First up is Ole Henriksen. When I went to purchase Sheer Transformation, Sephora was totally out! So, I ended up with a value pack that included Sheer Transformation and Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster and Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Gel. The Truth Serum feels a lot like Caudalie Vinoperfect and goes on well under the Sheer Transformation. However, I'm not sure that it is really doing anything for my skin. Like Caudalie, however, I think it takes some time to notice improvement, so I'm going to keep it up. A teeny tiny bit of the night gel goes a very long way. It soaks in very well and my face does look better in the morning. However, until I start to get some sleep, I don't think it will look amazing throughout the day because my eyes are so darkened.
While on the subject of value packs, let's discuss the current Sephora promo code that gets you a six-pack of Kinerase Photofacials Sun Damage Reversal System. Step 1 is an exfoliating cleanser. Eh! Not that exciting and definitely not as enjoyable as Philosophy's Microexfoliant face wash. I don't really have sun damage to my skin, so it might just not be for me. But Step 2 is Day Moisturizer with SPF 50. Whoa! Isn't a flannel shirt SPF 30??? It's wayyyyy too thick. And, to me, this is not a sun damage reversal product as much as it is a sun protection product. Nope, not for me. And the night moisturizer (Step 3), is wayyyyyyy too thick and I felt the need to wipe it off at night. Yuck.
I haven't had time to do the whole BareMinerals makeup, so I was trying whatever seemed like it would give me color and coverage. Still, nothing beats out Stila in my book, but a fun product was Illusion Light Beige Tinted Moisturizer. It's definitely not for oily skin. It's for normal to dry skin. It definitely gives good coverage. I would have preferred one shade lighter and, therefore, would have liked it better. However, the moisture lasted all day and the coverage was great. I really didn't feel like I needed anything on top. At $55, however, it's just a little bit pricey for more of a weekend product. If I have a chance to get the right shade, I'll probably like it better. I do recommend the free sample currently available at Sephora.com to try it out for yourself. It's just enough coverage for a one time use. That's always how you know the product is pricey!
I also tried Laura Geller's new Spackle - Tinted Under Make-Up Primer in Bronze. I don't care for it. First off, it's not a great primer and I think primer should be lighter - not bronze, but either clear, or better for your needs, whether it's redness, discoloration, etc. So this one is a big fat no. I mean, anything you put on over it covers up the bronze it was supposed to give you. And, in my opinion, bronzer is not a starting point. Must miss. Boo!!!!
On another mist miss note - I really am not a fan of the Lancome products. I tried, for the second time, Renergie Double Performance Treatment. Something about it made my face sting and feel puffy. It didn't even feel that soft. Yeah, I don't want wrinkles - especially those crappy forehead lines that make you look like you slept with your eyes in shocked surprise mode! But I want it to feel good too. At $90, you can forget it.A couple of other must misses included DHC Eye Bright, Sue Devitt Microquatic Prime Target Eye Treatment Primer, Erno Lazslo Transphuse Eye and Institut Arnad Youthful Radiance Cream. Honestly, I don't even know where some of these samples came from (mostly Ulta), but they are all cruddy.
And, I almost hate to give the mascara report because it is so bad too. But, better to know what products are must misses than to pay the money to find out for yourself, right? So, here are three mascaras that you can completely live without, unless you prefer to really only darken the color of your lashes as opposed to get any type of lengthening, volume or curl. For me, that is what mascara is all about. So, again, these would be my choices for a teenager who wants to experiment with
makeup and you really aren't getting that much (oooh, except for maybe the one called Bad Girl - not a good precedent). :) Must misses: Benefit Bad Gal Lash (thick, fluffy brush that barely gets any product on your eyes.) For a complete lack of eyelash drama, get this product. For me, I want drama - otherwise, what the hell is the point?
DuWop Lash Venom (teeny tiny little brush that also barely gets any product on your lashes). It's supposed to put some weird powders and flexible fibers on each lash. What it does? Nothing. I like DuWop, but this was a seriously disappointing product. And the worst part? It's $24!!! No way!
Korres ProVitamin B5 & Rice Bran Mascara - Um. Yeah. Exactly what you think when you read "rice bran" - completely made for that "greenie" in your life who is all concerned about hugging the tree before you knock it down. This was, by far, the worst of the three. It might be good if you are allergic to everything and just want to pretend that you even have on mascara. Otherwise, it's crap. I don't even like it as a primer. The whole - "it expands like rice in water to give you volume" is as equally a load of BS as is the theory of man-made global warming.
And, because I hate to end on a bad note, I will give a shout out to Too Faced Shadow Insurance, currently available as a sample at Sephora and in a great Too Faced Value Kit from Ulta. To be totally honest, I didn't think I would care for shadow primer. I felt it was an unnecessary step - probably based on my dissatisfaction with Urban Decay's version. However, this primer was great. It really evened out the skin tone of my eyelids and it made the true color of the shadow "pop". I will give a little warning - be CAREFUL with your first use. Your shadow goes right where you put it, so some major blending of the dark colors will be necessary.Okay - I will do my VERY best to report on all of my fab samples in a more timely diva fashion - you know how we are about instant gratification!
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