Hi Divas

 

I have been wanting to right this review for such a long time but since the great pandemic hit this year a lot of things, including my blog were put on hold.  It is probably a good thing that I am only writing this review now, since everyday glam makeup has gone out the window, thanks to mandatory wearing of face masks. Most women, including myself are opting for more natural and easy-going makeup looks instead of the full coverage we used to wear before things went down. Don't get me wrong, I still adore wearing full coverage, creative and dynamic makeup looks but going out on an everyday basis wearing a mask has made me opt for a natural glow from within. If you are wanting a foundation that is natural, hydrating and evens out the skin tone then the Fenty Beauty Hydrating Longwear Foundation is right up your alley. This is the second foundation launch within the brand which promises to be much lighter and more breathable than the original Pro Filt'r. The Pro Filt'r matte foundation is an absolute holy grail of mine, I was therefore very interested to see what the hydrating foundation has to offer. I was pleasantly surprised by the results.


The Hydrating Longwear foundation promises medium to full coverage with a natural finish and a smooth complexion. Compared to the first foundation this one has a lighter formula which is ultra blendable using the hands, brush or sponge. It contains Grape Seed Oil and Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate the skin, keeping the face fresh and looking natural all day. The formula is sweat and humidity resistant which prevents your makeup from breaking down in hot temperatures. Fenty Beauty promises a natural even tone face but not a dewy, wet looking complexion. Rihanna wanted this foundation to be for all skin tones, as the original matte was mostly loved by combination to oily skin types. This formula is adaptable and would work for dry, combination and oily as it is not overly dewy and won't cause excessive shine. I love that the hydrating formula is much lighter than the original because it can be worn every day. The matte one is pretty full coverage and can be too much on a relaxed day out. The option to be natural or glam is great within the line.


The packaging is significantly different to the first foundation in that the hydrating foundation comes in a plastic tube with a pump. The packaging is convenient, simple yet has the edgy designs, which we know Rihanna's music for. I love that they incorporated her edgy music style into the packaging. The design is very convenient and reminds me of a BB and CC cream style. It is light weight and safe for travel. The foundation comes in a whopping 50 shades and the tube carries 32 ml of product. You can see your shade on the outside of the tube which makes it simple to detect especially for makeup artists. The shades are exact matches to the previous foundation which is wonderful. You won't be confused looking for a shade match if you already have it in the matte foundation. I am the shade 290 and both products match really well. The matte is a little darker than the hydrating foundation as I feel it oxidizes slightly more. It is not a problem for me though as the two are perfect for my skin tone. 


Upon application, I found that you have to shake the tube before you pump out the product. Unfortunately the formula seems to separate inside the tube and you get a mix if oil and foundation. I therefore shake it really well and then pump out a max of two pumps. The foundation feels very light and blends easily onto the face. I like to use my hands for an ultra-natural look. For more coverage I would use a brush or sponge. This is not full coverage at all and I find that building it up past two pumps can make the face look cakey and congested around the pores and fine lines. This product gives light to medium coverage. If you want anything more than that you would have to use the matte foundation. This formula evens out the skin tone perfectly but does not cover under eye dark circles or blemishes as the original foundation. You would have to use a concealer and powder for extra coverage. The consistency feels much lighter and breathable on the skin than the matte foundation. This one is therefore excellent for an everyday even complexion.

 



I recommend the Pro Filt'r Hydrating Longwear foundation to those who have combination to dry skin. If you love BB and CC creams with a little depth then this lighter foundation formula will be your best friend. This is great to wear beneath my mask these days as I want to look presentable and not scare people with my ghastly quarantine face;-) I hope you enjoyed this review and found it helpful. Have you tried this foundation? Are you even wearing makeup under your mask? These are strange times! Let me know your thoughts below.

Thank you for reading.

Xxxx

Hi Divas

I travel to the Middle East quite frequently, therefore it was only fitting that I try out one of the biggest makeup brands to come out of the region. For those of you who don't know, Huda Beauty is a very successful cosmetics brand created by Huda Kattan. She started out as a beauty blogger and ascended way up to a business makeup mogul, while residing in Dubai. In the cosmetics industry, her innovative makeup launches have become very successful throughout the world. I was mostly interested in her complexion products even though she has become very famous for her false lashes and eyeshadow palettes. I particularly wanted to try out her foundation as I was very intrigued by the extensive shade range and the full coverage filter blurring claims. These days everyone and their dogs are using social media filters to perfect their complexions. Huda claims her foundation provides a filter like effect, which means you can walk around in real life looking flawless like your Photoshopped pics, LOL. This too, is one of the few high coverage foundations available on the market as most are medium to semi-full coverage. If you do some research online regarding this product you will see a lot of the reviews and experiences are 50/50. Some absolutely adore this foundation while others hate it with a passion. After using it, I can clearly see why there are such extreme mixed reactions. Keep reading to find out more!

Faux Filter is packed in a square rectangular plastic bottle and comes with 35 ml of product. This of cause is 5 ml more than most foundations and the plastic bottle is meant to be travel friendly and light weight compared to a standard glass bottle. The branding and design of the foundation is very sleek and the plastic feels sturdy and well made. I do not mind the plastic packaging as it does not look or feel cheap. It looks luxe and very well made. The Buff and Blend Face brush that I purchased with the foundation is in a kabuki style with a matte rubber handle. The bristles are densely packed and feel compact. They are made with white synthetic fibres witch blend liquid and cream products easier.

 The foundation comes in 30 shades and are categorised between Fair (100), Light (200), Medium (300), Tan (400) and Rich (500). They are further broken down into Neutral (N), Beige(B), Golden(G) and Red(R) undertones. I purchased the shade Butter Pecan 330N, which is in the Medium category with a Neutral undertone. I could have gone for Baklava 340G (warm olive in tone) and Macchiatto 400G (identical to Butter Pecan with a golden undertone) but settled on Butter Pecan as this matches my neck and jaw line perfectly. The shades do run close together and are quite warm in tone. You could therefore have more than one shade that might work for you.



