Hi guys! I actually still have really bad acne scarring even though I don’t have acne anymore. When I don’t have any makeup on at all it still looks like I have acne because I have so many red scars on my face. So what I use to cover it all up? A cream foundation, I change up my foundation every now and then. You guys have probably heard me rant and rave about the Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation before. I only owned a tube once which was given to me as a present from a friend. But it completely covers up my acne scars. It leaves my skin looking totally smooth and flawless. Laura Mercier foundation is a bit pricey though, so I suggest looking for a foundation that’s “full coverage” when you are shopping for something to cover up your acne scarring. There are plenty of inexpensive drugstore brands that will give you a similar finish. I strongly suggest “full coverage” if you are someone whose like “Oh, since I don’t have acne anymore-just some leftover scarring-I’ll just use a tinted moisturizer or a powder foundation. ” But don’t think that way if you have have got scarring. In the end, you are still trying to cover something up (the scars), so definitely go with something “full coverage.”

I absolutely loved and lived off of the Dream Matte Mousse by Maybelline when I was younger and I had really bad acne. It actually made my acne worse so I would just make sure to test it out and see if it works for you. The chances of it breaking you out are pretty unlikely, but I just want to let you guys know that I actually stopped using it because it was breaking me out. Needless to say, I loved it and I used it for probably 3 years. So if the Laura Mercier is a out of your price-range, I recommend testing out the Dream Matte Mousse.

Basically, as long as you are using a “full coverage” foundation in addition to your setting powder and your typical concealer routine, you should be able to mask your acne scars fairly easily.

Do you use a great “full coverage” foundation? If so, what do you use? Also, don’t forget to follow me on my blog.

Hey Everyone! Today I am going to teach you how to apply all three different types of foundation, By the time you are done reading this blog you will be an expert and will know how to get a beautiful, flawless finish!

If you are using liquid foundation ….. Use a Mac 187 brush ( the sigma ss187 is a good dupe) or a classic Mac 190 foundation brush. I personally like the coverage the 190 gives you but I find that the bristles have too mush fall out and they end up on my face. When applying, lightly brush with the grain of your skin. Focus on areas around the corners of your eyes, nose and chin.

If you are using a powder foundation … Use a Mac 134 brush (the Leow-Cornell 1″ Maxine’s Mop is a perfect dupe) and work the foundation onto your skin in small circular motions until your face is covered.

If you are using cream foundation ….. Use a sponge or a Mac 190 brush, If you use a sponge, just be sure to wet it first so the sponge doesn’t absorb all the products. Then pat the foundation onto your skin in quick, light motions until you reach your desired coverage.

You guys already know that I am a Laura Mercier foundation devotee, but I want to know what type you use!

Tell me about your favorite foundation in the comments below. If you found any good drugstore dupes for the Laura Mercier foundation, tell me about those too! And don’t forget to follow me on my blog!

SPF 55? Wow, that is intense.  So take that as what you will … If you’re someone who likes really high SPF’s because you have fair skin and burn easily, this might be the perfect foundation for you.  But if you’re someone who stays away from high SPF’s because of the issues with flash photography, then you might hate this.  But whatever the case, you don’t need to wear a sunscreen or a moisturizer with SPF when you wear this or you’ll have SPF 1000.

As you can see, this is a thick compact that has 2 compartments, just like normal powders or cream foundations with the sponge beneath the product.  But what is weird is that it opens on opposite sides rather than  the normal compact.  You have to open the compact to the left to get the foundation, but then open a separate area to the right to get the sponge. I don’t know if I explained that well, but its weird to me.  I bought the lightest shade in the line and you can see it leans more to the yellow tone.  That almost seems a little weird to me, because I always though people who have the fairest skin normally have more pink than yellow in their skin.

Pros:  I like the coverage of this foundation.  It has a medium to light coverage, similar to other Healthy Skin Foundations I’ve tried, but its really really buildable.  Also, it has a natural finish right after application.  When I’m done applying this, it looks like my skin but better, and gives that dewy look of a lot of other Healthy Skin Foundations.  It also wears nicely too! I found that it will last on my skin and about hour 8 or 9 I’ll notice it starting to fade. I’m indifferent about the high SPF.  Its a great quality and a great option to have in a foundation and I’m not one that takes too many pictures at night for it to be an issue.

