Marisa Jensen: April 2013

Avon Foundation Review

8:26 PM

An Avon Foundation Review

{Purchased} {Some Affiliate Links}

As requested, I have purchased four of Avon's popular foundations and got busy trying all of them out. I've given it quite some time before writing this review because I feel that to test out a foundation you have to wear it for a while and see how well the foundation performs. All of these where tested in hot, cool, dry and humid weather.

My skin type:

Combination to Oily, acne prone, with rosacea.

Avon Foundations I chose:

Ideal Flawless Matte Mousse foundation
Extra Lasting Cream-to-powder foundation
MagiX Cashmere Advanced Liquid foundation
Extra Lasting with SPF 12 foundation

Avon Ideal Flawless Matte Mouse foundation

Best for oily skin types
Lasts around 5 hours in hot/humid weather
Affordable
Light to medium coverage
Not recommended for dry, normal or combination skin because it will accentuate dry patches
Easy to color-match

Avon Extra Lasting Cream-to-powder foundation

Feels like silk but dries into a powder
Medium coverage
Great for combination skin
Affordable
Lasts 6-7 hours indoors but around 2 hours in warm/hot/humid weather
Easy to color-match

Avon's MagiX Cashmere Liquid Foundation

Great for dry to normal skin
Dewey finish
Lasts around 6 hours if I set it with a powder (I have combination/oily skin)
Does oxidize, I suggest going 2-3 shades lighter than you think
Feels nice on the skin, not lightweight but not heavy on the face.
Affordable
Hard to color-match

Avon Extra Lasting Liquid Foundation with SPF 12

Great for Combination/Oily skin
VERY good lasting power at 9 hours before having to touch-up with a setting powder
Extremely full coverage
Oxidizes so a bit hard to color-match
Go 2-3 shades lighter than you think you need
Has a thick consistency and feels heavy on the skin
Affordable

Left to Right: Ideal Flawless matte Mousse, Extra Lasting Cream-to Powder, MagiX Advanced liquid & Extra Lasting Foundation.

My favorite foundation for my combination/oily skin was the cream-to-powder foundation. I loved the silkiness, coverage, lasting power and feel of the foundation. These are very reasonably priced foundation- depending on the campaign you can get a great BOGO deal.

Which foundation would You try?

Cheers,

Marisa

FTC Disclaimer: All products where purchased by ME. This review is my honest opinion and my experience with the product. I have notbeen paid to write this review. Some if any links below might be affiliate, some might not.

Updates!

5:30 PM

Blush

NYX Blushers from Ulta 40% Sale

7:08 PM

NYX Blushers

{Purchased Product} {Some Affiliate Links}

Recently Ulta had a 40% off sale on certain lines, NYX being one of them. I've never owned NYX blushers but I've heard nothing but good things about them, so I decided to pick up a couple of shades I didn't already have in my collection.

NYX Blush in Peach

The first blush I got was peach, it reminded me of the Glossybox Blush that Kryolan made for them called Glossy Rosewood. I was hoping to have found a dupe for the GlossyBox blush, unfortunately this was not a match but it's lovely in it's own way. I wouldn't say this is a peach blush at all, so the name is deceiving. I would describe NYX's blush in Peach to be a light barbie pink with blue undertone. It applied nicely to the skin, was blendable, and pigmented. Depending on your brush and the type of application, you can intensify or lightly dust the blush on. It is a matte blush but when applied it looks irridescent.

NYX Blush in Dusty Rose

Dusty Rose was my second choice, specially for the subtle looks I have to wear for work. Sometimes, I just need a pinch of color on my cheeks to look alive but not look too overdone for the work-days. This blush is perfect for the natural look. Dusty Rose is a beautiful matte muted pink.

NYX Blush in Summer Peach

NYX blush in Summer Peach I would say is an exact dupe to NARS Orgasm Blush.

