Lancôme Teint Miracle--new foundation HG!

I never thought I would love another foundation more than my Armani Lasting Silk (I have it in 4 shades), .....until now. I have been in a foundation rut, and feeling like my skin is looking a little dull. I made it a mission to find a new HG foundation.

My criteria:

1.). Want my skin to look luminous (like I'm glowing)

2.). Want medium, buildable coverage

3.). Must be oil free, but not drying

4.). Must offer shades for light/medium olive skin

5.). Must be long lasting

6.). Must NOT break out/irritate my sensitive skin

I know what you're thinking! "She's crazy if she thinks one foundation can do all that.". Crazy or not, I decided to give it a shot. I tried several, including the new Chanel Perfection Lumiere. Everything fell short on 1 or more requirements, except for one. Lancôme Teint Miracle Lit From Within Makeup is absolutely divine. I've never seen my skin look so ethereal (almost like a model's skin for a fashion show). Bye, bye dull skin! My face looks luminous and healthy, and it looks that way all day! I couldn't be more pleased!!! Teint Miracle foundation was everything I wanted and more. The color selection is amazing, and the scent is very light. I chose Beige 6, which blends in so seamlessly, that the swatch didn't even show up in a photo (which is why you don't see one). This foundation has moderate/buildable coverage, that is oil-free. It actually contains rose extract, which soothes irritated skin. I highly recommend this foundation---if you're into the whole "flawless skin" look---which I definitely am!

**Item purchased by me!

YSL Teint Resist Foundation--New HG????

I was just given a sample of YSL Teint Resist Foundation at a recent beauty event. I am SUPER picky when it comes to foundation: has to be yellow or neutral undertone (olive skin is very hard to match correctly--especially in the winter when I am light), it must be sweat and/or water-resistant, it must be transfer-resistant, long wearing, oil free, and preferably a medium coverage with a luminous matte finish. I know, I know....DIVA. Hey, I did warn you that I was picky, I mean its my face!!! So, let me get to reviewing the sample.

My sample was in shade 08 Amber (medium to deep complexions with neutral-red undertones). I actually found the undertone to be neutral, but the shade was no where near deep. I would call it medium--compares to Giorgio Armani Lasting Silk in Shade 6.5 or 7. It is a medium, satin matte finish, with a faint smell (I think it smells faintly like lemongrass--which I love). If you are sensitive to smell, it goes away after blending it in. Melts into the skin, with either a foundation brush, or fingers. It gave my face a "airbrushed" look--light, soft, radiant.

Swatched on L to R: Armani Lasting Silk in #6.5, YSL Teint Resist #08, Armani Lasing Silk #8

Armani 6.5 is the most olive, just wish they made 8.5---it would be my soul mate!!!

YSL 08 has a very neutral undertone, possibly leaning toward pink, and Armani 8 has a true neutral undertone, that has hints of yellow.

I will be "road testing these over the next few weeks, and see if my Armani's have been replaced as a HG. I have sales associates sending me samples of Armani Lasting Silk in #9, and YSL Teint Resist in 09. Once I have the proper colors, I will do one side of my face in each and go through my usual routine (work, ZUMBA, pool, gym, etc), and get back to you with the verdict. Stay tuned.........

**Samples received at a department store as part of national beauty promotion.

Waterproof Wonders 2: Estee Lauder Double-Wear Light Foundation

Alright, so this isn't technically waterproof (I have yet to find a foundation that actually is, and comes in the right shade). Estee Lauder Double-Wear Light Foundation isn't new, but it has been a staple in my cosmetic bag for the last few summers. It is a light to medium coverage foundation, it comes in 6 shades, its oil-free and fragrance-free, and gives 15 hour wear (per EL website). I apply this in the morning, then add the Hourglass Waterproof Bronzer and set it with Urban Decay All Nighter, and I'm good to go! Lasts through ZUMBA class, pool, beach, etc.

2 seems to be a good universal shade for light skin tones. I wear a 3 in the winter (light olive skin), and a 4 or 5 in the summer (tan olive skin).

**Item purchased by me.

Stila Perfect and Correct Foundation - Swatches and Review

Just saw this new Stila Perfect and Correct Foundation online and HAD to try.  This is a new foundation that is similar to their One Step Correct primer released last year.  This is a lightweight foundation that offers build-able coverage but has unique ingredients to benefit your skin.  

From Sephora: Combining an advanced emollient system to hydrate and moisturize the skin, a unique multimineral complex, and an array of skin-soothing ingredients, Perfect and Correct delivers a luxurious, high-performance, and high-definition foundation. Infused with Stila's exclusive Youth Revival Bio-Available Mineral Complex™, Perfect and Correct reads and reacts to the skin's needs and targets skin imperfections to correct them. 

Sounds really good! Plus I love the swirled look of the foundation.  It comes in 8 shades from Fair to Deep.  I am reviewing Fair which Sephora describes it as 'for porcelain to fair complexions'.

Compared with my favorite foundation above

The texture is super soft, but not heavy at all! The color looked a little too yellow for my skin tone, but decided to try on my face.  I normally have combination skin, very oily in my t-zone but also have dry patches.  I moisturized my skin like normal and applied the foundation without any primer.  The foundation just blended right into my skin.  No dry spots and provided good coverage where I need it most.  The color did not seem as yellow once I applied to my face and I didn't feel like I was wearing any makeup at all.  I set the foundation with Bare Escentuals' Mineral Veil.  I am going on 7 hours and have no break-through oiliness!

