Lise Watier Teint Lumiere Luminous Foundation in 05

Oddly enough, no other types of beauty launches get me more excited than foundations. Lately, the trend in foundations has been the "second skin" look and this Spring, Lise Watier launched its new Teint Lumiere Luminous Foundation Broad Spectrum Protection SPF 15 ($39). Lise Watier says that it is infused with a Diamond  Lumiere Complex of light reflective pigments that blends into the skin to even out skin tone and bring radiance. The concept is quite similar to that of the Guerlain Meteorites Baby Glow, as the pigments are meant to alter the way light reflects when it hits the face. 

The foundation is housed in a dropper glass bottle. It's a little messy but not unmanageable. The dropper is actually quite easy to control, even given such a low viscosity foundation. One squeeze is supposedly calculated to be just the right amount of product for the entire face. For me, the dropper dispenses enough product for all over the face plus a teeny bit extra to build coverage where I need it... in essence, the perfect amount! 

There are 8 shades of the Lise Watier Teint Lumiere available. I haven't stopped by a Shoppers Drug Mart to check out the other 7 shades, so I can't say whether or not the range would suit a large variety of skin tones. I received 05 to test out. The swatch appears to be a little more tan than my current complexion but it has just the right amount of yellow pigment in it for my Asian complexion. A little deeper into the summer and the Lise Watier Teint Lumiere in 05

 will match me perfectly (YAY!!!). 

 

...and the results of the Diamond Lumiere Complex? Pretty legit. Coverage is light yet buildable to a medium that lets a sliver of imperfections peek through. The water-like consistency is extremely lightweight on the skin. It blends into the skin until it's almost undetectable. The foundation has a dewy-not-oily finish (it's oil-free) that indeed ... looks like second skin. Further, there's something about the way that this foundation reflects light off the face that makes it special. 

Its downfall? The coverage lasts around 7-8 hours on my skin (good) but oil starts to peek through on my nose and forehead at the 4th hour (bad). 

Overall, a lovely foundation - lightweight light/medium coverage, a beautifully natural finish. However, it lacks the oil controlling properties that I typically look for in a foundation, perhaps more suitable for me in the winter when I'm less of an oil slick. I predict the Lise Watier Teint Lumiere Foundation would be great for those with dry or dull skin, as the Diamond Lumiere Complex adds a nice glow to the face. 

Have you tried the Lise Watier Teint Lumiere? 

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Mary Kay Endless Performance Creme-to-Powder Foundation

There's a first for everything and new to me is cream foundation. The Mary Kay Endless Performance Creme-to-Powder Foundation ($21) is the first cream foundation I've ever laid on my face. Mary Kay says that the Endless Performance Creme-to-Powder Foundation is a long-lasting, flawless coverage foundation that's non-comedogenic and suitable for all skin types. 

The range includes an impressive 16 different shades (5 ivory shades, 6 beige shades, and 5 bronze shades). Beige 1 is decent match for me but slightly too olive. To the touch, the cream foundation is quite thick. I found that when I used a dense brush to apply the product (Real Techniques Expert Face Brush) it ended up looking a little streaky when I tried to blend it out. Personally, I preferred using my fingertips and a damp sponge for a more even coverage. 

The coverage of the Mary Kay Endless Performance Creme-to-Powder Foundation is very full, as the thickness of the cream would suggest. The product dries down to a matte powder finish but doesn't feel particularly heavy on the skin. The high coverage makes the skin appear very perfected but leaning slightly towards the unnaturally cakey side. On my nose and t-zone, the foundation broke up after 4 hours. On the rest of my face, it stayed looking good for ~10 hours. 

Overall, I'm not a fan of this foundation. Firstly, I'm not a fan of such a heavy coverage. Secondly, I'd expect that something marketed as a cream to powder should be quite long-wearing, even on the oiliest areas of the skin. This may work better for you if your skin is less of an oil slick than my own. I'll be sticking to my liquid and powder foundations for now. 

Do you have a cream-to-powder foundation that you love? 

