PHYSICIAN'S FORMULA ORGANIC WEAR TINTED MOISTURIZER!
Gigi here! I must admit that I am just becoming a devotee of natural and organic beauty products, our focus for today, for one particular reason. Actually, I "went green" long before it was in vogue and it did not have a happy ending. This true story is on my profile here, remains etched in my mind's all-time moments of humiliation, and bears repeating for those of you who most likely haven't read it.
My auburn hair is probably one of my best features. Some years ago, I went to a stylist. As he trimmed my locks and admired the color variations of my virgin strands, he suggested that I strip it entirely and then dye it to make it even more glossy, more eye-catching. I plead temporary insanity as I followed his advice. Horrors. Horrors beyond horrors! I didn't dream of what would happen, but wound up sobbing a new river into existence. My hair was white--not blonde. My husband tried to be sincerely sympathetic but guffawed instead. I went to my sister's for empathy, needing to cry on her shoulder. Her young sons laughed themselves silly, rolling around on the carpeting, squealing in their high-pitched voices, "Mommy! Daddy! Aunt Gigi looks just like Billy Idol!" The problem was they were absolutely precise with their description. All I needed was a spiked dog collar, brass knuckles, black leather everything, and a slew of heavy chains to be his groupie. This couldn't be happening to me . . . someone wake me when this is over.
So another brilliant scheme came to mind--I would travel to my local beauty store and purchase a few bottles of hair dye to mimic the multi-tonal hues of my natural hair. I bought several different shades and was assured that I could undo the damage by the saleswoman (also supposed to be a beauty advisor). What I was not told is that these colors have base undertones and I chose some with yellow and others with blue. Recall the Zip Lock commercial? Yellow and blue make green! Goodbye Billy, hello leprechaun Gigi! My hair rivaled the emerald hills of Ireland.
After hours of having my lengthy, once-perfect waves cut and colored to undo the damage, I still recoil at the thought of watching the long locks fall at my feet. The top stylist was able to turn me to a dark olive at best--too much damage had been done.
I couldn't feign illness for the rest of the school year and showed up on Monday feeling like the emperor in his new, non-existent clothing. At least fifty students asked me before lunch if I knew my hair was green and short. I wanted to say, "No, I hadn't noticed that I am a bald freak, so it's appreciated" but kept it to myself Out of utter frustration, I finally ended an afternoon class early, sat on the middle of the desk, and belted out the full version of "It's Not Easy Being Green" from the Muppets! Better to laugh with my students than be the object of their humor.
It is only recently that I have quit hyper-ventilating over green in packaged containers. One of them is Physician's Formula Organic Wear Tinted Moisturizer. The leaf design and verdant lid makes for pretty packaging, and the smell is pleasantly herbal. Keep in mind--this is first and foremost a moisturizer with an SPF of 15, and thus you will feel as though you are applying a cream. The ingredients read like a vegan's diary: Jojoba, sunflower, avocado oils and shea butter are combined to hydrate thirsty tissue. Despite the ingredients, it is lightweight and non-greasy. It leaves a dewy, not oily, finish. There are no parabens which mimic estrogen and have been linked to breast cancer. The formula is cruelty-free (yes!) and also free of preservatives and other potentially noxious ingredients. It is perfect to wear without foundation on days when your complexion behaves and less is more. Multi-tasker? This is for you!
The hues blend with your own and correct uneven skin tones, covering unsightly conditions like blotches and more. Coverage is buildable and controllable. The moisturizer comes in four shade nuances from light to dark and there is no--wait, almost no--chance of overdoing it and winding up with the "dreaded orange mask," a state caused by foundation too deep for women but used anyway. No matter how old I get, I seem to run into an "orange masker" at least a few times a week. Please tell me that you aren't one . . .
If you have noteworthy blemishes or patches, try mixing this moisturizer with your regular foundation. The shade will remain much the same but you will be nourished as well as enhanced. I've used powdered compact and mineral foundation over the moisturizer and the effect is an airbrushed look.
You'll find that you'll be saving green as well as using it, as the price for this dual-purpose gem is around $10.95. Perhaps being green isn't as frightening as I thought.
Who else is turning green and running out to get Physician's Formula?
Check it out here or at your drugstore!
