The Makeup Fairy Returns!

[beez1717]

I have been wondering, but what do you personally think is the right amount of makeup for a guy to wear? Do you think that he ever needs it?

[satindesire]

Originally Posted by beez1717

I have been wondering, but what do you personally think is the right amount of makeup for a guy to wear? Do you think that he ever needs it?

Just like for women, it depends largely on what you're trying to achieve and where you're going. For daytime work appropriate looks where you just need to cover imperfections and look professional and well groomed, a tinted moisturizer, concealer, bronzer, chap stick and brow gel should be sufficient. If you're talking about a party rocker-glam look, there are no "rules" so wear whatever you like!

[bailadora]

Originally Posted by satindesire

HOT PRODUCT UPDATE FAIRY FANS!

I urge you to please run out to your local drugstore or beauty supply boutique and pick up Ever Straight's Brazilian Keratin Therapy Shimmering Keratin Oil!

Product wise, how would you compare it to CHI's Silk Infusion? Price wise, it looks like this new product has CHI beat.

[satindesire]

Originally Posted by bailadora

Product wise, how would you compare it to CHI's Silk Infusion? Price wise, it looks like this new product has CHI beat.

I would say that the two products do very different things. Chi is more of a heat protectant/hair strengthener/silkener, and the Keratin Oil is more of a shine enhancer/frizz reducer.

If you can afford to use BOTH items, do so. If you had to pick just ONE, get the Chi Silk Infusion, because it's easily the best hair product I have EVER used.

[satindesire]

Hey again Fairy Fans, I've come to bring you a Product Review! Today I'm going to be tackling Flower Beauty by Drew Barrymore.

http://flowerbeauty.com/

Now I have not tried the entire line of products but I have been fortunate enough to have some extra pocket money, and picked up a few interesting things from her line. I've been wearing them for the last few days and I think I'm ready to share with you my thoughts about the line, and if it's right for YOU!

Drew claims that the line is "Department Store makeup at Drugstore Prices". Some people might say that's preposterous, but for us money-saving mavens out there, we say it's a dream come true! It's difficult to wade through the mindblowingly massive mountain of choices for drugstore makeup and find the rare hidden gems that give you quality without breaking the bank, and that's why blogs like this are so handy, because I can do some of the wading for you!

First off, the packaging to all the items looks young and kind of freshly pretty, perfect for the target audience of twenty-to-thirty somethings who are looking for relate-able but trendy packaging. It doesn't look or feel cheaply made. That's good because if you're anything like me, items with flimsier packaging gets less use because it stays in the train case instead of coming with me in my bag on-the-go. If you take it with you, you're more likely to use it more often, and that means you buy more makeup, so everyone wins!!


First Item up for Review is the "SkinCognito Stick Foundation":



Product Claims: "Glides on smoothly and blends easily for an instant, uniform finish. Translucent, “second skin” coverage allows skin’'s natural tone to show through."

The foundation stick cost about 9 dollars. Packaging is sturdy, and the lid fits very snugly without being so tight that it's difficult to get off, which is great if you're taking this product with you in your purse or bag and the twist-up function works smoothly. The foundation is odorless and you get a whopping 9 grams of product!

On my first trial I wore it without primer and applied it with my fingers. It's a very thick, almost dry cream which made it difficult to blend even when warmed on the back of my hand. Honestly I have to say that I'm a little disappointed about it's staying power and texture, most stick foundations are full to very-full coverage with a creamy texture that covers more severe skin conditions like deep acne scar pitting and large pores, but this stuff sinks weirdly into pores and really settles into the fine lines under my eyes and made me look older than I was. After just an hour the product's texture was visibly breaking down around my nose (which tends to be on the slightly oily side). On the second attempt I wore it with my ELF's Mineral Infused Primer and applied it using a damp sponge and found it did nothing to help it "wear" better. The third attempt at wearing it I used it with the Flower Beauty "In Your Prime Perfecting Primer" from it's own line and applied it with a stippling brush and saw that it still settled into my fine lines and pores in a very unflattering way.

Overall Score: D- Did not have stick-foundation-like coverage, settles into lines and pores, cosmetic integrity breaks down easily on even slightly oily skin. I would NOT recommend this product to anyone and would NOT purchase it again.


The next item up for shout-out is the "In Your Prime Perfecting Primer":



Product Claims: "A targeted primer that instantly resurfaces skin for a smoother and more even appearance. Apply to fine lines, large pores or rough spots for an immediate smoothing effect."

