FOUNDATION FRIDAY!!!!

Perricone MD – No Foundation Foundation

Everyone knows how I feel about kits, but how I feel about fabulous foundations that act as treatment rivals that love constantly. Whilst at the local Sephora, I was bestowed a fab gift upon checkout and *gah*, I think I'm in love. I have long adored Perricone Skincare and the addition of this cosmeceutical makes me skip around the studio like a school girl...ok, I do that anyway.

No Foundation Foundation is being touted as the "...first anti-aging finishing product..." and it makes perfect sense in the new "real skin is in" days we're living in! Oddly, I haven't really encountered much hype about this product, but that doesn't surprise me since Perricone takes a silent-but-deadly-approach to product marketing. (I know if I see the Perricone name, I snatch it up & know it won't disappoint.) I’ve also been rereading Dr. Perricone’s book – The Perricone Prescription (and eating lots of salmon!!) so this was kind of a serendipitous GWP.

I am always on the hunt for a lightweight moisturizer with:

• DMAE – dimethylaminoethanol – topical application improves appearance of aging skin
• ALA – alpha lipoic acid – topical application arms skin with anti-oxidant protection and boosts skin’s radiance

What I got was very possibly *hooked* on No Foundation Foundation because it contains both DMAE and ALA. But wait, there's more....this does even more that make my skin happy! It does all this stuff, too:

• provides a non-chemical SPF 30 with micronized Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide
• contains Vitamin C Ester (another super anti-oxidant that boosts skin radiance/glow and smooths the skin’s surface)
• contains Dimethicone and Cyclomethicone – (silicone oil and silicone derivative that are found in many popular foundation primers and give a smooth lustrous appearance to the skin)
• is considered “oil-free” by FDA labeling requirements (though it does contain traces of Lemon Peel Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, and Bulnesia Sarmientoi Wood Oil)
• is tinted and offers translucent natural coverage (think tinted moisturizer)

On paper, this is an all in one product dream come true!! It is a bit spendy at $50 for one ounce but I truly believe that if you properly apply this (or any) product properly, a little goes a long way. Nevertheless, it has all the promise of something I will love, long time.

Here's a quote from a fellow makeup slut like myself:

"After several weeks of use, I’m not sure I love this product as much as I wanted to, but I do really like it. I think the major drawback, for me, has been that it has an ever so slight heavy/tacky feeling. In my humid Texas climate (especially in the summer), this is not a feeling I want. So, I’ve actually taken to mixing a drop of my daytime moisturizer with the No Foundation Foundation. This makes the consistency JUST RIGHT; however, it kind of knocks down the precedent of being a perfect all in one item. The coverage is what you would expect from a tinted moisturizer – it’s very very natural and translucent. If I desire a bit more coverage, I can dust a little mineral makeup over it. As a side-note – I noticed in various reviews on Sephora’s web site that some people have complained about a fishy smell. I can’t say I thought the product smelled “fishy’ per se. I did notice a distinctive supplement/citrus type smell that completely dissipates after application.

Bottom line: I will keep using this until I’ve finished the product, and I might re-purchase. It’s the closest so far to my ideal all in one for day. However, I will probably keep my eyes open for the appearance of my dream all in one product with a bit lighter consistency."

I have not experienced it in the Texas humidity yet, but I have pranced around the gym in it and I must say that it performed much better than I did...through the Ab Blaster class and Boot Camp...it didn't run into my eyes and my pretty rosy post-gym glow could be appreciated by all because my skin could be seen through the NFF.

Here's the skinny from Sephora:

• What it is: An age-fighting makeup that provides natural coverage and non-chemical SPF 30 protection.
• What it is formulated to do: Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation offers translucent coverage allowing the natural health and glow of skin to shine through while protecting the complexion against damaging UV rays. It works to correct skin undertones and offers all-day moisture, providing an even, dewy finish. A dose of specially treated pigments, blended with light diffusing mica, instantly soften the look of lines, wrinkles, and pores, creating a flawlessly radiant look.
• What it is formulated WITHOUT:- Parabens
• What else you need to know:This formula includes anti-aging actives, DMAE and Alpha Lipoic Acid, which help to firm skin and reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles over time.

So there you have it, my Lemmings...MamaMamaMakeup likey-likey.

MuchoSmoocho,
Shannon the MakeUp Artist

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FOUNDATION FRIDAY!!!!

Revlon PhotoReady...are you ready for YOUR close up?

So I was marching through ye olde neighborhood Target a few nights ago and what has found its way to the coveted end cap but this new foundation by Revlon. The bottle is interesting because it has a pump which (from a make up artists POV, rocks for a host of reasons) and is contoured in a way that makes it easy to hold while you're working. Now, I am a make up artist with discerning taste in foundation (I mainly airbrush) so needless to say, when something says "gives skin the airbrushed appearance" I perk up and check it out!

