Browsing Tag

Foundation

Base Makeup Laura Mercier

Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation Review

February 29, 2016

Laura Mercier launched a new foundation formula earlier this year called the Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation ($48 for 30 ml/1 fl oz). I’ve been playing with this formula for a few months now, testing a few shades over different bases and trying to see how it wears compared to other glow foundation formulas and I’ve found that it is one of the most luminous foundations I’ve ever tried. The Candleglow Foundation comes in 24 shades and is described as having a sheer to medium finish with buildable coverage. I find it to be on the sheer side with a noticeably dewy finish. I love a good glow, but for me the foundation finish is a bit too dewy on its own and needs a soft powder to set. It’s dewy but not greasy looking. Unfortunately once you add any kind of powder, the dewy glow disappears which kinda defeats the purpose of the product, but you still get a natural looking finish. (I’ve been setting with the Translucent Loose Setting Powder.) The formula is described as a hydrating formula – I did find it to have a hydrating feel but it’s a very lightweight formula and doesn’t feel heavy.

Comparing it to other formulas, the new Candleglow Foundation is not quite as sheer as the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, but definitely sheerer than the Flawless Fluide and Silk Creme Oil Free Formula. The packaging of the new foundation is well designed – I think it’s the best one yet from Laura Mercier. It comes in a sleek glass bottle and a very well designed pump dispenser. It’s very sturdy and has a nice simple streamlined look which I really like for an easy to use no-fuss kind of look. For me, I need three pumps of product to have enough to apply for my whole face. I like using the Sephora Pro Full Coverage Airbrush #53 brush with this formula, but you can use fingers or a sponge too. It glides on smoothly and evens out the skin in a very sheer natural kind of way. I couldn’t detect any scent which is a plus for those with sensitive noses.

Since the formula is on the sheer side, it makes the colors more forgiving so you don’t need a 100% exact match which is exactly what I need with this line. When it comes to Laura Mercier foundation shades, matching is always so incredibly tricky for me. I’ve made several visits to the counter to get matched for past formulas. Every single time I’ve been to a counter, I’ve been matched to a different shade. My Flawless Fluide match was Honey when I was last matched and it’s worked for quite some time. If you recall my original review, you might remember my surprise since it’s very pink in undertone. I have olive/yellow skin and Honey should be too pink, but somehow when it is blended out on my skin, it is an exact match. For the new Candleglow Foundation formula, Honey works well on my skin, but Dusk also works too. Dusk by comparison is more olive and cool-toned but it oxidizes on my skin so it adjusts to match my neck exactly. Golden worked on me a couple of months ago when I was a bit darker, but I’m losing my tan so it’s just a tad bit too dark for me. My perfect match happens when I mix all three shades, but I find myself reaching for either Honey or Dusk most. The formula is pretty forgiving. If you know what your shade is in the Flawless Fluide formula, your Candleglow shade should probably be the same.

Swatches, first set straight from the pump:

Blended out a little:

Swatch comparisons:

Above from left to right:

I would say for a natural glowy foundation/base, my favorite is still the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer because it’s not like a traditional tinted moisturizer, but has that lightweight feel. For me the NARS gives me just the right amount of natural coverage on days I only need a light base. It lasts all day without getting too dewy or greasy looking. Comparing the NARS to the Laura Mercier Candleglow, I prefer the NARS by far. The NARS wears better for my normal/combination skin. I’m in between colors, but the colors match my skintone better. The NARS also lasts longer and doesn’t get as dewy as the one from Laura Mercier.
I’ve also been testing the Armani Maestro Glow Foundation and Becca Aqua Luminous Perfecting Foundation (both of which I’ll review soon). I’ll have a more detailed comparison in the following posts, but I will say right now out of all the newest glowy foundation launches this year, my favorite is the Becca, followed by Laura Mercier. The one from Armani unfortunately has been a fail for me (details soon).

If you like sheer to medium coverage with a dewy finish I think you’ll like this one. It works for my normal combination skin but I think it would be better suited for those with normal to dry skin. Overall I found it held up very well considering how dewy/glowy it was. I did get a little shiny in the Tzone by 1-2pm – but it was easy to fix with a bit of a touch up. It’s sheerer than I prefer right now because I have spots I like to cover up – but you can fix those with a spot concealer (some of my favorites in this post here). If you’re one who doesn’t like a glow because you find formulas tend to get too dewy by late afternoon, you will probably be better off checking out the Flawless Fluide formula from Laura Mercier or the NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint. A huge plus for me with the new Candleglow formula is that it didn’t cause any irritation or breakouts for my super sensitive skin (many foundations clog my pores or cause tiny little bumps all over the face). You can probably experiment with different primers or bases to see how it lasts or wears. I found that primer didn’t make much of a difference in application or lasting power. It works just as well over a regular moisturizer.

Bottom line I the Laura Mercier Candleglow Foundation a solid performer – but may be too dewy in finish for some. Given the sheer coverage and the non-perfect state of my complexion, I do find I need to add something on top of certain areas to give me the coverage I need, but it’s definitely worth checking out for those who want a natural looking glow.

