The hunt for the elusive 'Holy Grail' Foundation - Part 2 - Revlon Colorstay

Earlier in my blog I posted about my (seemingly endless) hunt for the perfect 'Holy Grail' foundation. As I am quite sure I am not alone in this quest, I shall endeavour to share my views on the foundations I have tried and tested over the years.

My Skin:
Before we begin, it would be prudent to give you an idea of my skin type, as foundations which may work/fail dismally for me...could indeed have the opposite result for someone with a different skin type.
I have a combination skin which is prone to oiliness. I am lightly tanned and have a yellow undertone. I have some minimal breakouts around my 'time of the month' and some visibly open pores on my nose. My eyes sport bags and shadows which are a family feature (thanks Mom!) added to by lack of sleep and occasional dehydration (I'm useless at remembering to drink enough water). I have facial freckles of which I am not a fan as they have clumped together in patches and somewhat resemble badly applied fake tan, and a few broken capillaries around my nose due to constant blowing of it thanks to my allergic rhinitis and nasal polyps.  
So there you have it! My beautiful face.

Revlon Colorstay Makeup for Combination/Oily Skin - Boots - £12.99

Revlon Colorstay:
This foundation is one I have used on and off for quite some years now so I can give a fairly good overview. I have to say that on the whole I am impressed with this product, not least because of its affordability.
At £12.99 (Boots UK) this high street brand foundation has been getting rave reviews online for years, and its not hard to see why. Available in two varieties - Combination/Oily and Normal/Dry (I use the combination/oily) - Colorstay is a medium coverage foundation with a fairly good colour range. On the whole the shades tend to lean toward the pink tones which is an issue for me as my skin has a definite yellow base. However, the first shade I selected by this company, many years ago, was Sand Beige - one of the few yellow toned shades. On application this shade was a fantastic match for my skin and the products coverage rivaled Estee Lauder's Double Wear. Unfortunately, within a fairly short amount of time, this shade oxidised to a very unflattering orange tone (great if you're a fan of the tango-tan but on the whole, not a good look). For a long time I stuck it out, reapplying regularly... but as I am sure you can imagine, this is both frustrating and costly (both in time and finances). I worked my way through a selection of similar shades (Natural Beige, Fresh Beige and True Beige) before I happened upon a blog who's author was having a similar issue and suggested the lighter shade Buff. Now, in the bottle, Buff is scarily pale and almost grey toned...yet I took the risk and purchased a bottle, and boy am I glad I did!
Upon application, Buff is very light with a neutral undertone which could probably work for both pink and yellow bases. I panicked at my ghostly complexion yet persevered. The trick to this product is not to use too much, this was my initial error and so I started over again. Take a small amount of product on a buffing or stipple brush and really work it into the skin in circular motions. I use the Real Techniques buffing brush but any will do. The coverage is really quite exceptional for a high street foundation (for ANY foundation for that matter) and you do not need to layer it on to get a flawless finish (In fact, I really recommend you don't layer it or paste it on thick as it tends to leave muddy build up marks and goes slightly grey). I set my foundation with the Ben Nye Banana powder but I'll be honest, on days I've been in a rush and not powdered this foundation, I've had no difference in the finish or longevity of the product. Speaking of longevity, this is a BIG factor for me when selecting foundations as I really need a full days wear out of my makeup. Colorstay is the longest wearing foundation I have tried as of yet and minimal touch ups on oilier areas such as my nose, are all I need to get through the day. I would say that on average I get about 8 hours wear before I start to feel like it needs really touching up significantly.
As a model and blogger, I am regularly having my face photographed, so a foundation needs to have minimal flash back. For those of you who are not aware of this term, flash back is when the foundation shows up as paler or white under flash photography. This is usually down to the SPF content of the makeup (and do keep an eye on which powder you are using as some are really bad for this) reflecting the light from the flash. This is why so many photos from nights out will feature mahogany coloured women with glowing white faces. Colorstay CAN be a teeny bit prone to flashback but ever so minimally. I have worn it for photoshoots and nights out and had no problems whatsoever, again, keep an eye on your powder and do not layer the foundation on too thick and you will most likely have no issues with flash back.
Removal of this product is non-problematic. I use Garnier Micellar Water, and this whips it right off. Please do make sure to cleanse your skin properly, heavy foundations are not great for your skin and leaving your pores clogged up with product is only going to end in tears.

