Fifty-cent Head

FCH Review Round-up: Stila ~ the Kitten collection

Review Round-up: Stila ~ Kitten

Completely unrelated to M Lab is this next item: kitten. I like kittens. I really, really like kittens, in fact, and I think that anyone who doesn't care for kittens must be deranged. I have the same philosophy about anyone who doesn't like bacon. But kittens and kitten are not the same thing, and I am really pretty lukewarm on the latter.

Kitten is the name of one of Stila's best-selling eyeshadows. It's a "shimmery nude pink" frost, and the way some people talk about it there's never been another eyeshadow made in the world! As far as that goes, there are a few other Stila shadows I like better, and certainly a few over at the MAC Urban Decay and NARs counters!

Stila based two new products on the popularity of this shadow, kitten, and since much of my issue with kitten is the texture, I thought I'd check these out as other options. The first kitten spin-off is the silk eye shadow wash, a long-wearing, lightweight, liquid-to-powder version of the gold-pink Kitten shade. The second spin-off product in this litter is silk shimmer gloss, a lipgloss with silk proteins and ulta-fine shimmer that gives that lovely warm pink kitten-esque look.

The Verdict: I was quite interested in silk eye shadow wash, since I like cream shadows and because the only thing that keeps me from being a kitten fanatic is the texture of the shadow. When it comes to cream shadows, I tend to dislike them when they're coming out of a tube and applied with a sponge-tipped applicator (that's how I like my lipglosses, not my shadows!). This is no exception! I find that I have to sploosh the applicator (a technical makeup artist term, "sploosh") around the eye then smooth it out with my finger. That sucks. The color is nice, though, if a bit frosty. I'm over the shimmer highlighter under the brow arch, but if you're not this will work well there. It's also a decent base for shadow, since it doesn't crease too much once you spread it out. I find it feels a bit heavy on the eye, though, and that's not cool. This shade would probably pop on medium-toned skin.

As for silk shimmer gloss, this was a complete waste of money (I did pay for this one myself - and then returned it). It's sheer and it's faint and the shimmer is negligible. Why put on a $22 lipgloss if it's going to barely be noticeable and then fade off before you're even out the door? I take my lipglosses very seriously, and this one just pissed me off. All-in-all: a dud.

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Read the other posts in the Round-up:

• FCH Review Round-up
• Whish Shave Crave

• Olay Difinity line

• Clinque ~ Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief
• M Lab Skincare
• Stila ~ The Kitten collection
• Bobbi Brown ~ Almost Bare
• Clinique ~ Even Better Skintone Correcter
• Clinique ~ Superbalm Moisturizing Lipgloss
• Sally Hansen ~ Lip Fix Lip Repair

FCH Review Round-up: M Lab Skincare

Review Round-up: M Lab Skincare

This one is for all of the Brits out there. No, not girls named Brittany! I'm talking about folks from the England! This review is of a new skincare line available exclusively at Harrods: M Lab Skincare.  Though you don't have to be from England to enjoy this line now - it's available online at mlabskincare.com. If you're looking for heavy-hitting skincare, this is the line for you! Its level of active ingredients is beyond that of any other line: somewhere between 45% - 74%. That unreal! Most products hover somewhere around 10% -20% give or take. So this range of antiagers will really make a difference, one assumes. As well it should because it's pricey! Of course, it was designed to be pricey, based as it is on the desire to have be high-end, top-of-the-line, premium-ingredient, effective skincare line.

The Verdict: I say if you have the  £'s for it, have at it! But since there's a well-crafted claim on the line's website that says, in response discontinuing use of the product at some point, "The M LAB™ skincare line does not permanently repair skin or change skin structure, so your skin will return to the state it was in prior to using M LAB™. To ensure continued improvement in your skins’ appearance, use M LAB™ daily as a long-term solution" I will go ahead and skip it. I don't think it's "continued improvement" if it's not going to last! I want products that repair permanently, provided I take precautions not to recreate the damage later. I also don't care for lines that tell me all of their products are "synergistic" and therefore I should buy all of them. On the plus side: I liked the scents of these products, and they felt nice going on. They're also paraben-free and not tested on animals. Oh, and the sleek black-and-white packages look fantastic - great on a modern vanity or on a man's countertop. This is a nice unisex line.

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Read the other posts in the Round-up:

• FCH Review Round-up
• Whish Shave Crave

• Olay Difinity line

• Clinque ~ Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief
• M Lab Skincare
• Stila ~ The Kitten collection
• Bobbi Brown ~ Almost Bare
• Clinique ~ Even Better Skintone Correcter
• Clinique ~ Superbalm Moisturizing Lipgloss
• Sally Hansen ~ Lip Fix Lip Repair

Hi-Def, like a brightly lit bathroom mirror. EGADS!

