This I Tried: Revlon Colorstay Mineral Mousse

I'm one of those people who swear by Bare Escentuals mineral makeup. That being said, I will avoid what could be a 5-page rant about how amazing and life-changing this makeup line is and (try to) go straight to my product review.

Besides my tendency to accumulate cosmetic clutter, it seemed reasonable enough to find a drugstore brand - more affordable - that I could wear to work and then save the BE for outings and such.

I'm reluctant to change because one of the amazing benefits of authentic mineral makeup is that it keeps my acne-prone skin from further breakout. There are a lot of brands these days that market themselves as "mineral" but when you read the ingredients, you find out they're still adding talc, alcohol etc. So, when you choose a so-called mineral makeup that is not Bare Escentuals, keep that in mind.

Revlon Colorstay foundations (mineral or not) are very good. I used to wear the Colorstay Active, which I believe is now discontinued and replaced with the Colorstay for Combo/Oily Skin with SoftFlex, and I loved it. It was high-pigmented so provided full coverage and it lasted all day. But then I abandoned liquid foundations altogether and that's another long story.

Never tried Revlon's line of mineral makeup (they first came up with the loose powder form) and I was about to buy their Photo Ready Foundation to see what the High Definition makeup brouhaha is all about but changed my mind last minute. I picked the mousse version so I could try something different from powder, in order to achieve a perhaps more "dewy" finish, while maintaining 4 properties I look for in a foundation:

• Full coverage
• Lasting power
• No pore-clogging
• SPF

Revlon Colorstay Mineral Mousse has one gazillion ingredients, including alcohol, while still writing "mineral" on the bottle. I'm no scientist so I don't really know what ingredients define a makeup as mineral, but let's just say this one is not "pure". Whatever. If it clogs my pores I can always return it.

So onto the test:

Texture:

Texture is soft and indeed mousse-like. First ingredient on the list is dimethicone, which is a silicone that gives you that smooth sensation on skin. This foundation feels a lot like Philosophy The Supernatural primer, which is the primer I use under foundation. That's a good thing.

Shade:

There aren't a lot of shades to choose from - be warned - but the one I picked, 020 Fair/Light seems to match my skin tone without issue. When it comes to everyday makeup, always choose a shade that disappears on your skin. Now for pictures (say, if you have a wedding to go to), I would say pick a shade slightly darker than your skin tone, since the flash lights are never very kind on us, especially the pale faces like moi.

Application:

This mousse dries out fast without feeling too cakey. Another rule of thumb: when you use powder foundation, put concealer (liquid, powder or otherwise) on first. When you use liquid foundation, apply it first all over face and then concealer over it, only where you feel the need for more coverage.

Coverage with this foundation is good, I used the dot method, applying with my fingertips, blending in all the way to my neck to avoid the mask look. Had to go back a few times to cover some stubborn redness and zits but I forgot I can always use my concealer for it. With Bare Escentuals, it's all one product, you just switch brushes. So is it buildable coverage? Yes, but you don't want to stuff your face with the product, so don't skip concealer if you need.

I followed with Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer (which is really good, comparable to Lancôme Effacernes, but one slice of the price) and Maybelline Mineral Power Finishing Veil in Translucent, which are both products I use even with my BE foundation.

Quick Tip:

The good thing about liquid or mousse foundation is that you can play with cream blushes and highlighters without streaking. It's easier to blend. If you're gonna use a cream blush, leave the setting powder for last. If you choose a powder or compact blush (or bronzer), apply a setting powder first.

Everything seemed to blend in okay.

The Look:

Please excuse the low-quality of these pics. My camera broke, my cell phone camera is a joke and so is the lighting in my house.

From top left: bathroom lighting, bathroom lighting close-up,

natural light and natural light profile.

You can notice in the pics that there are still some minor visible (acne) scars on my cheeks. I try not to go overboard with foundation for daytime, but you can always build more coverage whether with this foundation or a concealer, or both.

Performance:

I picked a very interesting day to test this makeup out. Ironically, I locked myself out of my house and had to walk to work. Granted, it's only a mile away, but it was a sunny Florida Hurricane Season summer day. In other words: hot, humid and windy. Add to that the greasy kitchen environment I usually work in and Revlon was in for quite the test.

I noticed no makeup meltdown as I sweat through the 90F+ weather. One thing I also like to use as a test for a new makeup is people's comments at work. If someone says something about my makeup at work (positive or not), I know it's not looking natural. When I go to work, I try my best to keep it looking like I have no makeup on, even though I spend about 20 minutes putting it all on before I leave the house. No comments that day. Second test passed.

