Hype Girl! Giorgio Armani 'Luminous Silk Foundation' is it worth the hype?

Giorgio Armani Luminous silk foundation AU$92.00 available from www.davidjones.com.au 

Let's start with how foundation should be applied, because many of us forget that foundation should only be used to perfect the skin tone and not for concealing areas of concern, when heavy application is used to conceal its when it becomes unnatural and cakey. I have committed crimes of heavy foundation use at times when my skin hasn't been at it's best because I have felt self conscious of break outs. So my best advice is investing in a skin care routine that will fix your skin before you drop the big bucks on an expensive foundation.

Giorgio Armani Luminous silk foundation has been hyped for years, with beauty bloggers vowing it is the H.G foundation, but with the $92.00 (Australian dollar) price tag I just couldn't justify the spend. Why was this foundation $92.00? What was in it? Is it better than a $18.00 foundation?

The big difference with this foundation is the lightness of the fluid, the texture which is like a powder suspended in a serum and the finish which is a semi matte feel, I have not experienced this with any foundations on the lower end of the market. It works best on well hydrated and exfoliated skin, and doesn't like any dry or flaky skin so make sure to prep well before applying it. Which is why I can understand it is such a popular choice for brides, if you have been looking after your skin and use this as a special occasion foundation it will really even out your skin tone without masking your natural colouring. The lasting power of Luminous silk is not fantastic, it would be fine for a couple of hours but if you are needing 12 hour long lasting face of makeup look you will need to reapply at lunch time. 

My advice would be to go to a Giorgio Armani counter and pick up a sample in the 2 shades closest to your colouring and test it out over a couple of days rather than paying the huge price tag straight away.

xx Nella

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Rimmel BB Cream Matte : Review and Swatches

Rimmel BB Cream Matte $12.95 available from www.priceline.com.au

Rimmel has finally got on board the already packed train of BB creams with it's latest release the Rimmel BB Cream Matte. Like all western BB creams it is not a traditional BB Korean cream, it is a sheer coverage tinted moisturiser which is very buildable. The consistency of the product when squeezed from the tube is very runny, and you have to work with it straight away otherwise it goes everywhere. On the plus side a little goes a long way and it is easily worked into your skin with fingers or a brush. If I am having a lazy day one layer applied quickly with my fingers does the job but if I need a more even and perfected 2 layers is best. I also found the more you build up the product the more mattifying it becomes, a great trick is to apply 2 layers in your more oil prone t-zone areas. A slight warning do not travel with it without putting it in a secure zip lock bag, the lid is not very secure  and I had a major leakage which completely ruined and stained my favourite make up bag. :(  

But for the price it is an amazing product and I would completely recommend it for teenagers needing a light base or if you just need a cheapie no-fuss foundation for applying quickly in the morning.

The range is made up of only 3 colours, which is very limited with the choice of Light, Medium or Dark. Light works for my skin tone worked in down my neck so as not to leave a crazy-lady foundation mask line.

Rimmel BB Cream Matte $12.95 available from www.priceline.com.au

This very sleepy selfie was snapped on my first day off in 3 weeks, 'Hello eye bags, I hate you, please leave my face'. I love this foundation for lazy make up days when the maximum amount of time I am spending on my face is 5 minutes. You can see it is a very sheer coverage and imperfections and dark spots are showing through but it has evened out my skin quite a lot and I feel good leaving the house to run errands without feeling the dreaded 'I'm naked without make up on' feeling.

xxx Nella

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** I was kindly gifted these products for blog consideration. This did not, in any way, influence my opinion on the product. Please refer to my policy and disclaimer for more information.

BEAUTY YEAR BOOK : Best Beauty Products of 2013 : Makeup Round up!

MAKE UP!