Cons:  I don’t know if it was this foundation or my previous foundation but my skin is beyond dry at the moment.  I have normal to dry skin that is a little acne prone, but all winter my skin has been normal to combination.  I just took it as a growing up, body changing, hormone thing.  But when I switched from using my Revlon Color Stay to this foundation, my skin became so dry! I don’t know if it was the Color Stay that made me more oily or if it was this foundation that made me really dry.  But after switching my skin began getting dry, flaky and also I got more pimples than normal.

I don’t know if this made me break out or if it was the switch over but I have a huge pimple on my cheek and a few more in areas that I never ever break out.  So not only is my skin flaking all over, in areas I never used to flake before, but I have a huge massive pimple and other little spots.  Like I said, I don’t know for sure if its this foundation, but its the only thing I switched in my routine, so take that as you will.

Also, this was a nightmare to blend.  I first tried using a brush and it would take me forever to blend and it never looked right.  Then I tried my fingers and it still didn’t look good.  I finally tried my Beauty Blender dupe sponge and it looked better but still not perfect.  Then I used the sponge in the compact and if I wet it first, it finally looks good! So warning girls, if you buy this, just start by using a sponge because that was the only way I could get it to blend and have it not me a nightmare.

Lastly, I’ve had this for about 3 weeks and I hit pan already.  I don’t even wear foundation every day and I hit pan! I was shocked that I went through this thing so quickly! I seriously don’t think I’ve ever used a foundation up this fast.  And I don’t even wear that much of it when I do, I try to keep it as light as a possibly can and I’m still going to use it up in just over a month.

Overall, I like the look but I would never repurchase again.  Because my skin is hella dry now, the foundation is making my flakes more apparent which makes me dislike it more.  Its good for the SPF if you like high SPF’s, and its a nice look when I first apply it but I am not willing to repurchase this every month.

Grade: D

Price: $13.99

Products:

• Cover FX Eye Prep
• Cover FX Cream Foundation
• Cover FX Radiance FX: Platinum
• Lise Watier Crayon Gloss: Passion Fuchsia

Tools:

• Cover FX 160 Brush
• Cover FX 140 Brush
• Lise Watier Definition Brush

Tips:

• illuminate bare lids with Cover FX Eye Prep and highlighter
• Keep mascara minmal, applying one clean sweep of a lengthening formula

Step by Step:

1. Prep with Cover FX Primer and Eye Prep
2. Highlight features with Cover FX Radiant FX using the 140 Brush for cheekbones and Definition Brush for nose and brow bones
3. Apply one clean  coat of lengthening mascara, such as Lise Watier Feline HD
4. Top lips with Lise Watier Crayon Gloss in Passion Fuchsia

Nail Lust!

GOSH Blue Balloon

Lise Watier Collection

Sally Hansen Gem Crush Lady Luck

essie Pink-a-Boo

Foundation (cream ) & concealer by Cle de Peau, without any primer or loose powder.

Cheek colour by SUQQU – Mukage

Eyes by Bobbi Brown Ultra Nude Eye Palette – Pink Chandelier over lower lash line, Stone over upper lash line and Champagne Truffle over upper lid folds.

Pictures above taken outdoor with natural daylight on a cloudy day, lips by Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in 68 Candeur.

FIRST THOUGHTS: “Instant lemming… thanks to Wayne Goss!”

From the website:
Celebré PRO-HD Makeup Foundation is an oil-free and fragrance-free cream makeup that delivers satin-smooth, buildable coverage that is non-greasy and great for all skin types. Our experienced chemists formulatedCelebré PRO-HD to be buildable to suit the amount of coverage needed.  It contains powerful antioxidants such as vitamin E, pomegranate and aloe vera that help soothe the skin.

I never heard of Mehron until one of my (new) favourite Youtube gurus, Wayne Goss, raved about it. Upon discovering his channel few months ago, I rummaged all the videos I’ve missed including “Top Five Foundations You Must Own” in which Mehron has an astral appearance.

