Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation

Make Up For Ever's Full Cover has been my concealer of choice for the past couple of years, because it does a fantastic job at covering blemishes and the shade number 4 is a near perfect match for my NC15 ish skin tone. However, when my current tube started running low, I decided to try something different, as MUFE is not only difficult to get hold of here in the UK, but expensive, too. I'd heard lots of great things about Vichy's Dermablend Corrective Foundation, and after watching this excellent video from Lisa Eldridge (Acne/blemish Covering Make Up), I decided to give the foundation a go.

Vichy's description: A smooth blendable texture that glides on evenly leaving the skin with a natural, lightweight flawless finish. Recommended for minor to moderate skin imperfections such as redness, acne scars and pigmentation disorders. Moisturizing all day long. With the soothing properties of Vichy Thermal Water. 12 hours of long-lasting flawless wear (16 hours with Setting Powder). It's also non comedogenic, paraban free, and SPF 35.

Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation

In the Lisa Eldridge Video, Vichy's Corrective Foundation is used like a concealer as opposed to being used all over like a foundation, and that's mainly what I've been using it for, too. I have actually tried it as a foundation as well, though, and find it works brilliantly used in both ways. I assumed the product would actually be quite thick and heavy and create a mask like effect used all over, but the liquid feels surprisingly light weight and blends incredibly well.

Consistency wise, the product is quite runny and I've found that used as a concealer or an all over base, only a tiny amount is needed. Used as a base, I only need to use half or slightly less than I do with my regular foundations (Clarins Everlasting & Armani Lasting Silk). The pigmented liquid applies and blends nicely and covers redness, blemishes and even dark circles ridiculously well. I've used similar products in the past that have provided a similar level of coverage, but I don't think any have felt or looked as natural as the Vichy. Whether I use to it to camouflage problem areas, or as a full foundation, set with a bit of La Mer's Loose powder, I get a near on flawless finish that doesn't look heavy or caked on.

Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation: Opal

Vichy claim that their Corrective Foundation will hold up for a good 12 hours used alone, or 16 if set with powder. I have to say, the foundation doesn't last quite as long as that on my combination skin, but it does last for biggest part of the day when set with loose powder. I do need to touch up/blot oilier areas throughout the day (this is the case with all foundations for me), but I've found that the base does generally wear pretty well, doesn't settle into pores or fine lines and I've had no issues with oxidation. I've noticed no problems with breakouts or blocked pores since I started using either and find the foundation fairly easy to remove at the end of the day.

Unfortunately, the shade range is quite limited with only 5 different shades available, luckily though, I've managed to find a pretty good colour match with the lightest shade, 15 Opal. I imagine the shade may be slightly too light come summer and some mixing might be required, but for now, the colour matches my NC15 ish skin tone really well.

Clarins Everlasting: Nude, Armani lasting Silk: 4, Vichy: Opal & MUFE Full Cover: 4

I've swatched Opal next to Make Up For Ever's Full cover Number 4, Clarins Everlasting Nude and Armani's Lasting Silk 4 to give an idea of colour.

Clarins Everlasting: Nude, Armani lasting Silk: 4, Vichy: Opal & MUFE Full Cover: 4

All in all, I'm incredibly pleased with Vichy's Corrective Foundation. The coverage it gives is fantastic, and I really am quite surprised at how natural it looks and feels. As I said, I purchased mainly to replace my tube of MUFE Full Cover and I must say, I do prefer the Vichy, which provides similar coverage, but is much easier to blend and in my opinion, more natural looking. It doesn't hold up quite as well as the Full Cover on my combo skin, but still does pretty well and is much cheaper than the MUFE, which is a bonus. 

My only slight gripe with the base is the tube. Because the consistency is fairly runny, I find the squeezy tube sometimes dispenses a little bit too much product, so there has been a bit of wastage. It's not a major complaint, though and overall, I really am impressed with the foundation and would definitely recommend checking it out if you're on the hunt for a full coverage base, or concealer that covers brilliantly and holds up well.

I purchased my tube from Escentual where you can currently pick up a 30ml tube at the reduced price of £10.33 (normal price £15.50).

Clarins Ever Matte Foundation Swatches

Ever Matte is the newest addition to the Clarins foundation range. It’s described as a light weight, skin perfecting fluid foundation, and contains plant extracts and minerals to fight unwanted shine. It’s aimed at oily and combination skin types, and according to Clarins, the finish is natural and long lasting.

