Liquid -Shu Uemura - Face Architect Smoothing Fluid Foundation
floz 6/3/2012 8:00:00 PM
Although I love the packaging, colour range and ease of application, I was very disappointed with the lasting power of this foundation. My red patches and blemishes start showing through within a couple of hours, and the foundation separates on my skin. I can't attribute this to a poor primer or setting powder, as they are fine with other foundations. I have found this to be very similar to NARS Sheer Glow - the coverage is medium and buildable with a glowing semi-matte finish which looks fantastic at first, but sadly this does not last. This foundation is pigmented enough to achieve sufficiently even coverage with only a thin and natural-looking layer, however there are plenty of other foundations which offer the same thing and last longer than a couple of hours. I would suggest Clarins Everlasting or Armani Luminous Silk over this, as the finish is similar but without separating and fading so quickly.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -Laura Mercier - Crème Smooth Foundation
floz 12/31/2011 9:02:00 AM
Amazing!! But, not perfect. It is so hard to find a high coverage foundation with a natural dewy finish, but this is it. Easy to apply (personally I use fingers rather than a sponge or brush), smooths over pores and imperfections to produce a beautiful, even, glowing complexion. The shade range isn't amazing, although luckily for me LM's Warm Ivory is my perfect match - pale but with strong yellow undertones. I have zero complaints over the finish - it is seriously incredible, though most likely too rich for anyone with oily skin. There is no flaking, caking, just gorgeous and smooth skin (even my acne scars and redness are hidden!). However, the packaging is a minor annoyance - I'd definitely prefer a tube, like the Silk Creme foundation. I don't worry that much about the hygiene issues (I sanitise my fingers before use and only open the jar a little to get out the product), but in terms of portability it's pretty rubbish. That's why this has become my 'weekend foundation', as I don't carry it in my bag. The lasting power is very good but not perfect. It is better than the average foundation, but doesn't hold up to long-wearing foundations like EL Double Wear or Clarins Everlasting. However, I can't deny that I far prefer the finish of this foundation. But after 5 or 6 hours, my red patches and pores start to show through on my dry combination skin. This isn't the end of the world though, I use another foundation to touch up. The other downside is, like other reviewers have mentioned, this foundation is definitely not transfer-resistant! This is the other reason I don't wear it for work days, as it definitely transfers to everything. Overall, if you want a glowing and flawless finish for a day out or special evening, this is perfect for a reliably beautiful finish. But as an every day foundation for more active tasks like work, school, gym, you may find it wears (and transfers) off too quickly for you , especially if you require all-day high coverage. Personally? I wouldn't be without it! One of the best foundation purchases I've ever made. My personal application tip is to be careful not to use too much. This product is very pigmented so you don't need much, plus using a minimal amount of product helps to prevent it from transferring.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Laura Mercier - Lip Stain in Peach Glaze
floz 12/27/2011 9:48:00 AM
Definitely my HG lip colour! I am VERY warm-toned, yet my lips are naturally an odd grey colour and they make every lip colour look fuchsia (which looks awful on me) unless it's literally orange. This shade is the closest I think I'll ever get to a nude lip colour, and I love how it looks on me! It's great for every day wear as the formula is not too glossy or too matte, just satiny and natural. The lasting power is only average, and I find that the pot itself is a bit too narrow and deep which makes it awkward to use sometimes - a shape like the Bobbi Brown Pot Rouges would be easier to use. However, for such lovely pigmented colour in a non-drying formula, I'm really not too worried about the packaging! And reapplying every few hours isn't a bit deal either - I have to do this with all lip colours. I do find the name a bit misleading as a "Lip Stain" implies an extra long wear time to me - I was hoping for the lasting power of Benetint and similar products. I would say this lasts about as long as a typical high end lipstick - the closest formula I can think of is Bobbi Brown's Pot Rouge, or Sisley's Long-Lasting Hydrating lipstick (also fab products!). If you are pale and warm-toned, and seeking a natural-looking colour for daytime wear this is well worth trying!
