Hashtag... No Filter!

      "No filter, just camo." That's the catch-phrase of the new E.l.f. Camo CC Cream. I received a full size tube to test out from Influenster, and y'all already know I ripped open that box and got right to testing it! A little background information you might care about... the Camo CC Cream is formulated with collagen, peptides, and niacinaminde. Collagen is a protein found in the body naturally that helps with suppleness (among other benefits); peptides are small chains of amino acids... which are also naturally occurring in the body and benefit many aspects of it, especially when it comes to the skin; and niacinamide, which is a form of vitamin B, is exceptional for acne.

     Moving on, this product also contains broad-spectrum SPF 30, and just incase you didn't know... you need sunscreen (even when it's cloudy). There are currently 20 shades in the range and it is full coverage with a natural finish. Lets move on into the photos and incite, shall we?

     Packaging? A+. It is user-friendly, sleek, and I love the pump... it makes it so much more sanitary! As for the color, I selected and received shade Fair 120N (with neutral [N] beige undertones). I think this is a great color for me. It appears quite yellow in the camera swatch; however, it is a true neutral because I see both yellow and pink undertones depending on where I am standing in natural light. It blends out like a dream and feels velvety soft without any tackiness. It definitely has a natural finish. It does not appear matte or dewy, but it isn't a satin either. I'm actually very impressed with this. You can check out the Camo CC Cream on Elf Cosmetics website, where they provide swatch photos and I must say... it is very inclusive toward deeper skin tones... so hats off to you, E.l.f.! You can, of course, also find E.l.f. Cosmetics at Ulta and your local drug store!

     Have you tried this product yet? If so, what was your opinion of it? Pros/cons? Let me know in the comments!

Beauty Battle: The Maybelline Show Down

      Dewy + Smooth or Matte + Poreless? That is what we are here to chat about! Let me start by saying I have owned the Maybelline Matte + Poreless foundation for quite awhile now and it is a seriously good foundation. I have my random skin troubles that affect how my foundation wears, but that never stops me from grabbing this one because it is just... it is just so damn good, ya'll! The Matte + Poreless is geared for normal to oily skin, and as someone who has combination/acne-prone skin, I can say this foundation is not too matte and it does not break me out! All good news. So! Lets get into this show down, shall we?

Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless:
- For normal or oily skin
- 40 shades
- Lightweight
- Pore minimizing
- Mattifies and refines pores
- Features micro-powders to control shine and blur pores
- Leaves a natural, seamless finish
- Dermatologist tested, allergy tested, non-comedogenic

Maybelline Fit Me Dewy + Smooth:
- For normal to dry skin
- 16 shades
- Hydrates and smoothes skin texture
- Maybelline's smoothing concentrate hydrates rough patches
- Protects with SPF 18
- Luminous finish
- Dermatologist tested, allergy tested, non-comedogenic, fragrance-free

     I have both the Matte + Poreless and the Dewy + Smooth in the shade 110 Porcelain. Unfortunately, the same shade in the two different foundations are not a match. The Matte + Poreless is a fair shade with a neutral-yellow undertone. I have pink undertones but this particular shade still works for me! As for the Dewy + Smooth, the shade 110 Porcelain is darker and has an orange undertone to it on my skin. So, one bummer is that the shades between the two foundations are not alike... so if you are looking to grab the opposite foundation, you will need to go to a store to find your color match!

     That is just one negative, but focusing on the positives... they are both lightweight and comfortable! Lately, I have been more into BB Creams and luminous foundations simply because I always set my entire face with a powder and I think it looks more flattering when done over a dewy foundation. Personally, I feel Maybelline is one of thee best drug store brands... so if I can find my right shade in the Dewy + Smooth... I think we have my winner regardless of my combination/acne-prone skin type!

[Top: Dewy, Bottom: Matte ...first applied]

[Left: Dewy, Right: Matte ...dried down]

     If you want to see me try these both on and talk about them some more, head on over to my YouTube channel (linked in the header)!



Disclaimer: I did purchase the Maybelline Matte + Poreless Foundation, but I received the Dewy + Smooth complimentary from Influenster! Neither Influenster or Maybelline are monetarily compensating me for a review of the foundations or a blog post!

