Clinique Superbalanced Makeup Foundation Review

I used this product several times only, in scorching heat, three days in a row. I can usually decide whether I like a product after one use only, the verdict depending on how it reacts on my skin and the longevity of the finish. It's because 99% of the time I use the exact same products (moisturizer and primer) so I know that, except for drastic weather conditions, it is going to be the same story every time I am going to use it. This is valid for foundations only. 

I got my hands on several samples of the Clinique Superbalanced foundation so I decided to (finally) use it; I haven't purchased the product so it wasn't a waste for me. The samples were more than enough for my five uses, which I find quite nice (usually samples contain a few drops of product that aren't sufficient for my entire face). So I guess if you're trying to decide on this product, getting a sample or two would be the best alternative since you can really see how it works when you use a little bit only, when you build up several layers, etc.

The sample was in Ivory VF-N. Don't really know what the abbreviations stand for since I am not into Clinique foundations. It must be some symbol for 'neutral' or their shades' gradation, though on the website they have one Ivory only and several others that suggest lighter/darker variation of the shade- Alabaster, Light, Fair, Petal, etc. 

The consistency of the foundation is that of a liquid, but not extremely runny. I'd say it belongs to the generic category of fluid foundations, with no 'special' qualities such as gel-like appearance, a mousse-like texture or anything creamier than your liquid foundation. 

I applied it on the back of my palm first, then used my Isadora large domed kabuki brush (natural bristles). This is one of the best brushes I have ever encountered, far better than  anything MAC, Sephora Platinum or any other foundation brush I have ever tried. 

The shade is light but it definitely suits my skintone. It's my face's natural color with only one problem- when on the back of my hand, it looked exactly like my natural skin, with mellow cream undertones, while once applied on the face it got rather pink undertones. Nothing strong, nothing visible, but I personally saw it. It didn't transfer into the pictures which was a relief, however I still think it's visible. Oh well. 

Foundation only. Facing natural light.

Facing natural light. Bourjois Rose d'Or Baked Blush on the cheeks only.

It does look natural in pictures, especially in natural light.

The first impression was 'wow'. It has great coverage and doesn't feel oily on the skin, yet allows for multiple layers (on the chin and under the eyes in my case). It has a bit of 'glow' on the pore areas- the inner cheeks, chin and forehead- which tends to fade off as soon as the foundation has dried out. It doesn't look oily at all.

However, and this isn't visible in the picture, it doesn't look natural on my skin. The shade just 'took over' my entire face and didn't let the skin 'breathe'. I felt like this foundation is a mellower Estee Lauder Double Wear minus the 'paint-like' aspect and endurance. It looked as if I had already set it with powder, and on the forehead it wasn't doing a great job with the pores and expression lines (the photos I took don't include the forehead, unfortunately).

It gets really dry, very quickly, and I could literally feel my skin pulling, especially around the mouth and the temples. I have combination skin and an oily forehead, therefore I didn't think this would be a problem; after setting it with a bit of powder (Chanel Poudre Universelle pressed powder) it really got extremely dry; however, it wasn't such a problem for my forehead since I had to take a long walk and the temperature was really high, the foundation + powder helping a great deal in this department. However, it did feel dry...even after a long day in the sun.

I am always going for the dewey yet not-oily aspect of the foundation, even after setting it with powder (forehead, nose and chin); it doesn't really happen with most products since it's difficult to achieve that finish with a liquid/cream foundation. So in this department, I might have to say my demands were a bit over the top.

However, I do think this foundation might be great for oily-very oily complexions because it absorbs the sebum of the skin, pretty much like Vichy Normablend. The only difference is the texture- thick and unnatural.

Therefore, I will not purchase this foundation because I feel like I am getting the same results with my Vichy one, minus the mask effect and a less rosy toned shade.

Things I love this summer (part 1)

Just a few things, most of them old 're-finds'. And the Nivea chapstick!

Make Up Store Microshadow in Ghetto 

The best eye/brow shadow ever, pigmented and LARGE. It comes at a fraction of the price you'd normally pay for a MAC one. Too bad I expect the brand to be available in Sweden only...

It's very soft and natural, the color is fantastic for brows, as eyeliner (i don't use black...) or as a plain matte eyeshadow. I'd compare it to MAC's Espresso, only with fewer 'red' undertones (from the chocolate tint that one has). It's perfect! 