BASE PRODUCTS:

Foundation:
Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation $32.00 & Chantecaille Future Skin Foundation $105.00
2013 was all about discovering gel formula foundations for me, they melt into my naturally oily skin and don't separate like a more standard creamy foundation would. I love how they act like a second skin and not a mask. Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum is an amazing foundation which is gives a light veil to the skin and is also very affordable considering how comparable it is to very high end brands of foundation. I have repurchased Healthy Mix maybe 3 times over 2013 and still love it to bits. When I used  Chantecaille Future Skin for the first time it was like discovering foundation all over again, it adapted to my skin and helped to control excess oil which blew my freakin' mind! It is a heavy coverage foundation and it encourages me to apply it correctly with a buffing brush and not my regular slap and dash job with my fingers. This is a foundation for lovers foundation, it's hefty price tag is going to be totally off putting to the majority of people but if you are interested in trying makeup formulated with skincare properties I would totally recommend it, super luxe and super science going hand in hand.
Bourjois available from www.priceline.com.au 
Chantecaille available from www.meccacosmetica.com.au

Concealer:
Mac Mineralize Concealer $38.00
This is ultra blendable and versatile, covering dark circles and spots like a pro! It has covered up the remnants of many hangovers over 2013 and for that I am forever grateful! Thanks Mac!
Available from www.maccosmetics.com.au

Powder:
Rimmel Stay Matte Powder $12.95
I am not the biggest fan of powder but if I had to choose one it would be Rimmel's Stay Matte Powder on the rare occasion in the dead of winter when I can attempt a matte finish to my dewy (oily) skin this is what I reached for.
Available from www.priceline.com.au

BB Cream:
Garnier BB Cream $13.99
Is the BB craze over yet? Please say yes. All I am going to say is I liked this Garnier BB Cream, the packaging is crap and it leaks everywhere.
Available from www.priceline.com.au

BRUSHES:

Real Techniques $10.95 - $39.95
All of them! Love them!
Available from www.priceline.com.au

Becca 'One Perfecting Brush' $65.00
This is the ultimate blending blush, after dabbing foundation on my face I use this Becca brush to blend it. The width of the brush allows a seamless finish able to blend foundation down your neck and over large areas.
Available from www.beccacosmetics.com.au


EYES:
Mascara 
Maybelline 'The Falsies' $19.95
When it comes to lashes, the bigger the better I say! The Falsies coats every lash, lengthening and thickening, it doesn't give you panda eyes throughout the day. I have bought about 4 tubes this year and I will continue to buy it because nothing else has compared.
Available from www.priceline.com.au

Cream Eye Shadow
Maybelline 'Colour Tattoo' Bad to the Bronze. $11.95
2013 is the year I started to experiment with eye shadows, I really had no idea what I was doing. Colours in the crease, outer 'V' ?!? Say What?!? The Maybelline Colour Tattoo in 'Bad To The Bronze' does it all, you can apply it with your fingers and it gives the illusion that you have gone to a lot of effort. I don't know when this pot is going to end but it has been going strong for about 7 months and it only has a tiny dent in the product.
Available from www.priceline.com.au

Eyeliner
Rimmel 'Scandal Eyes' Liners $9.95
This is the creamiest and most pigmented eyeliner I have ever used, it glides onto your lids or waterline with ease and precision. I like to use the bronze liner blended out onto my lid as a subtle and pretty shadow, also lining my waterline makes the blue in my eyes pop - usually they are a merky greyish blue.
Available from www.priceline.com.au

Powder Shadow
The Balm 'Over Shadow' in 'You buy, I'll Fly' $22.95
Loose shadows freak me out, I am absolutely terrified about spilling them and they are so tricky to apply because of the fall out. The Balm's Over Shadow's are very shimmery pretty and pigmented shadows which give that Studio 54 glossy shadow effect to the lid. I love 'em!
Available from www.davidjones.com.au


CHEEKS:
Bronzer:
The Body Shops 'Honey Bronzing Powder' in shade 1 $28.95
Being very fair skinned  - bronzer is a new thing to me, finding the right shade that doesn't resemble mud on my pale skin is really difficult. The Body Shop's Honey Bronzing Powder in shade 1 is dark enough to give the illusion of cheek bones and light enough that it doesn't look at all obvious and fake.
Available from www.thebodyshop.com.au

