Pale Products and More

Now when I saw this in Ulta's new arrivals I knew I had to get it. Like I said in my Ulta haul post where I first mentioned this, Nudestix concealers are very light so I figured this was going to be doable at least, which is always reason enough for me to buy a foundation since its so rare. I hesitate to categorize this as a foundation review because (to steal Samantha Ravendahl's description) its really more of a suggestion of a skin tint- its extremely sheer.

The Nudestix Nudies Tinted Blur stick retails for $30 for .216; to compare, ABH Stick Foundation (review here) goes for $25 for .35, and the Tart Clay Stick Foundation is $39 for .32. To be fair Nudestix isn't exactly marketing this as a foundation as the word "foundation" is never mentioned in its description. Instead it is described as a "soft focus mineral technology that smooths and blurs appearance of texture, blemishes, and discoloration" to give you a soft matte glow. And it is marketed as being used 4 ways: as a tint, over foundations to blot, underneath foundations to blur, and to highlight and contour.

nice crocs in the background

The shade Light 1 is described as "ivory with cool pink undertones" and I do agree with this. It leans slightly pink, but since its so sheer, it still works on my neutral skin (pink toned products usually turn orange). It photographs more neutral and swatches more pink toned in person that the picture shows. I was initially very surprised when I opened my Ulta package and saw how small this is, but I should have been expecting it when looking at the comparison ounces. It is super light though, props to Nudestix for that.


I wore this with no primer. I wasn't sure what primer would go good with it, and wanted to see if it truly would blur my pores and fine lines on its own. It was worn for 8 hours after being applied with my Eco Tools sponge (the green one), and setting with a light dusting of Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder (mostly on part of my cheeks, nose, and middle of forehead) and Smashbox Primer Water. I've recently stopped using my Laura Mercier setting powder as I don't like how it sits on my skin, and have been finding the Hourglass one to not alter foundations so I figured it would be safe to use while testing this.

applied on left

It goes on extremely creamy and blends extremely easily because it is so sheer. I would say it slightly filled my pores but they were still visible (you can just barely make out that I have product on the left because of the slight blurring of pores, imo). It slightly toned down my redness which is always hard to photograph, but there was still slight redness peaking through.

applied to both sides

Like I said this is just a very slight suggestion of a skin tint, its extremely sheer, so unless you study these pictures, I think its near impossible to tell a difference. It was slightly easily to tell in person, as my redness overall unevenness was slightly toned down and evened, as I said before. Personally I don't really struggle with having lots to cover up on my skin, and generally prefer a sheer to light base to just even my redness and hide pores, which this product does upon immediate application. I can't imagine using this to blot, as they suggest as use number 2. Its extremely creamy and would do nothing if applied to oily areas imo, except make them look worse.

full face done

I checked in after 4 hours and I looked good, albiet a bit oily. There was ever so slightly a bit of caking in my smile lines but nothing you could see unless you were looking for it. I think my skin looked about as oily as it does after 4 hours if I'm not wearing makeup, but my redness was still toned down so I dig it. I'm excited to test this at work when my face gets really red.


At the end of the night (8 hours) I again think my skin just looked the same level of oiliness it does at the end of a no makeup day. It may have faded off slightly, but it was hard to tell. My skin tone still seemed more even than it naturally is. My pores were really out to party though (I realize this phrase snuck its way into my vernacular because of Taylor Thataylaa......)


Overall I like this product, although it does seem pricey for what it is, and for the amount you get- which leads me to believe I probably would't repurchase it, although I do really like the product. I feel like I'm going to go through it fast. I think I give this about an 8/10, didn't really hold up to the blurring and pore filling claim, but it was a nice VERY sheer tint that did even my skin.

When I saw the announcement for this product, I wasn't that excited I'll be honest. But once I saw swatches I knew I had to at least try it out, considering how light the lightest shade looked.

The Cover Fx Power Play Foundation retails for $44 for 1.18 oz which is a little more than the standard 1 oz. It is said to be full coverage with a matte finish. A direct description taken from Sephora: "A modern matte, blurring foundation with weightless full coverage that provides sweat-proof all-day wear, long lasting shine control, environmental protection, and a finish that will not oxidize".

The shade N0 is "for fairest porcelain skin with neutral undertones". I love that Cover Fx categorizes their foundations into undertones N (neutral), P (pink), G (golden), and G+ (golden olive). I've previously tried one of their foundations in N10 which pulled extremely yellow on me, but I was still hopeful, as N0 swatched very light. On my skin it actually looks slightly more pink toned than it photographs. Once its blended though, its very neutral and as you can see, blends in very well.


I wore this for 10 hours and prepped and primed with my Smashbox Primer Water. I didn't use a powder as this sets on its own and has a matte finish. I applied it using my Eco Tools sponge, and set with Too Faced Hangover Setting Spray.

applied on left

applied on full face

It applied easily with the sponge, and did not appear patchy. It seemed like it dried quickly, so I would only apply this in sections, not all over at once. The color seemed to match really well, and it had a very soft matte finish. It covered my pores upon initial application, and evened my skintone. I did apply a very thin layer, as I was cautious of the claim of full coverage. I prefer sheer to light coverage (medium is okay), and applying a small amount with a damp sponge and not attempting to build any coverage seems to have yielded light medium coverage.

full face minus lips

After 4 hours I looked okay, pretty good for how foundations have been wearing on me lately. It had settled into my smile lines (typical) but that was the worst of it. My pores were slightly more visible, but nothing crazy. And my oil didn't seem to be coming through as much as it usually is by this point. The shade was also still looking great, no oxidization. Let's not talk about my pose, lmao, I was on break at work and trying to not get seen taking pictures in natural lighting. It does look slightly dry/textured.



At the end of my night (10 hours later) I was pleasantly surprised. I obviously didn't look great, I never will after wearing makeup all day, but I looked pretty good. Again there was (obviously) creasing in my smile lines, but there wasn't any weird texture or heaviness or any separation or oxidization. I was oily at this point, but I have been a lot more oily at the end of the night when wearing other foundations. Also my pores were visible, but not huge as they normally are at this point.



Overall this gets a 9/10 from me, in an ideal world I wish this didn't settle into my smile lines (I wish every foundation didn't but alas), and I wish it was a slightly less dry formula, but other than that I'm really happy with it! Great shade, coverage works for me, no separation/cakiness/etc etc, and decent oil control! I honestly feel like this met all of its claims, which is hard to do. I also wanted to mention I worked this day and was deployed at the drive thru window, and it was raining. That being said I definitely got some rain drops splashed on me from people's windshield wipers, lmao, and I didn't notice any like rubbing off or anything like that, so it seems to even live up to the sweat proof claim. I'm going to actually be purchasing the full size!

Now I'm not one for powder foundations, they've always seemed very old lady-ish and don't really make sense for me since I wear liquid concealer. But my favorite youtuber Thataylaa has raved about this product for years (although she uses it as a setting powder), so I decided to give it a go.

The Laura Geller Balance-n-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation retails for $33 for .32 oz; comparing that to Mac Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation which is $30 for .52 oz, and the BareMinerals BarePRO Performance Wear Powder Foundation which is $30 for .34 oz. It claims to "color correct your skin to give you glowing, flawless complexion", but also "features a matte finish".

The color Porcelain is described as for "doll-like complexions, alabaster skin". It swatches very light, slightly pink toned (which makes sense when you note the swirls of pink in the powder itself). Swatches are really hard for me to photograph, so sorry for the weird angles- they caught the shade of the powder more accurately than straight on shots.



The first day I tested this as a setting powder, and found it to perform similarly to my regular Laura Mercier powder in that it somewhat caked up, sat on top of my skin, didn't look the best, etc etc, hence why I'm trying to find a new powder. For the sake of this review though, I tested this product alone as my only foundation. I wore it for 8 hours after priming with my Milk Blur Stick on my t zone and Smashbox Primer Water, and setting with my Too Faced Hangover spray. This is my usual everyday combo lately for priming/setting. I applied it with my damp Eco Tools sponge which is also my current go to.

It applied easily and sheerly. I could only bring the coverage up to light sheer coverage while using the sponge. Brushes tend to make powders look like shit on my skin, but I did add a final thin layer using a Wet n Wild powder brush, which did not seem to add any coverage. It blended easily, although it was difficult to tell where I had already applied product. I should also note that before applying the founation I did conceal my undereyes using the Nyx HD Concealer, since I didn't want to layer a liquid on top of a powder.

Powder applied to left half (undereyes concealed)

Powder applied to entire face

full face minus lips

It appeared to be a decent match, if not slightly dark. Immediately after application my skin looked okay, although my pores were slightly emphasized and it seemed to be sitting on top of my pores. It gave my skin a satin finish. I did notice that when I was done with my makeup, it had not settled into my forehead creases or smile lines in the way all liquid foundation do at this point.


After 6 hours (somewhat late check in, sorry!) I wasn't looking so hot. It had definitely oxidized a few shades too dark, and settled into my smile lines a bit. It seemed to also have rubbed off where my glasses rest on my right cheek (yay asymmetrical face). My pores were also seriously out to party, and it looked very heavy in between my brows which isn't typical for me. (as always ignore the glasses marks on my nose, happens inevitably). The pic below is in my car, and it shows most accurately how the foundation was looking- which obviously is pretty bad.



At the end of the 8 hours, I looked pretty bad. I was having the same issues as the 6 hour check in- creasing, heaviness, oxidization, large pores, and I was pretty oily.



Overall this gets a 0/10 from me. There wasn't a single redeeming quality (initially thought shade would save it, but then it oxidized), and I see no reason to use this again. I honestly went to Ulta the same night and returned it. I had such high hopes for this but it really didn't deliver.

For awhile now I've been wanting to try the Rms Beauty Living Luminizer. While I was looking at that product I decided to check out the rest of their products. A youtuber I watch had mentioned their Un Cover-Up Concealer/Foundation, and usually I am very weary of buying foundations without swatching because even the lightest looking product usually ends up being dark af. But for some reason I wanted to give this one a go, and so I bought it.

It retails for $36 for .20 oz. which is....shocking considering most foundations come in the standard 1 fl oz. Although this is marketed as a concealer as well, so compared to other pot/cream concealers, this seems to be about standard. It kinda sucks though since I use it as a foundation I'm going to go through it super quickly, but it is what it is.

To my surprise, the shade 000 works! It is described as the "lightest shade for true snow whites" lmao why are foundation descriptions always so cringey. Anyways it seems to be pretty neutral toned, maybe ever so slightly leaning yellow but not much. It is said to be "completely lightweight and hydrating" and to "reduce the appearance of pores", as well as "covering imperfections and redness". It also claims "coverage that will never look heavy or dry".

I applied it with my Real Techniques sponge over my Smashbox Primer Water, and set with Too Faced Hangover 3-in-1 Replenishing Primer and Setting Spray (I've been using this as a primer lately as well, but since I know how the Smashbox one performs I wanted to use that one to test the foundation). PLEASE I kno I look like a dumb bitch let's look past it.

rms on left

rms on full face

It applies easily, I dip my sponge into the pot then apply to my face. Coverage is sheer to light, which I'm a fan of so its not an issue. Looks nice as it goes on, but it really smells like shit, like crayons. If I'm paying a mid range price, I'd expect mid range quality which definitely includes scent. It has a very dewy finish, but not overly so. My pores were definitely visible and didn't seem covered at all, nor emphasized- just visible.

The ABH Stick Foundation came out awhile ago, but my local Ulta before I moved never carried the lightest shade, therefore I could never swatch it to see if it was even doable. I recently went to Sephora and was able to swatch it and get a sample so I figured I should review it as well.

It retails for $25 for .32 oz.; to compare the Tarte Clay Stick foundation is $39 for .32 and the Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Longwear Foundation stick is $42 for .31 oz. It is said to be a highlight pigmented buildable foundation with a natural matte finish. The color Alabaster is for "very fair skin with cool undertones". It looks like it might be a bit dark, but blends out okay.

I primed my skin with my Smashbox Primer Water, applied the product with my Real Techniques sponge, and set my skin with my Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder and elf setting spray. I used a powder because, as is my experience with other stick foundations, it didn't seem to set on its own. I wore it for 8 hours.

left side applied

applied to full face

I took some close up shots right as I applied it, because it already wasn't looking great. Clinging to my cheeks, which are by no means dry, settling into my forehead lines, and overall just looking textured. I usually have this experience with stick foundations.




I checked in after 5 hours and the results were pretty much what I expected. I didn't look horrible, but there was more settling/texture/just general heaviness. Keep in my mind my glasses rub off all my foundations so that's not the issue I'm showing in the full face picture- but instead just how it seems to age my entire face.



At the end of the 8 hours my face looked slightly worse than the 5 hour mark in the same ways; settling, texture, heaviness, etc etc. I was also looking a bit oily.

Overall this gets a 1/10. The color is the only positive for me, I really won't be trying this one even one more time. It did me no favors for sure.

Awhile ago I grabbed a sample of the Hourglass stick foundation after seeing how light the shade Blanc was. I initially applied it for reviewing purposes, wore it for an hour, then immediately removed it because I looked that bad. Then I completely forget about the sample for months. I saw it in my foundation drawer recently and decided to give it one more shot.

It retails for $46 and you get .25 oz; comparing that to other stick foundations, Make Up For Ever's stick foundation goes for $43 and has .44 oz, the ABH one goes for $25 with .32, and the Nars Velvet Matte one goes for $45 for .31 oz. So clearly Hourglass is ripping us off here; with such little product for the price tag this shit better blow me away. It promises "the coverage of a concealer, the fluidity of a liquid, and the weightlessness of a powder", and it is supposed to be full coverage and a satin finish.

The shade Blanc is super light with cool undertones (and it doesn't look orange shockingly!). When swatching on my wrist, this product actually looks pretty much like my closest shade match.  

Initially applying this product I take fault with the claims already. I applied it with my damp Real Techniques sponge, set it with my Laura Mercier Translucent Powder and elf Matte setting spray, and wore it for 8 hours. As I tried to blend the product out with my sponge, it tugged on my skin and it really took some smearing and hard dabbing to get it even somewhat spread out, so fluidity of a liquid. It also felt very thick as I blended it out, and I am very very sparse when I apply foundation, so weightlessness of a powder. It did have decent coverage, but only if you didn't blend it out. Once I blended it enough to where it didn't completely look like I was wearing a mask, my freckles were coming through, so coverage of a concealer. Not off to a great start.

full face with product applied

The reason I set this with a powder when I try not to for reviews, is that it did not set at all. It felt like any time my face touched anything ever so slightly it was going to rub off. I also thought powdering might help it blend into my skin a bit better, because after applying my full face it looked very mask-like. It wasn't blending into my skin, instead it was sitting on top and caking up in my peach fuzz around my temples and on my jawline. Finish is the only claim I somewhat agree with, I think it looked pretty satin-matte. I took a close up to really emphasize what the product was looking like.

full face done

I checked in after 4 hours and I wasn't looking too good. The foundation was just really aging me, settling into my laugh lines and just looking a tad bit heavy. I wasn't oily though, so that was a plus. Aside from the slight heaviness and creasing, it really didn't look that bad; but those are pretty big things that affect the look of a foundation so.

let's ignore the ketchup under my bottom lip I'm disgusting

 By the end of the night at the 8 hour mark, I was actually surprised by the results. My face looked better than it had at the 4 hour check it, albeit not flawless or anything. I was a bit oily, but nothing like I usually am at 8 hours. It seemed like since my oils had come through, the heaviness was gone, and the product that had creased in my lines was less noticeable.


Overall I give this a 7/10. If I had just rated it after 4 hours it would probably have gotten a 3/10, but the end of the night really saved this foundation for me. If I can find a way to lessen the creasing, I'd definitely wear this again seeing as how it controls my oil and is a nearly perfect shade match! But the creasing definitely can't be overlooked.