Make Up Store 'Ghetto' microshadow

I got this amount of product by only touching the pan- it's really pigmented and a little goes a very, very long way. Very soft, yet not silky- it doesn't pick up too much on the brush or gets dusty once you swirl the brush in the pan.

This is MAC Espresso:

Stars'n Rockets blog 

Looks lighter in the pan but the orange undertones are far stronger. Espresso on the brows:

You either must have a light hand, light eyebrows (mousy blonde) or mix it with something ashy...I can't see how otherwise. Anyways, the product is very popular so I can't say it isn't good at what it does, it's just that sometimes one can find 'better dupes' at lower prices. That's my opinion. 

Helena Rubinstein Illumination Loose Powder

The best powder, loose or pressed, I have ever used (notice how little I have left :( ).  Did my friend's makeup on her wedding day and she looked spectacular. The powder illuminates the skin, sets the makeup and doesn't make your skin look cracked...which is a first. It's translucent but it has some tonality, available in 5 shades (I think). On the website it says it's enriched with 'optical pearlisers' for a glowy and healthy effect. It really works wonders, I suggest everyone to try and get their hands on a sample..I use it in nr 05 Light, and had it in 02 as well but gave that one away since it was too rosy for my skintone. 

Nivea Fruity Shine chapstick in Strawberry

The effect after wiping the lips

Very hard to find (Cherry, Honey and Classic are always on the shelves, not this baby). I adore the tint it gives the lips, very natural yet 'blushed', just like a strawberry. It's very hard to find a lipstick/lipgloss that would mimic the color of strawberries since they are all either cold-toned (fuchsia pinks) or orange/scarlet..which isn't bad, but I wanted something strawberry-ish! 

Been cruising makeup stores and supermarket aisles for ever until I saw this baby right by the cashier's...hello lover! I absolutely love the texture, the color, the scent (it has a pleasant taste as well, no plastic-bad blueberry juice like every other 'fruity' lipgloss/chapstick has), the smoothness and the hydrating effect. Comes with an SPF of 10 as well.

It's not extremely cheap, but not expensive either, so if you just want gorgeous lips without all the fuss, I suggest this product, combined with a lipliner (currently using Rimmel's East End Snob and Lancome's Caramel). It's going to be gorgeous and very Lolita-esque (kissed lips!), and it's REALLY pigmented for a chapstick (more pigmented than a lipgloss, obviously less color than with a lipstick). 

Maybelline Super Stay 24h Concealer

I use it as an eyelid primer and it works wonders, my makeup doesn't budge. I got the wrong shade (03, the darkest beige) which is too yellow for me so I can't really use it under the eyes. It's also a bit drying, which makes it a perfect tool to hide some blemishes. I probably shouldn't be using it on the eyelids, but they tend to get oily so I guess the dry effect cancels itself during the day...great eyeshadow primer! 

Veet Warm Wax

This is great for summer. I'll tell you why:

-I always wax my upper lip. The tiniest hair will get stuck in foundation and the more, the merrier- you end up looking like you have a mustache. If you're a brunette, even worse. I think every woman should wax their upper lip...the hair will not grow stronger or darker, but weaker and slower since you're yanking it out from its root and not only cutting off its surface. But that's just my take on the issue. However, girls with bleached facial hair look horrifying..so I personally suggest what my beautician said, just wax it...in two years maximum it won't grow back at all. 

-Bikini lines, especially if you're going to the seaside: salted water, chlorine and all those substances are known to irritate the hell out of the delicate skin or the upper thighs/bikini lines/inner thighs. If you're going on holiday and you're planning on shaving, think about the fact that if you're going straight into the water, you'll come out full of red dots; if you wait for a day (I tried waiting for 8 hours, didn't work), the hair is going to start growing back though it's (yet) unnoticeable. By this stage you can feel it already so no silk smooth legs. So you have to do it over and over again. Not nice. 

I strongly suggest girls, especially brunettes, to wax, since it's a healthy and perfect method of getting rid of body/face hair without paying a ton of $ if you can't afford laser/pulsed light/whatever else there is out there. I never shave on my upper legs/inner thighs/bikini, for fear of ingrown hairs (that always pop up when you go on holiday..especially when you swim/sweat) which look horrible in that area.

