By Terry Ombre Blackstar "Color-Fix" Cream Eyeshadow Swatches +

I told y'all that there will be some By Terry reviews... I remember doing a post of my swatches of these, but I think I accidentally deleted the post. 

Moving on...these are eyeshadows that don't need a primer, that glide on like butter, not to mention they wear like IRON. These items don't need much of a review because they are one of her (many) standouts from her line.

It's probably easier to have all of the swatches in one post, especially if you want to see color and finish comparisons.

Here's what I personally own, all of them were purchased by me, except shade #13 Brown Perfection which was a gift. :)

Picture taken with flash, to see the finish. The color representation is pretty accurate. 

Black Pearl (1), Blond Opal (3), Bronze Moon (4), Misty Rock (5), Frozen Quartz (6), Velvet Orchid (9), Beyond Gold (11), Black Matte (12), Brown Perfection (13)

*Black Pearl and Misty Rock are the ones with the most sparkle. 

*Bronze Moon, Blond Opal and Brown Perfection are probably my favorites. 

*Velvet Orchid is the most unique due to it's finish and color. 

Price and Size: $43 for 1.64 grams, or 0.058 oz

By Terry Hyraluronic Hydra-Primer

So yesterday/today is the official release of By Terrys new liquid primer. It's taken me a while to get around to reviewing it for a couple of reasons:

1. I wanted to test it on a couple of different foundations to see how it wears
2. Being busy getting ready to pack for my vacation. My plane leaves in the morning. 

Packaging: Tube packaging with a silver cap. Nothing special. I do wish there was a way to see how much you have used the actual product. 

Formula: It feels somewhere in between a primer and a serum, probably due to the hyaluronic acid. It feels like a serum in comparison to Shu Uemura's Stage Performer, yet slightly less runny than Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. Once applied on the skin, you feel a serious hydrating sensation. The one negative to the formula is that if you apply a lot of the product, it does slightly pill (rolls off). The product itself is white, but once applied and blended onto the skin, it becomes colorless. It's definitely matte in finish, as in your skin doesn't look luminous, it just looks the same. 

I first tried it with Rouge Bunny Rouge Milk Aquarelle foundation to see how it would do with a foundation that tends to separate on the parts of my skin that are oily / large pores (basically my T-zone). The foundation holds up much better and lasts longer on my skin. By hour 10, my foundation still looked as if it was freshly applied. When I had samples of Hourglass Mineral Veil by hour 8 it would slightly separate (hardly noticeable though).

What I have noticed with Armani Maestro when worn alone is that after day 4, it slightly makes my skin drier. So then I tried Maestro with the primer underneath. Day 8 and my skin didn't feel drier. So if you're someone who loves Maestro and want to wear it every day, but feel like it can dry you out after a few days, try it with this primer. It's wonderful.

I feel like this item will be a staple come winter time when my skin is on the dry side. I've been using it almost everyday, sometimes without foundation because of the nice hydrating sensation it gives. 

Price and Size: $59 for 40 mL, 1.33 fl oz

By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder +

So it's that time for me to write about this magical powder...

top: By Terry Rose Lumiere (#2), Peach Ivoire (#3), and bottom is Hydra-Powder (to see size comparison)

Packaging: In a plastic container. Easy to travel because it won't break like a glass jar, although part of me wished it was in a glass container since it adds a luxurious feel/touch. The screw top cap reminds me of the rubbery surface that NARS products have. I'm not too fond of it since it's not as easy to clean, but whatever.

Formula: It's such a finely milled powder, even moreso than her Voile Poudre Eclat. When you pick it up with a brush and glide it on your skin...it seriously feels like a cream when applied. It goes on with a serious white cast, then over a few minutes the white cast goes away. It fills in pores, minimizes lines and helps with redness. The hyaluronic acid is definitely apparent in this powder since it glides on almost like a gel and it's not a drying powder either. When you touch it against your fingers, you'll know what I mean. 

Application: This is the area that I've had to really experiment with. This powder isn't meant for all over. It's really meant to apply in areas of your face where you have large pores, uneven texture, and more apparent lines. On my face it's on my forehead (pores, uneven texture), next to my nose, right under my inner eye, and on the outer right side of my face.

The best method I've found is using it with a flat eyeshadow brush. Imagine something bigger like the MAC 252, or the Shu 12 or 15. Something flat, not fluffy and a bit stiff. In some cases, a foundation brush will work depending on the size of the brush. The best brush I personally own is the Shu 12. After moisturizing your face and once it settles in your skin, pick up a bit on the brush and pat, then slightly sweep, then pat again to spread on the areas that need filling. The powder on your face will have a pretty significant white cast, and then I applied my foundation as normal. 

The area on my face where foundation separates are the areas where I have large pores (stated above). 

By Terry Lumiere Veloutee (discontinued), EF Skin Veil, By Terry Cover Expert, RBR Milk Aquarelle, GA Maestro

Out of the foundations I own -- the one that separates on my problematic parts of my skin after a few hours is the Rouge Bunny Rouge (oddly enough). You would think since it's a gel-cream that it would be good to my "not so happy" areas, but nope. So I decided to test it on RBRs Milk Aquarelle. 

