Product Spotlight

Foundcealer so this is one of the most difficult things to pronounce for me since worchestire sauce. Okay so maybe not so much difficult to pronounce but the word doesn't flow. It doesn't roll off my tongue making it slightly awkward to say.

But it's not awkward or hard to use at all. This is actually my new favorite foundation. I have always had a hard time finding a good coverage. And believe me I have tried a TON of foundations. I love FaceTape but it seems to run off my face during the summer.. No matter what primer I use with it. I would notice it disappearing around my nose and lips.

With Foundcealer I don't have that problem. It is super lightweight and has amazing coverage and it stays on, even in the heat.  the coverage is very even and blends beautifully. I probably would not need concealer with it BUT I still use it for the bags under my eyes. I am very self conscious about them.

It's not a super thick formula but a little thicker than some I have used. It comes in thirty different shades and is a pump style dispenser. This is much easier for me than the Shape tape which is a dip stick type applicator.

The top picture you can see the pump is out and in this one the pump is down . The cap twist and that magic happens.

I love Tarte foundation and for the most part, a lot of their makeup. I also love that Founcealer is Vegan and has amazing ingredients like Sunflower Seed, vitamins A & E, and  Hyaluronic Acid. There is also a built in 20 SPF sunscreen . Which I guess is great because I am VERY bad about applying sunscreen.

Overall this is now my go to foundation. I have others that I like which I will be reviewing but this is my favorite so far.

Entire Face FounCealer -- and other makeup of course 

half face FoudCealer - excurse the hair 

Thanks for reading.. Tell me have you tried FounCealer?? What is your favorite foundation? 

Brush-On Liquid Mineral Makeup

I love trying new foundations. A lot of time I use more than one foundation everyday when I am applying my makeup.  I also have like 5 different foundation brushes that I alternate between. I really don' t do that on purpose I just grab what I see.  This foundation is amazing because it come with it's own brush so this is a perfect foundation for travel.

I really wasn't sure what to expect from an attached brush but I was very excited to try it.  The container is a nice size so you get a good bit of foundation. One thing I love about a built in application brush is I don't have to put the foundation on my finger to get it on my face. I just turn the brush and viola a small amount of foundation appears. 

I LOVE that the brush locks closed so no foundation comes out. So that means no messy accidents if the bottle is squeezed. You know like my children looking at it but we all know that means they are playing with it. 

The foundation itself is silky and goes on extremely smooth. It blends beautifully with my skin tone. I apply with the built in brush and then I run a Kabuki brush over for a smoother finish. It's a medium/full coverage foundation and feels great even on the hottest days.  It last all day without having to reapply but I do set with a powder and setting spray.

There are only three shades but they are color matching shades so Grab your perfect shade here. 

I received this product complimentary in exchange for my honest opinion but the opinion expressed is all my own.

Proderma Anti-Aging Breathable Foundation Review + Giveaway

I love trying new foundations because my needs change with seasons so I may have 5 different colors, brands, types. I was very excited to try Proderma Anti-Aging Breathable Foundation for ya'll. I was very scared when I saw the color of this foundation that would be way too light for me. But it blended perfectly with my skin. It is not extremely thick but it takes very little to cover my entire face. When I say very little I mean a few dots all over and brush on then done.

Despite needing very little this foundation provided a great amount of coverage. I went over concealer and contouring with one application and there was no peak through. I have used other foundations where I had to go over to make sure they were covered.

Extremely lightweight to wear it can be used for every season including a hot, humid South Louisiana summer. My face feels extremely moisturized while using and it provides all day flawless coverage. In addition to flawless coverage, Proderma breathable foundation provides anti-aging benefits with proven antioxidants and potent triple vitamins. They fight off free radials and protect skin from toxins. The formula also increases blood circulation, elastin, and collagen helping with a more youthful appearance

It is so gentle you can use it immediately following cosmetic procedures or to cover bruising, scars and redness. Plus it is non-irritating to Acne, Rosacea and sensitive skin.

So with all the added benefits i feel great about wearing this foundation everyday.  Then I know it can help if I need it to cover up scars or eczema patches when I flare up. There is a variety of shades to match every skin tone.

