Urban Decay Naked Skin Glow, Cushion Foundation~ Review

 SO, if you haven't heard, Urban Decay released a cushion foundation!
(or at least in select countries in Asia as of right now, 2017) 

Those who may be familiar with my blog, I love my Urban Decay Naked foundation and have used it in most of my makeup tutorials~ So of course, I was absolutely thrilled when I read that Urban Decay was releasing this cushion option into their line! Especially, since as of recently, I've been quite a fan of cushion foundations.

The line comes equipped with a pretty sizable amount of shades (at least for an Asian cushion line). I believe there are 6 options in total for light to medium skin tones but all with varied undertones; olive, neutral, and ruddy~ I quite enjoy that they have the multiple options since most cushions tend to be more on the neutral side and sometimes cast as grey on me. The shade I chose was 2.75 which is a golden undertone light/medium shade in the line, which, for comparison, I am a 3.0 in Urban Decay's Naked Skin line. The undertone match is pretty close to mine and just a hair lighter in shade than my skin which isn't even noticeable since it does match my neck and chest.

According to the packaging, the product boasts that it will deliver a flawless and luminous 'naked glow' that is buildable and will keep skin hydrated for 18++ hours with the addition of a SPF 50+ PA+++.  It also contains added skin benefits like most other cushion foundations including; Rose centifolia extract, for toning and firming, Gentian root extract, the provides skin soothing, and peppermint extract, which conditions the skin. 

I do have a slight grievance, in that one must purchase the compact and the refill, separately, in order to make a complete set, which is a bit frustrating since the cost does add up. I paid roughly $20 for the compact and $40 for the foundation itself not adding shipping/shopping service fee. I do own more expensive cushions but I guess I feel less taken advantage of since those come as a complete set with refills usually available for purchase direct from the brands.

The packaging  on the compact is a beautiful iridescent cover which looks amazing on my vanity and a metallic lavender case. The pouf is decent... Nothing special about it, I don't find it amazing and I could easily interchange it with say my Etude House pouf and I wouldn't be able to tell a difference with application. I do like the closure of the cushion since I can feel it lock into place and I'm not just applying a ton of pressure onto my cover to ensure I have a solid seal on my foundation so it wont dry out.

Taking a look at the cushion, it's actually my first air/mesh style in my collection which is a change. In all honesty, I don't quite get the mesh style cushion but from what I do understand, it helps control the amount of product used and apparently is more sanitary? Regardless, it seems to work just the same as my normal cushions. The constancy of the foundation isn't that runny, if anything I'd almost describe it as a gel or jelly texture and when applied feels a bit tacky. The formula has no strong scent which is nice, but I do tend to enjoy when cushion foundations smell medicinal or herbal but the lack of a scent isn't a make or break issue with me.

Application of the formula is where the problems become quite apparent. Above, is a photo of just the foundation itself. 

So the foundation starts off okay on the first pounce, but once I started blending it into my skin, it would stick to any uneven surfaces which I have quite a few such as excema spots and I was having a couple breakouts this time of month too. Also, a bit of an overshare, but I did pick at a spot ( or 2) and the application of foundation on the scab was HORRENDOUS, the foundation caked into my fine lines and any small crevices on my face and just sunk into my pores and made them look even more noticeable.

Besides the textured skin issue, I found that it could barely cover my hyperpigmentation spots nor give any semblance of an even skin tone. I tend to have sallow skin near the corners of my lips and under my eyes and all my foundations have been able to even them out but not with this one!

The foundation says buildable but I found that it 'built up' and accentuated the patchiness, and even started to look a bit chalky. By the time I decided to just let it rest, the ending result left my skin in a state of disarray! Even the dry down texture was so sticky and made my skin feel so oily, which is quite odd because I have normal/combo skin that doesn't ever tend to feel immediately greasy upon initial foundation application. Moreso, the end result was quite matte which belied the sensation on my skin.

To salvage the look of my skin, it became a test on how much work my concealer could do. Then to make my skin feel less gummy I set my makeup with translucent powder which I don't usually tend to do with cushion foundations because the main point of them, or at least the reason why I prefer them, is to retain a natural dewy sheen to my skin. So, the point to even wearing this foundation was moot.

If I were to say a positive, it did even out the colour of my skin, if anything. Any redness I had was covered, so if anyone has super clear and smooth skin and only had issues of red spots of slight discolourations, maybe it could work for them..

I  really do have to share this photo immediately after the initial application photo. This was taken 4 hours after I finished my makeup and all I did was shoot this review, put away my lighting, and do some laundry. So, nothing too strenuous nor anything that would make me sweat excessively. Again, I'm not even excessively oily, but the foundation separated so extremely and so quickly! I've never ever had a foundation do that and I've put many of my foundations though the test though spin classes, hot yoga, going swimming and I've had a few patches but never such a noticeable break down of the formula on my skin. Even with setting powder and even my Ben Nye setting spray which I've used on stage/musical performances, though gym sessions and even to waterproof my makeup it couldn't even hold this together, which is maybe even a bit amazing. Really though, my skin looked and felt so oily and caked that I couldn't stand it.

