Yves Saint Laurent YSL Fusion Ink Foundation Review

I'm loving these lightweight serum like foundations and was excited to try this. Yves Saint Laurent use to have a formula called Teint Radiance which provided great coverage and was long lasting. It was perfect for the summer months. The formulas that came out after YSL Teint Radiance was discontinued has not impressed me thus far. They did expanded their color range with 21 shades to choose from for different undertones. Shades starting with B is Neutral, BR is Cool, and BD is Warm. The color I'm using is B20 Ivory which matches my winter skin tone pretty well.

 
The YSL Fusion Ink Foundation packaging looks cheap to me. It still has the brands gold touches but the glass jar is painted in black with a window to show the color. The gold cap pulls off which reveals the twist top with applicator. It reminds me of Butter London's Nail Polish Packaging. I dislike the wand applicator since it's very unhygienic. You have to directly apply the applicator onto a brush, face, or fingers. The tip does not have enough product for your entire face so I end up using product from the wand as well.  

This has a heavy fragrance, I'm assuming to mask the alcohol but it actually makes the scent even stronger and overwhelming. I actually gasps when it goes near my nose. It also stings slightly on first touch because of the alcohol and my skin is already dry to begin with. Given the fragrance and alcohol, this is probably not good for the skin. Good thing is it hasn't given me any breakouts though.

YSL Fusion Ink Foundation claims to provide a matter finish that is lightweight yet high-coverage. I agree it's lightweight, sinks right in and provides a matte finish. But it doesn't give me that flawless finish I'm looking for. Coverage is light and my least favorite out of the ones in this type of formula. It looks more natural and skin-like but not giving you a healthy and radiant appeal like Perricone No Foundation Serum or even Lancome Nude Miracle. This also feels more dry on the skin than the other two serum like foundations I reviewed. It is more similar to Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet in terms of the finish. Shine does break through on my nose just after 3 hours, so for something as drying on the skin it does not last that well. It feels very light on the skin but it's thicker in consistency than the other serum foundations I've tried. It's still much thinner than the regular foundation formula's we are used to.

Overall: Would not recommend this. It's good for someone who wants a lightweight and light coverage foundation that gives a semi matte finish but the overwhelming fragrance and alcohol in this makes this unappealing to use.

Alterna Bamboo Cleanse Extend Translucent Dry Shampoo Sugar Lemon Review

I've started using Dry Shampoo to save me from having flat greasy hair on the days I do not wash my hair for a few years now. I'm was never a fan of aerosol dry shampoos. I've tried some drugstore ones when the idea first came out like Batista and Tresemme. They didn't do anything to soak up oil and actually make my hair more sticky and added extra build up. I always wash my hair every other day so I need something to help with the excess oil on the roots and give me some volume. I usually reach for the powder dry shampoos for that but I've been using Bamboo Cleanse Extend Translucent Dry Shampoo recently instead. 

Alterna make some great shampoos and conditioners so I thought why not give this a try. They have the original Cleanse Extend Translucent Dry Shampoo in Leaf scent but they came out with 3 new scents. I'm not sure if the formula is different but on Sephora.com they sell them separately for $22. The one I'm reviewing is in Sugar Lemon which smells more like vanilla and lemon. I'm not a huge fan of vanilla scents but I don't mind this. It's not overpowering and doesn't really linger.

The aerosol spray can is made very well and gives you great control of how much product to dispense. Comes out in a sharp fine mist and I haven't had any issues with it clogging. Directions say to shake well and spray 6-8 inches away. I do this in sections, about 2-3 sections on each side then some in the back of my head. It feels cooling and slightly damp at first but you're suppose to let it dry before combing through. I use my fingers to rub it in after about 15 seconds of drying. My hair does get knotted after I spray this so I have to comb that out but the finish is manageable and not sticky. I don't think it absorbs oil as well as powder dry shampoos but it does gives me more volume and added texture which powder doesn't. It doesn't leave white residue on my hair as long as your spray 6-8 inches away as suggested. If sprayed too close it does look slightly grey and leaves a sticker residue than a cleaner feel.

