Tag: Foundation

It Cosmetics Nude Glow CC+ Cream Foundation Review

*Links marked with asterisks are affiliate links, these suport Teadra and costs of the blog such as buying products to review and keeping the blog running.

Back with another foundation review for my readers! This one is 100% fungal acne safe. I use skinsort, sezia and folliculitisscout, to check the ingredients on all the products I buy or use for reviews.  I brought this during a foundation haul for my birthday last year at Sephora, in the shade Neutral Deep. This CC+ Cream is fungal acne safe! It works best for dry, combo, and normal skin types. It provides medium coverage and has SPF 40. It is supposed to color correct and give your skin a glowy tint that brightens up the complexion giving you a healthy glow. It has niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and green tea extract. Let’s dive deep into this CC+ Cream Nude Glow from It Cosmetics.

Coverage:

When I was using the CC+ Cream in a grwm that I posted on my Instagram, you could tell it blended into the skin like butter. I liked the finish because it gave me a glowy, bright skin complexion. It gives you a good amount of coverage, and it is med-coverage. You can build it up, but CC Creams aren’t meant to be full coverage due to their lightweight texture. I say one pump was enough coverage to even out my skin tone. I have redness, dark spots, and hyperpigmentation, and it did a good job even it out. 

Shade Range:

This CC+ cream has 22 shades which is not surprising for CC Creams. CC creams are cosmetic products with a creamy formulation, great for dry skin and lightweight in texture than foundation. It is used to even out skin tones. 

Packaging:

It comes in the standard It Cosmetics packaging in a tube bottle with a pump. This is the type of packaging that I prefer, and it is also similar to Charlotte Tilbury’s Beautiful Skin Foundation. 

Application:

When I apply it, the formula is thin, not too thick; it is in between. It doesn’t dry too quickly, so you have more time to work it in than the Nars’ Soft Matte Complete Foundation. It blends into the skin and melts like butter. It is a beautiful formulation. Now the con is that it smells like a lot of SPF, and sometimes I experience eye stinging when I put this on and wear it throughout the day. However, there is no white case, and I don’t experience it oxidizing. 

Shelf Life:

It has a 12 Month shelf life.

Wear Time:

It holds up pretty well, but I did have to powder my nose to touch up my makeup because I wear glasses.  

Ingredients:

It Cosmetics CC+ Cream Nude Glow is claimed to be the first 90% skincare CC+ for an instant healthy glow and brighter skin in 4 weeks. I am unsure about this claim because I believe using my skincare routine to help with these concerns and not a CC Cream or foundation. After all, it is makeup. Skincare ingredients will be more beneficial during your skincare routine because it is the first thing you will put on: Toner, serum, essence, ampoule, emulsion, moisturizer, facial oil, etc. These products will have a greater amount of skincare ingredients than makeup. 

Niacinamide:  This super ingredient helps to boost collagen production to improve texture, uneven skin tone, fine lines, wrinkles, and fade hyperpigmentation. 

Hyaluronic Acid: Helps skin hold on to water, keeping it hydrated. Reduces transepidermal water loss by retaining water, making it more supple and flexible. It reduces fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, and blemishes and brightens the skin when paired with Vitamin C. It becomes more effective in your skincare routine. 

Hyaluronic acid also works great with Niacinamide as both are humectants, meaning they can hold onto water. Both protect the skin barrier and help with improving skin complexion, and have well-aging benefits. 

Green Tea Extract: A wonderful antioxidant that is anti-inflammatory, soothing, and protects the skin. It is great for oily and combo skin types as this helps reduce sebum. It minimizes signs of aging and can be paired with any ingredient. You don’t need to avoid actives or other skincare ingredients when using green tea. Green tea comes from the leaves and buds of a tea plant called Camellia Sinensis, another name for green tea. This has polyphenols that are antioxidants and anti-inflammatory.  Green tea also contains caffeine like most teas, like black tea,  oolong tea, and earl grey.

I can say that if you like your makeup containing skincare, then these are the best ingredients to include in makeup. Skincare-infused makeup is the trend now, and I don’t hate it or love it and understand there are some benefits. We see brands using skincare in their makeup not just in complexion products but in lip and cheek products from Kosas, Tarte Cosmetics, Juice Beauty, Bobbi Brown,  Clinique, Rose Inc, etc. 

