REVIEW (and first impressions) : Make Up Atelier HD Foundation

So, anyone that knows anything about me (that would be NONE of you, because no one actually knows who I am) would know that I love Goss make up artist. I LOVE HIM. I used to obsessively watch the Pixiwoo videos, but as they got more commercial and less exciting (although Sam never fails to excite me with her creative tutorials) I found myself running to the joys of Goss, and his wry humour, coupled with social anxiety, makes him the more adorably addictive of the you tube make up vloggers. When he said he'd found 'the best foundation ever made' I knew I had to eventually check it out.

So, first steps first, given that there are no Make Up Atelier Paris stockists in england, so therefore no way of checking colours, I found the fantastic and budget friendly option on their website of being sent sample jars in various colours, which subsequently is deducted from the price of the foundation you eventually decide on. Needlessly generous no? So I dived in and received this....

And for a sample that is just to check colour, it's pretty generous! I chose the shade Pale Beige, but there is a massive range of shades from pale yellow to deep brown, so there should be something for everyone. 

So what do Make Up Atelier Paris have to say about this foundation??

A new generation of invisible makeup developed for HD for a natural skin finish.  A fluid foundation with silicone resin film and micronized pigments.  The makeup is versatile from sheer to full coverage whilst appearing invisible on the skin.  Sweatproof and water resistant suitable for young or mature skin that is dry, normal and combination.  Apply with a brush, sponge or airbrush. 

So that sounds pretty much a catch all bit of promo doesn't it? Could it possibly be true?

Well. Yeah!

So last night I was dj'ing, with a streaming cold, in extremes of temperature surrounded by smoke. I needed a foundation that was going to last through sweat, cold and potential rain on the way there. The second I put this on my face, I WAS SOLD.

Sorry for blurry photos, I just.....couldn't be bothered. Ha. You get the idea though right??

So back to the review. What are the points and features of this foundation that makes me wee with joy!?

Coverage: This covers, somehow, despite being airy light, and it covers VERY WELL. If you need extra coverage, it's supremely buildable, and it doesn't change the texture or finish at all. This won't cake, or enhance pores, or dry spots. My redness was covered easily and totally. There wasn't one thing I could complain about.

Longevity: It lasts until you want it off. Okay, it couldn't stand up below my nose which was being constantly blown and wiped all night, but I wouldn't expect anything to, apart from double wear, and we all know that double wear, although bulletproof, gives a mask like deathly finish and looks bad in photos. I even splashed my face with water and this stuff didn't budge AN INCH. I cannot tell you how awesome it is. Well, I can, but still, AWESOME!!

Finish: Like great skin. Not dewy, but not matte, just naturally luminous and beautiful. It's really the most natural foundation i've ever used, it's amazing. 

Pale beige swatched and rubbed in. 

I can't recommend this enough. I own ALL FOUNDATIONS EVER, but this, this is a gem. The nearest I could liken it to would be MUFE Face and Body, but this actually covers ten times better, and lasts much longer. It's amazing.

You can purchase Make Up Atelier Paris HD Foundation for £21 at their webstore - HERE

REVIEW: Bourjois Paris 123 Perfect CC Cream and Eye Cream

Hi there. I know, more excuses about being a lazy blogger, but i'm still in the process of being heartbroken and maudlin, and although make up is my tincture, sometimes, a skin coloured liquid that I put on my face just isn't going to cut it in the 'making life worth living' stakes.

Still, I shall battle on. So here I am, with a ravey review for my ravishing readers.

Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream

When I first read about this CC Cream, I wasn't too fussed. I was BB'd up to the tits, and frankly, apart from Dr Jart's wonderful colour adapting concoction, they did less than nothing for me. Actually, there was also that brilliant one by Sleek which became my dry skinned gf's holy grail foundation, with it's super cheap price, brilliant colour line and near full coverage and dewy finish. Perhaps I should bother actually reviewing it no?

Yes.

Anyways, this CC cream. What's it all about? Bourjois says this...

123 PERFECT CC CREAM
THE SKINCARE ACTION OF A CREAM + THE COLOUR CORRECTION OF A FOUNDATION IN ONE STEP!

The next generation of foundation! Combining:

THE COLOUR CORRECTION OF A FOUNDATION:

Thanks to its 3 colour correcting pigments that smooth away imperfections

. APRICOT pigments > anti-fatigue

. GREEN pigments > anti-redness

. WHITE pigments > anti-dark spots

+ THE SKINCARE ACTION OF A CREAM:

24 hr hydration
SPF 15

Result: luminous complexion & flawless skin in one step.

