Product Review: L.A. Girl Pro Matte Foundation

Hello everyone!
Today, I'm going to be doing a review of the L.A. Girl Pro Matte Foundation. This is the first foundation from this brand that I've tried, and I must say I'm very impressed.

The shade I purchased is Light Tan, and it is an amazing match for my warm, lightly golden skin. I got it at Wonderful World for TT$60. It claims to provide smooth and buildable coverage, that has a soft and suede-like finish. Recently, L.A. Girl expanded the shade range to 24 shades, with the addition of 10 shades along the medium to deep spectrum.

My Thoughts 
This foundation is honestly one of the best "drugstore" foundations I've tried. I would say this is a solid medium to full coverage foundation. This foundation is a thick liquid but it glides onto the skin effortlessly. It is very easy to blend out with both a brush or blending sponge. I use either the elf Ultimate Blending Brush, or the Sacha Cosmetics Blending Sponge for my application, and I get even coverage every time. This has a suede/matte finish, which makes it suitable for combination and oily skin, and even for a hot and humid climate like we have here in Trinidad. If you have a drier skin type, I believe this in combination with hydrating skin care and a hydrating primer can work for you. However, if you're not a fan of full coverage, suede/matte finish foundations, this definitely is not the product for you.

I have combination-oily skin, and this foundation manages to maintain its integrity through humidity and the oil slick that is my T-zone. It doesn't separate or breakdown, and there is little to no transfer once it is properly blended into the skin. This also happens to be one of the best shade matches I have in drugstore foundations. It's the warm yellow undertone that I need!

Wearing L.A. Girl Pro Matte Foundation in Light Tan

 I've really been enjoying this foundation, and I've been using it in combination with the L'Oreal Infallible Fresh Wear Foundation, and they make a gorgeous combination.

Conclusion 

I thoroughly enjoy using this foundation and given it's suede finish and longevity during heat and humidity, I would recommend it for persons looking for a "special occasion" foundation on a budget. A great inexpensive full coverage with a decent shade range. L.A. Girl released some Pro Color Foundation Mixing Pigments to work with the current shades in their range in order to cater to more skin tones, however, I hope in the future they will further expand their range.
This is the end of this post. I decided to make it short and sweet since I'm now getting back into the swing of things.
I will be doing a review on the L'Oreal Fresh Wear foundation and Full Wear concealer soon. I'm working on product shots for other posts including the second part of my Juvia's Place palette collection.
I hope you all have a fantastic week ahead, and I shall see you soon!
(^_^)/

My No-Makeup Makeup Look

Hello everyone!
If you follow me on Instagram, you would notice that I've been rocking some heavy makeup recently.
I've always been a bit of a minimalist when it comes to my makeup, so recently I've been stepping out of my neutral comfort zone, and been playing around with bolder colours, but I do have my days when I just don't feel like putting in all the effort to do my makeup.

For me, makeup application is usually the most fun, and even therapeutic part of my day, however, I've been extremely tired and run down, essentially burnt out, and it takes a lot out of me to pull off what to many may seem as a basic eyeshadow look.
On those days when I just don't have the energy or will to do a full face of makeup, but I still want to look awake, and pulled together, I turn to my go-to no-makeup makeup look. It is a quick and easy look to do, using some of my favourite drugstore products.

Left (Bare Face), Right (No Makeup-makeup look)

From the picture, the difference is as clear as day.

No-Makeup Makeup Look Requirements: These are my personal requirements, however, you can feel free to alter to your own needs.

• Filled in eyebrows (I wear glasses, so my brows tend to get lost behind my frames)
• Mascara (lifts my eyes, makes me look more awake)
• Evened out complexion 
• Dark circles lightly concealed
• Neutral lips ( usually matte, although I go for the occasional gloss)

Products Used:

• Face: L'Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder Foundation (328 Sun Beige)
• Under Eyes: L.A. Girl Pro Conceal (Pure Beige) w/ Sacha Buttercup Loose Powder to set
• Eyebrows: Revlon Brow Fantasy in Dark Brown
• Mascara: Revlon Ultimate All-In-One Mascara (502 Black)
• Lips: NYX Cosmetics Soft Matte Lip Cream in London (SM04)  

Unless I've pre-planned a makeup look, this is my go-to look, and I absolutely love it.
This brings us to the end of this week's post, and I'm sorry that my posting is still a bit sporadic, but I'm truly trying to recover from burn out. I did have a scheduled post for last week but it did not come out the way I wanted so I chose no to upload it.

