Review of MAC Pro Longwear Foundation- NW40

I had been a repeat buyer of Estee Lauder's Double Wear Foundation for about 4 years. However as much as I loved the foundation and how incredibly long is lasted, it did not really do much for my skin as far as illuminating it, and over time it seemed to make my skin seem duller and duller.

Granted I will still use it, I just wanted to dive into the realm of locating something with the same long lasting wear, yet with the benefit of making my skin look more alive.

I had picked up quite a few superstore brands like Maybelline, Revlon and so on, however none of them offered the type of quality I was looking for, and sadly I knew that quality meant more money that would have to be spent. I decided to give MAC a try. I went with their MAC Pro Longwear Foundation in NW40, which on my skin gave a beautiful summery sun kissed tan color. If you are pale, you will want to avoid this color as it is pretty sun drenched with a bronze hue. If you have a medium skin tone, or are already tan this color will blend perfectly.


Application:
 
I love, love, love the bottle that MAC put their MAC Pro Longwear Foundation in. The bottle is not one of those yucky screw tops where you have to dip your finger in. Instead the bottle has a unique twist mechanism that allows you to open it in order to pump the serum through a small tube. You can then twist it back to lock it in place so it does not accidentally squeeze or pump out while you store it away in your bag

Before applying the foundation I first use a skin serum in order to keep my face moisturized. I do this because it is good for my skin, and also throughout the years I have found that long wear foundations dry my skin out a bit.

When it came to applying MAC Pro Longwear Foundation, it went on like a charm, and the smallest dab on your finger truly will travel, so you do not need to funk your face up and add a whole lot of this one. It glides on and spreads easily, and once it dries your skin is left looking bright, and rejuvenated.
What I personally liked though was the fact that it did not clog pores, or leave my skin looking dry, dull or uneven. The foundations goes where you put it, and it stays there.

Last:
 
MAC Pro Longwear Foundation lasts quite some time, but it does of course have one downside. My issue is that I tend to get oily skin on my forhead as the day goes on. If I blot the area, the foundation will come off, which leaves me having to apply again, or add a powder to the area.
All in all though, most foundations, even those super long lasting ones tend to have that same drawback.

Overall:
 
MAC Pro Longwear Foundation is a very good foundation. I would not call it the best foundation I have ever used, but it definitely gives my skin new life, and it blends well with other foundations I already have. In my opinion it was worth the $30.00 spent, and it gives much better results than those $10-$15 brands you find at super stores. Much, much, better results!

Review: Maybelline's New Dream Matte Powder

I specifically wanted Maybelline, Dream Matte Powder for summer months when my skin tends to be shinier looking. I hate shiny looking skin, and matte foundations and powders tend to hide shine a hell of a lot better than other foundations and powders.

Although I didn't care too much for Maybelline's new liquid dream foundation, I still went ahead and tried out the powder hoping for better results. Hoping for long lasting results, and hoping the finish looked natural and not thick and cakey.

The powder itself goes on like a dream, it is light, airy, looks natural and feels natural. Frankly I do not even feel it when it is on.

What I also love is how it leaves my skin looking flawless and how it evens out my skin tone; not only that though, the powder itself got rid of the shine on my nose and forehead which is a huge huge plus!

The cons mostly are associated with the compact. Take a look at this photo. The compact is clumsy. The powder is pressed into its own separate chamber. You get to it by clicking up the see through lid. The application disc though is located underneath in a separate compartment. It does not slide out though, it slides to the right.


The reason I don't like it though is because it makes the compact harder to open completely, and it makes it easier to drop.

The application sponge disc is also made with cheap material, and you will notice it immediately. It has a thin cheap feel to it, and it is very small and hard to hold. Not only that it does not collect too much powder, so you continuously have to keep dipping it into the powder to fully cover your face in the powder for an even finish.

Overall though, I still love the powder. The compartment and the applicator could use some work.

