Review - TiZO Photoceutical Professional Line

Please note: While these products were provided to me by the company, this is not a sponsored post.  I receive no kickbacks for my review.  All opinions are my own after a thorough review of using the product line.

TiZO Photoceutical is a professional line of skincare and sunscreen available from “your local, licensed skincare professional” according to the website.  As I mentioned in the note above, the company provided me with the product line specifically looking for my honest feedback since I do try a lot of different skincare, and I thought I’d share it with you.

The Photoceutical line consists of 4 products: an AM moisturizer, PM moisturizer, face wash, and face sunscreen.  In general, I found this to be a very unique line of products.  And FYI, the pictures you see throughout this post include a mix of both old and new packaging, though currently it’s the white packaging being used.

Let’s try to go in the order I typically use them.  You might think I’d start off with the cleanser, but I really like using that best at night, so I’ll discuss it then.

AM Rejuvenation is a thick, white morning moisturizer which results in a matte finish.  It is much thicker than a typical morning moisturizer, and felt more like an evening moisturizer when applying.  I needed more product than I originally expected to make sure my face, neck, and décolletage were evenly covered.  Even though it’s matte, it’s not drying so it would definitely work for dry skin.  It doesn’t leave an overly greasy feel so I think it should be ok for oily skin (I tend to have normal skin), but you might want to set everything with a powder after finishing your makeup or maybe use a powder foundation (more on that later).  It works well with products not in this line, such as eye creams, sunscreens, makeup primers, and several formulations of foundation.

AM Replenish is the face sunscreen of the line though it also has some moisturizing properties, and I really like that it’s SPF 40.  This is a physical sunscreen rather than a chemical sunscreen, so it’s designed not to break people out.  This is tinted to a light skin color (as seen in the next picture), so I don’t know how it would work on darker skin.  However, I am very pale, and it doesn’t give me any extra color and doesn’t oxidize on my skin, so it seems to blend in well and may actually work out ok.  Like the AM Rejuvenation, I had to use a lot more of this product than I originally expected to make sure my whole face was covered, and I use any leftover on the back of my hands and forearms.  This will definitely be the first product of the bunch that I run out of.  What sunscreen do you recommend for you face?

My favorite thing about the AM Replenish is that it feels like a silicone makeup primer, almost identical to Benefit Porefessional, which is saying something because that is my HG primer.  Like Porefessional, it does have some pore minimizing properties, and if your skin is clear it can be worn alone due to the coverage/priming and slight tint.  And it truly works great for me as a primer.  I’ve used it with several different foundations and concealers and it’s worked well with all of them.  However, this has been amazing with powder foundation.  In the past, Porefessional had been the only primer that worked for me under powder foundation, but this has been just as great.  What's your favorite primer to use under powder foundation?  Do you use a different primer under other foundations, and if so, what?

Gentle Foaming Cleanser is, obviously, the facial cleanser of the product line.  I was surprised how good this is, and also how different it is.  This cleanser is thick foam that reminds me of shaving cream which dissipates easily and rinses quickly.  However, the cleanser itself is very emollient, or moisturizing, to the point where you can even get away without using a moisturizer afterward if you don’t have overly dry skin.

The cleanser takes off eye makeup better than anything else I’ve ever used, including various eye makeup removers.  If I use it at night, I don’t have to use anything to wipe away leftover eye makeup after my shower in the morning.  Unfortunately, I’ve found two problems when removing my eye makeup: 1 – it doesn’t remove liquid eyeliner at all, and 2 – if I rub my eyes to work the cleanser into the makeup, it does tend to burn my eyes.

PM Restore is the evening moisturizer, which also leaves a mattified finish like the morning one does.  It is a clear cream and looks very much like a silicone primer, but has a much different texture and feel on the skin.  Again, this was a much thicker than I expected and I needed more product than I originally expected.  It does have retinol in it, so I wouldn't use it if your sensitive to that, but not enough to dry your skin out quickly.

Overall, I’m really impressed by this product line.  While all of the products are good and like nothing I’ve used before, the sunscreen is by far my favorite of the collection.  I will definitely keep using it if I can get my hands on more, and may even consider making it a HG item.  I wouldn’t turn the others away if I ran across them again and may even seek them out, but I wouldn’t stop trying other items to replace them with these.

Do you stick with one skincare line, or do you mix brands?

Review – elf Mascara Primer

I picked up the elf Mascara Primer a while ago because I had been wanting to try out a mascara primer but didn’t want to fork over tons of money if it didn’t work out.  I figured I could part with $3 to give one a shot.

On the elf website, it describes the primer as “an excellent conditioning base for any mascara.  Coat each lash with this nourishing primer for lashes that appear naturally thicker, longer and stronger!”  As to use instructions, elf says to “apply the Mascara Primer like you would any mascara, but allow Primer to fully dry.  Layer on your Mascara as usual, for an enhanced look.  Remove with makeup remover.”

