FOTD Wearing Guerlain Parure Extreme Foundation #3!

I thought I'd do a quick update how my Guerlain Parure Extreme Foundation is working for me. (I apologize for all of my foundation posts and if you can't keep up with them all!) So you might remember, I purchased Guerlain Parure Extreme #4 back in December, and although I loved the foundation, it was a terrible color choice for me. To make it work, I would use a foundation in the lightest shade (Neutrogena Healthy Skin in Classic Ivory) to lighten it up and then I would a drop of Coastal Scents yellow corrector to give it a more yellow/golden tone. That was working great for me, but I really wanted to find my correct color match, so I wouldn't have to go through the hassle of mixing foundations all of the time.

Earlier this month, I decided to place an order for Guerlain Parure Extreme in the shade #3. I had no idea until that point what Guerlain's numbering meant for the foundation, until Lisasz09 on youtube let me know that even numbers are actually pink toned, and odd numbers are yellow toned. So, I was please to know that it isn't the whole line that is pink toned. I'm happy to say that #3 matches me beautifully, and is a good NC30-35 match. It doesn't have a strong yellow tone, per say, but it matches me very good.

Swatched Top: Guerlain Parure Foundation #3, Bottom: Guerlain Parure Extreme #4

I've been wearing this foundation almost every day, with the exception of the days where I've tested out Chanel Vitalumiere, Laura Mercier Silk Creme & a couple days of Neutrogena Healthy Skin. I love that it looks so natural & with setting powder, lasts all day. It has climbed up my list of favorite foundations, and made it to my top 5.

I didn't set my foundation with powder, because I wanted to show the santiny finish. It was a bit cloudy today, so my skin looks a little beige? I assure you though, the color match is excellent, and this is just not the best lighting. I'll be wearing this in FOTD's to come. My FOTD today is nothing spectacular, because I was about to go grocery shopping for a BBQ and didn't want to go too heavy on my eyes in the day time.

Face:

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer in Medium under my eyes, around the corners of my nose and under my brows

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in #20 under my eyes over the Hard Candy Concealer for a better color match

Guerlain Parure Extreme Foundation #3 applied a sheer layer with my fingers, and built a thin second layer with my MAC 131 duo fibre brush

Guerlain Brunettes 02 Terracotta Bronzing Powder applied to the hollows of my cheeks & extended up my cheekbones

MAC Optimistic Orange Cremeblend Blush applied to my cheekbones

Hard Candy Honeymoon Blush applied over Optimistic Orange for a soft, shimmery peach sheen

Brows:

MAKE UP FOREVER Eyebrow Corrector in #3

MAC Girl Boy Brow Set

Eyes: 

Dior Crush Glow 5-Colour Iridescent Eyeshadow (golden shade all over my lid, brown in the outer V)

Bobbi Brown Long Wearing Gel Ink in Black Ink (lined my top and bottom lash line)

Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara in Very Black

Revlon Fantasy Lengths Professional Self Adhesive Eyelashes #99500

Lips:

MAC Pale Lip Erase applied as a light base to my lips

MAC Subculture Lip Liner

YSL #26 Tender Peach Rouge Volupte Lipstick (this shade looks much different.. lighter and more pink - with lip erase as a base.. I love it! But we all know RV lipsticks have the worst staying power and it was practically gone in these photos despite I had just applied it.)

Follow-up/Update #2: Brazilian Peel by AHA! (Before & After photo)

(Image Credit: http://Sephora.com)

So you may know from my last post (click here for reference), I received two sample size vials of the Brazilian Peel (by AHA) with two of my Sephora orders. I used the first vial twice (divided it in half) and I used the second vial last night.

I changed my skincare routine a little bit (subtracted a few things), and I haven't been using my AHA every night, so I still have a small scatter of faint pink/red blemish scars that haven't completely gone away. I decided to give the Brazilian Peel another try.

Like usual, I used a cleanser and then put the Brazilian Peel in my palm, mixed the product together and then quickly applied it to my face, with downward strokes. I had only extracted half of the vial, and then I thought - the heck with it, and emptied out the whole vial and applied the remaining amount to my face. Luckily, it was still easy to blend onto my face after the first layer had semi dried. You can definitely use half of the vial, (especially if you have a "petite" face, haha), but I really wanted my face to be a little more saturated with the product. During the ten minutes, I felt my face go a bit firm, like it felt both of the other times using the product. I felt more firming this time around, possibly because I used the full vial. I waited ten minutes, and then rinsed my face with warm water and pat my face dry. I waited about ten more minutes before I applied my moisturizer (Night of Olay Firming Cream with a drop of Josie Maran Argan Oil).

