Foundation
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| MAC Next To Nothing Foundation & Powder Review Swatches |
The selfie generation has inspired MAC's latest line of face bases, notably MAC Next To Nothing Powder and Foundation. Aimed at giving you an Instagram-worthy complexion, I eagerly tubed my way to my nearest MAC store at St Pancras Station to find my perfect shade.
As a MAC veteran, I know my usual foundation colours: NC25-30, C3 or Medium Plus. I'm glad I personally went to swatch these as the shades seem to vary quite a bit.
MAC Next to Nothing Face Colour Foundation. This is a sheer runny tint-like formula that gives a dewy shiny look, but with a comfortable non-sticky natural finish. It feels weightless on the skin. You will still need to prep with moisturiser beforehand as unexpectedly, it is not particularly moisturising. I expected to walk away with Medium Plus, but the shades leaned a bit orange so I came away with Medium instead. It doesn't cover much in the way of blemishes and so its probably one to use on good-skin-days. I've swatched it below compared to MAC Pro Longwear NC25, and you can tell its a lot darker, shinier and sheerer.
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| MAC Pro Longwear Foundation NC25 & MAC Next to Nothing Foundation Medium |
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| MAC Next To Nothing Powder Medium Plus Review, Swatches |
MAC Next To Nothing Powder Pressed. This is a sheer to medium coverage powder with a soft light-reflective sheen. If you look closely, you can see fine sparkles reminiscent of the Revlon Photoready Foundation. I would liken this to a skin-toned MAC Beauty Powder. I've picked out the shade in Medium Plus as Medium looked too ashy. It looks great with foundation, but alone you can tell on swatches below compared to MAC NC41 Studio Fix Powder Plus that it can still lean a bit cool-toned. It lasts quite well for a sheer powder, about three hours before I need a top up. It adds a beautiful glow to the skin and I do love it.
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| MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation NC41 & MAC Next To Nothing Powder Medium Plus Review, Swatches |
Overall, I recommend MAC Next To Nothing Powder as it adds something new to my collection. Most of my face powders are quite matte so a face base with a subtle glowy sheen is welcomed. MAC Next To Nothing Foundation on the otherhand is sheer much like a tinted non-moisturiser and its glowy effects are similar to one of my favourite primers, Laura Mercier Tinted moisturiser SPF 20, but without the SPF; so its something that's nice to have but not essential to my personal collection.
Livia | The Skin and Beauty Blog
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| July Favourites |
This month has been filled with hot humid environments and a lot of holiday photography. These beauty products have met my expectations and got the job done!
Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation. This photo-perfecting foundation is the bomb. It provides medium coverage despite its thin consistency, similar to but better than MAC Face and Body foundation. Worn alone, it would only last you a couple hours in this environment, so I recommend setting this with powder.
bareMinerals Original SPF15 Foundation. I've enjoyed using this powder foundation. It somehow gives you a glowy finish but because its a powder, it isn't dewy. It lasts all day and easily worn by itself. I'm running out of my sample size; its time to purchase the full sized one.
MAC Rosy Outlook and Royal Sunset Blush. These blushes look almost identical in the pan and I use them interchangeably. If you had a keen eye, Royal Sunset is half a shade pinker than Rosy Outlook. Both are beautiful natural satin warm pink blushes. Royal Sunset somehow lasts longer on the skin than prolong wear Rosy Outlook.
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| MAC Rosy Outlook Blush, MAC Royal Sunset Blush |
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| MAC Rosy Outlook Blush, MAC Royal Sunset Blush (blended) |
MAC Texture Eyeshadow. I've rekindled my love for this tan brown shade. It looks beautiful on the crease to add a sun-kissed glow. Its perfect especially with brown and blue eyes.
L'Oreal Paris Telescopic Mascara. Since having my LVL lash lift, I've been struggling to find a mascara that won't brush on my lids as well as the lashes. The thin applicator with tiny bristles is works well although I still have to clear up the lid with a cotton bud. The shade is a nice true black.
Livia | The Skin and Beauty Blog
01/08/2016
July Favourites
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| NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint Review |
I present to you the latest "NARS Velvet Matte".
I haven't come across anything from that begins with "NARS Velvet Matte" that I haven't enjoyed. The NARS Velvet Matte lip pencils are what brought me into the NARS frenzy in the first place.
And I was hoping this new NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint would deliver.
I've used this for a week on my combination skin and here are my thoughts.