So now is your chance to win a bottle of Proderm Breathable Foundation so here are the rules:

Entries will be accepted from 10/20/14 - 11/4/14 at midnight

Good luck remember one winner will be randomly chosen through the RaffleCopter. You MUST be following me on Twitter or GFC or like alwaysblabbing on FaceBook to be eligible to win. This giveaway is open World Wide only will have 24 hours to contact me with their mailing information. alwaysblabbing is not responsible for shipping prize.

Don't forget to come back once a day and share for extra entries.

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Erth Minerals Makeup review and giveaway

I'm so excited to tell y'all about a new Vegan makeup company I discovered Erth Minerals! I received a full face of make up to review for y'all. I can't wait to share it with you.  I will tell you about the products in the order I applied them.  Of course as with all makeup I applied to a clean moisturized face. For this review I did not use my traditional primer.

The first thing I want to talk about is the bronzer. I used the bronzer, in the form of a medium grain mineral powder, for contouring. The color is very pretty it is not too dark just enough to give color. I applied with a brush and it was the perfect amount. I don't know how to explain it but the powder feels almost silky, It felt great when I applied it to my face and it blended beautifully.

The next thing I applied (after concealer) is the foundation. Now I've told y'all before I' m not a huge fan of  powder foundation and I will stick to that conviction. That being said I was taught a trick --  Take a little of your favorite moisturizer and mix in the powder foundation. WOW this trick works perfectly. It made a perfect consistency for foundation and it was very easy to apply. It also puts you in complete control the more moisturizer you add the lighter the coverage. The mixture blended perfectly and spread evenly. I had the perfect amount of light weight coverage. It was not cakey nor did it flake or peal. The coverage lasted all day I was without letting the shine on my forehead come through. I was super impressed.

So done with the foundation what would you apply next?  I did my eyeshadow but first I applied the Shadowlast eye primer. I was slightly thrown off because is white and looks a little like glue but it does not feel like glue so don't be afraid. It smooths evenly and disappears in seconds so you have no white residue on your eyelids.  I used the primer under another brand eyeshadow and I was very happy to see LONG after  a 10 hour work day my eyeshadow was still there. Super impressive.

The send me FIVE eye shadows that's right five beautiful colors to choose from. Now of course I had a hard time deciding which one to try first but the Purple won, not surprising right? This too is a mineral fine/medium grain powder that has a silky feel to it. The color is a deep purple with a matte shade which I love. I applied it to my lid and topped it with Truffle an almost translucent shimmer. They went on perfectly with a brush and a little goes a very long way.  Combined with the primer this shadow also lasted all day. The other shades are just as pretty Twilight which is a a blue shimmer. Olives which is a green semi-shimmer,and Silt a peachy shimmer. I do really want to point out the shimmer is NOT extremely shiny, just enough not to be matte.

Purple

Truffle

Olives 

Twilight 

Silt

The eyeliner pencil is called Blue Yonder I'm sure no explanation needed but it is a pretty shade of navy blue.  The pencil is soft enough to go on smooth without breaks without falling apart or smashing. I prefer gel or liquid liner but it this one is easy to control so you can draw the size line you desire.

Now follow with blush the color I got was Primrose a beautiful mauve. The blush is no different from the other powders it is a medium grain and feels very silky.  The blush is not a deep shade but a it only takes a little to give the perfect "glow" to your cheeks. It blends perfectly and although powder has very little fall out.

Last be certainly not least a lip gloss in Dahlia a pretty neutral color that goes on with a beautiful shine. The lip gloss feels amazingly silky and has staying power. It is not sticky or goey so it wears easily without irritation.

I am very impressed with Erth Minerals and would purchase makeup from them once these run out. I have to say I was most surprised by the foundation because I truly expected not to like it.  Another thing I want to share is a I love the foundation, bronzer, and blush containers they are have a little slide "door" with holes you shake out what you want and close it. I LOVE this because it prevents mess, I can't tell you how many times when using powder I have dumped it everywhere.

Erth Minerals is kind enough to offer y'all 15% off of any online purchase just use code Amber15 at check out. They have tons of colors and sample kits to help you find your perfect shade.

But wait that's not all. Erth Minerals is giving one of you a chance to win a $50.00 gift card!! That's a lot of makeup with their great prices but you know that means I have go over the rules.

