Too Faced Born This Way Foundation Review

Looking for a new foundation can be difficult, do you agree?

Finding one that fits my criteria can be a chore. It has the right consistency, the right finish, is buildable, lasts at least 12 hours and has the perfect skin colour in the range. I like buying new foundations when they turn out right, but otherwise it feels like such a waste of money especially when you don't have it to waste.

Spending £20+ on something that turns out to be rubbish is not for me, but I couldn't resist trying Too Faced's Born This Way foundation. It has some great reviews and some friends recommended it too, so I thought it might be a good one to try next.

Beauty: Barry M Flawless Original Primer

Hey All

This is a post I've been meaning to share for a while now, I bought this a while ago when I was hunting out other products for a 3 for 2 deal and knew Barry M was cruelty free but apart from their liquid liner and nail varnishes I haven't tried many products.

Beauty : The Body Shop Matte Clay Foundation Review

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A few months ago whilst shopping with my brother we popped into The Body Shop and I couldn't resist grabbing they're new matte clay foundation. For my oily/combination skin it seemed like the perfect foundation for me and there was a great range of colours and even though I'm pretty pale I wasn't the lightest shade.

Kat Von D's Lock It Foundation and Concealer

Well hello there!

I've been meaning to share this review for a little while now but life has been so busy! After my trip to Croatia I've been travelling with work and will be away for the next few weeks, hopefully I will be able to keep up with everything.

I picked up the Kat Von D Lock It Foundation and Concealer at their opening event of the Cardiff stand in Debenhams a few weeks back (post here of the counter and the make up looks!)

The Body Shop Shade Adjusting Drops Light

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As a pale girl finding foundation that matches especially on the high street and that is cruelty free is a struggle. After finding The Body Shop Shade Adjusting Drops in light I've not looked back, I can now use all my old foundations that are too dark and adjust foundations to suit perfectly dependant on my skin tone at that time!

If you've read our blog for a while you'll know L and I are huge fans of The Body Shop, after going cruelty free I rediscovered a love for their products and have tried loads and got L hooked too, you can see all our reviews here and here.

Urban Decay All Nighter Foundation Shade 2.0 Review

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A few months back I share my thoughts on the Urban Decay Naked Skin if you read that post (here) you'll have seen I'd picked it up in error and had meant to get the All Nighter Foundation.  It turned out a great accident as I fell in love with Naked Skin as it's such a great foundation. I was still curious about the All Nighter Foundation as it's namesake setting spray is my all time favourite so C bought it for me for Christmas.

Dior Masterclass Splendour Event

Well hello there!

Last week we were lucky enough to be invited to a Dior Masterclass with one of our favourites, the lovely Anthony from Ant Gorgeous

He put on a lovely event where we were able to sit and watch him create a make up look on his gorgeous model and learn a few tips and tricks!

We sat down in the meeting room and were offered champagne and cakes, it had an afternoon tea theme which was lovely.

We sat and went through a number of products and got to try them all out on ourselves, which as we all know is the best thing you can offer make up obsessed people!

The Dior Hydra Life Pro Youth Sorbet Creme felt lovely on your skin and absorbed really well. The lipstick and Lip Maximizer lipgloss were both gorgeous too, I have heard so many good things about the Lip Maximizer and apparently Kylie Jenner uses it so you know it must be good!

A particular favourite was the DiorSkin Forever and Ever Wear, Extreme Perfection and Hold Make Up Base. This was a lovely thin fluid and created a lovely base on your skin, it didn't feel tacky but it did feel like it would hold your foundation for a full day.

The DiorSkin Nude Air Luminizer powder is stunning, such a pretty glow but the pattern is so pretty it would be hard to use!

The Dior Show Brow Styler was a big hit for everyone, it's so thin that creating brows from nothing is so easy. The styler allows you to draw on individual hairs to create a really natural look and it blends easily too.

The collection that everyone couldn't take their eyes off was the Splendour collection, this years festive range was beautiful and the colours are stunning. The eyeshadow palette containing five colours is a highlight and I know will be popular. There are also single eyeshadowsavailable in 8 colours, 2 different types of lipsticks, a lip and cheek tint available in four colours, a blush, nail varnish and illuminating pressed powder.

The colour ranges are typically reds and pinks for the lips and nails, and shimmery metallics for the eye products. Whatever you think of when you see the word Splendour, these are exactly the type of products you would expect.

You can see the swatches on my hand above, the liner, the eyeshadows, the lipstick, lipgloss and blush. Beautiful colours!

