Benefit Hello Flawless! Oxygen Wow Foundation in Ivory (I'm Pure 4 Sure) Review

It seems as though I have gone on a foundation purchasing spree. First I bought (and have already reviewed) the Laura Mercier Silk Creme foundation, then in the same outing I picked up both NARS Sheer Glow and Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow. Today I'll be reviewing the Benefit offering and will most likely follow up with a review of the Sheer Glow.

First and foremost, I huge Benefit fan and I use their face products on an everyday basis - Hoola bronzer is my absolute must have and I am never without a tube of They're Real mascara. So I was excited to try out their first liquid foundation.

And so far I really do like it. The formula is super light-weight - more so than L'Oreal True Match which is very thin in consistency - which makes application so easy as it just blends into the skin. In my opinion the coverage is fairly light, but you can layer it up for a medium coverage and just use a little extra concealer on any imperfections. Hello Flawless evens out the skin and reduces redness all whilst creating a luminous and healthy looking complexion - and thankfully it does not cling to any dry patches, making it the perfect winter/spring foundation. I love to use it with either a Sigma F80 or Real Techniques buffing brush as it gives slightly more coverage, or if I want a light coverage using your fingers or a sponge makes it look super natural.

The foundation does contain an SPF of 25 so I would avoid using it in the evenings in case of major flashback. Also, it is only available in 9 shades - I have mine in the shade Ivory (I'm Pure 4 Sure) and, currently, it is way too light for me.

Overall, I really do recommend this foundation if you're in the market for something that is lightweight, provides light to medium coverage and creates a luminous, light-reflecting glow. I can see this being my go-to foundation during the summer, as well.

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation in Bamboo Beige Review

I was in the market for a new high end foundation; one for those special occasions and one that I can always count on to make my skin look amazing. As I do before buying any new product (high end or drugstore for that matter) I took to Google and began searching for the best high end foundations that fit my ideal criteria of having high coverage that is not matte. I narrowed it down to two popular choices - NARS Sheer Glow and Laura Mercier Silk Creme. I went with the latter for the reason that the Laura Mercier offering has a much higher coverage. Sold!

After getting colour matched I happily walked out of Space NK desperate to go home and try it. I picked up the shade "Bamboo Beige" which is described as a warm golden beige for light to medium skin tones and it matches perfectly. For reference, I typically wear Mac NC25 or Esteé Lauder Double Wear in Desert Beige. I looked online and saw that it is the fourth darkest shade. For a high end foundation they only offer ten shades which isn't that impressive.

I have been trialing this foundation over the past two weeks and I really am mixed about what I think of it. The coverage is great - near enough full coverage that literally creates a flawless canvas - and you only need a little to cover the entire face. As it is a cream formula, hence the name, it does make the texture extremely thick and, in a way, uncomfortable. I would say that is it slightly heavier that Double Wear by Esteé Lauder (...and that is saying something!) Fuller coverage foundations have more pigments than lower coverage foundations so I can understand the reason why it feels heavier on the skin. So let's dismiss the thickness of the foundation and move onto finish.

One of the USP's that encouraged me to choose this foundation over the Sheer Glow offering was for the luminous finish it apparently gives. And it is really pretty and for a high coverage foundation it is impressive how much light it gives to the complexion. Unfortunately, it clings to dry skin like crazy. Like I said before, I research into new products and read the foundation suits people with combination to oily skin. I have combination skin and, despite moisturising and using Hydraluron before application, I still found this foundation so drying on areas where I suffer from blemishes. Around the blemishes it was extremely drying - almost flakey! - and just did not look pretty. I was a little confused as full coverage foundations are *primarily* targeted towards those who want to cover up imperfections and, in my experience, the extreme thick texture of this foundation, highlighted any dry areas on the face, thus making any blemishes more obvious.

Thankfully, the product did not break me out which tends to happen when I switch up my foundations. I do think this is one of those products I will completely adore in a few months and one that needs a little more persevering and trial and error. Perhaps due to the weather I am not a fan and in the summer it may be a joy to use. I'll probably do a follow up post in a few months! Currently I am browsing the Space NK website, hovering over the "add to basket" on the NARS Sheer Glow...

