Guide To MAC Foundations

MAC do a lot of foundations and it can be little daunting to go foundation shopping in MAC because there so many different options. I’m by no means a MAC expert but I do love cosmetics and trying new things and MAC is always good place to have a browse. Here is a quick rundown of the foundations, I really recommend if you’re interested in a MAC foundation, you should go to a store or counter and get a personalised recommendation.

 

Mineralize Moisture Foundation SPF 15

This is newest MAC foundation, it’s aimed at drier skins and provides light coverage but it’s buildable to medium. It has light reflective particles so it’s great if you want that healthy, dewy look.

Face and Body Foundation

This is probably the most famous MAC foundation. It’s designed to be used all over the body and because it contains properties to create a film on the skin and it means it doesn’t transfer. The formula means it needs a good shake to mix the foundation because it separates. It’s light coverage but the more you work it into the skin, the better the coverage becomes and you can more layers for more coverage. The finish is very natural and skin like and tends to suit dry, normal and oily skins.

Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation

A compact formula foundation, good for normal to oily skin, medium coverage but can be sheered out or more can be applied for fuller coverage, natural finish.

Studio Fix Fluid SPF15

Aimed at oilier skin types because it has a matte finish and is oil free, medium coverage.

MatchMaster SPF15

The formula means it adapts to your natural skin tone, medium to full coverage, best for normal to oily skins.

Studio Sculpt SPF15

Gel based foundation, medium to full coverage, long wearing, good for drier skin types.

Studio Moisture Tint SPF15

A tinted moisture, sheer coverage, suited to all skin types, oil free.

Pro Longwear SPF10

Long lasting foundation as the name suggests, designed to be worn in extreme temperatures, light to medium coverage, good for normal to oily skins and combination skins.

Studio Tech

Better for normal to dry skins, semi-matte finish, light to medium coverage.

Some Thoughts on New Products

Autumn is one of the best times of the year for new launches, lots of new products hit the market and I immediately head to my nearest counter to have look. There have been several new products which have launched and I’ve really liked them but there have been reasons why I haven’t splashed out on them. Here is a quick rundown.

YSL Youth Liberator Foundation

This isn’t just a foundation, it contains YSL’s Youth Liberator serum to give you long term skincare benefits whilst wearing makeup. This is a proper full coverage foundation but it doesn’t look cakey or heavy, it leaves the skin with a dewy glow but not shiny. Everything about this foundation is lovely, the bottle is beautiful and the foundation itself is a really good product, my only issue was the lightest shade wasn’t light enough for me but if the shade suits you, I really, really recommend trying it, it’s beautiful.

Clarins Instant Concealer

Clarins make-up is fantastic quality, I absolutely adore the Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector and a few other products so I had to try this. It’s designed to cover dark circles but mimic the skin’s natural tones so it looks very natural. The texture is gorgegous, it’s perfect for under the eyes, it’s very moisturising and light in texture but it has amazing coverage and does not crease. However, the lightest shade was too dark for me but it’s amazing if you have dark circles.

Benefit Rockateur

Dandelion is one of the few blushes I own because I’m not a big blusher fan but Dandelion is just amazing. The rest of Benefit blushers don’t suit me but when this launched I had to try it because it looks beautiful in the box. However, it didn’t suit my very pale skin but I’ve seen it on other people and it looks lovely. As with all Benefit blushes, it’s very long-lasting and the pigmentation is really good and I think this would last you a really long time.

Bobbi Brown Luminous Moisturising Treatment Foundation

I love Bobbi Brown, it’s one of my absolute favourite brands and I’m never disappointed with the products. This latest foundation is no disappointment, I absolutely love it and the only reason I have bought it is because I have enough foundations and tinted moisturisers but this is on my wish list and it will be mine, eventually. If you want the dewy, luminous skin look but have normal to skin this is perfect, I have combination skin and I loved it. The shade range is absolutely fantastic and the finish and coverage is beautiful.

Bourjois Happy Light Foundation

I really like Bourjois foundations, I think they’re among the best foundations on the high street. This is a nice foundation but I’ve noticed the shades run darker than the rest of the foundations. In Healthy Mix, I’m 51 which is slightly too dark and too yellow but the lightest shade in this is way too dark.

L’Oreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint Foundation

Like a lot of foundations, this isn’t pale enough me, there is no way I could wear this foundation which is a shame because I really like it. The texture is very liquid, almost just like water which I like because I think the watery textures blend better and tend to look more natural. The consistency reminds me of Chanel Vita Lumiere Aqua. The coverage is light but buildable to medium and the finish is just like natural skin (your skin but better look) so it’s perfect if you don’t want to look like your wearing make-up. The rumours online were differently right, it’s almost identical to Armani Maestro so if you’re looking for a cheap dupe, look no further. It has SPF18 which means it does flash back so don’t wear it if your expecting flash photography. My only criticism is the limited shade range and it does oxidise slightly.