Tested for you!*

91% of women agreed that:
Their complexion is perfectly evened out
Their dark spots are concealer
Their skin is left flawless

*User test on 33 women for 21 days
And what’s more? Good for my skin!
-Non-oily lightweight formula
- Enriched with invigorating white tea extracts


Now, can I just point out one thing. WHAT THE HELL ARE THESE STATS FOR? When I read 91 percent of women agree, I think 'BRILLO' but then I read it's 91 percent of THIRTY THREE WOMEN, I think, eh? Now, Bourjois aren't a poor company, they can afford to send their CC Cream out to more than the odd number of 33 women, so why don't they bother? It doesn't feel too convincing does it?

Either way, back to the CC.

So what do I think of it? Well, I am an oily skinned girl, and my main concern with these new generation of skincare/foundation hybrids, is that they're slip off very quickly and be TOO dewy from my shiny fat nose. However, this CC Cream is different from anything like it i've tried before. This is why.

Coverage - It really does correct your skin tone, and it brightens. You can use a tiny amount of this very liquidy consistency product, and apply with either your fingers, or a flat top foundation brush, and it covers like a dream, whilst letting my freckles be seen, and the texture of my skin, but not the redness which I despise so much. Perfect!

Finish - It's not what i'd call dewy, it's a very curious finish for this sort of product actually. It's not matte, but it's not satin. It's got a dimension to the finish, of healthy, glowing, but not shiny skin.

Longevity - This is where it falls down, sadly, but ultimately, it's not claiming to be a big long wearing kinda guy, but it DOES wear well, i'd say five or so hours without breaking down. It says it hydrates for 24 hours, which I didn't say I felt it did, but it's a really nice feel for such a cheap product.

All in all, I really really like it. I wear make up every day but I cannot always be bothered for a proper made up look. It makes you look healthy, and even toned, without looking like you've gone to town. I can pop this on and feel confident about my skin, and look glowy and like i've had a proper sleep (which is never the case) and I am reaching for it more and more over other more expensive high end foundations or bb creams. I high recommend everyone picks this up. It's worth it.

Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Eye Cream

First up. What Bourjois say...

ILLUMINATING EYE CARE CONCEALER.
FOR RESTED, RADIANT LOOKING EYES!

The skincare action of an eye cream + the colour correction of a concealer!Its multi-care formula and its smoothing silicon applicator:

Camouflages imperfections and dark circles around the eyes 

Smoothes wrinkles and fine lines Reduces puffiness..without creasing

.Its skincare action and lightweight texture leave the area around the eyes supple and soft:- 24Hr hydration- SPF 15

Result: Eyes are rested and radiant and left feeling supple and soft

Tested for you!*- It conceals dark circles and imperfections without creasing – 85% agree- It leaves the eye contour supple and soft – 94% agree

I've read mixed reviews on this guy, but personally, I love it! The coverage is great, the hydration is great, it doesn't settle in lines, and there's a plumping glow to it, and it lasts a good few hours without setting it with powder. Not really much more to say on it other than I would recommend you pick it up.

L-R CC Cream and CC Eye Cream in 31 Ivoire and 21 Ivory

You can pick these both up from ASOS for a discount price of £7.50 and £6.00. HURRY!!!!

REVIEW: Maybelline Superstay Better Skin Flawless Finish Foundation

Maybelline Superstay Better Skin in Light Beige

I may have mentioned it before but I am obsessed with foundation. I hate my skin, it's red and blotchy, oily and dry, pale and generally it just irritates me. Of course, in the grand scheme of things i'm lucky, I do not have acne or anything like that, but years of obsessing over media imagery has left me with this desire for the unobtainable flawless face. When I heard about the release of this new foundation, I became obsessed, as it claims that it can actually treat and even out your skintone whilst doing the normal gubbins of making you look luminous and flawless. 

So, what up Maybelline?

"Dull, blotchy, uneven skin? Visibly improves your skin every minute you're in it.

Our first hydrating foundation with Actyl C and SPF 20. Flawless all-day coverage.

The formula helps skin look more radiant, fresher and even, with all-day wear."

Oh. Cool! Lets see some swatches...

Light Beige

Light Beige swatched

Light Beige blended out

When I bought this foundation, I was desperate to love it. DESPERATE. I'm pretty poor at the moment and I am always keen to find a staple product at a budget price that does the job adequately. After having given a good two weeks of testing, I am sad to say that I am a little disappointed.

