foundation

DIOR Backstage Face and Body Foundation Review – Shade Cool Rosy 1CR

September 27, 2018

My most recent foundation purchase is the Dior Backstage Face and Body Foundation from their newest backstage line (bought mine here with worldwide shipping). The whole line has an awesome range of colors so surely there will be a perfect color match for you.

The foundation is housed in a round and chubby plastic bottle that is rather cute. The formula is lovely. Most of you would have used the face and body foundation from MAC or Makeup Forever – their formula is very lightweight and watery which is great for oily skin but not so lasting. The Dior formula is milky (which means it has silicone) yet ultra-lightweight which works well for my normal to dry skin. It blends onto the skin seamlessly just with your fingers and leaves a natural second-skin like glow.

One thing worth mentioning is that it feels very comfortable on the skin (almost like applying a skincare lotion) and you actually don’t even feel like you are wearing makeup with this foundation. It’s breathable and makes your skin feel supple and soft. The coverage is about sheer-to-medium – better than the MAC and MUFE and provides better coverage than tinted or bb cream. The finish is very natural and it doesn’t matter how many layers you apply, it always gives you a healthy ‘no makeup’ look with a soft matte finish. You will need concealer to cover the spots and dark circles.

Coverage rating

Even out complexion 4.5/5

Pores – 4.5/5

Pigments/Heavy Acne Marks 3/5

Lasting power is also pretty good. I recently added the Urban Decay Setting Spray (which I can no longer live without) to my routine and it makes a whole world of difference to your makeup. I wore only this foundation with the spray, and the makeup literally lasted a whole day in the extremely hot and humid weather in Singapore during my recent holiday. On a normal day where I spend 8 hours in the office and 1- hour gym session, my makeup still looks quite fresh and glowy over time with no oxidation. If you are after a completely matte look, yes you do need to apply powder or blot the oil throughout the day with this foundation.

Swatch – I bought the shade 1CR Cool Rosy

Overall I like this foundation for its comfort and how natural it looks on the skin while still providing a decent coverage. Dior is a high-end brand and this foundation is actually priced quite reasonably. I think it’s a great entry product for girls of all age groups with different skin types. It’s a basic foundation that actually surpassed my expectations.

{ 3 comments }

Labels: DIOR • foundation

Suqqu Nude Wear Liquid Foundation Review and Swatch

May 23, 2018

Suqqu has recently released a new foundation – the Nude Wear Liquid Foundation SPF15. Being a big fan of their base makeup as well as being intrigued by the ‘drip design’, I knew I had to have it and it has surpassed my expectations. I bought mine in shade 002 Cool Shell here with international shipping – the light shades are selling extremely fast so I am glad I got hold of a bottle when my shade was restocked recently.

Consistency and finish

The concept of this foundation is very similar to the Dior Nude Air Serum foundation and the Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Foundation. The formula is ultra lightweight and fluid that makes you feel like applying a skin serum rather than makeup. It is packed with a lot of skincare ingredients so to me it is both a makeup and skincare product that brings your complexion to the best it can look. It goes on completely weightless and traceless so the formula works well for most skin types, especially for the dry skin as it feels hydrating even without moisturizers. The finish is amazing as it looks so natural on the face whilst it plumps up and adds a healthy luminous glow to the face. The Japaneseese term to describe the finish is called ‘milky complexion’ because it makes the skin appear poreless and refined with a touch of soft glow just like baby skin.

Coverage and application

It is designed for a very natural looking nude finish and makes your skin luminous, so the coverage is on the sheer side as you would expect. It is more for enhancing the skin and even out the skintone and blurring out mild imperfections. If you are after a heavy coverage foundation this is not the right foundation for you. As for me, I normally prefer sheer to medium coverage, so I normally apply a layer of correcting or lightly tinted primer underneath this foundation and together they create a flawless yet 100% natural radiant complexion that lasts all day. I have received tons of compliments everytime I wear this foundation with my current HG primer NEOU Salmon Ovary Peptide Moisture.

Lasting power:

One of the reasons that this foundation has surpassed my expectations is because it lasts pretty long (8-10 hours) on me for such a lightweight formula. It actually wears more beautiful over time as the skin appears more glowy (not oily) and bright with no oxidation and very little crease and oil coming through.

Swatch SHADE 002 Cool Shell – no editing and no filters are applied to the swatch pictures

Close up: No skin retouch is done to this picture. As you can see how refined and tracelesss the finish of this foundation is. It also makes my dry skin appear so soft, supple and hydrated.

Shade comparison

Verdict:

Absolutely love it! If you don’t have major skin imperfections to cover, the Suqqu Nude Wear Liquid foundation will make your complexion look 5 years younger. Among the Suqqu, Dior Air Serum and Armani Maestro Fusion (which I have used all of them), I personally think the Suqqu is the best for normal to dry skin.