I wasn’t super impressed when I first picked this up.  I tried it out a few times, but the brush didn’t coat my lashes evenly and it didn’t seem to do anything.  As I was cleaning out my makeup stash this month, I decided it might be time to actually include it in the monthly giveups.  But then I thought, why not give it one more shot in case I was using it wrong, remembering it wrong, or something.

No, I was right.  This just doesn’t work for me.  I tried it three different days in a row using Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara on top of it, which is one of my go-to mascaras (it’s a good one, and I have a ton of it right now).  I used the primer on one eye and no primer on the other.

 

My bare lashes - no primer or mascara (and kind of a lousy liner day)

Primer on one eye only

Between me and the three other people I asked, only one could see any difference between the two eyes.  elf claims that your lashes will appear “thicker, longer and stronger”.  The one person who noted a difference thought the lashes with primer looked thicker and had more product on them.  No mention of increased length.  In fact, the other three of us thought the lashes on the other eye looked longer!

 

One coat of mascara - Can you see any difference?

Two coats on top lashes, one on bottom (my standard).  What do you think?

I still did not like the brush.  The bristles are widely spaced and didn’t seem to coat my lashes well.  I tried applying like I usually do by wiggling at the root then pulling through.  I tried twirling the brush through the lashes.  I tried just pushing the brush into the lashes as some other primers recommend.  Nothing seemed to make things better.

Unfortunately, I wouldn’t recommend this product.  The results weren't worth the extra time and energy involved with the somewhat difficult application.  Even though it is only a few dollars, I’d say save your money.  I just received some mascara primers for Christmas (to be included in posts soon, I promise!), so I’ll let you know if those are any better.

Do you use mascara primers?  Which ones do you recommend?

The Ambler Feedstore - Guest Written by Duff

Today's post is a review provided by Duff.  Check out his musings at his personal blog.

(As a little background info, Ambler Feedstore is a restaurant in Ambler, PA.  They’re known for their “handcrafted burgers, sandwiches, salads & snacks.  They cater to many diets and allow certain substitutions.  You should definitely check out their website at amblerfeedstore.com.)

Today’s post is a review provided by Duff. 

This place is awesome!  The burgers are well-prepared but the combinations and toppings are the creative “spice” that puts this place on top.  I love the Greek fries with feta and tapenade.  Check for the special sandwiches.  I had a meatloaf sandwich that was glory in my taste buds.  The kid loves the piggy mac (mac’n’cheese with pulled pork BBQ). 

One drawback is the portion size.  You definitely get your money’s worth, but it is a lot of food and it is hard to put down.  If you do have the self-control, it does make for good leftovers.

Review: Benefit Roller Lash Mascara

I soooooooo didn't want to love this mascara. I didn't even want to like this mascara. Why would I want to like a mascara that retails for $24? But dang it, this stuff is GOOD!

There's been all kinds of hype about Benefit's Roller Lash Mascara lately. It seems like every blogger and YouTuber received promo samples, and everybody was giving away freebies with purchase. (That's how I got mine – a free sample with a Sephora purchase.) And in all of the reviews, I don't think I saw any that were negative. I knew I had to try it out sometime.

I had been getting more and more frustrated with my mascara, so I caved and gave it a go. OMG – Love at first swipe! The brush is curved with short bristles along the inner rim and longer ones along the outside. A single coat on my lower lashes and two on the top (my standard) was all it took to make my eyes POP.

Now, one of my biggest frustrations lately with mascara has been it flaking just a few hours after application. So I was amazed when I looked a few hours later and didn't have to wipe anything away from under my eyes. This stuff didn't budge all day – not a single flake noticed!

According to the press, this mascara is supposed to be particularly useful for people whose lashes won't hold a curl well. I can't personally comment on that since I don't curl my lashes, and don't see any need to because my lashes have some natural curl to them. What I can say is that this didn't weigh them down or make them ultra-goopy like some others have.

Will I buy the full size? I probably will eventually, even though I have so many mascaras at home waiting to be tried. But like Cassie at Thrift Thick said, I will definitely pick up any free samples I can get my hands on.

Have you tried Roller Lash yet? What is your favorite mascara?

Review: Cailyn Just Mineral Eye Polish in Orchid

I had never heard Cailyn Just Mineral Eye Polish, either the brand or the product, prior to receiving it in Ipsy. It is a powder mineral eyeshadow that is self-contained in what looks kind of like a plastic nail polish bottle. When you unscrew it, it has its own sponge applicator where the brush would be in nail polish. (I was really surprised the first time I tried this to find out that the sponge applicator is black.)