The left swatch is NARS Orgasm and the right swatch is the NYX blush in Summer Peach. Summer Peach is a shimmer peachy color that very very closely resembles NARS Orgasm. Out of the four I purchased, Summer Peach is the only shimmer shade but it has no large chunks... just a beautiful peach sheen on the skin.

NYX Blush in Bourgeois Pig

Last but not least is NYX blush in Bourgeois Pig. It is the most pigmented of all four blushers and also another matte. This is one that you have to use a very light hand when applying but looks AMAZING on the skin. If your a woman of color, this is one of the shades that would definitely stand out on darker skin and look beautiful.

Overall, I'm pretty impressed with the lasting power of the blushers. I do prep my skin and use primer under my foundation which helps with the lasting power of these blushers. For the price, the pigment, the buttery feel, and the availability of these I am very very pleased that I snached these four little blushers from my local Ulta.

Do you own these? Have you tried these blushers? If so, do you like them and would you recommend them to your friends or family? If you haven't tried them, which shades would you consider trying?

Cheers!

Marisa

Revlon lip butter giveaway from pacific coast collection winner has been chosen.

9:48 PM

Response from the Avon Winner!

7:46 PM

Blush

24 hour 50% off sitewide @ theBalm.com is ON!

3:00 PM

Amika

April 2013 Empties + Video

8:34 PM

April 2013 Empties + Video

{Purchased products} {May contain Affiliate links}

I haven't had much time lately due to my regular job, unpacking, and a couple of life-changing events in my life. This week will be a bit hectic and slow on my postings but I promise I have good things ahead. This is one of three videos I've filmed for you all, full reviews on all the products coming soon, more than likely after the middle of next week.

*Warning: I am wearing no makeup in this video, this was before bedtime... no judgements please, I'm human too. :-)

My review must have worn him out. He crash landed in bed right after I stopped filming.

PRODUCTS:

Twilight Woods Shower Gel by Bath & Body Works

Zum Mist Room Spray in Sandalwood-Citrus

Garnier The soothing Remover Cleansing Towelettes for Sensitive Skin (claims to remove H2O Mascara)

Simple Revitalizing Eye Roll-On

Kate Somerville EradiKate Acne Treatment

Biore Blemish Treating Astringent (Oil-free with Salicylic Acid)

Tarte Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara in Black

Global Keratin Pro Line Balancing Shampoo

Global Keratin Pro Line Balancing Conditioner

Macadamia Healing Oil Spray

Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque

Too Faced Chocolate Soileil matte bronzer

Too Faced Primed & Poreless Bronze Tint SPF 20

Salon Series by Ouidad Mediterranean Bay Leaf Exfoliating Hair & Scalp Treatment

Balenciaga Florabotanica Sample that came in a beauty box

Clairasonic Gentle Brush head

Origins A Perfect World Moisturizing Lotion with White Tea (it's actually an astringent)

Avon Liquid Deodorant

Amika Nourishing hair mask

Philosophy Purity

Philosophy Microdelivery exfoliating wash

Johnson's baby powder (I use it as a back up for dry shampoo)

It's a 10 Miracle leave-in product

Phyto intense hydrating shampoo

Cortizone10 Healing lotion with Aloe for hands and body

Cortizone10 Soothing lotion with Oatmeal for hands and body

RevitaLens Multi-Purpose Disinfecting Solution for soft Contact lenses (because I'm blind without them and this product)

Germ-X ALOE Hand Sanitizer

Studio35 Regular Salon Formula Polish Remover

Top Care Strengthening Nail Polish Remover with Gelatin
Olay Fresh Effects Long LIve Moisture Lotion

Hope you enjoy my super long April Empties.

Cheers,

Marisa

dry

KLORANE Extra-Gentle Dry Shampoo

8:56 PM

Boutique.

