L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Makeup

I think I'm a foundation junkie.

That's the only reasonable excuse for my ever growing foundation collection. They just make so many different kinds with different finishes and coverages, I just can't resist.

I did have a real reason for buying, yet another, foundation. I'M PALE. All of mine were spring/summer colors and at least one or two shades too dark for me. So off I trudged. Walgreens was having a buy one get one sale on L'Oreal so I decided that since I love the L'Oreal True Match Lumi so much, I'd try the original True Match Super Blendable Makeup.

photo courtesy of lorealparis.com

Gotta say...I'm impressed.

I really didn't think I would be. There's nothing about the "True Match" technology that really wows me. I don't think it automatically adjusts to your skin tone to match. I do think that they have a massive assortment of shades to match a large variety of skintones though and they are grouped nicely between Warm, Neutral and Cool tones to make it easier to find what you need. In the True Match Lumi, I was a C4 but with the original True Match I'm an N3.

I was a little wary when I saw that it's a pour top container. I absolutely hate those. Even more wary when I poured some out and saw how "thin" it is. It's a very runny foundation, which in my past experience has not equated nice coverage.

I decided to apply it with my hands the first time to really get a feel for the texture and how it applies on the skin. It almost has a powdery feel under the fingers, like a primer almost. One application and...completely different skin. Dab a little more in the areas that need extra coverage and they disappear. This stuff is definitely medium/full coverage foundation but in a way that doesn't look fake or mask like. Just covers what you need it to cover.

I set it with a loose powder because I get oily in my T-Zone. It's not a matte finish or a glowy finish, I'd say it's a pretty natural finish and lasts through a normal work day on me just fine.

Overall, I am pleasantly surprised with this foundation and will definitely be repurchasing! My sensitive skin has not broken out from it like I did with ColorStay.

I also think that L'Oreal has some of the best drugstore foundations and am very impressed with their products that I've tried. They are quickly moving up to one of my favorite drugstore brands!

L'Oreal True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup

If you follow me on Twitter (@lovelydalls) you know that I've been going back and forth with Clinique. I used their Superfit foundation religiously for over 8 years. When the colors I needed started to always be "out of stock" I feared for the worst and within 3 months found out they were discontinuing Superfit. This was a few years ago. Since then I have struggled to find something I loved as much and I have found several foundations that I really like (Healthy Skin, ColorStay, Lasting Finish). However, I have never found one with the dewy glow that Superfit provided.

I've done a lot of research online and decided to try the L'Oreal True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous foundation. It claims to have 3 ingredients that actually improve your skin over time with continued use, antioxidants, Vitamins C and E and Liquid Light technology for an instant luminious glow. It also has an SPF of 20.

I was curious. I've never used a L'Oreal foundation before. I purchased mine in the shade Shell Beige. They offer 3 different lines of shades, warm, neutral or cool with15 shades to choose from.

The packaging is awesome. It's a pump foundation with a lid. SO CLEAN. I apply with a foundation wedge, I find that dewier foundations get the best finish when applied this way on my skin. I am seriously impressed. It is 40% water so it's very liquidy but pigmented. I find it to be medium but buildable coverage. It instantly brightens my skin, gives a luminous and glowy finish and stays all day. I set with a little finishing powder applied with a fluffy brush and stayed glowy but oil free the whole day. It definitely gives that "lit from within" look on your skin. So pretty and my skin loves it. Usually when I get home the first thing I do is wash my makeup off because it feels gross after being on for a whole day, but not with this foundation. It still manages to feel fresh, even after a whole day of wear.

This feels so comfortable on, not heavy or chemical. It has no real scent and sets nicely on the skin. For a dewy finish foundation I didn't get any transfer and it didn't oxidize at all which Superfit did. I get the same glowy, dewy finish that I loved from Superfit but a much better (LESS ORANGE) color selection and much better pricetag ($12.99). This is hefty for a drugstore foundation but with results like this I will happily repurchase. I feel like this is not only a dupe for Superfit, it's far superior and exactly what I have been looking for in a foundation. I am so happy with this product!