Overall, even though the color was a little yellow for my skin tone - it still applied perfectly!  I love the lightweight texture and the feeling of no makeup on.  Also, there is no need for a primer because this has it built in. This is my new favorite foundation, which is a bold comment because I am picky and haven't found anything I really like since Giorgio Armani Lasting Silk.


This was purchased by me.

Preview of Estee Lauder GWP at Nordstrom

A-MAZING! Estee Lauder fans, here is a preview of their amazing GWP event, at Nordstrom.

This promo starts April 14, but if you pre-order, you get so much more!!

So, if you spend over $32.50, you will receive a cute floral cosmetic bag, a moisturizer and eye cream (please excuse the writing on the card, my sale's associate was telling me which one is good for my skin), you get to choose your shade of Double Wear Light Foundation--one of my HG's for summer!, and you also get to choose a lipstick shade and eye palette. If you spend over $60.00, you get an additional cosmetic bag, a mascara sample, a black Eye Pencil, Gentle Eye Makeup Remover, and your shade of Double Wear Concealer. All this alone is a really great deal, especially if you wear Double Wear. If you pre-order, you also get one free additional gift item, so I choose a second Double Wear Foundation. This is a great chance to try some of the new Pure Color Lipstick shades (which are so gorgeous). Have I mentioned how much I LOVE GWP events at Nordstrom! Check back in April for more photos of the GWP and my new Lip Colors!!

GWP selections may vary between stores. This GWP event info is from Nordstrom at the Streets of Southpoint, Durham, NC.

TEMPTU Airbrush Makeup & Armani Lasting Silk - Reviews and Swatches

We recently received an e-mail requesting more posts about foundation. I know Laura tried a new one this past week, without much luck, so I thought I would share my foundation Holy Grails! I want to start by explaining that I have sensitive skin, which is light to medium olive in the winter and very tan in the summer. There are 2 foundations that I wear on a regular basis, 1 that I wear in summer, and that's it! (Sadly, these are all very pricey, as "drugstore" brands don't seem to understand that some of us have yellow undertones).

My absolute HG foundation is the TEMPTU Airbrush system. It gives flawless, professional airbrushed results, but at home! The AirPod foundation goes on the skin so perfectly, its virtually undetectable. This makeup makes me look like I have great, glowing skin (instead of great foundation). It looks like me, only better! This foundation sprays on, its water-resistant, and last all day and night. They make RETOUCH products, but I haven't tried them, because I never have to touch-up (I put it on at 7:00am, work an 8 hour day, then teach an hour of high-intensity Zumba, and its still on, until I wash it off). I know some of you are thinking that it sounds too good to be true, but beauty does come at a cost. The system is $225, and 2 refill pods are $55. Each pod last me about 2-3 months (or more). I know some of you think this is CRAZY, but it is truly worth the investment!! I recommend getting a demo at your local Sephora, and then begging for this as a birthday, anniversary, Christmas, Hanukkah, graduation, wedding, etc., gift. You're worth it!

I did not photo swatches of this, because you literally can't even see the foundation once sprayed on. It really does "disappear" into the skin. Below L to R: new AIR pod bronzer (amazing, warm tan--so lovely), blush #402 Soft Peach, AIR pod foundation in #6 in warm beige. Bronzer $35 and blush $30 . The bronzer is a must have!!

My second HG is Armani Lasting Silk UV Foundation SPF 20. This was my all time fave, until the TEMPTU. Lasting Silk gives a lovely, natural-matte finish, light to medium coverage, and is very long lasting. It will hold up on a hot, humid day (wore it all day at Disney World in 90 degree weather, and didn't look like a hot mess in the photos!). I wear a mixture of#5.5 and #6.5 in the winter, but go as dark as #8 in the summer. Laura also wears this foundation, and is a #4. My mom and sister are both fair, with blond hair and blue eyes, and they wear #5. I have pretty much gotten everyone I know addicted to this stuff! It is so beautiful on, you'll wonder what you ever did without it!!! I still wear mine on the days I don't feel like airbrushing :) $59

Swatched L to R: #8, #7, #6.5, #5.5 - 


The last foundation I have to give a quick mention to is, Estee Lauder Double Wear Light. It has sheer, oil-controlling coverage, and last 16 hours. I don't want to give away too much, it will be featured in my Waterproof Wonders, still to come....






These items were all purchased by me.

Matchmaker Argan Serum Foundation - Review and Swatches

A foundation that color matches and contains the benefits of Argan oil? Could it be too good to be true?!  I had to find out for myself, so I picked up the Josie Maran Matchmaker Argan Serum Foundation.  Retails for about $42 USD.  It is a new foundation that contains 'chameleon' pigments that go on white and instantly adjust to your skin tone.  The formula comes in only 2 colors, light/medium and medium/dark.  I purchased the light/medium.  The foundation is infused with Argan oil, which I love the benefits of.  Read the benefits of Argan Oil here.  

The foundation starts out white (has tiny black dots in it).   The color changes once you start to rub it in. 

Ahhh! As you can see, the color is totally wrong on me!  I liked the texture of the foundation, but the "color match" didn't match at all!  I am very fair skinned and this was very yellow, almost orange.

The above photo is comparing the Josie Maran with my all-time favorite foundation, Giorgio Armani Lasting Silk in #4.  You can see how yellow and dark the Josie Maran is compared to my standard foundation.

Overall, I love the idea of this foundation.  I wish Josie Maran would create this for really fair skin tones with pink undertones, instead of yellow.  I did not apply this to my face because I knew it would not match.  I think this formula would be better for someone with darker/yellow tones.  But for me, it is going back!  Has this worked for anyone else?

This was purchased by me.