Beauty Review: Makeup Junkie's CoverGirl Face Off!

Makeup Junkie decided to put a couple of CoverGirl products to the test by doing complete makeup looks. Check out our must haves and our can-do-without products!

Must Haves:

Cover Girl TruBlend Liquid Makeup

I really liked this foundation. I found that it blended well into my skin. It’s lightweight and gives pretty good coverage without the cakey feel or look. All I needed was one pump to even out my skin tone. One thing I should mention is that it’s fast drying so you have to work quickly when applying. If you’re someone who likes the matte look then this is a great foundation for you.


Cover Girl & Olay Simply Ageless Sculpting Blush

I love love loved this cream blush! I would definitely recommend this product. It goes on smoothly and it blends nicely into the skin. It’s great especially if you like that glowy dewy look. Colors I tried were Rich Cinnamon which is on the peachy side and Lush Berry which is more on the reddish pink side. This is a definite must have!




Cover Girl Eye Enhancers 4-Kit Shadows in Crystal Waters

These colors are amazing! The pigmentation was great and even greater when I applied the Cover Girl TruConceal as a base to my eyelid. The texture is like satin and very smooth, making blending effortless. This is great for a blue/green smokey eye. I used this palette to do a night look and I loved how it looked on my eyes. It’s also not to shimmery which I like. Beautiful colors!

Cover Girl Eye Enhancers 3-Kit Shadows in Café Au Lait

Again, satin texture and smooth application. I’d have to admit the color payoff wasn’t as great as I expected but it was buildable. This is a great everyday palette for those who like the natural/neutral look. It has subtle shimmer and gave me a glistening eye every time the sun touched my face.

Can-Do-Withouts:
Cover Girl Continuous Color Lipstick

This lipstick has a very moisturizing texture. However, I’d have to disagree that the color is lasting. After only an hour or wear, my lipstick had already came off and it left a pink stain. I tried this lipstick in Classic Red but I found that the color was more on the dark pink side and I felt that the color wasn’t suited to my skin tone. If you have dry lips like me, then this is great for you but if you want lasting color I’d apply lip a lip liner first.


Cover Girl TruConceal Concealer

This is probably not my favorite concealer. It had a thin but creamy consistency, however, it failed to cover up my dark under eye circles. Although, I did find that it was a good as a base for my eye shadows. It was also good for spot concealing and covering up any blemishes, but I can do without this concealer.

Cover Girl TruBlend Pressed Powder

Initially I found that the product was a bit on the heavy side no matter how much or how little powder I put on the powder puff. So I decided to try a powder brush instead of the puff and the product ended up crumbling and making a huge mess. Instead I placed the product on my face with the sponge and because it still looked heavy I ended up using a duo fiber stippling brush to blend it into my skin. The results were flawless, however, I wish I could have skipped all those steps and just used the sponge it came with.

Cover Girl Brow & Eye makers Pencil

I’m a fan of eye shadow when it comes to filling in the eyebrows, and when I tried these I realized even more why I prefer eye shadows to pencils. I found the pencils to be a little too stiff when applying on my eyebrows. I had to press really hard and even then I didn't get enough colour.

www.covergirl.ca

by Donna Marie

Beauty Feature: Fall Beauty Trends With Makeup Artist Andrea Claire

I love gabbing about beauty trends with other makeup junkies and this season's looks are definitely something to talk about. I had the awesome pleasure of interviewing one of my mentors during my early years as a makeup artist, Andrea Claire, on the latest beauty trends for Fall. Find out Andrea Claire's must-do's and must-don't this season!

Makeup Junkie: What will be the top beauty trends we'll be seeing this Fall?

Andrea Claire: The smokey eye, the matte red lip, 80s revival

MJ: What are some trends women should avoid this season (if any)?

