Powder Archives - The Beauty Look Book

Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection System Review

August 14, 2019

The genius that is Pat McGrath launched a new base collection of products called the Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection System. It’s a three step system: primer, perfect and set and I was thrilled to be able to put everything to the test! Products reviewed include:

Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Primer ($60 for 30 ml/1 fl oz, made in Italy)
Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation ($68 for 35 ml/1.18 fl oz, made in Italy)
Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Setting Powder ($55 for 5 g/0.17 oz, made in Italy)
Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation Brush ($55)
Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Powder Brush ($58)

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Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Primer

The Sublime Perfection Primer is a silicone-free primer that has a very light pink tint but blends out to a transparent finish on the skin. It does blur and smooth the skin but it is heavily fragranced and on my skin I could feel it sit on top of my skin. It contains what they call filler powder which did work to fill in fine lines, but in this Florida humidity, especially this time of year, I need products that have a more weightless or fluid feel. It comes in a pump packaging and one pump covers the entire face. I felt like it did work nicely with the foundation, but due to the thick texture and feel, for me unfortunately this was a solid pass. I did not experience any irritation, even with the fragrance, but I think the foundation is good enough on its own.

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, C13-15 Alkane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, C12-16 Alcohols, Sodium Polyacrylate, Palmitic Acid, Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Silica, Disodium Edta, Sodium Hydroxide, Fragrance, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Poloxamer 338, Peg-8, Tocopherol, Cirsium Eriophorum Callus Extract, Mica, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491).

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Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation

The Sublime Perfection Foundation is an oil-free formula that comes in 36 colors with a range of different undertones (red neutral, peach neutral, yellow, pink, peach, yellow neutral, yellow olive, etc.). Based on the color descriptions online compared to what I swatched I do think the undertones are accurate. I was matched sight unseen to Medium 15 (match to Armani Luminous Silk 7, NARS Barcelona, Fenty 235/240). I am very tan right now and since my skin lightens and tans very easily depending on the sun I went to my local Sephora to check out the other shades. I bought Light Medium 14 which I think will be my normal non-tan shade (match to Armani Luminous Silk 6.5, NARS Vanuatu, Laura Mercier Buff). These days I find I often have to mix colors anyways so I felt it was worth buying one shade lighter.

I got a couple mini samples in store as well, shades swatched include (press sample colors have a * next to them):

Light Medium 12 Light Medium w/ red undertones
Light Medium 13 Light Medium w/ yellow undertones
Light Medium 14 Light Medium w/ neutral/olive undertones
Medium 15 Medium w/ yellow undertones*
Medium 16 Medium w/ red undertones*
Medium 17 Medium w/ neutral yellow undertones*
Medium 18 Medium w/ neutral/olive undertones*
Medium 19 Medium w/ peach undertones*
Medium 20 Medium w/ red undertones*

Coverage is natural looking with a semi-satin finish. On my skin I found it to be medium to fuller coverage but it is easy to blend/sheer out. I can cover my entire face with 2-3 pumps and application was best for me with fingers or a beautyblender. I did like the brush for buffing into the skin, but I still prefer fingers or a sponge. I did not feel the need to add concealer under eyes or around the nose with this foundation. I do have a few blemishes which I still needed to spot conceal for full coverage, but overall it is fairly opaque. I tested this with the primer and without the primer and liked it best with just a serum or moisturizer (loved it with the Volition Strawberry-C Serum, Glow Recipe Watermelon Juice or Chanel Hydra Beauty Camellia Water Cream).

Lasting power is very good but I still need mid-day touch up in the T-zone. I won’t dock points for that though because in July the humidity here is unreal so practically everything needs a touch up. Some product transfer will occur if you touch your face in the middle of the day but it’s on the slight side. Overall it held up remarkably well. I didn’t find it oxidized once it dried down. There is some warming up as it sets, but the color does not change significantly. If you find there is a lot of oxidation on this one it’s most likely you swatched a color too dark for your skin tone!

A few swatch comparisons:

This one is fragrance free! Ingredients: Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isododecane, Alcohol, Glycerin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Ipdi/Di-C12-13 Alkyl Tartrate/Bis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone Copolymer, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Cetyl Peg/Ppg-10/1 Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Chloride, Aluminum Hydroxide, Benzimidazole Diamond Amidoethyl Urea Carbamoyl Propyl Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Tartrate, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hexyl Laurate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Cell Culture, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Dehydroacetate. May Contain / Peut Contenir / +/- : Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492, Ci 77491, Ci 77499).

