Dream a Little Dream

Maybelline's Dream Smooth Mousse Ultra Hydrating Cream Whipped Foundation Review by Cavewoman

Is there any one makeup item that causes more frustration than foundation? If you're a reader of Blogdorf, chances are you're a makeup lover who has quite possibly found this to be true for yourself. I know it has for me, almost all my life. Oh, there have been some wonderful foundations that I have found over the years, perfect formulas for my skin type at the time, perfect match in terms of color, some true Holy Grails. And then the rumors start to fly, and you hear the dreaded "d" word -- discontinued! Or the "r" word, reformulated. These words pierce the brain of any makeup lover who has found a perfect product, especially foundation, and send us into panic mode. What will we do? Hoard bottles and bottles and hope they don't spoil or change while being stored? And how even would we store them? Next to the Smuckers jars in the fridge? In a dark closet where we may even forget we stashed them? Or do we just run out and start the search all over again?

I've gone through all of this. Starting long ago with the wonderful Lancome Maqui-Libre, which I used for years, I know what it's like when you go to the counter to buy a beloved product and are told "It's discontinued, but here, try this one! It's new and fabulous!" Well, most of the time, it isn't. And it is not even close to being a decent substitute. If I could even remember the shade of Maqui-Libre that I used, I'd scour ebay for it.
Another amazing foundation that I loved for years was Rimmel Recover. Housed in a tacky cheap pink opaque bottle, I bought it on a whim from the local drugstore, just guessing at my shade from looking at the little "shade selector" color dot on the bottle. I'm pretty sure they were BOGOF that day (that means Buy One Get One Free) and I got two of them. Within days of trying out this foundation, and realizing how beautiful it looked on my skin, I went back to buy two more. It's long gone now, but I'm still hoarding my last bottle.

In between finding the perfect foundation I've had some decent hits and miserable misses. From the most high-end brands (La Prairie and La Mer) to the lowest price drugstore items (Wet N Wild) I've tried so many I can't even remember. Two years ago I had given up and decided to just go to Prescriptives, where a wonderful makeup artist concocted my perfect match and formula with what they called Custom Blend. She mixed and tested for over an hour, and when she was finished, I had a bottle of my best color match ever, and a formula that moisturized, gave a little glow, and was as good as I could ever hope for in every way. When Prescriptives announced that the brand was closing, I had another bottle made. It was nowhere close to the first. I don't know why, when my first makeup artist had meticulously written down the formula, to the last drop.

And so in the last year, I'd given up on even looking at new products that all the makep brands were offering. I'd resorted to using a tinted moisturizer (Dior Hydra Life, it's wonderful!) which I found last Fall at Sephora. It got me through the Winter. With that, and my precious Rimmel, and the last bit of the original Prescriptives Custom Blend, I was ok, until something runs out, anyway.

So last week, Mom and I were in the grocery store, and I was checking to see if there were any new fun nail polish colors in the cosmetic area, and I spotted a display for the brand new Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse Ultra-Hydrating Cream-Whipped Foundation. I liked all the words. And I especially liked the row of tiny tester jars, one for each shade. Mom went on to the next aisle, and I started to test, with memories of my discovery of Rimmel Recover and how taking a chance on that one had been such a great success. I narrowed my color choices to two, and selected the one I thought might be The One.

I came home with #180 Nude Beige. For the record, I'm kind of pale, with pinkish undertones despite my Italian-Sicilian heritage. I'm hard to match in foundation shades. The closest I can come in MAC is NW20 and then it's not really that perfect.
I opened the jar of Maybelline and grabbed my beautyblender sponge.

The jar has two compartments. Unscrew the lid, and the foundation sits in the jar base. Flip open the top of the lid, and you'll find a nicely shaped flat sponge. I love my beautyblender so I chose to use it instead of the enclosed sponge. I twisted the beautyblender onto the foundation (wow, creamy!) and tapped a bit onto my face. The first thing I noticed was what a perfect match the color was! I could barely see where I had applied it. The second thing I noticed was that my pores seemed to disappear! And I hadn't even applied a primer! The formula has a glow, not sparkly, not dewy, just a fresh natural appearance. My skin felt so comfortable, the formula is as light as air, and application was completely effortless. With just a few taps of the beautyblender, I had finished a perfect application.

