Showing posts with label Foundation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Foundation. Show all posts

CoverGirl Outlast All Day Concealer and Matte Finishing Powder Review

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CoverGirl Outlast All Day Concealer and Matte Finishing Powder Review

I'm a concealer snob. I like expensive concealers. They're usually really well pigmented, blend well, and last all day. So, the fact that I've recently found two drugstore concealers that I can recommend and will keep using... that's pretty amazing! The other concealer is Maybelline Dream Concealer, which is great because it's a stick, but I don't think it holds up super great under my eyes. I use it only on my face for blemishes. The CoverGirl is more multipurpose, I've been using it under my eyes and around my face.

CoverGirl Outlast All Day Concealer and Matte Finishing Powder Review
820 Light and 830 Light/Medium

The concealer comes in a very easy to use squeeze tube, it has a felted top. I have to be honest and say I don't care about the felt top, I put the concealer on the back of my hand and apply it from there as usual. I dot it in a triangle under my eyes, around my nose, and a little on any blemishes. I buff it in small circles a bit with a brush (usually my EcoTools MicroBlending Brush), and pat it once or twice with a slightly damp BeautyBlender sponge.

The concealer has medium coverage, though you can layer it to be more of a medium-full coverage, and I think it blends in very well.

I was a bit surprised to see the difference in undertones between the two concealers, I do think the 820 is less yellow and more pink than 830 in person as well. 820 is a good match for my skin, though my skin is more on the rosy side than yellow (which makes me strange, I know).

Overall, this concealer lasts all day for me without disappearing or needing a touch up. I've already been recommending it to friends!

CoverGirl Outlast All Day Concealer and Matte Finishing Powder Review
810 Fair to Light and 830 Light to Medium

I go through phases of powder usage. Sometimes I want loose for months and won't touch a pressed powder, sometimes I get fed up with the loose powder and just want to pat my concealer and foundation with pressed powder on a puff for 10 seconds and be done with it.

I've been in a loose powder phase for the last few months, which surely means I need to try out a new pressed powder. This one is pretty good. It's pretty finely milled, which means it is hard to pick up that there's even powder on my skin. It does work all day, I don't have to touch up in the afternoon at all, which is great! If you're looking for a new powder, this is a good one to try.


You can find the Outlast All Day Concealer at Target, Walmart, ULTA or Amazon
Matte Finishing Powder is also at Target, Walmart, ULTA or Amazon

Product Sent for Review, Affiliate Links
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A Pressed Powder Splurge: Chanel les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour

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Chanel les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour in 20


I have to admit, that I splurged on a pressed powder compact about 6 months ago from Chanel, and I love it so much that I've now bought a second, identical compact. Even though I'm not anywhere close to being done with the first. Let me back up a moment and explain.

I hate to reapply and touch up anything. You may have noticed that it is a bit of an ongoing theme in this blog. I want to do my hair, and have those curls last for days. I put on my makeup, I don't want to touch it until the end of the day. I wear a lippie, it needs to last at least through lunch. Get the idea? I don't carry much with me to touch up, other than roughly 20 lippie options at all times. (This is true, I actually counted them in my bag the other day with a friend while we were at our daughter's ballet class. I had 20 lippies of various lip stains, glosses, lipsticks, etc.)
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Serum in a Solid Foundation? IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Compact Review

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IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Compact Review

Confidence in a Compact, Confidence in a Cream and Heavenly Skin Skin Smoothing Complexion Brush #704

A couple of weeks ago on Instagram I posted a picture of a new IT Cosmetics Foundation, and you can see me talking about it in the picture comments with a friend. What is this new foundation? It's interesting. I think really, it's a solid BB Cream. Or a solid foundation with a serum in it. Or some such thing. No matter how you describe it, I like this new Confidence in a Compact stuff.


IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Compact Swatch
1. Fair, 2. Light, 3. Medium, 4. Medium-Tan, 5. Tan, 6. Rich, 7. Deep

So, this is pretty much just what it sounds like. It's a solid foundation that does have a lot of slip and creaminess to it. When compared to my other solid foundations (especially the Bobbi Brown Stick Foundation I've been reaching for so much recently), this is not as thick, and it seems to almost melt on your fingertip. It comes in a compact, the top hides a sponge applicator and under that is a second lid that keeps an airtight seal for the foundation. The entire compact is well made and closes with a very satisfying click, which I love.

While you could apply this with the included sponge, I've found that's more of a medium to full coverage. I prefer to use the Heavenly Skin Skin Smoothing Complexion Brush #704 (which IT sent me with the foundation), which I also use to buff it out. The brush allows me to customize the amount of coverage a bit more, it is more of a medium coverage with the brush.

One of the best things about this product is the shade range. Previously, IT Cosmetics only offered 5 shades of each complexion product. 5 is what QVC allows them to offer, and as a small company they made shades that fit the range of the QVC viewer. Which is apparently on the white side of the US population. While I've been raving about their products, my friends of color have been complaining that the brand doesn't offer products that work for their skin tones. Which was 100% true.

However, IT Cosmetics was just bought out by L'Oreal, and I'm hopeful that this range of 7 shades is just the beginning! I think there need to be at least 2 shades deeper than #7 Deep, and I'm hoping that the new expanded shade range gets extended to their other products such as the CC Cream, which is amazing. Now that the product line is so popular in Sephora and ULTA, there's no reason to stick to the QVC 5 shade rule!

Overall this foundation is very easy to use, and it blends very well. It looks pretty flawless all day, and I do like that it is more hydrating than other solid foundations. However, because it is solid it does still settle a little into any dry spots I might have. If I super hydrate my skin before application, then I don't have an issue. The compact is also really easy to take with you for any touchups you might need. And finally, because it is solid, you don't need to add it to your TSA 3-1-1 bag, saving precious space for other liquids when you're traveling. So, it's perfect to take with you when you're trying to make it on the plane with just a carry on!


You can find Confidence in a Compact at IT Cosmetics, or ULTA.
Product Sent for Review, Affiliate Links
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My 5 Makeup Basics for a Makeup Bag

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My 5 Makeup Basics for a Makeup Bag
My 5 Makeup Basics for a Makeup Bag

I get asked a lot about my favorite makeup products, often from friends that are much lower maintenance than I am. I am high maintenance. I know this about myself, and I fully admit it. My husband jokes that I am not a 15 Minute Beauty girl, more like a 2 Hour Beauty girl. The problem has only gotten worse as I've gotten older, likely as I try to feel better about my (slightly) older self. But, I digress.

