For the most part here on Makeup Savvy I focus on skincare to improve and correct a complexion but makeup is pretty wonderful at camouflaging. Especially when you opt for the right products!
So today I thought I would share with you my simple glowing complexion routine that works really well for oily/combination skin but also for anyone suffering from lack luster skin. You may have noticed from the above image that my base routine consists of mainly Charlotte Tilbury products because I adore them, but I do often use one or two products here with much lower priced items. Although, when I do want my skin to look its best I go for this pretty premium line-up.
Although the sun hasn't fully come out just yet I thought it was time to talk lighter bases that give a healthy glow and let the skin breathe.
I personally only have a few full coverage foundations in my collection, preferring to go for a light coverage (especially come spring/summer) touching up areas with my concealer of choice. And when I fancy a matte finish I simply dust with translucent powder to dull down the glow.
Here I've selected five wonderful foundations and BB/CC creams, from the sheerest of formulas to light coverage foundations that you can build. Basically, there's something for everyone here!
Yes, yes, yes!
All the yes's! Okay, I may need to calm down a little as Charlotte Tilbury's Magic Foundation won't be "all the yes's" as I so eagerly put it, for everyone... but it is pretty damn amazing!
I never normally devote an entire blog post to a single product but when it's this good, needs must. Here you will find my full review of the foundation from the formula, to whether to buy it at a counter or online and if your skin type will be compatible.
Before September and although Charlotte Tilbury's amazing makeup line has been around for an entire 3 years I hadn't tried a single products from the now cult brand. You see, I'm a bit frugal when it comes to, well basically everything, and I firmly believe you don't need to spend £££ on makeup products to receive high quality. But sometimes you have to be economical and with my constant buying and often disappointment of high street foundations I decided it was time to seek out my holy grail base.
The search for 'the one'
Having never spent over £15 on a foundation before, I decided I needed to test out a few high end bases. A night well spent on eBay and I was armed with sachet samples of Nars Sheer Glow Foundation and Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation, both of which I consider medium coverage. I have to say I loved the finish of both formula but Nars seemed to not last as long on the skin for me and did cling to a few dry patches for. CT Magic Foundation on the other hand was absolutely flawless and created the most amazing base which looked exactly the same at the end of the day - so impressed by that!
Price - 30ml £29.50 (SHOP LINK)
Buying Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation - Counter vs. Online
As I was planning a shopping trip I decided to pick up the foundation at the Charlotte Tilbury counter in Selfridges. Along with my Magic Foundation (in shade 1 Fair) and another sneaky CT purchase the lovely non-pushy assistant gave me a few extra darker samples of the foundation which I requested as I'm going on holiday soon, along with a sample of the new Charlotte Tilbury fragrance. So definitely have the confidence to ask for samples! However if you do order online you have a wider choice of 2 free Charlotte Tilbury samples plus a vial of the newly launched fragrance - Scent of a Dream. I'm also pretty certain your order will come beautifully packaged, so a nice few benefits if you do decide to shop online.
If you are worried about buying the wrong shade then don't fear as the Charlotte Tilbury website has a pretty amazing foundation finder tool - I tried it myself and it picked my correct shade straight away!
Why it's my new holy grail foundation
Although the foundation is described as full coverage it neither looks or feels it. Yes, it covers everything (I now only use the smallest amount of concealer) as it is medium coverage that is buildable to a full coverage foundation but it acts like a much lighter foundation - hence why it's magic! With a high maintenance combination/oily skin type I found it stayed put on the oily areas of my skin yet it didn't cling to drier parts of my face, however when the foundation is applied onto a freshly exfoliated face with a damp beauty sponge it's just WOW - so incredibly flawless! I also find the foundation covers even my enlarged pores, again without looking heavy, in fact I apply slightly more in these areas without any heaviness or that cakey look that can sometimes comes with fuller coverage foundations. Really amazing stuff that feels so breathable and like no other foundation I've tried.
Is it for all skin types?
Nearly. I feel this foundation caters to most skin types, especially suited to anyone with blemishes they want to cover whether that be acne, rosacea or general pigmentation. The skin types I wouldn't recommend this to would be anyone with dry or dehydrated skin as you may find that it clings to your driest areas or appears to just sit on the skin. However you may find your perfect product in Charlotte's Light Wonder Foundation.
Finding my holy grail foundation with a Charlotte Tilbury product really has opened my eyes to this amazing brand - not such a good thing for my bank balance, mind. As mentioned I'm already loving another product from the glorious makeup line (I'm sure it will appear on Makeup Savvy at a later date!) and although the products do carry a price tag I know I will be back as they are true wonder products and a dream to use!
Let me know if you own any Charlotte Tilbury products... just don't enable me further!
Fee xo.
A flawless complexion to me is much more satisfying than achieving a perfect smokey eye or contouring that even Kim Kardashian would be envious of. If I haven't got my base just right I feel a bit deflated with my makeup, which is why for the past 3+ years I have being using a damp blending sponge to apply my foundation (and a fluffy eyeshadow brush for concealer I should add).
