Review| Dior Forever Perfect Makeup SPF 35 (2015 Reformulation)

Dior is trolling me, because I was completely unaware of their newest reformulation of the Forever foundation. This one is named the "Forever Teint Haute Perfection Perfect Makeup Everlasting Wear Pore-Refining Effect with Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF35." Succinct. 

It comes in 16 shades and retails for $50 at Sephora and Sephora.com, Macy's, Nordstrom, etc. Make sure that you have the newest iteration with SPF35 and not SPF25. 

The convoluted name tells me that it should hide my pores, last forEVER, and has SPF35. 

Here are the ingredients: 

The frosted glass bottle and heavy cap feels as bougie as ever. 

I picked up 21 Linen. I am currently NC25 tumbling toward NC30-35, and swatches on the back of my hand suggested that it was NC25 and would oxidize to NC27. You've been warned! This foundation does oxidize like that last formula. 

I have to admit that this foundation impresses me more than the formula that I used when living in SoCal (when oil control was a top priority for base products.) 

PROS:

• Extremely kind to skin textures such as fine lines, pores, and acne bumps. 
• Full coverage with a satin finish that gets better as the day goes on. 
• Absolutely no fading or patchiness even after 8+ hours in the heat. 
• Easy to blend with no streakiness. 

CONS:

• You need more than 2 pumps for the entire face. 
• $$$$$$$
• Oxidation. 21 Linen is not the most cool-leaning yellow foundation I've come across and it deepens half a shade once it has set. 

Here are swatches of the foundation with similar brethren. From left to right: Bourjois HM in 52 Vanille, D&G Perfect Reveal Lifting in 110 Caramel, Urban Decay Naked Skin in 4.0, Dior Forever in 21 Linen, Shiseido Synchro Skin in Golden 3. 

Natural indoor lighting:

Flash photo indoors: 

Outdoor under direct sunlight: 

Currently, my skin is as normal as it can get with a t-zone that produces oil. My nose is temperamental and can often seem "flake-y" underneath of a mattifying foundation. However, observe this application with minimal concealer and powder directly under the eyes. The foundation looks to be a perfect match to my current skintone and does indeed *blur* any imperfections without seeming mask-like. 

It covers lighter dark spots and redness easily. 

I applied this over my newly touted Sun Bum Moisturizing Lotion (SPF 70) by itself. The sunscreen itself is very moisturizing (borderline greasy) on my skin and lent itself to the more dewy look of my base. I've tried the Forever on top of regular SPF + primer and the result is equally satisfying. 

Upon very close inspection (perhaps 3 inches away) you can see that it bunches slightly with the dry skin on my nose. However, I still maintain that all skin types can use this foundation with proper skin preparation. In comparison to the previous version, this foundation is much less mattifying/oil controlling but makes up for it with better SPF, its excellent pore blurring performance, and equal longevity. 

After I finished with the rest of my face, the foundation seems to have oxidized. The oxidation is much more obvious on my hand (happens with almost every swatch) and looks to be 1/2 to 1 shade darker than my neck and more golden than my chest. Hm. I'm not a fan of wearing foundation on my neck due to high necklines, but this seems to be a better shade for the months to come. 

Overall, I give high marks for this foundation! I can see it being perfect for work days over events due to the high SPF, but it stays flawless without primer and powder. With primer and powder, you're looking at bulletproof wear until you take off your face for the day. 

xo BE

Edit| Dewy, Radiant, Luminous Foundations on Rotation (IT Cosmetics, Dior, Benefit, L'oreal, and Bourjois)

You know these foundations are heavily abused and loved when you can see fingerprints and smudges ERRWHERE on the packaging. My apologies.

I've been testing these five out for the past month or so, making sure to understand each one's nuances and unique traits. Have you noticed that none of them are matte finishes? I'm back on the dewy "this is really my skin no really" bandwagon. Each have their own pros and cons, but all give off a radiant "glow from within" and all that jazz. Of course, some of them venture on the greasy side if not set properly with a powder, but more on that later. 

From left to right: IT Cosmetics CC Cream in Medium, Dior Diorskin Nude in 31 Sand, Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow in Petal, L'oreal True Match Lumi in W3 Nude Beige, Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation in 53 Light Beige.

You may have seen these swatches before in earlier posts, but I want to include them for reference in case you are close to my shade range (NC30 to NC35.) My skin type is currently dry to normal, with some flakes on the nose depending on the humidity. I need all the help I can get to make my skin less dull and lifeless. 