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Maybelline Dream Wonder Fluid Touch Foundation in 40 Nude

If I had to describe the Maybelline Dream Wonder Fluid Touch Foundation ($9.99) in one word I'd say strange. Strange in the best way possible. I had heard a lot about the Dream Wonder Fluid Touch but I wouldn't have tried it out myself. I entered a Beautezine contest on a whim and ended up getting the opportunity to test a bottle out! 

Eyeballling my shade match, I chose 40 Nude. There's a solid 12 shades to choose from. Nude was a good guess but not perfect. It's slightly orange for my complexion but since the foundation itself isn't too high-coverage it blends into my skin without looking weird. The shade would better suit me in the summer. 

Back to my thing about the strangeness of this foundation. 

(1) the applicator. It's a plastic wand with a teardrop tip. The teardrop part is also a hard plastic. You're meant to dip into the product and then dispense some on your fingertips with the wand.

(2) the formula. I guess Fluid Touch is a good way to describe the consistency of the foundation. You shake it shake it shake it like a polaroid picture until the watery bits mix with the coloured bits. When you dispense onto your hand the product lacks any thickness/viscosity that a normal liquid foundation usually has. It's watery like a fluid and feels slightly oily on the skin. 

As for how it actually looks on my face - stellar and not at all strange. The liquid texture dries down to a satin matte but not too matte finish. The coverage is light and can be built up to full in specific areas without looking cakey. To the touch, the finish feels soft, almost like a finely milled powder. The bad part about this is that it emphasizes dry patches i.e. my nose and the pores on  my nose. Thus, the foundation looks good everywhere except my nose. Staying power is great - all day 6-8 hour wear. Though, I'm curious as to how this might hold up in the summer since I'm not particularly active or sweaty at the moment. 

Overall, a strange texture that yields natural, even coverage skin. I'm impressed with this drugstore foundation and happy that I got the opportunity to review it! 

Have you tried the Maybelline Dream Wonder Fluid Touch Foundation? 

Product received as giveaway prize! 

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Almay Smart Shade Skintone Matching Makeup in 200 Light/Medium

This foundation review has been a long time coming. I wanted to test out the true "skintone matching" abilities of the Almay Smart Shade Skintone Matching Makeup in 200 Light/Medium ($16.99) in multiple seasons (mainly winter and summer). 

The Smart Shade concept is pretty cool. The product comes out of the tube as a white liquid with beads of pigment and as you work the product into your face, the beads break and the pigment is released into the white lotion. 

I love sunshine, so I get quite yellowy and tan in the summertime. Thus, Light/Medium was too pale from June to September. For the winter (above photo), it's a perfect match. This just goes to show that the "skintone matching" wasn't quite as successful as I'd hoped it would be. However, all is forgiven, as it matches my winter skintone and generally works well as a foundation. 

The Almay Smart Shade Foundation is light coverage. It evens out the complexion, hiding acne scarring, but doesn't quite conceal my ultra-red problem areas. The finish of the foundation isn't matte or dewy, just skin-like. The foundation lasts 5 hours without powder, which isn't optimal, but it's a nice SPF for better skin days. 

Have you ever tried the Almay Smart Shade Makeup? Did it match you properly? 

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Guerlain Meteorites Baby Glow Sheer Makeup

Correct me if I'm wrong, every woman's dream is to have skin as soft as a baby's bottom. In it's Spring Colour Collection 2015, Guerlain has released a sheer foundation that looks to provide users with plumped, glowing baby skin. The Guerlain Meteorites Baby Glow Sheer Makeup ($60, available January 15th, 2015) is a foundation that contains the iconic Guerlain Meteorites but melted into a liquid that transforms light that is invisible to the naked eye into a endless glow on the skin. 

The Guerlain Meteorites Baby Glow Sheer Makeup has 6 claims: 

• light-revealing
• unifying
• smoothing
• refreshing
• replenishing
• youth-protective 

Now is the perfect time to test out foundations, as my skin isn't in its best shape. The foundation does, in fact ,make my skin look smooth, refreshed and replenished. Perhaps it isn't comparable to that of a baby's bottom, but it comes pretty darn close. I would agree with all 6 of the claims, as the appearance of the makeup is very flattering. It's definitely glowy but not by any means dewy or oily-looking. 

