This isn’t a new product but it is new to me since you can’t buy Illamasqua in Canada. I just purchased it in the States at Sephora. The coverage is exactly what I was looking for, opaque and matte. This foundation covers imperfections amazingly well without looking heavy. I’ve been buffing it onto my skin with a MAC #109 brush. A little goes along way, which means you can skip the concealer and just use this. Another great thing is I find I’m touching up with powder, alot less throughout the day, and my skin looks very even.

Choosing the right foundation for your skin is one of the most important aspects of your makeup. I automatically think of the woman who’s foundation never matched her neck, and left a hideous line along the jaw! Nowadays there are so many more choices in colour, texture, and formulation. Despite this fact it can still be a daunting task to find one that works for you. The most popular formulations are liquid, cream, and powder. Liquids and creams can be silicone, water, emollient or gel based. Because of major advancements in technology and the multitudes of brands, both prestige and drugstore, there is bound to be more that one foundation that will suit your needs.

Here are a few tips to help narrow the process down:

1. When deciding on colour first look at the undertone of your skin is it warm, with pink or orange undertones? Cool, with gold or olive undertones or neutral, equal amounts of both cool and warm.

2. Look at the depth of colour. Are you light, medium, or dark?

3. Type of coverage. Sheer–minimal coverage skin shows through. Medium–flaws and imperfections are covered but skin looks natural. Full coverage–All flaws are completely covered natural skin does not show through.

4. What type of skin do you have? Normal, oily, dry or combination. This makes a difference as to what formulation you’ll choose. Dry skin would generally go for a hydrating foundation in liquid or cream. Whereas oily skin would probably avoid anything with a lot of moisturizing properties. A semi matte liquid or gel based formula would be more appropriate.

5. Always try colours on your face before committing. Or take samples home and test them out.

6. Try on the jawline to get a good colour match with your neck.

7. Most importantly decide how you want your skin to look. Besides flawless do you want a matte finish, glowy or somewhere in between.

People often wonder, when it comes to foundation which is best. The fact is it depends on lots of variables. Such as how do you want your skin to look? How much coverage do you want? Which type of foundation do you like—liquid, powder, cream? What type of skin do you have? Because the answers to these questions can change with age, season, or occasion, there’s always more than one foundation that will work for you.
Here’s a quick breakdown on powder foundation and liquid:

Powder Foundation

Convenient because it’s two things in one and comes in a compact with a mirror

Generally full coverage

Option of applying with a sponge for maximum coverage, or a brush for less

Matte finish

Adheres to dry or textured skin which enhances the problem and is not flattering

Liquid Foundation

Comes in different forms: water based (hydrating) emollient based (heavier coverage) silicone based (smooth and easy to blend)

Variety of finishes: matte, semi matte, dewy

Manipulate finish by how much you apply—sheer it out or build coverage up

Apply with different brushes, sponge, or fingers

Customize colours by mixing to match your skin

The Burberry Beauty collection is as chic and sophisticated as it’s clothing line. Starting with the beautiful packaging with signature Burberry check, to the lipstick cases that close magnetically. After trying the majority of the line, I found the foundation, powder, eyeshadow, and gloss to be quite sheer. Everything feels very smooth and silky thanks to the silicones, and glides on for effortless application. Makeup Artist Wendy Rowe, responsible for the make up direction at Burberry’s runway makeup for the past nine years, says the line is “effortless and relaxed, but sophisticated.”

I purchased the gloss in nude beige No.9. It is sheer and very smooth, not at all sticky. Oils and ceramides that leave the lips hydrated, supple and naturally plumped. The shadows come in a variety of neutrals as well as some blues and purples inspired by England’s stormy weather. I picked up the eyeshadow in gold trench No.4 the colour is a pretty golden beige and it looks great on my lids or as a highlight colour.

The lipsticks come in a nice range of easy to wear colours from nude tones to darker reds. It’s very light on the lips and quite moisturizing while leaving just the right amount of pigment on the lips. Lisa got the No.3 cameo pink which is a light-medium warm pink colour.

Update: (From Lisa) After wearing this for a while I decided that I don’t love the smell of the lipstick and foundation. I find that a lot of the products smell like perfume — maybe even baby powder which is a bit off putting. But if you’re okay with the smell then its a pretty nice lipstick. Leah has been using the lipgloss and it has no smell.

The fastest way to create your own tinted moisturizer is to mix equal parts of your usual foundation and day time moisturizer together. The result is a lightweight version of your foundation, perfect for the summer weather.

Powder is used as a finishing product to set foundation or concealer, and to absorb oil. In some cases powder can be used alone to enhance your complexion. When it comes to choosing between loose or pressed a lot of times convenience can be the deciding factor. Obviously if you need to carry powder with you, then pressed will be a better choice.

The advantage of loose powder is that it’s often lighter weight especially when applied with a brush. So for mature skin or dry skin that requires minimal powder loose is a good way to go. The opposite can be true of pressed powder. When applied liberally with a powder puff you can get quite a bit of coverage and a very matte look. Both versions can be applied with a brush or a powder puff depending on the look you want to achieve. A brush will apply less and a puff will apply more.

Expert Tip: Before powdering very oily skin remove excess oil by pressing a tissue or blotting paper to the face, and then finish with powder.

Currently I am loving DiorSkin Nude foundation. I’m all about skin that looks flawless but not made up. Skin that glows without looking oily. This foundation does exactly that. The key ingredients are 100% natural mineral pigments, and mineralized water, which leave your skin looking hydrated and glowing. I use a duo fibre round foundation brush for a quick and even application.

Sometimes it’s quite challenging to find the exact match in a foundation. Either you are in between shades, or your skin is more than one colour (especially if you have a dark skin tone). Buying two foundations can solve both of these problems. If you are in between colours, having two shades gives you the option of mixing a darker and a lighter to create your own custom shade. For those who are darker on the forehead, sides, and chin use the darker colour around the perimeter of your face, and under cheekbones. The lighter shade can then be used through the centre of the face. The end result is an even complexion that’s naturally contoured.

Skin that looks healthy, radiant, and gorgeous is not just reserved for models, and celebs, but rather it is an absolute must have for every woman. Almost every woman I meet over thirty, covets glowy skin because glowy skin is youthful and who doesn’t want to look young?

Expert Tips:

1.   Prep the skin with a hydrating mist like MAC Fix+ before applying moisturizer. This boosts the skins moisture level and creates an instant glow.

2.  For an all over glow mix a few drops of  an illuminating  product into your liquid foundation. Try Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer.

3.  Highlight the high planes (tops of cheek bones, apples of the cheek, and brow bone) by gently tapping on a cream shadow. Or use a powder that has iridescence and apply with a soft brush.