Blush:
Topshop Cream Blush in 'Neon Rose' $15.95
During 2013 blush was my number 1 splurge item, I got me some Tom Ford, some Burberry, some Chanel and you know what was my favourite? Topshop's cheap as chips cream blush in 'Neon Rose' it gives pale girls that Snow White flush of colour to your cheeks like you have just been for a stroll in the snow of laughed at a very rude joke.
Available from www.topshop.com

Highlighter:
Becca Pressed Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal $60.00
Ohhhhh baby! Becca's Pressed Shimmering Skin Perfector is a beauty! I was sent this to review and fell in love....then I dropped it and it completely shattered, devastating. It was my first ever smashed powder that I repaired with alcohol, you can read my step-by-step post HERE. This product is a Victoria's Secret model glow in a compact, it gives you cheek bones and a halo.
Available from www.beccacosmetics.com.au

LIPS:

Lipstick:
Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss in colours 60 and 107 $11.95
It was all about a red lip in 2013, from bright pink based raspberry reds (colour 60) to dark wine plum red (number 107). Rimmel's Lasting Finish by Kate Moss have been my absolute go to lippies this year the formula is creamy and easily applied and sets to a semi matte finish which has great lasting power. 
Available from www.priceline.com.au

Lipgloss:
YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain in 'Fuschia' $50.00
2013 was the year of the Lip Stain, every brand was labelling new lip products 'stains' some did stain your lips and some were just terrible. YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stains were a revolutionary formula which is applied like a lipgloss and felt like a jelly on your lips and set to a glossy highly pigmented lip look, the gloss does wear off fairly quickly but your lips are completely stained with colour. YSL's packaging is pretty and posh, these were definitely a handbag essential for 2013.
Available from www.davidjones.com.au

Lip Balm:
Uriage Bariéderm Lévres $19.99
Uriage is my favourite french skincare range, every product is calming and soothing for irritated skin.
I have never been that girl who is constantly re-applying lip balm all day, for me I apply a thick layer of lip balm right before I go to sleep so my lips stay hydrated while I sleep. Scent, texture and taste is not what I look for in a lip balm, I love a balm which is repairing and moisturizing which is exactly what the  Uriage balm does.
Available from www.priceline.com.au

Coming up next in the Beauty Year Book : Best skin care products of 2013...Wooohhhooo I'm back!

xxx Nella

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What the heck is a BB Cream? What is the difference between a Tinted Moisturiser and a Foundation? Featuring Dior Nude BB Cream, Jouer Moisture Tint & Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum

The number one question I get from readers, friends, family and anyone I talk about makeup with is 'WHAT IS A BB CREAM?' they always ask in a frustrated, what am I missing out on? Voice. Let me be your makeup Veronica Mars for this post and answer all your burning questions......Let me start by saying cosmetic companies can name a products whatever they like 'BB' or 'CC' doesn't necessarily mean there is anything different about the actual product itself, it's all just marketing buzz words.

Dior Nude BB Cream $48.00 available from www.feelunique.com

BB Creams (Blemish Balms, Beauty Balms, Beblesh Balm) originated in Korea, traditionally containing Whitening Agents, Zinc Oxide, Vitamin E and other ingredients to combat blemishes and lighten skin whilst wearing an all in one base. Tinted with a light colour and designed to oxidise to the skins natural colour, most applying with a grey tone base which neutralises redness.

None of the Western beauty brands have released a BB Cream in the traditional sense, whitening ingredients aren't popular and pink toned western skin tones don't take grey under toned products well. 

If you are more inclined to try the 'Best of the West' in BB Creams Dior's new BB Cream from the Nude line is beautiful, it glides onto the skin and is very hydrating. It does oxidise, like Korean versions do. If you are thinking of buying it make sure to test the 3 shades on your face and wait at least 20 minutes and then check in natural light which is your best colour match. The smoothing pore refining quality comes from the high amount of silicone in this product, which allows other makeup to sit well on top of it. 

