Foundation Primers

When I put my makeup on in the morning, I expect it to look fresh all day, not patchy and fading by lunch. What I’ve discovered as a key product to give me the results I want is a foundation primer. This invisible layer goes on after your skin care and before your foundation or concealer, acting as both an extra barrier against the elements (so key during fall and winter) and a canvas for color. Pick the right one for your skin and a primer can add hours of wear to your makeup, and even make it look better by filling in fine lines, adding extra moisture or reducing shine (depending on your skin type). With so many benefits and so many choices, I decided to try a few to see how they are. If you have a favorite, send me your tips.

NP Set Pre-Foundation Primer Makeup

Napoleon Perdis is one of the new designer brands to hit Target stores, under the name NP Set. Previously only available in fine department stores, Napoleon Perdis is offering a wide range of items, from this primer to foundation and color cosmetics for eyes, lips and cheeks. My first introduction to the line is the Pre-Foundation Primer ($29), a creamy, pearly-pink lotion designed to add moisture and create a smooth surface for the rest of your makeup. As someone with light colored skin that has pinkish undertones, I find the light pink tone of this primer to work really well for me, but I wonder how it would look on darker skin, or more yellow or olive skin tones. Because of the moisture component, I would not recommend this primer for skin with any tendency toward oiliness; you will most likely end up with an oil slick. I also take issue with the price point - frankly, I think $29 for any makeup at Target is ridiculous. Knock it down to $12 and I would consider buying it again. I will enjoy my tube but move on.

Arbonne Virtual Illusion Makeup Primer

My friend Linda Cohen turned me on to Arbonne a few years ago, and I have tried several things and have never been disappointed. While placing my most recent order, she recommended this new product, Virtual Illusion Makeup Primer ($32.50). This lightweight, silky-smooth gel would be a perfect fit for any skin tone or type. It creates a smooth surface for makeup, or you can wear it alone after your regular skin care for a more polished bare face. It’s neither matte nor particularly moisturizing, making it an easy fit for any skin type. The one ounce bottle doesn’t seem large, but you need just one pump for your whole face (and it’s not a skimpy amount). This is my favorite primer of the ones I’ve tried.

Exuberance Miracle Bound Pre-Makeup Skin Firming Gel

Here is an example of a primer that crosses the line between makeup and skincare. With skincare ingredients like DMAE (short for dimethylaminoethanol, a naturally occurring substance that may make skin appear firmer) and aloe vera, you could easily use this in the morning as part your anti-aging skincare with or without makeup. Exuberance Skin Firming Gel ($45) is clear and leaves a slightly matte finish on the skin, so if you are dry, be sure to generously apply your regular moisturizer and let it soak in before you apply Miracle Bound. I have found that the matte finish makes my foundation go on more smoothly and allows me to use less product, especially with my current makeup, Lancome Teint Idole.

If you have a favorite at a budget-friendly price point, let me know!

Marissa’s Pick of the Week

I love this time of year! All the cosmetic companies are in full holiday gear and the best bargains of the season have arrived.  My pick this week is Bobbi Brown’s Exclusive Limited-Edition Artist Palette for Lips.  It’s a big name for a big palette - 42 of Bobbi’s colors all in one compact.  The palette is big, about the size of a novel, but slim.  I keep it in my gym bag as it’s way too big for most purses.  This palette is broken down into three categories: 21 lip colors, 11 creamy lip colors and 10 lip sheers.   I love this palette not for all the colors that I normally wear, but for all the colors I never bought or wouldn’t have tried because I thought that they weren’t compatible with my skin tone.  Plus, you can mix and match these colors. The other day I had on Burnt Red lip color with a touch of Bare lip sheer to tone down the red.

This is one item that all make-up junkies need to have in their hands this holiday season.  Right now, it’s exclusive to Neiman Marcus, but my sources say it will soon be available wherever Bobbi Brown is sold.

JK Jemma Kidd at Target

A couple of years ago, when Jemma Kidd’s Make Up School first was introduced in the US, I favorably reviewed most of the products in her range. At that time, her products were only available at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman in the US.

JK Jemma Kidd for Target

I was delighted to find that in the past few months, Jemma Kidd has made her her products available in a new line of cosmetics for Target which she calls JK Jemma Kidd. My findings, for the products I have tried thus far, did not disappoint.

