Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation Review

For the past year, I've been using one foundation every single day, and can't believe I haven't written about it even once! (I had a draft post saved, and never actually wrote it). I've repurchased it 4 times now, and will continue to do so, because I can't see myself finding a better foundation than this any time soon.

I initially picked it up because it looked like it might be light enough for me, I hadn't seen a foundation available in such pale shades other than from places like Illamasqua and MAC, and I can't justify spending that amount of money on a foundation, when I'm on a pretty tight budget.  So I went for shade 010 Light Porcelain, and decided to give it a try.  At least with a drugstore foundation, if it wasn't the right colour it wouldn't be such a massive waste of money.

As it turned out, Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation stayed true to it's name - it is INCREDIBLE.  It's the perfect shade for my skin, and as it has a very slight pink undertone, it doesn't wash me out.  It makes my skin glow - not in a sweaty, gross looking way, but that dewy, healthy look everyone's always after.

Match Perfection is available in an impressive 11 shades, from Light Porcelain through to 402 Bronze (which is a medium, yellow toned shade), but there aren't any shades for dark skin, which is disappointing.  Everyone should be given the chance to try this!

Wearing Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation

I was a bit worried about the coverage when I tried it, as it's quite a watery consistency, and feels really light on the skin - but again, I was pleasantly surprised when it gave excellent coverage.  The Rimmel website boasts that it has 'Traceless coverage for perfectly flawless skin under any light', and I'd have to agree.  It's build-able so you can go from using a teeny tiny bit and completely sheering it out (perfect for you lucky people with freckles), to using a few thin layers and concentrating on problem areas to get full coverage.

 The staying power is pretty damn impressive, too.  I don't find myself having to touch up my face during the day, (but I generally do add a touch more if I've been out all day and I'm going out in the evening, just to make sure...) and the oilier areas of my face - nose, chin - stay covered and any redness is concealed all day.

 The formula is free from parabens, and has SPF 18, higher than most drugstore foundations, which usually have around SPF 15.  It comes in a glass bottle, which is nice as opposed to the cheap plastic ones you usually get, and has a pump top.

All this for £6.99 (or less depending on where you go - £4.98 in Tesco!) - you can probably see why I keep buying it!  

It's available from most supermarkets with Rimmel displays (the cheapest place I've found it is Tesco), Superdrug, Boots, FeelUnique and Amazon.

As always, thanks for reading and if you've tried the products, or found my review helpful, leave a comment below!

Rach xo

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First Impressions: Seventeen 'On The Spot' Foundation

Today's blog is a first impressions review of Seventeen's new product, On The Spot Foundation, which was released on 13th May 2013.

I came across it when I was in Boots looking for a concealer and figured I'd give it a shot - it cost less than the concealers I was looking for and says full coverage right there on the front.  Worth a risk, right?

It has SPF 25, which is higher than most foundations, and it also claims to give you clearer skin in 4 weeks.  Not many make up products which claim to clear your skin actually do, but looking at the ingredients it contains:

Salicylic Acid - which is used to clear blemishes and pimples in people with acne, by reducing redness and swelling and unblocking clogged pores, and also works for conditions such as psoriasis by softening and loosening any dry skin

and Kaolin - which draws out impurities and toxins in the skin, reducing excess oil, dirt and other waste materials.

So I picked it up and have been using it for about 2 weeks now in place of / mixed with my Bourjois Healthy Mix Radiance Reveal Foundation.  On it's own it's medium-full coverage, and mixed with Rimmel Wake Me Up or Bourjois Healthy Mix it's full coverage (no need for concealer!) and still light on the skin.

So far I have not had any breakouts since starting to use the product, and my skin is looking clearer than it was 2 weeks ago.  So far, so good!

The packaging is nice, a soft tube which is great for getting the last bits of product out, rather than the hard glass/plastic bottles, which inevitably have a good amount of product that you just can't reach at the end, and it has a pump dispenser, which dispenses enough for your whole face in 1 pump - less if you're mixing it with another foundation.

Overall I really like this foundation so far, and will definitely be repurchasing it if my skin stays clear whilst I'm using it.

RRP £5.99, available from Boots (Currently part of a 3 for 2 deal).

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Review: Bourjois Healthy Mix Radiance Reveal Foundation

I recently started running a bit low on foundation, and seeing as spring is here, I wanted something lighter than Rimmel Wake Me Up, but heavier than a bb cream as I still need the coverage to conceal any redness and blemishes.

I did a first impressions review of Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum earlier this year, and wasn't keen at all, but after testing the Healthy Mix Foundation in Superdrug, I decided to give the non gel based formula a try.

