Tag: liquid foundation

On the Search for the Perfect Foundation: Stila Illuminating Liquid Foundation

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Stila Illuminating Liquid Foundation

Cost: $38.00 US Dollars

Available at your local Sephora.

Stila's Illuminating Liquid Foundation in shade 60 Watt.
Stila’s Illuminating Liquid Foundation in shade 60 Watt.

Description: “Never heavy, chalky, or dull, Illuminating Liquid Foundation glides on weightlessly for sheer-to-medium coverage and a silky semi-matte finish that evens out flaws while letting your skin’s natural luminescence shine through.”

First Impression: This foundation looks quite goopy, almost like mud. The texture is very light and fluffy, reminding me of whipped cream. The coverage is sheer to medium although it is definitely buildable. The shade that I chose, 60 Watt, is a little off and it gave me a very warm skin tone. This foundation really overdoes the “illuminating” part.

SPF: None.

Shade: There are 8 shades available although they all look to be quite warm in tone. I chose 60 Watt but I’ll probably be more suitable in 40 Watt since 60 Watt was way too dark for me.

Finish: Honestly, this foundation made me look like a disco ball. I love radiance but I find it to be a bit excessive.

Texture: The texture of this foundation is slightly denser. I wouldn’t call it a cream. It does need to be worked in though and blended in thoroughly. Otherwise, it will look very noticeable. I’d say that it almost feels like a gel-cream.

Coverage: This foundation has sheer to medium coverage. It is certainly buildable(to a certain extent) but it is more suitable for a wearer who doesn’t have many problem areas that need covering up. It covered my broken capillaries after a few light layers of foundation so I wouldn’t recommend it for redness or facial veins or even acne scarring. I would give this foundation a 5 out of 10 when it comes to coverage.

Workable: Light and fluffy, it is certainly workable. It blends in well enough although it is tedious if you have to layer. I think the product disappears once it hits my skin and I end up having to use more.

Longevity: This foundation has little staying power. Since the coverage was light, I found myself having to retouch throughout the day. The light-reflecting particles do transfer easily and it becomes a nuisance because it’s genuinely so sparkly!

Application: I used a large stippling brush to apply Stila’s Illuminating Foundation.

Type of skin: This foundation settles into my dry spots and emphasized them slightly despite the light-reflecting particles. This foundation is great for normal and oily skin types and I honestly would recommend a setting power. This foundation was not as hydrating as I expected it to be (compared to Guerlain, Lancome, and Chanel). It is hydrating, but it’s just not enough for drier skin types.

Packaging: The foundation is packaged in a frosted, rectangular bottle that also comes with a white pump (the cosmetics companies are learning lol).

The Verdict: This one is going on the “No” list for me. There are way too many glittery particles in this foundation; it’s ridiculous. I think it looks like you literally sprayed your face with water and them dipped it into a bowl of glitter. I love radiance and everyone should know that, but definitely not when it’s distracting. I can see myself using it for a holiday party but it doesn’t necessarily have the hydration that I need. If you are a dry skin type and want to try this foundation, I suggest moisturizing really well, exfoliating (even before applying moisturizer) your skin, and using a refresher/setting spray such as MAC Fix +.

Stila’s Illuminating Foundation costs $38 and that’s a pretty good price for a foundation (if only all foundations cost around $35).

This is the last foundation of the foundation review marathon. I was supposed to post this last night so I apologize for the wait. I can tell you that it has been very tiring going back and forth between a social life, family, work, and blogging but I’m trying still! :D If I come across any new foundations, I will post a review on them. In the future, I’ll update on the eight that I’ve posted these past two weeks on how they perform in the long run. I have some interesting posts coming up and I can’t wait to share them with you all. (I’m just going to give myself a breather on Mondays and Tuesdays … if I can help it of course. I’ll probably end up blogging anyway.)

Happy reading and have a great night!

On the Search for the Perfect Foundation: Smashbox Studio Skin

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Smashbox’s Studio Skin

Cost: $42.00 US Dollars

Available exclusively at your local Sephora.

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Description: “Stay flawless for 15 hours with this photo shoot secret for picture-perfect skin. This long-wearing, hydrating formula blurs imperfections using light-diffusing, encapsulated pigment spheres, and delivers natural-looking, buildable medium-to-full coverage. Its sweat-free, transfer-proof, humidity-resistant formula keeps skin hydrated and shine-free all day.”

