Foundation Files; Byterry Light-Expert Click Brush Foudnation (Shade Extension)

Foundation Files; This is where I test out different base products, from concealer to powder, tinted moisturiser and foundation etc, over a period of 7-14 days and post my findings. (Follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Bloglovin so you don't miss a post) So let’s get started!!!


First off some information about me; Skintype: Combination (leaning dry in winter and Oily in Summer). Shade Reference: in between MAC NC45-50/NW43. Undertones: Yellow/Neutral.

TheFoundationDirectory; Byterry Light-Expert Click Brush Foundation

Brand: Byterry

TheFoundatiobDirectory; Byterry Light-Expert Click Brush Foundation

Name: Light-Expert Click Brush

TheFoundationDirectory; Byterry Light-Expert Click Brush Foundation

Coverage: Light-Medium

Shade: 11 - Amber Brown
15 - Golden Brown
16 - Intense Mocha

Swatch: 

What The brand says: Light Perfection Foundation Brush is an anti-blemish, anti-dullness, anti-shadow foundation, this ingenious brush, christened the foundation for makeup dummies, guarantees flawless skin with every stroke! With a click, its brush applies its featherlight texture for virtually imperceptible yet totally perfecting artfully deceptive coverage. A new intelligent, practical and easy-to-apply beauty step for an instantly luminous result! The formula is an ingenious filling and anti-aging product with its extreme skincare formula: Hydra-smoothing hyaluronic acid microspheres act like an ""anti-furrow"" patch, plumping up wrinkles for an instant lifting effect. Seven anti-senescence substances (phytosterols, phytosteroids, ursolic acid, isoflavones, policosanols, pro-vitamin A, vitamin E) form a rejuvenating catalyst providing long-term protection and defying the laws of time. The Teint Expert Collection is a revolutionary take on all-in-1 make-up, this foundation brush combines a star anti-imperfection formula with a futuristic ergonomic and effective applicator to sculpt the face, instantly erasing imperfections for silky, even skin in no time.
Wear time (with/without primer): This foundation lasts well on the skin with/without primer,it give good coverage, while being very lightweight on the skin. I use the applicator brush to dab the foundation on my face, but I prefer to reach for an alternative brush to buff the foundation into my skin. 

Price (ml): £48 for 19.5ml


Pros: Skincare hybrid

Lightweight coverage
Lasts well on the skin
Shade Extension
Travel friendly

Cons: Price per ml
Shade range still a little limited
Poor Availability of darker shades

Suitable Skin Types: All (Extremes prep well accordingly)

Ingredients: None listed

Oxidation: No

Any Other Information: If you read this post here, you would know that in March I attended a workshop for the darker shades of Light-Expert, to give our thoughts and feedback on the possible shade extensions. During the launch of Light-Expert we were told darker shades were in the works, but were taking longer to develop due to this foundations 'high-tech' formula. Byterry wanted to perfect these shades and prevent that ashy grey cast that some darker shades of foundation can have, so that they performed on par with the rest of the shade range. During this workshop there were 6 potential shades, it seems only two made the cut, shade 11 is the pre-existing darkest shade in the range.

Conclusion: Although I'm disappointed that only 2 shades made the cut, I am happy to finally get my hands on the new shades, and the performance of this foundation is great. It was nice to have input into the development of the new shades, at a point when we could have some impact on the outcome, and it's nice that the brand cared enough to do this. I wish I could tell you that this £48 foundation isn't good, but I have really fallen for it, it gives great coverage, while being lightweight on the skin and lasts well on the skin during this current cooler climate. When I apply it I can feel the 'Hydra-smoothing hyaluronic acid microspheres ', it feels hydrating, soothing and cooling to the skin. I tend to use shades 15 & 16 together, 15 is probably my match, but does not have enough orange/warmth for my personal liking, and 16 is too red for my skin tone, together though they look great. I apply 16 towards the perimeter of my face, if you are after a super full coverage foundation this is not for you. 

Availability: I understand the darker shades are stocked in Harrods & Fenwick, but I could not find this foundation on their respective websites (Fenwick don't even seem to stock the brand at all), so maybe it's in store only. Spacenk online and the EU Byterry website only have the original 6 shades and not the extended shades. I hope they do stock the extended shades more widely, it would be a shame for them to discontinue it, due to 'lack of sales', it's difficult to buy something that isn't stocked.

