“Full, natural-looking coverage with unexpectedly weightless, 16-hour wear. Highly pigmented and perfectly balanced, this breakthrough formula builds and blends effortlessly with just one drop—the result of exclusive innovation uniquely designed to deliver long-wearing full coverage, weightlessly. Shake, pump and blend in sections for complete coverage that's completely natural looking.”

Having oily skin, making sure my makeup stays in place all day long is a challenge, especially as I don’t like wearing matte foundations. Recently I’ve been using a combination of the Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation Primer under my foundation and the L’Oreal Fixing Mist on top of my makeup. 

The Laura Mercier primer is weightless and creates a smooth canvas for my foundation to be applied on top of and keeps my foundation in place through the slight oiliness which still comes through from wearing more dewy foundations. I love that it isn’t silicone based, as I find silicone primers leave a strange finish on the skin to work on top of.

The L’Oreal Fixing Mist was released in the States last year and I’ve been - not so - patiently waiting for it to be released in the UK as fixing mists hadn’t been seen in the highstreet before. This great for setting your makeup but also if you get a bit heavy handed  with your face products as it de-cakes any heavy concealer situations and stops powders looking overly matte.

How you do you make your foundation last?

~ Jade xx

Recently, I’ve been on a bit of a foundation binge. Normally foundation isn’t something I like to change up a lot, instead sticking to the same thing until I’ve been through four or five bottles - *cough* L’Oreal Infallible *cough*. As mentioned in my recent Beauty Haul post I picked up the Nars Sheer Glow foundation which probably makes me the last person in the world to try it. I also recently picked up the Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation, again another cult product in which I’m the last to the party. As they are such hyped and cult loved products I thought I’d review them at the same time for anyone else who hasn’t tried them and wants to know what the deal is.

“A glowing, natural radiant finish foundation with sheer and buildable coverage that immaculately evens skin tone.”

Sheer Glow is my current everyday, go-to foundation. Although I have oily skin I like to my skin to still look radiant and slightly dewy rather than matte and this does the job perfectly. I like to apply this foundation with my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge, dampened, as I find its the easiest way to blend it into my skin. Two pumps achieves a medium coverage but is easily buildable. I find by the end of the day I’m looking a bit oily but it’s nothing a quick powder doesn’t fix, earning it a spot in my most-loved foundations list.

“15-hour staying power. Flawless all day. This worry-free, long-wearing makeup stays fresh and 
looks natural through heat, humidity, nonstop activity. Won't change colour, smudge or come off on clothes. Feels lightweight and comfortable.”

Double Wear is my ‘long-day’ or evening foundation. It has a tacky consistency so is best applied with a brush - I like the Zoeva Silk Finish - and lasts all day without needing a powder top up. The finish is more matte than the Nars but doesn’t look flat or dry. I have the shade 1N2 Ecru which matches me but is slightly too neutral in tone for me so I’ll be picking up 1W2 soon. I wouldn’t recommend this foundation for everyday wear however because it’s so full coverage and long lasting it could easily block pores if worn regularly. However, despite the longevity and full coverage it doesn’t feel heavy or uncomfortable on the skin, giving it an A* in my book.

What’re your favourite foundations?

~ Jade xx

The L’Oreal True Match Foundation recently had a face lift with a reformulation and new packaging. I’ve been on a bit of a foundation binge recently and this is my current favourite  offering from the high-street. Years ago I tried the original formulation of this foundation but it didn’t agree with my oily skin however the reformulation is another story. 

The colour match for this foundation is one of the best I’ve ever had for any foundation - I wear shade 1W - and the formula is ultra blend-able with a gel-like texture. Coverage is medium, but it can be sheered out with a makeup sponge or built up with two layers without looking cake-y. My favourite thing about this foundation is the finish. It’s luminous without being overly dewy, so it still lasts all day but doesn’t attract to my already oily skin. I do still have to power once or twice throughout the day but that isn't unusual for me and if you have normal/dry skin you wouldn't need to touch up at all. My only problem with the reformulation is that it oxidises slightly however if you got a shade lighter than you would need it wouldn’t be a problem. 