You can find the Laura Mercier Candleglow Foundation at all Laura Mercier counters by now. Online at Laura Mercier, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sephora and all other Laura Mercier retailers.
Have you checked out this formula yet? What did you think? Did you find a good match?

The Candleglow Foundations were sent courtesy of Laura Mercier for review consideration.

Base Makeup Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation and Magic Complexion Brush Review

February 24, 2016

There are a number of new foundation launches this year and I’ve been working my way through testing several different formulas and brands. One of the formulas that I’ve been most excited about is the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation ($44 for 30 ml/1.0 fl oz, made in Italy). This is described as a long-lasting foundation with flawless poreless coverage. It does indeed minimize the look of pores, covers dark circles and gives the skin a more brightened look. There is a new brush that launched called the Magic Complexion Foundation Brush ($55) which I’ve also been playing with. Thoughts on this one in this post as well.

The Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation comes in 15 shades and has an SPF 15. It’s packaged in a glass bottle with a plastic pump dispenser. I find two pumps sufficient to cover the entire face. There are a number of glowy foundation formulas on the market this season – I’m all about the glow, but for foundations I prefer a finish that isn’t too dewy because I have normal combination skin. What I like the best about the new foundation from Charlotte Tilbury is the formula brightens my skin, has enough coverage to covers imperfections and dark spots, and has a natural luminous look without being too dewy. I still need to set with powder, I’ve been using either the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder or the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Skin Perfecting Powder #2. With either one I get long-lasting wear, it lasts all day long well into the afternoon with minimal touch ups needed (just a tiny blot on the nose for me).

It’s recommended that you use the new foundation in conjunction with the other
Charlotte Tilbury face products such as the Magic Cream, Mini Miracle Eye Wand and Magic Complexion Foundation Brush for the best looking
skin, but I find you can use it over a wide range of moisturizers or
combine it with other concealers. It’s a pretty versatile formula that
offers medium to full coverage. It evens out the skin and offers smooth
flawless coverage.

In terms of color and formula, many know that I had a hard time finding a good match in the Light Wonder Foundation Formula. My closest match winter match was either 4 or 5, but I found I had to mix colors. During the summer I got a lot darker and found 7 to be my best match. Right now for the Magic Foundation formula, I can get away with either 5 or 6. The color adjusts and warms up slightly on the skin after it sets. It doesn’t oxidize too much which is good, but it will warm up a tiny bit.

Some swatch comparisons below. The corresponding shades for the Light Wonder vs Magic are pretty similar. I find the Magic Foundation 5 to be slightly less pink than the Light Wonder 5.

Next up are some thoughts on the new Magic Complexion Foundation Brush.

I had high expectations for the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Complexion Foundation Brush as it seemed very similar to the Tom Ford Cream Foundation Brush but priced at a much more affordable price. When I opened the box I was disappointed to see loose hairs flying everywhere. It shed like crazy however after I washed it, the shedding stopped. The ends of the brush look like they have been machine cut. Comparing this to the Tom Ford, the Tom Ford Brush is significantly softer, better made, and seems to be of better quality overall. That being said, the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Complexion brush does perform just as well as the Tom Ford. It buffs the foundation into the skin for a streak-free flawless finish. If you’re looking for a foundation brush that’s soft and will buff in product to a smooth finish, I think it’s something worth looking into. The one from Charlotte Tilbury has a looser fluffier feel that isn’t quite as dense which I find makes it easier to smooth over the larger areas of the face in a circular motion. Here’s a look at both after they’ve both been washed and dried.
In terms of how to apply the Magic Foundation, I think you can use fingers, a beautyblender sponge, or any foundation brush. In the week I’ve been testing this formula, I’ve been using the new Magic Complexion Brush and it’s been working well (that is once I washed it).

Overall I give the new Magic Foundation formula a huge thumbs up. For me I don’t detect any noticeable scent which is a plus. It has sunscreen but doesn’t irritate my super sensitive skin. It has enough coverage to even out the skin and cover my under eye area so I don’t need concealer (but I still use it). Lasting power is good. Finish is more on the natural matte side and looks like your skin but better. I really love the formula of the Magic Foundation – even more so than the Light Wonder and as someone who likes decent coverage but want something that still looks like skin, I’m thrilled with this one. The Magic Complexion Foundation Brush is nice to have, but for me it’s not a must. I do really like the way it performs and I was relieved that the shedding stopped once I washed it. You can use the tools in your current beauty kit to get similar results.
You can find both the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation ($44) and Magic Complexion Brush ($55) online at Charlotte Tilbury now (expected to launch at other retailers soon). Right now Charlotte Tilbury’s website has an exclusive set called the Magic Foundation Kit ($110) which has the brush, foundation of your choice and a mini magic cream.

Have you tried either of these new launches yet? If yes, what did you think? I’d be curious to know what color you’re matched to if you have!

