Best Foundations + Primers For Oily / Combo Skin

Hey guys!

One of my favourite makeup products has to be foundations! I own way more than what it necessary but I just can't help myself, I absolutely love trying to find the "perfect" foundation!

For me, with my oily / combination skin (mainly I have a very oily t-zone!), there are a few key things that I look for in a foundation and that is the finish, longevity, and of course the colour! It's extremely hard to find foundations that match my fake tanned, olive skin tone, but that's a whole other issue. If you want to know more information about these foundations than what i've written below, check out my video too! 

The Best Foundations for Oily/ Combo Skin !

So let's jump straight into my favourites!

Ex1 Invisiwear Foundation

This is my everyday foundation and I can't rave enough about it! if you've been looking for a lightweight foundation that still has decent coverage but looks really natural this stuff is amazing. I love how it doesn't completely mask your skin and has a natural finish, plus it lasts all day with little touch ups. Here's the link to my full Ex1 review- it's that good it deserved a whole blog post to itself! 

http://jennifermcfadyen.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/ex1-invisiwear-foundation-review-check.html

Buy here: http://bit.ly/1eSWfR6

Revlon Color Stay Oily / Combination 

This is an oldy but a goody and still one of my favourite boots / superdrug / drugstore foundations, particularly for nights outs! It gives quite a full coverage and has a satin/matte effect, and no joke, this is super glue for the face! It's very comparable to the Estée Lauder double wear but for the price, I'd say just stick with the cheaper option.

Buy here: http://bit.ly/1rsAGoM

Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue 

This is probably not the type of foundation you'd expect in a oily skin focused blog, but I think this stuff is great for everyday wear! it's a very sheer coverage, and a little dewy, but it gives my skin a really nice tint so it matches my fake tanned skin a lot better (which if you don't tan your face, you know the struggle! haha). It also has spf 30 so it's a good everyday choice. I've nearly finished one bottle and i'll definitely be picking up another! 

http://bit.ly/1KopTUD

Nars Sheer Glow

Ahhh Nars sheer glow, my top pick for high end foundations! You might have been expecting something like double wear, and although I do need to blot with this foundation, I love the finish so much that it's totally worth it to me. It has a medium, build able coverage but it's really hard to describe the finish, it's not completely matte but it does have a sort of 'sheer glow' to it, *face palm*. I always get asked what it is i'm wearing when I have this foundation on, so I guess that's the true test of how amazing this is! 

Buy here: http://bit.ly/1WPvNBE

Check out this review here to see more in-depth information on these primers! :) 

>>> http://jennifermcfadyen.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/how-to-make-your-pores-look-smaller.html <<<

- Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer
http://bit.ly/1TryIgW

- Nyx Angel Veil Primer
http://bit.ly/24dsHJO

- Smashbox Pore Minimising Primer
http://bit.ly/1rangNF

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How to Make Your Pores Look Smaller || Products + Tips

Hey everyone!

This is a post for all of you, who like me, have been cursed with the problem of having large pores, and when I say large pores, I literally mean craters, that you could fall into, on my face :'( 

i have pretty oily skin, which I'm guessing is to blame for my humongous pores? Anyway, I have pretty clear skin, so my pores are the one thing that really really bug me when I do my makeup! 

**PS- this should be some sort of drinking game, take a shot every time I say pores, haha**

So if you're looking for some of the best pore filling products on the market then look no further, hopefully my list below will help you fill in those pores and save yourself some cash at the same time! 

- First up is primers, which personally, I think are essential for anyone with oily skin and large pores! My favourite to use is the Smashbox Pore Minimising primer, which at £28 is a little pricey but is definitely worth it for the effect it gives and how long it lasts! It has quite a thick texture so it's important to only use a teenie tiny amount and really push it into your pores, rather than swiping it on. If you have any dry skin at all, I wouldn't go near this stuff because it will cling!

- Next up is the Nyx Angel Veil primer, which I've heard works really well for those with dry skin too, though I can't really vouch for that. I wouldn't say this covers pores as well as the Smashbox primer but it does a pretty decent job, plus it's the most affordable one I've found at around £15; loving that Nyx is now more widely available in the UK! 

I do also find a big difference between using different application methods! I'd really recommend using a sponge like the real techniques one or the beauty blender as this will allow you to push the product into your pores (and not moving your primer around) and make them less noticeable, rather than just swiping a brush across, which can make them look more prominent than they were before! 

And last but by no means least is the Alpha H liquid gold. I freaking LOVE this stuff, and it's really the only skincare item that I feel has actually made a noticeable difference to my pore size. I know many products claim to do this (believe me I've wasted my money on A LOT of them) and skincare experts say it's impossible to make pores smaller but I really do notice a difference with this product. I do think it is a temporary effect though and you need to keep using it regularly to see a change, it's almost like its firming your skin which then makes your pores looks smaller. in any case it's a fantastic product which I'm planning on doing a full review on because I think everyone needs to try it! 

And that's it guys, all the products, tips and tricks I think really help with minimising pores, let me know in the comments what products you use so I can try them out :)

EX1 Invisiwear Foundation Review + Check In

Hey everyone! 

