My Current Haircare Favorites! + Hana Review

Hair styled with Jilbere 1.5" porcelain curling iron

Hair is one of my favorite beauty topics because I am constantly experimenting with new products and styling routines. Currently, I've been styling my long hair in one of two ways- voluminous and curled or straight and sleek. After months of experimenting with new hair tools and styling products, I've conjured up a list of my current haircare favorites:

Pureology Blow Dry Amplifier ($22.00)

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This blow dry volume gel is super lightweight, non-sticky, and creates big yet natural volume in my hair. Most importantly, it is alcohol-free! Most volume products contain many drying agents such as alcohol, so I think the alcohol-free benefit is fabulous. With most volume products, my hair will have massive volume but will lose all shine, moisture, and signs of healthiness. This product eliminates that problem and gives me big, natural volume with shine, softness and wonderful hold. Pureology products also have an Anti-Fade complex for color treated hair. Although I do not color my hair anymore, some of you may find this very beneficial. I like this product much more than my Big Sexy hair products, including their blow dry gel, which I also own. The Pureology also has a much more pleasant, light scent.

Bumble & Bumble Texture (Un)dressing Creme ($26)

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Bb Texture is one of Bumble's newer products, and it has received a ton of online news coverage in the beauty world. This product is amazing, but it does take some practice to understand how to use it and how much of the product is appropriate to use for your hair type. The creme itself is a slightly tacky cream texture that is meant to create tousled, gritty, next day hair (i.e. the Olsen twins). Some people complain that it is sticky in the hair or that you cannot run a brush through it, but I think that when you use a tousling product meant to create grip to the hair, the look is not meant to be brushed out or perfectly polished. It creates a carefree “done yet undone” look as long as you start with a tiny bit of product and work more in depending on your hair type. I would recommend starting off with a dime size. I use about a quarter size for my long, slightly course hair, and find that it is the perfect amount to keep it from being sticky yet still working effectively to bring out the layers and tousled waves in my hair and give my hairstyle good hold. I use it in damp hair after I shower and either tousle it and let it air dry for beautiful beach waves, or I apply it liberally to my hair (even at my roots since it creates tons of volume) and give it a rough blow dry without a brush. Then, I curl my hair, allowing Texture to act as a primer and holding agent to add grip for more curly, wavy, voluminous looks as well as updos.

Bumble and Bumble Styling creme ($24)

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I have the travel size of this creme and my main purpose for this product is to slick and hold back my baby hairs when I'm going for a sleek, polished high ponytail. It is a wonderful multi-purpose product and is also great for styling curls and to create some hold when blowdrying hair straight.

Hana Shine Shield Thermal Protectant ($18.99 for 2 oz, $29.99 for 6 oz)

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This is a wonderful serum that was sent to me by Missiko. I wasn't asked to do a review on it, but I found it to be such an awesome product that they sent along with the flat iron, that I really wanted to include it in my favorites. Some of the straightening/smoothing serums I have loved in the past are the CHI Silk Infusion, John Freida Frizz-Ease, Biosilk, Redken Smooth Down, and Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum. I've tried just about every serum you could possibly think of and the Hana is my favorite along with the CHI Silk Infusion. The scent of the Hana serum is AMAZING. Like I seriously have some sort of crazy addiction to it. I go to a Korean salon to get my hair cut, and it reminds me of one of those magical hair serums your stylist puts in your hair that smells amazing and makes your hair all bouncy and smooth, yet you have no clue what the name of the product is! I use this on towel-dried hair just before I blow dry my hair straight, and it creates the most silky smooth hair. It moisturizes and nourishes hair with Jojoba oil and silk, protects my hair from heat appliances, and is nowhere near greasy yet has the capability to penetrate my course strands! The consistency is slightly more thin and runny than other serums I own. It is a pleasure to use and I'm so glad that I was given the opportunity to try it out because I have been using this almost everyday and have become pretty loyal to this stuff! This has impressed me so much that I will be buying this from the website when I run out.