Pros:
1. Does not need powdering if you want that natural finish.
2. Lasts for a couple of hours on an oily nose. Use a primer to make it last even longer. It works well on top of Clarins Beauty Flash Balm!
3. Good coverage for a "skin tint".
4. Lightweight breathable texture.
Cons:
1. Poor shade range. Only 12 shades at present. You'll be lucky to find your match!
2. It has the tendency to sit on dry patches, you need a well moisturised base underneath. Perhaps not for dry skins.
3. It lightly oxidises, so you might find you get tanner as the day goes on (which isn't always a bad thing - make sure to paint your neck though).
I've been one of the lucky few to find a shade match in the shade Alaska, although I'm a bit surprised. I tend to go for the Medium 1 option, for my NC25-30 skin. Alaska is described as Light 2 with a neutral balance of pink and yellow undertones. Perhaps this shade range is trying to stretch itself out to accommodate a variety of skintones.
In terms of that 'mattifying' effect, I find it safe to say this sits between NARS Sheer Glow Foundation and NARS Sheer Matte Foundation.
Overall I'm enjoying NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint for an everyday type of foundation. For more glammed up events, I will still be reaching out for the classic NARS Sheer Glow Foundation as it is far more photogenic with better coverage.
Love it or Leave It? Leave a comment below!
Livia | The Skin and Beauty Blog
SHOP THE POST
I haven't come across anything from that begins with "NARS Velvet Matte" that I haven't enjoyed. The NARS Velvet Matte lip pencils are what brought me into the NARS frenzy in the first place.
And I was hoping this new NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint would deliver.
I've used this for a week on my combination skin and here are my thoughts.
Pros:
1. Does not need powdering if you want that natural finish.
2. Lasts for a couple of hours on an oily nose. Use a primer to make it last even longer. It works well on top of Clarins Beauty Flash Balm!
3. Good coverage for a "skin tint".
4. Lightweight breathable texture.
Cons:
1. Poor shade range. Only 12 shades at present. You'll be lucky to find your match!
2. It has the tendency to sit on dry patches, you need a well moisturised base underneath. Perhaps not for dry skins.
3. It lightly oxidises, so you might find you get tanner as the day goes on (which isn't always a bad thing - make sure to paint your neck though).
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| NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint Alaska for MAC NC25-30 Review |
I've been one of the lucky few to find a shade match in the shade Alaska, although I'm a bit surprised. I tend to go for the Medium 1 option, for my NC25-30 skin. Alaska is described as Light 2 with a neutral balance of pink and yellow undertones. Perhaps this shade range is trying to stretch itself out to accommodate a variety of skintones.
In terms of that 'mattifying' effect, I find it safe to say this sits between NARS Sheer Glow Foundation and NARS Sheer Matte Foundation.
Overall I'm enjoying NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint for an everyday type of foundation. For more glammed up events, I will still be reaching out for the classic NARS Sheer Glow Foundation as it is far more photogenic with better coverage.
Livia | The Skin and Beauty Blog
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| L'oreal Telescopic Mascara, Benefit Hoola Bronzer, BareMinerals Original Foundation, BareMinerals Matte Foundation, Benefit That Gal Primer, BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Review |
Benefit That Gal Brightening Face Primer. This pink-tinted face primer partially corrects the sallowness of my yellow skin while also providing a smooth base for foundation. I would wait a few minutes for this to set in prior to the next step. I found this to be non comedogenic for my combination skin. Unlike most primers this does not feel too siliconey which is great.
BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream. This gel formula gives light to medium coverage on the skin with SPF30. It works very well with the benefit primer above.
BareMinerals SPF15 Matte Foundation. This loose powder product is fab to set the oily tzone with. It keeps shine at bay for about 4-6 hours prior to having to reapply again, and that's on my oily nose.
BareMinerals SPF15 Original Foundation. Loving this to set foundation on the rest of my face. It provides a natural finish, similar to MAC mineralised skinfinish natural powders.
Benefit Hoola Bronzer Powder. I've gone back to this matte taupe for contouring the face. Such a good quality product, I believe this is my second box.
L'Oréal Paris Telescopic Mascara. Lately my lids have been eyeliner free I suppose in the interests of time I have often gone straight for mascara. This lovely brush has small bristles yet pack a punch to create thick long lashes. Definitely one to try!