Both the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundations and Magic Complexion Brush were sent courtesy of Charlotte Tilbury for review consideration.
Highlighters

Natasha Denona Glowing Skin System via Beautylish

January 29, 2016

I just recently discovered Natasha Denona’s makeup line thanks to Beautylish. Her makeup line has been all the rage on social media lately and rightly so. I had the privilege of meeting her in person at IMATS Los Angeles earlier this month and got a sneak peek at the full line. I’ve been testing some of her products for the past month now and have a first look today at her Glowing Skin System. Right now Beautylish carries the items focused around glowing skin. They will carry her full line of makeup by the end of February including eyeshadows, blushes, lipsticks and more.

The Glowing Skin System is a five-piece set that includes selected products, all formulated by Natasha to give your skin a natural-looking glow. The set also includes a bonus brush.

Based on my skin preferences, the Beautylish team sent me a few items to try. After seeing the line in person at IMATS, I later purchased three more items to test out and compare. First up are some thoughts on the primers. It was recommended that I try the Anti-Shine Flawless Face Base ($55, c/o). Let me preface by saying I am not a primer kind of person. I think primers can make a huge difference in the way foundation lasts and applies, but in general I don’t like the added layer of product on my skin because it usually feels too thick. The Anti-Shine Flawless Base feels like a gel formula and glides evenly over the skin. It feels slightly thick when you blend onto the skin, but once it sets it’s not thick and smooths out the skin. It doesn’t make the face look matte but it helps prevent shine and with the Face Glow Foundation it helped extend wear and did reduce shine throughout the day (compared to when I tested it without the primer). I liked that it didn’t clog pores or irritate my skin. I haven’t tested it with other formulas of foundation though.

At IMATS I tested the Face Glow Hydrating Primer Underbase ($35) and it felt amazing so I ordered it the next day. It’s almost like a cushiony moisturizer and it feels incredible on the skin. It reminds me of a more emollient version of the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream. This one is definitely best for those with dry skin. Right now I have normal combination skin. I tested this on several occasions and found it too rich and moisturizing for my skin type. It’s going to be regifted to one of my friends who has super dry skin.

I was matched sight unseen to the Face Glow Foundation ($42, c/o) in Shade 30. You can see the color face chart online at Beautylish which I think is super helpful. When I apply it, the color looks just the a bit too light, but once it sets it darkens just the slightest bit so it’s a fairly good match. I can also fix this with a slightly darker powder. I checked out the next two shades in 40 and 42 while at IMATS. 40 was too pink and 42 was too dark. I’m in that skintone transition phase right now, so I don’t have a 100% exact match, but I can make 30 work without too much extra effort.

The Face Glow Foundation has SPF15. It comes in a pump tube and to me feels like an in between BB cream and CC cream. It is on the thick side, similar to that of the Chanel CC Cream, but has a sheerer finish. The finish is sheer to medium. It’s not so sheer that it’s invisible. It does even out the skin but I would say this is best for those with near perfect skin. As the name implies this is a glowy kind of product. One of the more glowy ones I’ve tried lately. I found it absolutely necessary to set with powder. On my normal combo skin, it did get a bit too dewy by 2 pm for my taste. More dewy than other foundations.

This one is perfect for going out at night if you have a special date night or want to look fresh and glowy. For everyday, I prefer something with more coverage and less dewy. Your mileage may vary – there are lots of customer reviews on Beautylish which I always find helpful.

I did some swatch comparisons when I did the review on the NARS Velvet Skin Tint (c/o). I’ve reposted here for quick reference:

Next up are the glow products. I love a good glow – there’s something about shimmery makeup that always gets me. There are three glow products for face and body. There are three shades for each one in Light, Medium and Dark. First up is the Face Glow Cream Shimmer Stick in Light 01 ($42, c/o) which is a champagne pearl cream. It comes in a twist up stick and gives a very glowy gleam to the skin. Out of the all the items I tried, I had the highest hopes for this, but am sad to report it did not work for me. This gives the skin a beautiful sheen and I love the color. The effect for my personal taste is simply too glowy – it makes the skin almost look wet. Even if I set with a powder on top (whether it’s a setting powder or powder highlighter) for me this one is just too glowy. If you read other reviews it has been very well received and raved about. I may be in the minority in my opinion on this one. The shimmer is fine and smooth (not frosty or glittery). It doesn’t emphasize pores. I just didn’t like the way this looked on my skin. I tried it multiple ways under foundation, over foundation, over blush, on cheekbones, on the eyes.

A quick shot next to the powder in Light 01 – you can see they are the same color:

Next up are the All Over Glow Face and Body Shimmer Powders ($38 each). Beautylish sent me Light 01 (c/o) which is one of the prettiest champagne shimmers I’ve tried. The powder is on the shimmery side but I don’t find it overly frosty. Pigment is excellent and easy to blend. It makes the skin glow to perfection. After playing with these at IMATS I fell in love with both the Medium 02 and Dark 03 and ordered them immediately. I love shimmer powders and these are amazing. I live for flesh toned shimmers and it’s hard to find ones that are tan or deep, somewhere in between a straight champagne or pure bronze. I think these are definitely worth a look. After playing with these, I still think Light 01 is the best for me, but Medium 02 gives my skin a slightly golden bronzey sheen. Dark 03 is definitely too dark for me to wear on the cheeks. I can wear it with a super light hand. I actually really like it on the eyes.

