Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream in Natural 05 by bareMinerals

I've been veering more towards BB and CC creams for my foundation choice the past few months, and bareMinerals newest entry into this crowded market caught my interest.  Described as "the best of a BB, a CC, and a tinted moisturizer", Complexion Rescue ($29) claims the ability to provide a 215% increase in skin hydration after just one week.  

I decided on shade Natural 05, designed for medium skin with neutral undertones.  It's a good match for me during winter, which is when I'd more likely be wearing Complexion Rescue due to my skin being slightly less oily then.  Yep, Complexion Rescue is described as providing a "dewy" finish, which I'd say is true.  No way can I wear this during the spring/summer, when my skin goes into oil producing hyper drive.

 Coverage is sheer, which was another concern I had, given my skin's less than perfect appearance.  You can build up coverage slightly, but Complexion Rescue main attribute is it's natural looking, smooth finish.  I relied on concealer to better cover dark spots or blemishes, and finishing off with a tinted setting powder (Le Metier de Beaute's Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Powder is my current favorite), helped both with longevity and shine.  

There were also days when I mixed Complexion Rescue with one of my more full cover foundations, with pretty good results.  I could also see using this as primer for it's sunscreen/skincare benefits, with a mineral powder foundation on top. 

Bottom line, I like Complexion Rescue, although my oily skin makes it not the best fit for me year round.  I'm still planning on purchasing the Goop CC Cream once my shade is back in stock, as it does a better job in the coverage and mattifying department. 

Benefit's Big Easy Swatches

There's been a few times I've shook my head when I receive cosmetic samples, especially when the sample is foundation and not enough to cover my face.  What to do with those?  Well, I decided to swatch the ones from Benefit's Big Easy, a "multi-balancing complexion perfector".

Per usual, Benefit excels at design and packaging.  Look at the sample card!  Now, if only enough product was included........

Shade

Sun

Available in six shades, the texture has that decidedly silicone feel and there are lots of words ending in "cone" in the ingredient list.  It's not a deal breaker and silicone does do a good job of blurring imperfections and mattifying the skin, but I'm not crazy about it as the primary source of ingredients in a foundation.

A full sized tube will set you back $38, and I can't say the sample tempted me enough to want to invest.  Have you tried Benefit's Big Easy and if so, what did you think?

Boscia Haul and BB Creams

First up, apologies for the lack of posts last week.  I'm in the midst of writing a grant application, which has entailed 12 hours days and lots of hair pulling.  I'm still not finished, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Totally unrelated but perhaps timely given my absence, I'll be posting a giveaway tomorrow :-)  Secondly, Boscia had a really nice sale and GWP a few weeks back that I took advantage of, resulting in all you see above.  I haven't delved deeply into Boscia's line of products, but now I've got quite the variety of items to indulge in.  All this came to only:

Gotta love that!  I was curious if the sale was motivated by looming product expiration dates, as Sephora also has some of the same items deeply discounted.  More than likely that's the case, as the pink boxed items have this on it:

So, Boscia has moved to the front of the line of product rotation.  I'm quite pleased with the two B.B. creams in the mix.  I've been mixing the bronze with the regular, although I think I overdid the bronze initially.  In some pictures I look suspiciously oompa loompa.

 

I'd say these provide medium coverage and they are working nicely with my oily skin.  The regular B.B. cream comes in one self-adjusting shade, which did indeed blend well with my skin tone.  The bronze B.B. cream is quite a bit darker, and could be used for contouring or darkening lighter foundations.  Both have a subtle shimmer to them that does not translate as sparkly or shiny, and based on the below picture I'd say the bronze has gold flecks and the regular has silver. 

I apply with a foundation brush, which helped with any pore settling issues.  The resulting finish is smooth and natural looking, so these may now be my foundation choice for the rest of the summer, considering their SPF 27 and PA++ content.  What is PA++, you may ask (I did)?  Appareintly, it's a grade of UVA protection that provides superior defense against the rays that cause collagen damage and photo-aging of the skin.  Considering the semi-tropical climate I live in, that's a good thing.  The formula also includes Abyssine, a naturally derived survival molecule, to shield and soothe skin,  Hydroxyprolisilane to promotes skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines, and Beta-Glucan to provide essential moisture and protect against environmental damage.

 Boscia B.B. creams are $38, and mine were both part of the GWP, making them free :-)

Diorskin Nude BB Creme in Fair: Sample Series v. 4

Disclaimer:  Sample received with purchase

I don't know if I'm over the whole BB cream phase or not, but I do know I didn't have particularly high expectations of the Diorskin Nude BB creme sample that I received recently from Sephora.  Perhaps it's because I'm skeptical of non-Asian BB creams, as by and large they just haven't stacked up to the Korean brands I've tried.  So, count me pleasantly surprised when I liked this one!

