Foundation - What To Look For

In the shower this morning, I was pondering what would be the best blog post I could start off with. I wanted something that could help my Makeup clients and general blog readers alike and without a doubt, I get asked the most questions about Foundation.

The foundation struggle is real guys. The beauty industry is completely saturated with so many different types, each promising you that you will look like Cara Delevingne when you use theirs. Go to any counter and they will ask you what coverage you want and what kind of finish you are after, even though so many people don't even know what these mean! So I'm hear to help lovelies, here is the basics of Foundation!

The first thing you need to think about when shopping for a new foundation is coverage. Coverage basically means how much of your skin the foundation will cover (e.g. blemishes, spots and uneven tone).

Tinted Moisturiser -

no cover, will only add a slight colour to your complexion.

BB & CC Creams -

 extremely light cover, mainly to even out the tone of the skin.

Light -

covers minor imperfections, looks very natural & almost like your own skin.

Medium -

will cover most imperfections, can still look natural if applied correctly.

Full -

 covers all imperfections and leaves little of the skins natural tone & look visible.

Max -

completely covers all skins natural tone and leaves almost doll-like perfection.

The second thing to consider when purchasing foundation is what kind of finish you want your foundation to have.

Matte -

almost powder like finish with absolutely no shine. Most artificial looking finish. Best for Oily skin.

Satin -

almost matte with a slightly less powdery finish. Best for normal to oily skin.

Luminous -

gives a "lit from within" appearance to the skin. Most natural & skin-like looking finish. Best for normal to dry skin.

Dewy -

gives an ultra bright, radiant and slight sheen to the skin. Best for dehydrated and dry skin.

There are various other things you may consider when choosing a foundation, whether or not to have SPF is a big one. SPF in foundations is fantastic if you don't have a great skincare routine as it means you're still protecting yourself from sun damage, however if your daily moisturiser has SPF then there is no need for your foundation to have it too. SPF is a very important thing to consider if buying a foundation for nights out as the titanium dioxide included in sun protection causes a flash back effect in photos making your face look much paler than elsewhere on the body. You may also want to consider if the foundation claims to have any skincare benefits (e.g. moisturising) and the feel/texture of the foundation, for example if you want a full coverage but do not want the feeling of a heavy foundation.

I hope this helps anyone who feels confused about all of the Makeup lingo used around foundation and makes identifying what you need a little easier! If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below and I'll see if I can help :)

ark xo



Review: Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation

Foundation, my favourite thing to review! I think every girl out there is on the quest to find their perfect foundation and jings is it pretty hard to find one you love. This little beauty is much talked about on the old blog scene, I feel like everyone and their granny has tried this at some point. 

The Laura Mercier website describes this as a full coverage, luminous foundation which leaves the skin feeling hydrated all day and has a comfortable wear.

Well, for once I'd have to agree with the website entirely. This is my holy grail foundation, I love it, I'd probably run away into the sunset with it if I could. Silk Creme is definitely a fuller coverage foundation, it provides an opaque coverage with so little of the product due to it's high pigmentation.

 It is not like any other foundation I've ever tried, it's rich, creamy and practically melts on to the skin. The finish of Silk Creme is beautiful, luminous, just as described. The only fuller coverage foundation that seems to give a beautiful soft focus, candlelit glow. And guess what? It actually lasts on your skin ALL DAY as well... Granted, 9 times out of 10 I wear a primer with mines so I can get maximum wear from it but even without a primer it lasts amazingly well. 

Now, I bet you're wondering what the downside of it is? I'm sad to say that there is one; the colour selection. Silk Creme is only available in 10 colour going from the lightest Soft Ivory to the darkest Hazelnut Beige. What bugs me is that the Hazelnut Beige is about 3 shades too light for my post holiday tan, so I can't wear this foundation in Summer. So, if Laura Mercier brings out a couple of darker shades, I'll be a happy lady! 

Now, it is one of the more expensive foundations I've used but it is so worth it and the product lasts for such a long time, you don't really mind forking out the £34 for beautiful skin.

Left: Rose Ivory (Natural Colour)  //  Right: Cashew Beige (Fake Tan Colour)

Pros: Full coverage // Luminous finish // Long wearing

Cons: Colour selection // Price

Review: Revlon PhotoReady Foundation

I decided to purchase Revlon PhotoReady Foundation after hearing lots of good things about it within the beauty community, and I have to say, I'm glad I did. I am one of those people who cannot be convinced that drugstore foundations are ever comparable to high end foundations. I feel that lower end brands, more often than not, put high end to shame on many items like mascara on lipstick but on foundation, I remain unconvinced.

