NARS Sheer Matte Foundation Is A Winner

After months of searching and countless Sephora samples, I have found my winning foundation.  And the winner is...NARS Sheer Matte!  NARS has three foundations in their line, Firming foundation (for mature skin), Sheer Glow, and Sheer Matte.  Everyone is always raving about Sheer Glow, but never about its red-headed step-sister Sheer Matte.  I guess they forgot about us oily skinned girls...until now.  Here's my two cents.

First, color match-this was the first (and only) foundation that provided me a perfect color match.  For reference, I am medium-dark with yellow undertones and a MAC NC42.  This equals to Syracuse medium/dark 1 in NARS.  Prior to sampling this foundation, I had the sales assistant at Sephora try to color match me for Make Up For Ever's HD foundation.  She had the nerve to match me with a dark olive-toned foundation color.  Had me looking a hot mess leaving that store.  After three more trips, she still couldn't match me.  Well, NARS got it right on the first trip!

unblended



blended

Second, no break outs-there is always a break out risk in trying a new foundation.  I wore my sample (well actually two samples because I went back for a second when I ran out of the first) for 1 month and no issues.

Third, oil control-this foundation is supposed to absorb oil and control shine, which it does well.  Bottom line, I am not a shiny mess at the end of the day with this foundation.  Case closed.



foundation after 8 hours of work, no touch ups!



It is a sheer foundation that is light to medium buildable coverage.  I find that little to no concealer is needed unless it is a very dark spot (under eye area excluded).  It does not feel like you're wearing foundation at all, which is very important to me.  I hate "feeling" like I am wearing makeup. 

There is one drawback, the application.  You have to work quickly or it will be hard to blend.  After much trial and error, I found that my fingers are the best application tools for this foundation.  Ironically, that is what NARS recommends using to apply it anyway.  I work it in sections which allows me to blend it well.  Also, it does not come with a pump.  You have to order that separately.

 This awesomeness does come at a price, at $42 it is not exactly cheap.  I happened to take advantage of Sephora's Friends & Family sale and snagged it at 20% off ($33.60).  Well that's my two cents.  What's your favorite foundation?

Manicure Mondays-Orly Mirror Mirror

So I've been into grey lately; grey clothes, grey eyeshadow, and now grey nail polish.  I've been wearing Orly's Mirror Mirror.  It is a light grey creme with maybe a hint of blue undertone.  I really like it.  I thought it was a chic alternative to black polish (which I also love).  The formula was nice though, I felt it was a little on the thick side.  This was two coats and Seche Vite top coat.  I can already tell that this will be a repeat color for me.  My husband also liked it, he thought it looked like "elephant" grey (inside joke) lol.  What are you wearing this week? Share in the comments below.

Make Up For Ever HD Blushes Are Impressive



#6 Quickie (left), #8 PDA (right)



Make Up For Ever (MUFE) is a brand that I recently started to try products from.  Most recently, I have been using their HD microfinish blush.  They are cream blushes that come in a bottle with a pump.  There are 14 colors in their range and they retail for $25.  I was sent two of them by the lovely Christine of Temptalia as I was her July contest winner.  I was sent #6 Quickie and #8 PDA.  Quickie is a salmon pink and PDA is a pinky nude.  You get .33 oz per bottle which doesn't sound like a lot, but trust me, it is.  You don't need much to get the color to show up on your cheeks.  These babies are VERY pigmented.  It takes only a very slight squeeze on the pump to get enough color to do both cheeks.  These bottles will last you for quite some time.



#6 Quickie (left), #8 PDA (right)



The finish is a satin finish, it is matte, but gives a healthy glow.  They blend seamlessly into the skin and look very natural.  And they last ALL DAY!  The application is easy.  I squeeze some onto the back of my hand and use my fingers to place the color on the apples of my cheek by dabbing it on.  Then I take my MAC 130 brush and blend it.  I find the MAC 130 brush to be the best brush for this.  I tried it with my Sonia Kashuk brush, but it was too dense and wiped the color away.  When wearing a powder foundation or setting your face with powder, do that after you have applied the blush.

slightly blended



wearing #6 Quickie



Overall, I love these!  They look very natural and are easy to apply.  You just have to be careful when squeezing the pump.  You could easily squeeze out too much.  MUFE products are sold exclusively at Sephora.  Have you tried any MUFE products?