Swatches of each, left swatch is with a light hand,  right swatches are heavier:

Next up is the Body Glow ($55, c/o) which also comes in three shades Light, Medium, and Dark. I have light shown below. I didn’t get a chance to see the other shades at IMATS (too many other distractions to play with). This gives the skin a luminescent glow. I applied it heavily in the swatch below next to Charlotte Tilbury’s Supermodel Body Shimmer. Once you blend on the skin, both of them dry to the same naturally glowy finish. I would say the one from Charlotte Tilbury has sparkles that are slightly larger and more visible while the one from Natasha Denona has a very similar effect but more fine shimmer. I’m not one who wears body shimmer products frequently (maybe I should start) but this one is very pretty and natural looking. It dries quickly so there’s little to no transfer to loose clothing. For me this is nice to have, but not necessary.

Last but not least, the Natasha Denona Glowing Skin System from Beautylish comes with a bonus brush. I think the option may vary per set. I was sent the Brush #22 (c/o) which is a foundation brush. It’s a flat top brush that is very soft and dense. I actually prefer this one for the powder highlighters. It picks up just the right amount of product and applies powder perfectly to the face. I didn’t expect much from it since I’m usually not a fan of flat top brushes (they almost always end up feeling like the poke my face), but this one is insanely smooth at the top and feels amazing. It’s not available separately on Beautylish yet, but I hope they will launch it soon.

Close ups:

If you’re looking for a makeup base collection to give you some serious glow, the Natasha Denona line is definitely worth a look. Out of all the items I tried, my top picks are the Face Shimmer Powders in Light and Medium and the Brush #22. Of course you don’t need to use the entire system – the pieces are nice to incorporate into your everyday routine or nice to add for a bit more glam and glow for an evening look. There’s been a lot of buzz about Natasha’s line and I’ve been watching videos to try and decide what lip colors to try out. I have been testing one of her blush duos and an eyeshadow palette. I hope to have a review up soon on both.

Have you tried anything from Natasha Denona? If yes, what do you recommend? You can find the Glowing Skin System now at Beautylish. The rest of her line is expected to launch there by the end of February.

Glowing Skin System sent courtesy of Beautylish indicated by c/o, Face Powders in Medium and Dark and the Hydrating Primer purchased by me.

Base Makeup NARS

NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint Review

January 15, 2016

Today NARS is launching their new Velvet Matte Skin Tint ($44 for 1.7 oz/50 ml). I am a huge fan of NARS foundations and face products and this new one is quite amazing. Long time Beauty Look Book readers know that I adore the Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer because it’s not like a traditional tinted moisturizer but more of a natural looking skin tint that offers medium buildable coverage with a slightly dewy sheen. Anytime someone asks me for a recommendation on a natural foundation, the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer is the first one on my list, but many of my friends are hesitant to try it because they think it will be too dewy for their normal/combo to oily skin (I still think it’s suitable for oily skin). Well the new Velvet Matte Skin Tint offers the same kind of beautiful medium buildable coverage and natural finish – but without any glow and with a slightly velvety matte finish. 

The Velvet Matte Skin Tint (oil-free) comes with broad spectrum SPF 30 just like the Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer. The texture is similar in that it’s easy blend, applies smoothly, covers redness and evens out the skin. It dries to a velvety finish without looking flat or too dry like the name matte often implies. It’s like skin but better and on me it’s lasted an impressive amount of time. All day without separating, fading or creasing. Coverage is medium – enough to even out the skintone but not too heavy. It allows your skin to breathe so to speak and feels slightly hydrating but still weightless.

In addition to evening out the skin, it has Rose Fruit Extract to minimize pores and control shine. Vitamins C and E and broad spectrum SPF to protect the skin from environmental stress.

It’s pure love.

For the Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer, I have alternated between
two shades in Groenland and St. Moritz. Right now I am in between shades but am a closer match to St. Moritz because I still have some of my summer tan.
St. Moritz is my summer shade and Groenland is my most-of-the-year
shade. I found that the Velvet Matte Skin Tint colors in corresponding
shades look slightly different when swatched but once you blend it out
on the skin, they are identical. So you should be able to use the same
color of Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer and Velvet Matte Skin Tint. For reference you can find swatches of all the colors on Karen’s blog at Makeup and Beauty Blog.

First a look at the packaging differences of some of the foundations. The Velvet Matte Skin Tint comes in a sleek squeeze tube similar to the Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer, but it’s slightly skinnier and longer in size.

Here are two sets of swatch comparisons to Groenland and St. Moritz:

Set one above includes:
Buxom Show Some Skin in You’re a Natural and Meet Me Latte (shown here)
____________________________

Set two above includes:

Tom Ford Traceless Perfecting Foundation in Bisque and Natural (review here + here)
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard and Ginger

____________________________

Bottom line amazing and definitely worth checking out. It’s just as good as the Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer without the glow, but still natural looking. You can find the Velvet Matte Skin Tint now online at NARS and at NARS Boutiques. It will launch at Sephora, Nordstrom, Barney’s New York and all other NARS retailers starting February 1st. 