So, the pros. It's a beautiful finish, it really is. You have a luminous glow, whilst letting your skin shine through, you look healthy and even, and I cannot fault the finish, I absolutely loved it. 

But that love wasn't to last.

You see, I am oily, but not ridiculously so, so when a foundation is called 'Superstay' I expect a level of longevity from the product. My first issue is that it never actually dries down, not totally, so I had to powder it, which is fine and dandy of course, but even with powder, the stuff starts to swim around my face with oil within two hours, and it kind of mixed with powder and sank into my pores leaving a bit of an unholy, patchy mess. I also primed with a primer that is generally brilliant for my skin, Mac Natural Radiance Primer but alas, the foundation was not a friend. 

As for improving my actual skin, it's week two, and the foundation is meant to take three weeks to have an impact, so i'll keep on with my test run for another week to see how things work out on that front. 

Oh, and a note to the pale girls. The palest shade is Light Beige, not ivory. I've seen much wailing and moaning about ivory being too dark. Well, yeah, it is, so don't order it. Order the paler shade. Easy!

So in summary. Great for dry skin. Not great for oily. Unless you're only planning on looking lovely for an hour. In that case, fill your boots.

You can purchase this foundation for £8.99 from Boots and Superdrug across the UK.

BYE.

Review - Liz Earle Signature Foundation

Liz Earle Signature Foundation 

Hi girls (and guys, lets not make assumptions here), hope you're having a fantastic weekend with the (sort of) sunshine. I've been having a rather lovely time, with lots of exciting things on my horizon, I thought i'd celebrate by sharing a review of one of my most favourite foundations I own.

I may have mentioned before, I own A LOT of foundations, I am talking draws and draws of the stuff, high end, low end, rubbish, fantastic, pro quality and drugstore. THE LOT. I wouldn't say i'm an expert across the board, because I only know how to deal with my oily combo skin, but if you suffer like me with the shiny nose and need for long wear, I think we're going to be chums.

So, back to the review. Liz Earle (which is actually run by TWO people, but for some reason Liz takes the spotlight in name and press coverage) produces some absolutely fantastic products. Originally I thought her Cleanse and Polish was a poor mans Eve Lom cleanser. As it turned out, it WAS a poorer persons option, but without being any less awesome in quality. I shall review another time though, as it's foundation time right now. Anyway, last year, in 2012, Liz decided to unleash her AWESOME cosmetics line. I wasn't convinced initially, as i'd heard that the Sheer Skin Tint had zero coverage and lasted about two hours on an oily skin. However, later that year she also launched the Signature Foundation, and just reading the blurb below had me gagging to try it. Lets see what it says...

"Call off the search – our luxurious, silky foundation is your go-to for the skin you’ve always wanted. Offering easy-to-build coverage, the beautifully blendable formula glides on effortlessly to deliver a smooth, even and natural-looking finish in mere moments, with an ingenious combination of spherical particles and coated pigments that offer long-lasting wear and a radiant finish. Enriched with our own natural source vitamin E."

And you know what? It does EXACTLY what it says. 

So how does it work for me? Well, I always wear a primer, because I have oily skin, most foundations are obliterated within three hours, so I don't bother even trying to battle on without. To make it simple for you, i'm going to list exactly what is so awesome about this foundation.

- Amazing colour range, for once, it's EXACTLY my skin tone. PALE AS PAPER.

- It fills in pores better than nearly any foundation I have tried

- Coverage is impeccable, I barely need to build coverage, but in the areas I do, it looks smooth

- It lasts. It really does, unless you sweat buckets, this stuff doesn't crack!

- It doesn't settle in fine lines, or wear unevenly.

- It is matte but has radiance. Not dewy but not flat at all! 

- I LOVE IT!

So lets see a swatch of the shade I own, Porcelain

Liz Earle Porcelain Swatched

Blended out

So as you can see, it's undetectable on my pallid arm there when blended out. It's my exactly shade though, which runs at NW10 in Mac terminology. I find the best way to apply this is with a dampened Beauty Blender and the usual method of bouncing it on the skin until the desired level of coverage is achieved. 

I can't say enough good about this foundation, especially if you're oily and in need of good but natural looking coverage. If you want to invest, this retails direct from Liz Earle online in 9 shades for the pretty reasonable price of £21, and in selected John Lewis, Boots, Fenwicks stores, as well as their stand alone boutiques. 

