I am sure I have said this before and I am going to say it again, buying foundations is my weakness. This time I splurged (thank you to a gift voucher I received for my birthday) on the Becca Aqua Luminous Perfecting Foundation. I remember KathleenLights mentioning it as one of her favourite foundations for dry skin. Usually the foundations she recommends also work for me as our skin tone and type is pretty similar, so I thought why not?

The Becca foundation retails for $72 AUD, so I thought adding in my review would be helpful especially since it is so pricey. On the Australian Sephora site it comes in 7 shades: fair, light, beige, medium, tan, dark golden and deep bronze. However, in store I noticed there was an 8th shade - porcelain. I picked it up in the shade fair, even though light had better undertones to suit my skin it was a tad dark and it oxidises slightly once it dries down making fair a better option.

So, what does this $72 foundation claim to do? 
It is "a flexible, liquid foundation made from pigments that blur and perfect to reflect your skin tone." 

The coverage "feels ultra-light and buildable, while it evens and perfects your complexion. Every weightless drop of fluid imparts subtle luminosity that blurs imperfections and leaves a soft-focused glow. The foundation features a curated array of flexible shades that flatter all skin tones."

"For flawless results, shake well before each use to ensure that the pigments and luminisers blend perfectly."

It is also formulated without parabens, sulfates and phthalates.

BEST FOR:
Normal, normal to dry, dry and very dry skin types. If you have combination or oily skin they recommend you use their matte primer and a finishing powder. Based off my experience, unless you are willing to play around with the foundation and blot, I would steer clear if you have oily skin.

The glow isn't too much on my dry skin and makes my skin look very healthy. I also find I don't need to powder, but again my skin is quite dry so there aren't any oils coming through.

SWATCHES:
This swatch was taken when I had my summer tan, hence why it looks so light for my skin tone. It is a better match to my winter shade however, it is not 100% as it has slight pink tones in it too. When it was on my face (selfies below) I wasn't as tanned as I am now so you can kind of tell I am a little more yellow than the foundation shade. Since it is a sheerer formula I am able to look past this though!

THOUGHTS/REVIEW:
Before I forget, this foundation is a water-based foundation so it works best when paired with water-based primers and not oil.

Despite it being weightless and ultra-light the coverage is there. If you've read my skin diaries and have seen my bare skin you will know I have quite a bit of redness to cover. In one sheer layer it evened out my skin tone and I was able to build it up on my cheeks which achieved a medium coverage that literally looked like my skin.

The foundation is quite undetectable on the skin however, it can cling to severe dry patches. Especially if you are silly like me and burn your forehead in the sun which results in it peeling. I think any foundation or product would cling to that sort of dryness/flaky skin though. It didn't emphasise the dryness from old acne scabs and it smoothed over my fine lines. Because of this, I would also recommend the foundation for mature skin types as it is super hydrating and luminous so it won't age the skin in any way.

If you don't like a pretty intense dewy look to your skin then you won't be a fan of this. For someone that looks dehydrated nearly every time makeup is applied I appreciated the dew and healthy appearance this gave my skin. Some review I read mentioned that the foundation settled into pores but I don't have large pores so that wasn't a concern for me. If you do then maybe keep this in mind or pair the foundation with a pore filling primer.

Personally, I'd only layer this foundation twice on my dryer skin type because I can see how it could cake up. Since my acne is already quite dry from tea tree oil or other treatments, applying too much product will only emphasise that. With two layers I achieve decent coverage without it looking cakey. If I do require a full coverage I would reach for a concealer rather than continuously layer on foundation.

The best way to apply this foundation is to use a brush. A sponge would soak up a lot of the product as it is water-based. It can take a little while to properly buff it into the skin but when you do it will look very natural. I am able to wear this foundation on its own with no other makeup and it just makes my skin look fresh and hydrated.

A slight downside to the foundation is that it does dry a shade or two darker than when it is first applied. It isn't too drastic but if you are thinking of buying this foundation try a shade lighter than what you would normally be and see if that dries down to your perfect shade. Like I mentioned above, the shade light was almost perfect for me but when it set it was too dark.