So, these lower maintenance friends ask me about my favorite products. They want to know what my must have makeup products are. And really, for someone like me it can be hard to pare it down to the "basics" sometimes. But, if I had to pick, here are my 5 favorite, must have products for makeup (and note, 2 of them require "companions" to really get the most out of them). I'll explain why I love this kind of product, and I'll share a few of my favorites at different price points!

Great Face Coverage

1. Great Face Coverage

How you chose to even out your skin tone is a personal choice, and it will likely vary day to day depending on what your plans are, how much sleep you got, etc. But, I think having a product that is a great match for your skin tone, looks natural when blended, and makes you feel more confident is something that you should have available if you want it. I have a few BB Creams that I use, and depending on what I need that day I'll change up what one I grab. I do sometimes use foundation over it, or I'll use foundation alone. Really, I do something different almost every day...

My Picks:
1. Light Coverage BB Cream: Yves Saint Laurent Top Secrets BB Cream Skintone Perfector (at Nordstrom or Sephora)
This is the BB Cream I grab about 75% of the time, it's a light coverage but perfect for days at home, running errands, etc. It doesn't cover up everything, so I do sometimes add a light foundation over the top or just spot correct with concealer. I wear shade clear, which isn't clear, but just light.

2. Medium to Full Coverage BB Cream: IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Illumination Cream with SPF 50+ (from Sephora or ULTA)
I'm a big fan of pretty much everything IT Cosmetics makes, and this is one of my favorites! The coverage is definitely more than the YSL, and I use this alone, very rarely do I add any concealer over top. Note that this is "illuminating", but I don't notice any shimmer, it just isn't a full matte look. I usually mix the light and fair shades together.

3. Light to Medium Coverage Cushion Compact: Maybelline Dream Cushion (at ULTA, review here) or Lancôme Miracle Cushion Liquid Cushion Compact (at Nordstrom, review here)
I recently reviewed this foundation from Maybelline, and it's very similar to one of my favorites from Lancôme. Check out my reviews linked above, but I usually use one of these cushion foundations over the YSL BB Cream, just to even things out a bit. In the Maybelline I use 10 or 15, I'm 110 in Lancôme.

4. Medium Coverage Foundation: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (at Nordstrom or Sephora, review here)
I use this foundation a lot for work or going out with my husband. I recently repurchased it, and it is so worth the money! I wear 3.75.

5. Medium to Full Coverage Stick Foundation: Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick (at Nordstrom, Bobbi Brown, or Sephora)
This is definitely the fullest coverage of any of the options here. I love that it is solid, I just draw it on to areas that need some additional coverage. I've been using it on weekends a lot, just on select areas, over my YSL BB Cream. I buff it out with a brush, and then use a my BeautyBlender over the top to blend it more.

You can also check out my favorite Drugstore BB Creams and Foundations if you'd like an option at a lower price point!


Versatile Concealer

2. Versatile Concealer

I love to have a pigmented concealer that works for everything. I buy it in the same color as my skin, since I'll be using it for a lot of things. Look for a super pigmented liquid, which you can use for blemishes, under your eyes, etc. I like to use it straight up, mixed into a little eye cream for under my eyes, or mixed into a lightweight lotion to create my own custom tinted moisturizer.

My Picks:
1. Best for Mixing: Clarins Instant Concealer (from Nordstrom): Note, this is the one I reach for the most when mixing into lotion, it seems to be the best for this with natural results that don't crease or settle into fine lines. I wear shade 1.

2. Added Light Reflection: IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Illumination Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer (at Sephora)

Check out more concealer picks in my favorite concealers post!

Go-To Neutral Eye Shadows

3. Neutral Shadows

I love eye shadow. I have 2 drawers full of singles, duos, quads, full palettes. So much eye shadow! But, despite my millions of choices, I reach for something neutral pretty much every day. Something that is there and pretty, but doesn't really distract from seeing me instead of my eye shadow.

I think a quick and easy go-to eye look should be in every woman's makeup bag. A color that just always works, and you can apply it in just a few minutes. For my most basic looks, I use a single color over my entire lid, up and over the crease. And then I use a second color (about 95% of the time this is MAC Brown Script, from MAC or Nordstrom) just in the crease. I then apply black or brown liner right into lash line, smudge a bit with a brush, and apply a ton of mascara. Done!

My Picks:
1. Pink but Neutral: MAC Jest (from MAC or Nordstrom)

2. Light Taupe: Too Faced Birthday Suit, in the Boudoir Eyes Palette (at Sephora or Too Faced)

Check out my favorite neutral shadow palettes here


3.5. Shadow Primer

Another item, but I'm not really counting it. If you're going to wear the eye shadow, you need to put a primer under it. Really. A few seconds spent on primer will make your eye shadow look much better, it will apply more smoothly, won't crease, lasts all day, etc. I like to use a primer that has a little bit of coverage, since my eye lid is a see through, and I have visible blood vessels. I cover them up with the primer, then apply the shadow. The extra few seconds makes a big difference in how the shadow looks!

My Picks:
NYX Eyeshadow Base (from ULTA, or Macy's): I use a very small amount, just dip a fingertip into the jar, then pat on to your skin. Just enough to cover the skin. A jar lasts me at least 2 years. I've never finished one, even with daily use. I just replace them every few years because I think "surely it must be time to replace this, it's probably gross now."

Kat Von D Lock-It Color Correcting Eyeshadow Primer (at Sephora) comes in 5 different skin tone shades if the NYX doesn't work for you. I have not tried this product, but I've been so happy with her other Lock-It products that I feel comfortable mentioning it.


Best Mascara

4. Great Mascara

There are way too many great mascaras out there to mention all of them. I've found that in the drugstore, you can not go wrong with a mascara from L'Oreal, Maybelline or CoverGirl. I recently posted about my favorite splurge mascaras, though I use Smokey Eye Mascara most days.

My Picks:
1. My Go-To, Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara (at Bobbi Brown, Sephora or Nordstrom)

2. To Add Drama, Bobbi Brown Eye Opening Mascara (at Bobbi Brown, Sephora or Nordstrom)

My favorite splurge mascaras

4.5. Lash Curler

If you're going to wear mascara, you'll get much better results if you apply after curling your lashes. Lash curlers are one of those things that you do want to invest a bit in, a cheap curler will feel a bit "loosey-goosey" and can yank out lashes. Yes. That's no bueno. So, I buy a slightly more expensive curler, and replace the pads at least every 6 months.

