Let's Talk About Foundations, Shall We!

Natalie Portman in DIORSKIN FOREVER Campaign

DIORSKIN FOREVER line was recently launched in our stores, as the saleswoman claims was on Sunday 21st, on the same day i went shopping there, which i dont know if she's telling the truth or not because most of the time i dont believe what those saleswomen say just to make up buy the products.

Anyways i thought why not give it a shot since i am so into liquid foundations recently. I still cannot say if its good or bad, its only been a couple of days since i bought it. I will let you know of my final thoughts after, lets say, a month! 

I got the liquid foundation and the compact powder. There is one thing i dont like about the products and that they're perfumed. I tend to freak out once i notice an obvious perfumed smell in the cosmetics even if they dont badly affect my skin.

DIORSKIN FOREVER Flawless Perfection Fusion Wear Makeup Compact and Foundation

I dont even know why i bought a new foundation, i already have two that i use almost every single day and i absolutely love which are the NARS Sheer Glow and the CHANEL Vitalumiere Aqua. 

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation (image courtesy of Cute and Mundane)

CHANEL Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation

I remember i first got the NARS Sheer Matte Foundation, it was supposed to be suitable for oily skin but it made my face look chakly, then i switched to the Sheer Glow and i love it. Its one of my favorite. It really give this inside glow like its coming out of my face and not of wearing a light tone make up. This is wonderful.

The CHANEL Vitalumiere Aqua is another story, the first time i used it i said "WHAT ON EARTH HAVE I SPENT MY MONEY ON?!! " I immediately thought it was a waste of money, but then i knew my mistake, i normally powder my face after wearing a liquid foundation and i've powdered my face with CHANEL translucent powder, it didnt give me a nice effect, it made my face look so dull and chalky. Then i used MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, then i thought to myself "WOW, this is exactly what i was looking for". 

The foundation has sheer coverage so if you're looking for a full coverage this one is not the one, and this is the reason why i love it. I can use this foundation for my everyday make up, its very light, i can barely feel anything on my face and when i powder my face, my skin looks even and very natural. 

Another good foundation that i tried and was amazed of its result is the MakeUp Forever High Definition Foundation. I read alot of good reviews about the whole HD line and i got the liquid foundation, the primer, the blush, the Microfinish Powder and the concealer.

MakeUp Forever HD Foundation

The foundation has a really good coverage, it gives a certain glow (but not like NARS), and the face looks almost perfect after applying it. What i was more amazed of that i bought the HD line in a hurry without testing the colors and the foundation was perfect on my skintone.

After all, the beauty of the liquid foundation comes when you know what you're looking for and find the perfect one for you, i might talk endlessly about a product and how much i love it and when you try it you'll think to yourself that you made a mistake by listening to me. I am not wrong of appraising such a product and you're not wrong for listening to me, you just have to find the right product for you.

Alot of people make this mistake and i call it a (stupid mistake), if, for example, a product is described as "sheer" and someone is all complaining about not having a good coverage! Of course you will not have a full coverage because obviously the product is "sheer". Some people dont pay attention to what the product is saying, please always read the whole title of the product, try it and test it, get a sample home if you're not sure on what to spend your money on.

I have probably mentioned this way of wearing a liquid foundation everyday and its very wearable, the skin will look very natural but even toned. Just wear a very small amount of foundation, you will barely feel anything there on your skin, but trust me, once you powder your face (with a good face powder) you will tell the difference, plus your powder will stay longer on your skin than wearing it alone. 

If you dont like the immediate affect of powder on your skin (which by the way will sink in after a while) you can spray your face with spray water like Evian's or you can spray MAC Fix+. 

Personally i hate spraying my face with anything, it just doesnt feel comfortable to me so my way is to spray MAC Fix+ on MAC 187 brush then dab it gently on my face.

Evian Spray

MAC Fix+

MAC 187 brush

If you are using or ever tried a good foundation please share the product's name and why you love it.

Armani Sheer Blush

This is by far the best blush bronzer i've ever used. Its the Giorgio Armani Sheer Blush # 4. I remember when i first tried it in store few years ago and it was out of stock, i hate when i really love something so bad and cannot find it. Weeks later i found it somewhere else.

The blush looks very much like a bronzer with gold shimmer but i dont normally use it as a bronzer or for contouring, instead i use it as a regular blush and its stunning, it doesnt give me this "punch in the face" effect at all, the color is very flattering and every natural. 

The best brush to use for this blush is MAC 168 or Sigma F40.

MAC 168

MAC Semi-Precious Collection

Are you excited for the launch of MAC Semi-Precious Collection tomorrow?

A couple of items caught my eyes from the collection which are Pressed Amber blush and Pearl Mineralize Skinfinish.