Lastly, I have barely have issues wearing this foundation during the heat. Sweat can make it look ever so slightly cakey which is why I don't really suggest it for oily skin types, but there are ways to combat this. The heat can make it look even more glowy so a little powder will be beneficial on these days.

I will attach an image of a 37 degree day when I wore this foundation. I was outdoors for part of it and I think it held up pretty well.

As you can tell in the third (most realistic as it is by a window) photo, it offers a very natural finish to the skin and lets your skin peak through. Despite my acne and redness it really does even out my skin without looking like I've applied foundation.

PACKAGING:
The foundation comes in a similar package to their backlight priming filter. It is encased in a frosted glass bottle and a bronzey lid. This foundation doesn't come with a pump like other foundations do, it has a dropper which can sometimes get the opening pretty messy. I don't love nor hate the application because I like applying it straight to my skin with the dropper but I do need to be careful not to get too messy with it. It is a unique idea but it can be hit or miss for different people, based off your own preferences.

I find the appearance of the foundation to be very luxurious which is what you would expect for the price. Also, you get 30ml of product, similar to other foundations.

Since the Becca Backlight Priming Perfector (review here) worked so well with my skin I did have high hopes with this foundation. I am glad the $72 wasn't a waste because it is a lot of money. I would suggest you try a sample before purchasing just to ensure it works with your skin and you like the glow it gives.

I am trying to make it a habit to write up more foundation/base product reviews. Especially because I feel like my skin is on the more difficult side to cover, I feel like it would be more helpful for you all. I'm including wear test photos as well as how well the foundation covers my acne and scarring. So, let's get into my thoughts on the 3INA 3 in 1 foundation.

Before I jump into my thoughts I wanted to include the blurb that is on the box. I'd also like to add that this foundation is paraben free, cruelty free and vegan! On the 3INA website this foundation is one of their best sellers.

Ingredients, (for those whom are wondering):

AQUA (WATER), CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, SODIUM CHLORIDE, MICA, DIMETHICONE, POLYGLYCERYL-4 ISOSTEARATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE, POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE, METHICONE, SILICA, MAGNESIUM ALUMINUM SILICATE, DISODIUM EDTA, BENZOPHENONE-3, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, ASCORBIC , ACID, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, TALC, VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS FRUIT EXTRACT, SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM EXTRACT (SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM (SUGAR CANE) EXTRACT), SIGESBECKIA ORIENTALIS EXTRACT, RABDOSIA RUBESCENS EXTRACT, CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS FRUIT EXTRACT (CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) FRUIT EXTRACT), CITRUS LIMON FRUIT EXTRACT (CITRUS LIMON (LEMON) FRUIT EXTRACT), BHT, ACER SACCHARUM EXTRACT (ACER SACCHARUM (SUGAR MAPLE) EXTRACT). +/- (MAY CONTAIN): CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77491 (IRON OXIDES), CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE).

This is one pump onto my finger. The formula is on the thicker side but don't let this fool you into thinking it feels heavy on the skin.

Now for the fun part: my thoughts and experience.
I applied this foundation at 10:20AM. It gave off a natural finish with medium coverage, when built up to two layers. If you skin is clearer than mine then this foundation could appear to give a fuller coverage.

When the foundation is initially applied to the skin it feels slightly tacky but once it dries this feeling goes away and you do not need to set it with powder. Especially if your skin is on the drier side like mine. Although my skin is dry, it did not emphasise dry patches and it didn't settle too badly into any fine lines (only settled in the eyelid/under eye region).

Once the foundation set I applied cream products to my skin, since that is my new obsession! They all applied well and didn't take off the foundation in any way. The cream products I applied were: Mecca highlight balm, Nudestix matte colour in Bondi Bae and Naughty n Spice.

In terms of the next two updates, there isn't much of a difference between the photos. The 3INA foundation gave my skin a healthy appearance and still did not cling to dryness nor settle in my smile lines. I actually slept in the car for over an hour while wearing this foundation and it didn't even wear off or become patchy.

At the 9/10 hour mark is when you can notice the foundation breaking down. You can tell by the photo that the coverage has decreased and more redness is peaking through than earlier in the day. I normally don't wear foundation this long so this doesn't bother me too much. On the bright side, at this point it still had not clung to my dry patches and barely creased in my smile lines, only slightly.

