foundation routine & mini product review. The Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua hype.......

Hi guys, long-time no-posts! I've been bogged down with Uni work, and I'm hoping to get back up and running with more exciting posts when I'm all done & graduated (scary!!!) 

If you'd like to watch a video review of the Chanel foundation then click HERE :) 
here you can take a look at my YouTube Channel!

For now, seeing as my foundation review was such a hit with you guys (it continues to get views even a year later..) I thought it might be fun to review a few face products that I've been using recently. My skin has changed a lot over the past year, going from very dry, to oily, and back to combination/dry again. That's British weather for you! 

www.chanel.com

The massively hyped 'Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua' foundation caught my attention late in 2012.. and I was looking for something that would be lighter for my skin, and perhaps not be so clogging or 'mask' like. 

www.cafemakeup.com

This product is water based, and must be shaken before application. You can use a brush or fingers, and looking at the reviews in the blogging world it seems like most people prefer fingers. I use my real techniques buffing brush, and this is my favourite brush of the moment, so I generally use this with all of my face products as I feel it gives the best coverage (and is sooo easy to use!) I'm colour B10, the lightest shade for reference!

Using this product on its own turned out to be the worst way for me to wear it. It went on lovely, and gave a nice natural coverage which could be built up. The staying power of this on my skin was shocking.... within around an hour, even with a primer and setting powder it was sliding all over my face, and I could visibly see it separating...not a good look! I was quite worried by this, as it's so expensive (not a price I would normally pay) so I had to try and make this work.................

www.polywore.com

The best way I find is to layer the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua with my Garnier BB cream for oily/combination skin. I purchased this BB cream after the disastrous time I had with the original one (horrible... greasy... just no!) So I was excited to use it. I adore this BB cream, and it's the only one I've tried (amongst other brands such as DR Jart...) that actually evens out my skin tone and makes it look half decent, like I have no make up on at all, result! 

Anyway, I was browsing YouTube and saw that Midnight Violets had done a post about her foundation routine for a flawless finish, and she used a BB cream underneath her foundation... so I thought why not try it? 

This seems to work for me
++ Thin layer of Garnier BB cream oily/combo using fingertips
++ 5p sized amount of Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B10... really work it in to the skin, buff it in really well. This foundation looks great if not a lot is left 'sitting' on the skin. And this will also reduce it sliding over your face.
++ set with a powder if you have oily skin (I've been using MAC skinfinish natural in light, however I think this might be breaking me out so I may have to reconsider this powder. Miss Sporty blemish powder and Collection lasting perfection are great alternatives (and cheap!)

Overall, it's quite annoying that the only way I can get my Chanel foundation to work for me is with another product, but I do love the finish it gives! I think that the BB cream makes an excellent base for evening out the skin, and also to prevent the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua from sliding. I probably won't repurchase the foundation as it's not been a 100% success for me.. please feel free to leave any comments on your thoughts on either of the products mentioned! 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my posts :) xxx Lucy 

Max Factor Smooth Effect Foundation REVIEW

Max Factor Smooth Effect Foundation in:
'Natural 50' and Creme Puff in:
'81 truly fair'

So if you've read my posts before, you'll know that I have combination skin that can be oily, dry and is prone to blemishes. I was just browsing for a new foundation, and a powder that might stop my skin from becoming oily throughout the day. My friend (who has oily skin) swears by Max Factor 'Creme Puff' powder to keep her skin matte all day, so I thought I'd give it a try! I also picked up Max Factor 'Smooth effect foundation' I was intrigued to see the 'smooth' effect that it would apparently give me!

The first thing to say is that I LOVE the creme puff. It sets any foundation really well, and gives some coverage which other powders don't. It's good enough to use with BB cream alone, which is great for  days where I don't want full coverage. It keeps my foundation from sliding off the face, which I've been having trouble with recently, especially at work! I love it, I really can't recommend it enough and will definitely be re-purchasing! 

The foundation is good for my 'normal' areas, it really does smooth out any imperfections. It's not so good on dry areas such as my chin.... it really exaggerates the dry skin/blemishes. The only way around it is to make sure I exfoliate & use a heavy moisturiser on these areas, but I love to use my Clinique Moisturizing Gel under make up to keep the oil at bay. The creme puff and foundation are a pretty good price for max factor products, as I'd usually expect to pay anything over £10 for a foundation. I'll probably give the foundation a miss next time as it's not amazing.... but the creme puff is great!!!

Max Factor 'smooth effect' foundation available at  £7.99

Max Factor 'creme puff' £5.99

Available at Boots & Superdrug 

(click the links to go straight to the Max Factor pages!) :)

Thanks for reading! Feel free to follow my blog to keep up to date with my posts :)

Lucy xx

Maybelline dream satin liquid *review*

'Air whipped foundation, air-brush finish'

I love this foundation! If you've read some of my other foundation posts then you'll know that I go for a medium/full coverage most of the time as I have blemishes and scarring from previous acne. I've had this foundation before and it's great! I tend to use a more 'matte' foundation for work, as I want my skin to stay shine free for most of the day, so I use Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse or 24hr Superstay. This one however, is great for general use like going out with friends in the day time and stuff like that. I feel it gives a natural look, doesn't look cakey and gives my skin coverage and really makes my skin have an overall 'fresh' look. 