In addition to the 6 claims, there is a perfume-like scent that I find to be quite pleasant and wears away after the foundation is blended in. The texture of the foundation is quite thin and liquid, and blends and sets quickly on the skin. The foundation has medium, buildable coverage (the word sheer is deceiving) that is a natural satin matte. The Baby Glow lasts for an impressive 8-9 hours with a light dusting of powder. 

The Guerlain Meteorites Baby Glow Light-revealing Sheer Makeup is available in 3 "fresh and rosy-beige" shades to match with the 3 shades of the iconic Guerlain Meteorites - 2 Light, 3 Medium, and 4 Golden. In general, this is not an impressive range of colours for women of all colours but better suited to those with light to medium skintones. Swatched above are 2 Light and 3 Medium. For my current skintone, 2 Light is a tad too pale while 3 Medium is slightly too tan. A pump of each yields a shade match optimal for my winter skin.  

All in all, I'm above and beyond impressed by the Guerlain Meteorites Baby Glow Sheer Makeup. It's not at all sheer but it does provide the type of coverage and natural finish that I love for everyday wear.

What do you think of the Guerlain Meteorites Baby Glow Sheer Makeup? Do you want baby skin? 

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CoverGirl + Olay FaceLift Effect Firming Makeup and the De-Puffer Concealer in 340 Light/Medium

Not that I'll actually need a facelift anytime time soon (I'm only 20, gosh darn it!) but it's always interesting to try makeup products that claim to do so. The CoverGirl + Olay Facelift Effect Firming Makeup (foundation) ($16.99-18.99) claims to provide "luxurious, flawless coverage combined with the powerful hydrating effects of a night cream". Alongside the foundation, I've been testing out a product that's a little more age appropriate, the CoverGirl + Olay The De-Puffer. 

The packaging? For the foundation - a glass-tic (looks like glass...is actually plastic) pot that I highly dislike, as it leaves me with one of two options: (1) get foundation all up in your nails (2) purchase a foundation spoon. The concealer is housed in a hygienic tube with a cooling tip applicator (I'm going to dare to compare the tip to the likes of the Marc Jacobs Remedy Concealer Pen...). 

The CoverGirl + Olay Facelift Effect Firming Makeup comes in 4 shades (fair, light, light/medium, medium) and the Covergirl + Olay the De-Puffer Concealer is available in 6 (fair, fair/light, light, light/medium/medium, medium/deep). 

< CoverGirl + Olay Facelift Effect Firming Makeup // Light/Medium >

The Facelift Effect Firming Makeup provides a natural, glowy finish. The product contains "skin brighteners", light-reflecting pearls that create a warming effect and luminosity to the skin. I can definitely see the brightening effect come through. Lasting power is average at 5 hours of wear-time, though it wears away nicely (no weird patches). The colour match is a little light but nothing that can't be fixed with a little bronzer. As for the skincare and "facelift" benefits, this product is too hydrating for my skin. I don't typically break out from face products but after two days of wear, I broke out on my cheeks.

< CoverGirl + Olay the De-Puffer Concealer // 340 Light/Medium >

I'm already in love with this concealer because of the applicator. It reminds me of one of those rollerball metal eye cream applicators that help to de-puff your eyes. This is part of the Power of 3 that CoverGirl/Olay claims in terms of this product. The other two aspects are a serum containing cucumber extract to soothe the undereyes and a slightly warmer shade (compared to a foundation) to counteract dark circles. I can't confirm the former but I agree with the latter (see swatches below!). The concealer is very thin and light coverage and dries down to a semi-matte finish. Staying power is comparable to that of the Firming Makeup at 5 hours. Due to lack of coverage that this product provides, I would only suggest this product for the eyes, as that's the area that it targets. 

Left to Right: CoverGirl + Olay FaceLift Firming Makeup; the De-Puffer Concealer in 340 Light/Medium 

Overall, I love the effect that both these products provide. It's such a shame that the firming makeup broke me out but I'll continue to use the CoverGirl + Olay the De-Puffer for the awesome cooling metal tip! 

Do you use products that aren't targeted to your age group? 

