Ben Nye Banana Powder - Worth the Hype?

To answer the question that the title asks I will say yes, this product is worth the hype.  However, I will add a disclaimer - Banana Powder is not for everyone.  It is not a universal powder that is appropriate for all skin tones.  Banana Powder is just one shade in the Ben Nye Luxury Powder line.

Banana Powder (let's just call it the "BP" from here on) is an extremely finely milled loose powder that when applied is mostly translucent but does have a light yellow hint of color.  The Luxury Powders are meant to be finishing powders however, the most popular use of BP is to highlight under the eyes.

I use my BP to set my under eye concealer.  After I've blended out my under eye concealer I set it with this powder using my Beauty Blender.  A little bit of powder goes a long way.  I just tap a little bit out on to the lid and then pick it up using the pointy end of the Beauty Blender.  It leaves behind a smooth silky feeling on the skin which I really like under that very sensitive area of the skin under the eyes.  The light color of the powder also helps to achieve that bright under eye look.  Again, this color might not work on everyone. I have very yellow undertones to my skin and my foundation ranges from MAC NC25 to NC35 depending on the season.  My suggestion would be if you are on the fence about whether it will work for you then try it out.  If it doesn't suit your skin tone perhaps try another shade from the line.

I ordered mine online from http://camerareadycosmetics.com/products/ben-nye-bella-luxury-powder.html.  Aside from being a really great product it is also inexpensive.  I ordered the 1.5 oz size ($10) almost 6 months ago and I still have more than 75% left.  I will absolutely repurchase this this over and over again.

Review: L'Oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur

This is one of those products that I can say YouTube made me buy.  After seeing some of my favorite beauty gurus rave about this I decided to try it out. I'm always on the lookout for a good primer. Initially I was deterred by the price.  At $19.99 for 1.18 fl oz of product, this is more than I would normally spend on a drugstore product.  I finally bit the bullet and bought it when I had a $3.50 coupon from Ulta. 

The L'Oreal Revitalift claims to erase the look of pores and wrinkles.  The directions say that it can be worn alone or under makeup.  I wear mine under my makeup because I have some uneven texture on my skin due to my occasional acne flare ups. The product itself is a clear balm like texture.  When smoothed over skin it leaves behind a very smooth silicone feeling.  It provides a nice base that foundation sits nicely on top of. For that reason I do like it but I just don't think it is anything special.  I definitely don't think it lives up to its $20 price tag.  There are comparable products out there that work just as well and are more than half the price.  I have tried the Hard Candy Sheer Envy primer and I think that these two products are pretty much identical.  The biggest difference is the Hard Candy primer is only $8 for 1.3 oz of product.  If I am going to go for a drugstore primer I would choose the Hard Candy version over the L'Oreal Revitalift.  If I want to spend $20 on a primer I will spend a few more dollars and get a high end primer that works really well (i.e. Smashbox, Porefessional).

Claims: "Erases the look of lines, wrinkles and pores"
Finish/Texture: Balm like texture that leaves behind a smooth texture on the skin
Scent: None
Long Wearing: I did not think that this helped my makeup stay put any longer than any other primer or similar product
Price: $19.99
Availability: Target, Walmart and drugstores

Pros:

• Leaves a nice smooth surface on the skin 

Cons:

• Cost

Overall: While I don't think that this is a terrible product I also don't think that is anything spectacular.  I think that there are other drugstore alternatives that are less expensive.  With a price tag close to a high end primer this does not live up to being high end quality. 

Maybelline Color Elixir Liquid Balm

I have fallen in love with my local Harmon Face Value Store.  I had no idea that this store even existed until I started my mission to find the Maybelline Color Tattoo matte colors.  Harmon's is little a little hidden gem.  I have been able to find every limited edition drugstore makeup display here.  Not only do they have the displays but they are well stocked.

During my most recent trip I discovered a display of new Maybelline Color Elixir Liquid Balms.  The display states: Saturated Lip Color, Sensuous Balm Care and Polished Lip Shine.  What really intrigued me about this product is the claim to be a liquid balm.  I am always on the hunt for a moisturizing lip balm.  My lips tend to get pretty dry especially as we head into the colder months so I had to see what these were all about.

There are 20 shades in this line that range from deep berry to bright purple to nude pinks.  I find that I am typically drawn to light pinky nudes when choosing lip colors.  While I loved the gorgeous vibrant shades that these come in I decided to stay in my comfort zone with nude colors.  I picked up (060) Nude Illusion and (100) Petal Plush.  Nude Illusion is a flesh toned nude and Petal Plush is a light baby pink. Each one was $6.49 at Harmon's. 