 I’ve tried quite a few of the bases from the Clarins foundation range now, and have really liked most of them. Their Truly Matte base felt nice and did a pretty good job at keeping the oilies at bay, and the brand’s Everlasting foundation is one of the most natural looking and long lasting foundations I’ve tried. I’ve read quite a few reviews on the newest foundation in the Clarins line-up over the past few weeks, and was eager to try it, so I grabbed a few samples from my local counter last week.

I normally use the shade, Nude 105 in Everlasting, so I assumed I’d be the same in the brand’s Ever Matte foundation, too. It seems the shades run slightly darker, though, and 104 Cream is a better match for my NC15/20 ish skin tone in the Ever Matte. The consistency is quite similar to Everlasting – quite thick and creamy, and it also has the same watermelon scent, which I personally quite like. It applies and blends really well, feels nice and light weight, and dries to a natural, matte finish. I was a little bit surprised at just how natural the finish is, actually. I was expecting it to be a little bit heavy and ‘flat’ looking, but it manages to create a matte finish, which somehow looks radiant and glowy, too. 

Clarins describe Ever Matte as being a medium coverage base, and I’d definitely agree. It covers redness and blemishes nicely and builds well without looking cake-y or heavy. I still need a blob of concealer on more difficult to cover areas, but overall, it evens everything out well.

Ever Matte is available in eleven different shades, which cater well for light and medium skin tones. Those with very light or very dark skins might have problems finding a colour match, though.

Clarins Ever Matte Swatches: 103 Ivory, 104 Cream, 105 Nude, 107 Beige & 108 Sand

Clarins Ever Matte Swatches: 109 Wheat, 110 Honey, 111 Toffee, 112 Amber & 113 Chestnut

So, I guess the most important question is, how well does it do at keeping the oilies at bay? And the answer is, really well actually! I’ve been using Ever Matte for the past few days, and finishing it with my regular NARS loose powder, and I’m really impressed with the wear time. I’d say I get a good five hours wear before my oily areas (t-zone) need blotting, which isn’t bad at all. Ever Matte also wears evenly, doesn’t cake, and I’ve had zero problems with oxidation/colour change.

Overall, I really like Ever Matte, and will certainly consider purchasing a full size tube when my current bottle of Everlasting runs out. Coverage and feel are both nice, as is the finish, and lasting powder is good, too. 

Have you tried Ever Matte? What do you think of it?

Battle Of The Long Wear Foundations

 

Thanks to my oily skin type, long wear foundations are an absolute must for me. I’ve tried numerous amounts of different bases over the years, and if they’re not of the long lasting or matifying variety, they tend to melt off by midday. My skin is also acne prone, and I have areas of redness which take quite a bit of concealing, so I also need a base which delivers on the coverage front, too. 

I’m currently using four different foundations which claim to be long lasting/wearing, so I thought it might be helpful to do a comparison post. All of the foundations below are always applied over the same moisturiser (Peter Thomas Roth), and set with my usual Nars loose powder.

 Clarins Everlasting

Clarins claim Everlasting will minimize the appearance of imperfections, provide a perfectly even complexion and offer 15 hours of impeccable, comfortable coverage. It’s aimed at all skin types, contains an SPF 15, and costs £24.00 for a 30ml bottle.

Packaging: A nice, sleek and rather heavy glass bottle with a pump applicator.

Coverage: Medium to full. A small amount covers imperfections and redness nicely and builds well without looking cake-y.

Finish: Matte, but not overly so. It definitely doesn’t give skin that ‘flat’ unnatural look/finish that some mattifying foundations do.

Lasting Power: Definitely not the 15 hours Clarins promise, but still pretty good. I’d say I get a good 5-6 hours wear before I need to blot.

Out of the four different bases, Clarins is the one I’ve used for the longest. I love the coverage it offers, really like how it feels, and I’ve managed to find a pretty decent colour match, too. I do have one small complaint with Everlasting, though. While it normally applies and blends brilliantly, it does like to cling to the occasional dry spots I get, so I suppose that’s worth keeping in mind if you have drier skin.

Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet +

MUFE say Mat Velvet will conceal imperfections, even out skin tone with a non-oily powdery finish, and create a long-lasting, flawless base. It’s oil free, non comedogenic, and water resistant, but doesn’t contain an SPF. It’s available from gurumakeupemporium.com, and costs £28.95 for a 30ml bottle.

Packaging: A plastic, squeezy tube. It’s not particularly pretty, but it’s hygienic and makes dispensing product an easy task.

Coverage: Medium. It covers minor blemishes and redness well, but I need to add a touch of concealer to more difficult to cover areas. MUFE recommend using several layers to cover blemishes, but I find it starts to look a little bit caked on if I apply too much.

Finish: As the name suggests, you get a matte finish with Mat Velvet. Again it’s not a ‘flat’ finish, but it’s definitely not as natural looking at the Clarins Everlasting. The velvety texture takes a little bit of getting used to as well. It feels light-weight and comfortable, but I’m not really a big fan of the powdery feel.

Lasting Power: Not bad. I’d say I get around 4-5 hours wear before I need to blot my oily areas. I do find that Mat Velvet wears slightly unevenly on me though and it does like to cling to dry areas/patches.

Overall, it’s not a bad foundation. I feel it would probably be better suited to those who need less coverage and have fewer blemishes to camouflage, though, as it seems to apply and wears better if only a small amount is applied. 

Estee Lauder Double Wear

Like Clarins, Estee Lauder claim Double Wear will stay in place for a full 15 hours. They also promise DW won’t smudge, change colour or come off on clothes. It’s oil free, non acnegenic, and also contains an SPF 10. It costs £26.50 for a 30ml bottle.

Packaging: A slightly clumsy glass bottle, which doesn’t have a pump.

Coverage: Medium to full. It is buildable, but I find I have to blend quickly to get a completely even finish.

Finish: Semi-matte. This one’s a bit of a strange one. Some days I apply it and it looks absolutely fine, and others, it looks really heavy and mask like.

Lasting powder: Excellent! I really don’t have to worry about blotting and touch ups with Double Wear. I do still have to blot my T-zone, but I really only get a minimal amount of shine. Also, as Estee Lauder promise, I get no smudging, no colour change/oxidation, and my make-up really doesn’t budge all day.

While Double Wear certainly delivers on the wear/long lasting front, I do have issues with other areas, such as the slightly difficult application and finish, which I mentioned above. I’ve also had problems finding a good colour match, too. I’ve purchased quite a few different colours from the shade range now, and all of them seem to be slightly ‘off’, which only adds to the somewhat unnatural finish on me. 

Armani Lasting Silk UV

 

Armani promise 14-hour satin matte coverage without the coverage feel. Lasting Silk is aimed at normal to oily skin types, provides medium coverage, and has an SPF 20. It costs £34.00 for a 30ml bottle.

Packaging: A simple, sleek glass bottle with a pump applicator.

Coverage: Medium, but this is the most build-able out of the four.

Finish: Semi matte. Lasting Silk applies and blends beautifully. It feels really light-weight, and blends effortlessly.

Lasting Power: Roughly the same as Mat Velvet. Around 4-5 hours wear before shine starts to peek through and I’m reaching for my pressed powder. Unlike MUFE, though, Lasting Silk wears really well, and looks as good as new with a quick touch-up.

Lasting Silk is the most recent buy out of the four, and I’m really impressed so far with how well this applies and also how natural it looks. It doesn’t emphasize pores or dry patches and it feels light-weight and comfortable. Lasting power isn’t great, but the finish and feel certainly make up for the average staying power for me.

Estee Lauder Ecru, Lasting Silk 4, Everlasting 105 & MUFE 20

So, which one do I like best out of the four? I feel like each base has something slightly different to offer. Double Wear is definitely the most long-lasting of the bunch, and might be worth checking out if you’re after a foundation which really won’t budge. MUFE might be a nice option for those who need less coverage than me, and want a really matte finish. Lasting Silk is definitely the winner in the finish and feel department, and the most natural looking, too. And Everlasting offers excellent, natural looking coverage, which stays put.

If you're still with me after that little lot, I'd love to know if you've tried any of these and what your thoughts are.  And I'd also love to know what your favourite long wear foundations are.

