Line: Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy
Products: Luminizing Face Primer & Your Skin Makeup
Ladies, I've taken a vow. As gas and milk prices each approach five dollars a gallon I can no longer justify buying cosmetics at the department store. In the past I've been suckered in by the "try before you buy" allure of the cosmetics counter. However, now that most national drugstore and discount retail chains offer liberal cosmetic return policies, buying cosmetics at these places has never been easier. Thus I have sworn an oath to make my cosmetic purchases at drugstores and discount retail chains only (at least until the economy turns around). Also, it is my solemn promise to share my discoveries with you, my fellow cost cutting cuties.
Sally Hansen, famed manicurist turned cosmetics mogul has partnered with my girl-crush Carmindy from TLC's What Not to Wear to develop a line of budget friendly cosmetics. The result has been the mostly stellar line aptly named Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy. Although the line has a few kinks in it, overall I have been extremely impressed with their offerings. It is exactly the kind of line I would expect from Carmindy, whose attitude toward her craft is admirable. The line is playful and fun, yet refined at the same time.
The first product I tried was the Luminizing Face Primer. For those of you who are not sure what a primer is, think of it as a thin canvas that fills in lines, pores and wrinkles to insure better foundation coverage. While I'm not exactly a primer virgin, I don't use one daily, and I don't have many to compare this one to. If you're into primers $9.99 for .48 oz seems like a pretty good deal. However, since I'm not a "primer person", and I noticed virtually no difference in the way my makeup wore with or without the primer, I will be returning that product.
The second product I tried was the line's Your Skin Makeup liquid foundation which retails for $12.99 for 1 oz. In the interest of full disclosure I'll admit to being a mineral makeup enthusiast. That being said, I'm pleased to report that this is the most impressive liquid foundation that I've ever used. Until I switched to mineral makeup two years ago, I tried liquid foundations from MAC, LORAC, Clinique, Lancome, Prescriptives, and just about every drugstore brand imaginable. My favorites had been Revlon's long discontinued Touch and Glow and more recent Age Defying offerings. This entry by Sally Hansen and Carmindy blows away the competition. I'm fair skinned and selected the lightest shade, Ecru Beige. I was certain in would make me look ghostly, but it blended beautifully and was a perfect match. The makeup was lightweight and breathable, and the coverage was buildable. It left no mask line and I was able to conceal my annoyingly ruddy cheeks. Best of all, it wore beautifully throughout the day and I never felt the desire to scrape it off with my fingernails.
I should point out that the line does not have a huge range of colors, which could be a good thing for people like me who agonize over large selections (most of which don't look right on anyone anyway). On the other hand, if you find your skin tone is usually hard to match, you might not find a suitable shade. Hopefully if the line is successful Sally and Carmindy may add a few more shades to the lineup. Also my skin tends to be dry, so this makeup may not suit someone with oily skin. Again, hopefully if the line is successful we'll see formulas designed for specific types of skin.
The Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy line is somewhat elusive. It is slowly popping up at Duane Reade, CVS and Ulta, but it is not widely carried. With Carmindy's popularity and the blog buzz the line is receiving I can't for the life of me figure out why the line is not in wider distribution. There are so many gems in this line that it was worth the effort to seek out, however.
Cut Costs Cuties!
Gemma
Labels: Carmindy, Cost Cutting Cutie, Face Primer, Your Skin Makeup
posted by Niko @ 6:23 AM
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