For my frustratingly oily/dry skin I find this works best as there is no chance of micro exfoliation causing flaky looking skin which I tend to see with buffing brushes and it gives me the light flawless coverage I'm looking for with all foundations.
My blending sponge of choice for as long as I can remember has been the Cosmopolitan Blend Perfection Sponge (£4.95 - Feel Unique here) in fact I raved about it in a full blog post 3 years ago! But as my last sponge was looking a bit worse for wear I thought it may be time to try something new with the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge (£4.31 - Amazon here or £5.99 at Boots).
Compared to the Cosmo sponge there isn't too much difference, except for the clear difference in shape with the Real Techniques sponge being a more usable. The two different pointed tips of the sponge are perfect for around the nose and under the eye if you chose to blender concealer out with it. I've used this both dry and damp now and personally love the lighter finish a damp sponge gives, though if you are looking for more coverage keeping the sponge dry is probably your best option. Either way this never fails to give an even airbrushed look with such ease!
I'm currently all about a light base so have been using the sponge in conjunction with the Bourjois 123 Perfection BB Cream that made my March Beauty Favourites here and my all-time favourite Max Factor Xperience Foundation which is hands down the best foundation for a weightless light coverage (the lightest shade is also ideal for super pale skin).
To combat the sponge soaking up too much product and wasting it, which all blending sponges do, I have found applying my foundation of choice roughly over my face with either my fingers or a flat foundation brush to be the best option. Then I simply bounce/stipple the sponge over my entire face to give that airbrushed finish to the skin, blending in the foundation perfectly.
If you are looking for a flawless finish then this is 100% worth purchasing!
Also a great budget alternative to the cult Beautyblender.
Fee xo.
On a recent trip to the supermarket I got slightly distracted by all the makeup (I actually spent more on beauty products than on food!) and decided to brave using the testers as they were all fairly new looking. I did initially want to purchase the new Rimmel Wake Up foundation, which I am sure I will still buy. But the new offerings from L'Oreal just caught my eye more.
So of course I gave in and added the 15th foundation to my collection with L'Oreal Lumi Magique!
My ideal foundation is light in coverage but just enough to even out the skin and for it look radiant. But I do like a foundation that is buildable so that I can apply a little extra to the T-zone were I feel I have visible pores. Also it is important that it doesn't cling to any dry skin... as I tend to get a dry patches on my nose for some reason.
Now I didn't even now L'Oreal had come out with a new foundation or BB cream... I hadn't seen an advert or press release for it and I have never tried a single foundation from L'Oreal. So I was taking a bit of a risk just purchasing it on a whim. But as soon as I swatched the lightest shade I just knew that 1) it was a really good match for my skin 2) it was a lovely formula, nice, light and dewy.
Of course the swatch above doesn't show much, but if you like a light, dewy finish then this will be perfect for you... I am thinking a definite spring foundation! The formula is quite thin and spreads over the face really well with either the fingers or a brush so only 1-2 pumps are needed at the most.
I am actually thinking this rivals my beloved Bourjois Health Mix foundation on the luminous/healthy glow front as like the bottle states it does give that 'lit from within' effect even thought I hate to agree with such a cheesy statement. Overall I am really just so impressed, it ticks all the right boxes for me and I know I will be wearing this all spring to give me that healthy glow without any hint of orange going on!
At the moment L'Oreal products are on 3 for 2 at Boots and the Lumi Magique Foundation is £10.99 (here) and comes in 6 shades (slightly limited but good if you are fair to medium/tanned). However I actually purchased the foundation for an introductory price of £7.99 at Tesco.
But if you aren't convinced with my review then you can actually request a free sample over on the UK L'Oreal Facebook page - here. I'm thinking you can even select the shade that you want as well!
The other product from L'oreal that I swatched and instantly disliked was the new Nude Magique BB cream. Now this is one very strange product...
The product comes in two shades one for fair skin tones and one for medium (no 3rd darker shade for some reason) so I of course tried out the lighter one. Now this is apparently has 'smart pigment capsules' in it so that is adapts to your skin tone and all that yadda. So I tried a little on the back of my hand and this odd grey quite thin runny cream came out. I then preceded to rub in the BB cream and as I rubbed it just seemed to go darker and darker. At which point my boyfriend looked down at my hand and said 'what is that?!' as it was so orange against my own skin.
Of course I can't really fully judge a product on one swatch so if you want to know what BB cream lover Miss Budget Beauty thought of L'Oreal's first (and hopefully last) BB cream then you can have a read of that - here.
But I have to give it to L'Oreal as they are coming out with some great products at the moment. Especially their new mascara and precision pen eyeliner... just great! As well as their new foundation which I went on about for far too long.
Also in the new Lumi Magique range they do have a primer which I am very tempted to try out now! Fingers crossed it will be as good as the foundation!
Fee xo.
But I have to give it to L'Oreal as they are coming out with some great products at the moment. Especially their new mascara and precision pen eyeliner... just great! As well as their new foundation which I went on about for far too long.
Also in the new Lumi Magique range they do have a primer which I am very tempted to try out now! Fingers crossed it will be as good as the foundation!
Fee xo.
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