I will say that I also have a different opinion about the best lash curler depending upon whether you use a lash serum or not. Without lash serum, just buy a decent lash curler. My favorite then was the Tweezerman (over the Shu everyone always loves). Once I started using lash serum, I noticed that my lashes were much harder to curl, and then the curl didn't last as long. I've now noticed that the curler I use makes a huge, huge, huge difference. I refuse to use anything but the Surratt curler. This is very important. I've convinced many friends that I'm right, they all bought it and agree.


My Picks:
Tweezerman ProCurl Eyelash Curler (at Sephora, or Nordstrom): If you don't use lash serum.

Surratt Beauty Relevée Lash Curler (at Sephora, or Barneys, here's my Relevée Lash Curler review): If you do use lash serum.



5. Easy, Basic Lippie

I like to have something that I can apply to my lips while on the go. Literally, I just leave it in a pocket, apply randomly without a mirror, and I expect it to look great. This is usually something is along the lines of a tinted balm, but I also like products that change color after application, and glosses.

My Picks:
1. Works for Everyone, Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in Fig (at Amazon, or Target): Yes, it really does work for every single skin tone. I've recommended this to a lot of friends who want to start wearing lip color, and they all love it. It has some color, but not a lot. It just makes everyone's lips look great!

2. Perfect Pink, Dior Addict Lip Glow (at Nordstrom, or Sephora): I love that this changes color! It's a bit more of an intense pink than the Bobbi Brown. I have the Berry shade in my Sephora cart now.

3. More Subtle, Bobbi Brown Extra Lip Tint (at Bobbi Brown, Sephora, or Nordstrom): This is new, and the idea is very similar to the Dior, in that it changes color after application. It's a bit more subtle than the Dior, though I have found that if I apply too much of the Dior the color looks a little strange? This product isn't prone to that.


What do you think? What else would you include in a makeup kit as a category? I think I'd likely include brows next, but those are are individualized that I didn't include them here.


Product Sent for Review, I Bought It, Affiliate Links
In the past, the Burt's Bees lippie, the IT Cosmetics products and the Maybelline foundation were sent for review from PR. I've purchased the others all on my own.
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The Best Drugstore BB Creams and Foundations

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The Best Drugstore BB Creams and Foundations

There have been a lot of discussions lately amongst my friends regarding their favorite drugstore foundations. I wasn't surprised that this was of interest, drugstore foundations have come a long way in the last ten to fifteen years and are pretty amazing now. What did surprise me was how often my friends try new products and still come back to the same foundations over and over. There's a reason these products stand out!

For Makeup Wars we decided to share our favorite drugstore foundations and concealers. I had enough foundations to share that I decided to ignore concealers for today. I'll tackle those soon, I promise!

1. For Aging Skin, try Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Aging Perfector (at Amazon, or ULTA): This is more of a BB Cream or Tinted Moisturizer than foundation, a sheer coverage product with hydration and active ingredients to help fight aging! You'll find Retinol, the gold standard ingredient for topical skin care to even out skin tone, increase cell turn over and improve fine lines and wrinkles. It also has a dewier finish, great for skin that has become drier as you've gotten older.

2. The Drugstore Cushion Compact worth trying is Maybelline Dream Cushion Foundation (buy it from ULTA or Amazon): I love the cushion compact foundations! They're lightweight and have good coverage with a more luminous finish. I use a more expensive version from Lancome, but this Maybelline version is very, very close. I've tried other drugstore versions, this is the one you should try first.

3. Cult Favorite L'Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Makeup (buy it from ULTA or Amazon): When this foundation came out, beauty junkies everywhere rejoiced! It offers a broad range of shades that blend well, have medium coverage than can easily build to full coverage, and has a luminous finish that looks great on oily or dry skin.

4. The best drugstore BB Cream is Maybelline Dream Fresh BB (buy it from ULTA or Amazon): This light to medium coverage BB cream just blends perfectly into skin and stays put all day. It works particularly well on oily skin, and comes in the regular lightweight version and one with Salicylic Acid for acne prone skin (you can find that one at Amazon).

5. The Long Lasting Duo of L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte (buy it from ULTA or Amazon) and Pro-Glow Foundations (buy it from ULTA or Amazon): This is a long lasting duo of foundations, one is matte and better suited for oily skin; while the other is a dewy finish and better for drier skin. They both offer medium to full coverage and can be built upon to add more coverage. I love to mix them together for a luminous but semi-matte finish! You can read my full L'Oreal Infallible foundation review here. Note that Maybelline offers a similar duo in their Fit Me foundations, but I have found they are a lighter coverage product and don't last quite as long as the L'Oreal.

6. For Acne Prone Skin try Neutrogena SkinClearing Liquid Makeup (buy it from ULTA or Amazon): If you want a semi-matte finish and need to fight blemishes, this foundation offers salicylic acid and won't clog pores. Maybelline's Dream Fresh BB also offers a salicylic acid version, but I've found this is a bit gentler and offers more coverage.

7. For One Step Coverage, try CoverGirl + Olay Simply Ageless 3-in-1 Liquid Foundation (buy it from ULTA or Amazon): This is super creamy and moisturizing, but blends perfectly and is enough coverage that I don't need to pair it with a separate concealer.

8. For Dry Skin, try Revlon ColorStay Whipped Creme Makeup (buy it from ULTA or Amazon): This foundation is actually a Red Carpet secret of many Hollywood celeb makeup artists! It is hydrating, offers great coverage and won't settle into dry, flaky areas.

9. To Customize Your Coverage, get NYX Total Control Drop Foundation (at ULTA or NYX): Super pigmented foundation drops like this aren't new, but in the past they've only been found at much higher price points. This one works just as well, but at a fraction of the price! You can layer more drops for additional coverage or mix it into products like moisturizer or even your foundation for a little more coverage.


Honorable Mention:
Both CoverGirl TruBlend Liquid Makeup (get it from ULTA or Amazon) and Revlon ColorStay (at ULTA or Amazon) have been mentioned by a lot of my friends. They both have medium coverage that can build to full coverage, blend well and last all day. I didn't include them in the graphic because I've tried them and the L'Oreal Infallible foundations, and I feel that the L'Oreal is simply better (for me at least!), though the CoverGirl and Revlon are close! It is likely one of those things where something just works a bit better for one person.





