Neutrogena Healthy Skin Makeup: NARS Dupe?

 

I cant believe that I haven't reviewed this yet! I've owned Neutrogena's Healthy Skin foundation for about half a year now, after hearing that it's a dupe for NARS' Sheer Glow. I believe it's about $12-$14 depending on where you buy it, which is really cheap compared to NARS' Sheer Glow. They have a pretty good shade range, 12 shades total. I went ahead and bought two shades, 60 Natural Beige and 70 Fresh Beige. Natural Beige is supposedly a good match for NC30s and 70 for NC35-40. I really liked it when I FIRST got it, then not so much, now I'm back to loving it!

First things first, I'm sure everyone's curious to know how it compares to NARS' Sheer Glow. I mean, the claims are pretty outrageous right? Everyone loves Sheer Glow, how can Neutrogena even compare? Neutrogena's Healthy Skin Makeup gets some pretty mixed reviews, some people love it, some hate it (it has a 3.5 rating on MakeupAlley).

Neutrogena says:

"Finally, naturally beautiful coverage that takes your skin's health seriously. Neutrogena Healthy Skin^® liquid makeup takes over where your skin care leaves off. Silky-light coverage glides on for a perfectly natural look, while the exclusive blend plus SPF 20 work together to visibly improve skin's luminosity, tone, and texture."

First downfall, Healthy Skin doesn't come with a pump, neither does Sheer Glow, but at least NARS sells a pump for it. This is a HUGE downfall because you have to be extra careful with the HS formulation, it spills out like a big girl's muffin top over skinny jeans. I'm serious. The big difference between the two foundation is HS is a lot runnier than SG. It has a thinner, more watery consistency. This has its good and bad sides. The thinner consistency feels lighter on the skin. Healthy Skin also has a light fragrance. I actually like the smell though, it's a pretty scent that makes my brush smell fresh (for reference, I use my ELF flat-top brush for it, the best method thus far).

But how do they look on the skin??

Surprisingly, they look relatively the same! They both give you a slightly dewy finish, with great coverage. The Healthy Skin can look a little bit more shiny, so I do use powder with it. Other then that, I understand why it's been called a "dupe". My only true gripe with it is the staying power. By the end of the day, it's faded a good amount. The longevity of the foundation is ok, but can't keep me looking flawless from morning to night, but then again, neither can Sheer Glow. (*Note: I don't use Healthy Skin enough to notice any change in "tone or texture" to my skin)

Here are the Healthy Skin foundations compared with the Sheer Glow counterparts:

Neutrogena Healthy Skin #60 Natural Beige, NARS Sheer Glow Punjab, HS #70 Fresh Beige, SG Stromboli

As you can see, Sheer Glow runs more yellow. I don't think that I would want to choose one foundation over the other, while they look very similar on the skin, I like that Healthy Skin feels lighter and smells better, but I also like that Sheer Glow runs more yellow. I guess I want the best of both worlds (>    A     <) ehehehe. Greedy pants.

Wow, it's been so long since I've done an actual review! I'm really sorry ladies! This term is kicking my butt! Three more weeks until my spring break starts!

Have any of you ladies tried Healthy Skin? Thoughts? 

♥

Sally Hansen Your Skin Foundation & a tool to find your shade

Probably one of my biggest makeup obsessions are foundations. Even if I find ones I like, I'm constantly buying more because I have this tendency to try more. Even If I find a great foundation, I still buy more. A few months ago I picked up Sally Hansen's Your Skin foundation. It's gotten a lot of rave from the beauty community but as soon as I heard about it, there was news that it was being yanked out of the market. People found it on clearance at Ulta, so I rushed over but only dark colors were left. I searched and found it on places like drugstore.com but passed on paying the $13-15 with shipping, especially since I couldn't see the shades in person. Luckily they recently introduced in into my local Rite Aid. Looks like it's not being discontinued at all. The other problem was finding a shade match. In the states, you'd be hard pressed to find drugstore tester bottles. The frosted glass packaging made it even harder to find a match.

