I couldn’t resist the stormy steel blue grey shimmer from Estée Lauder’s Spring 2011 collection. I picked up Wild Storm ($19) the day it was released instore at Nordstrom about one month ago. Most of you have probably had a chance to test it out or see it in person by now. I haven’t tried many nail polishes by Estée Lauder but have been impressed by the ones I had tried to date. Wild Storm however was a bit of a disappointment for me. The silver shimmer left it looking a bit dull even with a shiny top coat. It’s a pretty color but just lacked luster for me. The wear was ok with no chips, but it wore down on the tips of the nails very fast, much to my disappointment (by the end of the day I saw visible tip wear). I have tried it three times (two manicures and one pedicure) with different top coats but all applications had the same dull finish. That being said, my hair dresser loved it when she saw it on me. Perhaps it will be something I’ll like later on in the season, this spring I think I have just been so completely smitten with Chanel Black Pearl, it’s hard for other darker shimmers to live up to it (for me).
Still the product is good for the price. Application is smooth with 2 coats. The texture is easy to apply and layer for intensity. The color is listed as Limited Edition for Spring 2011.
Overall – pretty, but not really my favorite for nails. I prefer this color for eyeshadows like these from MAC, NARS, Urban Decay and Paul & Joe (picture taken for Josie months ago). But who knows what my mood will be like 6 months from now. (My nail polish preferences are highly dependent on mood.)
Happy Valentine’s Day! What are you loving right now? For me …
Chanel Rose Insolent Le Vernis (previously reviewed here)
Felix Doolittle Stationary – The most charming & delightful illustrations ever! I discovered Felix Doolittle when my sister gave me and my husband personalized mailing labels as a wedding present even though we never had a formal wedding. The Heart Candy sets make a perfect gift this Valentine’s Day for loved ones (I gave my husband the Love Bug magnet and he loves it!!!)
NARS Velvet Gloss Pencils – all of them (all lip swatched just a few days ago)
Edward Bess Soft Smoke Trio – looks boring in the compact but it’s magical on the eyes, absolute smokey eye perfection, there is no other black/grey/cream palette that works like this one
MAC Gana Blush from the Mickey Contractor collection – love this on the eyes for a soft glow
More hot pinks, on the lips Chanel Imaginaire Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss
NARS Angelika Multiple – hot cool pink with tiny microsparkles
His (Chanel Allure Homme Sport & Bond Cooper Square) & Mine (Chloe Lavande and Tocca Bianca)
Finding the perfect foundation is like trying to find the perfect pair of jeans. There are so many options it’s overwhelming to know what to look for. You have to try a wide variety of different types to find the one that’s right for you. So what are my holy grails and next-best-picks for foundations? Click read more to see my extensive list.
Quick Recap: I have normal but sensitive medium-toned skin with yellow and olive tones. I prefer natural but visible coverage (prefer evened out skin versus a very sheer tint). I tend to go with formulas that are liquid (versus solid, cream, gels) because I find them easier to work with. I’m 29 and have had decent skin for most of my life with the exception of occasional stress breakouts that happen once every couple of months or when I try new products that are too harsh for my skin.
My Perfect Prep Combination before applying makeup:
1. Cleanse with Clinique’s Foaming Cleanser
2. Tone with La Mer’s Tonic (the pink one) or Paul & Joe
3. Apply Laura Mercier’s Renewal Serum (I’m afraid this has been discontinued)
4. Apply MAC’s Prep + Prime
Holy Grails:
1. Chanel Teint Innocence Liquid in Shell
2. Chanel Double Perfection Compact in Tender Bisque
3. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua (shade to be determined)
4. Dolce & Gabbana Powder Foundation in Warm or Tan
Close to Holy Grail Material:
1. Giorgio Armani’s Lasting Silk 5.5+6.5 mixed (not to be confused with their Luminous Silk)
2. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation (used Punjab but it’s too dark now)
3. Chanel Lift Lumiere in Shell+Beige mixed
4. Guerlain Lingerie de Peau
5. Diorskin Nude (still searching for the right shade, will most likely have to mix)
Swatches of foundations from November 2009 linked here.
Here’s a quick breakdown of all the foundations I’ve sampled by brand (yes, it’s a mother-load, I can’t remember all the shades I was matched to). Do note I did not purchase most of these, foundation is one item counters are most willing to sample if you ask nicely.