- meg's blog
- Login or register to post comments
-
Reviews
i've been seeing this in the drugstores and have been wondering... I have never been a huge foundation/tinted moisterizer user, however, since it's at an affordable price and has SPF (i <3 sunscreen), I'll give it a go, i have a lot of blemishes, hopefully, this will give some more coverage in addition to my concealer, will update, thanks for the entertaining review!
thanks for the review. sometimes i really dont feel like being "made up" and im looking for a tinted moisturizer that wont irritate my sensitive skin. this might be it!
http://www.youtube.com/ashleya1002
I would like to try this, I also have switched to mineral and organic foundation/powders in the last year. Right now I'm using Maybelline Mineral powder, but have been looking around for an organic to try.
Yaay! I've been looking for a tinted moisturizer since my skin is getting rather dry with the cold weather and mineral makeup isn't exactly the best for that.
I'm bad and dont put moisturizer on in the mornings... I do at night.But I use alot of anti aging moisturizers which combined with oily skin leaves and oil slick best left to the comany of my pillow.I need to get a moisturizer for the day that is just enough to soak into my skin.Tinted is definitally a plus! Theres some days when makeup just isnt happening and I need to run out the door or theres no one to impress that day,Lol I have specific days at school that I have to look good and days when theres no one intriguing enough to impress lol.
Tan is Love
haven't tried this product, but have used a PF bronzer and like it, so I think I'll give it a try for my nights at work..THANKS
What a great review! I am glad that I've only dyed my hair once and have thankfully managed to get it back to its original colour!I've never had much success with tinted moisturisers and have always failed at making my own as well. Maybe this one seems to be the one to go for!
I really like to use a tinted moisturizer in summer since my skin is always better and the color is uniforme. But in winter it's totally difficult my blemishes are more visible and my skin is so fair (and olive) that finding a good tinted moisturizer is very difficult ! this is why I only use them in summer lol and this one sounds perfect for this season since it has a 15SPF and of course I love to go green the greener the better....Chloé.
Chloe http://thehollywoodheels.blogspot.com
oh! i'm excited to see this item because i always see it on our shelves here :Di kind of steered away from physician's formula's organic stuff.. as much as i love being green their organic powders turned me off.. it smells like bad BO.but i haven't tried their tinted moisturiser and it seems pretty swell i'll check it out next time i'm in store :)
My new Ebay Store: cossiepieMy blog: http://lazyscorner.blogspot.com/
I used to use the tinted moisturizer from mark but quit using it when summer rolled around. Now that it's getting cooler I probably need to think about using a tinted moisturizer under my minerals. This will go on my list of things to check out. Thanks Gigi for the great review and the story that had me laughing so hard my side hurts now.
i tried this about a year ago and didn't have great results with it. i do have an oily skin-type but i felt that this left my face feeling pretty dry. i also didn't quite like the scent of the product. i do like tinted moisturizers, and with all cosmetics, it's about trying a couple to see which one works with our specific skin types. i'm really glad that this worked for you Gigi!
check out my blog
http://sharynramblings.blogspot.com
we had a patient come in a feew days ago and she told me about this product...and she loved it! I've never used physcians formula, but I will give this a try!! thanks for a wonderful review gigi !!
I actually tried this TM a couple years ago when I couldn't find my usual one at the drugstore, and I really didn't like it. I can't quite remember why now though...maybe the smell, or it left me shiny? I just remember using it once and never reaching for it again. Maybe they've reformulated since though?
Your story made me cringe only beucase I had an experience not quite as harsh, but still traumatic, when an art student, friend, offered to highlight my hair.As for the tinted moisturizer...sounds great for summer!
http://ediblelove.wordpress.com/
Thanks for the review Gigi! I'll have to check this out next time I stop at the local CVS. I used Mary Kay tinted moisturizer a couple of years ago and even though it was the lightest, it still was too dark for me. I'd like to try again,
I've been using Physicians Formula Organic wear since last year.. I really like their pressed powder version. I also like their mascara, lip gloss, towelettes, etc. They have such a great line and I agree, their products smell great! I can't wait to try this out!
My beauty blog: http://igknowidea.blogspot.com <br> My crafting blog: http://craftyandallthat.blogspot.com
Wow Gigi, that is a seriously crazy story. It certainly kept my attention! I haven't tried any PF Organic Wear, only their regular Pearls of Perfection Highlighter. Those pearls confounded me to no end. Their bronzing and blush powders look interesting. Hopefully PF will offer more coloured eye shadows instead of all neutrals.
