A Comparison of CoverFX Packaging

Item was received in a contest by CoverFX.

Back in October 2012, CoverFX announced that they would be changing the names of the colours and all you had to do to enter this competition was to comment with your new shade colour. Now there's a bit of background here to get into and since I tend to be longwinded, I'm going to somewhat skip it. But the short of the long is that I had been using M80 (G70) instead of B0 (N70) or B15 (N70) and while I won't mention how or why that happened (I'll explain it if you ask), I did revert to the recommendations that the Sephora Color IQ test gave me (you can check my results here). The reason why I preface this post with that is because you're going to notice that the colours are different -- but this post is not about the colours and rather about the packaging.

The original packaging came with a small puff which I ended up discarding almost immediately. The reason for that was because I was using brushes at the time and had no use for a puff. With the new version, it's a bit thicker but that's because the puff they add in in now separated from the makeup.

G70 (left) and N70 (right).

The puff underneath the pan of the new compact.

Holes that have been placed in to help the excess
foundation escape and allow the puff itself to breathe,

My new foundation (N70) matches perfectly and I could kick myself for being dissuaded from purchasing it on the first go. Nonetheless, I'm really happy that with the help of Sephora and CoverFX, I was able to find the correct matching foundation and get a free compact out of it. 

Day of Foundation Samples

The month of December was pretty busy -- with vacation and moving, and let's not get started about the move. The move meant that a lot of my makeup got shook up in the process and made me realize that I had a lot of samples. So I took out an hour and decided to get through some of my samples. Now the problem with samples is that they aren't selected to match your skin type so while I tried to take a lot of photos, a lot of them didn't quite turn out all that well.

Almost everything I used below was a sample size, with the exception of the Cover FX in M80 (which is now G70 in the new chart). Also note that I already covered the primer that I used in my Primer Samples post.

Cleanser: First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser (Retail: $18).

Primer: Sephora Collection Perfecting Ultra-Smoothing Primer
Foundations: 
 - Cover FX Pressed Mineral Foundation in M80 (Retail: $35)
 - Per-fékt Skin Perfection Gel in Radiant (Retail: $57.50)
 - bareMinerals READY in Medium Beige (Retail: $29)
 - Stila Stay All Day 10-In-1 HD Beauty Balm (Retail: $38)
 - Stila Stay All Day Foundation & Concealer in Warm (Retail: $44)

On the left is bareMinerals and
the right is Stila.

The first comparison I did was with the bareMinerals READY and the Stila Stay All Day 10-In-1 HD Beauty Balm. The picture on the right shows the two of them side by side. Now as I mentioned, the colour that I got for the bareMinerals sample doesn't match so it gave a ghastly appearance. Thus I will not judge it based on that. What I think we can note is how the flash reflects off my skin. Mineral powder for the most part doesn't fare well against a camera, but even without looking at a picture, I can tell you that the BB really surprised me. It went on smoothly and covered my skin well.

On the left is CoverFX and
the right is Stila.

This one is even harder to see than the previous rendition of two-face but on the right is my CoverFX foundation that I use everyday and on the right is the Stila Stay All Day Foundation & Concealer in Warm. I was actually pretty intrigued by how the Stila foundation worked -- it was a bit darker than what I'm used to so I really had to blend it in. It kind of gave my skin a bit of a light tan almost. It's not hard to work with, but very pigmented. When I washed it off, it was kind of like pouring out chocolate milk.

The Stila foundations by this point were quite easy to work with -- but I have to say that in the past, I've never had a problem with them. I think they are great but they always seem to give me a slight tint. The BB cream though was spot on and evened out my skin without adding that tint or hint of colour, which is a nice change.

Per-fékt

For the Per-fékt foundation, I didn't really have anything left to compare it to. It has a lighter tint than the Stila Stay all Day Foundation (not the BB version) which made me a bit less discerning about working it in. Given that it's a gel, it seemed easier to apply than the Stila but has equal the amount of coverage. It's incredibly moisturizing as a result which I liked. It does strike me as a tinted primer though only because of the way it feels.

Truth be told though that if I were to make a switch from my CoverFX powder, it would probably be to the BB cream. I'm not a huge fan of liquids or gels, even though they might perform better (I can't attest to the longevity of these foundations). Plus there's the point of mineral foundation not coming off as flattering due to the flash element. Either way, the Per-fékt and both Stila foundations are working out very well.

