My Adore Beauty haul

Adore Beauty is my favourite online beauty destination and every now and again I like to treat myself with some exciting new products. My orders always arrive promptly (with complimentary samples and chocolate), accompanied by beautiful, helpful service via email, twitter and Facebook.

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H

I bought this because I absolutely love the Lancome Teint Miracle foundation and I liked the idea of a fuller coverage, longer lasting alternative.

I have to say, the Teint Miracle is still my favourite, but this is lovely. The main difference between them is the finish - this is matte, while the Teint Miracle is glowy. I prefer a glowy finish, even though I have a normal-to-oily skintype. The radiance is more flattering because it diffuses and deflects away from any flaws, rather than just providing coverage.

For a matte finish, though, it is perfect. It sits beautifully on my skin and it is not at all powdery or unnatural, just shine-free and velvety.

In conclusion, I think I will save this for my good skin days. I would highly recommend it for anyone looking for a full coverage, matte, long lasting, oil-free foundation.

(Psst: Adore Beauty currently offers a Lancome foundation brush as a Gift with Purchase.)

evo Haze Styling Powder

The Aveda Full Abundance Hair Potion is one of my HG products. Zoe Foster put me onto it. It creates that sexy, worn-in, textured finish to freshly washed and styled hair.

Zoe has since recommended this version as a viable alternative so I decided to try it. So far, so good! 

O&M Original Queenie Firm Hold Hairspray
I haven't used this yet but it is very pretty.Tweet

Review: Lancôme Teint Miracle

A few weeks ago, I decided that I needed a change of foundation. My skin was looking dull and dehydrated, nothing was sitting right, and my makeup wasn't lasting. 

Foundations are my single favourite category of makeup. Good ones are the holy grail when it comes to complexion perfection; they even out skin tone, impart luminosity, cover unsightly spots and redness and create the impression of naturally flawless skin. My love for foundation has led me to discover many lovely options: By Terry Light Expert, By Terry Lumiere Veloutee, By Terry Teint Delectation, Chantecaille Future Skin, MAC Face & Body Foundation, Giorgio Armani Designer Shaping Foundation and Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser, just to name a few. But as our skin changes with age, seasons and inner turmoil, we need products with different properties to complement its temperament. Hence, I embarked on a mission to find something new to add to my foundation repertoire. 

Rather than wandering aimlessly through department store makeup counters, I did the modern thing; trawled through blogs and makeup reviews, looking for The Next Big Thing in foundation. After much humming and hawing, I eventually settled upon Lancôme Teint Miracle Natural Light Creator SPF15 (AU$68, available at Adore Beauty). 

I chose it for a few reasons. One, I had never tried Lancôme before, so I thought it was time that I should. Secondly, it's oil-free, fragrance free and non-comedegenic, which lessened the chance that it would clog my pores or irritate my skin. Thirdly, it is worn by celebrities galore on the red carpet (according to Temptalia), including the beautiful Mila Kunis in the photographs above and below. And lastly, it promised that my complexion would appear "lit-from-within, visibly flawless... while giving 18 hours of hydration". Very tempting! So I bit the bullet and purchased it from my local Myer counter, after the sales assistant had provided me with a sample.

What I like about it: 

Good coverage (medium but buildable, never cakey) in a lovely weightless texture. My shade (03 Beige Diaphane) is absolutely perfect for my skin tone. The finish is satin, with a glow, but not dewy, which is exactly what my oily, dehydrated skin needs. It looks like my skin when I wear it, only better. Oh, and the compliments I've received whilst wearing it are nice, too.

What I don't like about it:

Just the longevity. Despite wearing a primer (Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer) and a setting powder (Nars Loose Powder), it fades considerably throughout the day. I don't mind because I tend to touch up anyway, but it is a small gripe.

How I like to use it:

I use it two ways:
1. For day, I'll mix it with moisturiser (75% foundation, 25% moisturiser). I apply the concoction with my fingers, over a serum, sunscreen and primer. I follow with the Dior Diorskin Nude Skin Perfecting Hydrating Concealer around my eyes and nose.
2. At night, or on days I would like more coverage, I apply one pump of pure foundation with my  MAC 187 Stippling Brush. Again, I pair it with the Dior concealer for a flawless finish.

Have you tried Teint Miracle? If so, did you like it? If not, what is your favourite foundation product?

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Universal favourites

I work in the beauty industry, so friends and family are always asking me for advice on what products they should use. Thing is, just because something works for me, that doesn't mean that everybody else will love it too.

Thankfully, there are some products that absolutely everybody adores. Here are just a few of them.

Hourglass Mineral Primer SPF15 AU$79 is magic in a bottle. It smooths the skin, evens skin tone, tones down redness and creates a beautifully silky, velvet matte base so that foundation just glides on top. It also enhances the longevity of foundation and concealer and provides sun protection. 

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation AU$99 is not my holy grail of foundations (although it may have been had I not discovered By Terry Light Expert AU$115); however everybody I have introduced it to tells me that it is everything they are looking for, and more. It has a gorgeous fluid texture, sheer but buildable coverage and gives a lovely soft-focus glow to the skin. 

Nars Bronzing Powder in Laguna AU$72, on the other hand, is my holy grail of bronzers. It works for everybody except the very pale (try Too Faced Snow Bunny Caribbean Compact $49.95 instead) and those with deep skin tones (Nars Bronzing Powder in Casino AU$72 is an ideal alternative). All you need to know about Laguna is that it never, ever looks stripy or dirty on the skin like so many unflattering bronzers I see adorning girls at my local shopping centre. Its sheer formula and subtle shimmer provide warmth and definition, and mimic a natural tan.

Estee Lauder Tender Blush in Peach Nuance is an incredibly pretty pink/peach colour that is beloved by every single one of its owners (as far as my research suggests). As soft or bright as you like, depending on how heavy or light the application, it is wonderfully versatile and a must-have for anybody who wants a fresh glow emanating from the apples of their cheeks. (P.S. I tried to check the Australian Estee Lauder website for a price, but couldn't find this on there... perhaps it has been discontinued. If anybody knows otherwise, please let me know in the comments!)

Dior Shimmer Powder in Amber Diamond AU$88 is a stunning bronze-toned shimmer powder that can be worn on the high planes of the face - where the sun naturally hits - such as the temples, brow bones and the centre of the nose, forehead, chin and cupid's bow. Best for those with olive skin (or a fake tan), it provides a beautiful luminosity unrivaled by any highlighter I have come across.

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner AU$42 is my fail-safe recommendation whenever anybody asks me to direct them to the perfect black liquid eyeliner. Its brush is fine, its ink is a delectable pitch black and its applicator is uncharacteristically reliable (for a liquid eyeliner). A definite winner.

YSL Shiny Lip Plumper in Candy or Nude AU$55ea are both perfect for a glossy nude lip. Candy is  a cool, pink-toned nude; whereas Nude is... just nude. For anybody who wants a low-key look, or wears smoky eyes, either (or both) of these are the answer to your prayers. They also help to "plump" the lips, so impart an addictive tingle whenever you reapply.

So what do you think? Have I enticed you with my list of universal favourites? Do you have any questions for me? Ask away!

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