Armani Face Fabric – lightweight mousse-like cream in a squeeze tube, had a soft matte-powdery finish, great concept however this did not blend well on my skin, looked ashy and emphasized any imperfections, color selection was extremely limited
Armani Lasting Silk – liquid foundation with a nice pump, one of my holy grail finds, I mix 5.5 and 6.5 (read review here)
Armani Luminous Silk – creamy liquid in a pump bottle, one of the original releases from Armani, matched to 5.5 and 6, looks amazing for a few hours but then slides off the face and made me look really oily
Armani Matte Silk (now d/c) – matte finish foundations, flawless and natural coverage, evened out skin, the only problem was that daily use resulted in clogged pores
Bobbi Brown Original Oil Free (pre SPF days) – loved the texture and natural coverage, but it left my skin super oily within hours
Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick – full coverage foundation in a thick twist up stick form, I tried her original version, I’m not sure if this is something that has gone through a revamp, loved it for full natural coverage, easy application, I never repurchased simply because it got used up so fast it didn’t seem economical to keep repurchasing
Bobbi Brown Natural Finish Long Lasting – thumbs down (read review here)
Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturizer – sheer tinted moisturizer in a squeeze tube, I love the idea of natural tint, this one has an ingredient in their sunscreen that gives me a severe allergic reaction (deep red bumps all over the cheeks)
Bobbi Brown Oil-Free Even Finish Compact Foundation – solid cream compact foundation that gave a nice full coverage with a sponge, it did require extra blending to smooth out on my skin (with fingers or brush) however I had the same allergic reaction with her other foundations
Burberry Luminous Fluid Foundation – liquid foundation with a pump that has a great finish, I developed a bad reaction (read review here)
Chanel Double Perfection Fluide (d/c liquid glass bottle) – a very fluid but richly pigmented foundation, WHY did Chanel discontinue this???? It was the most amazing long-lasting matte foundation ever, medium to full coverage with a matte finish, the new Mat Lumiere formula does not compare at all
Chanel Double Perfection Creme Poudre (d/c black tube) – another discontinued favorite, the only true cream to powder finish foundation I’ve tried that stays matte all day and did not need any powder, absolute perfection in a black tube
Chanel Double Perfection Powder Foundation – compact powder foundation, both formulas (original and new) have been holy grails for me, the original was rougher in texture, the newer version (released about 2-3 years ago now?) has a softer more finely milled finish and the product you get is smaller
Chanel Lift Lumiere – liquid foundation with a pump that’s supposed to give lift to the skin, another holy grail, I don’t think I’ve ever reviewed it, but it’s a less dewey version of Teint Innocence with slightly more opaque coverage, I find the shades to be slightly lighter than the Teint Innocence, I custom mix Shell and Beige together for a perfect match, great long lasting finish, but you do need powder, can’t really say whether or not it gives me “lift” but I like the way it looks, feels and wears throughout the day
Chanel Mat Lumiere – thumbs down (read review here)
Chanel Pro Lumiere – I have so-so feelings on this, thicker and creamier in texture than most of the other Chanel foundations, but still very liquid, gave full coverage but found it too heavy in texture and scent (read review here)
Chanel Teint Fluide Universel (d/c) – another Holy Grail long discontinued
Chanel Teint Innocence Compact– solid compact cream foundation with full coverage, you need an exact match due to the full coverage finish
Chanel Teint Innocence Liquid – another soon-to-be-discontinued holy grail (curses!)
Chantecaille Future Skin – I tried this in Shea, this is a thicker cream in a tub with full coverage, I remember not loving this because the texture seemed a bit thick for my skin and it slid off after a few hours, I prefer thinner liquids, but so many have raved, I may have to try it again
Chantecaille Real Skin – sheer solid gel-like cream in a compact form, too sheer to even see what was on the skin, I got this in a swap and used it all up, but never repurchased
Dior Hydralife Pro Youth Skin Tint – tinted moisturizer in a pretty blue tube, limited shade selection prevented me from looking into this one in great detail, sampled two shades, both were completely off
Diorskin Nude Foundation – liquid foundation with a pump, semi-rave (read review here)
Guerlain Lingerie de Peau – fluid in a pump bottle, close to Holy Grail material (read review here)
La Mer Fluid Tint SPF 18 – tinted moisturizer in a tube, I bought and used up the Medium shade, never repurchased, for the price it just didn’t wow me enough to justify repurchasing, gave sheer coverage just like you’d expect from a tinted moisturizer, has that classic La Mer ocean scent
Laura Mercier Creme Smooth – thumbs down, although if you liked Chantecaille’s Future Skin you might want to check this out (read review here)
Laura Mercier Foundation Stick (d/c) – amazing! gave wonderful coverage, goof-proof application, easy to apply on-the-go, why do brands discontinue great items?
Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation – liquid foundation with a pump, thumbs down for me, did not blend well on my skin (tried all the Laura Mercier techniques with the primer, moisturizer, damp sponge too)
Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer – great tinted moisturizer but best when mixed with a regular foundation, unless you find an exact match the luminous quality can look a bit too glowy on your skin
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer – I used to love this and repurchased numerous times, the coverage is very sheer, I prefer something with more visible coverage, sometimes this can be too natural
Laura Mercier Mineral Powder Foundation – loose mineral powder, gives perfect glowy coverage but it’s a bit high maintenance and not good for oily skin, it’s difficult to get the right amount on, most times I either had too little or one brush stroke too much
Laura Mercier Silk Creme – cream-to-powder type of formula in a squeeze tube, I found it close in concept to the Chanel Matte Foundation in the black tube, but you need an exact match or else the full coverage just leaves you looking too ashy or mis-matched, great coverage, matte finish, doesn’t need powder to set, long lasting
MAC Face & Body, Studio Fix Compact, Hyper Real, Studio Tint … I’ve never been able to wear any MAC foundation and I tried every single one (up until 3 years ago) hoping to find one that wouldn’t give me cystic acne, I’ve given up, the damage their foundations and powders do to my skin is not worth the risk, I can use their highlighting powders and blushes though without any problems
Make Up Forever Face & Body – thumbs down (read review here)
NARS Sheer Matte – thumbs up, the shades in the Matte line aren’t an exact match to the Glow lineup, I need to get rematched again in this formula
NARS Gel Fraicheur (d/c tinted moisturizer tubes) – I remember loving the concept but the formula was not the greatest, best used when mixed with other foundations to give a soft tanned glow
Paul & Joe Light Cream Foundation – creamy liquid foundation in a white bottle with a pump, this was hard for me to find a good match, I ended up with 40 which is too dark, but 31 is too pink and 30 is too pale, it is not photo-flash-friendly, the SPF combined with flash photography results in a white ghost-like face and tan neck, it is a great foundation for normal-to-dry skin, soft and creamy and moisturizing with natural medium coverage
Paul & Joe Creamy Powder Foundation Compact – bought this in 40 which is deceivingly dark in the compact but a perfect match, have repurchased twice, love this for the nice thick creamy texture but applies smooth and matte, full coverage
Prescriptives Luxe – the good old Px brand, best known for their foundations, I was sad to see the line go, Luxe was the first luminous glowy foundation on the mid-high-end market, loved this one although it was probably too much coverage for what I needed when I was in my late high-school days
Prescriptives Photochrome – good in concept, came in a cream compact form, was supposed to auto-adjust to match your exact skintone, was a failure for me, simply too heavy and did not sit well with my skin
Prescriptives Traceless – the PERFECT tinted moisturizer, have never found one as good
Prescriptives Unmakeup – the PEFECT no-makeup makeup, I used the Px Gold, nothing has come close to this one either
Prescriptives Virtual Skin – probably one of the first foundations I ever purchased in high school, a classic but I remember it being hard to find the exact match sometimes
Stila – I used to love this brand, I cannot for the life of me remember which formulas I used to use since this brand has gone through so many changes (changes I am not loving), I did love their Illuminating Powder Foundation for a flawless glow, I remember when Jeanine Lobell was the director, I loved all the foundations because they had that wonderful olive undertone that worked so well for my skin
Trish McEvoy Even Skin Foundation – I have fallen in and out of this line, I loved her original Even Skin foundation but got a bit irritated with her constant revamps, I repurchased this one 3 times but stopped after discovering Chanel
There are a number of brands I have not tried such as Cle de Peau, Lancome, Shiseido, YSL, BE, Urban Decay, Tarte etc. I haven’t explored La Mer very much either. I avoid brands that are known to have highly fragranced products. Some brands are just overpriced in my mind. Packaging is also key. I like sleek simple classic looking packaging.
