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Latest Foundation Favorites

January 8, 2020 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

This season, there are several foundations that really impressed me. I’ve been loving them a lot and they’re definitely at the top of my holy grail list. You’ve probably heard about these foundations or own them since a lot of folks seem to really love them as well.

Ideally, for me, a foundation should be lightweight, non-sticky, has very good coverage, non-cakey, and should adhere to the skin for hours and hours, even if you sweat. It should have a good SPF number, but it should not oxidize. Yes, I’m quite picky that way, although that’s a lot to ask for a foundation. I also prefer foundations that don’t need to be applied with a primer, because there are days when I’m so in a hurry to go somewhere and applying primer is an extra step that I may not be able to afford putting on when I’m time-constrained.

Anyway, as much as I want that perfect foundation, there are only a few that I could count that seems to satisfy my criteria. Nowadays, I tend to use foundations that almost met and satisfy these criteria. They are almost, if not, perfect for me, or are the next best thing.

Charlotte Tilbury

Airbrush Flawless Longwear Foundation in 4 Neutral (44 USD) – This skincare-foundation is my most favorite from Charlotte Tilbury. It has a very pretty and elegant packaging and on my skin, this feels light. The coverage is full and it has a natural matte finish that doesn’t look dry or cakey. A little bit goes a long way with this and it lasts several hours on me. This blurs my pores, blemishes, and post-acne marks. Also, this evens my skintone well and it kind of makes me look glowy. I love that this doesn’t budge or slide on my oily skin, and it doesn’t transfer. I can wear this alone or with any primer.

Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder in 1 Fair (0.28 oz: 45 USD) – This very fine setting powder packed in a luxurious golden compact looks impeccably elegant. I love how natural this goes on the skin and it not only reduces shine and sets makeup/foundation, it doesn’t have any flashback and it can work as a standalone powder foundation as well. I love that this doesn’t cake and this does not settle on my pores. However, this powder tends to oxidize and it doesn’t have a good shade range (only three, so far), so, I suggest picking up a lighter shade than your normal tone. Overall, this product blends and applies on my skin and foundation seamlessly and it’s one of the most wonderful setting powders I’ve ever tried.

Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation in 2 Neutral (1.6 oz: 40 USD) – I didn’t realize how good this foundation was until I tried a sample of it. Texture-wise, this is perfect. I love how light and fluid this feel and this applies like a second skin on me. The finish is matte but not drying and this actually looks more natural. I would say that the coverage of this foundation is medium yet it’s good enough for me since it completely covers my sins and imperfections, lol. I also love that you can use this not only for the face, but also for the body, and it doesn’t slide nor cake for any skin type, not even for my oily skin. The packaging of this is cute too. Now, if only this has an added SPF.

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Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation in Light Medium 9 (1.18 oz: 68 USD) – An ultra-expensive foundation from PMG that does not disappoint. This truly is a very good foundation and is almost perfect in every way, with or without any use of a primer. The coverage of this can go from light to medium, and even to full, and the finish is very natural. It feels very light and fluid like the Dior Backstage Foundation above and is also very similar to the Chanel Vitalumière Aqua and Perfection Lumière Velvet Foundations. I love that this looks and feels like a second skin, so, this is very light. This does not settle on the pores and fine lines and looks very very natural. Still, I wish this has an SPF.

The New Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector Broad Spectrum SPF 30 in 2W1 Natural (1.7 oz: 47 USD) – An update to the original Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer that is loved by many, this new and improved formula is meant to have more skincare benefits and still has that natural dewy finish look. The coverage of this tinted moisturizer is pretty light as the previous version, but this feels a bit less creamy and it sets better on the skin. I like to wear this on very good skin days, or for a quick everyday natural makeup look. Since my skin is on the oily side, I still set this with a very good setting powder like the one from Charlotte Tilbury, the Airbrush Flawless Setting Powder above, or the Armani Luminous Silk Compact Powder Foundation, reviewed HERE.

Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation SPF 30 in 220 Linen (1 oz: 47 USD) – An Allure Best of Beauty Winner, I feel like this could be the foundation I’ve been looking for. It seems to meet all my criteria and standards for a foundation, except that I couldn’t find the right shade match for me. Thank goodness I got a sample to try it first. Hopefully soon, I will be able to find the exact color for my skintone because this foundation is truly amazing. I love how you don’t need to put a lot of this and still has that perfect medium to full coverage with a natural finish on the skin. This feels fluid but not too fluid and not overly creamy either. Also, this covers imperfections very well and it can last for several hours without sliding, no matter what the humidity level and temperature may be, and it stays on even when you sweat. Something about this foundation reminded me of the Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation in terms of performance and lasting power.

Overall, I love love these foundations. They serve my needs at any activity level and they helped me put on my best face forward, rain or shine, sweat or dry, and whatever the situation may call.

Do you have any holy grail foundations? What are they? Have you tried these already? What do you think of them?

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Favorite Cushion Foundations

July 16, 2019 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hello guys. I am back from the cave, LOL. As I mentioned in my previous post, I had a massive jet lag and just when I thought I was feeling a bit more alert, I realized that I had to go on Jury Duty (Hurray! Hurray! LOL). I can tell you all about that experience in my upcoming posts. Anyway, I stood through my role as a Juror and just when I thought I could get back to blogging, my shoulder started bothering me and I had to rest it for a few days. Such is life! but hey, I’m back and as I promised, I’m about to do a roundup review of my favorite cushion foundations.

If you’re a fan of cushion foundations like me because they’re so much easier to apply than a liquid or a powder type of foundation, not to mention that they look absolutely fab on the skin, well, you might find this review very useful. I love using my cushion foundations when I’m in a hurry or when I’m traveling. A powder foundation is usually a no-no for me because I tend to be clumsy and I could spill it all over my clothes, and even if I won’t, I’m afraid there might still be powdery residues that could get stuck on my clothes. A liquid foundation is fine but I may be too lazy to reach out for a brush or a beautyblender to apply it when I’m in a hurry. So, I tend to use my fingers, and that entails some handwashing, some wet wipes, being very careful not to stain my clothes, and so on. A lot of hassle definitely.

I haven’t experimented on a lot of cushion foundations so far, and there are a lot of them nowadays. The ones I have are the ones I’ve tried and have become my holy grails, though a few of them are unfortunately discontinued but you may still find some of them in some stores online.

High-End

Clé de Peau Radiant Cushion Foundation in 020 Light Ochre (90 USD) – I like this cushion’s clean fresh scent and it gives a soft dewy finish on the skin. The effect looks like a natural youthful glow and it lasts pretty much the whole day. It’s pricey though and it has no SPF, but it looks really perfect on my skin and I get lots of compliment whenever I use it. Read more HERE.

Dior Capture Dreamskin Cushion Broad Spectrum SPF 50 in 020 Light Beige (82 USD) – This has a noticeable somewhat floral scent and I like this because of the SPF. The finish is naturally dewy and radiant and it feels light on the skin. Overall, this is a solid cushion foundation for everyday use.

Iope Air Cushion Natural Glow in N23 Natural Sand (28.83 USD) – This is my first cushion foundation and I’m almost running out of it. This does tend to get dry pretty easily and I noticed that there’s not really much product in it, though it does come with a refill. This gives a nice natural coverage on the face and it also contains SPF 50.

La Mer The Luminous Lifting Cushion Foundation SPF 20 in 23 Warm Vanilla (120 USD) – Reviewed further HERE. This is one of the most expensive cushion foundations I own and it really lives up to its name. I find that this lasts a really long time for me and it gives a nice dewy glow that doesn’t look oily. It has a very good coverage and it’s got a lot of product in it. It also comes with a refill and really soft cushy applicator. Additionally, the scent of this is fab.

