Thursday, April 28, 2011

Win a Dinair Airbrush System from
The Crow and The Powderpuff!

I normally don't blog about other people's contests (there are just too many!) but this one was so exceptional, I had to share it with you! To celebrate her wedding day, LadyCrowX and her lovely hubby-to-be are giving away a complete Dinair Airbrush Makeup Kit- yes, this means the actual compressor and brush, AND makeup to go with it! Nice, huh?

There are tons of ways to get extra entries, but entering is as simple as visiting The Crow and The Powderpuff and leaving a comment (make sure you read directions well though!)

Congrats to LadyCrowX on becoming a Mrs. and good luck to all!

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Ask Outinapout: Foundation
Who's the Fairest of Them All?

Today's question comes to us from Meghan, who writes:


Hello!
I came across your blog while looking for a foundation with a color similar to Make Up For Ever HD in Pink Porcelain. I have a very difficult time matching colors to my skin tone (MUFE is just the slightest bit too dark for me). I saw in your post that you used that shade, and I was wondering if you could recommend some other foundations or powders? I looked through your entries, but had a hard time finding other posts about foundations. Normally I would not email someone about this, but it is rare that I find people who could help me with this! Thank you so much.


My Answer:

Meghan,

I'm happy to oblige! Coincidentally, I was literally just talking about this with a friend, so it's fresh in my mind. I'm also a little embarrassed that I don't have more foundation advice on my site, since finding the best one is kind of an obsession for me!

Right now, my daily foundation is Graftobian High-Def Glamour Creme Foundation in either Graceful Swan (warm) or Bombshell (neutral, slightly deeper than Graceful Swan).

When I went to grab the link for this post, I was thrilled to see that the line has recently expanded the range with five- FIVE!!!- even fairer shades, making this brand a great choice for the palest among us! If you're not familiar with Graftobian, they are a well-known theatrical brand, and can be found online or in well-stocked costume or theatrical supply stores. They're also the least expensive foundation I use- a .5 oz pot retails for $14.99.

The coverage with Graftobian HD is easily adjustable from sheer to full. I like moderate coverage, so I apply it with my e.l.f. Studio Powder Brush and blend it into the skin using small, circular motions (mineral foundation fans will know this as "buffing"). This formula has a natural finish and I'd recommend it for all but extremely oily skin types.

Another favorite is Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Siberia.

I'm not really sure why Nars chose to call this "Sheer", because it's really not at all- it's a nice, medium coverage liquid. Also, don't let the word "glow" in the title fool you into thinking you'll see any shimmer or opalescence- the finish is satiny, not shimmery or dewy. I almost didn't try it because of the name, and I'm so glad the Nars advisor insisted on giving me a sample! Siberia is also the fairest shade of foundation I've been able to find among my locally available mall selection. Sheer Glow is designed for normal to dry skin; for those who are on the oilier side of the spectrum I'd suggest Nars' Sheer Matte Foundation, which comes in the same shade range.

Somewhat easier to find than my previous options is Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick in Alabaster.

Coverage and finish is similar to the Graftobian, but the shade is a tad deeper than I'd like, and I found the tone to have more orange than I cared for, which is why I moved on. It bears mentioning, however, because I still feel it's a notch fairer than other department store brands.

Another line to check our- if you don't mind ordering internationally, is Illamasqua- their fairest shade is pure white! They've recently revamped the line & added a shade 115, which is described as "for very light skin with neutral shade undertones" which describes me perfectly. I've used their rich liquid and the old formula of the light liquid, so make sure you check out those reviews & swatches before you shop! Also, some of you may be aware that some Sephoras carry Illamasqua, and it is also available online. Unfortunately, Sephora does not carry the entire Illamasqua shade or product range, which includes the ultra-fair shades I mentioned here.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention Face Atelier Ultra Foundation in Zero Minus.

Face Atelier is a pro line that's available online and at very select locations in the US and Canada. The Zero Minus is a pure white liquid that can be blended into existing shades to lighten them without diluting the coverage. I adore it, and highly recommend it to anyone who has ever had to compromise the coverage, finish, formula or tone they want simply to get a shade fair enough.

So, that's about it! I have yet to find a drugstore brand that is light enough on it's own. If you don't need tons of coverage and have normal skin, you can likely find your shade in mineral powder makeup- the fairest shades I've tried are from brands Meow Cosmetics and Archetype Cosmetics. I have dry skin and like my foundation to cover imperfections, so mineral makeup doesn't work for me- which is why I don't really review them :) I know I have TONS of readers who are mineral fans, so feel free to sound off in the comments!

Edit: After a few comments mentioned Revlon Colorstay in Ivory, I thought I'd post a quick pic comparing the Revlon to my two current favorites by Graftobian.

