CHARLOTTE TILBURY Magic Foundation

CHARLOTTE TILBURY

Magic Foundation

15 shades in total

My shade is 3.5 Fair (very close to MAC NC20)

Retails: $44

"My Magic Foundation is a miracle in a bottle that transforms skin for all ages, skin tones and skin types." - Charlotte Tilbury 

Charlotte Tilbury's Magic Foundation in shade 3.5 Fair is a Warm Golden-Beige for Light Skin Tones with Warm Golden/Yellow Undertones. Buff on with Charlotte's Magic Complexion Brush for a flawless, air-brushed finish. 

Charlotte has worked with laboratories for five years to create a “hyper-intelligent” formula that gives full-coverage yet feels completely weightless, with all the anti-aging and protective benefits of a luxury skin cream. 

It conceals imperfections, glides on like a dream, and literally feels like a second skin. Whether your skin needs just a bit of perfecting, or you struggle with a frustrating issue like acne, melasma or rosacea, Magic Foundation will give you a perfect looking skin day, every day! 

For the best application, Charlotte recommends prepping the skin with her Goddess Skin Clay Mask and miracle-working Magic Cream. Apply a generous layer of Charlotte Tilbury's Goddess Skin Clay Mask for smoother, fresher, "baby skin" in 10 minutes. Remove with warm water and a splash of cold water to tighten pores. Follow with Charlotte Tilbury's Magic Cream using her patented Pro Collagen Wonder Workout massage technique for youth-boosted, dewy and plumped-up skin. 

After the skin is prepped and ready, apply Charlotte's Magic Foundation with the Magic Complexion Brush for a flawless, poreless, and weightless coverage. Last but not least, apply her Mini Miracle Eye Wand underneath the eyes for a lifted, wide-awake look. 

1 oz / 30 ml

Ingredients:

Aqua/Water/Eau, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Talc, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide (Nano), Glycerin, Nylon-12, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Zinc Oxide, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Alumina, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dehydroacetic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Benzoic Acid, Dimethicone, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Propylene Carbonate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fomes Officinalis (Mushroom) Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, [May Contain (+/-): Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499)].

The expiration date is on the bottom of the box which is helpful.

Vintage/retro looking smokey glass bottle with white plastic pump and a rose gold cap. 

Neutral to warm toned base fair-light foundation. This does have a pump, and I forgot to show here, but I showed it in my video above. One pump covers the entire face.

Water based, and blended in quickly. It doesn't feel greasy or heavy. 

After blended in, it's a great match for my MAC NC20 complexion.

This foundation gives a natural finish on top of Charlotte Tilbury's Magic Cream, but it claims to be a demi-matte finish. I have to test it out without the magic cream once to see if it's more matte. So far so good. It's weightless, and it's easy to blend. 

Not much of a full coverage, but more like a medium coverage with a duo fiber brush (Wayne Goss 01 brush).

without flash in daylight.

with flash.

After 5 hours of wear without powder/spray on top. I definitely got shiny, and I would probably have to blot, but I didn't feel greasy. The coverage seems about the same as I first applied it so nothing moved around. I didn't notice any separation or caking, and no redness peaking through. It's not bad, and I have to test it without the magic cream underneath since it's a really rich moisturizer. Next time I will update with pictures of wearing this foundation with primer underneath as well as powder on top. 

The shininess is more noticeable in flash photography.

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation Spf 15

Tarte's brand new Rainforest of the Sea collection is now available on Tarte's website, Sephora, QVC.com, and not yet on Ulta.

Retails for $39
Contains 1 fl. oz
12 Shades

What it is: 
A lightweight, full-coverage hydrating foundation infused with tarte's Rainforest of the Sea™ complex and non-chemical SPF 15 sunscreen. 

What it is formulated to do: 
Deliver the ultimate in hydration-boosting coverage with tarte’s 12-hour water foundation. The concentrated, full-coverage fluid formula features 20 percent water to quench dry skin as it covers and masks any redness, dark spots, and uneven skintone while softening the look of pores and fine lines. The custom dropper applicator delivers the perfect level of moisture-rich coverage in an array of shades to match any skintone. Powered by tarte’s antioxidant-packed Rainforest of the Sea™ complex and non-chemical SPF 15 sunscreen, the hypoallergenic formula helps restore, brighten, and defend skin from free radical damage and early signs of aging for a smooth, soft, radiant complexion. 

What it is formulated WITHOUT: 
- Parabens 
- Phthalates 

What else you need to know: 
This product is hypoallergenic and dermatologist tested. 

Research results: 
In a consumer use study, immediately upon application: 
- 97% of women said their skin appeared smoother and softer 
- 97% of women said their skin appeared brighter 
- 97% said their skin appeared more radiant

Suggested Usage: 
-Using the dropper applicator, dispense directly onto a foundation brush, then gently buff into skin in circular motions. 
-For light coverage, use one to two drops. 
-For medium to full coverage, use three to four drops. 
-For the perfect airbrushed effect, apply with tarte’s double-ended foundation brush (sold separately), designed to target and blend the moisture-rich formula all over the face.

