Black Sweet: May 2011

Review: Hard Candy Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer

I picked this up in the shade Light after reading rave reviews on other beauty blogs. Hard Candy, which used to be a high-end brand, is sold only at Wal-mart. Their products, from my experience, are gorgeous to look at but pretty hit or miss in terms of performance. Where does the Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer fall? Read on!Product:When I first went to use this, I applied WAY too much product. The tiniest dab is honestly all you need! This is great, because the product will last a long time. In fact, I think I have enough Glamoflauge to last me the rest of my natural born life. This concealer comes in only three shades (Light, Medium, and Tan) so the selection is not great. Those with darker complexions will not find a match with Glamoflauge, and I find the shade Light to be a bit too light for me. However, those who fall somewhere in between the 3 shades might like the option of mixing two shades together to customize for their skin tone. Since the product is only $6, this is still an affordable option. I apply this with a damp Sonia Kashuk Blending Sponge and I get superior coverage. I haven't tried this on a tattoo, but the company claims that this full coverage concealer can even cover your ink. I like this best for blemishes because a little product goes a long way and thus I don't have to worry about looking cakey. This works fine under the eyes, too, but as I mentioned above, it is a bit light and I think a more peach toned concealer would work best on dark circles. As for the pencil concealer, it is pretty take it or leave it for me. I usually forget that it came with the tube. It is nice to throw in your purse though. I mostly use it on my lower lash line (which is not its intended use- don't blame me if your eyes fall out!) to brighten up my eyes.Packaging:I am so glad that this is not in a tube with a wand- those, in my opinion, are both unsanitary and wasteful as I can never seem to reach all of the product. The squeeze tube is sensible and sanitary for this liquid concealer- the product won't get contaminated as I use it and as I reach the end of the tube (in roughly 45 years haha), I will be able to squeeze out every last drop of product. As for the pencil concealer, I find it a bit wasteful in comparison to the tube. Every time you sharpen, that is product wasted. But this is a minor complaint. Price: At $6 or so, the price is right on this one. If you fall in between two shades, the cost is affordable enough to buy both and custom blend a shade that matches you. Anyone else have this? What is your take on it? Anyone buy two shades and custom blend them for an exact match for your skin?

Dan Read Cosmetics Gives Great Face

Dan Read Cosmetics doesn't want your money. Or at least, they don't want you to waste your money. I recently got a chance to chat with Dan Read himself. He gave me the inside skinny on his tips and tricks, as well a chance to check out his famous foundation.Dan Read is a firm believer in only spending money on products that work. He doesn't want you to buy anything that doesn't work perfectly. No sponges that soak up product and no products with fillers that aren't needed. He isn't a fan of mineral makeup that doesn't match your skin tone, and he doesn't always understand why women are so quick to lay out their cosmetic money on products that don't match their face perfectly and don't do everything they want a foundation to do. Dan Read Cosmetics know they could make a killing on certain products but, until they're happy with what they've created, they just refuse to take your money.

Even more interesting, he has a different way to determine what foundation is the right color for you. Dan Read Cosmetics can match you over the phone or via email if you are unsure after looking at their swatches. You heard right. They'll match you without seeing you. They'll ask you a few questions and then tell you what shade you are with 95% accuracy. While I'm really hard to match in department stores (really hard. My neck is a different color from my face and everyone assumes I'm much darker than I actually am.), Dan was able to match me on the first try! And oddly enough, this is the first foundation that also matched me when I looked in the most revealing mirror of all - the mirror on the fold down flap of the drivers side visor (it's the best mirror for foundation and eye brow hair checks!). For some reason, in person, most foundations pass, but in this mirror I can see the difference.

I tried the Soft Ivory 1 with Shimmer. The shimmer in this foundation consists of nano pigments of glimmer. If you look closely enough on my face, you can see the particles, but they aren't really noticeable unless you search for them. And even then you'd have to have really sharp eyes.

This foundation is unlike anything I've ever tried before. Maybe it's because I tend to use more "consumer" lines and this line strikes me as more of a Pro line. In the package, it looks a little like pancake makeup from my days at Merle Norman. However, it doesn't apply or act like that. Here is how it's different:1. It arrives hard as a rock. (Mine did, anyway.)2. It only really applies well with a sponge or a densely packed foundation brush. It's not meant to be applied with your fingers. 3. No matter how long you spend twirling the sponge in the product, you'll only get what you need.4. It could freeze and turn into something entirely different. So keep it in a climate-controlled area.5. It's not a liquid, mineral or what I think of as a cream.6. It doesn't look like you are wearing any makeup, but your skin looks perfect. Not like it's been airbrushed and retouched, but like you have actual, perfect skin.7. It doesn't come off until you take it off. It isn't coming off on my flat-front cell phone or after yard work (yes, Mom, I did some!).8. It has shades suited for all skin colors, from Nicole Kidman to Alex Wek and everyone in between.9. You can apply it wet or dry. I prefer dry, because I think it looks more sheer and very fresh. Now remember, you do have to apply this slightly differently, using a sponge or foundation brush. It won't work with your fingers, like a traditional foundation. Instead, swirl a sponge/brush over the top of the foundation for several seconds. The sponge/brush may not even look like it has picked up much product, but you've probably picked up all you need to get a good start. I find that I am swirling three or four times to cover my face, including using this as a concealer (by just adding a bit more where I need more coverage).