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Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Setting Powder

There are five shades of Sublime Perfection Setting Powder and for me the best match is Light Medium 2. Medium 3 pulls dark on my skin and darkens my foundation color. It comes with a mesh top which pulls powder upwards when you press/tap a brush into it. I found this to be a good solid setting powder to smooth and set the foundation. It’s finely milled and does a good job at setting with some blurring to the foundation. To me this has a similar texture to the Fenty Beauty Setting Powder, but not as drying/chalky looking. I do prefer the feel of the Hourglass and Laura Mercier powders because they’re more lightweight in texture.

Swatches of Light Medium 2 and Medium 3

Ingredients: Talc, Mica, Ethylene/Methacrylate Copolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Nylon-12, Silica, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pei-10, Lauroyl Lysine,Carmine (Ci 75470), Ultramarines (Ci 77007), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).

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Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation Brush and Powder Brush

There are two new brushes that are part of her system. The Foundation Brush is smaller and dense for full coverage and buffing. It performed well for me, but I’ve always been more of a sponge person when it comes to foundation as I get better control and better smoothing with a sponge. The Powder Brush is one I really like – it has the perfect amount of fluff and the size is perfect for me. It’s perfectly tapered and it held up well to a couple washes already. I do think these are on the spendy side. While I think they are good tools I would personally save up for more of her lipsticks or eyeshadow palettes instead.

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Bare Skin vs Foundation / Powder vs Full Look

Top left: bare skin
Top right: with foundation
Bottom left: adding setting powder
Bottom right: full makeup, touching up with more powder

Makeup Look Wearing:

Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Foundation in Medium 15
Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Setting Powder in Light Medium 2
Pat McGrath Labs MTHRSHP Sublime Bronze Ambition Eyeshadow Palette (review swatches here)
Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Brown
Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic Blush in First Love
Pat McGrath LuxeTrance Lipstick in Realness (swatches here)
Pat McGrath LUST Gloss in Earth Angel (review here)
Nail Polish is Essie Come Out to Clay

Overall I’m impressed with the foundation and am thrilled I have a color match that is olive/golden enough when I’m tan and when I’m not tan. I was concerned as it lists alcohol in the ingredients which can sometimes irritate my skin. It did not feel drying or irritating or tight on my face so I’m not sure if it’s a different kind of alcohol or if the concentration is super low. I think of all the products in her Skin Fetish system the foundation is the most impressive for me. I don’t think I’d call the other products must-haves although I’m really liking the Powder Brush and the Setting Powder has been performing well for me.

I do have a soft spot for her lipsticks and eyeshadows and by comparison I think those are absolutely worth the splurge 100% while the foundation might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Bottom line I’ve been loving her foundation and will most likely repurchase once it’s used up.

You can find the Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish products out now. Available at Pat McGrath Labs and Sephora.

Press samples include the Pat McGrath Labs Primer, Foundation, Powder, Brushes, Earth Angel and Bronze Ambition Palette.

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Base Makeup Charlotte Tilbury Eye Makeup

New Charlotte Tilbury Magic Powder, Magic Away Concealer + Stars In Your Eyes Palette

October 14, 2018

Today I’m covering a few new launches from Charlotte Tilbury including her Genius Magic Powder ($45), Magic Away Concealer ($32) and swatches of the new Stars In Your Eyes Palette ($75). I’ve been the biggest fan of her Airbrush Flawless Finish Pressed Powder in #2 for years now. It’s one I still swear by today and I was really excited to put her new face products to the test. I hauled everything from Nordstrom and two of the three products I hauled are hits.

Magic Powder + Magic Away Concealer

Up first is a look at her new face products. The Magic Powder is a loose powder for under the eyes and all over the face. It’s a soft light-diffusing powder to blur the skin. I find that the Airbrush Flawless Pressed and Magic Powder Loose colors don’t match with the same numbers. #2 in the pressed is a perfect match for me while #2 in the loose is significantly lighter in color but it does have a translucent feel to me. The powder itself has a really nice matte effect without looking flat or cakey even though the color is pale. The jar seems well made and has a twist lid inside so you can keep powder from flying around when you store it. The only downside is the smell – it has a very strong plastic smell which I thought was the packaging, which could be the culprit. But if it is, it is also in the powder and it’s pretty bad. The good news is that once it’s on the face and sets, the smell dissipates after a while. Still it’s a scent I don’t think any makeup product should have. A quick look at the product description says it’s made of veggie powder and natural oils to absorb oil and condition the skin at the same time. This could be the reason it smells. For now I’m going to stick with the pressed version and other brands of loose powders. My favorites rounded up and reviewed here.