Check out their website and delight yourself with stellar array of high performance products at a pretty decent price point – the brand’s cosmetic offerings is HG material for sure. Pure perfection in a pot, the Celebré Pro HD Foundation will produce skin you never knew you had with a medium to full coverage, easily blendable cream formulation.

The 25gm (.9oz) foundation comes in a convenient, no frills, black plastic container with a clear screw top. Applied with a damp sponge or foundation brush, this product glides on like butter. The finish looks like my skin, except better, my acne scarring magically disappeared. (so close in dethroning Photoshop ☺) It sets to a somewhat powdery finish – no glow at all which makes the face look flat and unrealistic. I am still trying to figure out if it’s better to set this with powder or not as it dries to powder finish on its own. The longevity is moderate, lasts up to 4 hours without setting powder.

Here are pictures of the shades I picked. Two for everyday foundation and one for contouring:

(Left to Right) Eurasia Fair, Eurasia Japanais, Eurasia Chinois

Eurasia Fair – NC30-35 Olive Undertone

Eurasia Japanais – NC30-35 Yellow Undertone

Eurasia Chinois – For Contouring

I must say, you can’t go wrong with this stuff. It’s oil-free, paraben-free, and contains pomegranate extract and aloe to nourish the skin. Give it a try once you’re done with your current foundation, want to try something new, or if you just want to get rid of it immediately. ☺

PRICE: Php1,080 
WHERE TO FIND: Mehron / Kalm Cosmetics

What’s your pick in today’s HD age?
xx, Kim

Well, the methods are as varied as the local make-up counter. So, how do you decide which one is right for you?

As a social media manager I share the following method with my clients:

1.CLEANSE & CLARIFY

What does your current Internet face (or fingerprint) look like? Search for your company name, your name and what do you find?

I work with small business start ups that assumed, since they had not created a website or social media account, they did not exist on the internet.
What a shock when they found out how much information was out there without their input!

So, once you identify what your Internet Face  looks like, it is time to remove or clarify any imperfections. NOTE: I did NOT say COVER.  It is about keeping the true stuff, updating the old stuff and removing flat out lies. But I instruct client’s to go for a transparent – natural foundation.

2. APPLICATION

Are you ready to learn my Secret Formula?

Introducing for the 1st time: CREAM the PERFECT Social Media Foundation!

Ingredients:

C: Community

Community Building: Shout Outs to local businesses, partners, new businesses, local event support (schools, colleges, churches)

R: Recreation

Fun information. This also works as community support. You can list local weekend events, races, businesses to visit.

E: Education

Sharing knowledge about your business services or personal interests

A: Advocacy

A post about your passion group or groups. Articles or links about them or to them.

M: Marketing

Marketing (Self Promotion)

If you would like to know how to personalize this secret weapon in 2012 contact me today!

So really I’m not asking for much. With that in mind I often have 4-5 foundations on the go at any one time that I chop and change depending on the occasion, weather, how well my skin’s behaving and how much time I have to do my make up!

I have a few favourites that I come back to, and always leave space on the roster to try something new, given there is a continuous plethora of new foundations on the market to try.

One of my stayers is Clarins Instant Smooth Foundation. It’s a mousse-cream foundation that I’m usually not a fan of, but it’s super easy to blend and leaves a light, barely there feel on your skin. It also has Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch in it which I love. This cream primer is amazing at filing in fine lines and pores and giving you a velvety baby smooth base to your makeup, so in effect you’re getting a primer + base in the one product.

A little goes a super long way so it’s easy for me to have a jar last me for 6 months or more. It offers good coverage without making you feel like you’re wearing a mask and it has a fairly good colour range. I’m an 03 Honey which works for me all year round. It also comes in a lovely heavy glass jar that has that luxe product feel to it.