Have you tried it? If so, let me know your thoughts!?

Being Pale - Objects that save our souls pt 3 - More pale foundation swatches

Another instalment in the series of posts regarding the highs and lows of finding a foundation to suit our pallid tones. You can find the first two parts here, and here. So lets not bugger about, you want swatches, I want to GIVE you swatches, so lets carry on with our swatchorama!

L-R Chantecaille Just Skin Anti Smog Tinted Moisturiser SPF15 - Alabaster

Kiehls Actively Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream SPF50 - Fair

Make Up For Ever Face and Body Liquid Make Up - 38

The above is a collection of low to medium coverage products, Chantecaille is pretty matte finish for a tinted moisturiser, whilst Kiehls gives a nice amount of correction to skin whilst being able to see your actual skin, with a mega high SPF, and is water resistant, which is also the case for the MUFE foundation, which is also, although pretty sheer,  MEGA buildable and with no SPF, just in case you want to look glowy in photos without looking ghostly. 

L-R Kevyn Aucoin The Liquid Airbrush Foundation LQ 02

Kevin Aucoin The Liquid Airbrush Foundation LQ 05

Kevin Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer SX 02

These are all Kevyn Aucoin foundations, and the liquid airbrush gives a medium coverage, which is buildable, and has no SPF. It's suited to an oily/combo skin. The Sensual Skin Enhancer is mega insanely high coverage and gives a beautiful finish, with no SPF, and gives you a nice sheen, but you have to prep and powder or you'll be left swimming in oil if you're that way inclined. 

Giorgio Armani Lasting Silk UV Foundation SPF 20 Shade 4

Lancome Teint Visionnaire Skin Perfecting Make Up SPF20 005

By Terry Light Expert Perfecting Foundation Brush - Rosy Light - 1

The GA foundation gives fantastic coverage, but it doesn't last hours sadly. You look poreless and perfected for three or so hours though. Lancome Teint Visionnaire, be WARNED LANCOME FANS, this runs much darker than their other 005 foundations, but it's a great finish, really luminous. Finally this pinky white foundation is the By Terry luminising foundation brush and it's pretty great. I would say it's for someone with good skin, BUT if you have a good concealer, it can work wonders even if, like me, you're a blotchy nightmare, and it does last quite a while, although you have to be careful around the nose area, as it can get a little cakey. 

Being Pale - Objects that save our souls Pt 2 Pale foundation swatches

So if you read yesterdays post Being Pale Pt 1, you'll have gathered that my paleness has been something that i've had to surmount. I have certain things I need from a foundation, such as good coverage, an ability to cover my redness, to combat my oily ways, and to stay on my face for a long time and to not flash back in pictures. Quite the list of demands, apparently, even in todays make up world.

So, to share my findings, i've decided to spend a few days swatching my paler foundations. I have both yellow and pink, as well as neutral toned foundations, so you'll get a range, no one will be left out!

So here goes. Swatch frenzy part ONE.

L-R - Bobbi Brown Long Wear Even Finish in Porcelain

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24hr in 005

Stila Stay All Day Foundation in Bare 1

L-R - Ellis Faas Skin Veil Shade 101

YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat Shade BR 02

Rimmel Match Perfection Shade 010 Light Porcelain 

L-R Mac Studio Fix Foundation Shade NW10

Dr Jart Beauty Balm Platinum Universal Shade

MUA Undress Your Skin Shade Porcelain

L-R Lancome Teint Miracle Shade 005

Liz Earle Signature Foundation Shade Porcelain 01

So there you go, that is my first instalment of the swatchorama. These are all different formulas obviously, with different levels of coverage and effectiveness. I shall be back soon with another instalment to assist you girls of pallid ways. 

Being Pale - objects that save our souls Pt 1

I think i've mentioned it a few times, yes, I know I have, but for the uninitiated, I am very very pale. I have freckles, so whenever I go to buy a foundation (foundation is my version of heroin, I just can't get enough and the more I buy the more I want) I seem to have this exchange with the MUA.

Me: Hi there, I wanted to try your new foundation but i'm not sure it'll come pale enough for me
MUA: I wouldn't say you're that pale, I would put you at a shade 03 or 04
Me: I promise you, lots of people say that but it's just because my skin is red and I have freckles
MUA: Trust me, I know what I'm talking about, I think you'll be surprised.
Me: 'sighing' okay....surprise me....

10 wasted minutes later....