This wax is great because:

-it's not real bees wax. It's a combination of sugars and other substances that make it not that sticky as bees wax, easier to handle, with a higher boiling point (so you don't get burned as easily if you're a novice). 

-it does a great job at removing unwanted hair, from the thickest to peach fuzz. Really good for sensitive skin (me and some of my friends have been using this on the face as well with no problems whatsoever).

-it's hydrosoluble, which means it dissolves in water. Any drops/spots/traces can be cleaned really easily and fast.

-comes with a set of reusable strips (since it's hydrosoluble, you just let the used strips in water and in 20 mins they're ready to be dried and used again). 

-comes with a cute thermo sensitive applicator that 'tells' you when it's too hot or good to use

- if you're handy enough, you can apply it in a thicker layer (it doesn't crack no matter for how long you leave it on the skin, unlike bees wax that starts chipping if left for more than 2-3 mins) and then yank it with your fingers if you wanna save the product (of course, if you're waxing fuzz). 

-you can warm in it in the microwave. Super fast and easy!

Summer foundations

Nivea Beauty Lift, Vichy Normaderm and Estee Lauder Double Wear. Because they're so resistant and don't budge in heat/water/sweat etc. Will review the Normaderm very soon! 

Chanel Vitalumiere Satin Smoothing Creme Makeup Review

I'm finally back on track with a wonderful product I've been wanting to review for ever, since it's less popular than the 'classic' Chanel Vitalumiere, which I tried and didn't love. Not the case with this one. 

Price: I was fortunate enough not to pay anything for this baby since I got it as a present from a friend. I guess the price is around $ 50, which isn't cheap at all. However, there are some props with this specific type of foundation which clearly make up for the bucks you pay.

Packaging: I really like it, but it's not ergonomic. The squared glass jar looks beautifully, very retro for a foundation since it doesn't come in the typical bottle with a pump. I like this packaging more than anything else, regardless of the fact that it's a pain to carry it around for touch ups. The thing is...you don't need any with this baby.

Shades: It comes in 9 shades, beautifully pigmented and extremely realistic. I've always praised other foundations, especially my beloved Estee Laude Double Wear, for their pigmentation, coverage, endurance, etc, but none comes close when it comes to shades and their adaptability. Most of the shades available on the European/US markets are beige-toned, and the ones catering to rosier complexions are demure and very skin-like. I have mine in 20 Clair, and had the classic Vitalumiere foundation (the one in the bottle) in 30 Cendre (I think it was 'Shell' in English). They are pretty much the same thing- the same undertone basis, the exact same 'color', Clair being a little bit lighter than Cendre. Very nicely executed replica, since it's quite difficult to find consecutive shades that are really a scale and not a pallet. 

I think Clair suits anyone with a lighter complexion- NW 20-30, even 35 (in summer, when tanned), or NC 20-25. It has beige undertones but neither orange nor yellow, just 'cream'. 

Another huge prop of this foundation (perhaps given by its consistency as well as the shade's potential) is the chromatic adaptability- it doesn't suit my skin 100% (what foundation does it to the degree of perfect?), but it manages to blend in perfectly to the point where I can't tell where I have applied it and if I need to blend it in my neck/hairline. Awesome. This is prop number 2, it's never happened to me before, with any other foundation, not to this degree. Really impressed by it. 

Consistency: creamy. Like a face cream, think Nivea Visage. Doesn't run, doesn't dry up fast. It's really beautiful to look at, since it gives the impression of a luxurious product.

Honestly, that's all you need for half a face. I was very surprised since this foundation is identical in terms of consistency with Nivea Beauty Lift, but seems to 'multiply itself' when applied. 

I did my makeup using a normal foundation brush, as opposed to Chanel's brush indicated on their website (big surprise, right). It worked wonders. 

I've always been the eye-rolling one while reading hundreds of reviews where the ladies praised various foundations, or even makeup brushes, claiming it cuts back on the quantity they use. In my case, I need two pumps on average, and another extra half pump for the undereye area and various spots/discolorations. With this foundation, I can happily say I have entered that 'I Only Need a Little' category.

Application: Smooth like nothing else, it works beautifully with anything- fingers, sponges, flat brushes, kabuki brushes (when I'm in a hurry), even with my stubborn Sephora #44 stippling brush, and I never got that one to work with anything, EVER. I guess it's the consistency combined with the strong pigmentation that allows for such a small quantity and a beautiful finish. I prefer using it with a flat brush, because I don't like getting my fingers dirty, and a sponge would suck up too much product. I also like the dewy finish, which doesn't quite happen when a sponge is involved.