Colorstay in 110 Ivory is in the center, on the left is Graftobian Graceful Swan. On the far right is Graftobian Bombshell. As you can see, the Revlon shade is deeper than either Graftobian option, I'd say about a half to full shade darker than Bombshell to the right, and almost two full shades deeper than Graceful Swan to the left. The biggest difference, of course, is in tone. Graceful Swan is a clean warm tone- a definite yellow base. Revlon Colorstay, when heavily swatched like this, appears peachy on the skin- a mixture of orange and pink tones, but definitely leans toward the cool pink side when blended. Bombshell looks a bit more warm in this photo than it looks in real life- it's a good neutral shade with no dominant undertones.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

This Week's Sales: Jemma Kidd, Rock & Republic, Kevyn Aucoin...and more!

*Updates willl be posted mid-week as new sales are announced!

Today's the last day to get 15% off any Bliss, Laboratoire Remède or Elemis purchase at blissworld.com with code APRIL15!

Also, take 20% off select brands with code SPRINGTIME. Excludes Bliss, Laboratoire Remède, Elemis, La Mer, SK-II, Sisley, Skinceuticals, NeuLash, 3Lab, Wellbox, TRIA and all travel-sized items and sale items. Offer expires April 30, 2011 at 11:59pm EDT.

Through April 25th, get 25% off your entire purchase with code EARTHDAY2011 plus free shipping on orders of $40 & up and a FREE aqua-gel eyeliner in plum w/purchase of $60 & up! Offer valid online only.

15% off any online order of $65 or more (and free shipping since your order will be over $50). Enter promotion code "weluvmoms" at checkout to redeem. Ends April 26, 2011 at 11:59 pm EST.

Ends Monday: Christy Bath & Spa
Ends Wednesday: Designer Fragrances
Starts Friday: Murad Summer Skincare
Click here for a personal invite from me & help us both earn a £10 voucher!

Ends Tuesday: Giella Custom Blend Cosmetics
Tuesday: Lawrence Moy MD Skincare

Tuesday: Bath by Bettijo

Ends Thursday: Jemma Kidd

Tuesday: Designer Fragrance for Him, 2Sis Cosmetics

Monday: Gift Boutique- Beauty pics include Heather Hawkins cosmetics bags, Archipelago Botanicals, and Kama Sutra.

HauteLook
Monday, April 25th: Vincent Longo
Tuesday: Rock & Republic Beauty, E.V.A Hair Electronics, Celluscience
Wednesday: Kevyn Aucoin
Thursday: La Bella Donna Cosmetics
Friday: Beauty Gadget Event

Monday: Natura Bisse, Make Mom's Day/Gifts She'll Love (feat. Biotherm, DermaNew, Basq & more), Senna Cosmetics.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Illamasqua Toxic Nature Review:
Cream Pigments

Today Illamasqua officially announced the US launch of it's Spring/Summer 2011 collection; Toxic Nature. With it comes a new permanent product: Cream Pigments. According to Illamasqua, Cream Pigments are:

"Six neo-toxic colour mutations create the ultimate in textures on your face, eyes, lips or body. Apply with an Illamasqua brush or simply use your fingers for a buildable, water resistant, highly pigmented finish. Layer under Powder Eye Shadow and Pure Pigments for intensity."

Illamasqua was gracious enough to send me a couple of the new Cream Pigments to try out:

Mould (deep, bruised grape) and Dab (pastel lilac)

Illamasqua's Cream Pigments are designed to be highly pigmented, water resistant, blendable and buildable- and indeed they are. However, they're also not quite what I expected.

These creams are fairly dry yet slightly tacky in consistency. I found they applied easily with just about any tool available. Pat them on with a finger or a sponge for full, opaque pigmentation, or use a brush for easy blending or to apply a sheer wash color (great if you're using the cream for contouring or blush).

On the lips, the color feels quite light, but very dry- there's no mistaking this for lipstick. Having said that, I was able to get non-streaky, opaque coverage fairly easily with these two shades. Considering the fact that very light and very dark shades like the ones I tried are basically the toughest to get even coverage with, I consider this a win. Of course, if the cream is simply too dry to be comfortable, I found that the addition of lip balm on top created a creamy, ultra-pigmented lip that still managed to cover well without separating or settling into the lines in my lips.

Applied with a thin brush (for body painting, eye liner or lips) the cream pigment creates nice, solid lines that glide on well without tugging or skipping. When applying color to the lid, the slight tackiness was more apparent, and I found it more comfortable to pat the color on with my finger, then blend out the edges (if desired) with a brush.

Speaking of eyes, I have to admit: my first round of on-lid tests was slightly discouraging. I suppose when I heard the term "waterproof" I assumed (hoped?) these product would dry down into a crease and smudge proof finish. This is not the case. While the Cream Pigments may be water resistant- in that running them under a tap did nothing to dissolve the color- the product stays moist and easily smudgeable, wiping away fully with a swipe of paper towel even after an hour of drying time. So, water-resistant, maybe, but that claim shouldn't be taken as an implication that these are stay-in-place (at least, not straight from the pot...read on!)

