Tweet Best of 2011 - Face

and the award goes to...

Moisturizers & Base Products

1. Origins VitaZing SPF 15

After using this for a month or so, i found that my skin was much smoother and more even. I love the color changing magic, and i love the fact that it helps even out my skin without clogging any pores. Now, i only use this face product in the mornings, completely skipping foundation!

2. Clinique Moisture Surge - Extended Thirst Relief

  

For those needing an extra hydrating boost in the winter, this is the product you need! Not to be used as just a moisturizer, but as a final step to your skincare regime, this product helps protect and seal in your moisture keeping it safe from the pollutants and rough winds. This seriously makes my skin baby soft and keeps it nice and fresh during the winter season.

3. Shu Uemura UV Under Base Mousse

This is my HG skin primer. Using this under any foundation is bound to make it last forever and ever. This primer is very unique in that it comes in a mousse form just like your hair mousse would! THe result is a very light coat that gets absorbed very quickly. Plus, the one i have is also tinted so it also helps even out your skin tone.

Foundations:

1. Make Up For Ever Face & Body Foundation

For days & nights out when i want a little extra coverage, i go to my trusty MUFE foundation. This one is very light and a tad liquidy giving a nice refreshing hydrating feeling. Although this may be only light-medium coverage, i love how this feels and it definitely lasts all night long!

2. MAC MSF Natural

This is the perfect finish in that it helps even out my skin while absorbing all theexcess oils and keeping my skin nice and matte. I use a light dusting of this daily after my Origins VitaZing to give a little more coverage.

Blushes & Bronzers & Highlighters


1. L'oreal True Match in Innocent Flush

This is my favourite matte blush. Its hard to find a really good matte drugstore blush, but this is it guys! Super pigmented and super blendable, i really cant say anything bad about this blush! the texture is so soft and just a light tap of a brush picks up enough product because you only need so little to create such a gorgeous flush.

2. Hard Candy's Blush in Honeymoon

wearing Hard Candy honeymoon and living doll

This might be more of a highlighter to most but for some it can pass as a blush. I like to use this on the tops of my cheekbones because it gives the most gorgeous soft glow.


3. Annabelle's Zebra Bronzing Powder

I love this bronzer because it is really subtle but does its job well. It has some fine glitter which is very flattering on the skin. I love using this to contour my cheekbones as well as my temples because it gives a very natural and soft edge.

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and that's it for face products! Let me know if you have tried out some of these products before and what you think! Of if you know of any better ones because im always up for trying something new! :D Have a good day everyone!

P.S. i fixed the link to the form for giveaway #2. the form should also appear on the post now. Sorry for any inconvenience this causes!

Tweet Let Your Skin Breathe in Spring with Origins Vitazing Moisturizer!

everyone says this is "life changing"

but ohh.. im not so sure i would bring it THAT far. i've been using Origins' Vitazing Moisturizer for about 3 - 4 weeks now, and while i do like it, i wouldnt say it is a life changing product. at least not yet!

 

What the website says:

This multi-tasking moisturizer handles the vital jobs of hydrating, energizing and protecting to maintain skin's momentum all day. Gives skin the refreshing zing of antioxidant-rich Mangosteen. And adds a healthy hit of radiance that mimics the glow you get from a week's vacation. All in 10 seconds max.  Slip it on first thing tomorrow - you'll look like you eat right, sleep tight & don't have a worry in sight. 

here are some product pictures showing how it works..

 

it comes out as a white moisturizer with grey specks. the grey specks are what causes the color changing aspect of this moisturizer

 

here it is half blended, you can see the color change. but overall, it is still very sheer and dewy.

 

again, another picture showing the color change

 

here, it is already fully blended in. 

Pictures before and after:

 

before... no makeup at all EEEK!

during... and then with the help of concealer & pressed powder..

How do I apply this?
The first few times i used this product, i used my fingers. because thats usually the simplest method for quick makeup application yet the warmth of your fingers also allow flawless blending. wrong. i find that if i use my fingers, streak marks can easily appear if i dont blend carefully enough. 

So, i started using my trusty Sigma F80 and/or my Sigma Miss Taylor Kabuki (both of which i ADORE and cant live without). and guess what? perfection! the flat top kabukis are a wonder when it comes to blending in the product and are also great for buffing it in nicely so you end up with no streaks <3

 after, just origins vitazing, maybelline concealer and rimmel powder appiled

First, the good.