I actually gave this foundation a chance! I used it for a whole week, and just barely pushed it by only wearing it for maybe an hour or two while out each time. So, shooting this tutorial was the longest I have warn it during a day. First day I used it was for dinner on my birthday and even just approaching my mum in low natural light she remarked on how bad my foundation looked, 'You're trying a new foundation aren't you, it looks horrible!' was pretty much an exact quote from her. Even my friend said it looked a bit patchy when I asked her opinion.

I mean, even with my lightly edited shots and from afar in the above pictures, you can see texture a pretty uneven finish with dark sallow patches!

Never have I given such a scathing review on my blog, but it's hard to give even a neutral opinion when I absolutely loathed a product as much as this, which is a shame because of all the makeup products that debuted this year this was the one I was so excited about and one I bullheadedly went out of my way to obtain as soon as I could after it's launch. So, it was quite disheartening that it failed in all aspects for me.

Would I recommend the foundation? Not unless one had almost perfect skin, or if someone wants to blow their money to just add it to their makeup collection. Otherwise, I'd say to stay clear of it.

Hopefully if it does release state-side, here in the US, they will fix the formula, but as it stands, two thumbs WAY down on this foundation.

<3CarisseIris

Natural Looking Full Coverage Makeup Base

What You'll need:

Concealer

Face powder [if you want more coverage a matching powder to your skin tone will help]

Foundation brush or stippling brush

BB cream or tinted moisturizer

Optional~

Makeup sealer [I really love Ben Nye's Final Seal]

So, I'm sure those who follow my blog are aware I don't really have the best skin, but I do know how to cover it well enough. Since I hit the gym every day, I do feel more confidant working out with natural looking makeup on to just cover up my blemishes a bit. And yes, I know it's not the best to go to the gym with makeup on, but I still do it. But I thought it would make for a good tutorial for those who do need a bit more makeup coverage and don't want to have a full 'cake face' going on.

1. Concealer. Use a bit of concealer to cover up problem areas on your face, and if you need to, a bit of your dark circles. I use the ring finger on my non-dominant hand to blend it out, since that finger will have the gentlest touch and won't over blend out all the product I put on.

2.Powder. Just apply powder on top of the areas with concealer, to make sure your concealer is set into place. I like to use a makeup sponge or powder puff to press the product really well into the skin.

3. BB cream or tinted moisturizer. This step will take away the matte look of the skin from the powder and make your complexion look more even, and natural. So, using a dime sized of product, give or take, and your foundation or stippling brush, tap on the product onto your skin and over the areas you concealed and powdered. Areas that you didn't touch you can gently buff the product into the skin. Tap and buff around until you are satisfied with how your skin looks. You don't want to blend or drag your brush over the areas you covered or else you will disturb the makeup and can end up removing the work you previously put down. If you applied a bit too much, just gently dab it with your finger pad or with the brush. When you are done, you should have a relatively dewey and natural looking finish to your skin. 

4. Spray a makeup seal onto your skin. Especially useful on hot days, if you plan to swim, or if you are going to work out. It'll keep your makeup on your face and in place.

Finish off with brows, a touch of mascara and lip balm if you feel you need them.

That's it. Full coverage, and a decent natural finish, that will last throughout the day.

<3CarisseIris

Ariel inspired tutorial, Urban Decay Naked on the Run

Happy belated New Year! I started this year off with a very drastic change and dyed my hair auburn.

So, I decided to kick off the new year with a fitting tutorial inspired by The Little Mermaid.

 So, the palette I used for my whole look is Urban Decay's Naked on the Run kit.

 The palette comes with a bronzer, blush, highlight 50/50, Perversion mascara, Stag 24/7 eyeliner, Naked lip gloss in Stesso and five new eyeshadows:
Dive, Fix, Resist, Dare and Stun
Below I have swatches of all the colours.

Like everything UD, all the products are well pigmented and have luxurious consistencies. It's my fave brand for a reason haha.

So, let's get on to the tutorial.

The look is very easy, and a typical 'natural' look with amplifies your natural features. For easy application, I applied it all using my Urban Decay duo brush, but you can easily use your finger pads in a pinch or if you're 'on the run'.

1. Mixing the highlight shade, 50/50 and the light rose colour, Dive, I pat the product onto my lid.

2. Using the matte taupe shadow, Fix, I blended the shadow into my deepest area on my lid, my socket. You can find this easily by lightly feeling through your lid where your eyeball is. You will put the colour and blend right above your eyeball into that slight indentation. 