To close, between each swatch, I used the First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser and my face was quite happy with that decision. In the past I've had to wait 30 minutes between each swatch because the cleanser would be rough on my skin and cause a rise in the redness. This time my skin didn't flare up with redness and I was able to get through the swatches quickly. I double checked and realized that the cleanser was good for sensitive skin which probably helps. This might have to be a future purchase once my current cleanser is done. 

Taking On the World of Disney

For my birthday, my boyfriend and I decided to take on Disney World which was an epic adventure and a lot of fun. It had been 13 years since I had been there and I was excited to experience it all again. I'm generally not big on celebrating my birthday but I figured that in the sea of people, it was easy to go unnoticed, even if you are wearing a large pin that says "Happy Birthday."

It was early but I was ready
for Magic Kingdom. 

Anyhow, let's talk about makeup since Florida is different both temperature wise and climate wise. It's wonderfully warm down there during December and humidity was around the high 50's. So what does this translate to? Well, first, let's consider what was in my makeup bag.

The things I brought along with me: My entire makeup bag which included included the CVS Illuminating Moisturizer with SPF and my Cover FX makeup (the pressed mineral powder and the setting powder). I also walked with all of my eyeliners, mascara, makeup brushes, and makeup sponges.

I did leave behind a lot of my eye shadows, but truth be told, I didn't have any intention of wearing them anyway. The Disney World parks are intense and the one thing you probably don't want to do is wear too much makeup if you have oily skin. I walked with copious amounts of blotting sheets in the event that my makeup would run.

As it turns out, the weather was quite amicable toward my makeup so I had no problem keeping it on. A word of caution though, as you might have noticed with my picture on the right, I went light with my makeup.

I have no news to really report about makeup, but as always, there was something new that I tried on my trip. This time it was a body lotion and a shampoo.

New Items: Dial NutriSkin Replenishing Body Lotion Sensitive Skin and Seventh Generation Baby Shampoo & Wash.

Dial NutriSkin isn't new to me -- a few months ago I tried out the Extra Dry Skin version (and conveniently forgot to write a review about it) and found that I liked it a lot. The only thing I wasn't thrilled with was that I just couldn't find it everywhere which is a problem when it comes time to buy a new bottle.

This time round during a trip to Publix to stock up, the Extra Dry Skin version wasn't anywhere to be found but the Sensitive Skin was. It was also the smallest bottle I could find that would be the best option for our vacation for the week.

I don't know if anyone else ever has this problem but the soaps that you get when vacation can be incredibly drying. When I was done washing my hands or taking a shower my skin would appear ashy white. Thankfully I had this lotion to revive my skin and every single time it made me so happy we sprang for it. They generally go for about ~$5 so at that price, it's not a huge risk to take either. It feels great on the skin, especially one that has been stripped of moisture so I would most definitely recommend this to anyone who has particularly dry skin.

Moving on to the shampoo, I've been keeping to shampoos that are free of parabens, sulfates, silicones, and dyes as best I can. After scouring the selection of normal shampoos without much luck, I headed on over to the infant's section and quickly found a close alternative for the trip. The Seventh Generation Baby Shampoo & Wash does have sulfates, but it doesn't contain parabens or silicones which was a trade I was willing to make fore a short amount of time. I kind of wish I had a loofah so that I could make use of the wash instead of suffering with the bar of soap. The bottle ranges from $6-$8 depending on the location.

My hair was wonderful during the trip which I attribute to the climate of Florida. It constantly appeared bouncy and wurly without ever seeming drab. I think the key item on this trip would have been the lotion because I didn't need the other products nearly as much. As for my hair, I noticed the difference after washing my hair the first day and upon our return to home, my hair return to it's lifeless state again. I think with the previous trips I learned that my skin and hair aren't always going to act the way I expect them to so it's best to be on your toes about visiting a new area that hasn't a different climate.

And now for some quick Disney tips! LeFou's Brew at Gaston's Tavern is an interesting blend and quite sugary. The souvenir cups are wonderfully cute too! For those of you with Disney World in your future, I will strongly recommend Undercover Tourist, not just for the discounted tickets (they are an authorized seller of discount tickets for Disney and Universal Studios, along with some other attractions in the Orlando area)  but also for their blog which is loaded with great tips. 