For the past 2 years one of my absolute favourite foundations has been the Ex1 Invisiwear. Recently, I've noticed quite a few bloggers it out and hoping onto the Ex1 bandwagon, so I figured i'd throw my 2 cents in and do a full review and check in throughout the day so guys can see how it holds up on my oily / combination skin :) Check out the video above to see how this foundation holds up though out the day with regular check-ins!

For me, it's extremelyyyy hard to find lightweight foundations for my skin type, does anyone else feel like all foundations for oily skin are super thick and heavy?! I'm quite picky however when it comes to foundation - I want something that will hold up all day and not make me look like a total grease-ball, but I also don't want to be scrubbing my face at night trying to remove it from my skin because its held up so well. Not asking for much, eh? haha.

I basically discovered this foundation because I was sick of looking oompah loompah-ish and wanted to find a foundation that would match my fake tan really well! And whal-ah, I came across this amazing brand catered towards olive skin tones.

Here's a few reasons why I love this foundation so much and a link to where you can buy it!

• It's very lightweight 
• Applies evenly with a brush or beauty blender
• Holds up on my oily / combination skin
• Easy to remove at night
• Doesn't sink in too badly to laughter lines (all foundations do this for me, some are worse than others however!)
• Doesn't break up 
• Can be sheered out for light cover, or built up for a medium coverage
• Natural / Skin like finish
• Fab for everyday use or a special occasion
• No SPF, so it's great for any flash photography, so good in fact that many celebrity makeup artists use this on their clients for red carpets!
• Packaging is b-e-autifulll colour, has a pump and no product is wasted with the push up function
• The colours are amazing for olive and fake tanned skin and they have a colour chart comparing their shades to Mac so you know which one to buy
• And finally the price, such a steal at £12.50!

The only negatives I can think of with this foundation is that the colour range could be larger as there's only a measly 5 shades. Plus, I can't wear this foundation when i'm not fake tanned, and although the brand is geared towards olive skin tones it would be great to see them branch out at later stage and use their amazing foundation formula to cater to all skin tones.

Look Fantastic Ex1 -http://bit.ly/1YCvbyq

(I never pay full price because this site always offer discounts of at least 10%!)

Hope this was helpful for you! Please let me know in the comments down below if you've tried out this foundation or if you have any other questions! :)

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Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Creme Review

Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Creme - 06 Ginger

Hey everyone!

I've been using the Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Gel Creme (could've come up with a longer name eh?) for a few months now and wanted to share my thoughts on it :)

I wasn't too sure whether this would be a good purchase for me initially as I have oily skin, but I'd been looking out for a lightweight cc cream style of base, just something light for everyday use. I've previously used the bare minerals powder foundation and wasn't very impressed - does anyone else feel like it takes foreverrr to apply for little coverage?! Anyway, after finding it online with a few pounds off I decided to try the brand out again. 

I went for the colour 06 Ginger which is a great match for my fake tan, the shade range is pretty easy to choose from too with all undertones clearly stated on their website if you need some help deciding on a shade. The only problem with going for a sheer foundation (which I would definitely say this is, if you're looking for a medium to full this won't be the product for you!) is that the colour tends to look better when my face tanned too. I normally like to apply it with a buffing brush for a little extra coverage, or my hands which is quick and easy. Both ways blend out the foundation nicely though and i'm not left with any streaks. It does cover everything that I want it to cover nicely, the redness on my cheeks being my main problem area, but I do have pretty good skin and don't tend to lean towards full coverage foundations!

Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Creme 

I really love the packaging for this foundation too, the squeeze tube is just so convenient for on the go, travelling and is super quick and easy for those mornings when you're rushing round do-lalley and don't have much time to fuss over makeup!

So like I said before, I wasn't too sure if I would like this product as it does have a more natural/dewy finish and I have oily/combo skin (basically a very oily tzone and normal on the outer perimeter.) This was one of the main reasons however why I wanted to post about it because I feel like most reviews online are from those with drier skin. 

I'm surprised to say I actually really like it! With any foundation I have to blot my t-zone throughout the day and this was no different, it's not an oil controlling product but I find that okay as I don't look like a total greaseball after hours of wear, a little blotting and powdering touch ups and it looks fab again :) I do want to mention though that whenever I first put it on I don't think it looks like anything special, but once i've finished my makeup it makes my skin look fab, very radiant, natural and glow-y without looking sweaty y'know? Whenever I wear this product I always use my favourite primers (either the Nyx Angel Veil or Smashbox Pore Minimizing), set it with some powder and finish off with a setting spray to add to the longevity, but I do do this with every foundation I use. I also think it doesn't look too oily by the end of the day because it's very hydrating and my skin doesn't feel the need to produce as much oil.

All pictures below are completely unedited! 

Before foundation, apologies for the wet hair haha

No foundation

Skin With Complexion Rescue

Completed Look

Completed Look

Oh and I also love that it has SPF30 in it, another added bonus for an everyday foundation, particularly because I use retinol skincare products which makes my skin more sensitive to sunlight!