Coverage: Five stars. The foundation is allegedly medium coverage, I find it to be full. Without the mask effect. No pores, no lines, no caking up. It's creamy and allows for building it up in as many layers as you please, without getting messy if used on primer, anti-shine gels, even powder. It's simply wonderful. 

Below are some photos taken at various moments of the day, with or without flash, in natural shade or lighting. 

Natural light, at noon, just blush on the cheeks (no powder)

Natural light, in shade, right after application (nothing else on top)

Natural light, opposing the sun (that's why my skin looks reddish), after 5 hours of dancing. Concealer under the eyes and a bit of blush on the cheeks. No powder on the face (just the hairline and lower chin).

Finish: Four stars. It has a very dewy finish than can feel oily, but it looks glowy. It usually happens the other way around with everything else I ever tried- you get an oil slick on your face while the product claims 'glowiness from within'. My skin is mixed, and I wore this in the middle of July for a wedding- it lasted beautifully throughout the night, with a bit of powder (Chanel pressed powder, review coming up very soon) applied mostly on the hairline and around the mouth (dancing and eating involved, thus extra measures had to be taken). It doesn't melt, it doesn't get cakey or sticky if you sweat (especially on the forehead or nose), and it doesn't stain. If you set it with a bit of powder, then you have an 8 hour guarantee. It also has an SPF of 15 and photographs beautifully.

In shadow, no flash light, after 8 hours.  

Right after the application, natural light, facing the window :) Just concealer (Clinique) under the eyes and blush.

However, it depends from complexion to complexion. My friend (the one who gave it to me) has tried it herself and cannot understand why I like it- on her skin it gets messy, gunky and basically dissolves in tiny balls around her cheeks and nose. She has normal skin with a bit of dryness- so she's the perfect choice for this foundation, according to the manufacturer. Many reviews warn about this foundation and oily complexions, and praise it as being the Holy Grail of dry or more mature skins. In her case, it just didn't work out, so the only flaw (and a major one) would be that it's a trial and error issue...which doesn't come in super handy when you have to pay $50 for the bottle. 

Overall: A fantastic product I intend to use for special occasions only. A little goes a long way, so those special occasions might come up every day. Since it's so pricy, I'll just use it wisely. Definitely going to repurchase this and not the typical Vitalumiere, which was a disappointment.

A short comparison between the Chanel Vitalumiere Creme Makeup and the Chanel Vitalumiere Fluid Makeup

-identical shades

-three of four times more coverage of the Creme v. the Fluid

-better finish of the Creme. The Fluid gets soaked in, looks very good and natural but tends to disappear around 3 hours after the application unless heavily set with powder. You need much more Fluid to cover what the Creme does with the tiniest amount

-endurance- the Fluid doesn't last nearly as long as the Creme. I'd say 3 hours v. 8-10 hours.

-the Fluid has a definite advantage in the packaging department; however, I'd rather carry a bulky bottle or depot it in something else than getting stuck with the Fluid. After all, it's about different densities of the products- that's why the 30 g of the Creme beats the 30 ml of the Fluid.

-the Creme will last you many months, daily use, while the Fluid lasts several weeks i assume (I returned mine after two uses, which amounted to 8 pumps. Ouch). You're not paying for water after all (70% of the Fluid) but for something more consistent (Creme).

-the finish is identical, minus the 'sleaking' part the Fluid has. They both look the same when applied, but the actual effect is different with the Creme.

I strongly, strongly recommend this foundation if you like the classic Vitalumiere, it's the same thing only ten times better. 

Face Stockholm Liquid Foundation Review

Today i managed to take some prettier pictures of what my Face Stockholm Liquid Foundation has looked like at its best. First thought- i love this stuff. I'm usually excited about all their products because they're so amazing (yet pricy), but this foundation has exceeded all my expectations. It's a very particular product and i'm uber happy for having purchased it.

Liquid foundation is known for not giving the highest coverage but to be honest i was getting kind of tired of the Double Wear's heaviness. I do like it and it's an amazing product but i just needed something lighter, something that would make my skin shine through and just breathe, feel and look as natural as possible. Yet it still had to conceal my minor imperfections (circles+sunspots) and be as moisturizing as possible. Face Stockholm also has the exact product with the sole difference that it has a matte finish (their Matte Foundation), which i don't quite fancy, in general.

