First Look| Laura Mercier Candleglow Foundation and NARS Matte Skin Tint

Although foundations are dropping left and right for 2016, I've decided to be a little more conscientious of my foundation obsession. After all, I've found several "HGs" to carry me through this winter without having to buy more foundation in the NC20-25 range. 

The first sample I took home is the NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint ($44) in Alaska, which matches NC20-23. It's very easy to spread in a creamy formula but don't be fooled as it dries demi-matte and tends to highlight flakes immensely. I didn't even know I had flakey skin between my brows and on my chin... but this tint brought it all out to play! This probably has to do with the fact that alcohol is the second ingredient...and my dehydrated skin HATES alcohol!

It has medium buildable to full coverage and decent oil control. I would say it reminds me of the Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation with a thicker consistency yet highlights dry skin. Not my favorite. I will not be purchasing a full size. 

Here's a photo. You may not see any textural issues but trust me, my face is an oil slick AND crusty after 5-6 hours of wear time, and I can't afford to further dry out my skin with a setting powder. 

The second sample I've taken home is the Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation ($48) in Dusk. Dust is a VERY olive green match for NC25 (amazing!) but again, the formula leaves something to be desired. The finish is gorgeous: soft and luminous but not too dewy with sheer-light coverage. 

This first photo is sans setting powder with concealer under the eyes. 

Its runny consistency blends like a dream with your fingers and doesn't settle into fine lines and pores. It also doesn't pool into the sides of my nose or cake up with several layers. 

This is set with powder. With a great mattifying powder I can wear this for 7-8 hours with minimal wear. I don't think this foundation does well without a primer or powder even with my combination skin. 

The reason I haven't purchased a full size is because of its sheer coverage and poor lasting performance on its own. When I wear it on its own, it looks gorgeous for...3 hours. When I put effort into priming and setting this foundation, it takes away the dew and gives me a satin finish that doesn't last past the 9-10 hour mark that I demand of my base products. Overall, you need very dry and very good skin to pull off this foundation. For the price tag this foundation left me a little wanting...

I'm glad I had enough cajones to ask for samples rather than purchasing full sizes with ragrets abound. The samples from Sephora were generous enough that I could test out each foundation 4-5 times before I could get a good feel for their performance. 

xo Be

Review| Dolce and Gabbana Perfect Reveal Lifting Foundation

I really wanted to take my time with this foundation review. As I age and become more and more jaded to new beauty products, base products really need several months of trial and error before they can be discussed at length. 

Especially if the foundation in question is the Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Reveal Lift Foundation which will empty $73 whole quids out of ya hard earned monies. At this price point, I really expected miracles and perfect skin and devout male worshipers throwing themselves at my feet.  

It's a hefty and luxurious bottle complete with a pump. I purchased shade #110 Caramel because the few swatches online suggested that it was the most olive of the bunch. Now that I'm looking through the Sephora shade guides, #120 Natural Beige may have been a better match (possibly more olive at the same depth). With that fault aside, it's still a good match for me at NC23-25 and doesn't look too peachy. Also, what was I doing, expecting an olive color from Caramel? D'oh!

Here are swatches in different sources of lighting: Hourglass Illusion Skin Tint, Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation in Light-Medium Sand, BareMinerals Gel Rescue Cream in Buttercream, D&G Lift Foundation in Caramel, IT Cosmetics CC Cream in Light. 

All ranting aside, this is a good foundation for the VERY dry skinned who want coverage and lasting power on top of moisturizing properties. It feels luxurious on the skin: a thick, creamy serum of medium coverage and intense hydration. I definitely cannot use a moisturizing sunscreen underneath (it comes with SPF 25) and apply this on clean or thinly primed skin. I've found that the best method of application is with your fingers or a buffing brush to really push the product into your skin. 

Let me repeat myself: this is for the very dry skinned and mature folks. I consider my skin to be on the drier side of normal for most foundations, but this foundation will look dewy upon application and GREASY by mid-day. Blot. Powder. Do whatever's in your power to delay the process. The foundation WILL slip on the skin as it wears, but won't transfer off and the coverage lasts throughout the day. 

Another thing I want to mention is how it can lift up peach fuzz if you're not careful. I think it's nice to drier skin patches and flaking skin, but it can still look like makeup if you use too much. You really need to blend this one in. For example, I prefer my Hourglass Illusion Skin Tint as it boasts the same ethereal skin/glowing light bulb effect but melds better with my skin. 

I can't say it's life changing for me due to the fact that my skin is much more normalized. However, I do think that there are very few foundations on the market for very dry skin that offers medium to full coverage and a solid 10 hours of lasting power. I think you'll want a sample first to see how this one compares to other base products. 

xo Be