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Jemma Kidd Make Up School
Jemma Kidd, former model and British celebrity makeup artist, has recently introduced her new makeup collection, Jemma Kidd's Make Up School, in the US at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.
We may not be able to attend classes at her makeup school in London, but we now are able to purchase the same products in the US. Featuring easy to use cosmetics in subtle colorations, you can picture them used on Kidd's own porcelain English complexion. Each package contains an easy to follow instruction sheet, just as you might receive in Kidd's classes in London!
I tried Light-as-Air Liquid Foundation ($35). A sheer liquid foundation with a sheer natural finish, it is geared for normal-oily skin. After a bit of experimentation, I found that Fair (the lightest warm shade), while it looks very yellow right out of the tube, blends perfectly with my skin tone after application. The foundation contains salicylic acid and is targeted for oily skin. As with any foundation, I moisturize my skin well before application and find that this leaves a natural finish. I think that moisturizer is the trick in making this foundation work for all skin types. One tip: You have to shake the tube up, or the foundation comes out as a liquid (I told you it was sheer!).
Soft Touch Creme Foundation ($40) was a pleasant surprise. Usually, cream compact foundations do not work for me, as they often end up settling into lines or streaking as the day goes on. This one is different! While you can build the coverage to the level you like, I found it very easy to achieve a sheer finish and the added moisturizing ceramides helped keep it from dying out as the day went on. I chose Fair for this one, too.
Contour & Flush Creme Blush Duo ($32) is only available in one color (Flesh), with a bronzer and blush in one compact. The colors are rather harsh in the compact, but work beautifully on the skin. They are VERY sheer. I seldom wear bronzer, but I really liked this one - it was more blush than bronzer - and the pink toned blush was a perfect accent to make the bronzer pop. This one is a keeper!
I love Ultimate Lip Care Protect & Plump SPF 12 in nude ($15). I'm always looking for moisture balm for my lips. This has a hint of color and is extra creamy, which is what I like. The color is almost negligible, but it natural enough to pass as lip color when you only want a little bit of color.
Ultimate Lipstick Duo: Plumping Lip Balm & Long-Lasting Color ($20) is a lipstick combo. I loved the neutral colors, but found the lip balm made the lip color slide right off. Used separately, these are great, but I didn't like using them together. My favorite shades are Audrey, a mauvey pink, and Titania, a plummy brown. All of the colors are rather neutral. If you're into bright lipstick colors, this is not for you, but if you like natural, subtle colors, give these a try.
Shape & Shade: Liner & Lip Fill in Natural ($22) is one of the best lip liners I've found in a long time. It’s creamy enough to be used as lip color and works great when then topped with gloss or balm, plus the opposite end has a handy brush for blending.
Eye Wardrobe: Eyeshadow Quartet ($45) is one of my favorite items in this collection. The colors of the powder eye shadows are superb, and like the rest of Kidd's products, the colors are subtle and easy to wear. I splurged and chose two: Natural in pale, flattering pinks, beiges and lavender; and, Green with a pinkish beige, aqua, light green and a darker khaki brownish green, suitable for using as a liner. All of the colors are immensely wearable, are light and don't crease.
The piece de resistance of Jemma Kidd's collection, as far as I am concerned, is her Lasting Tint: Semi-Permanent, Waterproof Lash Color ($28). I figured semi-permanent meant waterproof, but it's not just waterproof. This is the longest lasting mascara I've ever used. Though I've never tried to do so, I could easily go two days without touching it up. The brush takes a little getting used to, as it has wider spiral than a lot of the new mascaras that have come out lately. Only available in black, if you are looking for waterproof mascara that really lasts, this is it! (Don't forget, though, that you will need waterproof or permanent eye makeup remover to take it off!)
Jemma Kidd also features a nice selection of brushes and accessories to be used with her cosmetics. I really like her Kabuki style brushes. The Essential Face Brush ($25) and Bronzer Brush ($20) are well made and definitely worth checking out.
Jemma Kidd's Make Up School is well priced and definitely worth checking out. You may not be able to take a trip to England this year, but it's fun to be able to create the look of a beautiful English complexion in your own home! You can find all of these products at bergdorfgoodman.com and neimanmarcus.com.
- Judith
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Posted September 10, 2006
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