What Do We Want? MICELLES! When Do We Want Them? NOW! – Simple Micellar Water

Everyone is talking about micelles, but do they actually know what they are?

Photo via Wikipedia

Allow me to clear it up for you:

micelle:

noun

1.

Physical Chemistry. an electrically charged particle formed by anaggregate of molecules and occurring in certain colloidal electrolytesolutions, as those of soaps and detergents.

From the info that I’ve gathered, micelles are spherical particals (but can also be cylindrical and have heads and tails.)  that float in water and are attracted to dirt and oil in the skin.  The micelles bond with the dirt and oil for an easier, more efficient removal.

MIcellar water has been out for a long time, and is now more accessable (and less expensive) than ever!  Imagine my joy when I spotted Simple Cleaning Micellar Water at my local Target store.  I was actually skeptical of purchasing this particular micellar water because I have been wanting to try out the Bioderma brand for so long.

The first day I tried Simple Micellar Water, I had been out in 100 degree weather all day, and was wearing a full face of makeup including Kat Von D Lock It Foundation.  So you know I put this solution to the test.

No crazy fragrances, perfumes, or dyes, and two steps to a clean face with no vigorous rubbing?  Count me in.  All you have to do is apply micellar water to a cotton pad and wipe the pad all over your face.  How easy is that?  It is just as simple as using a cleansing towelette, but without the weird residue most of those wipes leave behind.

I’m still getting used to the idea of not having to rinse my face after using Simple Micellar Water, so I have been using this as a pre cleansing method before showering.  I like to remove my makeup before I step into the shower, to make sure I get every bit of makup off.

If you are lazy with your makeup removal after a long day (don’t worry, it happens to the best of us), this would be great to leave at your bedside table so you can just reach over and take off your makeup – no rinsing required.

I have been using Simple Micellar Water for the past 4 days now, and I am LOVING IT.  The number one reason why I adore this cleansing solution is because it seems to have had no ill effects on my crazy sensitive skin; it hasn’t dried it out, or irritated it in any way, and that is a huge plus for me!

Simple Micellar Water seems to be fantastic for all skin types, I highly recommend this product.

Have you tried micellar water?  What are you impressions?

What’s the Big Matte’n Deal?

  

I grew up in the Christina Aguilera dirrrrrrrty days…  Long gone are the days of Britney Spears oiled up with a snake around her neck.  For the sake of the upcoming Summer (and my oily skin) can’t those days come back?!  

Britney hun, I can’t control it either!

Honestly, I’m tired of everyone who has oily skin needing to be matte, and everyone who has dry skin needing to be “luminous?”  Can’t I be luminous too?!  Can’t I be dewy?  Can’t I glow?!

I just don’t remember a time until about 2 years ago, when all of these matte products started flooding the market, and I too fell into the matte trap.

I found a few articles from 2013 about the new matte trend that was becoming all the rage.  Like this one from Beauty World News.  The New York Times reported in October of 2013 that matte skin was the trend at NY Fashion Week.  

There are some really beautiful examples of matte makeup application, but there is a lot of skin prep involved, and if you don’t take those measures, you can go from matte to patchy really quickly.  

If you are going for a specific makeup look, the Internet is your oyster!  Do research!  Find the best products for your skin and skill level, and don’t just purchase something because someone who is sponsored told you to do so. 

Gorgeous example of a matte look ! Photo courtesy of Pout_Cosmetics on Instagram

If you’re an oily girl like myself, I understand the need to not be a puddle of oil by the end of the day, but we can also be gorgeous and glowy.  (And since we are oily, we don’t always need highlighters to achieve the look! 😜) 

I’m ranting a little, but the point is, apply your makeup the way you want to apply it!  If you want to be matte, be matte, if you want to be luminous, be luminous, but don’t fall into a trend just because it’s being marketed to you.

A wise being once said: 

I Tried Nars Tinted Moisturizer, and All I Ended Up With Was This Post…

  
‘Tis the season of tinted moisturizers, and since I’m a band wagoner, I hopped on the TM Train!  Toot toot! I have always been a heavy matte foundation girl because I fear the oil, but I thought what the heck, it’s starting to get hot outside, and who wants to walk around with a blanket of makeup on their face in 80+ weather?
Not I.

When Sephora was having their VIB Sale, I just HAD to get something, so I purchased Nars Tinted Moisturizer in Cuba.  I tried it on my hand in store, but ultimately ordered online.  
Cuba seemed like a decent match for my NC42 skin, if not just a tad dark, but I figured it would match my upcoming summertime tan.  (Yes, I plan for tans!)