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Clinique - Acne Solutions Line (all products)
floz 7/31/2011 4:35:00 PM
This line truly saved my skin. Although it can be a little dry in the winter for my skin type, if I ever have a bad skin week I always turn to this line. I will re-buy over and over and over! I had tried all the basic drugstore products for acne at random with no real luck, and had to pile on foundation to cover my skin as I was so embarrassed. In desperation I approached the Clinique counter at Selfridges and after a great consultation I bought this line and started using it daily. On the first day, my pores felt tigher and my skin felt soft. Within weeks I had fewer and smaller spots, and felt more confident. This is from only using it once a day, not twice as they reccommend. Within about two months my skin was clear, and I even got comments about how good it looked. So I reccommended it to my sister, who got the same results! However, the only downside for me is that this is a bit too drying in the winter, when I have naturally very dry and flaky skin. Also the cleansers are a little harsh which doesn't help the redness on my cheeks. However, that is much easier to cover than acne! If you have oily or combination skin I highly reccommend this. The products last for ages (really, months and months!) and if you're new to skincare like I was then the 3-step system helps to develop good habits. The price for all 3 products seemed high to me at first but I'm so pleased I took the plunge. It worked out much cheaper than buying lots of different acne treatments and the results were better than I could ever have expected. For me, this was a miracle-worker which gave me the confidence to start caring about my appearance and experimenting with makeup.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Christian Dior - Shimmer Powder 001 Rose Diamond, Spring 08
floz 5/26/2011 5:31:00 AM
When I first bought this I was quickly bored by it and soon forgot about it, as I wasn't all that impressed. However, that was winter and this is summer, and it's now an essential part of my daily makeup! This is ideal for subtly highlighting and contouring the face and gives you a polished but not overdone look. The shades all work well for me, though the darker shades can look a bit much unless I use a light hand. I wouldn't quite say it's universally flattering but I think this would work for a lot of skin tones, particularly the lighter shades. For me, this is a product which makes the difference between good and great makeup. It makes my face glow without obviously being covered in glitter - always a bonus!! I would say it gives my face a healthy and glamourous-looking sheen, rather than an oily or glittery look. This also seems to last longer on my face than a lot of other shimmer powders, and is a lot less obvious-looking. However, I strongly suggest using a good brush for this to get the full effect. I'm not generally a big fan of Dior's products, but I will buy this again and again!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Make Up For Ever - HD High Definition Foundation
floz 4/28/2011 6:31:00 PM
How on earth does this foundation get so much hype?? I love three things about it - the amazing colour range, the fab packaging and the first 30 minutes of wear. Sadly it ends there... This product makes my face dry and red and bumpy, and disappears after about two hours. However it's applied the coverage ends up being patchy after a while, whether I use setting powder or not. For the price I paid (about £30) there are just so much better quality foundations available. I'm glad I tried this but I certainly won't repurchase. If you have dry, combination or sensitive skin this may not be for you.
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Liquid -Rimmel - Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation
floz 4/21/2011 7:34:00 AM
I've recently been experimenting with a few drugstore foundations, and this is the one that really made me glad I did! The product applies and blends easily with fingers and/or brush, and leaves a fantastic natural satin finish that lasts and lasts. The coverage starts at light/medium and is easily buildable without losing that healthy glowing look. The oil control is good (not perfect but better than average), but most importantly for my dry skin it didn't flake at all! In terms of the consistency I'd say the closest comparison I could give would be MUFE HD, however I found that this foundation is less drying and lasts better. The colour range seemed reasonable and I easily found a match for my light, warm-toned skin (Soft Beige). Also, the packing is good quality with a lovely hygienic pump - perfect! Although I don't regret the money I've spent on my ever-expanding collection of HE foundations (they each have their own benefits), this is the best all-rounder for my sensitive combination skin. I highly reccommend it, even if drugstore foundation doesn't usually work for you!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Chanel - Vitalumiere Aqua
floz 3/31/2011 12:33:00 PM
I was ready to love this foundation based on the enthusiastic reviews, the handy travel-friendly packaging, and the fact that application with fingers is encouraged (my preferred application method)... Sadly it is not right for me at all. Upon initial application the lovely creamy texture blends like a dream, and the natural-looking coverage is just enough to cover flaws and redness. However, after only 3-4 hours it looks catastrophic. I have tried and tried with different primers, with a TM over the top, with powder... Nothing helps. My super dry T-zone becomes oily (absolutely unheard of!) and everywhere else looks like a dry and cakey red mess. It seems to collect in certain areas creating odd powdery-looking patches.The end result looks worse than wearing no foundation, which is not a problem I've ever had with other Chanel foundations (or any other to be honest). My skin is very dry, quite sensitive, has red areas and can sometimes break out - if this sounds like your skin then make sure you sample before buying!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No