A few hours later, I went back to the mirror to check out my new discovery. I was amazed. The formula appears on the skin to be almost identical to the Rimmel Recover, without the teeny sparkles. It felt so moisturizing that I did not feel any discomfort from not applying a separate moisturizer underneath. It appeared as if the foundation had just melted beautifully into my skin, no visible pores, no dry patches, no creasing, and still glowy and fresh-looking.
I tested the foundation again the following day, and it lasted all day with absolutely no uneven wear and no changing color.
And yesterday when I wore it, Ms. Blogdorf exclaimed over how lovely it looked on my skin. We got a good laugh over it because after all of the high-end fabulous makeup lines we've tried, all of the expensive foundations we've loved, here I was back in love with a $8.49 drugstore foundation!

There are two things I have discovered over the years of testing and loving and hating and tossing and trying. First of all, now that I have hit my post-menopausal years, I cannot wear oil-free foundations. They cake and dry out my skin and change color and look horrible on me. The lighter the formula, in terms of coverage, the better I like it on me. The new Maybelline appears to be a light-to-medium coverage and I am thinking it would be buildable in problem areas if that's an issue for you. Secondly, I try to avoid foundations with sunscreen, especially titanium dioxide. I have found that when TI is used as a sunscreen it literally sucks the life out of my skin, and the foundation dries out and sits on top of my skin looking like a mask, wearing unevenly, pulling moisture out of my face, and just generally looking terrible. So, for me, an oil-free formula does not work well, and I look always for foundations without sunscreen, or at least a chemical sunscreen and not a physical sunscreen. I cannot find any SPF listing on the new Maybelline, so perhaps it does not have a sunscreen rating. That is fine by me! The new Maybelline is perfect! It's everything I loved about my former favorites, and I feel no need to look any further. For now, anyway. And I even feel a little bit smug, and very clever, to have discovered a great product at an unbelievable price. I'm so happy I took a chance on this wonderful new product from the venerable Maybelline New York.

Disclosure: The reviewer purchased this item for holy grail purposes.

High Lemming Alert: Revlon PhotoReady Foundation

Tell me everything you know about the New Revlon PhotoReady foundation!

Have you seen it at stores? Did you purchase it? How is the coverage? Is it as "kick ass" as everyone says? Do I need to jump in a car and start hitting every drugstore in town?

My inner lemming monster is awake and ready to pounce! Tell me the deets in the comments.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Foundation
Review for Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Moisture Foundation

This is a very dense looking, high definition foundation that manages to feel and apply whispery light. The coverage skills are on par with the greats like La Mer, Kanebo, MUFE's High Definition foundation and Jill Stuart. I had no situations with caking, morphing or drying out. I did have some issues with it settling into my laugh lines. My laugh lines have been giving me grief lately. Foundation seems to be getting comfortable in their creases. Prescriptives Super Line Preventor Xtreme helps but situations rise every few hours. Hourly touch ups have become part of my daily ritual.

The coverage for Koh Gen Do is natural looking yet manages to mask every skin crisis. I used 3-5 tiny drops to get full coverage.

My color match was clearly #1, pictured on the far right of my arm.

All three shades are numbered 1-3. Number one being the most pale ivory shade to the very warm cocoa shade.

It blends in naturally and leaves a slight pearly sheen. It really is a gorgeous formula. This retails for $28 and is available online at their website. There appears to be three brick and mortar stores that carry this line. Nigel Beauty Emporium and Frends Beauty Supply Store in North Hollywood and Alcone Company in NYC.

For more information visit the website http://www.kohgendocosmetics.com/

The Aqua foundation and the white primer look very promising. I am currently testing the face powder and I am hooked.

Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by Koh Gen Do.

Protect Me From What I Want

A review of Jill Stuart Tint Liquid Foundation Control Color

I have lemmed and swooned over Jill Stuart cosmetics ever since I spotted a shimmery eye shadow palette on Makeupalley. I remember that day well.