Go show Erth Minerals some love by liking them on FaceBook and Twitter 

Entries will be accepted from 3/31/14 - 4/14/14

Good luck remember one winner will be randomly chosen through the RaffleCopter. You MUST be following me on Twitter or GFC or like alwaysblabbing on FaceBook to be eligible to win. This giveaway is open to US residence only Winners will have 48 hours to contact me with their mailing information. alwaysblabbing is not responsible for shipping prize.

Don't forget to come back once a day and share for extra entries.

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I received the products reviewed complimentary in exchange for an honest uncompensated review but the opinion expressed in all mine.

Ancient Stones Mineral Makeup review and giveaway

I'm excited to tell you about a new makeup I discovered, Ancient Stones Mineral Makeup. It's makeup made in San Jose California, for women by women with no added fillers or additives. They offer everything you need for a full face of makeup plus a setting spray to help your makeup last all day.

I have never tried a setting spray so I was super excited to try something new. I was asked for a picture of myself and was sent an entire kit to review!  They did a GREAT job matching my skin tone and even my color choices without asking so that was impressive.

This makeup works just like any other. Start with a clean moisturized face to apply your foundation. The foundation is a mineral power, I got Perfect Beige. The color was a great match and a I'm fair/medium tone. I have never been fond of powder foundation I always feel like I need more coverage. That being said this one goes on very pretty, smooths and blends perfectly with very little effort. I tried it with a sponge and a brush, the sponge works much better. It provided decent coverage it's very lightweight and despite being a powder it not cakey and I never felt it on my face. I will wear it again but I would rather a liquid foundation.

The blush I received is named Cactus Bloom, it 's a beautiful shade of mauve. This brush is also a mineral powder which is perfect for a blush. A little goes a long way for a beautiful look. I tried it with a sponge and brush and both work perfectly. I dipped the sponge in the container to apply then blended with the brush anyway.  It is perfectly pigmented giving a pretty, noticeable blush glow without being overpowering.  I really like the blush and will continue to use it.

I was sent two eye shadows Butter Cream which is a cream color base shadow and Brown Shugar which looks purple in the pot but goes on a beautiful shade of brown. Both of these went on smoothly.  I used Butter Cream from brow to lashes as a base. Brown Shugar is extremely pigmented and it took very little to cover my lid.  I again used both a brush and an application sponge, the sponge worked better all I did to finish the look was run a brush over it for blending.  The look was very matte and pretty.  If you spray a little setting spray in the cap with a small amount of shadow it makes very long wearing eyeliner.

I also got a lip cream in Pink Gold which I bet you guessed it a pretty shade of pink. The lip cream is like a lip stick but a little thicker in consistency but it does not go on thick. It is applies nice out of the tube or with a brush and  last a VERY long time. It's extremely pigmented but offers enough color to be noticeable. It is lightweight and not sticky. I can feel it on hours after I applied it even after eating and drinking. When I say feel it I don't mean in a bad way because unless I rub my lips together, I don't know it's there.

The last thing I got was the Ancient Elixir Setting Spray. I have to admit I was a little timid about spraying myself in the face the first time I used this but there was no reason for that. The spray is very light and has no scent. It is more of mist when you pump the bottle. I closed my eyes sprayed on each side of my face and then more towards my eye shadow. I never felt it after I sprayed so no stickiness, stiffness, or gooeyness.

My entire face of makeup wore perfectly. My eye shadow and blush did not crease or fade after a 10 hour work day. The setting spray can be worn with traditional drug store makeup as well.

Ancient Stones was generous enough to offer 3 of my readers a chance to win a 1 oz bottle of Elixir Setting Spray of their own!! So that means I need to go over the rules so here they go:

Entries will be accepted from 2/05/13  - 2/24/14 at midnight  

Good luck -- three lucky winners will be randomly chosen through the RaffleCopter. You MUST be following me on Twitter or GFC or like alwaysblabbing on FaceBook to be eligible to win. This giveaway is open to US residence only, I am very sorry. Winners will have 48 hours to contact me with their mailing information. Please note if follow/like and unfollow/unlike after every giveaway you can be disqualified.

Click here if the RaffleCopter widget doesn't load

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I received this makeup complimentary in exchange for an honest uncompensated review but the opinion expressed is all mine.

Studio Gear CC Cream

I know I have reviewed BB Creams for y'all but I have never used a CC Cream. I go.t to try Studio Gear CC Cream to review so I was curious to see what the hype is. First of all I am new fan of Studio Gear and I have liked if not LOVED every product I have tried from them.  Those of you who are not familiar with Studio Gear check them out.  They have all your beauty needs at a great price.