MUA: How weird! Do you not want to warm up your complexion a little though? No one wants to be pale do they?
Me: I do. It's the colour I am. I want foundation the colour of my skin ideally.
MUA: Oh, well I can't help you then.
Me: Thought not....

And thus, my frustration, and search continues. Fortunately, more and more companies are jumping on the bandwagon of different levels of paleness, and tones of paleness. Yellow based, pink based, neutral. It happens! However, what do you do when you've wasted a ton of your money on a foundation that is far too dark for you? Or the wrong tone? Well, I have wasted money, and I haven't really got much of it to waste sadly, so these objects have saved me again and again when it comes to my foundation.

Illamasqua Skin Base in Shade 01

If you're thinking 'that's ruddy pale, it's basically white', you'd be right, thats exactly what it is. Illamasqua skin base is a much loved version of a BB Cream by the fantastic Illamasqua, a brand that, as far as I'm concerned, can do no wrong. 

Now, given the massive shade range of this product, you may think 'why not just buy it in your shade?'. Well sadly this product isn't long wearing enough for me, and it tends to slide off/cake up around my stupid red nose. Fortunately, when mixed in small quantities with other foundation formulations that DO work, but are too dark for me, the problems don't surface. Bonza! 

I used to use Mac Face and Body foundation in White, but the shelf life of that product is ridiculously short, and it becomes a clotted, stinking filthy mess in four months, and the product is SO sheer that if you need any coverage, you're just sheering it out too much and lose the effectiveness. I also have used Face Atelier in Zero Minus, which is a very siliconey white foundation favoured by make up artists, but it's darn expensive at £34 for such a small quantity, so Illamasqua turned out a happy solution for me. 

If you'd like to give this product a go, it's available from the Illamasqua website HERE for £27.

BUDGET QUEENS BEWARE THOUGH. If you are struggling to find the money to treat yourself, there is a much cheaper pure white alternative available from trusty old Barry M called Foundation Creme White. Okay, not quite the same quality, but does the same job for next to nothing. You can purchase Barry M online, or in store at Boots or Superdrug for £6.19.

Barry M Foundation Creme in White

Of course, there is also the issue of 'what if the foundation is now too yellow, or too pink'. Well, I tend to go pretty basic here, and look for the pinkest/yellowest foundation I can even out the tone with, ideally with the same finish qualities, so long wearing/sweatproof/dewy/matte etc. 

For example, I have a big love for Smashbox Studio Skin 15hr Wear Foundation but it's so darn DARK it's like fake tan on me! When I add white, it turns pale yellow, and I am neutral in tone, leaning to pinky, so what I do is add another favourite of mine, Make Up For Ever Face and Body foundation in shade 38 Pink Porcerlain into the mix. It's not only a pink based foundation, but it's also water resistant and oil free like the first, so they work together well. Never mix an oil base with a water base, they will repel each other like hateful ex's, and separate as far as they can get from each other, on your face, leaving you red faced and blotchy. Again, like a hateful ex. 

I hope this post has been somewhat useful to the pallid of tone out there. I have written this from my poorly sickbed, so I hope I make some sense in all this ramble. Thank you for reading me girls! 

Review - Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Lady

Nars Dragon Lady Velvet Matte Lip Pencil

I am a lover of Nars. A big lover. However, I have never been able to get on with red lipstick. No matter how many I bought, they NEVER looked right. I had always wanted it to suit me due to my passions for Robert Smith and Courtney Love, in the early nineties this is (although I still love Robert with all my heart). 

Robert Smith. How I adore thee...

Courtney Love, back then, when I wanted to look like her 

Kat Bjelland, from Babes In Toyland

Miki Berenyi, from Lush

As an aside, before you think i'm one of those revisionist dickheads who are running around trying to look like the early nineties. I'm not, I was there at the time, at the gigs, and I used to dress like that at the time. If I did it again, I would feel slightly tragic. Not that that time wasn't AMAZING, but come on, if we don't move forward and keep relishing in the early nineties....what's the point in this generation.

Sorry....back to the review. 

So, this is what the Nars website has to say....

The application of a lipstick combined with the convenience of a pencil in a jumbo crayon design. Lips are instantly saturated with rich pigments and a velvety matte finish. The long lasting, non-drying formula is enriched with emollients for a creamy texture, while a combination of unique silicones ensures long-lasting, seamless color for hours. Use for lining, all-over lip color, or pairing with another lip product.