{ 7 comments }

Labels: foundation • SUQQU

DIOR DIORSKIN FOREVER UNDERCOVER 24H Full Coverage Foundation Review and Swatch

March 19, 2018

Here is a review of the latest foundation from Dior – the DIORSKIN FOREVER UNDERCOVER 24 Full Coverage Foundation (currently 15% off!). I have been wearing it for the past few weeks, and as usual it has its pros and cons and my feeling for it is quite mixed due to my skin type. I bought mine here with worldwide shipping, and it is also available here in Australia.

PROS:

The foundation comes in a plastic bottle and it’s best to give it a shake before you use the foundation. It has a fluid and milky texture that dries down to a velvety powdery finish within a minute upon application, so there is no need to apply more powder again to set the makeup. The greatest thing about this foundation is the lasting power and it doesn’t budge nor transfer at all throughout the day. The formula would work the best for oily skin type, as it controls oil and keeps the makeup staying fresh with minimum fading for up to 8-10 hours for me. The coverage is full as it claims, as the formula is highly pigmented and a pea size is more than enough for the whole face to cover most of the imperfections, acne marks and pores.

CONS:

I would love this foundation if I had oily skin, but unfortunately I have normal to dry skin so making the formula work for my skin type can be a little challenging sometimes. Since it dries down to a powdery finish, it tends to enhance the dry patches and pores if my skin is not super hydrated. It also gives a full matte high coverage finish which is a bit of a double edged sword because it can look a bit heavy and sit on top the skin if my skin is too dry and the foundation is not fully blended in. To make the foundation look flawless yet natural on me, I need to prep my skin with lots of hydration products, including applying a hydrating primer underneath the foundation – my preferred primers include my go-to Laura Mercier Hydrating Primer or the iconic Guerlain L’Or Primer.

Application:

Fingers and beauty blenders are my preferred application method with this foundation. With fingers, it gives a more flawless look, whereas with beauty blenders it sheers down the formula and adds a hint of luminosity to the skin which works out to be better for my skin condition.

Shade:

Since I am very fair at the moment I bought the shade 010 Ivory which is the brightest shade from the range. It has a hint of a pink undertone and I included a swatch comparison with the Dior DiorSkin Star foundation (reviewed here) in shade 012.

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Labels: DIOR • foundation

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Gel Foundation Review – A complexion enhancer that hydrates, adds glow and erases your pores

January 15, 2018

Finally here is a review of my current beloved base product – the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Gel Foundation SPF25 PA+++. There was a lot of anticipation for the first cushion foundation ever released by Chanel last year, and it has been my most used base product ever since. Apparently, it is extremely popular in Asia with 1 sold every 2 seconds. The light shades are sold out at many department stores in Australia as well.

The packaging of Chanel makeup is always beyond gorgeous – the square case makes the cushion foundation more unique looking and classic. It has a refreshing aqua-gel formula packed with hyaluronic acid that feels ultra hydrating and lightweight on the skin. The consistency is quite wet and watery, so it applies very dewy and cooling (feels like a mist), and it instantly makes the complexion look more fresh, youthful and plump with a dewy glow. It is perfect for the midday touch up to erase any signs of fatigue, as this foundation gives an instant boost of hydration and will make your makeup look fresh again. The other bonus is the sun protection of spf25 and PA+++ that you can apply anytime and anywhere.

Coverage:

The coverage is sheer which is what the product is designed for. Here is a before and after shot with one coat of the foundation. As you can see, it instantly brightens and makes the skin appear more even-toned and luminous. The skin still appears translucent, natural and poreless. Both pictures were taken at the same angle and lighting with no editing nor filter applied.

Color / Lasting Power:

My shade is N20. This foundation runs lighter than usual – if you are a N20 with other Chanel liquid foundation, you might need to go N30 (a shade darker) with this cushion. Lasting power is about 5-6 hours, and if you set it with loose powder it extends the wear time up to 7-8 hours with indoor conditions.

Application:

As I normally go for sheer to medium build coverage, I like to apply a layer of tinted base underneath such as my fav Shu Uemura CC UV base mousse, and the Chanel Concealer under the eyes, then pat the Chanel cushion all over my face as a “top coat” in the morning with Chanel retractable foundation brush, and it gives the most perfect natural-looking creamy and radiant complexion. Finishing with a sheer dust of Givenchy Prisme Libre Powder over the t-zone.

Bottomline: Overall, this is a perfect complexion enhancer that adds a sheer coverage, radiant glow, and makes the complexion looking absolutely poreless and fresh.