Later that night when I came home, I noticed my makeup still looked reasonably okay, despite the usual oily spots that just happen no matter what I do. Nose, chin and forehead, nose being the first one to go. I'm too lazy to use oil blotting sheets at work, but I'm sure that would help and I recommend them, especially for touch ups. Other areas in my face could use a little concealer touch up as well, but overall, it looked decent.

Verdict:

Pretty satisfied with the product. Was my mind blown? No. Is it life changing? Meh. Is it better than Bare Escentuals? No way.

Like most liquid foundations, you still get that strange feel that you're wearing something on your face. A feel you only know exists once you try Bare Escentuals on. It's a fact. I'm very spoiled now and I love wearing makeup that doesn't feel like I'm wearing makeup. It's like switching from pads to tampons. Just being honest.

Is it worth the buy? Sure. For $12 for a 1 FL Oz/30 ml tube, it's a competent everyday makeup that will look natural on your skin (if you find a shade that matches). I Probably would not wear it to go out or for a big event because you can certainly find better (I will still give the Photo Ready foundation a shot someday). Also, don't expect the dewy "red carpet" look, because this will give you a more matte finish than anything else. Can you wear to the gym, for instance, or a beach barbecue? Absolutely. I noticed no makeup meltdown and it contains SPF 20.

Will I buy this product again? Hmmm, not sure. I'll keep shopping around. It's a maybe.

* ~*~ *

"My Makeup Reviews", in Australia, has a detailed review on this product, with swatches and comparisons.

This video can be pretty helpful too.

2010 Emmy's - Favorite Makeup Looks

I'm gonna keep this post semi-short and focusing on my favorite looks from last night's Emmy Awards. Also, some trend spotting on the red carpet and some real-life interpretation and how-to's. :)

Let's start with Claire Danes:

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Notice the Summer glow going on here!

Claire Danes is usually very pale, but opted for a natural-looking end-of-summer glow. I'm kind of digging it and wondering what bottle it came from. The color on her hair may be washing her out a bit and contrasting in the wrong way, but overall, I think this is one of her best looks to date.

The eye makeup she's sporting was also a common trend on the red carpet last night: a combination of bronze, golden and reddish browns. Those are shades that flatter pretty much any eye color, yet looking more natural than the classic smoky look that goes better in the colder seasons.

To achieve this look, start with a shimmery beige or gold all over lids and under the brow bones for highlight. Focus the darker colors on the outer corner of upper lids and lighter in the inner corner. For dramatic effect, you may apply black or brown eyeliner in the waterline and plenty of mascara.

On her cheeks, we see a soft rose blush, probably creamy or solid stick, to achieve a more natural glow that "comes from within". Try Nars - The Multiple in Orgasm , applying the color with your fingertips. To make the look even more natural and seemingly effortless, apply blush under foundation and finish with a highlighter.

Sweet Surprise: Kim Kardashian

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I'm flabbergasted by Kim's perfect, flawless skin. You can tell she's wearing (a lot of) foundation, but man, that is one fantastic airbrush job right there. She's naturally tan and one common mistake people sometimes make on the red carpet or otherwise is mismatch the shade of their foundation with the rest of their bodies. Not her case over here. Her makeup looks like a million bucks and it probably is.

The most interesting thing about her look besides her irritatingly perfect skin was her nude lips (a recurring trend), which can be achieved in the real world with Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Peach Petal (#150).

Also notice the white in her waterline. That was achieved with white eyeliner right in the inner rim of her lower lashes. That's a little technique I've been using ever since high school (with the good ol' Wet N' Wild white eyeliner pencil), in order to fake an 8 hour sleep. It pops open your eyes, giving a fresh yet dramatic effect.

For her lashes, oh boy, they better be falsies. The rest of us mortals can attempt that effect by curling the living crap out of our lashes with a good eyelash curler and amazing mascara. I swear by MAC Splashproof Mascara (thank you @Lietchka!). Makes your lashes seem impossibly long and voluminous. Like, tranny long.

Kim's makeup artist also used a highlighter shade in the inner corner of her eyes, making her "well-rested" glow even more enviable. To achieve that, choose a pearly eyeshadow or highlighter (not a bronzer) at least one tone lighter than your skin color. Don't be afraid, it's supposed to accentuate.