The Primer cost about 13 dollars. Again, the packaging is sturdy and the twist-cap feels snug enough to be trusted in a purse or bag. You get a whopping 28 grams of this product in one tube, enough to last months! The texture of the primer is thin and silky, almost a gel-lotion and spreads easily. It dries REALLY quickly, though, so work in small sections when applying. Sinks into skin completely and absorbs very readily leaving no greasy afterfeel. Smells exactly like Sunflowers perfume, which may or may not be great depending on how you feel about that scent!

The first application I was impressed by the texture of the primer and enjoyed how easily my skin drank it up. Once I let it sit on my skin for a few minutes, I noticed a "tight" sensation which may be the product's "tightening" formulation but found that it made my skin feel slightly dehydrated. Combination/Normal-to-Dry girls should NOT wear this primer, oily skinned divas will love it! On every subsequent application it did help hold the integrity of my various cosmetics and retained longer cohesion than without a primer but it did not out-perform ELF's Mineral Infused Primer on cost, texture or useability.

Overall Score: B- It worked as claimed for the most part. Oily skinned people will enjoy the pore-shrinking effect but normal-combination-and-dry skinned people should stick with something more hydrating. I would recommend this to any oily-to-very-oily skinned people who need a strong tightening primer to temporarily reduce the appearance of their pores and help maintain cosmetic integrity. I WOULD recommend this product to some people but will NOT be buying it again.


Next Item on the ole chopping block, "Win Some, Rouge Some Crème Blush":



Product Claims: "Conforms to skin for a soft “powder”-like finish. Blush transforms into a soft velvet veil on cheeks, deposits gentle color for a healthy glow. Perfect for layering to build your desired look."

The Product cost about 8 dollars and you get a decent 4 grams of product. Once again, the package is sturdy enough to slip into a bag or purse, the transparent cap snaps closed very snugly and it's another odorless formulation. Be AWARE, this product is VERY pigmented and easy to overdo. Use a sparing amount and layer color if necessary. The "set" cream-like texture melts easily with your body heat, turning it from a hard product to a creamy highly pigmented stain that sets into a long-wearing and flatteringly textured rouge. Did not settle into my pores and seemed airy, almost translucent at the same time as so deeply pigmented. Worth three times what it's priced as anyone of any age could use this, regardless of skin type!

Overall Score: A+ I would recommend this product to EVERYONE. One of the best cream blushes I have ever used!

So that's it Fairy Fans, if you have any questions or comments about this article please let me know here or via PM! Stay tuned for next time, when I'll be reviewing "Neutrogena Naturals Face and Body Beauty Bar":

[satindesire]

Hi folks! Today we have an anonymous question via PM:

Hi!

First off, I would like to thank you for all the time and effort that you put into the thread. I love the fact that it's very girlie but not in a high-maintenance or shallow way - it is so completely approachable that anyone, whether s/he wears make-up on a daily basis or just want to get some basic skin-care. It accessible to all. Thank you for that.

I do have a question, though, which I hope you can help me with. For the past few months, I was under tremendous amount of stress, coupled with a severe case of SAD. I barely slept, my fluid intake was dangerous low, and I didn't eat or exercise regularly. You can imagine the toll this took on my body. I'm getting the exercise I need and I'm taking care in eating regularly (and healthily), getting my vit. D and safe amount of outdoors, and am actually sleeping. However, I do not like what I see in the mirror. I still have dark circles under my eyes, my skin - though no longer pale - is now an interesting flush (I look like I'm permanently blushing) and spotted and still at times haggard looking, my hair is dry (though oily roots) and blah.

Is the damage permanent? And do you have any suggestions in how to make my face reflect the vitality that I have lost and am now gaining back?

Thank you so much, and I do hope that you and yours are healthy and happy.

Dear Curious Convalescing Cutie,

First off, I'm deeply flattered that you feel this way about my threads. I genuinely do care about making sure that people can come to me for education, advice and help and I want to reach out in the ways that I can using my talents and knowledge best. Thank you so much for the love and support and I only hope that I can reach out and help anyone and everyone who needs it!

Secondly, your question was fascinating and I honestly can't believe I've never talked about this before, it seems like such a no-brainer now that you've asked!

How To Recover Your Looks After Illness!

Face it, ladies and germs, we look sick when we're sick. And sometimes we look sick long after we're not sick anymore, and that's just adding insult to injury in my opinion. But fear not, almost no damage is permanent, as long as you have the right tools and the right motivation!

Lackluster blotchy complexion, dark circles and bags under your eyes...Dehydrated hands and lips and swollen eyelids. Limp hair, brittle nails and red eyes. Do these things sound familiar? Those are just a few of the common cosmetic complaints of the ill or previously ill, and here are a few ways to treat and tame those issues!