It was morning. I was sneaking MUA time at work. I was sipping a coffee with some blueberry creamer in it. It was an average day and nothing indicated that something huge was going to take place. Then a fellow muaer posted a picture of a eye shadow palette that she got in Japan. MUAers post makeup porn all the time.
I opened up the post and lost my mind.

I became slightly obsessed with all things Jill Stuart. I scoured the net for glimpses of other products. I paid closer attention to her runway shows and wistfully wondered if it was her own lipsticks that adorned the models. When I tried to do The Secret, I used a picture of a palette on my "inspiration board". This could explain why I am single and alone. I should have put a picture of a dream man on that board instead of a beauty item. But if I was honest with myself...I really would have a hard time choosing my soul mate or being able to purchase Jill Stuart cosmetics in the US. I want them both so badly. But a Jill Stuart primer will never break my heart and will make my pores appear smaller.

I have finally got my hands on a Jill Stuart product. I have been testing the Tint Liquid Foundation Control Color. This foundation has a very light texture with awe-inspiring coverage skills. My imperfections were covered yet my face looked natural. There was no caking, morphing or settling into any crevices or pores. It gave a matte finish and dried fairly quickly. I applied the foundation directly on my face with my fingers and used a sponge to do the blending. This application worked very well. I had no situations or streaks. Lasting power was above average but it did not score as high as La Mer. La Mer foundation is a beast when it comes to staying power. Overall, I can see what the fuss is all about. Jill Stuart foundation is amazing and certainly worth all the coin and praise. Rumors swirl over the US release date. It was first reported that it would appear in March at the Jill Stuart NYC Soho boutique. It is now June and there is still no word on a release date or any information on when our lemmings will be satisfied.

So until the long awaited launch...we will get our Jill Stuart fixes on the MUA makeup board and the blog Musings of a Muse.

If anyone knows anything about the US launch date let us know in the comments.

La Mer The Treatment Powder Foundation SPF 15

I visited my local La Mer counter recently and was delighted to spot a tester unit with three spots that looked suspiciously like concealer slots. I tried to contain my excitement and eagerness since this was not a SA that I usually deal with. She would not have any clue that I have been waiting for YEARS for this specific product. My blurting out " Thank you baby Jesus" or doing a little jig will only alarm and confuse her. I tried to keep my cool and not ask 1000 questions.

So with glee and excitement I can blurt out that a concealer in three shades will arrive at your local La Mer counter in the fall. This product has been cooking at La Mer for years. I have high hopes that it will change my life.

While trying to be calm and ladylike at the La Mer counter, I spotted a new powder foundation. This little diddy promised that smoke and mirrors effect that is working so well for me. It contains "airspun seaborne particles", gemstones and radiant ferment. All work to optically blur imperfections and improve clarity and brightness.

It comes in a white plastic case with a mirrored top. It opens with ease and features a rose tinged mirror. The powder lifts up to reveal a compartment to house the powder sponge. There is a white grate on the bottom to let air whiz through. Common sense and thought went into the packaging. It is simple and sci-fi at the same time.

The powder texture is feather light and silky. It feels amazing on the skin. The coverage is medium to full. I have tested this without makeup. It provided fair coverage over my problem areas and did not settle or cake into any pores. It stayed fresh better than my loose La Mer powder.

It retails for $95 and is available at Saks, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and http://www.lamer.com/. It comes in 8 shades: Porcelain, Ivory, Linen, Creme, Sand, Natural, Buff and Neutral.

Also read the great review at Makeup Bag. E is a huge fan!

http://www.makeupbag.net/

Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by La Mer

Kanebo Sensai Foundation Series: Fluid Finish in Natural Beige

Kanebo is releasing a new foundation line in September 2008. It consists of 9 shades ranging from Soft Ivory to Golden Dune. There is a shade called Pearl Beige that looks like it has a pink cast to it. This one appears to be available in certain markets.
Not to sound like the Goldilocks of makeup, but soft ivory and soft beige were too pale while warm beige was too dark. Natural Beige was just right for me. It seemed to work well with my olive tone and yellow moments. I am also pale but often look washed out in snow-like foundation shades.

