Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Review And The Brush Version Of The Beauty Blender

You may remember my review on Estee Lauder's Double Wear and how much I loved it.  That was also a post I had written when I had my old phone, so all of the associated photos were deleted with the transfer of data.  The link is still above so you can read my thoughts on it but wait until you hear about Estee Lauder's Double Wear Light.

This is Double Wear's younger, hotter sister.......Quite frankly, I am ashamed I haven't reviewed this sooner. If you love the full coverage, matte finish of Double Wear but find it a bit too drying or heavy, than Double Wear Light will be your new obsession.

It comes in only 10 shades but if you are an online shopper like I am, it is much easier to make your selection than it is with the Double Wear.  I think the fact that it has such a narrow shade range makes it easier to find one that matches you.  Sometimes too many options can be confusing.

There are of course several ways to apply this, for me fingers is the worst way. I feel it just smears the product on and doesn't allow for an even application.  I tried with the amazing beauty blender and that works great but I am literally about to tell you about the brush version of the beauty blender.....I am so serious!!

Sephora Pro Airbush Blender #78

This brush has over 100,00 bristles.....it is so soft and allows for smooth, even application AND you can stipple it for targeted concentration on an area.  Think of how many beauty blenders you buy when they need to be replaced and you can justify the cost (at least that is how I did).  My foundation goes on like it is air brushed every time I use this brush.

So soft and lovely

The only negative is it takes a while to clean it and it also takes 2 days for it to dry completely but it is worth it if you want a photo shopped smooth face!  Click HERE to buy it and read even more reviews!!

I wore it this weekend and used the brush for application.

#nofilter loves

I think it looks amazing, it goes on light and doesn't make you feel like you are wearing makeup.  I am using Laura Merciers translucent setting powder for under my eyes and to set my face lately.  I am still on the fence about that powder, and am looking to try Bobbi Brown's pressed powder next.  Laura Mercier's powder sets my under eyes perfect and doesn't crease but I don't feel like it lasts all day and that is a problem with dark under eye circles like mine.

For reference, I am 1N2 Ecru, pale ivory beige with neutral undertones, for Double Wear.  That is why I selected Intensity 1.0 in Double Wear Light.

Currently Sephora is offering a primer, night serum and foundation brush for only $10.00 with purchase of either Double Wear Light or Double Wear! Click HERE to get that!  Otherwise, you can go to any department store counter and get a free 10 day sample of either!

Have you used Double Wear light before??  What are your thoughts on it??  How soon are you going to get this brush??

Let us know in the comments below!!

Have a great day!! xo

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation Review aka My New Holy Grail Foundation

I am a foundation and concealer junkie, I am always looking for the next best thing.  Let me tell you guys, I have found it and am done looking.    I recently just did a post on Kat Von D's Lock It Foundation (check it out HERE).  Based on several recommendations from my beauty junkie friends, this foundation is better than Kat Von D.  So I had to put it to the test since I liked KVD but there were enough cons to make me look elsewhere.

I blindly ordered my color online at Sephora since there was no exact color match for me based on my color IQ number.  I ordered Rattan.  Now, just so you know, Estee Lauder has so many shade options covering all ranges of skin tones.  Many more than Kat Von D.  From warm, to cool to neutral.  I am usually warm in other foundations, thus the reason I chose Rattan.

When I got the actual foundation though I was worried it was too yellow.

Hard to tell from the swatch I know since it actually looked like a perfect match to my hand.  So I thought I would still apply it to my face to see what I thought....did you hear that? It was angels singing when the foundation touched my face!   Now I am a committed beauty blender user since all the foundations I have tried using brushes with just smear and look cakey.  But I did my research and it does say this is best applied with a foundation brush.

I used my Real Techniques foundation buffing brush (all the way to the right) to apply.  It went on smooth, it covered my blemish, it covered my pores, it looked airbrushed and it was overall beautiful.

The problem was that yes, this color was much too yellow for my face and there was a noticeable difference in my face and my neck, my ultimate makeup pet peeve.  But I thought maybe it would tone down throughout the day so I bravely left the house.  Luckily I have long hair (long hair, don't care) and could hide my neck.

Now, those who know me, know I want what I want when I want it.  Sooooo, I spent all day trying to figure out how I could get my right shade since I don't have a Sephora right by me.  Well, Carson Pierre Scott down the street from me has an Estee Lauder counter and not only will they color match you, they will give you a 10 day sample of your shade! Done!  I knew that would get me through till Friday when I could exchange my Rattan for my correct shade.

It turns out that I am Desert Beige, a neutral shade in this foundation line.  The match is incredible.  My dream foundation look is one that completely matches my face so I can really rock a bold eye or a lip.

SO I got my sample and used it this morning and it matched perfectly.  Unfortunately for me, I tried a new lotion and primer (today I used NYX pore filler and yesterday I used Benefit porefessional) and my face is pretty dry today which affected the flawless look I am going for.  I am also on fertility medication (another post for another day) and that is of course affecting my skin.

But I love it, I love the way that it looks and it literally lasted all day, no smudging, no blotching.  I looked the same at the end of the day as I did when I walked out the door at 7:30 am. And best of all, I did not ever once even feel like I was wearing makeup.  And I obsessively checked this stuff out on my face all day to make sure it looked the same.

