NARS Sheer Glow Foundation: A Liquid Love! :D

After watching people raving about it online and using it from my friend Tansia (who is also a huge fan of this product), I tried to give NARS Sheer Glow Foundation a try. And here I am today, with my review.

Yes, it is NARS Sheer Glow Foundation, not the Sheer Matte one. People who know me, also know the fact that I suffer from an excess-oil secretion-syndrome on my facial zone. So it was ideal for me to pick up Sheer Matte instead of Sheer Glow. But when I tried Sheer Matte at Sephora, I found it to be a bit harder to blend than the Sheer Glow. And moreover, I used Sheer Glow even before I tried at Sephora and was quite happy with the result.

When I went to Sephora to buy this foundation, I was quite tanned and the SA matched me to the shade Syracuse, which seemed pretty matched to my skin tone. It was CA$ 55 when I bought it. When I came back to my country (by that time my sun tan was almost gone), and started using Sheer Glow in Syracuse, I found out the shade to be a shade darker than my skin tone. The shade before Syracuse is Barcelona, which is again a shade lighter than my skin tone. I realized that I was somehow in between these two shades and bought Barcelona again, this time from USA, and it was USD 42.

It is described by NARS as a "satin-finish foundation with sheer and buildable coverage." It also says that it benefits your skin when used regularly and claims to "improve skin brightness, radiance and texture." It is recommended for normal to dry skin types, but as I said me, being an extremely oily skinned girl, loves every bit of the product!

The coverage of the product is light to buildable medium. If you are looking for a full coverage foundation, you should better skip this one, because applied once it gives a very light coverage and reapplying another layer, it gives you medium coverage at most. If you have a flawless skin and are looking to add just a tinsy bit of glow you can give this one a try. I don't have flawless skin (not even close to flawless) but I always love light to medium coverage foundation, thats why I have picked it. It hides slight acne scars and unevenness of skin tone, and there is a soft glow which emanates from your skin after you apply the foundation. It also photographs well as it doesn't have any SPF.

my skin, before and after applying NARS sheer Glow Foundation

The consistency of the foundation is neither too thin, nor too thick. It doesn't feel heavy on my skin or too cakey, blends smoothly and doesn't dry out too fast, so I get sufficient amount of time to blend it. NARS asks you to use your hands to apply this foundation, I tried both with my hands and brushes, and I love application with brushes more. I use it with a flat top kabuki brush like Sigma F80, or Coastal Scents 110, I use Sigma F84 too, which gives me wonderful result. I take pea sized amount on back of my hand, dot both of the shades on my entire face (I don't mix the shades prior blending) and blend it with the brush. If my face is too dull, I spray MAC Fix+ on my brush and then blend. Though I have oily skin, I always love dewy finishes for my foundations, rather than matte or semi-matte. I, of course, set the foundation with a powder like MAC MSFN or MAC Select Sheer Loose Powder.

Generally my face becomes oily within an hour I apply my foundation, so I do blot a lot. But when I am at an air conditioned situation the duration of the wear my foundation becomes longer and I got a wear of almost 5hours in an air conditioned room with NARS Sheer Glow Foundation. But if I stay at the hot humid condition of my country I have to blot it right after an hour.

The only problem I have with this foudation is its packaging. The foundation doesn't come with a pump. But NARS says it is intentional as they want you to shake really well before you apply it. You can buy an additional pump, for that you have to pay USD 6. Quite steep for a pump, eh? I am better without a 6 dollar pump lol ;) another problem is that the lid doesn't shut properly once you open the bottle. This might be a problem if you are a bit obsessed with how-your-make up-stuffs-close, like me. Also the lid is very much prone to catch finger prints, which means it can get dirty with usage :/

I love this foundation, just like I love my MAC Mineralize SPF 15 foundation. Purchasing two shades is a bit heavy for my wallet, but yes I would really be repurchasing NARS Sheer Glow over and over again.

A full face image of mine, wearing NARS Sheer Glow Foundation, and finished off with MAC MSFN :)

Did you use NARS Sheer Glow? how do you find it? Let me know in comments!

Love and respect,
Eeshita.

Review: Urban Decay De-Slick Oil Control Makeup Setting Spray

My face is oily to the point where I have almost given up the hope of a mattified skin and long lasting make up. But my desperate soul keeps looking for products that promise to keep oil away. Urban Decay De-Slick is one of them.

I picked up De Slick when I was dumb-struck in a dilemma whether to repurchase All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray or this one. As I had a fair amount of All Nighter Spray left, and I always wanted to give this one a try, I chose this one. from Sephora, was priced at CA$ 35 at the time I bought.

This makeup setting spray is a collaborated effort with Skindinavia. It claims to be a weightless facial mist that promises a matte look for upto 16hours. This comes in a 118ml or 4 US fl oz bottle and has a lovely fresh scent which I love more than that of MAC Fix+.