This product retails at around £8 and I feel that this product is worth it!

Features of this product: 


I have this one in Ivory 010 and feel it's a pretty good match for my skin, it doesn't look orangey which most foundations look on me (even the lightest ones!) I have the 24h Superstay in 021 Nude and this definitely looks orangey unless I blend it really well! 
- good packaging, like the pump which makes it easy to dispense right amount
- good consistency, not too thick, glides on and easy to blend
- like the colour match of Ivory... I usually stay away from the very lightest shades, but this has worked well! 


Here's a picture of all the foundations I'm currently in the midst of trying.... I'm overall impressed with all of my Maybelline foundations for different reasons. I reckon I have one for every occasion! The Rimmel one is far too thick and greasy... so I might get rid of that one. Max Factor second skin I'm finding to be too thin at the moment, it's not enough coverage and tends to feel like it's sliding off my face an hour or so in to wearing it, so I don't find myself reaching for this one much. Dream Matte Mousse.... kind of a love hate thing going on with this one at the moment. I love the finish it gives to my skin, but it definitely grabs on to any patches of dry skin I might have, and any blemishes that I'm trying to 'dry up'. Still love it though..... and then one I've not really tried enough to make a fair comment on is the Pure Mineral Foundation by Maybelline in 04 Vanilla Rose. I've used this foundation once, and the result I thought was pretty good. It definitely made my skin look flawless, but it takes quite a long time to apply (I guess I'd get used to it and speed up the process...) I definitely need to try this one a bit more and I'll write a review on that :)
From left:
Maybelline 24h Superstay in 021 Nude
Max Factor Second Skin in 070 Natural
Maybelline Pure Mineral in 04 Vanilla Rose
Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse in 021 Nude
Rimmel Lasting Finish 25h in 100 Ivory


That's it for now.... I have a little stash of foundations, so I really do have a few to pick and choose from. I usually wear a few different ones each week, depending on the state of my skin and where I'm going that day.


Hope this has been somewhat useful to you.... and if you've got any comments I'd love to hear from you 
Lucyx

Foundation Review

I judge foundations by a couple of things.....

- staying power
- coverage
-hydration
-colour match

These are the main things I go for in a foundation as I am combination skin, prone to acne. I need the full coverage for this, but also have to be careful about clogging pores. I did a review a while back on Rimmel 25 hour foundation. I loved this foundation at the time, but now it's getting warmer, I'm finding that it gets far too greasy throughout the day. 


Products I've been using recently:

                                                  Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse in CAMEO.


As long as I prep my skin the night and morning before using this foundation, then it is a great one for acne/oily skin which I've been experiencing recently. By prepping I mean exfoliate, use a night moisturiser and another good moisturiser before applying in the morning. You can definitely build this foundation up for a full coverage, just make sure that you blend it in to the skin well otherwise it can appear flaky and patchy. This is another reason why a good moisturiser (or primer) before application is a good idea, so that you can blend easily! You can set this foundation with any powder, but I have been using the Dream Matte Powder from Maybelline and it's really good at setting the foundation, and you can stay shine free for hours! I just take the Dream Matte Powder with me during the day to touch up on any oily parts (such as the T-zone). I'm really loving this at the moment as I said, I've been experiencing oily skin (I think it's due to working in an air conditioned environment with no natural air). 

Maybelline Superstay 24H Foundation in 021 NUDE


I have used this foundation before, liked it, but I think I had the wrong shade, as I found it too pale for my skin (even though I am fair!) I like to have a warming colour, not orangey or obvious, just not porcelain white! I've gone back to this foundation as I remembered how it stayed put even through a day of work (approx 8 hours). The texture is quite thick, very creamy, and it blends well. I find that if I don't use very much though, it is hard to blend, so I make sure I have enough on the skin to blend out evenly (one to one and a half pumps should do the whole face). I really love this foundation, it's super thick, so it covers most of my bumps, blemishes and scars, but it's not at all oily so it doesn't clog my pores and make things worse! I find that if I use it with the dream matte powder and Collection 2000 concealer, this can give a really airbrushed look!


I've found this really helpful swatch of the 24h foundation on Google. It's from sasquatchswatch.blogspot.com and could really help you decide which colour you should go for! 

Max Factor Second Skin Foundation in 070 Natural


I've been looking for something similar to the Clinique Moisture Surge tinted moisturiser as it's getting hotter. A heavy foundation can clog the skin during the summer for me so I wanted something lighter. If you read my review of the Clinique Tinted Moisturiser then you will know that I found it to be okay, but as you might think from a tinted moisturiser, it didn't give me the coverage that I need. It's great if you use a really good concealer and lots of powder, but it's still on the sheer side for me.