I was pleasantly surprised by how true the color was on my lips.  I have a ton of lip glosses that are in this color family and all too often the color is very sheer and almost nonexistent. They really hold true to the 'saturated color' claim. The doe foot applicator applies the product smoothly and precisely.  There is a noticeable sweet vanilla scent.  I don't mind this but those who don't care for that type of scent may find it bothersome. These lip balms are thicker than a normal lip gloss but they aren't tacky or sticky in the least. They are quite comfortable on the lips and feel very hydrating.  It feels like a lipstick and lip balm were married and this is their baby.  They are not very long wearing but in all fairness most lip balms aren't. While this product lacks in the long-wearing department it more than makes up for with the color payoff and texture.

I am enjoying these very much and plan on purchasing a few more colors.  The display did not indicate that these were limited edition.  I am very much hoping that Maybelline decides to make these part of their permanent line. 

Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balms and Matte Balms

I stumbled across a display of the new (limited edition?) Revlon Colorburst Lacquer and Matte Balms while I was on my hunt for the Maybelline Color Tattoo matte shades.  I spotted the display at both Bed Bath & Beyond and Harmon's.  I was pretty excited to come across these because I have really been enjoying the jumbo lip pencil craze.  It seems like every brand now makes some form of this jumbo lip color/crayon/balm.  I like them because they are such no-brainer products.  They are easy to use and typically pretty low maintenance.

I believe there are 20 shades in this collection; 10 lacquer and 10 matte.  I only picked up three of the colors.  This was mostly because I wanted to try them out before going buck wild and buying all of them.  Although, if I end up loving these as much as I love the Colorburst Lip Butters then it is likely that I will go back and pick up more colors.  I also didn't want to go too crazy because I just bought a few of the Cover Girl Jumbo Gloss Balms and it seemed a little redundant as I tend to gravitate towards the same shades of lip color all the time.

I bought two of the lacquer shades and only one of the matte colors.  I am not a big fan of matte lip colors as I find them to be drying and not very flattering on me but wanted to give this one a fair shot.

The two lacquer shades that I have are (150) Desirable and (105) Demure.  Desirable is a bright cranberry red while Demure is a very light pink.  Both colors have a nice glossy finish and apply smoothly. These pencils have nice pigmentation - I would say they are more than a wash of color but not quite as opaque as a lipstick.

The matte color that I thought I would get the most use out of is (205) Elusive.  I would describe Elusive as a mid-tone pink that is a little brighter than I thought it would be. As expected the matte colors seem to be more opaque than the lacquers.  I had to be a little more careful when applying this color since matte lip products tend to feather.  I don't necessarily think this is a bad product.  Like most matte lip products they are drying on the lips but I think that is just the nature of the product. I believe there is a darker purple color in the matte line that I would love to try.

An interesting thing to note is the scent of these products.  They have a pretty strong licorice scent which I find to be pleasant but I can see some people not loving it.  Jumbo gloss balms tend not to be very long-lasting.  These are no exception.  I got a good 1 1/2 - 2 hours wear out of these guys which is pretty decent for what they are.

All in all I don't think these are much different than any of their counterparts on the market.  There isn't anything about these that would make me choose them over any other brand.  The price ($6.99) is comparable to other drugstore versions.  If these become part of the permanent Revlon line and sold at all drugstores you can usually catch a pretty good sale as well. 

My Current Foundation Routine

As a follow up to my recent post about my current favorite foundation I thought it would be a good time to write about my current foundation routine.  This tends to change because I am always trying new powders, foundations and concealers but for the most part these are the products that I have been using for the past few months.

Before I get into the products that I use let me first tell you a little about my skin.  I was not blessed with a naturally flawless complexion. I have very sensitive, temperamental skin that ranges from normal to oily.  I tend to breakout along my jaw and when I break out it gets extremely red and inflamed.  More often than not the skin around the pimples gets very dry and flaky which can be challenging to conceal.  I also deal with hyperpigmentation from breaking out.  It seems that almost every pimple eventually turns into a little dark mark aka one more thing to try to cover up.  Now that you know a little more about my skin and its challenges on to the products :)

I always begin by priming my skin.  I find that a good primer helps to create a smooth surface for my foundation especially around those dry flaky acne spots.  They also help my foundation last longer through the day.  Right now I am trying out the L'Oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur in the oil free version.  It has a nice texture and I find that it smooths out my skin but this product really is a miss for me mostly because of the price point.  I will be posting a full review on this product shortly.