Giorgio Armani Lasting Silk UV Foundation

I’ve lost count of the amount of reviews I’ve read on Lasting Silk over the past year or so, most of which have raved about how good it is. So, naturally I’ve been desperate to give it a go. The thing is, Armani make-up isn’t available here in Bristol, and I was apprehensive about spending thirty-something pounds on a foundation that I was unable to test beforehand. After a lot of debating and spending far too much time looking at swatches, I finally decided to take the plunge and ordered a bottle online. 

Armani Lasting Silk UV Foundation. Shade: 4

Out of the shades on offer, 4 looked to be the best match for my NC15/20-ish skin tone, and luckily, it is pretty much spot on colour wise.

 Lasting Silk Foundation: 4. Swatched on the left & blended on the right

 Lasting Silk is a water based foundation and texture wise, it’s quite runny. The first time I swatched it on my hand, I was unconvinced about the medium coverage claims, but it does deliver the promised coverage level and is easily buildable, too. It applies beautifully, blends in seamlessly, and dries to a matte finish. Not a flat, unnatural looking matte finish, but a matte finish which still looks natural. It conceals blemishes and redness well, and doesn’t emphasize pores or dry patches. Lasting Silk also feels incredibly light weight, has a satiny type feel to it, and also has a spf 20.

Sounds pretty good so far, doesn’t it? Good, natural looking coverage, great colour match, which doesn’t oxidize, and incredible texture wise, too. Unfortunately though, Lasting Silk did let me down in one area. It’s not a major grumble, but it did let me down slightly on the lasting power front. Armani promise 14 hours wear, which I know is a bit of an exaggeration, but I’d say I get more like 4-5 before I need to blot. Now, I’ve yet to find a foundation which holds up all day on my oily skin without me needing to blot, but I guess I was expecting slightly longer wear from a foundation which claims to be inspired by extreme backstage conditions. As I said though, it’s not a major gripe and the coverage, finish and feel more than make up for the average staying power for me.

All in all, Lasting Silk is an excellent foundation, and consistency and finish wise, it’s absolutely perfect. It’s not the best foundation I’ve tried for keeping the oilies at bay, but it’s a winner in all other departments. 

Available from Giorgio Armani, where it costs £34.00 for a 30ml bottle

Have you tried Lasting Silk? Do you have a favourite long wear foundation?

Myface Mymix Foundation

I was recently sent some myface product samples to try and some tubes of the brand's foundation were included, so I've been testing it out over the last couple of days and thought I'd share my initial thoughts on it. 

Myface mymix Foundation

 For those of you who aren't familiar with the range, here's a little bit about the brand:

myface is comprised of three complete colour ranges delineated by skin tone - one for fair skin, one for medium skin and a third for med/dark skin. Within each range are the ideal colours of foundations, concealers, powder, blushers, lipsticks and lip glosses for that skin tone. The range also features an eye collection designed for all skin tones which includes mascara, eye pencils, eyetouch trios and the revolutionary crushed pearl blingtone singles - which create show-stopping icy, iconic eyes. In October of 2008, myface.cosmetics debuted exclusively at Boots stores in the UK and Ireland.

The brand only offer one type of foundation (mymix) which is a liquid base and is available in nine different shades (three in each skin category). I fall into the fair skin category, and Fair 01 (the lightest of all shades) is a pretty good match for my nc15/nc20 skin tone.

myface mymix foundation: 01 Fair

The product is packaged in a simple, clean looking tube, which is hygienic, handbag friendly and makes dispensing the right amount of product an easy task. The liquid is fairly runny in consistency, especially compared to my usual Clarins Everlasting foundation and has a subtle, fresh scent which disappears fairly quickly after it's been applied. It's incredibly easy to apply (I use fingers) and blends in really well with absolutely no streaking.

There's no indication of the level of coverage mymix offers on the brand site, and for some reason I was expecting the base to be sheer, but it's actually more medium coverage. I have quite a lot of break out issues going on at the moment and mymix actually does a really good job at covering them. I still need a dab of concealer on real problem areas, but the base evens out skin tone nicely and conceals minor redness and blemishes without looking or feeling heavy.

myface mymix foundation: 01 Fair

myface mymix swatch: 01 Fair. Left: Blended

I'd describe the finish as semi matte and I'd also describe mymix as a fairly long lasting foundation too. The base lasts a good 4-5 hours on my oily skin (topped with Nars loose powder) before my face needs blotting, and when I've touched up, my foundation looks as good as new again. I've had no issues with the base settling into pores or fine lines, and no nasty surprises with oxidation either.