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CoverGirl Ready Set Gorgeous Foundation in 120 Nude Beige and Concealer in 305/310 Medium/Deep

It seems as though CoverGirl is continually launching new face products and I'm always testing something or other CoverGirl base products out (see TruBlend, Outlast 3-in-1, Whipped Clean Cream). Latest from CoverGirl is the Ready Set Gorgeous Foundation (~$7.99) and Concealer (~$5.99). 

THE CLAIMS

• FOUNDATION - "One simple step for a flawless, natural look that lasts all day. The formula blends easily to even skin tone and reduces shine all day - oil free, won't clog pores, suitable for sensitive skin, lasts all day."
• CONCEALER - "Get insta-gorgeous with Ready Set Gorgeous! The oil-free concealer helps cover up imperfections and dark circles instantly. The lightweight formula blends easily for all day coverage."

The packaging is a little juvenile for my tastes - pink and youthful. The foundation is housed in a plastic squeeze tube, which, believe it or not, is quite hygienic. On the other hand, perfect hygiene is not the case due to the doe foot applicator of the Ready Set Gorgeous Concealer.

Okay, so first thing's first. Neither the Ready Set Gorgeous Foundation in 120 Nude Beige nor the Ready  Set Gorgeous Concealer in Medium/Deep were chosen by me for myself. 120 Nude Beige is ridiculously pale on me (i.e. it won't match me in the Winter). Of the 12 shades available, Nude Beige is not the one. However, the Concealer in 305/310 Medium/Deep is perfect. I don't know how a person who is actually 305/310 Medium/Deep will be able wear this. I think it's safe to say that if you're a couple shades darker than me, go for 315/220 Deep. 

The foundation is medium coverage with a matte finish and not particularly blendable. Although it's lightweight (as per the claims) I feel as though the product sits atop my skin rather than warming up to my skin and melding into it. If you're not careful, you'll get some visible streak marks. The foundation does keep oil at bay for up to 5 hours but it doesn't adhere to the skin well, so white t-shirts beware. 

As for the concealer, it's also quite lightweight and blends in quite flawlessly. The shade is just right for both my undereyes and atop blemishes. It's not amazing for covering up large areas of redness or blemishes but if you're just looking to even out your skintone a little for a "no-makeup-makeup-look" then this is perfect. Unlike the foundation, the coverage of the Ready Set Gorgeous Concealer lasts all day. 

Overall, I'd pass on the Ready Set Gorgeous Foundation and just stick with the Concealer instead. There's also a Ready Set Gorgeous Pressed Powder Foundation, which is quite intriguing, so if you've tried that let me know what you think! 

Have you tried the CoverGirl Ready Set Gorgeous line? 

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Revisiting the CoverGirl TruBlend Foundation in m3 Golden Beige

Constant makeup struggle - foundation matching. When CoverGirl came out with a whole new range of foundation colours I got super excited. At the time, I didn't get the right colour but to my surprise in a brand spankin new bottle of a possible match came in the mail. Here's how it went... 

Remember my oompa loompa experience and review of the CoverGirl TruBlend Foundation in m4 Sand Beige? 

The new colour (m3 Golden Beige) is a much better fit! YAY. 

This time around, the colour matches well enough that I don't mind wearing it around all day. It's actually lighter than the colour of my face but definitely matches the rest of my my body to a T (which means that there was no way that M4 Sand Beige would ever work). The verdict? It's a pretty decent foundation - medium coverage with a natural (not dewy) finish. It's easy to apply with fingers or a brush and lasts about 5 hours on my summer skin (extra sweaty and oily... yumm). This won't be my go-to foundation around this particular time of year, but come winter/fall, it will be a nice pick-me-up for dryer skin. 

Have you tried the CoverGirl TruBlend Foundation? 

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The Body Shop Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream in Medium

Tea tree oil is the natural alternative to harsh chemical acne treatments. Now here's an ingenious thought, mix little tea tree oil into some BB cream and you get the skin-evening of a foundation product with the blemish-fighting properties of tea tree oil aka the The Body Shop Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream ($15, available July 2014). 

The bottle appears to be tiny ("fun size"). In actuality, a regular sized foundation is 30 mL or 1 fl. oz. So, in fact, the 40 mL Body Shop Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream contains more product for approximately the same price as a drugstore foundation (in Canada).  The shade range isn't amazing but at least there's options - light, medium, and dark. 

