Liquid -Estee Lauder - Futurist Foundation
shangconti 8/25/2011 6:05:00 AM
I've not written a review at MUA for longer than I can remember but this Futurist has prompted me to do so without delay. Since I've become a natural skincare convert, I've stopped purchasing synthetic skincare items but most natural or organic foundations often fail to deliver the flawless finish as I desire for the perfection of a not-so-perfect face. My age makes my skin drier and more dehydrated, and all previous high-end foundations like La Mer, Dior Prestige, etc give me dry patches as early as in the afternoon. Since I am now pro natural, I am pickier about everything I use. I look at Futurist ingredients and feel more comfortable as it does not contain parabens (some foundations do) or other known harmful substances and better off, it is non-acnegenic ... Actually I bought Double Wear Stay-in-Place after watching a YouTube video trying to get the same flawless look, but DW is too dry for me and it really stays put not easy to remove. I went back to EL counter and was introduced to Futurist - the best advice that they have given. I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this foundation. Feel comfortable all day long with enough, not over, moisture level to my dry but partly combination skin. It does make my skin glow with good coverage and I look revitalized and in turn younger without those disturbing dry patches. Very happy with this and I hope my search is over. The best way for me to apply is to use a brush with a generous amount (1.5 pumps) right after a moisturized face, and it melts into my skin very naturally and comfortably. Using sunscreen or primer between is no good (for me) as this extra barrier can thicken the look and make this foundation more moisturizing than I can handle. I've found that my makeup stays better this way toward the end of the day. I've tried many many other brands including Giogio Armani, Cle de Peau, Chanel, Shiseido, Shu Uemura and even EL ReNutriv! IMO, Futurist outshines ReNutriv even under the EL umbrella and it is very affordable in terms of pricing but more remarkable by performance.
16 out of 17 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Shu Uemura - Phyto-Black Lift Firming Anti-Wrinkle Crea
shangconti 2/13/2009 2:13:00 AM
I've tried many products with my age and suffice to say that some expensive brands made me angry for the waste of money. This cream smells divine, is superb and effective without causing small bumps and allergies. Recently my La Mer Moisturising Creme is no longer a cure and I've found that I tended to put more and more on my drier skin. With the purchase of Shu Uemura cleansing oil, I was given a few samples of this. At first, I didn't believe that this would suit my 50 year old skin but surprisingly, it gave me the right level of moisture and my skin drank it up with a very comfortable, soothing feeling. I went to buy its boosting lotion, serum, eye cream and this cream together. With less than a month of use, they have indeed made me look younger. My face is so much rested and I can still look smart at the end of a long work day. The other day I was in a dept store I looked into a mirror and wondered who this young woman was, ha! The photos taken from a recent trip also prove me right. This Phyto Black cream is different as it does have a lifting and shaping effect. I can't rave this Phyto Black line highly enough. Shu Uemura is very professional. I wrote to them and asked if Phyto Black was suitable for my age. They replied immediately that "it is suited to those who are concerned with anti-aging benefits regardless of their chronological age ..." EDIT: I'm going back to Creme de la Mer in the morning and this Phyto Black at night as PB cream seems to give me pimples in the humid hot weather where I live and its emulsion is not strong enough for my age. Strange that CDLM gives me the right moisture, no pimples, even at golf. No other stuff can outshine CDLM for the luminosity that it can give to my professional look and it is truly a plumper. I've found that I can't use one single moisturizer for long so this combination works great. Anyway, PB is a good keeper and I use it at night so I can keep my CDLM longer to help save my pocket a little bit.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Loose Powders -La Mer - Skincolor De La Mer - The Powder - Poudre de La Mer
shangconti 1/14/2008 11:17:00 PM
The best loose powder that I have ever tried ... featherlight, natural, glowy, hiding all my pores with a beautiful finish. I am now crazily in love with La Mer moisturising creme, the treatment foundation and the loose powder. This trio makes me look beautiful. The only complaint is its heavy porcelain jar. Although it looks classy on the dressing table, I hope La Mer can make it smaller. It's just too heavy.
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Crème -La Mer - The Treatment Creme Foundation SPF 15
shangconti 1/14/2008 11:12:00 PM
Please see my separate review on CDLM Moisturising Creme. I now apply this treatment foundation directly after the moisturising creme and follow with its loose powder. This trio sets me beautifully for a full day without much need to touch up. I don't need to use concealer and it covers up quite well with a natural look. Have tried everything, from low to expensive prices, and this is one of the best. I really like the idea of not using base or primer as La Mer suggests so I can skip a step. Also without previous extra burdens and layers of toner and serum, my face is now a lot lighter and healthier. I will buy this foundation again as I now look my best with my makeup even at my age.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -La Mer - Creme de la mer moisturizer
shangconti 1/14/2008 5:40:00 AM
I am Asian and had oily/combo skin when I was young, but as I am going through my menopause with some medical history, I am having noticeably dehydrated skin. Although I still look much younger than my real age, in these recent years suddenly my face is loosening and my chin and jaw lines are less defined. I am desperate about finding something that can help firm up my skin and make me look younger but have had little luck. After trying various high-end firming products without success, I bought CDLM but was not impressed at all in the first couple of months. It either made me feel oily or was too sticky when I used it with toner and essence together, and not until last month when I went to Malaysia on a 5-day golf trip and played 3 rounds of golf under 32/33 degrees Celsius and hot sun did I rediscover its amazingness ... I wore short sleeved and shorts and I was burned all over except my face. My friends kept complimenting that my skin was so good and asking me what I was using. I then realised how good CDLM was in its way of healing. Due to small baggage and a large golf bag on short trip, I only brought La Mer with me as the only cream day and night, nothing else. After golf, as usual even with sunblock, my face was burning hot but it calmed me down as soon as I used the cream on my face after shower and I came out from the locker room with a dewy look. I came back from the trip with my face looking healthy as if no sun exposure at all. Since then I've been convinced and after many tries and errors, I've now found the right way of using it. When I use it everyday, I use it alone on my COMPLETELY DRY face after my face wash without toner and essence/serum. This is most effective as its richness "kisses" my skin directly and plumps it up with the right amount of moisture. Occasionally I add my toner or serum to give that little extra boost. EDIT: I'm still using CDLM after two years as no other moisturizers can give me the luminosity and I often receive compliments with it. I do look younger, and my skin is plumped! Whenever I try to replace it with other lower priced products, I always go back to it. I know I'll continue to buy it as a doorkeeper, though I'm now also using another cream at night so as to keep CDLM longer to help save my pocket a little bit.
35 out of 40 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No