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Beauty, Beauty Favourites, Beauty Products

My Favourite Foundations for 2013

This is the third post in my favourites for 2013 series and today I am featuring My Favourite Foundations for 2013. I am without doubt a liquid foundation girl! I have tried compact and mineral foundations but find I always come back to liquid, which I think is because I prefer the application. I also feel that you can get better and more even coverage with liquid foundation.

MAC Face and Body Foundation ~ You may remember that I featured this foundation before in my Everyday Makeup Essentials. I love the feeling of this foundation on my skin, it feels so light but if I require more coverage, I can build it up from medium to full coverage. I apply this foundation with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush {which is awesome}, which I find helps give me a wonderful flawless finish. A useful tip when applying liquid foundation is to pour a bit, onto the back of your hand, this allows the heat of your hand to make the foundation more fluid and you tend to use less product this way. Face and Body provides medium build-able coverage and a flawless, natural satin-shine finish. Recommended Retail Price: R310 (50ml) MAC

Smashbox Liquid halo Foundation Spf 15 Oil-free ~ This foundation is a more recent addition to my beauty regime but it has quickly become my favourite everyday foundation! I think this is mostly because it is oil-free, which is a definite must for me during the hot summer months. In fact I have almost finished it and I think it is definitely a product I will re-purchase. Liquid Halo is the first-ever foundation with 100% Liquid Light Technology, which completely evens out skin for a totally natural, luminous finish. It also contains a broad spectrum SPF 15, which is an added bonus! Recommended Retail Price R370 Woolworths.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Light ~ Last year I attended an event hosted by Estee Lauder, which featured the launch of their Modern Muse fragrance. We were also treated to beauty and makeup tips by the amazing Estee Lauder makeup artists! This is where I was first introduced, to the Double Wear Light Foundation and we each received one in our goodie bag to take home. Unfortunately when I initially tried my foundation, I found the shade I received, to be too dark for me, so it has been tucked away in my Beauty Box, until a few weeks ago, when I decided to give it another try! I think because I am a bit more tanned it is a slightly better match now. One of the things I love about this foundation, is its staying power! Once you have applied it literally will not budge! I would really like to try the Double Wear Light in a lighter shade because I still find that there is a slight orangey tinge to my skin, when I wear it. It is also the most pricey out of the three but definitely worth it, for the amazing coverage and staying power. Recommended Retail Price R415 Estee Lauder

Beauty, Beauty Favourites, Beauty Products

My Favourite Facial Primers for 2013

Following on from My Favourite Fragrances for 2013, I thought I would share My Favourite Facial Primers for 2013.

I only started using a facial primer at the beginning of last year and when I asked around for advice on which ones to try, most everyone I asked, recommended MAC primers! I have been using MAC since then but recently discovered the Smashbox Photo Finish Primers, at a beauty event I attended.

MAC Stobe Liquid Lotion

The MAC Stobe Liquid Lotion was the first primer I bought, which is technically more of a light diffuser, as it contains iridescent pigments. These pigments produce a soft, radiant light on the skin, reducing the appearance of skin imperfections by providing a natural-looking glow.

I have enjoyed using it and love the silky finish it gives my skin! I did however find that it made my pigmentation more exaggerated! I actually stopped using it for a while but recently discovered that if I use it over my MAC Prep+Prime Natural Radiance Primer, it works really well and gives my skin a lovely luminous glow, without making my pigmentation appear darker. Retail price R335.

MAC Prep+Prime Natural Radiance

The MAC Prep+Prime Natural Radiance primer is definitely my favourite-favourite! I have found that no matter how much product I have on my skin, this primer stops my skin from breaking out. It forms an invisible barrier between my skin and any product I apply afterwards, protecting it from any harsh chemicals. The formula is a silky gel emulsion, rich in natural ingredients, which hydrate and prime the skin, to improve foundation or powder application. It also controls oil buildup on the skin and promotes a smooth texture. It contains Vitamins E and C to protect the skin and caffeine to calm the skin.

As I mentioned above I have been applying the MAC Prep+Prime and following that with the MAC Strobe Liquid Lotion, before I apply my foundation. I usually use this combination if I am going out and want my makeup to last that bit longer. For everyday makeup application I usually use either the MAC Prep+Prime or the Smashbox Photo Finish Blemish Control. Retail price R380.

Smashbox Photo Finish More Than Primer Blemish Control

The Smashbox Photo Finish Blemish Control is a more recent addition to my beauty regime, I was introduced to it at a Smashbox beauty event I attended last year. Smashbox has quite an extensive range of facial primers, with the recent introduction of the Blemish Control and Dark Spot Correcting Primers.

The Blemish Control Primer which I received to try out, treats breakouts, provides oil-free hydration and keeps skin clearer over time. It contains 2% salicylic acid which helps treat breakouts. I was advised to use this primer before I apply my face cream, whereas the other primers I apply after my face cream and sunscreen. I have enjoyed using this primer but after I recently changed my facial sunscreen and have found that using the two products together causes a strange reaction when I apply my foundation. I have taken to only using this primer at night, when I do not use a sunscreen and if I am going out and need to apply makeup. Smashbox Photo Finish Primers range from R350 – R380.

I would really like to try the Smashbox Dark Spot Correcting Primer and see if it makes any difference to the appearance of my pigmentation. I have added this to my list of new products I would like to try. I am also trying out a primer from Dermologica at the moment.

Do you use a facial primer? If so which one works for you? Please leave a comment below the post letting me know.

Beauty, Beauty Products

MAC Cosmetics SA recently launched their online store in South Africa, which is a great development for MAC lovers like me! At an event I attended recently we were introduced to MAC’s online offering and given the heads up on how to navigate their online site. Instead on products we were sent home from the event with a digital gift voucher to do our own shopping, on the MAC Cosmetics SA Online Store. Exciting!!!

After much deliberation I made my list of MAC goodies I wanted to buy and started shopping. Needless to say I spent more than the allotted amount on the voucher but did show a certain amount of self-control 😉

MAC Prep+Prime Lip Primer | MAC Prep+Prime Translucent Finishing Powder | MAC Cremestic Liner ~ Beurre | MAC Satin Lipstick ~ Brave | MAC Sheetone Blush ~ Peaches

Once my goodies were ordered and the payment done, all I could do was sit back and wait for my products to arrive. Lets say patience is not a virtue I possess but MAC did not disappoint on the delivery time and all the products arrived correctly as ordered! The MAC team promise a 3-8 day turn delivery time, dependent on where you live.

I thought I would share a video of my online experience and the MAC products I bought.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PDkNRwlTMY&feature=share&list=UUW-Ptg2fpKFHowi0_J6Po_w[/youtube]

What are your favourite MAC products? Please share below as I am always keen to find out what other beauty fundis are trying! If you are MAC obsessed like me then pop on over to the MAC SA Online store and check it out!

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