Face Time High Glass Lip Gloss

While deciding to go a la carte when I ordered my items from Face Time, instead of going with their boxed packages, I still went by the look that appealed to me most, the Sultry. I especially wanted the darker option for lips, as most of the colors seemed too pink and sheer.

I chose Jealousy (not a fan of this name), which is described as a warm tan tone, but ended up more of a sheer nude. Maybe I should have tried Image, but the threat of shimmer kept me away. While I wasn't planning on a nude, it's still pretty and wearable (doesn't make my lips look dead or J. Lo-fied). The fabulous part is the texture: light, comfortable and not sticky. I hope they'd add more interesting colors for the sake of those among us who have naturally darker lips (plum, please!). In the meantime, I like to mix it with a touch of dark liquid lipstick (I have one from Lorac that's a bit too much by itself).

Those of you who prefer light and pink hues have several choices in this range. If you tried, please comment on your favorites.

Face Time products are only available online, which is where I bought my gloss ($13)

Face Time High Glass Lip Gloss

While deciding to go a la carte when I ordered my items from Face Time, instead of going with their boxed packages, I still went by the look that appealed to me most, the Sultry. I especially wanted the darker option for lips, as most of the colors seemed too pink and sheer.

I chose Jealousy (not a fan of this name), which is described as a warm tan tone, but ended up more of a sheer nude. Maybe I should have tried Image, but the threat of shimmer kept me away. While I wasn't planning on a nude, it's still pretty and wearable (doesn't make my lips look dead or J. Lo-fied). The fabulous part is the texture: light, comfortable and not sticky. I hope they'd add more interesting colors for the sake of those among us who have naturally darker lips (plum, please!). In the meantime, I like to mix it with a touch of dark liquid lipstick (I have one from Lorac that's a bit too much by itself).

Those of you who prefer light and pink hues have several choices in this range. If you tried, please comment on your favorites.

Face Time products are only available online, which is where I bought my gloss ($13)

Face Time High Glass Lip Gloss

While deciding to go a la carte when I ordered my items from Face Time, instead of going with their boxed packages, I still went by the look that appealed to me most, the Sultry. I especially wanted the darker option for lips, as most of the colors seemed too pink and sheer.

I chose Jealousy (not a fan of this name), which is described as a warm tan tone, but ended up more of a sheer nude. Maybe I should have tried Image, but the threat of shimmer kept me away. While I wasn't planning on a nude, it's still pretty and wearable (doesn't make my lips look dead or J. Lo-fied). The fabulous part is the texture: light, comfortable and not sticky. I hope they'd add more interesting colors for the sake of those among us who have naturally darker lips (plum, please!). In the meantime, I like to mix it with a touch of dark liquid lipstick (I have one from Lorac that's a bit too much by itself).

Those of you who prefer light and pink hues have several choices in this range. If you tried, please comment on your favorites.

Face Time products are only available online, which is where I bought my gloss ($13)

Velvet Veil Makeup Primer by Face Time

I got married by the sea, on a hot and humid summer night in 1996. I can't say I remember much of the actual event (people said it was lovely and the photos confirm), but I do know that my makeup could have used some help in the staying-in-place department. No one heard of primers back then, so it was all about using a good powder and hoping for the best.

Velvet Veil is the product I wish existed back then, because it performs amazingly well. I tested it against the elements: wind, pouring rain and a sweaty day. Nothing moved and it kept every foundation I tried fresh, and only required minimal powdering.

This is a silicone primer and the texture is thicker than the famous one from Smashbox. It's also more opaque, though once applied you see nothing. I like it for the way it keeps my face fresh all day, but I have a serious problem with its heaviness. I don't like the way my skin looks after wearing it for days (or the way I felt after 10 days of testing). It looks like my skin couldn't breath underneath the primer, though I'm sure there's a better explanation. Also, while I can't be completely certain the Velvet Veil is the culprit, I experienced some seriously clogged pores and a couple of zits I could have happily lived without. While it doesn't happen when I only use it occasionally, my skin definitely suffers if I make this primer part of my normal routine.

So, bottom line: a fabulous primer, but my skin isn't happy to encounter it on a regular basis. I'm keeping my bottle, but would only use it for special occasions that require heavy duty products with exceptional staying power.

Velvet Veil ($22) and the rest of Face Time products are only available online from the company's web site. That's how I bought my bottle.

Velvet Veil Makeup Primer by Face Time

I got married by the sea, on a hot and humid summer night in 1996. I can't say I remember much of the actual event (people said it was lovely and the photos confirm), but I do know that my makeup could have used some help in the staying-in-place department. No one heard of primers back then, so it was all about using a good powder and hoping for the best.

Velvet Veil is the product I wish existed back then, because it performs amazingly well. I tested it against the elements: wind, pouring rain and a sweaty day. Nothing moved and it kept every foundation I tried fresh, and only required minimal powdering.