So now that I’ve shared my list, what are your favorites? Experiences you want to share? I used to rely heavily on the Product Reviews section on Makeupalley. I still find the reviews helpful to scan when something new comes out, but sometimes you will find such a diverse range of reviews and reactions it can be hard to sort through. Now that various beauty brands have picked up on Makeupalley as a valuable resource, I have noticed some seemingly overly positive comments which I believe are not from consumers like myself, bur rather from actual brand reps. While I do expect brand reps to represent their brands in a positive light, I think it’s a bit iffy for brands to participate in their own product reviews on a website that is known to be a community of consumers. Just my two cents.
If you’d like to share your thoughts, please include the following to help us all:
1. Your skin-type
2. Skin undertone (ie fair, light, medium, olive, pinkish etc.)
3. Age range (if you’re comfortable with that)
My foundation sampling experiences Part 2 with Chanel Pro Lumiere, Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Hydrating Makeup SPF 10, Dolce & Gabbana Powder Foundation, Laura Mercier Crème Smooth, Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Complexe Tinted Treatment, Make Up Forever Face & Body Liquid Makeup & Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua. Click read more to see the details on each.
Chanel Pro Lumiere Professional Finish Makeup SPF 15 ($54) This is an oil-free liquid foundation that provides a medium-to-full coverage with a semi-matte finish. I was matched best to Beige 40.
Pros: The texture is a slightly thicker than normal liquid foundation. Comes with a pump. I have gone through a full bottle but couldn’t remember why I never repurchased. I got another sample recently to see if I could figure why. The upside is you can easily control coverage depending on how much you layer. The finish is just as described “semi-matte” but you do need to set with powder.
Cons: I found this heavily scented, can’t quite put my finger on the smell, but it’s sweet which is something I wasn’t a huge fan of. Although this is described as medium to full, I found it more on the full side. I also found it a bit too heavy on the skin. If you have medium to dry with fuller coverage then I think this is a formula you will like. I found it too full and a bit fake looking even after blending it out with a sponge.
Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Hydrating Makeup SPF 10 ($46) Described on Dior.com containing, “40% Active Mineralized water, this fluid foundation offers a fresh and hydrating finish.” I’ve heard non-stop raves about this one so I decided I had to try it.
Pros: Lightweight, flawless finish, nice liquid texture, lasts all day. No allergic reaction. Blends easily to cover the skin naturally. Feels amazing. Softly scented but not overpowering. Keeps skin non-oily. What’s not to love?
Cons: Color selection is odd. I’ve tried 20, 21 and 30 – all of which are slightly off. The benefit of the natural coverage is that I’ve been able to get away with both 20 and 21 – but I think my perfect match would be if I custom blended 20+21+30 (and not in equal proportions). I love everything except the color selection. I’ve found this typical of other Dior Tinted Moisturizers and Foundations. Perhaps I just need to sit down with my artist and try all the shades.
Dolce & Gabbana Powder Foundation ($59) I do not have immediate in person access to Dolce & Gabbana. Those who have read my Dolce & Gabbana posts know I can’t rave enough about Nikki from Saks Houston. She matched me over the phone when I told her my Chanel shade. PERFECT match! I used 140 Tan in the summer and currently use 100 Warm.
Pros: Full but natural velvety coverage. It’s truly versatile. I apply with the sponge (dry) over foundation or with a brush to set my liquid foundation. I can apply alone over my serum/primer. I can use for touchups during the day. Long lasting and no detectable scent. Comes with a separate bottom compartment to store the sponge. This is my new holy grail powder foundation twin to Chanel’s DPF.
Cons: Hard to find any, but the price tag of $59 is pretty steep. The gold packaging gets fingerprints and can get messy looking easily but it’s sturdy and after a while it’s not something I notice.
Laura Mercier Crème Smooth ($50) I received a sample at a Nordstrom Trend Show in Sunny Beige and Vanilla Beige. They were featuring this one with a hard sell describing it as the perfect lightweight cream that has full coverage “without visibly settling into fine lines”(quoted lauramercier.com exactly!) The model looked flawless so practically EVERYONE in the crowd was intrigued (screaming with excitement is a better description).
Pros: Great color selection. I tried several and there were several shades I could have gone with. Provides natural finish and looks great … for 1 hour. It has a nice texture and blends well on the skin. I wish I could have loved this one. It’s thicker and creamy like in a pot. The amount of product you get for the price seems generous in my opinion.
