Sephora Prisma Chrome Eyeshadow - Review

Playing around on Sephora's website is a dangerous game. I qualified for their VIB program late last year, but never used my 10% off code (because I qualified during Friends and Family,and didn't need anything). I found I was able to still use the code in early February. Of course, using the code for the small purchase I made caused my total to drop below the threshhold for free shipping, and thus, I needed to find something else to make up for it. I had read Scrangie's post about Sephora's Prisma Chrome Eyeshadow, and decided to give one a try.

I chose Bronze Brilliance, since I love neutrals and bronzy tones. The reason these eyeshadows are different is how their pressed. It's not a flat surface. Instead, it's a raised, wavy shadow, which means the compact is super thick. The shadow is still powder, not cream, however. It just looks pretty cool. Sephora says:

The new wave in eye shadow, Prisma Chrome brings together the best features of baked, powder, and cream shadows. Its revolutionary effect captures light perfectly, delivering a prismatic effect with an unbelievably smooth and true color finish. 

Bronze Brilliance is a true bronze, and a bit less orange than MAC's Amber Lights, and more bronze than L'Oreal Infallible's Bronze Taupe, which is decidedly taupe in comparison. It's shimmery, and swatches well. Pigmentation on my lid could be a little better, though. I needed to pass my brush over the powder a couple of times. I use my MAC 239 to apply.

The shadow applies and blends decently. It's always hard to tell if my primer system is just super grabby or if a shadow is super draggy, but this shadow does not blend and move like a MAC Veluxe Pearl shadow, for example. I find myself having to revisit the pan more than once to get more product. I definitely see the baked influence in the way the powder acts when applying, but there's no fallout. I don't see anything resembling a creamy feel or finish, though.

I haven't had any creasing or fading with this shadow. It lasts all day on my lids without any problems.

These shadows cost $15, which seems like a pretty high price for a house brand, when MAC costs the same. The black shiny compact holds 0.12 ounces of shadow, while the standard MAC shadow is 0.04 ounces. Obviously, the Sephora is a better value.

Overall, this is a nice shadow, with an interesting shape. It's sort of sad that it's nothing super special, though, like the pressing would indicate - it performs much like any other powder shadow. I am not sure if I will purchase another one.

Makeup Forever HD Microperfecting Primer in #1 - Review

One thing I would love to change about my skin is the ruddiness on my cheeks - it's hell to get a blush to look even when you have surface redness going on. After much deliberation, I broke down and bought MUFE's "Microperfecting Primer" in #1, the green shade.

This retails from Sephora for $32. As with all MUFE, Sephora is the exclusive retailer of their products (unless you happen to live near one of the MUFE stores) in the U.S. According to Sephora, this is "A lightweight, oil-free complexion corrector that enhances the skin's texture and primes the skin for makeup application. [This product] deeply nourishes, moisturizes, and softens the skin, creating a glowing effect. Creates a protective layer on the skin allowing foundation to glide on easily and last longer." The green shade is supposed to "minimize redness."

For the price, you may be questioning the value. Packaged in a taller, more slender tube than it's foundation counterpart, the HD Primer gives you 1 fluid oz of product - which isn't bad, considering I only use a fraction of a pump with each use.

The amount above is enough for me to cover the red on my cheeks, and have a bit left over for my nose, if I need it. I've had my current tube of this primer for about 10 months, and am about halfway through it. As you can see, the product is very pigmented. Texture-wise, it feels like a gel. It does feel hydrating, but I wouldn't want to use this as a moisturizer, due to the pigmentation. The first time I used this, I used it all over my face - HUGE mistake. This is meant to be a targeted-use product. When overused, at least in my experience, you look a bit jaundiced, which isn't exactly flattering.

I can't say I have noticed my foundation applying any better (or worse) than usual, or lasting any longer where I have this product applied. My cheeks tend to be normal/dry. Because of the texture, I think this primer would be okay on oily skin, too. Because of the pigmentation of this product, it really does allow me to wear blushes and have them show up without piling them on.

Overall, this is a fantastic product! Because so little is needed, I feel the price is fine. Sure, it'd be awesome if it were cheaper, but you get a ton of product, and don't need a large amount. I'd strongly recommend this product to any one who has redness, like moi.

Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm - Review

I'm not a lipstick gal - I love balms and glosses (sheer colors that I don't need a mirror to apply, essentially). When my mother gave me a giftcard for Macy's, my original plan was to save it until gift-with-purchase for a line and then use it, but... that didn't happen (who was I kidding?). I was intrigued by these, as I usually find lipsticks to be drying, or poor-wearing, or uncomfortible. Clinique is a line that doesn't seem to get much love from the makeup-loving blog world, but I've always been reasonably happy with my Clinique choices, so I jumped on these Chubby Sticks.