Hana Pro 1” Flat Iron ($119.89, on sale)

Missiko Hair Straighteners

CHI Flat Iron

Hana

This hair styling tool, along with the Hana serum, were two products that were sent to me for review consideration from Missiko. I was actually surprised that I liked the flat iron because I own many excellent flat irons (CHI, Ion, Fahrenheit) and didn't think this would be anything special. I think that the most prominent differences I noticed with this flat iron was the considerable amount of shine that it gave my hair as well as the lightweight feel of the iron itself. When you have long hair like myself, straightening and styling your hair can really tire out your arms! I love that this iron is so incredibly lightweight in comparison to the irons I had been using previously. From a purely aesthetic standpoint, I also love the blue plates. I think they're pretty :) I also like that this flat iron has multiple temperature settings- an option that my CHI iron does not provide. It straightens my thick, course hair very well and I like to use it in conjunction with the Hana Shine Shield Thermal Protectant serum. I have yet to use the Hana flat iron to curl my hair, as I am not a huge fan of curling hair with a flat iron, but if I ever do try it, I will be sure to update on how that goes.

Hair styled with Hana 1" Pro flat iron

I think the biggest question with any sort of product sent gratis from a company is “Would I ever purchase this myself with my own money?”

The regular retail price for the Hana Pro 1” flat iron is $205.99. I honestly would not pay over $200 for a flat iron that I have not tried out beforehand. Additionally, I doubt that I would ever purchase a flat iron over $200 because I believe that is a ridiculous price for a flat iron, even the well-known GHD. On the other hand, the website appears to have the Hana Pro 1” flat iron on sale for long periods of time for $119.89. Now would I reconsider? YES! I paid a little over $100 for my CHI flat iron, but I prefer the Hana iron over the CHI and if I didn't already have multiple flat irons, I would most definitely purchase this iron with my own money after seeing how well it straightens my hair and how much shine and bounce it creates and gives to my layered, long hair. I understand that it can be difficult to gauge how well an iron will work through an online review, but please feel free to ask me questions about the Hana products I have reviewed, feel free to comment below!

Jilbere Porcelain 1.5” Curling Iron ($29.99)

Click here for product information

This baby heats up to 392 degrees with multiple heat settings in less than a minute and most importantly, STAYS hot while you're styling! It's a wonderful deal for a high-quality curling iron from Sally's for only $29.99. Check the monthly Sally's ads because they almost always have these irons on sale or as a free gift with purchase. I received this iron as a free GWP because I bought the Jilbere Porcelain 20 Hot Roller set, which I also highly recommend. The 1.5” barrel is perfect for creating those big, voluminous Kardashian/Victoria's Secret curls that I love. Check out the first pic of this post- I used this iron to achieve those big curls. I grab 1 inch sections of hair and flip my iron out away from my face to create big curls and volume :)

Hair styled with Jilbere 1.5" porcelain curling iron (on left)

Ion Volumizing Shaping Mist

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I like to set my finished curls with Ion Volumizing Shaping Mist in the big blue can from Sally's because it smells amazing for a hairspray and it holds well and provides volume without making my hair stiff. This is my "everyday volume" hairspray. For a stronger hold at night, I go with Beyond the Zone's Flipped Out. I love finding these awesome, cheap beauty gems at Sally's!


Disclaimer: All products were purchased by me with my own money, except for the Hana Pro 1” flat iron and the Hana Shine Shield serum, which were sent to me for free from Missiko. I was not paid for this review nor was I obligated to write a review that reflected Missiko in a positive light. These are my own opinions and as someone who saves their hard-earned money to spend on quality products, I would never recommend something that I didn't truly love.

Using the infamous "plopping" method to enhance waves in my hair

I've looking for new techniques and products to enhance the wave in my hair. I am an abuser of flat irons, blowdryers, curlers, hot rollers.... basically anything that will burn my hair to a crisp! But lately, I have been *extra* lazy and I haven't really done much heat damage to my hair but blowdry when I'm crunched for time.

I decided it was time to search for a new method to encourage the texture and wave in my thick, long hair while keeping it weightless and voluminous. At this point, I was simply using Beyond the Zone Noodle Head curl creme (this stuff is excellent, check out reviews here) and scrunching it throughout towel-dried hair.

I did a ton of research on the web, and I kept hearing about a "plopping" method all over the MakeupAlley hair boards. (Clearly I spend way too much time on MUA)

At this point, my curiosity in plopping piqued but I was still completely confused as to what it was. My first thoughts- What the heck is plopping? Where can I find out what it actually is? Will this work for me? Why does it sound like something that involves a toilet?

Well... I found out all those answers through my research. And yes, it involves a toilet.