So I did what I always do, I refer to Temptalia's foundation matrix. Temptalia's blog has this really cool feature where readers contribute to a large table so others can find their foundation shade. They categorize the chart using MAC NC/NW as universal indicators, and then they list foundation shades that they use that correspond to that, The first page gives you the option to pick your skin tone (Pink-Cool, Yellow-Warm), as well as your shade.

 You can then scroll down the list to find the foundation you want on the left side and then find your MAC shade at the top to find the foundation for you. This is what the chart looks like when I scroll down:

I'm about an NC30 in the winter and NC35 (sometimes I'll even reach NC40) in the summer. So, I opted to buy Creamy Beige.

Creamy Beige is actually a perfect NC30 match (the first photo washed out the actual color), however, I'm still planning on buying Sandy Beige because Creamy Beige is still a tad light for me right now. I must say that I really like this foundation. It's medium coverage and looks very natural and flawless on my skin. It is a bit thick, so you have to make the extra effort to blend. It is rather creamy and smooth, which is a must for foundation. I've tried applying it several ways. I don't like the way it looks with my fingers, so I actually prefer to use either a stippling brush, or better yet, my ELF studio flat top powder brush, which makes it look its best. I end up with a nice almost-airbrushed look, but with a texture that still looks REAL.

Here are some reviews from makeupalley.com.

I'm very pleased with the outcome of this product, so I'll be buying the darker Sandy shade, as well as the airbrush foundation Sally Hansen and Carmindy have came out with.

Have you guys tried this foundation? What do you think about Temptalia's foundation matrix?

Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse: My Journey Into Cream Foundations?

 I'm a big fan of trying out drugstore foundations. First, they're super afforadle, and second sometimes you'll run across some rare gems. I bought the Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse foundation when it first launched after seeing it in a magazine ad (typical consumer). It ranges from about $7 to $10. I heard some good reviews on Maybelline's Dream Smooth Matte, but matte looks aren't for me. But, as luck would have it, they came out with Dream Smooth Mousse, which is supposed to moisturize your skin at the same time. Being from the US, there aren't any testers, so I gave an educated guess on the shade and got the color Natural Beige which is in the Medium range. It has a warm undertone, even though my face is neutral, I find yellow undertones match the rest of my body better. Natural beige is the first box in the Medium row.

The top opens to reveal a compartment for a sponge. Excuse my used sponge. I also found out there's no way to actually clean these things. I used the sponge once and tried to clean it. Fail. How are you supposed to survive with a sponge you can only use once? Yes, I'm ignorant, I usually never have this problem because I use liquid, not cream, foundations. I've resulted to squeezing in a triangular sponge in there and throwing it away after one use. 

240 is actually a very good color match. For the product itself, it's a very smooth cream. I really like the texture because it glides on my skin easily. I would say the coverage is light/medium. I prefer heavier coverage than this offers so sometimes I build it up a little more. I've come to reserve this foundation for Sundays and lazy days. I do like the way it looks. The formula isn't drying, and there's no dry patching involved.

In my opinion this is definitely a good foundation. However, it would be better with better coverage, but for those who want light/medium coverage this would be perfect. The only reason coverage concerned me is that I have some freckles, and EVERY single one of them showed through. I'm not sure if this is something I personally would repurchase, mostly from the fact that I barely use it and probably won't even go through this one. Another downside is it only has .49 oz of product, whereas most liquid foundations contain a full oz. It's decent for me though, considering I'll wear it once every 3-4 weeks.

Have you tried Dream Smooth Mousse? Is it better with Dream Matte Powder on top? Let me know!