Here are some swatches of 01 Fair and the other two shades I was sent, on my nc20 (ish) arm.  Each of the shades are from different skin tone ranges. Fair 01 is the lightest shade from the fair range, medium 02 is the second lightest shade from the medium range, and the darkest of the three is the darkest shade from the medium/dark range. Myface offer a fairly good range of colours, which cater for a quite a wide range of skin tones, but those with very fair, or very dark skin may have trouble finding a shade match.

myface mymix foundations: Fair 01, Medium 02 & Medium/Dark 03

mymix swatches: Fair 01, Medium 02 & Medium/Dark 03

Overall, first impressions of mymix are good. It's easy to apply, blends nicely and best of all, it covers well without looking heavy or caked on. My current bottle of Everlasting is coming to an end at the moment, so I think I'll continue to use this for now and see how it goes before re-purchasing the Clarins.

£12.99 from Boots & myfacecosmetics.co.uk where you can currently get 20% off of you order and free shipping.

Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint Review & Swatches

I was incredibly excited last month when I received an e-mail from the Liz Earle PR team, telling me that the brand were taking their first step in to colour and had formulated a tinted moisturiser. I'm a big fan of quite a few of the skincare products from the range, so I was delighted to hear the brand had taken the leap in to colour cosmetics.

What Liz Earle say about their new product: Our new Skin Tint is the natural bridge from skincare through to colour. It's rich and creamy like a foundation, yet lightweight and glides effortlessly onto the skin, blending easily to enhance natural skin tones. Just like our award winning Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, Sheer Skin Tint delivers dependable, visible results for all skin types. Designed for use all year round, our unique, high performance formulation leaves skin looking dewy, even and radiant, with the perfect level of coverage for every woman to achieve natural beautiful skin.

With mineral UV protection SPF 15, Sheer Skin Tint is also enriched with our own carefully selected blend of botanicals: natural source vitamin E avocado and borage, to work in harmony with our Liz Earle skincare range.

Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint

My Thoughts

Well I'll be honest, I generally stay away from tinted moisturisers because they don't offer enough coverage for me. My skin is acne prone and I have areas of scarring and redness which take quite a bit of covering, so I normally opt for medium to full coverage foundations. Like other tinted moisturisers I've tried in the past, Skin Tint offers sheer coverage, but can be built up for a slighter fuller coverage base.Texture wise, it's quite thick, creamy and rich and a little bit of product seems to go a long way. A pea sized amount is enough to cover my face in a thin layer of product, but I've been adding a tiny bit more to problem areas which need concealing. 

Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint

 The fairly thick cream applies beautifully. It feels quite rich, but non greasy and blends in with very little effort. It glides over pores, fine lines and minor blemishes and creates the illusion of smooth, even and natural skin. The finish is quite shiny when it's first applied but as the base settles in to skin, it becomes more of a dewy finish. I have oily skin, so I choose to set it with a little bit of loose powder, those with normal or drier skin types probably wouldn't need to. With a light dusting of powder on top of the tinted base, I find lasting power to be pretty good and I'd say I get a good four hours wear before I need to blot my problem areas (T-zone). 

I was sent the lightest (Bare) of the three available shades to try and it's not a bad match on my NC20 ish skin tone. I would say it's a touch too light for me at the moment, but because the product is sheer and blends in well, I can get away with the slight colour difference. Those of you who order a tube of Sheer Skin Tint via the Liz Earle website will receive a sample of each of the three shades with your first order, so you can find a shade match before opening the full size tube. If you've ordered the wrong colour, you will be able to exchange your tube for the correct shade. There will be three colours on offer: Bare (for fair skintones), Beige (for medium skintones) and Beach (for darker skintones). Below are some swatches of the lightest colour.

Liz Earle Skin Tint: Bare

Liz Earle Skin Tint: Bare. Bottom: Blended swatch

All in all, Sheer Skin Tint is a lovely product and I imagine it would look great on those who can get away with a sheer coverage base. Unfortunately, my skin just isn't in good enough shape at the moment and I need something which covers more. The actual feel, finish and lasting power with Skin Tint is excellent and I will definitely be holding on to my tube and using it when my skin's in better condition, or on days when I want something light and natural looking. If you're a tinted moisturiser or Liz Earle skin care fan, I highly recommend checking out the base. It's available from September the 15th and will cost £21.00 for a 40ml tube. 