And the results are, it does what it says on the tin!! You get opaque, velvet matte coverage in one pass, it looks...delcious. This is the BEST red I have ever put on my face, it's amazing, AMAZING. It's almost neon it's so bright. It's the most blue red i've seen, so it makes my very very yellow teeth look less yellow (my teeth btw, are APPALLING, and my budge to visit the dentist to get some confidence currently stands at £0.50). 

So my application method is using one of my beloved Sleek Eau La La multi use pencils in Rouge - £4.99 from here to give a crisp line, because the Nars pencil is particularly thick so hard to get definition with. I then filled in with the Dragon Lady, and gave some 3D sculpture with Nars Venom around the edges. See the results below....

My lips, my sofa, and my H&M Kids jumper. 

As for long wear. Well, it dries to a powder finish, one that you can't blot and powder etc like I generally do when I want long wear. However, you CAN use Lipcote (£3.79 from Feelunique) over it and it works an absolute treat. I can eat, drink, and do whatever for about five hours and it looks great. So yes, I highly recommend Dragon Lady. It makes happy happen.

If you want to make happy happen. You can buy Nars Dragon Lady from the Nars Website here for £17.50 or from ASOS here for the same price. 

Review: Becca Radiant Skin Satin Finish Foundation (swatches etc)

Hello! So some might have guessed if you've read any of my posts, that I am a foundation junkie. I buy foundation constantly. I can't afford it, but I do it, it's an illness. I am sucked into the whole media myth of glowing, even, beautiful perfection that will last all day and then some. I purchase every foundation with manic, excitable eyes, staring wildly and exclaiming 'THIS IS THE ONE!!! LOOK HOW IT SHINES!'. Picture that if you will....or don't.

Anyway, as i've said before, I desire coverage to even out my dirty looking pale skin, dimension, not full on shine but a glow, and colour match. I also want it to last on my oily skin. It IS too much to ask, I have four draws full of foundation to prove that.

So when I saw the fact that Becca, a brand that DOES cater for my paleness was bringing out a foundation of a more traditional formula, that was also water/sweatproof, I was sold. GODSPEED IT TO MY POSTBOX BECCA!!! And they did, for the not too generous price of £35 for 40ml, plus postage, because there's no local stockist now. So far, so expensive, but also hopeful.

Becca Radiant Skin Satin Finish Foundation. Sitting there, costing lots. 

I purchased it in shade Porcelain, which is described as a fair ivory,beige pink, which also happens to be the palest shade. This is it's claims....

"With a sophisticated formula containing sebum-absorbing properties and a soft-focus complex, the latest foundation by BECCA creates beautifully natural skin with subtle radiance.

Infused with Ejitsu Rose to promote radiance and reduce inflammation, and anti-oxidant ingredients to protect, the ultra-smooth Radiant Skin Foundation glides over skin to disguise imperfections whilst providing a medium, buildable coverage."

So it was basically all I was looking for. Satin, soft focus, buildable and smooth. Sadly I think this wasn't 'the one' for various reasons. It wasn't it's problem though, it was mine. It was pretty translucent, which, if you have good skin already it would just give you an airbrushed vaguely sheeny in a healthy way finish. It'd be awesome. However, for me this foundation did start to disintegrate off my nose within two hours, and i'd primed and used a setting spray. The amount of building I had to do to get the finish I desired, which was nice at first, meant that the product began to separate and look heavy, sadly. In comparison to the luminous skin colour, it's a hell of a lot of coverage, but not enough for an uneven lady such as I. As much as I'd like it to be! 

Here's le swatches......

Becca Radiant Skin Satin Finish Foundation in Porcelain

Blended out. Note the lovely healthy sheen! 

So in conclusion, lovely as this guy is, he's not going to be the answer to my foundation prayers. As I say though, if you have skin that doesn't suffer from too much uneveness, this could be your holy grail, as it is a beautiful product, just not for my poor face.....

I purchased Becca Radiant Skin Satin Finish Foundation from Becca's website here for £35

The Eternal Search cont....

Happy 2013 all! I always find this time of year is great for those who find small talk difficult. You can say the same thing over and over and someone has ALWAYS got a response. What did you do for christmas? With the family? Was it nice? Turkey etc etc? New years? What you do? Have fun? Drunk etc etc? As it happens mine was incredibly stressful. I did a night in east london and it was my first one in my current guise, and anywhere other than central. It was great but when there's responsibility there's stress, and where there's stress there's sweat....which brings me full circle to the point of this and my previous post on the search for the best long wear foundation. So I shall carry on with my experience of spending eight hours in a very hot room for NYE.

