.:: CybeleSays ::.

I admit that I like a little more coverage than the average tinted face moisturizer offers and I think I found it with VOTRE VU’s Love Me Deux Nourishing Moisture Tint & Concealer, from the French Accents line. The packaging is reminiscent of this one, which is muy convenient for toting it around. I mean, how many of us actually carry a concealer with us at all times? Lipstick? Yes. Face Powder? Yes. But concealer? Mmmm, not really, so when you’re giving your face the once over with the powder, dab a little concealer that’s in the cap, under your eyes for an instant perk-me-up. And the Tint has some great ingredients in it like jojoba oils, aloe vera, and honeysuckle extract as well as vitamin E and pure minerals and botanicals in the Concealer. Available in 6 shade duos for $43/25ml Tint, 1ml Concealer @ votrevu.com.

New from the COVER FX line is their Pressed Mineral Foundation and this is only the second press mineral foundation I have ever tried, so I guess it’s hard to make a mineral foundation powder in a press form … or am I reading too much into this?!

Anyway, I just love the coverage I get from mineral foundations and a pressed formula is much more convenient to tote around than the loose version.

And is it shallow to be in love with the application sponge? Love when a company splurges in this department!

This pressed one is a medium to full coverage and is available in 24 different shades and you can find your perfect match just by knowing what your undertones are (google it) and then use that info to find your shade: P = Pink, N = Neutral and G = Golden. I think that if there is any part of beauty that is confusing, it’s the whole, “What are your undertones?” part but once you have that down, the rest is pretty easy. $35 @ sephora.com and coverfx.com.

I wonder what the BARE ESCENTUALS stats are like when it comes to their signature foundation. Like 1 in 10 women wear bareMinerals Foundation. I’m sure they have done studies but now they’ve upped the anti with their new READY SPF 20 Foundation. It’s their first foray into a solid mineral foundation and I’m liking it so far. And obviously this one is sooo much easier to tote around in your purse!

The powder contains a SeaNutritive Mineral Complex, which is made up of major antioxidants like vitamins A, C and E as well as rose hip see oil. It also has a unique time-released hydration system so it won’t settle into lines and creases like some foundations can, and extra moisture is good for the skin, right?

Available in 20 shades for $29/14grams.

And I love, love, love (as they say on QVC) their Precision Face Brush ($28). It’s a dense brush head and comprised of synthetic bristles. I’m not sure if it’s the flat head or the width of it but it’s just perfect with this foundation. And it also comes in a travel-friendly version called the Retractable Precision Face Brush ($22).So get your travel on!

All @ bareescentuals.com.

Disclosure: Samples of these items were provided for review purposes.

I’ve tried a few of the lines and I really believe we’ve reached the next level when it comes to airbrush makeup and it’s called BELLOCCIO. Their system contains anti-aging moisturizers like Hyaluronic Acid and aloe (this was just a matter of time though, right?). Airbrush makeup has definitely taken off and it’s not just for the professional person as I know a few people who use it as their everyday makeup. As far as the technique goes, the only challenge is finding your perfect shade, which for the average person can be just that, a challenge. With Belloccio, they try to make it less daunting by having you choose your color palette on their site. The shade families are: Fair, Medium Tan and Dark. Not too difficult. Each color set will include 4 shades (also a bottle of white and black) that fall into that color family – cool, neutral, warm, again, whichever fall into that tone family. Try one of the shades and you may find that you have to add 3 drops of one and then 1 drop of a darker one to get your exact shade. Yes, it will take some time to get the right color but that’s kind of the fun of this kind of makeup. Because once you know your mixture, you can up or down it a little depending on the time of year.

Items start at $49.99 and go up from there depending on if you get colors in addition to the foundations. I recommend the Starter Kit, which includes the compressor, airbrush w/hose, foundation set, blush trio pack, bronzer, their Anti-Aging Moisturizing Primer to help it last for hours, a tanning solution, a 4oz bottle of airbrush cleaner, instructional brochure and DVD, all for $179.99. Read more about the line @ belloccio.com.

And if you are still afraid of trying it out, I recommend checking out their YouTube channel here. Sometimes a nice visual is all you need, right?