Undaunted, I started phase two of my trials- and therein found the glimmer of hope I was looking for. When I applied the Cream Pigments to my eyes for the first time, I was not at all surprised to find that they creased almost instantly, even with a primer underneath. Not great- but, as I found, super easy to fix. All it took was a dusting of loose powder and the pigment became not only crease-proof, but incredibly long-lasting!

Next, I tried it as a base underneath powdered shadow. After all, if a face powder set it, shouldn't a shadow? I was delighted to find that, in fact, it did. Better yet, in side-by-side comparisons, this kicked butt as a base up against the champs. Since the Dab pigment I used was similar in shade to the pigment I tested it with, where as UDPP is invisible on my skin, I expected the increase in vibrancy. What did surprise me was the degree of the difference- the Dab side was probably a good 3 times more intense!

Another trial- this time Illamasqua's Mould up against MAC Paint Pot in Blackground- showed that not only did the Illamasqua pigment side wear better and crease less, but the micro-shimmer in Sugarpill's Stella loose shadow that I applied over the bases stuck better to Illamasqua's tackier texture- it was apparent almost immediately upon application and undeniable by night's end.

So all in all, though these were not exactly what I expected, I would definitely recommend them to those of you that like multi-use products and cream shadow bases. When applied properly (with sealant and powder) these proved much more transfer-resistant on the body as well, making them an option for body painting and tattoo cover.

So what do you think? Is a little setting powder a small price to pay for great pigment & wearing power, or are you holding out for a product that does it all?

The products featured in this post were submitted for review consideration by a representative of the company. What does this mean? I didn't pay for it. My commitment is to you- my readers- and to myself (it's called integrity, I like to have it). The opinions expressed in my product reviews are my own, based on my own research and experience; I am not paid in any way nor is the final outcome of the review influenced by the featured company.

Monday, April 11, 2011

This Week's Sales:
Bobbi Brown Friends & Family,
30% off Sonya Dakar,
Mario Badescu, Hourglass, Essie and more!

Today, Monday April 11 through Wednesday the 13th, shop at BobbiBrown.com and receive a 20% discount on all orders, and free shipping with any order over $65.

Sonya Dakar Spring Break Blowout: 30% Off All Orders through Tuesday, April 12th. Use code PR/SBB0411 at checkout.

HauteLook
Monday, April 11th: Mario Badescu
Tuesday: Luxury Scent Event
Wednesday: RSession Runway Series

Monday: Harvey Prince fragrance

Monday: Kai Fragrance
Tuesday: The New Lip by Hourglass

Monday: Elizabeth Grant

Thursday: Whitening Lightning

Tuesday: Essie Nails
Thursday: Occo Bath
If you're not a member, click here for an invite & we can both earn a £10 voucher!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Twitter 1K Giveaway Winner Announced!

...aaannd the winner (via random.org) is @goober0708 !!! Thanks so much to everyone who followed and entered the contests.


I know I've been a little bit of a tease, but the time has finally come! After hovering in the 990s for a couple of weeks, I finally hit the big 1000 this Tuesday! To celebrate and thank all of my Tweeps for letting me be a part of their day, I'm giving away a 120 shade eyeshadow palette to one lucky follower. The rules are simple:
  1. You must be a Twitter follower. If you wanted to follow me here on the blog also, I wouldn't turn you away ;)
  2. Contest will begin tonight at midnight EDT (that's Thursday night/Friday morning) and will end at midnight this Sunday, April 10th.
  3. To enter, tweet the phrase: Follow @OutInAPout and RT for your chance to WIN a 120 color eyeshadow palette! http://tinyurl.com/67vqk8w #1Kgiveaway
  4. One entry per person, please!
  5. Contest is open internationally to all followers (pursuant to the restrictions of your country).
  6. Winner will be notified on Twitter and will have 48 hours to reply. If winner fails to claim within 48 hours, an alternate winner will be selected.
Oh, and here's what's up for grabs, if you're not familiar:

The one pictured above is my own palette- of course, yours will be completely new and untouched.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped me get here, and good luck!


Monday, April 4, 2011

This Week's Sales:
Genie Beauty, Burt's Bees and more!

Monday April 4th: Genie Beauty
Tuesday: Nia 24
Wednesday: TruDerma
Thursday: Michael Todd Cosmetics
Friday: i-Tech, Hair Discovery Event

Tuesday: Revitalash
Wednesday: Think Small-Wallets, Cosmetics & More, Vincent Longo

Wednesday: Boom! by Cindy Joseph

Thursday: Get Gorgeous- Spring Refresh

Monday: Men's Designer Fragrances
Tuesday: Market Fresh Naturals

Now: Designer Cosmetics (ends Tuesday), Balance Me (ends Thursday)
Tuesday: Burt's Bees

Click here if you're not a member, I'll send you an invite & we can both earn a £10 voucher!

Monday: Dr. Robin

Monday: Revolution Organics, Elave Baby
Wednesday: DermaNew

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