So this morning before work, (I finally got a job, y’all!) I applied the tinted moisturizer with my brand new Beauty Blender and I kind of liked the result.  The coverage was light to light-medium, and it applied slightly sheer which is exactly what you want out of a tinted moisturizer.  I set with a light dusting of powder, and was on my way to take on the world…

However-

By noon, I was a complete oil slick! I could feel the tinted moisturizer sitting on top of my skin.  I dabbed, and an hour later, I had the same problem again!  

It didn’t look pretty, and it didn’t make me feel like I was wearing less makeup. 

I don’t ever take back makeup, but I will be taking back this Nars Tinted Moisturizer because it just didn’t perform the way I need it to.  

Who will this tinted moisturizer work for? Probably those with normal skin, of course!  

Do you have any recommendations for oil free tinted moisturizers?  What type of makeup do you wear in the summer months?

Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation: An Oily Girl’s Dream

I have been going insane this past week! Between a bizarre allergic reaction, and a bad cold, I haven’t been able to try any of my new products! It’s been killing me to see all of my new stuff piled on the counter.

My brother in law has been living with us for the last few months, and since he is leaving tomorrow, we went to dinner tonight.  I mustered the strength to try out some of my new stuff, and I just had to do a quick review of the Hourglass Liquid Powder Foundation.

Let me just say, if you are incredibly oily, this foundation will be your holy grail! It is EXTREMELY mattifying and oil absorbing.  I am usually really oily in my T-Zone area, and slightly oily on my cheeks over time, and this stuff kept me DRY, DRY, DRY!

Application for this foundation is easy. I used my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush and did 1/4 of my face at a time. You have to apply this foundation in sections because it dries so quickly.  I am an NC42 for MAC’s Studio Fix, and after some research online people were recommending Honey as the nearest match.  So, sight unseen, I ordered Hourglass Immaculate in Honey from Sephora, and hoped that it would be a match for me.

When I received the foundation in the mail, I was scared because it looked rather orange out of the container, but once I applied it to my face it actually didn’t cast orange, and blended quite nicely on my skin.  Take into account that I am on the lighter side of NC42, so the shade Honey would not work for someone on the darker spectrum of NC42.

I applied one layer of the foundation to wear to dinner, and it was medium coverage.  I am sure this foundation could be buildable, but since it dries to a powder finish, I am sure I would have to play with it a little in order to make it so it doesn’t show as cakey.

After wearing this foundation for about 4 or 5 hours bundled up, and in a hot restaurant and walking around, my foundation did not budge and I had ZERO shiny-ness.  I unfortunately did not take any photos, but I will update this post with photos the next time I wear this foundation.

Final Verdict:

If you have any dry spots on your face this is not for you!  However, if you are an oily girl who hasn’t found your HG mattifying foundation, then you need to give this a shot!  At $55 a bottle, it is on the expensive side for a lot of people, but a little goes a long way, so it is worth it.  I do suggest getting color matched, and getting a sample of this foundation to try it out to see if you like the way this foundation feels on your skin.  I like it, I will continue to play around with it, and I will update this post once I get more wear out of it.

You can find Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation at Sephora.com and HourglassCosmetics.com

 

Have you tried it?  Do you like these kind of liquid to powder formulas?

Urban Decay Naked 2 Basics

It’s the first Saturday night of 2015, and here I am in my bathroom (AKA Tiny Beauty Blog Headquarters), eating discounted Christmas candy and swatching shadows.  Seriously, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

As of late, I have been having a love affair with Urban Decay Cosmetics.  If you have followed me long enough, you will notice that I have all of my love affairs with makeup, and I cheat often.  (Insert cute wink and cheek click here.)  My latest love has been the Naked 2 Basics palette from Urban Decay.  I originally purchased this palette as a gift for one of my besties, the writer of Confessions of a Filipina, and realized that I indeed wanted one for myself.

I am usually one to wear lots of color, whether it be on my eyes, lips, or cheeks, but it is important to also be versed in netural tones as well, for certain events, so I went ahead and purchased this palette for myself.

When I swatched in-store, I loved the pigmentation and the silky smooth texture of Naked2.  The shades in this palette are very cool-hued, and very taupe, but oh so appropriate for everyday looks.

When I brought it home, I loved it even more.  Because the shadows are muted, and in the same color family, they are easier to blend and they are great shadows to practice with.  The palette size is perfect for those who are inexperienced, because there are only 6 shades, so you won’t get overwhelmed by the choices.

I am an NC42 in MAC, so the colors are a little more muted on me than they would be on someone with fairer skin, but I think these shadows would work with most people, you just might have to use a brightening shadow primer to support the color.

As I am getting older, I am leaning toward more matte looks, and this palette is a great starting point for a matte collection.  The price point is just right, and the shadows are high quality.