Supposedly, lots of curly and wavy-haired girls like to "plop" their hair to bring out bouncy defined curls/wave and give their hair volume while minimizing frizz. Basically, it is a method of "plopping" your hair upside down on the top of your head (huh? lol) and wrapping a microfiber towel or a t-shirt around your head to push down the curls and shape them into a permanent scrunch. Since all the hair is bunched up on the top of your head while it dries, it creates more curl and tons of volume.

I like concentrating my hair in the center of the t-shirt and then bunching my hair down to create a more even curl. You need to use a flat surface, hence the toilet. (Seat down, of course) Once you've plopped all your hair in the center of the upside down t-shirt or microfiber towel, wrap the upper fabric back to the nape of your neck and twist the sides (or sleeves) up to your forehead. Wrap around to the back of your head and tie. I'm sure none of you understood this.

The first time my sister saw me try it, she said it looked like I was wearing massive do-rag. My mom asked me "what is that thing on your head?" My dog barked at me. Not really the look I was going for.

Aside from being a terrible fashion statement, the plopping method truly works! I was amazed at the results and am here to share them with you. I found that by scrunching my products in after the shower, plopping my hair for 30 minutes, and blowdrying with a diffuser until about 90% dry, I was able to achieve an incredible, textured wave that I have never been able to achieve through scrunching alone.

Here are some pictures that chronologically depict my new-found journey through plopping:

No curling iron, teasing comb, or hot rollers needed!

My hair used to be straight but now when I let it air-dry it has a slight wave. Sometimes they are funky and awkward looking and I find that plopping really helps minimize this and create a nicer, more uniform wave. I scrunch BTZ Noodle Head curl creme from Sally's in my damp hair and then I follow it with Got2Be Sexy Volume Mousse (in the red can) before plopping.

I'm still new to plopping, but I'm hoping that by keeping my hair wavy and minimizing the amount of straightening I do, my hair will become more familiar with its wavy texture and over time, create a better natural wave.

It's very difficult explaining through words how to plop your hair, though it is actually quite simple and easy to do. If you're interested in learning more, YouTube "plopping hair" and you'll find many results.

I learned how to plop by watching latin4u55's video. Another great website to check out if you have curly or wavy hair is Naturally Curly.

Hope my public online embarassment helps some of you out there who need a new technique to bring definition to your waves!

Boots No7 Lifting and Firming Foundation- a new glowy winter favorite? (Before & After)

Winter is here and it's time for my seasonal foundation switch. Although my skin is oily in the spring and summer, it lacks any kind of glow or moisture in the winter. After scouring the Makeupalley boards, I came across Boots No7 Lifting and Firming Foundation SPF 15, a satin-finish foundation I haven't heard much about in the beauty community.

The reviews seemed promising with 64 reviews at a rating of 4.4 and buyback rate of 84%. I immediately checked out my local Target for this foundation and purchased. Here are my observations.


Boots No7 Lifting and Firming SPF 15 foundation in Blonde

(Click picture to enlarge)
Photoshop was only used to resize and crop pictures. Nothing else was altered because I wanted to show you guys my true results. Blemishes and undereye discoloration remain but are less apparent. Before and afters were both taken indoors by the window in natural light.

The following picture shows the glowy finish of the foundation and was taken in normal, bright indoor lighting with flash, no editing.

Shade: It was trial-and error when I searched for the right shade. I'm in the NC30 range, and I read that many NC30-35 ladies were matched perfectly to "Vanilla." After swatching Vanilla at Target, the color seemed right but the undertone was not as yellow as I had hoped. It was not pink, but more beige than yellow. "Nude" had a wonderful yellow undertone but it was too light for my skin, so I chose the inbetween shade "Blonde," which happened to be a much closer match to my skin than the other two. It definitely has a yellow undertone, but I wish it were just slightly more yellow since my neck always seems more yellow than my face, even with a bare face.

For reference, I wear:
-MAC NC30
-NARS Sheer Glow in Punjab (best color match I've found so far)
-MUFE HD in 127
-Chanel Pro Lumiere in Shell 30

Coverage: Medium, covers flaws and redness but still allows skin to show through. Similar coverage as NARS Sheer Glow, Chanel Pro Lumiere, and MUFE HD. Gives a more polished, clean, glowy look to your real skin. Can be sheered out with damp brush or sponge.

Finish: Definitely satin, but on the dewy side of satin. Not too dewy that my face looks shiny or oily, but it does provide a very nice glow. Looks clean on the face and extremely smooth. No oil control problems here.

