Tag: Dillard’s

On the Search for the Perfect Foundation: Chanel Vitalumiere

Posted on Posted in Beauty, ReviewsTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 13 Comments

Chanel’s Vitalumiere

Cost: $55.00 US Dollars

Available at any Chanel counter at your local department store (Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, etc.).

Chanel_Vitalumiere
My shade for Vitalumiere is 40 Beige.

Description: “The ultimate solution to tired skin, the best-selling CHANEL foundation instantly revitalizes the complexion upon application — and throughout the day.The formula has ingredients that specifically target dry, dull and uneven skin, and moisturizing agents to provide hydration and comfort. Amarine extract boosts cell energy to enhance radiance, and light-reflecting pigments smooth away imperfection, creating a soft-focus effect. Creamy and luxuriously lightweight, this essential daily foundation blends effortlessly for perfectly smooth, even-toned, radiant skin.”

First Impression: Chanel’s Vitalumiere foundation is wonderfully fragrant (just about all of their products are). The scent is very (very) floral and (although other people have complained about it), I don’t seem to mind it at all as it does dissipate after a few minutes. My sample came in a sturdy glass bottle with a spatula attached to the cap. Vitalumiere makes the skin look so full of life and luminous.

SPF: 15. I don’t think this foundation oxidizes at all. Since its finish is quite radiant, having an SPF of 15 would be ideal. Like I said before, I would prefer more but flashback will definitely be an issue if the SPF factor was higher.

Shade: Eight shades are available. I was matched to be 40 Beige although I can definitely pull off 30 during the winter.

Finish: Radiant. You know when you just finish exercising and you notice that you have this healthy glow to your skin. Well, that’s what Chanel does to your skin. It doesn’t make it healthier but it really gives you that glow if you’re looking to liven up some dull, lackluster skin. Vitalumiere’s finish is one of the most radiant and illuminating founations out there on the market that doesn’t just matte out after application. Chanel’s Vitalumiere also uses light-reflecting pigments to help you obtain that radiant look. I would say that this is amongst the few foundations that are more radiant than NARS Sheer Glow.

Texture: The texture is extremely light and watery. I’m used to wearing foundations that are denser and thicker so it surprised me that this moisturizing foundation was so fluid-like. The light texture of this foundation does make it easier to work with.

Coverage: Medium. The sales associate working at the Chanel counter said that this foundation was medium to full coverage and once again, this is another foundation that does not fall into that category. Vitalumiere is not pigmented enough to achieve a full coverage effect, even if you tried to layer it on. Vitalumiere almost feels translucent when it comes to covering my blemishes and my broken capillaries. It evened out my complexion with no issue and made my skin look alive although it didn’t cover the areas that I needed it to. If you have problematic skin, I would advise that you use a concealer when using Vitalumiere because the coverage will not be enough to cover under eye circles, reddened acne spots, etc. When it comes to coverage, I will give Vitalumiere a 7.

Workable: Due to its light texture, it is extremely easy to work with. I think I end up using more product because of how watery it is. This is an ideal foundation to be stippling, patting on, and blending into your skin. A nickel-sized amount will probably suffice when it comes to full face application. I find it hard to layer this foundation because it seems like it just blends into the previous layer without doubling up on coverage on those problem areas.

Longevity: Vitalumiere is not a long-wearing foundation. It has a tendency to transfer everywhere and quite easily, too. I think a setting powder is definitely needed although I feel like this does take away from the foundation’s finish. The texture of this foundation doesn’t allow it to properly set and hold onto your skin. I think reapplication throughout the day is definitely required and I would say that the foundation (although always remain radiant) thins out and wears away within the first four hours of wear. My skin is quite dry and has no problem holding onto to foundations. However, this is not the case when it comes to Chanel’s Vitalumiere and Lancome’s Photogenic Lumessence as well. I would definitely not recommend this foundation for anyone prone to oily skin because your makeup would end up sliding off of your face within hours or you would end up looking like a shiny disco ball.