Product Sent for Review, I Bought It, Affiliate Links
L'Oreal has sent me their Infallible Pro-Matte and Pro-Glow foundations (I've repurchased both), and CoverGirl has sent both products to me in the past as well.

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Foundation Steal: Maybelline Dream Cushion Foundation Review

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Maybelline Dream Cushion Foundation Review

A few weeks ago, I ran out of one of my favorite foundations, Lancôme Miracle Cushion Liquid Cushion Compact Foundation. I love that it is super lightweight, blends perfectly into my skin, and just makes me look like I have great skin, instead of rosacea.

Maybelline (which happens to be owned by L'Oreal, just like Lancôme), just released a very similar cushion compact foundation. I've tried similar foundations from other brands, but didn't find them worth mentioning. This one is worth mentioning. I probably won't be repurchasing my Lancôme, since this Maybelline is so close.


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L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Glow Foundation Review and Swatches

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L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Glow Foundation Review and Swatches

I am asked a lot about foundation recommendations, and while I wear foundation, because I'm such a strange in between pale shade (I'm N25 in Cover FX, 3.75 in Giorgio Armani), I'm pretty difficult to match. And typically, drugstore shades don't match me. I have to mix 2 together to have a foundation that is close, and previously I haven't found a product that I liked enough to do that.

Until now.

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Teen Makeup: Get Great, Glowy Skin

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Teen Makeup: Get Great Skin Coverage and Glowy Skin
IMAXtree

I remember when I first started using makeup at 13 years old. I went crazy for foundation. It was a thick, cakey mask that I wore every day for a few weeks. Then I noticed a girl in my class pointing at me and whispering one day in the hallway, and I thought I had something stuck in my teeth or something. I went into the bathroom and looked in the mirror, but realized that wasn't the problem. The problem was the thick makeup, which wasn't something that I even needed!

Whether you're using foundation, tinted moisturizer, a BB or a CC Cream, the overall goal of skin coverage should be evening out your skin tone and making things look more even. And you need to try to do that with the least coverage possible. Show as much of your own skin as you possibly can, it just looks much better! When you're older, your skin tone will be uneven. The color will actually vary. It's quite sad. As a teen, you don't have this problem, so covering up with foundation that you don't need is just a waste of time and product.

Read on to learn how I recommend you do this.
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Quick and Easy Daytime Look with Clinique

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Quick and Easy Daytime Look with Clinique

The last few weeks have been completely crazy around my house! While I've had a bit more time at home with my 2 little girls, somehow the extra time at home has translated into even more errands to run and family outings than when I'm working almost every day.

Part of the craziness is less time than usual to pull myself together in the morning, and that look needs to last for an entire day! So, I need a look that can deal with my sometimes not so great Rosacea face (especially since my toddler has been teething 4 molars at once, not much sleep around here), goes on quickly and looks natural.

This look has been in my rotation quite a bit over the last few weeks, read on to see how I got the look!

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My Favorite (Recent) Beauty Splurge: Winter Foundation Overhaul with Giorgio Armani

I Bought It Affiliate Links

Giorgio Armani Luminious Silk Foundation Review

Today for Makeup Wars, we're sharing our favorite recent beauty splurges. I alluded to this over in my recent post on The Best Luxe Beauty Products, but I recently spent a couple of hours hanging out with a few good friends at the Neiman Marcus Giorgio Armani counter at Somerset.

In those few hours we got our makeup done, something I definitely had not been planning on. I've been hearing about the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation for years, especially from my friend Nancy at Beauty 411. Nancy is my go-to resource for all things super luxe in the makeup world. If it is out there, she's tried it! And I trust her opinion. She'll flat out tell me if something isn't worth the money. And for her to say for years that this is her favorite foundation and that everyone must try it? Well, let's just say that I wasn't exactly hard to convince to sit down in the makeup chair!

When it was all over, I had perfect skin, that looked like I had almost no makeup on, and it looked amazing!
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Perfect Foundation Tips from a Beauty Editor

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Perfect Foundation Tips from a Beauty Editor
IMAXtree

Amy Marturana has written for Huffington Post, and Prevention Magazine. She's currently a writer and managing editor at You Beauty. I was able to ask her about her favorite beauty products and tips, she previously shared her favorite mascaras and mascara tips, as well some some great eyeshadow advice.
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My Top 9 Foundations and BB Creams

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My Top Foundations and BB CreamsMy Top Foundations and BB Creams

I'm a big fan of lightweight coverage that makes my skin look better. In the past that meant a medium to full coverage foundation, but as I've gotten older, I've found that I look much better in lighter coverage, and I'm moving towards only BB Creams. It isn't necessarily because I'm trying to avoid having foundation settle into fine lines or wrinkles (I don't really have many for 38), but it's because I think the heavier coverage ages me. This didn't happen when I was younger, but it definitely seems to be an issue now that I'm in my late 30s.

So, here are the coverage products that I'm using the most recently. And yes, I've also been finding that investing more money in coverage products is really worth it!
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New Foundation Obsession: Lancôme Miracle Cushion Liquid Cushion Compact Foundation

I Bought It Myself Affiliate Link

 Lancôme Miracle Cushion Liquid Cushion Compact Foundation Review

I'm sure you've noticed all the excited about cushion foundations. I feel like there's always at least one mention in my Facebook timeline whenever I'm on there. Admittedly, this is probably in large part because I follow so many blogs and beauty/fashion magazines on FB. Cushions are kind of new, but not really. The foundation that they hold is pigmented and basically the same super lightweight stuff that we've seen for the last few years, but in a much easier to use form.

And I have to admit, Lancôme Miracle Cushion Liquid Cushion Compact Foundation is my latest obsession for summer. Which is good (yeah! I love it!), but also bad because now all the other products I've purchased and spent money on are just sitting there. Live and learn, right? Unfortunately, this foundation is a bit expensive. I thought long and hard before I bought it, but it was well worth it.

 Lancôme Miracle Cushion Liquid Cushion Compact Foundation Review

You can see the compact comes with a small application sponge, which sits over the foundation in the center. The flap completely seals in the foundation so that it won't dry out. You can buy refills of just this section for about $8 less than an entirely new compact. Inside you'll find the sponge which is saturated with the foundation. I've only had the products for a little over a week, but I've heard there's enough in there for months!

I bought the foundation in 110 Ivoire C, which is the lightest shade. It is a great match for my skin!

I watched Lisa Eldrige's intro to the makeup for the Lancôme YouTube Channel before using it for the first time. You can see how she kind of rolls and swipes it on to her skin.