Overall I am generally happy with this product and return to it over and over again. My only issues would be the build up issues and greying tones should you wish to layer to touch up patches, the tricky shade selection and minimal yellow tones, and last but not least, this product does transfer something chronic, so no hugging of the husband/boyfriend/nan lest you leave a face print upon them to remember you by.

Well I do hope my rambling has been of some use to someone. Next up will be MAC Studio Fix Fluid. Keep your eyes peeled.

Emma-Louise

The hunt for the elusive 'Holy Grail' Foundation - Part 1 - Introduction

I'd love to jump straight in with an outfit post as I raided H&M the other day and can't wait to share my purchases with you guys, HOWEVER, I am currently curled up in bed feeling utterly lousy and very sorry for myself, nursing a cold.
Lemsip in hand, I thought I'd post on a subject I touched briefly on in an Instagram post, which received interest in taking it further so here we go...

The hunt for my 'Holy Grail' foundation:
This seemingly endless (and currently fruitless) search has taken me from designer to high street to bargain buy and back again, seeking that elusive holy grail foundation. That foundation which applies perfectly, dries evenly, photographs flawlessly and lasts endlessly...that foundation which makes your friends and family question a possible pregnancy glow, the makeup which still looks good under fluorescent strip lighting and in changing room mirrors! Where the bloody hell is mine?!

So let us start at the beginning. I began using makeup in my early teenage years having been bullied mercilessly for my abundance of freckles. I will admit that my first forays into the world of makeup were not my finest moments, but we all have to start somewhere. I remember feeling ever so grown up, applying my Maybelline foundation (appallingly matched and equally hideously blended) with a triangle makeup sponge. Atop this base I liberally applied bronzer, despite my ghost-like natural complexion, therefore enhancing the already overly noticeable tide lines encircling my face. Moving on to eyes, my mother had discovered a set of Mary Quant pastel metallic liquid liners, during one of her car boot sale rummages. Age of product questionable, I made use of these treasures giving myself a thick upper liner and cat flick in either baby blue, pastel green or champagne, dependent on mood. Mascara was, of course, absolutely essential and choice was made dependent on price rather than product owing to the limited income of my 13 year old self. Despite my pale colouring, auburn hair and near-invisible eyebrows, I decided that a black mascara, applied liberally, would be most flattering.
Flashing forward a couple of years I had moved on from my Mary Quant liner days (most likely I had run out) and discovered the joys of black eyeliner pencil. Taking inspiration from 90s Witch Flick - The Craft - character Nancy, I opted for a waterline, upper AND lower coating in jet black kohl which again contrasted somewhat glaringly with my blonde (bordering on clear) eyebrows. This look was short lived and I soon toned it down to just a waterline and mascara combo. The following years contributed blue mascara, coloured eyeliner pencils, eye-shadows in various unflattering shades, the appearance of eyebrows in a variety of shapes and widths, and an abundance of garish lipsticks, to my makeup routine. It wasn't until I started modelling, when I turned 21, that I really started to hone my makeup skills, and it was here that my search for the perfect foundation began.