So why isn’t this foundation the one and only for me? A few things. Firstly the silicon in the ‘instant smooth’ can get a little slippery (=greasy) during the day. This is easily fixed with a good dusting of powder to set it in the morning. The second issue is that it’s not great to use when your skin’s dry as it can often become patchy when you apply it and a bit cakey. It helps to wear a good hydrating moisturiser and primer underneath to remedy this, but I often switch to a liquid foundation during these sorts of days. Thirdly the staying power isn’t great. My skin tends to drink it up so by the end of the day there’s barely anything left.

Despite this I really like this foundation and happy to keep it as an old favourite in my wardrobe.

Beauty shelf rating: 4 (Stayer)

Rudina, S. Harris and Renee ask:
“How do I match my foundation? do I match to my arm? and should I choose cream or liquid?”

A question I’ve been waiting for , thank you ladies!

First things first…How to match your foundation. Do you match it on the top portion of your arm? or the inner side?

I’ll answer that question with a question..Where does your foundation go?

THE FACE!

(yes I’m dramatic….but stick with me)

The rule of thumb is: Match your product where you will be using it.


If your foundation is being used on your face then you need to match it ON your face…not your arm or your knees.

The best place to match for your face is close to your jawline as the shade will easily blend to your neck’s colour that way.

Also be careful of in-store lighting, if the lights look yellow have them place a few swatches on your face then step outside with a mirror to look at it in natural light. The shade that “disappears” into your skin is your pick. If the lights are white/fluorescent that should be fine but I still always double check outside of the store.

There are also the skin undertone’s which are important in picking your makeup, whether you are a pink, yellow, olive or red undertone will determine what colour range you begin your search in. This might be tricky to figure out for some women, for this I’d recommend having a one on one consultation.

So now you know how to pick your colour, how do you pick your texture?

Liquid Foundation vs Cream


Both are great products and they do fall into a personal preference category, but there are some facts that should help you decided on which type is best for you.

-Coverage: If you have discolouration, hyper-pigmentation, scars or texture issues with your skin, then a cream product will give you better coverage and control to even and smooth out texture.

Note also that just because it’s cream doesn’t mean it should be heavy like a mask, apply a thin layer of your foundation over your entire face and go back in ONLY on the areas with scars/pigment issues that need a bit more product.

-Dry Skin: Try a liquid foundation if you have dry skin, this would be easier to apply as opposed to cream which could end up looking patchy on your skin.

-Great Skin: No skin issues, or scars but you just need something to have a more polished look. For this I’d go for the in-between combo of a tinted moisturizer. Not as runny as a liquid, but not a solid cream. These tend to be the same texture as body lotion. They don’t usually give super coverage for scars so if you do have one or two, maybe add a bit of concealer to the routine.

-Oily Skin: I recommend cream products or tinted moisturizers for oily skin, as a liquid will not win the battle against the oil.

Finally, to accompany your chosen texture, you must pair it with a setting powder. This should be a LOOSE translucent powder, not a pressed compact.

Bonus Round!

Pressed Powder Foundations:

These come in compact form and are a pressed powder with pigment to give coverage. It’s important to know that this IS a foundation so using this to set a cream or liquid foundation is only piling on the pigment and will not properly set your base. Cause that oh so common pancake creasing look.

These can be used on their own for a light coverage with a brush and a medium to heavy coverage with a dry or damp sponge. Some brands are also pretty good at hiding scars so concealer may not be needed. This is not recommended for dry skin, dry + dry= dry twice, not a good look.

Hope this helps!

Check out these products below, let me know what you try and feel free to share pictures!

good foundation

I’ve been through a lot of foundations in my time. I spent years searching for the perfect foundations and now what I’ve found them, I stick to them. It’s rare that another comes along worthy of joining that line up. Let me tell you Revlon’s new Age Defying with DNA Advantage Cream Makeup is certainly worthy. Foundation is a very individual product – one size doesn’t fit all. I look for creamy texture, medium coverage and a soft, dewy finish and this one has just that, and more!

It combines makeup and powerful anti-aging skincare to help protect skin’s DNA to fight the signs of aging, and it contains SPF 20, winner, winner!