I apply the foundation similarly to Lisa. I use the included applicator (and obviously I had used it before taking these pics, I couldn't wait for a sunny day!), I dab it on to the foundation and then pat it onto the center of my face. I do roll it a bit, though I don't swipe it on. I let it sit on my skin for a minute or two so that it dries a little, and then I've been blending it by buffing with a brush like the ULTA/It Cosmetics Airbrush OMG! Foundation Brush #106 pictured above with the foundation, or It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Brush #7. Then I'll dab a little with my BeautyBlender Sponge (from Sephora or Nordstrom) on any not quite perfect areas.

I can add a second layer of foundation to any problem areas if I want more than the medium coverage that is already there. For most days that is enough coverage, though I admit that there are days that I need to use concealer on my under eye area as well. In the image below I have no concealer on, despite being up in the middle of the night multiple times with the baby!

The foundation only takes a few seconds to blend until it gives me perfect, natural coverage. It lasts all day! This picture of me was taken after about 7 hours of wear without any touch ups, it still looks perfect. This is definitely a foundation worth splurging for!

Lancôme Miracle Cushion Liquid Cushion Compact Foundation Ivoire 110

You can buy Lancôme Miracle Cushion Liquid Cushion Foundation at Lancôme, Nordstrom, Macy's, or Sephora.

I Bought It Myself Affiliate Link
2

Today's Special Value: It Cosmetics 4 Piece Customer Favorites

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QVC Today's Special Value: It Cosmetics 4 Piece Customer Favorites

In case you haven't noticed, I'm a pretty big fan of all things It Cosmetics (here's a peek at my favorite products from It Cosmetics, though I should update that list to include a few additional items). You can pick up It Cosmetics at ULTA, or from the It Cosmetics website.

But one of my favorite ways to try out their products, usually at a great discount, is over on QVC! It Cosmetics is featured at the Today's Special Value every few months, and the collections are always a steal (and usually they include a new product or two!)

The worldwide launch of the latest set will only be available for 24 hours as a TSV, starting at 12:01 AM EST on Monday, June 8th. So, in a few hours. Get ready to shop! They haven't announced the price in press materials, but it will be under $60, and it is an incredible deal because the products are worth over $150.

QVC Today's Special Value: It Cosmetics 4 Piece Customer Favorites

The products included in this kit aren't flashy, but they're some of It Cosmetics' best products!

Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer: You can take a peek at my original Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer Review, but this concealer has been featured on the blog so many times that I've lost count. It's also featured in my Favorite Concealers post. This is a very, very pigmented concealer that has been formulated to be crease resistant (though it will crease if you add enough layers. No one should need that many layers). I like to apply a little to the back of my hand to warm it up, then tap it over the area that needs to be concealed.

Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Brush: This is an amazing brush! I have 2 of them already and I was pretty happy to have a 3rd. I have 1 in my office (yes, I sometimes apply makeup in there for blog pics), 1 in my bathroom and this one will be kept in my travel kit. One end is a smallish domed brush that is perfect for foundation or blending of face products. The other end is small enough to help apply concealer around your nose and under the eyes.

And a few new products (which are slight variations on previous favorites)
Naturally Pretty Face Palette: This palette is perfect for keeping some great face products you need in one place. Included in this palette are Hello Light Creme highlighter, Vitality Matte Bronzer, Bye Bye Pores Pressed Powder and Bye Bye Pores Pressed Blush (new in this palette). It's great for taking with you or just streamlining your makeup application in the morning!

Celebration Foundation SPF50: This foundation is a medium coverage powder, and I've heard about it's amazingness from my friends for years. I do think it is easy to apply, and you can use it as a powder or a foundation. The compact comes with a sponge in the storage area, that will give you a fuller coverage than if you buff on some of the powder with the brush. This formulation is new because it now includes sunscreen, an SPF 50! I wouldn't count on this to be your only sunscreen, chances are you aren't applying enough product to your entire face. However, it's a great "bonus" SPF for the summer!



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QVC Today's Special Value: It Cosmetics 4 Piece Customer Favorites

Note that my set was in Fair, which is a good match for my skin. It is the lightest color available.

To find the set, head over to QVC's site and then click on Today's Special Value at the top. It's available for 24 hours starting at 12:01 AM EST!

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Super Lightweight and Super Pigmented? Yes! Yves Saint Laurent Beauty Fusion Ink Foundation Review

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 Yves Saint Laurent Beauty Fusion Ink Foundation Review

I have to admit, that lately I seem to really love everything (yes, everything) from YSL Beauty. (There are more reviews coming, I promise!)

And since it is the change of season again (how did that happen?), it is once again time for a check of foundation shade. And I have to admit that after reading all about YSL's newest foundation, I was pretty obsessed with trying out their Fusion Ink. To the point that I dragged a mommy friend into Sephora after a quick lunch at Sephora so I could get color matched. With our two little babies in tow. And then when the SA told me that they didn't have a good match for me, I DID NOT CARE. I bought 2 bottles so I could mix them together a little and get the perfect match.

I kind of feel the need to insert a little aside about the color of my skin. I'm very fair, but I'm not quite porcelain. I was once lucky enough to have Celebrity Makeup Artist Jake Bailey do my makeup. Back in the day when he worked with Max Factor. Which hasn't been sold in the US for how long now?? Anyways, Jake told me I was extremely difficult to match, and the only person he'd worked with that was so hard was Julianne Moore. Whoa. Julianne Moore. She had found 1 foundation shade at that time that worked and would buy it in bulk and take it with her to shoots. Jake had to mix a bunch of shades together for me. And I frequently have to just "accept" that foundations aren't a great fit for me. So I was completely unfazed by using 2 different shades. And I was pretty obsessed with the idea of trying out this foundation.

 YSL Beauty Fusion Ink Foundation Review

So, the really great thing about this foundation is that it is medium to full coverage in a super thin, lightweight formulation. It is also very easily buildable. The product comes with this little plastic applicator, I can drip it on to the back of my hand because the foundation is just a tad thicker than water. Once there, I mix about 75% Porcelain with 25% Warm Buff to get my perfect match. Then I use my fingertips to pat it on to the areas that I want covered. I wait a minute or so for it to mostly dry before I start to blend, otherwise it seems to smear a bit too much. I've been using my It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Dual Airbrush Foundation/Concealer Brush (from ULTA) to buff the foundation very lightly.