The Magic Away Liquid Concealer is a hit! I ordered two shades 6 and 7 sight unseen based on the fact that I mix the Magic Foundation in 6 and 7. Both concealer shades work for me, 6 is a good brightening color but 7 is an exact match for my tan skin right now. It’s a smooth finish, full coverage concealer with a sponge tip applicator. I actually prefer tube or wand applicators but this one works to blend out the product right on the face without having to use another sponge. I’ve been a die-hard fan of the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer for under eyes because I need something that is a little bit dewy. This comes in very close second. The Charlotte Tilbury has full perfect coverage, stays put, blends easily and does remove the subtle darkness I have under my eyes some mornings. Shade 6 applied below:

Left is applied heavily straight from the tube, you can apply as much or as little as you want. I did a heavy face swatch so you could see the color and texture. Right side is completely blended out with a sponge. Also wearing a mix of Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation in 6+7 mixed all over the face, Diorshow Brow Styler in Universal Brown and NARS Velvet Lip Glide in Swing on the lips. Top from Madewell.

I’ve swatched the concealer below next to the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard, Macadamia and Ginger. I’ve also included one of the new MAC Studio Fix 24 Hour Wear Concealers in NC35, NC38 and NC40 (reviewing these soon, but I find this formula runs a tad bit lighter than the foundations).

Stars in Your Eyes Palette

The Stars in Your Eyes Palette is new for the season and it is one of the most beautiful warm palettes I’ve tried. I still don’t consider myself as really loving the red/warm eye shadow trend that’s been going on for a while, but this one is very wearable, doesn’t look too warm on my skin and has excellent color payoff. There is a mix of matte and shimmers. I think it’s a significant improvement compared to last years which I bought and still use but find high maintenance because it takes me a lot of layering to get the pigment I want. This year’s is perfect in every way for me.

This one has four sets of color-themed trios designed to Prime, Enhance and Smoke, but you can mix and match any of the combinations.

Love Eyes has a matte cream, shimmery rose gold, matte warm rose
Power Eyes has a shimmery soft gold, pale champagne shimmer, shimmery bronze
Happy Eyes has a rosy shimmer, warm soft brown matte, deeper soft brown matte
Confident Eyes has a shimmery mauve, shimmery plum and matte plum purple

Below wearing a mix of Stars in Your Eyes Palette Love Eyes and Happy Eyes, First Love Chic to Cheek Blush and NARS Velvet Lip Glide in Swing, same base as mentioned above:

As much as I love the pretty rose gold packaging it makes photographing product difficult. Colors will look slightly different in photos depending on what you see in the reflection, so I’ve included two photos, one with flash, one without.

Overall I highly recommend the Magic Away Concealer. I think it’s worth a look if you want a full coverage, smooth creamy concealer. It doesn’t cake or crease on me under the eyes and it also has enough pigment that you can use it to cover spots like sun spots or dark circles. I find it has better coverage than her other formulas. The Stars in Your Eyes Palette was a pleasant hit given last year’s formula was just ok for me. I’m thrilled that even though it’s warm toned it’s not too red or warm and easy to wear. The Magic Powder was something I had such high hopes for. The shades are a bit odd to me because the numbers don’t match in different formulas and the smell is so bad, but as a product it works on my face just fine. For now if you’re in the market for a new loose powder I’d say my top picks are the Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder and Laura Mercier Translucent Loose (both compared here).

You can find the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Away Concealer, Powder and Stars in Your Eyes Palette at Nordstrom. Also available online at Charlotte Tilbury.

Have you tried any of these yet? What did you think?

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Base Makeup Beauty Tools MAC

MAC Next to Nothing Face Colour and Pressed Powder

April 30, 2017

MAC recently launched a new line of base products for a natural look with new formulas of foundation, powder and two brushes in their Next to Nothing collection. The items are designed for a natural skin-like effect to give a radiant look to the face. I’ve found that over the years MAC base and powder formulas have been hit or miss for me. I have super sensitive skin and tried their Studio Fix Powder Foundation when I was in high school and it caused severe allergic reactions on my skin. To this day I approach their powders and foundations with caution only doing a patch test first. I can safely use their primers, skincare and some foundations without any issues and was thrilled to find that the Next to Nothing line works well for my super sensitive skin.