What foundations are you currently loving?

~ Jade xx

“Ultra-fine, lightweight formula that is 12x finer can be applied like face cream, blend instantly onto skin, give impeccable yet undetectable coverage, coverage which is buildable but still looks and feels natural, no heavy caked-on effect, our special teardrop shape applicator delivers the perfect amount of product for fuss-free application.”

The Maybelline Dream Flawless Nude foundation has been in my possession for a while since it was first released in the UK and at first I really disliked it, to the point where I put it in a draw and forgot about it. Over the past week I decided to give it another try and my opinion has changed somewhat so I thought that I would share my musings. 

The formula of this foundation is unlike anything I’ve ever tried before. It’s extremely thin and almost like water so application is best done with hands rather than a sponge or brush as the fibres just soak up the product. It blends without any effort so its great if you don’t have a lot of time to get ready. Personally I don’t see the point in the applicator as I put it onto the back of my hand before applying anyway so I don’t get bacteria in the product but I've heard it takes forever for the product to drop from the applicator. 

This foundation has a matte finish and sticks to any dry patches so is definitely a miss for combination and dry skinned people. The coverage is barely there, it evens out the complexion overall but does little in the way of covering blemishes, hyper pigmentation  or dark circles so concealer is a must but because of this and the texture of the formula it is virtually undetectable on the skin and still lets your natural skin shine through so its great if you don’t have much to cover. There is also only eight shades for this foundation and they are all very orange in colour so it is quite hard to find a match - my shade is off but as its quite sheer you can’t really notice it by time concealer is applied.

That being said I do like this foundation on days where I want something on my face but I don’t need the coverage that my L’Oreal Infallible gives - review here - and it would also be a good summer foundation because of how light it is however it won’t be taking a place on my top foundations list.

Have you tried the new release from Maybelline?

~ Jade xx

“Ultra-melting fluid emulsion, perfectly glides and fuses on the skin – no cakey or dull effect, 24HR Mattifying action, absorbing mineral micro sponges help to absorb excess oil”

My favourite high street foundation has long been the L’Oreal Infallible - review here - and I have been through countless bottles of the stuff. Recently however L’Oreal have released the baby sister of my favourite foundation, a marketed matte version. The L’Oreal Infallible 24HR-Matte promises to stay matte all day without giving a dull and lifeless look to the face. I’ve been testing it out for the past few weeks and it has fast become my go-to foundation. 

Recently I’ve been trying out a couple of new foundations from the high street. One new release and one that’s been around for a while. My thoughts on the new release will be coming soon but for now I have my thoughts on the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum to share with you all. 

“Fresh and instant blending gel texture blends and glides onto the skin for an even, natural finish with no mask effect. Imperfections are erased, signs of fatigue are smoothed and the skin’s radiance is boosted for up to 16 hours”

I have tried the original Healthy Mix in the past - although it has since been re-formulated - but have never tried the serum version. When I picked this up I was looking for something with a bit more of a ‘glow’ but without being too dewy. Although I have oily skin I often find that more matte foundations can make my skin look very dull and flat, however too dewy of a foundation makes me look like a grease ball within five minutes.

I often post my favourite products in ‘current favourites’ posts however I’ve never mentioned those products which may not be the most exciting or new to the world but are so good that I’ve had to repurchase them, some of them not just once but time-and-time again. So, I compiled a list of some of the products that I’ve repurchased over the years, some of them I’ve mentioned before, others I haven’t and some are necessities which you may not traditionally think of as being favourite products but you repurchase them anyway.

L’oreal Infallible foundation | This is a product which I have spoken about before and written its own post on - which can be viewed here - it’s an all round great foundation that I’m currently on my third bottle of.