Guilty MAC CCO Haul & Swatches [PIC HEAVY]

ERRRR... I sure have been acquiring a lot lately...Judging from my haul posts, and I do NOT post up many of my hauls. This buy was pretty horrible. A few days ago, I went to the Estee Lauder Cosmetic Company Outlet, and needless to say, I spent a lot as usual. I've known that I have a serious problem, with my makeup collecting issue and all, but I think I've finally realized it's a full fledged addiction. After paying at the CCO and stepping out, I felt HORRIBLE. I spent a ridiculous amount, on products that I will never finish. Buying makeup should feel good, but this trip made me feel so guilty.  I usually spend a lot per month, but it hits harder when I spend this much at once, in a half an hour to be exact. I've realized my problem, but will I fix it? Honestly, I'm not giving up my hobby, but I'm trying to restrain myself by spending less and not falling for impulse buys and deals.

SIGH. Regardless, here's what I picked up. Don't get me wrong =), I love what I got, I just think I went overboard this month with my purchases. 

MSFS in : So Ceylon, Sunny by Nature, Brunette, Porcelin Pink
Cheek and Cheerful mineralize blush, Eversun blush, Pleasureful creme blush,
Style Snob e/s, FAFI Utterly Frivolous lipstick, Moistureblend foundation in NC25, and a brush set

Top: Brunette, Porcelain Pink

Bottom: So Ceylon, Sunny by Nature

Brunette

Porcelain Pink

So Ceylon

Sunny by Nature

Brunette, Porcelain Pink, So Ceylon, Sunny By Nature

I am addicted to anything mineralized by MAC. Seriously. It's a given that I'm also a sucka for bronzey-tan shades. The had a few more at the CCO, but I already had them. Instead of the regular $28, these are $19 at the CCO. I use MSFs as a cheek color, these will work as a shimmery bronzer (besides porcelain pink). Porcelain Pink is much to light to wear as a blusher, so I'm planning on utilizing it as a highlight, much like By Candlelight. I love MSFs because they give off such a beautiful sheen on the cheeks. You just have to make sure to avoid the glittery formulas.

Cheek and Cheerful MB, Eversun powder blush, Pleasureful creme blush

Cheek and Cheerful 

Eversun

Pleasureful (I had to take it far away. My camera wouldn't focus)

Cheek and Cheerful, Eversun, Pleasureful

I'm quite pleased with my cheek picks. Cheek and Cheerful was one I knew I was going to get. It's a lovely golden shimmery bronze. I could also use it as an eyeshadow. Eversun was one I was on the fence about. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet. It's a sheer bronze/peach. I'm also not too fond of the Style Warriors packaging. It looks quite matte in the swatch, but there is shimmer too in the pan. As for Pleasureful, I almost put it back because I was expecting not to like it. It's a deep pink, and looked much too dark for me. I'm surprised how much I love it. The key is to blend, blend, blend, to get a pretty pink sheen.

Style Snob e/s

I think I may have bought this for the name. Style Snob? How cute is that?  It's a starflash formula, which I love. It's a great warm taupe to use all over the lids.

Utterly Frivolous l/s

I think I just needed something from the FAFI collection, and this was the only item they had from it at my local CCO.  Good thing the color is lovely. It's a bright yet very werable pink. It does make my teeth looka bit yellow though, so I'm definitely in need of reaching for Crest whitestrips.

Moistureblend foundation in NC25

I'm really sad with this buy. Although it will be perfect for my dry skin, I bought the wrong shade. I wanted to get NC30, but that was the ONE shade they were out of. I'm normally an NC30 year round, and am about an NC35 right now. I didn't want to get NC35, because I don't like to self tan all the time. After I purchased, I found out that these run a shade lighter, so I could've gotten the NC35 =(. How sad. I don't really know what to do with this. I like the formula, but the color is much too light. Maybe I'll just slap on some bronzer, or Makeupalley, here it comes.

Hope you guys enjoyed my haul =), as much as I do (now that the guilt is over).

Products I Regret Buying

I'm sure this has happened to everyone. You go to the store, see something you have to have, just to go home, try it, and be mega disappointed. Here are 10 items I shouldn't have bought. (Not to say them won't work for you. they just didn't for me.)