I have recently turned over a new (green) leaf, and make an effort to buy products without toxic chemicals. I am new at it. Thanks for the introduction to Physician's Formula, it sounds perfect, I love to slather on sunscreen but most sting my eye area. I have Benefit brand "You Rebel" tinted moisturizer, (I use the Light color) it burns my eye area like crazy so I dont love to reach for it. Gives me a reason to visit the new CVS.
Gigi darling, you didn't really belt out "It's not easy being green," did you?! That is just hysterical. :)Right now I really like my Korres Watermelon Tinted Moisturizer w/SPF30 but it's just a little too pricey for me to keep up the habit ($28?! for a little over an ounce?!?!) The color match is great, and the coverage is great... but it's just a lot of money. I will definitely have to give this Physicians Formula tinted moisturizer a try! I need buildable coverage, and love the Physicians Formula line already, so I'll be on the lookout. Thanks, Gigi!
♥ Lipgloss and Spandex: a blog for gals who look good and run fast
Thanks for the review Gigi, it sounds like a great product to try. I like wearing tinted moisturisers, because I can get away with just them some days
I've been thinking about giving this a try, now I'm sure I will. Thanks for the great review! And I had my own Billy Idol moment in the 80's, I got my hair bleached debbie harry platinum blonde, and when it immediately started breaking off, I had to get it cut really short. Numerous people commented on the "resemblance".
Omgosh I couldn't help it but LOL'd at your hair experience. That really is horrible. I'm so sorry you had to have that happen. Did you get revenge on that hair stylist? I sure hope so!
This has been a stable in my foundation lineup ever since I went on a quest to find a decent foundation that would work on my aging dry skin. I use this alone quite often when just doing errands. When I need more coverage, I then mix it with the foundation that I am trying at the time. I recommend this product to anyone, oily, dry or normal skin. In a pinch one day, I mixed it with my scented body lotion and put it on my fish belly white legs! It went on evenly and gave me just enough color and moisture to be able to head out without hiding my legs.I recommend giving this a try. Younger skin that doesn't need much foundation, this is just the Formula the Physician ordered. Bad pun.
Beste Hilsin
Thanks for reviewing natural/organic products. I know that there still aren't many really good ones out there (at least not many that can seriously compete with their traditional counterparts) so it is much appreciated! Thanks for a helpful review.
I've been there...with the green hair I mean. And the orange hair, and the pink hair, and the white hair, and the black hair...My poor hair. I probably have more hair horror stories than I care to remember :P I own this tinted moisturizer and I really like it. It's definitely sheer. It covers up my redness, which I love. I use it whenever I'm sure lazy. A little concealer and I'm good to go. Whenever I want heavier coverage I put some Bare Escentuals over it and I'm good to go. It's definitely a good buy and works well for me.
I'm there with you on the orange hair. I used to keep my hair blond in my early teens when we lived in Florida. I decided I wanted a different color blonde and bought a box called Summer Blonde. It turned my hair to ugliest color orange possible. Gross. As for the pink hair, I once took a pink highlighter to my bangs. (I was only in the 6Th grade. I plead stupidity.) I had to spend 3 days at home washing my bangs about 7 times a day to get it out so I could go back to school.
Thank you Gigi! Btw your story is so cute :)
I've been searching for a new tinted moisturizer and was stuck deciding between the Physician's Formula one and the Kiehl's one. Dewy finish? Organic? Yes please :)
Heads-up, PF is on sale at Rite Aid this week. So when you stumble in for your Thrifty Ice Cream fix, you can pick some of this up too!
I've been wondering what this was like, thanks for the review!
http://www.beautifullyglossy.blogspot.com
I've been looking for a new tinted moisturizer with the New England winter on it's way. This sounds like just what I was looking for, thanks for the review.
I've tried this product. I really liked it in the beginning, but I started to break out after wearing it a few times. I passed it on to my mom, though, and she LOVES it. It's her new HG face product! It does have a distinct smell, not bad, but distinct and may take some getting used to for some.