The result is coverage that is invisible and looks natural! It still looks just as great at 7 pm as it did at 7 am, and best of all it doesn't oxidize to a completely different shade 30 minutes after I put it on.

YSL Beauty Fusion Ink Foundation Swatch Warm Buff and Porcelain

So, despite the extra little bit of time that it takes to mix together 2 different shades for the right result, I'm in love with Fusion Ink Foundation. And yes, I do admit that I'm taking advantage of the 2 foundation situation to use Porcelain alone as a bit of a highlight and then the custom mix on my cheeks. And I'm often using my contouring shade from the Maskcara IIID Foundation on my nose and under my cheekbones a little.

What foundation are you going to try out this spring? Don't forget to update your color match!


You can buy it at YSL Beauty, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sephora, or Nordstrom

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Maskcara IIID Foundation Review: Is HAC Better Than Traditional?

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Maskcara HAC Foundation

I'm sure we all know who Cara from Maskcara is. (Yes, she's all over Pinterest. Yes, she won Allure's Best Beauty Blogger last year. And yes, she's insanely nice and I love her blog, it's one of the few that I read on a daily basis.)

Last year she released a few makeup products of her own, the IIID Foundation, a highlighter and cream blush. I ordered my products basically the moment she opened her on-line store, and then tested the products for weeks. I seriously loved the blush and the highlighter (they're still in occasional rotation), but I tried a bunch of different tricks and just couldn't get the foundation to work for me. (Here's my original Maskcara IIID Foundation review.)

Cara just released a new version of IIID with different shades, a new customizable palette, and very new formulations for the blush and highlighter especially. I once again ordered right after Cara opened her store, and I was very, very excited for the foundation to arrive!

The product comes in a palette, it has a magnetic inside and holds 4 product pans. There are a lot of different options, but I picked the most basic of the products probably: a highlight foundation, a contouring foundation, highlighter and cream blush. It was a pre-order, so it did take a few weeks for my products to arrive. The blush didn't arrive when Cara expected it to arrive, so she sent the other products ahead of time. In it's place she sent me a little explanation card with a coupon code for a future order as an apology for having to wait for my blush. I think she did the right thing, I really was so excited about the foundation that I wanted it ASAP!


Maskcara Foundation Swatch

Here are the colors that I picked:
• Linen Highlight Foundation, best for fair to medium complexions. This one is pretty much an exact match for my skin. I think many people are a little darker than their highlight foundation, but it still works great! It is a light to medium coverage.
• Walnut Contour Foundation, best for fair to medium skintone without a lot of redness. I have redness that comes and goes (thanks rosacea!) but I decided the lightness was more important than my degree of redness.
• Illuminator in Pearl
• Also I ordered the Pink Grapefruit blush


Maskcara Foundation Brush

I also ordered Cara's new brush to apply it all with. There are 2 sides, one quite a bit bigger than the other. The brush is really soft, I've had no fall out from the bristles and the sizes are perfect for application of the foundation. My only problem with it is that because it has 2 sides, it's hard to store. I like to put my brushes in vases standing straight up, and I can't do that with a double sided brush. So, it's just hanging out on my vanity now. But, if you're ordering the foundation, do yourself a favor and buy the brush too. It is definitely worth it!


how to use Maskcara IIID Foundation

So, using the IIID Foundation is definitely different than regular foundation. There is a handy chart that comes with the product, and Cara created a really easy to follow How to HAC video (in addition to the millions of videos and posts about it on her site). I use the big end of the brush and with the Walnut, I go around the outer edges of my face, a little under my cheekbones and down the sides of my nose. Then I use the small end of the brush to apply the Linen to the big triangle under my eyes, right above my eyebrows and in between them, around my nose, down the center of my nose and on my chin.

Once I have the product in the areas that I want it, I'll grab another brush (usually the big end of my It Cosmetics Heavenly Complexion Brush) and I use that brush to gently buff the product and blend. The Walnut is pretty subtle because I don't apply a lot, but the Linen is a light to medium coverage and it pretty much matches my skin tone perfectly! Once I've buffed, I also grab my BeautyBlender sponge and pounce it over any areas that need additional blending, but that's it.

Finally, I apply the highlighter. I just use a fingertip and tap it over my cheekbones, my inner eye and on the center of my nose. I'm still undecided if I like it or my RMS Beauty Living Luminizer better, but I do really like it!

I've used this foundation all week, and so far I have not had to use any concealer with it (interesting because I've gotten almost no sleep thanks to a 4 month old that is going through a growth spurt and she wants to nurse every 2 hours all night long), and I use just a little powder in my t-zone.

I've tried IIID with a few primers. It doesn't play well with heavy silicone primers like Becca's Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector, because those seem to really grab onto the foundation too much and make it hard to blend (I think this is because the IIID really is pretty lightweight). IIID does much better with lighter, more lotion-y primers. I used it today (I'm writing this on Thursday) with the new COVER FX Illuminating Primer and they were really, really amazing together! The Illuminating Primer woke up my skin and didn't look shimmery, but reflected light. The IIID over it was easy to blend. So far (at 4:30 pm) it still looks freshly applied!


You can see my first day results below (please ignore my brows, I was about a week overdue for a shaping. The situation has since been fixed). I'm calling IIID a big success, the reformulation was perfect! I'll update with info on the blush when mine comes.

A photo posted by Christine (@15minbeauty) on



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Beauty Bloggers and Their Favorite Drugstore Foundations

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Beauty Bloggers and Their Favorite Drugstore Foundations

I've already shared by blogging friends' favorite foundations and favorite BB and CC creams, today I'm sharing their favorite drugstore foundations. The drugstore foundations of 2014 are not the foundations of 10 or even 5 years ago. Technology is advancing, prices are dropping, and the quality of today's foundations really are much more similar to higher end products than they ever have been in the past. You no longer "have" to splurge on a higher end foundation to get a great product that matches your skin. I've included a few extra BB creams, though there are some great drugstore BB Cream picks in the BB & CC Cream post too.