I found that this applies really well for a loose powder eyeshadow, and I think the packaging is a major help with that. If you start the application process by patting it onto the lids, I find I can follow by sweeping, all with minimal fallout. To get the coverage I prefer for an all-over-the-lid look, I usually need two dips of the applicator per eye. I have found that, when I re-dip the applicator into the container, I have the best results when I fully screw it back in and gently shake it.

This is a shimmery, light pinky violet color that I find easy to wear as a single color with some eyeliner and mascara. I haven't had the chance yet to try it in too many combinations, but the little I did, it seemed to blend fairly well. I think this could also make an interesting accent shade to add some shine to a look.

Overall, I'm pretty pleased with this product. I do need to work with it more, but I find it easier to work with than most loose eyeshadows. The applicator is a little awkward, though, since I find I have to dip multiple times.

Review: Too Faced Melted Liquid Lipstick in Melted Fig

By now, you've probably seen or heard about about the Too Faced Melted Liquid Lipstick. The kiddo and I first ran across them in Ulta, where she swatched every color on my hand. We then checked them out more closely at Sephora.

Having come from manufacturing and the chemical industry, the hubby and I are both packaging junkies. What can I say, I am such a sucker for interesting packaging. :) Needless to say, that's what first drew me in to these. I love the idea of a sponge tip on a squeeze tube. They looked like they would deliver the exact amount of product you wanted in a very precise manner. And based on the testers in the stores, the applicators seemed to hold up well, withstand a good deal of abuse, and could maintain their precision over the long haul.

The product itself also fascinated me. It is very thin and feels almost weightless on the lips, but I can tell it is there if I press my lips together. It also lasts for a decent amount of time, but I have found that it is NOT transfer-proof. It dries down to an almost-matte finish, so it is best to make sure your lips are exfoliated before you wear this. Also, because of the finish, I find my lips feeling a little dry after a few hours, but not excessively so.

After checking out swatches both in store and online, I picked up Melted Fig. Right now, due to cost, that's the only one I have, but I do have several others on my wish list. This is a gorgeous color on me and really seems to go with just about anything I'm wearing. This doesn't have a permanent home in my makeup bag yet, but it may soon, and mostly so I make sure to wear other colors too.

So overall, I really like this lipstick. I think it is one of the better liquid lipsticks I own, but I have been restricted by the price. I love the color I picked up, and am looking forward to splurging on more.

Review - Benefit Majorette

If you read my Sephora Haul October 2014 post, you know a bit about how I came to have this blush.  

As a recap:

• This cream-to-powder pink/peach blush is a new product from Benefit. Benefit had beauty associates in-store to assist and push product, which was actually very helpful. I am not a fan of powder blushes and currently only use a gel blush, The Balm's Stainiac, so I was very skeptical. But since this is a cream, this is very easy to apply and blend without brushes, which I prefer. The person helping me was also kind of floored when I told her that I had never used bronzer before, so she applied their Hoola bronzer and actually instructed me on how to use it. She also showed me how to apply highlighter since I would be receiving a sample if I pursued the special deal they were running.

Here's what Benefit Cosmetic's website says about Majorette:

Why we love it!

Pep, poise & popularity! Majorette is your cream-to-powder booster blush. Wear this peppy pink-peach shade alone or under your favorite blush for an instant “pep-up.”

How to apply

To amplify your natural flush, twirl with fingertips and blend onto the apples of your cheeks to look pom-pom pretty! For extra pep and staying power, wear majorette under your favorite Benefit Box o’ Powder.

I've been using this blush almost constantly since I bought it, and for someone who rarely wears blush, that's saying something. I have to purposely stop myself from using it so that I can try out other products. This adds just the perfect touch of color to my face so that I don't look overdone regardless of how much I add. I can wear it no matter what else I am using on my face, be it a medium coverage foundation or a sheer tinted moisturizer which allows some of my natural redness to show through.

This is one of the easiest makeup products I apply. I personally use my fingers to take some product from the package and apply to the apples of my cheeks, although I know some people use a brush. I am sad, though, because that may have caused the beautiful sun imprinted on the cream to wear off faster. I haven't tried it under any powder blushes since I don't currently wear any.

And the scent! I've seen other bloggers and YouTubers say that it is supposed to have hints of, I believe, pomegranate and peach. I personally don't get that, but rather orange, maybe tangerine. No matter what it actually is, it is delightful! I have made everyone willing, and some who are unwilling, smell this because it is just that good.

I guess my only real complaint about this product is the price. At $28, it is more than I am usually comfortable paying for makeup. But there is just something about this that I haven't been able to find anywhere else.

Will I repurchase? Maybe. I definitely want to, but I hesitate because of the cost. If I find a good dupe, then maybe not.

Have you tried Majorette?  What did you think?

*Photo from the Sephora website*