Let me make some disclaimers:  I've got really oily skin, so am not keen at all on anything with a dewy finish.  I also need medium coverage, as my skin is far from perfect.  SPF is not that high on my list of priorities (Diorskin is SPF10), as I use a moisturizer with SPF25.  Factoring in those things, Diorskin Nude worked really well for me for the three days the sample lasted.

Diorskin Nude 002 (Fair)

The finish is matte, my pores were not emphasized, and the coverage was good enough to cover most of my many imperfections without getting cakey or too obvious.  The color did not oxidize on me, and wear time was about 7-8 hours before I started noticing breakdown.  All good, except for the price.  I just don't see myself paying $44 for a 1 oz. container. 

Interesting tidbit that I'm noticing with more than a few of the foundations that seem to work best for me (this one, L'Oreal's Magic Skin):  they all contain alcohol.  There are more than a few that believe alcohol damages your skin over the long term, as it causes dryness and free-radical damage, thus impairing the skin's ability to heal.  The dryness part is actually a boon for my oily skin, but I'm concerned about the free-radical damage part.  Perhaps it's a good thing that Diorskin is out of the price range I want to pay.

Add caption

Another observation:  Wearing red lipstick and taking photos in my office = a ghostly pale complexion.  Such a difference in tone between outside and indoors, but I'm wearing Diorskin 002 in both. 

Tarte BB Tinted Treatment 12-Hr Primer in Fair, Light, Medium and Tan Swatches

Tarte has released another version of a BB cream, but they are calling it a "tinted treatment" that is also primer, which I think is wise.  Or maybe it's all just semantics, as they describe it as a

"multi-tasker that acts as a primer, moisturizer, anti-aging treatment, light foundation, and sunscreen all at once!"

Fair, Light, Medium, Tan

It contains a proprietary tripleB complex, which is a blend of natural diamond powder, plant extracts, and lipoaminio acis.  I recently received a sample card of Tarte's BB tinted treatment 12-hr primer, and after trying it out this week, thought I would swatch the four available shades. 

I was pleasantly surprised that this covered well enough that I did not feel the need to also use a foundation, although I did set it lightly with powder.  My skin is far from perfect, so that is saying something!  The second to the lightest shade, Light, was a good match for my complexion. 

With a SPF of 30, the consistency is creamy, smooth and blends easily.  I did have some settling in pores, but that is true of most products with me.  On my very oily skin, I'd say it wore for a solid 8 hours before I noticed significant fading or blotching.  The texture felt like it had silicones, and sure enough after looking at the ingredient list, it does.  On the plus side, it does not contain parabens, mineral oil, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate, or synthetic fragrances. 

This sample card definitely served it's purpose, as I like this enough to purchase a full size!  I'm kind of kicking myself because I recently purchased Urban Decay's BB cream to use as a primer (review coming soon), and I'm thinking based on initial impressions, I'm liking Tarte's better.  

Tarte BB tinted treatment in Light

Active Ingredients: titanium dioxide 4.55%, zinc oxide 3.50%
Inactive Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, isododecane, polysilicone-11, mica, polymethylsilsesquioxane, hexyl laurate, PEG-10 dimethicone, polyglyceryl-4 isostearate, stearic acid, cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 dimethicone, alumina, triethoxycaprylylsilane, dipalmitoyl hydroxyproline, diamond powder, iron oxides.
Disclaimer:  I received this as a sample gift with purchase.

L'Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier B.B. Cream in Light

I recently received the L'Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier B.B. cream to try out, and I've got to admit my expectations were not high.  Most of the non-Asian brands have been playing fast and loose with the "BB cream" moniker.  I don't know if that is because they assume the American audience is uneducated as to what a BB cream is and does, or are just jumping on the hype bandwagon, or combinations thereof.   I've also not read many positive reviews regarding the current crop of drugstore BB creams, however you want to view them in comparison to their Asian counterparts.

So, let's get this out of the way - a BB cream this is not.  First of all, it contains no sunscreen, which is a standard feature for BB creams.  Now, L'Oreal appears to have sidestepped the whole "BB cream" thing by spelling out that this is a Magic B.B. Cream with Beautifying Beads, or encapsulated pigments infused in an ultralight lotion with vitamins C & E.  It does claim four things:  to prime, perfect, hydrate, and correct.