In the collection we have:

Next to Nothing Face Colour ($31 for 35 ml/1.2 fl oz)
Next to Nothing Powder Pressed ($27 for 10 g/0.35 oz)
140 Synthetic Full Fan Brush ($42)
141 Synthetic Face Fan ($35)

Next to Nothing Face Colour comes in 9 shades from Light to Dark Deep, my shade is either Medium or Medium Plus. This is a super sheer tinted cream foundation that allows the skin to breathe. It’s sheer but has enough pigment to even out the skin slightly. This is what I wanted the Make Up For Ever Waterblend Foundation to be (which broke me out and felt too sticky for my skin, I suspect I had an allergic reaction to the fragrance). The effect of the MAC Next to Nothing is similar to that of the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer (which I’ve re-discovered and love) but the MAC is less dewy and not as moisturizing. If you need coverage this will probably not be the foundation for you, although you can definitely use this as a good base and then take a higher coverage foundation and layer on top for a more lightweight feel. There’s no detectable scent, it comes in a glass bottle with a pump, it’s easy to blend, it’s lightweight and lasts all day. Shades do run on the pinkish side but since the formula is sheer I was lucky that they worked on my yellow olive skin.

The #141 Synthetic Face Fan Brush is an odd shaped brush designed for the foundation. It performs well and gives the face a streak-free foundation application. It’s soft without being pokey but I’m still very much a sponge person when it comes to foundation application. That being said it’s a very good brush, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed if you try it.

Next to Nothing Powder/Pressed comes in 9 color options. I received 3 as press samples but none of them were a match so I ordered two more sight unseen in Medium Plus and Medium Dark since I’ve been getting darker since moving to Florida. My Mineralize Skinfinish Natural shade is Medium Plus and in the Next to Nothing Powder I can wear either Medium Plus or Medium Dark. Right now I’m in between shades. This is a finely milled powder that has a lightweight finish. It is very soft to the touch with an almost creamy feel. On the skin it has a more natural looking finish compared to the Mineralize Skinfinish Powder. Next to Nothing also feels just like the name implies next to nothing. There is a very tiny bit of fine pearl in the powder so it blurs the skin. For me I feel like the shades swatch a little bit on the lighter side, they look lighter in my swatches compared to what I see in the pan, but they will adjust slightly on the skin as it warms up. They do not oxidize in color on me though. I really love this powder.

Compared to some of my other favorites Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Powder #2, Armani Powder Foundation #4, and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus. If you asked me to pick one favorite, I would not be able to. I would say the sheerest is MAC Next to Nothing, Armani Luminous Silk Powder Foundation is what I use to set with a brush, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural feels a bit thicker compared to other powders due to the mineral finish. The Charlotte Tilbury has the fullest coverage for me.

#140 Synthetic Full Fan Brush is THE best thing in this collection and probably the best powder brush I’ve ever tried. I’m a huge fan of flatter powder brushes because I find they are easier to dust my entire face compared to a round brush. Flat brushes can be tricky for me though – some are too dense or too floppy. This one has the perfect density, shape, size and feel. I’m going to need to order a couple more – I like to have multiples for powders on hand for blending and application.

Overall as a sensitive skin person I’m thrilled to find that both the powder and foundation worked for me and did not cause any allergic reactions. I’m typically a medium to full coverage kind of girl for base products but my skin has improved over the years so I can get away with less coverage these days. Also with the heat in Florida I feel the need to find lighter weight products that will allow my skin to breathe. It’s only the start of spring and I know it will get warmer in the upcoming months. This will be one I use frequently even if I will still need to layer.

Have you tried these yet? If you’re a natural or sheer base kind of beauty lover, what other brands/formulas do you love? You can find the MAC Next to Nothing Collection available now. Online at MAC, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s and soon at Ulta Beauty.

MAC products provided as press samples for review. Two MAC powders purchased by me.

