Luminess Air Brush Foundation Review

Posted on June 25, 2020 by Henna

Have you heard about the Luminess Air Brush Foundation System.  It’s the same kind of makeup that professional makeup artists use, and there’s no brushes or fingertips required to put on any of the products.  All you use is a simple airbrush to literally spray the foundation on to your skin.

I was so excited to use this kit, and watched the instructional tutorial right when it came in the mail.  Then I foundation matched myself (by spraying a layer on my jaw line and seeing how well it blended into the rest of my skin), and proceeded to use this for a night out.

I’ve used this 10 or so times now, and I absolutely love the whole system.  Not only does it look natural on the skin, but the foundation lasts the whole entire day and looks fabulous.  When I know that I’m going to be running around for the whole day, I use this system because I know that my skin will look flawless from morning to night.

I think what I really like about this foundation is that it can be customized on every level. You are spraying such a light layer that you can get exactly the right amount of coverage on your skin. Areas that have light scarring get a 2nd or 3rd pass, while the rest of my skin gets just a light spray and it all blends in together. I can also spray some on my neck and chest so that matches the rest of my skin, and I can blend everything out perfectly.

I can also customize the foundation colour. So far, I’ve realized that I’m a UF-3 mixed with a few drops of the UF-2 and I get my own perfect shade of foundation. I know that when I get a little more tan this summer, I’m going to be a full UF-3 that will maybe be topped up with some of the luminous bronzer.

I’m also loving the blush that the Luminess Air kit came with. On the first try, I found that the blush was way too pigmented and looked unnatural on my skin. However, I used a makeup artist tip to make it blend in more. I applied the blush to my cheeks first, and then I applied the foundation all over my face. This way, the blush showed through the foundation, and it looked more blended in and natural.

I’ve also really liked mixing a couple of drops of bronzer into my foundation to give my skin a glowy look. The bronzer is shimmery, so you can add just the right amount of shimmer to your whole foundation by just adding one or two drops into the mix.

The one thing that I have to say is that the foundation sets a lot darker than it first appears on your skin. That’s why the blush was so hard to use as well – when it went on, it looked like a nice soft pink, but once it fully dried it was much darker and brighter. The same goes for the foundation. I really thought that UF-3 would be a perfect match for my skin and it looked great in the bottle on when I first applied it on my skin. However, once it dried it was much darker, and almost orangy in tone whereas my regular skintone is more of a neutral colour.

My suggestion would be to play with this kit a lot at home, and really see how it dries and wears on your skin before you wear it out. You may decide that you like the slight darkening (it looks great in pictures and totally natural, actually) or you might decide to blend with a lighter colour like I did.

I found that I used a lot more foundation that they recommended to get the kind of coverage and expanse of coverage that I wanted. They recommended using 7-8 drops and I found that 10 drops was ideal for me. At this rate, I’m going through the foundation pretty quickly, but it’s really worth it for the look that I’m getting.

My other tip is to use the moisturizer primer that comes with the kit – it is amazing, and I actually saw a difference in how the foundation wore when I used this. The foundation not only went on better, but it looked more natural for the rest of my day.

I also used a translucent powder on top of my foundation to set it. The powder started out really matte, but once everything set on my skin (about 30 minutes later) the whole look was totally flawless.

I don’t use the foundation every day – it is more of a special events kind of look for me, so I do use it more on the weekends and when I know that I’m going to have a very long day. I plan on using it a lot more when I attend some weddings this summer, and so far, I’ve seen that the foundation shows up really nicely in pictures.

Again, the Luminess Airbrush System is available online for $200. Get the beginner kit and really play around with it before you splurge and get the foundation colour that suits you the best.

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Niucoco – a New Line of Coconut Oil Hair Care

Posted on June 25, 2020 by Henna

I’m totally on the coconut bandwagon. I’ve always loved eating macaroons and Bounty bars, and now I’m even adding coconut oil to my coffee in the mornings. But people around the world – India included – have been using coconut oil in their hair for centuries. In India, you put coconut oil in your hair, let it marinate while you brush your teeth, wash your face, choose what to wear, and then you wash it out.

It’s a natural conditioner, and because it can coat the hair and make it brittle – like silicone – it’s not always a great idea to leave it on the hair all the time. That being said, coconut oil, and other palm oils, are the only ones that have been proven to actually enter the hair shaft and condition hair from the inside out so they can definitely make a difference in the health of your hair when used over the long-term.

Niucoco Hair Care uses coconut oil in their shampoo, conditioner, and serum. The products are hydrating and moisturizing and they leave hair looking and feeling conditioned.

But check out the ingredients for the serum: I wish coconut oil was higher on the list – maybe second or third – but it’s in there! The products aren’t silicone-free or even all-natural but they’re still a good option if you want to incorporate some coconut oil styling products to your haircare routine.