Sephora + Pantone Color IQ

I went in to Sephora (in San Francisco, Powell Street) to do this in early August (probably within the first week of it's release) and I was really excited about this. I've always had the hardest time picking foundations and figuring out what's right for me. Since starting this blog I've gotten a little bit better; I know my undertones, I know what looks good, and what doesn't (sometimes) but I still need help in that vast world of makeup. 

I went in when I had some time during my lunch break so I had makeup on my face. Lawrence (the sales associate that helped me) removed a bit from my forehead, jawline, and chin and then used the device on all three places. It take very long (perhaps 5 minutes tops) and I had a number which was my Pantone colour. 2Y11. Of course, this number doesn't mean much unless you enter it into the application which then tells you what your current colour is and gives you the option of choosing foundations that are lighter or darker than your current tone. 

Of course, getting a bunch of recommendations right off the bat can be a bit daunting but they give you the option of emailing your list to your email address. The email (pictured to the left) is really simplistic and lists them all out along with the colour which is quite handy.

Basically you get a listing of all the items, their picture link, their Sephora click-through link, the colour name and prices. 

I do kind of wish that email were put together a bit better but it does the job. Another thing I wish is that the Pantone system was available online so you could enter it and get all your recommendation (or perhaps tie it to your Sephora account). It's still pretty nifty and I did enjoy the ease that came about with this process because I no longer have depend on the sales associate to help me narrow down this wide field. Now I can just get a list and take it from there. You still do need to narrow it down based on your skin type, but this makes the colour matching a bit easier.

For my results, I parsed some of the information together below (but I didn't add the prices). Overall, I actually really like this system a lot and I am just so happy that it exists.

And I'm Back!

The last month was a nice breather for a lot of the things going on in my life -- I had decided to take a slight break not only from blogging (well, seriously blogging -- I was still having fun over at Etceteros), reading (120 books for the year), knitting, and crocheting. I was idle and it was awesome but now I've got to pick back up on something. During the month of August, I really didn't experiment much but I did notice a few things that I wanted to touch upon. It's time for Product Updates!

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Eyes

I went easy on the eye makeup and only used mascara here and there, the one stand up champion that I loved was Physicians Formula Organic Wear Jumbo Lash Mascara. I have long lashes and generally when I'm wearing mascara, the only thing I'm looking for is a slight pick me up to widen my eyes and darken my lashes a bit. A lot of formulas I've used have been on the clumpy side but this one does the trick without looking like it's too much.

Part of the reason why I haven't been using too much eye makeup is because my eyelids have been a bit dry (whereas the rest of my face has been acting oily). As a result, every night I put on some eye cream and I've been using Avon's Anew Retroactive+ Repair Eye Serum. I've had this bottle for quite some time now and it refuses to finish but overall, I do love the results that I get with it. This particular product is discontinued though but once I finish it out, I'll be switching back to 100% Pure eye cream.

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Hair Care

I've been switching back to my standard hair care routine -- no parabens, no silicones, and low sulfates (or no sulfates). During the month I finished out the last of my Renpure Organics then realized that the other bottles I had picked up had either parabens or silicones. I ended up returning them and I've been sticking with Garnier Pure Clean (which is not sulfate free, but it free of parabens and silicones -- my hair does not like silicones so it was a compromise I was willing to make).

Items I ended up getting rid of are the Bumble and Bumble Curl Conscious Defining Creme and the Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Dry Shampoo. These items are not inherently bad but as my hair has gotten longer, they really aren't working the way that they should The Bumble and Bumble Creme was actually weighing down my waves (or wurls) and wasn't giving me the lift I desired. My hair is thick and fine though so I imagine that it would still works for others, just not me. As for the NYM's Dry Shampoo, I prefer the cornstarch method now that my hair a little bit longer since it felt like it was weighing my hair down.

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Foundation

As I mentioned, I'm trying to go natural (again. A quick note about this, I had gone natural but stopped for a bit in order to incorporate SPF into my routine. As a result, I ended up drifting away but then realized, I had drifted away from SPF makeup as well which meant that I should probably just go all natural again). I've also been experimenting a bit more with different foundations as well.

