Vapour Organic

I was going to order samples of Vapour organic from Naturismo.  Then, I noticed on Vapour's company website that they offer a free Shade Consultation.  You answer a few questions and upload a picture of yourself.  A few days later you get an email recommending your ideal shade.  

My email came back recommending Atmosphere luminous Foundation in 090.  

Everywhere, I have seen Vapour foundation for sale has started with shade s100.  At first I thought the advisor had gone crazy, didn't know her product or was trying to tell me I am too pale to even register on their charts.  

However, on their website, there is in fact an s090 for the true/really pale beauties. 

Vapour offer a sample service where you can order 5 samples for $15, plus $5 shipping.  This is over £13 just for a few samples with enough product to try once or twice.  Seems a bit steep for me. 

I started searching the web and found a fantastic store in London who stock shade 090 and do a sample service.  

Content allow you to request 4 samples of any product they sell (there are a few restrictions) for the amazing price of £3 and free shipping!  I was chuffed. I ordered the concealer in s000 and both foundations in s090 and the skin perfector from www.beingcontent.com 

It was east identifying which shade of concealer to order based on my foundation shade using their guide. 

My order arrived quickly and I could tell instantly that they were lighter than others.  I was excited that finally if found a true pale shade match. 

The samples were in similar pots to those I am accustomed to from Naturismo and the amounts given are good.  

I was invited on a night out and tried the concealer with my Lily Lolo foundation and it looked great.  That's why it looks used in the picture. 

Here is a search on my wrist.  It's hard to see because the match is so good.  

From left to right, illusionist concealer, luminous foundation, soft focus foundation.

After a bad experience with Bobbi Brown's stick foundation (very dry and streaky), I was swaying towards the liquid pump foundation despite being recommended the stick.  After trying both, I actually do prefer the stick.  It felt smooth and creamy.  I absolutely love  the concealer.  

ATMOSPHERE LUMINOUS FOUNDATION (£37 at Content) 

Suitable for normal, dry and mature skin. Moisturises and gives a light to medium, dewy finnish.

ATMOSPHERE SOFT FOCUS FOUNDATION (£43 at Content) 

Suitable for combination to oily skin.  Medium to full coverage with a satin finish.  

ILLUSIONIST CONCEALER (£22 at Content) 

This is a highly pigmented concealer to hide flaws and brighten under eye.  It's moisturising and has anti inflammatory ingredients.  It is easily blended with your finger.  

VERDICT 

Come pay day, I will be ordering this concealer.  

I was super close to having the luminous foundation on my must have list.  The product feels great and the colour melts into my skin but... During my next review you will learn what topped it.

I will review the Straus Soft Focus Instant Skin Perfector s902 another day.   

Ilia Beauty base

One of my Amazingy samples was the Ilia concealer.  Amazingy threw in the tinted moisturiser for free - just because they are thoughtful like that.  I hadn't chosen the moisturiser as I was concerned it would be too sheet but as I had a sample I gave it a go.  

I got:

* Ilia Beauty Moisturizer Los Roques (T1)

* Ilia Beauty Vivid Concealer Cassava (C1) 

Both samples came in pots which made it easy to try and a decent amount.  

The tinted moisturiser was a good shade and blended well.  If you are looking for a sheer coverage then this would be ideal. 

The concealer is denser but still easy to rub in.  The texture is suitable for covering imperfections and I will test it when I've more time.  I will keep this in mind.  

VERDICT 

Tinted Moisturizer:  I do like it but I'm looking for more coverage.  It is something I'd consider if my tastes change because the colour is ideal and felt good on my skin.  It would even out my skin tone.

Vivid concealer:  This is going on my wish list as it is a good colour and texture for a concealer.  I'm bound to use up the sample but will try it on my face before buying.

Foundation for ethereal beauties (like redheads)

Over the years, I've used a number of foundations for pale skin.  Here are some foundations for anyone who is pale enough to burn at noon in the summer together with my experience of them.

