Beauty Guinea Pig: Cover Girl NatureLuxe Foundation

Even though I'm a hardcore MAC foundation fan, I get the urge every now and then to try something new.  Especially if the new product in question is cheaper...much cheaper.  Back shortly after Christmas, I was in Walmart when I ran across a display of Cover Girl's NatureLuxe foundation.  They had some testers, and when I tried it, it felt very light and comfortable on my hand.  What also appealed to me was the fact that several shades had pink undertones.  The lack of pink undertones in MAC foundation is what will probably force me to change brands, hence my testing new brands. 



I like how NatureLuxe feels on my face, very light and soft.  It blends very well and has a nice dewy finish, so matte face lovers might want to look for a different product.  It contains SPF 10, which I almost feel could be done without since a majority of moisturizers contain SPF nowadays. NatureLuxe also has a fairly strong floral scent to it.  Normally, I hate fragranced cosmetics but this scent doesn't bother me.  As far as wear goes, I got a little over six hours before I started to notice fading, and  it didn't settle into my pores.  This foundation at best provides a medium coverage but I couldn't get it to build very well.  I have some minor acne scarring, and NatureLuxe didn't cover that very well, but it did even out my skin tone well.  It also covered my slight rosacea well. 

Overall, it's a pretty solid foundation.  I'd give it a 7 out of 10 stars.  The only reason I won't buy this particular foundation again is because I can't get the coverage I want with it. 

At the same time I bought this foundation, I also purchased the Cover Girl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm.  Like the name suggests, it's a balm with a shiny finish.  I bought the coral color.  I have to give a "No, Thanks" to this product though.  It states that it gives sheer color, but I didn't see any color whatsoever, just a barely there sheen.  It didn't even last thirty minutes with no eating or drinking.  No, thanks Cover Girl.  1 out of 10 stars.   



Here's a swatch comparing the NatureLuxe foundation with MAC's StudioSculpt.  I'm currently mixing the two to get my perfect shade.

I Still Don't Like Maxi Skirts

Photo from Mizhattan

In this photo set from Mizhattan, she showcases some of the maxi skirts seen from New York Fashion Week.  While they are certainly chic, I still don't like them.  My arguements are still the same: they seem "clunky," but this photo set shows some great ways of how to wear them.

The Latest MAC Viva Glam

Here's a look at the newest Viva Glam lipstick & gloss from MAC:



For some reason, it looked more pink than beige on the MAC website.  I think the lipstick with a pink gloss layered on top would be adorable, with pink cheeks and a soft eye.  I am a huge fan of both the candy pink Gaga from last year (and Cyndi's red), so I should probably pick another one of each soon!

Being Realistic About Fashion in WV

You'll probably notice throughout my blog where I may mention the plus size selection.  Very few fashion bloggers will even discuss plus size fashion unless they're specifically plus-size bloggers.  Yes, many West Virginians are overweight and obese.  In fact, my hometown of Huntington was declared the "Fattest City in America" a few years back, and Jamie Oliver came and filmed his Food Revolution TV series here.  I really don't know anything about science so it's hard to say why so many West Virginians are overweight and quite honestly, it's none of my business.  If you don't like my coverage of plus size fashion, go start your own damn fashion blog. 

Also of note:
On a regular basis, I refer to Fashion Bug as "Fashion Ugh."  I don't have much kinder words for Deb.  I do realize that for many people in West Virginia, those are among their options.  And to be fair, I have found and purchased cute things from both stores in the past, including these adorable nude heels I found earlier this year.  Since many people in the Mountain State don't like to shop online, I may on occasion have to cover these stores because both can be found in a fair majority of towns in the state.  Again, if you don't like it, go start your own blog. 

I am trying to be inclusive to all West Virginians in the blog.  Use the high fashion for inspiration or laughs.  Learn where to buy something similar that won't cost you a firstborn child.

Dance the Night Away at HMOA

Every year, the Huntington Museum of Art throws a gala ball as an annual fundraiser.  If you're going to have a ball, the museum would be my first choice (next on the list would be the Frederick and Keith-Albee lobby).  Wearing a gorgeous gown, surrounded by beautiful art is the making of a beautiful evening. 

