Julia Speaks: March 2017

... aka the best foundation I've ever tried.

Do I really need to tell you that the Magic Foundation is great? It is not going to come as a surprise. Charlotte Tilbury is one of the most-praised beauty brands at the moment, and it's easy to understand why. Luxury, quality products with a real sense of femininity (as defined by some specific standards that I happen to share, that is).

All I have read about this foundation appeared to be positive, so as I was looking for a new, good quality foundation to invest in, I decided to pick it up. It is quite important to choose your foundation wisely, and for this one I was lucky enough to try it out before I got the full bottle - I used my cousin's for a couple days during our vacation in London, and I was so impressed by the finish and the longevity that on our last day in the city, we went to the Covent Garden shop and I finally bit the bullet.

So, let's see bit by bit why this foundation is the best I've ever tried...

Application and Finish

I always use a beauty sponge to apply my foundation, and this works great with the Magic Foundation. You don't need a lot of products to cover the whole face, and it applies really easily. The finish is super natural - it genuinely looks like you're not wearing anything. The coverage is quite light, but could be medium if you build it up a little. It covers little imperfections but if you have scars or bright pimples to hide, you'll need to top up with concealer.

What I like about the natural finish is that it gives your skin a bright finish - not glowy or overly radiant, but just... well, natural, as I already said twice before. See how impressed I am by natural finishes. I'm not a fan of the whole heavy makeup/Kardashian look, so this foundation is simply perfect for me.

Longevity

If you have combination or oily skin, you know the struggle of finding a product that won't make your skin shine bright like a diamond after sitting two hours on your skin. I'd say if you go towards high-end brands, chances are foundations will work better with oily skins that drugstore foundations do (this might not always be true, but that's what I found in my experience). The Magic Foundation has an awesome staying power, it doesn't move at all on the skin. Of course, oily skin will get a bit shiny, that is unavoidable, but it doesn't look as bad as you'd expect it.

Packaging and Shade Range

Glass bottles are my favourite when it comes to foundation, they feel more sturdy and clean than plastic packagings. The pump is really practical because it saves you from creating a mess, and it helps measure the quantity of product you need - two pumps of foundation are enough to cover my whole face.

When I went to get the foundation, I really wanted to get the closest match to my natural skin tone. It's always been a struggle because for some reason, tan shades always come out orange. That bugs me a lot. And I surely didn't want to spend £30 on a mismatched foundation! The range is quite good, you have different undertones, although there is a lot more choice for lighter skins. Always make sure you pick the right undertones for you - whether you have yellow or pink-toned skin does change everything. Also, if you can, don't order online and go to the shop to see for yourself. I went to the Charlotte Tilbury shop in Covent Garden and tried two different foundations on my cheeks to see what was the best. Also, the light in shops is always, always rubbish - don't be afraid to go outside and check at day light what the foundation looks like on you. I literally had a sales assistant come and hold a mirror for me outside the shop on a freezing February day, but it was all worth it because I got the perfect shade for my skin haha. Anyways, if you're considering to get the Magic Foundation, don't worry about shades: you'll most likely find the good match for you!

I am really happy with the Magic Foundation so far. It's all I thought it would be, and it was well worth the investment! I do think now that investing in the right products can make a big difference. A bottle of foundation often lasts a while, so if you want a really good product that you'll be happy to use every time you do your makeup, this might be just the one for you!

Charlotte Tilbury, Magic Foundation, £30 (I own shade n.6)

Have you tried the Magic Foundation? What's your favourite foundation at the moment?

Lots of love,
Julia x

March 25, 2017 14 commentaires

I've been feeling a bit crazy about purple recently. Although I generally started turning to darker shades as I experimented with makeup more, I had never ventured on the purple side; this all changed this year as I got my first purple lipstick and nail polish. I've enjoyed wearing them together to shoot for this review as the two colours are actually matching. Let's see what these two products are all about!

LIPSTICK: INVESTIGATOR, MAC (MATTE FINISH)

I'd been tempted to get a purple lipstick for months now, and MAC was my brand of choice for that: they have a few different purple shades, all of them are gorgeous and it took me a while to finally pick Investigator! I went for this one because the finish is matte and the shade is quite dark, exactly as I wanted it. As with all MAC lipsticks, Investigator has the perfect texture, it doesn't dry out the lips even though it is matte, and it lasts for ages. One thing to mention: the colour starts fading in the middle of the lips first, so the colour gets lighter there as the hours pass. It can get a bit funny as this is really noticeable when you speak, so you'll have to reapply some colour there after a few hours.

Other than that, it is an absolutely gorgeous colour, and would suit most skin tones, from pale to black skins!

NAIL POLISH: YVES SAINT LAURENT, N. 77 VINTAGE PLUM

I may have a big collection of nail polishes, I had never gotten a shade like Vintage Plum. This is the perfect purple nail polish to me, a sort of purple equivalent to the famous Rouge Noir by Chanel. What's more, I got it half price in the winter sales back in France! Luxury nail polishes are my weakness, but I'd rarely get them full price. The quality is of course very good, and you'll go a few days without any chipping. Two coats are the best to get the most of this beautiful, deep shade. I don't generally wear top coat (mainly out of laziness), but I'd advise you to add a coat of it to give it more shine to the nails.

These two products compliment each other perfectly, so wear them together for a dark, sultry look! With such a statement colour, no need for heavy eyeshadow or bright clothes. Keep it simple and let purple do its magic!