A completely frivolous post: product reviews and SFDs in text form

[cupcake_goth]

Gahhh, the heat. I hope you summer-types are happy.

Product reviews!

MAC Prep & Prime: I am impressed. I am very very impressed. It is supposedly SPF 50, but I can't imagine covering my entire face with this stuff. It is thick, and the tube is small, so using it as an all-over facial sunblock would use it up far too quickly. But! As a primer on my forehead, nose, and chin (over my usual Neutrogena SPF 70), it is fantastic. It quickly dries to a natural-looking matte finish and stays that way for the rest of the day. I hate having a shiny nose. I do not want to look "dewy", thanks. No matter what combinations of products I used, I always looked "dewy" about two hours after I applied my makeup, and was resigned to blotting tissues and powder touch-ups all day. While I still need to touch up my powder by about mid-afternoon with the MAC Prep & Prime, it's only because there is a faint hint of the dreaded shiny face syndrome. In fact, I have stopped wearing any sort of foundation. Sunblock, YSL Touche Eclat under my eyes, the MAC Prep & Prime, and ...

Aromaleigh High Resolution Finishing Powder: A super-finely milled translucent powder that makes your skin (well, my skin, at least) look perfect^*. This does exactly what I have always wanted from a powder: gives me a natural matte finish, evens out my skin tone, and minimizes any pores. I love this stuff, and will be ordering another jar of it soon, just in case Aromaleigh goes crazy and decides to discontinue it.

^*(Yes, I can hear some of you muttering about "Yeah, but your skin doesn't need any help, dammit". That's very kind of you, but I know better. Yes, sunblock, a good moisturizer, bi-weekly aspirin masks, and drinking lots and LOTS of water help a lot, but my skin is not perfect. Trust me.)

Wet & Wild Quick Dry Ultra Gloss top coat: Oooh, W&W came out with their own version of Seche Vite's topcoat of doooooom! It's not as thick as the SV stuff, and doesn't dry quite as quickly, but it does dry in under two minutes, and makes nailpolish last up to a week on my nails. (The tips of my nails didn't chip; the chipping happened at the nail bed, where the polish lifted because of nail growth.) Plus, it's FAR cheaper than the SV.


And now, olde-skool textual Shallow Fashion Details. I'll post the photo tomorrow, because I didn't have time to offload it from the camera this morning.

• Black fabric peep-toe flats with bows.


• Black fishnet striped footless stockings. (Which keep falling down, so I may take them off and go *gasp* bare-legged.)


• Pink knee-length bloomers, worn under a black knee-length petticoat.


• Black linen full-skirted knee-length dress that buttons up the front with lots of pink taffeta buttons.


• Hair pulled up into a bun secured with black lace & pink ribbon hair ties, with a pink & black striped mini tricorn perched on the top of my head. (By Noxenlux, hi Carlee!)


• 
  
• Jewelry: The usual giant silver rings, tiny pink & silver beaded dangly earrings, and what may be the platonic ideal of my usual necklace.(A giant pink glass heart pendant with a silver and black crystal skull & crossbones in the center, hanging from black satin ribbon tied in a bow.)


• Makeup: Sunblock, YSL clicky-tube of sleep under my eyes, MAC Prep & Prime, Aromaleigh High Resolution Finishing Powder, pale pink eyeshadow with cupcake pink shadow in the crease and at the outer edges, black liquid liner, black mascara, and the custom-blended pomegranate lipstick from 3Custom Color.

Comments

[dark-phoenix54.livejournal.com]

bi-weekly aspirin masks

Is this something you make yourself? If so, would you consider sharing how you whip it up? (pleassssssssee???)

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

It is something I make myself, and it is dead simple.

Put 8-10 plain aspirin in a small dish and add just enough water to cover them. Let that sit for about 5 minutes, then add a dollop of plain lotion or plain yogurt. If you want to be really fancy, add a dollop of honey, too. Mix it all up, then smear the resulting slightly gritty goop on your face. (I sometimes also make enough to coat my neck and bosom.)

Wait 10-15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with cool water.

Aspirin contains salicylic acid, which is the exact same thing dermatologists use for oh-so-"luxe" acid peels. The aspirin mask is easier on your skin than the acid peels, and you can do them at home every week!

[noxenlux.livejournal.com]

YEY! :D

I loves that tricorn..

I need to make another pink one..

Maybe I'll do that today. I'm working on some 1870s ish styled hats. I'm making the prototype right now :D

[icprncs.livejournal.com]

I doubt she's going to immediately discontinue a product she just introduced, especially since she seems to be as mad about it as you are. :)

I used the Ultra Hi-Rez stuff when I was pledging last week (over a mattifying gel and Glissade foundation), and I really loved the results. I had virtually no shine for the whole six hours I was made up, and no creasing or buildup. Never going back to liquids and cornstarch powders, nuh-uh.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

I am amazed by the Ultra Hi-Rez powder. And yes, never going back to cornstarch powders.

[water-of-fire.livejournal.com]

Did you get me using Aromaleigh or was that the MUA boards? I'm a massive fan of the Metamorphosis powder but maaaaybe I'll try High Resolution in my next order.

Oooooh W'n'W Seche Vite! Bitchen. I'll try it. =D

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

I think it was a combination of me and the MUA boards. I love the Metamorphosis powder, but frequently don't want to be quite THAT sparkly all over. I like to keep my sparkle contained to specific areas^*.




^*Because I am not a vampire in the Twilight series. I do not sparkle like a diamond in the sun.

[water-of-fire.livejournal.com]

... *splat*

HAHAHAHAHAH. :)

I need to read those. Women in my office have formed a little fan club around them.

[poetry-lady.livejournal.com]

oooh, thanks for the tip on the W&W topcoat--I too love Seche V., but hard to find (for me, sometimes) and spendy. Good to know W&W is still where it's at.

And ditto on the asprin mask details! I heard about a coffee body scrub recently that I whipped up a variant of, and it's yummy (if a bit messy). :)

[paperdol.livejournal.com]

Oooh! I just ordered the Aromaleigh powder! Thanks for the rec. I also got some lipstick samples from their gothic lolita line, but I currently am using a liquid blush to make them look more flushed than sticked.

I'm still all about the Smashbox Photo Finish, though it's like sunscreen #8, which may as well be nothing in Socal, so I still use Eucerin #30 moisturizer.

[trystbat.livejournal.com]

Dangit, that's what I've forgotten to do -- aspirin masks! I did it for about 3 weeks & things were looking ok, & then I got all busy 'n stuff & stopped. This is why my skin usually sucks. I can't keep up any skin-care regimen for any length of time due to poor memory.

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

I have yet to try a MAC product I didn't like. Even the raver kids know about it: I watched the makeup artist for Saturday night's fashion show do her thing, and sure enough, lots of MAC.

[retcon.livejournal.com]

Gahhh, the heat. I hope you summer-types are happy.

Oh, hellz yeah. :D

[cass404.livejournal.com]

I am now intrigued by the Aromaleigh High Resolution Finishing Powder. I might have to try it.

And, yes, you have amazing skin but it's in no small part because you take scrupulously good care of it.

I need a bit more of the even-ing effects from powders and such because I wear my emotions on my face like a mood ring but sunscreen and a lot of water and such are the key for nice skin. I really need to try the aspirin masks too. Must buy aspirin. And yogurt. And honey.

[ex-seadoof.livejournal.com]

Forget Martha Stewart, you're the real deal. I said it before and I'll say it again your articles and tips are really great. I got my sis to read them and she loves them too. You should be an editor.

Peace,
- Will