I am definitely going to be looking at the first Naked Basics palette, as well as the rest of the Naked Palettes that Urban Decay offers.

Do you own any of the Naked palettes?  Do you like Urban Decay’s shadow formulas?

Living in a Primer Wonderland-Too Faced Primed & Poreless

Image via Sephora.com

Poreless?  Poreless?  That just sounds so odd to me.  I’ve been in the makeup game long enough to go years without wearing some sort of primer, and guess what?  My skin was quite acceptable to the naked eye.

However, now we are inundated with samples of primer.  Don’t get me wrong, primer is great, but not every primer is great looking, or great for you!  I have triend my fare share of primers, and since I am an oily girl, I like to think I’ve put them all through the ringer.

Right now, I want to talk about one primer in particular; Too Faced Primed & Poreless Pure Oil-Free Skin Smoothing Face Primer for Sensitive Skin.  Seriously, could they have picked a longer name?  I have restarted a sort of love affair with Too Faced products as of late.  Too Faced has always captured me with their packaging, and who can resist a line of makeup that smells like chocolate?  When I went to the Macy’s Fragrance and Cosmetics Gala, I purchased La Belle Carousel, and received a bag of samples, and Primed & Poreless was one of them.

I have worn this primer a hand full of times now, and I can honestly say that it has worked for my oil slicked face.  I wore this primer in unintentionally high stress/sweat situations, and it held up.  I am so used to blotting my face after a while, and when I blotted, my makeup had barely moved, and there was a huge reduction in oil.

 

Upon application, (I applied with my fingers, but there are other more sanitary ways of applying.) Primed and Poreless settled nicely into my skin, and when I applied foundation on top of it, it did not oxidize.  I have used primers that have changed the whole look and formula of the foundation that I applied on top of it, and that is not what a good primer is supposed to do.  The formula is not thick and slippery, it is almost a velvety consistency.  Very lightweight and not noticeable once you rub it in.

The other benefit of Too Faced Primed & Poreless is that it did not clog my pores.  My face is really sensitive, and I did not get any additional breakouts caused by this primer.  It did not seem to clog my pores.

I will without a doubt purchase Too Faced Primed & Poreless Pure Oil-Free Skin Smoothing Face Primer for Sensitive Skin again because it worked well without wrecking my skin in the process.

If you would like to purchase Too Faced Primed & Poreless Pure Oil-Free Skin Smoothing Face Primer for Sensitive Skin you can find it on TooFaced.com and Sephora.com retail price is $30.

Do you have a primer that you swear by?  Let me know, I’d love to try it!

Jeffree Star Cosmetics-Velour Liquid Lipstick

When I heard Jeffree Star was going to be releasing is own cosmetics line, I went starry eyed.  I could only imagine the types of products and shades he would have, and he did not diappoint.  I have been following Jeffree Star for a while now, and have envied how gorgeous he is, so I had a hunch he wouldn’t put his name on anything less than stellar.

I ordered one shade of Jeffee Star Cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipstick on Black Friday, and just received it right before Christmas.  I ordered the shade I’m Royalty, which is a gorgeous royal purple.  The shade is deep, dark and highly pigmented, but suprisingly wearable, and seems suited for a multitude of skin tones.

While the color is gorgeous and matte, the application is quite messy.  The formula is really wet, and I had to layer to get the full surface of my lips covered, but once it dried the payoff was worth the trouble.   I will probably try to find a lip pencil in a similar color to make application a little less troublesome.  I must say it is easier to apply than the OCC Lip Tars however, so if you have tried OCC don’t let it scare you out of other highly pigmented liquid lipsticks.

Jeffree Star Cosmetics makes two other Velour Liquid Lipsticks in shades Prom Night and Redrum.  Prom Night is a hot candy pink color and Redrum is a bright true red.  Would I recommend this lipstick?  Absolutely.  I am hoping for a wide range of shades in the future.  I will be a loyal Jeffree Star Cosmetics customer.

If you would like to order, you can do so here:  JeffreeStarCosmetics.com

DId you order a Velour Liquid Lipstick?  Are you a fan of this type of listick?

I’m Back (I Think)

I hit a blogging slump!  You would think I hit that slump because I ran out of things to write about, but that is not the case!  I simply stopped blogging for a while out of lack of motivation and drive.

I love blogging, I love writing, and I love being a curator of all things beauty, for a purpose.  (Beside my own personal enjoyment.)

I have so many products from the holiday season that I just simply did not write about.  I just could not pick up my laptop to spread the word, and I can’t explain it.

After the Christmas holiday, I am feeling a bit better, and ready to get back to reading your blogs, and having you read mine! I appreciate all of you who have continued reading during my mini-pause.

Call me out if you see me faltering in the future, sometimes I need a kick in the butt.

