Product Review | Estee Lauder Double Wear Light

Being the foundation junkie that I am, I am always on the lookout for the perfect base. With most products I can usually tell pretty quickly whether or not they work for me.

This however wasn't the case with Estee Lauder's Double Wear Light Stay-in-place-make-up SPF 10.

After several months of testing, I feel that I can finally give you a well-rounded review.

This is what it claims: 

Claims to be sheer to medium coverage, lightweight and transfer-resistant with a natural finish. It also promises to stay in place for 15 hours.

Price Tag:

Around 28 GBP/ 40 EUR/ 35 USD.

Shade:

Estee Lauder has only 6 shades in this foundation. One of the issues I had with this foundation is that the shade doesn't match me during my paler months. I was matched to shade intensity 3.0. As a NC25 I found it too neutral and too dark, almost orange, to be worn during winter/spring. Only now, when I am around NC30-35 can I wear this foundation.

Consistency, scent and application:

The foundation is not too watery and not too thick and has almost no scent to it. It applies and blends easily into the skin. I found that a pea size amount is sufficient for a layer of sheer coverage. It covers the redness on my cheeks and some scarring. It is buildable without looking cakey.

When my skin is normal - slightly oily, Double Wear Light feels comfortable and lightweight. I found that this foundation was too drying during the winter months and I could only wear it comfortably during the summer months. It holds up for a full day and only requires minimal blotting around my t-zone after about 4-5 hours. This is pretty good, as my t-zone tends to get very oily after a few hours.

It gives a natural semi-matte finish.


Pros:
- light medium coverage
- blends in easily and feels lightweight
- natural semi-matte finish
- keeps oils at bay and is long wearing

Cons:
- may not be suitable for dry skins
- not fully transfer resistant
- may be difficult to find colour match

Final thoughts:
Double Wear Light is a decent high end foundation for every day wear. It's best suited for girls that don't need or want high coverage. I would not recommend this foundation to anyone with dry or oily skin.

Will I repurchase?
Probably not, as I do need a foundation that I can wear when my skin gets drier too.

 

top: Estee Lauder Double Wear Light 3; bottom: MAC SFF NC30

top: Estee Lauder Double Wear Light 3; bottom: MAC SFF NC30 - blended

Hope the review was helpful. Have you tried Double Wear light? What are your thought?

Love, 
Maya

Product Review | YSL Teint Resist Foundation

There are girls that like their blushes, girls that like their eye shadows. I am always on the lookout for that perfect foundation that's just...perfect! Over the past few years I've tried quite a few drugstore and high-end foundations.

About a year ago now, I purchased Teint Resist by Yves Saint Laurant after a brief hype in the beauty community. I was excited, as it promised everything I was looking for. I have been meaning to review this foundation, but have been on the fence about it. Call it a love/hate relationship. At the moment, I am quite okay with it.

On to the review!

My skin & what I am looking for:
I have combination skin with an oily t-zone and some dry patches on my cheeks depending on the weather. During the summer months, my skin gets oilier in the t-zone and normal on my cheeks. I have some hormonal breakouts and some acne scaring. With that being said, I am looking for a medium coverage foundation that will conceal my spots and scars and last all day without looking cakey or overly matte.


What YSL promises:
This oil-free foundation, guarantees unfailing wear and radiance for up to 14 hours. The luminous transfer-resistant formula forms perfectly to the skin for a soft and seamless result. The complexion is preserved from feelings of discomfort or tightening, remaining supple and silky-smooth from the morning through to night. Pigments are specifically coated for a color-true effect and the formula absorbs excess oil through the day, for a complexion which always looks and feels fresh. Medium coverage. Semi-matte finish. Oil-Free SPF 10, 1.0 fl. oz. 

Price: 55 USD

Packaging:
The product comes in a beautiful milky glass bottle with a golden lid. Big bonus is the pump that the product comes with.

Shades:
I bought this in 5 Peach. I am currently an NC25-NC30 (MAC), Fiji-Punjab (Nars). The colour match has been one of the main reasons why I am on the fence about this product. The product comes out ashy neutral and oxidizes to a peachy shade that almost leans cool toned. It takes about half an hour for it to turn into a neutral shade that I can pull off with my yellow undertones. This foundation requires quite a bit of blending down the neck for me and some added bronzer or warm toned powder. During my paler NC25 months, this foundation is too dark and noticeably neutral for me. 4 Sand may be a better match.

Here are some swatches on my NC25 coloured underarm. 

with flash, top to bottom: MAC SFF NC30, YSL Teint Resist 5 Peach blended & initial application

no flash, left to right: MAC SFF NC30, YSL Teint Resist 5 Peach

Consistency, scent and application:

YSL Teint Resist SPF10 has a delicious fruity melon scent. For more sensitive skins this may pose a problem.