• Primes:  to smooth skin's texture
• Perfects:  to hide imperfections
• Hydrates:  for all day moisture
• Corrects:  for a healthy looking, even complexion

Available in 4 shades, light, fair, medium, and deep, I received light.  It starts off as a thin white cream with a runny consistency flecked with beads of pigment.  The color starts to change as you blend into the skin, until you are left with the final color.  I did not find it to be grainy and it blends out fairly easily.  I did use over a primer, as I found that helped with the blending and not settling in my pores.

The light shade is probably going to be too dark for many fair complexioned, but it was a good match for my fair but warmer toned skin.  It does have a yellow tone to it, and as you can see from when I rubbed the white cloth over my arm, it's on the darker side.

I've been using this for a week now and it did not break out my skin.  The biggest positive for me, however, is that it provides a really nice matte finish on my oily skin.  Coverage is light, but it does even out my complexion.  While it claims to hydrate and does contain panthenol, vitamin E and glycerin, I wouldn't use this without applying a moisturizer first.  If anything, I think this is a good option for the oily skinned out there (raises hand) who want light, natural looking coverage.

It actually reminds me of the old and now discontinued version of the Clinique Pore Minimizing foundation for oily skin that I wore when I was in high school.  It had a very thin, watery consistency, and the ingredients would separate, so shaking it vigorously before use was a must.  I found this description on MakeupAlley by playsindirt that describes it perfectly:

"Let me qualify this by saying I no longer use this product. But it was my HG foundation in the 80's when my oily, acne-prone skin was at its most evil. I was compelled to write when I saw all the negative reviews here. This gives you a completely flawless finish if you know how to apply it. The secret is to exfoliate in the shower/bath thoroughly, then moisturizer (oil-free, of course), shake the bottle very well, and (finally) pour about a quarter size puddle into your palms. Rub your palms to together and then apply."

Ah, good times, good times.   Those were the days when I would have to wash my face as soon as I got home from school because it was so oily.  But, back to the L'Oreal Magic B.B. cream:  color me surprised, but I'm liking this!  It retails for about $8-$11 depending on location, and I will continue using it.

Disclaimer:  I received a sample from SheSpeaks.com for review.  All opinions are my own.

Skin79 Super+ Triple Functions BB Cream

For the summer months, I've been using SkinFood's Peach Sake Pore BB cream, which has a really nice warm tone to it and is made for oilier skin, which suits me well.  For the cooler months when I will presumably be a bit more pale and perhaps a smidgen less oily, I will be using Skin79's Super+ BB cream in the pink bottle.  I found this description at thebbcreamshop.com:

The fortified ingredients of Kava and Purslane provide advanced sebum control for clearer and lighter skin. The hydrating cream provides plenty of moisture through Phyto Complex and Ceramide 3. Make up lasts longer, and the benefits of non-stop skin care helps diminish wrinkles and promotes whitening.  Additionally, advanced sun protection and the added caring ingredients of Oats, Green Tea and Rice Bran make the ultimate all in one perfecting cream, beyond make up. "

I know that many US based cosmetic/skin care companies have been releasing their versions of BB creams, but for the most part, they do not stack up to the Korean versions.  Hence why I took the chance of ordering without sampling direct from Korea, as I wanted to experience the real deal.  The two brands that I have tried thus far- Skinfood and Skin79 - really are working well!  I got both from Amazon via seoulglamour.com and can say that shipping was fast and prices were very reasonable.  I've also seen some posts and youtube videos claiming that seoulglamour has sold fake Skin79 BB creams.  According to the video I watched (you can see it here), mine is authentic.  However, the letters on mine do rub off easily, which is supposedly a sign of a fake according to some posts.  So, not sure what to say about that.  Short of testing at the lab, I guess I'll never know.  I will say that if it's fake, it's working well for me:-)

At first I was a bit concerned that the Skin79 would give me a grayish cast, but it does a nice job of adjusting to my skin tone.  It has a nice slip to it and was easy to blend out.  The finish is slightly dewy but not to the point that I felt shiny.  I've been setting with a mineral foundation and the combination of the two gives enough coverage without feeling or looking cakey.

Apropo of nothing, here are before and after shots of my hair since the last time I got it cut, which I think was in March.  I'm thinking it grew 5-6 inches in as many months.  I like my hair long, but the reality is that it gets pulled into a ponytail or put in a clip most days, and the ends were pretty frayed.  It's like pulling teeth to get me to the salon.  I usually just do a walk in and get whoever is available.

And, the new cut.  The stylist thoughtfully made an appointment for me 4 months out this time:-)

Disclosure:  I purchased this.