Skin type:
The key factor in selecting your ideal foundation is identifying your skin type. This, on paper, is a simple process of stating either Oily, Combination or Dry. Easy peasy yes? NO!
For example, during my period my skin is most definitely slap bang in the Oily category, yet a week later it will be incredibly Dry and then settle back into a textbook Combination skin type until of course, the next month and my next period. Ah, the joys of womanhood. As a rule I lean toward a Combo/Oily focused foundation as I find this generally works for the majority of the time.
I find I tend to maintain a fairly oily t-zone, nose and chin, with the addition of larger pores on my nose. My period causes breakouts around my mouth and chin, utterly delightful I know, but lets face it, it happens to us all at one time or another. I have a fairly relaxed skin care routine but over time I am improving it and looking at ways to more adequately care for my skin and hopefully delay aging signs for as long as humanly possible.

Foundation products:
So you've finally decided on your skin type, now comes the dilemma of selecting a foundation. With such a vast array of BB Creams, Mineral Powders, Mineral Fluids, Pressed Powders, Cream to Powder, Fluid and Mousse Foundations available, the hunt for the perfect base is somewhat akin to finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. Coverage is my initial key factor, I like a medium cover foundation with the option of it being build-able. If you are lucky enough to only need a light cover then a good option is a BB cream or a mineral powder as these are generally better for your skin whilst providing a light base for the rest of your makeup. Heavier cover usually warrants a fluid foundation and this is where I find myself, having tried and failed with many different powder and cream-to-powder varieties.

My key points when looking at a new foundation:
Before making a foundation purchase I will always do two things (where possible). I will spend time looking at reviews online - Boots or Makeup Alley are a great place for this, with the obvious addition of beauty blogs. Bear in mind that each review is one persons opinion and our skin varies person to person. Take the time to read through multiple reviews and pay attention to feedback from customers with similar skin types to yours if it is stated in their review.
Secondly I will ask for a sample. This is necessary for colour matching and testing the foundations durability on your skin. A lot of counters will either give you a sample pot or offer to apply a small amount. The key factors I look for in a foundation are as follows:

• Coverage
• Durability
• Buildability 
• Wearability (not too heavy/mask like on the skin)
• Colour Match 
• Suitable for Sensitive Skin
• Minimal Transfer 
• Overall Application and Finish

And so we move forward into test runs and purchases. I hope to share with you my views on the numerous products I have tried and tested over the years. Obviously I have already rambled on quite sufficiently for today so I will sign off on this post and continue on to reviews in a separate post later in the week. In the meantime, I will be attempting to recover from this damn cold and getting some serious retail therapy on the go tomorrow in West Quay. I look forward to sharing my purchases with you (for a sneak peek, keep your eyes peeled on my Instagram account). Have a good eve whatever you are up to and think of me, snotting uncontrollably whilst watching utter crap on Netflix.

Emma-Louise x

Behind the circus of social media....

With the sudden surge of internet bloggers peppering the world-wide-web with a vast array of fashion, lifestyle and beauty musings, it is somewhat hard for the modern reader to retain perspective.
Ten years ago, as a teenage girl, fashion magazines showed me a glossy, glamorous and seemingly unattainable life, experienced only by those select few beautiful women who graced the pages. Today we see millions of personal fashion blogs online, allowing any woman to showcase this lifestyle to all and sundry should she choose to.
Whilst I retain that blogging is a fantastic form of communication, expression, and, lets face it, advertising...My concerns lie in the warped perspective that impressionable young women and children are taking from the vastly 'photo-shopped' and two dimensional world of the online style blog.
Behind the circus of social media lies an under-documented normality. Despite the common personal blog advertising a 'behind the scenes' pass into the authors life, very few document more than the glossy exterior. Of course, I do not tar all blogs with this brush in the slightest, there are those who give no holds barred access and for this, I salute them.
It is all to easy to feel inadequate whilst trawling through blogs and Instagram accounts littered with near-constant travel photos, airbrushed makeup shots, designer outfit posts and event attendances aplenty. Ultimately what I hope you can take from this is to keep in mind that chances are, despite the forced perspective of this persons life available online, it is, essentially, an airbrushed view of simply the highlights.



The girl sat in sweatpants, nursing a cold and devoid of all makeup - Emma-Louise