Feel: Moisturizing and very smooth, does not dry out my skin or emphasize flakiness, feels light. This product has dimethicone in it, which may explain the velvety feel and finish. Silicones in primers tend to break me out badly, but I have experienced zero breakouts from this foundation. I have not had any bad reactions to the ingredients.

Texture: Not very liquidy or runny. Texture is similar to MUFE HD. I find that this blends better with a brush than with fingers.

Packaging: I am blown away by the quality of the packaging. It comes in a heavy-feeling glass bottle and includes a pump! Really sophisticated packaging.. reminds me of Chanel foundations. The only thing I don't like it that you need to put quite a bit of pressure on the cap to take it off or put it back on.

Price: $14.99 for a 1 oz. bottle

Rating: A

Overall: I would have to agree with many of the Makeupalley reviews in that Boots L&F is a department store quality foundation at a drugstore price. It looks and feels wonderful on my skin and doesn't feel caked on or thick. It feels like soft, smooth skin. I would say that overall, this foundation is extremely comparable to Chanel Prolumiere, another one of my favorites, except that it has much better oil control. My skin appears satiny, glowy, and fresh. I would recommend you check out your local Target (especially all you ladies out there with yellow undertones!) and see if they have any testers like mine did. Some locations do and some don't. I am happy to confirm that this is a new winter favorite and will be a new part of my foundation rotation. I am interested in seeing how this foundation holds up in warmer weather. Will keep you posted!

You can find more information on the Target and Boots websites. Check MakeupAlley reviews here.




On a side note... My blog feels neglected. My last post was in June! Lol. I'm back at home for winter break at the moment, and I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to revisit my blog. I look forward to catching up on all your posts!

How I get beachy summer waves without heat

I always loved the look of beachy, effortless waves, especially for the summer, so I'm glad to have finally found a way to achieve that look. I've been meaning to do this post for awhile now, but haven't really gotten around to blogging lately. I get a lot of questions about my loose waves so I thought I'd show you guys the technique I use, as well my favorite products.



(Beyond The Zone Spray scrunched + one bun)

Let's start off with a little hair history. My hair is naturally pretty straight and coarse with a very slight wave. Not a good wave, but a really bad funky one. Like I literally have two poofy waves in my hair. For the past few years, I've been very bad to my hair. I used a straightener and blow dryer on my hair just about every single day. I hated the way my hair air-dried and was always working against my natural texture.

PRODUCTS:
I've tried a countless number of mousses, spray gels, cremes, etc. and I can honestly say that these are the only products that have delivered with my stubborn hair type:

-Beyond The Zone Super Sexy wave spray ($5.49 @ Sally's w/pro card, $6.29 without, bright green bottle with purple cap)
-Garnier Surf Hair paste ($3 @ Walmart, bright green rounded tub with yellow top)
-Garnier Wonder Waves spray ($3 @ Walmart)
-David Babaii Bohemian Beach spray ($10 @ Ulta, dark brown bottle)

Before discovering these products, I was never able to create waves in my hair without using heat. They would always turn out straight or frizzy and completely undefined. The Super Sexy spray is the product that initially encouraged wave in my hair and worked to give me beachy waves, therefore it tops the list. It smells like watermelon vodka (I hate vodka) so I always have to hold my breath when I spray this stuff. The scent goes away quickly though. The David Babaii is good, especially when used to refresh curls, but it leaves a slightly heavy feel.

TECHNIQUE:
I've really been loving the combination of Garnier's Wonder Waves and Surf Hair. I blot my wet hair with a towel and spray Wonder Waves to my hair when it is damp and scrunch like a madwoman. I wait until it is just a little less than halfway dried and I scrunch a dime-sized amount of Surf Hair paste after rubbing it between my hands, making sure not to cover one spot more than once. I let my hair air dry naturally. To make really gorgeous waves, I gather two sides of my hair into high ponytails, roll into buns, and bobby pin with two crisscrossing pins. I let that air dry and then shake out the wave. Experiment with different amounts of each product to work with your hair. I find that this combo gives me defined waves while controlling frizz. Start off with less, and then work more into your hair. The biggest thing is avoiding crunchy, heavy waves.