For a couple years, I've been using tea tree oil as a spot treatment. I'm also a huge fan of The Body Shop Tea Tree Exfoliating Wash. For the most part, tea tree is a disinfectant. The antibacterial properties are then, in turn, meant to prevent and heal blemishes. As for the blemish-clearing and preventing of the Body Shop Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream, it seems to be working. I've been using the Body Shop Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream about every other day for the past couple weeks. I've had blemishes (due to a special time of the month) but they've cleared up quite quickly. I'm sure that's the tea tree doing its job. 

The Body Shop Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream has two simple claims - "instantly spotless-looking skin" and "natural-looking shine-free coverage". Luckily, it delivers. The coverage is slightly heavier than just light, sheer, and non-existent. The product evens out the redness on my nose and the acne-scarring around my mouth. The product itself is extremely thin and feels like nothing on the face. It's easy to smooth out, even in dry areas such as my nose. 

The finish is natural but not completely shine-free. At the beginning of the day, I need to apply powder to my nose and t-zone and the BB cream will last up to 7 hours. The colour "Medium" is slightly too tan for me but I'm in the spring-summer transition, so hopefully within the next few weeks it will be the perfect match! ...The only thing that's missing is the SPF! Sun protection, where are you? 

Overall, I really like this BB cream, certainly more so than the others that I've reviewed previously (RoC, Biotherm Aquasource, Rimmel, and Lioele). It's a decent colour match and a natural looking finish. Plus, with the added ingredient that is blemish-treating tea tree oil, I'm quite enjoying slathering this stuff all over my face on the daily. 

Do you use tea tree oil in your skincare routine? 

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RoC Retin-Ox Corrextion BB Cream in Fair to Light

Warmer weather calls for lighter coverage bases, so I've been testing out a new product from RoC - the RetinOx Corerexion 5 in 1 Skin Perfector BB Cream in Fair to Light ($39 at drugstores). RoC is a French pharmacy brand owned by Johnson & Johnson that focuses its products on anti-aging and the use of Retinol (vitamin A) to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Believe it or not, this BB cream is the first of its kind containing the anti-aging ingredient Retinol! While I don't think I need anti-aging skincare products just yet, it's never too early to start preventing all that stuff, right? 

Typical of BB Creams, the RoC Retin-Ox Correction has 5 specific claims to greatness: 

• fights the look of lines and wrinkles
• reduces the appearance of dark spots
• smooths uneven texture
• brightens skin tone
• moisturizes instantly

The colour Fair to Light is just about right for my light-medium complexion. Even though Fair to Light is currently the only shade available, due to the sheerness the one and only shade would cover off a fair range of skintones. 

Unlike other BB creams, the RoC Retin-Ox Correction does not have a dewy finish. When applied, it simply feels like a lightweight moisturizer. It sinks into the skin, more like a skincare product than makeup. Due to the lightweighted nature, I find that of what coverage there is, it doesn't last very long. After 2 hours, I begin to see redness on and around my nose and oil starts to peek through. 

While I can't say much about fine lines and wrinkles claims (there's not much to fight...yet), the skin smoothing and evening properties are there. I'd say that this BB cream is 80% skincare and 20% makeup as the coverage is extremely sheer and not buildable. In comparison to other BBs and CCs, it's fuller coverage than the Olay CC Cream, less than the Biotherm Aquasource BB Cream, and significantly less than the Rimmel BB Cream. 

While I find this product too sheer to wear on a daily basis, it works well underneath a little concealer under the eyes and powder on the t-zone with added benefit of Retinol. 

Have you ever tried products with Retinol? 

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Mamonde Real Skin Founder in 02 Natural Beige

Most foundations I've tried and enjoyed previously fall along the lines of (1) sheer, lightweight BB cream or (2) super flawless matte foundation. The Mamonde Real Skin Founder in 02 Natural Beige ($27.99 on ibuybeauti.com) is somewhere in between the two. Apparently this product is all the rage in Korea, so I thought it might be nice to see what the hype is about. 