I decided to try this Max Factor foundation as it looked promising in giving me the light foundation, with a good coverage. I've used it today 1/8/2011 and it stood my test of work. Surprisingly it didn't make my skin as oily as it has been recently, which was what I expected. The coverage is good, I put one layer on, and then applied some more to my problem areas. It gave quite a dewy finish, which is nice but I prefer a matte look for work (to stop the oil really...) but perhaps this dewy finish would be good for a summers day away from work! :) I used Rimmel Stay Matte concealer in 040 Soft beige, and this concealer is great after this foundation, as it's mattifying, and as the max factor foundation isn't too heavy, it's needed to cover those blemishes. I will keep trying this foundation for a week or two more, and let you know how I'm getting on :)


If there are any foundations you think I should try, for combination dry/oily skin, then please feel free to let me know by commenting below or tweeting me @xbeautybee 


Thanks! Lucy 

Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturiser spf15

High hopes......


After trying the free sample in Glamour Magazine a few months back, I really liked the result of using this tinted moisturiser. I felt that it gave great coverage for a moisturiser, and having acne scars and some current blemishes, this was an essential thing for me. However.....having gone out and bought this product, I have completely changed my mind! I really regret buying this product (£21), and feel that the tester somehow didn't provide me with an accurate feel for the product.

Tinted Moisturiser spf15

"Smooth on an instant moisture boost with SPF protection and a hint of skin-perfecting colour. Refreshingly lightweight formula provides a no-makeup look and feel, yet covers imperfections with a natural, hydrating touch. Oil-free."  - Clinique


This product leaves my skin feeling greasy and my pores feel clogged. I am aware that the point of this product is that it would give you a burst of moisturiser, but the feeling never goes away. My face feels wet to the touch, even after using a mattifying powder. This product claims to be oil free, but it doesn't seem that way to me, as it makes my face super oily! I would have thought this would have been perfect for dry & oily skin, but my friend has tried this product (she has oily skin) and it is no good for her either.


This is a real shame for me, as I absolutely love the Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief and was hoping to find a lightweight foundation perfect for the summer.  


Recommend to a friend?
No!

Rimmel Lasting finish 25 hour foundation review

Rimmel Lasting finish 25 hour foundation review

I have acne prone, dry combination skin which can get oily throughout the day. My skin is mostly dry though, especially on the t-zone area. I love trying new foundations but have to be careful that they don't dry out my skin! There's nothing worse than your make up going flaky!

Because of my problem skin, I like to have medium to full coverage! This foundation is great stuff! 

I got the rimmel lasting finish in Ivory and its great because I can build it up without looking orange or mask-like! I use a good moisturiser before applying any   make up to prevent flaky skin, and foundation just tends to look better if I've got hydrated skin.

This foundation really does give good coverage, not so good that I don't have to use concealer under the eyes and on blemishes (some reviews I read claimed that the foundation alone was good enough...) but it just depends what kind of coverage you're after! I set my foundation with Rimmel's stay matte powder (careful to avoid too much around the nose area as it can be drying). Another powder I like is Rimmel clear complexion.

Another thing about this foundation is that even though it is long lasting, and can be built up to a full coverage, I feel that it gives my skin a glow, rather than a totally matte look, which can make the skin look dull even before you've applied your matte powder! This foundation is super long lasting, like it suggests '25 hours' and although I've not tried it for 25 hours, it certainly stays on all day pretty much perfect! Good stuff! :)

Short reviews on other foundations I'm in the midst of trying!

Maybelline 24 hour

I use this foundation when I need my make up to last. For example when I'm at work, I'm usually running round and up and down stairs, so I need it to resist sweat etc. I have to make sure I'm super moisturised beforehand as this foundation is quite drying (but it lasts and has good coverage!)

Revlon photo ready 

This foundation doesn't have as good coverage as I'd like! Also I find it's got an orangey tinge to it. I'm not sure wether I've bought the wrong colour for my skin, but there's something just not satisfying about it. Plus, it's quite expensive at £13 so in my eyes it's not worth it.

Max Factor lasting performance

I'm liking Max Factor products at the minute! I actually bought a blusher, eyeshadow and nail varnish and got a free make up bag with some trial sized products in. Eyeliner, mascara (love it!), lasting performance foundation. The foundation is only a trial size but it's lasting quite well as I only wear it on nights out as it is very much full coverage and perhaps more than I'd like during the day! It's great for the night as it covers everything and there's little need for extra concealer! I set this make up with 17 (Boots) powder and I end up with a healthy colour on my face, no need for bronzer! I'll definitely be buying this foundation when my tester size runs out! 

I hope this review has been helpful and has given you some insight in to some of the 'full coverage' foundations out there! They're really the only foundations I go for, as I need the coverage due to acne scars and current blemishes! Feel free to leave a comment or ask me any questions regarding foundations, skin types etc :) Lucy x