L'Oreal's Nude Magique Eau De Teint Foundation

A few months ago Asda had L’Oreal’s Nude Magique Eau De Teint Foundation  on offer much to my delight as I’d been wanting to try it out. I’d been looking for a lightweight foundation to wear on warmer days when heavy makeup tends to feel annoying and overdone that gave my skin a natural look but would still smooth out my complexion. The foundation claims to have a ‘fresh feel’ giving ‘weightless bare perfection’ while also providing SPF 18 which is really useful for when Summer actually lives up to expectation (alert: it has).

At first glance the foundation bottle appears to be quite small but a little goes a long way with this formula; you're told to shake the bottle and then apply just one drop, now, I have a pretty small face as far as 19 year old faces go but one drop definitely isn't enough for me. The runny formula does mean that the product covers a much bigger area than you'd expect but I prefer to use two, three or four drops depending on how much coverage I want.

The foundation blends quickly with minimal effort (perfect for me as I am always running late) and leaves my skin feeling pretty much like my own skin when I'm not wearing makeup but smoother. I like to use my fingers to apply it as when using a buffing brush it feels as though the product disappears too quickly and doesn't achieve anything. I picked up the shade Warm Ivory, which I believe is the second to lightest shade, as they didn't have Porcelain in stock but am so glad I bought the slightly darker option as it give my skin a hint of colour which I really like (bronzed Goddess I am not) but due to the lightweight formula I don’t have to worry about blending the foundation down onto my neck.

When initially using the foundation I wasn't all that impressed as it didn't seem to give much coverage compared to what I was used to and so felt using it wasn't achieving anything. However, now that I've been using it for about two months I find it really helps to even out my skin tone and gives a nice base for everyday events and is much better for my skin than caking it with something much heavier. If I am going to wear cheek products then I like to fill in my eyebrows to pass time and allow the foundation to set slightly then I apply a little powder over the top otherwise products can apply quite unevenly without it. Throughout the day I do tend to get incredibly oily on my nose, I do usually get oily on my nose but with this foundation it seems to be exaggerated by about 10,000 and the foundation completely wears away so if you suffer with oily skin it might be best to avoid. For a night out wearing this foundation would be a disaster as the foundation leaves my skin looking glowy at the end of the day and this would translate into 'crazed sweaty wreck' on camera so I will still use heavier coverage foundations.

My skin has improved a lot since using this foundation and has made me realise that I don't need to cover my skin as much as I did in the past but at £9.99 I may not repurchase it as I want to try out another light foundation to compare, most likely Revlon's Nearly Naked Foundation.

Have you tried this foundation, if so what do you think?

Review: Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum

I bring yet another review of a truly hyped-up foundation that I feel every girl in the world has tried, a conclusion I have reached from that survey that I did not do. Hint: not everyone owns it. The Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum costs £10.99 so is on the more expensive side of high street brands, it's worth saying that there is also a Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation that is different to the serum but is kind of similar in packaging so don't just pick one of these up in a rush as you might get the wrong one. I spent some time googling reviews on both the serum and foundation to work out which one I would prefer (if only I put this much time and effort into proper real life situations) and chose the serum, partly down to the fact a lot of YouTubers and Bloggers love it.

Some of the claims made about the product is that it gives the skin 'an even complexion and an instant anti-fatigue result', has a 'fresh and instant blending gel texture' so sits on the skin with an even, natural finish while 'imperfections are erased' and the 'skin's radiance is boosted for up to 16 hours'.

I bought my foundation in the shade 52 Vanilla, which, in Superdrug, looked a really good match for me but since owning it I wish I went for 51 as it is slightly too dark for me and I have to blend it down my neck. Damn you bright shop lighting. The good thing about this shade however is that it's very yellow-based so suits my skintone well. I love the fresh, fruity sort of smell this foundation has and also love how the bottle is really lightweight and slim.

I really like the formula of this foundation, it's really quite runny and feels so light on the skin that you don't even notice you're wearing foundation. I've been using this foundation for days where I'm not doing anything special so just for college or pottering around somewhere and find it gives my skin the boost it needs to look better without caking it in makeup. I personally would say that this gives a dewy finish on my skin which is different to Bourjois' claim of giving a 'semi-matt finish'. I absolutely love the finish and prefer the dewy look for a daily basis but it is a little misleading if you are wanting something that isn't completely matte but still quite toned down. I always thought this foundation would feel a bit sticky as it's marketed as a serum and moisturising serums I've seen in the past seem to have the gloopy (English vocabulary at it's best) sort of look but I can't notice any difference between this and a normal liquid foundation.

I think a lot of people tend to think that this foundation will be good for dryer skin as it feels quite moisturising, however, when I first started using this foundation I had a dry patch on my cheek and this foundation really highlighted it so perhaps it wouldn't be the best option if you do suffer from dryness. Another slight downfall is that my nose can get quite oily, nothing crazy but oily nonetheless, but when wearing this foundation, even when set with powder, my nose becomes Shine City Central. Like honestly there's dewy and then there's this whole other level which just does not look attractive.