Now this one does dry quickly too so work on small sections of your face.  But even when I did that with Kat Von D, I couldn't get a seamless look and it just wouldn't stay on and it oxidized throughout the day no matter what I did.

The con is the price point at $38 a bottle and that there is no pump on the bottle.  It is a pour top which can be quite messy especially if you are in a rush in the morning.  But other than that I am in love.  If I feel the need for a bit of extra coverage in a spot, it doesn't look cakey at all.

So I went out and got my full size bottle :) EEEK! I love it!!

Here are a few more pics in different lighting.  The last one is at the end of the day, it looks the same as when I put it on.

Now this foundation also claims to be transfer proof, well I don't believe that any makeup is truly transfer proof. I mean if I put a white shirt on over my head I am sure this is going to smudge.  But I will tell you I am sick and blowing my nose, and I don't get a tissue full of makeup when I do so it doesn't come off easy.

That being said, it is a 15 hour wear makeup so make sure you are using a makeup remover prior to cleaning your face to ensure that you got it all off.

And there ya have it, I am in love.  If you are on the fence about this foundation, GET THE FOUNDATION :)  The end.

Have you tried Double Wear yet?  What are your thoughts and tricks?

Let me know in the comments below!!

Have a great day!! xo

Kat Von D Lock It Foundation Review

I just recently was introduced into the world of full coverage makeup.  There are so many foundation options out there right now.  Tinted moisturizer, beauty balm (BB), correcting cream (CC), daily defense cream (DD), mineral foundation, medium to full coverage foundation.......I am sure there are more that I did not think of, too.  In the summer I love to be tan and not wear makeup unless my fight club under eye bags are visible still and in that case I will put concealer on.  But in the winter, when discoloration and uneven skin tones and blemishes are more easily spotted, we reach for a fuller coverage makeup.

I asked numerous people which the best one to use was.  I got a 50/50 response to Kat Von D and Estee Lauder.  Estee Lauder review will be coming up soon!!

First impression, I love the packaging.  It is girlie but gothic and I love that style!

I also love that the bottle comes in a pump and that you can see the amount of product left in it.

 The compact has a mirror and also an applicator sponge underneath so it fits perfectly and isn't always being rubbed on the product.

I got color matched (Light 48) in store at Sephora and I highly recommend doing that since there are so many color shade options.  I bought the powder foundation online and got the same color which ended up being darker in powder so that will be going back.

I also got a sample of the concealer (Light 18) since that also received such rave reviews.  It is not as thick as the foundation and I love it and it is the exact color of my face.  It is actually perfect for touch ups or to cover blemishes especially if I don't need a full face of makeup that day.  It is $25 for the concealer and a little goes a long way.

Okay so on to the Kat Von D Lock It Foundation review.

You can use with either a beauty blender or a buffing/stippling brush.  I prefer a beauty blender as I thought the brush gave me "makeup mask face".

Now this stuff is thick, thick, thick and it dries quick, quick, quick!!  Work in small sections of your face.  Don't do half a face at a time, lesson learned from trying it myself.  I pump some on the back of my hand and dab the beauty blender and then quickly dab on my face.  This is actually used to cover tattoos in the workplace so you can imagine the coverage!

As you can see from my hand alone, the coverage is full and you only need a little.  So for the price, $34, I think that is very fair.  This bottle should last me a very long time. You probably need half a pump to a full pump to cover your whole face.

Here is a close up and you can see it really makes for a flawless face.

Here is at the end of the day and while my concealer has worn off a bit, my makeup still looks great!

Full face from a distance.

Another day, same results.

So pros, this will cover anything you want it to.  The price is super affordable considering how little of it you need.  Large shade selection for all types of undertones.  Although it is full coverage, it doesn't feel like you are wearing anything.

Now for the cons.....the only big one I have is I am still trying to figure out the correct moisturizer/primer combo to wear under this makeup.  It does NOT like argon oil and will pretty much melt off as the day goes on.  It does not like water based primers as this is a silicone based foundation.  So it's like mixing oil and vinegar.  Now Kat Von D used to make a primer that was formulated perfectly to go under this and she no longer does.....why Kat?? WHY?!?!  But again, using my beauty blender during the day to kind of touch up any patchy spots works wonders.

So anyone reading this review I would love your thoughts on how to get it to stay on all day.

It also claims to be transfer resistant....well, I have been able to disprove that theory.  Again, maybe it is because of what I have going on underneath it.

If you have dry skin, this is NOT for you as it will make any dry patches on your skin stick out like broccoli in your teeth.

This will also make your entire face one color and take away any and all highlights and natural shadows so you will need to use bronzer and blush.  Read my review on contouring HERE for some tips.

Now, the Kat Von D Lock It Powder is really not the right color for me but I liked the powder itself. You just use the included sponge and pat it on your face (no buffing like Bare Minerals) and it covers anything and everything. You could even use this as your touch up powder throughout the day but that is how I figured out it was too dark for me :)

Overall, I have become a lover of Kat Von D based on both the foundation and the concealer.  She has an incredible selection of lipsticks and everyone loves her eyeliners too.  ALSO, coming in 2015 she is releasing a contour palette and a cosmetics website!! So stay tuned for that gem as I will surely be announcing the details when it is here!

Again, please let me know in the comments, any and all thoughts and what your favorite KVD products are!

Happy Friday and have a great day!! xo