Showing posts with label foundation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label foundation. Show all posts

Thursday, November 7, 2013

NYX Stay Matte But Not Flat Powder Foundation Review, Swatch, & Photos

After purchasing the NYX Stay Matte But Not Flat Powder Foundation and Liquid Foundation in an Ulta Haul in June, I decided to do a... somewhat tiny review on the powder foundation! I've only used the liquid foundation once, and realized the shade is a little too light for me in the summer, therefore I'll test it out and review it in the winter! However, I have used the powder foundation almost every day, and have just recently finished it!


 



The above pictures are of the box that the powder comes in. As you can see, there are quite a few different things that appear on the box. One of the first things on the box is a list of what the product claims to have or to do. The two things that popped out when I read it was "sweat resistant" and "water resistant." Hopefully you're thinking the same thing as me... A powder foundation that withstands water and sweat? Yeah, sure.

The ingredients are listed on the back of the box, while the directions and shade/color is printed on the sides of the box. This definitely comes in handy when searching through boxes to find the right color. The shade is printed on the top of the box, which means you can stack the boxes in a drawer and easily pull on out to use the powder. I think this would be a great idea if you were using this in a makeup kit - even though the boxes might make it a bit more bulky!


As for the actual packaging, I'm a little disappointed. It's very plastic-y and lightweight. It feels very cheap, but is also extremely bulky. It does include a sponge in the bottom, but I still feel like NYX could make the packaging more manageable. Also, there is only 7.5 grams of powder in this container (for $9.99), which can go very quickly. But, this is still more cost-effective than some powder foundations, such as MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation which is $27 for 15 grams. You're still saving money with the NYX powder, but is it worth it?

I have now used this foundation for a couple months and I want to say that no, I do think it is worth saving the money over buying something such as MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation. I've used this several ways - to set a liquid foundation, to blot, and as a powder foundation. The only ways I would use this to set a liquid foundation or to blot. It definitely mattifies the skin and takes away any oil or sheen that may be on the skin. This is definitely nice for the summer months! However, using this powder as a powder foundation resulted in an extremely cake-y face. EXTREME. I cannot even explain to you how powdery this is. I have never had a problem with MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation. I find that to be extremely silky and it glides on to the skin almost like a cream. This NYX powder is just that, POWDER. It flies everywhere when you put you're brush into it! If you have dry skin, don't even dare! My oily skin couldn't even handle this powdery mess! It literally sits on top of the face without looking like skin. It just looks cakey!



As you can see in the swatch photos, the powder seems seems very dry and kind of patchy. That's exactly how it applies on the face. The coverage is okay, but not good enough that it covers without the powdery mess. Like mentioned before, MAC Studio Fix Powder goes on to the skin and looks like skin, not like you're wearing makeup. It's a silky finish, but still leaves you matte. It's the ultimate powder foundation for somebody that wants to apply some powder and is out the door!

I hope this helps you out, and maybe steers you clear of buying the NYX Powder Foundation. There are much better options, and I wouldn't waste $10 on a powder that doesn't leave your skin looking beautiful.

If you have any other questions, that I didn't answer, please leave them down below! :)

Monday, March 11, 2013

Revlon Nearly Naked Makeup Review, Swatch, & Photos

Rating: 8/10

Sold: Drugstores

Price: $9.99

Description: “Makeup so refreshingly light, it melts right in, creating a fresh even look. Blends seamlessly, buildable coverage.”

Review:

Pros

  • Available in 16 true to tone shades
  • Feels very light on the skin
  • Blends very easily – Personally, I use the beauty blender!
  • Leaves the skin with a natural finish – not too matte, not too dewy
  • If you have dry skin, I don’t think you would have to set it with a powder!
  • Lasts about eight hours, after setting with a powder, before it starts to seperate

Cons

  • No pump!
  • Not sure if it was just this shade, but it has a very warm undertone!
  • Very similar to L’Oreal True Match Makeup, but doesn’t last quite as long!