However, I feel this is one of the first drugstore foundations I actually like! I found the colour range to be quite appropriate for my skintone and the colour Golden Beige suits me perfectly. The coverage of this foundation pleasantly surprised me; I say this because of the 'radiant finish' it gives the skin. Most foundations claiming to giving a luminous or radiant finish compensate on the coverage but not this, this foundation provides medium (and I may even say high) coverage and is most definitely buildable.

Recommended for: People with dry/combination/normal skin looking for a medium to high coverage foundation to give you a radiant glow.

Avoid if: you have very oily skin or prefer a matte finish foundation.

Have you tried Revlon PhotoReady? What did you think?

Review: M.A.C Studio Fix Fluid

Having counted my foundations the other day and realising the sheer amount I have, I decided to do a series reviewing them all for you! I have already reviewed Illamasqua's Rich Liquid Foundation and you can find that review here.

On the M.A.C website, the Studio Fix Fluid is described as:

"A modern foundation that combines a natural matte finish and medium-buildable coverage with broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 15. Comfortable and long-wearing: lasts for up to eight hours. Applies smoothly, builds coverage quickly and easily. Contains specially treated micronized pigments and soft-focus powders for a super-smooth look that helps minimize the appearance of imperfections. Absorbs and disperses oil. Contains special skin-conditioning ingredients. Oil free."

On the whole, I would agree with M.A.C's description of the product, the foundation provides a matte finish and is reasonably long wearing, providing it is set with a powder. The coverage is most definitely medium but is easily buildable to achieve a high coverage finish, which is what I like. However, I have a few complaints with this foundation; first of all, it smells heavily of paint! Yes, paint. I found applying it smelled as if I had recently decided to change the wall colours in my room, not a nice pleasant smell you wish for your skin to have! Secondly, this foundation oxidises like no-ones business! I applied the foundation to my hand in the shop and chose NC35, which seemed fine when first applied HOWEVER after about 15 minutes, I looked in the mirror and resembled the Annoying Orange, not a good look. I so wish this foundation didn't oxidise because otherwise, it is a lovely foundation I enjoy using. Maybe next time I'll opt for a few shades lighter and not resemble an Oompa Loompa for the day.

Recommended for: all skin types, looking for a medium coverage foundation.

Avoid if: you dislike strong smelling foundations.

Have you tried Studio Fix Fluid? If so, what did you think of it?

ARK xo

Illamasqua Rich Liquid Foundation Review

Illasmasqua bounded onto the makeup scene in a rather huge way 2 years ago and have left an impression with many since then! One of the first products I knew I had to try of theirs was the Rich Liquid Foundation. With promises of the ultimate coverage available in a liquid foundation, I was more than intrigued to try it out...

What they say...

"Lock away your inhibitions and bring your confidence to the fore. Loved by professional make-up artists, Illamasqua Rich Liquid Foundation provides maximum, long-lasting coverage without feeling or looking heavy. It blends easily and hides problem areas perfectly. Create your canvas, then paint your work of art."

What I think...

Having used this foundation every weekend for just over a year, I feel I know the ins and outs of it extremely well.

There is absolutely no debating the fact that this is an extremely high coverage foundation, I have never experienced coverage this full with any other foundation and I have tried my fair share over the years! A multitude of sins will be hidden from view completely with the smallest amount of this product; from freckles to acne scars, you name it this foundation will tame it! Furthermore, this foundation also works fabulous as a concealer due to its ability to cover, well, almost anything! Surprisingly however, the foundation doesn't feel particularly heavy on the skin for a full coverage foundation, but if you are used to a lighter foundation this would probably feel heavy on the skin. The downside to having such a full coverage is finding an effective way to apply it and I have tried a variety of ways. Using a foundation brush such as the MAC 190 can make the foundation appear streaky if not buffed in with another brush such as a Duo-Fibre brush. I find the Duo-Fibre brush works well at providing a flawless coverage as you are able to effectively blend and buff the product into the skin. I found using my fingers a nightmare, not due to the finish, but the way the product felt on my fingers BLEH! When applying this foundation it's also essential to be sparing with the application of this product as it will look cakey if too much is applied.

All in all, this weekend is perfect for nights out and occasions with lots of pictures but not for everyday use.

Recommended for: those looking for a complete coverage foundation with a matte finish.

Avoid if: you desire a natural look/finish.

Illamasqua Rich Liquid Foundation £21.50

ARK xo