The consistency of this foundation is thick and creamy. One and a half pumps are more than enough to fully cover my face. Two pumps or more will make you look cakey and overdone. This is a heavily pigmented foundation, therefore a little goes a long way. The coverage is full and covers my under-eye bags and blemishes perfectly, I don't even need concealer when I wear this. For application, I applied it with the face brush and it gave me flawless and even coverage. I do notice slight creasing under my eyes and forehead lines sometimes. To avoid this, I recommend using a sponge to press the creamy consistency into the skin. This gives a smoother and crease free application. Since the foundation is so thick it can soak into the brush and sponge if applied directly. I recommend dotting the product all over your skin first and then blending it out.

 Once applied, you have to set your face with a powder and setting spray. Since the foundation is a cream it has a tendency to move around and slide off, if you do not set it properly. This foundation does transfer so if you hug someone really tightly it might not end well, LOL. In South Africa we love to hug each other. We hug at church, hug at work, hug your family members and so on. You need to set this and take precautions when hugging people. Any translucent powder and makeup setting spray will do the trick. As I said this is a highly thick and pigmented foundation. You have to make sure that your shade matches well, your application is smooth and you lock it in place with a powder and spray. Skipping these steps could prove fatal for your makeup the rest of the day.



 Below are pictures of me wearing the foundation during my professional headshot photo shoot. As you can see this foundation looks absolutely amazing in photos. My skin looks flawless and smooth, it is unbelievable. It really does give a blurring and filter effect on camera. If you are planning to attend an event where there will be a lot of photography, this foundation will be your best friend. It looks very flattering in photos. You can't even tell where the foundation ends and starts around my neck and chin area.

The shade Butter Pecan is a wonderful match for me. For reference I wear Fenty Beauty Pro Filtr' in 290, Too Faced Born This Way in Warm Beige and LA Girl Pro Matte in Light Tan. Faux Filter looks amazing in pictures but in real life, it can look too overdone. I think this is where most people struggle with this product. This is not a natural looking foundation. It is full coverage and highly pigmented. People will be able to see clearly that you are wearing makeup. This product is not good for every day wear. It is better suited for events and glam occasions. It is not light weight at all and therefore would be very obvious on a normal day out and about.


I noticed that the formula of the product changes throughout the day too. The foundation applies very matte at first but later on in the day it becomes luminous and your natural oils start showing through. Depending on your skin type, this could either be great or disastrous for you. Since the foundation applies very matte, it is important to prep the skin with a good moisturiser underneath. This is especially important for dry skin types. If your skin is dry makeup won't look flattering on the face. Hydrate your skin properly before wearing this. Since the product contains Argan Oil, this could be problematic for oily skin types as it starts to show through during the day. It might mix with your natural oils making you look oilier. I don't have any of these problems as I have normal to combination skin but I understand why certain people might hate this.

Also the foundation is heavily scented with an oud fragrance. Arabian oud is a rich woody and sweet scent that is very popular in the Middle East. Fragrances are known to be irritants to sensitive skin when placed in cosmetics. Do be aware of this if your skin reacts to perfumed beauty products. The fragrance does not bother me at all and I personally like this foundation because it works well with my skin type and is long wearing on me. It looks good in person but even better in pictures. Even though it works well for me, I wanted to give you the whole low down on this product, so you can make up your own mind on whether you want to try it or not. I hope you found this review helpful.


Thank you so much for reading this long and in depth post.
Divalicious Kisses
Xxxx

Hi Divas

Complexion products are my number one items that I cannot live without. I would probably take it with me on a desert island and have it be on my top ten list of essentials. When I first started wearing makeup at the age of 15, I only used black eyeliner and a gloss. I never bothered to cover up any imperfections on my face as I was young and carefree. Fast forward a few years later, I have ditched the gloss and constant lower black liner. As I have gotten older, I realised how much I value a smooth and radiant complexion over anything else. I would rather splurge on a holy grail foundation than another 16 pan eyeshadow palette. I love the euphoria of watching my dark circles and life problems disappear under a layer of foundation with my kabuki brush. I know I am being dramatic, but that step is honestly so satisfying to me. I have therefore tested many foundation formulas and tried an array of awful shades to find the true gems that suit me. I will be recommending my holy grail foundations that work for my normal to combination skin and medium skin tone with yellow to olive undertones. I mention my skin type and colour undertones as what may work for me, may not be great for you regarding dry to oily skin or someone with a different skin tone to me. Please be aware of that as you read my recommendations.


Too Faced Peach Perfect
 I'm starting off with the cutest foundation packaging out of the 5 products. It comes in a tube with a gold pump. I love the peach details on the packaging. I only recently started using this but I decided to add it to my collection as I love the easy application and quick results it gives me. This is a medium coverage foundation that is very matte yet super comfortable to wear. I love using this as an everyday base product as it gives the most natural finish and my face still looks airbrushed. The shade Warm Beige is great for me because it has the right amount of warmth and it does not oxidize throughout the day. The tube is great for a quick application and is very travel friendly too. I recommend it to someone who loves a matte finish and a natural looking appearance. I do prefer to wear this in the Summer months since it is so matte and you will need to use a hydrating moisturizer in the Winter to pull this one off. Full Review Here.