Let me just do the dirty work for you and break it down by "best of":

1. Best shade match: Hands down Benefit's Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow in Petal is the most yellow toned foundation I've ever seen at a mass retailer besides MAC. Since it's so yellow, I can see myself getting away with it when I'm lighter or darker. 

2. Best wear time: Between Diorskin Nude and IT Cosmetics CC cream, I can go for 12 hour days and run errands in blazing hot weather without sweating my face off. Both look flawless even after a long day and multiple blottings. 

3. Best value: Those who want a dewy and luminous foundation without breaking the bank can try L'oreal True Match Lumi. It looks peachy in swatches but alright on my face, and the formula performs well for its price.

4. Best coverage: The IT Cosmetics CC cream is actually a full coverage foundation (deceptive name, right?) and can cover up all of my dark circles, hyper-pigmentation, and broken capillaries with one layer. 

5. Best finish: All of these give off a dewy and luminous finish, but Diorskin Nude actually veers more on the natural/satin side, making it look less "natural" but definitely more polished as a base. I wouldn't call it nude, but it has the least chance of looking greasy on the face or transferring onto your clothes. 

Poor Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum, I didn't give it enough love from what you can see. It's a decent foundation, but in no way better than the original Healthy Mix formulation. It's very sheer coverage in a portable bottle, making it the perfect foundation to slap on when you're in a hurry and don't care to cover up your flaws. 

That's all for now, I'm expecting this trend to continue indefnitely as long as I live in San Jose as the dry weather makes my skin react badly to heavier foundations. We will see, though, as I'm always fickle and wanting to experiment with different finishes and textures. 

xo Be

Review| Dior Diorskin Nude Foundation in 31 Sand

Dior Diorskin Nude Foundation ($49) is a product that performs so well, I wish it didn't. I see this one to be one I will repurchase once I use it down to the last drop. 

I'm the type of person who never stops looking for great foundations, and this one instantly landed itself into my top five holy grail list after a week (hell, even a day!) but I waited to use it regularly over a longer period of time to give the most thorough review. 

As always, here are the ingredients and drug facts on the packaging for your enjoyment. 

The foundation comes in a glass bottle with an extravagant silver bottle top that is not only over the top, but fragile! Underneath the cap is a pump. 

Within the range, numbers ending in #1 means that the foundation has a yellow/olive undertone, #0 is neutral, #2 is pink toned, and #3 is peach toned. Numbers start at #10 and end at #70, so there's a good range of colors that accommodate to your skin tone.

I picked up shades 31 Sand for summer and 21 Linen for winter. These two encompass the shade range I stay in between all seasons (NC20 to NC35) and I can always mix to find an exact match. For now, #31 is perfect for NC30-NC35. I found little to no oxidation with this product, unlike Dior Forever foundation which oxidizes a half shade to whole shade darker. 

Texture and Finish: This foundation is rather liquid-y and dries down to a satin/natural finish, mimicking how real skin "glows" without dripping in dew and sans minor flaws. I was really surprised at how nicely it played with my dry patches and flakes for how good the coverage is on the skin. I love this foundation because of how smooth it makes my skin look. 

However, keep in mind that it does look like "makeup" on the skin. It's not as if it just sits on top of your skin, but it's not anywhere sheer enough to look natural in my opinion. 

I would suggest this for dry to combo skinned people with no extreme dryness or oiliness to address. 

Here it is swatched next to similar foundations in my stash, both indoor and outdoor lighting. 

Coverage: "Diorskin Nude" may make you think that this foundation provides sheer to light coverage, but it's actually light to medium, buildable to full. On me, I would say that it's a solid medium. I don't need to reach for a concealer with this foundation unless I have a huge zit to hide. It glides over my hyper-pigmentation and dark spots and completely gets rid of red areas. 

Lasting Power: Similar to the Forever foundation, this one wears like steel. I wore this on days bordering on 95 degrees outside and it still looked flawless when I went to take it off at night. Realistically it does start to fade slightly around 7 hours for me, but who's complaining? The amazing thing is that it does not cake around my nose even after all that time. 

Application: Dior suggests that you use a flat paddle foundation brush or your fingers to blend the foundation into the skin. I find that a buffing brush, BeautyBlender, or even fingers work well with Diorskin Nude. It's really easy to use and not fussy at all. You can build up layers where you need more coverage, as I often do for my left cheek rife with broken capillaries.

 

You can see the foundation (one coat) on the left side and no foundation on the right. It evens out my complexion without looking cakey or fake, see? 