Hi-def TV. What does it mean, besides a lot of extra money the next time you need a television set? Basically, hi-def tv is digital and extra, extra precise, making the viewing experience much more vivid. Were you watching the evening news in hi-def and the anchors weren't wearing great makeup, you'd know who missed a few hours of beauty sleep and who was having a break-out from ratings stress. Imagine letting the whole world into your bathroom every morning with a magnifying mirror, and you now understand why stars and tv personalities have been running to Sephora and/or hiring better makeup artists!

What ever is to be done? Well, naturally many cosmetics companies have stepped up to the plate to give the entertainment and news industries something blur all of their imperfections. Can we non-performers benefit from these new technologies? I'll have to pose the question to The Beauty Brains - if I can manage to find a functioning contact form on their site.

Take a look at CARGO's blu_ray collection:

blu_ray products are  designed, like most of the hi-def products on the market, to give full coverage without looking caked-on. After all, you want your hi-def makeup to cover a multitude of sins while still looking like radiant and healthy skin! Well, since these are from CARGO, you know they're good.

The line uses "photochromatic pigments" which are meant to self-correct and look good in any light. I picture tiny little magical perfect raindrops covering the skin, glinting their perfection in any situation. But I may be a little drunk at the moment, so don't mind me. (just kidding)

The products use microfine particles that don't really sit on top of the skin the way older makeup might (this microfine particle thing is becoming the norm in quality makeup, by the way). Light diffusers, also common in some other makeup, are a particular friend of mine because they gently and softly diffuse light, minimizing the appearance of imperfections while also adding a bit of radiance .

The lip products are also smoothing, thanks to hyaluronic acid and peptides, making fine lines less visible.

Above are, from left, the CARGO blush/hilighter (it's oil-free!), $27 USD; lipgloss palette (4 neutrals, endless possibilities for blending!), $29 USD; powder, $32 USD; mattifier (use over or under makeup), $24 USD;  and mascara (strengthens and conditions with no clumping), $20.

blu_ray is available at sephora.com.

Other ways we can learn to look better courtesy of the hi-def phenomenon:

• lighting is key! | check your makeup out in different lights- you may not realize it, but makeup applied in the wrong lighting can turn insta-tranny in another environment!
• get into a skincare routine |stars flock to their estheticians for facials more than they ever had, because makeup won't hide bumps. sign-up for regular facials, if it's in your budget, or invest in good skincare so you can cleanse+exfoliate+tone+moisturize your way into flawless skin. let all new skincare systems work for about 3 months so you can see if they work (clearly discontinuing earlier if you're having a negative reaction!). i also recommend the Clarisonic brush to help make sure you're spending enough time really getting your skin clean.
• drink it up! | drink your water and stay hydrated from the inside-out, please.
• ditch the bad habits | smoking is bad for so many reasons (i'm a former smoker, myself). if your health isn't enough to make you quit, maybe you'll quit because i tell you this: smoking makes your skin dull and wrinkly and some people even have skin discoloration from the daggone nicotine. besides, it makes you stink, which has nothing to do with hi-def tv, but someone had to tell you and it might as well be me. even though you think you don't stink, i promise you: if you smoke, you stink of smoke. ew.
• get up and move | i need to take my own advice here, i'll admit it. exercise gets the blood pumping and is overall better for you, which will naturally show in your complexion.
• stop the madness, stop the tanning!  | please. you know this. you think it's cute, but you're wrong. tanning is damaging and aging and ultimately has a dangerous potential for death. and frankly, leathery skin is not attractive in person or on hi-def tv.

MAC News, courtesy of Specktra.net and other sources

The gorgeous lassies and lads at Specktra.net have been posting away, letting us know about the upcoming collections at MAC. I've been waiting a bit to show you what's coming up, 'cause the collections don't release 'til next week or a few weeks thereafter, but I wanted you to have time to plan so today's the day!

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Naughty Nauticals, May:

A great seafaring collection, this is the big Summer releases typical in May. It includes the mandatory "let's pretend we sell bronzers" selection - and beware: it apparently is a bit better than last year's offering, but still isn't waterproof and still may transfer onto white/light clothing. Grrr...

Details provided by Specktra.net, of course. Read more here/color story, here/discussion, and here/swatches. Some of the swatches are amazing!

See some great pics of the promotional collateral for this collection here at Specktra.net.