Fenty Beauty Pro' Filtr
I'm going to come out and say it now! This is the best foundation in formula and in shade that I have ever used. I have received so many compliments from many people telling me that my face looks flawless when I wear it. This is a matte foundation and gives a medium to full coverage. It literally hides all my imperfections in one sweep. It blends wonderfully into my skin and looks like a dream. The shade 290 has warm and olive undertones which miraculously fits me like a second skin. The shades in this foundation do apply lighter in tone but oxidizes to its true shade after a few minutes. I find that the shades do get warmer throughout the day but it just blends so effortlessly into my natural complexion. I love it! Regarding performance, this foundation lasts all day with no cracking or fading. If you have dry skin make sure to moisturize well before use. Packaging is sleek, pretty and equipped with a pump in a glass bottle. It can be heavy to travel with but I don't mind though. Full Review Here.

L'oreal Infaillible 24H Fresh Wear
 The performance and formula of this foundation is very similar to Too faced Peach Perfect except it has more coverage. Can you believe that a low-end base has more coverage than a high end one? Believe it because it is true! This is a lightweight and matte foundation that is very comfortable and breathable on the skin. It gives a natural appearance and can be built up to fuller coverage. This is great for everyday wear and is very long lasting too. The only con is that the shades do oxidize. I have the shade 260 Golden Sun and it definitely gets one to two shades darker throughout the day. I have to go one shade down to make it a perfect fit for me. Do keep this in mind when purchasing the product. The packaging is not my favourite as it has that chunky L'oreal block design with a stumpy pump. It's not sleek but it gets the job done. It is in my top favourites as I love the way it wears and the coverage is great. I really do feel it out shines Too Faced Peach Perfect regarding coverage as well. Full Review Here.

LA Girl Pro Matte
This is my ultimate favourite low-end foundation. I don't know why this product does not get the hype and love it deserves. It is perfect for combination to oily skin types as it gives a comfortable matte finish. I love using it on hot Summer days. It can cling to very dry patches, therefore do wear a hydrating moisturizer or primer in those areas. The formula reminds me of Fenty Beauty Pro' Filtr as it has the same texture and consistency when blended out on the face. It gives great coverage and lasts throughout the day too. The shade Light Tan is perfect for my Summer skin tone because it has a warm yellow undertone. Even though Fenty gives a much more filtered look this one can easily be considered a dupe for it. The packaging is sleek and comes with a pump. I have travelled with the glass bottle before and it was very easy to pack into my makeup bag. This is the cheapest foundation out of the 5 and you get great value for your money. I will keep repurchasing because I love it so much. Full Review Here.

Too Faced Born This Way
I'm going to come out and say it again! This is one of the best foundations I have ever used.
This too was my first ever Sephora foundation purchase and my very first high-end foundation. I have fond nostalgic memories of it. Since then, I have gone through two bottles and am now onto the third. The packaging comes in a luxurious glass bottle with a pump. The gold details on the bottle and box make the product look very luxe. The formula and texture of the foundation is creamy, slightly thick yet blends effortlessly onto the face. The product contains coconut water and hyaluronic acid which makes it very hydrating on the skin. I therefore only wear this in Winter and Autumn because it gives me a hydrating satin finish. It always looks beautiful on the skin and it gives me full coverage with a healthy glow. The shade Warm Beige is great for my Winter skin tone as you can't even tell I'm wearing foundation when I have it on. I may need to go up a shade and use Sand in Summer time though. The performance is wonderful and I sometimes forget I'm wearing makeup since the foundation feels so comforting on the skin. This is the most expensive foundation out of the 5 but you seriously getting what you pay for. Both the packaging, performance and formula is top notch. I would repurchase till the end of days, LOL. Full Review Here.


Thank you so much for reading and I hope you found my recommendations helpful. Do share your foundation favourites below and let me know if I am missing out on any great complexion products. Lots of love!


Divalicious Kisses
Xxxx

Hi Divas

Peach Perfect claims to be a comfort matte foundation with medium coverage. It is infused with Peach and Sweet Fig cream and is oil free as well. It promises to control oils, give a shine free appearance, be photo friendly, transfer resistant and last for 14 hours. I love that the product does give realistic claims and not outrageous ones like 36 hour wear, eliminating your blemishes, your life problems and world hunger! I have combination skin and in the Summer time I get oily in my t-zone. I therefore prefer matte foundations over hydrating formulas. When it comes to coverage I like a balance of medium to full. I usually have two foundations which I would rotate depending on occasions. I like to wear light formulas during the week and be full glam on weekends. Since Peach Perfect is marketed as medium coverage, I thought it would be lovely for days when I want to look good but not too heavily made up.



The foundation packaging is absolutely beautiful from the box to the tube. I love the gold trimmings with the peachy pink ombre effect. It's so cute and pretty but not tacky. I am reluctant to throw the box away as I love the way it looks on my desk. The foundation does come in a tube compared to standard foundations in glass bottles. It has a gold pump with a bright gold lid. The tube holds a whopping 48ml of product compared to standard 30 ml foundations. This is honestly amazing value for your money as the price tag is cheaper than the original Born This Way foundation which, I love as well. Even though the tube is plastic, it does not look cheap at all. The tube has a gloss like finish which makes it luxurious. It is functional too as the pump gives a mess free application and the tube is sturdy for travel. I love that you can cut the tube when the foundation is running low and not waste a single drop.


I wear the shade Warm Beige in Born This Way and therefore decided to purchase the same shade in Peach Perfect as well. This is not an exact match between shades, as I feel Peach Perfect is a lot warmer in tone than Born This Way. For application I love to use my hands as the product is quite thin in consistency. I have tried it with a brush and sponge which both work well. Since this gives medium coverage, I prefer to smooth it on my face with my hands like a BB cream. I use two pumps all over my face which is sufficient for me. The peach and sweet fig scent is really faint, and I honestly struggle to even smell it. This foundation gives a very natural finish. With one layer it does not look like you are wearing any makeup at all. The coverage is medium and any blemishes and under eye circles would need concealer. I was actually very surprised at how matte this foundation is. If you have dry skin or dry patches, it would probably emphasize it if you do not wear a hydrating cream or primer underneath. The foundation does smooth out the overall tone of the skin and gives a filter like appearance. My skin looks so blurred and smooth when I wear it. You can see it in the photo below.


