Intents Beauty Favourites: Foundations

I'm definitely quite fickle with my foundation. I may get into a routine for a week or so, using the same product, but I can never settle on just one for very long. However, after a lot of experimentation and testing my collection of foundations with different primers, application methods and setting powders I've streamlined my everyday, go-to foundations to just four absolute favourites that I know I can always rely on. I've provided a detailed review of each foundation below:

// Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Gel

The Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue has been a staple in my routine all year and a base I continue to reach for when I'm after a light, but perfected base. I absolutely love the glowy finish it gives to the skin as well as how incredibly comfortable it is to wear. I am also always impressed by how well the Complexion Rescue wears, whether I just quickly throw it on for uni or I completely set it with a powder. Highly recommend as a light-weight base that would be great for summer!

• Light Coverage
• Broad Spectrum SPF 30
• Best applied with fingers or a buffing brush
• $43 for 35mL

// Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup

Whenever I want a decent coverage with long wear I always reach for the UD Naked Skin Foundation. Naked Skin has a really unique, thin texture that sits incredibly comfortably on the skin and is fantastic for building up coverage. The finish is definitely matte but doesn't look dry or powdery at all, especially on my combination/oily skin. The matte formula is one that does dry down and sets on its own so you can get away without setting it with a powder. 

• Medium, build-able coverage 
• Best applied with buffing brush for fuller coverage or a beauty blender for a lighter coverage.
• $60 for 30mL

// Hourglass Illusion Hyaluronic Skin Tint

This is one foundation that really surprised me when I first tried it and one that I love to wear when I want my skin to look glowy and healthy. It has quite a thick texture that is best blended in with your fingers or a synthetic blending brush (Hourglass No.2 brush is perfect!). This is not my longest wearing foundation, however when applied over the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer and set with the Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light, you have a winning combination that tends to last me the entire work day. Another great feature of this foundation is the inclusion of Hyaluronic Acid which makes it really comfortable to wear.

• Medium Coverage
• Broad Spectrum SPF 15
• Best applied with fingers or a buffing brush
• $80 for 30mL

As you can tell from my choices, I definitely prefer higher end brands when it comes to base products. The main reason is the shade range available and I can never seem to find a perfect match in drugstore foundations. However, if you are looking for a great foundation formula at a more affordable price I recommend; Maybelline FitME Matte + Poreless, Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation and Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation.

xx Cat

First Impressions: L'Oreal Brow Artist Plumper

I only picked up one product in the Priceline 40% off sale (talk about restraint!) and it was the L'Oreal Brow Artist Plumper in the shade 'Dark Brunette'. I was looking for a tinted brow gel and heard that the L'Oreal was a good affordable alternative to the Benefit Gimme Brow which has been a favourite of mine for a while. So, how does the L'Oreal compare?

Unfortunately, my first impressions of the L'Oreal Brow Artist Plumper weren't that great. When I first applied the brow gel I noticed that the formula is extremely wet and because the brush isn't as small as the brush on the Benefit Gimme Brow, it got a bit messy. Even after using it a few times, I still find application quite messy; especially when you try to build up the product. I also wasn't a fan of how 'crunchy' the gel was and that I could feel it on my brows all day.

I have continued to use this product because I really like the shade. 'Dark Brunette' isn't too warm and it's definitely pigmented enough to wear on its own for a natural brow look. I also like how it has fibres that give the brows a 'real' textured look, so even though my brows felt crunchy, they didn't look like they were.

Overall, unfortunately from my first impressions, I can't recommend this product. L'Oreal is really overpriced in Australia and while some of their products are worth the money, I don't think this is one of them. I will definitely be going back to my Benefit Gimme Brow in the future.

xx Cat

Holiday 2015: My Haul

Everyone loves holiday season, but I bet you that beauty addicts love the holidays more than anyone due to the super exciting limited edition releases.
I've been shopping up a storm recently picking up some of the beautiful products from the Holiday 2015 releases from a range of different brands and I am going to share them with you today!

There were two holiday palettes this year that I knew I absolutely had to get my hands on and didn't hesitate for one second when purchasing them.

The first was the incredibly gorgeous Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Palette. I was so disappointed to have missed out on the blush palette released for Holiday last year that I wasn't going to risk it with this beauty! Since making the order from net-a-porter almost a month ago I have been getting so much use out of this palette. I love being able to try a variety of the Hourglass Ambient lighting powders and the exclusive highlight shade is incredible! You can also purchase the Ambient Lighting Edit from Mecca Maxima, Mecca Cosmetica and mecca.com.au for $117, but stock is extremely limited.

Top row (L-R): Paloma Contour Duo, Laguna Bronzer. Bottom Row (L-R): Robotic (LE), Blasphemy (LE), Luster, Dolce Vita.

The second palette I purchased is part of the incredible NARS X Steven Klein collaboration. I was so excited to get my hands on the One Shocking Moment Palette because of its amazing value! For $100 you get the contour duo in Paloma, the cult classic Laguna Bronzer (with more product than the full size compact!) and four blushes - two limited edition and two permanent shades. The NARS face powders are amazing quality and if I haven't been reaching for my Hourglass palette I've been getting good use out of this one! I especially love the contour shade which is the perfect tone for my light complexion. The NARS X Steven Klein collection is available at Mecca Maxima, Mecca Cosmetica and mecca.com.au.

Last year I indulged in a few Tarte holiday sets and this year I wasn't overly excited by many of their releases. I have more than enough eyeshadows and I already had the blush palette from last year so I wasn't anxious to get my hands on those. However, on a complete whim I came across the Stroke of Midnight Brush Set when I popped into Sephora to pick up a replacement beauty blender. After one look at the packaging and the fact that I was also impressed with the value for money - 5 brushes for $59!! - I quickly added one to my basket. This is such a gorgeous set and being the brush collector I am, I am super happy to have added these to my collection!

L-R: Complexion Brush, Eyeshadow Brush, Buffer Airbrush Finish Foundation Brush ($48 value!), Fluffy Blush Brush, Concealer Brush.

Finally, I picked up a few limited edition lip products because I cannot help myself when it comes to lipsticks (and pretty packaging!).

The first lip product I picked up was from the MAC Holiday collection, which I was really impressed with this year and managed to be extremely restrained! In the end I chose the matte lipstick in Please Me. I absolutely adore the purple metallic packaging and chose Please Me because pink lipsticks are my absolute favourite (although I was so tempted by all four shades)! Available in store at MAC or online at maccosmetics.com.au.

The second lip product I picked up was from Jeffree Star's holiday collection. I have never been interested in Jeffree Star's lipstick range but when I saw swatches of the shade Doll Parts I knew I had to have it! I ended up purchasing mine from beautylish.com and I can't wait to try the formula!

And finally for my huge holiday haul are more liquid lipsticks! When I saw this adorable Eternal Love Liquid Lipstick Set from Stila I couldn't help myself! I've had my eyes on the shade Beso for ages which comes in the set and I also love both the limited edition nude and deep berry shades that are included as well. The formula of the Stila liquid lipsticks are extremely long wearing, however can be quite drying on the lips so I prefer to apply really thin layers using a lip brush. Unfortunately this set looks like it is sold out online but pop into your nearest Mecca store if you want to get your hands on it.

So that's it for my holiday haul! I would LOVE to know what you have picked up from all of the holiday limited edition collections - let me know in the comments :)

xx Cat