**REVIEW** Black Opal True Color Foundation

Cue the singing of angels!

I have found yet another reasonably priced foundation in a shade I love. It's not hard to find a good foundation. I've checked many brands at the drugstores that feel good on the skin, have a great look (if it matches the wearer's shade), and doesn't break the bank.

My problem is my darker-than-"deep" shade. I love how all the darkest shades near where I live stop somewhere between Mocha and Cafe Au lait. It's as if someone decided that most black women are actual sisters of  Beyonce, Mariah, or Alicia Keyes. I might find something real close to a Jennifer Hudson shade every now and then, but those usually go wrong just enough to leave me looking ashy or chalky. That's just what happened with this Revlon 2-in-1 foundation and concealer I recently tried in "Cappucino"...

NOT the reviewed product!!!

That certainly looks like if would work for me. If anything, from the photo, it looks like it might be perfect.

It's not.

First of all, it's only that dark in the photo. Second of all, even though the actual product was dark enough to fool me when I saw it at the store, it's not that dark when applied. It's more of a Cappucino with a dose of cream. When I applied it, it worked so well that I could have gotten away with wearing it if no one looked past my jawline, In other words, I looked like a black kabuki-painted chick. If there is such a thing, I mean. (No offense intended to any cultures.)

~sigh~

I was disappointed until I found this:

This is the Ebony Brown shade of Black Opal's True Color Pore Perfecting Liquid Foundation.

Since I first spotted it online, I was a bit worried about the shade match to my skin.  Thankfully, some sweet lady had lots of photos in different types of lighting. That made it easier for me to take a chance and try this one.

I'm going to pause now to share some photos in different lighting. Sort of a pay-it-forward thing since I didn't get the name or site of the lady who helped me out.

The TOP (darker) photos are the truest to color.
The BOTTOM photos make the liquid look lighter than it actually is

Most of you should have an idea of what shade my complexion is by now. One thing I learned long ago from a beauty consultant was to always test new shades to the neck or jawline. I don't know how good this photo is, but I can tell you that this foundation in Ebony Brown is just about a super match to my skin tone.

There is ZERO makeup below my jaw. I actually did one side of my face and left the other side bare this morning, but the match is too close for my camera to show you the difference. Looking in the mirror, it looked as if I had "blurred" or put BB cream on the side with the makeup. There's just a smoothing and evening-out effect that I love. Doesn't do much for the 5 decades worth of wrinkles around my eyes, but I still love the effects. 

Good thing that I didn't see this part of the box before I bought this makeup or I would have passed. From the picture below, this would seem way too light for me:

Here's the crazy thing: when I compare the bottle of this Ebony Brown to the (now returned/refunded) Revlon Cappucino cream foundation, they look like exact matches. But, oh, nay nay.

There is one interesting thing that I noticed when I was checking the label. There's this part about the product being "alcohol-free"...







































...that sounded good until I looked at the ingredients:

Am I missing something - or is something that has "Cetyl Alcohol" in it considered free of, well, alcohol? Apparently, yes, I am missing something. I guess it's not only important to read a label but to also know the games played with them.

Because I assume the alcohol is meant to keep down the shine, I'm a tiny bit disappointed that I do get shine with this product. I have discovered that it best to blot this really well to remedy that. Also, even when I did blot after applying, after a few hours in the car (on a warm day), I had to tissue my face again. If you don't blot (or re-blot), this makeup transfers to everything that you touch. (Side note: my optometrist was probably hating me when she had to clean all her testing machines after my exam today.) My NARS and BH foundations are much better non-shine/non-transfer products, but the coverage is lighter than with this foundation. (I will have to review the NARS one day soon.)

Aside from the (not really) alcohol-free and the other issues, I do love this foundation. I'm going to be checking with Black Opal to see if they send out samples. I'd love to check the Black Walnut shade in the product.

One day, I will have to do a post comparing all the different brands and shades I've still got laying around. For now -

Peace
--Free



P.S.: I do want to give credit to Revlon for having a shade as dark as Cappucino. At least they are offering some shade variety. By the way, if you can wear their 2-in-1 product I mentioned, it's some great stuff and I'd tell you to give it a try. Can't wait to find a cream-to-powder that works for my skin shade.

**REVIEW** BH Cosmetics

Oh, honey!

After my run in with Lancome (too expensive) and Black Radiance (dropped my color and didn't respond to customer query), I had to do something different. This is most definitely different.

And most definitely affordable.











And it does the job.

(Too bad it won't style my hair...)

Calling all my sisters, from the darkest browns and tans to the lightest pales and
For most of my cosmetic needs, I will continue shopping BH Cosmetics. Let me give you a quick rundown of how each of my four products worked out.

Liquid Foundation

This was on sale. I paid $4.50 each - in the shades of Deep Ebony (left) and Deep Espresso. The regular price is $9.00, which is still a great price. So...

Coverage is good and somewhere between sheer to medium. I could tell with the darker shade of Deep Ebony because it is, well, darker. It was the one the more closely matched my shade. When I used the (very) slightly lighter Deep Espresso, I could tell that it was sheer-to-medium in coverage because I can get away wearing it without looking "ashy".