3.Using Fix, blend the colour under your lower lash line. I also applied a touch of the highlight colour 50/50 around my tear duct area.

4. You can deepen the look of your eye by blending a bit of the darkest colour, Stun, on the corner of your eyes. Then, using Stag, line your eyes with a thin line and gentle wing, then blend out the liner a bit to soften up the look.

Then, finish with a coat of Perversion Mascara, and your favourite falsies.

Apply contour, blush, highlight and a bit of the gloss and you are good to go!

[I don't usually use bronzer as contour but I tried it out for the sake of the tutorial, and the colour is way too warm to be a decent contour shade.. So, be wary of that. I ended up deepening my contour with a darker foundation powder of mine.]

Time for hair~

I based my Ariel hair inspiration on the look from The Little Mermaid musical. I thought it looked magical and simple enough for a cute and simple hair style that still translates as Disney princess.

You will need to start a few hours or even a night before hand by pin curling your hair. 

I started mine with a 1 inch hair wand then rolling those curls and securing them on my head with alligator clips.

When you take your pin curls out your hair might look a hot mess but trust me it'll come out fine.

After I smoothed my curls by gently brushing them out, I teased the crown of my hair a ton, and smoothed it out into a deep side part, it looked a lot better.

So, the main basis of the look are two rope braids on both sides of the head. A rope braid is really simple~

You just take two strands twirl both strands in towards your face, just to define the twists, then twist  the two strands together, away from your face. It's as easy as it looks.

 

 The side of your hair near the part will have a shorter strand, and you just bobby pin that in place.

The side of your hair with more hair you will make a longer rope, then pin it with a few pins in a curve like a shell shape~ It's a lovely style that keeps hair off your face but gives a nice touch of dimension to the hair .

 When you get your hair all combed and sorted, even using your fingers to help shape the curls, you should have nice bouncy curls and waves that should last all day~

Voilla, relatively easy Ariel inspired look!

I hope you enjoyed!
<3CarisseIris

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette, review~

 Wahoo, my first Naked palette! Tbh, the first two didn't strike my fancy especially since I had a lot of those UD shadow pots and/or similar shades. I'm queen of neutral colours basically.
But, this palette really drew me in. I mean 'rose hues' is the theme of the set~ And, as a rose hued kind of person I kind of had to have it;;

 ^^ Packaging~ Okay, so I kind of hate that the casing is tin. It makes me kind of nervous of dropping it  and eek, I just really don't like metal packaging... I mean I guess it's easy to wipe down to clean it and it will look nice just as long I don't dent or scratch it...

 So the package comes with little trial versions of their eye primers. I LOOOVE their eye primers, I personally use the original primer potion on a daily basis. I was kind of afraid the little samples would be pots since that would mean it would be a one time use per package. But happily it's a squeeze pouch so it's easy to close and keep in good condition for a few uses.

 Dun dara dun! The colours! Apparently these are all new shades so that's really exciting! I tried filtering it to show off the correct tones;; There's really no justice done compared to how it glows in person.

The palette also comes with a crease and shadow brush... Good quality but I prefer my own brushes over the given one.

So here are my swatches, in order, using the original primer potion as a base~

Strange: matte bone/cream colour
Dust: flesh/pinky glitter
Burn out: perfect light rose gold metallic
Limit: matte pink/taupe
Buzz: purply, pinky glitter
Trick: pink copper metallic [similar to half baked but more pink to it]

Nooner: pinky/purple taupe matte
Liar: rose bronze glitter, metallic? I can't figure it out but it's pretty..
Factory: golden metallic with a little dark pink sheen
Mugshot: Dark gold/brown glitter
Darkside: Mauve brown metallic
Blackheart: Dark dark brown, almost black with red glitter

Like all Urban Decay shadows, they're incredibly pigmented and have little to no fall out and are just silky soft like a butterfly's wing~

The palette is so worth the $52 USD price tag! I'm just hoping the release the colours in the palette separately down the road if I need a refill;;

 My eyeshadow look using the palette~

On the lid I used, Strange and Dust.

On the inner crease, I used Limit.

Then, the outer crease I did in Nooner [totally in love with this colour] and darkened the outer crescent with Liar and Factory.

Finally, I highlighted under my brow with Strange.

I then gave myself a strong winged liner, brought some of Nooner on my lower lash line and highlighted my under eye with UD's Vanilla [not from the palette;;] to finish it off!

 Pretty rose eyes~
[On a random note, I'm totally going to try filing in my brows with Limit to see how it fares, I feel like it would be my perfect brow colour...]

How do you feel about the New Naked 3?
Do you own any Naked Palettes and which is your fave?

<3CaisseIris