Although I love and adore CoverFX, I finally did get my hands on the right Everyday Minerals foundation that matches me. So as a result for the last month I've been using the EDM foundations in lieu of the CoverFX. (And please note that CoverFX has SPF 10 and is paraben free, oil free, fragrance free, wax free). Anyhow I found that two of the EDM foundations works and I ended up ordering a bunch of foundation samples from Meow Cosmetics. I still think that CoverFX is the best so far but we'll  see what happens when I start experimenting again.

I did end up giving up my Illamasqua blush -- I was very happy with it's overall performance and pigmentation however I decided that I really wanted to stick to my goals and ended up getting a Tarte blush instead. I'll be working on a review for the Tarte item(s) later on.

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Well, I think that's it. My Guest Bloggers are missing in action but I do know that a lot of them are getting into the busy season so I can offer them a little bit of leeway. ;)

The Wonders of Kauai

Last week my boyfriend and I went to Kauai for a week -- it was a great week filled with a lot of sunshine, warm weather, and relaxation. Naturally during this vacation makeup was something that was kind of important to me, but not really. Especially since I forgot that what works here in San Francisco, does not work in the humid and warm climate of Kauai. While reminiscent of a New York City summer, it reminded me that my choice of makeup did not bode well. So here's the breakdown.

The things I brought along with me: My entire makeup bag which included my Alba Hawaiian Jasmine and Vitamin E moisturizer and new Cover FX makeup (the pressed mineral powder and the setting powder). I also tossed in a few of my e.l.f. Studio brushes.

The one thing left behind: Milk of Magnesia.

New Items: Garnier Fructis Pure Clean (Shampoo and Conditioner) and lots of generic rice paper (oil-blotting tissues).

We arrived early Sunday morning and since I wasn't particularly in the mood to worry about makeup when we checked in, I decided to go natural for the rest of the day. The next day however I did wear makeup and thus paid dearly for that. My face became quite the oil slick and I had to rely heavily on my e.l.f. Shine Erasers throughout the day. I was averaging about 3 sheets every hour between 11 AM to 3 PM so we had to stop into Longs Drugs to get me some more oil blotting sheets. 

Needless to say that the following day (Tuesday) and for the rest of the week I decided to go completely makeup free. I do suspect that the culprit was the moisturizing cream because as I mentioned, the weather and humidity was very similar to NYC during the summer. Which meant that I was supposed to switch moisturizers. The Jasmine and Vitamin E blend is fantastic for the winter however during the summer the Aloe and Green Tea Oil is actually much better and assists in controlling the oils. Since moving to SF I haven't had the need to switch moisturizers between the seasons so I didn't have the appropriate moisturizer for Hawaii. 

But to be honest, I actually did enjoy having the chance to go completely makeup free for my vacation. I did rely very heavily on the oil-blotting tissues but overall my skin held up well considering the factors. There was a point in time where I almost bought another bottle of Milk of Magnesia, but I figured that with the high temperatures, I didn't really want to be bothered with makeup. I bought two more packs of oil-blotting tissues instead and hoped for the best. Sure I grumbled a bit given the maximum shine that was added to my face but it was a nice change. It was kind of sad though that the makeup I bought specifically for this trip did not hold up. But I am happy to say that it does hold up well here in SF.

While I'm on topic about the Wonders of Kauai, let's touch upon hair care. I did walk with a small bottle of Argan Oil which I amazingly didn't have to use (not even once!). One of the first stops that we made was at Walmart so that we could pick up some essentials -- such as, but not limited to, hair care. We grabbed a bottle of the Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Fortifying Shampoo and the Fortifying Conditioner. I don't think I can properly convey how happy my curls were. This particular line (Pure Clean) has no parabens, no silicones, and no dyes, which meant that my hair was not weighed down. And given the climate, my hair was even curlier than normal and there wasn't a build up. At no point did my hair feel oily and/or greasy which is amazing for my hair. I have no idea what the change in climate will mean for how it holds up in the long-term but that is definitely something that I will touch upon in the future.

Makeup aside, do remember to get yourself
awesome souvenirs.