KLORANE Shampoo & Conditioner

5:55 AM

KLORANE Shampoo & Conditioner

{Purchased Product} {Some Affiliate Links}

Prior to going to my very first experience at a Walgreens Look Boutique, I had never heard of this brand before. I decided that I'd give the shampoo and conditioner a go as well as one other product that will be on it's own review. My initial attraction to purchase was due to the company's claims to be a plant-based product that utilizes the lowest amount of ingredients while still giving you the benefit of a good product.

KLORANE Color Protection Duo with Pomegranate $25 Kit (Full Size Products)

KLORANE has a line for all types of hair, I picked up the Color Protection Duo with Pomegranate because my hair is color treated and while I don't add much heat to it, I know most of my damage comes from the color to hide the grays (shhhhh... don't tell anyone).

KLORANE Color Protection Duo with Pomegranate $25 Kit (Full Size Products)

The company claims their Pomegranate is grown in morocco, and is naturally rich in tannins which binds the color and prevents from fading. KLORANE claims the effectiveness of their pomegranate has been scientifically proven and patented to make hair color last and average of 2x as long.

In my honest opinion, I'm not sure how they are able to make those claims, SO let's get to my experience.

The SHAMPOO is unlike most shampoos you will get in the regular shampoo isle. The shampoo bottle is large enough at 13.4oz in the kit to last a while for even long hair. This shampoo will not give you loads of suds which made me wonder if it was sulfate free.... No! The second ingredient is Sodium Laureth Sulfate, therefore it is not sulfate free. Remember above when I said the shampoo bottle is large, well, I have to wash my hair 2x with this shampoo to feel my hair clean enough to continue on with the conditioner. At 2 washes per use that significantly decreases how long the product will last. It does smell lovely and fruity, but lovely and does't matter if the product is ineffective. If it's plan-based, why does it contain sulfate? Shouldn't this be a healthy shampoo?

The Conditioner had the same lovely fruity pomegranate smell that the shampoo has. It however, felt like lotion going in my hair and not like a regular conditioner. I followed instructions, left it on for the two minutes, but when I did my cold water rinse It felt like my hair had completely skipped conditioner. The bottle is significantly smaller than the shampoo at just 5.1oz.

KLORANE Color Protection Duo with Pomegranate $25 Kit (Full Size Products)

Now, I can only speak for the Color Protection Duo from KLORANE and no other shampoo and conditioner, but after using these two products for 2 weeks, my hair feels worse than before I began using it. My hair is not shiny, very brittle, and the color protection well, I won't even go there. I hate to write negative things about products but this brand is pretty expensive if your where to purchase them individually, so I truly wanted to give my honest opinions on what my experience and thoughts where on this product.

I can tell you that I bought something else from the same brand and it has been lovely, so not all products are created equal within the company. This review is not a dislike on the company just on this particle product. For more information on this Brand feel free to visit www.KLORANEUSA.com (not affiliate)

Please remember, just because this product did not work for me, it does not mean that it won't work for you, there are different hair types, skin types, etc and this review is to be taken into consideration as a guide when you shop. If you are interested in purchasing KLORANE products, you can find them at Drugstore.com or at your Walgreens Look Boutique

Cheers,

Marisa

Aloe max 100

The best after sun for face and body!

9:56 PM

Key West Aloe Max 100 skin gel & Olay Fresh Effects Long Live Moisture

{Purchased Product} {Some Affiliate Links}

Back in February, we took a trip to the keys and discovered a brand called Key West Aloe. Originally, I wanted to buy everything from their line but my honey tucked me down to the bare essentials which is sun care. We needed it and we dislike the most the ones you buy at the stores. This one is 98

% pure aloe with a very light hint of color. Not that neon stuff you get at the drugstore. It really has no smell to it but it has been AMAZING for after sun exposure.

We try to remember to bring sunscreen as much as possible but todays like today made up remember why we love this product so much. It does leave a slight coating on the epidermis of the skin which some might not like but trust me, if your sun burned this is the best at healing your skin and minimizing any peeling. The texture is gel like and almost feels like your putting it right off the plant because it's a bit sticky but we don't mind.

