Review: Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfecter (BB Cream)

Garnier was among the first drugstore brands to adopt the BB cream beauty craze, and I hated their original formula, as it was too greasy for my oily skin and caused a few break-outs.  When I saw this one that just recently hit drugstores, I was intrigued by how it's marketed for those with combination to oily skin and claims to control oil.  After reading the box about 100 times and a bunch of good reviews from the users in the UK (where it was first released), I was convinced.  Let's just say Garnier got it right this time!

It's oil-free and non-comodogenic, which are two pluses for me.  I have not had any break-outs from this product.  I think Garnier anticipated the success of this product, as they released it in three shades, as opposed to the one shade of the original formula.  It comes in light/medium, medium/deep, and deep.  I have tried two out of the three shades.  At first, I purchased the light/medium shade, which was a bit too light for my face.  While it didn't look all that bad, since it blended fairly well, you could still tell it was a little too white for my face.  I returned it and went with the medium/deep shade.  This one worked out perfectly for me!

Before I get into the details, let me just say something about BB creams.  I have tried so so so many.  So far, I've liked Dr. Jart's the best, with Maybelline's coming in second.  I've tried the one by Smashbox, but I didn't think it performed miracles for the price you pay for a 1 oz. tube.  Same goes for the Dr. Jart, despite how much I did like it.  BB creams have essentially just become a multi-purpose moisturizer mixed with foundations.  I feel like everyone's just slappin' "BB cream" on tinted moisturizers for marketing purposes.  I consider this new rendition of the Garnier BB cream to be just that.  However, it's my favorite "BB cream"/tinted moisturizer I've tried thus far; therefore, I don't really care what it is, because it just works for me.

It literally does everything it says.  It's a bit watery and runny, so you have to be careful with storage and squeezing it out.  Once you rub it in, it starts to set and takes on a thicker consistency.  It has a matte finish once it's set.  I'm not going to lie, I might like this better than my foundation.  It's invisible on the skin, and does a good job at minimizing my imperfections. I only need a bit of under-eye concealer.  It definitely takes care of discolorations and gives you a nice even-tone.  I love that it has SPF in it too, since my foundation doesn't.  SPF 20 is better than nothing!  It really does keep my oil at bay for a few hours too, which is extremely rare for products.  

Here are the swatches of the two shades I tried (taken in fluorescent lighting w/ flash)

light/medium

When I initially squeezed the color out of the tube, I knew it would be too light.  While I am pasty, this just looked way too white for me.  It did brighten up my complexion, but was a lot harder to blend into my skin than the medium/deep.

(This is the amount I use for my entire face)

medium/deep

This shade is more light/medium than medium/deep to me.  This shade blends invisibly into my skin.  Just keep in mind that their shades run pretty light.

(I squeezed too much out here)

I would highly recommend this product!  I've even used this as a base for my foundation.  I just use less of it when I use it for this purpose.  I especially love using this for my no-fuss makeup days (most days of the week since I'm currently unemployed). It really is a skin perfecter!

Hope you guys enjoy this product as much as I am.  Share your thoughts with me and feel free to ask any questions.

-Jillian

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser: My favorite under-eye concealer!

It's inevitable, my fellow busy gals, we all have those dreadful tired eyes that no product seems to alleviate...until Maybelline came out with this genius product!

Description: small tube (0.2 oz.) with sponge applicator tip; consistency: light, velvety, smooth

Application: twist the tip to supply product to sponge, apply sponge directly to area and blend

Product Claim: Super concentrated formula with goji berry + haloxyl (whatever that is) helps to erase the appearance of dark circles and fine lines, while visibly diminishing the appearance of puffiness around the eyes

Price: about $8 at drugstores

Cons: product seems to run out quickly with every-day use (will last a month and a half at the most)

Detailed Impression of Product:

I have been using this product for about 3 months, and I absolutely love it!  I love how smoothly it goes on.  The sponge applicator is extremely convenient, making application really easy.  I apply the sponge directly to my under-eye area and eyelids, and I blend out with my fingers.  The product is just the right thickness (not too thick, but thick enough to cover), so it blends out without any tugging; I find this is ideal for the sensitive skin under the eyes. I do not feel that this product reduces the appearance of puffiness at all, but I do not ever expect a concealer to do that for me.  I expect an eye cream or cold eye roller to do so.  As for the discoloration under the eye, it does live up to its claim.  You can assume by its light consistency that it is not exactly a full coverage concealer, but it does provide just the right amount of coverage and is completely invisible.  The full coverage concealers are typically thick in consistency, difficult to blend, and visible, so I prefer not to use those for my under-eye area.  As for reducing the appearance of fine lines, I don't have too many prominent fine lines around my eyes, but I feel this moisturizing formula does NOT accentuate the lines I do have like some concealers tend to do.

