Category Archives: cosmetics

ant-aging, asian, beauty, brighten, cosmetic, cosmetics, coverage, face, facial, foundation, glow, glowing, hydrating, kitschkween, korean, MAC, make, makeover, makeup, moisturizer, pore, radiance, radiant, red, redness, review, skin, skincare, Uncategorized

Ask Marissa…Tinted Moisturizers with Good Coverage

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Jane Doe: What’s a good tinted moisturizer that still has decent coverage?

Me: I have 2 tinted moisturizers that I LOVE! The first one is MAC Studio Moisture Tint SPF 15. It gives great light to moderate coverage while providing 8 hours of time released moisture. It really evens out my skin tone and has a natural finish so it doesn’t look like I’m wearing any makeup. I love this product because while it perfects the look of my skin, it also protects and prevents my skin from environmental damage and aging. It’s water based, so it’s safe for all skin types.

My second favorite is Lioele Whitening & Wrinkle Care BB Cream SPF 30 (or Triple the Solution BB Cream on some websites). This is a Korean tinted moisturizer that contains ingredients like yogurt and hyaluronic acid to keep your skin soft and moisturized, and a high SPF to prevent sun damage and aging. This has medium coverage ans makes my skin look flawless. Since I started wearing this, I get so many compliments on my skin.

advice, beauty, cosmetics, gloss, how to, liner, lip, Lips, lipstick, makeup, nude, pencil, redness, review, tips, tricks

Marissa’s Pick of the Week – M.A.C. Lip Pencils

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I absolutely love M.A.C. Lip Pencils ($13)! They glide on smoothly, wear for a long time and have great coverage. I like wearing these more than lipstick because you get more precise results. I like to wear 2 lip pencils; one for the liner and one as the lipstick, then top it with a Lip Glass ($14.50) or Tinted Lip Conditioner ($14.50) Some of my favorite combinations are:

Bright Hot Pink–
Line: Cherry
Lip: Magenta
Gloss: Viva Glam Gaga lip Glass

Neutral Brown–
Line: Cork
Lip: Subculture
Gloss: Soothing Beige Tinted Lip Conditioner

Red–
Line: Brick
Lip: Cherry
Gloss: Viva Glam Cyndi Lip Glass

Nude–
Line: Stripdown
Lip: Oak
Gloss: C-Thru Lip Glass

cosmetics, flash, good, how, howto, makeup, matte, oily, photo, photography, pictures, tips, to

Looking Greasy in the Club?

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 In the 6 or so years I’ve maintained social networking profiles, I noticed a horrible epidemic plaguing a lot of young women:  pictures of them in night clubs were REALLY bad. Their heads were whiter than their bodies and their faces were greasy looking. Camera flash is not very generous to our features, but super generous to our flaws. All these pretty girls were looking deathly ill.

I didn’t go to school for makeup artistry, so everything I know is basically through trial and error. Here are some things I’ve learned about flash photography:

DO contour appropriately
DO use a foundation and powder a couple shades darker than your skin tone, or cover your neck and shoulders with your normal foundation
DO use matte finish foundations, concealers and powders. This includes blush. Eye makeup isn’t as important to be matte, but it does make a more beautiful picture.

DON’T use shimmery finishes on your face. This will make you look greasy and gross.
DON’T use foundations or concealers with pink undertones. This will make you look pale or ashy.

Here is the difference between a do and a don’t:
DO
I used a matte finish foundation, concealer, powder and blush.
A light colored lip gloss with no shimmer and minimal glitter will accentuate you natural lip color.
On my eyes is just a black crayon that I blended upwards. I didn’t use a highlighter.
When you contour correctly, there’s no need to highlight.
DON’T
I used my normal radiant finish foundation with a satin finish concealer.
I used a shimmery loose powder followed by a sheer coral blush and shimmery highlighter on my cheekbones.
You can see that I look really greasy and my face is lighter than my neck. This makeup is beautiful in person, but doesn’t translate well in flash photography. 
Here’s what it looks like without flash:
beauty, clinique, control, cosmetics, coverage, foundation, MAC, makeup, oil, oily, skin, skincare

Ask Marissa…Clinique Discontinued Clarifying Makeup!

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Jane Doe: Clinique stopped carrying the foundation I use, what do you like as a medium coverage foundation for oily skins? I’ve been looking around and nothing has jumped out at me yet. I am almost out, so I am going to need to get some soon.
Me: Which foundation did you use? Have you tried their Acne Solutions foundation ($24.50)? It’s pretty amazing. I also like Teint Idol Freshwear ($32) by Lancome. I know you don’t have a MAC near you, but if you ever make it Louisville, try Studio Fix Liquid foundation ($26). Studio fix controls oil throughout the day and has buildable coverage.
Jane Doe: I can’t remember the name of it. It was their last acne one that was in tube. It always separated if it sat for too long. I am sure that’s why they got rid of it.
Me: It was either Continuous Coverage Makeup or Clarifying Makeup.

Jane Doe: Clarifying. You are on it!


Me: Some people use their brains for money. I use mine for beauty. It’s way less shallow. LOL.
You would love the new Acne Solutions one then. Its not thick. It’s actually kind of creamy. It has a natural finish so you don’t look all dry and cakey. Plus it controls oil and keeps skin clear with salicylic acid.

Jane Doe: Cool. i will have to check it out. Thanks for the advice!
Me: Clinique gives foundation samples now too. 😀
beauty, cosmetics, face, facial, foundation, hair, makeup, powder, recommendation, removal, remover, review

Ask Marissa…Facial Hair

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Jane Doe: When I use foundation, which I have to.. When I apply it under my nose and above the mouth I am left with a darkened area where it sticks to the other wise invisible small hair there all women have it I think, but when I apply foundation it suddenly becomes noticeable and looks like..well like I have the start of a mustache =( How can I prevent the foundation from sticking to the hair and still cover that area of skin up?


Me: The best suggestion I have is hair removal. Either wax or get one of those mini facial hair groomers, such as the Conair 2-in-1 Fine Line Trimmer (drugstores, $8.99). I use the hair groomer b/c wax irritates my skin, and it’s expensive to keep up. The hair groomers are very gentle and won’t leave bumps. I even use this on the little fuzzies around my eyes so makeup goes on smoother.
If you don’t want to do hair removal, stick to powder foundations. They are less likely to give that shadow. My favorite one is Clinique Perfectly Real Compact Powder Foundation ($24).