foundation | Vanity Claire

ClaireApril 27, 2014

3 Ways to Apply Foundation

For a lot of us, foundation was one of the first staples that we adopted when we started applying makeup. Before we knew about primers, blushers, bronzers, highlighters, powders, under-eye concealers, blemish concealers, setting sprays and all of the other junk we would soon start slathering on our face (up yours, natural beauty), foundation was probably the first thing we felt comfortable with.

However, up until about a year ago I’d rarely applied foundation with anything other than my fingers or a flat foundation brush (which made me look like a waxwork, FYI) and I wasn’t really sure what the point of all the other methods was. So this post is for anyone like me who, although vaguely knows that there’s something out there called a buffing brush and thinks that maybe being buffed is a good thing, isn’t quite sure of the differences of brush or which ones works best.

Of course there are more ways to apply foundation, but in the interest of this post being finished some time before my 80th birthday I thought I would just concentrate on 3 popular methods.

Method 1: Buffing Brush
As the saying goes, you must be a muff if you don’t buff. Okay, I don’t think anyone has ever said that before but really, using a buffing brush will change your life. They have densely packed bristles and quite a small surface area to allow you to really work foundation into the skin, and you blend it in using small circular movements. It results in a flawless finish and is also pretty quick to apply (pssst, spoiler: this my favourite method).

Method 2: Stippling Brush
Stippling brushes can be identified by their pointed bristles – the heads look a bit like Pauly D’s hair on Jersey Shore. They usually have 2 layers of bristles, and you should only be using the top layer to apply your foundation. Rather than just slapping your foundation on like paint (which will result in streaking and make you look like a tit of the highest calibre) you dab the brush into some foundation and then dot it all over your face. A lot of people swear by this method as it supposedly leaves an airbrushed finish, as foundation isn’t rubbed into all the nooks and crannies of your face but is instead kind of lightly placed onto the skin. Personally, I find stippling take a bit too long on my moon face and I suffer from a big case of a CBAs about halfway through. I use my stippling brush for highlighter or cream blushes instead, but it’s worth trying with foundation to see how you get on.

Method 3: Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge
Not to be confused with the humble foundation sponge, the Miracle Complexion Sponge is hailed as the UK’s answer to America’s famous Beauty Blender. Oval shaped with a flat part at one end and a point at the other, this works best when slightly damp so that it doesn’t just absorb the product (leaving you poor and ugly). Most reviews and tutorials instruct you to ‘bounce’ the sponge across your face to distribute the foundation; it takes a bit of getting used to but after a couple of attempts I was really pleased with the final effect. I use this mainly now when I contour (you can read my Guide to Contouring if you fancy) as it’s really good for blending and also seems to remove too much excess product.

So there we have it – buffing, dotting and bouncing, all different ways to get the same thing on your face. The choice really is yours, but for me buffing is the winner.

What do you all think? What’s your favourite way to apply foundation?

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ClaireMarch 21, 2014

Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation 010 Light Porcelain

Good afternoon to you my dear chums,

There’s nothing better than a delightful foundation review to get you ready for a weekend of erm…slathering foundation all over your face? Which is why I have done the selfless thing of providing you with a review of one of my favourite foundations ever. And I am a girl who has tried a lot of foundations. It has become a slight issue.

This is 100% the foundation that I always come back to. I’ve used some amazing bases from excellent brands like Bobbi Brown, Mac and Estee Lauder, but to be quite honest with you, nothing has quite matched up to this. The main reason I love it so much is because of the price. At £6.99, it’s a huge bargain that you can’t even try and shake your head at.

Another big plus for me is that it actually does what it says on the bottle. While in principal I strongly disagree with calling it a “25 hour” foundation (what use is that to me? When and why on this green earth would I wear foundation for 25 hours?), it really does last a long time. It well and truly lasts all day on my face, even without primer. And that, my friends, is an amazing feat. Makeup never stays on my greasy, cheek infested face.

It also has fantastic coverage. I have pretty uneven skin and coverage is really important for me in a foundation – this is definitely a heavy coverage foundation, so if you’re into the fresh faced thang, it might not be for you. HOWEVER, if you are like me and enjoy masking any hint of your features, then this is one of the best.

