Jessica Savino Makeup: foundation

Showing posts with label foundation. Show all posts

Sunday, December 28, 2014

MAC Face and Body and Mineralize Skinfinish Review

I may be the only makeup artist on the planet that does not carry not even one MAC product in her kit. It's not that I have anything against MAC, I don't! I have used MAC as a consumer for years and I love their products. I have never subscribed to the notion that MAC is the best pro line out there and your whole kit should be made up solely of MAC products. It's just not true and being the rebel that I am, I refuse to join the MAC force field! They do have some great pro products that I will definitely add to my pro kit but quite honestly, there are other pro lines that are better.

ALSO, MAC-listen up- You are one of the only (if not the only) companies that charge for a pro card. Seriously, stop it! It has made me hold off on applying, which has made me hold off on purchasing your awesome products!

Now with all that being said, I have added two MAC products to my personal makeup collection that I LOVE.

First up, you all know that I am a foundation whore. I have been searching high and low over the years for a foundation that I love. They have mostly been fleeting love affairs but I believe I have found one that I may keep with me for a while.

MAC Face and Body has been around for years. I believe I used to use it in the mid-90's. Face and Body is thinner than traditional liquid face foundation. This is a water based foundation (although the second ingredient is silicone) that delivers a sheer finish that can be built up to a medium-ish finish. This foundation gives your skin a really healthy, glowy complexion without looking heavy AT ALL. Your skin will look like a better version of your skin. If you have problem skin, you may want to pair it with a good concealer for any problem areas as this will not cover imperfections on it's own. If you have clear skin and just want a little something extra, this is the foundation for you!

I have read some people say there's a learning curve to using it? It's foundation people, play around and figure it out! There's only so many ways to apply it. I personally like using a round, synthetic buffing/foundation brush but this product is also perfect for applying with your hands. Buff it in until you feel it "pull" a little.

Next up is MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Pressed Powder. I have stated time and time again that I am not a powder fan. Powder can age you and make your skin look dull if you use too much of it. This powder does none of that. This powder just takes the shine away without settling into fine lines or making your skin look over matte or dull. I even powder under my eyes with absolutely no issues. I highly recommend this powder. My only complaint is I don't feel it last very long. Once I powder, I find myself powdering again 30 minutes later. It's fine because it never builds up but I would like it to last a little longer.

So there ya go! Two great products from MAC. I would love to add these to my professional kit, now if I can just get MAC to waive their pro card registration fee, I would be on board to buy all of their pro products!

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Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Cream, Liquid, Powder-Foundation Formulations and What They Mean to Your Skin!

I have come to the conclusion that the reason I haven't found my Holy Grail foundation yet is because there are way too many choices and formulations to choose from! As promised, I am here to break it down for you and explain what the different formulations mean for your skin.

Foundation, the base of your makeup application, comes in 3 different variations: Cream, Liquid, and Powder/Dual Finish. I have already covered airbrush foundation.

What are the differences between the three?

Cream

Provides maximum coverage
Popular choice for film, video, and photography
Very pigmented
Very versatile
Packaged in a pot or compact
Applied with a sponge or a brush

Liquid

Light, buildable coverage
Popular choice for everyday wear
Packaged in a bottle or a pump
Applied with a sponge, brush, or clean fingers

Powder

Provides good coverage
Easy to apply
Matte finish
Can be used wet or dry
Packaged loose in a jar or pressed in a compact
Applied with a brush or a sponge.

Foundation has many different bases, most commonly water based and silicone based.

What are the differences and what does this mean for your skin?

First up Silicone based foundations can be formulated as a liquid or cream. The little silicone spheres found in your makeup are large so they do not settle into pores or fine lines, therefore floating over your skin and creating a very smooth, almost airbrushed finish. Silicone formulas are long lasting, water resistant and photograph beautifully making them my top choice for bridal or special events. The one con about silicone makeup in general, in any formulation is that a lot of people are sensitive to silicone and may break out. Not all silicone's are acneic so read the ingredients and learn which silicones are the ones for you. **Quick Tip-anything with the letters cone on the end of it is a silicone**

Next up Water based foundations. Water based foundations are very natural looking and much thinner than other formulations. They provide a medium coverage and set pretty quickly. They are really good for women who may have problems with breaking out. Water based foundations are water activated which means, if you're gonna cry don't do it wearing a water based foundation. Also, keep in mind-water and oil do not mix so if you have oily skin, you may want to try a different formulation. Make sure to keep your moisturizer water based as well to avoid your makeup separating and sliding right off of your face.

Powder based foundations are usually loose, ground up minerals. So here is my public service announcement for the day:
Just because it is a mineral foundation, does not mean that it is "natural" or safe for everybody.

All foundations, regardless of the formulation contain minerals, that is what gives makeup it's color. Not all mineral foundations are safe. As I always say, PLEASE READ THE LABELS. Ever hear of
Bismuth Oxychloride? Look it up, it is a by product of lead and it is in the formulation of a very large, well known mineral foundation line. Also, everyone's skin is different and you never know what is going to break someone out. Powder foundation in pan form are usually talc and pigment and most of the time can be used wet or dry.

There are also Alcohol based foundations which are very thin and dry very quickly, I believe they are mostly used for application on the body (I could be wrong about that but I wouldn't want to use alcohol based on my face). They have to be shaken up before use and are usually applied with a cotton ball.

Lastly Oil based foundations, which are becoming rare, are thicker and anyone with oily skin should stay away from them.

So I hope this post helped you out and you know what to look for the next time you need to purchase foundation.

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