This is a deeply moisturizing formula with a high water content of 55%. The water is Fuji Sensui water straight from Mt Fuji. The other main ingredient is Koishimaru silk extract(often found in Kanebo products) made from the cocoon, the source of Japan's finest silk. This is truly Kanebo's magic fairy dust. It makes everything feel so amazing and luxurious. It is thick yet light.
The other ingredients are rice extract(for moisturising), moistened powder(unique powder pre-moistened and coated with oil) and Weightless Moist Glow Factor(feather-light translucent powder with thin, flat granules-layers easily for fit and coverage and reflects light for radiant finish). There is a cone(silicon) called Cyclomethicone. It also contains Octinoxate and Titanium Doxide for sunscreen.

The results for this foundation have surpassed all my expectations and it has replaced my beloved La Mer. As much as I liked MUFE's High Definition foundation, this Kanebo formula performed better. This is what I thought high definition should look like. My skin looks flawless and natural yet my issues are cleverly hidden. My issues are mid-sized pores in my T-zone,dryness,slight redness and a pesky laugh(more like a smirk) line. My pores have never looked so small and less annoying. There is no caking or settling into these tiny little craters. My dry issues are solved. This foundation does not disappear or get patchy. My smirk line does not need constant attention like it does when I wear Carmindy. I have to check on it every few hours. The settling is only faint and is easily blended back to normal.

I really do love my La Mer and Carmindy but this Kanebo is really the best formula I have tried. It retails for $50(more expensive than Carmindy by a mile but a deal when compared to La Mer) and I highly recommend it.

Credit: Blogdorf Goodman

Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by Kanebo and Natural Beige was purchased by me at Bergdorf Goodman.

Make Up For Ever: High Definition Foundation

My local Sephora finally had the Make Up For Ever's High Definition foundation range in stock. I have been curious about this line for quite a while. This foundation was created for the needs of high definition imaging. Regular foundations were not cutting the cheese when it came to the new format. Every flaw and wrinkle was exaggerated and highlighted. Make Up For Ever created a comprehensive line of foundations, primers and a high definition powder to be film friendly.

The foundation has Sericite. This heightens the diffusion of light and intensifies the glow of the skin. This is a fancy description of a smoke and mirrors effect. I think the coverage is above average and ranks among the best with La Mer, Carmindy and Kanebo's Sensai Fluid Finish. The effect is flawless skin with a hint of glow. This is more moisturizing than Carmindy's foundation with the added ingredient of Relipidium. It creates a smooth texture that clings on to powder. There are no caking or creasing issues. It is a waterproof formula so it seems to resist disappearance acts.

I generally shy away from oil free foundations. I find them hard to maneuver and drying. This formula's texture feels richer and thicker than a standard oil free foundation. It applies smooth and resists streaking.

I was seriously impressed with the color range. I would like to see more dark shades but pale girls will be delighted with the tone choices. Tone is often forgotten in creating foundations.

Let us know what you think of the foundation in the comments.

Credit: Sephora

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me.

Prescriptives Custom Blend Foundation

Several weeks ago I was in NYC with Erika from Makeup Bag and Michelle from All Lacquered Up. We paid a visit to the local Prescriptives counter at Bergdorf Goodman. We were there to check out the custom blended tinted moisturizers. The SA's created beauty concoctions that managed to transform the skin into pieces of art. In all seriousness, the blends made the skin look immaculate. Think Nicole Kidman before the botox. I was watching with true envy.
I am a girl that needs extra coverage. Jason Garland,my SA insisted that I am twisted and see imagined flaws but I can not be budged when it comes to foundation.
He insisted that I sit down to have my foundation custom blended.
I reluctantly agreed.
He examined my face kindly and then started to whip up a recipe. It was hard to keep track with what he put in my blend. I saw moisturizers, luminizers and treatments being thrown in along with something the looked like a thick pea soup.
Along the way he stirred the potion and would give it a good "martini worthy" shake. At the end it was an exact match to my skin color. A strange mixture of pale pink with flashes of yellow. On the skin it toned down the redness, counter balanced the yellow tones and covered everything it needed to. It did not settle into any pores or lines. It survived the day with no mishaps.

It did not morph into any orange shade, it did not fade or disappear, and it did not move or slide.

It performed all these feats without a primer.