Do you change your foundation from season to season or is it rather week to week? Like fragrances, I fall into the latter category. But the latest liquid I’ve been rocking is BENEFIT COSMETICS’ new Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow SPF 25 Brightening Makeup. This is their foray into the foundation category and I have to say their timing is right on. What I partially mean by this is that it sucks when a brand comes out with a product, just to have it in the line. I really feel like they did their due in creating this one.

It’s described as a lightweight and brightening formula that’s oil-free and has a SPF 25 PA+++ and comes in nine different shades. They have somehow incorporated oxygen into it, as the name states, to help plump up the skin and hydrate it. Did I notice this? Not really to my naked eye.

If you are in the market for a medium coverage foundation, this would be a good one to give a whirl. And I like that it comes in a keep-the-foundation-bacteria-free pump bottle and a little goes a long way. $34/1oz @ benefitcosmetics.com.

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.

So how do you feel about mineral makeup? There are quite a few lines that have come out over the years and I’ve explored some of them here and even though it’s an old story at this point, I’m still intrigued by lines I come across, especially by this one here, MINERAL HYGENICS.

I really like their website and how clear they are about the ingredients inside their makeup. I mean, it is(it) all about what’s inside and what’s not(it) inside the powders. And you really need to get to know your mineral makeup, especially if you have sensitive skin because some ingredients have been known to be irritating. If you are a sensitive type, you may have some luck with this Mineral Hygenics line of foundation powders as each contains just 4 ingredients: mica, iron oxides, zinc oxides and titanium dioxide. That’s it and they break down other mineral makeup lines as well so you can see side-by-side what contains what.

So this MH has sun protection (zinc oxides and titanium dioxide), is water resistant and lasts quite a long time on the skin.

They have some nicely priced sets to choose from as well as blushes, eye shadows and lipsticks but as usual, I tend to judge a mineral line by its powder foundations first and then the rest and I’m giving this line a thumbs up. Starter kits startat $29.99 @ mineralhygenics.com. 

Disclosure: Samples of these items were provided for review purposes.

What do you think when a renowned makeup artist puts out a line? Does it make you more interested in the line or does it even matter? The latest line I’ve come across is IQ BEAUTY from internationally known makeup artist Fredericke Grillitz. Yes, the MUA has seen it all and will usually put out a line or collection of items where he/she has seen a gap in the industry. But do they always transfer to the everyday person’s use? Sometimes I say yes but sometimes no and only a professional will be to make use of a product.

With that said, I was able to give the Sheer Activity Base ($65/large size (looks to be about 2oz), $45/travel) a whirl and it seems to be kind of like a souped up tinted moisturizer. It's sheer like a tinted and the souped up part comes in as it has a touch of luminosity in it but not so much that you will look odd if you put it all over the face. It comes in one shade and contains vitamins A, C and E and even a SPF15. This is totally made for anyone to use.

If you do want more glow in specific places, then you should add a couple of dabs of the Sheer Activity Glow over the above base.

The items are a little on the expensive side but after trying these two, I’m curious about the others. Check out iqbeauty.com for more info.

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.

As we hit this time of year, I find myself reaching for more coverage when it comes to a foundation. Do I instinctually think it’s going to keep me warm or something? Anyway, I recently tried ERNO LASZLO’s  Absolute Finish SPF 15 and while I’m looking for a fuller coverage, that doesn’t mean I was something that feels heavy on my skin.

Wanna see more pics? Click below.

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CLINIQUE Repairwear Laser Focus All Smooth Makeup SPF 15 ($32.50/1oz @ clinique.com) -  this is the latest foundation from the brand that includes an anti-aging serum in it as well as a spf. This comes in 12 shades.

Click here to read more

I’ve just been settling for some sunscreens for the face lately that I don’t really like in hopes of just using them up – most leave white behind that just takes too long to absorb. But this DR. JART Premium BB Beauty Balm ($39/1.5oz @ sephora.com) is a whole new avenue for me! It’s a moisturizer, sunscreen (SPF 45), and treatment serum that contains brightening properties. All things I can use these days! The best part about this one is that it’s tinted and the tint is supposed to adjust to your skin tone, which it seems to do pretty well. I’m a light to medium olive skin tone and at first my face looked kind of chalky but that faded after 5 minutes or so and the coverage is pretty sheer, so perfect for just evening out the skin tone.

From what I understand, BB Creams are really big in Asia and they are just being made available stateside and I can see why. If they do all this multi-tasking, what’s not to like or love?

Will you be trying this from Dr.Jart+?

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.