*Rating: Love




*Ratings; Hate, dislike, Like, Lust, Love

Curlformers Curlspiration Day

TheFoundationDirectory; Curlformers Curlspiration Day

Why didn't you all tell me about Curlformers by Hairflair? I've seen these about for ages, but for some reason have never ever tried them. So of course I jumped at the opportunity when invited to Taylor Taylor Salon for a Curlspiration day, which essentially involved me getting my hair and nails done in the gorgeous Taylor Taylor Salon. If you are reading this thinking what the hell are Curlformers, well read on and let me tell you.

TheFoundationDirectory; *Curlformer's Curlspiration Day

Curlformers are the world's only patented heat free hair curlers, they are suitable for all ages (I wouldn't use them on a baby...obvs), hair types, wigs and weaves with absolutely no risk of heat damage. There are 3 different sizes, starting with the tightest curl you have Corkscrew, Spiral and Barrel. There are also 2 lengths, long and extra long. To use them you take the included styling hook and feed it through the Curlformer, then on damp hair, take a small section of hair, ensuring that all the hair is securely in the hook and pull the hair through the Curlformer (sounds complicated, but you get the hang of it very quickly). Once you have completed your entire head, you can either air dry (I have slept in them) or use the Softhood, also by Hairflair and a hairdryer to dry your hair. Once your hair is completely dry just pinch the root of your hair and pull the Curlformer to remove, then style. Voila the perfect curl. If my explanation has confused you even more, no worries there are numerous videos on the Culformers website here. 

TheFoundationDirectory; Curlformer's Curlspiration Day

On the day the long barrel Curlformers were used on my dampened kinky straight textured weave and dried with the Softhood, I absolutely loved the finished result. If you are rubbish at curling your own hair like me, or don't want to use heat on your hair, then you need these in your life!!! They also have some great brushes I have been loving, check it all out at Curlformers.com. 

TheFoundationDirectory; Curlformer's Curlspiration Day

*All photo's courtesy of CurlformersOfficial

#MyMelaricheStory; Melariche.com

I was always the makeup one in my family, even when I wasn't that into makeup, goes to show how little my mum & sister were into makeup. My mum was all about a dark plum lip (and still is) and my sister was a straight up tomboy. So I kind of felt like I didn't really have anyone to show me the way, this was way before the invention of YouTube (showing my age). I was left to my own defences, to experiment and figure out my makeup style, for years it was mostly makeup bought from mac. I dreaded going to the a mac counter (sorry some of the staff are so rude), but what choice did I have, weren't many brands catering to my melanin rich skin in my price bracket, certainly weren't any drugstore options. I'd have to save up just to afford mac at that time to be honest, which mainly consisted of concealer, mineralise skin finish powder, mascara & a flesh tone lipstick or gloss. I've felt like its taken a while for me to really find my way with makeup, it's such a shame to see that several years on the drugstore scene is not that much better than it was in my day.

TheFoundationDirectory; #MyMelaricheStory

So it's really inspiring when I see brownbeauties, taking things into their own hands, and making a change to the 50 shades of beige. Native New Yorker Jackie Taiwo, was surprised and frustrated to find that the choice of makeup and skincare for melanin rich women here in the UK is much more limited, than where she previously called home New York. Jackie has launched a website (melariche.com - an amalgamation of melanin & rich, clever) that caters specifically for the makeup, skincare and haircare needs of women of colour, and to top it off most of the brands are black owned too, I mean how amazing!!! I received items from Zao, Biolissime & PHB Ethical Beauty.

TheFoundationDirectory; #MyMelaricheStory

Zao is an organic, eco-luxury makeup brand made in Italy from 100% natural origins, it is internationally certified organic, chemical, cruelty & gluten free. The packaging is the most chic and unusual packaging I've seen a foundation housed in, and it can be refilled, meaning the packaging isn't wasted every time you need to repurchase.

Biolissime is a French skincare line that is specifically formulated to treat issues regarding to hyperpigmentation, using a non whitening formula that evens out the skin tone while increasing the skin's defence mechanism against UVA & UVB rays, therefore preventing further pigmentation issues.

PHB Ethical Beauty is a British family run business with a range of award winning handmade products, they are home to the world's largest range of Natural, Vegan Cruelty Free and Halal Certified beauty products. There's something to suit all skin types with their colour coded range of products that blend the purest organic extracts and essential oils, to treat various skin issues.

Melariche.com is definitely the place to go if you are looking for brands and products by women of colour for women of colour all under one roof. Jackie has done a fantastic job of bringing these and many more brands together, making them more accessible for you and I.