 

L’Oreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint Foundation

If you read American beauty blogs then you’ll know about all the beauty products we don’t get in the UK. One beauty product which keeps appearing in American blogs is the new L’Oreal foundation called Magic Nude Liquid Foundation. I was a bit doubtful if we were going to get this foundation in the UK but on the Boots website there is a waiting list for the foundation so it must be coming to Britain soon. From what I’ve read, it’s a powder liquid which needs a good shake before use because it separates, the finish is described as weightless and natural with light coverage, it’s even been described as a dupe for Armani Maestro.
I don’t exactly when this foundation will go on sale but the waiting list means it must be soon http://www.boots-waitinglist.com/loreal/loreal-eau-de-teint/.

I’ve now tried the foundation and there is a full review on my blog – in short, very light texture, light but buildable coverage but looks very natural, however, the pale shade is too dark for me. Available from Superdrug and Feel Unique now.

May Favourites

May is nearly over and I’ve discovered and rediscovered so many brilliant products. These are my favourites.

Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara

This has became my absolute favourite mascara, I’ve been wearing everyday since I got it. It’s really buildable and lasts all day without any smudges and flakes and I love the flexible wand because it helps zig-zag motion.

http://www.boots.com/en/Maybelline-Volum-Express-The-Mega-Plush-Mascara_1321332/

Bourjois Cream Blush in Nude Velvet

I rarely wear blushers, I go through phasing of wearing it but I have a loads of blushers. Cream blush is my favourite, it’s so easy to apply, it’s impossible to mess up. This is the easier blusher to apply, it blends really easily and the peachy colour is really pretty and perfect for the summer.

http://www.boots.com/en/Bourjois-Little-Round-Pot-Cream-blush_1321762/

Nail Art

I’ve really got into nail art, I always wanted to give it try but I never got round to buying the dotting tools but now I have them, I find it really enjoyable.

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation

I bought this last year when it launched and I used it, liked it and then forgot about it. It’s a really good all round foundation and the lightest shade, Lightest Porcelain is really pale, cool toned shade.

http://www.boots.com/en/Rimmel-Match-Perfect-Foundation_1281345/

 

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with high street foundations. I love to be one of those people who can use an inexpensive foundation but I’m too pale. High street companies never go pale enough for my skin so I have to high end. Also I think I’m really fussy when it comes to foundation, I want it look really natural and just like skin but to feel weightless (I don’t like the feeling of “makeup” on my skin)>

Revlon’s Nearly Naked has been a long awaited launch for me. I’ve read so many so good things on American blogs, people have claimed it’s very natural and light and generally just a lovely foundation.

Nearly Naked is definitely my favourite high street foundation. Part of the reason I love is the shade range. It comes in sixteen shades which is incredible for a high street foundation and the palest shade. Ivory 110, is a pretty good match for my skin, this best I’ve found on the high street.

I really like this foundation and it’s definitely worth the hype but I do have one tiny bug bear about the foundation. It doesn’t have a pump so you waste product but I’m willing to forgive Revlon because the foundation itself is amazing.

I have the lightest shade of the Nearly Naked Foundation which is Ivory. Ivory is a cool-toned, very pale shade, the second shade Vanilla is also very pale but it’s more yellow toned. The foundation itself has a quite runny consistency which makes it incredibly easy to blend. The coverage is light to medium, the foundation is quite buildable but if you’re buying this formulation you’ll probably looking for light coverage. I think this pale shade will suit a lot of people who struggle to get a foundation match because it’s quite runny and sheer it means it quite forgiving, so if you are very pale I would check out this foundation. It covers mild marks but any pigmentation, redness or blemishes will need a separate concealer. On me it leaves a velvet finish – not matte but not overly dewy, I think it looks like skin. It also has broad spectrum protection and SPF20, which is also a bonus but obviously you can’t rely on a foundation for your SPF. The foundation also has light reflecting particles to make the skin look healthy, but it’s not glittery.  I absolutely adore this foundation, I cannot say enough good things about it. I particularly like how light it feels, I hate heavy feeling foundation but this doesn’t feel like makeup on the skin. I also found it to pretty long wearing, I managed to get over nine hours of wear and I was only slightly shiny by the end of the day.

I also bought the matching Nearly Naked Powder but I was disappointed by it. I bought the lightest shade, Fair but it looks really orange on me so I won’t be using it and I’ve gave it away to someone so hopefully they get can use out of it.

I managed to get over nine hours of wear and I was just slightly shiny by the end of the day.

Overall, I love the foundation but the powder is a disappointment.
Currently on offer in both Boots (buy one get one half price) and Superdrug (£2 off).

http://www.boots.com/en/Revlon-Nearly-Naked-Pressed-Powder_1311355/