Do you have any NARS foundation favorites? (P.S. I’m behind responding to e-mails and comments, but will catch up later on Sunday this weekend, I’ve been super busy this past week and I’m also attending IMATS for the first time today!)


The Velvet Matte Skin Tints were sent courtesy of NARS for review consideration.

Base Makeup Edward Bess

Edward Bess Flawless Illusion Transforming Full Coverage Foundation

January 14, 2016

Last fall, Edward Bess launched a new foundation formula called the Flawless Illusion Transforming Full Coverage Foundation ($49 for .27 oz/7.7g, made in Italy). It’s a compact cream foundation that I’ve been putting to the test for a few months now and I deem this another winner from his line. There are five shades in total: Fair, Light, Medium, Tan and Deep. It’s completely scent free and comes in a solid cream format. It does offer full coverage that I find is easy to build and unlike many other solid cream foundations this one feels completely weightless on the skin. The finish is truly flawless – it melds into the skin for a natural finish, not dewy or matte, but somewhere in between. It smooths out the skin beautifully with really good coverage but looks like skin. It minimizes pores and fine lines. It’s pure love. Here’s a look at all five shades, first is with flash:

Under natural light, no flash:

Swatches below, applied with fingers:

As with most full coverage foundations I do believe you need to prep the skin properly before you apply foundation. I’ve tested it with and without primers, I don’t think you need to add a primer with this one, but make sure your skin is properly moisturized and the foundation will glide onto the skin smoothly (I really love this one over beauty oils like the Laura Mercier Infusion de Rose Nourishing Oil or Kate Somerville Dilo Oil).

In terms of wear and lasting power, I found it lasted all day without separating anywhere. I do set with powder like I do with all my foundations. Over the last part of the year when we had a heat wave and lots of sunny
weather here in Southern California my match was Tan. Now that I’ve
started to lighten a bit my match is currently Medium – it’s a neutral
beige, not yellow or pink, but a true neutral. Additionally there is a new brush that Edward launched called the Retractable Buff and Blend Brush. It’s one of the larger kabuki brushes I’ve tried and incredibly soft. It’s made of synthetic hair and is very dense, but still very soft. You can use it with this foundation or powder. I prefer to apply the cream with fingers or a damp beauty blender sponge. This brush can act as a nice foundation buffer if you work it in with a circular motion.

A few swatch comparisons. I’m a huge fan of many other Edward Bess foundations and creams – unfortunately I’m out of a few of them because I’ve used them up. Here’s what I have to compare, with a couple NARS shades as a baseline in case you’re my skin twin. In my foundation testing experience, NARS Punjab is one of the most yellow/olive toned foundations I’ve tried. Santa Fe is one shade lighter but pulls more neutral/pink. I hope this helps show the undertone of the Edward Bess foundations below.
Edward Bess Complexion Correcting Mousse – thicker and richer in coverage
Edward Bess Sheer Satin Compact Foundation – sheerer and more dewy in coverage
NARS All Day Luminous Foundation – has a more coverage

Bottom line yet another winner from Edward Bess’s line – he can do no wrong. This spring seems to be the season of new foundations – many of which seem to be focused on a getting a glowy and dewy look. If you are in search of something that is more natural in finish but still offers full coverage, the one from Edward Bess is worth a look.

You can find the Edward Bess Flawless Illusion Transforming Full Coverage Foundation at Edward Bess counters. Online at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, QVC and Edward Bess.

Foundation kindly provided courtesy of the amazing Edward Bess.

Eye Makeup Urban Decay

Best of Urban Decay Cosmetics

December 9, 2015
Urban Decay Nordstrom The Beauty Look Book

If I were stuck on a desert island and could only have one makeup palette with me, it would be any of the Urban Decay Naked Palettes. I’ve been such a huge fan of Urban Decay for years and out of all the makeup I’ve bought, tried and tested, the Naked2 and Naked3 Eyeshadow Palettes are hands down my favorites – ever. I’ve done quite a few reviews on each palette in the past but I don’t think I’ve ever rounded them all up in one post. Today I’ve teamed up with Nordstrom to share my favorites from the line along with swatches and thoughts on their latest launch the UD x Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette.

The Naked, Naked2, Naked3 and Naked Smoky Palettes all have a mix of beautiful neutrals. Each palette offers a diverse range of colors and textures ranging from matte, shimmer, frost, glitter and satin. The texture of the shadows are amazingly smooth, rich and super easy to blend. They last all day on my lids – although some of the glitter shades will have some fallout. I would say Naked has the most diverse range of neutrals from light, medium to dark. It has a split mix of warm and cool shades. Naked2 is the most neutral option with colors that will make any taupe lover go crazy. It has 2 of my favorite colors in YDK and Suspect (also available individually). Naked3 is the rosy pink neutral option, as one who rarely wears pink eye shadow, it was a huge surprise to me at how wearable the colors in this one are. The colors are absolutely perfect. The latest Naked palette is the Naked Smoky which I adore but is hit or miss for many. It’s the darkest and most dramatic mix of neutrals – the texture of the shadows is slightly harder than the other palettes, but I find pigment to still be excellent and easy to blend.