Beauty Blender Masterclass; The things you didn't know you could do with a Beauty Blender!!!

TheFoundationDirectory; Beauty Blender Masterclass

 On an unexpectedly hot day in September I toddled along to a Beauty Blender Masterclass, not expecting to learn much more than I already knew about beauty blenders, oh how wrong was I?! Beauty Blender exclusively use a unique material that is not found in any other makeup sponge, once wet the water fills the pores of the sponge so it doesn't soak up any further makeup, you just 'Wet, Squeeze and Bounce'. There are a couple of exception to this beauty blender mantra, but we will get to that later.

Firstly did you know there was a body blender? That's right a huge flat shape (think huge egg sliced right through the middle), that can be used to apply fake tan, body shimmer etc to large areas of the body and keep your hands clean while doing it.

TheFoundationDirectory; Beauty Blender Original (Pink)

Then of course there's the original Pink Beauty Blender, that can be used to apply foundation, powders, primers, cream blush etc. The shape allows for impeccable blending with a professional finish, no brush marks and if you usually have issues with products 'balling up' when you try to layer them, this will help prevent that.

Next up is my absolute favourite of the entire bunch, and one of the exceptions that doesn't conform to the 'wet, squeeze, bounce' mantra. It's the only sponge in the line-up that is designed to be used dry, it's the Blotterazzi, the first washable, re-usable alternative to blotting papers. It's a flat teardrop shaped sponge that you press against the skin to gently absorb oil without disturbing your makeup, it comes housed with 2 in a cute mirrored air vented compact that can easily fit in your handbag for on the go touch-ups. The sponge is super easy to clean, using the beauty blender cleaner, or what I've done, which is with anti-bacterial hand washing soap. This is great as it allows you to get rid of shine, without leading to a cakey build-up from the over use of powder. I touch-up less with powder since using this, and when I do use powder I feel it applies better as I can get rid of the oil first, I think this is a must for my fellow combo/oily skin girls. Beauty blender state that each sponge lasts 60 days, so the 2 in the compact will give you 120 days of use, but to be honest I think I will get longer use out of mine, I haven't even touched the second sponge in the compact and have had them for about a month now and the first sponge looks great and is still going strong.

TheFoundationDirectory; Beauty Blender Micro Mini

Next up is the Beauty Blusher and Micro Mini, as the name suggests the first is for the use of application of cream or powder blusher. I actually prefer to use this to blend under eye concealer and liquid/cream highlighters on the face. The micro mini is designed for this and also to contour, but personally I find it a little small, so just stick with the beauty blusher for this job, although micro mini would be great for contouring/highlighting really small areas like your nose, brow bone etc. It can also be used to apply eyeshadow, that's right, eyeshadow. Especially if you like to apply those one and done washes of colour over your lids, now I haven't tried this myself, but the pro makeup artist that demonstrated this at the masterclass and made it look super duper easy.

TheFoundationDirectory; Beauty Blender Liner Designer

Finally and the only thing in the beauty blender arsenal that actually isn't a sponge, (so again doesn't comply to the 'wet, squeeze, bounce' mantra) other than the cleanser of course, is the Liner Designer. This is set to make doing those instagram enviable winged liners, achieveable for non-professionals like myself. The 3 different sides are designed to help create different angles, curves and shapes to suit your eye, perfect to use with all types of eyeliner. Not only that, but beauty blender has thought of everything, the compact that houses the Liner Designer actually comes with a suction cup and a 5x magnification mirror. So you place the compact at eye level with the little suction cup, rub the liner designer between fingers for 10-15 second to warm it up, this allows the tool to adhere to your skin and stay in place. You use the longer side for dramatic cat eye looks or shorter side for a more subtle look.

I'm sure in all this there's a beauty blender for everyone and all bases are covered, not forgeting the liquid and solid beauty blender cleansers that allow you to maintain and keep your blenders in tip top shape. Beauty Blenders can be found here, here and here.

Are you a beauty blender fan? Did you know all these beauty blenders (and more) existed?

