SMS (Save My Skin)

It's been a stressful few months recently (which is my excuse for the lack of blogging!) and it has begun to really reflect on my skin. I find myself rubbing at my face all day in work with the result that by lunch time I look more mismatched than a patchwork quilt. Added to the fingerprint smudges, my face is also becoming more drier which accentuates the whole dishevelled look that personally, I'm not really a fan of. The other day I decided something had to give before my coworkers start thinking that I'm coming in following a 9 hour bender so I decided to ditch the powder and find myself some new basics.


No7 Instant Illusions Radiance Balm

As my regulars may know,  I have been an avid fan and supporter of Smashbox's hydrating primer for a number of years (see this post for details) but as a treat for myself over Easter weekend I decided to branch out and trial something different so I opted for No7 Instant Illusions Radiance Balm.


My only criticism of the Smashbox primer was that it was a little watery, which I felt may be contributing to the patchiness - especially given the rush in which my makeup gets done some mornings mean I don't always give it the drying time it deserves. The No7 balm is slightly thicker with the texture of a moisturiser and has a lovely glow to it. After 30 seconds the face feels almost smooth and prepped for foundation.




Smashbox Studio Skin foundation

The decision to change my foundation (I have regularly used Dior Forever for a couple of years now) was based on a desire to find something more long-lasting in an effort to ditch the patchy/dryness I have been experiencing. After browsing some reviews and chatting to a few fellow bloggers I decided to try out Smashbox's Studio Skin foundation. This won based on the fact it claims to last for 15 hours and, mainly, because it is an oil free formula. I mentioned above that I had already decided to ditch powder as when this mixes with certain foundations that do contain oil the result is cake looking makeup - however given that my bronzer and blushes are powder based I thought it wouldn't hurt!

True to it's description this has to be one of the most hardworking foundations I've tried for a while. The formula is again, quite thick but it doesn't actually feel heavy on the skin to my pleasant surprise. With the Dior foundation, I applied this with a stippling brush however the bristles on my small Mac tool are not dense enough for the Smashbox to work efficiently and so I have reverted to using a more traditional flat foundation brush (I think sponges would also give a really nice finish). In terms of coverage just look at the before and after pictures below! This is purely the foundation - no concealer or powder have been applied.

I applied the Smashbox over my new primer at 7am, and at 9pm my skin looked just as good as when I had left the house which was a massive massive plus - it's rare to find a product that lives up to it's claims especially when trialled by a serial fidget!

All in all, my experiment wasn't very scientific in that I don't know whether it was the primer, foundation or lack of powder that has revitalised my makeup but I'm certainly very pleased with the change! Whether the foundation continues to please will depend upon its performance when summer arrives, I fear it might be a bit thick for hot summer sun but I would definitely consider it again in the summer.

Definitely a good find!
Carly x

Marvellous Advantage or Misleading Advert?

I was doing my usual lunch time browsing in Boots recently when I spotted something that made me a bit mad - an advert for Revlon's "Age defying with DNA advantage" foundation. I may only have an A-Level in biology but I was pretty sure that, as of yet anyway, scientists haven't found a way to mass modify our DNA by applying a formula to the surface layer of skin and hoping it seeps far enough in to make an impact.


However I decided to kind of give it the benefit of the doubt and do a little read up when I got back to my desk. The reviews themselves are iffy. MakeupAlley gives it an average of 2.9, Boots customer reviews are 4 star and Amazon 3 (do people buy makeup from Amazon?!) but to be honest for once I wasn't interested in the texture and durability I wanted to know and understand the science behind this claim. It's one thing to say a product will reduce the signs of ageing but to say that it has a DNA advantage..

 First of all and most obviously this foundation contains SPV which will prevent further damage from UV rays. UV rays are one of the most talked about causes of ageing, because when the UV rays penetrate the skin they actually distort or destroy the DNA in cells. When this is destroyed the cells lose their instruction manuals for how to function properly which is what causes wrinkles and a loss of elasticity in the skin. So the SPV in this foundation will help to prevent further damage, hopefully keeping us looking younger for longer but what about the damage that has already been done?

Well Revlon's miracle cure is yeast (Source - FutureDerm). This supposedly magic ingredient works by causing the DNA cells to repair themselves however the scientific evidence of this is thin and contradictory, so it surprises me that Revlon have been allowed to continue with this claim by the Advertising Standards board.

Furthermore, a study at the University of Bath a few years ago found that even the most expensive skincare creams were not able to penetrate the skins outer layers (the epidermis) to reach the cells that would most need to be repaired (in the dermis). Without getting too technical - foundation, which is generally of a thicker consistency than most moisturises principally because it's purpose is to sit on top of the skin, is therefore very unlikely to reach the inner layers of skin where action could be taken. Think of someone who has botox and how long that needle is - can a foundation really penetrate that far?

 I'm skeptical and certainly won't be buying the foundation for it's anti ageing properties but I have read that the consistency of the foundation means it "sits in the cracks" well creating a smoother appearance and minimising the noticeability of fine lines. So if you're looking for something that makes you look younger maybe this foundation is perfect for you, but please think twice before buying into the "DNA advantage" malarky. Once DNA is damaged there is very little that can be done to reverse the damage, remember the saying "prevention is easier than cure"!

What do you think, have you tried this?
Carly x

Let's talk basics

Foundation can absolutely make or break your look. It can cover all multitude of sins and is the best way to ensure bronzers and other products really last and look good on your skin.

When I was around 5 I started competing in dance tournaments around the UK and this was really my first introduction to makeup. My favourite part of every show or competition was always when my mum would sit me down and whip out her makeup bag to dab a bit of foundation onto my face and ply my lips with some shocking shade of red or hot pink. A couple of years after  starting secondary school was when I started noticing the pressure to “look good” and girls would start arriving to classes with a full face of make up on. I joined in but perhaps was thinking about the good old dancing days too much when it came to foundation. Like a lot of girls that age I was convinced my skin was an absolute monstrosity that must be covered by something more perfect and so the foundation would be piled on and not always the correct shade. After a few instances of this my mum finally threw out my pot of Rimmel Air Mousse (I think that’s what I started with anyway) and gave me a proper lesson in how to apply. Despite some initial protests that you could still see too much of my own skin, I fell in love with how my skin could suddenly brighten up and look more flawless whilst still looking like.. skin.

And so started my love affair with dewiness. Over the years I’ve tried quite a few foundations ranging from Rimmel to Bourjois to Chanel but my absolute favourite that I have come back to time and time again is Dior’s Forever.