretty amazing!

The CC cream is a lightweight lotion, and when I smear it around it seems to sink in pretty quickly to my skin, leaving behind a light to medium coverage that looks very natural and does a good job of correcting any redness I might have that day (I have mild rosacea and am out of my meds... oops! So yes, I'm a little red. And need to get a refill.) It can be very slightly built up for more coverage, though more than 2 layers of the CC Cream doesn't really do much. I tend to apply right after washing my face, just smearing it around. A minute or two later I'll hit it with my Beauty Blender sponge a few times to blend it a little, and I might add a little bit more in the center of my face on to problem areas. After that I'll use concealer on any additional spots.

The Picture Perfect Translucent Powder is a good companion product for the CC cream. The top has a netting over the powder, which keeps most of it contained while it is easily accessible using just a brush. The inside of the lid does project down to cover the netting, so when you close the powder it won't spill all over the place. The powder itself is very fine and does a good job of soaking up any shine in my t-zone, which I love. I've been using it every day and love it! You can't see it on my face at all, which eliminates one of my pet peeves (who likes to look powdery? I don't!)


Tomorrow I'll share the other "foundation" products that I've been loving. And yes, you can pick it up at your local grocery store!

Cargo Cosmetics
Product Sent for Review

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Kiehl's BB Cream Review: High SPF with Nice Coverage

Product Sent for Review

I've made no secret of my mini obsession with Kiehl's Ultra Facial Lotion with SPF 15 over the years. My skin just seems to love that lotion, and having the sunscreen built in is a great bonus. I fully admit that it doesn't have quite the SPF I'd prefer (I'd like to be over SPF 30, I don't like turning freckly), so I was often putting Super Fluid UV Defense SPF 50+ over it. (Watch for a review of that sunscreen, finally, in a few weeks.)

I've been experimenting with new foundations, tinted moisturizers and BB Creams recently, and when Kiehl's sent me 2 tubes of their new BB Cream to try out, I admit that I may have done the Dance of Joy.


(Admission, I might be watching Bronson while writing this review. Also, my sister and I used to do the Dance of Joy. That was for you Nikki!)

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Too Faced Air Buffed BB Cream Review: Lightweight and Natural Looking?

Product Sent for Review

I have a confession to make. Lately, I've been wearing too much foundation. Really, I think the issue is that I'm wearing my regular "fuller" coverage foundation, some powder and blush, but since it is finally getting a tad warmer (or I'm wishfully thinking it is, since it is now April), that same coverage feels much too heavy. So, I've been on the look out for ways to keep the flawless look of fuller coverage, but with a lighter look/feel.

I had super high hopes for this BB Cream. Somehow the fact that it was a solid BB cream, instead of a lotion, made it reach epic proportions in my mind. Did it fulfill those epic expectations? No, but I was ready to have the BB Cream erasing any and all signs of under eye circles, rosacea and creating the perfect smoky eye all in 1 step.

What it does do is create a natural appearing finish that can easily range from light to medium coverage (even up to full if you layer it on) that does a good job of evening out my skin tone without looking heavy. The compact comes with a nice little brush for applying the foundation. I used this brush at first, but quickly swapped over to using a larger brush (my Urban Decay Optical Blur) since I had an easier time making my coverage uniform with the larger brush (the little one is great for travel though, I'm going to stick it in my makeup bag for my purse). I rub the brush around in the compact and then buff onto my face. For areas that I need more coverage, I go over them twice or I'll use a finger and pat on a little product and then buff with the brush. Resist the urge to just apply this BB Cream with your fingers, the results are definitely splotchy and obvious, using a brush is key!

I did find that staying power can be a bit of an issue with this cream. It looks decent at the end of the work day, but a few hours later (around the 10-11 hour mark) things start to get patchy and disappear. So, for a longer day you'll need to touch up.

What have you swapped to for spring? Let me know if you've found anything good!

Too Faced
Product Sent for Review

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8 Products for a Perfect and Weightless Complexion

Today, Christy Ann is sharing her favorite products to create an even weightless complexion! The key is a lightweight product, bronzer with a light shimmer (on areas that the sun hits, here is how to apply bronzer), and then a pretty blush your cheeks.

Christy's favorite lightweight coverage products:
• Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream
• Urban Decay Naked Skin BB Cream
• L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic BB Cream
• Urban Decay Naked Foundation for a little added coverage

Be sure to use the Beauty Blender sponge to apply all liquid foundations, BB Creams and/or tinted moisturizers.

