Garnier BB Cream Combo/Oily First Impression

I've been eyeing the drugstore Western BB creams that have been infiltrating the market for the past couple of years. So far, I haven't had any luck finding one that I love. The majority of them donning the drugstore shelves are too similar to tinted moisturizers that I just don't get excited by the prospects.

I grabbed the Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector Combination/Oily Skin BB Cream in Light/Medium. Let's start with the price–$13.49 at Target for 2 oz which is a little steep for a glorified tinted moisturizer at the drugstore.

This is the lightest shade they have and it is very orange. I would say much more medium than light and therefore is much too orange and dark for my fair skin. I was surprised how watery this "cream" is, it is very runny but does dry to a nice matte finish. It has a very light coverage, which is expected for it being a tinted moisturizer type product. Overall, it feels really nice on the skin and makes your skin feel soft and matte. I just wish it came in lighter shades because this one is going back to the store!

Neutrogena Healthy Volume Mascara Review

Claims:

"This lash-enhancing mascara instantly builds lash volume by 400%. The patent-pending formula with a touch of olive oil penetrates and helps plump the core of each and every lash. The Visible Volume Brush coats and builds even the smallest lashes with rich, volume-building color. No clumps, smudging or flaking!

Healthy Volume® mascara rinses clean with any Neutrogena® makeup remover or with soap and water. Get beautiful, conditioned and volumized lashes with the sweep of a wand." -Neutrogena

Pros:

• It may have made my eyelashes a little longer and thicker after continuous use, but nothing dramatic.
• The packaging is nice and sleek.

Cons:

• It didn't build up volume...at all. My eyelashes looked almost the same as when I wasn't wearing mascara.
• For some reason it would not coat the tips of my lashes. The mascara would somehow just slide right off (problematic for my slightly blonde-tipped lashes.)
• Couldn't hold a curl...and I have naturally curly lashes so it was surprising when mid-day my lashes looked flat.
• My final complaint is how difficult it was to remove! I even had the non-waterproof version, but it just didn't budge. When I thought I finally removed all of the mascara, I would still wake up with raccoon eyes.

Bottom Line: Sadly, I would not purchase this mascara again. I tossed mine after about a week and a half because it was really not working for me. Sorry Neutrogena, just not a fan of this one!

Sally Hansen Insta Gel Strips Review

Recently I picked up these Sally Hansen Insta Gel Strips in Pretty 'N Poppy from CVS (for a hefty $15!) they are about $5 cheaper at Target, but I was unaware at the time. Basically what it boils down to is these strips are pretty easy as far as gel goes, and have cute designs but they just don't fit exactly right and are quite expensive. If you're looking for a fun manicure for a night or two, these might be a good option but I don't think they are worth it for solid polish colors. There are so many better gel options at the drugstore like the SensatioNail brand.

Pros:

-Easiest gel manicure (the fewest steps)
-The polish comes in strips that adhere to your nail so you only have to paint on a clear top coat.
-Adorable designs you can't get from typical polish
-Lasts about a week with no chips–not as long as normal gel but better than regular polish.
-Super shiny (as with all gels)

Cons:

-Not cost effective at all, you have to buy the LED lamp (unless you already have one like I did) The top coat and nail strips for one manicure are $15, if you don't have an LED lamp you will have to buy the starter kit also which is pricey.
- My biggest issue with these strips was the fit. As you can see from the pictures below, the strips are too round at the nail bed for my nails–resulting in weird gaps by the base of my nail. Also, I found that almost all of the nail strips were too wide for my nails and I don't have particularly small nails.

The pictures below are after a week. There is a little chipping on the tips but mostly at the nail bed, I think it's because they didn't fit all that well to start with. The photo on the left is a little blurry (sorry!) but it shows how the strips really didn't fit my nails that well.

Queen Helene Mint Julep Face Masque Review

Fall in Love February is all about taking time for yourself and treating yourself to little indulgences while working to become your best self, and I think this face mask fits the bill.

The Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque has been a staple since I was in high school. My mom used it when she was in high school and introduced it to me when I was in my teens. I have have been using it since and have convinced many friends to become avid fans as well.

It is the classic thick green clay mask that dries to look like a desert on your face (if you have used clay masks you know what I'm talking about.) It dries out any blemishes, shrinks your pores, and makes skin soft and smooth while also helping control oily skin. I love this mask because while it dries out blemishes, it doesn't leave your face feeling tight and dry afterwards.

The best part? It is only about $6 at the drugstore so it will help you put your best face forward without breaking the bank.

xoxo Jess

Trader Joes Micellar Cleanser Towelettes Review

Inexpensive face wipes that are gentle, yet still remove makeup and dirt? Sign me up! These little wonders ring in at a budget-friendly $3.99 and are worth every penny.

