Showing posts with label foundations for black girls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label foundations for black girls. Show all posts

Thursday, 11 April 2013

Find Your Perfect Foundation Shade


Find your foundation shade
Black Up Cosmetics recently sent me some samples of their Full Coverage Cream Foundation, and I wanted to sit down in front of a camera and show you how I would would go about finding my perfect foundation shade in a sea of foundation samples.
Blackup paris full coverage foundation samples kit
It is debatable how you find your colour shade. Some people swatch the cheek while other swatch the neck, neither way is wrong and is completely dependent on the makeup user, the only thing that matters is that your neck and face has to blend seamlessly. Personally I prefer to swatch on my cheek because that is what I am more comfortable doing (and I find the notion of swatching my neck at a makeup counter a bit odd)

Choosing 3 shades that I think have the highest possibility of matching my skintone, I try to find natural light; as dark lighting or coloured lighting might alter the true colour of the foundation, and if that involves me cracking open a window or walking out of Selfridges with a mirror in tow I WILL DO IT!!!! When I think I've found my perfect shade, I then apply it all over my neck and chest to see if it blends in seamlessly or if it looks a bit too pale or copper toned.
 photo HOW_TO_FIND_YOUR_PERFECT_FOUNDATION_SHADE_zps1489fafe.jpg
how to find your perfect foundation shade
In this case, out of the 3 shades, Black Up's Full Coverage Foundation in No.11 (aka the middle swatch) is the best match for me and I think I'm going to go pick this up on my next stop to Oxford Circus. If you want to have a go at finding your perfect foundation shade without leaving the comfort of your chair, Black Up Cosmetics actually offer a foundation samples package which includes a sample of every foundation colour in their range. 

How do you go about find your best foundation shade? 
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Monday, 21 January 2013

Four Foundations For a Flawless Finish


When it comes to foundations, I think its safe to say that every girl is particularly fussy about what she likes and what she doesn’t like. For some it is all about coverage, others its about the finish, for me it is all about the colour. I can tell with a quick glance in the mirror whether I am going to spend my money on a foundation but to be fair it is fairly easy. The foundation is either shade-perfect or makes me look like an un-moisturized ghost or like I’ve been playing in red paint.
As I have normal skin, I really don’t have much to cover up but for me the perfect foundation is relatively long lasting (I hate doing touch ups), matches my skin colour and most importantly it has to be fragrance free so doesn’t make my sensitive skin react . . or make me want to gag.
As I’m on a spending ban and can’t buy anything anymore (why or why did I do this to myself??) and I haven’t done an in-depth review of my foundations, I though I should do a post giving you an insight into my favourite cosmetics and the type of cosmetics choices I make, so without further ado let’s dive into the world of foundations.

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Trindad (RRP £29.50)

Though I am warm toned, my skin is super funny in the sense that I still have a lot of gold tones to work with but these tones are only evident when I’m exposed to sun. In the winter, my red skin tones are more prominent so I have to go with a foundation that matches this and Nars Sheer Glow does this perfectly.

This shade is a bit of a one trick wonder as it is a shade darker and redder than what I normal use, so I can’t really use it in any other season but it’s lightweight and blendable so I’m not complaining.

Illamasqua Skin Base in No. 16 (RRP. £27)

This my favourite foundation and the foundation I would recommend to anyone with normal skin or those just looking for a light coverage foundation with a dewy finish.

It is a bit difficult to blend sometimes. I’m not exactly sure why but I’m guessing it has something to do with its formulation but it’s nothing a few extra wrist movements won’t solve.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW45 (RRP. £20.50)


This is the 3rd foundation I ever used growing up, but the 1st ‘luxury’ foundation I ever used my own money to buy. I  used this foundation actively throughout my time at university but I honestly don’t use this that much anymore as I find that it is too orange toned and honestly only looks good on me in the summer when my yellow tones are at its strongest,

This is the heaviest liquid foundation I own and honestly I probably wouldn’t use a foundation with a stronger coverage than this as I don’t need that level of coverage.


I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. This foundation is my skin colour in a tube. It is SO on point with my actual skin shade that when I apply it, I’m not too sure where I applied it because it’s practically invisible.

Depsite having a sheer to medium coverage, the foundation feels a bit heavy and is the only foundation that I have when I can tell I am wearing foundation but this is probably more to do with the fact that this has a cream formulation while the others have a liquid formulation

I do invest a bit in my foundations and I know these are all luxury foundations so not everyone can afford them but I find that lower-end foundations either make my skin react or just stink to high heavens and make me dizzy. I really want to try out the Armani Luminous Silk Foundation and the YSL Touche Eclat foundation but it will have to be after my spending band . . .  April the 11th can’t come fast enough!!

Anyway what do you think of my selection? Have you got any brands to recommend to me?? Also did you notice how I managed to fit 5 f’s into my title pats self on the back*??




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