Lancome - Teint Miracle Foundation (#005 Beige Ivory)
This was the first foundation I ever discovered that truly matched my skin tone, gave great natural coverage and lasted all day.  It was the first time I felt beautiful.  I fell in love with the brand and discovered their skincare products were undeniably agreeable with my skin.  It was my first choice for wedding make-up.

Look out for their offers like "buy two products (one to be skincare) and get a make-up bag with miniature/full size popular products".  Whenever I needed to buy more Eau Micellaire Douceur (cleanser), Bi-Facil (eye make-up remover), Hypnose (mascara) or foundation, I'd get showered with free stuff.  The small bottles were great for holidays and I was kept in a constant supply of lip gloss, lipstick, mascara and eye liner.  In addition, at Christmas they often have a hamper of beauty products at less than half price if you buy one/two products or spend a certain amount.  I often love their spring eye shadow pallets.

I would have stayed loyal to them forever if it hadn't been for an info-pic I saw on Facebook that suggested they test on animals.  I searched their website but found nothing to the contrary.

I no longer buy their products which is a shame.  I wore the brand for my wedding and loved everything from the primer (La Base Pro) through to the finishing touches like my eye shadow quad and lip gloss.  Lancome really has set the bar (for me) - it is difficult to find any products that come close to the quality of what I became accustomed to.

I also used their concealer (Effacernes Longaue Tenue) in their lightest shade and the correctors (Teint Miracle Corrector) in rose and peach.  I used it under my eyes and on the my cheeks as a highlighter.



Ester Lauder (loose powder)
One day, the Lancome counter wasn't holding a special offer and I really wanted to purchase a powder to set my foundation.  Instead, I found myself drawn to the Ester Lauder counter who also have some wicked freebies for customers.

I bought a loose powder in their lightest shade.  It was in a black square shaped pot.  The product was great and sometimes I wore the powder on it's own (no foundation).  However, the lid was loose and being clumsy I knocked it over.  After that I was scared to take it out with me in case it poured out inside my bag.  They don't appear to sell the product any more so I'm guessing other customers must have complained about the poor container choice and they've redesigned it.  I wasn't in love with the powder so I never bought it again.

I was in love with the freebie they gave me - Idealist (pore minimising primer).  With the hefty price tag, I've not had the luxury of buying a full size bottle.  However, if you can afford it, I highly recommend it.  My skin has never been happier.



Sheer Cover - Mineral Foundation (Bisque)
This is the first and only time I have ever been duped into buying cosmetics from a shopping commercial.  It promised the world with its flawless mineral foundation and if you ordered now you got this whole kit at an unbelievable price.

I ordered the lightest shade and it was orange on me.  They have now changed their foundation and the shade names but I wouldn't go there again.

Dainty Doll - Liquid Foundation (#Very Light)
I couldn't wait for Nicola Roberts to launch her line of make-up especially designed for redheads. I also loved the quirky packaging with the little redhead cartoon character.  I bought the foundation and concealer in very light.

This brand was only available online and no matter how hard I hunted there was no way of purchasing a sample to see what colour was an ideal match.  I don't get why companies don't have a 50p sachet, especially if they only have a select store - only in London.

I'm sure you have guessed where this is going... turns out this was too pale for me.  The foundation was very thick so if you want a good coverage then this might be an option for you but I found it too heavy for me.  I also didn't like the click pen for the concealer - it ran out fast and not very much product came out.  Plus, you are wiping your blemishes with the same brush which doesn't seem very clean.



Illamascqua- Rich Liquid Foundation (#100 & #115) 
I don't know anyone who buys their products - perhaps because we don't have a store that stocks this in our County.  It was a bit of a gamble buying online but I felt reassured because they sold a white (#100) foundation so if the shade was too dark, I could mix it and lighten it.

I'm always the lightest shade but... #115 was too light!  I was able to use it mixed with foundations I'd bought that had been too dark.  I also bought their Matt Primer and quickly learnt, I should have bought Satin Finish because I didn't like the dry effect it had on my skin.