It is safe to say that this trend of skincare-infused makeup or hybrid makeup isn’t going anywhere. Just don’t depend on these products alone to improve your skin. You should have a skincare routine to get more benefits. 

SPF: 

You know it has SPF when you put it on. It smells like SPF, and sometimes I feel that the SPF is most of the time burning my eyes. It is bearable, but I wanted to point this out. If you have sensitive eyes or hate when SPF burns your eyes, then I suggest staying away. 

Conclusion: 

Does it cover pigmentation?

This is a CC cream, so it is more of a medium coverage. I will say that it evens out the skin tone. If you are into full coverage, then this is not for you. It gives a more natural look while at the same time hiding hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone.

Does it cover up texture and pores?

While this CC cream is very lightweight and applies like butter, it is also easy to apply, blend and matches my skin tone. I prefer neutral foundations because I am between yellow, olive, and a little pink. I say that this is a great color range for a CC cream. It is also great for texture because it blends into the skin so well it doesn’t emphasize texture or dry patches.

Is it suited for dry skin?

This is great to use in winter and summer because even though it is lightweight, it is also moisturizing. 

Is it suited for oily skin?

It has ingredients that can help with sebum throughout the day, but it is not budge-proof. This means that touching up during the day might be needed.

Is it transfer-proof? 

No, unfortunately, it is not transfer-proof. Maybe using a setting spray or powder will help.

Do I recommend it? 

I recommend it because this review is just my experience with this product. If you want to try it or are unsure, then you will not know if it works or not if you don’t try it. Let me know in the comments if you have tried this CC Cream and if it was a win or fail. And be sure to check out my other foundation reviews.

Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation

Dior Backstage Face and Body Foundation

Huda Beauty’s Glowish Luminous Tint Foundation

Nars Soft Matte Complete Foundation

Nars Soft Matte Complete Foundation Review

*Links marked with asterisks are affiliate links, these suport Teadra and costs of the blog such as buying products to review and keeping the blog running.

Nars Soft Matte Complete Foundation is a full-coverage liquid foundation that is long-wearing with a natural-looking matte finish. It is best for oily, combo, and normal skin.  This foundation is supposed to be oxidation resistant and lasts up to 16 hrs, similar to the Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation wear time. This foundation is fungal acne safe, unlike her counterparts, Nars Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation has three triggers (Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate and Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C Palmitate)); *Nars Radiant Longwear Foundation also has three triggers (Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Behenic Acid, and Stearic Acid) – so its best to do a patch test if you have fungal acne to see if it is safe to use. Fungal acne has different sensitivity levels regarding ingredients; therefore, these might be safe to use based on this.

Coverage: 

The foundation shades are pretty much the same, and their foundations are usually medium-full coverage.  This foundation is medium-full coverage which means it is buildable. I agree that this foundation is buildable, covers up my hyperpigmentation, and evens my skin tone.

Shade Range:

Soft Matte Foundation has 34 shades, similar to the shade ranges of Nars foundations between 34-40 shades. I had difficulty finding my shade in this foundation. I usually wear the shade Marquises-MD5 (Medium-deep to deep with warm undertones) or Macao-MD4 (Medium-deep to deep with warm undertones and olive tones).  Their shade matches for undertones are pretty tricky, so I just went a shade up.  I first tried it in the shade Marquises, which was too red for my skin tone. Then, I tried it in Macao, which is lighter than my skin shade. I am between a yellow, olive-undertone. So I usually try to stick to neutral shades just because it is either too warm or too light if I use yellow or warm foundation undertones. Undertones can be tricky to look for in Nars. I feel that yellow tones are either too dark or too warm, Neutral tones are too light, and olive tones are too dark or too warm. So, regarding shade match with undertones, Nars still has improvements, especially with yellow undertones. The shades Macao is too red and also too light, and Marquises is too red and too dark. As a shade reference, I wear the shade 14 Neutral in Charlotte Tilbury’s Beautiful Skin Foundation, Neutral Rich in It Cosmetics CC+ Nude Glow Foundation, and 21 in Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Skin Tint. 

Packaging:

The packaging is very nice, and I love that it is in a squeeze-frosted plastic bottle with a silicone bottom. This beauty brand usually packages its foundation in a glass bottle. If you are heavy-handed, please try not to squeeze too much product out because you can’t put it back due to the packaging, similar to Dior’s Backstage Face and Body Foundation packaging. 

