Follow:

    Skin update!

    Ever since I returned from Quebec, I’ve been breaking out like mad — perhaps it’s the climate change (to this awful, dry, volatile place,) perhaps it’s the stress, or perhaps it’s the zillion new skincare products I’ve tried out in the last few weeks.

    Either way, there’s a problem: Rae’s flawless skin is becoming un-flawless! So, over the next few weeks, starting with today’s Mario Badescu review, I suspect you’ll be hearing about products I’ve been using to treat and conceal. I’ve been fine-tuning my skincare routine over the past few weeks, and so far, so good. My skin and I are quickly on the way to recovery, so I hope we can help you out too!

    (For the record, if you have chronic cystic acne and very oily skin, my recommendations still might not be the best for you. I know that my definition of “breaking out” is much different from most people’s, and that’s simply because I’m used to seeing ZERO blemishes on my face… so when I suddenly have four large, painful ones, it really is out-of-the-norm for me, and enough to get me worried.)

    Share:

    Stay matte — honestly.

    What: Fyrinnae‘s Velvet-Gel Silica Primer

    Physical: scent-free and thick, this is a translucent gel (though I would hesitate at this; perhaps calling it a “jelly” due to its thickness.) When applied, as it sinks in, it feels as if liquid is evaporating — and I think it is, as I left a tiny layer on a part of my hand to test it out and found it left a white residue.

    The good: I love the price of this ($5.50/.5oz or $1 for a small sample, enough for “3-5 applications”) and the fact that it is paraben-free! Silicone-free (silica is different). Great for keeping your t-zone shine-free during the day — I’m usually a little oily by noon, but I was still fairly matte by two when I tried this!
    The bad: Half my face (the dry half) didn’t love it so much: I quickly ended up with patches of very obvious dry skin that I had not noticed in my regular inspection before putting on the primer. (I always take a very good look at myself before using a new primer so I can really see the changes after I put it on… if there are any!) I miss using primers that are gorgeously silky and make your skin feel hydrated — this left not a velvet finish, but a dehydrated one, like crisp old paper.

    The verdict? Yes!! but only for t-zones or very oily skin. I’m thinking of buying the full size and using it daily on my t-zone, but I refuse to even think of using this for the rest of my face. It would honestly be so angry with me that it would peel off! Very effective, not to mention, very cost-effective!

    PS: I don’t love the unsanitary pot packaging, but it is a small price to pay. I’ll just move some into a smaller jar on a regular basis, or use a spatula to remove product.

    Share:

    Everything is better with a spash of vanilla!

    What: Besame‘s Enriched Lip Glaze in Vanilla.About the shade: Vanilla is a fairly-opaque white; nice for an easy, nude look, or for toning down a darker lip colour. It’s packed full of shimmer, though, so if you want to add a touch of shimmer but not too much gloss, it can easily be sheered down so it doesn’t affect whatever colour you have underneath! Whites tend to be cooler colours, but I find that this is quite neutral on the lips, and if anything leans a touch warm due to the golden shimmer/sheen.The gloss: a touch sticky, but not too bad. Besame glosses (not just this one) are slightly vanilla scented, which I actually adore! Thick, but in a plush high-end kind of way rather than a gloopy drugstore way.

    One layer

    Two layers


    Packaging: outside: See the images below for ingredients and the box. All pretty standard… until you get to the tube!! (Don’t worry, they can both be clicked on to enlarge. I don’t expect you to be able to see the ingredients at this size!)
    Packaging: inside: doe-foot applicator and gorgeous, luxe tube. (Photos below and at the beginning of the post, respectively.) It’s a great weight and a nice size, with the threads of the cap fitting perfectly (so there are no bits that “catch” when you open and close it). Check out the detailing on the cap — gogeous!
    The verdict? Love it! The Besame site lists them at $16, and I’d definitely re-buy at that price. I love how luxe this gloss feels! (Also, I can’t find an exact measurement for how much is in a tube, but there seems to be quite a lot in the tube.)

    Share:

    The Skinny

    Alright, so you know what’s great? How many sites are now selling discount high-end makeup. Glit does it every now and then, The Fairest does it every day, and even HauteLook carries it once a week or so!The new kid on the block is invitation-only The Skinny. Drop me a line for an invite, or just fill in the “who invited you” box with swackit (at) hotmail (dot) com, the email I use for newsletters, online shopping, etc. Feel free to enlarge the images here to make ’em readable and get the skinny on The Skinny!
    (Alright, so I know that on a scale from one to overused that’s probably like a twelve. But I had to do it! I had to!)

