My Dream Foundation

It just so happens that the most important thing in our makeup rountine can also be the most difficult thing to master... Foundation.

 It's not because we utterly suck at applying our base, instead it's because we haven't found our dream foundation.

The foundation that matches our skintone and undertone. The foundation that sinks into our skin without accentuating our big potholes called pores. The foundation that wows us by not making us look dry or oily.

What would your dream foundation be?

My dream foundation would have to be remarkable. Something that goes above and beyond most people expectations. I need a natural foundation that covers everything- pimples, redness, dry patches, scars, and pores. I don't want to lean in close to the mirror and see pore city or crusty scabs. Now Im thinking of crusty crabs, haha. MMM.. burgers. Anyway, even though the dont-stick-to-dry-patches aspect contradicts my other need, I do need something that doesn't let oil seep through. The only thing on my face that should be popping with light, is my highlight, not my oily crater face. If a foundation doesn't last all day, it's out the door. I don't have time for that! But the most important thing to me is coverage. I have a crap ton to cover. Concealers just are not practical when I have a face full of acne. Are you kidding me? My face looks more like a cake than my actual birthday cake if I apply concealer to every problem spot. So I need a foundation with a high amount of pigment to get the job done. It's now 2016, this foundation I dream of should be here already.

If my dream foundation is created, I hope and pray the shade selection is decent. Wouldn't it be a bummer if I couldn't find a color match?! Take note companies!

What is your dream foundation? Is it similair to mine or the complete opposite? Let me in on your dream in the comments below!

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Dermablend Professional Smooth Indulgence Concealer-review, photos

Hello!

Today's post is about a concealer made by Dermablend Professional. The Smooth Indulgence Concealer can be bought for $22. There are 6 different shades ranging from fair to dark. With each tube you get .3 fl oz. You can purchase it on dermblend.com or Ulta. 

After seeing Casandra Bankson's camo confession I was very eager to get my hands on a Dermablend product. For my first experience with Dermablend I decided to go with a concealer. I didn't want to spend a lot on a product before I know what color I am and how my skin reacts to their ingredients. So far I'm impressed! However, I do wish the color range had more options. I got the Smooth Indeulgence Concealer in the lightest color and I fear it's too dark for me. Hopefully, the rest of their cosmetic line isn't like this. That'll be very disappointing! BUT let's not be negative here. I think Dermablend is an outstanding brand.

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Details

Provides twice the coverage of a classic concealer for up to 12 hours of wear (16 hours of wear with Setting Powder). A soft touch to skin, Smooth Indulgence Concealer evens complexion and won't enhance fine lines or surface imperfections. Provides all day hydration with SPF 20 Sunscreen.The main ingredient is water not oil.   

 For full coverage of:

• Rosacea
• Redness
• Uneven skin tone
• Minor acne scars
• Dark under-eye circles
• Isolated facial skin flaws

Price

$22 for a 9 mL-.3 fl. Oz. Tube. 

Color range 

Nude, Sand, Sable, Honey, Carmel and Mocha. (I have the shade Nude)

As I mentioned before, the concealers are lacking in the shade department. The lightest shade isn't suitable for fair skintones and the dark shade doesn't look deep enough for those with darker skin. 

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The packaging

The concealer comes in a small, white .3 fl. Oz. Squeeze tube. I like this a lot better because it keep bacteria from getting into the concealer. Concealers that come with wands/sponges are transferred back and froth to your face, which is unsanitary. It's the same for pots. Your finger is constantly going back and forth from the jar to your face and it's hard telling what other germs you have picked up from everything else. 

The tube itself is very sturdy. The lid hasn't cracked and it easily screws on tightly. 

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The consistency

It has a thin consistency. A little goes a very long way and I just dab a small dot on the areas that I need more coverage. Personally, I think using your fingers to blend it out looks more natural on the face. While, a concealer brush works best under the eyes. BUT any application method should look fine if you apply it properly. 

How does it wear/apply

I haven't noticed any blotchiness, creasing, fading, it doesn't oxidize or dry out my skin. It applies smoothly and I'm able to get a even, lightweight finish. If I set with a powder I can get around 10-12 hours wear from the concealer without it fading or starting to crease(hardly noticeable). It you don't like powders then just take a hour or two away from the wear time.

Luckily, it doesn't oxidize. Otherwise, it would be too dark for me. 

I'm happy to say it doesn't dry out the under eyes or face. I always apply a moisturizer anyways but I still don't think it would dry the under eyes. 

How well does it cover?

