Friday, August 29, 2014

The Makeup Eraser Review + Demo

The Makeup Eraser

The Makeup Eraser ($19.97) is described as an all natural method of your removing makeup. No harsh chemicals needed, just wet the cloth with water and all your makeup is removed. Including waterproof eyeliner & mascara, HD makeup and much more. The best part of the Makeup Eraser is it is reusable, throw it in the wash and no stains remain. The Makeup Eraser will last 1000 washes and eliminate your need to buy product to remove your makeup.  The Makeup Eraser is pink with a sateen edge plush  and soft to the touch.

Love wearing makeup but hate the daunting task of removing it at night?! Join the club sister. We all know that removing our makeup is a long process depending on how much of it you applied earlier in the day. But if you're a beauty enthusiast like me then chances are you probably have layers caked on (high five).

The process of removing my makeup consists of using products found at the drugstore. First, I remove my waterproof eye makeup with an oil-free makeup remover and a cotton pad. After, using my favorite makeup remover wipes from Neutrogena (the blue bag) I clean the rest of my face before going to wash it with face wash. The reason I use eye makeup remover on my eyes is because I don't feel that the wipes remove every bit of my waterproof mascara (I layer my mascaras on). On most days I will use an alcohol-free toner after washing my face and even then I still have small traces of makeup left behind. 

Left: Makeup Eraser Right: Previous Makeup Removal Routine

Of course if I could find a way to minimize this process and save some money, it's worth a try! The Makeup Eraser has been buzzing all throughout Instagram recently. And with the claim of a natural, chemical-free towel removing even the most waterproof makeup many have raised their doubts. Therefore, I knew I had to try it for myself!

The Makeup Eraser is a reusable soft pink plush towel that contains no chemicals and works with just warm water to remove the most smear-proof, waterproof makeup. How it that possible, you ask? I have no idea, but if we all knew how it was done then it wouldn't be such a unique product and everyone would be making one right?!

The towel contains two different sides that serve different purposes. One side has shorter fibers used to remove your makeup and the other contains longer fibers which is used to exfoliate your face. The first time I tested the Makeup Eraser I had on a full face of makeup with about 3 layers of waterproof mascara, eyeliner plus a red lip and it managed to remove it all. It does take a bit of work to get every last bit of mascara off your lashes but it is fine considering the towel is not harsh on the skin at all. Remember it is a very soft plush towel, think of it more as a microfiber towel. The material is made up of 100% polyester and can be easily cleaned in the washer using cool water and tumble drying it on low. It claims to last 1000+ uses and washes.

Longer fiber side used for exfoliating

Once you wash it, no stains remain on the towel and you don't necessarily need detergent to get out the makeup. I have washed it by hand without soap or detergent before throwing it in the washing machine and all the makeup stains came right out. After several washes, the Makeup Eraser still maintains its power. I'm curious to see how well it holds up after hundreds even thousands of washes!

Makeup Eraser after removing a full face of makeup

Watch this demo by Camera Ready Cosmetics to see how well it works:


It retails for $19.97 and will save you money in the long run by replacing eye makeup remover and makeup remover wipes. Both cost me around $15 and last me almost a month. For just a few bucks more The Makeup Eraser cuts down the removal process and its longevity will save me some cash. It is definitely a must try!

 You can get your own Makeup Eraser from the lovely Monika through her links down below!


Availability: www.getmue.com / www.muperaser.com
Price: $19.97


Disclaimer: This product was sent to me for consideration by the manufacturer. This does not affect any opinions as they are my own honest experiences with the product.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

L.A. Girl PRO Conceal HD Concealer Review + Swatches

L.A. Girl PRO Conceal HD Concealer

L.A. Girl Pro Conceal HD Concealer ($5) is described as crease-resistant, opaque coverage in a creamy yet lightweight texture. The long-wearing formula camouflages darkness under the eyes, redness and skin imperfections. Provides complete, natural-looking coverage, evens skin tone, covers dark circles and minimizes fine lines around the eyes.

These cruelty-free concealers by L.A. Girl Cosmetics have been raved about all over social media and for good reason at that. We all know that finding a great long lasting concealer with little to no creasing and at an affordable price is hard to come about in the beauty market. Look no further my beauty enthusiasts, these gems are here to stay! 