**ETA: Further research into this amazing foundation makes me think this is might be an even closer dupe to Lancome Teint Miracle Foundation. Here's that description...

What it is:A complexion-enhancing foundation with SPF 15.

What it does:
This oil-free, fragrance-free formula with SPF 15 sunscreen is made with Lancôme's Aura-Inside™ technology, which recreates the true, natural light of perfect skin. Its lightweight texture enriched with soothing rose extract provides 18 hours of hydration and sheer to moderate coverage for a natural finish without a cakey effect. It creates a complexion that looks beautifully bare and lit from within.

What else you need to know:
This foundation is dermatologist tested, non-comedogenic, non-irritating and does not cause break-outs. Suitable for sensitive skin. Contains 37% pure water

Revlon ColorStay Foundations

You guys.

I know I am a little late to the ColorStay foundation party, but I'm here now and super stoked about it.

I have been hmming and hawing for several months about trying the ColorStay foundation. I always hear good things about it but I tend to like a dewier finish (ie: Neutrogena Healthy Skin) and so the lable of matte finish kind of put me off of it. Especially in the summer.

But...

Then they came out with the Whipped Creme version and I was so interested in it. I went to Walgreens and fortunately they had a BOGO half off sale, so I purchased both the original ColorStay for combo/oily skin and the Whipped Creme version. My color in both is Golden Beige.

I totally get the hype. I've been testing them out for the past week or so and putting them through some pretty vigorous testing. Through swimming, sweating through 103 degree weather, a literal 15 hour day and at the hot, dirty fair. These foundations did not disappoint. I didn't see any fading, oxidizing, spreading, or greasy areas where I'd feel the need to touch up. Not only do they hold up under intense situations, they are awesome for daily wear. I've worn them consistantly for the past week with amazing results.

As for the differences between the two, I'd say the texture is really the most obvious. Original ColorStay is a liquidy foundation in a bottle. I hate these kinds because I feel they are so unsanitary. I usually pour the amount I need onto the back of my hand and apply from there. Rather than sticking my fingers on the bottle every time. The color selection is pretty extensive, though several of the colors are just labeled as different shades of "beige". Not very descriptive or helpful so I'd advise grabbing a bottle of the foundation you normally wear in the store and comparing them in the bottle. I used the Rimmel Lasting Finish in 200 as a guide and found it easier than comparing it against my hand or just guessing. 

The Whipped Creme version is in a large glass jar which is very heavy and pretty but not something I'd take for travel. It's strictly for sitting on a vanity. It has a little white internal lid you remove and "scoop" out the amount you need. Again, not very sanitary. I use a little plastic scooper for this rather than using fingers in the pot. Just to keep it clean. I wouldn't describe this texture as "whipped". When I think of "whipped" I think light, airy, fluffy...etc. This is thick, dense and creamy. More the texture of like barely melted ice cream or whipped cream cheese. You can touch it with your finger and it will peak but then will settle back into a flat surface. It's a very interesting texture.

 I think this version is just a tad bit easier to work with, it's a little more forgiving on drying/setting time and allows you to work it in all over your face rather than in sections like the original ColorStay. I feel like the Whipped Creme version is just a hint more matte on the finish. It has a unique "slip" to it, it has a very similar feeling to primers. That satiny, powdery "slip" that makes it just effortlessly glide on the skin.

Both foundations offer medium to full coverage and are easily buildable for areas which require more coverage. Both are very long wearing, settle really nicely on the skin and give a beautiful finish. I will definitely be repurchasing both of these.

Overall, I am very impressed with both of these and feel like they are unique enough to justify purchasing both.

Wearing Original ColorStay for Combo/Oily Skin

Fresh, Dewy Foundation Trick

I know it's awful but I'm a full fledged, card carrying sun worshipper. We have a pool and a boat and we are outside ALL THE TIME in the summer. We all tan pretty easily even with sunscreen.