(Note that my hair is nowhere near as wavy as this naturally. Garnier combo + two buns)



On another note, I've been completely obsessed with wearing my bucket hat. It matches with everything, protects my hair and face from the sun, and gives off a perfect easygoing summer look when paired with beach waves. The combo reminds me of those Lily Donaldson Burberry ads :) I was inspired to start wearing my bucket hat after seeing a beautiful spread in Allure called "Summer Essentials."


(Photo credit to Allure)

I haven't used heat on my hair for an entire month now, which is pretty impressive considering I used to straighten and blow dry my hair every single day. I can't believe how much softer, shinier, healthier, and less frizzy my hair has become in just one month. My hair has a different look and feel to it, and it is easier to style and manage. I would suggest you guys to take a "no heat" challenge for the summer and see how much your hair improves!

OOTD + Botanical Gardens

Here are a few pictures from my day at the botanical gardens and my first outfit of the day. Enjoy!



I look ridiculously short in these pictures but I'm around 5'6". I wish I were taller!

Cardigan: Tahari
V-neck tee: Threads for Thought
Jeans: Express "Zelda Ultra Skinny"
Sunglasses: Hugo Boss
Purse: Kenneth Cole Reaction
Flats: Gap

I love these flats. They are glossy patent on the outside and softly quilted on the inside. They're camel and match perfectly with my purse. I like that they are so versatile; they work with so many different colors and outfits. They're simple but chic and also work well to tone down an outfit. I like that they are patent as well because they add a new texture. I don't have to think too much about these shoes when I wear them, which is a plus. I love those types of pieces- the ones you can simply throw on and be out the door.



I wore my Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup and it photographed really well. The lighting around the gardens and greenhouse was perfect- natural and bright!









We thought it was going to be nice and warm, but the weather was quite chilly and some of the flowers hadn't bloomed yet. I went all the way back to the car and threw on my trench to keep warm!






The ladies of my family all went out to TGIF for dinner that night. I had the Chicken and Cheese grilled with peppers and onions with a side of mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes were absolutely delicious- creamy, soft, and super buttery. The best I have ever had. The chicken, on the other hand, was not so great. Very mediocre and not cooked very well.



A few days ago, I tried looking for my puppy everywhere and couldn't find him. He didn't respond to me calling out his name around the house and I got a bit worried! Then I finally found him in his old bed downstairs. I think he is just attached to his baby bed because he never uses his new one. This is how I found him, all bundled up underneath the padding...



Haha!

I picked up one of my favorite treats at the Korean supermarket yesterday. They are like cracker/cookie sticks with strawberry cream dip. Sooooooooo good. I found the silly "hidden messages" strangely amusing! lol.



I was a little confused by the chicken one. My mom told me that in Korea, the chicken sound is "kokekokko." I found this really funny and also interesting that other countries have different sounds that are related to different animals. I remember learning about this in a Linguistics class I had taken. In America, "cock-a-doodle-doo" is synonymous with the rooster. I told my mom this and she was just as confused as I was. lol.

Well that's all. Until next time!

Hot red lips :)

I love any kind of gorgeous bright red, and this one is no exception!



I kept the rest of my face clean and neutral. I have fuller lips so bright colors can make me look clown-like, but keeping the focus solely on the lips helps. Personally, I find red lips very elegant and beautiful but there are so many red lip haters out there (my mother being one of them lol) I don't wear bold lippies very often, but I've always loved lipsticks in bright fuschias, reds, corals, purples, and oranges. I admire those women out there who can rock a bright lip in public and feel comfortable doing it.


NYX Hot Red Jumbo Lip Pencil


4 bucks of creamy gorgeousness.
Love it!
Now I just need the lipliner to complete the look :)

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup vs. NARS Sheer Glow

Hi everyone! So the new talk of the makeup community seems to be Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup- a supposed dupe for NARS Sheer Glow. In a recent issue of People Style Watch, Kim K's makeup artist listed Neutrogena Healthy Skin (around $11.99) as a cheaper alternative to NARS Sheer Glow ($42). I purchased the Healthy Skin foundation at Ulta for $11.99. I had a coupon, so I purchased it for around $10.



I've heard that many people in the NC30-35 and NARS Punjab/Sante Fe range used 060 Natural Beige, so I knew for sure I wanted to pick that one up. It happened to be one of the most yellow out of all the shades. They were completely out of 060 and 050. I asked a SA if they had any more in stock, and she directed me to a stand on the other side of the display. These included a free 7-sheet packet of Neutrogena makeup wipes, and they had one 060 left, so I grabbed it up!