Before/After

With Bamboo Cleanse Extend Dry Shampoo

Final thoughts: It's easier to use than powder dry shampoos since you just take sections, spray and rake through with fingers. You have to be extra careful not to spray too close or it will not give you the best results. This gives me volume and texture for the day but it probably will not last nearly as long as the powder shampoos. I also prefer this over Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray for a dry shampoo since it gives you a cleaner feeling and it cost just about half the amount. Oribe is more of a styling spray which gives more thicker texture if that's what you are looking for.

Lancome Nude Miracle Foundation Review

Lancome Nude Miracle Foundation is another super lightweight, serum liquid to powder foundation. It's much like Perricone No Foundation Foundation Serum in terms of texture and finish. It has the same type of glass bottle with a dropper applicator. The opening just fits the dropper applicator so it could get messy. It's very watery so you need to shake it well before using which is also mentioned in the directions. At $42, the price is fair and less expensive than the other foundations in this category. Perricone No Foundation Foundation Serum, Giorgio Armani Maestro, and YSL Fusion Ink Foundation is in the $55-65 range.

They have a pretty good shade selection for all skin tones, a total of 14 colors available with shades for Neutral, Cool, and Warm undertones. They also use the same shade system in their other formulas. I have this in 140 Ivoire (N) which is fair with neutral undertones. It warms up my complexion without looking too pink or orange. I also didn't notice much oxidation so color stays true throughout the day.  

The coverage is amazing considering how watery the formula is. I use 3 drops directly on the foundation brush, blend it in and 2 additional drops just to go over my t-zone. It covers all the redness and provides a soft focus that has a very natural finish, almost second-skin as it claims. It's a medium coverage foundation with a semi-matte finish. I found that it doesn't absorb oil as well as it claims since my t-zone does get shiny by mid-to-end of day. But not at all bad where I must blot or powder. I also feel slightly congested around my nose after a few hours. It doesn't stay feeling weightless as when first applied.   

What I dislike about Lancome Nude Miracle is that it's very potent of alcohol and fragrance which is probably not good for the skin but it hasn't caused any irritation or breakouts. The scent is overpowering but I think the alcohol is what makes this feels weightless and dry so fast into the skin. It has SPF 15 which isn't reliable enough on it's own for sun protection so I rather they not include it at all. 

Final Thoughts: The idea and finish is great in terms the lightweight formula and coverage, however, it doesn't feel as nourishing to the skin as Perricone No Foundation Foundation Serum. This is one I want to take off at the end of the day since it seems to build up around my nose, making me feel congested. Strange since it's so lightweight. The strong alcohol content is a huge negative for me. Will I continue to use it? Yes, it looks great on the skin but I wouldn't repurchase or feel like it's a must have.

Pictures below are taken 8 hours after application without powder and blotting. There is some oil shining through.

Close up under direct light

 

Le Metier de Beaute Blushing Bronzed Duet in Traviatta vs Nars Blush Bronze Duo Review

When I picked up the Le Metier de Beaute Blushing Bronzed Duet (what a long name!) it instantly reminded me of the Nars Blush Bronzer Duo. Both blush sides are coral-pink and they have similar packaging but it's different in shape. They have the same rubber matte exterior which clings on to powder and dirt easily. However, the rubber makes it easy to grip and won't easily slip out of your hand. They both have a good size mirror. I actually tend to use the Nars compact when I have no other mirror for makeup application.

Le Metier de Beaute Blushing Bronzed Duet in Traviatta is $65 for 0.49oz and the Nars Blush Bronzer Duo is $42 for 0.35oz. They look pretty similar in shade side by side in the pan but it's noticeably different when swatched and applied. The Le Metier de Beaute blush is in the shade Echo which can be purchased on it's own for $30. Nars Blush in Orgasm is also $30. So why is LMDB more expensive in the Duo? Well there's a difference in price on the Le Metier de Beaute Bronzer versus Nars Bronzer which is $55 and $38 respectively but I'm not sure of their sizes so I can't tell you which comes out to be a better deal.

