Wednesday, February 19, 2014

New daily makeup additions


So recently I said goodbye to Nars Sheer Glow foundation, Illamasqua Masquara and the Shiseido Mascara Base and here's what products I replaced them with.


First up, lets talk foundation.  I purchased the Chanel Perfection Lumière quite a while back when I was in New York.  The packaging is perfect.  The glass bottle has a pump built in (I wish Sheer Glow did) making dispensing the product easy peasy.  The colour is a brilliant match for my skintone.

What I tend to go for in a foundation is a heavier coverage with a matte (ish) finish.  The Chanel sales girl said this would be the best for me.

This foundation is very matte when you apply it-far more matte than Estee Lauder Double Wear or Nars Sheer Glow.  Because of that it can look a bit flat so I have taken to mixing in 1 pump of Mac Strobe liquid before I apply it.

It definitely applies best with a brush-I used the Real Techniques Expert Face brush most of the time.  I find it difficult to blend with my fingers because it dries so fast.  It gives good coverage but still feels lightweight on the skin.  It is long lasting but I do need to powder the foundation a couple of times a day to blot down shine, the matte effect doesn't seem to last on me.  However that may be down to the primer I am using as that is a 'radiance giving' primer.  It's an ok foundation but I am not loving it and this isn't my holy grail foundation.



I really really liked the Illamasqua Masquara (far more than I expected to to be honest) and had high hopes for the Guerlain Noir Couture as it's replacement.

The packaging is lovely-quite a heavy black and silver tube-very sleek looking.

The mascara has a 'three ball' brush allowing you to use the wand horizontally and vertically.  To be honest I don't see any benefit from the brush shape over a normal wand.

The formula is creamy and not overly wet, but a lot of product gathers on the end 'ball' tip so you need to wipe that away.  The mascara claims to offer 4 benefits-intense volume, strong curl, infinite length and complete lash care with the patented 'Lash Booster Expert Complex'.  Again, I don't feel this mascara lives up to those claims.  I get a little bit of length and it is very good at separation but my lashes look thin and spiky with this mascara on.  I also don't get the 'intense black lashes' look that I like as it doesn't volumise very well.  I'm disappointed.  Whilst I haven't really experienced significant smudging or flaking with the mascara, it definitely seems to 'fade away' during the day, leaving your lashes feeling a bit naked.


I thought maybe adding a mascara primer might help so whipped out my Diorshow Maximizer.

I was unimpressed with the formula of the Shiseido version-I didn't feel it deposited much product onto the lashes or gave much extra 'oomph' to my mascara.

And straight off the bat I am going to say that I feel the same about this Dior version.

The plastic brush is quite long and is quite stiff and inflexible.  Nevertheless I can definitely 'see' this primer on my lashes because it is white.  But the formula is quite thin and I don't see that plumped up effect I saw when I used the Mac Prep and Prime mascara base.  The Mac primer literally doubled the thickness of my lashes.  The Mac Prep and Prime base was a thicker consistency though, the Dior one feels feather light on the lashes.

The reviews are so good of this primer so I am going to stick with it and maybe trying adding a bit more each time I use it.  And also try it with another mascara.



Not glowing reviews of any of the products I am afraid but these are my initial impressions after using them daily for a couple of weeks now.

Have you tried any of these products?  I would love to know your thoughts.


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10 comments

  1. I have changed it up for the Lancome Hypnose Doll eyes and really loving that one! xx

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  2. Hello darling lady! I used the Chanel foundation with a different primer today and it was much better-going to keep trying with it xxx

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  3. Yeah I have given up on it now. Using a Lancome one which I am loving a lot!! xx

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  4. Mascaras are so personal aren't they-I have given this one up for the Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes. Now I am LOVING that mascara! xx

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  5. I tried the foundation with another primer today and it was much better. The Givenchy mascara got replaced! xx

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  6. I feel the same way about Givechy mascara as you. It does "disapear" and by the end of a work day I feel my eyes look kinda naked! I use it on weekends so I guess I'll be stuck with it a while. I do like the brush but the amount that comes out of the tube at the end is almost insane! :)

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  7. Aww love your thoughts on the Chanel, such a shame it's not quite right, it's frustrating when that happens. Thanks for sharing lovely xxxx

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  8. Aw what a shame they didn't live up to your high hopes :( I had a sample of the Givenchy Mascara and quite liked it because of the quirky brush, but I think it is designed for people with longer eyelashes than me x
    Www.beautyqueenuk.co.uk

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  9. Shame they're not massive pluses but maybe you'll notice a difference after a while!

    Sharlotte

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  10. Hey Stacey, aww so sorry to hear these are more like misses for you! I've tried the Givenchy mascara and the Dior primer. The former is too wet to hold my curl all day, but I'm already on the third or fourth tube of the Dior primer and I love it! It seems like whichever mascara I use, this primer makes it so much better. I find it deposits enough product pretty much with one pass as well, but than again mascaras are so personal!

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