After 8 hours, the areas on my face with foundation still didn't separate. This powder for that purpose alone is worth keeping. Not to mention how it hides my pores. I never would have thought I'd be blogging about a powder (not a liquid) having this kind of purpose.

Now I tested the powder on top of my undereyes (after concealer)...I noticed that it has a slight shimmer. Nothing overpowering like Guerlain Meteorites, but to use it over my foundation, I would personally only use it when I go out. If you haven't noticed by my foundation selection, I'm not too keen on sparkle in foundation. If you do like it over foundation, there is a white cast, and it takes like 20 minutes for that cast to go away.

My personal preference in terms of using this foundation is underneath my foundation. The sparkle doesn't show, plus it blurs out my pores (lines aren't a concern of mine yet).

top part of my hand with no powder, bottom part of my hand, you can see how the lines are blurred.

how the powder looks. it's odd since it clumps together. lol.

my hands w/ the powder, my fingers w/ no powder. it definitely helps w/ redness. sorry for not blending up top D;

Price and Size: $59 for 10g or 0.35 oz. It is a small jar, but as I stated before, it's not designed for all over use. 

Ingredients:

By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder & Hyaluronic Hydra-Primer

So I've been waiting...for weeks...and more weeks...and then some when it comes to By Terry's newest products: Hydra-Powder loose powder, as well as the Hydra-Primer. 

I can't give a full review on this yet due to testing it with different foundations and different methods of application. 

First impressions:

The Powder: it's so finely milled it seriously feels like a cream, and when it touches your skin it becomes very slightly watery in consistency. It glides against your skin, making lines on your skin almost invisible and it covers your pores. On the skin it has a slight white cast, then it disappears. I haven't tried it over foundation to see how it looks just yet. I'll report back.

Primer: Where do I even begin? It glides on like water, and disappears onto the skin (no white cast). What's really interesting is that it has a cooling effect, and you feel an intense feeling of hydration on your skin. It's definitely matte in finish, but it's not drying at all. It's really the best thing I've seen in terms of formula and the texture. The texture doesn't accentuate lines, pores, and doesn't accentuate bumps under the skin. 

Price: Both items are $59

Quick photos with ingredient list:

ingredients for the powder

liquid primer ingredients

By Terry Seve de Rose Ultra-Glow Double Serum +

July has been a seriously hot and humid. Like disgustingly hot during the night too. Generally when it comes to the summer heat, I opt not wearing any makeup. I mean what's the point? Foundation will slide off within minutes...right?

Until now...

So over a month ago, I had David do my makeup and he usually uses By Terry Seve de Rose as my foundation primer/moisturizer. I always wanted to buy it, but of course...I told myself "I'll eventually get it". I didn't see a need since I generally use Shu Uemura Stage Performer as my primer. Granted it's an awesome primer, it's too heavy for the summer heat and humidity. 

So he used Seve de Rose underneath Ellis Faas foundation (will review later). Ellis Faas foundation is a medium coverage, satin finish. It was a night where it was over 100 degrees at 11 pm. I realized that it would be my primer for the heat...why do you ask? 

Texture: It's definitely a serum in terms of formula, gel like in consistency. It's very light weight and it absorbs pretty quickly. It has the signature By Terry fragrance, sooo delish ! The smell does linger on your face, which I don't mind because it's so lush. I like to use like 2-3 pumps for my face. You can probably use 2, but i like a bit more because it's addicting. 

Effect: As the title states, it is a glow serum, and it definitely does that. I can use this alone, or under foundation for an awesome glow. None of that ugly microsparkle that makes it seem like you're luminous. Just awesome "hi, I had 12 hours of sleep and I'm well rested" glow. What makes me excited about this serum is that my medium coverage foundation stayed on my face (first applied at 7pm). It stayed on my face when it was 103 degrees at 11 pm, and it stayed on when it was 85 degrees at like 3 am with like 90% humidity. How awesome is that? Yea...I thought so too.

When I worked during the day, I reached for this stuff because I looked like crap. Tired, sallow skin...yet coworkers were like "wow how did you adjust to working during the day and not be tired"? I actually was tired, but they didn't need to know that. The wonders of By Terry. *sigh*. Long story short, Seve de Rose is what like MAC strobe cream wishes it was...except Seve de Rose is liquid crack, laced with some gelato on top.

Now on the box it's supposed to detoxify your skin...I can't speak for that because as of late my face is going through some detox. Reason being I've been using Natura Bisse, so the detoxifying isn't really from the By Terry serum (in my opinion).

Price and size: $90, 30 mL or 1.02 oz.

Worth the purchase?: If you're someone who is always looking tired, I think it's something to look into. If you're combo-oily skin and need a good primer and (or) light moisturizer, this is great stuff. mmm.I just consider this my liquid crack.

Onto the photos :D

see i've been using it often ;D 

ingredient list (back of the box)

right side of my hand has Seve de Rose applied.

bottom part of my hand has Seve de Rose

Shu Uemura Stage Performer Instant-Glow +

An area I normally don't explore too much when it comes to makeup are face/foundation primers. One of the reasons is probably because my first experience with a foundation primer, my skin burned (thank you, Bobbi Brown Face Base). Then when I had purchased Water Canvas foundation, I bought the accompanying primer. I've used the primer quite a lot since it did its job. I mean, it made my foundation last longer but I wasn't wowed by it. But given my inexperience with primers, I didn't know what to really expect from one. 