I've known several women who have attended the ball, and they all have mentioned picking up either something off the Deb sales rack, or the formal section of JC Penney's, which makes my little fashionologist heart drop.  You know, if I'm going to get a rare chance in West Virginia to dress my heart out, I'm pulling out all the stops, and going McQueen:



I can sew a little bit.  Can I actually sew clothes...sort of.  Can I make a simple sundress or some PJ pants?  Easily.  This level of sewing, though, is what I hope to be able to obtain one day.  Beautiful, just beautiful.

For the lucky ladies who are able to go to the ball, there are more choices than the Huntington Mall.  The Charleston Town Center isn't any better.  An option is Rent the Runway.  Rent the Runway is a site where you can rent designer dresses for three days, and costs about what you pay for a dress from Macy's.  It might seem strange to some to rent a dress, but it gives you the chance to wear an authentic designer, such as Halston.  And be honest, when is the next time you're going to wear a blue bedazzled evening gown?  Here are some of my favorite choices:

Nicole Miller Silver Lining Dress, $100, Rent the Runway

 Mark & James by Badgley Mischka, $75, Rent the Runway

Golden Draped Gown by Halston Heritage, $75, Rent the Runway

Again, you get three days with each dress.  Also, you get two dresses in two different sizes, just in case one doesn't fit.  For an additional $25, you can pick another dress (and get the extra size, too) just in case you don't like the first one.  Padded mailers are also included with your order, like Netflix, so all you have to do is put the dress in the mailer, and send it off.  Rent the Runway also takes care of the dry cleaning.  It truly is a unique service, so check it out.

If you prefer something local, here are some ideas:

Huntington:
Runway Couture (Pullman Square):  They do have some formal dresses, and they should have something since prom is coming up.
Village Collection (Downtown Huntington): They usually have some more formal dresses.
The Huntington Mall has a large variety: Macy's, JC Penney, Deb, and some other assorted stores.  Surprisingly, Sears doesn't sell formal dresses anymore.
Yellow Brick Road (Sort of downtown-ish): Prom and formal gowns.  Quite possibly your best bet if you're plus sized.

Ceredo:
The RoseTree Boutique (Downtown Ceredo): Impressive selection. 

Milton:
Barbie's Formals (Downtown Milton): Basic prom and bridesmaid's dress store.  Don't bother if you're plus sized. 

Charleston:
Ivor's (Downtown on Lee St.): I haven't been here in ages, but they've carried formal dresses in the past.
Charleston Town Center (Downtown): has the same things as the Huntington Mall, but CTC's selection seems better.
The Consignment Co. (Downtown Quarrier St.): It is a consignment shop, but it does carry formal wear, not to mention the selection of general merchandise is fantastic.
The English Rose (Corridor G): This is on the strip mall across from Target (AKA the first strip mall on the righthand side of Corridor G).  Sells a selection of prom and wedding gowns.
David's Bridal (Corridor G): Up the road on the left hand side of the street, near Staples (AKA the Walmart side).  They do sell some prom and formal dresses that you don't have to order. 

Outside of WV but Worth a Mention:
Lara's (Ashland, KY): Really solid collection of dresses and sizes. 

If I've left off somewhere, please do let me know, either in the comments or though email: wvfashionologist [at] gmail.com

Interested in attending the Huntington Museum of Art's ball, "Dancing Through The Seasons?"  Tickets are $200/person and ordering information can be found here. 

Hair From Hell

As I've mentioned in an earlier post, I'm not a hair person.  If it's clean, brushed, and out of my eyes, I'm a happy girl.  However, I made the New Year's Resolution to take better care of myself.  Not too long ago I left a years-old relationship, and well, I just sort of fell out of taking care of myself.  One of the ways I decided to get back on track was to do "something, anything" to my hair.  I like my hair's length, so I pondered my choices, and went for highlights.  I should mention at this point my coloring is very similar to Katie Holmes', dark brown hair, fair skin.  I have also never permed, bleached, or otherwise done anything drastic to my hair (although I have dyed my hair its original color after reading that it can add major shine or some other BS).  Scratch the drastic--let me take you back to 1998:

I was 14 years old, and already a beauty addict.  Granted, the girls in my class were already wearing mascara and lipstick to school since they were 10, I was the only one who would play with colors.  At that impressionable age, I depended heavily on the magazines of the time to guide my on my beauty quests: Seventeen, Teen, YM, and to a lesser extent, Jane*.  It was here when I first spied the vile product from Bath & Body Works: leave-in hair highlighter. 