The bottle is a little pricy, retails for the equivalent of 37 dollars (or 24 British pounds) and it's 29 ml of product only. To be honest i think this foundation is better than many other high-end brands i have previously tried (Chanel, Dior, Smashbox, Laura Mercier etc) and that were expensive as well. Plus, you really can't beat the fact that Face Stockholm is a professional brand created by two professional makeup artists. I tend to trust professionals more than i trust haute couture brands who took up makeup. But i digress.

My shade is Noble, a light beige with quite neutral undertones. No orange, no pink, no nothing, just a beautiful color that mimics my natural skintone to perfection. At first both I and the SA thought Swedish Summer would be more suitable but to be honest i'm waaaayyy over my 'tanned' phase (when i was buying darker foundations in bulk...go figure) and i just preferred to keep it simple. Therefore i was matched with Noble.

Coverage: This stuff gives coverage but not the heavy-duty type. If you expect something that would cover in the Double Wear or MAC Full Coverage way, this isn't like that. I don't mean to sound biased (i am NOT affiliated nor paid by Face Stockholm, ha!) but this foundation gives me coverage without looking like 'coverage'. I can personally spot when someone's wearing the 'full coverage' foundation because of the thick, most of the time matte finish their skin has, the unusual flatness of the skin and the complete opacity of the surface, even when it comes to a dewy finish. It's just easily noticeable, to make it simple. This foundation looks incredibly real, yet it covers a lot. I would probably say 75% coverage (considering 100% to be Kim Kardashian's Concrete&Wax foundation :) )
However, i don't have scars, acne or major spots/discolorations so perhaps if you're battling with any of these you might want to reconsider. It is, after all, a lot of money.

Finish: The skin is moist in a natural way. It's not Chanel Vitalumiere's greasy sheen, it's not powdery, it's not unnatural or the so-called 'dewy' (either oily or shimmery). It just settles in my skin and clones my skintone. The producers' website mentions it's also very buildable, all you have to do is to wait for the first layer to dry and then you can come back with dabs for a fuller coverage (i didn't try this).

Shades: It comes in a variety of around 23 shades, some of them named in Swedish-'Jord' (soil/earth), 'Uttryck' (expression), 'Mörk' (dark), 'Höst' (autumn); adorable, if you ask me. The thing about these shades is that they are extremely well calculated to mimic the real skintone of a human being. I still remember the utter disbelief when testing several high-end foundation shades- it looked like they had been created for aliens- oranges, purplish-toned pinks, etc.

Scent: it's not scented. If you sniff it really hard (like i usually do, hehe) you might feel a whiff of something ...'cold'. I'm really not good at describing scents :) however, it really doesn't smell at all and there is no way you are going to experience any irritation because it doesn't contain fragrance.

There is something particular about this foundation. When I put it on, it looks exactly like in the bottle (which is lighter than my skintone); as i blend it in/rub it in, it gets darker and recreates my skintone. At first i thought it was the lighting and after finishing with the makeup application i dabbed a bit on my hand in front of then window; the first five seconds it looked like i ended up with something lighter, a weird fluid that was never going to cover anything or even adhere to my skin; immediately after the 'cloning' took place. I don't know if this is something characteristic to my shade or if the foundation itself it's meant to do this; their website says nothing. They also recommend both brush and wet/damp sponge as application methods so i didn't do anything different. I was definitely amazed. Not impressed, AMAZED.

Pics from today's makeup. I was really surprised at how well it matched my skintone (the peachy H&M blush applied in the hollow of the cheeks only). For the first time, my jawline and ears were the same color as my face :)

(excuse the unnatural contacts)



(the blush directly on the foundation, no powder applied. I loved how my pores were looking so demure and my skin looked all natural, with a hint of sheen from the blush)

(no blush, just the natural shade of the cheekbone)

(natural chin, not shiny, not matte. It did a great job with my pores)
Therefore..: Hands down, the best foundation i own and HG (HG list to update). I am still counting on Double Wear for 'rainier' days but this one is definitely going to be my staple. Hurray for beautiful skin!