Not pictured here is the La Prairie Skin Caviar Essence-In Foundation. I’ve tried it before from samples, seen HERE. I’ve been planning to purchase it but it’s just so expensive. It is so good and it might just be the best cushion foundation I’ve ever tried but I’m not sure if I could justify the price. Also, I remember it having a really divine scent.

Drugstore

I actually think that a lot of drugstore cushion foundations are really good, though sadly, some of the drugstore brands are almost discontinuing them and I don’t know why.

Up next are not really cushion foundations, but they can work as such. I discovered them when I forgot to bring a cushion foundation during one of my travels and I had to rush into the nearest drugstore to see if I could find an affordable alternative that I might like. I found the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Compact Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 55 in 30 Buff & 20 Natural Ivory (14.59 USD) and though they’re actually cream foundations, they can work as cushions especially if you moisten their sponge applicators. They do kind of feel a bit scratchy and a bit powdery, but if you tap them on the skin lightly, then they’ll do the job. I like that these have no scent and they do have a high SPF.

L’Oreal True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation in N3.5 Classic Buff (12.95 USD) – Discontinued but still available HERE and HERE. This foundation and the Maybelline Dream Cushion Fresh Face Liquid Foundation in 20 Classic Ivory (10.49 USD) – which is also discontinued but can still be found HERE, have a very similar design in terms of packaging and even the finish. Both have no discernible scent and both have a cheaply-made sponge, but they still deliver a fresh-effect dewy finish. Between the two, I kind of like L’Oreal’s finish better because the Maybelline one tends to be a bit more matte.

Wet N Wild MegaCushion Foundation SPF 15 in 108A Nude Beige (8.99 USD) – This a very affordable cushion foundation and it looks and feels great on the skin. The effect is dewy, glowy, youthful, natural, and really almost like a second skin due to its lightness and very good coverage. This does tend to oxidize, so you may wanna choose a lighter shade than your skintone when buying this.

Other cushion foundations I’m planning investigate are the YSL Touche Éclat Cushion Foundation, Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Cushion Foundation, Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion Foundation Compact, and the Amorepacific Color Control Cushion Compact.

That comprises my favorite cushion foundations. Have you tried any of these before? Are you also a fan of cushion foundations?

La Mer The Luminous Lifting Cushion Foundation SPF 20 & The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20 Review

January 24, 2019 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hello Friends! Several weeks ago, I stumbled upon a sample of the La Mer Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation and I was really impressed with it. Before that, I think I may have only tried a few La Mer products, like their famous Creme de la Mer and their Moisturizing Soft Cream (reviewed HERE). But when it comes to La Mer makeup, the last one I’ve tried and reviewed was the limited-edition La Mer The Bronzing Powder (read HERE), after that, I don’t think I’ve talked about La Mer items lately until I tried the amazing Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation sample which was kind of life-changing for me.

I wasn’t really on the market for new foundations but since trying the La Mer Soft Fluid Foundation, I felt like I’ve got to have more of it. Since then, I also got curious about their Luminous Lifting Cushion Foundation and have read good reviews about it. So, here’s a side by side comparison and contrast of two of La Mer’s bestselling foundations.