Cons: I equate this to Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation which looks great right after the application. Makes me look glowing and flawless but after 1-2 hours, I end up a greasey mess. It did settle into the fine lines in my face (and I don’t have many wrinkles yet). Definitely not long lasting. Perhaps just too heavy for my skin type. I know many have raved about it. If you like Chantecaille’s Future Skin (which I did not) then try this LM out.
Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Complexe Tinted Treatment ($125) This is perhaps one of the most raved about miracle-workers for tinted moisturizers/face treatments. I was eager to try this out as I have not read a single bad review. I tried this in both shades on numerous occasions (in early July, mid-July, early September, and November).
Pros: The only upside I could find is that it has a luminous finish which gives an all over glow. Oh, it also comes with a pump. The packaging isn’t bad either.
Cons: I may be the only one who hasn’t liked this. Everyone I’ve spoken to loves this, but it made my skin worse. The texture dried to a thick uneven finish. It didn’t blend well on my face. I found the luminous quality too luminous and sparkly. Gave me reddish areas on the face with bumps around the hairline. Felt really difficult to clean off – it’s the type of product I had to slather cleansing oil all over, wash, then use my regular cleanser +rinse twice, and then use my toner to really feel clean. Perhaps it’s just not made for 29-year old normal-sensitive skin. Anyone else try this? Please share your experiences!
Make Up Forever Face & Body Liquid Makeup ($38) Another much-raved-about foundation. I loved the MAC Face & Body Foundation finish (so lovely) but within 2 days I developed cystic acne. I decided to try the MUFE version from Sephora. I was matched by a Sephora rep and I am disappointed to say I feel like I was unprofessionally matched. She just grabbed a random shade and said, “This looks good.” I asked her if she knew what the difference was between MUFE’s foundations and she said “they’re all matte, but this one is the most matte, I just LOVE this foundation.” Say what? How could this be the most matte when there is another one called Mat Velvet? I’ll keep my negative thoughts about Sephora reps to myself. There are definitely plenty of good things about Sephora.
Pros: Natural gel like finish. The one she used on me looked liquidy and felt a little like jelly. I wasn’t sure if it was just the tester or the real product, but it felt nice on the skin. It looked natural and felt slightly dewy.
Cons: I found the coverage too sheer and this foundation is simply too heavily scented for me. I couldn’t stand the smell. My skin developed a bumpy rash (odd because there was no red, just lots of bumps) within 30 minutes. I tried this several times at home to see if perhaps I didn’t have properly prepped skin. No luck. Don’t write this off – if you can try it at Sephora, I still recommend looking into it. They have a wide color selection. Chances are you’ll have to find a good match on your own though.
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua (to be released in March in the US) I was lucky to get a couple sample packets included in Japanese magazines. This is supposed to replace the Teint Innocence Liquid. I was a bit skeptical but I did have a little bit of faith in Chanel. With the discontinuation of Teint Innocence Liquid (big mistake in my mind), this will be the THIRD time Chanel has discontinued my Holy Grail Foundation (Teint Fluide Universel and the original DPF powder have both been long discontinued).
Pros: Thin texture allows a little to go a long way. This is less dewy than Teint Innocence but gives a similar flawless naturally soft finish. Coverage is sheer to medium (more on the medium side). I think I have found my new Holy Grail!!! It’s like if Lift Lumiere and Teint Innocence had a baby with a slightly thinner texture. Coverage is perfect in my opinion. I’ve set with powder but I think you could get away without using powder on top. LOVE!!!
Cons: Not sure if I can find any. I got samples of #20 which I found a tad too light, but still looked pretty good in undertone. I hope it’s not too pricey (as in please be under $50). I’m still very VERY VERY sad Teint Innocence is being pulled from their product lineup.
If you’ve tried any of these – please chime in with your experiences! I will be doing a comprehensive review of the brands and formulas I’ve tried in Part 3. I would like to kindly ask if you have a suggestion for something that I didn’t list above – please save it for Part 3. I think it will help readers (and myself) sort through your suggestions, thoughts and experiences if they are all in one spot. Thanks 🙂
Ever since rumors surfaced that Chanel was going to discontinue their Teint Innocence Liquid foundation, I’ve received about a dozen e-mails asking me if I’ve found another holy grail replacement. Back in March of last year, I wrote about my other foundation, powder and concealer loves here. To date, my next best picks are Chanel’s Lift Lumiere and Giorgio Armani’s Lasting Silk Foundations but I am in between shades for both formulas. They are the next best thing, but not quite holy grail material.