Revlon Colorstay concealer | Again this is a product that I’ve written its own post on - which can be seen here - but this is my favourite concealer which I don’t think I’ll be leaving behind anytime soon. As soon as I ran out of this I had to go and buy a new one, and to my annoyance Boots was sold out.

Rimmel Stay Matte powder | I’ve used this product for years and so have lost count of how many times I’ve actually repurchased it. I’ve differed before but this is a product that I always go back to.

Boots Botanics Shine Away Moisturiser | This product has featured in a previous ‘current favourites’ post - which can be seen here - and after using it all up I had to buy another right away. I’ve tried many moisturisers in the past that are all directed at oily skin that all promise to give shine control but none have ever followed through until I came across this baby. 

Batiste dry hair shampoo | For the days when you can’t be bothered to wash your hair or your between washes but your roots are looking a little greasy dry shampoo is always the answer. Batiste is a dry shampoo I’ve been using for years and although I’ve tried others none quite eradicate oil like Batiste does.

Bio-oil | One of those master oils which vanishes hyper pigmentation, scars and marks but also adds moisture to the driest skin. I’ve gone through a few bottles of this and it’s great. I love a good multipurpose a product and I’ve even used this on the ends of my hair when things are looking a bit dry but I don’t have a hair oil on hand.

Toni & Guy Glamour drops | My favourite hair oil. Perfect if you have frizzy hair or if things are looking a bit dry, also great to smooth down anything that keeps sticking up. Its also not heavy so it won’t weigh down your hair.

What are your repurchased products? 

~ Jade xx

L’Oreal recently re-packaged and re-formulated their longtime running Infallible foundation so, I decided to pick it up to try after the disappointment of the Maybelline foundation I was wearing at the time (review here).

“High coverage, long-wear foundation that hides the appearance of fatigue and blemishes. Now with Hydrating Hyaluron Complex the 24H non-stop formula stays on and feels fresh from day to night.”

I have oily and spot prone skin so I like my base to last all day without a large amount of shine and this foundation is pretty good at both. The formula is almost gel like which firstly means it's easy to blend into the skin - I’ve been using the Sigma F80 flat-top kabuki brush - and doesn’t sink into pores - win! - but also lasts a full day without moving around too much - even without using a primer, which never happens for me. 

It has a satin finish which I like as I normally go for matte foundations, due to my oily skin, however they then leave my face looking dull and dry, whereas because this foundation has a satin finish without being too dewy, my skin still looks healthy but not oily. This foundation also doesn’t cling to any dry patches or melt away on oily patches so it's good for most skin types too. Coverage is very nice too, it covers nearly everything but is still lightweight and doesn’t look heavy.

I also really like the packaging of the infallible foundation as the glass bottle looks nice and doesn't feel cheap unlike some high street foundations can - although the glass bottle can be a pain if travelling - and the pump gives the right amount for a light layer, this foundation is also easily buildable if you want a fuller coverage.

It doesn’t contain any SPF which can be a good or bad thing. It’s good for use during nighttime or when there's flash photography as there won't be any flashback however, it does mean that you’d need to apply a face SPF when wearing it during the day - especially in the summer.

The colour range is a little disappointing as there is only eight shades and they’re all fairly light. However, they do have yellow undertones opposed to pink which I much prefer as yellow skin undertones are more natural on the skin and tend to match the majority of people more. Also, I’ve found that the foundation oxidises slightly, it’s not overly noticeable but the colour does darken slightly throughout the day so it would be better to go a shade lighter if you’re between shades. 

The foundation is also scented which may be a problem for those with sensitive skin - though I haven’t had a problem - and for a high street foundation the price may be seen as a little high at £9.99 (though L’Oreal is currently on offer in Boots).

Have you tried any new foundations recently?

~ Jade xx

A while ago both Lucy and I were in the market for a new foundation. This offering from Maybelline was new to the high street at the time so we thought we’d both give it a try and review it as we have different skin types.

“Dull, blotchy, uneven skin? Visibly improves your skin every minute you're in it. Our first hydrating foundation with Actyl C and SPF 20. Flawless all-day coverage. The formula helps skin look more radiant, fresher and even, with all-day wear.”