AC: 80s revival! I am the original 'LaRoux' from her Bulletproof video with pictures to prove it. :) I lived it and loved it. I wore 5+ colour shadows on my eyes but I was 15 and immersed in Duran Duran, Ultravox, Love & Rockets etc. I love the look but if you had been there done that and bought the lime green shadow you cannot do that again! Besides, it is very much a 'must have young skin' to pull it off. Bold colour blocking with eye shadows can age you and have you looking like you are stuck in a time warp. This look is only carried off if you are an adolescent so if you are 21 and under I say rock it, over 21 opt for another trend of the season.

80's revival at Marc Jacobs Fall 2009 - Style.com

MJ: What products are a must this Fall in achieving these beauty trends?

AC: I am LOVING all things Yaby these days. Yaby's eye shadow palettes have amazing pigments, blendability and variety. Lipsticks MAC Russian Red or FACEatelier's Magenta. For the smokey eye the trend is to layer a metallic - blue, violet, green or bronze, you can find these in Yaby's palettes or Covergirl's palettes in Dazzling Metallics, Firecracker or Blazing Blues.

MJ: Can you share with our Makeup Junkie readers some expert tips on achieving some of the beauty trends?

AC: Smokey Eyes - layer carbon/charcoal shadows with metallic colour. If you find shadows are difficult to blend with your dark base then layer MAC's Smolder pencil with a Lise Watier's Metallic Eye shine pencil, smudge together with a Q-Tip.

Smokey eyes at Versace Fall 2009 - Style.com

Matte Red lips - the key to a strong lip is to apply the lip liner after the lipstick so it doesn't appear to geometric. If matte is too drying for you and you live in a cold climate then I would dot a smidge of vitamin e on top - not to add gloss but just a little moisture.

Red lips at Jean Paul Gaultier Fall 2009 Couture - Style.com

MJ: What is your beauty mantra?

AC: It's so hard not to sound cliche here! lol! Be realistic. Be real. Stay gold Ponyboy. Beauty is not serious - beauty is a moment in your day that can convey confidence, flirtiness, calm. What I mean is, all women 'take 5' in their day by touching up here and there - before a meeting you step into the ladies and reapply lipstick, before a date you curl your lashes, apply gloss; or even before a job interview you matte down shine. Beauty is a moment in time that is forever changing. Embrace those little moments but don't be those moments just live in them. See! I sound cliche! HA! Life is short - enjoy it - have fun with it. That's what beauty and fashion is all about; well, to me anyway. A form of expression that can change day to day, season to season - enjoy the trends but remember to enjoy life too.

Makeup Junkie agrees - beauty is a moment in time that is always changing! So have fun with it - play with trends and figure out what works for you. Thank you to Andrea Claire for taking time to share with our readers her Fall beauty tips!

Andrea Claire is a seasoned beauty expert. She started her career in Kitchener, Ontario before relocating to Toronto in the early 90s. In Toronto, Andrea's career quickly blossomed where she went from salon stylist to session stylist. As both a hairstylist and make up artist, Andrea's passion for the industry and thirst for success motivated and challenged her to continually better herself. We have seen Andrea on Stylin' Gypsies, So Chic, Canadian Idol, tv guest appearances and behind the scenes for NY Fashion Week and Canada's Fashion Week. "Relocating" became a popular word in Andrea's vocabulary. In 2006, Andrea relocated with her family to Singapore where she became a regular team member for Bazaar, ELLE, Amica and VIP shoots as well as wrote many beauty articles with tips, tricks and trends.

Andrea Claire's Work

What's next? Andrea and her family have now relocated to Austin Texas where direct flights to LA, NY and Toronto will still allow her to jetset with her beauty box. Andrea has proudly been a mentor for many up & coming young artists, accessible and willing to give guidance; always about positive energy Andrea believes that today's assistant is tomorrow's trendsetter. Inspire and be inspired.

www.aclairebeauty.com
www.judyinc.com/andreaclaire

Beauty Feature: Mascara's Battle It Out Round 5!

Back in October of 2008, Makeup Junkie tested and reviewed 10 must-have mascaras and we had a blast doing it! We've gone and tested more mascaras just in time for the hot, sweaty, summer season. If you've been searching for the perfect mascara and don't want to dish out a lot of money to do it, read on because we've got you covered! (Results may vary and can perform differently on everyone.)