Lackluster, pale, dull skin: Prenatal Vitamins! The extra boost of nutrition will give your body the tools it needs to rebuild healthy cells. Regular gentle exfoliation with your favorite exfoliating cleanser will encourage rapid cell turnover to reveal younger, fresher skin beneath. And for an extra hearty boost...Drink at least one glass of orange juice a day, every day, for brightening phytochemicals! This should glowey-up even the most wan complexion in just a matter of days!

Red, blotchy skin: Tea Time, ladies! Make a large cup of chamomile tea and mix a tablespoon of honey into it. While the tea is still warm, you'll want to soak a soft washcloth in the tea so that it's quite damp but not dripping. Apply moisturizer to your freshly cleansed face, then lay back and drape the washcloth over your face. Allow to sit for at least ten minutes. This will help soothe redness and calm aggravated, red or blotchy skin!

Dark circles and/or bags under the eyes: The ole cucumber cliche? It would be, but to supercharge their effect, chill the slices after cutting in the freezer for ten minutes. Then apply a layer of eye gel on problem areas and place extra-cold cuke slices over top. Lay down for fifteen minutes and let the cukes soak. The mild fruit acid in the cucumber juice will gently encourage cell turnover to eliminate dehydration and fine lines, while the chill will reduce dark circles, redness and swollenness.

Limp and lifeless hair: Mix a cup of flour with ice cold water and comb gently into freshly shampooed hair. Rinse well, then condition normally and after the shower, apply any after-shower haircare as normal. The flour acts as a thickener and volumizer while soaking up excess oil from the scalp! Plus it's SUPER CHEAP!

Dry hair ends:



If you guys are regular Fairy Fans, you have seen my raves about Chi Silk Infusion. I don't think I could recommend a finer product that does everything you need a hair product to do, and then some. Not only will this give you back your moisture barrier, but it'll prevent heat and environmental damage, split ends and add softness and manageability back to your hair.

Brittle nails: Remove all nail polish and wash hands. Towel dry your hands, but while your hands are still damp, rub a soft cloth dabbed in coconut or olive oil over your fingernails. The rubbing action will stimulate your circulation to pump vital oxygen-and-nutrient rich blood into the tips of your fingers, but the oil will act as a moisture barrier to keep your nails moisturized longer. Do this daily for maximum benefit!


So there you have it, Fairy Fans, a few tips to correct the Icky Sickies! If you have any further questions or comments please don't hesitate to ask them below, contact me via PM or on facebook and don't forget to stay subscribed for more hot trends, product reviews and helpful tips from your favorite Makeup Fairy!

[Velvet Bubbles]

You're so awesome.

I only have one question at the moment. How much cold water do you put with the cup of flour? Are you making a paste, slurry, liquid?

Thanks!

[satindesire]

Originally Posted by Velvet Bubbles

You're so awesome.

I only have one question at the moment. How much cold water do you put with the cup of flour? Are you making a paste, slurry, liquid?

Thanks!

Great question! A slurry would be most effective in this use.

[Noor]

any recommendations for a pink based very fair foundation with physical sunscreen in it?

Thanks!

[java_girl]

great thread!

[satindesire]

Originally Posted by Noor

any recommendations for a pink based very fair foundation with physical sunscreen in it?

Thanks!

Dear Pinky Pie,

Yes! We had this question not too long ago and my answer is still the same! Meow Cosmetics!

http://www.meowcosmetics.com/Foundation.htm

They are a small mineral makeup company that has a large assortment of very-pink and very-yellow toned mineral foundations for extremely pale ladies, and seeing as how it's mineral foundation you get an SPF right along with it!

I'm a huge fan of mineral makeup, and this company is a great find for fair-to-very-fair people who need good makeup at a good price. Plus look at the amounts you get when you purchase!? They send extremely generous sizes, and you can't beat that!

[Noor]

Thank you Makeup Fairy!

Actually I did try those when my friend got a bunch of samples and my face is too dry for mineral makeup since I got altered Any idea on liquid ones?

[satindesire]

Originally Posted by Noor

Thank you Makeup Fairy!

Actually I did try those when my friend got a bunch of samples and my face is too dry for mineral makeup since I got altered Any idea on liquid ones?

MAC face and body foundation has a liquid white base that can be added to any foundation to pale it out without making it have less coverage. The extra large bottle can last for months even with heavy daily use due to it's incredible pigmentation. Mix it with your current foundation to customize it's color for a perfect fit!

http://www.amazon.com/MAC-Face-Body-.../dp/B0051PTCYO