    Share:

    Added Boost

    What: The Body Shop’s Vitamin C Skin Boost

    Physical: a thick, clear gel in a small (fairly luxe, but unfortunately heavy) porcelain-type pump bottle. It’s cyclomethicone based, which I know some people will not like, but I’m totally fine with! It’s a tiny bit thicker than I’d like, but it’s still what I’ve been using and recommending over the past year. I actually quite like the light citrus scent, from the grapefruit and orange oils rather than synthetic fragrances.Awesome stuff: Unlike some of the things you pick up at Sephora (like Smashbox’s Photo Finish Primer, or the Korres primer I reviewed last week) this gives an incredibly smooth, velvety finish to the skin — both in the way it finishes visibly and the way it feels. As added bonuses, the Vitamin C helps fight free radicals, The Body Shop actively participates in fair/community trade, and this wasn’t tested on animals!

    Less awesome stuff: It does contain both –cones and parabens, and isn’t great for travel – the packaging is quite small, but it’s also quite heavy for its size. (I love heavy packaging at home, though, as the weight more often than not gives a gorgeous high-end feel to the product.)

    The Verdict? I adore this primer. It unfortunately isn’t free of parabens or –cones, but as long as you’re alright with that, I highly recommend this! It’s a mid-range primer, as they certainly get more expensive, but I think the $26/1.01oz is quite reasonable (especially as you use just a tiny bit, and the price is the same in Canada!) This is my Holy Grail primer — the luxe bottle, great scent, and smooth finish bring me back again and again.

    Share:

    The Perfect Red

    We’ve all wanted it — searched hours and hours for it. The perfect (perfect!) true red.

    Guess what? I’ve found it, for my lips at least!What it is: Paula Dorf Carousel

    Colour: I don’t even know where to begin. It doesn’t make my teeth look yellow or my face sallow, it’s just blue enough, it brightens up everything… you know what? Just check out these incredibly accurate lip swatches. It’s so great it even makes my crap camera focus well!
    Texture: Sure, as a lipliner it’s not the most moisturising thing you have, but this pencil is incredibly creamy. Incredibly. It gets used up more quickly than any of my other liners, in part because it’s so gorgeous and in part because the creaminess allows me to wear it as an opaque all-over lip colour. (I do use liners instead of lipstick a lot with darker colours; however, I usually sheer them out more. But not this one!! Why would I sheer out this gorgeous gal?!)Man, I just realized I talk to my lip products and that they’re feminine. That’s totally weird.

    Anyhow — if you haven’t checked out Carousel yet, do so!

    Share:

    Keeping a clean slate

    What: Tarte‘s Clean Slate primer

    Physical: This primer is scent-free, and packed full of dimethicone. Now, I know that a lot of people are staying away from the -cones (some people think they clog their pores) but personally? I’m kinda hooked on them. It’ll vary from person to person, but I haven’t had any issues with -cone ingredients. What the dimethicone does is give the product an incredibly smooth, almost slippery, feel. There’s a huge difference between soft-feeling skin and skin that has a dimethicone-based moisturiser or primer on it… I just can’t stop touching the latter! It’s one of those things that’s hard to describe online, so you’ll just have to check it out in person to really get what I mean.

    Awesome stuff: Free of parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes (this is a translucent/clear gel), petro-chemicals, and phtalates. People always talk about how Smashbox’s primer is “the best”, but it honestly doesn’t hold a candle to Tarte’s! I love the velvety glow that this gives, as well as the incredibly smooth-to-touch finish — Smashbox’s does the same types of things, but not as well.

    Other stuff: At $27/1.16oz, this is actually a little bit cheaper than my standby Vitamin C Skin Boost ($26/1.01oz; review Friday) in the US (but the Skin Boost is slightly cheaper in Canada!) A pea-sized amount really is enough for your whole face (any more and you’ll feel too slippery) so a tube should last you quite a while. And on the subject of the tube — I quite like the sleek packaging, which makes it easy to control how much you’re using!

    The verdict
    : If you’re looking for something for travel, or something free of parabens and fragrances, this is the one! I’ve been absolutely loving this recently.

    Share: