This week I am pleased to bring you an updated Sage Advice review of their new cosmetic line, as well as a short review of some tempting scented products by Lotions By You. Enjoy!

Sage Advice Cosmetics
It's hard for me to believe that it's been over 2 years since I last reviewed Sage. Their skin care marked a major turning point for me after the birth of my first child - finally some relief from the hormonal acne that plagued me both during and after the pregnancy. My job being what it is (trying new products all the time), I did have to move on from Sage and had not tried anything new from them. I was excited to learn that they recently branched out into cosmetics. The products are all based on the same philosophy as the skin care, avoiding ingredients that are likely to cause or aggravate acne. Even though my skin is reasonably clear now, I still take great care in selecting my products to keep it that way. The selection is small but worth a peek if you are tired of your makeup making your face breakout.

Cream Foundation/Concealer ($22)
If you have dry skin and like the option of more or less coverage, this is a nice choice. This thick cream is highly pigmented, so a little goes a long way. A tiny dab on a small makeup brush works to conceal blemishes and dark circles, while a bit more on a slightly larger brush can cover larger, blotchy areas or shadows around the nose and eyes. I like to use it as a regular foundation (since I like even, all-over coverage) by applying several small dots around my face and blending with a cosmetic sponge. I highly recommend you start small with this foundation or you will be blending endlessly to make it look natural - technique is key with this stuff.

Since this is a rich cream makeup, it is really best suited to normal-to-dry or dry skin. It also needs the setting power of powder to stay put, so that's something to think about if you are dry; this was an issue for me because my skin looks pale and paste-y when I use powder, and I also prefer a dewy rather than matte look. I had a hard time achieving both the fresh, natural look I wanted while also getting the makeup to stay put without fading by the late afternoon.

Sage's Cream Foundation currently comes in 7 colors (alabaster, extra light oriental, natural beige 1 and 2, and olive beige 1, 2, and 3) with some additional lighter shades coming later this summer. I got samples of both porcelain and ivory and found porcelain is the best match for my fair, neutral/slightly pink skin; ivory is good for a fair skinned person with more yellow in her skin. You can read descriptions of the colors at ZeroZits.com.

Pro-Finish Dual Powder Foundation ($22)
Now that we are into warmer weather, I find compact powder foundation to be handy and so much more flattering on my skin than a heavy liquid. As long as the coverage is good, the shade is perfect for my skin, and I don't have any breakout problems, a smooth, silky powder is my makeup of choice these days. This one from Sage has a nice silky texture that goes on smoothly without caking or streaking. The coverage is even and adequate for redness, minor blemishes and evening out the skintone. Pro-Finish comes in 6 colors (china doll, ivory, rose bisque, honey, caramel and cafe au lait), which seems fine for the introduction, but I do hope Sage comes out with more colors; the lightest "china doll" that I tried is just a bit too yellow for me. The compact has a mirror and a separate section for the sponge. It can also be used wet or dry; personally I use it dry because if I want a wet liquid or cream makeup, I'll just stick to a regular liquid or a cream.

You can see color swatches and a list of ingredients at ZeroZits.com.

Triple Milled Loose Powder ($15)
This is a basic loose powder for shine control and general finishing. You can apply it with a brush or the included puff (which to me looks more like an oversized cotton ball). I'm not much of a powder user, since, as I mentioned above, it tends to make my skin look pale and paste-y, but this is a nice soft, silky one if you like loose powder. There are 10 shades to choose from, including one shimmer powder (mist) and a bronzer (tahiti).

Blush ($15)
Finding a blush that doesn't cause or aggravate cheek acne can be a real challenge, so Sage created a "safe" blush in a small range of 5 colors (visit ZeroZits.com to see swatches and read descriptions). I like Bellini the best as it's one of the few peach-pinks I can wear on my neutral-cool skin without it turning orange. It also has a pretty shimmer that gives a nice glow. The blush is a bit grainier than some but still goes on smoothly and lasts well for most of the day.

Eye Lights ($12)
These loose, mica-based powders come in a wide range of colors but they are all very shimmery - not my cup of tea for my fair skin. On a darker or even medium skin tone, I imagine many of the shades would be very striking. Eye Lights are versatile (shadow, liner, highlight) and can be combined with other matte shades to create depth, but alone I did not care for the look.

Makeup Brushes
Just as the cosmetic collection is small, so is the brush collection. Sage has introduced just 4 brushes, but they make sense with their cosmetics. Super Chisel Powder and Blush Brush ($20), made of pony hair, can be used with the blush or dual finish powder. I used it for my blush and even though it's larger than most blush brushes I own, with a light blush shade it works for more of an overall wash of color. While the shape is nice and the price reasonable, the hair isn't as soft as I'd like, so I might spend a little more for something that feels better on my skin. Large Oval Chisel Eye Shadow Brush ($14), also made of pony, goes with the Eye Lights or any shadow. It has short, densely packed bristles that make the color application more concentrated on the lid than a fluffy brush. It works best for lid or crease color. Large Camouflage Concealer Brush ($17) (designed for use with the Cream Foundation/Concealer) and Pointed Eyeliner Brush ($10) are basic synthetic taklon brushes that you can find at any art supply store. I recommended shopping around for the best price. They are easy to clean and dry almost instantly, so you can wash them after each use or in between colors.

For complete details on Sage Advice Cosmetics, including ingredients and ordering information, visit ZeroZits.com/cosmetics.htm.

Lotions By You Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner (each $10 for 8oz)
If you like the idea of having your favorite fruit, flower or plant scent in your shampoo or body lotion, Lotions By You is worth a try. The formulas are simple and there are over 40 scents to choose from. You can even combine them to make the perfect scent for you. I recently selected their shampoo and conditioner in Gardenia; now every time I'm in the shower, I feel like I'm in a flower garden! The scents are strong and long lasting, so scent-sensitive types should steer clear. In whichever scent you choose, your hair will appreciate how gentle the shampoo is and how moisturizing (but still light) the protein conditioner is.

For more information on creating a scented product just for you, visit LotionsByYou.com.

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