In the morning, my face felt very fresh and looked more radiant than the previous day. My overall complexion looked more even and my scars had lightened a bit.

Before: Before applying the Brazilian Peel After: The morning after applying the Brazilian Peel

I think it worked quite well. But at $23 a vial, I do not think this product is worth it. If you purchase 4 applications at $78, that is $19.50 a vial. You use one vial a week, so it's $78 for a monthly treatment. I would rather invest in a 30% AHA from Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) for 1/2 the price and it would most likely last me much longer than a month.

What do you think of the Brazilian Peel? Have you tried any "at home" peels? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

As always, thank you for reading and commenting!

Review: Testing out Chanel Vitalumiere Foundation! (Swatches, FOTD)

Chanel Vitalumiere is a foundation I've been interested in for ages. So, last month when purchasing Chanel's Double Perfection Compact, I figured I'd ask for a sample of Vitalumiere.

I was matched to Beige 40, which seems to match my skintone well. I would say it's a good NC35-37 match. Based on reviews, Beige 40 has worked for those in the MAC NC30-NC40 color range.

If you're familiar with Chanel products, many of them share the same scent (exactly like Chanel Bronze Universel/Soleil Tan De Chanel). It's a light, refreshing scent - if you sniff hard enough (lol) you can detect the chemical smell that's covered up with fragrance.

I first applied a very light moisturizer to my face (DDF Oil Free Moisturizing Dew) and with my Sigma F60 Foundation Brush I applied this foundation to my whole face, with light, short strokes. With thinner consistency foundations, I find that a standard foundation brush works the best, or a dense synthetic brush. I didn't care for using my MAC 131 (Duo Fibre) with this.

The way I categorize the coverage of foundations goes as: Light, Medium Light, Medium, Medium Full and Full. I consider this to be a Medium Light. It is definitely buildable, and doesn't look heavy once it's built up a bit. Some may find it necessary to apply a concealer over any blemishes, as this foundation may not cover the redness 100%. Before application, I dotted Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer on any areas that needed it. The result with this foundation is skin that actually looks like skin, but more even and radiant. I love how this makes my skin "glow". I'd compare it to Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (but with less coverage than GA) and MAKE UP FOREVER Face & Body Foundation (but with more luminosity, more natural). I much prefer this foundation over MUFE F&B, which I find has a "tacky" feeling after application, not to mention the "globby" texture. Application with both is very similar.

I didn't blot my face because I wanted to see how well the foundation wears on its own. After around 3 hours I noticed a bit of shine on my t-zone. I still didn't blot, because I wanted to see how oily it would get. After around 6 hours, it didn't seem to get much more oily than it did at hour 3, but the foundation had worn off the tip of my nose, as well as the area around my mouth. Everything else was pretty much in tact. 

I wouldn't consider this foundation to be long-wearing, as it looks it's best the first 2-3 hours and seems to budge a little after that. I think it's a great foundation for the summer, special occasions, a night out, etc. To those that prefer a foundation that won't budge through a 8-9 hour work shift, this may fall under your expectations. The sales associate actually recommended I use Chanel Double Perfection Compact (powder foundation) over Vitalumiere to prolong the wear. Double Perfection isn't a dull powder, so it wouldn't take away from the finish of Vitalumiere. I haven't tried that though, but I will next time I wear Vitalumiere, as I know now that it's necessary for me to use a setting powder. I'll let you know how that goes. (Sorry for trailing off) Many reviewers have agreed that this foundation is awesome for dry skin, as it doesn't accentuate dry patches, it's moisturizing and it is dewy. I have pretty normal to combination skin (although it seems to be more normal lately) and I think it worked well for me, as it didn't get awfully oily. When I say "awfully", I'm saying, my eyebrows looking shiny & wearing off around the edges, which some foundations will do. Those with oily skin, may want to have a look at Mat Lumiere.

As far as purchasing goes, I'm not sure if this is a product I'll be purchasing anytime soon. I've been preferring Guerlain Parure Extreme lately - and it has actually climbed up to my favorite foundations list.