Will I be purchasing this product again? Most likely! The only thing stopping me from saying absolutely is that I want to try out the new Nars Matte cc cream next haha, but if that doesn't work out i'll be right back to using the complexion rescue gel creme :)


I can't remember exactly where I bought mine, it was either look fantastic or feel unique.com (they always seem to have the best deals on bare minerals products in general!)

Buy it here >>> http://bit.ly/1KopTUD

Let me know in the comments below if you've tried this foundation and what your thoughts are on it ! 


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LOreal Paris Infallible Matte Foundation Review

Hello everyone!

I picked up the new Loreal Infallible Matte Foundation from Boots after seeing other bloggers RAVING about it over the past few months. 

Loreal 24 Hour Infallible Foundation

As someone with veryyyy oily skin you can imagine how excited I was at seeing this product with the words "24 Hour" and "Matte" in it! I don't feel that like there's too many options for my skin type on a budget so this was a welcomed addition to my foundation collection.

I paid £7.99 for the foundation, which I think is pretty standard in the UK for a cheaper foundation. I also really like the packaging, I''m quite happy with the tube style bottle because its really easy to travel with and is quick and easy when your in a rush in the morning (no spilling too much out of a bottle and getting it everywhere! haha.) My biggest flaw with the foundation is the shade range. 6 shades? I mean c'mon Loreal, you can do better than that! I'm assuming that this foundation is the same as the pro matte in America as the packing is very similar, yet they have around double the number of shades we have which makes no sense to me whatsoever! All the shades launched in the UK are pretty light and pink toned so there was no hope of finding one even remotely close to my normal 'fake tan' shade, so instead I picked up my 'non fake tan' shade 'Vanilla', even though I knew I wouldn't get as much use out of it. If I was going by the American shade range I probably would have picked up 'Golden Beige.' Fingers crossed the full line up is released in the UK soon!

Only Loreal foundation on

                           

fake tan marks on nose still visible

So as for the actual product itself, I do like the foundation but I can't say I love it.Maybe I had my hopes set up too high after reading other reviews but it just didn't really live up to the hype. 

In terms of coverage, I felt like this was okay, but it definitely didn't cover everything, which isn't always a bad thing! I've included some close up nose shots down below at my own expense - you can thank me later ;) - as it didn't cover the dark fake tan marks left around my nose. I did use a sponge however to apply this, so maybe a brush would provide a better coverage with it? I would recommend using a sponge though as it could look quite heavy on the skin using a brush.

My main concern with the foundation is that from reading other reviews this was supposed to keep me matte pretty much all day and really keep my oily skin under control, but I didn't feel like it did this as well as I wanted it too. Again, maybe I had my hopes set too high for it, but I definitely still had to blot and powder throughout the day. 

Maybe if your skin isn't too oily this foundation would work really well for you but for me I think I'll be sticking to my oily/combo Revlon Colourstay Foundation which has a much better shade range, gives a more flawless coverage (in my opinion) and really keeps me matte throughout the day! 

Let me know in the comments below if you've tried this foundation and what you think about it !

**All the pictures included are not retouched so you can hopefully see exactly what the foundation looks like! I've also included pictures both with and without the rest of my face makeup done.**

 

BEAUTY BLENDER vs REAL TECHNIQUES SPONGE

Hey everyone!

I've been using the real techniques miracle complexion sponge for around a year now and I absolutely love it! It gives a nice flawless looking finish and is by far my favourite tool to use when applying foundation and concealer because it picks up all the excess product so you never get the dreaded 'cake face' look ha.

I figured because I love using a sponge I would pick up a Beauty Blender to try out. I've been putting off buying one for a while now because its around 3x the price of a real techniques sponge but when I saw it on amazon for £13 I decided to take the plunge and try it out!

Firstly, of course, the main issue I have with the beauty blender is the price. Ive been testing it out for around a week now but so far I'm not convinced it's really worth the high price tag. Something I had noticed when I heard others talking about the BB was how quickly you could wring the water out after soaking it under a tap. While I find this is true, I also feel like it actually releases too much water and by the time I've applied my foundation and moving on to concealer, I have to go soak it again as it feels almost dry and doesn't blend out the product as easily. On the other hand, I do think the RT does retain more water, resulting in it stealing more product than the BB.

As for the shape, I really like the pointed end of the BB as it's a nice size to fit under the eye area to blend out concealer, but I also love the flat side of RT. I just find it much easier to blend it out with this side than the rounded edge of the BB, but maybe this is just because I'm not as used to this method?

Real Techniques VS Beauty Blender

The material of both is pretty different too, the BB feels much more firm than the RT sponge. While I don't feel this makes a huge difference when applying my foundation other than them stealing product, the BB does feel more robust and I think it will last longer than my RT sponge, as i've been through 2 sponges in the last year already.



Overall I would say that if your new to makeup sponges, definitely just go with the cheaper RT alternative too test it out and a sponge isn't for everyone, especially I would say if you prefer a more full coverage look!

If you want to know more of my thoughts on the sponges then check out my video below and let me know in the comments what you have/prefer! :)

Beauty Blender: currently under £10! - grab one quick ;)
http://amzn.to/1BYFvEz

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge: Around £5 online.
http://amzn.to/1B6cJa8