Nars Sheer Glow Foundation, $44
It’s been about a year since I first started using this foundation. When I first purchased this it was along with the sheer matte version. I tried both and really gravitated to the matte version since my skin is on the oily side. I went through two bottles of the sheer matte until one day I ran out. I had no other foundation in my cabinet so I had to reach for the sheer glow. Panic overcame me. A new foundation? My skin is going to look oily, the makeup is going to slide off… To my great surprise my skin looked fresh and healthy throughout the day. The coverage was amazing ranging from sheer to full. I was able to cover up dark acne scars by stippling on some of the foundation to those blemished areas. I found my new Holy grail foundation. I have never come across a foundation that was yellow enough, full coverage, looked natural and felt like nothing was on. If anyone ever asks I will always recommend this foundation. BTW no primer needed, it goes on  smooth like butta!

[this season] it’s all about the ‘no make up’ make up….

She has a make up kit that millions would be envious of and an infectious personality that makes you trust whatever make up style she creates for you.  Danielle McAllister is a MAC make up artist & freelance with a talented eye for all things make up!  She has been lucky enough to meet Nicki Minaj and has been transforming the faces of girls the North West over with amazing results plus she’s such a lovely character, you’d want her to do your make up everyday!  Here, Danielle discusses her favourites, personal style and next seasons beauty trends…..Enjoy!

What’s it like working for MAC?

I love my job so much!  I love the training we get and all the artistry time, too!  MAC is definitely a great company to work for and there are so many opportunities too!

Do you have any advice for anyone who wants to become a make up artist?

Get on a make up counter! Without a doubt! You learn so much from other artists, its unreal!  I wouldn’t know all of my tips and tricks if it wasn’t for the girls on counter!  Also, you are constantly doing make up so you can practice all the time!

What’s the best make up tip you’ve ever been given?

Preparing the skin properly! It just makes make up sit on the skin so much nicer!  Skin care is so important!

What has been your best experience since working in the industry?

Its got to be meeting all of the amazing and talented people since working at MAC! Also going down to meet Nicki Minaj in London with work was really fun too!

What is your favourite make up look?

I love a liner and a statement lip!  Tom Ford Black Orchid lipstick is my all time favourite, definitely!

What are the three make up products you can’t live without?

First one has got to be Chanel Cream Bronzer!  This is so amazing, I use it on everyone and myself everyday! You can build it up so it matches so many skin tones! Nars sheer glow foundation too.  It’s my cult product!  It’s really lightweight but has the perfect amount of coverage! If I need anymore, I’ll add a concealer.  Lastly, It’s got to be Bobbi Brown gel liner in black, it lasts so long on the eye and is also amazing as a base on a smoky eye.

What make up trends are going to be big this Summer?

It’s all about the ‘no make up’ make up! Flawless, dewy skin with flashes of colour like a neon lip! Metallic on the eyes is also another trend! Slivers in the corner of the eye swept across the lid! Very futuristic! Another trend is all about the natural tan, so no fake tan but the skin slightly toasted with a bit of bronzer and all creamy products again creating a really natural finish.  Any shadow is really blown out, very seamless!

Describe your own personal style.

I think my style is very basic, comfy clothes!  Having a key piece of clothing that makes an outfit!

What is your favourite trend?

I think my favourite fashion trend has got to be all the bright colours on the runway this season! Statement clothing!

If you could name one person who you would love to do make up for, who would it be?

I think it would have to be for Beyonce! She is amazing! Imagine!! I would love that!!

Where do you find your inspiration for make up looks?

It has either got to be Instagram or other artists! Just to get ideas and make them your own!

What do you always carry in your kit?

Reflect glitters from MAC.  Any look i create, it just adds a bit of something! My Chanel bronzer, of course and gel liners!

Do you have a signature look?

Its got to be a fresh dewy skin and a straight liner! With a pair of lashes, of course!Loving natural lashes with a bit of a flick at the moment! MAC 36s and Eylure 117s!

What item would you recommend for removing make up?

Shu Uemura’s classic cleansing oil! It just gets rid of every bit of make up and your skin looks amazing after it!

Where do you see your career in 10 years?