The feel on my skin is good. At first, it was a little "tacky" to the touch as I applied it, but it blended well and there was no tacky feeling once it was on. The one thing I was a bit concerned about was that there was a bit of shine. This faded once I blended with my sponge/ To "set" the foundation, as I usually do, I applied some of my Making Cosmetics Wrinkle Blur (since I don't wear any other powder on top of my liquid foundations). That really made me fall in love with this BH foundation. I got a matte look without drying out my skin.

As for how long this foundation lasts, I'd seen other reviews saying that it needed to be reapplied at least once during the day. Not the case with me. Maybe because I don't have oily skin, or maybe because I applied my Blur, my one application lasted over 7.5 hours until I cleaned my face for bed that first night. Yesterday, it was about 9 hours before I cleaned it off.

I give this 4.5 out of 5 stars. I would like just a touch more coverage. I'm already planning my order of the Studio Pro HD foundation. Can't wait.





Forever Nude Aqua Lip Gloss

 I love lip gloss almost more than I love lipstick. I have problems finding shades I love in lipstick so I use lip gloss to "fix" or adjust the shades. When I think lip gloss, I forget that 'gloss' is the key, and that a gloss does not have to be sheer. When I saw the selection of these 'nudes', I thought they were more sheer so I went too light and chose the shade of Chai Latte.

 This is a great gloss, but it had deep coloring and, in this shade, my lips looked ridiculous. I looked like the really dark-skinned gal that I am trying to wear a nude that a natural blonde could rock.

But...

I really love the feel of the gloss. It's rich and buttery feeling and not sticky like some other products I've tried. And I love the idea of a 'nude' look for my lips. Because I do love this one (and because it was so reasonably priced ($5.50 on sale, $10 at regular pricing), I am going to give it to a friend of mine who is a lot lighter skinned. For my next order, I considered ordering the shade of Cinnamon, but I think I'd want to get a sample first.

This is what Chai Latte looked like on the back of my hand. Not bad, right? Light but looks workable...

...or ... no. Not workable at all.

This is what the Chai Latte shade looked like on my mouth. (I left part of lip clear to show contrast.) Ridiculous.


It tells you something that I'd never let you see my whole face with this on. I look like I'm lost in the desert and in need of a thirst quencher.


This is how Cinnamon and Chai Latte are shown on the site

So...  while this is a great gloss, it's more of what I'd call a "wet lipstick" that will look great on some ladies, but I'm still debating on the color choice for myself. If I can catch the sale before it ends, I may go for it. If I miss it, oh well. $10 for a gloss is too steep to gamble on!

5 out of 5 stars for coverage, shine and feel. 3 of 5 for my color choosing skills :-(

 Liquid Eyeliner


Well, I do love a good eyeliner. I especially love one with a felt tip applicator. This one is perfection. Purr-fection! 

Sale price was $4.00 and Reg $12.50
I prefer felt tip for eyeliners because I once almost put out an eye with a pencil liner. I've also ended up looking like a horror movie extra when I've coated one of my eyeballs with a dollop of liquid liner. I don't have the best of coordination or fine motor control. Felt tip is safest.

What I like the most about the BH liner here is that the felt tip is a bit longer than my e.l.f.  and nyc liners.

 Also, I think it helps that the whole pen is longer. Whatever the reason, I seem to be have more control with this eyeliner.

As far as staying power, the first day I used it, it lasted all day, no problem. The second day I used it, I happened to be humi-diffusing some peppermint to help with a cold I have. When I got too close to the oil, my eyes watered. Quiet a bit of my liner came off when I blotted my eyes with a tissue. So, while this might not last through a breakup or breakdown cry, it lasted me just fine during a normal  day.

4.5 of 5 stars for sale priced item; 3 of 5 for full-price (at $12.50, this should last better through tears and other melt-downs!) I can get e.l.f. cheaper and deal with the shorter tip.


Studio Pro Perfecting Concealer

 This is probably my favorite of the entire order. That's so funny because I have never bought a concealer type product before now. What attracted me to this were those gorgeous colors.

Sale price $5.50 and regularly $13.00

Of course, I don't think I am using this the way that it's meant. Or maybe I am.

I love the light gold toned color as an eye shadow. The peach-looking one next to the gold is what I use above and below my eyebrows to highlight the arch. The darkest one is great for fixing my eyeliner and mascara issues. Sometimes, I will overdo the eyeliner and need to wipe some off. I use that dark color to blend my foundation back in without whipping out my foundation itself.

These all are very smooth and blend great. That they can be used in multiple ways makes even the $13.00 price acceptable. It would stretch to even more use if I was a bit more adventurous with my eye shadowing.

5 of 5 stars at both Sale and Regular pricing.

The final Plus with BHC is their SHIPPING AND HANDLING. I have found quite a few things online that I love (clothing, hair products, makeup, etc.) only to back down when I get to the final Checkout phase. I've actually seen S&H on items that cost more than the total of the items in my Cart. (As if Alaska uses a different Postal Service than the rest of the country...)