I found that the foundation applies easily and blends in well. I like to use my hands or a flat top kabuki to apply it. I would say this is a light-medium coverage foundation that will cover redness, but barely cover scaring or breakouts. I need to use about 3 pumps, which is quite a lot and additional concealer! The foundation sits lightly on the skin and has a semi matte finish, that will let your natural oils shine thru. I didn't find that this foundation kept my oils at bay tho. After about 3 - 4 hours, my t-zone gets oily (w/o powder/primer). This foundation is not transfer resistant.


Pros:
- light medium coverage
- natural semi-matte finish
- nice scent
- very light weight
- blends in easily

Cons:
- may flashback in photographs due to SPF
- doesn't control oils
- may not be suitable for sensitive skins
- price tag
- colour match

Final thoughts:
This foundation is probably most suited for girls with normal skin or if you don't mind blotting during the day. On me this foundation looks good for the first 4 hours and would need touching up after about 6-7 hours.

Will I repurchase?
Probably not, as I have seen cheaper foundations that perform better.


Have you tried this foundation? What are your thoughts?

Foundation Routine | MAC Face & Body

Even tho I live in a warm and sunny country, my complexion has been getting quite light as of late. My MAC Studio Fix Fluid and Studio Sculpt (both in NC30) are too dark and orange for my complexion and I had to find a new solution.

I have been considering buying SFF in NC25 and probably will at one point, but for now I found a solution that works well and gives me great coverage and a pretty flawless finish.

As you might remember, I bought MAC's face and body foundation in C2 some time in summer.

C2 was too light for me during my tan summer months, but works really well in winter.
It blends into my skin effortlessly.

So these are the steps I am following:

1. Cleanse and moisturize skin - I let the moisturizer sink into skin for a good 5 minutes.
2. Apply 1st layer of the face & body foundation, let it dry for a few minutes. This is a very liquid foundation and it needs to dry before you can apply the 2nd layer. I found that warming the product in my hands and applying it with my fingers works best.
3. Apply 2nd layer of foundation on cheeks, as this is were I tend to get quite rosy. I then let it dry for a few minutes.
- On some days, I apply MAC's Select Cover-Up in NW20 to conceal my dark under eye circles. This is optional however and I often skip this step, especially when I get enough sleep. :)
4. Setting my foundation with Maybelline's Dream Matte Powder in 03 Golden Beige: I swirl my MAC 182 Kabuki into the powder and apply the product onto my skin. I find that this powder takes away the dewyness of the face & body and mattifies my face, leaving it flawless. I simply love it.
5. Last but not least, I apply my favourite blush and sometimes add Vanilla pigment on my cheek bones for an added highlight.

Voila,
This is what it looks like:



Let me know what you think!

Love,
Maya

Initial Review | Revlon Colorstay Foundation

I have recently bought the Revlon Colorstay foundation for oily/combination skin in 150 Buff (which is an equivalent to NC20 - NC25). I thought I'd share with you my initial thoughts.

I may post an update in a couple of weeks.



Application: 4 out of 5 - Dries fast, so you have to work fast.
Packaging: 3 out of 5 - Comes in a glass bottle. The bottle doesn't have a pump, so be careful not to waste too much product and create a huge mess.
Colour Selection: 4 out of 5 - from what I checked
Coverage: 4 out of 5 - Medium - Medium Full Coverage
Texture: 5 out of 5 - Smooth, doesn't feel cakey and you can't feel the foundation at all. A big plus!
Staying power: 4 out of 5 - around 10 hrs, t-zone needs touch up after about 3 hours, even with a primer and finishing powder
Price: 5 out of 5 - around $ 10 to $ 14 - not bad at all

Will I buy this foundation again? Probably not, as I noticed some breaking out.

So, this is the 3rd time I am using this foundation. I am using the formula for oily/comb skin and I noticed that even though I have normal skin with an oily T-zone, this foundation doesn't stay put on my nose. I get sort of "patchy" parts where the foundation wears off. I always use a finishing powder on top, but it doesn't seem to help. Also, I am using a mineral finishing powder and I am not sure if the two go together. I will have to try with a different kind of powder on top.

Another thing I noticed is that I have been getting small zits on my nose and cheeks, which I usually don't get!! I am not sure if it's got something to do with the foundation or some other factors. I will need to observe this for a few weeks and then let you know.

Bottom line: If you have sensitive skin and your skin tends to break out from liquid foundations you might have to be wary, as this foundation too could break you out.