As a heavy coverage foundation, this one is quite thick and a bit gloopy (like Augustus Gloop). I believe it is oil based too, which isn’t for everyone I know. However, while it definitely is a heavy foundation, it’s also surprisingly light for the coverage you get. I don’t tend to feel like I have a lot on my face, which is fabulous for those of you who aren’t keen on that “heavy” makeup feeling. I also like that it’s oil based, because the oil seems to help it last longer through some oily wizardry. Whether you prefer a dewy look or like a matte/powdered face, this works really well.

And here is a little swatch of Rimmel’s Lasting Finish 25 Hour foundation, the bit on the right has been semi-blended. I got it in Light Porcelain 010, which is several shades lighter than what I usually trowel on my face. Unfortunately, my life has been ruined so I can no longer tan (sob and woe) because of skin problems. All of my foundations were a bit dark, so I had to launch myself at the Pale Gail side of life with gusto. Light Porcelain 010 a nice pale colour (the palest they do I believe), which works really well for my skin tone. It’s a warm colour, which I think would suit most pale gals and blends well when you apply. I like to use my little foundation egg to apply this magic foundation, but a stippling brush works just as well.

And now you can see it on my gompy face. I considered doing a before and after, but I didn’t want to alarm anyone. Safe to say, I have a very spotty chin at the moment, but I also permanently suffer from dark circles and some discolouration of my cheeks. Rimmel’s 25 Hour Foundation covers these nasties absolutely perfectly. The picture on the top right is without flash, but I’m sure you can see how well this covered my GIANT MOONFACE.

What do you think? Have you used Rimmel’s Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation before?

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ClaireOctober 16, 2013

Seventeen ‘Stay Time’ Foundation & Primer | Review

It has to be said, as a person who generally goes through life from kerfuffle to kerfuffle, there aren’t that many times that I get to feel really pleased with myself. One of those rare moments came a couple of weeks ago though, when out of the blue I was contacted by the lovely Clare from Seventeen (superb name, it has to be said). She had read my recent makeup review of their new highlighter and primer – which you can read here if you so wish – and emailed me just to say how much she had enjoyed it.

It was so nice to hear that brands read what we write (I was especially delighted that she’d liked my ‘Pore-tsmouth’ joke, which I personally thought was a corker) and so the email in itself was enough to make my day – but then Clare said she would love to send us a few other bits to try out. Cue me becoming the most excited person in the world, and Seventeen automatically jumping right to the top of my Nicest Brands EVER list.

Two of the products I received a couple of days later were the brand new Stay Time Foundation in shade ‘Natural’, and the Stay Time Long Wear Primer. Longevisty is definitely one of the most important things for me when it comes to makeup. I have very long days, generally leaving the house before 7am and often not getting in again until 8pm. My commute to work also includes a horrible bus journey and around half an hour of walking each way, so depending on the weather my makeup is seriously put to the test. This new range’s promise of a long lasting base, then, was music to my ears and I couln’t wait to give it a whirl.

Firstly, the primer. It’s very different to the Flawless Poreless Primer, which in my review I describe as being a very thin balm which you can barely see or feel. Stay Time Primer is the more standard liquid primer that I’m used to. A thin layer of it goes on almost invisibly, but leaves you with a noticeable, slightly tacky base to work with. This sounds unpleasant, but it’s really not.

Next, the foundation. For one, I really like the packaging. You can’t really see in the photo but the pump twists around to lock and unlock – perfect for people like me (what some may call ‘idiots’) who are always losing lids and finding their makeup swimming in leaked foundation. At first I thought that shade ‘Natural’ might be too dark for me, but actually once I started applying it I was pleasantly surprised that I think my pale skin tone can just about get away with it. I buffed it into my skin with my usual brush, and have to admit I did find it a bit tricky to blend. I’m not sure whether it was the foundation itself or, as I suspect, the surface that the primer had created that made it a bit stubborn.

I persevered though and was actually incredibly pleased with the result. Although it’s not listed as one of the benefits, the Stay Time Foundation provided a lovely matte finish, which is perfect for me. It also promises full coverage, which I can confirm it delivers – yesterday I had an extremely attractive spot develop right at the side of my nose, and today the SPOT IT HIDDEN.

The coverage might be a bit too heavy for some people, especially when combined with the primer, but generally I like heavy coverage so it was great for me. I was also shocked, nay GOBSMACKED, after raving on about Flawless Poreless so much, to see that my pores are even less visible when using the Stay Time products than they are with that – so a huge thumbs up.