This is a silicone primer and the texture is thicker than the famous one from Smashbox. It's also more opaque, though once applied you see nothing. I like it for the way it keeps my face fresh all day, but I have a serious problem with its heaviness. I don't like the way my skin looks after wearing it for days (or the way I felt after 10 days of testing). It looks like my skin couldn't breath underneath the primer, though I'm sure there's a better explanation. Also, while I can't be completely certain the Velvet Veil is the culprit, I experienced some seriously clogged pores and a couple of zits I could have happily lived without. While it doesn't happen when I only use it occasionally, my skin definitely suffers if I make this primer part of my normal routine.

So, bottom line: a fabulous primer, but my skin isn't happy to encounter it on a regular basis. I'm keeping my bottle, but would only use it for special occasions that require heavy duty products with exceptional staying power.

Velvet Veil ($22) and the rest of Face Time products are only available online from the company's web site. That's how I bought my bottle.

Velvet Veil Makeup Primer by Face Time

I got married by the sea, on a hot and humid summer night in 1996. I can't say I remember much of the actual event (people said it was lovely and the photos confirm), but I do know that my makeup could have used some help in the staying-in-place department. No one heard of primers back then, so it was all about using a good powder and hoping for the best.

Velvet Veil is the product I wish existed back then, because it performs amazingly well. I tested it against the elements: wind, pouring rain and a sweaty day. Nothing moved and it kept every foundation I tried fresh, and only required minimal powdering.

This is a silicone primer and the texture is thicker than the famous one from Smashbox. It's also more opaque, though once applied you see nothing. I like it for the way it keeps my face fresh all day, but I have a serious problem with its heaviness. I don't like the way my skin looks after wearing it for days (or the way I felt after 10 days of testing). It looks like my skin couldn't breath underneath the primer, though I'm sure there's a better explanation. Also, while I can't be completely certain the Velvet Veil is the culprit, I experienced some seriously clogged pores and a couple of zits I could have happily lived without. While it doesn't happen when I only use it occasionally, my skin definitely suffers if I make this primer part of my normal routine.

So, bottom line: a fabulous primer, but my skin isn't happy to encounter it on a regular basis. I'm keeping my bottle, but would only use it for special occasions that require heavy duty products with exceptional staying power.

Velvet Veil ($22) and the rest of Face Time products are only available online from the company's web site. That's how I bought my bottle.

Face Time Well-To-Hue Eye Shadow

Niche perfume and niche makeup are not equal. I have very few positive things to say about mass market fragrances of the last decade (I still buy an occasional vintage bottle, though). However, very often the same companies make the best makeup or skin care items. And while I'm always happy to try and find new favorites among the smaller cosmetics and makeup brands, I have yet to to be fully wowed and converted by them. Still, some of these lines are better than others

Face Time is one such company, created by NY entrepreneur Linsey Snyder. The concept behind the line is makeup items that are easy to coordinate, free of fads and ugly trends, and focused on making the wearer look pretty. That alone is a good enough reason to celebrate. They even offer a foolproof system: Beauty In A Box, a full collection of matching items, that includes everything one needs to make her face. They will even help you make a custom box according to your needs.

As cute as the boxes are, I chose to go a la carte. After all, I have absolutely no need of another black eyeliner pencil or mascara. I can also survive without a new blush for the time being (the noise you're hearing is the shelves and drawers that hold my makeup sighing with relief. Yes, my storage system has emotions). Today we'll talk about about eye shadows.

I chose two, Lauren's Loyalty and Jamie's Gem. The former is described as "oyster", or in plain English", beige. I hoped for a highlighter, but instead got a very sheer, gently shimmering wash that looks identical in color to my skin. It's not really the eye shadow's fault. It's my peculiar coloring that doesn't let light shades do their thing on my brow bone. The best I can expect in this department is a nice texture that doesn't look chalky and wouldn't crease under the elements. I definitely got it here, together with the delicate shimmer I mentioned above. I'm assuming that on someone who is a tone or two lighter than me,the effect would be nicer. The very pale should be careful, because "oyster" is probably not the best highlighting hue they can find.

The second color, Jamie's Gem is, might be a golden olive, as described, but the gold is very subdued and the olive has tons of green in it. It's very pigmented and requires the lightest touch and a good brush (I use a slanted crease brush from Sephora's professional series). It's easy to blend and looks very flattering with my coloring (that's my reward for being naturally green). It doesn't crease, even without an eye primer, but if you want it not to fade throughout the day, you'd better use one.

All in all, Face Time eye shadows are very nice, and so far are the best product I've tried of this brand (reviews of their face primer and lip gloss are coming soon).

Face Time products are available online from the company's website, which is where I bought the products I tried. Each eye shadow retails for $12.