Tsaka Deep Clean Facemask

What do you do when you leave your country to go and study in a new country and then find your skin starts playing up trying to adapt to the new climate? Launch a new skincare brand that will cater to your melanin rich sensitive skin? No, me either, but that is exactly what the formidable Celmira Amade did when she came and study here in the UK. Celmira came to the UK in 2010 to study International Business, almost overnight her skin suffered from blemishes, dryness and uneven skin tone. She searched the British highstreet trying to find natural based products designed specifically for her melanin-rich skin to no avail, and eventually settled for make-up to disguise rather than treat the problem. It was not until she was offered a skin bleaching cream in a local beauty store that she realised she had to do something about this, makeup and skin bleaching were not acceptable alternatives. Despite some hesitation Celmira took that leap, influenced by ancient Mozambican beauty recipes from her grandmother the British based vegan brand with African roots, Tsaka (pronounced Saka - meaning happiness in the Ronga dialect of Mozambique) was born.


TheFoundationDirectory; Tsaka Facemask

First in this skincare brands line-up is the Tsaka Facemask, the first beauty line in the UK to formulate with rare plant extracts from the Olacaceae family that are only found in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Madagascar extensively. Paying tribute to time tested traditional African beauty recipes, each ingredient is wild harvested, hand picked and processed with heat. The mask has high anti-inflammatory and smoothing properties, that minimise post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, it deep cleans and detoxifies without clogging your pores, while regenerating and hydrating your skin. The big difference with this face mask however is it's preservative free formula, which is enabled due to the lack of water in the formula. That's right the mask doesn't come premixed, it's water activated so you add water when you are ready to apply it to your face, mixing a teaspoon of water to half a teaspoon of mask together.

Celmira is very hands on, splitting her time between studying at University of Cambridge and travelling back and forth to Mozambique to ensure that only the purest ingredients are used in production. As if giving us a British vegan African fusion skincare line, designed specifically for melanin rich skin wasn't enough. Celmira has also made the commitment to leverage 2% of it's profits to achieve beautiful things in the communities where the ingredients are sourced, utilising a beauty brand to sprinkle happiness and touch the lives of many.

I have to say I found it a little alien at first, trying to get the right proportions of water to product, and when I applied the mask to my face it felt like I wasn't applying very much. But then as the mask hardens it turns white, and you can see the mask become more apparent on the skin. It doesn't feel like your traditional facemasks, so not too tight or drying, and my skin felt clean and soft after use.

If you are looking for natural vegan skincare, designed specifically to work in harmony with your gorgeous melanin rich skin, that is free from Preservatives, Hydroquinone, Lead, Heavy alcohol, Synthetic Fragrances, Sulfate, Mineral Oil and Animal derived ingredients then you cannot go far wrong with Tsaka, I can't wait to see what else the brand has in store for us.

Prices start at £17 and the Tsaka facemask can be found here.

FoundationFiles; Is Makeup Revolution The One Foundation, the cheapest foudation ever!?!

Foundation Files; This is where I test out different base products, from concealer to powder, tinted moisturiser and foundation etc, over a period of 7-14 days and post my findings. (Follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Bloglovin so you don't miss a post) So let’s get started!!!


First off some information about me; Skintype: Combination (leaning dry in winter and Oily in Summer). Shade Reference: in between MAC NC45-50/NW43. Undertones: Yellow/Neutral.

TheFoundationDirectory; Makeup Revolution The One Foundation

Brand: Makeup Revolution

Name: The ONE Foundation

Coverage: Light-Medium

Shade: 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16

Swatch: 

TheFoundationDirectory; Makeup Revolution The One Foundation Swatches

What The brand says: This will be your ONE Foundation. ONE shade for everyone. Using revolutionary fusion technology The ONE Foundation adapts to your skin tone and texture to give a flawless finish. Benefits: Due to it's liquid formula, it is easily build-able and applied. The ONE Foundation gives full coverage resulting in a matte finish. Available in 16 shades to suit every skin tone. 

Wear time (with/without primer): The wear time on this foundation is not that great, it's not a matte foundation as stated, and I feel due to it's lightweight consistency my oils pushed through quite easily. I would also struggle to class this as full coverage, you get a medium coverage at best, and that requires a lot of layering, it also oxidised quite badly on me.

Price (ml): £1-4 for 29ml dependending on the shade.

Pros: Affordable

Shade range
Shade adjusters

Cons: Accessibility
Undertones
Doesn't live up to claims
Not long wearingon a combination skin

Suitable Skin Types: Dry, Normal and Combination (if you a willing to touch-up). All skin types if using as a mixing agent.

Ingredients: Aqua, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Isododecane (and) Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane (and) Ethylhexyl Palmitate (and) Quaternium-90 Bentonite (and) Propylene Carbonate, Magnesium Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol (and) Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, BHA

May Contain: Titanium Dioxide(CI 77891), Iron Oxides(CI 77491), Iron Oxides(CI 77492), Iron Oxides(CI 77499)

Oxidation: Yes, a lot.