Acne

I would say the coverage is medium. I can't get it to cover my acne completely but I still feel confident enough to go out in public. You might beable to get a full coverage if you wear a full coverage foundation but I like to keep my foundation light to prevent a cake-y look. That's up to you though! Whatever works best for you.

Here's a picture of my acne

Pigmentation/dark marks

This concealer covers ALL of my pigmentation! It looks really natural and it doesn't take a lot in the process. Unfortunately, it doesn't cover my dark acne scars. I can still see a purple shade from the scar when I wear my makeup. BUT that's to be expected when you wear a concealer that claims to be medium coverage(covers minor scars). If you need a full coverage concealer I would suggest MAC's Pro Long wear concealer or Makeup Forevers full Coverage concealer. A lot of people say the Hard Candy Glamoflouge works great for acne/scarring but I have the same problem with that concealer as I do with the Smooth Indulgence concealer(let me know if you want a quick review of the Hard Candy concealer).

Redness

It completely covers redness around my nose all day!

Final thoughts

Overall, this seems like a great everyday concealer. I prefer something with more coverage for formal events but I have a lot of acne. I think this concealer would be just enough for the average person. Some might even beable to get a full coverage from it. I just can't because that would be pretty much my whole face caked up with concealer(no joke). 

I also wish the shade choices were better. I feel like the lightest shade is too dark and yellow for me. Do y'all feel the same way? BUT with that aside it really is a great concealer. I definitely recommend it to anyone on the market for a new concealer. 

Pros

Covers most of my acne, dark under eyes and redness

Blends smoothly

Wear time is long

Doesn't crease

A little goes long way

Looks natural

Doesn't dry out my skin

It's not blotchy

It's doesn't oxidize

Solid medium coverage(full for some areas)

Lightweight 

Covers minor scars

Cons

Poor shade selection

Doesn't cover dark acne scars

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Have you tried the Smooth Indulgence concealer or any other Dermablend product?

What are your thoughts?

Are you thinking about purchasing it?

Do you have any questions?

Leave a comment below and let me know! 

Thanks for reading, TaylorPie. 

Stila Stay All Day Foundation & Concealer for acne-prone skin-review with photos

 Important please read

At the bottom of this post I wrote an updated opinion on this foundation. Please be sure to read that part of the review as well. Thank you! 

Hello, as promised I am posting a review on Stila Cosmetics Stay All Day Foundation & Concealer. You can buy this foundation from Sephora, Ulta or on Stila's website. For $44.00, you get 1 fl. oz., a foundation brush and concealer. 

 Also, don't forget that a giveaway featured on taylorpiebeauty.com is starting tomorrow. 

I just want to go ahead and get this out of the way. A brush comes with this foundation. Personally, I don't like it. It's flimsy, small and applies foundation streaky. I just threw mine away. I wouldn't recommend using it. If you don't have a brush, us your hands for application.

                                       Claims 

What does the box say?

 An oil-free, high-definition, high performance foundation that "stays all day"  and delivers a flawless finish, state-of-the-art oxygen technology leaves skin hydrated, nourished and helps skin breathe. Included is a unique curved spatula and a foundation brush to apply and blend foundation like a pro.

Inside the cap is a full coverage creamy concealer in a complimentary shade and mirror.

Foundation:

✔️ Medium, Buildable coverage with a matte finish

✔️Blendable formula helps minimize pores, even skin tone and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

✔️Innovative oxygenating formula helps skin breathe, promotes healthy, radiant skin and helps slow down the onset of premature again.

❌Lasts all day and "stays all day"

✔️Oil-free & fragrance-free

Concealer:

❌Full coverage and easily Blendable.

✔️Rich & creamy texture.

✔️Vitamins provide antioxidant benefits, while vitamin E helps prevent premature aging.

✔️Oil-free & frangrance-free

What does Stila say about their foundation?

An oil-free, high definition, high performance foundation that stays all day and delivers a flawless finish. Stila's Stay All Day® Foundation and Concealer has a unique oxygen technology that leaves skin hydrated, nourished and helps prevent premature aging. 

This dreamy formula glides onto skin and immediately goes to work to help minimize skin blemishes and imperfection. It is also enriched with an array of skin loving ingredients, and unlike other long-wearing formulas, includes a synergistic combination of botanical extracts that have been shown to help enhance circulation and blood flow, resulting in an increase of oxygen being delivered to the skin and letting skin breathe. These innovative extracts also help to slow down the onset of premature aging and promote healthy, hydrated and vibrant skin.

This multi-tasker also contains a creamy, full coverage concealer cleverly hidden inside the cap (along with a handy mirror) that instantly hides blemishes, dark circles and age spots creating an impeccable canvas for flawless makeup application.