It markets itself as having full coverage, but don’t be put off by this – it’s not thick or cakey and doesn’t look like a mask. It is however rich and creamy and provides a medium coverage with a flawless, moisturised complexion. It’s easy to apply with fingers or a brush and blends out perfectly.

Blended out

The shade is good too. I’m a big fan of Mac foundations because their shades are tailored for both warmer and cooler skin tones. Most other brands adopt a one size fits all approach which usually means they’re too yellowey or too pink. This one seems true to my skin tone. The only criticism would be that it doesn’t cater for darker tones. The range is limited with 8 shades, I’ve got Honey Beige, which is the second darkest shade they offer.

I’m probably a bit younger than this foundations target market, and in truth it’s the fancy bottle with its swirly design that attracted me, but I’m pleased it did because this is a damn good foundation at a very reasonable price, plus you’re never too young to protect the integrity of your skin’s DNA.

Available at both Boots and Superdrug £9.99 for a limited time, RRP £13.99

Orange = Vitamin C = Vitality = Emergency nutrient = Cold cure

Maybe my subconscious mind had programmed me to wear NARS almighty Taj Mahal when a last minute party calls, during my recuperation.

Here’s the glorious Taj Mahal for your appreciation, if not apprehension; You should notice that this Tangerine shade is all about impact & boldness. ( FYI, I used a stipple brush – yes, the one with synthetic fibers among natural hair, which is designed to pick up colours cautiously & lightheartedly )

I lightly swiped a feathery layer of NARS Taj Mahal over my cheeks after foundation. Then I used a dense kabuki brush to buff layers of loose powder all over my face, starting at the cheek blending outwards. Although almighty in pigmentation, Taj Mahal is rather workable & blendable to a sheerer finish.

 I used RMK Dusty Bright Eyes in Gold to add some lustre & sparkle to my fatigue peepers.

Laura Mercier  Creme Smooth Foundation in Sunny Beige was used to provide a fuller, more dewy finish for the night; It’s great at concealing fine lines & blemishes, even greater when it comes to banishing those dry spots & flaky bits. ( Thanks to my constant sneezing & nose rubbing )

So, here’s the final results of the sheer out, tamed Taj Mahal, complimented by a wash of Burberry Lip Tint in Cinnamon.

So, what do you think about NARS Taj Mahal ?

More damage to my credit card……

Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre – Naturel

Laura Mercier Cream Smooth Foundation – Sunny Beige

Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 – Natural Radiance

Chanel Les Tissages ( Blush Duo Tweed Effect ) – Tweed Corail

Givenchy Le Prisme Yeux Quatuor – Midnight Look

I have been using this foundation for quite a while and I can honestly say I love it! This is my ‘go to’ foundation for a night out.  The shade I use is “Golden 75″, I use this shade because when I am going out I wear fake tan.

For me,this is a full coverage foundation which is what I consider a must for a night out on the town opposed to day to-day makeup. It has a cream like texture, it blends beautifully. I also find with this foundation a little goes a long way. However if you have problem skin and would like a bit more coverage, this foundation is buildable without giving that caked look. I have often used this alone just as a concealer. The one thing I would say about this foundation is if you have dry skin it tends to settle into those areas. But overall the texture, coverage and the lasting power of this foundation is amazing.

This foundation set me back €19.99. I think I have re purchased this foundation maybe three or four times. Each time I have bought it in Boots. Each time I have been given a €7.50 voucher off No 7 products so when you take that into account the foundation isn’t that expensive. Plus I have a Boots Advantage Card so I’m clocking up points on that each time i make a purchase I like the packaging, its compact there is a sponge applicator included. It was a nice touch to include the sponge but like every other applicator that’s included in makeup sets, I find it ineffective. I don’t use the sponge, I feel it leaves streaks when I apply the foundation. Instead I use the inglot duo fibre 27TG to buff the foundation into my skin. Applying the foundation with this brush leaves a lovely airbrushed look to the skin.