Application: 

Soft matte is thicker, dries quickly, and will get stuck in place if you don’t blend thoroughly. I tend to use my setting spray when that happens to loosen the formulation. The formula claims to be transfer resistant, shine-resistant, and doesn’t oxidize. I apply it from the back of my hand to warm up the formulation and to make sure I get an even blend using a brush. I am a brush girl with this formulation because it gives me more coverage and glow to the skin. This foundation does set pretty quickly, and there’s no need to set it with a powder. It feels like a second skin but is resistant while wearing a mask throughout the day. I have a dry skin type, and because of that, I take my time prepping my skin so that it doesn’t feel dry during the day. You can also add your moisturizer to the foundation to give that extra boost of moisture. Luminous primer or Auric Glow Lust works well with this formulation as well. I prefer more of a glow-from-within foundation look. But the formulation is versatile because you can add stuff with it, even a facial oil, and it works just fine.  

Shelf Life:

It is a standard of their foundations to last up to 24 months in shelf life. If you found my blog because you have fungal acne, I recommend adding the expiration date when you open it. So, if you open it on 2/24/23, it will expire on 2/24/25 (2 years).

Wear Time:

The powders in this formulation are supposed to absorb excess oil, so for all my oily skin types, this foundation is for you. If you wear masks often, look no further; this foundation will not budge. If you have dry patches or texture, use a primer or prep your skin, as this formulation can peel. The foundation blurs throughout the day and does hide texture if you prep your skin. I have texture around my chin, smile lines, and nose. This is my go-to foundation for the spring and summer because it is sweat-resistant. 

Conclusion:

Does it cover pigmentation?

100% yes, this does cover pigmentation and evens the skin tone.

Does it cover up texture and pores?

Yes, it leaves the skin with a blurred finish. I would suggest that if you have dry skin or dry patches, prep the skin.

Is it suited for dry skin?

Yes, and No, it depends on skin prep, but I love that the formula is versatile and easier to add a moisturizer, primer, or facial oil without it peeling or affecting the formula.

Is it suited for oily skin?

Yes, this is more suited for oily and combo skin.

Is it transfer-proof? 

Yes, it wears well with a mask throughout the day and sets itself, so there’s no need to add powder on top. 

Does it last 16 hrs?

I have worn it for over 12 hrs, and it still looked good. I would say it looks better throughout the day. It looked dewier and natural throughout the day. Not much touching up with this formulation besides maybe the T-zone.

Do I recommend it? 

Yes, it is 10/10 because it is 100% fungal acne safe and a fantastic formula. Even though it is for oily and combo skin types, you can still add something to make the formula more suited for your skin type. 

This foundation retails for $42, the normal price range of Nars Foundations ($42-$50).

Let me know what you think about this foundation in the comments. And be sure to check out my other foundation reviews.

Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation

Dior Backstage Face and Body Foundation

Huda Beauty’s Glowish Luminous Tint Foundation

 

 

Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation Review

*Links marked with asterisks are affiliate links, these suport Teadra and costs of the blog such as buying products to review and keeping the blog running.
 

Many makeup products excite me when I find out its fungal acne safe. Cream products and foundation are the main ones. I am finding out that the newest foundation from Charlotte Tilbury is fungal acne safe with only three triggers in here that are minor – Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, and Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate. I would still recommend patch testing because fungal acne is tricky. Please look at my What is Fungal Acne post here and Ingredients That Cause Fungal Acne post here. I brought Charlotte Tilbury’s new Beautiful Skin Foundation when it was available on Space NK. I’ve been testing this for a while now with and without primers and testing how it does well with other products on top of it, like powders and creams. I also tried it without setting it with powder, setting spray, or finishing spray. I have to say that this is a favorite. I am finally here to share my review after a while, so here are my thoughts.

The formulation of Beautiful Skin Foundation is a newer product in Charlotte Tilbury’s catalog. The claims are that it is a medium-coverage foundation that contains skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid. It is long-wearing – up to 16 hours, has a natural finish, and is best for dry, combo, and normal skin types. I wear the shade 14 Neutral (deep with neutral undertones). The range differs from her previous foundations; for instance, this foundation has 30 shades, while the *Airbrush Flawless Foundation has 43. I am unsure if she will ever upgrade her shade range, but I’ve noticed that not everyone can find their airbrush shade twin in this foundation.