So if you're traveling, don't forget that weather and humidity are going to factor into your makeup and haircare. Be prepared for some sudden changes, especially if the destination you're going to doesn't have a Sephora or similar makeup store.

Notes on Finding a Foundation

Last week after a trip to Sephora, I felt confident enough to make the switch from Bare Minerals to Cover FX, especially since I was colour matched much more closely than before. The only catch was that after trying out a few different shades with the help of a consultant at Sephora, the colour we decided on was sold out. (The consultant knew it was sold out and thus hesitated to try let me try it out, but found that it was the closest match). After checking Sephora online, it was also all sold out so I came very nearly close to ordering it directly from the Cover FX website, except that there was a fear that it wouldn't arrive in time. So I called another Sephora location and asked my BF if he could take me there which he did.

Upon arriving I wanted to be very sure that the foundation I was getting was going to properly match. After all, when you have to buy a new foundation and a new definition powder, you need to be sure that it's the right colour. With the help of another consultant we determined that the original B0 (Brown Sugar) was in fact a bit too dark and that I could switch to M80 (Deep Mocha) and it would match just fine. It looked good in the store without looking too cakey, ashy, or incredibly obvious so I went with it. 

I've been using it for a few days now and I'm very happy with it's overall performance. I know that I've already mentioned this before in my initial review but I definitely want to touch on some important points about this process of choosing a new foundation, which took about a week.

1. Getting a consultation or getting help from associates/consultants is very useful, especially if you have an uneven skin tone. Do not be afraid to ask and do not be afraid to speak up your mind. If you don't like something, even if you can't articulate why, don't be swayed. Try it out for a bit but be sure to stand your ground if you don't like it.
2. That being said, don't be afraid to get another opinion. Don't be afraid to go back another day. It's good to check things out one day, but then with a fresh face, go back another day to make sure what you're getting or what you like the day before works.
3. What is especially important to note when you're getting help, watch those sponges that they use on you. Each day that I got help with foundation the consultant/associate used the same sponge, which is fine if you're testing one or two foundations. This is not helpful if you're testing 3+ different types or colours of foundation. Be very careful about the colour you tested in store versus the colour you are actually buying.
• Example: The day I went into Sephora we tried out liquid foundations from MUFE and Cover FX powders -- we tried about 6 different types without ever changing sponges so of course, the perfect colour I got toward the end wasn't a colour that existed.
4. It is incredibly helpful if you get a knowledgeable person who can narrow down the vast array of various makeup brands that there are. But you need to know your basics so that they know how to help you.
• What kind of skin do you have? Is it oily, dry, normal, or combination?
• What kind of coverage are you looking for? Do you want sheer, medium, or full coverage?
• What kind of finish do you want? 
• You do not need to know your exact skintone (as in, how does your skin translate to one of the colours they offer) and your undertones, since they will be able to help you with that.
5. Don't fret if you don't find what you're looking for the first time. Try other brands, go to different counters, or go to a different consultant. Don't be afraid to ask for help and don't be afraid to say, "I don't know what I'm doing with this particular thing (whether it's foundation, blush, eyeliner, etc.)."

Review: Cover FX Pressed Mineral Powder

As my Bare Minerals is now at 50%, I've decided to start looking for another foundation (mostly because I've become exceedingly aware of how ashy it looks but that could be because I'm being sensitive). So this week I've been starting the day with a bit of moisturizer and then seeking help from various stores. Today I decided to approach Sephora for help since they have a wider selection to choose from. So with the help of one of the associates, we were able to narrow it down quite a bit.

After explaining what I currently use and what problems I was having, the first stop was MUFE, except that the colours didn't quite match. She was about to try out the Sephora collection before realizing that Cover FX might be a bit better. And it was.

She tried out three different shades and compared them side by side to figure out what would work. My skin tone is a bit uneven so that makes matching a bit difficult but we has success with Cover FX which was the Pressed Mineral Powder in B0. I've got to say that I was and still am quite impressed with the coverage of it. General remarks, if you find the right colour, it goes on flawlessly, provides good coverage, is lightweight, and feels great. (If you get the wrong colour then I admit it will look ashy or cakey). Unfortunately during the testing phase my moisturizer was removed so I can't say how well it works out with the moisturizer and primer, but the fact that it stands on its own is great. It's matte which means that the natural oils are being controlled though I still think that I would need a moisturizer underneath to help control my T-zone.