PS. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and successfully braved the Boxing Day sales if you did go. Have a great new year!

Full Coverage, Luminous Foundation Routine

In foundations I tend to look for ones with medium to full coverage. But the problem I find is that I normally hate the finish of majority of them; way too matte, normally cling to dry areas and just don't look as nice as a lighter coverage, dewy finish foundation. And that's where specially formulated primers come into action.

Pairing a matte foundation with a dewy skin primer will give you the coverage of the foundation yet the appearance of luminous and fresh skin. My favourite for this is the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Pure Light primer. It's a white lotion with small light reflecting particles that instantly make the skin appear more awake. It absorbs really quickly and feels so lightweight and cooling on the skin, I love it. I do prefer it to the Laura Mercier Radiance Primer - this L'Oreal dupe is cheaper and just as effective.

The foundation that I love to pair the primer with is Esteé Lauder Double Wear. It is medium coverage that can be built up to a full coverage. The reason why I particularly love this pairing is because the Esteé Lauder foundation can be a little drying and, especially if you have dry skin, a radiant primer will help make any foundation in fact more comfortable to wear.

I suggest you give this primer a go, in particular if you love the Laura Mercier one and may want a cheaper alternative that's equally as good. You can pick it up for £9.99 at most stores x x x

What Beauty Products Does Kim Kardashian Use? Create Her Signature Look

Kim's make up always looks perfect, whether it be on an Instagram selfie (she posts alot), a magazine cover or on their reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians. After some proper extensive research via the Kardashian sisters blogs, her make up artists and searching through their book I've found out what some of Kim's favourite, and most used, beauty products are. So, if you want the Kim K look, take note...

Skincare
It seems Kim loves drugstore skincare. She said in a recently interview that her most essential product has to go be the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes in night calming. Also, one of her  regular make up artists, Joyce Bonelli loves to use the Aquaphor Healing Ointmen to spot treat dry patches of skin as well as using it to heal blemishes. Joyce also uses La Mer The Radiant Serum which is probably one of the most expensive serums ever at £233 for the small size! Before foundation Kim says she loves to apply the Kiehls Ultra Facial Moisturiser as it makes the foundation stick to it.

Base
The key product to Kim's signature highlight is the Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Makeup Color Base in yellow. It's the product used on that photo released of her with a yellow face. The product brings out her naturally strong yellow undertone, thus enhancing the glow. Her make up artists also prime her skin with the Make Up Forever HD Microperfecting Primer 7.

For foundation, she loves using - as well as her make up artists Mario Dedivanovic and Joyce Bonelli - the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk. She mixes three shades (5.75, 6 and 6.5); her natural shade, one lighter to add extra highlight and one darker to contour. On her blog she stated she loves to also use NARS Sheer Glow (her shade is Barcelona) as well as the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser. She loves to use the beauty blender to apply foundation. As for concealer, Mario Dedivanovic uses the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage in SC-3 for under the eyes. Kim also said in an interview that she uses the Cle De Peau concealer in Ochre on herself.

Face
Kim sets her makeup using the Make Up Forever HD Translucent Powder but has also been seen to use the MAC Select Sheer Pressed Powder in NC30. Ben Nye Banana Powder is also her favourite to set under eye concealer and to enhance her yellow undertones even more.

It's evident Kim loves using bronzer and her personal favourite (as well as her mua's) is the Smashbox Bronze Lights in Suntan Matte. She uses it all around the face as well as to contour her nose. For blush, Mario mostly use Kevyn Aucoin Shadore and NARS Desire on Kim. I couldn't seem to find a highlighter that she constantly uses other than the Eye M Glam which she uses on her cheekbones, under her brow bone, inner corner of her eyes and on the cupids bow.

Eyes
Kim does use eye lash extensions, yet mascara is never skipped from her routine. She curls her lashes with the Shu Uemura eyelash curlers followed by her favourite mascaras which are the Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara and MAC Zoom Lash. As for false lashes, her most used brand is Ardell.