Anyways, I hope you all have a great weekend! Feel free to follow me on Instagram, and/or Pinterest (J's Mind Palace Blog).
Stay happy, healthy, and positive guys, and I will talk to you soon.
Bye (^_^)/

Links:
 L'Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder Foundation 

Revlon Ultimate All-In-One Mascara:
 http://jsmindpalace.blogspot.com/2016/02/product-review-revlon-ultimate-all-in.html

L.A. Girl Pro Conceal: 
 http://jsmindpalace.blogspot.com/2015/11/product-review-la-girl-pro-conceal-in.html

Sacha Buttercup Powder:
http://jsmindpalace.blogspot.com/2015/10/product-review-sacha-cosmetics_16.html

Best in Beauty 2015: Face

Welcome back everyone!
I hope you all are doing well.
Today, I have part 2 of my Best in Beauty series, and today it's all about my favourite face products for 2015. Most of the products being mentioned may have full reviews that I will link to at the end the post.

Primer and Mattifier:

elf Cosmetics Mineral Face Primer

New Bottle

This primer is definitely my top pick for 2015. I always repurchase this primer. This primer blurs my pores, and helps my foundation apply more evenly.
Earlier in 2015, I fell in love with the Rimmel Fix and Perfect Primer, but I haven't been able to repurchase it since it hasn't been in stock. However, the elf Mineral Face Primer is cheaper than the Rimmel.

Sacha Cosmetics Mattifier Face Primer 

I do have a full review of this, but to keep it short and sweet. This mattifies the skin beautifully, and keeps me less oily than I would usually be throughout the day. I love the squeeze tube packaging, and its flat black matte finish.

Foundation:

Maybelline Fit Me: Matte and Poreless 310 Sun Beige

I'm currently down to half a bottle of this foundation. I don't think I have anything bad to say about this product, maybe it can use a pump, then again most drugstore foundations don't come with a pump. This just blends effortlessly into the skin, it doesn't matter if you use a sponge or a brush.
My full review will be linked below.

Concealer:

L.A. Girl Pro Conceal in Pure Beige 

I've never really been into using concealer, but doing my Masters' Degree means long, and sometimes sleepless nights, and I also experience insomnia therefore under eye darkness is my old friend. This shade matches my complexion perfectly, and covers up any discolouration or darkness beneath the eyes.

Setting Powder:

Undereyes: Sacha Cosmetics Buttercup Loose Powder

Full review is available.
I have nothing bad to say about this powder. Sacha Cosmetics has greatly improved the quality of their products over the years.
This powder is silky, and just beautiful. I use it to set my concealer under my eyes.
Face: Maybelline Fit Me: Matte and Poreless Powder 

Maybelline Fit Me: Matte-Poreless 310 Sun Beige

Soft, blendable and keeps me matte. (Review will be linked below).

Blush:

Milani Powder Blush in Romantic Rose and City Color Cosmetics Be Matte Blush in Papaya

Both of these blushes are matte in finish, they are also very smooth and pigmented, so a little goes a long way. they blend out easily. Both colours are very neutral, and good for everyday wear.
These blushes wear for a full 8 hours.
The City Color Blushes are a lot cheaper than the Milani, they retail for approximately TT$22-TT$25, while the Milani ranges from TT$55-TT$65.

Milani Romantic Rose (left), City Color Cosmetics Papaya (right)

Setting Sprays: Sacha Fix It & L'Oreal Infallible Pro Spray and Set 

My go-to Setting Sprays

Both set my makeup beautifully, and reduces the "cakey" look that powders leave behind. However, the L'oreal truly prolongs the wear of my makeup throughout the day. The Fix It Spray, while it doesn't prolong the wear of my makeup, does a good job at just setting the face. I tend to interchange my use of these products, hence why they're both 2015 favourites.

I don't bronze, contour or highlight my face, therefore I have no favourites for those categories.


Thank you all so much for stopping by!
Next week, I'll be concluding this Best in Beauty 2015 with Lips. I'm also going to be beginning my second semester for my Masters' Degree, and I am anxious.
As always stay happy, healthy, and positive and I will talk to you all soon.

Bye! (^_^)/

Links:
Sacha Mattifier - http://jsmindpalace.blogspot.com/2015/10/product-review-sacha-cosmetics.html
Maybelline Matte and Poreless (Foundation and Powder) - http://jsmindpalace.blogspot.com/2015/07/maybelline-fit-me-matte-and-poreless.html
L.A. Girl Pro Conceal -http://jsmindpalace.blogspot.com/2015/11/product-review-la-girl-pro-conceal-in.html
Sacha Buttercup Powder - http://jsmindpalace.blogspot.com/2015/10/product-review-sacha-cosmetics_16.html
Setting Sprays - http://jsmindpalace.blogspot.com/2015/07/makeup-battle-royal-4-battle-of-setting.html

Hiatus Over! - L.A. Girl Matte Flat Velvet Lipstick Review

Hello everyone!!

Welcome back! I'm so happy to return to regular posting now that my semester is finally over!
In the past 3 weeks, I've been buried in assignments and examinations, but now I'm back. 