Overall, for the price I was impressed by this foundation. I do want to test the waterproof claims so I am planning on wearing on wearing it when I go swimming with the dolphins next weekend. I will update you all via my Instagram on how it performs.

I'd recommend this foundation to be worn during the day time as it does contain SPF. If you have dry skin it will sit nicely over it and if you have acne or redness you will need a concealer on the areas you need extra coverage. I would also suggest a 7 hour wear time for this foundation to ensure it stays looking fresh and doesn't break down or wear off in areas. For the price it is a great foundation to check out and try if you can!

The last week of uni is over and now I just have two weeks of placement. I can finally get back into regular blogging!! 

This weeks post is a foundation review. Foundations are one of my favourite makeup products to try out because I feel like my skin is very difficult to work with, so when one works I know it's good! If you didn't know I have dry, acne prone, sensitive and scarred skin. I like my foundation to look natural but still cover well enough for me to feel confident. Does the SCOUT foundation live up to my standards? Read on to find out.

SCOUT Cosmetics claims the foundation to be soothing and moisturising with a light fragrance. It is perfect for all skin types and leaves skin fresh, radiant even toned.

Before jumping into the pro's and con's of the foundation I will include a few images I took on the day I wore it for 10+ hours.

Before and after of SCOUT Cosmetics Luminous Finish Foundation

Close up of SCOUT foundation

How I wear the foundation:

I apply the foundation with a brush to get more coverage and I do not use primer. To prep my skin I rely on whatever moisturiser I am using at the time. In the above photos I am not wearing a primer either.

You may notice that in the second image of just the foundation applied to my skin it doesn't cling well and leaves a weird patch. I have no idea why that happens but once I applied powder it fixed.

Pros

• Doesn't need to be set. Especially if you have dry skin it won't leave a weird sticky feeling so you can easily get away without applying any powder.
• Medium coverage and buildable.
• Doesn't settle into pores. Even without a primer it sits fairly nicely on my skin, despite my scars. If you do have deep pores or scars a pore filling primer can diffuse this.
• Lasts hours and hours. I can easily wear this all day long without worrying about it or touching up. This could be because I have a dryer skin type, but it isn't overly "luminous" (unlike the name claims) so I could see it working with oily skin too.
• Natural finish. Although it does get more "luminous" over time.
• Lightweight and undetectable.
• Organic/natural. A liquid foundation that is actually good for you!
• Doesn't crease in fine lines. Nor does it settle in my smile lines.
• Quite affordable for a natural foundation, similar to Mecca prices.

Cons

• Can ever so slightly cling to dry patches. This could be avoided by wearing a hydrating primer, I just don't bother on a regular basis.
• Sometimes sits funny/patchy on my skin but again that could just be my skin at the time or a lack of primer.
• Not a very luminous finish, its more natural matte in my opinion. It does get more of a glow the longer you wear it, like I mentioned above.

Overall I do really like this foundation. I feel comfortable wearing it on more of a daily basis because I know it isn't made from chemicals but still covers my skin. The only major downfall for me was that it can be patchy but when I tried it again with a primer this problem didn't occur. I'd definitely recommend this if you're after a new liquid foundation. 

Also, it doesn't claim anywhere that it has SPF and I didn't notice any major flashback, only slightly. For me this is more of a day time foundation, rather than night. You could also sheer out the coverage if you were to apply it with a sponge.

Disclaimer - This product was sent to me to test out for myself. The review was my idea and all opinions are 100% honest and based off my own experience. I only work with companies I would personally support or purchase from myself and generally use products for an extended period of time before writing a review. For more information click here - disclaimer

Ever since going cruelty free mid last year my foundation collection decreased dramatically. In fact I only have two in my "foundation" drawer. I thought it was time to add a new member to the family and I chose the Milani Conceal + Perfect 2 in 1 foundation. There was a lot of hype surrounding this foundation and usually I don't purchase these type of products but it was affordable, promises full coverage and is on the yellow side so I gave in.