 I absolutely adore the Too Faced Born This Way foundation and wear it in the Winter months as I have combination skin. The foundation is infused with coconut water which makes it very hydrating and gives full coverage. Comparing it to Peach Perfect this has a very matte finish but it has lighter coverage than Born This Way. It is great for everyday wear as it feels light weight and looks so flawless. I love that it is matte but sits very comfortably on the skin. It does not feel tight or cakey.  If you are someone that does not like heavy makeup this would be perfect for you as it gives a natural and seamless finish. It has wonderful staying power as well. I ugly cried in this foundation one day and it did not budge nor transfer. It did not run or crease in my cry lines. You know that when a foundation holds up during a heavy crying session, then it's a keeper!


Hope you found this review helpful.
Thank you for reading.
Divalicious Kisses!
Xxxx

I have not done a foundation review since last year which is remarkable because there have actually been quite a few launches in 2019 in South Africa. I decided to choose wisely and purchase the L'oreal Infaillible 24H Fresh Wear foundation to add to my makeup collection. I say I had to choose wisely, because drugstore/low end products are becoming more and more expensive these days. There are certain brands that are tilting towards high end prices and L'oreal is one of them. I hope the technology and new formulas are responsible for the high prices as low-end products are now on the same level as high-end ones when it comes to quality, pigmentation and longevity. The L'oreal Fresh Wear foundation has a big red 'I'm Back!' sticker which hopefully means the product was reformulated for the better. I have not tried the previous variant Infallible (notice Infallible and Infaillble!) and therefore cannot comment on any changes. The main reason why I purchased this foundation is because, I wanted something light and comfortable to wear for the Winter months. South Africa has just started its Winter season and it can get really cold on some days. Cape Town has a wet and rainy Winter with icy winds. My skin tends to dry out on my forehead and around my nose and mouth during this season, even though I am normal to combination skin. I need a foundation that is matte, but not too drying and won't cause flaking on cold days.

The Infaillible Fresh Wear is described as a light weight and long wear foundation. It contains new oxygen technology which circulates air and makes the skin breathable. It promises to give a flawless complexion with a medium coverage. Its aim is to give a flawless base while still looking completely natural. It is sweat proof, waterproof and matte too. It claims to last for 24 hours without breaking down. There are 30 shades in the range all sporting different undertones which is super impressive. I chose my shade in the medium category and opted for 260 Golden Sun. This shade is for warm medium skin tones with olive and yellow undertones. This is honestly a perfect match for me in Winter and fits my skin tone exactly. The foundation comes in the standard 30 ml glass bottle with the unique L'oreal designed pump. The pump has a thumb impression on it and is quite stubby in size. It's not my favourite design when it comes to bottles but it is practical and works well.

The foundation has quite a runny consistency and I therefore prefer to apply it either with my hands or a brush. When I want a light layer, I apply one pump with my hands. For a full coverage look, I apply two pumps and blend it with a brush. I find that the sponge soaks up too much product with this runny formula and I end up using more than what I would like too. Using both my hands and the brush gives a smooth and seamless application and look. It does take a while to dry and moves around when you apply it vigorously. You therefore have time to build up the coverage you want without it drying down too quickly. This dries down to a matte finish and can cling to pores or dry patches. Do use a primer if you have enlarged pores. I would suggest applying a good moisturiser before using this product as it can settle into fine lines under the eyes. If you applied a moisturising base on your skin, the foundation will blend easily and look really good. It melts wonderfully with concealers and powders. Once dried down, there is no tugging, moving around of product or flaking.

This foundation gives a medium coverage. You can build it up but you will need a concealer if you have scars and blemishes. The foundation gives a natural finish and blends into your skin. It does not look like heavy makeup and gives a 'your skin but better' appearance. The texture feels light weight and breathable. I love that it looks really natural and flawless. This is a great foundation for everyday wear such as work and on days you want to look great but not too made up. I actually wore this on my long-haul flight to Qatar as I wanted to look natural as possible but not scare the people with my zombie face. As you know plane air can be quite drying and the skin tends to look dull and tired. I was going from a cool Cape Town, to dry plane air and then to a hot and humid Qatar. Three temperature changes all in a space of 15 hours! I wore this foundation and my face still looked good. I had no flaking, fading or dryness. I did get a little oily in my t-zone area when it came to midnight but that was all. I was impressed with the longevity and hold this foundation had.

This is a really good foundation for someone interested in a light and fresh look. As you can see in the photo above it looks really good on my skin and blends well into my skin tone. It applies effortlessly, it is natural, breathable and wears extremely well throughout the day too. This gives a medium coverage but if you want something a little heavier duty then this may not be for you. I personally enjoy wearing this and recommend it to those with normal, combination and oily skin tones. Have you tried this foundation? Let me know your thoughts below!

Hope you found this review helpful.

Thank you so much for reading!

Divalicious Kisses.

Xxxx

Hi Divas 

On one of my recent shopping trips, I was so excited to see the new L.A. Girl foundation stocked at my local Dischem store. I have watched many reviews on YouTube about this foundation and I really wanted to try it. I had no idea that it was available in South Africa and to date have not heard anybody talking about it. The reason for my excitement is that this foundation promises a matte finish with medium to full coverage and an affordable price tag to boot. I have combination skin and since Summer is on its way in the Southern Hemisphere, I need a bullet proof foundation that won't budge in the South African heat. This is my first L.A Girl product that I have ever tried as I skipped on their HD Pro Coverage Long Wear foundation. The shades that would have suited me looked a little too orange for my liking and the fact that the base transferred like crazy truly put me off. This new matte formula however has good undertones for my shade range and is transfer proof. Whoop!