 

In this closeup, you can see how the foundation covers my broken capillaries only slightly but gives me a polished appearance.

 

Here is a finished look with the foundation, not set with any powder. It isn't a dewy finish at all. In fact, it's very "my skin but better." Lines are softened and spots are lightened in a way that makes my skin almost glow from within, nyurk nyurk. 

Overall, I don't think this foundation is overpriced especially when compared to other high end (or even mid-range) base products. It performs well, lasts forever, and looks amazing on the skin. Not to mention, you're paying the extra money for such classy packaging. This is one I wouldn't mind repurchasing and keeping in my stash at all times!

xo Be

First Look| Sephora VIB Rouge Chic Week Haul

Yeah, I said I wouldn't haul no mo. I lied.

Sephora's Chic Week is going on right now where VIB Rouge, VIB, and Beauty Insider members get 15% off their entire purchase. Of course, Clinique was doing a gift with purchase I couldn't resist, so I also picked up some items from their counter. If you're stuck on what to get during the sale, maybe some of my "extraneous shit" might do just fine or serve as inspiration to haul.

Clockwise: TOCCA Brigitte, Stila Stay All Day eyeliner in Intense Black, MUFE 130 brush, Dior Diorskin Nude Foundation in 21 and 31, Clinique Cheek Pop in Ginger Pop, Givenchy Le Rouge in Beige Plume 102, Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster, Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion.

TOCCA Brigitte ($68 retail)- I've been pining and lusting after this for a year but never got around to purchasing. The husband didn't like how it smelled in store, but the scent mellows out on my skin beautifully and the hint of spice and sweetness drives me crazy.

Stila Stay All Day liner in Intense Black ($20)- Backup. I don't trust drugstore liners anymore after using this. It never skips, flakes, or smudges on me. 

MUFE 130 Powder Brush ($55)- I originally saw this online and didn't go through with the purchase because I wasn't sure how it would perform. I needed a powder brush that would let me set my liquid foundation with a powder (duh) but wasn't too loosely or densely packed. When you feel it in person, you'll understand why I ignored the price tag. It's nicely packed and super super ultra frickin omg SOFT. 

Dior Diorskin Nude Foundation ($49)- I went into Macy's to return my Shiseido Dual Balancing Foundation (emphasized my dry patches and flakes) and sat down at the Dior counter to get color matched for the Nude Foundation. I wanted something medium coverage with a satin-dewy finish and this fits the bill. I even went back into Sephora to pick up shade 21 for the winter!

Clinique Cheek Pop in Ginger Pop ($21)- I figured since Ginger Pop was selling out like crazy it was one to try out. It's a very lovely sun-tan color on my skin, if that makes sense. Sort of similar to "I just spent an hour in the sun without sunscreen, whoops" but prettier. 

Givenchy Le Rouge in Beige Plume 102 ($36)- Though its supposed to be a matte formula, this one had more slip and felt more moisturizing than I expected. The color is halfway between a nude and a MLBB shade on me.

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster ($48)- A lot of YTers have been liking this, and I'm not sure if I trust them to be non-sponsored, but this stuff does sound promising. I'm looking to try out the best Vit C serums and get rid of (or at least fade) my broken capillaries and dark spots. 

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion ($26)- Finally, I revisited an old favorite moisturizer of mine. Growing up in San Jose I had very dry to normal skin that did just fine with only this moisturizer every morning and night. Now that I am more SPF conscious, this lotion will probably stay a night thang. I also like it for touching up (is that weird?) over my foundation if I find dry patches. The best part is how reasonably priced it is! 

I did go into a brick and mortar store to get swatches and samples, and the only thing I couldn't bring myself to purchase was the Urban Decay Electric palette. But really, when would I ever reach for it? Maybe one time on Halloween? I decided against it, but in the back of my mind it's still calling out to me....

What did you haul for Chic Week? 

xo Be

First Look| Year of the Haul 2014

Happy Year of the Horse! I had a great weekend full of eating, drinking, and general debauchery. Of course, I went home with zero "li xi" money....ain't nobody gonna give a grown ass working woman money for good luck.

I did, however, find the time to go shopping over the holiday weekend. And with a hangover! I give mad props to myself for even getting out of bed, much less drag myself to the mall to do some exchanges. (Shopping online for button up shirts when you're busty? Never a good idea.) I stopped inside the JCP to see if I could pick up some staples for the summer and did indeed find what I needed.