The price might make most beauty lovers pause. It is $62.
As a La Mer foundation junkie...I considered this a bargain.
I wish I could get a perfect match at my local drugstore.
But no brand has managed to match my skin tone and stay on my face for more than 4 hours.
In the end it pays to spend more on my foundation.
My vanity is not cluttered with foundations that do not work for me.
Instead there is room for perfumes and countless lip glosses.

Not all Prescriptive counters offer custom blending. Call your local counter for details.
The next time you visit Bergdorf Goodman please stop by the Prescriptives counter. The men are damn geniuses and will give you the best makeover of your life. Ask for my guy, Jason Garland or Asif Zaida.

Credits: Blogdorf Goodman
Disclosure: I purchased my custom foundation at Bergdorf Goodman.

Covergirl's True Blend Whipped Foundation

This $8.00 jar reminded me of my former holy grail foundation from Chantecaille. Chantecaille's Future Skin foundation gave a sheer light coverage, felt as luxurious as whipped cream and managed to make the skin look natural and fresh. It let the skin shine through instead of creating a mask or barrier.
Covergirl's version does all this but without the $60 price tag.

There are 15 shades ranging from 3 different ivorys to Soft Sable.
This product is available at most drugstores.

Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by CoverGirl

40 Days and 40 Nights of Beauty Brands

Day 30, Paul & Joe

Cavewoman: The first time I ever saw Paul & Joe cosmetics, I was in Bergdorf Goodman with some friends, browsing, testing fragrances, and finding lots of interesting cosmetic lines I had never seen before. What caught my eye at the Paul & Joe counter was the beautiful, feminine packaging. I fell in love with the compacts, the loose powders with their luxurious puffs, and the cute paper containers for eyeshadows. Of course, I had to bring home a little "souvenir" from Paul & Joe that day, and what better for a compact collector to bring home than a compact! I've added a few to my collection since then, and every trip to Bergdorf has to have a stop at Paul & Joe to see what is new.

My first Paul & Joe compact is the one with the pink and yellow swirled pressed powder. It is called Pressed Powder 001, no name to distinguish it from the other round compact which is just called Pressed Powder 002. Both of these powders have shimmer, but the swirled colors give a pretty brightening effect, and the one-color powder is glowy and luminous. I love shimmery powders, as I've shown in previous reviews, and these are favorites not just for the fine texture but for the adorable containers.

The pale green oval compact holds Protective Dual Powder Foundation SPF 25PA++ which is Octinoxate 7% and Titanium Dioxide 12.4%. This powder can be used either wet or dry, but I've only used it dry. It makes a nice finishing powder, I have not tried it on its own, nor have I put the formidable SPF to the test. I love this for the compact alone.

The liquid foundation, the primer, and the cream foundation are all excellent, too. I'm thrilled especially with the cream, which is not really a cream at all but a very thick liquid in the jar, and it smooths out beautifully for a luminous finish that can be either very sheer or well-covering. Thanks to my friend (you know who you are!) who helped me choose my correct shade. I see us back at the Paul & Joe counter very soon!

Annieytown: I hang out with some serious fragrance junkies. Some have been collecting parfum since they were children while others write perfume books and blogs. We are a serious crowd with exceptional noses. We love the thrill of the hunt from finding rare guerlain parfums at antique stores(Tussah!) to discovering hidden gems from niche brands. We will go anywhere to sniff out a new find.

Our local anthropologie store was where we discovered the amazing Paul & Joe fragrances. Blanc and Bleu are worthy of lemming, coveting and hoarding. I rave like a madwoman when it comes to these two bottles. They are better than most high end niche fragrances. However... it seems that no one is paying attention them.

Only a handful of makeupalley members sing their praises.
Today Blogdorf Goodman is going to scream from the rooftops and let you know what you have been missing.

Blanc was created by the great perfumer Jean Claude Ellena. This is the perfumer that was responsible for Frederic Malle's L'Eau d'Hiver. These two fragrances share similar notes such as hawthorn and heliotrope.

Blanc is a creamy almond based scent with hints of florals, cherry pie and milk. It is a comforting scent that manages to be elegant at the same time.