First Impression: I like that the foundation shades are yellow-based and not pink. Foundations used to be pink-based and they always looked unnatural and pasty on any wearer (think of foundation from the 60s). Studio Skin smells like sunscreen and also has another chemical-based scent that I can’t quite put my finger on. It’s a liquid foundation that falls between watery and creamy when it comes to texture. It is highly pigmented, buildable, and does produce a very natural finish. I found that when taking photos while wearing Studio Skin, this foundation photographs very well and does give you that airbrushed effect.

SPF: None. (One of the reasons why it photographs so well. Be sure to wear sunscreen though.)

Shade: Smashbox has 12 shades available and since they are yellow-based, there is a bigger chance that you’ll find something that matches you perfectly. I matched myself to be a 2.4 Natural Beige although if given more time, I can find a better match. This one is nearly perfect but I may have to go one shade higher. I’m crazy about having the perfect match and I literally won’t wear a foundation if it doesn’t blend in with my skin tone and look good with the rest of my body.

Shade 2.4
Shade 2.4

Finish: Natural. Smashbox’s Studio Skin emulates skin at it’s natural state. There is no excessive shine or glow. It just looks like healthy skin. This foundation is great because sometimes you don’t want all the bells and whistles. You just want a foundation that covers everything without looking like you’re wearing anything.

Texture: The texture is normal when it comes to what a liquid foundation feels like. It’s not thin and watery like Chanel’s Vitalumiere nor is it dense like Lancome’s Photogenic Lumessence. I dotted the foundation on my cheeks, forehead, nose, and chin and that was enough for me when it came to full face application. It is blendable until it sets. Remember, this is a 15-hour wear foundation so you know whatever it is that is in there is going to make it stay all day. So work fast and work diligently.

Coverage: Smashbox, like MUFE, are known for creating products that look good even in HD. Their products are camera-ready so I am not surprised to find how pigmented Studio Skin is despite the fact that it still has the ability to look like skin. It has medium to full coverage although I’ll say you easily end up with full coverage at any rate. It covered all of my blemishes and even my broken capillaries (facial veins).

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Workable: Very workable in my opinion. Like I said earlier, just make sure you do it before it sets (it’ll set in about five minutes so you have a lot of time).

Longevity: It’s marketed as a foundation that will last 15 hours so there is definitely no need for any setting powder (I think that would actually dry your skin out). It is sweat-free (I don’t sweat), humidity-resistant (a must for anyone who lives in Atlanta), hydrating (I hope so!) and keeps you shine-free all day. It does not transfer at all once it sets so I’m actually quite happy about that. I’ll update on how this foundation did by the end of the day in the postscript.

Application: I applied this foundation with my fluffy mineral powder brush and with my fingers as well.

Type of skin: This foundation is oil-free and hydrating so I think it’s suitable for all skin types. It does tend to lift at the edges of those flaky patches so I think a hydrating mist will be needed throughout the day. I actually have the worst skin today because of the foundation I tested yesterday (Dior Skin Nude … I’ll update on it’s review article and explain everything). I have a terrible dry patch in the area between my nose and my lips (usually my problem area) and Studio Skin is doing pretty well with not drying out or irritating that area. It doesn’t feel tight around that area, but it’s just that if you look really close (like an inch from my face), you’ll see faint outlines of those patches of skin. I think Smashbox is doing a great job keeping my skin hydrated because NARS Sheer Glow always dries out my dry patches of skin. Anyway, I think this foundation would be great for any skin type as long as you thoroughly take it off at night. Also, once it sets, it doesn’t feel tacky like Dior Skin Nude does. It makes your skin feel really smooth and cool.

Packaging: Smashbox Studio Skin comes in a cylindrical glass bottle with a black pump.

The Verdict: Smashbox Skin Studio is a definite yes for me. I will be purchasing this foundation after the marathon and I’ll use it for those hot, humid days, on days when I need all day wear, and probably on days when my skin is feeling better (I recommend never wearing foundation when your skin is feeling bad. However, I have to work and see hundreds of people every day so I don’t really have an option). Since there is no excess shine, I find that my blush, lipstick, etc. really pop and stand out. Studio Skin reminds me of MAC Cosmetics and MUFE so I am glad that this foundation does actually deliver what it intends to do. I’ll test the shade that it one shade lighter than this one to see if I like it more. If I don’t, 2.4 will be the shade that I stick with. I highly recommend Smashbox Studio Skin.

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It sells for $42 and this is worth. I honestly can’t stop looking at my face!

For more information on Studio Skin, check out this link below:

http://www.sephora.com/studio-skin-15-hour-wear-foundation-P292403?skuId=1349380

Tomorrow’s review will be about Korres’ Antiageing Foundation. The cast member at Sephora highly recommended it so I had to try it. Take care and see you all tomorrow. :D