Pressed Amber Blush (image courtesy of Vampy Varnish)

Pearl Mineralize Skinfinish (image courtesy of Vampy Varnish)

 You can view color swatches of the collection from (Part-1) and (Part-2)

KWIAT Jewels

I am not sure where i came across KWIAT Jewelry campaign photos, it was in one of the beauty/fashion blogs but couldnt find the link again, but i was very impressed with the campaign photos. The photos are very creative and i absolutely loved the pieces.

SCOTCH & SODA

The Amsterdam based couture store SCOTCH & SODA recently opened in Dubai Mall, and i had the privilege of visiting it when it first opened and it was on %50 sale!!

What i loved about the store is that all the garments fabrics were very soft and the designs are wearable for everyday use. The colors are subtle (maybe for this season)..but i noticed that the salesmen were a bit slow and maybe because the store is new and they were newly employed. I had to wait around 15 minutes in front of the cashier and only 2 persons were ahead of me.

Silky top with frill details

Signature leather belt with special buckle

Dandelion Make a Wish ring

Boyfriend fitted shorts

L'Oreal Gentle Makeup Remover

L'Oreal Gentle Makeup Remover for removing make up from eyes and even lips. I had a big wide smile when i used this eye makeup remover..i'm so happy i found a product "still not comparable with Chanel's" but something that will work perfectly with me..no burning sensation, not oily and not too dry and it superly removed make up in no time..i dont have to rub that much..its very gentle and it does work good.

Compared with NIVEA's

The only downfall of the product is its packaging, the cap can hardly be opened without a struggle and the product comes out from one side and i dont understand why. When i use CHANEL's all i have to do is point the hole to the cotton and the product comes out in straight light directly into the cotton, but this one comes out from one side so i usually lose some product in the process. I even tried placing the cotton above the hole but the product doesnt come out as much as i want it to be.

I dont think it will last long with me, only if i found a way to save the product from coming out this way.

Ego QV Cream

 

I noticed that alot of people dont know about this QV cream, its very magical, and suits everyone, its mostly recommended by dermatologists for skincare problems, extra dryness or if someone is sensitive from perfumed lotions/creams. 

This rich, protective cream replenishes the skin and helps repair dry areas. It contains squalene, a natural component found in the skin’s oil. Areas prone to dryness like the elbows, knees and hands will just love what QV Cream can do to help.

BENEFITS:

• Recommended for moisturising dry skin.
• Helps to seal in natural moisture by acting as a protective barrier.
• Helps protect against dryness
• pH 6, low-irritant formulation, free from fragrance, colour, lanolin and propylene glycol.
• Suitable for skin conditions such as dry, scaly skin, winter itch, ichthyosis, xerosis, dermatitis. For the relief of symptoms of atopic eczema and psoriasis.
• Suitable for sensitive skin.
• Suitable for infants and the elderly.

You dont have to have a skin problem to be able to use it. 

QV products are available in pharmacies.

UNE Natural Beauty

UNE natural beauty is a new cosmetic brand developed by Bourjois supposedly mostly made of natural ingredients, some items are made of 100% natural ingredients if not mostly and part of it are organic and Paraben free (chemicals used in make up preservation).

The brand is fairly new and launched last year but i recently saw its advertisements in magazines and thought of trying it since its all natural and stuff. I know that mineral and natural make up is supposed to be good and healthy.

I didnt go wide with my collection, i only got the Skin-Glow Foundation, the Soft Minerals Powder Foundation and Breezy Cheeks Blush.

The Skin-Glow Foundation is described as a "light and moisturizing formula-fresh, luminous and ultra-natural complexion".
My thoughts of the product: there is barely any coverage, feels like more of a tinted moisturizer. I didnt feel any glow in it, maybe i should take a lighter shade since it doesnt have any noticeable coverage to be able to feel the glow.

The Soft Minerals Powder Foundation is described as "fine and light powder texture. Even, luminous and natural complexion."
My thoughts of the product: i used this powder foundation with a kabuki brush over the Skin-Glow Foundation, it didnt feel powdery or heavy which is good, and i can sense its a very light powder if its used alone.

The Breezy Cheeks Blush is described as "a cream powdery blush, instant glowing cheeks".
My thoughts of the product: yes it feels like a cream powder blush, the texture is a bit heavy but not very pigmented, even though the colors look very dark in real which shocked me at first, and i thought to myself how can a fair skined girl use any of the blushes. But they were very fine and i liked it.

But there is one thing that shocked me about the products (not the blush) that never happened to me before with any similar products (liquid and powder foundations).  After using the products and for a couple of hours i went to the toilet to just rinse my mouth after a meal, and i literally saw the product melting around the mouth area, the product was getting washed with the water. This never happened with me before with any foundation i used, ive never seen this and i was quite shocked.
For a sense of humor i thought to myself this is the perfect "Islamic foundation" for who are worried to wear make up and do ablution, this one will get washed away immediately :-)