Although I'm a huge fan of Nars blushes, I was never a fan of the famous Orgasm blush that everyone seems to love. I think it's too frosty and leans more pink than a peachy coral. It doesn't really flatter me and I find it actually hard to pair with the rest of my makeup even though I wear neutral colors. The Le Metier de Beaute blush shade Echo leans more coral which is much more flattering and brightens up my face. The texture is silkier and more refined than Nars Orgasm. However, this is really pigmented, one dab picks up a lot of product so use sparingly. They both have shimmer but Nars Orgasm has flecks of glittery particles. You can really see the different texture of glitter in the Nars picture below.

As for the bronzer, Le Metier de Beaute in Sun Kissed is lighter and more natural in color than Nars Laguna. It's never too much and is easy to use even for beginners since it blends in seamlessly. It's good for fair and light skin tones but I don't think it would work for anyone darker than medium skin tone. It's more of an overall healthy veil of color. Nars Laguna is deeper and a bit redder in tone. It gives more of a bronzed and contoured look. You have to be a bit more careful and use a light hand if you are fair skinned. I tend to reach for Laguna when I have a bit of a tan.

Traviatta- Echo/Sun Kissed

Orgasm/Laguna

From left to right: (LMDB) Echo, (Nars) Orgasm, (LMDB) Sun Kissed, (Nars) Laguna

Final thoughts: I love these types of blush/bronzer compacts since they are travel friendly and generally cheaper than buying individually. I prefer the packaging of the Nars duo since the blush and bronzer is in it's own separate pot vs Le Metier de Beaute which is connected. I would not repurchase the Nars duo since I hardly use Orgasm blush but Laguna is a staple product for me. Le Metier de Beaute Blush is Echo is a beautiful color and gives just the right amount of sheen. The bronzer in Sun Kissed is finely milled and color is so natural that it's effortless to use. I would not use this as a contour since it's too light but Nars Laguna can be used as an all over bronzer and contour product. Le Metier de Beaute is available at Bloomingdales.com and comes in another color called Romeo & Juliet which is more of a cool toned pink. Nars can be found in most department stores and Sephora.

Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation Serum

This is a deluxe sample size

The recent foundations out in the market all share a similar lightweight formula, a no makeup flawless finish appeal. Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation Serum comes in a glass bottle with dropper applicator similar to Giorgio Armani Maestro Foundation which I believe was the first Brand to come out with this type of formula. I'm a fan of the packaging, it's easy to dispense the amount you need and you can get to the bottom of the bottle without wasting any product. 

 

They only have one universal shade which is light to medium skin tone. It does not work for me without a slight tan so I'm not able to use this in the winter and it won't work on darker complexions either so the product is limited to only the people in that shade. They should come out with more colors since I think this is an amazing foundation. 

Application: You need to shake the foundation before use. I use three drops directly on my brush and blend all over my face. I use another 2-3 drops on my t-zone where I need more coverage. This foundation has a serum like texture and sinks right into my skin. It looks extremely natural and does not sit on top of my skin like some foundations tend to do. Even though the formula is fluid and lightweight, it gives better than expected coverage. I would say light to medium but more on the medium side. It fills in my pores and leaves a healthy finish that is not too dewy nor flat. 

I do not need to powder with this since it's a liquid to powder finish. It has amazing staying power and I don't get shiny on my T-zone by end of day. This also has sun protection with SPF 30 so it's perfect for the summer and daytime but probably not good for flash photography. 

Final thoughts: If you want good coverage without looking like you have makeup on this is for you. It doesn't cling to any dry spots and melts right into the skin. It is such a lightweight formula that you can layer this under another foundation if you want more coverage. I've tried this with Nars Sheer Glow foundation and it gave me a flawless finish. There's no added fragrance so it's also good for sensitive skin. There are anti-aging benefits in the ingredients as well which is an added bonus, although I can't comment if it actually improved my skin. This should be suitable for all ages as well as all skin types. The only downside is the shade range is limited with one shade.

The pictures below were taken after 11 hrs of wear without powder. As you can see my T-zone is not shiny at all! The coverage is the same as when I first applied this yet giving me a very natural skin finish. A must try if the shade suits you!