With Lindy on the Rocks coming up, it’s time for me to stop putting off this review. As you may recall, testing foundation makes me a bit nervous. Foundation is a part of my makeup routine that I haven’t quite solidified. I always worry that my foundation looks extremely unnatural. For everyday makeup, I typically hastily brush on the Physicians Formula Healthy Wear Powder Foundation. My reservations regarding foundation probably stem from my makeup history. Until about a year and a half ago, I simply didn’t bother with foundation. Truthfully, I still don’t use it every day. For many years, the only foundation experience I had was that of stage makeup. Man, that pan-cake makeup did a number on my skin and I remember how unattractively the makeup would drip off once I got sweaty. The completely caked on and then dripping off foundation mess is something that I will not put up with for swing dancing.
Powder vs. Liquid foundation:
Please keep in mind that I am still learning about foundation and am by no means an expert on the subject, so I’m just speaking from my personal experience. (Feel free to share your foundation expertise in the comments!)
I’ve found that in sweaty situations, powder foundation simply won’t cut it. It ends up cakey and uneven and generally unflattering. A high-performance liquid foundation yields much better results. However, it should also be noted that the less makeup you have on, the less makeup there is to melt off.
My skin concerns:
As you will soon see in the photos, my skin certainly can benefit from some foundation coverage. I don’t feel like anyone’s going to run away screaming if I don’t wear foundation, but there’s definitely room for improvement. I have sensitive skin, which is prone to breakouts. My t-zone is quite shiny, but parts of my cheeks, nose, and chin tend to be dry and peel. My skin tone is uneven and I also have scars from acne. The dark circles under my eyes can look downright ghastly in certain lighting. I look for a foundation that will help cover up the unevenness, scars, shine, and blemishes.
The foundation:
I took the Rimmel London Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation in Warm Ivory (102) for a test drive. It’s $7.29 for 1 fl oz on the Ulta website.
The claims:
It claims to provide a “naturally flawless” and “hydrating and lightweight feel”. The packaging also states that it is “sweat, heat and humidity proof for up to 25 hours. Transfer resistant. Enriched with a revitalizing Mineral Complex and moisturizing Aqua Primer. Skin feels energized and hydrated all day.”
The look:
My thoughts:
Overall, I was happy with this foundation. The only issues I had with it were that it made my pores a bit more obvious than I would have liked, and that it highlighted the peeling on my face. I wonder if a primer would help with the pore issue. The peeling issue is pretty standard for me though- every foundation seems to make the peeling more obvious. I did notice feeling like my skin couldn’t “breathe” very well, but that’s how I feel about most foundations. Through an evening of swing, this foundation stayed put. I didn’t notice any streaking or transfer. It did a good job of concealing my scars, blemishes, under eye circles, and unevenness. I like the finish- it’s not totally matte, which I think makes it look more natural. The main thing that’s keeping me from using this all the time is the breathability issue. Obviously, naked skin is going to breathe better, especially compared to skin with a foundation designed to hold on through moisture. I’m on the fence about the trade-off: whether I prefer the comfort of no foundation or less breathability with a foundation and thus, nicer-looking skin. The aesthetic difference is obvious in still photos, but when I’m dancing the night away I’m not sure it makes as much of a difference. The lower lighting and nearly constant movement in dancing situations is much more forgiving than my mug-shot type photos. Unless I know I’m going to be in a situation with lots of light and photographs or my skin is looking particularly bad, I’ll probably opt for a bit of concealer here and there over a full face of foundation. BUT: if you’re looking for a foundation to stay put in sweaty situations, I’d give this one a shot.
And hey, it’s worlds better than pan-cake.
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5 comments:
Okay I definitely need to try this, my main annoyance with foundations is that they don't stay put on my sweaty face! Ahh the joys of living in Australia :| haha
I enjoyed this post because I have many of the same skin problems that you do. I had bad acne when I was a teenager and while I don't have scars per se, my skin is very uneven and has discolouration from acne lesions that did not heal properly. While I no longer experience any acne problems, I have large pores and oily skin. I think that a primer really helps. I think experimenting is the best way to find one (as we all have different skin), I tried out quite a few until I was satisfied. I must agree with you that finding the right foundation is the hardest, especially when trying out several types gets expensive. It is overwhelming because there are so many choices.
Great review, sounds like a really good foundation for dancing in!
SilhouetteScreams: It's definitely worth trying. Now I'm wondering if this foundation would also be good for when I go back to the Pacific Northwest- I need something that won't melt off in the rain up there!
Vulcan_Butterfly: I'm so glad you liked this post! Oh yeah, my skin has a lot of discolored spots from acne that didn't heal properly. I'll definitely have to start trying out a few primers. I'll probably stick with this foundation for now, as least for when I actually decide to wear a fairly full-coverage foundation.
Lillian: Thanks! It's definitely a great option :)
I use both liquid and loose mineral foundations. Sometimes individually, sometimes together. It really depends. However, my major problem with foundations is to find the right shade. I struggle with that all the time :(
Generally speaking, I use my loose mineral foundation more than my liquid foundation because I want a more natural and sheer coverage. On top of that, liquid foundation is not exactly great when you have oily skin because more oil is just gonna show if you don't use any kinda primer or finishing powder and blot :P And when I do use my liquid foundation, I still add a layer of my loose mineral foundation on top and a bunch of other powders. I'm nuts like that :P
My favorite loose mineral foundation is the one I just found and tried from Pure Natural Minerals of Etsy. It just "melts" after you've worn it for a few minutes or so and it looks great throughout the day. No caking at all and absolutely natural.
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