Yes, this stuff was basically was Sun In, but it was the Bath & Body Works version, and God knows you weren't anybody if you didn't shop at BB&W in middle school.  My friends were all getting highlights, but thanks to a well-meaning aunt, I was never allowed to perm/color my hair as a kid.  But for a mere $12 or so, I could have spray on highlights!  Amazing!  Exclamation points!!!  And as previously mentioned, I have dark brown hair.  You know where I'm going with this, as the only thing that can of hair crap did to my hair was turn it orange, like bright tropical orange.  And I thought it was cool at the time.  I am pretty sure I used the entire bottle, because I didn't get rid of all the color until my junior or senior year.  Ever since that bad decision, I've never had the desire to highlight my hair, fearing similar results.

I don't normally stick with stylists, because I've been moving around a lot, and I maybe cut my hair twice a year.  But I've been seeing my current stylist for about a year, and have been happy with my cuts.  When I got to my appointment, I told her I wanted something very natural and subtle, nothing dramatic.  I also elected to have just the top layer highlighted, just in case I didn't like the color.  She highlighted my hair (and gasped in horror at my BB&W Sun In story), and I left.   When I got home and could get a really good look at my hair, I didn't like.  My highlights were the same orange as they had been back in '98, but with a weird touch of metallic gold.  I hated them.  They looked awful.  After talking with some friends who had more hair coloring experience, I waited about two weeks to redye my hair.  I visited Sally Beauty Supply and asked how to rid my hair of the orange-ish gold hue.  I was quickly given all the materials, and $25 and two hours later, my hair was mostly back to its original shade.  I can't remember the exact name of the dye I used, but it was their Ion brand in the Dark Golden Brown.  I'm missing some of my natural red highlights which makes me sad, but I'm not depressed when I do my hair in the mornings anymore.

Funnily enough, my highlights, which I knew wouldn't dye entirely out, are the exact color I wanted them in the first place.  It's also going to be a long time before I do anything else to my hair. 

*It was either my freshman or junior year, but I won Candie's perfume and body lotion from Jane Magazine.  So exciting!  I still wear Candie's to this day, and Candie's Men cologne is the best stuff I've ever smelled on a guy. 

The Non-Lookbook

I was originally going to do a Lookbook on this piece of clothing, but the more I look at them, the more I think they're ugly as sin.



This is the maxi skirt.  Think of the summer favorite maxi dress, just in skirt form.  I love maxi dresses, but I can't get behind maxi skirts.  To me, they're just frumpy.  Just add a weird flat bun and clunky Sketchers, and you have the typical Saturday-afternoon-at-Walmart look.  Long skirts are coming into vogue, and I've seen some lovely ones that had trains, or were made of pleated silk.  In those cases, it's a more formal look, and very Tilda Swinson:



Tilda isn't exactly a fashion plate, but it doesn't seem to bother folks.  They just accept her the way she is, and somehow she manages to stay off the worst dresses lists.  But this is how to properly wear a long skirt. 

I've tried to envision the maxi skirts with a variety of different shirts and shoe options.  The only combo I can think of that I remotely like is this one:

This would be cute for wearing to the Capitol Market on a Satruday morning.  This is the only thing I could think of that didn't scream Baroness von Frumpalot.  If you decide to wear a maxi skirt, wear a fitted shirt on top.  The skirt is already slouchy enough, a similar shirt will just add pounds to your frame.  I can't decide if heels would be too much with these skirts, maybe a strappy leather platform would be okay, but flat sandals work best.  If you're taller than 5'10", of which I am, these skirts may hit your ankles at best.  If you're 5"0", you'll need stand with a cherrypicker under your skirt* if you want to be able to move anywhere. 

If you want a long skirt, just reach for your maxi dresses. They just look so much better than these dowdy skirts. 