The Pro HD Concealers come in (18) different colors: Classic Ivory, Natural, Creamy Beige, Nude, Medium Bisque, Pure Beige, Warm Sand, Medium Beige, Almond, Cool Tan, Toast, Warm Honey, Fawn, Toffee, Espresso, Chestnut, Beautiful Bronze, and Dark Cocoa.

With a vast array of color options to choose from, rest assure there is a color to fulfill your needs. Whether you are looking for a highlighting, concealing or contouring color,  LA Girl pro concealers have got you covered. From the lightest ivory to the deepest cocoa shade the variety in colors make these concealers a hot item for any makeup artist's kit; allowing them to have options for their clients' needs at a reasonable price.


Reviewed here are two of the shades in the collection. I use Creamy Beige to highlight and Toast to contour. When choosing your shade, it is a bit difficult to easily find what you are looking for through the website as they are not actual swatches. I recommend you try looking up real swatches on blog reviews such as this. I got lucky and chose the two that ideally met my needs. Creamy Beige is a bit light to match my foundation but it works perfectly for highlighting my face (mid forehead, bridge of nose, under eyes, cupids bow and chin) which is what I wanted it for. Toast is the perfect color to contour my face (temples, cheekbones and nose) with. I always go for a contour color about 4-5 shades darker than my skin tone and just blend blend blend into my foundation and highlight for a flawless contoured look!

Creamy Beige used as highlight / Toast used as contour

PERFORMANCE
Naturally I have dark circles that have always been an issue for me when trying to find a product to cover them up. I also have fine lines under my eyes that always tend to cause creasing when I apply concealer. The problem indiscovering the perfect concealer is finding one that would not only cover my dark circles but prevent creasing and is long wearing all at the same time. It wasn't until I started using MAC Pro Longwear Concealer ($19) that I had found a solution to my dark circle trouble. I vowed to never try another concealer again but when I came across the Pro Conceal HD Concealers and the raves about them I knew I had to give them a try.

Left to right: Creamy Beige - Toast
Just like the infamous Pro Longwear, they are very creamy and opaque, concealing my problem areas without having to use much product. Although they are creamy and blend easily, you will have to work a bit quicker with these concealers because they do dry a bit faster. I use a beauty blender or stippling brush to help blend out the product effortlessly. Thus far the concealer has stayed put for 10 hours without any creasing. 
 

PACKAGING
These squeeze tube concealers are reminiscent of some lip gloss tubes which some may not like but I love. I prefer this packaging over any jar or hard plastic tubes that come with a wand or brush... meaning less mess and more hygiene care. This also means no product gets left behind in the tube. We all know what a pain that is when you still have enough product leftover for a few more applications but there is no way of getting it out of the packaging. I do favor the pump that the MAC Pro Longwear comes with but the problem with pumps is that they make it difficult to control how much product you are dispensing; once you do there is no putting any leftover back in the container.


Holding .25 oz of pigmented product means they will last you quite a while. MAC packaging holds .30fl oz and lasts a long time. A little goes a long way with both concealers so not much is needed for one application.

There is one minor downfall to the packaging of these concealers, that being the tip has a brush applicator. Bacteria can grow in the brush from the leftover product after using it directly on your face. Even if you are using them for personal use, it's not too sanitary. I suggest squeezing out some product and transferring it onto the back of your clean hand or a mixing plate. The brush does make it a bit messy though..

Brush Tip Applicator

PRODUCT TIP - HYGIENE CARE
Here's a tip! When I received my concealers I took a pair of pliers and pulled out the brush applicators. This way I can just squeeze out the amount I need without the mess all while using the most sanitary care possible with this product. I also always wipe down the opening with alcohol to prevent any bacteria from entering the tube.

Top: toast / Bottom: Creamy Beige

OVERALL THOUGHTS
I'm happy I got my hands on the L.A. Girl Pro HD Concealers, they certainly do live up to the hype! The non-creasing long-lasting formula makes for a perfect concealer to fix problem areas as well as for highlighting and contouring the face.

At about a quarter of the price of MAC Pro Longwear Concealer, the Pro Conceal might just replace my previous favorite. A slight downfall to these concealers is the availability of them. I've heard some say they can be found at your local beauty supply store but I have yet to see them. They can be found online on the L.A. Girl website at $5 a piece or about $3 at iKatehouse.com. I need to get my hands on all the shades to add to my kit. These concealers are recommended by yours truly to everyone, especially makeup artists wanting to stock their kit with high quality products at an affordable price.