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Base Makeup Laura Mercier

Laura Mercier Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powder and Candleglow Concealer and Highlighter

October 31, 2016

Laura Mercier added two new items to her Candleglow Collection with a Sheer Perfecting Powder ($38 for 9 g / 0.3 oz) and Candleglow Concealer and Highlighter ($32 for 2.2 ml/ 0.07 fl oz). I received some press samples but also ordered one of the powders sight unseen online as I was unsure of what color I would be. The color options are on the small side with six powders and seven concealer shades but I will say up front the range is pretty wide – if you have medium to deep skin tone I think there’s a good chance there will be a match for you.

I reviewed her Candleglow Foundation earlier this year back in February and still find it to be a very good for giving medium natural-looking coverage with a dewy but not too dewy finish. I still am in between shades and have to mix colors (I mix Dusk and Golden, although there is a possibility there is a better match – I just haven’t had a chance to reinvestigate). The Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powders have a soft finish which makes the colors more forgiving if you don’t have a 100% exact match.

Laura Mercier Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powder - The Beauty Look Book

I can use either #1 or #2 to set my foundation and I am beyond obsessed with both. The color difference is noticeable on my face if I apply one on each side to set. Dusted and applied to the whole face both give the face a gorgeous flawless finish that is matte and radiant at the same time. There are shimmer particles to the powders which are apparent with a heavy swatch. On the face it gives a subtle glow much like the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders in Dim Light or Diffused Light. Ithink the colors for the Laura Mercier Candleglow powders work better for my skintone compared to the Hourglass ones in terms of setting powders.

Lasting power is very good and it stays put well. After a few hours I don’t look like a greaseball. It has a forgiving finish like the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour powders. #3 is too dark to set for all over the face but I can use it as a soft wearable contour to warm up the complexion.

Swatched with a heavy hand to show the color which makes the shimmer glow more apparent. On the face when dusted with any powder brush the shimmer is softer for a very natural glow:

Some comparisons for packaging and also color:

Laura Mercier Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powder vs Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders - The Beauty Look Book

To date the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Finish Powder in #2 is my holy grail setting pressed powder because it really does give the skin a flawless finish, doesn’t darken and doesn’t make the face look flat. Now that I’ve tried the Laura Mercier it is now tied as my second favorite pressed setting powder. Swatches next to the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders in Dim Light and Diffused Light. I added the Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder in Bronze #2 to compare below.

Up next are the Candleglow Concealer and Highlighters. These come in a click-type of pen applicator with a puffy sponge tip. My best match is #2 which is an exact match for my under eye area. For this one, the coverage is medium in coverage under eyes and the applicator is very soft to the touch. It has a hydrating glowy feel but isn’t heavy. I have mixed feelings about this one – for my undereye area it just doesn’t offer enough coverage. Texture wise it’s good. There are few concealers I can wear under my eye area because most look super patchy or emphasize fine lines and end up making my skin look dry and aged. The Candleglow works well to covers dark circles and brightens and the fact that it has a dewy finish makes it so it feels nice and blends well and does not look dry. I just need more visible coverage so this one is not for me right now.

To use as a highlighter on the face works better for me, however given the packaging design I think layering it on the face, especially if you layer over foundation will get the applicator dirty fast. I suspect it might be easy to clean off with a bit of cleansing water and cotton pad.

If you’re one who finds you only need a little bit of extra coverage this is a nice one to check out. If you need more noticeable coverage, I’d say opt for the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Concealers or NARS Radiant Creamy Concealers instead.

Laura Mercier Candleglow Concealer Highlighter - The Beauty Look Book

Swatch comparisons below to MAC Prolongwear Concealer in NC35, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard, Macadamia, Ginger, Charlotte Tilbury The Retoucher #3 (which is too dark for me now) and Natasha Denona Eye Light #2.

Laura Mercier Candleglow Concealer Highlighter vs NARS MAC Natasha Denona - The Beauty Look Book

Overall I’m 100% in love with the new Candleglow Sheer Setting Powders. I love the finish, the subtle barely there glow, the lasting power and color selection. They have the perfect glowy finish that won’t give you that frosted look and I really like that they are sheer and natural but not invisible. The Concealers are ok – I think finding the right concealer depends on so many factors such as skin type, coverage preference and skin tone. For me they aren’t my favorite. I don’t think they are bad, I just prefer more coverage when it comes to concealers. (Ingredients are listed on each page on Sephora.)