Product rave- Isadora 16hrs Active Moist Make-up SPF 30

I have to write about this foundation because i think it is an AMAZING, AMAZING product. I came across the only review this foundation has on Makeupalley because i was looking for opinions since this little wonderful thing is on sale at Kicks. I'm surprised there is only one review of this (or there was, last time i checked) because i think this foundation has serious Dior dupe potential. I went on and bought it after trying it on my wrist (sometimes it's even useless to test foundations inside the store...i already have makeup on, the lighting is bad, etc), seeing the price, the ingredients and especially the SPF of 30.



Packaging: I love the long flesh-colored tube and i especially love the pump. It's very similar to Chanel Mat Lumiere's and it allows for perfect control of the quantity. Half a pump is enough for half my face, a little extra being required to cover up spots or undereye circles. I don't need concealer with this foundation, which only happens when i use Estee Lauder's Double Wear. Of course that this foundation, being a drugstore product, does not compare too much with ELDW, but there are some similarities. It has 30 ml.

Price: not dirt cheap, i paid the equivalent of 12 euros. While being a little pricey for a drugstore foundation (as all European drugstore products are), it is definitely worth all the money.

Color: the shade range is quite limited as this foundation comes in only six shades. However, the striking thing about this foundation is that it appears to perfectly suit both cold undertoned complexions as well as warm skintones. I am a MacNW30-35 and i am currently using shade 33 Honey Beige. While on my extremely pale wrist it came out a little darker, it blends beautifully on my face and i don't even see the face-neck border line. As i mentioned, i think the colors go towards beige-peachy undertones, not orange at all, yet they are perfectly suitable for warm skintones as well. Definitely a winner.

Application: the tube reads 'shake well before use'; i applied it with my fingers with no messiness whatsoever. It feels very creamy on the fingers yet has a runny consistency, pretty much like the Dior Diorskin Forever; i think it's just a little thicker than that. It doesn't streak, doesn't cake around pores or fine lines, it looks very well around my hairline (NOTHING works for me in that area, i always have to blend the foundation with a wet sponge and get my baby hairs messed up).

Coverage: it definitely qualifies as three-quarters medium coverage (the other quarter being sheer). It covered my dark circles although i always need concealer and it also covered my spots. However, it did not completely erase any track of blemish off my face, so i dare say it's definitely not full coverage. What i mostly like about it is that it lives up to its name. While not being able to physically measure the degree of moisture in my skin (who can do that??? why did i say that? it's stoopid!), i can honestly say this stuff doesn't feel like makeup at all. It has a very light consistency and a healthy matte finish. However, this only comes if you shake the tube very well before use otherwise it can feel a little drying (the ingredients must blend properly). I was looking for a natural, light finish makeup with decent coverage and low pocket-burning properties because i desperately need something to mix my Estee Lauder Double Wear with (that stuff is amazing but feels like cement), and also needed an everyday workable foundation for school days or moments when i'm on the run.
This is my left cheek with no makeup on:



With one layer of Isadora foundation (half a pump):



The pic might appear a little bit blurry because i tried to fix the image on the macro mode, to get a very clear close-up, but i still can't figure things out with my new camera. However,i absolutely did not blur the image; this is what it looks like in plain Swedish morning light (cold light), no flash, in front of the window.

I have also uploaded two pics of my left wrist before and after. Pictures taken in daylight, in front of the window, no flash. Before:



and after:



(Sorry about the cracks in my skin, this is a close-up and my face definitely doesn't look like that with this foundation on. The image is much clear because it's easier to hold a camera at the perfect distance from the wrist than from half of the face.)

Stay on power: three out of five. It looks beautiful and doesn't transfer on clothes but comes off if you rub your fingers on the skin. I'm guessing it might also be the case with other activities such as kissing; i have tested it while clubbing and again, the verdict is 3 out of 5. While looking beautifully when i left the house and staying on 100% for about 3 hours, it started looking a bit too transparent after a while. However, it is highly blendable and you can retouch your makeup with your fingertips. I don't feel like needing powder with this foundation (though i don't use powder with any other product because i think it dries out my skin and makes me look older).

