Enhancing Your Complexion

I’m one of those people who spend way too much time getting my complexion in tip top shape, rather than deciding which colorful eyeshadow or lipstick I’m going to be sporting that day. In fact, I probably own way more products for the face than anything else. It also doesn’t help that one of my favorite items to research, play with, and purchase are base products. For me, taking your bare complexion to the next level is important — and, that means, I want my skin to look healthy, glowy, and well-put -together for sure. Rather than covering each little spot, I like to focus on the overall result — such as, a smooth and poreless surface or some glow from an awesome highlighter.

I do this many ways, but these are the key items I’ve been reaching for. First, lasting powder is important. But more than that, evening our your canvas and prepping it nicely for the base makeup will save some time. That extra step is having a good primer, like the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15 or the Benefit Stay Flawless 15-hour Primer.

Second, having a product like the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm handy to really wake up your skin and having it feel and look great. This will truly take your skin from being average to looking like you’ve been on a spa vacation for a week. It’s an investment, but will come to the rescue when you least expect it. And, thirdly, your under eye and eye area can’t be neglected when your enhancing your complexion. I’ve been dedicated to the Diorsnow UV Shield BB Eye Creme SPF 20 PA++ because it’s an all in one: eye cream and some tint for coverage.

And, finally, you need a reliable base product that’s not going to let you down — whether it’s raining or humid outside, or you’ve burst into tears in the middle of your day. My base of choice right now is the Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Foundation Powder in Ivory. It’s a godsend and lifesaver, and currently, my most favorite powder foundation of all.

If you’re thinking — AIN’T NOBODY GOT TIME FO DAT — there’s a good way to skip steps and jump ahead with a longtime favorite liquid foundation: NARS Sheer Glow in “Mont Blanc” and the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour SPF 15 in N10 that will do everyone else’s jobs. Think about this product as a giant makeup eraser — it goes and blurs everything — imperfections, discolorations, pores, lines, wrinkles, and uneven surfaces. Seriously.

Whatever your preferences are, I hope you found my ways to enhance the complexion helpful!

Mixing Highlighter and Foundation

Mixing a liquid highlighter with your foundation or BB cream is a great way to add in some natural glow. It’s also a great way to dilute your foundation a bit to sheer it out for less coverage or to create a tinted moisturizer effect. The goal is to keep your skin shining through with light coverage; and overall, we’re going for a simple, clean, fresh look. I mix my highlighter and foundation on days I want a little more coverage, but I still want to look natural without looking “made up” for the day. The key is to control the ratio — and, depending on what I’m going for that day, I personally like to keep things 50-50. However, if you’re looking for more coverage and minimal glow, try 30-70.

For awhile I was really into the NARS Illuminator. Now, my highlight of choice is the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector SPF 25+. It’s just as versatile, but more user-friendly because there’s less shimmer/glimmer in the product. The NARS Illuminator is perfect to add onto your skin after base makeup, but I wouldn’t suggest mixing it with foundation since you can look like a disco ball. The Becca highlighter is much lighter and blends in better — especially with other liquid formulas.

Even thought the the Becca highlighter appears to be stark white, it sheers out a lot once blended. The foundations I like to mix this with are Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in shade 3 and NARS Sheer Glow in “Mont Blanc”. As indicated by the picture, I squirt equal parts highlighter and foundation — adding whichever I want more — more highlighter for additional glow; more foundation for additional coverage. I like how it’s totally customizable.

After the initial mixing, I apply the mixture to my face as usual. Normally, this is all that I need to do before adding some blush and some under eye brightening if I need it that day. This is a simple and easy way to brighten up your skin, while still maintaining its naturalness. Have you tried this method before?

NARS Sheer Glow – “Mont Blanc”

Ahh yes, the highly coveted NARS Sheer Glow Foundation. Everyone remember when this foundation was all the craze and every cosmetic company out there attempted to ‘dupe’ this product? Probably a year ago or so, I wrote a review on this foundation and complained about the missing pump. In that review, I included where you could find the pump (since the MAC pumps don’t fit), and at that time, my color of choice was “Gobi.”

Welcome to my Sheer Glow review: round 2.

Since then, I’ve run out of my “Gobi” shade, I decided I liked the foundation without the pump, and I re-purchased in a different shade – “Mont Blanc.”

I liked “Gobi” and puchased it originally because it was created specifically for Asian skin tones (according to sephora.com). However, it was SO yellow for me. On the flip side, it did neutralize my pink cheeks wonderfully because of the strong yellow pigment. As I’ve mentioned before, my undertones aren’t strictly yellow – and, in fact, if I were to wear MAC foundations, I would fall into the NW category.

