Sephora Instant Airbrush Foundation in Light Ivory
After my experience with Dior's Airflash Foundation, I've become obsessed with spray foundations - the finish they provide, and the lasting power you can achieve with them. In an effort to replicate my experience without spending a fortune, I've been trying a few different spray foundations and next on the road to replication is Sephora's Instant Airbrush Foundation. Ladies and gents, we might just have a winner...
Sephora's Instant Airbrush Foundation has an oil and fragrance-free formula that applies smoothly both when sprayed directly on the face as well as when applied with a brush. If you are spraying directly on, make sure to cover your hair because once it dries, it's not going anywhere. The formula is buildable from medium to full coverage and dries to a matte powder finish and really doesn't budge for much of anything throughout the day. The pictures below were taken on a 90 degree day and I do quite a bit of walking too and from work, so it's fair to say this foundation took a beating. Yet, it finished out the day with very minor wear and tear around troublesome areas like my T-zone. Rather than wearing away, I feel like it assumed a more natural finish. Very impressive results from any foundation, let alone one that falls into the spray-application category. Due to the stay-matte nature of this formula, I might suggest those with super dry skin types think twice before purchasing. Still, you can always go to Sephora and have a pro apply it for you to wear around for the day to test before before you buy.
Aside from the quality, another innovation that makes Sephora's Instant Airbrush Foundation stand out against the rest is that you get three shades in one can. The top swivels so you can apply anything from "light" to "high", making this a great foundation for the winter-spring-summer transition.
While it claims to be a time saving, I don't find that to be the case with this or any spray foundation, but the results and wear far outweigh the time it takes to put on. The only thing I would do differently with this foundation is the spray nozzle - it's a little narrow and reminiscent of a spray paint can. Still, for $20 and the results I saw, my minor complaints end there. One thing those with deeper skin might want to watch out for is that lack of shade range. There are three shades - light, medium, and tan - and I have the lightest and darkest photographed next to each other for comparison.
For those looking for an affordable alternative to Dior's Airflash Foundation, this might just be it. It might be less suited for very dry skin types, but a little moisturizer goes a long way.
City Color Bold Blush Duo in Hot Pink and Soft Pink
City Color'sBold Blush Duo in Hot Pink and Soft Pink is yet another product to be added to the list of hits from the new-to-me brand. Hot Pink fall in the fuchsia family, while soft pink is borderline bubblegum. Both are smooth, evenly pigmented, blend out well, yet are slightly powder. While they don't have stellar staying power when worn alone (not something I do regularly anyway), they wear evenly and fade-free all day when worn over a long-wearing foundation (think Revlon's ColorStay Whipped Foundation). Having two shades together in the palette also works well to provide a little extra versatility when traveling. The $2.99 price tag also makes it a little less heartbreaking if it should break while on the go. That's not to say this isn't a great everyday blush as it's the only blush I've used for the past week, but makeup that travels well is always a plus!
The compact comes in a sleek-looking soft matte black case with a nicely sized mirror I've used to do my makeup many times while traveling. Considering you get quite a bit of good quality product for $2.99, it's safe to say this blush palette is worth it. The coral/peach combo might be the next one with my name on it.
NYC's HD Color Trio Eye Shadow in Water Color is one of two new palettes released with their summer collection. The other trio, Crystal Springs, is a mix of light pink and earth tones while Water Colors offers a pop of aqua.
While I wasn't terribly fond of the lack of contrast between the shades in Crystal Springs, Water Color offers a satin cream, a shimmery light teal, and a shimmery light brown. Together, the color palette is very reminiscent of where the ocean meets the sand - perfect for summer! While this palette doesn't offer up big, bold color, there is a nice variety among the three shades and each of them is smooth, evenly pigmented, buildable to the intensity shown below, and only very slightly powdery. As someone suggested in the comments section of the Crystal Springs palette review, these colors can be doubly intensified by using them over a shadow base like Maybelline's Color Tattoos - a great tip for achieving greater versatility from an affordable palette.
For $2.99, this isn't a bad palette to pick up if you are looking to add subtle color to your everyday eyeshadow look. Just take care to snag it while you can as I think it's limited edition!
This summer, NYC
has released a few new products that you will be able to find
floating around CVS. At first glance, the display stands out as a
departure from the more neutral or natural eyeshadows you will find
in the year-round NYC display. There are candy-colored eyeshadows,
nail polishes, and lip glosses that just feel like a day at the
beach. Still, not all of them might live up to the beach-side
fantasy.
NYC's HD Color
Trio Shadow in Crystal Springs contains a cool, frosted cream color,
a light pink with very subtle gold frost, and a light, frosted sandy
brown. Visually, the colors are very pretty together and have the
potential to make for a nice, natural albeit slightly colorful look.
Once worn, however, they sheer out a great deal. While they are
smooth without being overwhelmingly powdery, and they wear evenly, it
takes a lot of working with to develop color on the lids as you see
in the swatches. At $2.99, I can't be terribly surprised –
especially given the reviews I've heard on some of the permanent
trios.
Despite not taking
a personal liking to this trio, I can see it being a good option for
someone who wants a very natural-looking, shimmery palette. If, on
the other hand, you want to add some color to your spring and summer
makeup, look elsewhere.
All products reviewed on this site were paid for by me (unless explicitly stated otherwise). All pictures and content are original unless otherwise noted and cited. I am not a certified cosmetologist, nor have I had any training in cosmetology (cosmology, however, is a different story). I'm just college girl going to school in the Midwest sharing what she has come to know, from experience, about all things beauty.