The L.A Girl PRO Matte High Definition Long Wear Foundation comes in 14 shades. I chose the shade Light Tan, as this one is described as a medium shade with yellow undertones. For reference, I wear warm beige in Too Faced Born This Way and 290 in Fenty Beauty Pro Filtr' Foundation. The L.A. Girl light tan has strong yellow undertones and comes off quite warm on the skin. This would be a perfect Summer shade for me as I tend to tan easily in the warmer months. The foundation is packaged in a 30 ml glass bottle. It comes with a sturdy black pump and a matte black cap. The actual bottle is quite slender in design and seems very travel friendly as it is not bulky and can be stored easily. This sleek design is very pretty and looks sophisticated. I absolutely love the pump on the bottle as it feels really high end and not cheap or flimsy like most lower end/drug store foundations.  The matte black cap can get easily stained or dirty by foundation residue from finger tips, therefore do keep that in mind when using the bottle.

The product is described as a long wear matte foundation with a smooth suede finish and does not contain SPF. It promises to give medium to full coverage using a sponge or brush. For application I have to use three full pumps to completely cover my whole face as the pumps are quite small in size. The consistency of the foundation is a liquid but it is not too runny. It has a creamy texture and blends easily. I have used a sponge, hands and brush to apply the foundation. Using a sponge or your hands gives the most coverage and smooth finish. A brush seems to give a medium coverage as it slightly thins the product out. The sponge presses the foundation into the skin giving that full coverage effect. It definitely gives medium to full coverage but it is not completely full coverage. It covers my under eye bags well and smooths out any pigmentation problems on my skin. For blemishes or acne marks, you would need a concealer to completely cover those. The foundation dries down fairly quickly therefore you would either have to work in sections on the face or blend it out really quickly. You could probably get away with not setting your face with powder if you have very dry skin but I always set my face come rain or shine with a translucent powder. This gives a smooth finish and locks in all my liquid products.

As you can see in the photo above, the foundation looks flawless on my skin. It feels and sits really comfortable on my face. It does not transfer, slide down or tug at my skin. Sometimes, I even forget that I am wearing foundation as it feels truly light weight and breathable. Even though this gives a super matte finish my skin does not feel tight or dry. The suede feel is true to its claims and the foundation is long wearing too. I have worn this while exercising and it does not break down or fade away. The shade melts wonderfully into my actual skin tone, and you could probably not tell the difference between the two. I have not noticed the base oxidizing on me and that is a bonus to. At the end of the day I do notice some fading around my nose, but that is to be expected as that is where I get the oiliest and I sometimes have to blow my nose due to sinus issues that I have been having. I truly like this foundation and would totally purchase another bottle when I finish this one. It looks so natural on my skin, gives a soft matte finish, has great longevity, awesome packaging for travel and affordable too. 

*Have you tried this foundation? Let me know your thoughts below. I honestly have nothing bad to say about it. Oh, no wait the shade range can definitely be improved! Thank you for reading. *

Lots of Love!

Divalicious Kisses

Xxxx

Hi Divas

Can you believe that I have another foundation review for you? I feel like 2018 is the year of finding that perfect base. If you read any of my foundation reviews before, you will know that I love a full on matte base. I have normal to combination skin; therefore I prefer a foundation that is matte and will keep me looking somewhat oil free throughout the day. I love the formula and feeling that a matte base gives too. It may sound horrendous to you, but the feeling of a stone wall canvas is very appealing to me, hahaha. I hate any sort of dewy finish or the feeling of foundation sliding down my face, it truly gives me the chills. So, when I decided to reach for the L'oreal Super Blendable Foundation in store and give it a try, my inner self wanted to slap me in the face. There is a reason for this madness, though. It's currently Winter in South Africa and the weather has been particularly cold in Cape Town. We have had lots of rain and even snow on some mountains. My combination skin was shook and I even had to change my skin care to a much more hydrating one, read here. I therefore needed a foundation that would not dry out my skin, but not be too dewy either. L'oreal True Match sounded like a perfect combo for me as it is marketed as being hydrating, skin like, has SPF 17 and giving good coverage without a cakey mess. 

L'oreal True Match foundation is one of the OG's (Original Gangsters) in the makeup world. This foundation was around before most trendy cosmetic brands existed. It had and still has an extensive shade range that caters to different undertones. The packaging and formula has changed slightly since its original launch but it still stands strong among the rest. The foundation is packaged in a 30ml glass bottle with a plastic top. It does contain a pump but this is where the product falls flat for me. The pump is really short and stubby, which makes it difficult for the product to disperse mess free. The liquid tends to drip down the bottle if you do not angle the pump properly. I have to wipe and clean the top after use as it leaves residue on the plastic. Overall the bottle is sleek and comes with the standard amount of product. I just wish they designed the pump a little better. It looks chic on a vanity and is travel friendly too as it does not feel heavy despite it being a glass bottle. 

Most reviews claim this foundation is their all time favourite and holy grail product which they can depend on. I always wanted to try it but I never did, as stated above that I always purchased matte finishes instead. This foundation has a skin like and breathable texture. It is very light weight but gives great coverage. It's pigmented and covers blemishes despite its light formula. It contains micro match pigment technology that adjusts to the true shade of your skin tone. I bought the shade 3.D/3.W Golden Beige. I originally wanted 4.D/4.W but that was out of stock. Looking at the swatch it is one shade lighter than my skin tone, but once blended it adjusts and matches perfectly to my skin. This foundation gives a radiance satin finish. It is not fully matte nor is it dewy. It gives a wonderful balance for those that want a natural skin like feeling. The formula does contain minuscule flecks of gold. You can see it in the bottle but once blended on the skin those flecks of gold are not visible to the naked eye at all. For application I use a brush and blend one to two pumps onto my face depending on the coverage I want. Sometimes I even skip concealer with two pumps and set with powder. The brush does take a while to blend it out as the foundation takes time to dry. I feel a sponge would work better as it would press the foundation into the skin and not move it around so much as a brush. Using a brush is convenient for me though as I like to pump foundation directly onto it and apply it to my face.

