I am a bit of a make-up nerd and I don’t believe in products that just talk the talk – I need quality that walks the walk. I am not easily sold, unless I know it works.

So, here it is my very first product review on our new website! Please read on if you are looking for a great foundation! Stay tuned, there will be many more reviews to follow.

What sparked my interest in F&B was the fact that so many make-up artists adore this foundation and come equipt with this product. I was on the market to try something new – something that wasn’t just hype and good marketing. A product that would work while providing my clients the beautiful skin that I know they are after. I did my research and yesterday, I payed a long overdue visit to M.A.C to see what all of the talk was about…

I was greeted by a make-up artist named Melanie – she mentioned that she does make-up with the Liz Bell Agency in Vancouver. Points right off the bat. I knew she would know what I was looking for – results! I began to ramble about all of the information I had gathered about a number of their foundations and concealers – she was a believer in all of them, of course. Face and Body happened to be her favorite…. I did try a number of the other formula’s before making my final decision. The winner was definitely F&B. This is why….

Packaging

-The bottle is perfect for distribution of the product.
-There is ALOT of product in this bottle 4 US FL OZ to be exact. For someone using foundation at home – this will go a long way.

Coverage

-The coverage is BEAUTIFUL and natural. It just cake up on dry skin like heavier coverage foundations tend to do. It is build able, meaning, you can add more to create more coverage while still maintaining a natural finish.
- The coverage is quite light – however, you can conceal where you need too. This product blends well with oil based concealer as well as water based. F&B is actually water and silicone based. It means, easy blending.
-Color selection, of course, is never ending. It would be difficult not to find your match in this collection.

Application

- Easy to apply. The texture is a little thinner than most foundations – but this actually makes it easy to control the coverage and finish.
-I would suggest using sponges or a foundation brush for the best application. Fingers work too – but the texture doesn’t allow for the best application this way, if you don’t have a lot of time.
-I found that my blush easily glided over top of the foundation, I have yet to try shadow but I will post a comment update once I do.
-My moisturizer sat nicely underneath F&B

Staying Power

The foundation lasted for a good 6 hours without powder. In fact, I had a meeting that evening and 3 people commented on how great my skin looked.
-M.A.C claims that F&B is water resistant, and I believe it.

Price

$40 Canadian – seems like a small investment, I know. The truth is that, if you wear foundation everyday – and you want something with a natural finish, easy to work with, and long lasting. This will be well worth it. My guess is that this 4 oz bottle will last most women a full year. That is less than a cent everyday.

Cons

1) I am a huge fan of SPF in make-up and skin care. So I was a little disappointed to learn that F&B doesn’t offer any sun protection. Best bet is to wear a moisturizer with an SPF underneath, or set it with a powder that has SPF.

2) The thin consistency of the product was nice, although, you need to be very mindful of how much you pour. It could easily turn into a mess.

Here are my results…

I did add a little touch of blush to finish it off – my favorite cheek colour. I will save that product for another post. As well as my favorite moisturizer. You’ll notice that I had some dryness on my nose and chin – a result snowshoeing in the sunshine! The moisturizer combined with F&B helped it disappear!

Girls just wanna have fun!

If you want to get good at a certain make-up technique  IE: smoky eye, liquid liner, contouring ect – practice at the END of the day – NOT before you have a special event or date to attend. It will definitely eliminate the pressure to get it right the first time, and if you avoid that you will be less likely to be discouraged to try again the next! My suggestion… before you wash your face at night time. Before you know it, you’ll be a pro!

Clients always ask me questions like… “Is my hair long enough?” “Did I wear the right pants?” “I always get ingrown’s, what I can do to stop them?” I decided to post these FAQ and answers

Q: How long should my hair be before I have it waxed?                                                                                                                       A:The hair should be at least 14 of an inch long… also, make sure all of your hair is the same length and grown in where it should be – otherwise, you’ll end up with uneven hair growth!

