The Foundation Quest Continues

Following on from my disastrous results with Guerlain's Extreme foundation (see earlier post), I attempted to take it back. I had bought it in John Lewis in Watford and tried taking it back at Bluewater. Becky at the counter was really lovely and friendly and explained that without a receipt (arghhhh - where is it?!) she couldn't take it back, as per John Lewis' policy - but I could take it back to Watford and get a refund. Great, totally not my way at all! She went on to say she'd have recommended the Lingerie De Peau to me, which is ironically what I'd gone to get in the first place! She gave me enough samples to last me 6 days and matched my skin shade as a 03, just by looking at me, and seemed shocked to see that I had previously been matched as an 02. She said that she'd ring me to book me in to get to the bottom of it and maybe need to tweak my skin care.

I tried the Lingerie De Peau today and 03 is most definitely too dark for me. I felt like the biggest fat-face without any definition and like I had freaking obvious different colour foundation on. Becky had recommended to apply it using my fingers, which I did - it felt nice on the skin, smelt good and had a slight sheen. Due to the bad colour match I felt so uncomfortable, and after 3 hours the foundation had gone completely streaky and disgusting - so that's that one off the list!

I had been recommended YSL's Teint Resist, which claims to be oil free, long lasting and transfer resistant. The YSL counter was next to Guerlain in John Lewis, so I had to go to House of Fraser so Becky wouldn't see! The sale assistant was really chatty and 'normal' - she sat me down and colour matched me as a 4, and sent me on my way with a little pot with a few days worth in it.

The finish is semi-matte which translates beautifully as there is a slight sheen without looking shiny. The smell of it is really fresh and clean and it feels great to put on. I was also recommended to use my fingers with this one.....

I felt like this one looked fab - I felt good secretly thinking 'this is the one, this is it!'

Spoke to soon - 3.5 hours later I looked like this....

which, ok, doesn't look tooooooooo bad, but how about if I was outside, or in more light, or a different angle?

Slick!

I decided to try it again yesterday, and this time I buffed it in using a kabuki brush once I'd applied it, and then reapplied over the areas that seemed to need it. I used the kabuki whenever I felt I needed a bit of a de-shine and I was impressed. I forgot to take a pic of the end of the day, it definitely lasted longer, and wore in a nicer way. Here it was after I'd initially applied it:

The other foundation I got a sample of was Estee Lauder's Double Wear. I used to use this regularly but stopped as I remember it seemed so mask-like. I think now that it might have been a case of a bad colour-match and me being a bit heavy handed with my application as the results I've had this time haven't been like that at all.

I was colour matched using a swatch chart like you'd get in a paint shop! The sales assistant matched me as Sand which seems to be a good match. She recommended using a foundation brush, and seeing as I already had the Estee Lauder foundation brush, used that when I applied it. With 'mask' in the back of my mind I applied it little by little and built it up - this was the finished result:

It is definitely the most matte of the 3 foundations I've sampled this weekend, and my skin did feel tight. I could see that the dry areas of my face were more noticeable so extra exfoliation would be required.

Sunday was a sunny day and I had a job which was outside, with the sun on me, and this foundation held up, I was so impressed! Yes, I had a sheen after about 5 hours but it was a sheen rather than me being shiny - and the foundation was still there! You can see my pores on my forehead (where the Hell have they come from and how can I get rid of them?!), but I think that's the case with any foundations sadly. I took this shot in my car after my shoot - this was after 5.5 hours of working, being in the sun, running around.....

I feel bad because whenever anyone has said to me they'd like to try Double Wear I've warned them off saying that it's too thick and mask-like and don't do it! I take back everything I've said!

It is the most obvious of the 3 foundations, but it does its job and that's just what I'm looking for. I will definitely be purchasing Double Wear asap, and if I manage to get a refund on the Guerlain (I'm going to try calling the head office and seeing if I can send it back, or if not will have to trek over to Watford again) will also get the Teint Resist for days that I'm feeling a little more confident skin-wise.

I don't know if anyone else can relate, but since this whole foundation fiasco has started my self confidence has sunk - I have felt so ugly, like I can't do my make up, like everyone is looking at me, that I have terrible skin..... but now I feel like I have a solution, that there's light at the end of the tunnel :)