These retail for $15, and they are available anywhere Clinique products are sold. From Sephora: "This gorgeous lip color treats lips to mouthwatering moisture and a hint of shine." We'll cover this claim in a bit.

The color I selected is "Mega Melon," which Sephora describes as a "sheer peachy-pink," a totally up-my-alley color. In reality, I found this color to be peachy with a hint of nudeness to it. Not the pink I was expecting.

As you can see, this isn't exactly sheer (I think of sheer being like a dazzleglass, or even many lipglasses from MAC, where my lip color heavily influences the color that the product appears as on my lips). Infact, I'd venture to say this is not a lip balm at all, but a cleverly marketed medium-finish lipstick. As such, it's not a bad lipstick. I didn't find this product to be balm-like at all. While not exactly drying, it was not moisturizing, either. It would benefit from a thin layer of a true lip balm underneath, or a sheer (or clear) gloss over top. The coverage, as indicated, is fairly good. My natural lip color isn't muted, it's pretty much gone when wearing this. Shine is next to nil with this, as well. These are not matte, but, again, not shiney either. The finish reminds me of what you get from an EOS-type balm. Satiny, maybe?

The Chubby Stick had a life span of about 2 hours on me, without anything over it. And really, at 2 hours, I was okay with it being gone. It seemed to slighly emphasize the lip-lines without just bleeding into them. I like moisturzing lip products, especially this time of year (winter), and Chubby Sticks just don't provide it. Do I like this product? I guess so. I'm not planning on returning it, but I sort of wished I'd waiting until my CCO got them or until a gift-with-purchase deal was available. I can't say I'd recommend this at this time, but maybe when I don't need the moisturizing I need now, this product will be better.

First Aid Beauty's Ultra Repair Cream - Review

One thing I'm always sure to buy during Sephora's annual Friends and Family sale is a moisturizer. I haven't yet found a holy grail moisturizer, and like most people, I love a good deal. I picked up First Aid Beauty's (FAB) Ultra Repair Cream in October, after hearing many, many good things about it.

This product is available in 3 sizes - a 2.5 squeeze tube, a 6 oz jar (which I have), and a 12 tub.
This is a fairly inexpensive cream, as it ranges from $15 - $39, with the middle size priced at $28. If I recall correctly, the only size available when I ordered was the 6 oz size.

From Sephora's website: "Safe for even the most sensitive skin. Petroleum-free. Contains Colliodal Oatmeal, the only FDA-approved, OTC ingredient for eczema. It's allergy tested, and contains FAB Antioxidant Booster to combat free radicals." This product has a long list of things it is formulated without, including parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances and dyes, phthalates, GMOs, and Triclosans.

A little about my skin:

I have the classic oily t-zone with normal/dry cheeks. My skin isn't sensitive to any products I've used, however if I think about going outside for more than 10 minutes in the summer, I get a sun burn.

I've been using this on and off for the last 2 months or so, as I was finishing up a sample of another moisturizer. I have patches of mild eczema on my upper arms and my neck, which is what drew to me order this (and the price was awesome). I know some people don't like the idea of using the same product on their body as they do on their face, but, hey - if it works, it works.
When I developed a patch of eczema on my face, and exfoliating alone couldn't get rid of it, I figured it was time to pull out FAB's Ultra Repair Cream.

Sephora's website illudes to a whipped texture, which I don't see. This is a fairly dense cream, but it feels weightless when applied lightly. You do not need to slather this on, the amount shown above will work for about 1/4 of my face. This cream does not leave a greasy film on your skin, and would make a great day cream (I prefer to have some SPF in my moisturizer for day time), although I tend to only use it at night. 6 oz may last me for the rest of my life, though.

The small patch of eczema was literally gone the next morning after using this cream. Gone. I was impressed, and still am. Now having been using this nightly, my skin feels smooth and moisturized all day - even though I only use this at night. I haven't developed any new eczema on my face, which is awesome (of course), or any dryness like I tend to have this time of year (we use a fireplace as our main source of heat, and if you've ever lived in a house with a fireplace, you may know what I mean). I'll be very curious to see how this moisturizer will perform in the summer, when my skin isn't as dry.

If you need a moisturizer, and don't want to pay a ton, but still want a quality product, I'd recommend checking out FAB's Ultra Repair Cream. If you don't plan on using it for your face and body, you may wish to purchase the 2.5 oz size, though.