L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint

After the huge hoo-ha surrounding the US version of this product, marketed as Liquid Powder over there, I knew I wanted to try it from the first reviews I saw online. A product that's lighter than water? What does that even mean??

What this seems to translate into is that it is a very watery product. It has a very light amount of coverage but has a really soft finish, both in the appearance and in the feel of the liquid. Eau de Teint doesn't come with a pump so that's not ideal for some people but it applies incredibly evenly when applied to the skin. I just buff this in with my fingers rather than a brush because it really is so runny that I don't think a brush would do it much good!

I purchased this in the lightest shade, 100 Porcelain but it's actually got quite a lot of colour given it's a pale shade. I've swatched it alongside Liz Earle's Signature Foundation in 01 and Collection's concealer in Fair to show the colour difference. It does look incredibly dark in these photos but it's quite a good match on my face and actually matches better than the Liz Earle foundation (which is strange because the LE foundation seems to get darker even though it's lighter!).

Packaging wise it's not the most logical...a glass bottle without a pump isn't ideal for transporting or for anyone with a full make-up bag. The design on the packaging is also completely different to the US product - this isn't called Liquid Powder and the bottle isn't frosted white near the top but I think the actual product is generally the same kind of thing.

I'd say this provides around 6 - 7 hours of wear with the usual additions to the face ; bronzer/blusher/highlighter etc but if I were to wear this for a longer time I'd want to wear a powder on top to ensure it would stay and would be much easier to top up without the added stress of not spilling the liquid everywhere.

Overall this is probably a 6/10 for me. The packaging isn't particularly user friendly but the product itself does the job for an everyday work kind of make-up look.

This is on offer for now for £6.99 at most drugstores but usually will sell for £9.99 after the introductory offer is over.

PS: I am sorry for the lack of posts in the last couple of weeks. I've been super busy with work but I have also just come down with a horrible cold, woe is me! I hope to resume proper posting in the next week or so, thank you for sticking with me xoxo 

Maybelline Fit Me Anti-Shine Foundation Stick

I picked this up last week in Superdrug after seeing a few people on YouTube getting on well with it and because I was just intrigued as to how this product can battle shine without sacrificing on coverage.

The product description found here (click!) says:

"Our fresh foundation has an anti-shine core. 

It's ultra-light formula is enriched with powders to instantly absorb excess oil.

Controls shine for a natural-looking, flawless finish."

There's an inner core that is supposed to battle against shine and an outer core providing the foundation. It's probably a light level of coverage. It doesn't really present any moisturising properties so you'd have to moisturise beforehand. Application is simple, you twist the bottom like a lipstick and literally just swipe it onto your skin. I have blended with both my hands and with a Real Techniques Buffing Brush and there wasn't a huge difference in terms of the finish or product wasted.

For me, this product is fine for a drugstore product but with an £8.99 price tag I did expect a little more - not a lot more but I had hoped to at least feel satisfied with it even if I didn't love it. Unfortunately I just couldn't get on board with it. It doesn't have a particular scent or anything like that but it felt a little slippery when I had applied it. A bit like when you apply a primer and it feels kind of velvety and silky except unlike when using a primer there wasn't really anything that helped the foundation bond with my skin.

HOWEVER, it isn't all bad - the idea of it is incredibly innovative. As I said there's an inner core and an outer layer which work together to banish shine. The colour match was also a big deal for me, this is the first drugstore foundation that I was able to buy in store and use at home without any colour match problems whatsoever. I bought shade 120 Classic Ivory but there are six shades altogether. Not a huge range so it's possible I just got lucky.

I probably won't buy this product again purely because it just doesn't stand up next to my liquid foundations but I do think that for younger, teenage or middle school age skin this is perfectly acceptable for school day wear. If I hadn't tried out as much make-up as I have over the years I might feel differently but hey, sometimes things just aren't for me and that's fine too!

Maybelline Fit Me Anti-Shine Foundation Stick sells for £8.99 at Superdrug here (click!), Boots here (click!) and other Maybelline stockists.

Lancome - Teint Idole Ultra 24h - Part 2

After ordering Lancome's new foundation on Sunday it arrived today via Parcel Force. I immediately went to try it out and I'm just as in love with the full size as I was with the sample!

It comes in the same silver box as featured a few posts back with their Hypnose mascara and the bottle is made of frosted glass. If I could change anything about the product it would be that, frosted glass does to me what nails down a blackboard to do most people. I'm coming up in goosebumps even thinking about it! The bottle contains 30ml of the product for £27.99.

It has a pump on top and I used about 3 pumps across my whole face. Below is a swatch of the product -

I applied with my fingers today, but I'm expecting an e.l.f. foundation brush to turn up tomorrow so I'll review that with this foundation this week.