This is a clearer picture of my cheek this morning after i put on a little more foundation for going to classes. It is a little more quantity, a bit more than half a pump plus a little extra dabbing under the eyes (my problem areas together with the nose redness):



The color is extremely natural and peachy-rosy and i find it adorable. I have slightly oily skin especially on my t-zone but i don't use powder anymore. This foundation has an immense fixing and covering potential for a drugstore product. Here are two photos of me 5 minutes ago, 23.53 local time. I did not retouch my foundation today and i still haven't used powder. You'll notice some shine but that's my medium oiliness coming through and it doesn't look that bad in reality. I prefer the dewy, shinier finish much more than the extremely matte and powdered one because the latter just doesn't look good on everyone, looks unnatural and ages the face, not to mention that it over dries the skin.





I have used only the tiniest amount of concealer, the Isadora concealer stick, and i have been wearing this foundation (without powder on top, i repeat) all day long. The concealer is not heavy duty coverage and i kept blending it in with my fingertips all day long because of some unwanted eye pencil smudging i had to clean. Notice the slightly red eyes-that's the continuous dabbing plus the drying central heating in my department's classroom. The skintone appears to be downright yellow with some greenness in it because i took the picture without a flash, in a yellow lamp light. I wanted to get all the details as accurately as possible so that's why i have a yellow face. The color of the foundation is by no means that.

Miscellaneous: contains zinc, urea-that helps with the moisture balance, almond oil, pomegranate extract and marine bacterium ferment (Pseudoalteromonas is the scientific name, checked it up and it is a bacteria responsible with producing antifungal and antibacterial molecules). Does not contain perfume but it has the most amazing scent i have ever found in a foundation,an extremely faint odor of fresh laundry. I love it. It didn't irritate my skin, didn't cause breakouts. Has an SPF of 30 which is a huge plus for me because regular sun protection dries out my skin and forms a very light, almost white film on my skin that i don't really like and find difficult to blend in with any makeup product. So this is a great plus.

some of the ingredients (the European version of the product): aqua, isododecane, titanium dioxide, cyclopentasiloxane, ethylhexyl, methoxycinnamate, polyglyceryl, triisostearate, mica, glycerin, dimethicone/sorbitan stearate copolymer, zinc stearate, prunus amygdalus dulcis oil, punica granatum extract, pseudoalteromonas ferment extract, fructose, glucose, sucrose, xanthan gum, tocopherol, dextrin, alanine, glutamic acid, aspartic and other substances i get tired of typing.

Therefore...: I will definitely continue purchasing it. It seems to be the only foundation i can mix my ELDW with (anything else cakes), has decent coverage, hydrates my skin and looks very fresh. 4 stars out of 5. Now, coming back home after a day of work and stress and everything, i absolutely love the coverage and the hydrating sensation this foundation gives, and i seriously believe it is better than my Diorskin Forever. I dare to say that to me it presents itself as a strong candidate for Estee Lauder's Double Wear dupe.

Just remember- shake well before use!

Makeup fisticuffs-sack the stylist, Kim K!

Oh oh oh. I decided to blog about this kind of stuff every month or week, depending on my bitchiness at the specific time. The reason for doing this is something i've mentioned before, namely the well known impossibility of normal people to follow the standards imposed by celebs, especially when those standards are not even real most of the time. I want to talk about Kim Kardashian because i think many girls my age can identify themselves with her from various perspectives- she's young, with a passion for fashion, wannabe glamazon and darling of the makeup artists. I am a follower of Kim's makeup artist's blog, Mario,like most of the beauty bloggers here. However talented Mario is, Kim's makeup style dangerously lingers in that gray zone between dramatic and tacky; i personally love some traits of her makeup looks, like the lashes or the kajal, but still wonder at some others, like the heaviness and falseness of the foundation and bronzer.

While reading miss Kim's blog i couldn't help at gasping with surprise at a certain post that really caught my eye- Kim posted some photos of her outside a Hollywood restaurant and after the usual fashion and 'you guys, totally you guys' chit chat, she dropped the bomb- claimed wearing absolutely no makeup. Amazeballs!!!!

Okay, but first of all, the usual makeup talk. Sort of an in-and-out thing:

In: Kim's natural traits, namely the gorgeous Bambi eyes that don't need that much makeup to begin with.

Out: damn,that in thing was pretty short! well a list of the outies would be the tranny false lashes, the smudged crayon, the overly contoured eyebrows and the heavy plum eyeshadow.