{ 4 comments }

Labels: CHANEL • CUSHION FOUNDATION • foundation • Makeup Base

Lancôme Teint Idole UltraWear 24H Foundation Review and Swatch Comparison

September 21, 2017

The matte and ultra long-wearing foundation is certainly making a comeback this year. There are a lot of brands releasing a new version, and the cult favorite Lancôme Teint Idole UltraWear 24H Foundation (available here in Australia) is my favorite. It has been their signature foundation for over a decade – it was actually my first bottle of high-end foundation! To mark the 20 years of the product, Lancôme has revamped their iconic foundation with a newer and better formulation in a wide range of shades. I have been wearing it every day throughout the chilled winter days in Sydney as well as the scorching summer with high humidity in Japan, and the formula is near flawless for me in both extreme seasons!

Texture and Finish

It has a fluid creamy texture that blends into your skin seamlessly. Surprisingly as an ultra long wear foundation, the formula feels very lightweight on the skin and your skin still feels breathable. It looks very natural (not cakey and powdery), and it gives a semi-matte finish with a hint of glow that just looks like your own fresh skin. No powder is needed if you have normal to dry skin, and your complexion stays fresh-looking for at least 10 hours without creasing and fading!

Formula

The formula is suitable all year round for my normal to dry skin type. It has the right balance of consistency that wears comfortably on my skin without feeling dry nor greasy. In winter, the foundation applies smoothly without looking patchy and enhancing any dryness/fine lines. If I want to boost up the radiance or hydration, I normally add a layer of hydrating primer underneath. In summer, this foundation wears even better and looks better over time with no oxidation! Unless you have ultra dry skin, the formula of this foundation is friendly for most skin types and weather conditions!

Coverage

The coverage is medium and buildable to high – it blurs out imperfections, evens out skin tones, and covers the pores naturally.

Lasting power

It stays put the whole day with amazing oil control power when I am in Australia. I decided to bring it with me on holiday to Japan which could be a true test as the weather there was hot and humid. To my pleasant surprise, the foundation surpassed my expectations. I was mostly outdoor sweating under the sun, and the humidity level there was 100%. I wore this foundation with powder on top, and my makeup held up nicely for more than 12 hours with minimum oil come through. I did not have to worry about touch-up at all!

Shade

I am shade 02 Lys Rose (pink base) and it matches me perfectly.

Shade comparison

The Lancôme foundation is available at Nordstrom at 15% off currently. For all the US readers, Nordstrom is currently offering great beauty deals with lots of GWP and samples.

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Labels: foundation • LANCOME

Dior Diorskin Forever Perfect Cushion Foundation Review and Swatch

April 19, 2017

The latest Dior Diorskin Forever Perfect Cushion Foundation (bought here in Australia) is everything I could ask for in the most beautiful natural-looking finish that still gives coverage in a cushion. I have an impressive collection of cushion foundations of Korean and European brands, and prior to this, my favorite was the Dior Dreamskin (reviewed here). It was nearly flawless except for the sheer coverage, and this one is a step up that delivers a similar poreless finish with a decent coverage. In addition, the formula is exceptionally long lasting for a cushion foundation.

The formula is designed for all skin types – it is neither too creamy nor too watery and dewy. It has the perfect balance of being lightweight that feels hydrating and still pigmented for a medium coverage. It completely blends in as a second-skin finish. The finish is amazing – pretty much on par with the Dreamskin. It covers all the pores and makes the texture appear dramatically refined, blurring out the imperfections, and freshening up the complexion in a semi-matte luminous finish that just like yours but much better. The formula stays put the whole day (about 7-8 hours without setting powder required) in an indoor environment. Unlike the creamier formula, this one does not crease nor melt over time, and it also works well with your existing makeup for touching up throughout the day.

My shade is 012 Porcelain (FYI I am NC15-20) with a hint of pink undertone that matches me perfectly. If you have fair skin but warm tone, I suggest going for 020.

Swatch with 3 stamps

Compared to the Dior Dreamskin 010 with 1 swipe each – as you can see the Forever formula is much more pigmented for a higher coverage

Bottom Line: Must have for me! The best cushion foundation I have come across. It takes less than a minute to achieve the most natural looking flawless finish as you would with a normal foundation and tools which might take you 5 minutes. Highly recommend! I bought mine here in Australia. Unfortunately, the Forever Cushion is currently not available in the US, but you can find it here and here with worldwide shipping.