Application: I used my dome mineral brush (I honestly don’t think I use anything else anymore) to stipple and dab the foundation on. Chanel recommends using your fingers to apply the foundation but I think using a brush actually wastes less product in this case. With Vitalumiere being so light in texture, it’s easy to get it all over your fingers during application. If you want to use your fingers, I would recommend it for spotting it on problem areas. This foundation does need to be shaken as well and it does not need to be warmed up (if I get this foundation, I would consider putting it in the fridge so that it’s not too liquidy).

Type of skin: This foundation is perfect for normal to dry skin types during the warmer months as oilier skin types could possibly risk becoming a walking puddle of oil if they wore this foundation during the warmer seasons. Vitalumiere is perfect for the colder months and colder climates for all skin types when our skin is dehydrated and dull-looking. If you have sensitive skin or if you are sensitive to fragrances, I would definitely recommend a swatch test. From many of the reviews that I have read about Vitalumiere, a large portion of people were bothered by the strong, floral scent that accompanied this foundation.

Packaging: Chanel’s Vitalumiere comes in a clear, glass bottle with a black, plastic cap. I quite like the packing. I find it to be simple, refined, yet dark. The foundation comes equipped with a pump so no more pouring your foundation out from the bottle (NARS Sheer Glow).

The Verdict: I like this foundation and I will consider purchasing it. It doesn’t irritate my skin at all and my dry, flaky patches are still hidden from view. Vitalumiere does provide the hydration and comfort that it claims to deliver. I believe that if you layer it on, you may risk emphasizing the patches, but it is so minimal when it comes to Vitalumiere. I think it’s slightly a step down from Guerlain’s Lingerie de Peau and produces a lovelier finish than NARS Sheer Glow and Lancome’s Photogenic Lumessence. Although it lacks the staying power and is better for people who only have very little problems when it comes to their complexion, I think Chanel Vitalumiere is another foundation that we should have for the days when we need a little “skin-pick-me-up” (especially for the days when we are sick). This can be an everyday foundation although I would not recommend wearing it during the hot summer. If it had more coverage and better staying power, this could have been “the” foundation for me. At $55, it’s not so bad but for a few dollars more, I think Lingerie de Peau trumps Vitalumiere.

I had a lot of fun experimenting with this foundation and this is the third foundation of the eight for the foundation review marathon. Like I said earlier, I’ll keep this one on my list and I’ll probably end up buying it to keep my skin looking nice when winter rolls around.

On the Search for the Perfect Foundation: Guerlain Lingerie de Peau

Posted on Posted in Beauty, ReviewsTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Guerlain’s Lingerie de Peau

Cost: $59.00 US Dollars

Available at Sephora, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Dillard’s, and Bloomingdale’s.

Lingerie de Peau by Guerlain. My shade is 04 Beige Moyen.
Lingerie de Peau by Guerlain. My shade is 04 Beige Moyen.

Description: An invisible foundation that wears like a second skin. This unbelievably silky formula creates a natural radiance that captures and reflects light to reveal the look of naturally perfect skin. Imperfections are erased and coverage lasts all day long.

First Impression: Lingerie de Peau from Guerlain is one of the most luxurious foundations you’ll ever come across. True to its description, it “wears like a second skin” but looks like you have nothing on. It has a very pleasant fragrance that isn’t as necessarily as noticeable as something like the Chanel foundations. I would say it did have a tinge of an astringent scent, kind of like witch hazel. I was surprised at how easy it was to apply and how nice the finish was. I think there should be a larger shade variety and I love the name

SPF: 20. It’s low enough to look good in photos and it’s definitely higher than the SPF 15 you’ll find in most foundations. I didn’t have any issue with flashback when it came to this foundation. of this foundation which literally translates to “lingerie of the skin”. When it comes to the oxidation factor, I think it’s relatively low. The shade stayed the same throughout the day without turning orange or darker.

Shade: Nine shades available (04 Beige Moyen for me) although not all 9 will be available at your local Sephora (there were only five at my local Sephora).

WP_000323
Foundation sample from Sephora in Shade 04.