I actually don't even know for sure if the eyeshadow she's wearing in the first pic is navy, or dark brown, or downright black, because i can't see through the heavy duty eyeliner and the eyebrows. It's just too much, a total disaster, i really think it's a bad example of 'smoky' eye makeup. As for the foundation, what type does she use? In this unphotoshopped picture it appears to be very visible, heavy, caked in the pores of her skin and unnaturally bordering the cheek makeup. That one is absolutely wrong as well- not only it's too much, but i guess her makeup artist didn't use a primer (or Kim must have very oily skin) because the blush and bronzer appear to have gunked and streaked on her cheeks big time.
And for the love of god...what's with the upper lip? is it just me or that little spot looks like it needs some serious waxing? the foundation has clearly not been blended properly in that area giving the look of a serious mustache. Combined with the pearly pale lipstick (that looks dry-yet-oily, emphasizing the cracks of the lips and appearing cakey)it really makes Kim look either sick, in disguise for a Halloween carnival or just a victim of her makeup artist.

Then there was the 'blonde' look:







Before anything else...





Kim, that is NOT blonde. It is an artistically executed orange with beautiful highlights, but it looks like a worn out hemp mop. It's just one of the major disasters i have ever seen. Not to mention the thick black eyebrows...that fortunately have not been colored in the same nuance as the hair, although one's hair must somehow match the eyebrows. It would have been worse to see Kim sporting a pair of orange caterpillars on her forehead. However, who is her stylist? i forgot to check up the details because i was shocked when coming across this photo. I just can't understand how this was possible. You're a celebrity, you can afford a top stylist! If natural black hair can be transformed into beautiful, naturally-looking glossy waves, i.e. Jennifer Aniston, then THAT's a great colorist...whose number you should have struggled a little bit more to get. Sigh sigh and triple sigh.


Then there was THIS:



Okay Kim seriously needs to subscribe to Pixiwoo's blog. Makeup is supposed to bring out your natural features, to make your skin glow and enhance the natural beauty one has. Whoever did her makeup clearly used too much white powder under the eyes and, i assume, unsuccessfully tried to blend it out, resulting in a multi-layered white mess. It's just too much and it doesn't even match her skintone- notice the orange fake baked body.

However i don't totally dislike this look:



This is the only photo of Kim in which her skin is visible through the foundation layer. It looks fresh, natural, not overly done, with the slightest hint of contouring powder/blusher, whatever they used. It's even hard to figure it out which is exactly what makeup is supposed to be like. The cherry, almost russian red lipstick is a great color option that compliments both her natural mouth shape and the skintone, as well as the dark hair, giving the entire look a splash of that classic '50's glam. However, the eyebrows are again overdone. While i love their natural shape (i'm currently growing mine out hoping to get my natural shape 100% back), they appear too thick and having the wrong arch- thick eyebrows should be carefully angled otherwise one ends up with the Camilla Belle look. Kim's brows have been plucked at the wrong angle and give her a severe, '50's boarding school teacher look.

(Her eyebrows look much better here:



While clearly overfilled, the arch is symmetrically shaped and synchronizes the eye socket)

Then there was the Angry Chola look:



Daylight doesn't go that well with Kim's makeup galore. The eyes appear all wrinkled around and squinting while wearing thick black kajal doesn't help at all. The eyebrows are again too thick and too black and the sheerness of the blusher makes the face look plain and tired. Not to mention that huge hoop earrings plus swept back unwashed hair- too '90's.


Then Kim blogged about this look...claiming she was wearing no makeup:







While i kinda like the outfit, i don't see why Kim would lie on her blog, to her readers, claiming she was bare faced when her foundation shines like a light bulb and the bronzer is visible for a mile or two. She has her eyebrows (beautifully) done, as she should always have them, and i can also see a lot of nude lipstick (eew for that purple-ish nude. i really don't like it. brings out even non-existing paleness and makes the teeth look yellow and their owner look sick) and clearly some serious mascara. This is what natural makeup looks on Kim, enhancing her natural features and making her claim she wears none. Being used to wearing a ton of makeup every day has made Kim believe more is less, more is better. Touche honey, touche. It really isn't the case to lie. I seriously got pissed off when reading the words 'me without makeup on'. THIS is what your bare face looks like, bb, in case you have forgotten:







I think that Kim is a very beautiful girl especially without makeup on. of course that she has a few little spots and blemishes, like every normal person, but her skin is pretty much healthy and i love the natural eyebrows and lashes. Therefore miz K has no reason to go around lying.

so yeah. today's makeup catharsis completed. stay tuned.