You can find both the Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powder and Candleglow Concealer and Highlighter at Laura Mercier counters now. Online at Laura Mercier, Sephora, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom.

Laura Mercier Candleglow Setting Powders and Candleglow Concealers provided for review consideration. Powder #3 purchased by me.

25 Comments

Cover FX Highlighters

Cover FX The Perfect Light Highlighting Powders

October 7, 2016

Cover FX has brought us yet more ways to glow with The Perfect Light Highlighting Powders ($34 each for 8 g /0.28 oz, made in Canada). There are three shades available in Moonlight, Sunlight and Candlelight with are talc-free highlighters that come in a mirrored compact. The colors do have the same undertone and effect as the Custom Enhancer Drops by the same name but the powder version is a lot softer in overall effect when worn alone. Currently available at Sephora and Cover FX.

On my medium olive skintone:

Moonlight is the lightest and offers the most highlight/shimmer because it contrasts with my olive medium skintone color
Sunlight
looks really close in the compact to Moonlight, but on my skin it’s a
medium champagne with a hint of gold and for me looks the most natural
Candlelight is a soft bronze copper glow on my skin and for me this one is the most shimmery

Cover FX The Perfect Light Highlighting Powder swatches

Cover FX The Perfect Light Highlighting Powder Review

To show the depth and pigment of the shimmer, I pulled the corresponding Custom Enhancer Drops (all previously reviewed here). To quote Cover FX, in order to “take your glow to the max” they recommend starting with the Illuminating Primer to give your skin that soft lit-from-within glow to create a smooth canvas for your foundation. Follow with the Custom Enhancer Drops to create a buildable highlight for a strobe effect or blended out glow. Add depth by layering the Perfect Light Highlighting Powder on top.

For those conservative with the shimmer you may find layering a bit too intense. I tried with all the colors on the face and eyes. I can layer Sunlight or Candlelight together and not feel like a golden statue. Moonlight is a bit too pale for my skintone which causes a more sharp highlight/shimmer.

Cover FX The Perfect Light Highlighting Powder and Custom Enhancer Drops

Moonlight:

Sunlight:

Candlelight:

Note this one was applied with a heavy hand but you can sheer and blend it out for a softer look:

A quick beauty look below with all three shades worn. If you follow @coverfx on social or look at the tags other beauty lovers use for looks you will be able to see some seriously intense glow and glam strobe effects. I wanted to create a softer look that I would feel comfortable wearing everyday and also to show you that these powder can be blended for a more conservative look. If you like more shimmer you can definitely layer more or apply over a cream highlighter to pull more pigment.

Foundation worn is MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC37.

On the eyes is Cover FX Sunlight Custom Enhancer Drop blended all over the lid with Sunlight Powder blended on top of the eyes for an all over wash. A tiny bit of Cover FX Candlelight Powder along eyes as well but in the photo I don’t think you can tell.

On the cheeks is Tom Ford Gold Dust Bronzer applied like a blush with Cover FX The Perfect Light Highlighter Powder in Candlelight on top blended. Cover FX Moonlight Powder is applied to highlight.

On the lips is MAC Huggable Lipstick in Bare Hug.

Top by Splendid.

Texture wise these are smooth and soft. The pigment is excellent and easy to blend without emphasizing pores or skin imperfections – however with most highlighters, the color and finish will depend on your skintype. I really like all three and find them easy to wear on cheeks or eyes. As one who owns dozens of other highlighter powders I will say that I think you can probably find similar colors if you want to shop your stash. That being said these powders from Cover FX perform well. I like that there’s no irritation on my sensitive skin, they don’t emphasize pores and the shimmer is truly easy to control whether you want a soft highlight or more pigmented strobe effect. I find Candlelight to be a very wearable warm bronze which is hard for me since many bronzey shades can pull orange on my skin and the one from Cover FX does not.

The Cover FX team has been kind enough to offer Beauty Look Book readers a chance for a giveaway! Three winners will be selected to win:

1 Full Size Illuminating Primer
1 Full Size Bottle of Custom Infusion Drops – Radiance
1 Perfect Light Highlighting Powder of choice (either sunlight, moonlight, candlelight)

Giveaway details:

Open to US and Canada residents
Must be 18 years or older
Enter via the widget below
Entries will be collected for 3 days (ends 10/10/2016 at 11:45 AM PST)
3 distinct winners will be selected via the widget and contacted by me
Prizes will be shipped directly from Cover FX

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you tried the Cover FX highlighters yet? I’m still really loving the liquid drops and can’t believe how quickly they keep selling out but I hope they will restock again soon.