Lipsticks $14.00USD

Ahoy, There! - (Lustre) (LE) ~ the nude
Buoy-O-Buoy - (Glaze) (LE) ~the pink
Port Red - (Frost) (LE) ~ the plum
Party Mate - (Lustre) (LE) ~ the red

Lustreglasses $14.00USD

Bateaux (LE) ~ the nude
Ensign (LE) ~the pink
Hey Sailor (LE) ~ the plum
Love Knot (LE) ~ the red

Eyeshadow $14.00USD

Meet the Fleet - (Matte) (LE)
Illegal Cargo - (Frost) (LE)
Pandamonium - (Lustre) Smoky Grey with silver pearlized pigments (LE) (Repromote from       Pandamonium Eyes in Balloonacy)
Submarine - (Frost) (LE)
Shore Leave - (Veluxe Pearl) (LE)

Pigments $19.50USD

Lovely Lily - (Frost) Lilac with red pearl (LE)(Repromote from Lingerie)
Bell Bottom Blue (Frost)
Larkabout (Frost)
Wave (Frost)

Techakohl Liner $14.50USD

Smoothblue- Ocean blue with frost (Repromote)-
Greyprint- Rich pewter grey with frost (Repromote)

Mascara

Prolash in Coal Black - Lengthening, thickening, non-flaking, non-smudging.

Nail Lacquer $10.00USD

Naughty Nautical - (Frost) Dark royal navy blue (LE)
Shirelle - (Cream) Classic she's a dame red (Repromote)

This collection includes a Nordstrom exclusive quad: Stowaways.

Awash (Frost) - Lightest tan off white with gold and pink pearl (LE)
Crest the Wave (Frost) - Light, frosty yellow with yellow and white pearl (LE)
Satin Taupe (Frost) - Taupe brown with silvery bronze shimmer (Repromote)
Sea-Cadet (Satin) - Grayed dark navy blue (LE)

See swatches here on Specktra.net.

The Skinsheen portion of the collection is the "let's pretend we're tan" part:

Skinsheen Leg Spray $22.50USD - A sprayable, light weight gel formula that provides a sheer wash of colour and glow to the legs. (LE)

Medium - Soft golden caramel with soft gold nuances ~ International only

Medium Dark - Soft bronze with golden tan pearl

Dark

Deep Dark ~ North America only

 

Body Buffer Brush $52.00USD

#179 - A short handled brush with large, flat, circular shaped top for efficient distribution of body makeup. Recommended for smooth application of Sundressing and other powder products. 6.5 cm long. (Repromote)

Specktra's Skinsheen discussion  and Swatches.

 

FCH must-haves for Naughty Nauticals: Larkabout, Illegal Cargo, Mutiny, and Bell Bottom Blue. I'm a pigment whore. :(

 

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Tendertones, end of May:

I loved Tendertones right from "go!". I thought the scent was incredible (kiwi and strawberry) and the color payoff was great, too, 'cause it was just so light and sheer. Doubters abounded, though, and I had a hard time selling the green one last year (fools, you!). So, according to Specktra.net and members mezzamy and Erine1881, here's the new Tendertones scoop:

 

Deep Sigh | Sheer bronze with red pearl (LE) (Repromote)

 

Pucker | Sheer raspberry pink (LE) (Repromote)

Sweet Tooth | Sheer coral w/ white pearlized pigments(LE)

Take a Hint | Sheer intense mid-tone pink (LE) (Repromote)

 

Hush Hush | Sheer peach with gold pearl (LE) (Repromote)

Hot n’ Saucy | Soft cherry red (LE)

Tread Gently | Soft lime green w/ yellow pearlized pigments (LE)

Honey Bare | sheer peach w/white pearlized pigments (LE)

E-Z Baby | Sheer milky pink (LE)

Sweet & Nice | Sheer red grape w/ red pearlized pigments (LE)

PS: Read the Specktra.net page carefully and you'll see that the rumor mill says we may see Tendertones as permanent additions to the Pro collection at some point. YAY!

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Giorgio Armani Face Fabric - oh no.

I have an obsession with Armani makeup, and that's not a good thing (the price point is not wallet-friendly for me). Sadly, Armani has made a new product that I'm going to have to check out on Saturday. Sigh...

Face Fabric. What a name! I mean, this is Giorgio Armani, so fabric just makes sense. But is Face Fabric sequined? Is it a heavy lace? A weighty, nearly-canvas material? A lightweight and sheer waft of silk?

Luckily for us, it's the last of those- Face Fabric is described as an invisible makeup. Er, isn't that a moisturizer? I kid, I kid!