It is a thicker formula, and a little goes a long way. It has a dewy natural finish on the skin, and I notice that it works better with a brush which is my preference. It reminds me of the It Cosmetics CC Cream without the SPF. Yes, this foundation doesn’t have SPF, which is not a deal breaker for me. A foundation with SPF brings no benefits because we should be applying the regular amount of SPF, which is two fingers from the index to the middle finger to cover the face and neck. That would be too cakey if we did that with our foundations. 

My skin type is dry and sensitive; I don’t have to worry too much about powder with this foundation. My trouble area would be around my nose because I wear prescription glasses. The ingredients here are more suitable for dry skin than oily skin because the t-zone areas might need powdering throughout the day. This foundation is full of skincare ingredients below:

Hyaluronic Acid: A fantastic ingredient for those with dry, dehydrated skin or who want to reduce wrinkles and fine lines. It is also wound healing and reduces scarring.

I will say that I am happy it has this ingredient, but if this is the only product with HA that you are using, I’m afraid you will not see the same results of a HA skin care product like a toner or serum. 

Rose Complex: Targets signs of stress in the skin, such as dryness, pigmentation, dullness, and dark circles. It claims on Charlotte Tilbury’s website that it reduces the signs of fatigue, resulting in skin that looks brighter, smoother, hydrated, and more “youthful. 

I can say that I have hyperpigmentation around my chin area, with texture as any normal person, and my skin does get dry or has dry patches sometimes. I believe that this foundation is my skin but better. It is also a buildable foundation, but full coverage isn’t my favorite foundation look. I usually spot conceal with my concealer and then go over it with a foundation, or I go in with a skin tone setting powder or powder foundation. 

Hyalurosmooth:  This evens out your skin tone and texture, which I agree does even out my skin pigmentation and leaves my skin looking smooth. It does this by targeting the effects on the skin by targeting uneven texture. It also locks in moisture by providing hydration, making your skin look plumper and smoother. 

Bix’Activ™: This helps reduce the appearance of oiliness and the sign of pores and shine. I can agree with this, but again I have dry skin, but my problem area is my nose. I barely see any rubbing or any need to powder my nose. It is more surprising without powdering. I wore it recently without powder, which still amazes me every time.

Coconut Extract: This plumps up the skin by providing the skin with the ability to hold water by strengthening the skin barrier over time. It reduces water loss or Transepidermal water loss. 

C.T Defence: Prevents pollutant particles from penetrating the skin and strengthens the skin barrier. This is good to know, but again this is a foundation, not a skincare product. It is cool but not something I can’t live without in a foundation.

I wear the shade 14 Netural, perfect for my skin tone. To conclude this review: 

Does it cover pigmentation?

Yes, it is also buildable, and I could cover my hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone.

Does it cover up texture and pores?

Yes, the foundation is very flattering, giving my skin a better and smooth look.

Is it suited for dry skin?

Yes, it is all about skin prep. I try to have a simple skincare routine when putting on makeup; it lasts all day without my skin feeling dry. I am also not a primer user because I feel that my skincare is enough for makeup to last on my skin with this foundation. 

Is it suited for oily skin?

Yes, if you prefer a satin, glowy foundation, then I recommend it. 

Is it suited for mature skin? 

Yes, this foundation works great with texture and dry skin, giving my skin a smooth and blurred look. This also has some skincare benefits, allowing the makeup and skin to feel less dry or oily. 

Is it transfer-proof?

I don’t notice any transfer. It sets well without setting powder or setting spray for me. I say it holds up pretty well for me.

Does it last 16 hrs?

I haven’t worn it for that long. I don’t think any regular consumer would be wearing this that long. But it lasts throughout the day without fixing it with powder because it doesn’t get patchy for me.  I wear it from 9 am – 6 pm, a normal work day. 

Do I recommend this?

I say yes because it is makeup, what may work for me might not work for you, and that’s fine. I’m not too fond of skin types because I can say yes, it works great for dry or texture skin or oily skin, which might not be the case for others. This is just based on preferences at the end of the day. I encourage you to try it out and see if this might be a foundation you love or think is okay. It is makeup, and you can always take it off. 

This foundation retails for $49 the same as Airbrush Flawless Foundation.