Revlon Nearly Naked Makeup

Monday, March 4, 2013

Revlon PhotoReady BB Cream Review, Swatch, & Photos

Rating: 4/10

Sold: Drugstores

Price: $10.99

Description: “A lightweight, multi-benefit Beauty Balm that combines skincare, makeup, and sunscreen into one step”

Review:

Pros

  • Thicker consistency so it will cover areas of discoloration
  • Very creamy
  • Love the packaging!
  • Would be great for those with dry to normal skin types
  • Has SPF 30 – great for using when you’re headed outdoors

Cons

  • I haven’t heard anybody else mention this, but this completely oxidizes once it hits my skin.. complete orange! Not to mention, this is the lightest shade, and it looks fine when it first comes out!
  • Also, I’m not sure I would recommend for oily skin. It is rather thick, and I feel like it could definitely leave the skin feeling oilier than normal!

Revlon PhotoReady BB Cream

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Revlon Colorstay Whipped Crème Makeup Review, Swatch, & Photos

Rating: 8/10

Sold: Drugstores

Price: $13.99

Description: “All day flexible wear without flaking, caking, or feeling heavy”

Review:

Pros

  • Creates a flawless, matte finish
  • Coverage is medium to full
  • Skin looks luminous after putting it on
  • Very easy to blend

Cons

  • Can accentuate the dry areas on the face – so I would recommend using a heavy moisturizer before-hand and using a damp sponge to apply it

Revlon Colorstay Whipped Crème Makeup

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Makeup Review, Swatch, & Photos

Rating: 10/10

Sold: Drugstores

Price: $10.99

Description: A lightweight makeup, that has buildable medium coverage

Review:

Pros

  • Love the formulation!
  • Goes on very smoothly and evens out any discoloration
  • Great for all skin types!
  • Has a satin finish – doesn’t look shiny or matte
  • Makes the skin look very healthy
  • Would work great with or without a powder

Cons

  • Shade range is a bit off – but it blends in very nicely

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Makeup

Saturday, January 14, 2012

L’Oreal True Match Foundation in Alabaster Review, Swatch, & Photos

Rating: 9/10

Sold: Drugstores

Price: $10.99

Description: A foundation with many different shades to fit every skintone

Review:

Pros

  • Blends into the skin so easily
  • So many shades to choose from – from cool/warm/neutral
  • Bottles are great for travel if you want to use for freelancing
  • Soaks into the skin and doesn’t look like makeup
  • Medium coverage
  • Handles oily skin fairly well, and doesn’t accentuate dry skin

Cons

  • No pump!

L'Oreal True Match Foundation

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Almay Pure Blends Makeup Review, Swatch, & Photos

Rating: 4/10

Sold: Drugstores

Price: $7.99 **clearance**

Description: “Covers flawlessly for up to ten hours. Blend of antioxidants with lotus, orchid, and acai".”

Review:

Pros

  • Great for those with dry skin
  • Very lightweight coverage
  • Shades blend in easily into the skin
  • SPF 20
  • Very moisturizing
  • Water based

Cons

  • Barely any coverage
  • Can make normal to oily skin look very oily

Almay Pure Blends

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation Review & Photos

Rating: 10/10

Sold: MAC Cosmetics

Price: $26.50

Description: “Gives skin a smooth, flawless, all-matte, full-coverage finish”

Review:

Pros

  • Such great coverage!
  • Works great alone or even better over foundation/tinted moisturizer
  • Controls oil
  • Goes on completely matte
  • Does not look powdery
  • Comes in all shades to match every skintone
  • Does not break me out or anything
  • Great amount of product for the price (most powders only come with .35 oz, but this has .52 oz)
  • It has a mirror and sponge applicator

Cons

  • None!

MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Rimmel Clean Finish Foundation Review & Photos

Rating: 7/10

Sold: Drugstores

Price: $5.00 – $7.00

Description: “Includes Vitamin A & E, look 100% poreless”

Review:

Pros
  • Sets to a powdery finish
  • Very matte
  • Great for oily skin
  • Cheap!
  • High coverage
  • Makes face look flawless

Cons

  • Only lasts for a few hours – then it starts to look like its separating (on oily skin)
  • Oxidizes so much! In only a few minutes, it turns a ton darker a little orangey
  • Not a good shade range – especially for lighter skin tones (the lightest is too dark for me)

Rimmel Clean Finish Foundation

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Maybelline Pure Stay Powder Foundation Review & Photos

Rating: 9/10

Sold: Drugstores

Price: $5.00 to $7.00

Description: “Long-wearing powder foundation leaves skin looking pure and fresh.”

