Just what the doctor ordered: Physicians Formula Organic Wear Liquid Foundation

Review by Jessica M

Lately I’ve been in the mood to try a new foundation, and I’m currently trying to integrate more “green” beauty products into my routine, so I was happy to spot Physicians Formula’s new Organic Wear Liquid Foundation on the shelf at Duane Reade. This “100% Natural Origin” product contains no parabens or other synthetic preservatives, no synthetic color or fragrance, and no genetically modified organisms. It boasts physical sun protection with titanium dioxide, and it’s sold with minimal packaging.

I like the container for this foundation: it’s a tube with a convenient pump dispenser. The label advises shaking the tube before using. While applying the foundation, I noticed its fresh citrus-lavender fragrance (from natural extracts), as well as its creamy consistency (thanks to its use of orange water and olive oil). It’s easy to apply, even with fingertips, and it spreads smoothly and evenly. Its coverage is light to medium, definitely more than a tinted moisturizer. For once, I had no trouble matching my fair skin: I used the Classic Ivory, and I was pleased to see that it blended into my own face without the orangey, mask-like look that some natural cosmetics have. The color stayed true all day, although I did notice a minor caking effect in the oilier areas of my face in the afternoon.

Overall, I have a feeling that this foundation would work best on normal or slightly dry skin. On oilier skin, it should be worn with only a very light layer of moisturizer underneath, since it has its somewhat hydrating on its own. Unfortunately, this also means that it doesn’t “mattify” the face very well. If you have oily skin and you use this product, you’ll need to apply it a bit more carefully, and then top it with loose powder and use blotting papers throughout the day. Still, in terms of color match, texture, and wear, Physicians Formula Organic Wear is the best “green” foundation I’ve tried yet.

Physicians Formula Organic Wear Liquid Foundation is sold for $13.95 (for a 1-ounce tube) in drugstores. As an introductory offer, an instant $3 coupon is attached and can be redeemed at the cash register.

Photo Credit: Green Daily

From Dior To Drugstore. "All Is Pretty" -- Andy Warhol
by Makeupalley's Cavewoman

It's been one of the worst Winters on record here in Ohio. We missed a January record snowfall by one inch. When there are over 30 inches of snow covering your lawn, when you've spent hours shoveling the driveway again and again, when you sit housebound wishing for just one day out with your friends, well, that little inch didn't make much difference. It's been brutal.

Days and days on end in the depths of a Winter like this had me dreaming of pretty things. I received a note from one of my makeupalley buddies, Andrea, who showed me a photo of a Dior quint shadow that was Asia Exclusive, called Silk Satin, and of course the fact that it was not available in the US made it all that more desirable to me. Thanks to a wonderful friend in Singapore, I was able to arrange that she and I would do CP's for each other, I bought her some things she couldn't get there, and she sent me the Dior Silk Satin. Its journey was long, but it made its way to my door in perfect condition. Isn't it lovely? The center color is a beautiful pale pink-beige, and around the sides are a white frost, a cool-toned brown, a silvery taupe (does anyone do these better than Dior? Nope!) and a pretty pink shimmer. I'm in serious love. Dior quints just keep getting more and more beautiful. The colors glide on smoothly, the shimmer is subtle without being too frosty, and they last on the eye without even needing a primer. A side note to Dior, please make all of the quints available to all of your Dior customers! These country-exclusives are driving us to desperate measures! I love the new MAC 226 brush with these Diors, because the head of the brush is small enough to fit perfectly on the shadows. And a side note to MAC, please make that brush part of the permanent collection!


One of the few places I know of that sells Isadora cosmetics is cosmeticmall. I used to visit that site when they sold the Z New York brand, which was the house brand of cosmetics for the Zitomer Pharmacies. If you've never been to Zitomer, it's a New York City store that has everything from Judith Leiber handbags to cards of bobby pins. The Z New York brushes are beautiful and handmade in France, by the way. I was looking for Z items on cosmeticmall and noticed the Isadora brand there, so I ordered a few shadows. I had been using the Icy Khaki color ever since I discovered them at Walgreens, but Walgreens no longer sells Isadora. The Khaki was the most perfect taupe, and so I thought I'd try a few more colors. I bought Metallic Rose, Aubergine, and the Icy Khaki. It's good to get a buddy to go in on these with you, because cosmeticmall makes you buy two of each color you want. The texture of these dome shadows is creamy and soft, and the color is buildable. Isadora's Gleaming shadows are some of the best drugstore shadows I've ever found.

At Target, on a day when Annie and I were actually able to get out and do some errand running, I decided to cave on these Napoleon Perdis Baked Duos. The lighter of the two pictured is the English Rose, and the other is Blush. Both have beautiful shimmery pinks and the bronze sides are cool-toned with pink shimmer. The compacts are very heavy sturdy white plastic, and although these are really pretty, I don't see much stock missing from the NP shelves at Target. This line is too expensive for that store. NP used to have a line which was sold at Sephora and Saks, but it wasn't there very long, and I remember a huge table of NP at Saks' flagship store in NY, marked down to nothing and attracting no customers at all.

Almay has introduced a new natural line called Pure Blends. I have to rave about the foundation, a liquid in the white tube. This foundation is not oil-free, and it contains no sunscreen or talc. I couldn't wait to try it. For people with dry skin, this foundation gives a lovely healthy glow, doesn't sink into pores or lines, and feels so comfortable on the skin. The drugstore makeup lines don't offer too many foundations without SPF, and there are even fewer that aren't oil-free, so I was happy that this purchase turned out to be a winner. I got a perfect match in the color named Naked. The matching powder comes in a paper box, with a sifter top that has its own cap, and a little puff. Great packaging! The powder can't spill out if you accidentally drop the box, and you can just tap the box a bit to get just enough powder in the well. Choose shimmer or matte, they are both translucent. I chose the shimmer version. It's way less shimmer than Bare Escentuals and although it's not a day look for me, it did give a pretty candlelit glow to my skin.

Physicans Formula is a company that's been attracting some buzz on makeupalley. Last year's Shimmer Strips eyeshadows were a big hit, and I loved and used up a few of them. The Hazel Eyes was my favorite of the first four offerings in the Shimmer Strips for eyes. Recently, PF has brought out a new series of four Shimmer Strips called Smoky Collection. This time I chose the one for green eyes, even though my eyes are dark brown. I loved the greys and lavenders in this strip. The new offering for cheeks is called Shimmer Strips Custom Blush And Highlighter. They are a wavy palette of several shades and tones. They might appear to be similar to the Bobbi Brown Shimmerbricks, but I like the PF version even better because they don't contain glitter, and the shimmer is so much more subtle than the BB Shimmerbricks. Look for these PF Shimmer Strips blushes on special drugstore display racks and be sure to dig. There are actually four of them, but some drugstores only seem to have two shades. The one I chose is called Healthy Glow 1162, and of all four this is the one that seemed the most cool-toned. It's bright in the pan but goes on sheerly, and don't be afraid of the slight shimmer, it's not frosty on the skin at all. And it does give a pretty flush to the cheeks. Just as if I had been out all day in the cold weather.

Shoveling snow.

Lots of snow.

Credits: MUA's Cavewoman

Physicians Formula

Shimmer Strips

Custom Eye Enhancing Shadow and Liner for Green Eyes

There are nine shades ranging from a weaker Erika F replica to a cold violet shade. The pigment power leans on the sheer side. It comes with an angled sponge applicator. It took several minutes of fumbling to open the case.

The closure is on the side of the container.

It is currently on sale at Walgreens for $5.99

Credit: Blogdorf Goodman

Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Physicians Formula

Sun Kissed With Just One Swipe!

Bronzers from Physicians Formula

Inspired by Beauty Addict's Fake Bake Month, I am going to dish today about some new summer bronzers from Physicians Formula that I received in the mail.
I am a pale girl who has not seen the sun in any serious way since the early 90's. I do not sun bathe nor do I use any self tanners. Bronzers used to scare the pants off me until Estee Lauder's Tom Ford Bronzer. This was the product that made me realize that bronzers were not my enemy. They could be kind and give me a natural and appealing sun kissed glow.
With a few swipes from my skunk brush, my face appears to look well rested and healthy with no ill effects from the sun.
It is a miracle in a compact.

Physicians Formula has an impressive roster of bronzer products. They have a variety of mineral bronzers, wet/dry bronzers, multi-colored bronzers and a bronzer that contains SPF20.

Magic Mosaic Multi-Color Custom Bronzer 33846 $12.95 (picture to the right)
This is a combination of bronze shades that resembles fish scales in the compact. It is has some shimmer and gives a natural looking glow. This is a bronzer that you can control based on your needs. One swipe of the dark shade and you can look like you vacationed in Belize.

Jungle Fever in Leopard #3281 $11.95
It is practically too cute to use but I swiped it. This one has some shimmer that has not been captured by the photograph. The golden base makes it wearable for pale tones.

Powder Palettes Multi-Colored Bronzer $12.95
#2718 Healthy Glow is my favorite. It has cooler shades of bronze and pink.
#1441 Bronzer has warmer shades of peach and terracotta
#3869 Light Bronzer is a less intense version of #1441
The compacts have a secret compartment for a brush or powder puff.

Bronze Gems Matte & Bright Bronzer, Highlighter and Eye Shadow Powder for $12.95
There are three shades: #2819 Healthy Glow Bronzer, #2818 Peachy Glow Bronzer(gives a lovely apricot-like glow and the warm pink shade looks great on the eyes!) is and #2672 Light Bronzer(perfect for pale skin).
This is a handy dual finish bronzer that includes a mirror and brush.

The smiling sun face bronzer is called Summer Eclipse in Sunlight. It is a blend of pearlescent gold and warm bronze shades that gives you a deep and rich color. This was a little too dark for me but it was the sun face that got me.

The Retro Mosaic Bronzer #3848 $12.95
The actual powder resembles and feels like suede. It is 5 bronze shades in a very vintage looking pressed powder compact. This gives you a deep coppertone tan without the sun damage.
It is made with Italian talc and includes a mirror and powder brush.

Photos: Blogdorf Goodman
Disclosure: A press sample was provided by Physicians Formula