I have found that my under-eye area does need a different concealer than the rest of my face.  Although, I really don't use concealer anywhere on my face, since my foundation usually suffices.  I will use concealer to cover up a blemish every now and then, but this concealer is definitely NOT for that.  It is formulated specifically for the under-eye area.  I do not feel that it minimizes the redness of blemishes whatsoever (I've tried), so I wouldn't recommend even trying it as a dual concealer for your under-eyes and face.

Which shade is right for you?
Maybelline offers 6 shades: Fair, light, medium, honey, neutralizer, and brightener.
I use the medium shade, which matches my skin tone perfectly.  I am VERY fair-skinned, so be careful with the lighter colors, as they are probably extremely light.  I have heard so many mixed things about what color you should get for your under-eye area.  I have heard that you should get one shade lighter than your skin tone, one shade darker, and the exact match.  So, which is it? I think that you should do whatever works best for you, but here's my opinion anyway...  In my opinion, one shade lighter is NOT the way to go.  I believe that it makes it too obvious that you are wearing concealer, and I'm pretty sure I can speak for everyone when I say that nobody wants that.  Hence the name, concealer.  For me, what works best is getting a shade that matches my skin tone perfectly.  Another trick is to first neutralize the area prior to applying the concealer and then apply the concealer that matches your skin tone over the neutralizing shade.  There is a neutralizer shade in this line, which I also have.  This shade is really light, which I just told you not to do, right?  BUT, this shade has that yellow hue aspect that will neutralize the blue under-eye discoloration.  I only use the neutralizer under the medium shade on days where it appears obvious this girl did not sleep at all.  However, I do NOT recommend wearing this shade alone because you'll look like this...

...and who wants to look like they're wearing war paint? (Sorry, Eva!) Here are the swatches of the two shades, and remember to choose your shade wisely.  Chose the wrong one? Don't be afraid to take it back to the store as many times as it takes for you to find the winning shade!  They practically know me at Target Customer Service, since I return/exchange so often (hey, us college girls gotta be economical, so I have no shame in doing so!)  This product is definitely worth a shot if you've got those pesky tired eyes.  Who doesn't love a good drugstore find?

Left: Medium, Right: Neutralizer

Maybelline Volum' Express Mega Plush Mascara Review: What's the hype about?

 

I have been really antsy to find a new go-to daytime mascara, since I have been using the same mascara for the past 4 years or so for day and night (L'Oreal's Teloscopic).  After hearing and reading great things about this product, I decided to give it a shot. 

VERDICT:

My lashes: 

• black
• thick 
• long

The product:

• Brush: large
• Consistency: light and watery
• Cost: $6.50 at Target
• Manipulation: extremely difficult (had to work with it and made a mess in doing so)

The packaging is extremely appealing, which usually does not reflect the product's adequacy.  I have found (most of the time) that products that aren't that great compensate in their eye-catching packaging.  Great marketing strategy...BUT, while the colors of this mascara tube are pretty and cute, this mascara did not do it for me, and I returned it immediately. 

This product claims to not have less of the "waxy stuff" that makes our lashes hard and stuck together, but after trying this, I realize how necessary that "waxy stuff" actually is.  For me, I wanted a lighter mascara that wasn't so dramatic for daytime wear.  

Application:
The brush is pretty large, so you have to be careful with getting it on your lids.  It transfers to the lashes weirdly.  I felt like I wasn't putting anything on, and my eyelashes weren't changing much in their appearance.  After adding a second coat, I began to notice more separation, not volume.  It did not clump, being that the consistency was extremely watery, so that was a plus...or so I thought.  After applying it and letting it dry, I touched my lashes with my fingers; I thought it felt a bit like the way mascara feels after you've been wearing it all day and half of it has fallen off, contributing to your raccoon eyes.  I suppose I like my lashes to have that "hard" feeling that the wax provides.  I feel like this ensures it's staying power.  With the way my lashes felt with this, I just knew it was going to flake BIG TIME, and that it did.  

I think we all need to realize that we are all different.  My lashes are different than so-and-so's, who loved the mascara.  Although, I do feel that anything with a good reputation is worth a try, so I do encourage that you give it a shot.  I am most likely contributing to the small percentage of people that did not like the mascara.  

Also, another note I'd like to add.  A lot of people don't realize that you can return products you do not like.  Obviously, you have to try something to decide if you like it or not.  Even if it's been used once or twice, they will take it back (I'm talking major retailers: Target, Wal-mart, Sephora, Ulta etc.).  There is no sense in wasting money on products that you will never use.  As a college student, looking to save money, I return every product I am dissatisfied with.  I encourage everyone to do the same!