Any Other Information: Don't get me wrong for the price this is an ok foundation, but I really wanted to love it, I'll try it again once the weather it's much cooler and see if that makes a difference on my combination skin. However for now it's best as a mixing agent, for instance if you want to add more yellow to your foundation reach for shade number 12, to deepen your foundation tone add a darker shade etc. If you like a very light coverage, have dry to normal skin that holds foundation well, very few blemishes to cover, are new to make or looking for something to slap on to run errands, this could be a great option worn as a foundation. As you can see from the swatches it has a very liquid consistency, similar to Mac Face and Body, and needs a good shake prior to every use. I didn't get on with Mac Face and Body foundation either, so maybe these water fluid foundation textures are not for me.

Conclusion: I really wanted to love this foundation worn alone, firstly I struggled to find a shade, 12 has a great golden yellow undertone, slightly too light for my tanned summer skin. 13 is straight up ashy on me, as it's too cool toned, 14 has this weird green-grey-brown undertone that just didn't work for me, 15 is slightly too red and although shade 16 is gorgeous it's too dark for me. Even mixing shades together I struggled to get a good match, in addition it just didn't last well on my skin, I had to constantly touch up and after a few hour I didn't like the way it looked on the skin. This for me will strictly be a mixing agent from now on, but if you are looking for shade adjusters these are a great affordable option, or if you fall into any of the above mentioned categories this can make a great lightweight base if you can get your shade.

Availability: Continuing on with the Superdrug Shades of Beauty Campaign Foundation Exploration, this is another option available from Superdrug, I've not seen it in any stores, but you can get it online at Superdrug.com and Tambeauty.com 

*Rating: Dislike as a foundation, Love as a mixing agent.









*Ratings; Hate, dislike, Like, Lust, Love

Foundation files; L'oreal Paris True Match Foundation

Foundation Files; This is where I test out different base products, from concealer to powder, tinted moisturiser and foundation etc, over a period of 7-14 days and post my findings. (Follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Bloglovin so you don't miss a post) So let’s get started!!!

First off some information about me; Skintype: Combination (leaning dry in winter and Oily in Summer). Shade Reference: in between MAC NC45-50/NW43. Undertones: Yellow/Neutral.

Brand: L'Oreal



Name: True Match 

Coverage: Medium

Shade: 8W Golden Cappucino/8N Cappucino

Swatch:

TheFoundationDirectory; L'Oreal Paris True Match Foundation Swatch

What The brand says: The new vision of skin matching technology. With the finest pigments, invisible to the naked eye and a creamy ultra-gliding texture for a unique silky touch. Giving you a natural finish. The new technology captures the undertones from warm, neutral to cool.

Features: New true match, super blendable foundation

The new formula contains 3 new shade enhancers for shade matching precision
Skin perfecting pigments and the ultra gliding creamy texture give a homogeneous finish
Even better colour matching, and more luminous and radiant skin than before
Even longer wear and better comfort
All you see is your skin at it's best

Wear time (with/without primer): The wear time on this foundation is very typical on my combination skin, requiring a couple touch-ups throughout the day even with primer, and the usual shiny nose appearing if I do not touch up.

Price (ml): £9.99 for 30ml

Pros: Good shade range
Affordable
Accessible
Pump bottle
Varying undertones



Cons: Not all of the deeper shades are stocked in stores
Jump between the number 8 shades

Suitable Skin Types: All, but extremely oily will need to prep skin accordingly.

Ingredients: Zinc Oxide (Nano) / Zinc Oxide, Talc, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone, Copernicia Cerifera Cera / Carnauba Wax, Cetyl Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Triisicetyl Citrate, Aloe Barbadensis / Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopherol, (+ / - May contain: C177163 / Bismuth Oxychloride, C177891 / Titanium Dioxide, C177491, C177492, C177499 / Iron Oxides, FIL B167167/1.

Oxidation: None

Any Other Information: Superdrug are addressing the lack of diversity on the high street with June Sarpong as the ambassador, so I will be featuring a lot of the foundations that are available to buy from them in foundation files posts in the up coming months, read about the Shades of Beauty Campaign here. The foundation comes in varying undertones, the shades ending in N indicate a neutral undertone, those ending in a W are warm and the shades ending in a C have a cool undertone. You can get this foundation in stores, but some of the shades seem to be online only so you can get those here and here.