MAC Studio Fix Foundation

In the past I always thought that spending more than $6.00 on foundation or makeup was absurd.

However when my cousin, who also happens to be my best friend began working in Macy's I noticed that the girl was even more beautiful looking than I'd ever seen her look before. Granted she's a gorgeous girl...I noticed she had done something different.

She was wearing MAC Cosmetics. I myself have never used MAC, only because I thought that $25.00 for any makeup was straight up insane. However after seeing her wearing MAC, price seemed to be no object. She was stunning to look at! Flawless, perfect, and hot damn, I had to have some.

I of course being new to MAC at the time asked her what exact products she was wearing. She went down the list, but the one product that grabbed my attention was MAC Studio Fix Foundation, which I learned was a pressed powder compact.

Looking at her results, I never in a million years would of thought that a pressed powder could work such magic. I used to use pressed powders simply to conceal shine on my forehead. As far as coverage went, I never got anything that looked as vibrant and flawless as her face did.

"Come on!? A pressed powder!? You've gotta be kidding me!"

She convinced me, swore up and down... all that good stuff.

My first experience with MAC Studio Fix Foundation came shortly afterward. The rest has been history. I have been in LOVE with MAC Studio Fix Foundation.

My favorite color shade for the winter time is NW25 which is meant for those with medium light skin tones. It gives flawless coverage, and goes on with ease. The results are simply amazing. It was as if my skin took on a whole new healthy glow, and I was in love with how natural it looked.

During the summer, I go a shade or two darker to blend in naturally with my summer time tan.

Packaging:

MAC packs MAC Studio Fix Foundation in their official logo cardboard box, which is nice, because you can put it back in for safe storing. $25.00 on this stuff, you want to make sure it's stored safely!

The pressed powder comes in a circular compact, that contains a mirror on the inside. There are 2 compartments in the compact. At the top you have your powder, and mirror. If you lift up though, right below that hides a circular application sponge.

This is probably the only con. The sponge itself is awesome, but the chamber where it resides has holes in the bottom. So if you chuck this into your purse, you could end up getting the sponge filthy because particles of dirt can easily enter the chamber.

Overall though MAC Studio Fix Foundation had simply been the best powdered foundation I have ever used, Period!

It is totally worth the $25.00 price tag.

M.A.C Select Foundation SPF15 Moistureblend

I've had a love for MAC Cosmetics for quite some time now. I never really paid much mind to their liquid concealers though, because I always found them to be way overpriced. My favorite products were their pressed powder Studio Fix Concealers.

However after finding that I was buying foundation after foundation from lower end liquid foundations, I figured I may as well go ahead and splurge on MAC. I figured I'd already wasted a good $60 on foundation that sucked...why not try a $30.00 MAC Foundation that will likely work like a charm?

I had quite a few different foundations to pick through, but I decided to go with MAC Foundation, Select SPF 15, simply because it contained SPF 15, which means my face will be protected from the suns UV's. Any facial freak, knows damn well that UV ='s WRINKLES!!! Any young lady who gives a damn about their health, and appearance tries to savor that flawless skin for as long as possible.

(Trust me, I have a girlfriend who is only 21 years old, and her skin already resembles an old woman's skin type. That's what years of daily trips to the tanning salon will do to yah hunny!!! Tee-hee! Yeah, believe it or not, all that damage you inflict onto your skin in your teen years WILL eventually make a come back for Karma)

Anyhow...

I choose shade NW25 which has been one of my favorite shades from MAC. NW25 looks slightly lighter on the MAC website, because the color is actually a medium light color, that has a slight burnt orange tint to it. The tint is subtle, but it is definitely not recommended to those with pale skin.

MAC seriously needs to update their coloring charts on the site, because EVERYTHING is OFF by about 4 shades.

I recommend it to those with slight medium light skin, or to those with a subtle summer tan. Otherwise this shade is just going to look stupid on yah.