I’ve been accumulating samples of foundations to try from other brands such as Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Bobbi Brown, Burberry, Guerlain, Laura Mercier, Le Metier and Make Up Forever to see if I could find another love. For me this is something big as I haven’t ventured to try other foundation brands for a long time. I’ve tried numerous foundations over the years (ever since my early college days) and can’t even describe how many times I’ve been let down by breakout and allergic reactions. Sometimes it would take 3 weeks for my skin to recover. I’ve been testing brands outside of Armani and Chanel while holding my breath. How have they held up for me?
First a quick overview in my skin type and what I look for in a foundation:
I have normal skin that is neither oily or dry, but somewhere in between
I am super sensitive (highly sensitive to fragranced beauty products)
I prefer medium coverage that’s natural
I look for something that will photograph well
My skintone is olive with yellow tones, I’m typically the 3rd shade in the line ups, my colors I’ve been matched to are Chanel Shell/Beige which is equivalent to what’s in between MAC NC30-35
I’ve never found a MAC foundation formula that works for my skin (all too harsh)
My skin is fairly quick to react
Second, my testing methods:
Each new foundation was tested from samples from around 3-6 days
After testing a foundation, regardless of how I felt (ie positive or if I had any negative results such as allergic reaction, itching or peeling) I would go back to my normal skin/foundation routine for a full 2 weeks to go back to my neutral/normal skin state
Samples were based on a combination of product description, makeup artist recommendations, bottle/packaging design and color selection
My application is either with fingers or a sponge
I’ve been testing for months!
In Part 1, I’ll review my thoughts on Bobbi Brown’s Natural Finish Long Lasting Foundation, Burberry Sheer Luminous Foundation, Chanel Mat Lumiere, Guerlain’s Lingerie de Peau.
Bobbi Brown Natural Finish Long Lasting Foundation SPF 15 ($45) This is an oil-free semi matte finish foundation with medium coverage. It’s supposed to be the revamp replacement of her original Oil-Free Foundation. I used to use items from her original line, but once she started adding SPF, I found my skin reacted with little bumps and red irritation. I stopped using her foundations years ago. I’ve historically been matched to Beige #3 in most of her foundations and the Natural Finish Long Lasting foundation looked promising. I got several shade samples and the best match for me was Natural Tan 4.25.
Pros: Loved the natural coverage, finish and wide range of colors for a good match. Coverage was medium and evened out skintone without appearing too matte.
Cons: After a few hours, my nose was an oil slick. I did not find it truly long-lasting all over the face. Within a few days, I had red bumps on my cheeks which I attribute to an allergic reaction.
Burberry Sheer Luminous Fluid Foundation ($52) I received samples of this on two different occasions in Shades 5 and 6. This comes in a light cream formula with a pump.
Pros: My best match was #5. Burberry’s foundation has one of the most beautiful finished I’ve ever tried which I’d describe as a flawless satiny glow. Finish was natural with shee to medium coverage. Long lasting with and without a powder. Evened and brightened the face. Photographed perfectly. I thought I had found my next HG foundation.
Cons: Within 3 days, I had developed deep under-skin bumps that felt like cystic acne. My skin broke out badly and it took a couple weeks for my skin to fully recover. If you can get a sample, I highly recommend trying it – my skin is oddly sensitive, if this works with your skin, then it’s amazingly beautiful.
Chanel Mat Lumiere Long Lasting Luminous Matte Fluid Makeup ($54) I’ve tested this on numerous occasions hoping I could get it to work with my skin.
Pros: Great color match in 40 Beige.
Cons: Hard to blend on the skin, regardless of moisturizer and primer. Just sat on my skin and felt uncomfortable.
Guerlain Lingerie de Peau Invisible Skin Foundation ($57) I wasn’t even remotely interested in trying anything from Guerlain’s powder/foundation line but the SA told me it was a best seller and when she offered to make me a few samples I couldn’t resist (gotta love Nordstrom for amazing customer service). I tested this in conjunction with their Meteorites Perles Primer (the pink one) and loved both so much I bought them both.
Pros: Super natural finish with medium coverage. You have to blend this one quickly with a sponge and work in small fast strokes. Waiting too long allowing it to dry before blending causes it to darken making it look uneven.