I hope you had a wonderful Holiday!

Laneige BB Cushion-Can’t a Brown Girl Just Get a BB Product in Her Color?!

I received the Laneige BB Cushion sample in my previous Target Beauty box a while back, and have been meaning to try it.

Laneige is somewhat of an expensive beauty brand for Target.  The BB Cushion runs for $34.00 which is a bit more than I would normally spend on a single cosmetic item at Target.

There are only three shades available (Light, Medium, Tan) which is really unfortunate for those who have an in-between skin shade.  (AKA Almost everyone.)  The information card of my sample says that Flawless Skin is just 1 step away with 5-in-1 Cushion Technology.

1) Brightens: Instantly creates the appearance of luminous skin by visibly reducing dark spots and unevennes.

2) Protects: Broad spectrum SPF 50+ blocks harmful UV rays.

3) Cools and Hydrates: Optimal mineral water moisturizes, calms, and cools upon application.

4) Prevents Shine: Regulates and prevents sebum buildup.

5) Perfects Long Lasting Coverage: Delivers ultra-smooth coverage for an all day radiant finish.

I really like the concept of this BB Cushion.  The liquid suspended in the sponge is a perfect no-mess way to apply foundation.  My skin looks really terrible right now, and when I applied it, it actually did a fine job of covering up my bleimshes without being a thick layer of makeup on my face.  The only problem was that it just was not the right color for my face.  In the picture it looks like it matches, but to the naked eye, the shade was slightly ashy.  Since the color was not right, I did not wear it out all day, so I do not know the staying power of this BB Cushion, or if the formula would work nicely with my oily skin.

Pictured below is the state of my skin right now.  Left is before patting on Laneige BB Cushion, and Right is after.

It covered my blemishes nicely, without hiding my actual skin which was nice.  If Laneige put out more shades, I would definitely try this product again, and purchase the full size.

Have you tried Laneige? Did it match your skintone?  Do you like the liquid suspended in the sponge?

Target Beauty Box December 2014-Naturals & Men’s

I get overly excited when I can get my hands on a new and inexpensive beauty box.  As soon as I found out that Target was releasing a new wave of boxes, I had to check them out.  There were 3 new choices available, and they were the Natural’s Box ($5), the Men’s Box ($5), and the Women’s Box ($10.)  I decided to pick up the Men’s Box as a stocking stuffer for my husband, and the Natural’s Box for myself. I chose the Natural’s Box because I hadn’t tried any of the samples offered, and it seemed like a fantastic value.  The unfortunate thing is that I didn’t get the Skinfix Hand Repair Cream, and I ended up getting THREE facial scrubs in this box which kind of blows.

The Following are all of the Items I Received in the Natural’s Box    

SoapBox Argan Shampoo

Photo courtesy of soapboxsoaps.com

I love almost anything with Moroccan Argan oil in it.  Moroccan oil products usually smell great, and tame my unruly hair.  (I am naturally curly, but I wear it straight on a regular basis.)   I haven’t tried this shampoo yet, but it has a great unisex scent.  The other great thing about the SoapBox brand is that for every purchase, they donate a bar of soap, vitamins supplements, or fresh water to a child in need, and that is awesome!

Burt’s Bees Facial Wipes

I am excited for these Burt’s Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes.  Burt’s Bees is a high quality brand, and I love using face wipes to help me take all of my makeup.  I am big on smells, and these wipes smells nice, clean and natural.  I can’t wait to use these.

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie

Styling balms are my jam, and I have a drawer full of them.  I am very curious about Shea Moisture, as I have heard it is a great brand for my curly headed gals.  The smell is okay if you like coconut scents which I don’t, but I will try this hair smoothie, because it might just be the product that works for me, and I could start wearing my hair curly.

Borghese Age Defying Facial Scrub

Borghese is a Target Exclusive brand.  This scrub smells great, and when I squeezed it on top of my hand, it seems that there is a big of glitter or shimmer in it?  I’m intrigued.

Acure Brightening Facial Scrub

Another facial scrub…  And it just so happens I got two of the same!  Sigh.  This scrub is vegan, sulfate free, cruelty free, paraben free, peg free, petroleum free, phthalate free, silicone free, and gluten free.  I may keep one to try, and gift the other out.  Acure Brightening Scrub has french green clay (which is awesome) and natural exfoliators.  This may actually end up being a great scrub.

Men’s Box

I’m not going to do a full post about the men’s box, because honestly men’s products don’t interest me so much, but this box was also a crazy value, and I know my husband will love everything in this box, and repurchase most of the items after he tries them.

Overall I am pleased with both of these boxes.  I can’t wait to use all of the items, and discover some new products I’ve never tried before.