*Teehee!

Yummy Cake!

Despite the fact I just bought this set, it's already gone off the Nordstorm website.  An old college pal who worked at a Nordstorm up in Columbus, OH, advises to call the customer service line ( 1-888-282-6060) to see if they can find a set a store can ship to you.

I adore Nordstrom.  Quite possibly it is my ideal store, with the exception of Anthropologie.  Now, if they were in the same mall, that would be heaven...

Anywho, sometime before Christmas I had been browsing the Nordie's site when I fell in love with the Deborah Lippman Layer Cake collection:



The colors just popped out to me, especially the dark plum on the end.  A few years ago, I had fallen in love with an aubergene polish from Maybelline's now-discontinued Salon Expert line.  I wore that polish non-stop for the fall/winter of 2007, and was depressed when I had to part with it when it went bad.  I've been looking for a suitable replacement, but really couldn't find one that stood out to me.  This polish, called Dark Side of the Moon, called my name out loud and clear.  And the shimmering lavender gray on the left hand also called to me. I didn't think anything of the glitter in the middle, but I love glittery polishes so it didn't matter to me.

I sat on buying this set until almost the end of January.  It was $25 for the three polishes, which at .30 fl oz aren't very big (I'd say they're a little bit bigger than half a regular Essie bottle).  The lavender gray shade, Wicked Game, is very sheer, and took me four coats opaque.  After getting it on my nails, I'm not sure how I feel about it.  I love lavender/purple polishes, but I'm having a hard time warming up to this one.  I may try to layer it over some darker colors and see how I like it then. 

Dark Side of the Moon turned out more maroon than aubergene (which is a dark shade of purple).  Very pretty, but it's such a fall/winter color I might wear it once more this season.  The real winner in this collection is the glitter polish I, at first, wrote off.  Let me introduce Deborah Lippmann's Happy Birthday:


The colors as they appear on the screen are pretty close as to how they appear in the bottle and on your nails.  Happy Birthday is a glittery topcoat that I can best describe as "awesome," "fun," and "OMGwantmoresparkles!!1!"  If you like glitter, get this set, or the full-sized bottle.  I probably will, as it takes about 3-4 coats to get the glitter coverage that I like (very sparkly).

Here are some swatches I took wearing it with both the other Layer Cake colors and some others:



This is the Happy Birthday over Butter London's Queen Vic.  Please excuse the tip wear on my manicure, I type with my fingernails, which wears my polish quicker that anything else.  I only did the first two nails, to give an idea as to how the glitter looks next to a plain, painted nail. 

1. Wet 'n Wild Nocturnal (actually a very dark blue) ($2, Drug Emporium)
2. Deborah Lippman's Wicked Game
3. Deborah Lippman's Dark Side of the Moon
4. Pure Ice Kiss Me Here  ($3, Walmart)
5. Chanel Black Pearl ($25, chanel.com)

To me, the shimmer polishes (Wicked Game and Black Pearl) don't work well with the chunky glitters, it's as if there's too much going on at once.  It looks great against cremes, with my favorite comboniations being the Wet n Wild dark blue and the Pure Ice gray. 

Would I buy this set again?  I don't know.  I love, love, love Happy Birthday, but the other two colors are just okay. 

So Tired...

I apologize for the lack of posts this week.  Between a wicked work schedule (7-5.  Every day.  UGH.), and several major projects/papers for school, my time and sanity is in short supply.  I do have a review of Deborah Lippmann's Layer Cake nail polish set that needs to be written, but I already have the pictures ready to go.  I'll go into more detail in the review, but trust me, it's fun. I'm hoping since tomorrow is a fairly light day I'll be able to get it up.

FAUX PAS

Like everything else in life, learning which makeup colors look good on you is a learning process.  However, there's a look that's been in West Virginia ever since I was watching She-Ra with my sisters back in the '80s:  I call it Cake Face.

Cake Face is the term I give to people weaering a certain style of makeup: using a too-dark foundation, setting it with caked-on pressed powder, and then for the finishing touch of racing stripe blush.  This blush is also the wrong color, and is usually in a shade called russet, wine, raisin, brick, etc. There is little to no lip color or eyeshadow.  Thankfully, people have moved on from the 80's powder blue eyeshadow, but there are still sightings of beige lipliner with no other lip color or gloss, and white eyeliner.  The proper authorities have been informed. 