So a while back I bought Stage Performer and I liked it, but I didn't use it for that long because my mom stole mine >:(. It's funny because my mom tends to steal my most expensive or hard to find stuff. 

Moving along...a bit about Stage Performer and its overall purpose (courtesy of the Shu Uemura website):

stage-inspired multi-functional beauty cream to enhance makeup finish and deliver a natural glow. contains Ginkgo Leaf extract to fight oxidation. instantly, skin appears more luminous, translucent and smooth. provides 24-hour lasting moisture.

 To see a video, check it out here.

Texture and Formula: It definitely feels like a cream...it's not a gel cream, if that's what you're wondering. I like this cream because isn't sticky or heavy for my combination skin. The cream itself is white, but when you look at it up close it has like little grey specs in it. So don't think your Stage Performer is rancid when you squeeze some out. The formula isn't heavy on your face at all, which is pretty cool because when I first dispensed it, I didn't think it would go well with my skintype. I can say dry skin types will love this stuff since it gives your skin moisture. 

What does it really do for me: I can wear Stage Performer as a nice cream by itself and it gives my face a nice radiance. So for those of you who have skin that needs a little extra pep in its step, this is really something to consider. Under foundation, especially my non-luminous ones, it gives it a tiny bit of luminosity that doesn't look over the top. As for longevity, it does make my foundation last longer, but the main premise of this product is for the luminosity and moisture. 

I'm sure there are some people who are asking, how does this compare to MACs strobe cream/liquid? they both have the same premise of working underneath your foundation to give your face a nice glow, but Strobe Cream is definitely something that can be a little too over the top. Over the top in the sense of the "shine" where sometimes it doesn't look natural. I love Strobe Cream when I'm wearing a heavier foundation when I go out at night, but it's not something I personally would use for the daytime. Plus Stage Performer is a moisturizer, whereas Strobe Cream is just an illuminator.

The biggest thing about this is how it makes my face look in photos. It totally makes your skin look soft and radiant, even under heavy flash. I love the look and effect it gives, so delish. There's nothing better than to have a primer that just makes your face look so lush <3

Price and Size: $50, 1.6 oz

Is it worth the $: I think it's something to consider moreso for the fall/winter when our skin gets a bit drier and need a nice cream/primer in one. I actually even like it for now, even though it's the summer because it's not that heavy of a cream, but it's definitely moisturizing. For those of you who like a soft natural radiance but don't have the time to apply highlighters, just putting this in your bag and applying it on the go is definitely a time saver. For those of you who own a foundation that just makes your face look blah, this will definitely give the foundation some radiance and not make your face look flat.

Ingredients list.

 A bit of Stage Performer on my hand

The bottom of my hand has Stage Performer, the top doesn't. 

Bottom/left has Stage Performer

Top/right has nothing on.

Rouge Bunny Rouge Velvet Fritillary Long-Lasting Cream Shadow +

I know there must be some of you who must be tired of my blog...after all...over 90% of my posts are lip stuff. 

So for you girls who are all about the eyes, I'm sure you're all interested in Velvet Fritillary ! :D 

Packaging: It comes in the signature Rouge Bunny Rouge sleek, black packaging. Pretty straightforward, but part of me wishes I can see how much is left with the cream eyeshadow formula. No big deal, but you know what I mean. It's like a lipgloss in the sense you unscrew the top and the applicator is a doe foot.

Texture and formula: This stuff is really creamy. It's a thin (but not runny) formula. It's wonderful for those who have really dry eyes and feel like eyeshadow primers can be drying or just not the right consistency. Velvet Fritillary is grey, but it has an interesting greenish cast/undertone. So the finish is a bit hard to explain:  It's matte from a distance, but if you look REALLY up close, there's a super tiny shimmer. Like super tiny, like almost non-existent. So to me, let's just say it's matte, but it's not a flat matte. I like it because a lot of the cream eyeshadows tend to be very shimmery or sparkly. I'm always one for more options when it comes to finishes in all makeup products.

Longevity: so this is an interesting one...without any other primer, as in just by itself...9 hours and minimal fading. That's not bad at all for something that's a cream texture on my semi-oily eyelids. I'm sure this over my NARS eyeshadow primer, it would last eons. 

Size and price: 0.135 fluid ounces, or 4mL. The price is approximately $66 (conversion from GBP to USD). 

Is it worth having?: I think the color in of itself is unique, but the tube is very small. So I can understand why some people won't buy it. For those who want a serious splurge, I don't see why not.

Onto the photos ! 

A standard Bic pen

Velvet Fritillary eyeshadow

A MAC pigment 

this was taken so you can see the size reference.

Velvet Fritillary applicator

A closeup so you can see the color.

Left to right:

MAC Sweet Sienna

Rouge Bunny Rouge Velvet Fritillary

Rouge Bunny Rouge Solstice Halcyon