I don’t usually wear any kind of primer under my foundation…just  a lot of moisturizer, but I decided to try JK Jemma Kidd Mannequin Skin Complexion Enhancer ($24). The product, infused with Vitamin E, has a faintly luminescent finish, but after rubbing it into your skin, it isn’t too noticeable. It does, however, make a beautiful finish for your foundation. In this case, I was using JK Jemma Kidd Pro Finish Moisture Tint ($28) in 02-Mid.  While   you could use this as a tinted moisturizer, it is layerable, so you can control how much coverage you want. Just like Jemma Kidd’s foundation in her high-end line, the foundation has a very yellowish tone, but blends beautifully into the skin and doesn’t look yellow at all once you have applied it. Only three shades are available. I used 02-Mid. I had thought I would have to go lighter for cold weather, but the foundation readily adapts to enhance your won skin tone. Compared to Jemma’s Light-as-Air Liquid Foundation from her original line, I like the new version better, as it is much more moisturizing.

Jemma Kidd’s blush products in her original line were my favorite items.  I still use them! IMO, her new blushes  are just as good as the old ones! My current faves are Chic Cheeks Powder Blush in 01-London,($21), a light mauvey pink and Stain/Flush/Blush Concentrate in 03-Flirt ($17), a sheer cream blush in a light peachy pink. Both give very sheer and natural color to your face.

JK Jemma Kidd’s products at Target hold their own against her  upscale department store Jemma Kidd Beauty School products. There is not much of a price difference between her two ranges of products, as her original line was very fairly priced for the stores that were carrying them. Having them available at Target certainly will widen her audience!  I heartily recommend giving them a try!

Happy Shopping!
-Judith

Marissa’s Pick of the Week!

Hi everyone,

  The fall colors are in and I’m just loving the purple and berry shades of the season.  My pick of the week is Giorgio Armani’s new Lip Wax!  I love the little pot with the mirror and the colors can be layered for a deep hue or patted on as a sheer wash.  No lip brush needed, this is a finger painting lippy!  I multi-task with the lip wax too. I like to use a pinch of #4 Raspberry on my cheeks.  Also, #5 Cardinal Red is a beautiful shade that will flatter any skin tone.  Add your favorite lip gloss (Armani #1 or #7 for me) and off you go!  This is a great lippy that will soon become a staple in your makeup bag!

Target launches designer makeup lines

I wouldn’t say that Target is my top destination for the latest in designer beauty, beyond maybe the next mascara from Maybelline, so I was intrigued on my last visit to see a new display with Pixi, JK Jemma Kidd, and NP Set - all lines from top designers who have (either currently or in the past) product lines with major doors like Sephora or Bloomingdales. Why the mass vs. class switch? Looks like the one-stop-shop mentality has hit high-end cosmetics.

I decided to take a look at Pixi first, picking up some basics like foundation, blush and an eye palette. Even though the products appeared to be on sale, just those three things rang up to $83! I will try to stop harping on the sticker shock, but this is Target, right?

There are a few options for foundation in the Pixi line; I opted for Flawless Vitamin Veil ($35), a compact creamy foundation with sheer to medium coverage.  I chose the Medium shade, even though the tester looked a bit dark, but now that I have worn it for a few days, I think it is a decent match for me. Seeing as there are only three shades to choose from (light, medium and tanned), the formula would have to be fairly universal and adaptable or no one could wear it. Flawless Vitamin Veil is not a long-wearing formula, so expect to touch-up if you need the coverage to last into the evening. It is also not the best for fines lines, as it likes to settle a bit rather than float over the skin. The packaging is cute, the drawer for the sponge is a little unnecessary, but the sponge itself is decent. Overall this is a fine foundation if you like light coverage and aren’t concerned about lines and wrinkles. One positive for me: no breakouts. I am not sure that I will buy it again, especially with so many other brands and formulas to try

Pixi has a few choices for cheeks - powder, liquid, and gel. I like a light, sheer flush, so I picked Sheer Cheek Gel ($20). A tiny dab is perfect for a natural looking flush, and this gel is fairly forgiving, so you don’t have to worry about streaks and blotches if you don’t blend it in immediately. I chose Rosy, pictured here; there is also Natural, Sun Kissed and Flushed.

I debated about the rest of the collection - what to try, what shades to pick - until I spotted the Eye Beauty Kit ($28) in Minimum. This is a perfect set of colors for me, a mix of light neutrals and deep browns and charcoals. The shadows themselves are a  bit shiny for my taste, but as long as I use a light touch, blend well, and apply only to the lid, I can pull it off. I also have a love-hate relationship with the enclosed brush. The stiff liner end is okay, but the brush meant for shadows really needs to be softer. The shadows are not finely milled as a higher end brand like Chanel or Dior, so when you rake this rigid shadow brush over the surface, it’s like taking a shovel to it. Do yourself a favor and find a softer brush.

Pixi has much more to be discovered. Drop me a line if you try something and love it!

- Heather