I didn't have much choice of what foundation to use because I had to put on my slap there, in a horrid toilet, with girls swanning in and out chatting to me and asking for pictures. Whilst lovely, it's not always a happy me when i've half a face of slap, and i'm also a rather severe sufferer of OCD, and not the 'I think i'm a bit OCD' kind of thing that people say, that really bugs me as it doesn't make sense. I have it properly, so touching my face, in a club toilet, it's a trial.

Ramble over, onto the products.

I used a base of Mac Prep and Prime Natural Radiance which i'm still not sure is meant to be a permanent or limited edition item, as i've been told different things in different stores, but it's a product I LOVE. I'll do a separate review of it at some point. I then buffed on my beloved Mac Pro Longwear Concealer, with a Mac 188 Duo Fibre Brush to cover up the vast redness in my skin, and I had a bastard spot, and that stuff has medical grade ingredients to treat spots, so thanks Mac, you rule. Then finally, I used one of my more recent purchases, which is the below....

Stila Stay All Day Foundation and Concealer in Bare

I buffed it on with my new most treasured brush, the F22 Round Topped Kabuki by Blank Canvas Cosmetics. Which, btw, is the most amazing brush company, I love this brush even more than my beloved Real Techniques brushes, and thats saying something! I then used my Chanel loose powder in Rose Clair with a rolling puff technique, and spray it all over with a fixing spray, namely Urban Decay All Nighter to stop that horrid flat powdery look. 

I won't go through the rest of my routine because frankly, it'd get boring. However, I wanted to impress upon you what lengths I go to keep my make up ON during the sweaty hot nights I live through. 

Anyway, firstly, I must as an aside, let you know that this stuff is PALE. Yes, pale enough for me. It's pretty neutral, not running particularly yellow or pink, which is also a win, and IT DOES STAY. If you wear it without primer or powder, it's not going to be quite so spectacular, but this stuff doesn't crack, and the wear time I would say is around the nine hour mark before it starts wearing a little thinner. 

So in summary, this shit WORKS. However, it is pretty matte, not flat matte, there is dimension, but this isn't anywhere near 'dewy'. How many long wear foundations are though?? 

So in my long wear search, this scores HIGH. I recommend! 

The Eternal Search....

Why is it that foundation is the blight of my life? Don't get me wrong, I love it, in my own way. I have at least eighty, yes, you read right, eighty bottles of the god forsaken stuff knocking around various draws and hiding in boxes, quietly going past their sell by date. There's always, ALWAYS an issue. I am very pale, I have an uneven, patchy complexion with large pores, and super oily t zone. I need foundation to see me through an entire nights dj'ing, or a gig, where I will sweat tons, and go really, REALLY red. I go so red when I get hot I nearly go purple, it's horrific. I also get lots of pictures of me taken with a flash, what with clubs running at night, so I really don't want an SPF in my foundation either. So I need the following attributes for my foundation.....

Pale enough, water/sweatproof, NO SPF, medium coverage, satin finish, oil control.

It's not THAT much to ask is it? You see, for years, if a claim has been made on a product, I just went 'ooooh okay i'll buy that because they're not allowed to lie'. Well they are, it seems. Not out and out lies, but when you get told something is going to 'superstay' for six months or whatever, it's most probably not. I don't know the exact facts behind the legality, and obviously companies can't tell you a bare faced lie, like 'this will never come off, beauty FOREVER AND EVER!111!!!', but they can make a load of women test a product for a day and come back with a report that may not necessarily be based in reality.

Anyway, enough of that. So I search and I search, and these are the current foundations I use for long sweaty nights, their pro's, cons, and what I wish they'd do.

Smashbox Studio Skin SPF 15 in Shade 1.1

So, i'm starting with my favourite. There are many problems with the foundation for me, but it's STILL my favourite for long nights out, and I shall tell you why. It's an incredible formulation. INCREDIBLE. The coverage is medium to full, and truly build able without going cakey, and it covers everything. 

Once it's on, it pretty much sticks if you make sure you prime and powder, just to make sure. However, the downside, and it's a pretty big one. the colour is so insanely BROWN in the palest shade, it's basically like fake tan on me. To wear this I have to mix it with Illamasqua Skin Base in white, then add a dash of Make Up Forever Face and Body Foundation in 38 to give it a less yellow tone, then finally I can use it. Sadly for me, this detracts from the amazingly great formula. 

