Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Review: BYS 5 piece Horizontal eyeshadow pallets

One of the joys of visiting another country is hunting for the cosmetic treasures it may hold. I journeyed to Australia at the beginning of this year (2014) to visit friends and found myself bringing back more than memories. I brought back drugstore gems.

This is a mini review of the BYS 5 piece Horizontal eyeshadow pallets.

The BYS brand is much like the NYX of Australia. The variety in products, packaging and amazing affordable prices draws consumers in with the feeling of youth and fun. 'BYS' is said to stand for 'Be Yourself'.

I was very tempted to indulge myself in the products they offered. But alas, I could only bring back a few. A couple of which were the eyeshadow pallets.




As shown, I decided on trying out the bright neon and natural pallets. The tester at the store promised high pigmentation and a soft, almost creamy texture. These pallets come in a variety of other colors such a blues, purples, greens, pastels and even glitter shades. I own the Natural Delight and Neon pallets.

Natural Delight :
I was highly impressed and satisfied with this pallet. It has the basic brown/vanilla shades with a satin finish. I would use this for a natural day-to-day wear or spice it up to a smokey eye for night. The shadows have high pigmentation and the texture is smooth to the touch. This is a highly recommended basic pallet to those who adore natural colors.



Neon:
I had very high hopes for this pallet. The tester in the store was far more pigmented - the reason why I bought this one. However, once I swatched my new purchase, the shadows were much lighter and more chalky than the tester. I assume it may be a hit or miss with this particular pallet or that the surface pigmentation is not as high. Which means I might need to use it for a while before it produces the desired results. However, it works well over a white base to brighten the colors.


Nevertheless, at $5 AUD, this product is well worth the try. The packaging is sturdy and travel friendly. If I am blessed with the opportunity to visit Australia again, I might just help myself to the other pallets.

Here are a couple of basic looks created with both pallets.


I have always found eyeshadows to be the luxurious way to dress your eyes. Don't you agree?


-L 

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Review: CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous Foundation

The biggest drawback to having oily skin - other than breaking out now and again - is that EVERYTHING seems to slide right off. Most foundations and concealers tend to do one of the following:

1. Wear off in a matter of hours.
2. Turn overly shiny on the face (if they don't control oil)
3. Oxidize after a few hours.
4. Crease in fine lines.

Achieving flawless coverage is a challenge for one such as I. I had given up my goal in finding a full coverage foundation that stays on long enough without producing that infamous shine. But, with renewed hope, I began to search again and I believe I've found a foundation that actually works for (my) oily skin.

This is a review for the CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation.


This foundation has been out in drugstores for a while. It comes in a 1 fluid ounce bottle with a pump and a cap. An additional feature is the locking mechanism for the pump. This secures the product within the packaging if you were to take it with you on your travels. Furthermore, it comes with a 4 page booklet on directions and cautionary advice on skin protection. Nifty.

The product claims to deliver 'all-day flawless coverage' with the benefits of a primer, concealer and foundation in one bottle. It also provides the much needed protection of SPF 20. The main website displays about 14 different skin tones - a decent amount with neither being all yellow or all pink.



When dispensed, the product is thick, yet smooth when blended out. The coverage is full to buildable without the added cakey look that comes with layering. The price can be considered a tiny bit more than expected of a drugstore brand. However, with the claims, one would expect that the product itself is well worth the price.

Final conclusion and personal experience

In my opinion, this could be considered the Colorstay of the CoverGirl line. I have tried Revlon Colorstay Foundation many years ago and found that it cakes up, feels heavy and oils up during the course of the day (for me). However, the coverage is unmatched. The CoverGirl Outlast is very similar in coverage, but does not cake up or feel heavy and can last an entire 15 hours (I wore this on the flight home) without looking overly oily.

I purchased this product in Australia for around $16 AUD. My skin still harbors the scars and marks of pimples past. For application, I use my trusty E.L.F flat top studio brush. Initially, I dot the product on my forehead, cheeks, nose and chin sparingly and buff it out evenly. If I require extra coverage for stubborn spots, I apply it only to those areas.



It truly does provide the coverage of a concealer and the blendability of a foundation. As I have not used a primer before, I cannot vouch for it. But it does smooth out the texture of my skin and blurs out my pores around my nose. However, the main feature and reason as to why I would recommend this foundation is the lasting power.

I wore this foundation on the flight home - a 15 hour journey with no touch-ups. When I finally had the chance to wash up, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the coverage was still holding up with the minimal amount of shine. Although I didn't feel as fresh as I did at the start of my flight, the foundation reflected otherwise.

The added SPF 20 is a bonus since summer is fast approaching. It is not waterproof or smudge proof. It is, nevertheless, one of the better full coverage drugstore foundations I've tried. A face-saver and worth a try.

-L