Claims
"Combat under eye circles, redness and other skin imperfections with this full coverage, water-resistant foundation plus concealer in one. A no mess, no drip pump dispenses just the right amount of fluid needed to achieve a flawless look and works around the clock to keep skin looking naturally perfect!" -(Milani website)

Swatches/Formula

This foundation has a thick formula that isn't runny whatsoever. In saying this it isn't drying and can be blended with both a sponge or brush. I personally prefer the coverage of a brush but the finish of a sponge. So it is all up to personal preference. In this second photo the circle swatch is the same as above just after 10 minutes and the swatch above is freshly applied. I wouldn't say this foundation oxidises at all. 


Shade 01 Creamy Vanilla is yellow-toned so it is great for those with light-warm skin tones. This shade is too light for me currently so if you are a similar shade to me i'd go the next shade up.

Milani Conceal + Perfect 2 in 1 Foundation shade 01 Creamy Vanilla

Opinions
This was initially going to be a first impression but I decided to try it over a month period to properly gather my thoughts. I will still include how it went the first time I wore it but over time and with other products my feelings did change.

First impressions: This foundation is tacky, provides full coverage which takes two layers for me (due to scarring) and has a very matte finish. I paired this with my Hourglass ambient lighting powder in Dim Light to add a glow. 

After an hour of wear the foundation creased under my eyes (not terribly, but noticeable), in my smile lines and on my forehead. After three hours the foundation slightly creased more but you can only tell if you are looking up close and purposely inspecting my face. I would probably avoid using it on my forehead and between my brows as those are my dehydrated areas which tend to look dryer more than the rest of my face. Six hours later and it hasn't gone cakey and hasn't faded despite me being someone who touches my face a lot. 

I will be using this foundation to mix with others to add more coverage or on hot days because it definitely stays put.

After using roughly another 8 times:
This is why i'm not 100% a fan of first impression reviews. My opinion has somewhat changed from only using this foundation to mix with others to me loving it on its own. I truly believe you could make any foundation work just by switching out products and finding the perfect combination.

I decided to try the Milani foundation with the Becca Backlight Priming Filer and oh my goodness, it lasted from 8am to 11pm one day! After the 8 hour mark is started to cling to dry patches where previous acne was but earlier in the day my forehead and smile lines were fine. I definitely do not recommend this but this is the type of foundation I could sleep with and wake up with it still looking perfect and ready for the day ahead.

The following times I used it with different powders but found the Australis Fresh & Flawless powder + Becca Primer to be the best combination. Since it is tacky it does have to be set even if you have dry skin, this is a great powder that won't make us dryer gals and guys dryer.

I never found this foundation to feel heavy on my skin despite it being fuller coverage and I didn't notice it to oxidise. The shade is a little too light for my so in the swatch above I will include an image if it oxidised during my hand swatch or not. I even put it to the ultimate test and wore it on a 34 degree (celsius) day during physical education and it stayed put!

This is one of my new favourite foundations and I'm very impressed. I haven't tried much from Milani before but they're so good for the price.

I picked up a sample of the Too Faced Born This Way foundation from my local Mecca after hearing so many positive reviews on it. If you read my blogposts regularly you will know that my skin type is dry and has a lot of redness so full coverage is a necessity. So, let's get into my thoughts on this hyped up foundation.

The Born This Way foundation retails for $58 AUD at Mecca Maxima which is quite a reasonable price for more of a higher end foundation. You receive 30ml of product and guess what, it comes with a pump!! Mecca states it is

A complexion perfection foundation that provides natural looking medium to full coverage. Oil free, hydrating makeup.

Straight away I can agree with natural looking medium to full coverage. I have A LOT of stubborn redness and scarring on my cheeks that it seriously takes a lot of colour correcting and layers to disguise. With this foundation I only needed the tiniest amount to immediately have a medium coverage. It was easy to build upon and in no time I had full coverage minus the cakey look that you can sometimes get. This foundation is lightweight so you don't even feel it on and as it is oil free I do see it working with people with slightly oily skin. Although I cannot speak from experience so still do some research if you are oily!

