Saturday, June 30, 2012

Neutrogena Shine Control Makeup - New in Drugstores + Some Swatches!


I spotted a bunch of new products at my local CVS last night. Displays have been popping up in drugstores over the past month, but it's the first time I've seen the display for the new Neutrogena products. There were sample packets for the liquid makeup, so I thought it'd be the perfect swatching opportunity! haha.

I'm going to go over the line briefly - swatches and comparisons will be at the end of the post.

Neutrogena Shine Control Liquid Makeup SPF 20 ($12.99)

Neutrogena Shine Control Makeup helps provide 8 hour shine control in a lightweight, breathable formula. Shine Control Makeup blends perfectly for natural-looking coverage with a soft, matte finish. Broad-spectrum SPF 20 helps protect against sun damage.
  • 8 hour shine control
  • Lightweight, breathable formula
  • Won't over dry skin
  • Broad spectrum SPF 20
Available in eight (8) shades: Classic Ivory, Natural Ivory, Buff, Nude, Soft Beige, Natural Beige, Fresh Beige, Warm Beige.

Neutrogena Shine Control Powder ($11.99)

Neutrogena Shine Control Powder helps skin stay shine-free and fresh-looking all day. The lightweight powder with patent-pending rice protein technology acts like a sponge to absorb excess oil and instantly eliminates shine for a fresh look that lasts for 8 hours. Layers invisibly over makeup with a matte finish.
  • Blends invisibly into skin for a flawless look that’s never overdone
  • Perfect for on-the-go touch ups
  • Won't over dry skin or clog pores

Neutrogena Shine Control Primer ($12.99)

Neutrogena Shine Control Primer helps makeup apply more smoothly and last longer, while optical modifiers help minimize the look of pores. Can be worn alone or under foundation. This lightweight, non-greasy formula with patent-pending rice protein technology acts like a sponge to absorb excess oil so skin stays shine-free and fresh looking all day.
  • 8 hour shine control with or without makeup
  • Extends the wear of makeup
  • Matte finish
  • Won't over dry skin or clog pores

*Prices may vary based on location.

The liquid makeup has same shades as Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup, but Healthy Skin has 12 shades in total, and Neutrogena Shine Control Makeup has 8 shades in total. It's still very new though, so time will tell if additional shades will be added to the line in the near future when the product fully launches.

The sample provided #10 Classic Ivory, #30 Buff and #60 Natural Beige. I actually own Classic Ivory and Natural Beige in Healthy Skin, so I swatched them below to compare.


Swatches from left to right: Neutrogena Shine Control Classic Ivory, Neutrogena Healthy Skin Classic Ivory, Neutrogena Shine Control Buff, Neutrogena Shine Control Natural Beige, Neutrogena Healthy Skin Natural Beige, MAC Studio Fix Fluid NC15, MAC Studio Fix Fluid NC30.

It appears the colors seem to be almost exact matches as Healthy Skin, so whatever color you use in Healthy Skin should work in the Shine Control line. I notice that the Shine Control shades are a touch more yellow.

I did only grab one sample (I don't want to be greedy!) so I can't comment much on the foundation itself, as I really only had enough to swatch the colors.

This foundation is best suited for oily skin. It's silicone based, so for those who do well with silicone based foundations (For example: Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hr Foundation, Physican's Fomula Youthful Wear Foundation, Mousse Foundations, etc.) may like this foundation.

    Friday, June 29, 2012

    NYX Sand Pink Lip Liner Pencil Review!

    NYX Sand Pink Lip Liner Pencil

    NYX Sand Pink Lip Liner

    NYX Sand Pink Lip Liner ($3.49) is cool medium pink with a matte finish.

    NYX Slim Lip Pencils are available in a huge variety of shades (60 to be exact) so you'll be sure to find every color you're looking for. (Incredibly, Makeup By Celly has swatches of 1/3 of the shades!)

