Aallexxy's Foundation Files; black|Up Paris CC Cream

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.

black|Up Paris CC Cream

Brand: black|Up Paris

Name: CC Cream

Coverage: Light - Light Medium

Shade: CC03 (Matches me best in the summer)

Swatch:

black|Up Paris CC Cream Swatch

What The brand says: Complexion Correcting Foundationblack|Up develops the 1st CC Cream targeting dark skin's specific needs : excess sebum, uneven skintone, unbalanced skin, lack of radiance, dark spots, more or less pigmented areas… This Complexion Correcting Foundation moisturizes, matifies, targets dark spots, blemishes, minimizes pores and unifies the complexion of African American skin tones. Its fluid texture offers a lightweight very natural finish.

Use as a makeup primer to hydrate and treat your skin while increasing makeup hold and offering a more even complexion.

5 shades suitable for all black and mixed skins.

Oil Free, Paraben Free, Fragrance Free.

SPF free formula. 100% no ashy finish guarantee because sun filters are made with white base ingredients that systematicaly turns grey on dark skins.

Wear time (with/without primer): This lasts well on me during the day with or withour primer, even on my combination skin and during the summer months. I can go all day without touching up, with only minimal shine coming through, usually around my nose, which is typical for me.

Price (ml): £27 for 30ml

Pros: Caters to darker skintones
Suitable for all skintypes
Can be used as a primer

Cons: A little pricey for a CC cream
Not all debenhams stores stock black|up Paris
Website doesn't list ingredients

Suitable Skin Types: All

Ingredients: None listed on the website

Oxidation: None

Any Other Information: The black|Up Paris CC cream claims to hydrate, mattify, reduce excess sebum, rebalance skin, minimise pores, boost radiance, unify skin tone and have a lightweight finish. My initial thought was how can something hydrate and mattify, but as you apply this CC cream it feels like a drink of water to the skin, without leaving skin shiny or greasy. CC04 runs more red in the undertone, so this maybe more suitable if that describes your skin tone. It's paraben, oil and fragrance free. It's available from debenhams.

Conclusion: If you have struggled to find a good CC cream in your shade, I can't recommend this highly enough, it has a good orange undertone that brightens and counteracts hyper-pigmentation on darker skintones, it's a great lightweight summer base.

*Rating: Love

*Ratings: Hate, Dislike, Like, Lust, Love

Aallexxy's Foundation Files; bareMinerals Complexion Rescue

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.

bareMinerals Complexion Rescue

Brand: bareMinerals (Their spelling, not mine) bareminerals.co.uk

Name: Complexion Rescue

Coverage: Light

Shade: Chestnut (For dark skin with neutral undertones)
Swatch: Great colour match for me.

bareMinerals Complexion Rescue swatch

 What the brand says: 'New to our UK collection, a multitasking genius that combines skincare benefits and naturally radiant coverage in one. The best of a BB, a CC, and a tinted moisturiser...with a 215% increase in skin hydration after just one week,* this is a whole new way to think about makeup. This tinted Complexion Rescue gel cream alleviates the need for a heavy foundation, giving a smooth tint to your face and evening out your complexion in the stroke of a brush. Ultra lightweight and hydrating, you won't be looking for face care anywhere else.

Benefits
 

• Powerful hydration: marine botanicals to help replenish thirsty skin
• Dewy sheer-to-medium coverage for a radiant, soft, smooth finish
• Non-chemical, mineral-based SPF 30
• Mineral electrolytes to help energize skin
• Heart-leaf globe daisy, an antioxidant, helps protect against environmental stressors

Formulated Without

• Silicone
• Oil
• Parabens
• Fragrance

Hypoallergenic. Non-comedogenic. Dermatologist tested.
 

Wear Time (with/out primer): The wear time on this is significantly improved with the introduction of a primer (I used illamasqua's hydraveil), I looked like an oil slick by the end of the day, when we had the heatwave. The QVC show suggested applying this straight onto skin with no moisturiser unless you are extremely dry, it does perform better the less moisture you have on your skin before hand (think lightweight gels, serums and lotions), but I struggle to rely soley on my makeup for skincare and/or SPF benefits, especially during the summer months.

Price (ml): £26 for 35ml

Pros: Extra SPF protection with no flash back
Skin care benefits

Cons: Could benefit from the addition of 1-2 darker shades.
Not be suitable for the oiliest of skin types

Suitable skin types: Normal, Combination (with good prep), Dry.

Ingredients: Titanium dioxide 6.2% Inactive Ingredients: water, coconut alkanes, propanediol, squalane, trehalose, isostearic acid, glycerin, silica, agar, caprylic/capric triglyceride, globularia cordifolia callus culture extract, salicornia herbacea extract, melilotus officinalis extract, coco-caprylate/caprate, butylene glycol, lauroyl lysine, sodium hyaluronate, succinoglycan, polysorbate 60, cellulose gum, polyglyceryl-4 laurate/succinate, sorbitan sesquiisostearate, magnesium stearate, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, potassium sorbate, phenoxyethanol. may contain: titanium dioxide, iron oxides.  

Oxidation: None

Any Other Information: They sell a seperate brush (£24) that's to be used with this product, but I just used my Real Techniques Buffing Brush, Expert face Brush (worked the best) or fingers.

Conclusion: I really like this, but the difficulties with what to apply or not prior to application make this a little fussy, and it does require good prep of my combo/oily skin to last all day. It would be perfect during the winter months, when my skin is more normal to dry. If you are looking for a lightweight summer base, with added skincare properties and have normal/dry skin or are willing to prep combo-oily skin this is definately one to consider.

*Rating: Like

*Rating: Hate, Dislike, Like, Lust, Love

black|Up Paris CC Cream; Multi-Action Complexion Correcting Foundation!!!

I have heard of the brand black|Up Paris for a while, but this is the first product I've actually tried and I love it. I don't have many CC or BB creams, as there are not many that cater to darker skintones, as some can have quite a grey cast to them or just not run dark enough. I was actually in the market for a tinted moisturiser, a light weight base I could use daily, so popped into Debenhams on my lunch break and came across this.

The black|Up Paris CC cream claims to hydrate, mattify, reduce excess sebum, rebalance skin, minimise pores, boost radiance, unify skin tone and have a lightweight finish. My initial thought was how can something hydrate and mattify, but as you apply this CC cream it feels like a drink of water to the skin, without leaving skin shiny or greasy. It lasts well during the day with or withour primer, even on my combination skin in these warm sunny days we've been having I can go all day without touching up, with only minimal shine coming through. Usually around my nose, which is typical for me.

This gives light to light medium coverage, you won't be able to build it up much more than that, so perfect for what I was looking for. It's a great colour match for me, it has a great amount of orange in the undertone that is very flaterring on darker skin tones. CC04 runs more red in the undertone, so this maybe more suitable if that describes your skin tone.

The black|Up Paris CC cream comes in 5 shades, I have CC03 and it cost £27. It's paraben, oil and fragrance free.

Have you tried anything from this brand before?

Thanks for visiting the blog today.

Alex