1) Mac's Hello Kitty Blush in Fun and Games

 

I tried so hard to like it, and managed to even persuade myself it was perfect. However, I've come to the realization that the pigmentation is so sucky, I'm not really getting much color out of it.

2) Loreal HIP Duo in Wicked

Seventeen magazine sucked me into buying this along time ago. It won best eyeshadow of the year. HAH. Yeah, right. Those 12 year olds obviously don't know good pigmentation. The bronzey side is ok, but the purple side is awful. I've tried to use this about 2 times now and the color isn't smooth and it gets muddy. YUCK.

3) NARS Concealer duo in Custard/Ginger

I was really excited for this one. I mean, c'mon it's NARS. Sadly, it doesn't conceal much. I use it on my eyelids now. AND, I still believe Nars has THE crappiest packaging. Fingerprint alert.

4) Urban Decay Blush in Exhale

It's super sparkly. Meaning, theres huge glitter chunks in this. I expect this out of their eyeshadows. But blush too? The color is nice but doesnt show up great, plus, did I mention the huge craft glitter?

5) Victoria's Secret Femme Lipstick

Yeah, it's a nice nude color and all in the picture. But it has crappy quality up the wazoo. It's drying on my lips and the color is strange on me. Again, DRYING.

6) Rimmel Lipstick in Airy Fairy

I had heard a lot about this one so I decided to try it. I HATE, ABHOR, DESPISE the color (on me anyways). And I really don't know why. I think I'm disappointed from the hype.

7) Sephora Lipliner in Chair Lift

First of all, the brush end is plain retarded. Second, who the hell invented the wood on the pencil. It's so harsh! The color would be nice if it didn't go on unevenly and chunky. Yeah. (note: try out Sephora's native nude lipliner, that stuff is geat).

8) Stila Major Lash Mascara

Doesn't do anything for my lashes. No volume, no length. Major lash? More like major a**. End of story.

9) OPI for Sephora Nail polish in A True Romantic

Tried this out once. Not doing it again. It's one of THOSE colors. The one's that come on two sheer, the ones for french manicures. I was not aware of this when I bought it. I was expecting a pink pastel.

10) Maybelline Superstay Foundation

I knew I shouldn't have gone behind colorstay's back. I'm a big fan of anything that says it'll "Stay". This is supposed to be transfer-proof. It's not. It transfered on EVERYTHING that touched it. A napkin, my shirt, my boyfriend's pillow. Freakin Fantastic huh?

I actually have a very important number 11 to add : Loreal HIP Cream eyeliner in Eggplant. IT SUCKS. pigmentation is poor. It's very sheer. I like the black one they make, but the purple is ridiculous.

What are the products you guys regret buying? I'm tagging everyone! (Because I love looking at products I SHOULDN'T buy)

Rant: Drugstore Foundation

Yesterday I was perusing the aisles of Rite-Aid in the search of the newly-hyped Revlon PhotoReady Foundation. Standing in front of the Revlon display, I became frustrated yet again with the thought of...

HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHAT SHADE I AM?!!!

Drugstore foundation's most common failure is lack of tester bottles. The best I can do is hold it up to my face and run rampant around the store trying to find a mirror. Even that doesn't help. I ALWAYS end up with the wrong shade, hence the reason why I always mix my drugstore foundations.

So there I was, desperate to try Revlon's PhotoReady, but clueless on which one to buy. Even though Walgreens and Rite Aid have makeup guarantees (meaning if you try it and don't like it you can still return) I'm one of THOSE people who cower from guilt and can never bring myself to return a used item. I ended up just grabbing a bottle in Natural Beige only to come home and find the colors dramatically different. Sigh. So I'll have to wait until they get nude back in stock to exchange my (unopened) bottle of Natural Beige.

Have you guys been through this? Are you able to easily find your shade?