Chanel Vitalumiere in Beige 40 swatched on my hand 

Top: Chanel Vitalumiere Beige 40

Bottom: MAC Studio Fix Fluid NC40 

Compared to MAC SFF in NC40, they are similar in depth, but MAC is noticeable more yellow.

Even though you can't see my makeup in close detail, I figured I'd give a break down anyway of what I'm wearing.

Face:
Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer in Medium applied under my eyes and to blemishes
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in 20 applied under my eyes to better suit my skintone
Chanel Vitalumiere Foundation in 40 Beige
YSL Touche Eclat in #1 in the corners of my eyes to brighten
NYC Sunny Bronzer to contour
MAC Pleasureful Blushcreme to cheeks
Hard Candy Living Doll Blush applied very lightly over Pleasureful for a pink glow

Eyes:
Dior 5-Colour Iridescent Eyeshadow in Crush Glow
NARS Coconut Grove Eyeshadow used as liner
Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara in Blackest Black

Brows:
MAKE UP FOREVER Eyebrow Corrector in #3
MAC Brow Set in Girl/Boy

Lips:
Bobbi Brown Petal Lip liner (discontinued)
MAC Shygirl Lipstick
Essense Nude Kiss Lipgloss

A Few of my Favorite Drugstore Bronzers! NYC Sunny, Rimmel Sun Dance & NYX Sand!

If you're looking for affordable cosmetics, you all know brands like Wet n Wild & NYC are the way to go. NYC has a small variety of bronzers, including their "Sun to Sun" Duo bronzing powder, Color wheel mosaic powder & the much sought after Sunny bronzer.

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder #720A Sunny

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder #720A Sunny

Sunny is a great bronzer that is sheer (but buildable), soft & blendable and offers a natural color and finish. The color is a soft bronze with no shimmer, frost or pearl. Because there is no shimmer, it's ideal for contouring & adding warmth to your face without it being very "detectable". I actually prefer this over Benefit Hoola, another popular matte bronzer, because Sunny gives my face more of a bronzed color, whereas Hoola looks a little purple/muddy on my skintone. The best part about the bronzer is, it's only $3. 

(NYC Products can be found at Target & Walmart stores. Check here for your nearest location)

A couple of my other favorite drugstore bronzers are Rimmel Sun Dance (also very affordable) and NYX Sand Blush (not pictured).

Comparison of NYC Sunny & Rimmel Sun Dance

Rimmel is another drugstore brand with very affordable products. It's a little higher in price than Wet n Wild & NYC, but lower in price than brands like Revlon & L'Oreal. Rimmel has a small variety of bronzers, called their "Natural Bronzers". There are four (4) available shades, Sun Light, Sun Dance, Sun Bronze & Sun Glow. I'm not sure if this shade is being discontinued, but it doesn't appear on the website.. although I just recently have seen it in stores. Anyone have any insight about that? That would be a bummer. 

Anyway, of Rimmel's bronzers, Sun Light and Sun Bronze are matte shades and Sun Dance and Sun Glow have slight shimmer. I've only tried Sun Light (which is extremely subtle) and Sun Dance, and I love Sun Dance. It's a sheer, coppery bronze with golden flecks. I wear it often in the summertime on my cheekbones for a healthy glow. It retails for around $4. Walgreens often has sales on Rimmel, otherwise, it's regular price is cheaper at Target or Walmart.

Lastly, NYX has a fantastic variety of blushes and bronzers. NYX Sand, isn't technically one of their bronzers, it is a blush, but the color is a shimmery golden bronze, so I would put it in the bronzer category. It may not be a great all-over bronzer because of the shimmer, but it's a beautiful bronze color for the cheeks. NYX Sand has the most shimmer of the three bronzers mentioned, and those that don't like shimmer, may not like this one. I find Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips to be too shimmery/frosty for my cheeks, but I don't find NYX Sand to be too frosty. I love the rich golden sheen it gives my cheeks. (I didn't photograph it because it's shattered - you can view it in a past haul here) NYX Blushes retail for around $6 at ULTA.

And, swatches!

Swatches from Left to Right: NYC Sunny, Rimmel Sun Dance, NYX Sand

Swatches from Left to Right: NYC Sunny, Rimmel Sun Dance, NYX Sand

Whats your favorite drugstore bronzer?