I like to let my primer sink into my skin for a few minutes before I start applying foundation.  The foundation that I have been loving lately is the Cover Girl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1.  Right now I am the color golden tan but this will change in a few months as my summer tan really starts to fade. One thing I really like about this foundation is that it comes in a bottle with a pump.  I typically use two pumps of foundation.  I pump it out on to the back of my hand and then use my ring finger to evenly dot it all over my face. I really love using my Beauty Blender with this foundation.  I use the round end of the Beauty Blender to take all of that foundation and "pounce" it into my skin until it is all blended out.

While the Cover Girl foundation covers up most of my skins imperfections I still need a separate concealer to help cover up some of the darker marks.  The concealer that I have fallen in love with is the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer.  I just discovered this over the summer and boy oh boy is this stuff amazing. I find that some concealers cling to dry skin but this one does not at all.  It really is creamy and covers up blemishes beautifully. Creamy is the perfect word to describe it.  I will just dot this on top of whatever needs to be covered up and then use my Beauty Blender to blend it out to a flawless finish.

I admit I have gotten caught up in the Kim Kardashian inspired bright under eye look.  I use a few different products to help try to achieve this.  I start with the MAC Prep + Prime highlighter in the color Radiant. Taking the highlighter pen I create a "V" underneath both of my eyes that starts right under my eyes and goes down to about the tip of my nose - the top of the "V" starts at about my tear duct and extends out to where my eye ends.  Once I have that area all filled in with the highlighter I use the other end of my Beauty Blender to lightly blend all of that out.  I don't over blend because I still want it to show up pretty light.  After all of that is blended out I take my MAC Studio Fix concealer in a shade that is about 2-3 shades too light for me (NW-20) and dot a little bit on top of where I just blended out the highlighter.  I find that this just adds to the lightening of that area.  I also blend that out with my Beauty Blender.  To set all of that concealer I use the Ben Nye Banana Powder again on my handy Beauty Blender.  I just tap some into the lid of the container and then using then pick it up using the pointy end of the BB and lightly tap it all over the concealer/highlighter underneath my eyes.

To set the rest of my face I like to use my MAC Studio fix powder.  I use a big fluffy brush and pat the Studio fix into my face.  I have to be careful with this product as it can look very cakey if applied too heavily.  To help combat against the cake face look I spray a little bit of MAC's Fix + on my face after I''m finished. I realize that this sounds like a lot of product but this is what I have found works to help me achieve a nearly flawless face that lasts throughout the day.

What do you use in your foundation routine?

October 2013 Popsugar Must Have Box

I feel like I wait all year for Fall.  I absolutely love everything about Fall - sweaters, the changing leaves, Halloween and most importantly...pumpkin everything. There is just something so cozy about Fall.  It makes me want to curl up with a blanket, a mug of something warm and a good book. 

When I got home today I found my October Popsugar Must Have box waiting for me.  It is like Christmas waiting for my Popsugar box every month.  If you are not familiar with the Popsugar Must Have box it is a monthly subscription box.  The box is described as a lifestyle box so it can include beauty, fashion, home and food items.  The cost is $35/month and is billed every month to a debit or credit card.  The value of the box is supposed to be over $100 and for the most part I think that is pretty accurate. The link to subscribe is: https://musthave.popsugar.com/. While this isn't entirely makeup or beauty related I thought it would be fun to start sharing these with you guys. 

This month's box includes brands that support breast cancer charities.  More importantly, $1 from every box sold this month will be donated to breast cancer research.  Below is a list of everything included in this month's box, an approximate price, link the brand's website and my general thoughts about each item.