So, what the heck is a "skin founder"? Well, here's a little word math for you... Foundation + Powder = Founder... and the Mamond Real Skin Founder is born! The thin coverage of a foundation, and the lasting power of powder. According to Mamonde the Real Skin Founder contains Edelweiss, gold and pearl extracts for a soft, glowy radiance. 

The product comes in a large, bulky yet sleek-looking, refillable compact similar to the likes of the Face Shop Screen Cell Cushion. It also comes with a sponge-puff for easy application. The only difference between the two is that the Skin Founder is not a cushion foundation. Instead, it's more along the lines of a compact cream. 

The Mamonde Real Skin Founder is available in 2 shades - 01 Light Beige (for NC15 to NC25) and 02 Natural Beige (for NC25 to NC35). Unfortunately, 02 Natural Beige is the correct undertone but appears to be slightly light. This foundation shade is much better suited for me in the winter. 

There's a light "skincare" scent to the product, which is only noticeable during application. From there, it's scent-free and hasn't broken me out thus far. 

In terms of results, I'll start off by saying this stuff makes my skin look like I woke up flawless. It makes my skin look near-perfect and naturally so. It's medium and buildable to full coverage with a very slight radiant finish. The lightweight creamy texture is very easy to apply, as it smooths over the dry patches on my nose but at the same time, it doesn't appear to be overly dewy or wet. 

The only gripe I have of this product is that it doesn't wear away gracefully. After 6 hours, the foundation breaks up and begins to look patchy on my nose and forehead. It's not what I expected considering the beautiful, radiant finish that it gives my skin immediately after application. I guess I'm just super oily. 

Overall, the Mamonde Real Skin Founder is very unique in texture and formulation, definitely the kind of product I haven't seen this from other brands. My only wish is that it would stick around for just a few hours longer on my skin. Though this one isn't for me, I can see why there's so much hype around the product. I'm sure it will make someone with dry or normal skin very happy! 

Would you try the Mamonde Real Skin Founder? 

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Biotherm Aquasource BB Cream in Fair to Medium

I don't think I'm sure what BB is supposed to be anymore. "BB" stands for beauty balm (I think...), which could mean a plethora of things. In the case of the Biotherm Aquasource BB Cream in Fair to Medium ($37), it's Instant Beautifying Moisturizer (in other words, skincare's fancy lingo for "tinted moisturizer"). Despite my confusion, I have come to enjoy this product. It feels weird to say so because lately I've been preaching the matte look - intense coverage with no glow in sight... but warmer weather is here and I'd rather not sweat my face off under a pancake layer of foundation. Instead, I find myself reaching for skincare/makeup hybrid products like this one. 

The Pure Thermal Planktons make a comeback in this product and like the others in the Aquasource line, the BB cream is similarly hydrating, lightweight, and illuminance-boosting. Not different from other BB's far and wide, Biotherm's has 7 claims: 

1. Hydrates up to 5 layers of the epidermis 
2. Evens 
3. Illuminates 
4. Corrects 
5. Smoothes 
6. Protects (SPF 15)
7. Perfects

Believe it or not - in one way or another, the Biotherm Aquasource BB Cream delivers on every single one of these fronts to some degree. The product is very hydrating and adds a"lit-from-within" kind of radiance. It's dewy but in such a subdued way that I don't mind. As for the coverage, it's very light but smooths over acne scars and the redness on my nose without concealing it all together. My under eyes could use a bit more coverage but after that, I'm confident about wearing this product on its own. 

There are two shade ranges - Fair to Medium and Medium to Gold. The colour match of "Fair to Medium" is not important because the BB cream is so sheer that it doesn't really matter. As far as I can tell, it's a good fit. 

There are no oil-control or long-wearing claims because this isn't that kind of product. However, those two are my biggest concerns when it comes to base products so they should be discussed. By the 3rd or 4th hour, my T-zone definitely needs a little pressed powder or blotting sheets. The correcting and perfecting qualities last, at most, 5 hours, but it wears away well without weird separating or dry patches.

Obviously, this product would be better suited for someone with normal or dry skin and minor imperfections, but it's workable, even for those with oilier skin. 

Overall, I'd say that this product is 60% skincare and 40% . With a little blending, the BB cream almost immediately disappears into the skin like a moisturizer for a fresh no-makeup-makeup look. If you're looking for something with a bit of coverage and lots of hydration and skincare benefits, give the Biotherm Aquasource BB Cream a shot.