Liz Earle Skin Tint Ingredients

 Is Sheer Skin Tint something that appeals to you? 

What other products would you like to see in the Liz Earle colour range in the future?

Clarins Everlasting & Clarins Skin Illusion Comparison

Those of you who have read any of my previous posts have probably seen me mention Clarins Everlasting foundation. I've been using it for the last year and a half and really seem to get on well with it. It's one of the few full coverage foundations I've tried which feels light weight and holds up well on my oily skin. Clarins have recently added a new foundation to their range (Skin Illusion), so I decided to grab a couple of samples last week to try, and see how it compares to Everlasting.

Clarins Everlasting Foundation (105 Nude)

 

First up is Clarins Everlasting which is described as 'a long-hold foundation that stays true, ensuring a flawless complexion'. The base is available in fifteen different shades (most swatched here) and also contains an SPF 15. It has quite a thick, creamy consistency, is watermelon scented and is incredibly easy to apply and blend. It's described as medium to full coverage, but I'd definitely say it's more full. It covers any redness and blemishes on my face perfectly without the need for concealer, but doesn't feel heavy or mask like. I'd say the finish is matte, but not overly so. Some matte foundations leave my skin looking really flat, Everlasting mattifies but still looks pretty natural and skin like. As the name and description suggest, it's supposed to be a long-lasting base, and I have to say it does do well. My skin's oily and Everlasting keeps it shine free for five to six hours (longer in the colder, winter months) before I need to blot. It's not the longest lasting foundation I've tried (Estee Lauder Double Wear wins that prize), but it's the longest lasting foundation I've tried which actually looks and feels natural. 

Clarins Skin Illusion Foundation

Next up is Skin Illusion natural radiance foundation which is described as 'a hydrating foundation with a texture that feels as refreshing as a spritz of spring water. A formula which smooths, evens and enhances the complexion, and delivers a spectacular "barely there" finish'. Like Everlasting, Skin Illusion is available in a wide range of shades which cater for a variety of different complexions. It also contains an SPF (only 10) and as far as I can tell, has a similar watermelon scent. The consistency is quite a lot runnier in comparison to Everlasting, but is still easy to apply and blends effortlessly.
Now, I was expecting the base to offer very little coverage after reading the 'barely there' description, so I was quite surprised at how much it covered when I tested it. It definitely doesn't cover as much as Everlasting, but does conceal minor imperfections well and evens out skin tone nicely. I suppose I'd describe coverage as light to medium, probably more so medium, though. The finish is semi matte and leaves skin with a subtle, glowy finish which looks really natural. Skin Illusion is described as hydrating, so I wasn't expecting it to be particularly long lasting on my skin type. After trying it over the last few days, I can say that it doesn't do a bad job. It's definitely not as good at keeping the shine at bay as Everlasting, but I do get around three-four hours of wear before I need to blot my oily areas (t-zone).

L-Clarins Everlasting 105 & R-Skin Illusion 104

(I normally use 105 Nude in Everlasting which seems to match my NC15/NC20 skin tone well. My skin's slightly darker at the moment, though and 104 seems to be a better match in Skin Illusion).

Both are really nice foundations, and both have something slightly different to offer. Everlasting is perfect for those who need a long-lasting, heavier coverage base. Skin Illusion would be great for those who have normal, dry or possibly combination skin and want a base which feels light weight, provides medium coverage and leaves skin with a slightly glowy finish. I'm sticking with Everlasting for now, but may give Skin Illusion another go when the weather cools down and my skin is less oily.

Clarins Truly Matte Foundation Swatches

I've been testing out a new foundation over the past few days (Clarins Truly Matte) which I'm really liking. I'm fairly happy with my current foundation (Clarins Everlasting) but thought I'd give truly matte a go since the weathers starting to get warmer and my skin tends to be really oily in the summer.The base is described as a super-sheer, super-covering stay-fast, oil-free foundation that gives skin a perfect matte finish all day long. Even when it's hot! Coverage is described as medium to full but I'd say it's definitely more medium.