With Face Fabric, we get sheer coverage that invisibly evens out skintone. I don't know how - don't ask me. I just know that it sounds fabulous. It sounds, in fact, a lot like what we want out of a tinted moisturizer-type product, but rarely get! At least, when I use tinted moisturizer, I get to look at a bit of makeup sitting on top of my still-flawed skin. That's the kind of product for someone who doesn't mind flaws or who has perfect skin. I don't. I have fair, fair skin that's slightly pink in areas, slightly shadowed in others. I don't mind my few remaining freckles, and I rarely blemish, but I'd love the appearance of one-toned, un-made-up skin. Will this be the product that gives it to me!?

Micro-fil™ is in Armani's other foundations, and so it is here. Micro-fil™ helps makeup skip gently over fine lines, filling imperfections and minor flaws without calling attention to them. This collection also comes with 2 "professional" shades- they sound like lightweight Fluid Sheers - in porcelain, apricot that are used to enhance the complexion and/or shade and highlight. Oh, and it has an SPF 15, too, which is nice. Reviews I've read say the finish is matte and the texture/hand is velvety.

I'm definitely seeking out a sample of this stuff this weekend! I'll let ya know how it goes!

$45 USD

“Fabric is the reason for my success.”

Mineral Makeup Roundup...

I have had the distinct pleasure of reviewing some fabulous mineral makeups recently, and wanted to share with you, my lovely readers! I'm definitely a convert to mineral makeup - when it is done well, it's so good for the skin, is non-comedogenic, leaves such a nice finish and it just feels so nice! The fact that it's water resistant and resilient is nice, too. So, without further ado, presented in order of how I tested them, here's Fifty-Cent Head's first Mineral Makeup Roundup!

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Everyday Minerals - This company is run by a busy mom who appreciates beautiful, natural, safe, affordable and easy American-made makeup. And I'd say she has achieved it! A rare 100% guarantee promises your happiness- don't like it? Return it. But I bet they don't get many returns! I love that there are estheticians on-site to help answer questions and guide you to the right products, and I also admire their free sample plan. The website is super customer-friendly with all sorts of nooks and crannies to help you pick the products that are right for you - and use 'em once you've got 'em. They have kits to help you get a complete collection, or you can go  à la carte and pick what you want. Check this link to get the scoop on each week's shipping special. Everyday Minerals is a company that hugs its customers and I love it!

• Foundations| available in 4 formulas: Original Glo (a bit of dewiness, long lasting coverage, ideal for normal to dry skin); Semi-Matte (a more subtle glow, for normal to combination skin); Matte (   silky smooth matte finish, ideal for normal to oily skin); Intensive (ideal for all skin types, silky near-matte finish, controls oil without drying your skin). Of the foundations I tried this Mineral Makeup Roundup, these are my favorite. So lovely and smooth, lightweight (you'll feel like it's not there), well-wearing and just flawless. My colors matched me fabulously and I reach for these regularly now. YAY!
• Blushes and Face Colors | Cheek colors and all-over shades to enhance the complexion. While the colors I tested weren't for me, the formulas were fantastic and felt as nice as the foundations on the skin. Kudos, and I'll be back for better colors for my skin.
• Eye colors |These come in Shimmer, Pearl and Matte formulas with a slightly different mix for Brows. I tried these and really was impressed. I tend towards a bolder, MAC-like eye most days, but for days I want to keep it low-key I grab the shades I have from Everyday Minerals. They go on smoothly and wear well (though I admit: I always put them on over my MAC Paints/Paint Pots). The colors are nice and even, but subtle (at least the ones I tried). Lovely. The brow powder was fantastic, however now that I'm a redhead I can't wear the one I have - but I bust it out on the lid, anyway, despite its name. ;)
• Lip Gloss | Vegan lipglosses - yeah! I didn't try these, but they sound lovely: Cherry Fizz, Cozy Night, Girl's Day, Plum Dust, Siesta, and Spring Pink. Those just make me want to wear them, don't you agree? Also available is a lip scrub, so you don't look crappy in these pretty glosses.
• Other | Also available are concealers, pressed powders, finishing powders, accessories, brushes and skincare like cleansing bars, moisturizers and my next purchase: all-natural cleansing wipes! PS: I tried the Flat Top Brush and loved it- it went into my makeup bag immediately!

All in all, Everyday Minerals gets a ginormous A++ from me!

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Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics - These products were created by a paramedical aesthetician who worked for plastic surgeons and dermatologists. She found a need and decided to fill it with these all-natural, lightweight products (made in the USA, of course). This company has a strong customer service focus, which is nice and apparently a trend in many of the mineral makeup companies (I encourage this!). And the sleek containers are spectacular - they cheer me up (I'm not sure why, but admit to being a packaging whore).