Obviously she and her make up artists uses different eyeshadows every day. She has mentioned her favourite shades before which are: the NARS Surabaya duo, Urban Decay Vapor, MAC Carbon (a "must have for a smokey eye") and MAC Tan Pigment. As for black eyeliner, she always uses Stila Oynx Kajal.

For brows, Kim fills her eyebrows softlyses MAC Cork eyeshadow focusing more on the outer corners of the brow. Mario also loves using the MAC Eye Brows Pencil in lingering as it's "quick" and "easy to define". They use the Max Factor No Colour Brow Gel to set them in place.

Lips
Kim made the nude lip famous. If, in any picture she is sporting a nude or baby pink lip, 9/10 it is one of following pairings. Trust me. For a matte nude lip: MAC Subculture lip pencil + NARS Belle De Jour lipstick. For a glossy, pink/nude: MAC Stripdown lip pencil + MAC Angel lipstick + NARS Turkish Delight gloss.

Obviously Kim uses so many different products everyday and what various make up artists use differs accordingly, yet these are the products that she constantly uses, and ones highly rated, by herself. Have fun creating her looks!

Full list of Kim's products: Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes in night calming, Aquaphor Healing Ointment, La Mer The Radiant Serum, Kiehls Ultra Facial Moisturiser, Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Makeup Color Base in yellow, Make Up Forever HD Microperfecting Primer 7, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation in 5.74, 6, 6.5, NARS Sheer Glow in Barcelona, Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser, the beauty blender, Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage concealer in SC-3, Cle De Peau concealer in ochre, Make Up Forever HD Translucent Powder, MAC Select Sheer pressed powder in NC30, Ben Nye banana powder, Smashbox Bronze Lights in Suntan Matte, Kevyn Auocin Shadore blush, NARS Desire blush, Eye M Glam highlighter, Lancome Hypnose Doll eyes mascara, MAC Zoom Lash, Ardell false lashes, NARS Surabaya eyeshadow duo,  Urban Decay vapor eyeshadow, MAC Carbon, MAC Tan pigment, Stila Onyx Kajal eye liner, MAC Cork eyeshadow, MAC Eye Brows Pencil in lingering, Max Factor No Colour Brow Gel, MAC Subculture lip pencil, NARS Belle De Jour lipstick, MAC Stripdown lip pencil, MAC Angel lipstick and NARS Turkish Delight lip gloss.

Revlon Colorstay Foundation

Revlon Colorstay is one of those foundations near enough everyone knows about. It comes in two formulations: one for normal/dry skin and one for oily/combination skin, each with different shades of yellow or pink undertones making it easy to find the perfect match.

I have it in the shade "160 Sand Beige" in the oily/combination version. I have yellow undertones NC25 in MAC and Desert Beige in Double Wear, for reference.

Let's get all the claims out of the way. It says it helps to control shine all day giving flawless looking skin, feels lightweight, comfortable and weightless, looks fresh for up to 24 hours AND provides a medium to full coverage with SPF of 6.

The 24 hour test. The first I noticed about this foundation was the fact that, the longer I left it on, the more the colour oxidised (laymen's terms: gets orange). Due to the oils being produced throughout the day, the foundation also started to look extremely cakey, dry and thick making it uncomfortable to wear and certainly not weightless or lightweight.

However, who actually wears a foundation for that long?! No-one, I hope! For everyday wear, up to 10 hours, this foundation is incredible. The coverage remains the same (medium buildable), it doesn't oxidise, feels lightweight and looks flawless. I don't even have to powder throughout the day.

Even if you have normal or dry skin, I would recommend the oily/combination version as it oxidises way less than the normal/dry formula.

Overall, I love this product! The only thing that bugs me is there's no pump!

Price: £12.50
Stockists: Boots, superdrug, pharmacies, supermarkets

Suzanna xoxo

Max Factor All Day Flawless 3-in-1 Foundation

Max Factor All Day Flawless 3-in-1 Foundation, £11.99

Apologies for the picture and the ever-so-slightly obvious foundation marks on the front. I use it a lot, okay?!