Sephora Friends And Family Sale

I guess it is that time of year where retailers are having Friends & Family sales.  Sephora is having their Friends & Family sale now through November 3.  It is 20% off everything with code FF2010 (U.S. only).  Not sure if it is online only.  I did place an order today.  I got the Clarisonic Mia cleansing system and NARS Sheer Matte foundation.  I saved $38!  Are you picking up anything from the sale?

Saks Friends and Family Sale

The time has come for Saks Fifth Avenue's annual Friends and Family Sale.  Enjoy 20% off (15% off jewelry & 10% off beauty & fragrance) October 19-24 online and October 21-24 in store.  For online purchases, use code FRIEND7.  There are some designer exclusions which you can find here.  I personally have my eye on a pair of Tory Burch Reva flats!  Are you planning on taking advantage of the sale?

Manicure Mondays-Milani Garnet Gems

This past week, I've been wearing Miliani's Garnet Gems.  It is black with red glitter.  It has a jelly like consistancy.  I really like the color and when the sunlight hits it, the red glitter really comes to life.  As with most glitter polishes, it required 3 coats and as always, I used Seche Vite top coat.  The formula is nice and dried quickly between coats.  This is my first Milani polish and I must say that I am impressed!  What are you wearing this week?

How I Apply Under-Eye Concealer

I recently saw a good friend and we were discussing our horrible dark under eye circles.  And she asked me, how I apply my concealer.  So I decided to do a post about it (This is for you Ashley G!).  I use MAC's Select Cover-Up Concealer in NW35.  I use a NW shade even though I am a NC shade because the pink undertones in the NW shades counteract the blue tones in my dark circles.  I first prep my under eye area with an eye cream and then L'Oreal's Magic Perfecting Base.  I then take a bead size amount on my ring fingers and apply it to the area using a dabbing motion.  I take my MAC 224 brush and blend it starting from the inner corners and working my way down and out.  After, I check to see if it is enough coverage and apply more if needed.  I then set it with my face powder.

No matter how many hours of sleep I get or how many expensive creams I use, I will always suffer from dark circles.  So concealer is a must in my routine.  After I finish this tube of concealer, I want to try Bobbi Brown's Creamy Concealer next.  What concealer do you use?

Manicure Mondays-Orly Space Cadet

I've been wearing Orly Space Cadet for the past 4 days.  It is from their Cosmic FX collection and is a duo chrome polish.  It can flash green, gold, and plum depending on the lighting.  It is a very unique color and unlike any I have in my collection.  It is a dead on dupe for MAC's Mean Green that was just released with the Venomous Villains collection.  The formula is thin as with most glitter polishes.  This is 3 coats and Seche Vite top coat.  What are you wearing this week?

Burberry Aviator Shearling Boot

I am in love with these boots!  Seriously, love doesn't even describe the feelings I have for them.  They are the most fierce boots I have come across in long while.  They retail for $1395 and I haven not been able to find anything affordable that comes close to these beauties.  Needless to say, I'm not willing to risk my marriage to own these, but I did want to share with you my unattainable boot crush.  What do you think of these boots?

Look For Less-Valentino Ruffle Trench



Valentino

 One of my favorite pieces for Fall is a trench coat.  I love how chic it can make an outfit look.  While browsing In Style magazine, I saw a lovely ad for Valentino that featured this ruffle trench coat.  While it is stunning, sadly the $1,195 price tag makes it way out of reach for me.  So as usual, I set out to find a more affordable alternative.  My search was not in vain as I found a great substitute by Elie Tahari for $148. 



Elie Tahari "Eve" trench coat, nordstrom.com

 Now this is more in my price range, and I kind of like it better than the Valentino.  It comes in black and burgundy as well as the ivory color pictured.

Manicure Mondays-Essie Sexy Divide

I've decided start a post called Manicure Mondays.  I usually change my polish about once a week, so I figured I would chronicle it on the blog (just my hands, I will spare you the pedicure shots).  If I don't post, it's because I have repeated a color already featured.  So without further ado, I present to you Essie Sexy Divide.

Sexy Divide is a deep royal purple with slight shimmer.  It is currently on my toes as well.  This was 2 coats with Seche Vite top coat.  This picture is after 3 days of wear.  The formula was nice and smooth, not too thick but not too thin.  And most importantly, it got my husband's stamp of approval :)