Urban Decay Naked Palettes

Urban Decay Naked Palettes

Urban Decay Naked Palettes swatched

The best matte eyeshadow palettes on the market are the Urban Decay Naked Basics and Naked2 Basics. I passed on the Naked Basics one for the longest time because I thought the colors would be too light for my skintone. Thanks to the extra push from my readers, I bought it and have been really happy. I don’t usually like matte shadows because I find they are either too sheer or too intense. Sheer ones just don’t show up on my skin, intense ones are too powdery or creamy and make my lids look wrinkled. The ones from Urban Decay are the perfect texture to just melt into the skin but at the same time the pigment shows up really well. The colors are easy to blend with each other. I like using these alone or mixed with shimmer colors. If I had to pick one, I would say Naked2 Basics is my favorite for my medium olive-toned skin, but both are really good.
Urban Decay Naked Basics and Naked2 Basics

The 24/7 Glide-On Eyeliner Pencils come in a wide range of colors. I of course prefer the neutrals (there are tons of options in this range), but there are lots of bold brights and shimmers that are really fun. I always have Bourbon on hand, I have a few actually. One is a mini from a holiday set, and I also have the full size. It’s a shimmering dark chocolate brown. Rockstar is a classic deep plum. I like that it’s deep but not so dark that it looks black. The Naked Double-Ended Pencils are nice to have for travel because you get 2 shades in one stick.

If you’ve used Urban Decay for a long time, you are probably aware of the lipstick changes over the years. The formulas have changed numerous times (they used to have their glosses in a squeeze tube, anyone remember Midnight Cowboy?). Right now three current lip formulas I like include the Ultra Nourishing Lipgloss, Revolution Hi-Color Lipgloss and Revolution Lipstick.

The Ultra Nourishing Lipglosses are cushiony shiny glosses. They are on the sheer side, so many of them end up looking very similar once on the lips with slight variations. My favorite is Naked because it has the prettiest sheen and shimmer that makes the lips look full but not too full.

The Revolution High-Color Lipgloss is a rich pigment gloss that is almost like a liquid lipstick. The two neutrals in the line are Kinky and Liar, I almost bought both but they are really similar. Liar is deeper and more pink, while Kinky is more beige and peachy.

For the lipsticks, I’ve only bought one formula. There are three formulas of lipstick. The Revolution Lipstick is the classic version which offers creamy pigmented coverage with a bit of a sheen. Lasting power is really good. There is also the Revolution Sheer Lipstick and Revolution Matte Lipstick as well which I haven’t tested on my lips, but when swatching them in store, the sheers are just that – sheer. The mattes are full coverage velvets.

For the face, the Naked Skin products have often received high ratings and raves. I have tried two items and really like them. The Naked Skin Ultra Definition Powder Foundation is a smooth powder that gives natural medium to full coverage. I use the shade Medium Light Warm. I like to use it to set liquid foundation or for mid-day touch ups on the T-zone. As a foundation it lasts pretty long and looks very natural. I like that it doesn’t cake even if you use the sponge. The Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer is a great concealer for both under eye and spot coverage. It’s full coverage without looking cakey. My match is Medium Neutral and I like how it really covers but blends well into the skin so it looks like your skin.

Swatches of all the concealer shades:

Last but not least, the latest from Urban Decay is a celebrity collaboration. They just launched the UD x Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette (limited-edition). Being a fan of both, I knew had to buy it even though at first glance there were 2 shades I thought might be questionable. Here’s a quick snapshot below to show you the size/scale of the packaging compared to the other palettes. It has 15 eyeshadows in a large mirrored compact (Naked palettes have 6 to 12 shades). I love the little detailing on the mirror.

 

UD x Gwen Stefani Palette

The 15 shades are mostly neutral with 3 colors that offer a bit of pop. There is a good mix of matte, shimmer and satin with one glittery shade and two colors that are on the sparkly side. I’ve been playing with this for only a few days but initial thoughts are thumbs up.

UD x Gwen Stefani Palette

Descriptions of the colors in the UD x Gwen Stefani Palette:

  • Blondie is a shimmering pale cool-toned cream
  • Bathwater is a frosted yellow champagne
  • Skimp is a satiny soft pale cream with pink tones
  • Steady is a shimmering beige pink
  • Punk is a matte warm brown
  • Baby is a shimmering neutral mauve pink taupe
  • Anaheim is a matte fawn beige
  • Stark is a matte warm beige
  • Zone is a matte tan
  • Serious is a satiny grey brown with shimmer, goes on more matte
  • Pop is a glitter champagne sparkle
  • Harajuku is a cool-toned blue based pink shimmer
  • Danger is a sparkling bright navy
  • 1987 is a sparkling gold
  • Blackout is a matte black
Pigment on all the colors is really good. There is some fallout with a few of the shimmering sparkles like Harajuku, 1987 and Baby, but once on the lids they stay put. The only color I wasn’t thrilled with is Pop mainly because it has crazy fall out with the glittery chunks unless you pat on the lids with a finger (over cream shadow to help it stick). I thought Danger would be a mess but it actually stayed put and didn’t fall all over the face when I applied with a detail brush. I thought Harajuku would give me a pink-eye look but it’s actually a very wearable pink.

