CHARLOTTE TILBURY MAGIC FOUNDATION REVIEW

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation, £29.50

I don't think a foundation has ever been more aptly named than this bad boy! When I saw this floating around the blogosphere from July I was more than intrigued. I'm not usually one for full coverage foundation as I don't have that much hyper-pigmentation and only get the odd spot, so I tend to stick to light coverage or sometimes branch out to medium. However, a recurrent problem I face with my current crop of foundations is that by lunchtime, without doubt, my t-zone is shining like a beacon! I get so so oily it is literally sebum central. So when I saw this was the new foundation on the block that claimed to leave a demi-matte finish - well, I just had to try it.

(left - bare-faced//right - with the foundation)

The Good

Despite being so full coverage and flawless when applied, it doesn't feel heavy at all. I like to use my Real Techniques Buffing Brush to work it into my skin and once it's set down it it literally leaves your skin looking airbrushed. The finish is definitely matte (but not drying) so you don't need to use a powder to set it. The great thing is that despite the matte finish your skin still looks glowing! I usually find that mattifying products can leave the face looking quite flat but this foundation leaves the skin radiant without using any glitter or shimmer. I'd say, in terms of endurance, it lasts well - say about 8/9 hours - without needing to powder.

The Bad

One thing I would say is the colour range is definitely lacking. While I'm happy that they DO cater to dark skin (which should just totally be the norm in this day and age) I found it crazy that there is only one shade darker than mine (11) and it's still not even that dark - I mean, what would Lupita do? The only other thing that I don't like is something that I also love about the foundation the fact that it doesn't need powder. It's great because it's one less step you have to do BUT I found that when it gets to the time that a little shine starts sneaking through at the end of the day and you want to touch up with powder, if you're going out after work for instance, I found that it just doesn't powder well. I've tried a few different ones and it just ends up looking hella cakey.

Overall this is the perfect foundation if you're looking for flawless coverage with staying power. Just don't try and powder it, OK?

Reviewed - Smashbox Liquid Halo HD Foundation

Smashbox Liquid Halo HD Foundation - £27.50

I did something very uncharacteristic the other day (I think it was because it was payday) - I bought a foundation without knowing anything about it. 

I hadn't seen anything about it in magazines or, more importantly, read any blog reviews on it and even more importantly, I own NO Smashbox products. But I was already shopping and was on the hunt for a new foundation as two of mine are on the out. Plus the Smashbox counter was so shiny and inviting. I had a look at the shade range (there are ten) and found one that suited my skintone pretty perfectly (I did the jawline test myself as the customer assistant was busy colour matching someone else). 

The Claim - Smashbox says it blur imperfections with special liquid lighting technology and was developed in their studios so it is undetectable to the naked eye. The formula is oil-free and so claims to be long-wearing and the coverage is sheer to medium. 

The Verdict - Firstly, I give myself a pat on the back for getting my colour so right without a sample, a big 'ol risk especially with a foundation that costs over £25. I got shade 9 which is their second darkest, which isn't great considering they're definitely ladies a few shades darker than me that might want to try this foundation, but still it's better than the high street offerings. Secondly, by the end of a regular day I am shining like a beacon. I put my make up on at around 6.20am everyday and take it off at roughly 7.30pm and have very oily skin so I need always need a bit of blotting and powdering throughout the day, but I have to say this foundation is quite good on the oil front. It's very sheer and lives up to the claim of being 'undetectable' - my editor told me it didn't look like I was wearing foundation. Win.

Although I'd never buy a foundation on the whim again, I really feel like I really lucked out with this one. It's definitely a great foundation if you're not looking for high coverage and simply just want to even out your skin tone in a natural looking way. 

Love Keeks xo

Mac Studio Fix Fluid.

Mac Studio Fix Fluid - £19.50

I got a new foundation, well I got it about a month ago but I wanted to road test it for a while before I wrote about it.

The foundation in question is indeed Mac’s Studio fix fluid. The website says that it offers a medium-buildable coverage and a natural matte finish, I’d definitely agree with both. I love this foundation. Don’t get me wrong, I still love my bareminerals powder foundation, but I really wanted a good liquid foundation, so I had they option for either. I have a Bobbi Brown foundation stick, but I’m not a fan, the formula is too thick and heavy, I don’t love it at all.

I chose studio fix fluid over any of the other Mac foundations because it seemed to provide the finish I look for in a foundation, matte but not rigid and false looking, just easy-wearing.

The colour I was matched to is NW45, and is pretty perfect, it’s ever so slightly darker than my natural skin colour, but it’s more of a glowy kind of darker instead of an unnatural dark, so it kind of enhances my skin. Good times.

I don’t like full coverage, I like my coverage pretty light from day to day, ranging to medium if I’m going out or for occasions, so I know this foundation is going to last me a while because I don’t even use a full pump to achieve the look I want. I pump it on to the back of my hand, dot it around my face, and then buff it in with my Real Techniques buffing brush. Simples.

It doesn’t melt throughout the day either. I do use my Prime Time primer underneath it, to set it, and make sure my skin feels even, but I’m guessing that the fact that the foundation is oil-free, helps.

Overall, I’m really pleased with this foundation and look forward to mixing it with my face cream, as a tinted moisturiser as it gets warmer.

Have a lovely evening, 

Love Keeks xo