Review- Matis Paris Age Preventing Primer

Prime your skin for perfection with this anti-aging primer from Matis Paris. AvantAge Initial- Age Preventing Primer is formulated for all skin types to prevent visible signs of skin aging. Longevity Complex boosts the synthesis of proteins, as Protective Complex shields free radicals and prevents protein glycation. The lightweight texture absorbs quickly, creating an even canvas for flawless, long-lasting makeup application.

When it comes to anti-aging skin care, all I really want is something that truly works! I'm so happy and pleased to say that this Matis Paris Age Preventing Primer delivers! It's cooling on the skin and gentle all around, but the noticeable difference is truly remarkable. I concentrated the primer on my "problem areas" focusing on the noticeably fine lines, and somehow they radically softened and easily disappeared. My skin looked incredibly smooth and polished (in a desirably good way) and more youthful and sleeker. With results such as these, it's hard to imagine needing any other gel or primer to look younger. One product, such as this, can resolve my pre-wrinkle worries. I even skipped days to see how much of a difference it made and noticed that wearing this primer really did erase those fine lines. The beautiful part is that this primer lasts all day and feels so nurturing on the skin, it's the least one can do when it comes to providing healthy looking skin. Definitely worth checking out, as I love this primer so much and its beautiful anti-wrinkle results!

Review- Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Truly Translucent Loose Powder

Although the packaging is pretty simple, I really do like this translucent powder from Sally Hansen's Natural Beauty line. I tried the loose powder for Light/Medium types and it provided just the right amount of coverage in a well-matched shade for me. (I am more on the medium side, but this worked). Usually I skip heavy liquid foundations when I'm out running errands, but I do resort to a minimal and light mineral foundation powder to get me through the day. I'm finding that this loose powder alone provides just as good coverage as any mineral foundation and I'm loving how soft and smooth my skin appears. I also like the thick sponge as I noticed it absorbs and sets the powder into the skin easily. With ingredients such as pomegranate and papaya extracts, as well as bamboo powder and antioxidants, it's no wonder my skin felt lighter, as well as well-nourished, while wearing this powder. My skin can get oily sometimes and I found that this powder thoroughly absorbed excessive shininess, while also providing a smooth surface. For everyday wear, this Sally Hansen Natural Beauty powder held up!

Review- Alpha Hydrox Sheer Silk Moisturizer

A lightweight, intensive moisturizing formula that helps skin maintain its optimal moisture balance as it softens, smoothes and improves skin's condition and texture. Active Oxygen stimulates collagen & new cell growth. Vitamin E&B5, Soy and Green Tea effectively nourish & protect. A broad-spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 15 sunscreen blocks dangerous, wrinkle causing rays. Skin-enhancing light diffusers give skin an immediate healthy glow (with or without makeup.)

I'm a huge fan of sheer and light moisturizers, especially ones that are highly softening, while also absorbing thoroughly on to the skin. This Alpha Hydrox Sheer Silk Moisturizer sure does rank favorably for me! I love how quickly it sinks into my skin and the illuminating glow adds a brighter look to my overall skin tone. It's high on delivery as far as moisturizing capability goes, and it doesn't add any extra heaviness or thickness on top of that. I really have no complaints at all with this moisturizer, it's my go-to choice for everyday wear, especially when I want to wear something light with SPF 15 coverage. Usually when it comes to skincare, I prefer that it feels as minimal as possible, yet still have healthy looking skin, and this is one of the moisturizers I constantly reach for to create that desired effect. I'd definitely recommend it as a lovely moisturizer with satisfyingly visible benefits!

Sultana says: I definitely agree! This is one of the best moisturizers I have used in a while. It is very light weight and I love the fact that it has sunscreen in it. It does manage to somehow give your skin a kind of iridescent glow. It really goes on smoothly. This has become one of my daily staples.

Review - adesign Pointed Crease Brush

EyeFinish: Grade 'A' goat hairShape: Tapered bulletUse: This brush applies and blends eye shadow into the crease.
$20 00

OK so I am a little torn on this. First of all let me state that this is one mean blending machine! If you want a killer smokey eye, this is the brush you want to use. It fits into the crease of your eye so easily and blends the color well.

Two things I don't like about this:

Its made of Grade A goat Hair

&

Its $20

I don't know how I feel about the goat hair. Its a little odd. I really like the brush, but would I spend $20 dollars on it? That is the reason why I am torn. If you own a lot of makeup or are a makeup artist, this would be a brush you should invest in. However, I am not too sure if the everyday woman would buy this.

