Category Archives: review

How To Spot Fake MAC Cosmetics On eBay

My new video shows you what to look for when shopping for MAC Cosmetics on eBay. There are thousands of counterfeit M.A.C. Cosmetics in the world, and the internet makes it that much easier to dupe people into thinking it’s the real thing. In my video, I cover brushes, eye shadow palettes, and the Hello Kitty collection. I’ve learned from my mistakes, and I now know that there’s no better deal than buying MAC from real MAC counters, real MAC stores and the MAC website. They are extremely reasonably priced, and the US sells it for less than any other country in the world. This tutorial is meant for those of you who seek out those discontinued or limited edition products that are no longer available. A tip for brushes: JUST DON’T DO IT. The video explains why…

Ask Marissa…Tinted Moisturizers with Good Coverage

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.

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

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

Ask Marissa…Good Full Coverage Foundation and Masks

Jane Doe: Can you recommend a good foundation for covering up redness and acne scars? Another silly question to is about masks I have never used one are they beneficial for my skin what do they do?


MeAs for a good full coverage foundation, MAC Studio Sculpt ($29.50) would be great for those concerns. It’s also oil free and sets itself so you don’t need a powder. 

Masks do different things. For a deep cleansing (sucking all the crap out of your pores and preventing acne) I would suggest Clinique Acne Solutions Oil-Control Cleansing Mask ($20). For a moisture boost, I really like Laura Mercier’s Intensive moisture mask ($32). It’s oil free, so it’s safe for acne prone or sensitive skin. If you want to brighten your skin, Clinique Turnaround Instant Facial ($36.50) is amazing! It promotes rapid cell renewal (the birth of new skin cells to replace old dull ones), so your skin will be bright and radiant.

Hope this Helps,
Marissa

Ask Marissa…Facial Hair

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).