Well, I have something very fun to share with you today. Makeup! It always seems like I run out of all my makeup products all at once and this time I decided to try some new things. So today I want to review some recent beauty purchases, both the good and the not-so-good.

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Recent Beauty Purchases: Full Coverage Foundations

I have always been a full-coverage foundation kind of girl because I struggled with acne throughout my youth (and into adulthood). Scars remain, as well as texture, and full-coverage makeup is the only thing that makes me feel normal. I’m not proud that I feel the need to shellac my face with foundation, but I will say that a beautifully made up face gives me confidence and that definitely can’t hurt.

I have been a die-hard Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation girl ever since I tried it but I’m also a makeup-lover and decided that it was time I tried some other well-reviewed full-coverage foundations. In my last beauty post I shared about a new favorite, the Dermablend Flawless Creator. It is a full-coverage, lightweight foundation but I put it aside for a while because it didn’t have the staying power I was looking for at the time. That being said, as I’m writing this I realize it might have better staying power now that the humidity is gone. (I will have to report back later on that as I test it!)

Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless

For normal to oily skin. I am a shade 120 and it’s a good match.

This foundation came so highly recommended and I couldn’t believe I hadn’t tried it.

Pros –

• It has a wide shade range (see widget above) and it gives a smooth look to the skin. It has a very natural, satin finish.
• Coverage is good and it’s a very buildable foundation. It is fairly light-weight.
• It is relatively long-wearing (can last me for a full day of work and still look good)

Cons – I don’t have a lot.

• I usually have to layer it when I wear it to get the amount of coverage I like but that’s not a terribly bad thing. My favorite way to apply it is with a brush to get as much coverage out of it as possible.
• I do tend to need to set it with a powder.
• Though it does last through the work day, it does wear away in the T-zone. That being said, even as it wears away it’s so natural-looking that it still looks good.

L’Oreal Infallible Longwear Shaping Foundation Stick

I have this in Shade 402 and it isn’t quite the right color.

I was not a huge fan of this at first. It was difficult to pick the shade in store and the one I got was a little too light for my skin.

Pros – It’s very easy to use. I swipe it across my face and blend it into the skin with a brush using circular motions. That goes quickly. It’s also buildable, but be careful about cakieness that can result from that layering.

Cons –

• Texture – I don’t like the texture of my skin after I’ve applied it. I feel like every bump and piece of dry skin shows up. I’ve tried it in the humidity and in the winter and it does better in the winter.
• Cakieness & Staying Power – It’s a thicker foundation (so I actually apply it on one half of my face at a time so that I can blend it in before it dries too much) and in the late summer and early fall it felt very heavy. In fact, it felt so thick that it would just slide off my face in the humidity. It works better with primer. I did try it with a setting spray on the face first (to help with the dryness) but that only led to a cakier feel and more makeup sliding off.
• Color/Coverage – It doesn’t give me very good coverage because of how it sticks to problem areas. However, it was very hard for me to find my shade so some of my coverage issues may be related to the not-quite right color.

Though this is not my favorite, it is very quick to use and I can find it being a great product for those of you with younger skin. Also, it is working better for me now that the humidity is gone. Staying power has improved (though still not through a complete day of work for me) and it is buildable without feeling as cakey. The coverage issues remain, however, because of the problem areas on my skin.

Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Full Coverage Foundation

I am a shade F4.

I love this stuff. The reasons will be clear below. You can apply it with a brush or a sponge. I like applying it with a brush because I think it gives the best coverage.

Pros –

• Super-full coverage – In fact, it can even work as a concealer if needed. The coverage is there for concealing but I still usually use my Tarte Shape Tape because it’s in a lighter, brightening shade. Also, I think it creases a little less in the under-eye area. Since the coverage is so amazing, it totally covers my acne scarring and yet it’s…
• Very light-weight – You can build it up and layer it without it feeling thick.
• No need for setting powder – It isn’t tacky when it dries. Unless you’re also using it as a concealer, there is no need to set it with powder.
• totally affordable

Cons – It’s a little drying. Because of that, it wears off a bit in problem areas and I feel like it sinks into the fine lines on my forehead. But I adore the coverage and it does give me a beautiful look for my entire work day.

Other Recent Beauty Purchases

While I was at Ulta picking up the Makeup Revolution Conceal and Define Foundation, I also picked up this new setting spray since I ran out of my favorite setting spray.

Morphe Continuous Spray Setting Mist

It seems like everyone on youtube is using this setting mist so when I ran out, I had to try it.

Pros – This is the finest mist I’ve ever tried for a setting spray. You can spray and spray without overdoing it. It also smells like perfume!

Cons – I’m not convinced it looks as good or makes makeup lasts as long as with my Milani.

Nevertheless, overall, it’s a decent price for what you get and is worth trying!

ELF Liquid Matte Lipstick in Blushing Rose 

Last week I was looking for a great, less-pinky nude for winter. So, I turned to youtube and watched a bunch of videos trying to find the perfect nude liquid lipstick. I’m a die-hard liquid lipstick girl but it’s not easy to find a good nude liquid lipstick.

Luckily, one of the recommended lipsticks was from ELF so I picked this one up on my trip to Target.

• A wonderful, more brown than pinky nude. But it’s not too brown.
• It has a very pretty, smooth application.
• Wear is pretty good (better when less eating is involved!)
• Transfer-proof (until you eat salad…see below)
• Only $5!

• If I don’t apply a lip balm underneath, it can feel really drying (especially shortly after application)
• It did break down when I ate an oil-based salad dressing.

One Old Favorite

Cleaning out my office/guest room last week, I came across my old beauty case. Inside I found a whole stash of bareMinerals makeup.

I pulled out my bareMinerals Loose Powder Blush in Laughter and popped it on my cheeks. I was astonished because it made the most BEAUTIFUL, soft glow on my skin. The next day I tried Aubergine and had the same effect. They give such a gorgeous, natural look.

When I went online to link them for you I found that they have apparently discontinued many of the colors in this line. So sad. But, these are both back in my rotation. I forgot how much I loved them.

Do any of you have any of these bareMinerals Loose Powder blushes somewhere in your stash? Pull them out and try them again! You may love them too!

That’s it for today friends! What new beauty products have you tried lately? Any good full-coverage foundations you’d like to share? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Virginia

Linking up with: Curly, Crafty Mom  | Mummabstylish | Lizzie in Lace | Style Nudge | Glass of Glam |  I do deClaire | Color and Grace | Pumps & Pushups