product reviews, take 3

This time I’m not on a mission to buy anything in particular; just feeding my sick obsession with beauty products!

Here’s a variety of products which I’ve tried recently, including my probably too honest thoughts!

Oscar Blandi – Pronto Invisible Volumizing Dry Shampoo Spray

In one sentence? Awful and pointless.

I have been using the Oscar Blandi – Dry Shampoo powder for years. It has a bit of a perfume smell to it and I wanted a spray for convenience but after trying this spray I can honestly say the scent and powder is the way to go. The spray doesn’t smell good, it doesn’t make any difference on hair at all and it costs a lot ($11 for a small spray can)! There are no good sides to this product except its packaging style.

Smashbox – Photo Finish Color Correcting

Overall? Nice but not a winner for anything but redness.

This is a nice product that does reduce redness (I was shocked) and gives you an incredibly soft feeling (like a baby’s bum) finish, initially. I did have some issues with my BB cream not spreading over this, but not consistently. I also found that this didn’t reduce shine for the long haul and I still went back to my trusty Smashbox – Photo Matte Anti-Shine mid-day. In the end, I won’t be buying unless I have a lot of redness that I need to combat.

Side note: The Smashbox – Photo Finish Foundation Primer initially had the same nice finish as this, with the exception of the redness reduction. There was nothing positive about this one by mid-day though. Save your $36…

Living Proof – Prime Style Extender

This one I’m on the fence about. In order to achieve results you need to use a lot of product. The positive is that it doesn’t weigh hair down and it doesn’t create a greasy look at all. It also makes your hair incredibly soft and you’ll feel like a movie star when you run your fingers through your hair! The down side? Not only the $20 cost (if you use a lot it goes rather quickly) but also the fact that it doesn’t really do much other than soften. I didn’t see any difference in fighting humidity frizz, nor did I find that I could extend my style and not wash my hair as often. In the end I use this for special occasions or if I’m going to be in the wind. I love the softness but just don’t feel like the benefits really outweigh the cost.

Maybelline – SuperStay 24HR Makeup

Keeps on kickin! This is the first foundation that I actually feel is natural yet effective. It covers imperfections from dark eye circles to blemishes without drying out your skin and without looking heavy. It also blends really well. I’ve tested the expiration date and still love it. Best $10 I’ve spent on a true foundation. I’m sad mine has eventually come to the bottom of the jar… But, I will be smiling all the way to the drugstore as I pass up my previous $30-something bottles of department store foundations. Note: I use this for bad skin days  and more as a concealer than for daily wear. If you want a great daily wear/very natural option check out my review on Boscia BB Cream!