My skin looked amazing. All day long. And while you could use a powder with this to set it (which I'm sure you'd only need to use it powder once), I've been using my Mally or Dior face finishers and it sets beautifully. I've tried it with a HD micro powder and I honestly prefer it without a powder. I like the natural finish this foundation gives on its own. The finish is radiant, gorgeous and perfect. I just may be returning or shelving my other foundations.Check out Dan Read Cosmetics online and on Facebook. The foundations range in price from $31 to $41.Product was sent for review. DRC does not test on animals. Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews and more! Copyright 2009-2011, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

I love that lavender blonde...Lady Gaga Inspired Mani featuring Zoya Marley and Zoya Skye

I love that lavender blonde. The way she moves, the way she walks. I touch myself, can't get enough."- Lady Gaga in "So Happy I Could Die"

I am a serious Lady Gaga fan, but I have been particularly obsessed this past week since her new album Born This Way was released. It is truly phenomenal, and has a killer 80's vibe that I am loving. Gaga as a performance artist and fashion icon is constantly evolving. Her sound and her aesthetic undergo continuous transformation, but there is a special soft spot in my Little Monster heart for her lavender blonde days. This picture epitomizes this look, with her beige pleather bow, lavender blazer and lips, and black glasses and watch. There is something so yummy and sexy about this color palette of nude, powdery pale purple, and dashes of stark black. Here is the mani I created inspired by this look!

This is the first tape mani I have done, and I followed Jane from Nailslide's tutorial (direct link to the tutorial, called "Laser Tape Mani," is here). Jane is a tape mani genius and offered wonderful step-by-step instructions. My mani is a little rough, but I think it is respectable for a first attempt! The tape is tricky to work with, but I am sure that with practice, and more of Jane's awesome advice, I will get the swing of it.I fist applied two coats of Zoya Sky, a pinky nude, over my base coat.

Then I cut thin strips of scotch tape, stuck them on the back of my hand once to remove the excess stickiness, and then placed them on my nail in the desired pattern.

Then I applied one thick coat of Zoya Marley, a lavender with a subtle silver finish, to my nail and immediately and carefully pulled off the tape. Marley is a divine polish with the perfect consistency, and I was happy to find that it went opaque in one quick coat for this design. I also did one accent nail in Sally Hansen Diamond Strength in Black Diamond to replicate Gaga's look.

It looked pretty rough, but Seche Vite smoothed it all out in the end. Here is the finished look!

Ignore the rouge hair that attached itself to my thumb! Bah.

Anyone else have Gaga's new album? Have you tried tape manis? Any tips for a tape mani newbie?

Urban Decay Lip Love: Failbait and Taunt + Swatches

Sephora Jumbo Liners Are Fantastic.

Fierce Femme Face of the Day: Gilded Lids

Neutrogena Event at Momo Cafe

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Zoya Faith

The last Buffy the Vampire Slayer mani I have for you is Zoya Faith. Zoya Faith is a metallic strawberry red with a subtle magenta duo chrome. In comparison to Zoya Buffy and Zoya Willow, I found the formula to be a little more runny and I had a slight problem with flooding. I am wearing three coats here, though two would have sufficed. Compared to the other to BTVS manis, this one is certainly the most vampy and I assumed it would be my favorite of the three. As it turns out I am more of a Buffy girl, both in terms of the character and the polish. Zoya Faith is lovely, but I don't think I love it. I was expecting the red to be deeper, or for the pink duo chrome to be more pronounced. Overall, this is not the most unique shade but is still a fun, wearable red.As I have stated in my other posts, I am not positive Zoya created the polishes Buffy, Willow, and Faith with the show's characters in mind. But as a die hard BTVS fan, all of the polishes seemed to match up with the leading ladies, both in terms of their style and personality.

Eliza Dushku as Faith in BTVS

Faith is introduced to as a charismatic, assertive, and seductive young slayer. Buffy's friends and family quickly grow fond of her, though Buffy feels like Faith is taking over her life and identity. As the series progresses, Faith becomes an incredibly complex character who struggles to balance her sacred duty as a heroine with her inclination towards the dark side. However, Faith does not team up with the big bad from time to time simply because she is evil. Rather, as an insecure and troubled woman, she seeks power and affection in all of the wrong places and in all the wrong ways. Faith is also the most sexualized character on the show. Dark kohl liner, deep red lips, tight leather pants, and a painted on tank top is her standard garb, and her sex appeal is a weapon she employs to manipulate opponents.