For me, I wish there was more product included. When I first saw the foundation the packaging lead me to believe there was a fair amount of product, but that is not the case. The black part of the packaging includes the sponge. You have to twist this off to get to the foundation, so the foundation is the clear part at the bottom of the container. On the packaging it states there is 12m of product included. However in saying this, a little of this foundation does go a long way. But personally I would have liked a bit more product included

Overall

Pro’s

• Blends well
• Only need a small amount
• Good coverage
• Buildable
• Good lasting power

Con’s

• Settles in dry areas
• Not a lot of product included

For a light application, use a foundation brush which will glide beautifully giving the face a glowing and flawless finish.

Finish the application with a translucent loose powder using a puff or a powder brush.

On a budget, Avon offers the IDEAL SHADE Cream-to-powder. It boasts a PerciseLight Technology, light adjusting pigments that are suppose to make your make up look natural and flawless where ever you are. You can usually get this product for $10 and if you catch a sale maybe less.

Let’s flashback to what I received to try…

So super cute! It’s the new petite compact of Bio-Fond Cream Foundation in the shade Truffle. It’s small but contains a good amount of product, as well as a mirror and a sponge, so I’ve definitely thrown this in my purse to apply on the go or to touch up during the day.

I chose Truffle, a cool beige tone (like I said in my quick first impressions post, I love the page on the Gerda Spillman site with the swatches of each shade and a description so you can pick the best match). I used my Sonia Kashuk Flat Top Blusher Brush (it’s called a blusher brush, but I found that it works great for foundation) to apply. The foundation is super creamy and blendable. I love how it glides across the skin.

Before applying the foundation, though (and this probably helped with making it so smooth on my face and keeping it from settling in my pores), I applied another Gerda Spillman product I was sent…

I was sent a few samples of the Gerda Spillman Hydro Pearls, a moisturizer and primer. I love that this combines two of the steps in my morning makeup routine!

I found that there was more than enough product in one of the samples for at least two applications of moisturizer/primer. My skin drank this up, and it provided a really great base for applying the Bio-Fond Cream Foundation.

So, primer first followed by foundation. I didn’t need a ton of product to get the finish I wanted…it was definitely a medium to full coverage, and very buildable. But, it didn’t feel heavy. It was really light and velvety on my face and let my skin breathe.

For under $20 (for the petite compact), this foundation is definitely worth buying. Check out the Gerda Spillman website, as they frequently post specials and sales (for the month of October, you can get the petite compact for $18!). And, if you want to test out a color before committing to a full-size, you can order a sample or trial kit.

FTC: Like I stated in the post, I was sent these products for consideration and these are my opinions.

Lookie what I got in the mail! Gretchen from Gerda Spillman Swiss Skin Care & Cosmetics sent me the company’s Bio-Fond Cream Foundation to try. Love the box it came in — looks very sleek and clean. And what was inside the box? Even better!

Isn’t that adorable? This is the new petite compact for Gerda Spillman’s Bio-Fond Cream Foundation. In addition to the pan of foundation, it has a shatter-proof mirror (not sure I’m going to test that out, though!), and a sponge in its own compartment. Love it!

Before sending to me, Gretchen let me look through the swatches on their website to pick the shade that would best match my skin. What a shade selection! There are 19 different colors, so I’m sure just about everyone can find something to work for their skintone. I chose Truffle, a cool beige.

Here’s a closeup of the foundation (with an indentation from where I swatched). The consistency of the product is awesome. It’s a mineral cream to powder finish and feels super silky and smooth on my skin (at least from the swatch on my hand).

Here’s a dab of the foundation on my finger, before blending out for a swatch. Looks like it’s going to be great coverage (which I need!) — Gretchen said it should last for up to 16 hours! Hopefully I won’t be working any 16-hour days anytime soon, but I’m always searching for a foundation to get me through my 8-hour workday.

Here’s the swatch blended out on my hand. So velvet-y, I think I’m really going to like the way this makes my face feel. And it seems really moisturizing, too, and didn’t sink into any of the pores or lines on my hand.

Gretchen also sent me samples of the Gerda Spillman Hydro Pearls, a moisturizer and primer. I’m so excited to try this in combination with the foundation!

Look for a full review soon, after I’ve had a chance to use these products a few times.

FTC: Like I stated in the post, I was sent these products for consideration and these are my opinions.