Quick eye look with six colors layered and blended. The camera flash washed out the colors but I included a snapshot of the colors lined up together I used to help show the mix:

That rounds up my favorites from Urban Decay. There are a lot of single shadows that fall in the shimmer neutral category that are staples in my weekly makeup routine but the palettes are so much more convenient to use. Many times I find palettes have a few shades that I don’t like but with the Naked ones, I like every color in every palette.

If you’re looking for a versatile palette, you can’t go wrong the Naked Palettes. My top 3 favorites are Naked2, Naked3 and Naked2 Basics – they are good for everyday, great for travel and have enough color to create a look for evening or special occasions. The colors are timeless and you can wear them any time of year.

Do you have any Urban Decay favorites? I’m curious about the Naked Skin Foundation, Loose Powder and Afterglow Blush – if you have any thoughts please let me know, I’d be interested to hear what you think.

Thanks to Nordstrom for teaming up to sponsor this post. As always, all opinions my own.

Base Makeup

Fall Foundations

October 15, 2015

It’s time for a foundation update now that we are transitioning to fall weather. I’ve been testing some new base formulas over the past few months. I have an assortment of foundations to share today by coverage type which I’ve found suitable for my normal combination skin. These days my skin is slightly oily in the T-zone with a few dry patches around the chin area as I’m working to clear up my skin. I still have super sensitive skin that reacts to a lot of foundations so if you’re like me, I this roundup helps you find something new to try.

In case you have completely different skin type and foundation preferences, I highly recommend you give Nordstrom’s online foundation search tool to help you find the right foundation for you. There is a quick and easy form for you to fill out where you select skin type, coverage and finish preference. This filters brands and formulas for you to check out. I highly recommend you give it a try.

I’ve split my fall foundation edit into three categories: Natural Coverage, Medium-to-Full Coverage and Powder Foundations. My personal foundation preference is for something that is natural looking and lightweight but also has decent coverage to even out the skin and create a flawless base. Many have asked me if it’s necessary for add-ons like primers and powder. I don’t think all foundations need a primer, but I’m a firm believer in setting with powder. Many times I set with a powder foundation by dusting the face with a brush. Some think it’s too much to layer powder foundation on top of liquid foundation but if you layer it right, it’s not too much. (More on primers and powders in a separate post.)

Up first are three new powder foundations I’ve been testing. If you’ve read The Beauty Look Book for a long time you will know that my holy grail powder foundation is the Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Matte Powder Foundation. My color is usually Warm 100 and has worked for me even though I’ve gotten darker over the summer. I decided to try a few new formulas.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Powder Foundation is indeed a high-def kind of product. It’s a super pigmented and super velvety kind of powder foundation that has medium to full coverage. You can use this one wet or dry, I prefer dry with a sponge or dusted with a brush. For me trying powder foundation is tricky – as the skin warms up, powders often darken or oxidize in color. The Urban Decay Naked Skin Powder Foundation does warm up to the skin but doesn’t darken. It holds up really well with minor touch ups needed on the nose for me. I use Medium Light Warm. There are a number of shade options with different undertones.

The Tom Ford Flawless Powder Foundation launched a few months ago. This is extremely pricey at $80 but the formula is amazing. With a simple base of moisturizer the sponge applies this on the skin and makes all your pores disappear. Skin appears smooth and truly flawless. It’s easy to build – the texture in the compact looks and feels powdery but there is no fall out on the face and it doesn’t cake. The downside (aside from the steep price tag) is the limited color selection. I’m in between Fawn and Sable. It was suggested I opt for Fawn as the closest match. I’m about 1.5 shades darker now compared to what I am most of the year. For right now I can get by with Fawn but it’s a tad bit too pale. It will be perfect for winter. That being said I do hope they expand the color selection to match the liquids because this formula is incredible.

Giorgio Armani also launched a new foundation called the Luminous Silk Compact. Color selection jumps around in this one as well. I am normally anywhere from a 6, 6.5 to 7 in the Luminous Silk and Lasting Silk. The powders I saw seemed to run on the dark side. I was matched to 4 and I was super skeptical about the counter rep’s matching skills because I expected to be 5.5 or 6.5. She was right. It warms up on the skin. I would say this is one of the sheerer powder foundations I’ve tried. If you like a super natural look this is a good one. It is very smooth and finely milled. I prefer more coverage but it’s great as a setting powder or layered over a sheer foundation.