Availability: L.A. GirliKatehouse / Drugstore.com
Price: $2.29 - $5.00 
  

Disclaimer: This product was sent to me for consideration by the manufacturer. This does not affect any opinions as they are my own honest experiences with the product.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

theBalm Cindy-Lou Manizer


theBalm Cindy-Lou Manizer ($24) is described as an all-in-one essential, smart shadow, beautiful blush and subtle highlighter that is tucked inside a go-anywhere compact. The light-reflecting peachy pink hue adds a splash of color to your cheeks and a hint of shimmer to your lids, while illuminating your finest features.


This beautiful soft sheen pressed powder can be used as a highlighter, blush or shadow on the lid. If you're familiar with theBalm products you know that they are very pigmented and have a silky buttery texture. This is the same for this multi-use beauty product. Use a light tap of your brush when applying the Cindy-Lou Manizer; its high pigment goes on smoothly so you don't need to use much of it.

Packaging
As with all of theBalm line, the packaging of this compact has a unique whimsical theme that is carried throughout their powder products. The inside holds a nice sized mirror which comes in handy for those of us that like to use compact mirrors.



With .30oz of product it is a fairly decent size compact powder that will last you for quite some time. Remember, a little goes a very long way with their products so use it sparingly. I have yet to hit pan on my previously reviewed Mary-Lou Manizer and have had it for more than year now; I use it on a regular daily basis.

theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer is similar to the Cindy-Lou but just in another shade. The Cindy-lou Manizer is a soft pink powder with peach undertones whereas the Mary-Lou Manizer is a champagne-colored powder.

Swatches

At first, the swatch applies heavily but when sheered out using a brush it gives a more subtle shine to the skin and does not appear as powdery as the intial swatch done with my finger.

Wearing Cindy-Lou Manizer on cheeks

Overall Thoughts
Although it is a beautiful powder I don't think it will be replacing my Holy Grail highlighter, Mary-Lou Manizer. Since I have more of a medium skin tone I plan to use it more as an eyeshadow and blush. I do think that it will work great as a highlighter on lighter or darker skin tones. On my skin though, it gives a subtle sheen on the cheeks but I tend to go for more dramatic highlighters on my cheekbones. Be mindful when working with high sheen powders like these. If you have drier areas on your face make sure you avoid putting them on those areas being that they tend to emphasize them more. All in all this gorgeous powder is going to be a nice little addition to my collection and I recommend it to anyone looking for a pink-toned highlighter.


Availability:Nordstrom / theBalm 
Pricing: $24

Disclaimer: This product was sent to me for consideration by the manufacturer. This does not affect any opinions as they are my own honest experiences with the product.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

How To: Revive Dried Up Gel Liner


We all love gel liners, they're creamy consistency makes them easy to work with when creating a cateye and a little goes a long way with them, but let's face it they dry out quickly. Most of us are tempted to just chuck our favorites once they become unmanageable but there's a solution to reviving the product. Don't throw it out just yet!

Left: Dried up Inglot #77 Liner Right: Revived Inglot #77 Liner

I've tried different gel liners both drugstore and high end and no matter the price point they still dry out. Even my most creamiest holy-grail liner, #77 by Inglot has begun to dry out. This beauty tip will save you time and money with the use of one product that you probably already have at home. That product is eye drops! I use Visine Advanced eye drops. Note: do not use contact solution as it does not work the same.


This beauty trick works not just for gel liners but eye cream bases as well. Here I revived one of my Maybelline Color Tattoos that dried out as I barely used it.


STEPS
 
1. Take your dried up/cracked gel liner and using the end of a makeup brush or a disposable spatula, break up all the product. Note: make sure that whatever you are using to mix the product with has been sanitized.


2. Add 3 drops of Visine to the pot and mix well until it has become completely creamy. If your product needs more visine, slowly add a drop at a time. (Here, I needed to add more visine. For the gel liners 3 was sufficient.)


3. If you would like the pot to look more presentable, take a dime covered in saran wrap and flatten the product down. Wipe down any mess made around the rim of the pot.


4. Let stand for 4-5 minutes and then place the cap on VoilĂ ! You now have brought back life to your favorite gel liner!

HAVE ANY BEAUTY TIP QUESTIONS? LEAVE ME A COMMENT DOWN BELOW!