 

The foundation wears like a dream throughout the day. It sits so comfortably on the skin. Sometimes I even forget that I am wearing makeup. This formula looks so natural and perfect on me. It does not oxidize, flake or slide down my skin. I can see why most people rave about this product. What I love most about this foundation is that any skin tone can find a shade that matches or will work for them. In 2018 it is still so hard for people to find their foundation shades amongst various brands. It is sad but a horrible reality! This is a good natural and affordable product. It gives sheer to medium coverage and can be worn every day. This is currently my favourite Winter foundation at the moment. I would have to skip on this in the Summer time as I need a matte formula to control my oils. By the way the makeup and look you see in the photos above has been my go to Winter look. I have been wearing my black Stellenbosch University hoodie all day and every day. It's so comfy and warm. I like to reminisce about my crazy campus days too when I am wearing it, LOL.

Have you tried this foundation? Let me know your thoughts below. 

Thank you for reading.

Divalicious Kisses

Xxxx

Hi Divas

The year of 2018 has really been all about expanding my complexion products. I have bought and tried so many new foundations both high and low end. As I have been getting older I have been focusing on having clear, smooth and flawless skin. This of cause starts with eating right and changing up my skin care routine. When you have healthy and radiant skin it definitely affects the way your makeup looks too. When I stumbled on the One and Done Hybrid Complexion Perfector at Sephora, I truly wanted to give it a try. It was much cheaper than most of the products in the foundation category at the store. This product is described as an all you need one step base combining skin care and makeup. What intrigued me the most were the words ''complexion perfector''. Who doesn't want to have a perfect flawless face? I have seen many Youtubers rave about this product and I was eager to find out what the hype was all about.


Urban Decay describes One and Done as having the best of both worlds in your hands. It has the benefits of skin care as well as foundation coverage all in one. It promises to blur imperfections, even out your skin tone and diminish the look of pores. It contains peptides, vitamins and SPF20 to help treat skin and prevent sun damage. The light diffusing spheres bring radiance and helps remove visible flaws from the naked eye. Finding a base product that has the coverage of a foundation and the benefits of skin care all in one sounds like a dream come true to me. The packaging of One and Done is quite pretty. It comes in a squeeze tube with a metallic ombre effect. There is 40ml of product which makes it 10ml more than a standard foundation. You are truly getting your money's worth. As I mentioned above it is cheaper than most high end foundations at Sephora. The product does come with a pump which is excellent as most squeeze tubes do not. The tube is designed as an air tight product; therefore, you have to squeeze the tube just before pumping it. This will allow a full pump of product to be dispersed out. The packaging is light, mess free and very travel friendly. I totally give it a big thumb up.


There are six shades ranging from light to deep. Each shade is a blanket cover for your skin tone, as the product adjusts and adapts to your actual complexion. Whether you are in the light, medium or deep spectrum, you will find a shade that works for you as the product transforms to your skin colour. I chose the shade medium light as it has a very visible yellow undertone whereas the shade medium has a peachier undertone to it. On first application medium light is slightly lighter than my actual skin tone but it does adjust and settle into my skin throughout the day. The foundation has a very creamy texture. It actually feels like a moisturiser when you apply it. It reminds me a lot of a BB cream. I therefore prefer to use my hands to blend One and Done rather than a brush or sponge. When applying it with a brush or sponge you would have to use twice as much product than if you were to blend it directly with your hands. The consistency is very light and the coverage is sheer. One thing that is very noticeable about the product is that it is very hydrating and feels so comfortable on the skin. You honestly don't feel like you applied makeup at all.


As mentioned above this is sheer coverage like a tinted moisturiser. It will not cover any blemishes, scars or dark marks. You would have to use a concealer and a colour corrector if you want to see any visible coverage in that aspect. What you do see when wearing One and Done is a visible blurring filter on your face. It is weird to describe but there is no coverage yet the face seems blurred and smoothed out. It is quite magical to look at. This product gives you a natural your skin but 10 times better look. When applied with concealer and powder, your skin looks naturally flawless. It looks like you are not wearing makeup at all but you look radiant, smooth and gorgeous. It's crazy but true. This is perfect for women who don't like to wear makeup but want to look flawless. If you are someone who wants light coverage on lazy days then this is excellent too. As you can see in the photo above, my face seems smooth and radiant yet my moles and freckles are still visible. You can also see the sheer coverage around my mouth area. Not every woman desires a full face of makeup every day, this product is great for those moments.

*Who is it for: Women who want a my skin but better look.
*Who is it not for: Women who want full to medium coverage.
*Can I skip skin care: Absolutely not! No matter how much marketing a product gives, always apply your usual skin care before using a product as the skin care benefits are not enough for a visible difference.
*Pros: Perfect for every day flawless complexion and travel friendly. Has skin care benefits and SPF20. It lasts throughout the day and does not flake or rub off.
*Cons: Has a tendency to pull or flake when applied with a drying moisturiser. Make sure your face cream is hydrating before applying this product.


Hope you found this review helpful.
Divalicious kisses
Xxxx

Wet N Wild Photo Focus 

Foundation Golden Beige 

Review

Hello beautiful Divas!