Before we go any further, let's start with your foundation.  It needs to match your skin tone. If you're only tan in the summer, don't use your summer shade in the winter.  It's very normal to not be able to find a perfect match (no matter what the advertisement says) and have to mix shades. If you have trouble finding a color, go to the mall and ask to sample shades.  An associate can help you find the right shade, and can give you a small sample that will last a few days to see if it will really work for you.  Match the color to your jawline, as it will give you the truest match.

To help set your foundation, concealor, or anything else you might use, reach over your Cover Girl compact for a setting powder.  Setting powder is pretty similar to a basic loose powder, typically it has some other ingredients that help hide pores, soften skin, etc.  A secret here is to avoid powders that have talc in them, which is one of the leading causes to Cake Face. A big fluffy powder brush is a must-have when using any loose powder. My favorite setting powder is from Laura Mercier:

Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder, $36, Sephora

Another choice would be Coty's Airspun powder, $6 at CVS.  It's a great basic loose powder that doesn't settle into lines or pores.  Take care if you grab one of the adorable boxes, as there is a glittery version. 

If your foundation shade is anywhere from pale to olive, there's no point for you to be wearing dark blush.  Dark blush not only looks wrong, it's very aging.  If your foundation shade is under olive, avoid blushes that have brown or a rusty red in them.  This would include any of the shades I mentioned earlier, such as raisin.  Also stay from lipsticks and lipliners with brown in them, again, it's the aging factor.  Look for pinks, corals, and rose for a blush.  It lightens up the face and gives a youthful glow. My favorite (and everyone else's)

Nars blush in Orgasm, $26, Sephora

Nars Orgasm is one of the most popular blushes today.  It is universally flattering for all skin tones, and as the name might suggest, gives the wearer that post-coital glow.  It's a pinky-peach with gold flecks in it, and unforunatly, I haven't been able to find a drugstore dupe for it.  The cheapest I have found is MAC's Springsheen, $14, Macy's. 

Cake is awesome on a plate, not on your face.

Lookbook

One of my favorite color combos is gray and purple. I  already covered gray bags, now for some purple flats.

$$$

Tory Burch Prescot Flats, $245

$$$

Roxy Bijou Flats, Endless, $45

$

Mossimo Oona Twist  Toe Flats, Target, $9

LOOKBOOK

I've been on a huge gray kick lately.

$$$

Marc Jacobs Paradise Vera, $625, Barney's New York

$$
Boyfriend Messenger Bag, $59, Spiegel

$
BDG Basic Messenger Bag, Urban Outfitters, $58

I couldn't find a leather (real or faux) messenger under $58, hence the dollar cheaper bag will be the cheapest.

Don't like messenger bags?
Side Zip Croco Tote, The Limited, $45

This  flat tote is not only elegant, the sides zip down a few inches so it's easier to get in your bag. Fabulous.

LOOKBOOK

I'm loving my new polish, Butter London's Queen Vic.  It's colorful, but not too springy.  Raspberry is great way to bridge the color gap between winter and spring.

$$$

Tahari Seamed Dress, $128, Dillard's

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Flowy Ruffle Shirtdress, $53, The Limited

$

Merona Faux Wrap Dress, $25, Target

Gone but Not Forgotten

When I was in middle school/early high school, my friends and I spent the weekends usually doing the same thing as most other girls our age: hang out at the mall for a few hours, catch a movie, and then have a sleepover.  Back when the Huntington Mall still had good stores, such as the Limited, there was also a Phar-Mor where Dick's Sporting Goods is now.  I have amazing memories of Phar-Mor, and it's probably one of the stores I miss the most from the Huntington Mall.  I know most people here in the Huntington area considered it the best pharmacy for years.  I mostly remember it for the giant beauty section where I could spend hours getting lost in the colossal selection of colors.