In many ways, Buffy and Faith are foils of one another. Where Buffy is conventionally feminine and "good," Faith is dangerous and "bad." Yet, as it turns out, they are different only in degree, not in kind. Buffy discovers that the line between good and evil is indeed a blurry one that is often difficult to navigate. She and Faith are not so different, for being a slayer necessitates one live outside of the law, enact violence, and meddle in the dark side. Faith is not the only character in the series who struggles to balance good/evil. For instance, Willow, whose interest in witchcraft emerged from a desire to defeat demons, falls into the dark arts and nearly destroys the world. Angel and Spike, too, are both with and without souls throughout the series. The binary between dark and light, then, is largely a fictitious one, and it is the dissolution of this dichotomy that makes the series so riveting and relatable.Although Faith's character comes problematically close to conflating female sexuality with danger, it is wonderful to see a woman on television who is so frank and unashamed of her sexuality and her desires. With her red lips and tight clothes and multiple sex partners, she is what your mama might call a slut. But this rouge slayer knows what she wants, and she fights for it even if she has to bend the rules to get it. I think that even though most of us think ourselves to be more like Buffy or Willow, there is a little bit of Faith in every woman.

Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Liner Photos

May Favorites & Flunkies

Since Project 10 Pan I have really buckled down on my spontaneous spending and hauling. As such, I don't have a ton of favorites to share. Some are products I rediscovered gems in my preexisting collection, while others are new finds that I researched before purchasing. Unfortunately, a few I got a few flunkies this month, and all are products that I did not research before I threw them in my cart. I am slowly learning my lesson to be a conscious, educated consumer.First, the favs:

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat- I usually only have time to do my nails in the evening, and before this product I had problems with my polish denting as I slept. Seche Vite may smell awful, but it performs as promised. My lacquer is dry in around 5 minutes and has a glassy, hard finish. My only complaint is that I experience some shrinkage with some polishes where Seche Vite pulls away from the tips of my nails as it drys. This is only with some polishes, and I can live with it.
Wet n Wild Color Icon Trio in Sweet as Candy- This is a foolproof trio of shadows that is great for when you are in a rush or just want a simple, natural eye look. The colors themselves are not necessarily unique, but that is okay- they make sense together, are soft and pigmented, and a real bargain. Check out the FOTD I created with this trio.
Physicians Formula Powder Palette Mineral Glow Pearls in Translucent Pearl- I wouldn't have picked this up at full price, but I had a few CVS extra bucks and Physicians Formula was having a sale so in the cart it went. I had read a few rave reviews on these Mineral Glow Pearls, and it did not disappoint. This is a beautiful soft pinky beige highlight that I will be using a lot this summer when I want glowy skin. It is quite shimmery though, so apply with a gentle hand.
E.L.F. Cream Eyeliner in Black- This also made it into last month's favs. I use this everyday, though it is particularly awesome for creating a winged liner look. It is creamy and pigmented, but dries quickly. This never creases onto my lid and literally lasts all day. I don't know how this compares to other brands (like the Loreal Hip one, MAC fluidline, or the Wet n Wild gel liner), but I am really happy with this.
fresh Citron de Vignre Eau de Parfum- I have mentioned elsewhere that I have difficulty finding fragrances that I like because I am generally turned off by feminine floral scents and unfortunately most women's perfumes fall into that category. I found this perfume at Sephora and it is absolutely divine! It smells like sangria- citrusy and spicy with notes of red wine. It is a very unique scent and I have been wearing it all month.
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk- I don't really have anything new to say about this cult favorite that hasn't already been said. It is a creamy white that has worked as an awesome base for most all of my May eye looks.
Stila Bronzing Tinted Moisturizer- I picked this up in a mini haul recently from Nordstrom Rack and have been really enjoying it. I wear it alone, or mix it with my regular tinted moisturizer or with a dab of my foundation if I want more coverage. This doesn't make my oily skin freak out, and it gives me a nice subtle bronzed glow. I wore it in a couple FOTDs this moth, like this one here.
Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Sunblock Lotion SPF 60+- Sunblock should be a staple in your skincare routine year round, but I am guilty of forgetting it most mornings. However, as the sun starts to come out more this Spring I have been making an earnest effort to remember it. I opted for a baby sunblock because they tend to have more naturally derived and gentle ingredients and to have higher SPFs. I mix a pea sized amount of this creamy sunblock into my moisturizer in the morning and have been really surprised by how non-greasy this leaves my face. Usually sunblock leaves me feeling like an oil slick, but this soaks in nicely and I can apply my makeup soon after. And the classic sunblock smell, which I am not fond of, is mild.

Now, for the flunkies:

Sinful Colors Nail Art- I picked these up in a Walgreens haul at the beginning of the month. I was totally lulled in by the cheap price tag and stellar colors. However, I should have known better; since these are neon shades, they apply very sheer and thus don't make for very good nail art designs. Bummer.
Maybelline Define-a-Brow Pencil in Light Blonde- I have been on the hunt for a good brow pencil, and this one actually matches the color of my brows nicely. However, everything else about this is pretty crappy in my opinion. I though that I would like that it was an automatic pencil, but it is not self-sharpening so the tip is flat making for imprecise application. Also, if you twist it too much, the product crumbles very easily when applying it.

So there are my favorites and flunkies of May. What are you loving and regretting?

Black Sweet

Pages