If you would like to try a traditional BB Cream Dr Jart Water Based BB Cream is my fave REVIEW HERE! If you have skin problems and you are looking for a base product to help your acne whilst giving you some coverage then try Jane Iredale's Glow Time BB Cream is fantastic and available HERE.

DO YOU NEED A BB CREAM? 

Are you happy with the base products you already use? If the answer is yes, then you probably do not need a BB Cream. I do not recommend any product with whitening agents in them because they can lead to long term pigmentation problems. A BB Cream is not going to change your life.

 Jouer Illuminizing Moisture Tint $42.50 available from www.strawberrynet.com

 Tinted Moisturiser is lighter in opacity than a foundation with more moisturising qualities to it than a traditional foundation most contain high SPF ratings.
Most tinted moisturisers have driven my very naturally oily skin mad, creating oil slicks all over my face especially in high school. The Jouer Illuminating Moisture Tint is the only light coverage velvet to slightly matte finish base product I have ever tried. So if you have oily skin to the point where the Rainbow Warrior might be called in to contain the slick, and you don't like a heavy coverage then try the Jouer line. Oily skin is somehow seen as being bad and I am constantly recommended products with high coverage to wear, but I don't need high coverage because it makes my skin even oilier and I don't have any blemishes really. It is very annoying....Is anyone else in this boat?
DO YOU NEED A TINTED MOISTURIZER?
I would recommend tinted moisturiser if you have dry skin or are wanting to swap to a base product containing SPF. If you mix your everyday moisturiser
and foundation do you get a tinted moisturiser....YES! Can you make your own....YES!

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum $32.00 available from www.priceline.com.au

Foundation is an all over tinted skin base in varying opacity and shades to match skin tones, applied all over the face and neck to create a veil covering skin imperfections.

So I am not going to go into all of different foundations available, I'm just going to tell you about my favourite : Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation which is a dupe for the Chanel Vita Lumier and Vita Lumier Aqua Foundations. It is a light weight gel consistency which is very blendable, it melts into the skin giving sheer coverage and a glowing dewy hydrated natural look. I like applying it with my fingers, the warmth from your fingers will help blend the foundation into the skin rather than have the product sit on top of the skin which is the result I get when using a buffing brush. It doesn't cover redness from blemishes so you will need to conceal them after applying the foundation, not before.

I HAVE A FOUNDATION DO I NEED A BB CREAM AND A TINTED MOISTURISER TOO?

If you have your base routine down to a fine art and you are happy with it, then NO. If you like to try new products and you are looking to switch it up then YES. Are all three products the same? technically YES, they are all base products which tint the skin they only vary with opacity and ingredients like SPF and silicons.

Hope this post has cleared up any pesky questions about BB Creams and you are less confused and not more confused by my descriptions. Please leave any questions or comments below and follow me on Twitter because I tweet like a maniac. All links are below.

ALSO.......

Please PLEASE do yourself a favour and watch Dusty Hunter's YouTube video on the differences between BB Creams, Tinted Moisturises and Foundations....He is an amazing resource for the makeup curious and I watch everyone of his videos.

xxx Nella

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A foundation guide for ALL skin types.

There is a misconception by women that foundation is a product which is very masking or too heavy for their skin. At the moment there are so many different types of foundation available from very sheer to complete full coverage so something for everyone. Here are some tips on finding the right foundation for you:

- When buying a high end or expensive foundation ask for samples of two colours you think are the closest to your skin tone and test them over a couple of days and in different lights. I have been mismatched by cosmetics counter babes too many times and I have put it down to the horrific un-natural lighting in department stores OR if you don't have the time to the foundations at home, ask for an application of 2 shades one on either side of your face and then go outside and check which you like best in natural light.

- If you are expecting to be photographed (i.e your just very popular or its your wedding day) steer clear of foundations with SPF's as they can cast white on the skin and reflect the flash in a weird way

-Expensive or very cheap it doesn't matter if it matches your skin, if it does what you need it to do then its a good foundation for you.