Talking about the product, it doesn't have that jaw dropping mattifying properties, specially in the extreme hot humid climatic situation of my country. But it works pretty good for cold dry winter and slightly less hot and less humid autumn, atleast I don't have to blot my face upto solid 7hours under these weather conditions.

The packaging is quite simple and I love the way the mist applies one my face more than that of MAC Fix+. While MAC Fix+ delivers kind of concentrated spray, this one actually has the 'spray-effect' which helps with an even application.

It is recommended that you have to hold it 8-10inches away from your face, and mist it in an X and T formation. I do it the same way, it takes around one minute to dry, and I feel a slight tightening after it dries out. I am comfortable with the tightening and I believe most of the oily skinned people will be comfortable, too.

I am not a huge fan of matte faces, I rather prefer dewy looks, and I don't mind that little bit extra shine my face gets after a while. But that shine is lovable when its not at its extreme, like it is at the climatic situation of my country during summer. So I have come up with my own way to apply this spray to avoid the extreme-shiny face. What I do is, I start with applying De-Slick Spray. Let it dry for some minutes. Apply primer and then spray again and let dry. Apply my foundation, and then spray again. Then do the rest of my make up, and atlast finish off with the All Nighter Makeup setting spray (the spray I-Can't-Live-Without). This way I get a wear of nearly 5hours (in an air conditioned situation), no smudging, no fading, just a little shine on my T Zone and on my cheek bones, thus creating a glowy dewy effect on my face. But out of air conditioned situation, I have to blot my face around two hours, and at the end of the day my face is shiny again :( :/

As I do heavy makeup only for the parties and occasions, and as parties are generally held in air conditioned situation, I will be happily using this product forever. I am happy with the nearly 5hours-stay-put-effect of my foundation without blotting my face every other hour, with this product.

I confess that I love Urban Decay's All Nighter more than I love De-Slick, but I would be repurchasing it over and over again, along with the All Nighter. This is a great product, kind of my HG product for winter and fall!

If you are in a dilemma, try a travel sized first and if it satisfies you, you can go for the full sized one.

Did you use De Slick? How do you find it?

Love and respect,
Eeshita.

A Little Something I have Tried: Color Block Eye Make Up, Mitupu named it Rainbowlicious :D

I wanted to do a color block make up but wasn't sure how to execute my plan. My favourite NV Cosmetics arranged a competition where you had to do something related to your fantasy and I entered that competition with this look.

I have used BH Cosmetics 120 eye shadow palette mostly, and as I did my right eye first (thats so stupid of me uuurrrggghhh) so I had to do the pictorial with my left eye, and as a result this pictorial is a bit messy and incomplete. I will try my best to explain in words, where I have missed to click the steps :/ I have used only 2 brushes for applying and blending the eyeshadows, they are MAC 217 and Sigma E30. I will mention otherwise where i have used different brushes or fingers. as this a color blocking method, blending wasn't my first priority, instead I had to think about the colors that would compliment each other.

Step 1:
Prime your lid at first. I have used Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original.

Step 2:
Start with applying NYX Zumbo Pencil in milk on upper lid upto the brow bone. Then blend it with a brush or finger. I have used my finger.

Step 3:
Apply a yellow eye shadow on your brow bone and bring it lightly just above the inner corner of your eye.

Step 4:
Apply an orange eyeshadow on the inner one third of your lid. I have missed clicking that part.

Step 5:
Apply a red eyeshadow on the lid, right beside the orange and bring it upto the crease.

Step 6:
Blend the colors with a very light hand so that the edges are not to harsh.

Step 7:
Apply a plummish violet color on the outer corner and blend gently.

Step 8:
Apply NYX Jumbo Pencil in milk on the lower lash line and blend with fingers.

Step 9:
Apply a lemon green color on the inner one third of the lower lash line. I have missed clicking this part.

Step 10:
Apply a cobalt blue eyeshadow on the remaining part of the lower lashline and blend with the green. I have used Smashbox Azzure here. With the same eyeshadow create a winged shape liner and smudge it out a bit so that its not too harsh.

Step 11:
Apply a navy blue eyeliner on the lower waterline. Tight line the upper waterline and apply eyeliner. Eyeliner is optional, but I believe it gives more depth to the whole look. Apply good coats of mascara and you're done!

Tons of images of the complete look below! :D

P.S.: This is not a wearable look I believe :)

For face~

*Bare Escentuals Prime Time Foundation Primer
*NARS Sheer Glow Foundation
*Urban Decay e/s Virgin to highlight my cheekbone


For Lips~
*MAC Prep+Prime Lip
*NYX Mega Shine Lipgloss in Gold Pink
*MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo


Let me know how you find it.

Love and respect,
Eeshita.

MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack: My HG Gel liner for now!

I know this is a very old product to review, but hey! this is new for me and I know most of you would be helped if I review it and compare it with other gel liners I have used.