During this time (late 90's) Revlon introduced a grunge? urban? line called Streetwear.  Obviously, it was aimed at teenagers, but it gained many fans because most polishes at that time were fairly conservative (this was slightly before glitter polishes became the rage).  There was everything from polishes to creamy eyeshadows to lipsticks galore.  Let's not forget body glitter.  up until about my junior or senior years of high school (2002-2003), body glitter was a huge trend.  Since then, not so much, but it's still fairly easy to find. 

This shade was called Disco.  I still have a bottle of this.

It's hard to remember that far back, but I seem to recall Streetwear's quality was pretty decent.  I still have an amazing cream shadow that was a swirl of pink and purple that looks amazing.  Is it still good...eh.  But it still looks great, and there's just a hint of it left around the edge of the container.  I maybe have 2-3 wears left.  I have been unable to find a good dupe for it, other than a Rimmel U shadow that could give me the same color, but not the wear power nor the metallic shine. 

I owned several of the Streetwear polishes, and they were probably the best part of the line.  I remember several specifically, one was a hazy charcoal gray/gold, depending on the light and how you looked at it.  unfortunately, I can't remember the name of it, and while looking at the information and swatches available online there are two that look very similar to it.  I'll remember the name one day!

I've mentioned in another post that I've been unable to wear light blue polishes, and Streetwear's Sky is the reason.  I got this polish sometime my freshman year of high school, and wore it all four years.  Thusly, it claims the title of the only bottle of nail polish I've ever used in its entirety. I was very matchy-matchy in high school and wore a ton of light blue. Here's a swatch:

[caption id="attachment_128" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Image from lextard - nails, makeup & more "][/caption]

The Streetwear was a very successful line and lasted the better part of 7-8 years.  It had already been around a year or two before I first discovered it, and while I can't find an exact date of when it was discontinued, I'm fairly certain it was right after I started college, 2003.  Despite this, I've been able to find the occasional Streetwear product at places like Drug Emporium (at the Huntington Mall or in the Kanawha City area in Charleston), and at various dollar stores.  Streetwear can also be found in through European or Indian cosmetics stores, the brand  is still alive in those areas.  There's quite a bit of an online following for the brand, especially the polishes.  In fact, I was able to purchase a bottle of my beloved Sky this morning, and can't wait to get it back on my nails.

Why I Don't Write About Hair

Over the past month this 'lil old blog has been in existence, I've done some makeup swatches, discussed bags, and told you to wear clothes that fit.  Generally, since this is a fashion and beauty blog, there's something missing: posts concerning perfume and hair. 

Firstly: Perfume.  Due to asthma and/or and allergies, both my mother and two of my sisters can't stand to be around perfume.  It's just a habit I never got into.  However, I do love perfume, and try to wear it without killing my family.  I do have a stack of perfume samples I've been sampling, so I'll get around to posting some reviews on those here in the next few days.

Secondly, hair.  I am hair-do challenged.  I blame this on my mother.  For my entire life, she has had a short pixie-like haircut.  Neither me nor my sisters were allowed to grow our hair long until she thought we were old enough to take care of it ourselves, which was usually around age 10.  As I eventually began to grow my hair out, I made two discoveries: I hate my hair in my face, and I hate my hair on the back of my neck.  Ever since then, I have worn my hair in a ponytail, a bun, or some other style just as long as it was up. Yes, I could cut my hair short, and I have several times.  But I'm lazy when it comes to going to my stylist as my hair grows so fast I'd have to go once a month to keep it short. 

I just never got into doing my hair.  I didn't use mousse until my freshman year of college, and it takes forever to blow dry and straighten.  So I just usually don't do much with my tresses.  However, I do know how to do hair, and can do others with mostly decent results. 

Makeup and nails are my preferred area of expertise.  I was the go-to girl in college for doing my sorority sisters' makeup, and have dabbled with some freelance makeup artistry since then.  And unlike many women, I can paint my nails with the same level of quality as a nail tech.  I feel being able to do makeup/nails has outweighed my inability to do my hair.  Despite my shortcomings, I do plan on doing some posts of hair, it just probably won't be very often.  If you're a whiz with hair, write me something up, take some pictures, and send 'em in to me at wvfashionologist [at] gmail.com (make sure to change [at] to the @ sign, and no spaces) and I'll post 'em up.