Swatches next to Chanel Double Perfection Lumiere Powder Foundation (right now I use 40 Beige) and Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Matte in Warm 100

_______________________________________

Next up are some natural medium coverage foundations. Some of these are more on the sheer side but each of these will offer enough coverage to even the skin and cover minor imperfections. I have a few tried and true mixed in with a new to me formula.

Amore Pacific Color Control Cushion Compact was featured a few weeks ago. This is the first cushion compact I’ve tried and my color match is Tan Gold 204. Several of you mentioned you hoped shade 102 would launch in the US and the good news is that I just noticed that it’s now online at Nordstrom! The Amore Pacific Cushion Compact is the most natural looking foundation I’ve tried that still gives medium coverage. It melts into your face to look like skin but as you press it into your face you will see it transform into what I call your skin but better. Color selection is limited so I’m thrilled that Tan Gold is my perfect match (it warms up and adjusts within the first 2-5 minutes but doesn’t darken further after it sets).

The NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer is one of my holy grail base products because it’s really not like a traditional tinted moisturizer. When my friends ask me for a recommendation on a foundation that’s natural this is the one I recommend first. It’s usually followed by a response along the lines of, “oh but I don’t like tinted moisturizers, they’re too sheer and greasy.” I agree that most are, but this one is very different. It’s more like a natural foundation with a super lightweight texture that makes the skin glow naturally. I’m usually Groenland year round but after getting a tan I’ve found the next shade up St. Moritz to be a better match. If you haven’t tried this formula I highly recommend you do. It has the perfect natural coverage and glows without feeling too glowy and doesn’t get greasy or too emollient throughout the day.

La Mer Reparative Skin Tint is something I featured over the summer. This is one of the few skincare + foundation in one kind of products that I actually like. The formula melds into the skin beautifully and offers natural medium coverage. Over time it improves the texture of the skin adding moisture without feeling heavy. The only downside is the color selection is limited and it’s also very expensive but if you can find a color match it’s well worth the splurge. It helps rebalance the skin and lasts all day long. If you have normal to dry skin this one is really good.

The Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream was a pleasant surprise for me. I received a few press sample recently and gave it a try. I have to say it far exceeded my expectations – the concept of a gel cream didn’t sound appealing to me since most gel-like foundations feel sticky and often look too dewy on my skin. This formula has thoroughly impressed me, I like it just as much as the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer and the added bonus is the color selection seems better than most lines. This is a BB Cream, CC Cream and Tinted Moisturizer in one. I’m usually not a fan of BB or CC creams because I don’t like the way they feel on my face. The Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue feels weightless and blends into the skin beautifully.

 

_______________________________________

The final category for my fall foundation roundup is medium to full coverage formulas. This is my formula of choice since I prefer bases that cover my skin more to create an even base. All of these have been featured before on the blog, they are my tried and true.

Tom Ford makes excellent foundation. The Traceless Foundation Stick is hands down the best foundation stick I’ve ever tried. It’s super creamy and easy to blend on the skin. It covers imperfections without looking cakey. Since it’s super pigmented I recommend layering this on areas you need extra coverage instead of applying it all over the face. I love the formula but the pigment is too rich for the entire face everyday (at least for me). The Traceless Perfecting Foundation is something I use regularly. I am normally a match to Bisque 4 but right now Natural 5 is my perfect summer match.

The NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation is another holy grail for full coverage foundations. This one gets mixed reviews – some love it, others hate it. It’s super concentrated and a little goes a long way. It lasts all day on my normal combination skin and covers the face really really well. If I were to compare this to a lipstick, I would say this is similar to Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution. Both are more matte in finish but have this luminous quality that makes it look natural and not flat. I do think you need to prep the skin properly with a good moisturizer and primer if you have any dryness or uneven texture on the skin (I like the Dolce & Gabbana Primer or any of the ones from NARS). My shades are Santa Fe and Punjab, both of which are too light for me now. Since a little goes a long way I still have a lot of both shades and didn’t want to purchase a third since I’ll be losing my tan soon.

Last but not least, Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet is a classic staple for me. I’ve repurchased it several times. I alternate between Beige 30 and Beige 40 depending on my skintone. It offers medium buildable coverage and feels lightweight. Even though the name “velvet” implies a matte finish, I find it’s a natural luminous matte. It doesn’t look or feel heavy. In terms of foundation recommendations this one usually is #2 on my list. Many often ask, “but what about the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua? it sounds better and lighter.” Both are good formulas, the Perfection Lumiere Velvet is my favorite because it covers better and has a slightly matte finish. It also lasts all day and feels weightless. The Vitalumiere Aqua is also natural looking and I know many love it. On me it feels a bit too dewy, I would say it’s better suited for you if you like glowy makeup or have normal to dry skin.

_______________________________________

If you’re looking for a new foundation to try, I hope you found this roundup helpful. Finding the right foundation can take time. There are so many factors to consider from color matching, formula, finish and lasting power. As usual, I’d love to hear about your foundation favorites or new discoveries. Do you have anything that’s a go-to for fall?


Many thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post. As always all opinions my own. Press samples include the items from Bare Minerals and Amore Pacific. All others purchased by me.