The Luminous Lifting Cushion Foundation SPF 20 + Refill in Warm Vanilla ($120) – This cushion in Warm Vanilla is definitely meant for light skin with warm undertone. On my skin, I don’t find it to be very warm or too golden, but more like a subtle one. The cushion itself has the same scent as the Creme de la Mer but perhaps slightly milder. It has a really lightweight feel on the skin, to the point that it almost feels like not having anything on the face. It has has a natural to dewy finish that doesn’t make your face look flat or cakey. Also, there is no need to dip the sponge applicator that hard on the cushion because there is a lot of product in this sleek compact. Since the coverage of this foundation can go from medium to full, you only need to lightly tap the sponge applicator to your face. I really love the no-mess fuss-free application of this, and I find the finish to be very complementing on my skin, it’s kinda like a second skin that lasts the whole day without giving me any breakouts and I get lots of compliment whenever I use this cushion. Most of the feedbacks I typically get are from people saying they like the way my skin looks, or that it looks more even and almost poreless and flawless. Can you imagine? LOL! I also love the fact that it’s so easy to take this cushion to my travels and it’s perfect for a quick foundation application or a retouch. On top of that, it’s great to use as an everyday foundation for that minimal “no makeup” makeup look, and though it’s pricey, I’m glad that there’s a refill and an additional sponge applicator included in its packaging. Overall, this La Mer Luminous Lifting Cushion Foundation is definitely now in my holy grail list, but I feel like I also wanna test the Cle de Peau one which I heard is also good, and I’ll be giving you my two cents of the La Prairie Skin Caviar Essence-In Foundation (seen HERE) when compared to these two high-end cushion compacts. In fact, since I’ve been loving the cushions lately, I’ll be reviewing my favorite cushion foundations both high-end and drugstore pretty soon here on the blog. So stay tuned for that guys.

The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20 in Shell 11 (1 oz: $120) – The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation sample shade that I’ve tried several weeks ago was called Natural 12 which really fits me well, but it did kinda pull a little too warm on me, so I got the regular size in Shell 11 shade which is meant for light skin with cool undertone and this shade seems perfect on me. My skin right now tends to have a neutral to cool undertone although I can still pull a mildly warm undertone like the Warm Vanilla shade of the La Mer cushion above, it just all depends on the product’s pigment, its tendency to oxidize with time, and of course the season. So far, with these two La Mer foundations, I haven’t noticed any extreme oxidation, and if there is, it’s probably very light. So back to this Soft Fluid Foundation, I find this to be very liquidy and very light, which kinda reminds me of the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua (reviewed HERE) or the Dior Forever Perfect Foundation (seen HERE). These are the type of foundations that are weightless, set well, and almost feel like second skin. The La Mer Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation doesn’t settle into fine lines and doesn’t make you look like you packed on a ton of makeup. It has a soft luminous glow to it, kinda like a lit-from-within finish yet still very natural and the packaging is really luxurious with a heavy weighted glass material. The coverage of this foundation is medium and can be layered. I really don’t need to apply much of this on my face and I only dab a little bit of setting powder on top of it just to set the foundation well. My top favorites for setting powders are HERE. In total, I find this foundation to be very long-wearing and it stays on my face throughout the day without making it look too oily. However, this does have a weird alcohol scent blended along with its typical La Mer cream fragrance which really doesn’t seem to be so enticing to my senses, but apart from that, this foundation gives a nice youthful finish to the skin, giving you that “your skin but better” effect, blurring all the fine lines, blemishes, pores, and some other imperfections.

Final words, I love both of these foundations, but I think I may be slightly biased towards the Luminous Lifting Cushion because it’s easy for traveling and it’s perfect for a mess-free foundation application. As for the Soft Fluid, I adore its skin-perfecting effect, but the smell can be too much at times and it’s not ideal for traveling because of its heavy glass packaging. Both foundations are expensive but they’re totally worth it for their natural luminous skin effect or that effortless lit-from-within glow that lasts the whole day. They don’t slide off the face and they are definitely long-wearing. Because of these reasons, I think these foundations might be the best I’ve tried so far.

Have you tried these already? What do you think of the La Mer Makeup line in general?

The La Mer Luminous Lifting Cushion Foundation SPF 20 and The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation are currently available at Sephora, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys New York, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Harrods, Selfridges, and Net-A-Porter

Pink Jade Roller is from Amazon
Fenty Beauty Foundation Brush 110 is available HERE, reviewed HERE
An Inspired Life Book Journal is from Anthropologie
My Favorite Essie Gel Couture Nail Colors are swatched HERE