Mascara: Stila Convertible Mascara
Rating: 9.5 winks
Price: $22 USD
Special Feature: Innovative polymer formula encases each lash with smudge-proof, water-resistant tubes. Double-ended brush: large brush volumizes and defines while thinner brush defines the lower and harder-to-reach lashes.
Smudge-factor: none!!
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: Definitely
Wand: Medium and thin brush
For: Gals who want everything out of a mascara with extra definition.
Overall: I've never tried any mascaras from Stila and was pleasantly surprised that this mascara performed so amazingly! You get it all plus it's one of the few mascaras that didn't smudge or smear after a long day at work. I would have given it a perfect 10, but washing the "mascara tubes" can get a little messy. Expect to invest an extra 5 minutes cleaning the tubes off.

Mascara: Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara
Rating: 6.5 winks
Price: $24 USD
Special Feature: Waterproof version of the cult classic, Dior Diorshow Mascara. Big fat wand for big fat lashes.
Smudge-factor: yes, very smudgy - boo!
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: extreme
Wand: Big fat brush
For: Gals who want big volume, dramatic lashes, and don't normally smudge.
Overall: I was sadly disappointed in this must-have cult fave. Big voluminous lashes - check. Smudgy-smeared mess - check! I figured the water-proof version would not smudge but I couldn't be anymore wrong. I really loved how dramatically long and full my lashes looked but hated the smeary mess it made throughout the day. I found the big fat brush quickly coated my lashes but it was hard not to get the mascara all over my lids. The icing on the cake - the high price tag. All in all, gals who don't have a problem with smearing will love the big faux lash effect but you can probably get the same effect for cheaper.

Mascara: Flirt! Lash-A-Delic in Groovy Blue
Rating: 8 winks
Price: $14 USD
Special Feature: Buildable colour and definition.
Smudge-factor: no
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: natural volume but buildable
Wand: medium wand
For: Gals who want electric colour and fun, bold lashes.
Overall: Love! Adding a bright colour on the lashes adds an element of surprise. It's unexpected and gives a fun twist on your everyday makeup. Groovy Blue is bold but really makes brown eyes pop! If wearing blue on its own is too bright for you, swipe this over your favourite black mascara to tone down the blue. You'll love the volume, lift, and definition this mascara gives you - and not to mention the hot pink packaging! Also available in Boogie Brown and Mod Black.

Mascara: Benefit BADgal Waterproof Mascara
Rating: 6.5 winks
Price: $19 USD
Special Feature: Waterproof version of the best-selling original, BADgal Mascara. Waterproof and smudge-proof formula that gives you the same voluminous effect as the original.
Smudge-factor: yes!
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: yes
Wand: medium wand not like the original fat brush
For: Gals who want lushes lashes while singin' in the rain. Good for those who don't have a problem with smudging.
Overall: Another mascara I had high hopes for. I definitely preferred this brush over the original one because it was easier to coat each lash without the mess. I also liked the lift and volume it gave. I did NOT like the smeary mess it made. It's not fun walking around thinking you look great only to discover hours later that you have mascara smeared all over your bottom lash line. I guess I'm just not one of the lucky ones who don't have smudging issues!


Mascara: CARGO blu_ray Mascara
Rating: 7 winks
Price: $20 USD
Special Feature: Comb-like brush allows for extra definition and a natural finish. Made for high-definition film.
Smudge-factor: a little
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: natural but buildable
Wand: comb-like wand
For: Gals who want extra definition and natural volume.
Overall: You can expect good lift and no clumping with this mascara. The comb-like brush also allows you to get right to the root and those hard-to-reach lashes. If you like a natural finish then this mascara is great, but if you want more volume you can add a few more coats. But if volume is what you want then just go with a volumizing mascara. The mascara smeared a little but surprisingly not as bad as the waterproof brands. While it gave good lift on first application, my lashes did start to droop throughout the day. Bottom line, for those who have naturally voluminous lashes and just want a natural finish and extra definition, then this mascara gets the job done.