It was a lovely evening, I picked up a few things including my favourite DiorSkin Forever  Foundation and also a lipstick. I love the DiorSkin Forever Foundation and the finish it has, but also love that it has SPF35 and no flashback at all. I chose a Dior Addict lipstick in Be Dior, it was my first lipstick from this range so I'm looking forward to using it.

We were also given a gift bag containing a few things I haven't tried before so cannot wait to try them out too!

Have you seen the new Splendour collection? What's your favourite product?

Have you tried the Dior Addict lipsticks and Forever Foundation?

L xxx

MAC Pro longwear Foundation Review

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Long time no post from me it feels. Life has just been getting in the way lately but today I wanted to share a product I loved a while ago but recently repurchased and have fell in love with again, it's MAC Pro Longwear. We've reviewed it a long time ago on the blog but I've now gone for a different shade and thought I'd show you it on.

This was a total whirlwind purchase at the airport when we went to Copenhagan. You can see what else I picked up here and here. I am really pale lately and I find my foundations are all quite dark so I got colour matched at the airport to NW15. Previously I was NW20 but I definitely think that would be too dark for me.

The bottle and packaging are the same as they were before. Classic MAC black and white. I really like the pump on this, I like that it twists to close so it's secure in my bag as regularly I do my make up on the bus so I need something secure.

NW15 is for pink undertones. I have naturally rose pale skin I think I probably could have gotten away with NW12 but at least with this I can wear it all year.

Bare Skin

1 Layer

2 Layers

Full Face

I love this foundation. I'd forgotten how much I loved it until I had it back in my life. It builds up on the skin and blends so easily. I find my skin looks natural as it sets to a semi matte finish and doesn't leave me shiny and as you can see above photographs really well. I do find MAC colour options great for most skin tones.

Since purchasing it I have decided to go cruelty free so this will be my last bottle of it which does honestly leave me gutted so any recommendations for an alternative let me know.

Love M

xxx

Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation and Setting Powder*

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A few weeks ago L and I were sent some the Vichy Dermablend Corrective foundation and Setting Powder to try out. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it as it's been a firm favourite of L's for a while now but one I've not gotten around to trying. You can see L's original post on the foundation and how it looks on the skin here.

Since then the packaging has changed from black to white which I think looks better. And plus messy foundation fingers don't look as bad on it. I also love that it's in a squeezy bottle. Something about glass foundation bottles does look better but practicality wise a this is better for controlling how much foundation you want and getting every last drop out.

L already knew she was the shade Opal so I went for this too as we are pretty similar in colours. I think I could probably do with picking up the new shade porcelain to mix the two in as I get paler over the winter. If you are pale this is a great foundation to try! There are 8 shades in the range and they do have a mixture of shades from light to dark.

As soon as L gave me it I couldn't wait to get it on my face! So far I'm absolutely loving it and find myself reaching for it most days. I find with this I need less foundation then other products as a little goes a long way. It seems to blend with every brush I've tried including traditional foundation, real techniques expert face and buffing brush. It leaves my skin looking like skin but perfected. Considering it's a more full coverage foundation I love that my skin doesn't feel masked or looked caked on. I should have listened to L's recommendation sooner!

The setting powder is also right up my street. I prefer loose powders lately and I know some people don't like the mess but I find it gives my skin a better finish. This one comes with a puff in the top which I do like as it means it's one I can take with me and use on the go. The first thing I have to say about this is how amazing the texture is. It's the lightest, softest texture ever!!! If you've felt the By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Powder it really reminds me of that. It buffs into the skin and doesn't make the skin look super powdering or disturb the foundation under it. It just makes the make up last look and controls my shine!

I'm totally sold on both of these and my beloved Laura Mercier Mineral Powder foundation has definitely been replaced with the setting powder!

Have you tried Dermablend or Vichy products?

Love M

xxx

As M has mentioned I have been a long standing fan of Vichy's Dermablend Corrective Foundation and couldn't tell you how many I have bought over the last few years. I just love the finish it gives my skin and the pigmentation is so good it covers really well - even some of my acne scars just disappear.

Another factor I love about it is the SPF 35 it contains, I don't need to apply many layers of products as I know this will cater to my needs and leave my skin looking flawless for the whole day.

I have been using the foundation for a while however I was yet to try the Setting Powder, and I was not disappointed. As M said it's very similar in texture and finish to an extremely well known powder that's received rave reviews - and I can tell you now that it is completely comparable. I love the finish and it really sets my face for the day, and I am 100% impressed.

The Fluid Corrective Foundation costs £18, and the Setting Powder is £16. Both are worth every penny and both will be staying firmly on my purchase list for a very long time.

Maybe a primer will be the next product on the books??