I have been wanting to do a review on the Wet N Wild Photo Focus foundation for quite a while now. Unfortunately life got in the way and I didn't have the time to do it. I finally have a day free to write this overdue blog post. I have been using the foundation for more than a month now and am almost done with it. There have been many rave reviews of this foundation all over YouTube. Beauty fanatics have even compared it to the higher end Estee Lauder foundation. I have never used the latter product but the fact that they said it was comparable to it, made my heart leap for joy. If I can find a foundation that is a fraction of the price yet similar to a trusty higher end brand, then I am definitely there like a bear to try it out.  Finding my shade proved to be a very difficult task at first as the range available is very small in South Africa. There are only about 6 shades sold on the shelf. Using a shade finder website, it matched my skin tone to Golden Beige the best. It took some time to get my hands on it as most of the time my shade was sold out. When I finally saw it one fine day, I immediately grabbed it and ran to the till.

The Foundation claims to be a high performance base which adjust to different light conditions. It contains light diffusing particles that provides a filter for the face and prevents flash back. The main elements of the product are for your face to look flawless in person as well as on camera. We live in a highly social media age, where filters on selfies are constantly used for flawless skin. Wet n Wild wants to give you that perfection in a bottle. It also claims to be your skin but better foundation. It is packaged in a standard 30 ml glass bottle and a black plastic cap. The most surprising aspect of the packaging is the weird plastic spatula attached to the cap. You are supposed to scoop the product out and apply it directly to your face. This can be a little unhygienic as you are transferring bacteria from your face back into the bottle. The spatula application can get very messy too as product tends to build up around the bottle neck area. I personally prefer a pump which is much cleaner and hygienic.

I applied the foundation both with a sponge and a brush. I found that the product blended much better with a wet sponge than a brush. The sponge presses the product into the skin, whereas the brush tends to move the product around a lot. The foundation takes some time to dry down, therefore I felt that the brush kept moving the foundation around causing streaks. Hence it takes longer to blend the foundation out with a brush than a sponge. Once dried down the foundation is super matte. You do have some trouble blending another layer of foundation on the dried surface. I suggest blending another layer together with the first layer before it completely dries down. This gives a medium coverage. It looks quite natural on the skin. You can build it up slightly but you won't get a full cover effect. I love that it looks like second skin and does not look unnatural or overdone.

I have combination skin and get oily in my t-zone especially during the summer time. The foundation wears well throughout the day. I like that it does not transfer or cake up on my face. I would wear this foundation on a daily basis to work and the mall. I find that by late afternoon, some of the coverage would sometimes wear off around my nose area. On hot days I would have to blot excess oil from my chin and forehead. I wear SPF moisturiser every day, but if my skin was particularly dry for a certain time, the foundation would look dry around my mouth. This foundation definitely gets affected by your skin type and skin care. It worked best when I moisturised well. This is a good foundation and is actually high quality compared to other lower end foundations. The price is excellent as well. When it comes to the photo claims the foundation lives up to the hype. It looks flawless on pictures and there is no flashback in photos. Your skin looks great on and off camera.  The foundation is good but it is not a holy grail for me. I think it performs well on good skin days. If you are looking for an affordable good quality base then be sure to give this a go. The shade range available is very limited which is disappointing considering I live in a multi-racial country where women are all shades of the rainbow. Nevertheless, if you can find your shade it is a lovely drug store option.

Hope you find this review helpful.
Divalicious Kisses
Xxxx

Hi Divas

This will be my first makeup review for 2018 and I thought I would start off with a bang! As you know Fenty Beauty dominated the makeup industry in 2017. Launched by one of the biggest super stars in the world, Rihanna came and exploded her beauty line changing the makeup game forever. She launched 40 shades of foundation in one debut. She shattered the cosmetic industry's exclusiveness and made everyone feel welcome in their own skin. For years many women had to settle for foundations that only came in certain shades and we had to adjust to it. Rihanna came and adjusted her foundation to us. I applaud her for taking the initiative and showing makeup brands around the world that including every skin tone can be done. I purchased this foundation at Sephora on my last trip to Qatar. It was not even on my radar to buy it. I actually had my sights set on the new Too Faced Peach foundation but that one had not launched in Qatar yet. I walked over to the Fenty Beauty section and my heart was set on the foundation. The price was a whopping 100 Riyal cheaper than most foundations in Sephora. I just had to get it and give it a try. I am so glad I did.

The foundation is packaged in a sleek glass bottle with a white plastic cap. The design is simplistic yet classy. It comes in 32 ml of product which is excellent. Since there are 40 options to choose from, finding your shade can seem a little daunting. The foundation is categorized into four sections which are light, medium, tan and dark. Every foundation in each category is graded by cool and warm undertones which are neutral, yellow, olive and peach. I am medium in skin tone and have yellow warm undertones. Therefore, I was searching in the medium and tan section for my perfect shade. I watched many Youtube tutorials and read many reviews to pick my shade. I decided to purchase 290 as this was described as medium to tan skin with neutral and olive undertones. I could have gone for 300 too as this one is described as medium to tan skin with neutral undertones. It is much warmer than 290 which has slight green/ olive undertones. I wanted to play it safe as I did not know how the product would oxidize on me. So I chose the lighter shade 290 as I can wear it in Summer and Winter too.

The product is described as a soft matte long wearing foundation. It offers medium to full coverage while promising to feel light as air on the skin. As you can see in the swatches above the foundation matches my skin perfectly. It starts out a shade lighter when wet and dries down to one shade darker, which is the true colour of the foundation. I found that it does not oxidize on me. It dries down to its true colour after a few minutes. I use two and a half pumps to cover my whole face. The foundation is quite runny so I like to pump it on my brush or hand first and then apply it to my face. The product blends out beautiful with a kabuki brush. You need to work quickly when blending as the base dries down fairly fast. The kabuki brush is quick and easy to blend out the entire face. For full coverage two pumps is more than enough to get the job done. Any more product added to the skin will look cakey and unnatural. I was really surprised at how full coverage this foundation is. It honestly covers my blemishes and under eye bags so well. It even covered my trade mark mole on my nose under my eyes. I had to use an ear bud to remove the foundation so that my mole was visible again. This foundation dries super matte and you don't even need to set it with powder. I always set my face with a translucent powder and setting spray. Doing these last steps, definitely locks in your makeup.