Max Factor's new foundation has been designed with a primer and concealer built in. The primer gives a smooth even base, the concealer corrects any flaws and the foundation gives a light finish - thus, in hindsight, creating the perfect beauty product. But is it worth it?

Quite simply, yes. The formula with SPF20 gives a medium to full coverage with a matte finish. The whole "primer" aspect of the product works well in my opinion as it stays on all day. I wore it for school (I applied it at 7.30) and it lasted the whole day before taking it off before bed. I've mentioned before that I have a habit of leaving makeup on for around 16 hours on a weekday. I guess one of my new years resolutions is to stop that.

I love everything about this product, except the colour range. Like most drugstore foundations, the colour selection is very limited with only six shades. I have the shade beige 55 which is the third darkest and I'm not exactly the tannest of people - therefore I can assume people with darker skin tones might find it difficult to find a match. Those with lighter skin tones on the other hand will find it much easier. Additionally, the foundation is very drying. I have combination skin and even I found it a little too much - using a setting spray helped greatly. Overall, this foundation would suit those with pale to tan skin who have combination/oily skin.

For £11.99 (plus it's always on various discounts/offers), it's totally worth it.

Suzanna xo

Esteé Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup in 2C3 Fresco

 Esteé Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup, £27.50/$36

I never used to care about what brand of foundation - or any makeup item for that matter - I would buy. If it worked well and performed to my standards, then I didn't care what brand it was. If it was a fiver and worked fantastically, then I would use it. But now, I feel like, especially those who are interested in makeup, care more about what brand they're using more than the actual item itself. Instead of Maybelline, Revlon and Bourjois, we are more used to brands such as Benefit, Nars and Urban Decay, for example. I don't speak for everyone, clearly, but for me, I definitely feel that the label is what attracts me into a product. I'd much rather buy a MAC lipstick than a Collection 2000 lipstick. I suppose there are benefits to high end makeup: you get what you're paying for. The quality is clearly much better than those from the drugstores and tend to be much better for your skin. Nevertheless, I love drugstore makeup - especially mascaras. I feel that they're as good of a quality, if not better, than any high end version. Additionally, I love drugstore eyeshadows - I think that some of them are on par with the standards of my MAC eyeshadows. (Ok now onto the review...)

However, when it comes to foundations - or anything that touches my face - I am so picky and, also conform to a "label snob". Today, I'm going to review the Esteé Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup which retails for £27.50. I bought this in America for $36 which works out to be roughly £22 - so I got it for much cheaper than in England.

Double Wear falls in the middle of three Esteé Lauder foundations. First is the Double Wear Light which gives sheer to medium coverage, then there is the Double Wear (medium buildable) and lastly there is the Double Wear Maximum Cover which provides full, matte coverage.

This foundation has a medium coverage which is buildable. You can layer the foundation up and it does not look cakey. The finish it gives is natural and semi-matte. As for the "15-hour staying power" claim, I definitely agree. I put this foundation on at 7.30am and by the time I get home from school (9 hours later) it is still in perfect condition. I know it's bad, but I don't take my makeup off when I get home from school so it's still on my face for another 5 or 6 hours. After this time, however, you can see your natural oils coming through the foundation, but it is hardly dramatic. It doesn't come off in the rain which is great; especially for those in the UK!

All of the Esteé Lauder foundations have an extensive foundation colour range with different codes fitting different skin types. W = warm (red, yellow undertones), N = neutral (peach undertones) and C = cool (pink/rosy undertones). Double Wear includes 21 shades which is great if you are looking for the perfect match.

To conclude, this foundation is perfect for those wanting a near-enough full coverage foundation without the heavy feel on the skin. It corrects any minor imperfections and creates a flawless base. I do think that I am going to need a lighter shade for winter as I bought this in the summer...forking out £28 isn't going to me fun. But it's worth it.

Suzanna x

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