For some reason I was always under the impression that it was a matte finish foundation however it has more of a satin finish. It is comparable to NARS Sheer Glow in terms of the natural finish it gives your skin. When I used it for the first time I paired it with my Becca Backlight Priming Filter and it did not cling to any dry patches and my skin had more of a dewy appearance.

With my dryer skin this foundation did start looking a little powdery and cakey on my cheeks after the 8 hour mark. Mind you I did not set it with powder so if you have very dry skin keep in mind that it can cling to dry patches after some time or maybe immediately depending on your skin. In saying this, for majority of the day my skin had a healthy glow and did not look cakey. After 5 or so hours it did begin to settle in my smile lines which happens with every foundation in the world. It didn't happen as bad as usual though and I only had to blend it out using my finger before it was good as new.

When I use up more of my current foundations I will most likely purchase this one. I still need to wear it more to see if my opinions change however at this point in time I love it! I'm not sure if it will beat my Sheer Glow but at the moment it is up there with my favourite foundations.

Comment your thoughts on the Born This Way foundation below!

I'm not the type of person that sticks to one foundation routine for prolonged periods of time as I have never found products to work 100% for me every time. I have finally hit the jackpot and am really excited to share it with you all! I have dry, acne prone skin that tends to crease a lot, especially in my smile lines. Foundations would either combat one issue but accentuate another. This routine involves four crucial products that prevents every single one of my issues, that being said let's get straight into it.

The first and most important product I use is the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask ($39).

Don't be fooled by the words "overnight" because I completely ignore that and apply this mask two-to-three hours prior to wearing makeup. As I mentioned above I have dry/dehydrated skin so oil or a moisturiser usually is not enough. This mask claims to leave your skin nourished, hydrated and plump and that is exactly what it does. So many people say that skincare is the most important part to get right to result in an easier makeup application and it is so true. If you suffer from dry patches I highly recommend you try any hydrating mask prior to makeup application.

Once I have let the mask sink in I then rinse off any excess with cold water and pat dry. The reason as to why I use cold water is to tighten my pores. Think of getting a facial or giving yourself one, warm water/steam helps to open up your pores to allow your skin to properly absorb the products that will be applied so the opposite is done when applying makeup.

Foundation coverage wearing off was another issue I faced but ever since Nikkietutorials introduced Nivea Mens Post Shave Balm ($8.60) into every beauty lovers life my foundation does not budge.

I am sure you have seen endless reviews and praise on this product so I won't go too much into it however this product contains glycerine which prolongs the wear of your makeup. This "primer" provides a tacky base for your foundation to really grasp onto.

Now for the stars of the show. The actual foundation I use. I enjoy using a foundation which acts both as a foundation and concealer. I have a lot of redness to cover so I opt for full coverage. The most full coverage foundation I own is the L'Oreal Infallible 24H-matte ($20.95). When I wear this alone it gives me a powdery and somewhat cakey finish so I pair it with my Becca Backlight Priming Filter ($50) to give it more of a dewy finish.

By following these steps and incorporating all these products I am able to get a long-lasting, dewy, full-coverage foundation. I have worn this foundation routine out to parties and there is no flash back, which is a major bonus if you're going to be taking photos! Personally I do not powder as this lasts 8+ hours on my skin on its own and I do not need it.

After applying my blush, bronzer etc I use my Australis Makeup Finishing Sprtiz ($15.95) to settle the powders and maintain a dewy finish.

I know how difficult it is to work with dry patches, redness and creasing that ages you 5 years but there are always ways to work with it. Hopefully this flawless foundation routine was helpful and if you have dry skin too try this technique out!


~ ~ ~
Alternative Products: A drugstore alternative for the Becca Backlight Priming Filter for those of you whom may not want to purchase it, the Australis Mineral Face Highlighter gives the same effect at a much lower cost. I compare the two in a review here
As for a hydrating face mask, the one mentioned is the only one I have tried so far so I do not have exact alternatives. In saying this, you could check iHerb as they sell a lot of face masks at affordable prices and have good shipping rates or Chemist Warehouse.


Disclaimer: I do not complete this routine every single time I wear makeup only when I desire a flawless base. Also, everyone's skin is personal to them and this may or may not work for your skin type. All opinions are my own and based off my own experience and preferences.