Conclusion: As you can see the jump in these two shades is vast, considering the only  difference is supposed to be the undertone, something it appears a lot of brands struggle to get right for darker skintones. L'Oreal are claiming that 98% of the UK will now have a 'true match' with this current foundation shade, I must be that 2% that can't find my 'true to skintone match' the 8N is passable/workable with adjustments made with my current Post Greece tan, but its still a little too red for my liking, and as you can see 8w is way too light. Saying that it's a great campaign and a great start to changing the face of the UK high street, at least someone is trying to do something about it and not just talk about it, but there is still a way to go. If you can find your true match I would definitely give this foundation a go, hopefully they will work on increasing the concealer shades next.

*Rating: Like

*Ratings; Hate, dislike, Like, Lust, Love

FoundationFiles; Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick

Foundation Files; This is where I test out different base products, from concealer to powder, tinted moisturiser and foundation etc, over a period of 7-14 days and post my findings. (Follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Bloglovin so you don't miss a post) So let’s get started!!!

First off some information about me; Skintype: Combination (leaning dry in winter and Oily in Summer). Shade Reference: in between MAC NC45-50/NW43. Undertones: Yellow/Neutral.

TheFoundationDirectory; Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick

Brand: Hourglass



Name: Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick

Coverage: Medium

Shade: Golden Almond (described as medium deep with neutral undertones)

Swatch: 

TheFoundationDirectory; Hourglass Seamless Finish Vanish Foundation Stick Swatch

What The brand says: A revolutionary foundation stick with the coverage of a concealer, the fluidity of a liquid, and the weightlessness of a powder in a longwearing waterproof formula for undetectable full coverage. The unprecedented concentration of pigment in this foundation provides maximum coverage with minimum product, concealing all discoloration and imperfections for flawless skin with a seamless finish.

• A foundation and concealer in one, this concentrated formula contains double the amount of pigment versus traditional foundations for instant coverage in one application.
• Long wearing, waterproof formula provides 12 hour coverage.
• Innovative formula adjusts to your body temperature to effortlessly blend into the skin.
• Designed specifically to be used with the Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Brush for the most seamless finish. 
• Available in 26 shades to perfectly match every skin tone. 
• Vegan
• .25 OZ / 7.2 G

• Based on a 1-week consumer study of 31 women, Vanish demonstrated dramatic visible improvements:
-100% reported product was fast and easy to use and apply
-97% saw an instant improvement in skin appearance
-97% reported product effectively covered redness and skin imperfections
-94% reported product blended seamlessly into their own skin
-94% reported product effectively covered skin discoloration, pores, blemishes and dark under eye circles
-90% reported product effectively covered hyperpigmentation and dark spots 

Wear time (with/without primer): The wear time on this is typical with my other foundations, even with primer I require at least a couple of touch-ups throughout the day, and my nose inevitably gets oily/shiny. I think the wear time will improve on my combo skin during the cooler months, when my t-zone produces a lot less oil.

Price (ml): £42 for 7.1ml

Pros: Good shade range
Pigmented



Cons: Very expensive for less than the usual amount for a stick foundation

Suitable Skin Types: All except oily/extremely oily.

Ingredients: Not listed but free from;  
• Parabens
• Fragrance
• Gluten
• Sulfates
• Nanoparticles
• Phthalates
• Synthetic Dyes
• GMOs
• Not tested on animals

Oxidation: None

Any Other Information: So one of the main cons for this foundation is the price, it's £42 for 7ml, it's true there's often less product in stick foundations, but this is still less for more money when comparing with Bobbi Brown that retails for £29.50 for 9ml and the new Anastasia Beverly Hills option (review pending) that is $25 (not sure how much it will be in the UK yet), which also contains 9ml.

Conclusion: This is a really nice stick foundation, that I think will be best suited to my combination skin in the cooler months. Do I think it's worth £42..........No. Saying that you can see where the money has gone, the packaging is fab and different, it screams luxury. The formula is beautiful no doubt, it provides a good medium coverage without looking cakey or feeling heavy on the skin, and it blends in like a dream. Hourglass is a luxury brand with lots of innovation behind it, but I feel this could have retailed for slightly less or at least contain the same amount as other stick foundations on the market. I've rated it a lust to take into account all aspects of the product; coverage, wear time, packaging, brand, shade range etc. The product itself however would probably only get a 'like' rating, I really wanted to fall head over heels for it, but it is a nice foundation and if you are a beauty junky you are going to want to try it, but see if you can find it on offer.