Livia | The Skin and Beauty Blog
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| December Favourites from NARS, MAC, Charlotte Tilbury, Bare Minerals, L'oreal and By Terry |
Every so often I shop my stash and rotate my products around, but these products have somewhat made it into my regular routine this December. Battling against central heating indoors and the chilly winds outdoors keeping my makeup in check. Let's go through them shall we?
Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon in Bronzed Garnet. Supposedly meant to emphasize green eyes, I've been using this autumn/winter-perfect shade to match my brown peepers. I've recently reviewed this eyeshadow pencil in a previous post. You can read it HERE.
MAC Select Cover Up Concealer NW25. Harsh drying environments call for moisturising products. MAC's select cover up concealer does the trick. It's medium coverage and wonderfully hydrating while non-creasing. I like to use this on my dark circles underneath the eyes, but it works well for the rest of the face too.
BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Buttercream. I'm totally late to this Complexion Rescue party. This tinted sunprotecting moisturiser provides a light veil of colour on the skin to subtly even out skin imperfections. It applies like a gel and feels like a cream on the skin. I also love that it contains SPF30.
MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation NC25. This product is perhaps the most re-purchased of all my MAC makeup. Its a medium coverage powder that is easy to build to a full coverage. It feels quite light on the skin. I pat it on top of my foundation with a large kabuki brush.
By Terry Mascara Terrybly. I picked up this sample size and its lasted the last two months. Truly impressed. It coats my lashes a natural black shade (not too stark) and the brush is easy enough to use, although I still sometimes coat my upper lid, but that's oriental droopy-ish lids for you. I am thinking of purchasing a full size of this, we'll see if I come across something better.
NARS Laguna Bronzer. You can tell how much I love this bronzer - I've hit pan! It's wonderful on yellow-toned olive skin (I believe the other one Casino is for the pink-toned). It mimics a natural tan on my skin. I use it to subtly contour the face with a pointed face brush.
NARS Lustre Blush. I think this is one of the most under-rated NARS blushes. It provides that healthy peachy golden glow that's not too sparkly (NARS Super Orgasm, I'm looking at you!). It creates a healthy flush on the cheeks perfect for these pale winter days. It is one of my favourite blushes and yes my to-go blush this winter.
That ends my ramblings today. Have you tried any of these products? By the way, Merry Christmas to y'all!
Livia | The Skin and Beauty Blog
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| By Terry Light Expert Click Brush Review, Swatches |
If you've not been hiding under a shell or kept up in work/university, I'm sure you would have heard of the buzz in the beauty scene from By Terry. Makeup artist extraordinaire Terry de Gunzburg has recently launched the By Terry Light-Expert Click Brush (£48) which comes in 6 shades: from Rosy Light to Amber Brown for very fair to tan olive skintones. (They claim they are still working on making one for dark skintones).
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| By Terry Light Expert Click Brush Review, Swatches |
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| By Terry Light Expert Click Brush Review, Swatches |
The idea for the product itself is a step up from the YSL Touche Eclat. The tube is far bigger, with a slanted kabuki brush on the top. The product is dispensed at 4 points for even application. The kabuki itself is completely detachable from the tube, allowing cleaning and drying, tackling a common problem with click-pen type products. What's more is that you can open up the product and directly see how much product you have left.
The formula itself is dreamy. It has a gel-like consistency that just blends oh-so-well! It dries to a non-drying matte finish and lasts the whole day.
Depending on which shades you pick up, you can use it as a highlighter, foundation (my shade match is Peach Beige) or as a bronzer such as what I picked up.
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| By Terry Light Expert Click Brush in Amber Swatched on NC30 Skin |
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| By Terry Light Expert Click Brush in Amber Blended on NC30 Skin |
I have the shade in Amber Brown (pictured) and I do love it. On my skin tone it is a tan shade with a hint of peach. It looks very natural as a contour shade albeit a little sun-kissed looking than plain ol' brown taupe. I love it.
Shivanee and I love the By Terry Light-Expert Click Brush and we give this four thumbs up. If weren't for the expensive price tag, we wouldn't think twice of repurchasing this amazing product!
Livia | The Skin and Beauty Blog
Leading up to my second big day which will take place in a hot and humid tropical paradise (see first big day makeup HERE), my obsession for trying to find the Holy Grail foundation has magnified exponentially. Promise me with a foundation with long-wear hold and I will try it. Having been a fan of the original MACPro Longwear SPF 10 Foundation, I was eager to try out this new waterproof version. Not that I go swimming in my makeup, but ho hey... Here's the review!
MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation
One thing that struck me about this foundation is how little product there is. It has 25ml per tube compared to 30ml for the original MACPro Longwear SPF 10 Foundation and 40ml for MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation. I have been assured however that this can be used for both foundation and concealer and lasts for 16 hours without touching up to make up for the amount of product. It will perhaps take a while before I finish a tube anyway.
The foundation has somewhat a thick gel like consistency similar to but thicker than MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation. It is easy to spread on the skin, I like using a damp sponge or warm fingertips. It dries moderately quickly with a medium skin-like coverage. You can easily add on another layer of product for a fuller coverage.
I find it can be unforgiving to dry patches and one must ensure well-moisturised skin. After a couple hours of wear I find my skin getting dryer and dryer, perhaps this is one to avoid in the cold winter months. At least it does keep shine off bay!
I would recommend this for oily skins with well-moisturised skin. I would suggest dry skin types to stay away from this foundation.
Livia | The Skin and Beauty Blog
Beauty products trickle in towards my makeup drawer as they usually do. These products have found their way to my beauty collection the last few weeks.
With the temperatures rising (albeit fluctuating and slowly), I've been reaching out for glowy highlighters and my grubby hands have managed their way to Becca. I picked up these two which stood out to me the most. Opal provides such a beautiful almost metallic sheen that looks stunning in photographs where as Moonstone offers a more natural pale golden glow. I like applying this with the Real Techniques Fan Brush, Real Techniques Setting Brush or even with the fingertips high on the cheekbones. These are pretty difficult to find from the Space NK counters... You may want to stalk the SpaceNK website for availabilities.
Somehow my two favourite foundations for Giorgio Armani and NARS have been found to be in their last drops so I have purchased some back ups for when they inevitably run out. I've picked up NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Punjab as my previous shade match. I was re-matched at the Giorgio Armani counter however and was surprised at the results - I was given Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 3.5. I had been wearing 6 all this time, which I did know at the back of my mind that it was at least 2 shades darker than my skintone, so I usually wear that for a faux lets-pretend-I've-been-on-holiday tan.
I've had my first foray into Tarte with this blush in Exposed. My sister Shannon kindly picked this up for me from the Sephora in California. Exposed is a matte midtone rose pink. It's not the easiest to apply, it can feel a little hard on the pan so I recommend applying and building up the intensity to what you desire, but its wear is impressive. It's one of those blushes that last on your cheeks til the end of the day despite your face eating up foundation. I am impressed and am looking forward to trying another shade.
Hidden behind the blush is my new makeup sponge, the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. This small orange sponge allows natural application of makeup. I would spritz some Avene Eau Thermale to make application a bit more fluid and easier to blend. It is well contoured to fit the sides of the nose. I have been enjoying foundation application with this although it does take more time than just using the Louise Young LY34 Super Foundation Brush.
I also picked up MAC Morange Lipstick for a little pop of colour and the new limited edition MAC 126SE Brush for powder applications from the MAC Wash and Dry Collection, you can read my thoughts on those HERE.
Livia | The Skin and Beauty Blog
I had my tiring week of night shifts this week which meant poor sleep, dehydrated skin, eye bags and acne. To keep my skin looking its best, I opted for a more natural no-makeup makeup look focusing on a good foundation, with contour and highlight. Skipping blush altogether. Lips were lathered in lip balm as often as I could remember. Here are the products I used:
Night shifts call for 12 hours of wear and I used Laura Mercier Foundation Primer to make my foundation last as long as it could. This primer perfects the skin, helps reduce shine and unwanted sheen. It's a great match for the foundation below:
Now I have recently raved about this foundation in THIS POST and I could not adore it enough! It is moderately long-lasting while avoiding drying out the skin. Upon taking my makeup off before bed, I find that my skin improved compared to the beginning of the day. Bizarre and amazing how this foundation perfects the skin.
Another LM favourite this week, this loose powder sets foundation well and looks natural.
I have been using MAC Give Me Sun! Mineralize Skin Finish as a 2 in 1 bronzer and contour. It can appear too warm-toned for some but with my golden undertones, it works well to chisel on some cheekbones and give me that summer sun glow.
Speaking of glow, this palette, well mainly Incandescent Light, has adorned my cheekbones this week as the other half of my contour/highlight duo. Full review HERE.
Lips were kept nice and neutral with this cult-favourite lip balm. It hydrates and heals chapped lips and I just love the minty fresh taste.