"I normally turn my nose up at drugstore foundations. However, Revlon Colorstay (1, get it here or here) (for oily/combo skin) is my all time favorite. It provides flawless full coverage, lasts all day, and never looks cakey."
- Krystle from Baking Beauty

"Drugstore-wise I'm lately loving Neutrogena Nourishing Long Wear Makeup (2, get it here or here)."
- Brooke from Blushing Noir

"Maybelline FIT Foundation (3, get it here)"
- Prime Beauty

"I'm loving the Rimmel Matte 9-in-1 BB Cream (4, get it here). It's liquidy, but dries down to a satin matte finish that doesn't feel or look too dry. Plus, it has medium coverage to hide any problem areas! For something lighter, I turn to the NYC Smooth Skin BB Cream (8), which has a brightening effect for dewy, luminous skin."
- Miranda from Slashed Beauty

"CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation (5, get it here)."
Heather from Crazy Beautiful Makeup

"Revlon Age Defying Foundation (6, get it here)"
- Alyson from The Gloss Menagerie

"Revlon's PhotoReady BB Cream with SPF 30 (7, get it here or here)."
- Sandra D. from Mom's Makeup Stash


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Beauty Bloggers and Their Favorite BB and CC Creams

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Beauty Bloggers and Their Favorite BB and CC Creams

Recently I shared the favorite foundations of my beauty blogging friends, today I'm sharing their BB and CC Creams! I admit that I rarely use a full foundation now, I just love the ease of combining multiple steps into one product. A great cream can be your daily lotion, SPF, anti-aging serum, foundation and sometimes even concealer! It's a huge time saver for this mommy.

"I also love Missha's BB Creams (1, get it here), which give skin a gorgeous finish and stellar coverage."
- Sheila Arkee from Painted Ladies

"Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream (1, get it here). This is one of the original BB creams and has been around for ages. Unlike some products that slap on the BB label and are really nothing more than tinted moisturizers, this is the real deal. It covers imperfections, adds in anti-aging ingredients, and has a high SPF."
- Carleen from Beauty and Fashion Tech

"One of my faves is Amarté Natural Finish BB Cream SPF 36 (2, get it here). It has a lovely, satin finish that adds a subtle healthy-skin glow without the unwanted shine and the formula provides medium buildable coverage that evens out my complexion beautifully and covers up most of the imperfections."
- Harshleen from BeautyTidbits

"I have very sensitive skin with a bit of rosacea so when I found one that my skin likes, I stick with it. I use CoverGirl Smoothers BB Cream (3, get it here). It is not high enough SPF for outdoor activities but its perfect for workdays and errands."
- Deb from No-Nonsense Beauty Blog

"Currently my favorite BB Cream is the Tarte BB Tinted Treatment (4, get it here). This multi-tasking BB Cream helps create the appearance of natural-looking, flawless skin, as it contains a primer, moisturizer, light foundation, anti-aging treatment, and sunscreen."
- Christina-Lauren from Inspirations & Celebrations

"Cover FX BB Gel (5, get it here)."
- Nidia from Lit From Within

"Cover FX CC Cream (6, get it here). It provides the perfect amount of coverage for me and looks amazing when applied with a damp beauty blender. I wear shade N-Light mixed with Face Atelier Zero Minus Ultra Foundation (, get it here) for a perfect shade match."
- Courtney from Phyrra

"IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50 (7, get it here) - This CC cream offers buildable, medium to full coverage with a dewy finish that I love! It takes care of any redness and my acne scars or dark spots almost completely without looking like I’m wearing a ton of makeup."
- Harshleen from BeautyTidbits

"IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ (7, here)."
- Jessika from Polish Insomniac

"I like the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream (8, get it here). It's light, more like a tinted moisturizer, but gives good coverage and is buildable."
- Danielle from The Mani-ac

"My favorite bb cream is Garnier Skin Renew in light/medium (9, get it here or here). That stuff's amazing, and the only foundation type product I wear. I've never been into true foundations and it took me a while to accept tinted moisturizers, even, but this is light, natural, and never cakey. I don't know how close it is to the original Asian bb creams but for this gal, it's perfect."
- Liesl from Liesl Loves Pretty Things

"I don't use foundation - but if I am looking to use a BB Cream, Garnier BB Cream (9, get it here) is a favorite. I've tried a few others, but find they often do not go well against my skin tone."
- Honeygirl from Honeygirl's World

"This is a tough one since I really like a lot of BB formulas. I would have to say my favourite is Kiehl's Skin Tone Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream with SPF 50 (10, get it here), but I also really like Dior's Diorskin Nude BB Creme (12, get it here)."
Sandra D. from Mom's Makeup Stash

"I'm obsessed with the Pond's BB Cream (11, get it here). It has quite a bit of coverage for a BB Cream, but it is super easy to use! I can just smear it on my face and let it sink in while I dry my hair. I barely need to blend it at all, and the finish is pretty flawless."
- Christine (me!), 15 Minute Beauty


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Beauty Bloggers and Their Favorite Foundations

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Beauty Bloggers and Their Favorite Foundations

I asked some of my beauty blogging friends for their favorite foundations, and you should have seen the huge response! I wasn't surprised that they were opinionated about this topic, but the outpouring of responses was amazing! Today I'm sharing their favorite foundations, but in the next few weeks I'll also post their favorite drugstore foundations and BB & CC Creams!


"My favorite liquid foundation is Estee Lauder's Double Wear Light (1, get it here). I find it a little more hydrating than the original formula, while still providing the same flawless coverage and even wear."
- Bailey B. from Making Up the Midwest

"Shiseido Sheer Mattifying Compact in O40 is my number one (2, get it here). It keeps me matte, stays put, gives great coverage and is the best colour match for me."
- Renu from My Beauty Junction

"My favorite foundation that offers exceptional full coverage with a natural finish is Illuminare Moisturizing Mineral Foundation (3, get it here)."
- Sheila Arkee from Painted Ladies

"If I had to pick a liquid, I would go for Benefit Hello Flawless in Honey (4, get it here)."
- Renu from My Beauty Junction

"One of my favorite foundations is Shu Uemura Lightbulb (5, get it here), this Japanese foundation feels like skincare with coverage, it is sheer and builds nicely on the skin."
- Makeup Artist Norah Salazar from Norah Loves Makeup

"Cover FX Pressed Mineral Foundation (6, get it here). Lately I've really liked mixing shade N10 with Sonia Kashuk Chic Luminosity Glow Powder (get it here) for a lit from within face."
- Courtney from Phyrra

"Make Up Forever HD foundation (7, get it here), this foundation is perfect for brides and for a special occasions (film/ camera/ flash photography), the coverage is perfect and blends nicely with very little product."
- Makeup Artist Norah Salazar from Norah Loves Makeup

"Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide (8, get it here)."
- Prime Beauty
- Makeup Artist Kim Porter from Makeup by Kim Porter