Cons: It can be hard to find an exact match – I was given two samples, 02 and 03, and picked 03 Beige Naturel since 02 Beige Clair looked slightly too powdery on my skin. I was tempted to buy both shades to custom blend myself (like I do with Chanel’s Life Lumiere and Armani’s Lasting Silk), but decided on 03 as the better pick. I wouldn’t recommend this for oily skin.
Have I found a Holy Grail replacement? I don’t mean to keep you hanging – but wait until Part 2 to find out.
*UPDATED 8:00 AM* Because many of you simply cannot wait – what’s coming next in Part 2: Laura Mercier Creme Smooth, Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge, Diorskin Nude, Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, Chanel Pro Lumiere, Make Up Forever Face & Body. This mini series is meant to include foundations I’ve just recently tried.
For your reference, in Part 3, I’ll include a comprehensive list of all the foundations I’ve tried and tested over the past 10 years (from my early 20’s). Many of you are suggesting brands and formulas I’ve tried before but had mixed feelings about. You might wonder, can I really remember everything I’ve tried in that time frame? Well – yes, but just for foundation. I have ridiculously sensitive skin that blows up like crazy from allergic reactions (allergic to Neosporin, most body sunscreens, some detergents etc.) so I’ve taken note of which ones took me weeks to recover. I’ve always been sensitive about how my skin looks. Most say I don’t need any foundation or powder but it’s something I feel better with.
Please take my reviews with a grain of salt. Everyone’s skin is so unique in skin type, coloring and undertones. We all have different preferences, likes and dislikes. There are many foundations I can’t use that my friends love and adore (and vice versa).
A few weeks ago in my Nail Polish Styling post a few of you asked “what’s that Dior Nude with the Chanel Khaki Vert?” It’s Dior’s Nude Chic which was released three springs ago (I think). I don’t think they make it anymore, but I have noticed Dior has been going through a nail polish revamp. Perhaps it will be re-released? Who knows. I had it applied yesterday afternoon for a much-needed manicure and picked Bond Street for the toes. Boring but work appropriate.
Bond Street has previously been reviewed in detail. This is one of three limited edition shades released in NY and on Dior.com as part of the Gris City Collection. Refer to my Gris City Collection post here and here for more comparisons.
For those of you who like the look of Nude Chic but can’t get your hands on it, comparisons are shown below (scroll down to the bottom).
* This photo below is republished from my previous review for your reference
The last Velvet Gloss Pencil I have to swatch on the lips for you is NARS Club Mix. It is plum-grape perfection. I love it. A good plummy-grape is hard for me to find since many are either too red or too blue for my skintone. NARS has the best selection of plums that I’ve seen including Damage & Klute which I’ve used since my college days.
Club Mix is a deep plum with slight iridescent shimmer. It has a glossy finish like all the other glossy pencils. Being darker requires a precise application, which can be hard to achieve with the large tip. I had to blend the edges with a lip brush because the product kinda went all over the outside of the lip where I had not applied slowly. I recommend lining your lips with a plum liner like NARS Marnie or MAC Beurre first, blot and blend for an even finish, then apply Club Mix. It will help the color last longer and when it fades the stain from the lipliners will at least help to keep your lips looking even.
Here it is compared to a few NARS Lipsticks: Shrinagar, Damage, Klute
Overall thoughts on all the pencils: LOVE! I was pleasantly surprised about the color payoff. Reason I’m surprised? You have to try the pencils in person to feel the texture to understand. They have a glossy finish and when swatched on my hand the colors with one swipe were sheer. After layering with a few swipes you really see the color show through.
The texture feels nice and moisturizing, although I can’t really confirm whether or not they are in fact moisturizing. These feel like the NARS Lip Lacquers (pot glosses) in a tube form without the icky smell. I do still love the lip lacquers – I actually prefer them for pigment, finish and lasting power. I hope NARS does not discontinue them – although I have noticed more and more colors are getting discontinued. If they could reformulate to change the scent the Lip Lacquers would be perfect and I think more people would buy them.
It’s also interesting to see how these apply on the lips. For me, the color really showed through even brighter than what I see in the pencils. I love the vibrant colors and feel like NARS released a diverse range of shades which is nice. I do find it interesting that the colors Baroque, New Lover and Club Mix make me look paler due to the contrast. I’m in desperate need of a tan.
My top 2 picks: Club Mix (plum) and Happy Days (peach).
Any rants? Yes, $24 is steep, especially given the size, formula and lack of sharpener. I feel like they will get used up really quickly.
But overall thumbs up, definitely worth checking out.