Finish: Naturally radiant. Just to explain myself, I would say that it is very natural-looking and the foundation will provide the user with a slight glow (not a disco ball of course). I would say that Lingerie de Peau’s finish is slightly less radiant than NARS Sheer Glow. I believe this foundation has light-reflecting particles which produce a beautiful, airbrushed look.

Texture: Light. The texture of this foundation is very light and slightly watery. It reminded me of a tinted moisturizer. Once you apply it, I feels “wet” and slightly damp. However, it does set within a matter of minutes.

WP_000326

Coverage: Medium to Full. On how well it covers problem areas such as my broken capillaries and the occasional blemish , I give this a 9. I think this foundation is highly-pigmented and less is really more. I’m going to say that it is even more pigmented than NARS Sheer Glow despite its light texture (and NARS is known for how pigmented their products are).

Workable: This foundation is very workable and a little really does go a long way. I’d say that a nickel-sized drop would be sufficient for the entire face including problem areas such as acne scars and ruddiness. The foundation blends easily and can be layered if desired although I believe the coverage is more than enough when it comes to Lingerie de Peau. I find this foundation to be easy to blend and the opacity can be easily controlled.

Longevity: This foundation is very long-wearing even though Guerlain does not market this product as a long-wear foundation. I wore it for about 12 hours (as I will do with all of the foundations I review) and despite how dry my skin is, the foundation stayed put and did not emphasize my dry patches at all. Even after I picked at the dry patches on my face (still trying to kick the habit), Lingerie de Peau did not crack whatsoever (even Peter noticed that it stayed put). I did not wear powder during my test run of this foundation so I will have to say that it has great staying power although you may be slightly shinier if you are an oily type (It shouldn’t deter you from powdering if you need to). I didn’t even want to put powder because the finish was so natural and healthy-looking. I also want to say that this foundation is great when it comes to not transferring even without the usage of setting powder. I blow my nose throughout the day and the foundation had little to no issue when it comes to transferring.

Application: I used a dense mineral makeup brush for this application. It is Sephora’s Classic Mineral Powder Brush #45 ($24). I typically use this brush because it wastes less product, blends, and stipples all at once. It is not a flat-top but more of a dome-shaped brush. I feel like it has the benefits of a stippling brush without all of the disadvantages such as micro-exfoliation that we dry skin people avoid like the plague because we hate those flakes. Guerlain advises that you use your hands but I think that it is up to the consumer and what type of coverage you are going for. Since the texture of this foundation is so light, it would be fairly easy to apply with your fingers. Also, be sure to shake your foundation!

Type of skin: I would say that this foundation is perfect for all types unless you are extremely oily or very sensitive (due to the added fragrance in this foundation).

Packaging: I like the bottle because it is dense, clear, and the fact that it has a pump. I have owned foundations packaged in glass bottles before and I can only hope that Guerlain’s bottle is much more durable than Lancome’s (I had one break on me one day after I dropped it on my bathroom tile). I can see why glass would be the packaging of choice (think luxury!). However, a squeeze-tube version would be great for touch-ups and application-on-the-go.

WP_000257
Before makeup. Excuse my face lol.
WP_000330
Here is what I look like after applying all of my makeup. I look super tired. (DIdn’t sleep well.)

The Verdict: I think this is a great foundation. A lot of thought has been put into its formulation and packaging. Like a demure lace bra, I think Guerlain’s Lingerie de Peau is a foundation every woman (and teenager) should own. This foundation makes putting on your makeup a delightful and ritualistic treat. I honestly feel glamorous wearing Lingerie de Peau (and nothing about my skin is glamorous). Guerlain hit the nail on the head with Lingerie de Peau and I’m glad to say this will definitely be replacing NARS Sheer Glow as my every day foundation. It has exceptional coverage, a light texture (that even foundation haters will love), and provides a flawless finish. Not once were my dry patches beginning to flake off during the 12-hour test run and that to me is truly amazing. So what if it’s $59? It’ll probably last you a year or so and you’ll look beautiful every day that you’re wearing it.

I hope you enjoyed this review and this is the first of the eight foundations I’ll be reviewing this month. I just can’t wait to trying out all of them so I can go purchase my own bottle of Lingerie de Peau.