* The Can't Cook Cookbook by Jessica Seinfeld (value: $16.45) - I'm actually really excited about this.  I love to cook and I like to think I'm pretty good at it but it is always fun to try new things out.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Cant-Cook-Book-Absolutely/dp/1451662254
* NYX Smokey Shadow Palette (value $6.99) - I almost bought this from Ulta the other day when they had NYX on sale for 40% off but I figured I didn't need another smokey eyeshadow palette.  I quickly swatched some of the colors and like most NYX eyeshadows they are pretty pigmented.
http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/
* NYX Collection Noir Liquid Black Liner ($5.99) - I am not really a fan of liquid eyeliners that have the little brush on the end like this one.  I much prefer felt tipped liquid liners but in my quest to find the perfect liquid liner I think I should probably give this one a try.
http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/
* Gorjana Charity Bali Bead Bracelet ($45) - This is an adorable dainty little bracelet.  I was surprised to see the actual price of it on the company's website because it is such a tiny bracelet. It is made up for by the fact that when you purchase this bracelet from the company's website 100% of the proceeds are donated to Breast Cancer Connections.
http://www.gorjana-griffin.com/
* Julep for Popsugar Nail Polish Duo ($25) + 1 Month Free Julep Maven Box ($19.99) - This duo includes a top coat and a Fall inspired color.  I really love the color I got - it is called Coco and it is a deep oxblood color.  In addition to the nail colors that came in the box there is a promo code included that gives you a free month of the Julep Maven subscription box.  I ordered the Classic with a Twist box that comes with Padma which is described as a royal plum and Florence which is a camel colored polish.  The starter box also comes with Luxe Repair Skin Serum.  I'm not sure if I will keep the Julep subscription going after my initial box but this was a really great way to see if I like it.
www.julep.com
* Jane Tran Bobby Pins ($12) - The design of these bobby pins is cute but I doubt I will get much use out of them.  I rarely wear my hair up and when I do I just use plain old bobby pins.
http://www.janetran.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=6&products_id=301
* The Wet Brush ($14) - This is the item that I was most excited about.  The Wet Brush was designed to use on wet hair.  I know, I know you're thinking "brushing wet hair is a no no".  The beauty of this brush is that the bristles are super flexible so it reduces the risk of breakage when brushing it through wet hair.  I was going to pick one of these brushes up the next time I was at Sally's.  Having it in this month's box was perfect timing. The Wet Brush company is also making a donation towards breast cancer research for every brush included in this month's box. 
http://thewetbrush.com/
* The Crispery Halloween Crispycake ($3.95) - Who wouldn't love a giant sprinkle covered rice crispy treat? Seriously - this thing is huge.  Yum.
https://www.thecrispery.com/
* Stitch Fix $20 Off Coupon + Styling Fee Waived ($20) - I was not familiar with Stitch Fix so I had to go out to the website and do a little research.  The basic premise of the site is that you build a style profile, pay a $20 "styling fee". The company then ships you five handpicked items, you pick the one you want and send the other four back.  The $20 fitting fee that you paid can then be used towards the price of the item you decide to keep. The site says the average price of each item is $65. I am going to try it out so I'll give a full report back after I receive my first five items.
www.stitchfix.com

All totaled this month's box has a value of approximately $169.  While I like some of the products in the box I'm not super excited about it. This is my fourth Popsugar box and so far I haven't really been wowed by any of the boxes I've gotten.  I signed up in June because I had seen an unboxing video on YouTube for the June box and that one was amazing.  The $35 subscription price is a bit pricey for a monthly subscription box and I just got an email the other day that they are raising the price to $39.  I will probably keep it for a few more months and see if the boxes get better.  If they don't I will probably cancel my subscription and spend my $35 at Sephora ;-)

Review: Benefit Rockatuer Blush

Benefit's newest addition to their much loved line of boxed powders is the luminous Rockatuer blush.  It is a beautiful rose colored blush with a golden shimmer.  I have more blush than one girl could ever use in a lifetime but I could not pass up adding this one to my collection.  I resisted the temptation through a few trips to Ulta and Sephora but eventually my will broke and this beauty came home with me.

I am not a fan of shimmery blushes so I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this one.  I figured if I really hated it I could just give it to one of my friends. I was pleasantly surprised to find that while it looks shimmery in the box it does not come off on the skin that way.  When applied to the apples of the cheeks it gives off a very rosy flush color that is gorgeous.  It looks natural while giving you a bit of a highlighted sheen.  Like all of the Benefit boxed powders, this blush came with a small brush that sits on top of a plastic separator inside the box.  I normally don't use these brushes but this one was just perfect for applying product to the tops of my cheeks where this product looks best.  One of my favorite things about the Benefit boxed powders is the scent of the powders.  All of the powders have this delicious perfumed scent - this blush is no exception.

My only real complaint about this blush is the size.  While the rest of the Benefit boxed powders have 0.28 oz of product this blush only has 0.17 oz of product yet it still boasts the same $28 price tag. 

Claims: "This rockin’ rose gold cheek powder gives a famously provocative flush that turns heads on-stage and off"
Finish/Texture: Finely milled powder with a slight gold shimmer
Scent: Pleasant perfume scent
Long Wearing: Relatively, no more so than any other blush
Packaging: Signature Benefit box with small brush stored inside
Price: $28
Availability: Sephora, Ulta and benefitcosmetics.com

Pros:

• Nice flush of color
• Pleasant scent
• Convenient brush that works well with the product
• Adorable packaging

Cons:

• Smaller size than other Benefit boxed powders

Overall: The color is different than any other blush that I have in my collection.  The smooth texture allows the powder to glide on and blend smoothly.  Benefit has another winner in the Rockateur blush.