The Covert Affair

I am a die hard Naked 1 & 2 palette fan. I don’t have 3, or else I would probably rave about that, too. I love them and encourage everyone I know to purchase them.

I say all of this because I think I am feeling a little guilty about my recent betrayal. I haven’t purchased an eye shadow (aside from when I bought #2 last year) in several years. I just haven’t felt the need…

So,  I was in Bare Escentuals getting a routine color match on my foundation, and the next thing I know the sales associate is doing my eyes, lips and a full face of makeup. I wasn’t really complaining of course, but she thought it would be a fun idea to try purple eye shadow. I told her to go for it because I had plans to work out and I knew it wouldn’t matter if I looked like a toddler who got into the makeup drawer afterwards.

I’m sure you can guess what happened… I’ll save you the long drawn out story… I really liked the purple. It is a Bare Escentuals palate called “The Covert Affair” featuring Air (a satin taupe) and Catch Me If… (a rich mauve shade). 

 

Since I felt bad about not purchasing the foundation ( I already had the one she matched me with at home) I felt some sort of obligation to make a purchase after all of her hard work. After leaving I was very annoyed with myself for spending $20 on two little colors that I probably would never wear. In an effort to make myself feel better, I decided I WOULD wear it. All the time. And I just have to say...this stuff is pretty awesome! I usually wear it to work, and so I don’t bother with a primer, and I am FULLY impressed with its stay power! At the end of a work day, I rarely have any creasing and its still looking nice and shimmery. I would say that’s quite a feat when its 100 degrees with 90% humidity in Nebraska these days.

So… bottom line, big fan! If you are looking for some fun new colors, venture out and have them sample a few shades until you find one you like. They are pretty good at picking a flattering shade particular to you!  And what better way to wrap up a Monday after a holiday weekend than a new eye shadow? That’s what I thought….

Secret Camouflage by LM

I feel the same way about concealers and foundation that I do about mascara...even though I have my absolute favorite go-to, I still always think there could maybe, just MAYBE, be something better out there. 

Well, I read a lot of positive reviews about Laura Mercier products. Many of my favorite beauty bloggers have noted it to be "their absolute favorite." If you read this blog, you know that I live and die by anything Bare Escentuals. Their products are equivalent to a first born child for me... they do no wrong in my mind. So...I always feel a little bit unfaithful when I try a different foundation/concealer. But I had to know. 

I picked the Laura Mercier-make up counter-helper-lady's mind for about 20 minutes before I decided what would be a worthy purchase. According to her, their most popular product is their "Secret Camouflage." This very helpful woman informed me that LM's motto is that your skin should "appear absolutely flawless" (hmmm..this seems unachievable) ...but ..sign me up! Anyways, she showed me the product, which looks like the below image. 

She color matched me (I ended up being a #2), and explained that you actually mix the colors (on your hand) before applying it to your skin, with a brush. The combination of the yellow tint with the pinkish tint is apparently the "secret" part of the camouflage.

As previously mentioned, I love, love, LOVE Bare Escentuals. The majority of their products are a very fine, loose, mineral powder. For that reason, I am always hesitant to try any cream based concealers or foundations. I will hand it to LM on this product.. .I have never experimented with a cream based concealer that is so lightweight, non greasy, and matte. Almost the second this product touches your skin, it is dry, and almost takes on a powdery consistency. Consider me impressed!

But, here's the disappointing (I guess?) news. I still love my Bare Escentuals the most. I can't help it. Also, this could be because of the winter conditions and the devastation that is ensuing on my skin (read: MESS), but this stuff is not working with my dry skin. The product itself is VERY drying, and so lately, when I have tried it, it doesn't really absorb well and kind of looks weird and flaky against my skin. 

In conclusion, if you are looking for a serious concealer, I would definitely consider this purchase. It will run you approximately $32, which seems a little steep, but makeup-counter-lady said her concealer lasted over a year. That's $32 dollars worth, right?! 

For the time being, it is just not a good fit for me. However, I think me and LM SC (Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, obviously) will be reuniting in approximately 4 months... when summer rolls in. 

What are your favorite concealers? Foundations? Does anyone have any MUST have LM products? Let me know...and happy Tuesday!

Love, 

Things I Should Have Mentioned Before Now...

It is a serious offense to the makeup world that I haven't talked about my love for the Bare Escentuals mineral makeup line. Serious. 

In 2008 I was visiting my aunt in Phoenix. We were doing some light shopping in Scottsdale and I wandered into Sephora. At the time, Lincoln didn't even have a Sephora (I know! Can you imagine?) Anyways, I had heard of the Bare Minerals line but I never actually used it. I purchased the starter kit box. Long story short, I have never looked back (in terms of makeup choices, of course). 

Bare Minerals is HANDS DOWN the best foundation/concealer/face makeup I have ever come across. I literally haven't changed from this product in 5 years. I have tried other foundations, even liquid foundations, and I am simply unimpressed. Bare Minerals has the amazing ability to conceal and protect your skin. It is smooth and natural looking and I "feel" like I do not have makeup on. I could go on and on and on...but the point is... it is my absolute favorite. 

While visiting Emily in Iowa City, we decided we should get our skin matched at Bare Minerals in case we were wearing the wrong shade. Emily (already a Bare Minerals user, obviously!) had previously mentioned that she had switched to the compact foundation and had purchased this amazing new precision brush to accompany it. I was a tad bit hesitant about the compact foundation. My mind reverted to the Cover Girl compact that I carried in my purse in high school, and visions of orangey powder rubbing off on all of my clothes began to surface. Gross. 

Anyways, while we were in Bare Minerals, I had them rematch my colors with the compact version of Bare Minerals.....

And they used this brush to apply it...

And... big surprise.. I loved it. This brush is AMAZING. It is so soft and it works fabulously with the compact. The compact formula is almost exactly like the regular loose foundations, except it supposedly lasts longer. I am not sure how much longer it lasts (it claims 12 hours) but I can vouch for the fact that when I have this makeup on and my face gets wet, or I am sweaty from the gym, it does NOT come off. So good, almost to a fault (but that's why I have my handy Clarisonic). 

Anyways, my ramblings have gone on long enough. I was LONG overdue for a new brush (read: I still had some of my originals and the last one I purchased was almost 3 years ago. Ew. ) If you already use Bare Minerals, definitely try the compact with the precision brush. You will not regret it. 

Lastly, if you haven't tried Bare Minerals, PLEASE. I'm telling you... it will change your makeup life. Your makeup routine will be cut in half...this is the easiest application routine you will come across. You cannot mess it up, and I'm telling you, it will make your skin look 99% better. Seriously, run into Sephora and buy the starter kit. It comes with all of the application brushes you will need and a few shades of foundation and concealer. And the lovely Sephora employees are always very willing to match your shade for you so you don't have to guess. I'm telling you... 

Ok, I'm done.