Now, I've heard some buzzy-buzz about this (and Loreal, FYI...they'll be on the HD bandwagon too) but was afraid I would have to wait to try it but NO! This is technically not supposed to be out until March 2010 but Target and CVS have early releases and this means I'm all over it! BOGO at CVS if you can because this is about $14.00 each.

I have previously tried Make Up Forever HD foundation and Cargo Blu-Ray HD foundation and liked their results initially but did not like the fact that they oxidized and left my client with an orange tone after a few hours. Smashbox has been holding my attention with their HIGH DEFINITION FOUNDATION and HALO powder but it's painfully spendy so I've been on the lookout for something with good medium coverage that's buildable. I think this might be it!

Pros:

• Has a little shimmer, gives a subtle glow to the skin that creates an almost "dewy" effect.
• SPF 20 which is fabulous for day wear for those of us who are of the pasty variety and/or are fighting the age monster tooth and perfectly manicured nail.
• Recommended tool for application is the foundation brush (currently GWP at Target) which means less touching of the skin and less opportunity for nasty breakouts from those gnarly sponges we refuse to through out.
• Buildable coverage which means you can start out with a thin layer and keep building up until you have the coverage you desire. Some days call for more camo than others...
  
• Lasts forever...we all remember ColorStay from Revlon, well this does stay & doesn't get that gummy look that sometimes occurs from CS if you let it go too long.
  

Cons:

• Has a little shimmer...that's not so great for everyone. (complaints of looking Cullen-esque have been reported but you be the judge)
  
• SPF 20 which is NOT great for photography...this will only matter to MUAs and photographers.
• Limited color offerings (for now).
• Better for oiler skin types because of the high level of pigment which can be drying.
  

So there's my $2.50, buy it and try it and tell me what you think...I will continue airbrushing but I feel pretty confident recommending this to my clients who are looking for fab coverage and a great price point!

Merry Christmas, Poodles!

Muah,
Moi

www.something-you.com

FOUNDATION FRIDAY!!!!

GIORGIO ARMANI FACE FABRIC

I know that this has been out for awhile now, but since I’m an airbrush junkie I hardly ever think about the rest of the world who doesn’t get to do this for a living & needs a good quick solution to even out skin.


Face Fabric is an invisible makeup with a 3D Micro-fil™ technology. Its unique Micro-fil™ formulations bring lightness and fluidity to makeup, allowing infinite blending and layering to enhance the natural glow of the skin. (via giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com)

I recently received a sample of Giorgio Armani's face fabric foundation and wow this stuff is amazing! I don't think I have ever tried a foundation that was as weightless as this one. (Not even airbrush…shhh!) It reminds me of mousse because it's so creamy and velvety. Once applied it literally disappeared onto my skin and left my complexion looking flawless, almost like it had been airbrushed. You can't even tell that you are wearing foundation, that's how natural it looks. It's also silicone-based, which helps to smooth out those fine lines and imperfections that we begin to accumulate as we age.

This would be a great foundation to wear in the summer months as it is somewhat like a tinted moisturizer. It's lightweight and the coverage is buildable.

I must say Giorgio Armani products have never let me down yet. This one is definitely getting added to my top favorite foundations. It's definitely a keeper and a must have!

Just a few tips when working with this foundation:

- It's practically a silicone gel so skip any heavy silicone based primers like Clarins Instant Smooth or the heavier silicone gels like Smashbox. The reason for this is if you layer face fabric over a dense silicone base, the texture will become splotchy and unnatural in direct light.

- This mattifies the skin like a silicone primer would so it's a good idea to prep the skin with a moisturizing primer like MUFE Elixir if you have dry skin or YSL Top Secrets for combination skin. This ensures that the foundation won't make you look overly matte while it still controls oil throughout the day.

- I've tried to apply this with a MAC 187, 188, 109 and 190 and none of them work better than my fingers. I simply smooth the product onto my skin and the most important step is to then pat my face rapidly in order to even out the distribution and help the silicone really 'bond' with your skin. That's what the Armani SA told me to do and it's what really makes the foundation look like a second skin.

- Alternatively you can smooth the product on with your fingers and then gently brush over it with a blush brush like the MAC 165 instead of patting for a velvety smooth airbrush finish. This only works for face fabric because it has a very light, silicone gel texture which literally glides across your skin.

- Because of the silicone in this, it can tend to dry out the skin underneath your eyes and exaggerate lines (even if you're only 20). The best way to counteract this is to pat on some eye cream beforehand or only use the excess product left on your fingers after applying the face fabric and then pat that under your eyes - following up with a highlighter or concealer if necessary.

- Even for combo skin it's not necessary to set the foundation with a layer of powder but powder really helps to just add a finishing touch to the look and improve it's staying power. I use Chanel's Poudre Douce in Peche Tendre and lightly dust that over my face with a fan brush which looks natural and keeps my face fresh all day. Rely on the face fabric to control your oil, not your powder or you'll look cakey and dry. Also remember your blotting papers!

So there it is my dears! My First Foundation Friday Offering….let me know what you think!

Muah, Moi…