Foundation Frustration

I have been intrigued with the Bare Minerals line ($25) ever since I first spotted the infomercials. The line claims to have flawless coverage, free of preservatives, talc, oil, waxes, fragrances, and other chemicals that can irritate skin and cause breakouts. Yet I just brushed it off as another wacky TV trick and never pursued my interest further. (Please note: I am often inclined to buy crazy contraptions of infomercials and have learned my lesson way too often. I own the Magic Bullet sadly!)

So I went on my merry way using my Traceless Skin Responsive Tint from Prescriptives. Now this is great because it is really light and almost like a tinted moisturizer which I enjoy. But sometimes it does not provide as much coverage as my skin needs. (I am sometimes blotchy and uneven, ugh.)

I decided it was time for a change yesterday when I went to CVS and noticed Neutrogena Mineral Sheers ($12) out of the corner of my eye. I loved that it was a less expensive alternative to Bare Minerals and touted the same skin benefits. So I scooped up my shade (Light to Medium) and hurried home to try out my new goods.

Now I first tested it on top of my Prescriptives foundation and loved the effect. It offered a smooth and seamless finish to my skin without creating a masklike effect that some powders can. I then tried it this morning alone and found that while it created a soft finish there is certainly not enough coverage to cover some unfortunate blotchiness I am prone to. One other complaint I have on my new found treasure is the packaging. Because the powder is kept in the base of the brush, I had to shake it furiously in order to get the powder started. Certainly not as handy as the separate powder/brush combo of Bare Minerals.

The moral of the story sometimes it takes two.

Smashbox Foundation Primer is My New BFF

Foundation Primer is a funny thing. For the longest time, I believed it was just another ploy by the all knowing Beauty mags to empty more money out of my ever diminishing bank account. Still, that did not stop me from buying my Laura Mercier primer and using it religiously despite barely noticing a difference between my made up face with or without.

My feelings have drastically changed and my skepticism dashed after trying a sample of the Smashbox Photo Finish that is all the rage in Allure and Elle. This primer is a clear gel that looks almost as though it would be goopy but rather it has a velvety texture when smoothed onto my freshly washed face and transforms my formerly uneven mug. According to Smashbox, the magic is in the grapeseed extract that soothes and protects skin and creates a perfect canvas for make up of all kinds.

I recommend that you all check it out. At least try a sample of it because I can almost guarantee you will be as pleasantly surprised as I was. And I am a supreme beauty product junkie who has become jaded by all their empty promises.