I've been using it daily for a good few weeks now, and I'm really liking it.  It has light/medium coverage as opposed to the full coverage I'm used to, but it's buildable to full coverage if needed, and mixed with a bit of Wake Me Up, it's easily full coverage.

I found it extremely easy to blend, although I still tend to work fast with it just in case it decides to set and leave streaks on my neck (it hasn't so far).

I got the Radiance Reveal version, and it has a satin to dewy finish. On my normal-dry skin it's very wearable without powder, giving a nice glow to the skin.  It has apricot for radiance, melon for hydration, apple for antioxidant and ginger for energy, it smells incredible - very fruity and fresh and not artificial and plastic-y - and claims to give a healthy glow and flawless complexion for up to 16 hours.

Whilst I haven't worn the foundation for 16 hours, I haven't had an issue with oxidation, caking or fading.  It has always lasted as long as I've needed it to, usually for a good 8+ hours.

I have it in the shade 51 Light Vanilla, and it matches my skin tone quite well - it's very pale.  If I want slightly more colour, I mix it with my Wake Me Up, as I said earlier.  There are 8 shades to choose from, so chances are you'll be able to find a shade that fits your skin tone.

Overall I love this foundation, it leaves my skin looking glowy and fresh, it feels light on the skin and hasn't caused any kind of irritation or reaction.  I would just say that there are a few versions of the Healthy Mix foundation, and the one I have and like is the Radiance Reveal.  The others I have tested and didn't like as much as this one.

It's available from Boots for £9.99


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Make Up Basics - Contouring and Highlighting

So you've put on your foundation, you've concealed any blemishes and you're left with a completely 2D face that's all one colour and looks... flat.

Contouring and highlighting can be pretty daunting to start off with, but it's a really easy way to add dimension back into your face.








The most important parts of contouring are 1. Blend, 2. Blend, and 3. Blend.

You can use powder or cream bronzer, or you can use a foundation a couple of shades darker than you'd usually use.  If you do choose the latter, I'd use it very sparingly, and add another 'blend' onto the above list.

If you're using powder bronzer, make sure it's matte - you don't want a glittery face, people will think you're from Twilight.

Apply your chosen contour product in the areas shown on the picture, and only apply a bit at a time - knock off any excess powder from your brush, wipe any excess cream from your sponge/brush onto the back of your hand.

Apply the least amount humanly possible into the outside of your face, temple/outer corner of your eye, the hollows of your cheeks, under your jaw and down the hollows either side of your neck.  You can also add bronzer to the sides of your nose for a slimming effect, and underneath your bottom lip, for a slightly poutier look.

Apply it in layers, take your time and blend out as you go.  You don't want lines of brown across your face, just subtle colour difference where your face is naturally hidden from the light.  Think about how the light would hit your face, and apply narrower layers as you build up the colour. 

You just want to add the depth you've hidden back into your face. 

Next comes highlighting.  You can use anything lighter than your base colour to highlight - an illuminator, a light coloured concealer, a lighter shade of foundation, loose pigment, light blush or highlighting powder.

You can use shimmer or matte, it's completely down to your own personal preference


You only want to add highlights to the parts of your face that the light would hit - 


Your brow bone
The tops of your cheekbones
The bridge of your nose
Your cupid's bow

When applying to your brow bone, you want to go just under the arch of your eyebrow and work down under the tail.  You can join the eyebrow and cheekbone highlights, just remember to blend everything out so it doesn't look like you've just drawn white lines all over your face.

When it comes to the bridge of the nose, you want to apply a very thin line of highlight - otherwise you'll be widening your nose (of course, if you want to widen the nose, use a slightly thicker line).

Highlighting the cupid's bow is a really good way to get a naturally pouty look without loading up on lipgloss and getting into the hassle of contouring your lips.  You just want to apply a thin line just above your natural lip line (the bottom of your frenulum) and blend it out.

Once you've practiced and got your preferred technique, you'll be able to contour and highlight as part of your daily routine, and figure out which products work best for you.  It's a case of trial and error, and as ever, practice makes perfect.

I hope this has helped, and if you want to leave a comment below to let me know what you thought of this, or what tutorials you'd like to see, please do!

Left - Base colour only

Right - contour and highlight

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Quick Review: Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder

A few weeks ago, when I decided that having more pan than powder was a bad idea, I decided to try something new - I usually get a translucent powder, or a very light shade, just to set my foundation - but I went for something different this time.

On an impulse buy, I got the Rimmel London Stay Matte pressed powder in the colour Silky Beige, which is basically just a natural skin tone colour.  Nothing crazy or super dark, just a normal colour that fits my light skin quite well.