Available online.

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The Ordinary Company 2% Retinoid Serum

Posted on June 25, 2020 by Henna

This Retinoid Serum costs just $9.80.

If you’ve always been interested in top-of-the-line skincare, but wary of the price point, then you need to check out The Ordinary skincare company.  They have key ingredients formulated at a strength that’s really going to make a difference in your skin, and all without the crazy price tag that comes with marketing.  This is the future of skincare. 

For example, I’ve been using their Advanced Retinoid 2% serum – and it costs just $9.80.

No, it doesn’t have 2% retinol in it, that would be crazy strong, but it does have a new form of stabilized retinoate that’s more gentle on your skin but still makes it brighter and clearer.  You won’t have the crazy peeling that a regular retinol product would give you, but you will have skin that’s a little bit dryer because of the increased cell turnover, and that’s what’s going to make your skin more clear and better-looking.  It’ll take care of acne, oiliness, and large pores, and all without you even breaking the bank. 

The Ordinary Company is the skincare company you haven’t heard of.  They don’t spend a lot of money on their marketing or fancy packaging.  What they invest in is their formulas, and they don’t mark up the price because they don’t need to.  It turns out that you can still make a profit if you’re selling a good product!

I use this in the evening on its own without any moisturizer.  In the case that my skin is feeling dry, then I apply moisturizer on its own followed by a face oil to really lock everything in.  I find that using the Retinoid every other evening really works for me, and I use a moisturizing sunscreen in the morning so make sure that I don’t get any more freckles and sunspots. 

If you want really good skincare, then check out The Ordinary Company – they even have a Regimen Guide on their website so that you can figure out which products are good for you. 

The Ordinary products are available online only.  They are quite affordable and if you’re trying to figure out what kind of ingredient works for your skin, they’re great. 

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It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Silk HD Setting Powder Review

Posted on June 25, 2020 by Henna

If you like wearing foundation that has more of a satin finish rather than a true matte one, you’re going to need something that’s going to set it for the entire day.  Try using It Cosmetics’ Bye Bye Pores Silk HD Setting Powder.

The powder just melts into the skin and absorbs any extra oils without drying out the skin.  It’s not as totally color-less as some setting powders are – I did notice that my skin was a little paler after I used this powder – but it does a really good job of giving you matte skin that’s not powdery.  I actually loved how this looked because it made me look as if I wasn’t wearing any makeup at all.

However, the reason that I use this is because the matte finish doesn’t last the entire day.  After a little while of wearing this powder, I notice that it kind of sinks into my foundation and just gives it a nice and “set” look.  Indeed, the reason that I wear this is not because it’s totally matte.  The reason I use this is because I’ve noticed that it really does make my foundation last the whole entire day, and everything just looks blended together.  My skin looks poreless yet glowy and I absolutely love that.  At the end of a long day (days which are getting warmer and warmer might I add), my skin still feels silky soft to the touch and my makeup still looks done.

My personal tip is to put this on your foundation brush first, then put your foundation on the brush and blend into your skin.  The foundation will be more matte and more powdery and you might not need any more powder on top!  The other thing that I’ve seen online is that people apply the powder lightly first, almost like a primer, and then put the foundation on top for longer lasting powder and better coverage.

Available online.

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Farmhouse Fresh Organics

Posted on June 25, 2020 by Henna

Spa bath and body line Farmhouse Fresh now has a certified organics line of products for the body.  It has no GMO’s, no synthetic herbicides, and no synthetic pesticides – from root to jar!  That means that not only are the ingredients organic, but so are the tools used in transforming the raw ingredients into lotions and creams for the skin!  If eco-friendly products ever mattered to you, then this is a line to consider!

The collection includes: Big Bare Whipped Shea Butter Body Polish ($42), Sweet Milk Body & Hand Lotion ($34 + $16), Island Elixir Shea Butter Body & Hand Cream ($26 + $16), Blushing Agave Body Oil ($27), Sunflower Honey‐Butter ($30) and Lemongrass Ocean Mineral Bath Soak ($23).

I have the Big Bare Whipped Shea Butter Body Polish, and the Island Elixir Shea Butter Body & Hand Cream. The body scrub is a mix of shea butter and sunflower seed oil and like all good scrubs it leaves a sheen on the skin so that it’s moisturized and clean.  The Island Elixir Cream also has shea butter in it and leaves your skin hydrated and scented.  It smells like a pina colada, but the scent dissipates after a little while and all you’re left with is nice moisturized skin. 

You can purchase the collection online .

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PCA Pigment Gel

Posted on June 25, 2020 by Henna

So many people ask me about hyperpigmentation either from acne, or from sun damage, and this PCA gel is one of the best – you can get it in a hydroquinone version or HQ free and it combines lactic acid with melanin-lightening ingredients to help your skin look blemish-free.  Updated link to purchase at the bottom of the post.

