NYX Cosmetics | "Invincible Fullest Coverage Foundation"

With my recent fake tanning experience, I knew I would end up needing new face makeup. All my years of wearing makeup has been geared towards buying the lightest shades of anything and hoping it works. And once I would find a "holy grail" it became a staple. But now with my tan I know nothing about tan makeup and what would work. So I enlisted the help of my best friend and we went shopping, and I found this beauty!
I have sensitive, combination/oily skin, and I love me a matte finish. I also have rosacea, which makes finding a foundation that covers and blends well a little difficult. I typically have to get "full coverage". With my tan, it's a little bit less noticeable though. I got it in the shade #5 Light/Medium.
This stuff is pretty amazing. I applied it twice, two days in a row. The first time I used my fingers, and the second time I used a damp beauty sponge. Both ways were effective, and it blended like a dream!
The second day I applied the foundation, I put it on around 8:30 - 9:00 AM, and went out and about in hot, sunny weather. I even wore this while putting makeup on a client in a hot, stuffy bathroom. I didn't take the foundation off 'til I got home around 7:00 PM that night. It lasted really well throughout the day, and I only touched up once with an oil-blotting sheet. I did use primer and a setting spray that day though.

Some of my "Pro's" are:

* Medium to full coverage. Buildable.
* Easy to apply and blend.
* Doesn't look cakey.
* Semi-matte, natural looking (skinlike) finish.
* Long lasting.
* SUPER lightweight. Feels like your skin!

A couple "Con's":

* The color range isn't the best. 10 shades but they're all too similar.

*Squeeze tube dispenser. Super messy!

* Price vs. Amount you get.

I've had other foundations with better packaging for the same price or less, and you get more out of it.

All in all, it's an awesome foundation and I would recommend it to anyone that has oily skin, would like a full-coverage foundation without it feeling "heavy" on your skin, and last a good amount of time with little to no "melting".

Until next time,

Abby

Tarte Brazilliance | Adventures in Self-Tanning

Well, I've done something completely out of the norm for me. I bought fake tan! And I'm really excited! For years, and years I've taken pride in being pasty white. I always thought I wouldn't look right tan, or that I would look "dirty" or "dingy". I think my newly healing mental state is making me more open to things I wouldn't have considered even a year ago. The past month or so has been really sunny and I've just been noticing more and more that I'm so white it's borderline blinding! So I decided to give fake tan a try and see how it looks!
To start off, a general thing with all fake tan is that you have to shave and exfoliate really well before applying, and with some brands they recommend moisturizing. I have pretty sensitive skin so I had to buy a specific shaving gel created to prevent "razor burn" or "bumps". And to be extra sure I made certain that the body scrub I bought said "soothing" on it. When I was done I applied a very light layer of lotion to my elbows, knees, ankles, and wrists and then wiped it off so it wouldn't affect the fake tan.
The fake tan I bought was the Tarte Brazilliance one, and it comes with a mitt to apply the fake tan with. This stuff looks terrifying when you first open it, but that's just the color guard and bronzer so you know where you've applied it so it won't go streaky. It's kind of feels like a gel formulation, and it smells fantastic! It's like molasses cookies or something along those lines. I love it!
Now, I've never tried fake tanner before, but the main thing I hear is that they smell horrendous. Especially as they develop and that's why a lot of people put them on at night and then sleep through it. But you don't have to with the Tarte one! They do say to stay out of/away from water while it's developing though.
I accidentally let this develop for 12 hours (instead of the recommended 8 hours), and by the time I rinsed off the color guard it wasn't dark enough for me. (That phrase itself just makes me laugh..) So I put on a second layer. When applying I would recommend getting a buddy to help with your back. I had my sister help me with mine. After I let the second layer of tan develop it was fine, but my legs just didn't seem to want to accept the fake tan. I even tried a third layer! I'm going to have to play around some with them next time I put it on. Other than my issue with my legs, I loved the color that I ended up being! I just wish I could achieve that level of tan naturally!
I never thought I would feel like this, but I'm really loving being tan! Whatever Tarte puts in their Brazilliance gives such a nice, even, natural looking color!
My fake tan lasted about a week before it started to fade. Only really on my body and legs though. My arms and back are fine. I think next time I won't go all over with it. I've also heard that getting some tan enhancers like Jergens in the medium/tan shades helps prolong the tan, so I'm going to try that too!
I also tried the tanning face towelette that came with the bottle, but I didn't expect much. I only used it so I could get a more accurate color match for foundation. I'm going to have to get a tinted moisturizer or BB Cream for days that I don't wear a full face of makeup.

 (Left: Before | Right: After)
The before picture is an old one, but I'm still just as pale, if not more.

A definite Pro of fake tanning (for me) is that it's so much easier to go out a buy foundation! It's amazing! Being so pale is definitely a struggle when you love makeup so much. Fake tan also aides in helping my rosacea blend too!
Tarte did an amazing job formulating this stuff! It's the perfect fake tan for pale girls that need some color without accidentally going orange, or having it look muddy or "BAM! In your face!" dark. It's a nice bronzed color. I love it!!
10/10 would recommend!

Until next time,
Abby