After swapping foundations last month, I needed a bit of extra colour, as the shade I have does come off as a bit yellow in some lights.

I use a very light application on a large powder brush, and just sweep it across my T-Zone, chin, and a bit on my cheeks if I need it.  It lasts all day for me, which I'm impressed with, and uses natural minerals for shine control.

Although I like the effect this has, I am in the market for a new powder, something a bit more natural, without parabens and all the other crap they've thrown into this as filler.

For something cheap and easy to pick up, it is a pretty good product, and until I find something new to replace it, I'll stick with this one.

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Review: Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer

Following on from my Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation review, it seemed only fitting to talk about the concealer from the range.

Truth be told, I actually bought this concealer first, in  an attempt to win the battle against my under-eye circles.  Now, I haven't quite won yet, but this has taken me a good way into the lead.

I bought the lightest shade (of course I did, I'm a ghost), and it's just a bit lighter than the Ivory foundation shade, which is perfect for making those eye bags disappear.

The concealer claims an anti-fatigue effect and radiant glow, as does the foundation, and they both deliver on these points.  This might not 100% disguise my under eye circles, but it gets 90% of the way, and with a bit of help from the slightly lighter colouring of Benefit's Erase Paste, they're gone, and this makes sure that a glowing, healthy-skin look is left in their place.

It's a liquid concealer, so I use it underneath my foundation and then I'll touch up a bit on top if needed - it blends really well, so I don't tend to worry about it caking up on me if I use too much - I've never had an issue with it gathering in creases or drying out in the month that I've been using it.

The packaging matches the foundation, with a bright orange cap, making it super easy to find in my make up box - thank you, Rimmel.  It also has an applicator - one of those sponge tips, and it's actually pretty good for getting the right amount of concealer - one 'dip' into the tube is enough concealer to do both eyes and any blemishes/redness too - so it'll last ages, I hope!

It's a high-street concealer, so it doesn't cost the earth - it retails at £5.49.  Boots currently have a 3 for 2 offer, so you could grab the concealer, the foundation and get something else free.  Bonus.

Here's a quick 'before/after' of my eyes using this concealer:

Before - No Makeup

After - Using Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer

Overall, I do really recommend this concealer - it's light-medium coverage, but works perfectly to disguise redness and minor blemishes, used under foundation it can be built to cover under eye circles/more prominent blemishes.

I'd also suggest, if your under-eye area is quite dark, apply a bit more concealer over your foundation (either the same concealer, or a more creamy-based, slightly lighter shade concealer) and set with a translucent powder.

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Review: Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation

I've recently changed my foundation routine, replacing a couple of products, and my previous foundation (ELF Studio Flawless Finish Foundation) was one that didn't make the cut.

After looking into a few different foundations, I initially decided to go and buy Bourjois HealthyMix Serum Foundation, but when I got to Superdrug and tested it, it did NOT live up to my expectations, and so I tested a few others and bought Rimmel's Wake Me Up Foundation.

The bottle states that it has an anti-fatigue effect, radiant glow and SPF 15.  And for once, I can say that I have a foundation that lives up to it's claims!

This foundation works miracles on my skin - no uneven skin tone, no dry, flaky patches, no slipping off the oily bits of my face, it's amazing.  It gives my skin a soft, dewy finish (which still shows through my mattifying powder a bit, as just a glow) and it just makes my face feel more 'pumped up' and healthy, thanks to the peptides, which increase elasticity and help skin to recover more quickly.

I have it in the lightest shade, 100 Ivory, and it fits my skin really well.  It blends super easily., meaning no dirty marks around my neck, and doesn't crease or cake up.  It provides a light-medium coverage, but builds well for heavier coverage.

Wearing Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation

I love the packaging, The glass bottle looks a lot less cheap than the usual plastic ones, and it has RIMMEL embossed on the side, which is a nice touch.  The orange cap gives it a bit of a twist and it does stand out against the others on the shelf, and was part of the reason I was drawn to try it.

The best bit about this foundation is that you hardly need to use any to get great coverage - I find that a small pump (about 1/3 pump) does my whole face, and lasts all day.  With 30ml in a bottle, it'll last a good few months, and I will definitely be repurchasing it, as I haven't broken out once in the week I've been using it.  Result!

At £8.99/30ml, it's a pretty standard price high-street foundation, and it's definitely worth the money.  I'd recommend this for any skin type, and there's a good range of shades, too.