This foundation does tone down any redness I have but I would still go in with concealer if I had any really bad areas and so doesn't exactly give a flawless finish to the skin. If you're a fan of full coverage, matte foundations then this definitely wouldn't be for you but if you are a fan of letting your skin show through and are looking for something that offers more coverage than a BB/CC -and whatever the heck else the market will come up with- cream then I would recommend this providing you don't have overly dry or overly oily skin.

Even though this review seems quite negative it actually works really well for me as I have quite Normal/Combination skin and so the majority of the time it just glides onto my skin and gives a really natural finish and gives me no problems that can't be solved with some powder throughout the day. I'm not sure this foundation lasts 16 hours as it claims but if I wanted my makeup to last for a full day I wouldn't opt for this anyway.

Does anyone else have the urge to just eat this? I think it's the fact the shade I have looks like cake mixture and the way it's called 'healthy mix' doesn't help the craving. Have you tried this foundation or any other Bourjois foundation?

Review: Revlon ColorStay Foundation

I jumped on the Revlon ColorStay train and have no plans of departing any time soon. I bought this fella I'd say more than a week ago, less than two weeks ago (WHO CARES FOR FINITE DETAIL) as I had a £2 off Revlon makeup voucher and had been interested in the foundation for a while. If you follow my twitter you may have seen my tweet regarding the lady who served me when I bought this, basically I forgot I had the voucher until the transaction was over and then asked if I could use so she had to return it and start again. I feared for my life as she wasn't the most friendly of people and we stood there in silence while she angrily tapped at the till. I'm too weak for this battle we call life.

The ColorStay foundation claims to wear for up to 24 hours and have a lightweight feel as well having an SPF 15 (big up big up). I chose the shade 150 Buff from the Combination/Oily Skin range as opposed to the Normal/Dry choice. I had been wanting a foundation with a heavier coverage as I felt that it would help the rest of my makeup sit better and look more polished but was a bit wary as I hate the feeling heavier foundations tend to have. I can say however that this foundation actually does feel really lightweight but I have read some other bloggers say this has a sticky, heavy feeling but I apply quite a small amount so this may be the difference.

A common complaint about this foundation is that it doesn't have a pump, in all honesty this doesn't bother me as the formula is fairly thick and takes a while to 'pour' out so even if you have a delayed reaction speed it's not going to coat everything nearby. I like to pour some onto my hand and then use my finger to dot it on one section of my face and then use my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush to apply it. I find using my finger initially is the easiest way to judge how much you need because I've found my skin can actually look worse if I wear too much of this foundation; if I have under the skin bumps then this foundation will emphasise them. LESS IS BEST GUYS.

I have to admit that I've slept in this foundation twice (I am only human) and, after waking up, my mum said how it looked like I still had a full face of makeup on. This is pretty amazing considering one of the times I applied it at 5pm, went clubbing, got a taxi home at around 5am, walked for about 10 minutes in the rain and then woke up at 9:30 for my face to still look in tact. Granted I did use a primer and set it with powder but still, that is crazy. I honestly do not know who would wear foundation for 24 hours though so the claim is pretty ridiculous and one that I'm not planning on testing.

The shade is a perfect match for me and does not oxidise at all throughout the day which is something I have found with a few other foundations. The finish isn't dewy but it also isn't matte, I'm not sure how I would describe it but I really like it. That was probably the most unhelpful statement of the century if you're looking to buy this foundation, sorry.

At £12.49 this foundation is at the more expensive end of 'drugstore' foundations but I do think it's worth it considering how long it lasts on the skin. It's quite difficult to remove and so I use a micellar water followed by cleanser and toner to make sure it's all removed properly. I won't be wearing this on days where I have college as the poor girl I'm working with will have to waste time removing it and so will instead wear my Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum, a post on that will be coming soon.

Overall I am really impressed with this foundation and feel I've found what I'm looking for in terms of giving my face a really even base for blusher/bronzer and all that jazz. Have you tried this foundation before? If not what foundation do you use?

Rimmel Foundation Comparisons: Match Perfection, Wake Me Up and Lasting Finish

I recently realised that I own four Rimmel foundations/BB creams (this wasn't a conscious decision these things just happen okay?!) and thought it would be interesting to compare them against each other and give an overview of each (flashback to comparing and contrasting in GCSE English). I own the Match Perfection, Wake Me Up and Lasting Finish foundation and also the BB Cream, however, I won't be talking about the BB Cream as I just completely did not get on with it and I feel it isn't as easily comparable as the other three are to one another.

I love the classy packaging of these products and the fact they are glass makes them feel a lot more expensive than they actually are. Also I love how they are colour coordinated in that the lids match the colours used on the bottle and so look nice when being stored.