Blanc EDT notes are hawthorn, angelica(smells like honey), almond, sweet pea, freesia, lily, rose, musk, heliotrope and cloud of milk.

My favorite amber fragrance is Bleu. My love for it grew after witnessing it's greatness on a cold winter night in Ohio. Like Ormonde Jayne's Tolu, it transforms to greatness when it hits cold air. I could have stood outside for hours sniffing the sillage wafting from my coat sleeve. It did not matter that it was 10 degrees. The amber is thick and the incense notes are deep. This is not a cold church smell but something bright and luminous.

It was created by Pierre Bourdon. Mr Bourdon also authored my favorite iris scent, Frederic Malle's Iris Poudre. Clearly this man knows the way to my heart and nose!

EDT notes are bergamot, coriander( warm herbaceous scent) , cumin(brief and non-pungent), ylang-ylang, jasmine, rose, magnolia, heliotrope, oak moss(woody smell that is sweet and fresh), patchouli, sandalwood, myrrh, labdanum, vanilla and musk.

http://www.paul-joe-beaute.com/en/index.html

Paul & Joe is sold in Bergdorf Goodman. Call 212 -872-2736 for the counter.

You can also sometimes find it at your local Anthropologie stores and http://www.luileiny.com/

The bottles retail for $55.

What are your favorite Paul & Joe products? Let us know in the comments!

Photos: Cavewoman and Blogdorf Goodman
Disclosure: The products were purchased by the reviewers.

Cargo Liquid Powder

When it comes to powders I prefer loose to pressed. I love the quality and how it stays fresh throughout the day. Unfortunately this preference comes with a price. It is a "disaster waiting to happen" when you lug your Caron tin or worse yet...try to carry your La Mer jar in your handbag. Spilling or breaking these pricey jars is not something I want to risk.

So I started looking for alternatives.

Cargo makes a loose powder with the convenience of a tube. It is very silky to the touch and gives an instant matte look. It is a natural looking finish that does not cake, turn orange or settle into any fine lines. It evened my skin tone and gave it a lovely sunkissed glow.

It has those magical light reflecting pigments(makeup pixies) that seem to trick everyone into thinking you are healthy, well rested and free of skin issues. The key ingredients are Retinyl Palmitate(form of vitamin A, a combo of retinol and palmitic acid=antioxidant and skin conditioner) and Silica(my friend silicone=helps with blendability, creasing, and lasting power).

I thought this would be similiar to Prescriptive's Magical Powder based on how it felt on my fingers. Instead of that unsettling wet feeling, you get a cashmere soft finish.
It feels amazing on.

It is available at Sephora and retails for $22.
http://www.sephora.com/;jsessionid=OZFHI3VJM4I0LLAUCKBBXCQ

photos: Sephora and Blogdorf Goodman(I am taking truly awful pictures lately---I have lost my mojo.)
Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by the PR Firm for Cargo

La Mer The Treatment Fluid Foundation Review

My new holy grail foundation. It has offically kicked my precious Chantecaille to the curb.

I fell under its spell on Monday. I was not in the market for a new foundation. I was satisfied with my Chantecaille. I had given up on the dream of a perfect shade with coverage that managed to hide flaws yet appear light and natural on the skin. Can you tell I dream big?

La Mer's The Treatment Fluid Foundation took me by surprise and knocked me to the ground. I was a convert after the first dab.

The thing that slayed me about this product is the staying power. No foundation lasts longer than this bottle. I have played the field. I have dabbled in high end foundation and crossed the tracks and flirted with drugstore. After a full hellish day at work my makeup looks fresh and perfect. No touchups. No fiddling. It is a foundation miracle. Huge rave from me and Cavewoman.

Blogdorf is smitten.

Some scoop from saks:

Gemstones reflect light to hide imperfections *spotted tourmaline & azurite in the ingredients
Marine and plant actives immediately add radiance
Skin looks lifted, firmer and brighter
Over time helps skin's ability to renew itself
Protects against UV damage with SPF 15

If you ever decide to buy: Call the Beachwood Saks store at 216-292-5500 and ask for Sean or Alesha(at the Nars counter).

They are amazing and I love them.

Disclosure: I purchased this foundation at my local Saks Fifth Avenue