Make Up For Ever's Duo Mat Powder Foundation ($34 retail) was an out of the blue find, since I've heard rumors that it was being discontinued long ago. Like their Pro Finish powder, you can use it as a foundation with a sponge or set another product with it using a brush. Based on rave reviews claiming it sucks more oil up from the face than frying eggs after bacon, I knew I had to have it. 207 Golden Beige looked perfectly yellow under store lighting, but I quickly discovered it was a tad too dark for my current skintone (more for NC40.) It's nbd, since I'm not too oily now.

I also picked up another Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Crayon in Ro(cocoa) ($25 retail) since I love the formulation and want an alternative to black when tightlining all around the eyes. Needless to say, the staying power is phenomenal. The color itself seems like a drab brown but flashes metallic in the right light.

Then, I bit the bullet and committed to the full size of Benefit's They're Real mascara ($23 retail.) The trick with this one is:
 a. have already long lashes (thanks to Latisse, not mom)
b. use a sweeping motion rather than wiggling the wand and
c. layer the second coat almost immediately after the first and curl. 

It makes my lashes pack a punch without being crunchy, flakey, or clumpy. I especially love it for my bottom lashes as well. The best part is that it's not waterproof even though it holds up so well during the day, so you can remove it with ease.I'm hoping it won't dry out on me too quickly, as the formula is on the drier side.

As for me, summer is practically here, so a new bronzer was a "must have." Enter Too Faced's Chocolate Soleil bronzer ($30 retail).  Yup, the chocolate scent didn't win me over the first time I purchased Milk Chocolate, but this time the scent is much lighter and the medium/deep color will work for NC35. I gave my first Soleil to my mom to help her contour since these have no shimmer or glitter. The powder kicks slightly, but I use the least dense brush I have when working with this one.

Speaking of Too Faced, their La Crème lipsticks ($22 retail) have converted me! I picked up Taffy (pink marshmallow nude) and Juicy Melons (pink coral) this time to be Muji drawer buddies with my current Spice Spice Baby (pinky brown MLBB). The formulation is the least drying I have ever tried (and dare I say moisturizing) and doesn't feather or smudge. The color collection is also very cute yet professional, making these perfect for work.

As for the Diorskin Forever Flawless Perfection Wear Makeup ($49 retail) and Bare Minerals Matte Foundation ($27 retail), watch out for separate reviews coming later. I actually purchased these two online a few weeks ago rather than in person. They are both contending to be the top spot for my summer base routine, and I want to see how they both perform over a week to have a resolute opinion.

I'm coming down with the flu (again...) so I may be MIA for the weekend, but I will work on getting a FOTD/review/application up for the Diorskin foundation. Keep your eyes peeled!

XO, Be

Review| Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused and Dior Shimmer Star in Amber Diamond

As a dry-skinned gal in the winter (and fall, and some of spring...) I have no time for such nonsense as mattifying primers or setting powders. I prefer to over-moisturize and use a neutral foundation, rather than using a moisturizing foundation that can oil up around the sides of my nose or become patchy as the day wears on. My best bet is to use a long wearing foundation that holds another powder product whose main job is to illuminate the skin. 

Hourglass powders are a hit or miss for many people, but they are a definite hit for me. Some people say they are like the emperor's new clothes; does absolutely nothing but at least it looks fancy and you feel good applying it right?? My first powder was Ethereal Light, which gave my skin a soft-focus look that was very dreamy. I picked up Diffused Light ($45 retail at Sephora) to use as a setting powder for foundations that like to stray or look too matte. 

Then, in order to really highlight my cheekbones and bring about a warm bronzed glow, I chose Dior Shimmer Star (sounds like a stripper's roll on glitter...) in Amber Diamond ($45 retail at Sephora.) I was expecting a lot for its price point and it definitely delivered as well as UD Naked Flushed's highlighter or Benefit's Watts Up.

That is to say, it's very uniquely warm but doesn't blow anything else out of the water. I like the luxe packaging and texture of the powder. It isn't chunky, but it's very obvious. Applied with a brush, it gives a healthy sheen from talking distance but GLITTERS if you stand too close to me. I don't use it on my cupid's bow/nose bridge for this reason. Glittery nose. Yum.

You can see the Dior highlighter on top and the Diffused Light powder on the bottom. These are very heavily swatched twice so that they would show up. 

Here is another view for you. The highlighter is very apparent without being gaudy imo, and the powder is nicely yellow. Seems like the warm girl's alternative to Dim Light.