L xxx

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation

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This is a product we both picked up in the Cosmetics Company Outlet in Swindon. Double Wear is such a cult product and seems to be either a love or hate.

We both used to love Relvon Colourstay (review here) which many dubbed to be a dupe (I need to get that back out and try it as it's been a while since I used it. I tend to forget about foundations I love!). It took us both a while to pick it up.

It comes in a blue and gold box which fits the brand. Estee Lauder I find is quite a classic brand. It also comes with SPF so is great for everyday where to help protect the skin. It does give a little flashback due to this in photos but nothing too bad and sometimes this can help to make your skin more flawless!

By picking this up at CCO we managed to save £9.25 off the normal RRP which is great for us, it means another potential lipstick in future!

Make up in a glass bottle always feels more expensive and luxurious and though it's not great to travel with isn't something that would put me off a product. Annoyingly though it is a product that doesn't come with a pump and is quite a flowing liquid so it can come out a bit quick onto the hand. I think you can buy a separate pump just like you can in MAC but I wasn't offered this at the time of purchase.

So far I've found it's a product you need to learn how it works for you. When you find how it works best I think it's one you love but I do find it to be trial and error with mositurisers, primers and powders.

For M it best applies over a hydrating primer like Laura Mercier. She also finds it works best with a dense brush such as the expert face brush. With the buffing brush it's almost too soft to work into the skin. It is one that sets quickly so it's best to do one section at a time. Also she's found that when set with powder straight away it can clump. It lasts well without powder so she only tends to powder towards the end of the day if needed.

L found that using the buffing brush or expert face brush was fine, but that she needed a lot more product than she normally uses with foundations such as Laura Mercier Silk Creme or Vichy Dermablend. They tend to provide a veil over the skin whereas this needed more product and provided a full coverage, something that I've been needing lately!
I still powder my nose but apart from that I don't need any other products throughout the day and it stays fixed all day. After figuring out how this foundation works for me I've been really impressed with the finish and the lasting effect.

Do you use double wear? How do you find it works for you?

Do you have any other favourite Estee Lauder products?

My mum's a fan of Bronze Goddess bronzer so I will have to try it out soon!


Love L and M

xxx

Maybelline Dream Satin Foundation

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This has been another hectic weekend for me. I was away in Bath for a friends hen do. It was a really good weekend but I was left disappointed by Bath Spa. I've wanted to go for such a long time but it was definitely very expensive for what you got. Scarily I've also now been taken off cake duty to be on official bridal and bridesmaid hair and make up. As someone who is totally self taught and only ever does my own face I'm nervous ha!

Anyway onto today's review. Just before I went to Iceland we went back to my parents for a weekend. Annoyingly I got home and realised that in trying to pack light for Iceland I'd only grabbed one foundation and it was a foundation that was currently about two shades too dark for me. This meant a rush into my local town (which is small ) to try and find a foundation. If I'd been in Cardiff I'd have just grabbed my old faithful Illamasqua skin base but as I was home this wasn't an option so grabbed two Maybelline ones and hoped they were ok.

If your around my age I'm sure you'll have tried dream matte mouse. When I was in school that was the bees knees of foundation. Add a thick layer of that bad boy and you had a 'perfect' skin! I was curious to see what the liquid was like. 

I picked up the dream satin liquid hoping it was different to it's mouse type sister. It comes in 8 shades with light porcelain being the lightest. I do feel like they could do with a shade lighter as it is border line for me. It comes in simple glass packaging with a pump. A pump always makes a foundation a winner for me.

The dream satin liquid felt nice and the hand and blended in easily to give a light coverage.Unless I'm on a night out now I prefer light coverage. I don't like my face to feel masked and if I have a spot I sort of think oh well I'm probably not covering that without a very heavy layer of make up, and to be honest I'm too lazy for that in the mornings (this comes from the girl who usually does her make up on the bus as that means I get 10 extra minutes in bed.

Bare skin

Just foundation

Finished and set with powder

The dream satin liquid claims to have an air whipped texture to give an airbrushed 100% pore less skin. I definitely don't agree with that. It doesn't emphasise my pores but it definitely doesn't make them disappear. It does give a nice medium natural coverage and the satin finish as promised. It was also a thicker than I expected but it does blend into the skin effortlessly I find it needs a few minutes to sit in the skin before you powder. It will cover the redness in my skin and spots if they aren't too bad.

Definitely not covering pores and does take a few minutes to settle or it looks shiny! 

I find it lasts enough to get me through a work day but would need topping up if I was out after work and wanted to look good.

For me it's a good everyday foundation but I do prefer bourjois to this if I was picking high street.

Have you tried either of these?

Do you have a preference?

Love M

xxx