We apply the Aloe Max directly to our bodies but on our faces me mix one pump of the Olay Fresh Effects Long Live Moisture face moisturizer (our fave) and equal parts Aloe Max and cover our face with a thin layer. This is best to do at night or if your still out in the sun as the Aloe Max is healing and the Olay is bringing moisture back into the skin. I love the satin, lightweight texture of this face moisturizer and find the smell and the effectiveness to be the best out of many I've tried.

Neither product have broken us out and we move the smell of the Olay fresh effects face cream. The Olay fresh effects long live moisture cream can be found at any CVS, Walgreens, Target, Walmart, or any drugstore in your area. The Key West Aloe Max can be ordered at http://keywestaloe.com/home (not an affiliate link). It can also be picked up at their store in Key West, Florida if you happen to be visiting.

Cheers,

Marisa

UPDATE on theBalm 50% off Sale

9:12 PM

Update on theBalm 50% Sale

After much anticipation and what I thought would be a great sale turned out into a bit of a let down and what I thought was an April Fools joke. TheBalm announced last week that on April 1st their new website would launch and for 24 hours everything would be at 50% off at checkout, unfortunately, April 1st came and went and what seemed like a terrible joke for us theBalm lovers.

After hours of refreshing, clearing my history, cookies, using different browsers, I could get the website up for just a couple of second and poof it was back to the message and no sale. Later on they announced this message on Facebook...

"We are so sorry our website crashed!

The great news is, our 24-hour 50% off celebration has not yet begun! thebalm.com didn’t expect such a huge influx of orders and we underestimated the number of our dedicated fans while overestimating the capacity of our server. We’re currently upgrading our server and are told that once it’s functional we’ll be able to accommodate everyone. We are expecting this to be within the next few days and we will announce our launch here, on Facebook. Any orders placed today that received a confirmation email will be honored. If you have any questions please email us at info@thebalm.com!

Thanks again for your patience and understanding."

While it would have been nice to know what was going on early on, I feel better that it wasn't a prank, because I feel like I would have been responsible for sharing something that would have been untrue and a complete let down. So, now that they are updating on Facebook and have explained what happened, I feel reassured that the sale will be on! At least it gives me more time to get my list together and know that my readers won't be disappointed in missing out on this.

Their website should be up in a couple of days, they are making all of their updates on https://www.facebook.com/theBalm (not an affiliate link).

When I see the website up, I will post it immediately on here.

Cheers!

Marisa

Avon Foundation Review

An Avon Foundation Review

Updates!

NYX Blushers from Ulta 40% Sale

NYX Blushers

Revlon lip butter giveaway from pacific coast collection winner has been chosen.

Response from the Avon Winner!

The Avon Winner finally get's her package!

24 hour 50% off sitewide @ theBalm.com is ON!

TheBalm.com sale is finally ON!

April 2013 Empties + Video

April 2013 Empties + Video

KLORANE Extra-Gentle Dry Shampoo

KLORANE Extra-Gentle Dry Shampoo

KLORANE Shampoo & Conditioner

KLORANE Shampoo & Conditioner

The best after sun for face and body!

Key West Aloe Max 100 skin gel & Olay Fresh Effects Long Live Moisture

UPDATE on theBalm 50% off Sale

Update on theBalm 50% Sale

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An Avon Foundation Review

NYX Blushers

The Avon Winner finally get's her package!

TheBalm.com sale is finally ON!

April 2013 Empties + Video

KLORANE Extra-Gentle Dry Shampoo

KLORANE Shampoo & Conditioner

Key West Aloe Max 100 skin gel & Olay Fresh Effects Long Live Moisture

Update on theBalm 50% Sale

About me

Follow Us

Let's Be Friends

Favorite Shops

recent posts

Pintrest

Bloglovin

Popular Posts

Blog Archive

Sitsgirls

Footer

Brandbacker

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