Face Time Well-To-Hue Eye Shadow

Niche perfume and niche makeup are not equal. I have very few positive things to say about mass market fragrances of the last decade (I still buy an occasional vintage bottle, though). However, very often the same companies make the best makeup or skin care items. And while I'm always happy to try and find new favorites among the smaller cosmetics and makeup brands, I have yet to to be fully wowed and converted by them. Still, some of these lines are better than others

Face Time is one such company, created by NY entrepreneur Linsey Snyder. The concept behind the line is makeup items that are easy to coordinate, free of fads and ugly trends, and focused on making the wearer look pretty. That alone is a good enough reason to celebrate. They even offer a foolproof system: Beauty In A Box, a full collection of matching items, that includes everything one needs to make her face. They will even help you make a custom box according to your needs.

As cute as the boxes are, I chose to go a la carte. After all, I have absolutely no need of another black eyeliner pencil or mascara. I can also survive without a new blush for the time being (the noise you're hearing is the shelves and drawers that hold my makeup sighing with relief. Yes, my storage system has emotions). Today we'll talk about about eye shadows.

I chose two, Lauren's Loyalty and Jamie's Gem. The former is described as "oyster", or in plain English", beige. I hoped for a highlighter, but instead got a very sheer, gently shimmering wash that looks identical in color to my skin. It's not really the eye shadow's fault. It's my peculiar coloring that doesn't let light shades do their thing on my brow bone. The best I can expect in this department is a nice texture that doesn't look chalky and wouldn't crease under the elements. I definitely got it here, together with the delicate shimmer I mentioned above. I'm assuming that on someone who is a tone or two lighter than me,the effect would be nicer. The very pale should be careful, because "oyster" is probably not the best highlighting hue they can find.

The second color, Jamie's Gem is, might be a golden olive, as described, but the gold is very subdued and the olive has tons of green in it. It's very pigmented and requires the lightest touch and a good brush (I use a slanted crease brush from Sephora's professional series). It's easy to blend and looks very flattering with my coloring (that's my reward for being naturally green). It doesn't crease, even without an eye primer, but if you want it not to fade throughout the day, you'd better use one.

All in all, Face Time eye shadows are very nice, and so far are the best product I've tried of this brand (reviews of their face primer and lip gloss are coming soon).

Face Time products are available online from the company's website, which is where I bought the products I tried. Each eye shadow retails for $12.

Face Time Well-To-Hue Eye Shadow

Niche perfume and niche makeup are not equal. I have very few positive things to say about mass market fragrances of the last decade (I still buy an occasional vintage bottle, though). However, very often the same companies make the best makeup or skin care items. And while I'm always happy to try and find new favorites among the smaller cosmetics and makeup brands, I have yet to to be fully wowed and converted by them. Still, some of these lines are better than others

Face Time is one such company, created by NY entrepreneur Linsey Snyder. The concept behind the line is makeup items that are easy to coordinate, free of fads and ugly trends, and focused on making the wearer look pretty. That alone is a good enough reason to celebrate. They even offer a foolproof system: Beauty In A Box, a full collection of matching items, that includes everything one needs to make her face. They will even help you make a custom box according to your needs.

As cute as the boxes are, I chose to go a la carte. After all, I have absolutely no need of another black eyeliner pencil or mascara. I can also survive without a new blush for the time being (the noise you're hearing is the shelves and drawers that hold my makeup sighing with relief. Yes, my storage system has emotions). Today we'll talk about about eye shadows.

I chose two, Lauren's Loyalty and Jamie's Gem. The former is described as "oyster", or in plain English", beige. I hoped for a highlighter, but instead got a very sheer, gently shimmering wash that looks identical in color to my skin. It's not really the eye shadow's fault. It's my peculiar coloring that doesn't let light shades do their thing on my brow bone. The best I can expect in this department is a nice texture that doesn't look chalky and wouldn't crease under the elements. I definitely got it here, together with the delicate shimmer I mentioned above. I'm assuming that on someone who is a tone or two lighter than me,the effect would be nicer. The very pale should be careful, because "oyster" is probably not the best highlighting hue they can find.

The second color, Jamie's Gem is, might be a golden olive, as described, but the gold is very subdued and the olive has tons of green in it. It's very pigmented and requires the lightest touch and a good brush (I use a slanted crease brush from Sephora's professional series). It's easy to blend and looks very flattering with my coloring (that's my reward for being naturally green). It doesn't crease, even without an eye primer, but if you want it not to fade throughout the day, you'd better use one.

All in all, Face Time eye shadows are very nice, and so far are the best product I've tried of this brand (reviews of their face primer and lip gloss are coming soon).

Face Time products are available online from the company's website, which is where I bought the products I tried. Each eye shadow retails for $12.