"Lorac Natural Performance Foundation (9, get it here)."
- Heather from Crazy Beautiful Makeup

"MAC Face & Body Foundation, I'm shade C7 (10, get it here)."
- Makeup Artist Kim Porter from Makeup by Kim Porter

"Urban Decay Naked Skin Makeup (11, get it here)."
- Alyson from The Gloss Menagerie

"Urban Decay Naked Skin (11, get it here) - It's lightweight but buildable, and doesn't feel heavy on my face. Plus, anything with anti-wrinkle ingredients is a plus for me!"
- Linda from Beautzy Blog

"Stila Natural Finish Makeup Shade, I use I & K (12, get it here)."
- Makeup Artist Kim Porter from Makeup by Kim Porter

"IT Cosmetics Celebration Foundation (13, get it here) is my holy grail powder foundation! It applies so smoothly, and is ultra buildable without becoming cakey, or clinging to dry patches."
- Bailey B. from Making Up the Midwest

"IT Cosmetics Celebration Foundation (13, get it here)."
- Brooke from Blushing Noir

"IT Cosmetics Celebration Foundation (13, get it here) and Celebration Foundation Illumination (14, get it here). They are the only powder foundations I have ever fallen in love with!"
- Jessika from Polish Insomniac


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What Kind of Foundation For Aging Skin?

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What Kind of Foundation For Aging Skin?


Hi Christine,
I'm sure you get a million questions, I thought I'd just try to see if this one might catch your eye. I love your blog, read it everyday and trust your opinion above all other blogs.

I have NOT been able to get an answer to this question, everyone I ask or every place I read says, "whatever." I am 56 years old and have been using pressed powder foundation for many years. My skin is combination. Since I am on the mature side, do you think a pressed powder or liquid foundation would be best for me?

Thank you SO much!
- J.

This is a question I've gotten quite a bit lately, which means it was definitely time to address this issue in a post! (AKA, ramble incoherently about foundation and my thoughts on it, in a not very organized fashion.) Keep in mind that I'm not a makeup artist (though, I do have access to this great book on makeup as you get older), though I read about beauty obsessively (obviously) and I have my own experience of aging to draw from.

I really don't think that there's a correct answer for this question. Instead, it depends a lot on how your skin has been aging and how dry/oily your combination skin is. It just takes experimentation with different products to see what works best for you. If the powder foundation is currently working, I'd stick with it. If you're having some issues with the foundation settling into fine lines or wrinkles, it might be time to consider a liquid product. And if you're having issues with your liquid, it might be time to reach for a lighter coverage formulation or consider trying out one of the new blur creams.

Typically as we age, our skin will get drier, we'll lose radiance and fine lines and wrinkles will develop. Pores also become a little more prominent. All of it is enough to make anyone want to up their foundation coverage! My goals for foundation as I've aged have been to still be able to get a natural finish, cover up issues and avoid having everything settle into pores, lines and wrinkles (which, let's face it, means you look a lot older at mid-day than you did pre-coffee in the am). And I'm trying to avoid that last bit, the settling into pores and lines. I do not want to look any older at the end of my day!

What will settle into your skin? Usually a powder is more likely to do it than a liquid. It can still happen with liquids, fuller coverage is more likely to do it than lighter coverage. If your skin has any dry areas, there are also settling issues with any dry patches, really highlighting them.

What about the whole combination skin thing? It depends on which end of the oily/dry spectrum your skin falls. In general, skin gets drier as we get older, and you'll probably be more oily in the summer and drier in the winter. That's definitely going to affect which foundation will work best for your skin as well. I've found that I can't use a powder foundation in the winter simply because I seem to have dryness around my nose and it gets highlighted by the foundation. Otherwise it isn't noticeable.


the best powder foundations
Pictured Foundations: CoverFX Pressed Mineral Foundation, IT Cosmetics Celebration Foundation Illumination, Too Faced Cocoa Powder Foundation, CoverGirl Ready, Set Gorgeous Fresh Complexion Powder Foundation

So, kind of a recap, for powder foundation: In general, if you have a lot of wrinkles, a powder foundation would sink into them throughout the day and make them more obvious. It does the same thing for dry skin, kind of emphasizing the dryness, especially if there are any dried flaky or cracked areas. I do think that powder foundations are a good choice for oily skin, so if your face is more on the oily side with just a few dry areas it should help soak up excess oil.


liquid foundations and bb creams for older women
Pictured Foundations: Make Up For Ever Invisible Cover HD Foundation, Yves Saint Laurent Illuminating Foundation, L'Oreal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Makeup
Pictured BB&CC Creams: Dior Diorskin Nude BB Creme, Kiehl's BB Cream, Ponds Luminous Finish BB+ Cream


For liquid products: While fuller coverage products can have some of the same drawbacks as powder, most women tend to veer this way as they get older just because the lighter coverage liquid products tend to not settle into fine lines/wrinkles. As well, since skin tends to get drier as we age (something I'm looking forward to!), this helps avoid some of those same settling into dry spot issues that I mentioned.

I'm also combination, and at 37 I don't really have a lot of signs of aging (I'm a good girl with my sunscreen!) But, I am prone to dryness around my nose, so there are days that powder foundation looks terrible on me. So, I usually use liquid products. Over the last 18 months or so I've been using lighter coverage products to avoid caking and settling into my skin as well. Usually for me this is a BB cream or tinted moisturizer, and I'll sometimes mix in a little full coverage concealer to up the coverage if needed.


the best blurring creams to hide pores and fine lines
Pictured Blur Creams: Lancôme Visionnaire 1-Minute Blur, Kiehl's Micro-Blur Skin Perfector, L'Oreal Miracle Blur

Finally, there's new player in town that we haven't even mentioned, blurring creams! Strangely enough, while it might seem like these creams are taking over the world, pretty much all of the "good" ones that I feel I can recommend are from brands owned by L'Oreal. They seem to know how to formulate these products the best, in my opinion.

These creams are meant to be worn alone, under makeup or even over makeup. The idea is that they help smooth out makeup, blur the light so your skin looks a bit more perfect... you get the idea. I think the results are pretty user dependent, but celeb makeup artist Brandy Gomez-Duplessis did share her great tips for working with a blur cream in this post. I think they work best alone or under a liquid foundation, I've tried them with powders and they just seem to have too much "grab" resulting in uneven application.


I hope all of this helps! If anyone has more input, add it in the comments!

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