Gigi, thanks for the great review! I've used Physician's Formula in the past for other things and this product sounds perfect for me!! I'm home full time and only need a little something when I run out to the store. If I try to do any kind of makeup short of ChapStick, my husband yells at me to 'Stop Applying War Paint' so we can leave! My oily skin mean that I can't use heavy moisturizer, so I could apply in the morning even when I'm just at home and my hubby wouldn't know!I'm sorry to hear about your 'green' issues. My worst situation was about 4 years ago. I had used a chemical relaxant to tame my crazy frizz and 10 weeks later, got super red highlights. I should have been okay, as I was pampering and conditioning the heck out of my hair, and I had checked with my stylist before straightening as I knew I wanted my color. Within a week, my color was bleeding out of my hair and I ended up with bubble gum pink instead of fire engine red. It was misery! My stylist couldn't do anything because my hair already wasn't holding color and I didn't want to keep destroying my towels! So, I lived as a pink highlighted sales girl in a department store for another 3 months until my hair condition was better. I haven't colored since!!
Wow what a funny hair story! Although I'm sure it wasn't funny at the time, right? :) I don't use tinted moisturizers, but the idea of researching Physicians Formula is appealing to me. Honestly I've never even looked at their store display before, not sure why, except I guess I wasn't sure what they were all about. You know how it is, you see all these advertisements for brands like CoverGirl, Maybelline, etc, so you are familiar with them, but not PF. So next time I'm out and about, I'm going to see what they have. I have been very slowly getting into the more organic side of things. I've been reading a lot about all the bad stuff in practically everything we use every day, and it's freaking me out.
http://www.rubysbeauty.com
Great review, and I am so sorry to hear about your pretty hair! I'm sure you look great now! I love Physicians Formula and the price is really good. I'll be checking out my local CVS for this.
I definitely want to try this now! I'm all about "going green" (at least in my makeup...shh, I'm being honest!). I'm a very lazy foundation wearer, as in I only wear it once a month because I never think to put it on. Maybe this will change that! I'm a freckled redhead, so I'm a bit obsessed with wearing SPF all year round. This will be perfect!
Lisa Kate
http://sparkleismycrack.blogspot.com
i haven't seen these in Canada yet... definatly going to look more carefully next time and seriously consider purchasing it ;D
I've been looking for a new tinted moisturizer.
When I started reading this, I thought, nah I tried the tinted moisterizer thing and it didn't work, but after the suggestion of mixing it with my current foundation.......I am thinking....... I will probably just have to try this! Thank you!
I love multi-tasking products but I can't wear tinted moisturizers/sunblocks. Not sure why but I always break out from using them.
I would love to try this tinted moisturizer. I always wear powder mineral foundation but it can't hurt to try new things...can it?I did buy Physician's Formula powder foundation once and it was awful. It looked like I had put the whole bottle on my face, when I had only used a small amount. It was very chalky looking. I will admit that one incedent has kept me from buying anything foundation related from them.
My scrapbook shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/elle71125
Intereeesting.
I wish I could just wear tinted moisturizer but my skin definitely needs more coverage. Interesting you suggest to add this to regular foundation, it's actually a great idea! I can use less foundation by mixing this with it and at the same time my skin will feel better!
Great review of a great product and company! I truly think PF is THE best "drugstore" line available and will grab a tube this week! Actually will grab 2 as husband is whining he is "dry" lately...I think it'd be a wonderful product for a handsome man to try as well?
Excellent packaging, great style. I would definitely try this product(:
Poor Gigi, green hair! I love this product!
Kind beauty is great I love hearing about green products and this looks like a winner. I tried a bronzer pressed powder from them it felt great and worked like a charm.
Gigi, you should write your memoirs. This is another terrific review. I have been looking for a tinted moisturizer for a while and I've yet to find one that works for me. I do like Physician's Formula, though. The quality of their products is quite good, considering the price. I'm going to add this to the shopping list, along with the other hundred items, for my next trip to the drug store.
Indi
This sounds lovely! I prefer a lighter oil-free moisturiser as I have a bit of a slick going on on my t-zone, but this sounds really lovely for anyone who has thirsty dermis!
I've always heard good things about these products...I really like tinted moisturizers, especially for summer--so light and refreshing!
I love Physician's Formula. It's one of the best drugstore brands, IMHO. I love their concealer and I used their bronzer for years. I haven't tried a tinted moisturizer before, but it's tempting especially since my skin is behaving at the moment, and I don't need much coverage right now.