I didn't have that Checkout regret with BH Cosmetics. As John Pinetta says, "Oh, nay, nay!"

Let's take one more look at the cost for my FOUR items, and that totally acceptable Shipping fee:

Oh, oui, oui 

So... In summary, I think that BH Cosmetics is an excellent place to do my cosmetic shopping. One thing I keep mentioning to friends is that, for the first time, I feel like I can get drugstore-priced items that work for my shade - face, lips, eyes and all. Usually, I can find a foundation in one store brand (if I'm lucky), but nothing else to complete my makeup bag.

As my friend, +Sandy Sandmeyer points out, this is a great find for women of all shades and colors.. Great prices and good stuff.

Peace
--Free

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24h Wear and My Insane Makeup Drama

I was temporarily insane and in desperate need of foundation when I bought this. Never fear. It's going back to the store, ASAP.



That's Lancome's foundation in the shade of 555 Suede C.

PROS:

• Excellent texture out of the bottle
• Matches my dark skin shade to perfection
• Lasts through the day (and even through the night, if it has to)
• Would probably last a while because a little bit covers well

CONS:

• Price is ridiculous. Outrageous. ($47 at Ulta)
• The finish is too drying when it has set
• The price would cover a weeks' worth of my groceries, including coffee and toiletries
• I had to add some oil to give my face a more natural look.
• The price, the price, the price.

For someone that can afford this (and who wants a very matte finish), this is probably a perfect foundation. I had buyer's remorse even as I got my cardholder discount (paid around $30 instead of the nearly $50 tag). 

So why did I get this in the first place? Typical dilemma. I was feeling blah on my way to a meeting about job prospects. The sun was out in full force (which, as you know, will highlight both the best and worse of your facial features), and I was almost out of my favorite foundation. Oh, and, I have to add this: my favorite and most perfect (and most affordable ever) foundation is no longer available anywhere except for on Ebay. Ugh.

This right here is what I have been wearing for around 5 or more years:

It matches my skin tone (and even has the slight read under shading I love). And it's only ever cost me $10 at the most. Sometimes, I've gotten it for $8.99 online. One tube would last me 6 months, even if I was using it every day (which I don't usually do). ~sigh~

I tried using a similar product from the same Black Radiance brand. 

The shade is also "Ebony", but I don't know why the two shades are so completely different. This is about a shade and a half darker than the other "Ebony". The texture is also much thicker (and heavier). I guess it's supposed to be for heavier coverage. Whatever the reason, it doesn't work for me. 

I'm not knocking Lancome. Matter of fact, I'm happy that a major brand bothered to have a shade in a darker color. Real happy. I just wish I didn't have to see that price tag! LOL

If  you compare all three, subtle differences are enough

Before I even headed into Ulta, I tracked down every other possibility of shades and brands online. Imagine my shock when I realized SheaMoisture offers a foundation in shades a lot of women could love...

I see you down there, Madidi Mocha

I've badmouthed SheaMoisture before for their over-hyped/over-priced hair products. Never thought I'd even consider buying anything again from that brand. That makeup is the bombtastic diggity though. Unfortunately, the Anchorage Ulta doesn't carry it. I could order it online and return it to my local Ulta (which is what I am considering when I return the Lancome, pronto), but buying a foundation online is tricky when you've never used it before. 

My niece turned me on to another online brand that looks promising. It's called BH Cosmetics. Looks very interesting (especially those prices!).

Right now, the BH foundation is $4.50 (reg $9.00).

Once again, there's that problem of trying to get the right shade... This brings me to another issue with makeup companies:

Why on earth don't these brands offer realistic shade charts? I'm sure that women of every shade and hue gets frustrated by trying to match one brand to another. I did find this one site called Foundation Matrix that helps with that. 

Isn't that a beautiful thing?
I need that shade 4th from the left

The only thing is, because there are so many brands and shades, you might not find yours in the mix. I give them big props for even attempting to keep their database current.

Bottom line, it is just getting too hard to obtain decent basic makeup at affordable prices. My next step is going to be learning how to make my own. Pinterest has some interesting information on that.

                        

(You can get almost everything you need from Making Cosmetics.)

In the meantime, the hunt is still on for a foundation that I don't have to trek back to the store with for my refund :-(

Peace

--Free

UPDATE: Just a couple hours after writing this post, I made up my mind to get back to Ulta for my refund (as soon as this snow lets up). With the $30-something that I will be getting credited back to my bank, I found all this on BH Cosmetics for about the same price. That's FIVE products (2 foundations) for less than the price of a single high brand - including the shipping to Alaska. Take that, you other brands...

Product Description	Quantity	Ext. Price
BH Liquid Foundation: Deep Espresso	1	$4.50
Studio Pro Perfecting Concealer: Dark	1	$5.50
BH Liquid Eyeliner: Black	1	$4.00
Forever Nude Aqua Gloss: Chai Latte	1	$5.50
BH Liquid Foundation: Deep Ebony	1	$4.50
Subtotal:		$24.00

Notice that I got TWO of the foundations (to be sure of shades). Even if I have to return this stuff, it's going to be worth it to find what works for me. I will surely be back to do reviews on the products once they get here.