The Match Perfection Foundation is my most recent Rimmel foundation purchase but I really like it and am enjoying using it so far. It feels incredibly lightweight on the skin, unlike the Lasting Finish foundation, and applies evenly to my face without sticking to any drier areas or moving around on oilier areas. I love wearing this for an everyday base as my skin still looks like skin and is left with a nice, fresh look. I wouldn't say it gives 'an illuminated glow' as it so claims but I would not class this as a negative because I like the finish of it. I use my Rimmel Stay Matte Powder to set the foundation on my t-zone but leave the rest of my face unpowdered when using this and find it stays put regardless. It has a very similar fruity scent to the Wake Me Up foundation which I actually like but know that other people may find this off-putting, in which case, the Lasting Finish foundation may be better as it does not have much of a scent. I either use my fingers, Real Techniques Expert Face Brush or Cosmopolitan Blending Sponge to apply this depending on how I feel and the amount of time I have in the morning. This foundation comes in eleven different shades of which I chose shade 100 Ivory which isn't actually the lightest shade for once (shock, horror) and instead it being 010 Light Porcelain. I would really recommend this foundation for people with normal skin types and perhaps dry as well but possibly not for oily skins as I don't think the seemingly moisturising formula would work well.

Next is the Wake Me Up foundation, one which I adored and then hated and now cry about because I want to be able to use it but can't. When I first bought this it was amazing, it gave my face a really nice glow and was the right amount of coverage for my normal skin at the time, however, after about four months of using it my face began getting incredibly oily and so I began changing my foundation and looking for one that would last against my oiliness. After what seemed like forever my skin settled down and is now only occasionally oily and so I have retried this foundation several times but it looks awful on me! It doesn't last on my skin, it makes me look overly shiny and also the shade I have which is 100 Ivory (again) is too dark for me even though it is the lightest out of the six available. I know so many people love this foundation and so I definitely think it is my skin that does not suit it but, saying that, I own and have repurchased the matching concealer several times and really enjoy using it. I do however love the smell and packaging of this foundation and think the orange looks really appealing and summery and matches the claims of giving 'a radiant glow'. This foundation, as I'm sure most people know, has shimmer in it that isn't incredibly noticeable on the skin but could be a problem for some people if they want a matte finish in which case the Lasting Finish foundation would be much better suited.

Lastly is the Lasting Finish foundation which I can't quite make my mind up about if I like it or not. I first bought it as I wanted to try a higher coverage foundation and, upon using this, found it completely masked my skin and gave a clean base to work on. However, after using it more and more I found that it actually felt sticky on my skin which I hate as I don't want to feel like I'm wearing makeup even if you can tell that I am. My hair becomes stuck to my face and also bits of dust (how weird do I sound right now?) stick as well and don't seem to want to be removed which gets very annoying. However, since trying it again, I have found that if I use just the right amount of product then it does not give me the sticky feeling and it looks nice on the skin but, unfortunately, I do not own a laboratory where I can measure out quantities every morning before applying. I do find that this foundation tends to gather in certain places, such as around the bottom of my nose, and also wears off near my mouth and so I can't say it lives up to its claim of lasting 25 hours. I would however use this foundation for when I am going out in the evening or at night and my skin is looking particularly bad and I want to cover it, but, after trying the Match Perfection, I will not be choosing to wear this as a day time foundation any time soon. I also bought this in the shade 100 Ivory (do you see a theme here?) however there are only six shades to choose from in this particular range.

From left to right: Match Perfection, Wake Me Up and Lasting Finish

One thing that confuses me with these foundations is how all of the ones I own I have bought in the shade Ivory yet they all differ slightly even though they are made by the same company. The Wake Me Up shade definitely seems too dark for me even after being blended but the Match Perfection and Lasting Finish shades blend into my skin very well.

I love how both the Match Perfection and Wake Me Up foundations have SPF in them; Match Perfection has factor 18 and Wake Me Up has 15. Although the Lasting Finish does not this can easily be counteracted with a daily face moisturiser with SPF but is worth considering if you want a multi-functioning product.

The Wake Me Up foundation I feel everyone, apart from those with oily skin, should try at least once because it is quite a different foundation to others available in the 'drugstore' and does give a fresh glow and so also making it a good choice for younger girls wanting to wear an everyday foundation.

The Lasting Finish foundation would be perfect I feel for someone who is seeking a buildable, higher coverage foundation and doesn't mind the feeling of having foundation on their skin or those who do not feel it but probably would not be recommend for those with dry skin as I can imagine this foundation to cling to dry patches and emphasise them.

My definite favourite out of these three foundations is the Match Perfection due to its lightweight feel, easy application and quick blending time and I feel would be suitable for all skin types other than oily.

Do you have a favourite out of these three foundations or do you prefer the BB Cream or Stay Matte Foundation offered by Rimmel?