    You can use these lip pencils to define the shade of your lips, or you can fill in all of your lips with the color and apply a similar shade of lipstick on top for mega-long lasting lip color. If you find a shade you really like, you can even wear them on their own, with a little bit of lip balm or gloss.

    I've only tried a couple different shades in the past, and I've been really happy with these liners. They are pigmented, smooth and glide on easily without tugging or clumping.



    Thursday, June 28, 2012

    What's in my makeup bag?


    I haven't done a "what's in my bag" in a while, so I thought I'd do a quick run though of all of the junk I currently have in my makeup bag. It's kind of a fun way to show you the products I'm enjoying right now!

    The stuff I use changes all of the time, but the stuff I always keep in my bag are products that are easy to use (don't require much work to get it right) and never seem to fail me. In other words, my "go-to" products.

    I have many go-to products (most are listed on my favorites tab) but I can't cram them all in one little makeup bag. ☺

    For reference, I don't carry all of this with me in my handbag - I've included a list of what I do carry in my handbag at the bottom of the post - which is only a few things!


    Continue reading to see all of the products in my bag...

    Tuesday, June 26, 2012

    Step by Step Smokey Taupe Eyeshadow Tutorial!

    mac eyeshadow tutorial

    Smokey Taupe Eyeshadow Tutorial

    One of my favorite eyeshadows is MAC Satin Taupe. It's a really pretty frosty taupe (gray brown) that looks great with a variety of looks. It looks amazing paired with brown and burgundy - One of my favorite ways of wearing it is by applying a dark brown base to my lids and layering Satin Taupe over top, to intensify and slightly deepen the color, then apply a soft golden brown through the crease, and a reddened brown through the outer-v. The burgundy mixed with the taupe almost gives off a slightly mauve/plum tone that really brings out the green in my eyes. 

    I'll be doing just that in this tutorial, but I'm making the look a bit more dramatic by adding black eyeshadow and liner. 

    To make this look more daytime appropriate: The black shadow, liner and faux lashes are what really intensify this look, so for something a little lighter and more wearable during the day, skip step 7, 9, 10 and 12. You really don't have to line your eyes at all (I wear this look often during the day without liner), but if you'd really like to, you can opt for a dark brown liner for the top lash line.


    Products Used:
    Nars Smudeproof Eyeshadow Base (used in step 1)
    MAC Constructivist Paint Pot (used in step 2 and 3)
    MAC Satin Taupe Eyeshadow (used in step 4)
    MAC Soba Eyeshadow (used in step 5)
    MAC Handwritten Eyeshadow (used in step 6)
    MAC Carbon Eyeshadow (used in step 7)
    MAC Crystal Avalanche and Nylon Eyeshadows (used in step 8)
    MAC Retrospeck Eyeshadow (used in step 8)
    YSL Eyeliner Effect Deep Black Faux Cils Cream Liner (used in step 9)
    Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara (used in step 11)
    KKCenterHK False Lashes #ES A562 (used in step 12)
    Lorac 3-in-1 Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil (used to line my waterline afterward - for reference, I would not recommend this liner)

    *Notable dupes for Satin Taupe: Wet n Wild Nutty Color Icon Single Eyeshadow ($1.99), NYX Iced Mocha Single Eyeshadow ($4.99), Covergirl Tapestry Taupe Eye Enhancers 1 Kit Eyeshadow ($4), E.L.F Moon Dust Custom Eyes Eyeshadow ($1). (Prices will vary based on location)

    Brushes Used:
    Generic Concealer Brush (used in step 2, 3 and 4)
    ELF Studio Contour Brush (used in step 5)
    MAC 219 Pencil Brush (used in step 6, 7 & 8; cleaned & used for the inner corner only. I used my fingertip for the brow bone highlight)
    Coastal Scents Synthetic Fine Liner Brush (used in step 9)
    Coastal Scents Small Detail Brush (used in step 10, to drag the liner upward and smudge)

    Misc:
    MAC Quite Natural Paint Pot was used to fill in my brows