Review - LipSense Classic Color in Crimson Red

The premier product of SeneGence®, LipSense® is an amazing departure from conventional lipsticks, stains and colors. It should only be applied on clean, dry lips. Your perfect pout is waterproof and will not kiss-off, smear-off, rub-off or budge-off! We challenge you to put your pout to the test - kiss away! Create your own recipe for beauty and customize your color palate by combining shades that are rich and solid, sheer and shimmery, vibrant, shiny or frosty. LipSense® liquid lip color comes in a beautiful .25 oz tube.

$22 (for one Lipsense, one GLossy Gloss & One Ooops Remover)

I was super excited to try this product. I remember when I was 16, I begged my Mom to buy me something similar from one of those home shopping channels. It was so bad. It was like pure alcohol. It smelled gross and flaked off pretty quickly.

I thought that since more than ten years passed, they would be able to make a product like this that was dramatically improved. Sadly, I was wrong. I tried this many times. It kept getting dry and would just flake off. The smell is very strong. It worries me that you would need a remover for lipstick, but I never even had to use it!

I think that there are regular drug store products out there better than this. I hope others have had better experiences.

Review- Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss

Drench your lips in luminous color and shine with LIP ENHANCING GLOSS. This ultra-moisturizing gloss keeps lips soft, smooth, and naturally plumped for hours. Now in 3 advanced color formulas for a range of dazzling looks. Enhance your lips like never before. Winner of Allure Magazine's Editor's Choice Award for Best Lip Gloss.


I tried Smashbox's Lip Enhancing Gloss in a deep rosy pink called Candid and love the texture of this gloss! It's so rich and moisturizing without being sticky or messy to apply. The color itself is very sheer and light, but the glossiness and shine sure do make up for the lightness in this lovely gloss. It lasted for just a few hours, nothing too long nor too short, about average in duration. The greatest feature of this line though, is how gorgeous it looks (and feels) on and how well it stays in place...no need to worry about messy lip gloss lips and runny edges! If you want a lip gloss that truly looks pretty on and is super smooth and easy to apply, then this gloss ranks among one of the more solid and dependable choices around!

Review - Eyes Off Makeup Remover

From the makers of Brush Off, Eyes Off is a gentle cleanser to remove your gunky eye makeup. Now, as I mentioned in the Brush Off review, I am very very lazy. This means that I tend to not clean my eye makeup off appropriately, which is bad because - gross. It's just gross. I don't want to be gross. Eyes Off is a liquid cleanser you put on a tissue and clean your eye with. It's...pretty straightforward. It works well, and doesn't sting or irritate at all. I found it to work better with a tissue than a cotton ball, but that's just me. Last night, I happened to be wearing some of that mascara that makes a tube around your lash, and this stuff took it right on off, easy peasy. Recommended for ladies who like the Julianne Moore in A Single Man look.

Sultana says: I usually don't like to use eye makeup remover because they burn my eyes. This remover is very gentle. Its gentle enough that it doesn't burn, but at the same time it does a good job of getting rid of your eye makeup. I wear a lot of mascara and eyeshadow and this got it off in no time.

Review - Sally Hansen Pure Scent-Sation Hair Remover for Face

Breakthrough system with fresh scent technology" eliminates unpleasant hair removal odor. 93% of women tested agreed this was the freshest smelling depilatory they ever used! Quickly dissolves away unwanted facial hair just below the skin s surface, leaving skin smooth and beautifully bare, without unsightly shadow or stubble, for up to 7 days of smoothness. Creamy rich formula leaves skin feeling smooth and moisturized. Perfect for upper lip, chin and hairline. Results in as little as 3 minutes.

Remember the Sally Hansen PODS we reviewed a while back? This guy is like the regular, non-gimmicky version of those. It comes in a cute little pump bottle (there is something adorable about short, squat things) and is super-easy to use. As promised, the cream - excuse me, CREME - is virtually odor-free and works quickly to get rid of that Selleck you've been rocking. I didn't find it to be irritating at all, except for that weird feeling you sometimes get on your skin after using a depilatory - not itchy, not burning, but like your skin is made of clay, kind of? Anyone else get that? Just me? Great.

Anyway, recommended if you're the kind of gal who wants to go fuzz-free on your upper lip.