Hopefully still working for MAC but progressed through the company as a trainer or on the events team!  Doing all of the fashion shows! That would definitely be my dream!!

If you’re in the North West of England be sure to check out Danielle’s MUA Facebook page!

http://www.facebook.com/DanielleMcAllisterMakeUp?fref=ts

Demi Lovato in Glamour Magazine

& now you’ll see me try to create Demi’s gorrrrgeous eyes! Use whichever brushes you feel comfortable using. Mine were all MAC and I only used a crease brush, angle brush, and blending brush! So easy.

After priming your lids – I used Urban Decay’s Primer Potion – you want to cover your eyes in a shimmery nude color. I chose Rose Quartz by Trish McEvoy.

Apply it only up to your crease, don’t worry if it’s messy, we’re going to blend blend blend later!

Next, take your favorite jet black eye liner (preferably a gel or liquid liner) I used an intense gel liner by MAC. You’re going to want to pack it on like shadow, except, you’re using liner. Bring it pretty close to how high we brought our nude color, but don’t go all the way up. Again, it’s ok if it’s messy.

I don’t know why I don’t have a picture of the step right before this, but it’s really easy..you don’t need a picture. Grab your favorite black eyeSHADOW, and pack it on on top of the liner you applied right before. I used Urban Decay’s Black Out. After that, line the bottom of your waterline with black liner. I used Zero by Urban Decay. This part again, it’s ok if the liner under neath is messy because you’re going over it again later.

Next..my favorite part…blending! Once you think you’ve blended enough, blend more! Use a windshield wiper type motion back and forth between your nude eyeshadow, and the black. Try not to bring the black any higher, but instead just mix the 2 colors together. If you aren’t sure what blending is..look at this photo. The left picture is a blended eye, the right..not so much..HUGE difference.

I am going to apply false lashes, but first a coat of mascara to help blend my real lashes with the fake. I used Bare Mineral’s Flawless Definition in black. My current fav.

Carefully apply false lashes. I chose MAC’s 36 lashes. At this point, you want to go over the lashline (on top) with black liner to make sure you can’t see any glue from your lashes, and also now is when you’ll use your angled brush to blend the black underneath your eyes. I added some black shadow just on top of my liner on the bottom to prevent any bleeding.

Next..clean up the under eye area, and pack on your favorite concealer. Use 2-3 coats of concealer, then apply your foundation. You want your skin to be flawless and very matte to help your eyes stand out. I used NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Light 6. On top of that, I used my compact powder foundation, which was Origins’ Light Spice. For a blush, Demi really has a pretty flushed pink, so I chose MAC’s Warm Soul Blush. (I used a lot of MAC geeez!) I also mixed in some of Makeup Forever’s Bronzer in 20. To really hide any under eye mishaps, I used Laura Mercier’s Secret Brightening Powder. If you have never tried this stuff, YOU HAVE TO. I want to do a review soon just on that product, it’s amazing. Fill in your brows to your liking, Demi’s look very natural, although it’s hard to tell underneath her bangs. And finally, lips. I chose Laura Mercier’s Sunset Lipstick, with her Babydoll gloss on top. A perfect nude/light pink, just like Demi’s.

So..this is how it ended up!

My lighting sucks, but you can see how dark and smokey my eyes turned out, and the lashes really make such a huge difference!

So, that was my 15 minute attempt to recreate Demi’s smokey eyes. It’s really simple, and all you really need to do is just BLEND. Blending is the key to success in makeup application, whether it’s your eyes or cheeks, always blend, and when you think you’ve blended enough..blend some more!

Have a great week & lots of love to you!

The following, however, continue to be on a high note.

1. Nars Sheer Glow Foundation

One of my first high-end brands foundation. I love the coverage and the fact that it lasts longer on my face than any other foundation I’ve tried. Also, this doesn’t oxidizes as much. Packaging sucks though since it doesn’t come with a pump. I always end up getting more than I need.

2. Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation

I use this on special occasions. I was hesitant at first but the saleslady talked me through it. Not heavy nor cakey. The packaging is +5 for me. Little goes a long way for this product. Stays long enough throughout the day.

3. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer – Oil Free

Best foundation for everyday use. It gives enough coverage to boost my confidence (lol).

4. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua

The only beef I have with this one is that I have to shake it like crazy to get the right consistency. It doesn’t last long on my face, but while it stays on my face I love the finish.

5. Guerlain Lingerie de Peau

The first time I bought this product I got the shade #23. I didn’t realize how bad the coloring was until a saw a picture of myself looking so orange. Too orange, almost reminiscent of a bad day in the tanning salon. But I loved everything about it. In Singapore, I decided to get a new one and with the help of a very friendly saleslady, I got the shade #3. What a freaking difference. This is the most expensive foundation I have and good thing this came with a pump.

At this point, I should probably stop buying new foundations. I have enough to last me for another year or so. Or maybe just one more try (Nars Tinted Moisturizer) and I’ll stop trying out new products.

I am in the search for a new foundation I can wear everyday. Right now I am playing around with NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Syracuse. The foundation itself is pretty. It doesn’t come with a pump, and I think for $42 dollars, don’t be stingy and throw in the pump. You know what I’m saying? When I open the bottle, there’s foundation everywhere. I know it’s partly my fault because, I don’t necessarily keep it upright at all times. I’m one to just toss it in my make up bag.

Before I have decided to buy this foundation, I watched a lot of You Tube Videos, looked at a lot of pictures, read reviews and I got excited. It has been reviewed also great for dry skin, which I have, so this NARS Foundation got shinier and shinier (I like shiny things). So, I went to Sephora and I was matched to Syracuse.

For me, my face is whiter than the rest of my body, so when I applied Syracuse which is for “Medium – Dark with Brown Undertones”. It looks really dark against my face color, but once the foundation sits in, the color is a tid bit lighter and gives me a pretty damn close match. Almost everyone I’ve asked said it looks like a match and my face looked good. Score!

From a lot of the reviews, the majority raves about applying this specific foundation is with your fingers, and the heat and stuff… For me, I tried the ‘fingers’ but I found my foundation uneven. I watched more videos and googled up on it and discovered the Stippling brush that a lot of bloggers consider giving you flawless skin. I got the Real Technique Stippling Brush from Ulta for $10. This brush got a lot of good reviews for the price. Using this brush with the foundation does give me a somewhat flawless look but kinda dries up my skin more. I can see patches of dryness on my cheeks, but once the foundation sinks in, it’s not that noticeable, but I notice it.

I was starting to think this liquid foundation quest of mine may not be for me. I tweeted my call for help but no one really got back at me, then finally, a friend I’ve known for years told me that it’s about “blending, blending, blending” and that she recommended the Beauty Blender.

Beauty Blender is expensive for me. I got mine at Sephora.com. For one sponge is $20 and for two, $25. First, I went and bought me a similar type sponge from Ulta, but it was too firm and just did not “blend”. I gave in and bought these Beauty Blenders and bought two for $25.00 and gave the other one to my sister. Spread the love!

I received the Beauty Blender and immediately tried this supposed blending magic. I only did a light coverage to start with and I was immediately impressed on the application and how the foundation really became part of my skin. I thanked God, It did not dissapoint me. Then I would have to return it and blah blah blah. Beauty Blender sponge truly blended the foundation on my face and did not show my dry skin. I think the Sheer Glow part of the NARS Foundation truly was able to shine (not the oily shine, lol).

This is why I decided to do the video so you can see for yourself. The video is done half of my face applied with the Beauty Blender and half with the Stippling brush using NARS Sheer Glow foundation. I hope the video is clear enough to where you can see the difference between right and left cheek. Please note that I’m a total amateur and a rookie when it comes to makeup so bare with me. I hope that this will help you .

Thank you for reading my blog, Please feel free to comment and submit a request for my next review. Peace!

1. Start with your Concealer stick- I am a super fair shade of Vanilla.  The shade should be 1.5-2 times lighter thank your actual skin tone.  Draw a V on your forehead, a V under each eye, then an upside down V under your nose spanning down into your frown lines.  Blend with your fingers.  (Note: all Nars products in a cream formula can be blended with your fingers.  The warmth from your fingers makes the product more emollient, thus spreading out on your skin easier)
2.  Next, now this was a first for me, take a darker concealer stick like Cafe and draw a curve right under your cheekbones and blend in.  This was the most goof-proof way I’ve ever seen contouring done.
3. To finish off your complexion, add your Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer only where additional coverage is needed during the daytime.  Or at night when you are more than likely wearing more intense colors, use Sheer Glow foundation to set the look appropriately and give you a satiny finish.

