Clinique Even Better Foundation Review

 

I picked up this foundation on a whim a good few months ago, used it for a while, then (being the fickle beauty blogger that I am) ditched it for something new.  I recently found it in my stash and after using it the last few days, decided it was worthy of a review!

Now I think this is the first ever foundation review on my blog!  Shocking really when foundation is such a major player in the beauty world.  It's amazing how a flawless base can totally transform less-than-perfect skin, inducing that 'angels singing' moment when you look in the mirror.  Or...perhaps that's just me?!

This foundation first came onto my radar when I heard Tanya Burr talking about it and using it in some of her tutorials.  She has such envy-inducing imperfection-free skin to start with, but it looked amazing on her!

The sales assistant matched me to shade 05 neutral.  Normally I would choose a foundation with yellow/peach undertones but she persuaded me that this particular shade was a perfect match.  While I don't disagree that it is a near-perfect match for my face, it seems a tad too pink/neutral toned and doesn't match the colour of my neck!  I'm kicking myself for not being more assertive and insisting on the more yellow based shade!  However it's not majorly noticeable, and I can make it work by using some powder and bronzer to balance it out.

Now, how about letting the pictures do the talking?  It kinda irks me when beauty bloggers do foundation reviews and they show it blended on the back of their hands.  Unfortunately that gives no indication whatsoever to the foundations ability to hide imperfections/mattify/give a glow or whatever claims it boasts.  So I've taken 3 pictures; one bare-faced (eeeeek!), one with the foundation applied and one with powder, bronzer and blush applied.

Au naturale - bare face.  Oh, and please 'scuse the hair!!

Foundation applied, using the Real Techniques Stippling Brush

Ta-dah!  The finished face

While it dispenses as quite a fluid-ey consistency, the coverage is remarkably good whilst maintaining a natural, skin-like quality.  Another thing I have noticed it how well it wears throughout the day.  Having oily skin, I am used to becoming shiny throughout the day, however with this foundation I don't need to powder!  It really is remarkable, especially since it isn't marketed as being oil suppressing.

Overall, I really like this foundation.  It is my first foray into Clinique foundations, but I am now really keen to see what else they have to offer.

Clinique Even Better Foundation retails for £23.00 from the Clinique website.

Beauty Resolution #3 - Learn to Love My Skin!

Can you believe I am still posting about my New Year resolutions?!  I had a bit of bad news so have taken a step back but I really wanted to post about this before the month of January was up.  I'm sure they say that by this date, most resolutions have been broken, but i'm happy to say i'm still going strong! Hurrah!

In the past few years my skincare regime has been scaled down and down until, at the end of last year, all I was doing was cleansing and not even applying moisturiser!  I can hear you all tutting in disapproval!  In return, my skin repaid me by either being super oily or flaky and dry.  It was clear it was time for a routine!  I've made a few new skincare purchases recently, let's have a look..

First up I am still using the very last drops of the Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil.  I previously reviewed this here and am happy to report that I am still loving this product.

I've been lusting after the entire Origins range since a concession appeared in my local Debenhams.  I am a little bit obsessed with applying oils to my face so decided I needed Origins Clean Energy Cleaning Oil in my life.  I actually bought the pump as it doesn't come with one, and I'm glad I did since you only need 2 pumps max.  It's really easy to use, just massage into dry skin, splash on some water to emulsify then I normally remove with my Emma Hardie Cleansing Cloth.  Not only does it smell divine, but it literally melts away make-up and doesn't strip the skin nor leave it oily.

I've been dipping my toe into face masks recently.  Well, not my actual toe, but my proverbial toe...!  During a recent jaunt round Asda I spied the nspa 5 Minute Magic Mask.  It has a bit of an odd texture, like a thick cream with little micro beads in it.  The idea is that as you apply the mask you rub in circular motions to burst these little beads, which releases more good stuff onto the skin.  This is a bit tricky to master if i'm honest, as I'm usually a fan of the smooth-and-go method when applying masks.  This requires a systematic smoothing and rubbing therefore takes a bit longer, but it's no biggie.  I did notice a fair bit of tingling with this mask, but nothing uncomfortable.  My face feels smooth when I rinse this off, but I need to trial it a bit longer to see if it does anything else.

Normally I wouldn't really pay much attention to Clinique as a skincare brand, their 3 step system just didn't do anything for me and I pretty much wrote them off in terms of suitable skincare.  However, they've really stepped up their game recently and I am now using the Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector and the Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Remover.  I wanted to incorporate an eye cream into my routine since i'm not getting any younger, plus my dark circles aint getting any lighter.  This light texture tinted cream is dispensed through this metal nozzle which is lovely to use.  Are my dark circles gone?  Well, not exactly, but i'll stick with it.  I'm using the Dark Spot Corrector as a primer before foundation and it feels lovely on the skin.  It does seem to fade those horrible spot scars more quickly too which is a bonus!

My most recent purchase was the Keihl's Over Night Biological Peel.  I can be a bit lazy therefore i'm a fan of anything that I can slather on before bed and requires minimal effort from me.  At the moment I am using this 3 times a week and I must say, my skin feels nice and polished in the morning when I rinse this off.

I have my beady eye on a few other products but I think I will hold off til we go to Florida (in 3 weeks!!!) since many of them are US brands which I suspect will be cheaper over the pond!

Do you have any skincare recommendations?  In particular masks/treatments...remember, i'm lazy! :)

Festive Party Look! Green Goddess!

Christmas and New Year are definitely my favourite time of year when it comes to make-up, you can pretty much douse yourself in glitter and bright colours and get away with it under the pretence that it is 'festive'!  Or not...

I wanted to do a festive look using green with a bit of a bronzey orange thrown in for good measure, and this is what I came up with!

Products Used

Clinique Even Better Foundation

Benefit Erase Paste

Chanel Solieil Tan de Chanel

Benefit Hoola

Sleek Rose Gold Blush

Illamasqua Lover Blush

MAC Painterly Pain Pot

Inglot Shadows (Colours TBC)

17 Midnight Eyeshadow

Loreal Perfect Slim Superliner

Famous by Sue Moxley Eyeliner

NYC Show Off Mascara

elf Eyebrow Kit in Medium

17 Lipstick in Belle

MAC Dazzleglass in Baby Sparks

Here is the video!  I hope the lighting isn't too bad, I've rigged up this cheap 'n' cheerful lighting configuration and crossing my fingers that it'll do and I won't have to fork out on proper studio lighting!  Let me know your thoughts?

Take care!

Heather x