Availability: you can buy it here, here, here and here.

*Rating: Lust



*Ratings; Hate, dislike, Like, Lust, Love

Foundation Files; Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup SPF10

Foundation Files; This is where I test out different base products, from concealer to powder, tinted moisturiser and foundation etc, over a period of 7-14 days and post my findings. (Follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Bloglovin so you don't miss a post) So let’s get started!!!


First off some information about me; Skintype: Combination (leaning dry in winter and Oily in Summer). Shade Reference: in between MAC NC45-50/NW43. Undertones: Warm/Yellow/Neutral.

TheFoundationDirectory; Foundation Files (image from google)

Brand: Estee Lauder

Name: Double Wear Stay-in Place Makeup

Coverage: Medium-Full

Shade: 5N2 Amber Honey

Swatch: 

TheFoundationDirectory; Estee Lauder Double Wear Swatch

What The brand says: The UK's NO. 1 Foundation.* 15-hour staying power. Flawless all day. This worry-free, long-wearing makeup stays fresh and looks natural through heat, humidity, nonstop activity. Won't change colour, smudge or come off on clothes. Feels lightweight and comfortable. Now the flawless look you see in the morning is the look you keep all day. 

Wear time (with/without primer): The wear time on this foundation is great, even without primer, I can go all day without touch-ups (but tend to out of habit anyway). If I'm going out after work I will touch-up, my nose, as always will eventually get oily, but it takes longer than with other foundations.

Price (ml): £31 for 30ml

Pros: Extensive shade range
Long wearing
Added SPF
Accessible
Buildable coverage

Cons: No pump
A little pricey

Suitable Skin Types: All except extremely dry/dry

Ingredients: None listed on the website

Oxidation: None

Any Other Information: I purchased this foundation at my local boots counter, also available at boots.com and esteelauder.co.uk. 

Conclusion: Double wear is obviously not new, but I have finally got around to trying this hugely loved foundation and have to say it lives upto the hype. yes, the foundation runs orange, but I love a fabulously oranged toned foundation, it just works for my skin tone. This foundation has literally up'd my expectations of the wear time of other foundations, the wear time is great, and the colour matched is pretty spot on (when I'm not tanned from my holiday and with the extra dash of orange I like in my foundation lol).

*Rating: Love

*Ratings; Hate, dislike, Like, Lust, Love

Pre-Holiday Prep to getting Beach Body Ready - Body & Hair

Now everyone is bikini body ready, you have a body and stick a bikini on it, so don't worry, this post is not about fad diets, waist trainers or weeks of starvation, just a few things I will be doing to make myself feel a little more confident when I want to strip down (to my bikini) on the beach. Being 30+ post child there's no doubt that that I'm feeling a little hesitant about donning a bikini on my pending summer holiday, yes I know I should be brimming with confidence and have a 'no care' attitude, but here is what I'll be doing to help that attitude along a little bit. I'll have a series of posts on pre, during and post holiday preparation/reparation, for my face, body and hair as I will be going to Greece next month to be Matron of Honour at my best friends wedding, we (husband & son) decided to extend our stay a little and make it our family summer holiday. 

This post will focus on what I'm doing to prepare for the holiday, with regards to my Body and Hair;


So other than wishing I could have abs overnight, my main body prep is hair removal, when going away I opt for waxing all over. I normally wax my underarms anyway, but now we go into full leg and bikini territory (ouch). To get the best wax, especially if it's not something you do regularly, you need to schedule a wax approximately 6 weeks before the actual waxing session before you go away. This ensures you catch most of the hairs around the same length in their growth cycle for the smoothest results possible, also I would encourage some body exfoliation about 5 days prior to the waxing appointment and at least 3 days after to prevent ingrown hairs. In shower body scrubs are great for this, saves time, prevents too much mess and are effective. I've opted for my latest descovery DHC Olive Corn Body Scrub and Polish, which contains Olive Oil and Vitamin E, but in the past I've also used the one by Soap & Glory Pulp-Friction Foaming Fruity Body Scrub (here & here), which s a little less abrasive.

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Hair: So I have natural afro dyed hair, which is usually worn in a protective style, think wigs and weaves. I have done a Olaplex treatment on my hair (I bought a sample off ebay), this is a unique treatment in that it's the only one that can repair/build broken bonds, usually broken through chemical processes like relaxers, heat damage, permanent colour processes, bleaching the hair etc. This should help strengthen my hair and make more resistant to the damages that can occur from sun, sea, chlorine and sand.