I've been testing products over the few weeks, and today I'm going to do a quick review of L.A. Girl Matte Flat Velvet Lipstick in the shade Spicy. 

L.A. Girl Matte Flat Velvet Lipstick - Spicy

A few months ago, I did a full blog post about the L.A. Girl Matte Flat Finish Pigment Gloss, which I absolutely love, so I decided to try out this newer line of lipsticks from L.A. Girl. I chose the shade Spicy from some swatches I viewed, because it looked like a velvety brownish, red. I managed to find it at Wonderful World back in November. 

With a name like Spicy, I anticipated it being more red, however, this lipstick is straight chocolate brown on the lips in person, although, in swatches and pictures more of the red comes through.

Lip Swatch of Spicy - L.A. Girl 

Hand Swatch - Spicy (L.A. Girl)

I've worn it multiple times since purchasing it, and I'm going to come right out as say that I really do like it. I was expecting the worse, because there are some brands that get matte lipsticks incredibly wrong, but L.A. Girl did a great job. Here are some of my personal pros and cons of this lipstick.

Pros: 

1. Non-drying - because the finish of the lipstick is more of a flat velvet, as opposed to a true matte finish, it does not dry out my lips. 
2. Creamy texture
3. Pigmented - one swipe gives opaque colour. 
4. Inexpensive - I paid TT$22. for mine at Wonderful World here in Trinidad, and on the L.A. Girl Website, it  retails for US$4.00
5. Long Lasting - I've worn this lipstick multiple times on my longer days, just to test how well it wears while eating, drinking, and speaking. I usually only need to reapply at the center of my lips, after eating.  
6. Scent - This lipstick smells like a vanilla cupcake. 
7. Colour Selection - This specific collection comes in a wide range of colours, and I will definitely be picking up more, for family and friends this Christmas, if they're in stock!

Cons: I honestly can't think of any (@__@)

Would I recommend this lipstick to a friend? - Yes, 10/10 would recommend! Hands down one of the best lipsticks I've used in quite some time.

My camera is currently down, and in need of some repairs, so the picture quality in some of the future posts are going to be a bit shoddy, since I'll be relying on my phone. I was playing to invest in a new camera, however, with the cost of my textbooks, my new camera fund transformed into Psychology textbook fund. 

I will be doing a post all about my first semester of Postgraduate studies, so please stayed tuned for that.

Again thank you for being patient and waiting for the end of the hiatus, but I really needed the time to focus on my examinations and assignments.

Thank you all so much for returning the J's Mind Palace. it feels so good to be back talking to you all again, I can't wait to share more with you all. 

Until next time, stay happy, healthy, and positive. Please stay safe out there everyone!

Bye (^_^)/

Product Review: L.A Girl Pro Conceal in Pure Beige

Hello everyone!!

I finally have another makeup review for you today...yay!

L.A. Girl Pro Conceal, is a very popular product. From Youtube to Instagram, this product is a rave hit, and after listening to Youtuber Jackie Aina, rave about this product, I finally decided to cave and give it a try.

For those of you who need shade references; my best foundation matches are;

1. MAC Studio Fix Fluid NC44
2. Maybelline Matte and Poreless 310 Sun Beige 

FYI, I actually use the shade Pure Beige mainly as a foundation, because it seamlessly matches my skin tone. I do use it to conceal my dark circles occasionally, because I personally don't like the ultra highlighted undereye look on myself. When I do use it as an undereye concealer, I set with my Sacha Buttercup powder (loose), and I get of softly brighten undereye area.

Swatch of L.A. Girl Pro Conceal in Pure Beige

Pros:

• Inexpensive - I bought mine on sale, however, the price can vary between $50TT-$65TT. 
• Creamy, easily blendable
• Super pigmented 
• No Creasing - I have super oily skin, once I set this with powder, it stays in place all day.
• Doesn't clog pores

Cons:

• Packaging - I hate the brush tip applicator! I would prefer either a jar, or doe foot applicator. The brush tip to me just obstructs getting the product out, and it allows for bacteria to build up easily. 

This picture was taking yesterday, after class and running errands. I used the smallest amount of L.A. Girl Pro Conceal at 7:30 a.m. (under my eyes), and took this picture 2:30 p.m. I took this picture to see just how good the coverage is, and also the longevity of the finish. This concealer is one of the best investments I've made.

After 7 hours of wear.

Have you tried the Pro Conceal? or Do you have any concealer recommendations? 

Feel free to leave them as a comment here or comment on my Instagram (@ladyjpsych) and/or Facebook (J's Mind Palace).

That's all from me today! I hope you all enjoyed, and thank you for taking time out of your day to visit me here. As usual, I shall be back next Friday with a new post. Stay happy, healthy and positive and I shall talk to you all soon.

Bye guys!

(^_^)/