-Change your foundation seasonally, in Summer use a light coverage with high SPF and in Winter use a hydrating foundation. You also maybe 2 different colours a couple of shade difference between Summer and Winter depending on if you tan or not.

-Choose a foundation based on your skin type not on what you want your skin to look like, everyone want perfect skin duh:

Combination Skin: Medium coverage light reflecting illuminating foundation 

Oily Skin: Oil free Medium coverage foundation and a mattifying finish

Dry Skin: A hydrating foundation with a light coverage and illuminating properties and a dewy finish

Acne Prone Skin: Water based oil free fragrance free foundation all over and then a full coverage on problem areas

Aged Skin: Medium coverage which is hydrating without giving a shiny finish

Young/Teen Skin: Sheer tint to let the natural qualities show through the foundation

SHEER COVERAGE:
If you want a dewy glow to your skin and a sheer amount of coverage a tinted moisturizer is probably your best product pick. Tinted moisturizers are not buidable because they soak into the skin and hydrate, if you want more coverage in certain areas then do a little spot concealing and finish with a setting powder.
COVERAGE: 
Slightly even out skin tone
WEAR TIME:

2-3 hours, longer if you powder definitely not a full day                                            

1. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer $59.00

2. Clarins Hydraquench Tined Moisturizer $48.00

3. Face of Australia Tined Moisturizer $11.95

4. Garnier Mirecal Skin Perfecter $11.70

5. Stila Sheer Colour Tined Moisturizer $55.00

LIGHT COVERAGE:
Somewhere between a tinted moisturizer and a traditional foundation are water based foundations. They give a light amount of coverage and are buildbale, if you want a long wear time out of these foundations make sure to use a primer and a powder on top. If you have blemish prone skin a water based foundation (or an oil free) is great for you just also make sure it is fragrance free.
COVERAGE: 
Evens out skin tones and redness, slight imperfections and pore appearance
WEAR TIME:
3-6 Hours with Powder, longer if your skin isn't oily.

1. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua $75.00

2. Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid $68.00

3. Nars Sheer Glow $68.00

4. Mac Face and Body $60.00

5. Natio Skin Sheer Foundation $17.25

 MEDIUM COVERAGE:

These are traditional foundations, most chemist brands fall into this category. Rich in constancy and formulated to give you all over coverage. If don't wear powder and want foundation which is slightly matte in appearance these guys are for you. Buildable but formulated as a one stop shop for a base, fuss free. 

COVERAGE:

Dark Circles, slight pigmentation, blemishes, redness, slight scaring, freckles, sun spots

WEAR TIME:

5-9 Hours only powder if you have very oily skin otherwise it can look cakey

1. Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer $78.00
2. Bourjois Healthy Mix & Healthy Mix Serum $29.00
3. Rimmel Wake Me Up $19.95
4. Lancome Teint Miracle $68.00

FULL COVERAGE:

If you want to look like an extra on The Only Way is Essex or If you have acne scaring of very contrasting pigmentation and want to cover it up completely then try a full coverage foundation on effected areas then blend it out with a medium coverage to the areas not effected. Full coverage foundations can be quite thick and need to be blended into the skin really well to give a natural appearance.

COVERAGE: 

Pigmentation, scaring, blemishes, pores, redness, rosacea, acne bumps, freckles, birth marks, sun spots

WEAR TIME:

6-9 hours, just be careful if you do have acne that oil doesn't break through.    

1. Vichy Dermablend Smooth Indulgence  $49.05

2. Estee Lauder Double Wear $68.00

3. Revlon ColourStay $26.70

4. Ella Baché Sunguard  $46.00

*Please note all prices are in Australian dollars at recommended retail prices.

Don't Believe The Hype : #1

Everything on this blog is my personal opinion - apart from if its a specified spiel from a giant cosmetic company claiming that they can make your lips bigger, get rid of you wrinkles and make you 10 times more beautiful by tomorrow.

