Foundation – Page 3 – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

Darac Beauty

As a forty-something woman, I am always looking for products that will make my skin appear flawless. Darac, a celebrity makeup artist, has introduced a makeup line that focuses on flawless skin. His Core Solutions are made to help women with solutions to common, but troubling makeup problems. Darac says on his website, “Everyone has similar core concerns. When you say, my foundation doesn’t match my skin; my powder makes me look like my great-great grandmother; I used to have long delicious lashes and now I have four sausages, or anything else you’ve struggled with, Core Solutions offers you specific solutions with instant results.”

I have recently tried some of Darac’s fantastic products. My favorites are:

Feature Focus ($39.50) is a compact of 3 different cream bases made to cover, contour and highlight the face. This product comes with the Looking Glass Cheat Sheet, which is a cling sheet that you can put on your mirror. It contains a diagram of where to place the products. Forgive is a great color for concealing, Forget is for highlighting and Frame is a darker shade to sculpt. I love to use Forgive under my eyes and on blemishes, Forget goes on my cheek bones and under my browbone and Frame is great for my chin area!

The TourQuam ($40.00) TourQuam Luxe ($75.00) brushes are some of the coolest I’ve tried. They are super-soft and full and contain magnets in the handle which I think draw the product into the brushes so you can swirl on an even coat of the product and use less of it. I use the TourQuam for bronzer and blush and the TourQuam Luxe for my powder.

Sifted Blur ($32.00) is more than a powder. Used with the TourQuam or TourQuam plus, I sweep it all over my face and it instantly makes my face look even and glow. The website states that, “Sifted Blur can be used as a under foundation to facilitate application of makeup and not allow it to rob water from your skin; it can be used over foundation to set and perfect makeup; or used without any makeup at all, any time of the day.” I have used it over my makeup and on its own, but I am going to definitely try it under my makeup in these hot, humid summer days when my face gets a little oily!

Expedition Mascara ($19.50) really lengthens my lashes while adding volume. Summer Allergies have forced me to wear my glasses instead of my contacts, and with Expedition, my lashes keep hitting my glasses! I have to make sure they are totally dry before I put my glasses on. This mascara also is vitamin-packed and nourishes lashes with a silk extract. I have noticed that my lashes stay glossy, black and soft all day long! You can also use the tiny detail brush included to get all of your little lashes and your bottom ones as well.

Visit www.daracbeauty.com to learn more about and to purchase this luxury cosmetic line. You are going to love it!

Studio Gear Cosmetics

Studio Gear Cosmetics creates high quality products that give a flawless look. I was lucky to try a couple of new face products from this brand:

Prime Objective Protective Perfecting Face Primer SPF 20 ($35.00) — This is cool little product. It helps protect the skin from the damaging effects of UVA and UVB rays while priming the skin for makeup. It is a silicone based face primer that provides an effective broad-spectrum SPF 20 sunscreen while making skin’s texture appear smoother. It also contains a sustained release liposome system with retinol which is touted to promote cell turnover and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as well as a milk protein complex to help to balance and protect the skin from environmental stresses.

I like this primer because you can never get too much sunscreen. You just need a little bit to smooth out the skin. Too much can be a tad greasy, just enough is silky. Once smoothed it all over your face, you are ready for concealer, foundation and the rest of your makeup.

Try the Flawless Foundation ($25.00) over your Prime Objective for glowing skin. This also contains silicone for a smooth finish. The website states that it also provides “the hydrating benefits of Hyaluronic Acid, light to medium buildable coverage, the antioxidant protection of Vitamins A, C and E, and a broad spectrum UVA, UVB sunscreen, SPF 10.”

This is a great summer foundation, because it is light, has the all-important sunscreen and gives the face a lovely glow. It is not heavy or cakey, and seamlessly blends into the skin.

Visit the Studio Gear website for product information at www.studiogearcosmetics.com and to purchase these wonderful items!

Fun New Products from Rimmel London!

Rimmel London is a great, quality drugstore brand. It’s both affordable and fun, which is great in the current economy. They have come out with some fab new releases that will help you stay cool in the hot summer months!

Stay Matte Clarifying Matte Foundation ($6.99 USD). This is an oil free foundation that claims to give up to 12 hours of matte skin. It is formulated with SKINPURE Complex, which combines salicylic acid to clear blemishes and botanical extracts to nourish, and also claims not to clog pores in the summer heat.