And that’s Janice Daoud’s secret to achieving 3d skin!

A few additional tips I learned and loved: to get skin that glows like J Lo’s, her secret is to mix equal parts Copacabana Illuminator into a blender with Creme de La Mer and apply.  For those of us looking to spend a wee bit less on a moisturizer, I would try Philosophy’s Hope in a Jar instead.

And last but not least using a nude eye pencil in your waterline, like Larger Than Life Eyeliner in Rue Bonaparte, is the most effective way to counteract redness in your eyes and make it look like you slept a full 8 hours.  Yes, I’ve been doing this every day since and won’t ever turn back.  Nars please note- don’t ever get rid of this color or I will be one cranky lady.

THE CLEANSING BALM

I adore Saaf’s Pure Face Cleanser. Massage it into the face for a minute or two and use their muslin cloth soaked in warm water and gently rub it off and I’m left with squeaky clean skin yet it’s incredibly moisturised. How is that even possible? The balm contains jojoba seed oil, shea butter, olive oil, grapefruit peel oil, geranium oil and lavender oil. It’s a concoction of goodness and my skin loves!

THE TONER

I never in a million years thought that I’d love a toner with alcohol in it but Clinique’s Clarifying Lotion 2 is something else! My skin’s clearer, cleaner and it leaves me thinking why I never latched onto this toner before.

THE GLITTERY NAIL POLISH

After getting this Deborah Lippmann polish in Razzle Dazzle in December’s GlossyBox, I’m a sucker for Deborah Lippman nail polishes. I don’t think I’ve ever come across better glittery nail polishes than Deborah Lippman’s!

THE BLUSH

For me, nothing beats a NARS blush! There’s shades to suit everyone and the quality is out of this world. My favourite NARS blush is Lovejoy.

THE TAUPE EYESHADOW

Everyone needs a taupe eyeshadow; it’s a shade that looks great in the evening or daytime and it complements every skin tone. L’Oreal’s Color Minerals in 07 Cosmic Plum is more of a taupe than a plum.

THE POWDER

I usually use a translucent powder as I can never find the right shade for me but, MAC’s Mineralize Skinfinish Natural blends incredibly well into my skin and looks very natural. I love how it doesn’t make my skin cakey like other powders do and you can also build up the coverage too which is fantastic for when you don’t necessarily want to wear a concealer or foundation.

THE DEEP TREATMENT

Organics’ Hair Mayonnaise brings back childhood memories of my mum massaging this into my hair and leaving it in for a few hours and my mother was right to use this on my hair. It’s one of the few products I’ve used consistently for years and that’s because it works like a charm on my hair!

THE PERFUME

Coco Mademoiselle is a new perfume but for me, it’s a classic. The orange, bergamot, vanilla, white musk, rose, Italian jasmine and ylang-ylang create a very feminine scent yet it’s so chic.

THE GEL EYELINER

Maybelline got it so right with this eyeliner. Cheap as chips, extremely dark and lasts for hours upon hours. I dare you to find someone who doesn’t love this liner?

THE MULTI-TASKING BLUSH

I’m so sad yet in love at the same time. MAC’s Restores Dazzle! Cremeblend blush from their Shop MAC Cook MAC collection is my ultimate multi-tasking blush yet it’s limited edition and will be taken off the shiny MAC shelves soon. I’ve used this on my lips for a matte, berry colour and on my cheeks to create some evening drama or dabbing it on the cheeks lightly for a subtle flushed look.

THE DAY & NIGHT EYESHADOWS

When you’ve found eyeshadows that look great both during the day and night, you’re onto a winner. Bourjois ‘ Intense Extrait eyeshadows in 02 and 03 scream out Parisian chic and I can say that they look gorgeous either when the sun is up or down. Use a wash of the shadows in the day and in the evening, eyeliner and loads of mascara will add a little something.