For reference, I am currently somewhere between an NC30 and NC35. My skin has gotten lighter since winter, and I hope to stay close this color throughout the warmer months with religious use of sunscreen. I wear Punjab in NARS, MUFE HD in 120, and 060 Natural Beige in Neutrogena. I have oily skin and used a light dusting of powder on the T-zone with both foundations.

I happen to have both the NARS Sheer Glow and the Neutrogena Healthy Skin foundation, so I'll let you guys know how I personally compare the two.

Neutrogena Healthy Skin 060 Natural Beige on LEFT, NARS Sheer Glow Punjab on RIGHT:

The Neutrogena looks more yellow in this picture, but it is a more neutral yellow than the NARS, which I find more yellow-yellow. If that makes ANY sense! LOL

Slightly blended on the back of my hand:
I didn't blend in the middle so you could see the difference in finish. You can tell from the picture that the Neutrogena (left) is clearly more dewy than the NARS.


How they are similar:

-Both shades have yellow undertones. NARS has a bit more yellow in real life, but the Neutrogena is still yellow, especially for a drugstore foundation. There are still shades with pinker undertones, but the one I picked is definitely a medium shade with yellow undertones.
-Perfect for Asian skintones!
-Both have a brightening effect.
-No shimmer in either of these formulas. MAJOR PLUS!
-Medium to full, buildable coverage.
-Both contain certain ingredients and antioxidants that help keep skin young and bright over time.
-Both come without a pump, in a screw-top 1 fluid oz jar. (NARS will be releasing a pump-version this spring)

How they are different:

-The Neutrogena feels smoother while blending.
-I need less of the NARS to cover my face.
-Neutrogena is slightly dewy while NARS is semi-matte.
-Neutrogena feels slightly heavier, like a gel, but definitely not as heavy as a cream or a liquid foundation like Colorstay.
-Neutrogena wears about 2 hours longer than NARS Sheer Glow.
-Neutrogena is about 1/4 the price of NARS.
-Neutrogena contains SPF20, NARS doesn't have any SPF.
-Both held up on my oily skin with a powder dusting on the T-zone.

Here I am wearing the Neutrogena Healthy Skin foundation with a light dusting of translucent powder. No highlighter or blush. This is unedited, and I took it early in the morning facing my blinds with a ton of bright, natural light shining through.

I'm usually a lighter shade in the medium skintone range, but the direct light makes me look a bit lighter in the picture than in real life. You can see that natural looking glow from the foundation on the higher points of my face. It photographs very well despite the SPF20 in it.

Overall:

Although they are both beautiful, brightening foundations, the texture is different. The Neutrogena feels a bit heavier, but I'm pretty positive that it may be the dewy finish that makes it feel this way. The NARS feels a bit drier and feels lighter on my skin, but both held up quite well on my oily skin. The end result is very similar, but the Neutrogena is slightly more of a dewy glow than the NARS' semi-matte glow. Both formulas make your skin glow and appear brighter/lighter without any iridescence or shimmer, which is just amazing in my opinion. I was surprised that many people were calling this a light coverage foundation. In my opinion, this is definitely a medium coverage and is buildable to a full coverage. NARS Sheer Glow in Punjab is a *slightly* better match for my skintone since it has a bit more yellow undertones. The Neutrogena is more of a yellow-beige undertone, but it still matches me VERY well, and I can hardly tell the difference, even in direct sunlight. It's the second best match I've found in drugstore and high end foundations, and places second only after NARS. The end result of the Neutrogena reminds me of a dewy but NON-SHIMMER version of Revlon's PhotoReady foundation, which I loved minus the shimmer. The only problem I have with this foundation is that it does not have a very wide range of colors for darker skintones.

Verdict:

This is hands down the best drugstore foundation I've ever tried. Closest thing to an HG I've found, but I'm still convinced that I will ALWAYS be on a search for a HG that just doesn't exist. lol. I completely understand the hype over the Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup. While the NARS and Neutrogena may have slight differences in texture and finish, the overall product is quite comparable. I wouldn't say it is an EXACT dupe, but it is still a really really really good foundation. I will gladly repurchase, and will probably replace my NARS with this since I actually prefer the finish of the Neutrogena. Plus, it's much friendlier on my wallet and also contains SPF!

Let me know what you guys think of this foundation if you happen to try it!