Q:How do I stop all of the ingrown hairs!?                                                                                                                              A: Exfoliate! Exfoliate the area to be waxed (bikini, underarm, face) prior to your appointment. Hair absorbs water, and softened hair is more difficult to remove. It is best to shower and exfoliate a few hours in advance of your appointment, and exfoliate 24-72 hours after your wax too! (this stops dry dead skin from clogging up the recently open hair follicles)

Q: I am so sensitive in my bikini area, is there something I can do to ease the pain during waxing?                                                                                                                               A: If you are really sensitive to waxing, try taking advil or a mild dose of ibuprofen a few hours before your appointment. If you don’t want to use an internal pain reliever, try a topical gel or ointment (ask your pharmacist for a recommendation) within the hour before your appointment.

Q: Is it dangerous to expose the waxed area to the sun immediately after my wax? A: Yes it is! Don’t expose the newly waxed skin to the sun right away, wait at least 48 hours for sensitive area’s like your bikini… SUNBURN ALERT!

Q: Why does the area that has been waxed appear red and bumpy!?               A:It is normal. Don’t worry! Some people have no redness or swelling and some have redness for a few days. Apply some Tea tree oil or witch hazel on the area – both known for their healing properties! Ice is an option too, and it can also reduce the pain and minor swelling post wax. If the swelling or redness gets worse… if you see any areas opening, or appear more like a wound than a swollen follicle – see your dr. The open wound could be the sign of a staph infection, and, open wounds are prone to infection and NOT normal.

Q: How long will it take for hair growth to show? A: The hair should begin to grow back between 3-6 weeks after the hair removal. Everyone is different and growth may vary due to hormones and individual circumstances.

If you have more questions that I haven’t answered above, please post them below!            -Ms.Beauty Calls.

The benefits to using nature’s make-up are endless and here are a few reasons to start!

The sun’s rays are comprised of two types of ultraviolet radiation – UVA and
UVB, long and short rays of sun that are extremely harmful to our skin -
leading cause of skin cancer, melanoma, growths, unwanted pigments and
premature aging of the skin – all yucky results to soaking up the summer
sun!

The good news is that these minerals provide a natural SPF to your skin,
they sit atop of your skin and create a barrier from the sun – protecting
against all UVA’s and UVB’s. Zinc Oxide is the main ingredient in your
typical sunscreen, but loose/compact mineral make-up contain a larger
concentration – less chemicals, more protection, perfect! Depending on the
SPF concentration of the mineral make-up you choose, however, I suggest
wearing a sunscreen underneath your powder if the SPF is under 15.

Some concerns:
- Some mineral make-up is not as natural as it may be sold, so make sure to
check your ingredients list and less is more – more protection, less
ingredients = healthier skin

- Mineral make-up is not often reported to be irritating to the skin, but
mineral make-up containing Bismuth Oxychloride may cause some irritation to
those with sensitive skin types and is more likely to clog pores than a
product without. Bismuth Oxychloride gives mineral powder a shimmer, so it is best to choose a matte powder – and easy way to avoic this chemical.

- Applying mineral make-up can take practice, to acheive the results you
want, practice makes perfect… whether you choose loose powder or compact,
just take the time to develop a great technique that works for you!

Benefits!

- Mineral powder gives great coverage, without feeling heavy or ‘cakey’ on
your skin! No melting away, and its naturally water resistant!

- It is composed of intert minerals so it can’t support bacteria, yay! This
means, cleaner, healthier skin – less zits more love!

- It is NOT tested on animals, so you can love make-up and know that your
love for animals is being honored! Guilt free

-Zinc and titanium oxides are naturally healing and calming as well as an
anti-inflammatory, these minerals will help to sooth your irritated skin.

- You can wear most loose or compacts wet or dry – which means, light or
heavy coverage, you can build the make-up to your preference.

- If you have acne prone/oily skin – it is best to use a compact or pressed
powder – if it contains Kaolin Clay, even better – the clay is a natural
oil absorber.

-If you have drysensitive skin, try either pressed or loose powder – but
remember to apply a moisturizer prior to your application and make sure
that your skin soaks it all up before applying your powder!

Most importantly, make sure you know are searching for a truly natural
product, read your labels and be aware of the package appeal – it can be
deceiving ladies and gentlemen ( did I mention, mineral powder is great
for men too, so don’t be shy!)

Avoid anything with ingredients:
FD & C or DC ( toxic dyes)
Bismuth oxychloride (irritant)
Propylparaben, Methylparabens – (chemical preservatives, unecessary in
mineral make)
Please post questions
♥ Ms. Beauty Calls