I have very sensitive skin and loved the Simple gentle makeup wipes–but these Trader Joes ones are even better! The cloths are so soft and saturated with cleanser. They also don't irritate or leave residue on your skin unlike most facial wipes.

These Micellar wipes are free of allergens, alcohol, colorants and parabens–making them super gentle. I use these wipes to take off my makeup and then cleanse with the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. I think these could be used purely as a cleanser, I just like to use an additional moisturizing cleanser each night.

All in all I am now obsessed with these face wipes! I recommend them if you can get your hands on some!

What is a micellar cleanser you ask? Here's how Trader Joe's explains it: 

"basically, molecule clusters made up of one side that attracts water, and one side that repels it. When the towelettes are applied to your skin, these molecules break apart, and whatever isn't water (i.e., dirt, makeup residue, etc.) is gently pulled away from the skin." -Traderjoes.com

 

 

xoxo Jess

Revlon Colorstay Foundation

The Rundown:

Revlon Colorstay Liquid Foundation is said to wear up to 24 hours while giving your face a flawless look with a lightweight feel.

In the shade 150 Buff

The Reality:

Packaging 3/5 stars

The glass tube is a little heavy, but does have a nice substantial feel to it. The packaging loses stars when it comes to the top, there is no pump making it the standard pour-out tube of foundation. This makes it difficult to get the right amount (foundation comes gushing out of the bottle) making it messy.

Staying-Power 5/5 stars

This is where this foundation outshines others. It stays put all day even on the most oily skin types. Because it is so good at staying put, it can be a little difficult to remove. I use the Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Water to take it all off.

Shade Range 5/5 stars

This brand has two lines, the combination/oily skin line which has 15 different shades and the normal/dry skin line which has 12 different shades. (I have combination skin and have used both the combo/oily and normal/dry ones and have loved both.)

Coverage 5/5 stars

This foundation is a medium to full coverage foundation and is very build able. It is very easy to blend and I recommend using a Real Techniques Expert Face Brush to buff it into the skin seamlessly. it takes a bit to dry so I wait a few minutes for it to set before apply powder over the top.

Price 5/5 stars

As far as drugstore foundations go, this one comes with a little higher price tag. It costs about $13-$14 depending on where you purchase it.

Lives up to its claims 4/5 stars

It doesn't feel as lightweight as other foundations I have tried, but that's expected since it is a medium to full coverage foundation. Other than that, this foundation is longwearing, blends well, has great coverage and stays put all day.

OVERALL 5/5 stars

Revlon Colorstay Foundation is my go-to foundation and I have been completely obbsessed with it for the last four months. I have tried a variety of high end and drugstore foundations but this one is argueably my favorite.

xoxo Jess

Side note: How pretty is this tree outside my window?! I love how bright red it is turning, it makes it feel more like Fall. 

New Maybelline Fit Me Shine-Free Foundation

The Rundown:

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation is a gel stick foundation with an anti-shine core, supposedly leaving a natural matte finish. The lightweight powders in the anti-shine core are meant to instantly dissolve excess oil.

Shade: 115 Fair

The Reality:

Packaging 5/5 stars

The black tube with metallic light pink writing is so cute and durable! The packaging feels a little cheap but looks nice and is very easy to travel with or throw into a handbag. While it is a small tube, the gel-stick formula makes it much easier to transport and makes putting on foundation a breeze. The only caveat is you end up going through the foundation pretty quickly.

Staying-Power 3/5 stars

This is where I had some trouble. It does stay on and shine-free longer than most foundations however, I found that after about 4 hours my foundation was looking a little patchy. I've been spoiled by the Revlon Colorstay Foundation that stays on 8+ hours. This foundation is lighter feeling, stays matte longer than most, and feels powdery almost instantly after applying (in a good way).

Shade Range 4/5 stars

There are 12 shades in this line which isn't bad. There are a wide variety of lighter/medium shades, but the line is lacking deeper shades.

Coverage 4/5 stars

This foundation works best as a light to medium coverage foundation. The foundation is buildable, but the more you build the cakier the foundation starts to look. This gel formula works best as a light coverage foundation.

Price 5/5 stars

As far as drugstore foundations go, this one rings in at an average price of about $8 depending on where you purchase it.

Lives up to its claims 4/5 stars

The anti-shine powder core does as it claims, it makes the foundation go on silky and smooth. The gel stick foundation also works to keep the shine at bay without looking powdery.

OVERALL 4/5 stars

I would say if you're looking for a gel based stick foundation to keep you fairly matte and have combo/oily skin, you would be in good company with this foundation.

xoxo Jess