Review:

Pros

  • Works just as well as my MAC Studio Fix Powder
  • Gives great coverage for a powder
  • Does not feel heavy
  • Takes away any shine
  • Leaves face feeling fresh
  • A pretty good shade range
  • SPF 15
  • Cheap and easy to find

Cons

  • Doesn’t leave face matte as long as I would like, but it lasts just as long as any other powder I own

Maybelline Pure Stay Powder Foundation

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Maybelline SuperStay 24 HR Makeup Review & Photos

Rating: 8/10

Sold: Drugstores

Price: $7.00 to $10.00

Description: “Stays comfortable and looks naturally flawless all day; withstands heat, sweat, and humidity”

Review:

Pros

  • Oil-free
  • Fragrance-free
  • Great for oily skin, but would also work just fine with dry to normal skin
  • Does not look cakey
  • Very easy to blend
  • Not too thick, but not too runny
  • It doesn’t oxidize on my skin
  • Doesn’t break me out
  • Stays on for a very long time without needing touch-ups

Cons

  • Shades run a little dark – so even the lightest shade (porcelain ivory) is too dark for me

Maybelline SuperStay 24 HR Makeup

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Covergirl Simply Powder Foundation Review & Photos

Rating: 7/10

Sold: Drugstores

Price: $5.00 to $7.00

Description: Covers like a liquid, but goes on like a powder.

Review:

Pros
  • good coverage - especially for a powder
  • matte finish
  • standard amount of powder
  • good for t-zone areas
  • also nice for days when you just want to put some powder on - no foundation needed

Cons
  • shade range isn't too great - lightest shade is still a little dark

Covergirl Simply Powder Foundation

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Revlon ColorStay Active Review & Photos

Rating: 6/10

Sold: Drugstores

Price: $11.00 to $13.00

Description: Provides smooth, natural, light coverage that lasts up to 16 hours

Review:
Pros
  • good coverage
  • doesn't make face an oil-slick
  • SPF 25

Cons
  • shades seem very orange toned
  • the lightest shade is not very light
  • feels very thick and sticky
  • harder to blend than most foundations
  • would not consider it to be "light makeup"
  • Revon ColorStay Active

    Monday, March 7, 2011

    Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse Review & Photos

    Rating: 8/10

    Sold: Drugstores

    Price: $8.00

    Description: Baby-smooth perfection; 14 hour hydration; ideal for dry to normal skin

    Review:

    Pros
    • hydrates the skin
    • light to medium coverage
    • good amount of product
    • does not accentuate dry areas
    • compact packaging
    • doesn't take much product
    • effortless blending

    Cons
    • can make those with oily skin feel a little more oily (I don't actually mind this)
    • horrible color range - no light shades, the lightest is still too dark for me

    Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse

    Sunday, March 6, 2011

    Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Review & Photos

    Rating: 3/10

    Sold: Drugstores

    Price: $8.00 to $9.00

    Description: Velvet, matte perfection; air-soft feel; good for normal to oily skin

    Review
    :

    Pros
    • good amount of product
    • packaging is pretty good

    Cons
    • makes face look cakey
    • accentuates dry areas
    • does not cover extremely well
    • face is oily within a couple of hours
    • mousse does not last long on face at all

    Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse

    Friday, March 4, 2011

    Covergirl Oil Control Clean Liquid Makeup Review & Photos

    Rating: 7/10

    Sold: Drugstores

    Price: $5.00 to $7.00

    Description: Controls oil, while preventing dryness

    Review:

    Pros
    • light to medium, buildable coverage
    • non-sticky after applying
    • dries to smooth finish
    • good shade range
    • cheap and easy to find

    Cons
    • accenuates dry areas
    • can be more difficult to blend

    Covergirl Oil Control Clean Makeup

    Wednesday, March 2, 2011

    Revlon PhotoReady Makeup Review, Swatch, & Photos

    Rating: 4/10

    Sold: Drugstores

    Price: $10 - $15

    Description: For poreless, airbrushed skin in any light

    Review:

    Pros
    • good coverage
    • pretty good color range

    Cons
    • does not blend easily
    • shimmer in the foundation - makes face look very shimmery (this may just be the color I have - Ivory)
    • extenuates dry areas
    • oily within about 4 hours

    Revlon PhotoReady Makeup