Also, if you're interested in how I match this BB cream with other products for a fresh-faced look, check out my post on the Fashion Magazine Beauty Panel. 

Do you prefer light or heavy coverage foundations in the Spring? 

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The Face Shop Cushion Screen Cell Foundation in 02 Natural Beige

I'm embracing my "Asian" side by trying something from all the way across the ocean. The Face Shop Cushion Screen Cell [Foundation] SPF 50+ PA+++ ($23.99 on ibuybeauti.com) is my attempt at venturing into parts unknown. Yes... the cushion foundation is popular in Korea, but the screen cushion is even more new and innovative. 

What is a cushion foundation? Instead of bottled packaging, the product is soaked in a cushion compact. You're meant to press a puff onto the sponge and then use the sponge to apply foundation to your face.Supposedly, the cushion creates a more natural, even coverage on the skin. 

Like a little child playing with lego, I took apart the pieces of The Face Shop Cushion Screen Cell. Essentially it's made up of 5 parts. (1) a large, bulky compact with mirror, which houses all the other pieces (2) a puff applicator (3) the "sponge"/cushion (4) the screen (5) the screen holder. The difference between the Face Shop Cushion Screen Cell and your ordinary cushion foundation is this - the 0.028 mm screen almost filters the liquid foundation so a lesser amount of the product on the puff applicator for a more delicate finish. 

The product housed inside the foundation makes 5 specific claims - coverage, sun protection, whitening, anti-wrinkle, and moisturizing. In my experience, I found the Face Shop Cushion Screen Cell to be medium buildable coverage and smooths over imperfections without emphasizing dry patches. The finish is extremely dewy and almost gives a "wet" look to the skin. The product feels lightweight on the skin (as expected of dewy finish products). Wear time is about 5 to 6 hours on my oily face. 

Natural Beige can mean many different things. In the case of the Face Shop, natural beige is the darkest colour and still too light for me. Even worse, since it contains SPF, there's a lot of flashback in photos. 

Overall, I'm not a fan of this product, as it's not suited to my skin type at all. It gives me the classic dewy, healthy, perfect Asian skin look, but it doesn't last for long and the colour is way too light. I can't say much about the skincare claims, but the suncare seems to work just fine. The Face Shop Cushion Screen Cell is best suited for those who are dry to normal skin types and looking for a lightweight dewy-finish foundation. 

Want to read more about the Face Shop Cushion Screen Cell Foundation? - Check out my in-depth review on Beautifan.com

Have you tried cushion foundation?

Press sample featured. I received this product as a contributor to the Beautifan blog. Check it out here. 

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Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation in Soft Beige and Stay Matte Primer

When it comes to foundations, "matte" is my buzzword. Any indication that a foundation is matte has me running to the nearest store to swatch and smother all over my oily-skinned face . The Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation ($5.99) is one of those products. In addition to its mattifying claims, it's also supposed to be oil-free and ultra-light weight (hence being called a "mousse"). 

Also a new release from the Rimmel Stay Matte range is the Stay Matte Primer. Since I'm quite oil prone, I opted to pair the primer and foundation together in the hopes of aiding my complexion in staying matte for longer. 

 Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation in 091 Light Ivory, 100 Ivory, 200 Soft Beige, and Primer

The Stay Matte Foundation comes in 8 shades - Light Porcelain, Ivory, Light Ivory, True Ivory, Soft Beige, Classic Beige, True Beige, and Sand. I received 091 Light Ivory, 100 Ivory, 200 Soft Beige to test out. Obviously, Light Ivory and Ivory were way too light for me, but Soft Beige (5th from the lightest) has proven to be a good match. 

My first thought when applying this foundation was something along the lines of... "Holy shitake mushrooms. Coverage. Woah." If the Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation is anything, it's ultra high-coverage. Yes, it 100% covers all the flaws on my skin. But it's also high-coverage as in... it doesn't look natural at all and there's no way I'd be wearing this foundation everyday. 