Here is a picture of what my skin looks like before I apply the foundation. I have dry acne, large pores, fine lines and oily skin. I typically need two layers of foundation, concealer and powder. 

 When I apply the foundation  I put two dots on my cheeks and forehead, one dot on my nose,chin and jawline. 

 The first layer provides good coverage. My pores are definitely minimized. My skin tone is also even and looks healthier. However, i feel like i need more coverage for my acne, so I decided to go ahead and apply a second layer and concealer. 

Foundation

The foundation is easy to apply and goes on smoothly. The coverage is pretty good but I think their are better foundations available. I do love how the foundation minimizes my pores and fine lines. This can make a huge difference in the appearance of your foundation. It does feel light weight and my skin can breathe easier. This foundation also didn't break me out!

But...

 The "stay all day" claim is not true (for me). The foundation breaks up and looks really bad all over my face. It looks like my skin sucked up all the moisture and just left pigments layered on my skin. I also noticed the flakes around my acne were more noticeable. Atleast the oil-free & frangrance claims are true!

 My t-zone didn't even stay oil-free. I don't know how that happened because when I use Maybelline's Dream Matte Powder my face always stays matte. I guess it's because the pigments broke up and my oil seeped through.

The bottle also features a spatula for getting the foundation out. I really like this idea. It's a pain when I get to the bottom of a foundation and can't get anything out. Great job Stila!  Here are some pictures.

Concealer

 This concealer is definitely rich and creamy but not in the good way. It's so tacky and just slides all over my face. The full coverage claim is also false. The concealer has more of a medium coverage and doesn't cover my larger pimples. Which would be ok if the concealer stayed put all day. However, I do like two things about the concealer: it's easy to blend and the shade compliments the foundation.

 Here is a picture of me before the foundation caked up on my face. The finish looks really flawless with the help of my MAC fix+. It's too bad the foundation didn't "stay all day". I'm really disappointed that I spent $44 on a foundation and I can't even get a full days wear out of it. 

If you want to try it, I suggest asking for a sample first. Maybe it will work for your skin. If you have tried it and love it, let me know in the comment box. Thanks!

Pros: Buildable coverage

          Big color selection

          Included concealer

          Oil-free

          Fragrance-free

          Minimizes pores and fine lines

          Breathable

          Evens skintone

Cons: price

           Tacky concealer

           Concealer slides on face 

           Concealer isn't full coverage

           No pump

           Cake-y after a few hours of wear(full coverage)

           Skin gets oily

           

           

Q&A

How much is the foundation? $44.00

How much product do you get? 1fl. oz.

What all does the foundation come with? Spatula, concealer and brush.

Does it cause breakouts? No.

Is it oil-free and fragrance-free? Yes.

What is the finish of the foundation? Matte.

Does it minimize pores and fine lines? Yes

How good is the coverage? Medium to full coverage 

How many shades are available? 16

Does the bottle come with a pump? No.

Does the foundation last all day? No.

What are the ingredients? Foundation: Ingredients:Water/Aqua, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Magnesium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Zinc Chloride, Lysine, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Camelia Oleifera leaf Extract, Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Extract, Phytantriol, Montmorillonite, Illite, Kaolin, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocophery Acetate, Tocopherol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Boron Nitride, Glycerin, Palmitic Acid, Dextrin Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, May Contain (+/_) Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Zinc Oxide (CI 77947), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499). Concealer: Ingredients: Isostearyl Palmitate, Petrolatum, Isostearyl Behenate, Polyethylene, Microcrystalline Wax/Cera Microcristallina, Kaolin, Ozokerite, Dimethicone, Polyamide-5, Silica, Lauryl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Glyceryl Dibehenate, Tribehenin, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Behenate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, May Contain (+/_) Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499).

Will TaylorPie repurchase? No, I will finish the bottle though.

What is TaylorPie's rating? 3 out of 5 stars

Thank you for reading, TaylorPie.

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Update!

So it's now the end of July and I have decided to try this foundation again. Only this time I applied one layer of foundation and used Mac's Pro long wear concealer for my blemishes. I actually like the foundation now! It sits right on my skin all day and I believe I know why it didn't before. It's the concealer! The concealer is to tacky for my preferance and it made my foundation look bad. But alteast I finally decided not to use he concealer, because I'm loving this foundation. Now I don't think it's full coverage but if you know me at all then you know I like a lighter foundation with a full coverage concealer. I have decided that looks way better than caked up foundation. 

Anyways, I just wanted to let everyone know that Stila Stay All Day foundation is now TaylorPie approved. 

Thank you so much for reading, TaylorPie