Bobbi Brown - Foundation Stick (#Alabaster)
The nearest Bobbi Brown counter to me is 60 miles.  I really wanted to try their foundation because it had amazing reviews and there is a huge choice of varieties as well as a wide choice of colours.  So, eight months pregnant I got my husband to drive me there - I wanted a foundation that would survive labour.

The counter girl first told me off for not making an appointment - she didn't have anyone booked in but still felt it important to scold a heavily pregnant woman who had travelled over an hour to see her.  My husband persuaded her to help me as it was for my birthday and she agreed.  I told her I was interested in the new BB creams with 35spf and I wanted something long lasting and fuss free.  She identified that my colour was Alabaster and that I should buy the Foundation Stick and Face touch up stick.  She applied it and it looked good.  I also got an eye shadow pallet and some freebies.

On my birthday, (exactly a week before my son's début), I got to finally use my new make-up and I found the foundation stick was very difficult to apply.  The touch up stick is basically a smaller version of the foundation stick.  It is very dry and does not blend very easily.  

There is such a wide range of products, I'm sure that another sales girl who actually wanted to help me would have helped me purchase a product that actually works with my skin type.   I ended up using both sticks as concealer because that was all the chalky product was good for. If you don't have dry skin then this might be great for you.  The colour Alabaster was spot on and the best match to date.  It also stays on through labour (lol) and swimming.

I bought their Tinted Moisturising Balm online but I wish I had tried the product first as it didn't agree with my skin.  It was too rich and looked streaky.

I have since tried the Creamy Concealer in Porcelain.  This is good.  You don't get very much for your money.  I get blemishes on my chin and use it every morning and after only a month I'm already at the bottom of the pot.  It also fades by the end of the day.  However, it isn't drying and feels comfortable on my skin and the little pot has a mirror in it.



Bourjois - Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation (#Vanille Calir)
Living on maternity pay meant I had to kiss goodbye to premium make-up. Hitting the high streets, I was drawn in by this foundation promising a mix of fruits that deliver health benefits the skin.

I got the foundation in Vanille Calir and concealer in Eclat Clair.  The colour was pretty light and although it wasn't perfect I couldn't complain at a third of the price I had been paying for Bobbi Brown.  In addition, this product blended nicely and felt good on my skin. If you are on a budget, this is a great product to buy.



Lily Lolo - Mineral Foundation SPF 15 (#Porcelain)
A colleague at work recommended this foundation to me - it is cruelty free, organic and 95% of products are vegan.  It is often compared to Bare Minerals except this price tag is an absolute steal.  It was available at a local beauticians so it was easy to check the colour was right before buying.

I wear this most days as it gives a good light build-able coverage.  It is also a good colour on me.  The only draw back I've had is that it very dry and matt (I prefer liquid).  Sometimes it sits in the creases on my face.

I use this everyday but I'd like to buy a liquid foundation and concealer for those days when I want (need) a fuller coverage.



Beauty Without Cruelty - Ultimate Natural Liquid Foundation (#Sheer)
I really wanted to love this brand because of all the good that they do in the beauty industry.  Sadly, I was very disappointed.  The coverage is barely anything at all, you may as well not be wearing it.  The concealer had great reviews but was out of stock and the waterproof mascara had dried out and crumbled off the brush.  I won't buy this brand again and wouldn't recommend it based on my experience.


Benefit
For Christmas my mother-in-law treated me to a box of miniatures of their best selling products.  I loved They're Real (mascara) and Benetint (lip tint).

The box also contained Porefessional (primer).  At first I thought it was too dark as it came out brown but it melts into the skin and makes the best base for make-up and makes pores vanish.   The box also contained their two lightest shades of concealer, however, these were both too dark on me.  My friend lent me her Lemonaid (eye primer) and this was amazing at covering the redness on my eyelids.  I used it everywhere I had redness - even on my neck after a night of passion *wink*.  I've had an excellent experience with Benefit's primers and recommend them.

