10 years. The time I stuck to the same brand of foundation. Admittedly between different types, but mainly one for more than half of that time.
Tag Archives: foundation
Beginner’s budget makeup bag with Make Up Gallery
Make Up Gallery launched at Poundland not that long ago. Having tried a good range of products, I can say they brought out a good line for the exceptional value of £1 each.
I think the range is perfect for younger girls putting together their first makeup bag.
Poundland to launch exciting Make Up Gallery range
I don’t even think I should open this post by proclaiming my love of makeup but here it goes – I love it. And I know lots and lots of people are in the same position as me and I am glad that Poundland is giving us a helping hand with the launch of the Make Up Gallery.
Review: Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin foundation
A good base is the key to good makeup, so I am quite fussy when it comes to foundation. Recently, as part of their SuperStay range, Maybelline New York has launched Better Skin, a foundations claiming to improve the appearance of dull, blotchy and uneven skin.
So, I put it to the test. Better Skin contains Actyl C, zinc, provitamin B5, magnesium, copper, flex technology (which adapts to skin movement, being tightness-preventing), glycerine (attracts moisture and makes skin look hydrated and radiant) and SPF 20, which is great to see in makeup.
Product review: Cosmetics à La Carte custom blend foundation
Just for you: it makes you feel special!
After attending Cosmetics à La Carte lovely event to mark their 40th anniversary, I redeemed my complimentary custom blended foundation at their shop in Knightsbridge.
I had the chance to browse through their many products, but Cosmetics à La Carte’s unique selling point is customisation – you get not only foundations, but lipsticks, eye shadows, blushers made especially for you, it is really like ordering à la carte; you have a big menu and put things together the way you like. It is a very useful service to bring discontinued shades you love back to life!
The service was really lovely, and the make-up artist very friendly. After a few tests with different blends and asking my opinion a few times, she set on a blend, then went off to prepare the full size bottle by weighing the right proportions. The good thing is that you can get not only the colour matched to you, but also the texture – she asks what you expect from your foundation, what kind of coverage and finish you’d like to give you something that matches your expectations. I asked for full coverage and matte finish.
I was quite pleased with the foundation, it has good durability, applies really well and my skin looked good with it on. The coverage is excellent; a very small amount goes a long way and there’s no need to build coverage, but it feels light on the skin. The shade is pinkier that I am used to, but I think is a decent match.
What she used on my face
Various blends
The arsenal
Weighing the right proportion
The blends
Eye shadows
Loads of colours
Lippies
This service is definitely recommended if you think you still haven’t found the best foundation for you, or the ones you tried don’t sit well on your skin. Pop in and they will be happy to help!
The boutique is located at 19b Motcomb Street, Knightsbridge, SW1X 8LB. You can book an appointment by calling them on +44(0)20 7235 0596 and you can get all the information on products on the Cosmetics à La Carte website.
This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my own true experience with the products and reflects my honest opinion on them.
Product review: new foundation trial – YSL x Urban Decay
My little samples
My foundation has been purchased from MAC for a good eight years. I have been through almost every foundation they have, seriously, no joke – Select FPS 15, Face and Body, Mineralize Satinfinish, Studio Fix Fluid – and at the moment I am wearing Matchmaster, which I really like.
Foundation is very important for me; I have it on my face pretty much everyday, so I am quite particular: I like a medium coverage that you can build up, natural looking, hard-wearing, that doesn’t aggravate skin conditions and fells nice on.
Being a fan of Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat, I was really looking forward to trying their new foundation, Le Teint Touche Éclat, which retails for £28. After reading several reviews and seeing it described as “magic”, “revolutionary” and so on, I decided maybe it was time to leave MAC and venture into a new world of foundation.
So I booked myself a colour match appointment at the YSL counter and went in full of hope. Foundation aside, I was bitterly disappointed and frankly, infuriated. The beauty assistant treated me soooo badly. The first question she asked, before anything was “Do you actually intend to buy the product or are you just gonna try?” Rude. I politely replied I used another brand but wanted to try something different; if I liked it, would purchase. She looked unimpressed and didn’t even tell me about the product and the technology, criticised me for wearing powder (without explaining that you shouldn’t with this new foundation, as this is what it was taken away!) and was usually quite abrupt on her comments. And it got worse when I asked for a sample. Anyway, after insisting I left with a sample, which I tried for a few days.
Rant over, now to the foundation: it is not for me. It spreads and blends well, the consistency is medium; not too thick nor too thin. Its coverage is very, very light, so if that is what works for you, you will probably love this one. I struggled to build it up to a level that I feel good about. Also, because the formula has taken the powder finish out of it, I felt it was a bit sticky on my face,. The finish wasn’t great on me, it didn’t photograph well; as I mentioned before, my skin is far from flawless, so I wear foundation to diminish visible problems – but unfortunately you could see everything I want my foundation to conceal in the pictures!
The second product I tried in the past weeks was the new Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition liquid make-up, by Urban Decay, which retails for £27. The consistency of this foundation is quite fluid, and I though the coverage was going to be super light, as it is more liquid than the YSL.
I came across this sample because I wanted to buy the Urban Decay’s All Nighter long-lasting Make-up Setting Spray (which I will review soon) and the outrageously lovely girl at the counter (take a lesson here, YSL) offered me the sample (and another lesson here). I also left with a sample of the Eyeshadow Primer Potion (which will be reviewed alongside the ones I have been using) – mind you, she didn’t have any samples but she put some in a little pot so I wouldn’t leave without it. THAT’S GOOD SERVICE.
So back to the foundation; the coverage is actually a light-medium, maybe a bit too light for me, but buildable. It has a nice finish to it, they describe it as demi-matte, and I actually quite like it, it looks fresh and natural on me. A serious contender to bump Mac’s crown off, I’ll keep wearing it and will make up my mind when my current bottle is over!
A couple of things to learn here:
- I refuse to be mistreated, so I put a complaint with YSL and the department store. YSL is yet to reply. The department store, even though I knew from the offset that the beauty counter staff are not their direct employees, was extremely apologetic in their response.
- How important it is to try products properly before investing in them. Each skin likes different products, so always worth bearing that in mind when thinking “uh, she said it is bad” or “she said it is great!”. Try it, that’s why they have samples. Just go in and ask!
What about you? Have you tried any of the foundations above? What did you think? Or do you love another brand?
So Many Lovely Things 