However, if you ARE of a more medium skin tone, and you need a hard working foundation on your chops, this guy is for you, and you can purchase it for £27.50 HERE

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in BONE

Okay, it's an old one, and goodness, I have SO many issues with this foundation, but for all it's cons, there are A LOT of pro's, depending on your skin concerns. Let me be honest, I don't like this foundation for many reasons, but basically, if you want a foundation that is going to last and last and not come off and cover ALL flaws, you can't go wrong. However, the finish is unsophisticated, flat, and the flash back in photos is legendarily terrible. I remember wearing this to work once and even WITHOUT a flash, my complexion looked that of a jaundiced poorly oddball. 

The shade selection is great though, and they have just introduced even more new shades, so there should be something for everyone, including us pale girls. I would recommend this foundation for ladies who have acne, and need to cover imperfections without much bother, who have very oily skin, or are going to be in sweaty situations, and will NOT be getting any flash pictures taken. You also must be ready to add dimension. 

The last time I wore this foundation was to the All Tomorrows Parties Pavement weekend (it's a festival in the UK, curated that time specifically by Pavement), and what I did was use Estee Lauder Illuminating Primer initially, and then also mix a quantity of it with the Double Wear, to give dimension and a more natural finish, and then popped Posie Tint by Benefit on my cheeks with a little High Beam on my cheekbones, and I had a fresh, summery look that would NOT budge, that I didn't have to powder, and I could sweat through and it lasted all night. As I said though, any photos, I looked ruddy AWFUL.

So in summary. If you want something that LASTS and you care no for trend based skin finishes, and you want high coverage, this is your guy. 

Available for £27.50 HERE

MAC Pro Longwear Foundation SPF 10 in NC15

When this foundation was announced a couple of years back, I virtually camped outside Mac to get my hands on it. It was released paired with Mac Pro Longwear Concealer which is a product I use virtually every day, so fantastic it is, but Pro Longwear Foundation and me never got on that well, certainly not the roaring loving friendship I predicted when I saw the early press releases. 

First problem, which I find with a lot of Mac foundations, is the shades are wildly different between each formula. NC15, which, despite not being yellow toned as such. is always my go to as it's the palest. However, Pro Longwear NC's run REALLY yellow, which is okay for covering redness, but I don't subscribe to this idea of wearing yellow based foundations to cover redness, because when the eventual foundation breakdown occurs, you look dreadful, whereas if it's actually closer to your skintone, it looks much less conspicuous. 

So, regardless of the tone based problems, this does have a nice finish, if you prime well and work quickly with it. It also does last, but the problem is, once oil starts to break through, the foundation will cake in creases, and separate, leaving you greasy and sticky. Initially it's a satin finish, which looks lovely, it fills in pores etc, but sadly, longevity wise, it doesn't cut it if you have actual oily skin. I would recommend this for long wear for a normal/dry skin whole heartedly though. 

Available for £24.50 online HERE

The Search For My Holy Grail Foundation Pt Deux: Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation Shade: 71

Hello poppers!

So I thought I'd do a review of a 'drugstore' foundation. I don't know why I refer to them as that...it's a foundation you can get in a normal cheap-ish high street shop such as Superdrug, but thats what its referred to in american blogs, so i'm following suit. And why not?

So here is my review for Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation, in the palest shade - 71.

"16 hours perfectly glowing perfection and toned skin"

Swatch of shade 71 - a very pale yellow

Shade 71 blended

This is foundation that I use as a daily go to item. For years I refused to believe anything you could buy from Superdrug could possibly perform any goodness on my skin, but how wrong I was! This foundation is G R E A T. Seriously! It's less than a tenner, and it covers all redness (apart from a tiny bit on my ruddy cheeks) yet lets my freckles shine through. You can layer it for more coverage if needed, and it really does LAST! It doesn't seem to clog pores, and although it isn't infallible, its pretty damn impressive for a foundation that gives you such a beautiful, healthy, non greasy glow to your skin whilst covering your open pores and evening your complexion out into a nice, smooth, healthy looking base for you to apply your make up on. I don't use this to DJ, as my experience is if you're going to sweat BUCKETS, this will melt off, but what do you expect, it's a dewy foundation that works on oily skin, but it's not made of genius juice from heaven, which it would have to be to stay on skin as slick heavy as mine.

So it's a MASSIVE thumbs up from me for this foundation. I highly recommend both dry, and oily skinned ladies to give this a go. It really is fabulous for the price.