Shimmery Bronzers:
• Laura Mercier Golden Mosaic Shimmer Bloc
• Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Soft Shimmer Bronzer

Shimmery Blush:
• Nars Multiple cream sticks: Christy loves these as they can be used for a glowing look on eyes, lips and face.


Christy Ann is an accomplished and creative make up artist with experience in bridal, fashion, print and beauty consulting. Christy Ann has worked with prestigious lines such as Trish McEvoy, Stila and Laura Mercier before establishing her own company Christy Ann Cosmetics. Christy Ann has always had a creative flair and passion for the artistry of make up. With over 18 years experience, she has recently created her own unique cosmetic line to complement any style. Christy's work is described as crisp, clean, precise, and distinctive.

Christy Ann Cosmetics
Nothing to disclose

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Revision Skin Care Intellishade SPF-45 Review

Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed suddenly with the huge number of tinted moisturizers and BB Creams that are on the market? I fully admit that it is getting really hard to tell them all apart. However, this one was recommended by Dr. Tanya Kormeili, a dermatologist at UCLA when she shared her favorite beauty products with me recently. Ummm... a dermatologist loves it? I need to check it out!

Like other BB Cream/tinted moisturizers that are out right now, this product packs a lot into 1 little tube. First, it has great UV coverage with SPF 45. It has a lot of my favorite anti-aging ingredients in it (just check out that checklist below, that's really great for 1 product). Not included in that check list are the skin brighteners and the highly stable Vitamin C that is in the formula. While it only comes in 1 shade it does claim to be "intelligent" and work with every skin tone.

First, it wasn't a perfect match for me, but I am very pale and it was starting out about 2-3 shades too dark for me. Considering that, I felt it was a much better match than I thought it would be when I first checked it out. I was able to wear it out and about for the day without an issue. It has light to medium coverage and I only needed to add a little extra concealer right under my eyes. It definitely minimized my pores and it has a bit of a mattifying effect as well. The coverage lasted most of the day, still looking pretty perfect at about 12 hours.

As far as I can tell the only draw back is that it is available primarily through physicians and spas.










IntelliShade

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NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Review

Finally, I'm reviewing the NARS tinted moisturizer! I fully admit that I've had this moisturizer for well over a (few) month(s), and I've been using it on and off, but I hadn't fully made up my mind about it. It is a basic moisturizer, a light lotion consistency the coverage it provides is pretty light. It absorbs quickly and you can't feel it once it is on, so it is pretty much perfect for spring/summer. For some reason I found that the coverage was lightest in areas that I rubbed the lotion in a little more (was I rubbing it off? Probably.) so those spots that needed the most coverage... well, they actually got less. I typically had to apply a little extra concealer or even a little foundation in these areas to even things out, which was fine, but I was hoping to skip this step (hence why I was thinking about this review for so long).




Consistency: Light lotion
Blendability: Very easy! I can make it look perfect with just my finger tips.
Buildable coverage: Only slightly buildable. You're better off using a foundation or concealer for areas you need more coverage.
Feeling on skin: Lightweight
Wear: 10-12 hours
Problems with wear: No caking or settling into fine lines
Shades Available: 9 colors, I used Alaska


SPF 30





NARS Cosmetics

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Dr. Jart+ BB Creams: The Craze is Crossing the Pacific, Will You Buy into the Hype?

Sooooo... BB Creams. Not well known in the US by any stretch of the imagination. Some of the more makeup savvy might know what they are, but really I only heard the name BB Cream about 6 weeks ago. In truth, these are amped up tinted moisturizers.

Basically, think of this as an all inclusive skincare/makeup product. It is meant to take the place of your moisturizer, skin care treatment products (they often include ingredients that are anti-aging and acne fighting), sunscreen, primer, foundation and concealer. All there. In one big time saving step. You'd think with a blog called "15 Minute Beauty Fanatic" that I'd be all over that like white on rice. Right?

Well.... there are some problems with the BB Cream craze. Really, they all center around the one size fits all aspect of these products. Personally, my skin changes quite a bit as the seasons change. My combinations skin is more oily in the summer and dry in the winter. While I've largely embraced the pale and wear a ton of sunscreen, even my skin does change a little bit in color during the summer. And since they typically only come in one or two shades, which are usually a bland beige, the chances of it flattering your skin... yeah, a bit slim to none. So, I tend to not pay a lot of attention to these products.

But, as they cross the Pacific, BB Creams seem to be changing their tune a little bit, attempting to make themselves more appealing for the US market.

Read on to hear more about Dr. Jart+ BB Creams, which have found their way into your local Sephora.

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