Mascara: Anastasia Lash Lifting Mascara
Rating: 7.5 winks
Price: $22 USD
Special Feature: A multi-effect volume mascara that is formulated with hard waxes and synthetic polymers. Creamy formula conditions lashes.
Smudge-factor: a little
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: yes
Wand: medium wand
For: Gals who love volume and want to reapply without the clumps.
Overall: I am a huge fan of Anastasia's brow line and was excited to try this mascara. The mascara gave instant volume and lift from the first swipe. I was able to reapply more mascara for extra volume without clumping. It smeared just a bit on the outer corner but nothing too noticeable. All in all, it's a good mascara but you can probably get the same results with a cheaper brand.


Mascara: CoverGirl LashBlast Luxe Mascara
Rating: 7 winks
Price: $8.99 CDN
Special Feature: Blackest-black formula, now tinted with luxe shimmers. Giant luxe brush helps blast lashes to their biggest, boldest and most beautifully shimmering.
Smudge-factor: a little
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: yes
Wand: fat wand
For: Gals who loved the original LashBlast mascara but want to give their eyes more attention with some shimma'.
Overall: I'm a huge fan of the original LashBlast waterproof formula, however, while it gives you the same big volume, I found the shimmer really subtle. What's the point of a shimmer mascara if you can barely see it? I applied a few more coats and was able to see it shimmer in the right light. It's kind of gimmicky but fun for perking up those lashes for a night time event.

Mascara: Maybelline Lash Stiletto
Rating: 6.5 winks
Price: $9.29 CDN
Special Feature: Elastic formula stretches lashes up to 70% visibly longer in one step. Pro Vitamin B-5 and silk protein strengthen and condition for hi-gloss black-patent shine.
Smudge-factor: a lot
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: yes
Wand: wand is tapered at the end
For: Gals who want sky-high length and glossy shine.
Overall: This mascara gave good lift and length but nothing extreme compared to other lengthening mascaras. I found the length of my lashes to look the exact same compared to that of a volumizing mascara. I did like the wet glossy finish it gave my lashes but hated how much it smeared and smudged. The tapered brush made coating each lash really easy but overall didn't win me over.

Mascara: Kiehl's Marvelous Mineral Mascara
Rating: 7.5 winks
Price: $16.50 USD
Special Feature: Mineral pigments add natura rich colour. Anacia Senegal thickens for length and volume.
Smudge-factor: none
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: natural
Volume: natural
Wand: medium
For: Gals who are looking for something all natural for the lashes in every way - natural finish and natural ingredients.
Overall: I like the natural ingredient factor, however, the finish was too natural for my almost non-existent lashes. This is great for the "no-makeup-makeup-look" when going to the gym when you just want a little definition. The volume is buildable but it took several coats before I was satisfied with the volume. At least there are no clumps! Amazingly, it did not smudge. Not sure if that has anything to do with the mineral pigment possibly working like a stain on the lashes.

Mascara: Lise Watier 24 Hrs Glam Mascara
Rating: 4.5 winks
Price: $20 CDN
Special Feature: Elastic polymer formula and Flexi-QueenTM brush surrounds each lash with 3D waterproof film for 24 hour glamourous look. Waterproof and resists sweat, humidity and tears.
Smudge-factor: none but it did flake
Clump-factor: very clumpy
Lengthening: yes
Volume: yes
Wand: medium
For: Gals who want glamourous volume all day and all night.
Overall: Do not attempt a 2nd coat if you want to avoid a clumpy, spidery-mess. It's no joke when they say it's elastic. When I applied a 2nd coat the elastic fibers stuck to each other. It was like stringy cheese! It would also pull some of the first coat off which was very annoying. When I attempted to comb the clumps out, I ended up taking the mascara off instead and had to reapply in some areas. There was no smudging but the mascara did flake a lot. While the lift and volume lasted all day, my lashes looked like a mess.

To view previous mascara reviews click Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 and Round 4!

What's #1 on your mascara list? Have you tried any of these? Makeup Junkie wants to know!