Its not serious and I usually don't buy things that I really dislike because I am a 'savvy 20 something that knows how to use the power of the Internet for good not evil'.  My friends and family do it love when I get it wrong because I always give away things that haven't made the cut.

1. Loreal Telescopic Mascara $26.80

This was raved about by one of my favorite YouTube girls Vivianna Does Make up, she was banging on about how she put it on whilst on the tube (British). So I bought it. Its crap, well its not crap, she loves it. Its the brush that's not a brush its a comb and the product is really wet formula which just makes my usually naturally curled lashes point out straight and clump. If you can make this work for you, 10 points and please let me know how you do it.

2. Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stains $16.00

When the lip stain trend was in full force last year I was sucked into that like a tornado, I was one of the cows in Twister - not Helen Hunt. But I survived with the debris of 15 lip stains cluttering up my makeup draws. Firstly the Revlon Lip Stain has a lip balm on the end - mine snapped off within the first use so I have no idea what it was like. It didn't pack the punch of my other Covergirl lipstains which the stain lasts almost all day and definitely have got more colour pay off and they are also $6.00 cheaper. And one more thing I hate that tacky twilight-esque font on the packaging.

3. Shu Uemura Foundations - $64 Face Architect Foundation  (but in general it's all of them)

I really want to like them because its one of my favorite Japanese beauty brands. The problem is that they do not have my colour, white girl is not in the spectrum of shades. Its such a shame because they have this really cool aerosol can of foundation that's really high tech and I am desperate to have it. Please don't let this put you off the brand it is fantastic and if they have your shade then lucky you! Especially the eye shadows they are a dream and the limited edition collaborations are beautiful especially the Tsumori Chitsato sets  from about 2 years ago.

4. Maybelline Great Lash Curved Mascara $8.99

The curved brush really stabs my eyeballs when applying it and the fall out is really bad it had given me dark circles by 10am. This cult product made me look like I was in a cult.

5. Nars Lip Gloss $39.00

I'm not really a lip gloss girl to begin with, your hair gets stuck in it. The Nars lip gloss is so sticky that its hard to even apply its like putting cold honey on your lips. The colours are really good and they have a new plumping formulation which i will try out to see if there is any improvement to the formula.

6. Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks $48.00

These are really shimmery, duh its called a freakin' Shimmer Brick! But its the type of shimmer and opacity which should only be going on in eye shadows. It is so shimmery it casts a white glow to your face from the lightest colours and highlights YOUR PORES!!!! I had a really bad time with this in both colours - yep I bought 2 colours - SUCKER!

7. Kiehl's Penthol Protein Moisturizing Face Cream $22.50 

This is a good moistirizer, just not for my face, its since been de-potted and put in travel size containers for legs on holidays. It gets all in my eyebrows and hair line coating them in white cream making me look like Santa Clause and it's impossible to put a foundation on top of it because it peels off like pilling on a cheap synthetic jumper. 

8. Burts Bees Sensetive Eye Cream ($29.95 N/A)

I did not purchase this -  it came free with a magazine. But I had to include it because the story of my single time using the product is very funny. I packed this eye cream in my toiletries bag when going on the first sexy weekend away with a lover, I thought you know its a small sample size and 'natural' kind off not wanting to pack my massive night cream. After coming back from a night swim and a long shower I moisturized as normal before bed, the eye cream was on the bedside table and I applied it in the dark before going to sleep. Morning came and I awoke to my lovers shocked face on top of mine saying that he could 'call a doctor if i needed', the eye cream had turned into a white flaky crust all over my eyes! It came off with a little warm water and my skin wasn't irritated at all but the shocked reaction caused me to bin the eye cream straight away.

So in total I have wasted $225.30 on these products. It is actually a lot more than this but these are the products that I can remember using and not agreeing with. 

What products have you regretted buying? Or what products have you been talked into buying by a very persuasive beauty counter sales assistant like a sucker?