After a couple of hours it is holding up against the natural oils very well and maintains breathability which is fantastic. In comparison to the MAC Matchmaster that I tried out the other day, my skin doesn't feel as weighed down and there isn't very much residue. Overall, I love how much it accentuates the colours of my face and it definitely helps that it doesn't have as much additives (that's fancy for parabens) in it.

My one true sadness though is that Sephora is sold out of that one colour and it's sold out online. I can order it directly from the Cover FX website but then how will I ever get to V.I.B. if I don't order it from Sephora?!

Update: Sorry for the blurry picture but the interesting thing is how the oils appear. In every picture I took, the oils shone through however when I examine it in the mirror, although there is a slight shine, it doesn't appear as bad as it does in the photos. The oiliness could be because I'm not wearing anything underneath the makeup (no moisturizer or Milk of Magnesia) however it still looks okay. In this photo I'm also wearing a NARS blush in Torrid.

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Product: Cover FX Pressed Mineral Powder Foundation SPF 10 (Powder FX), B0
Price: $35
Would Recommend? Yes
Takeaway: Great for oily skin, variety of colours, medium coverage (which is great for those with an uneven skin tone), lightweight, little if any residue, feels great and looks great. 

Review: MAC Matchmaster 7.5

I may be late to the game of MAC's Matchmaster, but I promise I have some reasoning behind that. (Warning: This is a bit of a rant, so skip ahead to the next paragraph if you don't want to read this part). I know a few MAC Artists and I think they are great; they do a fantastic job and they are highly patient. Problem is that they live far away from me which means that I have to rely on the nearby counters and stores to help me out. And every time I step into one of the stores or go to the counters, the MAC Artists I have encountered are incredibly rude and if they aren't rude, then they are unhelpful or ignore me -- even after I ask for help. So over the years I've come to avoid MAC counters. Except a huge problem when it comes to makeup is that MAC seems to have developed the industry standards -- want to know what colour you are in other foundations? Then you need to know your MAC number. I thus decided that I needed to shelf my dislike for them and make sure that I get my number this time. Happily, for the first time ever the MAC Consultant was nice and patient, which means I actually accomplished something today.

As this was a spur of the moment decision, I have no before pictures to show however to the left is a picture of what it looked like after about 7 hours. So after explaining to the consultant my skin type the first thing she matched me to was MAC Matchmaster in 7.5 (and yes, I still don't know what my normal foundation colour would be). Anyhow, I realized right away why my options were limited and that was after she put on one of the cream foundations: my skin is really damn weird. By doing a comparison of the cream versus the liquid, the cream appeared a bit ashy. 

So back to Matchmaster. It definitely doesn't provide full coverage, so let's just get that out of the way. Luckily, that's not what I'm looking for. In general I'm looking for medium coverage with a matte finish especially since I have an oily T-zone. Coverage is decent, but it's a bit light in order to properly blend with the skin which is why I'm not 100% sold on this product. Initial thought is that why it has a richer appearance (doesn't appear ashy, complements my face well) my reservation is that I feel that it might a bit on the darker side. That could be my own bias though going from a powder to a liquid foundation. The bright side is that I have been wearing it for just about 5 hours and noticed that it's controlling the oils well. 

A huge fear that I still have though is my breathability. My face is particular and one of the reasons my face has been less prone to breakouts or issues is because although it can get really dry and/or really oily (sometimes at the same time) I don't pile on too much makeup. I like to keep it natural or if I do indulge in makeup, I don't go heavy because of this. It's Matchmaster enough to make me want to switch? I'm not sure just yet. I still have a few more counters to visit before I make a decision.

Update: As the night wore on the makeup vanished on its own so by the time I was ready to wash my face, there wasn't much left. So it's not very long-lasting which is a problem for me.

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Product: MAC Matchmaster in 7.5
Price: $32.50
Would Recommend? I hesitate to say yes or no since I only had a consultation.

Takeaway: It provides medium coverage as it's a bit on the light side though you can build on the foundation. Matches skin very well and controls oil. There is a lot of residue (meaning that it comes off easily) and thus it is not long lasting.