I decided I didn’t like having the pump (which you have to purchase separately) because the cap doesn’t go over the pump. I found that irritating since all my other foundations did that; and, I felt uneasy about having the pump left out in the open like that. Perhaps, that’s just my OCD-ness. :)

What it is: A glowing, satin-finish foundation with sheer and buildable coverage.

What it does: This Sheer Glow Foundation enhances, without masking, your overall natural complexion. The weightless formula hydrates the skin while complexion brightening properties improve skin brightness, radiance, and texture, leaving skin with a luminous, sensual glow.

Suitable for normal, normal-to-dry, dry, and very dry skin types.

Research Results: (according to sephora.com)
– 100% say skin felt soft and smooth
– 96% say it evens out skintone
– 96% say they would purchase it if it were available on the market
– 96% say they would recommend it to a friend
– 92% say skin looks brighter and more radiant

This is the only foundation I’ve finished and re-purchased, which tells you a lot since I purchase so many foundations. There was a period where I used nothing but this for months! I’m glad I’ve rekindled my love for this foundation because now I remember why I’ve missed it.

I chose “Mont Blanc” this time around because I felt that it was a better match. On Sephora’s website, it explains that the shade “Mont Blanc” is for fair skintones “with slight pink undertones.” I liked “Gobi” and there was nothing wrong with it; but it’s nice to switch it up a bit, right?

I feel that “Mont Blanc” is a better match for me (though I can get away with using “Gobi”) because it’s the perfect balance between pinkish and yellowish undertones. It’s a great combination of both, which I find unusual because normally foundations cater to those with only yellow undertones and only pink undertones. Neutral colors don’t work for me and it’s quite rare you find a fair shade that falls in between pink and yellow.

I’m quite pleased with my new color match. I would still recommend “Gobi” to those with strong yellow undertones; and, try “Mont Blanc” if it was not quite what you were looking for. The color range is impressive and the NARS line caters to many complex combinations of undertones. I know many light skinned individuals who don’t use “Mont Blanc” or “Gobi,” but everyone equally loves the texture, formula, and finish of this foundation.

Made in USA.
Item retails for $42.00.
1 fl. oz

*Quotes extracted from http://www.sephora.com.
*Pictures taken using CANON POWERSHOT SD1300 IS DIGITAL ELPH (12.1 Megapixels)

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation & the Pump

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation has been on the market for some time now and I’m only recently jumping on the band wagon. I write this post because this foundation, although branded “high end,” comes with no pump and we need a solution for that. The online reviews for this foundation are superb – from what I’ve researched, very small amounts of people actually dislike the foundation for its formula and texture. In fact, the main turn-off is that there’s no pump, which can lead to unwanted mess, and in some cases, waste of foundation when you accidentally pour out too much. Oh, and god forbid you spill the darn thing.

To some, the pump may not be a big deal, but for many – it’s a design flaw and a deal breaker. It doesn’t help that only the testers at the NARS counter and Sephora have the pumps; and, it also isn’t helpful that you can’t even get one separately anywhere (not even the NARS counters).

After much searching, the NARS foundation pump can be found at the Barneys New York website for $6. There’s no shipping fee and mine arrived in about a week. I was impressed to see that it came heavily wrapped in tissue paper and bubble wrap since it isn’t necessary with a plastic foundation pump, but the effort definitely earned points with me.

The pump is well-made and locks and unlocks by turning the nozzle. The “squirt mechanism” functions well, as it doesn’t clog and get unmanageable, and you can control the amount of foundation to dispense. Even a half a squirt is achievable with this pump. Unfortunately, the original cap that comes with the foundation can no longer be used after you’ve placed the pump in its place. In fact, with the pump, you don’t have an option to cover it with a cap like Chanel’s foundations. You just need to be sure that the pump is locked after each use; and, when traveling, to be extra careful to transport it in an upright position.

I know it’s a lot of trouble to go through. For me, the foundation is totally worth it and it’s not that big of a deal. But with the information provided above, I hope it’s of some help if you’re on the fence about this foundation.

Bottom line: NARS Sheer Glow retails for $42 + $6 pump = $48.

*Pictures taken using CANON POWERSHOT SD1300 IS DIGITAL ELPH (12.1 Megapixels)
*First image (left aligned) extracted from sephora.com
[As always, click on picture to enlarge if you wish.]