You can find the Perfect Light Highlighting Powders now at at Sephora and Cover FX.

Cover FX powders and giveaway items provided courtesy of the Cover FX team.

18 Comments

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.

Above: Tory Burch Clutch, Chanel 2-in-1 Foundation Brush, Chanel Fall 2015 Stylo Yeux in Pomme de Pin, MAC Viva Glam Miley Cyrus II Lipglass, Tom Ford Foundation Brush, Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Penelope Pink

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Le Métier de Beauté Ken Downing Paris and Full Stream Kaleidoscopes

September 22, 2015

It’s been over a year since I’ve featured anything from Le Métier de Beauté. Long-time readers know that I used to be a huge fan of the line. Their kaleidoscope kits feature some of the most beautiful colors for eyes and cheeks – over the past 5+ years I accumulated quite a few and loved them (I still do). However I found that many kits contained repeat colors and at $95+ each, I found them too pricey to end up with duplicate colors (as seen in one of my last posts on the line from 2014). Fast forward to this month and I decided to splurge on two for the Neiman Marcus Beauty Event (which ends tomorrow 9/23) – both of which seemed unique enough to justify. One is the Ken Downing Paris Eye Kaleidoscope $125 (which isn’t new, but still available for purchase) and the other is a new one called Full Stream Kaleidoscope $95.

The Le Métier de Beauté Ken Downing Paris Eye Kaleidoscope has four eyeshadows. This one is more expensive than most, priced at $125 for 0.49 oz/ 14 g. I was also really drawn to the Ken Downing London Kit, but 2 of the 4 shades seemed very warm. In my experience, Le Métier de Beauté always surprises me with how wearable the reddish/orangey shades are on the eyes, especially when layered with cooler tones, but I decided to opt for the cool version.

The four shades include a soft satiny cool pink shimmer, a warm copper metallic, a cool pale silver dove grey shimmer and a warm brown shimmer. The mix of warm and cool is pure genius, especially when the colors are layered together (although I’ve shown them swatched separately). Pigment is easy to build. The two lighter shades are sheerer in finish with a soft satiny texture while the darker ones are more metallic, more buttery in texture and more pigmented.

Close ups of each shade:

There are four new Kaleidoscopes exclusive to Neiman Marcus. The four are called Full Stream, Lift Off, Bon Voyage and All Aboard (not available online yet). Each kit has a translucent pressed powder and variations of blush, bronzer, highlighter and eyeshadow. I originally pre-ordered two, but since all have a pressed powder, I remembered my hesitation in getting duplicates and picked Full Stream.

All four photographed in store from Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills:

Full Stream has a translucent powder, one cool pink shimmery blush, a warm tan bronzer and a soft peachy shimmer eyeshadow (also works as a highlighter). The kit is very simple and basic – but it’s perfect for on-the-go and touchups. I was worried the powder would look really white on my face because swatching it showed it was really pigmented. On the face, even on my tan skin, it disappears and leaves a matte-looking finish.

Close ups of each color:

I’m happy with both of my purchases. They did make a serious dent in my wallet and although Full Stream is easily dupeable with other colors, sometimes it’s nice to have something basic that doesn’t require much effort or thought to apply. It brightens the face in a natural polished way and adds color without looking overdone. I can see this going really well with bold lips. Even though these are expensive at $95 and $125 each, if you break it down per pan, it’s about $23 to $31 per color which isn’t too bad given the product amount. Comparing it to other brands at the per gram or per ounce price, it’s reasonable. Still, if you’re like me, you probably budget beauty splurges at the bottom line total, so yes, these are still pricey. The only gripe I have about these two is the sticker at the top. I like the fun designs and they are really pretty – however the kits have a slightly rounded top and the stickers are flat so the result is a bubbled sticker that looks uneven. I had one in my purse in my makeup bag (I don’t recommend doing this) and the tops are not scratch proof. One of mine wasn’t applied on the kit evenly so the edges started to come up. It bothered me enough that I pulled the sticker off which is a shame because the designs are really cute.

In summary, I think the new kits are definitely worth looking into. You can find both the Ken Downing Paris and Full Stream Kaleidoscope exclusively in store and online at Neiman Marcus.

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