So I picked up the PCA HQ Free Pigment Gel.

PCA Pigment Gel HQ Free

It works because it has Kojic Acid and Lactic Acid at the perfect pH and so it totally works on exfoliating my skin so that my tan would fade away.

I saw a great reduction in the tan from the very first time that I used it.  You should especially try this if you’re wary of using products that have hydroquinone in them.  Though it’s been known to be super-effective at lightening skin, it’s also a controversial ingredient because some scientists don’t think that it’s completely safe.    Also, PCA makes a version of this product with HQ in it, and I have not yet tried that.  Not only will it take care of a tan you don’t want, but it will also bring evenness to your skin.

Available through dermatologists and medical spas, or online.  $64

 

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Aveeno Sensitive Skin Ultra Light Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Video Review

Posted on June 25, 2020 by Henna

Finding a good mineral sunscreen that you actually look forward to using is harder than it looks, but Aveeno’s new Sensitive Skin Ultra Light Mineral Sunscreen with SPF 50 is actually pretty good.  Watch me apply it on video and see for yourself.  I also apply it on one hand and hold it up against the other so you can see the colour difference, and there is a bit of a difference.  But the difference wouldn’t be noticeable to anyone but me.

http://www.instagram.com/tv/CBlOQdrJ87V/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

Even though I said that I would go out with it on and no makeup, when I think about it now, I gotta say that I probably wouldn’t want to be photographed like that unless I had applied it all over my body and knew that the colour looked homogenous all over.

What do you guys think? Would you wear this mineral sunscreen?

I loved it and would definitely rebuy.  Active ingredients are Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide.

$15.97 at drugstores and mass merchandisers.

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Bali Body Moisturizing Sunscreen

Posted on June 24, 2020 by Henna

Australian brand Bali Body is known for their self-tanners but when they asked me if I wanted to try anything from the brand, I knew that tanning wasn’t going to be the way for me to go, so I asked to try some of their products that aren’t for tanning.  These are their Shimmering Body Oil, Moisturizing Sunscreen, and their Coconut Lip Balm which has actual coconut oil in it.

Because the weather has been cloudy but also sunny around here, it’s the sunscreen that’s been getting the most use, and the Bali Body packaging means that the kids are reaching for it all the time.  Look at that cute bottle!

Sunscreen around here is one of those things that you can tell whether it’s good or not just by how many people reach for it.  Leave it on the counter, and if it’s tacky or whitish on your skin then nobody is going to use it.  If it’s smooth and easy to apply then it’s a winner.  This Bali Body Moisturizing Sunscreen is just SPF 15, it’s light and easy to apply.  I use it on my face and my body and I especially love it on my face because it doesn’t sting if you get it into your eyes.  That means my kids are liking this too.

SPF 15 isn’t the highest, and usually I like to use something with a higher SPF, but this sunscreen is great for cloudy days or for even being inside all day.

As I mentioned before, I also love the Bali Body Lip Balm.  It has actual coconut oil in it – you’ll know because it gets melty when it’s warmer, and it freezes up a little when it’s cold.  It has SPF 15 with the coconut oil but you won’t know – it just feels like a nice glossy lip balm on your lips.

You can find Bali Body on their website. $28.95 for the Sunscreen, $39.95 for the Shimmering Body Oil, $19.95 for the Coconut Lip Balm.  If you go to their website, you can see that they have free shipping on all orders!

 

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I Like Korres Lip Balm

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Henna

I’m sure many of you have walked by or heard of Korres products before and didn’t know what the big deal was.   As it turns out, Korres is a Greek company that makes skincare products using plant derivatives.  Think old world natural products that have some science to back them up, and the result is a line of wonderful products that seem almost healthy to use.

One of my favourites of the line is their lip balm.  It is so smooth and moisturizing that I keep it beside my bed and use it nightly.  It sinks into my lips and makes them so smooth.

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart. $16.

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REN Clean Jelly Oil Cleanser

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Henna

Ren is a clean skincare brand that’s easy to find – it’s available at Sephora – and it’s high-end with products that still work.

One of their newer launches is the Clean Jelly Oil Cleanser which is perfect if you like to do a double cleanse.  It’s oil-based and as you can see in the picture, it’s quite thick.  More like a gel than an oil, but melts in your hands and spreads on to your face.

This cleanser leaves a bit of a film when you wash it off – which REN says is a moisturizer, but to me if feels like a residue.  So I follow-up with a foaming cleanser and that feels more comfortable on my skin.

The Ren Jelly Oil Cleanser really cleans melts all your makeup and gets it all off.  Even waterproof mascara is no match for this cleanser.

$42 at Sephora.

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