I really like this foundation. It does go on matte and feels smooth. I don’t know about keeping my skin covered for 12 hours, but it seems to last for at least an 8 hour shift at work. I’ve been using it with my EcoTools foundation brush and I find I don’t need a lot of the product to cover my face. I’m using color 101 Porcelain, which looks great on me, but there are only six shades available that may not work for all skin tones.

Lasting Finish Kiss & Stay Gloss ($7.99 USD) is a two-step long-wearing color gloss. One end holds the color, which is applied with a soft sponge tipped wand. This goes on first, and when it dries you apply the shimmery gloss which shines and moisturizes. The applicator for this end is a brush, which I love. I have the color Enduring Love which is a mauvy-rose color. It stays on forever, but the glittery top coat may be a little young for me. This would be very fun on a night out with the girls, though!

Sexy Curves Mascara ($7.49 USD) Claims to curl and thicken lashes. My lashes are short and straight. It works fine if I don’t curl my lashes first, but if I do, its a big difference! My lashes look longer and curlier. Not too thick, but its a nice day look. The plastic bristle brush (Rimmel’s Triple Plump Brush) is really cool, but a little intimidating. I just take it slowly from the base of my lashes to the tips.

Visit the Rimmel website at www.rimmellondon.com to learn more about these products. They are probably for sale at your local drugstore!

CoverGirl Simply Ageless Foundation

I love the new influx of anti-aging foundations that have recently been introduced. It’s like an added insurance from those pesky wrinkles that are starting to appear.

CoverGirl has partnered with Olay, by infusing their Simply Ageless Foundation ($15.99 USD), with Olay Regenerist Serum for a double skin treat. This cream foundation comes in 15 shades to choose from, for all skin tones.

The CoverGirl website claims, “This breakthrough formula with Olay Regenerist Serum and SPF 22 stays suspended over fine lines and wrinkles, unlike the leading anti-aging department store foundation that can gather in wrinkles and make skin look older. Clinically shown to provide significant improvement in skin condition in just four weeks.”

This foundation is very creamy and gives great coverage. It is definitely not a sheer foundation. It also drys fairly quickly, giving an flawless matte finish. I also love the SPF 22 because you can never have enough sun protection!

www.covergirl.com is a great place to purchase products or find the location of a retailer near you. It also has a really cool tool called the CG Makeup Mirror where you can upload a photo of yourself and try on CoverGirl products. Have Fun!

Hey All! Enter my 100th Blog Post Giveaways! I will be giving away products from It Cosmetics, Yes to Carrots and EcoTools! To enter, just leave a comment on ANY of my posts between 4/26 – 5/2. I will draw 3 names on Sunday 5/3/09 and notify the winners! To see exactly what I am giving away, check out my post http://tinyurl.com/dgnxda. Good Luck!

Foundation Flummoxed? Stila Gives Great Choices!

Looking for a good quality foundation? Take a stroll through your local Sephora or Ulta (or go online at http://www.stilacosmetics.com), and check out Stila foundations. The three that I have are all flawless, but vary in coverage and finish.

Illuminating tinted moisturizer SPF 15 — $32.00 USD — This lovely foundation is perfect when you need a little coverage and a lot of glow! This delivers a very youthful shimmer to the face that is not glittery at all. It comes in two shades a light (01) and a medium (02). For day, a bit of powder over it tones the shimmer down, but at night, glow on ladies!

Illuminating Liquid Foundation — $38.00 USD — This one is my favorite right now. It covers my skin imperfections but doesn’t look heavy. It has a bit of glow to it as well, but is not as shimmery as the Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer. In 8 different shades there is sure to be a color that matches most skin tones.

Sheer Color tinted moisturizer spf 15 — $32.00 SPF 15 — This tinted moisturizer gives the face a dewy look with just a hint of coverage. I think it will be great in the summer when I get a little tan. I have the shade “Medium”, which is a nice neutral beige. As this product is available in 10 shades, there is one for almost everyone!

The coverage and clarity of all of these foundations can be intensified by Stila’s Hydrating Primer SPF 15 ($34.00 USD). Wearing this moisturizing primer will even out the skin tone and even hide your pores! This is not for someone for very oily skin, but will work for almost everyone else.