Jade’s thoughts:

Starting with the positives this foundation really does last all day. I’ve found I need to powder about half way through my day but my makeup is still in one place at the end of day which never happens with my oily skin. Along with the longevity the wear of this foundation is great too as it wears evenly. So, I don’t get a oily t-zone and then the rest of my makeup looks the same which is what typically happens. This foundation also contains SPF 20 which makes it great not just for summer but year round as a daily foundation - just not for night time, the flashback is ridiculous! The price is also great at only £8.99.

However, I also have many problems with this foundation. The foundation itself is very thick for a liquid which makes it difficult to blend into the skin and can look heavy and mask-like even without powder. This I have a problem with as although I like to have a decent amount of coverage from my foundation I don’t like it to look like I’m wearing a lot of foundation. The colour range is very very limited. All the shades have pink undertones so if you have a tan or are olive skinned - like me - it’s really hard to find the right match. I’m also not a fan of the packaging as I think it looks quite cheap - despite being a high street product. My last point isn’t really a positive or a negative but the foundation claims to help improve your skin whilst you’re wearing it which isn’t something I’ve noticed over the month I’ve been wearing it. (I'm wearing this foundation in this FOTD post)

Lucy's thoughts:

What new products have you been trying?

~ Jade and Lucy xx

I’ve been wearing this foundation everyday since it was released in the UK in February and for a high street foundation I am very impressed.

It’s fairly light coverage though it is buildable and is also lightweight which is great as I hate feeling like I’m wearing 3 inches of foundation especially with summer coming up as if you wear a heavier foundation you just feel like your face is melting - which is not desirable. 

Colour range is limited as there are only 10 shades available and it seems that not all stores stock every shade as my local boots and superdrug only stock the middle 5 shades, though the colours do range from light to fairly dark but are more yellow toned. 

This foundation is great if you have combination to oily skin (like myself) as it is relatively matte though not completely - which I like as although I don’t like to be shiny I don’t like being completely matte either as my face just looks dull. It also wears well and lasts all day but does move slightly and you may need to touch up with powder, however for £8.99 I don’t mind that at all. 

Nearly naked also has an SPF of 20 which is good for summer and I haven’t had a problem with flash back in pictures as of yet.

I prefer to apply this foundation with clean fingers as I find that it sits better on the skin but I have also used it with the real techniques buffing brush and get the same effect it just takes longer to work in - you also have to wash your brushes more regularly which is a task I like to avoid for as long as I possibly can. 

The packaging for this foundation is not my favourite. Although the glass bottle is nice it isn’t so good for traveling as it’s weighty and there is no pump to this foundation which is particularly annoying as you can never get the same amount onto the back of your hand each time and is easy to pour out too much - you think Revlon would’ve put a pump on the nearly naked after so many complaints from the absence of a pump on the colour stay foundation. 

Overall I really like this foundation - I’ve used up two bottles and about to purchase my third which never happens. It’s great if you’re on a budget and looking for a lightweight foundation particularly for the summer months if you have oily skin.

What’s your current foundation pick?

~ Jade xx

Today I thought I’d share with you what makeup I tend to wear on a daily basis/current go-to products. The majority of these products are long time favourites but a few are new to me.

Revlon Nearly naked ~ 130 Shell

Bourjois chocolate bronzer ~ 52

Sleek blush ~ Rose gold

MAC mineralise eyeshadow ~ Snow season (limited edition)

Maybelline colour tattoo ~ Pink gold

MAC eyeshadow ~ Omega

Rimmel stay matte powder ~ 001 transparent

Rimmel exaggerate eyeliner ~ 001 black

Rimmel wake me up concealer ~ Ivory

Bare minerals prime time ~ neutralising

MAC eyeshadow ~ Kid

Nivea lip butter ~ Caramel cream

Lancôme rouge in love ~ 322M corail in love

Benefit they’re real (sample size)