Missha - Signature Real Complete BB cream (#13 Light milky beige)
I read that BB creams from Asia are better than the western ones.  As the western ones all appear to be too orang for me I decided to take a gamble and order this online.  I choose Missha Signature Real Complete BB Cream (Spf 25) in shade #13 as it appeared to be the lightest.  I also bought a beauty blender sponge to apply it.

The BB cream is quite thick and covers up my blemishes and red tones (no need for corrector or concealer).  It is my exact shade, if I put it on the back of my hand, I can't see it.  I can still see my freckles on my cheeks.

The BB cream should last up to 12 hours, has wrinkle care, whitening and UV blocking benefits.  I'm not sure about the whitening but the other benefits sound awesome and my skin feels great after wearing this all day. It really does give a perfect coverage and lasts most the day.

They are against animal testing but sell to China (test their products to comply with the law there).

I really love this product and so does my skin.  The only draw back is that damn law in China - I wish they'd come out of the stone age and accept that unnecessary testing is ridiculous.  Surely they can count that humans have used it as evidence of it being suitable for use and "human use" must give a more accurate testimony than the reaction an animal has to the product.

Beauty Without Cruelty

Currently, I use Bobbi Brown creamy concealer in Porcelain and Kiss Me Make-up mascara.

Bobbi Brown
The great thing about this brand is that the concealer and foundation comes in a wide range of colours.  My shade is Alabaster (the lightest shade) for foundation.  They also have a wide range of formulas so you can find that product that is best for you.  For ages, I didn't try the concealer because the lightest shade was porcelain and we don't have a local counter to test it out.  In the end, I risked it and it turned out to suit me fine.  The pot has a useful little mirror in the lid which I love.

What I don't like about it is that it's quite pricey for the small pot you get - after a month, I can already see the bottom of the pot.  They sell their cosmetics in China (by law they must test their products on animals).   It doesn't appear to be organic (I can't see an ingredient list or bragging that they are natural).  I'm also frequently disappointed by their special offers.  Despite the concealer's five star reviews, I'm not in love with this product.

Kiss Me Make-up mascaras
I go swimming every week and feel invisible without any mascara because my eyelashes are so light.  I need a good reliable waterproof mascara.  As I've got older my eyes have become more sensitive but Kiss Me has not irritated them.  This mascara has been awesome!

I don't think it is organic and believe they sell to China too.  In addition, I have to wait for the product to be shipped to the UK and there have been occasions when it has sold out and I've had to wait for it to become available.  Then, I've had to use inferior waterproof mascaras that leave a smudge under my eyes.

Beauty Without Cruelty
I was really pleased to see that BWC had a concealer and a waterproof mascara. I ordered them both together with their liquid foundation as I currently don't have a liquid foundation and I've always preferred a liquid one.



Concealer pencil
Everywhere I looked for the super cover cream concealer pencil in fair was sold out.  Eventually, I found a store that were stocking it.  However, when it came to dispatch I got an email to say it wasn't in stock and I could have an alternative product or a refund.  Obviously, I wanted a refund.

Waterproof mascara
This arrived sealed in a cellophane wrapper.  However, when I peeled it off the mascara was dry.  My lashes were still strawberry blond after one coat and black flakes speckled my cheeks.  I didn't feel like I could return it because I had used it - so. that was a waste of money.

Liquid Foundation
I got the colour sheer because it was the lightest.  It does appear to be a good shade on me.  However, it is really sheer - maybe I should have guessed from the shade name.  It is lovely that I can see my freckles but I can also see my blemishes and pink tone in my skin (it does not even out my complexion).  I used it twice and then felt the product was pointless.

All in all, my experience of BWC was very disappointing which is a real shame because they are affordable and they don't test on animals.  Sadly, for me, the products just don't work and functionality is very important to me.

It looks as if I will be sticking with Bobbi Brown and Kiss Me for a little while longer.