There are only six different shades available (only five at my counter) which seems like a pretty poor selection really, I managed to find quite a good match with Pale Ivory though. It's not a perfect match for my NC15 ish skin tone but it's not bad. The product is fairly runny in consistency and like other Clarins foundations I've tried, quite heavily scented. I actually don't mind this but I know others do. Truly matte seems to apply really well, gives you plenty of time to blend before it starts to dry and feels quite nice on skin too, pretty light weight. Lasting power seems to be great and I've found I need to touch up/blot less when I wear it because my skin stays relatively shine free.

L-R 02 Pale Ivory, 05 Shell, 07 Tender Ivory, 08 Sunlit Beige, 10.5 Apricot

Shade order as above

Overall I really quite like Truly Matte but feel the coverage isn't quite enough for me at the moment. I think I'll be sticking with Everlasting for now and may come back to this when I have slightly less to cover.

Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation

I've never really had much luck with mineral make up/foundations. I've tried quite a few from various different brands and they either look unnatural or shimmery, don't seem to offer enough coverage or they irritate my skin. I'd pretty much given up on mineral foundation but decided to give it one more go last year after I heard about a company called Lily Lolo, a UK based mineral cosmetic brand. Their foundations are free from harsh chemicals, nano particles, parabens, bismuth oxychloride, talc, synthetic dyes, fillers, fragrance and preservatives and come in a fairly large range of shades.

Lily Lolo Foundation

Lily Lolo: Blondie

After trying a couple of sample jars of the foundation, I decided that the shade Blondie was a good match for my skin so I ordered a full size tub. The product comes in a pretty sifter jar which actually works quite well and makes dispensing the right amount of minerals without making a mess fairly easy. The powder is easy to apply and seems to blend well over skin but doesn't seem to offer much in the way of coverage for me. My skin does look more even and less red after using but any blemishes and acne scars are still pretty visible. I've tried concealing before applying foundation but the product doesn't seem to work well over the top of any of my concealers and tends to look quite cakey which is a bit of a shame. I've also found the lasting power to be quite poor on my oily skin and find the product disappears quite quickly and wears unevenly on me.

Lily Lolo: Blondie

On a more positive note, I haven't experienced any skin problems when I've used Lily Lolo like I have with other mineral foundations and the shade range seems to be quite nice. The sample jars the brand offer are a great idea too and are quite a generous size. 

Lily Lolo Foundation in Porcelain and Blondie

I'm a little bit disappointed that the product didn't work for me but I think the reason may be more to do with my skin type and the fact that I always have a lot to cover than with the actual product. I think it would probably work well on skin that's got less flaws to hide than mine and would maybe last better on skin that's less oily. I still love Lily Lolo despite the foundation not working for me, their range of eye shadows are great and really reasonably priced too and other things I've tried from the line have been really nice.

Lily Lolo ingredients

Has anyone tried Lily Lolo? what are your thoughts on it?

Clarins Everlasting Swatches Update

Just a quick post with a few pictures of the Clarins Everlasting swatches I promised last week. I only had time to swatch half of the shades available last time I visited the counter so I've updated with the five darker shades from the range.

Clarins Everlasting L-R 103 Ivory, 104 Cream, 105 Nude, 107 Beige, 108 Sand, 109 Wheat, 110 Honey, 111 Toffee, 112 Amber, 113 Chestnut

As above but with flash

Clarins Everlasting Foundation

I have to admit I'm a bit of a foundation junkie really, over the years I've tried most of the medium to full coverage foundations out there. I've sampled pretty much everything that Estee Lauder, Clinique, MAC, Dior, MUFE, Guerlain and most lower end brands have to offer. The most recent addition to the foundation collection that I've really fallen in love with though, is Clarins Everlasting. Clarins Everlasting is a medium to full coverage base which comes in a fairly large range of shades and is designed to be, as the name suggests, long lasting.

Clarins promise that you'll get up to 15 hours of wear which is a bit of an exaggeration, I find I get a good 8 to 9 with a couple of touch ups on my oily skin. The coverage is medium buildable and does a great job at covering up blemishes and imperfections without feeling heavy on skin and I'd say the finish is matte but very natural looking.

The shade range is pretty good and seems to cater well for lighter skin tones. I tested Cream 104 and Nude 105 which are quite similar but I found Nude was a slightly better match on my NC15 skin, Cream was slightly too dark and looked a little bit orange.

Clarins Everlasting

Clarins Everlasting Foundation: Nude

Clarins Nude 105 Swatch

So how much does a bottle cost? Around £23.50 for a standard 30ml bottle.