THE EYE PRIMER

Urban Decay are the queens of primers; I love their Pore Perfecting Primer but I love the Eyeshadow Primer Potion even more. I’ve honestly never come across a primer that’s never budged until I washed it off myself.

THE FOUNDATION

NARS Sheer Glow is my favourite foundation in the whole wide world. I seriously have no clue how my make-up looked right without it. It makes my skin glow and look dewy in the right places and I’ve found a shade to suit me, Macao.

Product: A lightweight sheer foundation made for oily skin.

Comments:  It lightly covers up any imperfections. It’s not heavy at all but doesn’t cover like a full foundation does.

Effectiveness: It absorbs easily and lightly covers any spots you need to hide. It has as much coverage as a tinted moisturizer.

Would I buy again?: Probably not. I need more coverage and the bottle is pretty pricy, although it has lasted me over a year with almost daily usage.

Price: $42 for 1 oz at Sephora

Product final grade: B-

~DL

I apply it with a foundation brush but if you don’t have one, your fingers will work just as good, if not better (the heat from your hands will actually help blend it into your skin). It is buildable coverage if you did want or need more, but it doesn’t give much more than a medium coverage. You may not like this foundations if you are on the oily side or like really heavy coverage. I think this foundation helps hydrate my skin in the winter months and I will like it through the summer for its light,airy feel. The website (could be the Canadian prices) says it is $55 but I bought it at Sephora for $42. I can’t say I enjoy the price tag but I really don’t need much of the product so it does go along way.  

 Hope you like it as much as I do!

 -AP

• It’s a liquid-y formula that blends & spreads well
• Medium coverage with a slightly matte finish to start & it becomes dewy after it settles properly
• No cap which is annoying but I’m dealing
• I’ve been applying it with a Sam Chapman Stippling brush or my MAC duo fiber
• Slightly odd smell to begin with but it disappears once it’s blended
• Wear time is very good like 8-10 hours with 2 powder touch ups & it was still really good
• Doesn’t settle into pores/lines/dry patches or cake on the skin
• I got mine from ASOS for about €40 but it’s slightly cheaper at a retail counter
• It photographs with some shine in flash photography but it’s a flawless skin look in the pictures so I liked it

The good new is, the color is nice, though a bit too yellow.  The bad news is that this formula behaved even WORSE than I expected, and in completely unforeseen ways!  Rather than making my skin look shiny and overly dewy, or smearing off quickly——it dried my skin out, made my skin look at least a decade older!  I had frown lines I’ve NEVER seen on my face!  And when I smiled, it looked like it was stretching fit to tear.  Not what I would expect from a $40 foundation designed for normal/oily  skin types, from a company as generally recommended as NARS.  If you have dry skin, I would avoid this foundation at all costs(or at least try a sample before you get your heart set on buying it).  The matte formula looks a bit better(I got it in a slightly darker shade to try. The shade is too dark, but the formula seems MUCH more gentle.  How odd).

If you have particularly oily skin, maybe you will get better results than I did.   But for my skin, this foundation made it look dry, stretched, and actually appeared to age my skin ten years!  The wear was OK, the coverage was nice…. but I am 23, and I do NOT have massive fine lines yet! There is NO reason why this foundation should make my skin look so much more wrinkly!

Compare.  Here is my bare skin, taken immediately before applying foundation.  Some swollen pores and redness, a bit of a dimple, but no real lines or dryness.

And these two are wearing NARS Sheer Glow.  See how stretched and dry the skin looks?   I can’t even SEE the dewy finish past the textures!

It stayed mostly put for a good 7 or 8 hours.  I wouldn’t say it’s particularly longwearing, but it did seem to cling to my face better than I expected.  The foundation felt heavy and dry on my skin, and had to be buffed in a good bit, and diluted with a shade of water to apply evenly.

The color is comparable to MAC NC 15, though it is a bit paler.  It is no less yellow.

I felt my skin being slightly irritated by it, but not anywhere near as much as some other foundations.  Really, so long as I was careful with my skincare, it wasn’t a noticable difference.  Just slightly more swollen pores and bumps, and and one abnormally severe zit.

Here’s Siberia on my face, from further back.  The overall texture isn’t as visible from further back, but you can see some unevenness in the shadows around my eyes, from it appearing rough and dry on my skin.