Free of Foundation

     You heard it right. I am breaking free of foundation-- well, for most days! Over the past few months I started to notice that any and all foundations I was using were separating on my forehead and nose (some more than others), and I was getting really sick of it! In a previous blog post I mentioned the Dr.Jart+ Black Label BB Cream which I still love, but the color range is one shade (light to medium skin)... and that shade just so happens to be more of a "summer shade" for me. So I went to Sephora in need of a tinted moisturizer or BB Cream to fit my "winter shade" of extremely pale.

     Sephora has a lot of options but I went for the Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer. There is also one that is not labeled "oil-free," but I selected the oil-free one because I have combination oily skin that is acne prone. I pre-moisturize and prime before using this product and basically consider it my foundation! The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 - Oil Free has a natural finish. It is 1.7oz and retails for $44.00 (but ya'll already know I got it with a coupon because I'm not paying no $44.00)!

ABOVE COLORS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:

1C1 Cameo / 1W1 Porcelain / 2C1 Blush / 2W1 Bisque / 2W2 Nude / 2W3 Natural / 3C1 Fawn 

 ABOVE COLORS FROM RIGHT TO LEFT:

3W1 Ochre / 3W2 Sand / 4C1 Almond / 4W1 Tawny / 5C1 Caramel / 5W1 Tan / 6C1 Walnut / 6W1 Mocha

     Basically, the product itself is amazing, but the color descriptions/names are way off. To get the correct shade I would highly suggest you go into Sephora or another retailer to test out the shade options to find your perfect match!

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored & all opinions are my own!
(This post was originally published on my previous blog forum, which I have since gotten rid of. You will now only find my blog posts here on BlogSpot/Blogger)!

Free of Foundation: Black Label Beauty Balm

     So, I have a love-hate relationship with foundations, and lately it has been more of a hate. My skin is going through some changes and I have noticed my t-zone becoming a bit more oily than usual. As a result, my foundation has been breaking up all around my nose, on my nose, and across my chin! I decided it was probably time to go to Sephora and look for a new foundation, and to keep this story nice and short... I ended up leaving with a BB Beauty Balm!

     I purchased the Dr.Jart+ Black Label Detox BB Beauty Balm, which is a multi-action skincare and make up! The product description reads: Sunscreen, Anti-Irritant, Detoxifying, and Natural Coverage. It contains: Sunscreen (protects); Green Tea, Aloe Vera (soothing); Arbutin (brightens dark marks + hyperpigmentation); Caviar (purifying, regenerating); and Portulaca Oleracea Extract (soothes). The bottle does have a pump which I like because it is more sanitary, and it is said to be good for normal, combination, and sensitive skin!  You can purchase it at Sephora for $36, but it only comes in one color which is light to medium skin. It has a natural finish and contains 1.5 fl. oz. of product!

     On Sephora's website they state the product is "A beauty balm that supports antiaging while hiding uneven skin tone and blemishes." They also say it is good for "redness, dullness/uneven texture, acne/blemishes, uneven skin tone, and dark spots." On the packaging, Dr.Jart+ provides a brief description of the product which reads, "Perfect and protect skin instantly with this all-in-one multifunctional Beauty Balm. Detox BB naturally covers blemishes and uneven skin tone. Triple-action formula contains botanical actives to purify and calm blemish-prone or irritated skin. Arbutin helps dark marks fade, while Caviar Extract and antioxidants protect skin from inner and outer pollutants, for an enhanced radiance. Lightweight with sunscreen protection for simple, one-step skincare + neutralizing coverage. Suitable for men and women."

     I am writing this post to let you know I am in love. I plan to use this as my go-to everyday foundation because it just looks so good on the skin. I do set it with a powder, but I cannot say enough good things about it. I am sure you will see it in a future video, but I needed to get on my blog and rave immediately! The one downside (besides only coming in one shade) is that it does have flash-back due to the sunscreen I presume; therefore, if you plan on having flash photography done, I would stick to a regular foundation (a personal favorite of mine is an equal part mixture of the L'Oreal Pro-Matte and Pro-Glow... trust me, it's glorious).


Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored & all opinions are my own!
(This post was originally published on my previous blog forum, which I have since gotten rid of. You will now only find my blog posts here on BlogSpot/Blogger)!