And what about the most important thing – the 25 hour lasting claims? Well, obviously, I haven’t tested it for a full 25 hours – I don’t know what sort of lives Seventeen’s target market lead, but I for one am usually in bed by half ten with a cup of tea and my Kindle. It did get tested on one of my busy work days, though, and I have to say I am hugely impressed! I had to touch up my powder and blusher through the day as usual, but when I got home in the evening my foundation was looking considerably fresher than it usually would at that time.

I would definitely recommend the Stay Time range to people who like a full coverage, or for those those who have a busy day ahead of them and want to be sure their makeup is staying put. I also think this will be great for a night out, when we generally want a heavier coverage anyway (and might actually stay up past – gasp – eleven pm!) Overall, I’m really impressed with these products and they’ve continued to change my perception of the Seventeen brand.

The primer retails in Boots for £5.49, while the foundation costs £6.49.

Have any of you tried these products? What do you think of the Seventeen brand?

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ClaireSeptember 9, 2013

Barry M NEW Product Launches | A/W 2013

We’ll state the absolute bloody obvious first: we love Barry M. Doesn’t everyone? Is there honestly anybody in the country whose life is not instantly improved when they set eyes upon that glowing technicoloured makeup stand of dreams in Boots? Well, apart from obvious people like dads who only care about football and pork pies, of course.

Whenever Barry M launch new products I basically become borderline hysterical with excitement – I’m sure my colleagues would be well within their rights to slap me to get me to calm down, to be honest (though if any of them tried it then I would be forced to open a can of whoop ass). So when photos and info of the brand’s new Autumn/Winter products started to pop up on my feed, I immediately had to have a look. And guess what – I’m excited.

Flawless Matte Finish Foundation

First up is this new range of foundation. Historically, I’ve always stuck to Barry M’s ‘fun’ products – i.e. the nail varnishes, lipsticks, lip glosses and the much-revered Dazzle Dusts. I’ve never really tried out their more basic items, but it definitely seems to be a market they’re trying to elbow their way into. These matte finish foundations are VERY exciting to me; as a chronic sufferer of Shiny Nose Syndrome (or SNS as it shall henceforth be known) I’m always attracted to more matte formulas but have yet to find one that truly does the job. This oil-free base which also promises to be hydrating could just be my saviour. Also, see that? They’re not just blendable; they’re SUPER blendable. Super exciting.

Eye and Cheek Palettes
‘Natural Glow’

‘Smokin’ Hot’

‘Glamour Puss’

These eye and cheek palettes promise to be a big success, with six eyeshadows and a blush together in a handy mirrored compact with two applicators. It’s nice to see Barry M stepping away from their typical brights and actually offering some great neutral shades alongside the shimmering colours you’d expect. I’ve only very recently dipped my ~~massive~~ generously-sized toe into the waters of eyeshadow application, so I’m thinking a couple of these could be superb additions to my makeup bag.

Lash Vegas Waterproof Mascara

I haven’t tried the original Lash Vegas mascara, but now there’s a waterproof version for all the weep-prone ladies out there. The spiral-shaped brush aims to catch all the little lashes and add definition and volume. I’m tempted to buy this and only ever wear it on Saturday nights – I have a strange tendency to cry at X Factor when ugly people get standing ovations (no, I don’t know why) so this could stop me from looking panda-eyed as well as completely ridiculous.

Matte Nail Paints

For me, these are definitely the most exciting of the new products. I haven’t tried any matte nail varnishes yet, as most of the high street offerings seem to have received pretty poor reviews. Whenever Barry M hop on a new nail bandwagon though, they tend to do it brilliantly so hopefully these will live up to the hype. I think matte black in particularly looks amazing on nails, so I’ll be very keen to give these a try.

Royal Glitter Collection Nail Paints

Barry M’s glitter varnishes are up there as one of my favourite things in the world EVER, alongside puppies and Viennese Whirls. Some of the Textured Effect range has been hit and miss for me, but they’re always exciting to try and are guaranteed to give you an interesting look – and these glittery shades will be perfect as we get closer to Christmas party season.

Crystal Glaze Topcoat

A crystallised finish top coat? If there’s anything that can get your inner J-Lo excited, then surely it’s that combination of words. Ever a fan of a chavvy nail and polishes with ‘bits’ in, I’ll definitely be giving this a go.

All of these products are due to launch on 25th of September in Superdrug, and the 2nd of October in Boots – which, fact fans, is two days before my birthday, giving you two whole days to go and buy me many many matte polishes as gifts.

What do you all think of these new products? Are you excited to try any of them?