Charlotte Tilbury’s Beautiful Skin Foundation: 9/10

Check out my other foundation reviews:

Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation

Huda Beauty’s Glowish Luminous Tint Foundation

Huda Beauty Glowish Tint Review

It is becoming the norm when makeup brands create skincare-infused makeup. Makeup with skincare ingredients. When Huda Beauty came out with their Glowish line, it was described as a fragrance-free, light-cover skin luminous tint. It was also described as a radiant, moisture-packed skin tint that brightens. Based on the ingredients, it contains exfoliates, aha, PHA, and SPF. Aha and PHA are chemicals that exfoliate and are suitable for reducing pores. However, it is very slim that you will see results right away. It’s the same as putting only foundation/tint with SPF. You must apply a certain amount to get complete protection from the sun. It is nearly impossible without the makeup appearing mask-like. Also, you would have to be wearing it every day and for a certain amount of time.

Let’s take a deeper look at the ingredients. Sodium Salicylate helps reduce irritation and reduces large pores. Citric Acid also reduces large pores. Titanium Dioxide provides UV ray protection. There are concerns that sensitive skin like Citric Acid (AHA) may irritate, and Mica may worsen eczema. There are also exfoliates like Alumina, which is common to help blend nano-sized mineral UV filters such as titanium dioxide, which is also in the ingredients. This usage is also known as buffering or adjusting pH levels in a product.

Continue reading Huda Beauty Glowish Tint Review

Dior Backstage Foundation 5N

Dior’s Backstage Face & Body Foundation caught my attention when I searched for fungal acne-safe foundations, and it was recommended. Dior’s foundation includes 40 shades; it is cruelty-free, waterproof, and sweat-resistant. It is ultra-buildable and provides custom coverage. Not sure about the cruelty-free part since Dior is still sold in China; animal testing happens if they are required by law. I had never tried Dior before until I went to a Sephora in Soho, made a beeline to the Dior section, and grabbed the Backstage Face and Body foundation. Right away, with the shade offering, I needed to try it on to see which shade would work. A Sephora associate helped me and recommended shade 5 N and explained that the foundation was very lightweight and natural but also buildable. I immediately loved the feel of the foundation on my skin and how it looked like my skin but better. I purchased it along with the powder in the same shade.

I have been using this for months, and it is my favorite foundation to wear. It is a liquid, lightweight texture. This is a consistency that I look for in a foundation because I think it will be hydrating, dewy, satin, light, and not cakey. It is very buildable, blends effortlessly on the skin, sets itself, and one or two pumps are all I need to get a full face. Now, I only use makeup brushes, but if you use a beauty blender, it will probably be more than 2. I have dry, dehydrated, and sensitive skin. But, an essential part of my skin type is its fungal acne-prone. Therefore, some products can’t be used due to certain ingredients that may trigger them. I have dry skin, patches, and textured skin, and I can see no issues with the formula clinging to them or showing texture. It doesn’t sit on top of my skin; it sets itself and has a satin finish. This could be due to my skincare as I have a skincare routine that already gives me a dewy look. For your information, I do not use primers because I focus on an entire skincare routine to address my skin type, such as texture, dark spots, dry patches, etc. Due to this, the foundation gets along with my skincare and doesn’t ball up.

     

Dior Foundation without setting powder/spray

It is an excellent foundation for winter and summer because it’s a formula you can add to. An oil or liquid highlighter can be added to the foundation to enhance it. I love to mix the Auric Glow Lust Radiant Luminizer in Goldstone. It goes excellent with Dior’s Backstage Face & Body Powder and Kosas’s Setting Powder. I only set my cheek, nose area, and under my eyes lightly with powder for reference. If I am wearing a mask, I spray the mask with setting spray and then powder the areas the cover would be. I can do without putting, but since I wear glasses, it isn’t avoidable. Sometimes I use a setting spray, Ciate London’s  Everyday Vacay Setting Spray, or Smashbox’s Photo Finish Weightless Setting Spray.

   

Dior Foundation with setting powder/spray

I am curious about the Nar’s Soft Matte Foundation. Are there some similarities between the two? I look forward to a review/comparison, and recent updates can be found on my Instagram. Be sure to follow for any quick product reviews, makeup looks, and empties. I try to make first impressions of foundations and powders, but it depends on whether I am using them correctly or prepping my skin for the product. I try to use it enough to give my review and thoughts entirely. But, I recommend this foundation if you have acne, dark spots, or looking to even out your skin tone. If you prefer a foundation that is easy to travel with on the go, this will be perfect.