• Foundations | Loose natural mineral foundation: These silky and lightweight products give good coverage - even concealer-weight coverage if you want it. The shaker top doesn't make a mess, like some products, which I was grateful for. I was skeptical about these suckers, because I noticed that bismuth oxychloride was an ingredient. I don't get along with bismuth oxychloride.  When I tried these, I was pleasantly surprised that there was no itching, no oiliness. I didn't love the colors on me - they weren't quite a match. The finish and coverage was good, but I prefer the Everyday Minerals or Lumiere. | Also available: Mineral Compact Foundation and Liquid Mineral Foundation (NOT my thing -too yellow!).
• Other face products | Mineral Rice Setting Powder employs rice and corn starches mixed with minerals to absorb oil and set your makeup. Ultimate Concealer is a creamy product that gives you variable coverage (from sheer to full). Vitamins C & E help protect the skin while minimizing dark shadows and giving gentle moisture courtesy of jojoba. A pretty good concealer - I'm keeping this one handy 'cause my MAC concealer is almost gone and I like this one more! Crushed Mineral Blush, Pressed Mineral Blush, and Mineral Radiance (bronzers) are also available, though I didn't test them. Celzome SPF 30, a natural, hydrating, PABA- and fragrance-free SPF product rounds out the skin collection (and it's waterproof and sweatproof for 8 hours!).
• Eye makeup | Crushed Mineral Eyeshadows look like a small vial of MAC pigment, and let me tell you I enjoy these almost as much. Like all products of this nature, use 'em dry for subtlety or wet them for a shot of intensity. I tried Moonstone (lovely white shimmer), Golden Beryl (gold!), and Haze (a taupey grey). Loved them all! | Also available for eyes: Eye Liner Pencils,  Mascara, 8 eyeshadow quads,  and the Artiste palette system.
• Lips | Lipsticks are a weakness of mine, as you probably know. These are lanolin-free and pretty long-lasting. I enjoyed the one I tried, but it felt a bit heavy on the lips - if you like the way a waxy balm feels, you'll like these. | Also available for lips: Lip Liner Pencil, Lip Shine and Lip Gloss.
• Other products | Lunar Dust helps you add some shimmer wherever you want it. Three shades help you bronze or glow in your own particular way. Artiste and Artiste On The Go let you use Youngblood in a fashionable and portable palette system. Naturally, Youngblood also offers brushes - the one I used was pretty nice. I think it's the foundation brush, but it doesn't really look like the one in the picture. At any rate, I use it for powders and I quite like it.

Overall, I think Youngblood is pretty good, but maybe a bit too sleek for my tastes. I'll use the products until they're gone, but probably wont repurchase.

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Jenulence - Well, if you know my name you understand the draw - Jenulence sounded like it was right up my alley! Created by the daughter of two doctors, the line comes from the owners awareness of the importance of caring for the largest organ in the human body - the skin. Using all natural ingredients, the Jenulence line's philosophy says it all:  If you can’t eat it, don’t use it on your skin. I only tested a few skin products from this line, but here's the rundown of what's available:

• Face | Foundation/Concealers - with an estimated SPF of 25, the nicely matte foundation gives great coverage with minimal effort. I tried these and really liked the colors a lot. This was a close-second to the Everyday Minerals, only because the color match wasn't exactly my favorite - but the texture, consistency, and wear were excellent! | Also available: Foundation/Powder (SPF 15, estimated),  Concealers, and Finishing Powders.
• Cheeks | Blushes and Bronzers are both available.
• Eyes | Finely milled loose pigments are available in three formulas: Shimmers, Mattes, and Sparkles.
• Other | Body Shimmers, for that all-over glow; and a full line of skincare and Bath & Body products.

I enjoyed the products I sampled and am interested in trying the skincare and bodycare products, as I appreciate the company's goal and origins - however I'm a bit disappointed in the "estimated SPF" claim and would love to know why proper SPF testing hasn't been completed.

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All in all, while I enjoyed them all, Everyday Minerals is my hands-down favorite. I am pleased with the effect, the lack of unnecessary fillers, and the part I didn't tell you about: the prices! This is the most affordable of the lines, and I appreciate that as much as I appreciate the all-natural ingredients, the care that goes into making them, the fact that this is a woman-owned business, and the extreme dedication to customer service and education.

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Visit Fifty-Cent Head reviews of the following products if you're in to mineral makeup: Bare Escentuals/Bare Minerals, Lumiere.