Also true to its claims, the foundation is very light-weight. Surprisingly so, since it 100% covers every single thing on my face. When applying, it feels super soft and airy. Though, it dries quite quickly so either you can work very quickly or use a damp sponge to make the product more workable. 

As for the matte effect, the shine control of Rimmel's Stay Matte is unmatched by my current favourite CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1. The CoverGirl foundation coverage itself lasts 10 hours long but areas around my forehead and t-zone start to get a little oily at the 6 hour mark. This doesn't happen with the Stay Matte. 

The Rimmel Stay Matte Primer ($6.99) seems to be a drugstore dupe for something along the lines of the Bioderma Pore Refiner. The only differences are (1) the lesser price and (2) the slightly weightier texture (3) Rimmel's Stay Matte Primer can be worn over or under makeup. I prefer to wear this over exclusively over liquid foundations because I like the way Bioderma feels directly on my skin. Also, the Rimmel Stay Matte Primer does move my foundation a little when applied overtop but it's nothing that can't be fixed with a light coverage powder. For extra oil-prevention, I  make a product sandwich on my face. A layer of the Bioderma Pore Refiner, then foundation, then the Rimmel Stay Matte Primer and lastly a light dusting of powder. Lately, the sandwich has been my trusty go-to oil-fighting power squad that lasts me a full 12 hour day. 

All in all, both the Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation and the Rimmel Stay Matte Primer are impressive products for a fraction of the price of a similar something you might find at Sephora. Although the Stay Matte Foundation is a bit too heavy coverage for everyday makeup, it's perfect for special occasions and it photographs like a dream. 

Do you like matte or dewy foundations? Do you use a primer? 

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Rimmel BB Cream Matte in 001 Light

I am a firm hater of BB creams. From Garnier and Physicians Formula to Lioele, I haven't tried a single BB cream that I can bear to wear on my face. Asian BB creams are thick and grey-toned, while their North American counterparts are like tinted moisturizers - ultra sheer and too dewy for those with oily skin. The Rimmel BB Cream Matte in 001 Light ($6.99) falls somewhere in between - matte, medium-coverage but still lightweight. 

The Rimmel BB Cream Matte is available in two shades (light and medium). It claims to be a 9-in-1 "perfecting super makeup with a natural matte finish". Yep, that's a ton of promises to be made by a single, drugstore product. As I wore this product for a week, I kept those 9 claims in the back of my mind.

Since this is an oil-free product, the formula is quite watery. This makes for a more lightweight product. The colour "Light" is a tad too light, but it's nothing that can't be fixed with a bit of bronzer or darker powder around edges of my face. I would probably go for medium once I finish my little sample tube up. 

 On the basis of the 9 claims, here's how the product performed: 

1. Pore minimizing - no, not really
2. Skin tone evening - yes, for sure! My skin is a little discoloured in certain areas and the medium-coverage of this BB cream definitely evens it out. 
3. Mattifying - yes, yes, yes! I dislike the traditionally dewy finish of BB creams. Rimmel's is definitely matte and in the best way possible. It's more of a satin, matte finish rather than a drying matte. After it sets into the skin, the product gives off a subtle healthy glow. 
4. Shine control - yes. This goes hand in hand with the "mattifying" claim. The shine control lasts around 5 hours on it's own. Apply on top of a primer and under powder, and you're golden for the entirety of a 10 hour day. 
5. Smoothing - yes
6. Soothing - not that I'm aware of... 
7. Concealing (of dark circles) - kind of... in general, the coverage is buildable to medium. My dark circles still require a brightening concealer and larger red blemishes still need a more heavy-duty product to cover them up. 
8. Blemish preventing - yes, in the sense that it hasn't broken me out. I guess I can't really tell if it "prevents", but my skin's been pretty good lately. 
9. All day coverage - see my comments under "Shine control". Yep! It lasts all-day as long as it's in conjunction with other products. 

6.5 of the 9 claims were fulfilled. By far, it's the best BB cream that I've tried and a great tangent from some of the heavier foundations that I like to wear on a daily basis. The Rimmel BB Cream Matte offers the coverage and mattifying effect of a foundation but the weightlessness and healthy glow of a BB cream that's perfect for my oily skin. 

Have you ever encountered a matte BB cream? 

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