They are both blended in here. If you apply the highlighter to such a large area (god bless your cheekbones) you can definitely see that it's almost bronzed. Meanwhile the setting powder dissolves into oblivion.

Look closely, however, and you will see that my skin on the Hourglass side is eerily smoother.

So there you have it, two products that can be workhorses for your winter season's parched skin. I wouldn't say that they are absolutely must-haves, but very fun splurges that could make your skin look "even better" even when you're hacking up a lung and sore all over.

I've just gotten over a bout of the flu (and the "man flu" after giving it to my dear baby husband) and don't feel great without perfecting my base every morning. I don't even feel the holiday season in full effect yet except for crazed nouveau riches shopping for presents at South Coast Plaza.

How's your holiday month going? I can't wait to get in the car and drive back to San Jose!

XO, Be

Collection and Haul| Fall Essentials

Ah, fall. The time for mattes, berries, and vampy makeup to saturate the blogging world and make every post several berry lipstick collection videos a day. Here are a few of my picks for this fall season. L.A. has a very mild autumn that I'm in love with! It's not searing through my bones cold like NorCal, or wet and rainy like San Diego. Instead, there's a gloom over the skies that makes the temperature colder rather than too windy, wet, or freezing. Nice.

I did pick up several new things in time for the fall as my punchy bright lipsticks, blushes (also read: bronzers), and perfumes have gone back into their cryogenic chambers until next year. Darker, moodier, and sparklier colors are coming out to play. Also gone is the mattifying powder, as my skin is going back to its dry tendencies.

Lipsticks: My berry lip picks are a little different and hardly mentioned. YSL's Rouge Volupte in #12 Forbidden Burgundy ($34.00) is the nouveau riche pick for opaque, head turning color without the harlot label. Also, Thanksgiving is a time of eating, not lipstick touch ups! Maybelline's 410 Blissful Berry ($7.98) is a sheer one that won't be requiring any touchups since it leaves your lips with a stain all day. 

Eyeshadows: I hauled three new eyeshadow singles just for fall! My first eyeshadow pick for fall would be Maybelline's Color Tattoo in Pomegranate Punk ($6.99). I was originally never drawn to this color but decided that for the color months, perhaps a garnet on the eyes wouldn't be too harsh. It's a very creamy formula that leans almost toward a cool brown/taupe rather than full on red or purple entirely. 

Another two that are great are L'oreal Infallible Eye Shadow in 997 Eternal Sunshine and 556 Smoldering Plum ($7.98). The formulation is AMAZING and so buttery soft. While not as opaque as UD's Half Baked, Eternal Sunshine is great as an inner corner highlight as a soft gold that isn't yellow. Smoldering Plum does need some expertise to work into the crease, as a muddy/dark/sparkly eye is never attractive. 

From top to bottom: Smoldering Plum, Pomegranate Punk, Blissful Berry, Forbidden Burgundy, Eternal Sunshine, Warm Soul, MSFN Medium.

Blush: I've tucked away my bright Tarte blushes and peaches for now and hauled MAC's Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul ($25.00) for the colder months. With such bold eye and lip looks, it's better to pull the attention away from blush. I still want something that adds color but doesn't draw attention. With just a touch of glimmer, Warm Soul is a winner in my book for any season. 

Powder: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium ($35.00) has replaced my Rimmel Stay Matte for the colder months. I no longer need oil control, and this powder (while rather ashy as a swatch) gives a great sheen and brightens my face while it sets my liquid foundation.

Perfume: It's time to break out the maneater perfumes with heavy white florals and warm musks lingering on the low neckline of your slinky black dress. I'm a huge fan of oriental perfumes in the winter (and night-time), and Dior's Hypnotic Poison ($75 for 1.7 oz) always does the trick. Sephora says its notes are "Bitter Almond, Caraway Spice, Sambac Jasmine, Cinnamon, Tuberose, Vanilla, Musk, Mosses, Jucarunda Wood." I say, not sure what "jucarunda root" is, but it sure smells like root beer upon first splash. I love root beer, so that's not a problem. After a few minutes it mellows down into a very sexy scent perfect for holiday office parties. It's not overwhelming, but more than one spritz is asking for trouble since it lasts so long on the skin.

That's all for tonight, hope you enjoyed seeing my fall star players. I'll probably be the girl rockin' crazy vampy lips even to the grocery store, but I feel bashful with dark eyeshadows. Holiday season isn't quite here yet, but once winter comes, you'll definitely be seeing my dark reds come out to play. 

Have a great weekend!

Be