So those were my favourites this week. Care to share yours?
So those were my favourites this week. Care to share yours?
Have you tried a foundation that actually works to clear blemishes and give you perfect skin? Estee Lauder Perfectionist Youth-Infusing Foundation does that. It contains an age-defying serum that also aims to reduce the look of lines and also nourish the skin with oil-free hydration.
I've been using Estee Lauder Perfectionist Youth-Infusing Foundation for a week now and here are my thoughts:
Estee Lauder Perfectionist Youth-Infusing Foundation is a runny watery foundation, similar in consistency to Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation. One pump is sufficient to provide a medium coverage on my entire face, two pumps for a fuller coverage.
It can be applied with the fingers although I choose to apply this with the Real Techniques Buffing Brush to buff this evenly on the skin.
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| Estee Lauder Perfectionist Youth-Infusing Foundation Makeup SPF 25 Review Before & After |
The special thing about this foundation is that I find it helps reduce acne. At the beginning of the week I had a few acne spots which I had started to collect in this hormonal period. They had completely vanished 5 days later with no new acne formation. I'm in awe and super impressed. It is definitely a skin perfecting foundation.
At £37, Estee Lauder Perfectionist Youth-Infusing Foundation is no cheapo but if you are struggling with mild acne or if you would like a moisturising medium coverage foundation, this one is for you.
I've been curious about Clarins foundations for sometime now, perusing my local Boots I saw and tried out Clarins Everlasting Foundation+ which I have briefly mentioned in THIS POST. I had mixed opinions about this foundation not only including the shade i was matched but also about the finish, so I went back to the Clarins counter for a second attempt at the foundation but this time at House of Fraser at Westfields.
I was shade matched a second time and this time, it was 109 Wheat. I think is the perfect colour match for my NC25-NC30 skin. It was 3 shades lighter than the previous (112 Amber). Still undecided about the finish, the lady at the counter kindly provided a few sachets of samples. Now I've had a few goes at the foundation, here are my thoughts.
As with the previous shade, this one applied pink toned at first but with time I felt the shade transform to match my skin, which was interesting.
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| Clarins Everlasting Foundation+ Review |
The coverage is definitely medium to full, it covers a reasonable amount of redness, scarring and hyperpigmentation. It sets to a comfortable soft velvety powdery finish.
On my combination skin, it lasts about 4-6 hours before my skin begins to eat it up and tear apart the foundation. I found that using a primer before and setting powder on top definitely helps the wear last longer on the skin.
There is one unforgivable downside to this foundation however - it transfers! Onto clothes, cups, fingers, faces. Everything your skin becomes in contact with. Setting the foundation with powder seems to reduce the amount of product transferred but it still does transfer.
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| Clarins Everlasting Foundation+ Review in Amber |
Because of this, I have made up my mind not to purchase this foundation. While the finish is comfortable and it looks great in photos, the transferring pigment is a bit of a shame and not something I would appreciate in a foundation. I will be sticking to my favourites from NARS and Giorgio Armani...
I have not given up on looking for a Clarins foundation that suits me though... I have my eye on Clarins Skin Illusion Natural Radiance Foundation next. Have you tried Clarins foundations? Any of these you recommend?
Love it or Leave It? Leave a comment below!
Livia | The Skin and Beauty Blog
Livia | The Skin and Beauty Blog
This week was a week of discovery. I decided to use products that have been sitting unloved in my makeup drawer; they would have been "gathering dust" if they weren't safely stored away. This week I discovered new makeup must-haves that I have regretted overlooking for many months. New found staples for natural and longer-lasting makeup.
Don't you just love a day off work? After working for the last 7 consecutive days, I've got my half day off work today for rest and to resume work for the rest of the week tomorrow. So what did I do? Despite the rain, cold and that I was in my comfy but not-so-weather-proof ballet pumps, I was adamant to go out shopping. Yes. I had to. Today. I was surprised to find the raindrops actually comforting, and now I realise it was perhaps because it was a sign of 'freedom' from being cooped up in the humid fluctuating temperatures of the hospital for too long.
16/02/2015
ELLE, Clarins and Benefit Off-Day Treats
Cult favourite beauty brand NARS cosmetics makes some of the best products in the beauty world. I'm sure most beauty afficionados would have a thing or two from NARS in their makeup collection. Every time NARS brings out a new product, new formulation or new collection, the release is always met with anticipation of a probable next HG (holy grail) item.
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