So check out the stores or Stila’s website if you are looking for new ways to make your skin look youthful and smooth!

Revlon Age Defying Spa Collection Foundation and Concealer

One of my New Year’s resolutions is to try out products that are supposed to, well, make me look younger. At forty, now’s the time to truly test-drive the products that are supposed to de-age me. This year I want to delve into the wide world of anti-aging skincare and makeup.

Last week I picked up the Revlon Age Defying Spa Collection Concealer($9.99 USD) and Foundation ($13.99 USD). This week, I have been using these products exclusively as my concealer and foundation.

Revlon’s website claims that these products, “instantly revitalize and brighten for radiant, flawless coverage and protect against fine lines”. They contain, “Stone Therapy minerals that help energize stressed skin and Vitamin C fusion brighteners.”

That sounds very nice, but how does it wear? Well, I like these products okay, but they did settle a little into the lines around my eyes.

The foundation, though, has a couple of great pluses to it. First it contains SPF 18 which is important for our aging skin.

Second, the brush applicator is really cool. I twist the base once, squeeze the tube, and the product comes out. I then twist it back to lock it while I am applying it. It takes about 3 squeezes to do my whole face. Ingenious.

The highlighter is in a slim pen shape and also has a brush applicator. To dispense the concealer, I turn the base until it saturates the brush. I then swipe it on the areas I need it and blend with my finger.

The shades I purchase are the concealer in 001 light and the foundation in 002 fair/light. The concealer color is perfect for my skin, but the foundation is a little dark and a bit orange for me. It would probably be a good shade for the summer, when my skin becomes a little darker (even with sunscreen).

All in all, these are nice products and if you are interested, give them a try!

L’Oreal Visible Lift

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Happy November all! Here in Missouri, it doesn’t quite feel like fall yet (today was in the 70’s), but I can tell it is. How? My skin is already getting dry and dull. So I have begun preparing for flaky skin. I have purchased some apricot scrub, thicker moisturizer and I am looking for some nice smoothing face cosmetics to help me look hydrated and maybe even a little younger!

I have recently tried the L’Oreal Visible Lift foundation and concealer. The foundation now comes in a normal to oily formula as well as their normal to dry formula. This product contains Pro Retinol-A to reduce look of fine lines and wrinkles and hydrate skin. I have not noticed wrinkles reducing, but my skin is hydrated, even with the normal to oily foundation and it gives me a nice glow.

The concealer is touted to reduce under eye puffiness and promote skin radiance. I have noticed that my under eye circles are a bit diminished and my skin does glow.

The foundation is priced at around $15.49 US and the concealer is priced at $11.95 US. I recommend these products for the glowing effect they produce.

It’s Prime Time for Primers!

I have to admit that I am fairly new to the wonderful world of foundation primer. The idea of it is intriguing to me. A lotion or cream that is neither a moisturizer or foundation, but will make your skin even, smooth and allow your pores to appear smaller? Could this be a miracle product?

The first primer I’ve tried was Benefit’s That Gal Brightening Face Primer. This pink-tinted cream is touted to smooth and brighten the face. As with all primers, this can be used under foundation or on it’s own. I tried it first without foundation and I loved the glow that it gave me. It’s a very fresh look. The glow is somewhat reduced under foundation, but my face definitely looked smoother. At $28.00, it’s a bit of a splurge, but worth it if your skin (like mine) needs a little refinement.

Lately I have tried two new primers. The first one is Stila’s Hydrating Primer SPF 15. I love Stila, especially the eye shadow color Kitten and my favorite mascara, Major Lash Mascara. As fall approaches, my skin becomes dryer, so a hydrating primer sounded good. The consistency of this primer is like a heavy moisturizer and, unfortunately it felt a bit greasy on my skin. Beside the feel of the product, the look was fantastic, especially under foundation. My whole face glowed and I even looked younger! Maybe this would work better once my face dries out in the winter. This product would be great for ladies with dry skin. At Sephora, this sells for $34.00.

The second new primer I have tried is Avon’s Magix Face Perfector SPF 20. Avon claims that this balm-like cream makes all skin types look flawless. I don’t know about all skin types, but this product makes my combination skin look smooth and feel very soft. Unlike Stila’s moisturizing formula, Magix gives a nice matte look that last all day. At $10.00 for the Magix Face Perfector, this is one I highly recommend!