{ 7 comments }

Labels: CUSHION FOUNDATION • DIOR • foundation

The New Chanel Le Blanc 2017 Whitening Compact Foundation Radiance Thermal Comfort Review and Swatch

February 21, 2017

I gushed about how much I was impressed with the new Chanel Le Blanc Whitening Compact Foundation Radiance Thermal Comfort from the Le Blanc 2017 collection when I first bought it, and I’ve been trialing the new foundation over a few weeks now (so the honeymoon period is over!), and I can honestly say that it is one of the best compact foundations I have ever used. It has the finest creamy texture, and is the most moisturizing powder that works great for dry skin or in the cold months.

The design is very minimalist – encased in a clean all-white case, and comes with a sponge applicator. The sponge has 1 side of velvety texture, and it feels ultra luxurious and plush against the skin. It is designed for application for a better coverage and a more air-brushed finish. The other side has a normal sponge finish that gives a more natural and traceless finish.

The powder is designed to work in all climate conditions as well as protecting your skin with SPF25 with PA+++. It is extremely finely milled that feels silky smooth and buttery upon touching. Best of all, the powder applies creamy and feels very moisturizing on the skin. It gives the skin a milky porcelain-like finish in a natural way that does not look overly powdery. It gives medium to high coverage without looking cakey. I personally prefer to apply it with my favorite Chanel Les Beiges Kabuki Brush, or with the sponge applicator for touch-ups.

It doesn’t enhance any dry lines and does a wonderful job to even out the imperfections with a hint of brightening effect and completely cover the pores. I have been using it solely as a foundation, with a sheer layer of primer underneath, and it stays put for the whole day (7-8 hours ) without creasing. Since it is a very moisturizing powder, it does not completely mattify the skin, and I notice some oil comes through on the t-zone after 5 to 6 hours of wear.

Color: I bought the color 20 Beige (FYI I am NC15-20, GA 3.5/4) and this shade matches me perfectly.

Swatch

Overall I highly recommend this compact foundation whether you need it for touch up or solely as a foundation. The texture is perfection for all skin types and particularly for the dry skin, and it feels ultra comfort and blends seamlessly!

{ 4 comments }

Labels: BRUSH • CHANEL • COMPACT FOUNDATION • foundation • POWDER FOUNDATION

DIOR Dreamskin Perfect Skin Cushion Foundation Review and Swatch

November 1, 2016

Dior has had several cushion foundation releases over the past 2 years, and their latest is the Total Capture Dreamskin Perfect Cushion Foundation with SPF50. Since I am a big fan of their Capture Totale Dreamskin Serum, which is the best daytime serum I have used from all the high-end beauty brands in the $100ish price range, I had to get my hands on this cushion foundation. It is on the high price end, but the good news is that it comes with a refill!

Dior claims that it is a hybrid of skin care and makeup that visibly improves pores, redness and shine, and leaving skin looking flawless and luminous. It boasts the same skincare ingredients as in the serum, so it works as a skincare and makeup that nourishes, protects as well as enhances your skin continuously throughout the day.

I have been using it for the past two weeks, and my conclusion is that it is more of a skin perfector with the benefit of cushion foundation. It has the most hydrating (but not creamy) and lightweight formula compared to the others. The texture is ultra fine, and it melds into the skin as soon as you stamp the sponge. For the application, there is no sweeping and blending required, and it leaves absolutely no traces of makeup. The formula is so hydrating that it almost feels like I am spraying a hydrating mist, and it instantly makes the complexion appear more plump and dewy and takes away all the dry skin patches and fine lines. It also leaves a semi-matte finish with radiance and dewiness that looks like your-skin-but-better. The formula would work particularly well in humid weather condition as it controls oil and shine, as opposed to the other more creamy cushion foundations that tends to crease during the day.

It blurs out the pores and evens out the skin tone exceptionally well for such a lightweight and silicone-free product. I am very impressed with how poreless, fine and smooth the skin texture looks with this product. The only shortfall is that it has quite a sheer coverage compared to the other brands such as YSL (reviewed here) and Sulwhasoo (reviewed here). It doesn’t cover the freckles nor the acne marks. For a flawless yet natural finish, I would suggest to apply a layer of tinted base first, then apply this cushion on top.

Formula comparison

YSL Fusion Ink Cushion – most opaque with the best coverage

Sulashoo Perfecting Cushion – most creamy with a medium coverage

Dior Dreamskin Cushion – most hydrating with the best staying power, and works the best for oil control with a sheer coverage

Swatch comparison

I bought the Dior Cushion in shade 10.

Bottom Line: If you prefer coverage, this product does not deliver unless you combine it with other complexion products. I see it as a skincare product with a sheer coverage that I can use any time of the day to hydrate, refresh and even out my complexion. On the other hand, If you have good skin with little skin concern, and after a ‘no-makeup’ feel, then this product alone will make your skin look like absolute perfection.

{ 11 comments }

Labels: CUSHION FOUNDATION • DIOR • foundation

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