This product is definitely a multi-tasker as it doubles as both a moisturizer packed with anti-oxidants to make your skin better, and a tinted moisturizer to give you some coverage. I would say that using only the product itself will give you SHEER coverage in that it helps even skin tones but doesnt cover blemishes or acne scarring. However, adding some concealer and then setting it all with some pressed or loose powder provides sufficient coverage (for me at least). It also comes in a tube form, making it very convenient and sanitary :)

The moisturizing aspect of this is quite nice. I like to use it after my usual gel moisturizer, but even if i am in a hurry and just use this product after washing my face, i find that my skin doesnt dry out throughout the day. (note, i do have combination skin) As well, this product does give a nice dewy glow if you decide not to set with a powder. Overall, i would say this is a good product to use for spring and summer when you dont want too much product on your face.

future note:

i have yet to fully see the benefits of all the antioxidants as i have only been using it for 3-4 weeks. I can say that i my skin tone does seem more even and i haven't been getting any more blemishes, which is a good sign (a really good sign!) but i will have to continue and see if this product is actually the reason for that. updates to come!

and the bad.

I expected this product to have higher coverage.. but then again, i guess it is just a tinted moisturizer. For the majority of us who suffer from acne or acne scarring, a concealer will be needed in addition to this product. Also, this is for most, in the higher price ranges costing $35 US for 1.7 oz. (for us canadians, it costs $44!) Although you dont need much to cover your entire face, for sheer coverage, this does seem to be a tad overpriced.

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Overall?
I am actually quite liking this product! and i think its perfect for spring and summer time when i opt for a more natural look rather than a full heavy face. Although it does have a sheer coverage and costs more than i'd like, i think i can splurge again when i run out just to get that pretty glowy look and even out my skintone <3

Tweet Monthly Favorites - March 2011

Top products this month!

Aww man, I'm always late at doing these monthly favorite posts! My bad! But here are my most used products for the month of march :)


Foundation Routine:
I've updated my foundation routine for spring! Took out my Revlon Photoready and replaced it with a tinted moisturizer for that more natural dewy look :)

Origins Vitazing Moisturizer

(review to come soon!)

I've been really liking this lately because it gives a nice sheer - medium coverage that barely feels like you have anything on! The ending result after you buff it in nicely, is a dewy natural finish :) Plus, it doubles as a moisturizer and skin booster, so your skin will be glowing from all the antioxidants! lovinggg this! <3

Sigma Miss Taylor Flat Top Retractable Kabuki

(full review here)

I can't say how much I LOVE this brush! It's exactly like my beloved F80 but better because it's bigger, retractable and therefore portable! <3 don't forget to enter my giveaway for a chance to win one for yourself! (look at right sidebar for more information)

Blushes

NYX Rouge Cream Blush in Boho Chic

(swatches and full review here)

Love love love this! Especially now that I am going back to a more natural "no makeup" look :) I pat this on my cheeks with my fingers and blend. Result? The most natural and gorgeous flush with a tad bit of shimmer! It looks like you are barely wearing any product on your face, but there is a slight muted pink glow with shimmers (if you look closely) :)

Mascara

L'oreal Voluminous in Brown Black

You all know im a HUGE fan of Covergirl's Lashblast Volume, (my HG mascara!) but this month, i've been testing out L'oreal Voluminous and im liking it as well! It definitely gives more volume and a more nautral soft look. Although the lasting power is not as strong as Covergirls (my lashes seem to droop down a bit throughout the day whereas with Covergirl, they stay curled all day long), this is a great alternative for the spring/summer days when you dont want that "overdone-falsie" look :). Im also loving the shade! black may seem too harsh, brown may seem too understated, but mix both and you get a nice balance :)

Lips

Revlon Colorburst in Mauve, NYX Round Lippies in Thalia and Tea Rose

Mauve, Thalia, Tea Rose

NYX Round Lipstick in Thalia and Tea Rose

(see review and swatches here)

Spring is finally here! and that means bright pink & mauve lips! <3 I really loveee my NYX lippies because they are creamy, extremely pigmented and inexpensive! They also have a pleasant sweet flowery scent that i dont mind at all :) Thalia (a mauvey shade) and Tea Rose (a bright warm pink) are my absolute fav shades. They add a nice pop of color without being too over-the-top. Loveee!

Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Mauve
I loveeed the colorburst lipstick in Soft Nude, but now that its spring, it's time to bring out the colors! I have Carnation (bright pink) saved too for summer, but for this month, i've been using Mauve quite a bit :) Love the shade and texture of this lippie as well :) I think this one is kind of a mix of thalia and tea rose.. its got a pinky mauvey undertone :)

Accessories

Its all about the corals!

I've been mixing and matching my pastel bracelts with gold and corals alot :) It just creates such a simple yet elegant mix! The above bracelets are all bought from forever 21, but on different occassions. I love the bracelet sets from forever 21 because they usualy contain quite a few different textures and designs so you can mix and match your collection!

And thats it for this month! I'll be officially DONE school in about 2 weeks time *yay* and offically graduated in june! *bigger yay!*. afterwards, i will have a LOT more time to blog and make videos :) so stay tuned! I hope you all have a wonderful week! and dont forget to check out both of my giveaways! Information can be found in the right sidebar :)

Tweet Will Origins Vitazing Moisturizer End My Hunt For a TM?

Thank you all for your lovely recommendations!

I received such lovely feedback from alot of you on my last post asking for suggestions for a new tinted moisturizer, re-enforcing again just how wonderful it is to have a blog because of the lovely followers and helpful blogger community thats grown ever since i've started Pinkbox Makeup :) Thanks so much everyone! I now have...  a much longer list of products to test out and am really excited to do so! I'll work through them one at a time though, so dont expect to see back to back reviews :p


So far on my list:
- Origins Vitazing Moisturizer (got already! testing it out atm)
- Mary Kay Tinted Moisturizer
- Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer
- Covergirl NatureLuxe & AquaSmoothers
- Skin79 BB Cream
- ELF Tinted Moisturizer
- Kiss My Face Tinted Moisturizer

Let me know if you guys have any other recommendations! I'd be happy to hear them :D


 and just an initial review for the Origins Vitazing Moisturizer...

The website says:
"SPF 15 Energy-boosting moisturizer


√ 95% said skin looked energized
√ 92% saw more radiant skin


This multi-tasking moisturizer handles the vital jobs of hydrating, energizing and protecting to maintain skin's momentum all day. Gives skin the refreshing zing of antioxidant-rich Mangosteen. And adds a healthy hit of radiance that mimics the glow you get from a week's vacation. All in 10 seconds max. Slip it on first thing tomorrow - you'll look like you eat right, sleep tight & don'thave a worry in sight.
 
1.7 fl. oz./50 ml US $35.00"

Initial Thoughts

The tube is smaller than I expected.. but then again, after using it for the first few times, i realized that you dont actually need that much product to cover your face :) so overall, i do think this tube will last quite some time. *phew* thats good news considering the heavy $44 CAD price tag!

Here's some swatches to show you guys the "magic" ;)

see those grey dots? those are what causes the color tint to happen!

as you blend, the product changes color...

this is in natural daylight, half blended

this is with flash, half blended as well

with flash, the portion above has now been fully blended

can you see the nice dewy effect? :)

also notice, the slight streaking... will confirm this in full review after i test it

this is all of it blended completely

What do you think? Keep an eye out for full review!

Im going to be fully testing it out for the next week or so before I write my review so that i can really know how well this product works. But so far, im liking it! :) the smell is kind of tropical.. it reminds me of mangos but i know its not lol. has anyone ever tried mangosteen? Being asian, i've tried a lot of "more unique" foods, and this one is actually quite nice! Very sweet and soft, and apparently filled with lots of antioxidants too! :D

The end effect is nice and dewy, but doesnt look like i suffer from excessive oily skin, which is nice :) The coverage is medium and the coloring seems to be a pretty good match for my skintone, but I will do a full review on this and other aspects of the product after I fully test it out :)
Oh, and for my canadian beauties, you know how things always cost more up here? Well, the US retail price of $35 makes a huge jump up to $44 CAD.. bummer eh? :( lets just hope that this was money well spent... lol :)


have a great week everyone!