For a Quick Fix, Try Mixing your MAC Pro Longwear Concealer with your Favorite Moisturizer!

Some days when I'm in a rush or just need to run a couple of errands and don't feel like putting on my full-face, I always look to my concealers for a quick fix. Concealing my under eyes is always a must, and then sometimes I dab a little concealer on each area of my face and blend with a large brush. Then pop a little blush or bronzer on my cheeks and I'm out the door.

So, a couple days ago when I was on my way out the door and didn't want to scare the general public, I decided to try out a recommendation from LoveMelisaMichelle (thanks, girl!) in her recent Flawless Face video. She mixed her favorite moisturizer with MAC Pro Longwear Concealer ($18) for a great lightweight light-medium coverage foundation.

I would have never thought of it before because MAC Pro Longwear Concealer isn't really what I'd call full coverage (although it does provide a very good medium), but somehow, it morphs into a (much better) second skin once combined with a moisturizer.

I like to take one pump and mix it with equal parts moisturizer and then apply it to my face with my fingers, working it into the skin as I would a moisturizer. MAC Pro Longwear Concealer sets very quick, and doesn't go too far when you try spreading it alone, so it really needs the combination of the moisturizer to be able to smooth it out all over your face and give you the extra time to blend. I like adding in a drop of illuminator too to make my skin glow.

It feels like I have nothing on my face, yet my skin looks naturally perfected. It's the perfect "no-foundation" foundation. Depending on your moisturizer, it may make your skin shine after several hours, so make sure to set with a little powder.

I absolutely love this combo, and highly recommend trying it if you own MAC Pro Longwear Concealer. After all, if you already own it, you have nothing to lose. I've tried this with other concealers, but I like this combo the best.

Hope your Monday is a little brighter than mine! What's up with this rain?!

Last Chance for 40% Off at Drugstore.com!

40% Off All Makeup @ Drugstore.com

The 40% Off sale on all makeup at Drugstore.com is wrapping up, so if you have any drugstore staples or favorites, now is the time to buy! I'm heading over there right now to take a look. Also, shipping is free on orders over $25! Sale ends tonight! Use code: MAKEUP40.

*Apparently, the 40% doesn't work on everything in the makeup department as advertised. I was going to pick up a few Real Techiques Brushes, but the code didn't work. I thought maybe it only works on actual makeup, but it did work for instance on makeup remover wipes. I wasn't able to locate the fine print on the website.

Also, if you need to grab any goodies from Tarte Cosmetics, make sure to place your orders before Oct. 21 @ 11:59 ET for 20% with code: TREAT.

Unfortunately, I just noticed that there are exclusions, one of which is the Fantastic Foursome set pictured above. *sigh* See the website for the fine print. (In the top left hand corner of the page where it mentions the sale, click "*click for details")

Chanel Pink Explosion Joues Contraste Blush Review, Photos and Swatches!

Chanel Pink Explosion Joues Contraste Blush

Chanel Pink Explosion Joues Contraste Blush ($43) is a medium-toned cool pink with fine shimmer. It's not overly cool, so thankfully it works really well on my warm skin. It provides that dolly pink cheek that pairs well with neutral and cool eyeshadows (purples, taupe, etc).

Mine is the Euro (original 2010) version, which is a baked powder as opposed to the version you'd get from the Chanel counters in the US, which is the standard pressed-powder version. There are slight differences - in general, the baked version isn't as pigmented with one swipe and isn't as soft. I prefer the US version. (You can view a comparison on Cafe Makeup.)

If you know me by now, I find any form of pink color cosmetics hard to resist and I love, love, love Joues Contraste Blushes. Pink Explosion has been on my wishlist for a while now, so when I spotted it in a blog sale, I jumped on it! (Hi Risa!) Anyways, who wouldn't love a product named Pink Explosion?

The pigmentation is good - it's light, but buildable and what you'd want from a blush that's so pink. I'm actually less inclined to use some of my really pigmented blushes (Nars for instance) because I tend to use too heavy of a hand. With my Joues Contraste Blushes, I never go overboard - but if I do, the color blends so well into my skin that it never looks unnatural.

Swatched heavily on the left and lightly on the right.

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer Review & Photos!

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer 

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer ($45) was created to mimic the appearance of healthy, radiant skin. It's a cream foundation and concealer wrapped up in one product. Containing honey and jojoba oil, this foundation is creamy, moisturizing and creates a soft, natural dewy finish.

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer is available in (16) shades: SX01, SX02, SX03, SX04, SX05, SX06, SX07, SX08, SX09, SX10, SX11, SX12, SX13, SX14, SX15 and SX16.

I chose SX08, which is a warm medium shade with strong yellow undertones. It's suitable for the MAC NC35 coloring.

The texture of this cream is a bit different than other cream products I've used. It compares to the creaminess/goopiness of Benefit Erase Paste, but it's more dense and not as tacky. For instance, it's absolutely nothing like MAC Studio Finish Concealer (MAC Full Coverage Foundation) or Cinema Secrets/Graftobian/Ben Nye Foundations which are like the standard cream compact makeup - often dry and dense or with a similar consistency to a concealer stick. It's so much more creamy - luxuriously creamy, but it's also very thick/dense. Because of this, you need a tiny amount (about 1/4 the size of a pea or less) to provide full coverage to the entire face.

Since the formula is so concentrated, it doesn't move around well on dry skin. Whenever wearing this foundation, moisturizing and/or priming the face is an essential step. I usually use a silicone based primer for it to spread better, or apply a generous amount of moisturizer. Then, I like taking a concealer brush and wiping a line of product on each cheek, my chin and forehead. Then, I take a duo-fiber brush and with small circular motions blend it in completely. After it's blended, I like taking a facial mist and spritzing my face and using the duo-fiber brush again buff my face more to make sure everything is perfectly blended.

The result is completely flawless skin that actually looks like skin.

(Wearing Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer SX08)