My housemates have noticed a difference with this foundation and told me how nice it looks. I apply my Mac Prep + Prime translucent powder on top and then blend blusher/bronzer and a final coat of the powder to finish. 

I did take photos of my face with the finished product but since I look like a gremlin in all of them I thought I'd spare your eyes.

I'd also like to promote how good the Lancome Customer Service is. I received an email when placing my order and another email when my product was dispatched explaining that it was coming from their "Lancôme Logistical Centre at Ingré in France"and that Parcel Force would be the courier. Big props to Parcel Force as it arrived before 12 today and the delivery guy was very polite and had a lovely French accent, always a plus!

I am officially in love with Lancome, I'm going to have to stop myself going to my local Boots for more make up!

Have you tried this?? Let me know if you do!

Love, 

Lancome - Teint Idole Ultra 24h - Part 1

After splurging at Lancome for my mum's birthday present a few weeks ago I was offered a sample of their new foundation, Teint Idole Ultra 24h.

With claims that it offers more long wear and comfort than any other foundation I was excited to give it a go since I'm still after ~the perfect foundation~.

This little pot lasted me just under a week and from the first application I fell in love! For me, it did what I wanted the Estee Lauder Double Wear to do... except that brought me out in a rash, ew.
I paired it with my Mac Prep + Prime translucent face powder and then did the usual bronzer/blusher routine.

I was given it in shade 010 - Beige Porcelaine and I'd say it has medium/heavy coverage, but doesn't feel heavy and it really does last a long time! It's easily buildable, looks matte on the skin and can be applied with a brush or with fingertips. I know many people don't like the idea of applying with their fingers but to be honest, I can get precise application and blend much better with (clean!) hands than with my Mac foundation brush.

I can't vouch for the 24h claim as I've worn it as daytime make up only and washed my face if I have applied foundation again for a night out, but it has lasted a good 12+hours which is a win for me.
I'm desperately trying to find photo evidence of this in action amongst all my recent iPhoto imports but it doesn't look like I have any, however, I have just ordered a full size product from the Lancome website which should be here by Wednesday so I can do a photo feature then.

It retails at £27.00 full size (with £5.00 shipping charge from their website) and can be bought from any Lancome stockist.

I was given some confusing dates from my local Boots counter who told me the foundation wasn't being released until February 1st and some other blogs have given this date as well, but since I've been able to purchase it online I'm assuming that I should receive my delivery in the 2-3days I'm expecting.
If anybody can shed some light on this situation it would be lovely, however if you follow me on twitter I'm sure you'll read whether I've received it or not.

I hope you've all had a lovely weekend, love

Bank Holiday Weekend & Estée Lauder Double Wear

 Unlike most of the people I know, I didn't spend my weekend at a festival! I had a nice weekend at home with my family and boyfriend with a little bit of shopping and a barbecue! On my mini shopping trip I picked up a sample of the esteemed Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation. From research online I had read good things about this foundation and after having trouble with my current Dior Skin products I thought I'd try it out.

The claims on the Estée Lauder website (link!) say "Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup. 15-hour staying power. Flawless all day. This worry-free, long-wearing foundation makeup stays fresh and looks natural through heat, humidity, nonstop activity. Won't change colour, smudge or come off on clothes. Feels lightweight and comfortable. Now the flawless look you see in the morning is the look you keep all day."

I was matched by one of the ladies at the counter in John Lewis and my shade was Pale Almond.

I wore it that night when I went out with my parents for dinner and at first I really liked it. It had good overall coverage for the small amount that I used and I thought it matched my skin tone well. When I applied it on Saturday morning I noticed it was probably a shade too light for me but still liked the coverage. My only criticism is that initially it felt a little "cakey" but that feeling went after I'd applied the rest of my make-up. I found it lived up to all the claims on the website other than being "lightweight". It didn't smudge or change colour and other than being slightly too pale it did look very natural on my skin. I didn't find myself checking to see if I looked shiny or if I needed a top-up as I was confident enough with what I'd put on that morning.

Unfortunately, I seem to have had an allergic reaction to this product, boo hiss! I've now got two patches of dry skin around my nose and on my chin as well as a break-out of small spots on my forehead. I can't blame the product as I know I have sensitive skin and that's why I went away with a sample rather than the full size bottle so this is in no way a bad reflection of the foundation, just my personal reaction to it.

I'd recommend it to anyone who is after a long-lasting foundation, especially as such a little amount goes a long way. If I hadn't had this reaction I'd be going back in a week or two to get colour matched with the Double Wear Light! 

xo xo