Anywhoo...this weekend included a lot of yardwork and sunshine and even though I had SPF 25 on my face, I still got some sun. Add this to my AcneFree regimen and you get dry skin. This creates a nightmare when trying to apply makeup for work on Monday.

Here's a little tried and true trick I use for dry skin and one I always use during the summer to get a nice, even foundation application. I always use foundation wedges for this, get them damp, squeeze out the excess water and then dab the foundation off the back of your hand and apply by dabbing sponge around the face. Don't rub, you'll just irritate the dry skin.  I use Neutrogena Healthy Skin foundation in Nude.

The water in the sponge keeps your foundation from just being absorbed in the sponge and gives it a much fresher, dewier application. I promise, it doesn't water down your foundation. You actually use less with this technique and it lasts all day.

Easy fix for dry skin and a great trick to cool off that hot summer skin. I tend to use less foundation (if any) in the summer anyway but this is a great tip for the days when you do need some extra coverage but don't want a heavy "mask" of makeup on.

Favorite Foundations

I am a complete foundation junkie. I am always on the hunt for the one that gives me full coverage where I need it, doesn't get cakey, won't oxidize or turn orange and doesn't cost me an arm and a leg. I used to be completely obsessed with Clinique SuperFit until they stopped making it. They market the Even Better foundation as it's sister formula but better, but I don't like it as much. So here are the top 5 foundations I've used, trusted and will continue to purchase.

First off is Neutrogena Healthy Skin. I ADORE this foundation. It gives great coverage, it's glowy but not sparkly, it's easy to blend, the colors are great and it lasts all day. This is a Holy Grail foundation for me, and the fact that it's drugstore and less than $12 is just icing on the cake.

Next is Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation. I purchased this when I was on the hunt for a long wearing foundation for a work event I had and boy does this live up to it's name. I wore it for a 12 hour work function in 98 degree weather and this stuff lasted! It is less than $7 per bottle, has a smaller color range, but the Soft Beige works perfect for my skin, it doesn't break up, it has AWESOME coverage and gives you flawless skin. Good stuff!

Nars Sheer Matte. The most money I ever have and ever will pay for foundation ($42)...Was it worth it? Eh...It's nice enough, but like it's name says, sheer. When I'm having great skin days, this stuff can't be beat, it's glowy, natural, easy to blend, perfect color match and so pretty on. But that price would definitely keep me from buying it again. I feel like the Neutrogena gives the same effects for much less money. However, if you have the $$ to spend, the NARS is a gorgeous foundation.

Revlon PhotoReady. I keep this on hand for photo's. If we are going to bday parties, weddings, social events where I know I will be photographed, this is the foundation I reach for every time. It's good coverage, easy to blend and has a good range of colors, it does have some light reflecting shimmer to it which is what gives you that flawless glowy look so I don't like it for every day, but for photos, this foundation is amazing and was less than $12. The only downfall is that this stuff is HARD to clean out of your foundation brush. I ended up purchasing a seperate foundation brush JUST for this foundation.

Lastly, we have Origins Vitazing. I purchased this for $35. This is the wierdest most amazing thing ever. I'd describe it as a tinted moisturizer, but SO much more. It has an SPF of 15, comes out white and when you rub it onto your face these little beads burst with tiny little pigments that give you nice coverage and make your skin look like you just got back from vacation. Gives you a little glowy color, not orangey or fake, just a lovely glowy face. It's my weekend go-to. I feel like this is actually good for my skin, doesn't make me feel like I'm slathering on goop when I don't need it. I will repurchase this as long as they keep making it. The only thing I've found, is don't wear a powder over it. It's not sticky, but it's "moist" enough on your skin that putting anything else on top of it just looks dirty. If you are going for light, fresh, healthy look, this, an under eye concealer and some mascara are all you really need.

Song of the Day: Long Time Traveler-The Wailin' Jennys