Review - Skindinävia Makeup Finishing Spray

Skindinävia Makeup Finishing Spray was originally used on movie sets to hold makeup under hot lights and to minimize the need for touch-ups. It still used routinely in Hollywood studios and on Broadway stages.


This great year-round mist keeps makeup from melting in the summer and drying out in winter. The Original Makeup Finishing Spray is powered by a patent-pending technology that works as thermostat on the makeup surface, never letting the makeup get too warm, melt or dry out.

Guys, I do not understand how this product works. It's a spray...that you spray on your face...to keep your makeup on? It's SO counterintuitive. But you know what? It totally works. I specifically chose to use it on a day when I had a show (so, lots of makeup and lots of possible sweating), and it definitely helped my face stay put-together-looking, particularly in the eye area. If you are someone who hates touchups, it is definitely worth looking into. I doubt it will work for everyone, since some people's skin might react differently, but my greasy face didn't even faze it. It is a little pricey as an up-front cost, but if you're not going to use it every day, it will last you a LONGGGGG time. Like!

Review - Revlon Colorstay Brow Enhancer

First of all: I am going to review a product that I PURCHASED for MONEY in a STORE, because I just love it that much. I was inspired by this post (which, you guys, if you are not reading The Hairpin on the regular, please do, because DANG it is good) to seek out a brow pencil/filler-inner-thing because while I have naturally full-ish eyebrows (exhibit A):

I made that hat

...I noticed that I really liked the way they looked in photos from a particular party my roommates and I threw:

It was a Mad Men party because we are super white

I chose these two pictures because HEY ME, CHOOSE ANOTHER FACIAL EXPRESSION. Side note: these brows have been admired by Milwaukeeans for well over ten years, as both my sisters also possess glorious brows:

Emily loves weddings

Laura appears to be in prison

ANYWAY. The point is, we got some brows. So I thought we were exempt from brow pencilling. I WAS WRONG, EVERYONE. You can all benefit from a little brow pencil, no matter how thick and luscious and Peter Gallagher-y your beautiful brows are.

So off I went to Duane Reade, seeking something that would help me out. I found it, purely through luck, and it is called the Revlon Colorstay Brow Enhancer. On one end: some sort of tinted WAX. It comes in a bunch of colors; I got Blackened Brown for my almost-black brows and it's perfect. The other end is a brow bone highlighter in a suitably neutral, shimmery shade.

Guys, this thing is SO GOOD. It is easy to put on (use short strokes if you're filling in like me), it stays a good long while (like, all day, pretty much), and you instantly look more put together. Today I woke up like 20 minutes late, so I just threw on some brow pencil and mascara and dashed out the door, and I felt like I was good to go.

I'm sure many of you ladies are like "DUHHHHH OF COURSE you should use brow pencil IT IS THE BEST," and this post is not for you. I mean, it is, but only in the sense that it is an endorsement of this particular brow enhancer. No, this post is for the ladies who are like "but my brows are super-thick, what could this do for me?" IT COULD DO SOMETHING. Just try it out, you might like it. And if you're going to try out brow filling-in, try it with this product, because I love it.

Review - Sally Hansen - Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy Instant Definition Eye Shadow Palette – Earth

The jet-milled powders in our Instant Definition Eye Shadow Palette deliver instant, even, silky color and delicate dimension. And the coordinated color trio offers the perfect lid, contour, and highlight shades, all in one compact. It is the easiest way to create a stylized, professional look.

First: the above image, ostensibly of the color combination I got, "Earth," looks absolutely nothing like the actual colors. What appears to be baby-poop green is a middling olive, the champagny one up there is more peachy, and the coppery brown is closer to eggplant brown. I don't know what happened. In any event, I liked this eyeshadow palette! I am a big fan of the green/purple combo, so this made it easy for me to have a whole eye look in one case. The contour also worked double duty as a liner when I didn't want to do a whole big thing.

These are definitely a step up from a regular drugstore brand - obviously, you are somewhat paying for Carmindy's inclusion, but I kind of love Carmindy? She is like your cool older cousin who knows a lot about makeup and still kind of treats you like a kid, but will sneak you lipstick behind your mom's back. So I'm okay with that. They're not professional-grade, but they last through a day (or evening), and have good pigmentation. Like!

Melissa says-I really like the trio and use it about once a week. The colors stay on and look good on my skin. I don't use them to contour, focus on the lid, etc... I select one color (I'm not that good with applications) and it works! I also like how it's still natural while keeping the right balance of color. To be honest, I was always skeptical of drug store make up, but I really like this trio.