This is what Studio Gear says about their CC Cream. This hydrating CC Cream transforms and enhances your complexion in an incredibly light, smooth formula. This foundation simultaneously fights aging, retains moisture, and covers and treats blemishes with a non-oily, perfectly radiant finish.  It also helps prevent wrinkles and has an SPF 20 in it.  It comes in three different shades Linen, Neutral, and Wheat for different skin tones.

I rarely find a BB Cream I can use as a foundation. I always thought BB Creams and CC Creams were almost identical so I expected to use this as a primer like I normally do. I squeezed a little out and noticed it was white. I was fascinated to watch it turn a shade that matches my skin perfectly. It smooth and blended wonderfully as well.

It's a matte coverage and the formula is extremely light weight. I provided impressive coverage so well I wore it alone with powder over it. That really is a big deal because I NEVER feel like I have enough coverage.  I loved that it never made my face feel or look oily or greasy which is great for me. I provided hydrating coverage all day, with no primer.  I am very impressed with Studio Gear Cosmetics CC Cream. I love the coverage and benefits.

This post was powered by BrandBacker and I received this sample complimentary in exchange for an honest uncompensated review. 

BB Cream as primer?

 I have tested tons of BB Creams, okay maybe not tons but I have tested enough. During one of my test I had ten different BB Creams. One thing they have in common is most of them are not enough coverage for me.  I'm not ready to let a bb cream take the place of my foundation unless it is a beach day or a day where I can be "without" makeup.  On those days I wear my bb cream, blush, and powder.

So I started using them a base for my foundation or a primer so to speak. Why use a bb cream at all you ask?  The simple answer is my skin feels better then ever. I have never received so many compliments on my skin before using a bb cream. My face is clearer, smoother, it has almost a glow to it since I started using a bb cream under my foundation.  As a bonus my foundation goes on smoother and stays on much longer.  Just a note, I have combination skin so I have to be extra careful when choosing a bb cream because some of them make my skin extremely oily. I should also add that I use a regular moisturizer underneath the bb cream. I know it's supposed to be all you need but I just can't do. If you are wondering what bb cream to try L'Oreal Age Perfect is my fav so far. It sells for around $15.00 and you can get it at a drug store near you. One of my least favorites was L'Oreal Magic but I gave it my mother in-law and she loved it.


So I know they say if it's not broke don't fix it but I've been seeing a lot of hype about primers and I use a primer for my eye shadow so I had to try one for my face. I tried the NYC New York Smooth Skin Perfecting Primer it runs for around $5.00 and you can also pick it up at most of your favorite stores. It goes on nicely and isn't heavy on your skin. There is no pealing or flaking and my foundation stayed on a little longer than without it. It wasn't a bad product but I used it for a couple of days and went back to my bb cream.





If you have  never tried a bb cream try one you may fall in love. I never thought I would find one so don't stop until you find one that works with your skin.

Covergirl/Olay 2-n-1 Rehab foundation

                                                     
I have been using Clinque foundation and powder for a very long time then they discontinued my favorite foundation. Because I always had a hard time finding a shade on my own that would match my skin I tried a few more types of Clinque but didn't find one that worked the same as my favorite. I was offered the Covergirl/Olay 2-n-1 Rehab foundation Bzz campaign and of course I was willing (and excited) to try it.

When I first received my BzzKit I took the bottle of Covergirl/Olay out and squirted a little on my finger. I was so impressed with the texture and it has light pleasant scent similar to the Olay cream. It has a built in moisturizer but I still did my morning routine of toner and moisturizer. Then I applied the foundation and was surprised that it took very little foundation to give me a great coverage - it literally only takes one pump. It also went on smooth and evened out my skin tones. It last all day and does not leave your face feeling greasy or oily.

 After a few uses my skin started to feel so soft and smooth plus people have compliment how good my skin looks. This is the best foundation that I have ever used and it it a very good price around $15.00 per bottle and available at WalMart or your favorite drug store. WalGreens often offers a buy one get one half price on Covergirl products. Makeup match will help you find your perfect shade.

I received this product free from  BzzAgent for product testing purposes but the opinion is this post in my own.