Now onto Mrs. Seal:

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Do I love that hair? Probably not. But moving on:

Heidi followed pretty much the same guidelines as Kim Kardashian. Flawless, even foundation application, nude lips (lighter than your natural lip color), white in the waterline, highlighted inner corner of upper lids and gallons of mascara.

REAL WORLD HOW-TO:

She completed the look with black eyeliner on the upper lids. This dramatic effect can be achieved by using both liquid and kohl eyeliner. I love combining Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes in Mat Black with Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen in Black (gives you perfect precision and easy to draw). Aqua Eyes is creamy and easy to blend or smudge, not to mention it's waterproof*. After applying the eyeshadow that will highlight entire lid area, use the kohl pencil along lash line, thinner on the inner corner and thicker on the outer. Smudge slightly and on the very outer corner, draw the smudger (or q-tip) upwards. Once that's done, you can apply a taupe shadow over that black, so the smoky effect is not dramatic but just a touch of mystery. Finish off with the liquid eyeliner for definition. Liquid eyeliners are especially great for the cat eye effect.

To achieve Heidi's highlighted cheek bones, use something like Nars The Multiple in Copacabana or even E.LF All Over Stick (which I own and it's really good and it's $1!). Using your finger tips, blend color starting just below outer corner of eyes, drawing a "C" inwards above cheekbones. This is a technique I learned from Lauren Luke in this video.

*For night time events, I always recommend waterproof makeup in the eyes. You don't have to worry about sweating, reapplying, smudging or even the walk of shame the next morning!

Gorgeous Emily Deschanel:

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Everything about this look is fabulosity! From the beautiful jewel toned purple gown - a color I'm kind of obsessed about - to her hair and makeup, the girl was dazzling.

Emily kept it simple, her complexion was even (notice the pattern!) and her lips, very natural. According to Temptalia, she might have used a plum liner on the lower lash line. And oh, how I love to hear that! For that effect, I would use ELF Eyeliner in Plum, which is light and discreet. You can smudge it for a more toned-down effect while still playing with color. She also lined her waterline with black and I notice a bit of smoke on the outer corners of her upper lash line.

To achieve this, try L'Oreal HIP Shadow Duo in Sculpted. The darker color will give you a smoky touch that's not quite purple, not quite black, but something in between. She used a very light pearly-peachy-cream color on her inner corners. Try Buxom Stay-There Shadow in Mutt or Poodle.

For the lips, I recommend starting with plain ol' cherry Chapstick - it gives you a very light hint of color while smoothing out surface of lips. Skip the lipstick and go for a lip gloss. I like Sephora Collection Super Shimmer Lip Gloss in Rusted Rose (a rose-tan-nude). Use your fingertips to blend and keep it from looking too glassy.

Overall Makeup Roundup:

Bronze, taupe, champagne and reddish browns ruled the red carpet for this year's Emmy Awards. I spot a trend I've been observing for a while, and a color that hits that nail in the head is Nars Eyeshadow in Lola Lola. Do I want to spend $23 on a single eye shadow? No. Will I probably do it anyway? Yes. In the meantime, I've adapted my budget restrictions to ELF Custom Eyes in Mocha (it's ONE freaking Dollar!) for the same effect. Worth the money: Urban Decay in Sin (an amazing all-over color!). Probably worth the money: Buxom Stay-There Shadow in Mutt.

Pair up with black eyeliner and plenty of mascara. Favorites are Diorshow Mascara, MAC Splashproof Mascara and Maybelline's The Falsies.

Naturally glowing cheeks. Nars Orgasm is always a winner, or Bare Escentuals All-Over Face Color in Faux Tan or in Bare Radiance (or both paired up). Just go with an all-over, even glow (streaks and obvious blushes are so not the way to go), perhaps a discreet little tan-in-a-bottle (not you, Nancy Juvonen) and some nice cheek highlighters.

Nude and rusty-rosy lips are the perfect complement. I did spot some coral and red (Maria Menounos, Jewel, Christina Hendricks) but my favorites were the nudes. Dianna Agron's look summarizes the idea.

Kudos to the purples worn by Jane Lynch, Emily Deschanel and Kyra Sedwick. January Jones was almost there: loved her dress (guilty pleasure!), but the hair was a walk-of-shame hot mess and makeup did not do the look justice. So close.

For the fashion hits and misses on the Emmy's red carpet, visit the Trend Menu blog, written by my dear friends @Querouaquino and @Lietchka.