My Use:

MAC recommends that you apply with a foundation brush! UGH! I tried this, and it only makes the foundation look over done. I recommend you simply flip the glass container over, and dab some foundation to your finger. It looks best that way.

After you apply with your finger, you can than (if you want) use an application disc to blend the foundation in better. Its not necessary, but it is a hell of a lot cleaner to do it this way than with your nose pickin' finger.

Too many folks moan that MAC causes break outs... but this is because they fail to actually think about how they are applying it. FINGERS=DIRTY...and DIRTY=PIMPLES! The math is simple really.

I have never experienced any break outs from MAC Foundation, Select SPF 15. It slides onto my face effortlessly, and gives me a flawless matte finish that I simply adore.

I usually suffer from combination oily skin, and end up with a shiny forehead at the end of the day. MAC though has been awesome when it comes to ridding my face of shine.

For a full shine free flawless matte finish I recommend you use this liquid foundation (MAC Foundation, Select SPF 15) in your appropriate shade, and then add a small layer of STUDIO FIX POWDER to really leave your face looking naturally stunning.

I cannot recommend Foundation, Select SPF 15 more. It has been by far, one of my favorite liquid foundations.

I do however wish that it came with a pump release at the top, and not a screw off lid.

Adore It! CoverGirl & Olay Simply Ageless Foundation

CoverGirl and Olay decided to join forces to deliver customers one of the best foundations I think I have tried in a very, very long time.

CoverGirl & Olay Simply Ageless Foundation is definitely different, and it demands attention when you walk past it in the store. Something as unique looking as this cannot go ignored and the moment you spot it, you will know you hit a gold mine.

What exactly is CoverGirl & Olay Simply Ageless Foundation?

It is actually a combination of foundation for flawless coverage, and Olay Regenerist Serum. The Olay serum will protect skin with SPF 22. It will also keep skin looking and feeling softer. Best of all though, this duo will improve skins appearance over time!

So while you conceal the flaws with the foundation, the Olay serum fixes them!!!

I honestly have no idea why someone hadn't thought of this sooner!

Appearance:

CoverGirl & Olay Simply Ageless Foundation is pretty hard to miss. You will spot it right away down the cosmetics isle in any local super store. You will spot the small glass and plastic compact easily due to the odd way they mixed it. Through the glass bottom of the compact you will clearly see the foundations color, and the swirls of white Olay serum running neatly through the foundation.

The compact itself is made of cheap purple plastic, and it is the only thing flawed on the product. The plastic breaks very easily, and you immediately can tell how flimsy it is. I definitely do not recommend you plop this one into your bag for travel, because it's not well designed.

Inside of this purple plastic chamber is a small application sponge. You must unscrew the purple lid in order to get to the foundation. It's an odd packaging, and I really don't care for it all that much. The foundation though is simply perfect.

My Use:

I ran the small sponge applicator through the foundation and applied it to my face. It went on so smoothly, and left my face feeling like it had been soothed down with silk. It leaves behind a very fresh, cooling sensation on the face and it really felt delightful to the skin.

The coverage also impressed me. It matched my skin tone to the tee, and blended in perfectly hiding all flaws, and making my small fine lines near my eyes vanish. The Olay serum left my skin feeling super moisturized. The formula goes on so nicely, and feels so light that you will not know it is there.

The downside though was that it did leave my skin looking a little shinier than usual. I fixed up this little issue by adding a fine puff of shine free powder.

The soft silky feeling this foundation leaves behind on the skin though is not what makes it my newest favorite foundation. It is the fact that my skin looks brighter, looks healthier, and feels much softer. I have only been using it for about a week and already I can see, and feel a difference in my skin.

Overall:

CoverGirl & Olay Simply Ageless Foundation is stunning, and the quality matches that of foundations you'd spend $30.00 or more on. I have used many foundations; cheap ones, and high priced ones, and so far CoverGirl & Olay Simply Ageless Foundation is my top favorite.