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I'm also getting an Arosci Keratin Treatment done at my hairdresser salonABV, (check them out) this will hopefully allow for quick frizz free washing and drying of my hair, to ensure I can easily wash out the sea and chlorine water with ease, nobody wants to spend half their holiday doing wash day activities. The Olaplex treatment is also recommended to be done prior to keratin treatments, to protect hair from the amount of heat that is usually applied during these processes. I haven't decided how I am going to wear my hair on holiday, so this will impact what I get done before I go.

Let me know what your pre-holiday prep consists of? Do you have any tips for me?

Thanks for visiting the blog today.


Pre-holiday prep to get Bikini Body Ready - Face

Now everyone is bikini body ready, you have a body and stick a bikini on it, so don't worry, this post is not about fad diets, waist trainers or weeks of starvation, just a few things I will be doing to make myself feel a little more confident when I want to strip down (to my bikini) on the beach. Being 30+ post child there's no doubt that that I'm feeling a little hesitant about donning a bikini on my pending summer holiday, yes I know I should be brimming with confidence and have a 'no care' attitude, but here is what I'll be doing to help that attitude along a little bit. I'll have a series of posts on pre, during and post holiday preparation/reparation, for my face, body and hair as I will be going to Greece next month to be Matron of Honour at my best friends wedding, we (husband & son) decided to extend our stay a little and make it our family summer holiday. 










This post will focus on what I'm doing to prepare for the holiday, with regards to my Face;

TheFoundationDirectory; an example of a nights skincare routine

Since my summer holiday has a slight twist to it (#matronofhonourduties) I want to ensure my skin is in tip top condition, so I will ensure I stick to my skin care routine, my combination skin quickly lets me know when I've been slacking. To start with I need to ensure thorough cleansing every night, to remove makeup, spf etc, I love a balm or an oil for this and my current one is the Mahogany Naturals Soothing Cleansing Oil. This organic cleansing oil has a combination of natural oils that break down dirt, sebum and makeup, I apply it to my dry face and remove with a hot wet face cloth. It contains oils like Grape Seed, Olive, Tea Tree and Jasmine Flower to name a few. I also love using facial oils at night, even on my combination skin, it's important to ensure my skin is hydrated and nourished, as I spend the day trying to combat oil and focus on mattifying products. I love the Mahogany Naturals hydrating repair oil, packed full of antioxidants and rejuvenators like Evening Primrose, vitamin E, Rosehip and Tea Tree to name a few, these plump, repair hydrate and soften the skin.

TheFoundationDirectory; DHC Superhero Eye Rescue

Exfoliation is also a big part of my skincare routine, I prefer to acid exfoliate in the evenings, my new current love is the soon to be replaced Clinique clarifying lotion in Mild. It will now be replaced with Clarifying lotion 1.0, which will still be alcohol free, so that's good to know. I enjoy using face masks, and try to do them weekly, my all time favourites are the Avene Cleanance Mask and the Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask, but most face masks cannot be used around the eye area so I will be incorporating the new DHC Superhero Eye Rescue Masks, which encircles the entire eye area so work above and below the eye area. This is great news for me as my eyelid area is actually more of a problem for me than my under eye area, which is where most eye products usually just focus on.

At home face masks are all well and good, but cannot compare to getting a professional facial, I will endeavour to get one prior to going away, my favourite is the Environ Facial, which I reviewed here last year, done at the excellent Beauty and Melody Salon. I really did notice a huge improvement in my skin following this, and my skincare just performed so much more effectively. Or my more recent experience of the heaven skincare facial, I had done by the fabulous founder Deborah Mitchell, read all about it here.


I also have an appointment to get the Heaven skincare London Lash and Brow Treatment done tomorrow, (I will link back to the post once it's up) so there'll be no need for me to worry about filling in brows or wearing mascara, which will be great when I go for a dip in the pool or sea.




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I won't be waiting until I get to Greece to slap on that SPF either, pigmentation is one of my biggest skin care woes, there's no point doing all of the above if I am not protecting my face from the sun's harmful UV rays. My old time favourite is here, but a new found love is the Dermalogica Solar Defence Booster SPF50, which can be used alone for the full SPF50 or added to your moisturiser or foundation for an added touch of SPF. How genius is that!!!
 



Let me know what your pre-holiday prep consists of? Do you have any tips for me?








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