Available to buy from Superdrug.com


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Review: Elf Studio Flawless Finish Foundation

This has been my go-to foundation for well over a year now, for one simple reason - it doesn't break me out.  There are many other plus points to this, but that is the main one for me - the oil free formula is great on my skin.

I started buying this back when it was about £3.75, and the price has jumped up to £6.75/29g now, which is why I chose not to repurchase - why not try something new for the same price?  It'll still be here if I decide it's the only one I can ever love.

Now it's not got the best coverage, and it doesn't last long, but it has SPF15 UVA/UVB coverage, and that's a must (you should try to get SPF in as many of your face products as you can manage, but if you can't get SPF foundation, opt for SPF moisturiser.  Make sure you have that protection there, or you're risking your skin looking old and tired too soon, as well as skin cancer.  Bad times.)

This foundation comes in a glass bottle with a black plastic lid, and a pump dispenser.  The down side to this is that, once the product is out of reach of the pump, it stops working.  For the past 2 months I've been unscrewing my bottle and applying it via the back of my hand.  Now, for people who don't know there's product left and don't unscrew the pump, that's a massive waste of money - about 1/3-1/2 of the bottle.  Not a small amount.

As I said, I've been scraping it out for about 2 months now, and a bottle lasts me around 3-4 months at most.  One pump/small pea sized amount is enough to do my whole face, and build it up in the areas where I need the most coverage (blemishes, redness).  It is buildable, but to an extent.  I wouldn't buy this if I needed heavy coverage, but it's perfect for light-medium coverage.

The texture is really silky, and it goes on really light.  It doesn't feel like it's sitting on your skin, it feels like it's soaking in like a moisturiser would.  It blends out really well, too, and I've never been left with a dirty line around my face/neck, so I'm pleased with that.

It comes in 6 shades - Porcelain, Sand, Buff, Caramel, Almond and Coco.  I use porcelain, which fits my light skin tone really well.  I do usually use the lightest/second lightest foundation shade available, but this is one of the best fits I've found for my skin colour.

As for longevity, it doesn't score a 10, that's for sure.  It lasts a few hours, and then seems to come off my skin, which is strange considering I don't have oily skin at all.  It just seems to wear away and my blush is left sitting on a naked face, and whilst that isn't so bad if you're using it for light coverage, anything more than that and you're not really getting any use from the product.

Overall, this is great for everyday wear if you have clear skin and want something lightweight on your face, but if you don't want your spots to be revealed half way through your day, this probably isn't for you.


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Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation - First Impressions

I've been waiting to try this foundation for about two months now, and finally ran out of my Elf Studio Finish Foundation today, so I made a quick trip to Superdrug to pick this up.

I tested a few colours, and oh my holy Jesus this is a bad product.  I tested on my hand, and it CREATED wrinkles.  I'm only 22, I don't have hand wrinkles, I do now.

I'm so disappointed, it caked up into every little crease in my skin and then caked up on itself.  Not only that, but it looked flaky, like I had dry patches all over my skin.  Not a good look! For a smooth gel foundation this is really a let down for me.

Needless to say, I didn't make the purchase.  But I'm just so upset that it was so bad - for one, because of all the claims it makes, and the ingredients are all pretty good, and secondly, because it's on sale at the moment for £7.99 down from over £10.

Sadface.  Bourjois, please make a healthy mix foundation that doesn't make me look like I'm decaying, and I will love you forever.


UPDATE:  I have since tried and reviewed the Bourjois Healthy Mix Radiance Reveal Foundation, and you can read it here

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Intro

First post. Okay, here goes nothing...

I spend most of my free time on YouTube watching makeup gurus, collecting little tips and trying them out - and never really going anywhere or doing anything where people will notice my face and think 'My, how lovely that contouring looks', or 'Well, she certainly has defined her crease well with that eye look'.  So I figured, seeing as it is actually something I enjoy, why not write about it?   It can't hurt, right?

Asking a blogger page rhetorical questions...  And so it begins.

So I'll give you the LD on my face, so you can get an idea of what I'm working with here.  I have sensitive, pale skin, with hormonal acne every few weeks.  I sound hot, don't I?

I don't have any photos of me makeup-less yet, but I'll be sure to add some in when I get round to taking them.  In the meantime, here's one of me with low-coverage makeup from the other day.

You can see a couple of blemishes (the piece of hair hanging down is strategically covering the one bad one I have right now) but nothing too major.

You can also see I have pretty dark circles under my eyes - my sleep routine is messed up right now! Good news for the concealer industry.





I'll do a foundation routine and probably give a few of my favourite products a review, and then who knows, I might actually get some looks on here.

Maybe.


Please leave comments below to let me know anything you'd like to see!

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