MAC Blacktrack Fluid line was CAD $17.50 when I bought it.

What MAC says about the product:
"Ultra-smooth, Fluidline’s gel formula provides the precision of a liquid liner with a silkier, softer finish. Goes on “foolproof” with a brush in an easy dip-and-stroke action. Long-wearing. Smudge-proof. Lines up in a rich array of colours and finishes. Brush sold separately"

MAC describes it as flat black, and I can't agree more with the description! :)

Tha packaging is cute, I love the glass pot with the black lid. Its simple, yet beautiful! (well, my brother wants the pot when I am done with it)

The texture of the product is creamy and smooth and satiny. It feels like whipped cream or a bit melted icecream or a bit melted butter! The smoothness is of that level which you always hope for and crave too.

Its a very smudge proof gel liner. Once applied, it wears like a champ. No smudging, no bleeding. You can wear it and watch movies that make you cry and your eyeliner will still be there, stubbornly set! Its water proof, though MAC doesn't claim it to be one, but you can't simply rinse it off with water. You will need a make up remover to remove it fully. See the following image. I have applied Blacktrack (the middle swatch) and rubbed my hands quite frantically, and its still there!

It is safe to use on the waterline. I dip my eye pencils in it when I am in a hurry and voila! I am done for the day!

Though its smudge proof and water proof, it doesn't dry out too fast once applied, so you get plenty of time to smudge it with a brush or fingers to achieve a smokey look, but you have to do it before it sets for the day, because once set, you can't smudge it until you wrestle with your eyes.

The pigmentation of Blacktrack is heavenly! Only one stroke is enough to deliver very black lining.

You have to buy brush separately, and I use MAC 266 and Sigma E10 to do precise lining, specially the Sigma one is BEST for precise application.

Remember, gel liners tend to dry out soon, so will Blacktrack (my one hasn't started drying out yer, fingers crossed), so it is recommended that the lid to should be tightly closed and I have also heard people saying to store it upside down to prevent drying out.

I am going to compare it with two other gel liners, one is Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner in black, and Smashbox gel Liner in Cavier. Maybelline has less pigmentation than Blacktrack, while Smashbox is close to Blacktrack for pigmentation. Application differs too, for maybelline one, I have to re-dip and reapply it to achieve my desired jet black liner, while Smashbox has a better color pay off quality. The staying power of Maybelline one is as good as Blacktrack, it doesn't smudge and is "almost" waterproof, while Smashbox smudges like hell and starts fading out within an hour or two and also it is nowhere near waterproof! See the image below, the left swatch is of Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner in black, the middle one is of MAC Blacktrack Fluidline and the right most one is of Smashbox gel Liner in Cavier.

NO cons of MAC Blacktrack Fluidline, seriously I can't say a bad thing about this product!

Will be repurchasing this product as long as I do not find something better than this (and I doubt there is anything) and suggest it for anyone looking for a smudge proof, water proof, jet black eye liner with a creamy heavenly texture.

How do you find MAC Blacktrack? Let me know your opinions in the comments.

Love and respect,
Eeshita.

Review: BareMinerals Prime Time Foundation Primer

I don't like to write any negative comments on any product, but this review of BareMinerals Prime Time Foundation Primer is going to be a real harsh one!

I don't know what was going on in my mind when I bought this primer from Sephora, Toronto, worth CA$ 26. And I am still mad at myself for NOT returning it to Sephora the day I first used it. But I guess it wasn't as bad at the cold dry climate as it is here in Bangladesh. Still, it was not good either!

What a waste of 26bucks!!! I can NEVER forgive myself!

What it claims to do:
"Developed to combat flaky dryness, rough patches, fine lines, excess oil, enlarged pores, and uneven texture, this mineral-infused, satin-finish formula glides on seamlessly with no tacky feel to provide a skin-smoothing complexion prior to bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation application. Infused with soothing plant extracts, antioxidants, and nourishing vitamins C and E for added age-defying power."

The packaging is quite good! Comes with a pump that actually delivers the right amount of product you need and its portable too. 

Talking about the product, it does NOT help with any excess oil on my face, neither it does anything for pores or uneven skin textures. It does help with flaky skins though, so I guess dry skinned people may find it useful. I didn't need to moisturise my face during the dry climatic condition, where I tended to get a bit flaky skin on my forehead. I applied this one and it was enough oily for me to avoid any moisturiser. 

And this means, its a disaster for our hot humid weather. Does NOTHING except creating a smooth base for my foundation. Yes, it does glide on very smoothly and feels very satiny on the skin. I need a pea sized amount for my whole face though I try not to use it on my T Zone as its the oiliest part of my face and I don't want to add to the misery. 

I will never ever buy it again. I have learnt my lesson and I wouldn't recommend this for oily skinned people like me. Dry skinned people may give it a try. 

Did you try this product? Love it or leave it?

Respect and love,
Eeshita.