I wore this makeup look on the first day of 2018. As you can see my face looks absolutely flawless. It is Summer time in South Africa and we had a braai (barbecue) on New Year's Day. My makeup wore perfectly from the morning to the evening. It did not move, budge, melt down or cake up throughout the day. It felt and looked like I was walking around with an Instagram Valencia filter on my face. This product does an amazing job in blurring pores and giving that soft filtered look. It looks beautiful in photos too and looks great on camera especially in natural light. I love that it does not wear heavily on the skin but feels light weight and looks natural. You can obviously tell I am wearing a base but it enhances and perfects my skin and does not drag it down. I do have combination skin and get oily in my t-zone especially in the Summer time. For me this is a very matte foundation. It keeps my face oily free all day. For someone with oily skin this will be your best friend. For drier skin tones, you might have a problem with such a matte look and it may feel too tight on your skin.

I am thoroughly impressed with this foundation. Rihanna did an amazing job for her first makeup launch and knocked many brands right out the window. I definitely recommend this product to anyone who is looking for an affordable highend foundation that truly delivers great results. I would definitely purchase this one again as it looks flawless on me and is kind to my wallet. Let me know below if you have tried this foundation or if it is on your wish list. Hope you found this review helpful. Thanks for reading.


Lots of love
Divalicious Kisses!
Xxxx

Hi Divas!

When I saw that Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless foundations had finally reached South African shores, I was super excited. I have watched so many beauty Youtubers rave about this particular product so I just had to get my hands on it. I wanted to purchase my exact shade in the foundation therefore I watched a ton of makeup tutorials and read many reviews. I went on a foundation shade finder website too and tried to match myself with my Too Faced Born This Way foundation in Warm Beige. The most accurate match for that particular shade is 220 Natural Beige in the Fit Me foundation. It is described as a medium shade with yellow to warm undertones. That description matches my skin tone perfectly so I set off to find my shade. I am not lying to you, when I tell you that finding the shade 220 Natural Beige was like trying to find a unicorn in the forest. I went to six, SIX, different stores and all the 220 shades were completely sold out. I didn't want to buy another shade as I felt I would be cheating myself. I decided to wait it out. After visiting my grandma in hospital one Saturday afternoon, on the other side of Cape Town, I went shopping at a Clicks store in a new mall. Low and behold I found the sought after 220 shade. There were only two left on the shelf. I grabbed one and ran with my unicorn foundation to the till. Whoop! 

Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless foundation is described as the ultimate natural fitting foundation. It promises to erase pores by containing micro blurring powders that smooths and blurs the face. It claims to give a flawless finish as well as mattify the skin and control oil production. Your skin is left texture free and even toned. This product is specifically designed for normal to oily skin tones. I have combination skin and have an oily t- zone. I personally prefer matte foundations and stay away from anything dewy. There are more than 20 shades in this range but I do not know, if all the shades are available in South Africa. I do not think that it would be hard to find a shade match as there are many options available. The foundation is packaged in a 30ml plastic tube. I prefer this type of packaging as it is light weight and easy to travel with. The squeeze tube makes the makeup application easy and mess free. You can easily control how much product you want to use and you won't end up wasting or having unnecessary leaks.

Upon first application of the foundation I was very surprised at the consistency. I knew that this was a liquid base but I had no idea that it is extremely runny. When you squeeze the product onto your hand be careful that it does not drip onto anything else. It is quite light in texture therefore I prefer to blend it out with my hands like a BB cream instead of using a brush or sponge. This is my personal preference as I feel I get the most coverage and do not waste any product. If you are not happy using your hands, it blends out perfectly with a brush and sponge too. It does not dry quickly so you have time to blend and work the product into your skin. Since this is a liquid and light foundation, one application is not enough to cover imperfections. I apply two coats for an even and smooth coverage. The foundation dries down to a matte finish and creates the illusion of smooth filtered skin. I love that it gives a natural matte appearance. It looks like second skin and compliments my complexion perfectly.

I do not have acne prone skin, scarring or blemishes. I do however have puffy under eye dark circles and uneven skin tone. This is a light to medium foundation. It does not provide full coverage at all. It can be layered and built up to cover certain blemishes but it will not be full coverage in hiding deep scars and serious pigmentation problems. I use a concealer to cover my under eye circles as this foundation does not completely eliminate dark circles. It does blur pores and textured skin to an extent. If you are someone who has enlarged pores and acne prone skin, it will not completely erase it. You would still need to use a primer and concealer over your pores and acne.

The Matte + Poreless foundation lasts all day. It remains matte and does not break down or fade. It oxidizes slightly towards the end of the day but it looks warm and natural. It does not turn orange or grey on me. I use a setting powder and setting spray to set my foundations and I believe that this helps a lot in keeping my face flawless and preventing my makeup from breaking down. It does transfer slightly on to tissue paper when I blow my nose but it is not excessive. One thing I hate the most is when foundation transfers. It puts me off completely. This one is very minimal therefore it does not bother me at all. I personally love this foundation and would definitely purchase it again. It is something that I would wear on an everyday basis for a natural and even toned look. It does have its pros and cons, but the pros definitely are in my favour.

PROS:
*Gives a natural finish like second skin
*Keeps me Matte and oil free
*Looks flawless and even toned
*Perfect shade and matches my undertones
*Price is perfect on the wallet
*Great to wear every day
*Packaging is great for travel

CONS:
*Not full coverage
*Not good for very textured, acne prone skin with blemishes and scars



Thank you so much for reading. Have you tried this foundation? Let me know below.
Divalicious Kisses!
Xxxx