Since I got it in the shade Light from QVC.com, and now that there are 12 shades, I'm not sure whether mine is in Light Neutral or Light Sand. From the description on Sephora.com, I believe mine is more of a Light Neutral since it comes off a little bit less yellow/warm. 

Light Neutral

-Rainforest of the Sea™ complex (a proprietary blend of algae and marine flower extracts): Helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while smoothing and softening the skin’s appearance.
-Vitamin E: Acts as a natural preservative, emollient, and antioxidant.

Water, glycerin, isododecane, cyclopentasiloxane, phenyl trimethicone, nylon-12, dipropylene glycol, caprylic/capric triglyceride, cyclohexasiloxane, SD Alcohol 40-B, aluminum starch octenylsuccinate, butylene glycol, cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 dimethicone, magnesium sulfate, alumina, PEG-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone, silica, talc, iron oxides, sorbitan isostearate, stearalkonium hectorite, polyglyceryl-4 isostearate, hexyl laurate, aluminum hydroxide, stearic acid, caprylyl glycol, propylene carbonate, dimethicone, hydrogen dimethicone, phenoxyethanol, triethoxycaprylylsilane, tocopheryl acetate, 1,2-hexanediol, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, algae extract, gardenia tahitensis flower extract, tocopherol.

The duo ended brush I got as a bundle deal and such a steal from QVC retails for $34 alone! I would totally suggest that you get the bundle deal from QVC if it's still available. (Just looked up and found out it's not available anymore, but there's a deal for the new water concealer with a brush) I got it on pre-order for $32.25 for the brush and the foundation, but it's probably a little higher now, and still cheaper than buying them separately. I personally don't like the brush, and find that the foundation applies much better with duo fiber brush, beauty blender, or fingertips. 

What it is: 
A double-ended foundation brush for customizable, all-over coverage. 

What it does: 
Sweep on your ideal level of foundation coverage with this two-in-one complexion-perfecting tool. Featuring an angled design, the smaller brush end is ideal for targeting and covering around the contours of the face, minimizing the look of redness, dark circles, and fine lines on areas that include the nose and the eye area. Use the larger, flat brush end to buff and blend on all-over coverage for an instant airbrushed effect. 

What else you need to know: 
This brush was custom designed for the Rainforest of the Sea™ water foundation SPF 15 (sold separately) to achieve your perfect level of moisture-rich coverage. This product is cruelty-free.

When I ordered it from QVC.com, it's just light, but now there are 12 shades, you get the options of Light Neutral and Light Sand. This looks more like a Light Neutral to me though. I believe Light Sand would be more on the warmer side. I will probably get a sample from Sephora of both Light Neutral and Light Sand to compare. Will update this blog once I get those two swatches. 

Drop applicator is very helpful since you get to control how much you need. The only problem is that since they recommend you shake the bottle before use due to thin liquid formula, the outside rim of the bottle tends to get extra foundation all over it. It can get a little messy so just be aware of that.

Under natural light with no flash. This provides a decent medium coverage without looking caky. It's more of a natural satin finish and slight semi-matte. I didn't have any base underneath this foundation for this photograph. I didn't set it with powder, either. I only get a little oily in the T-zone area without a powder on top, so I think this is a nice foundation.

Taken with flash under natural light. It has spf 15, but the flashback is not noticeable. 

MILANI CONCEAL + PERFECT 2-IN-1 FOUNDATION + CONCEALER

Milani's new

CONCEAL + PERFECT 2-IN-1 FOUNDATION + CONCEALER

Descriptions:

Combat under eye circles, redness and other skin imperfections with this full coverage, water-resistant foundation plus concealer in one. A no mess, no drip pump dispenses just the right amount of fluid needed to achieve a flawless look and works around the clock to keep skin looking naturally perfect!

14 shades available 

Retails $9.99 from the Milani website

I got mine for $10.49 from my local CVS in NYC, but with a coupon deal, I saved $8.

Direction:

AS FOUNDATION
Apply a dime-sized amount of product with fingertips or a brush beginning at the center of the face, blending outward.
AS CONCEALER
Use a small amount of product and apply where additional coverage is needed in a tapping motion until blended.

Ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Cyclopentasiloxane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Mica, Glycerin, BIS-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Bis-Vinyl Dimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Ozokerite, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Glycereth-18 Ethylhexanoate, Potassium Sorbate, Silica, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Isododecane, Propylene Carbonate, Prunus Domestica Fruit Extract, Glycereth-18, Aluminum Dimyristate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Allantoin, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyisobutene, C18-21 Alkane. +/- May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499).

I originally got shade 3 Light beige because I'm usually a light beige in most foundations, and this looked pretty light in the bottle. All the bottles are glass, so you will think what you see is what the actual shade is. Well, not in this case. 

This does have a pump and contains 1oz which is pretty standard. It's pretty nice for a drugstore foundation.

Right after the initial application, and it looked ok. This was taken under natural light, and without a powder on top. The finish is natural. As it claims to have medium to full coverage, but I feel like it's only a medium to slight full coverage. I did use a hydrating moisturizer underneath to prevent any caky look since the formula is very dense and more like a cream foundation. I think it looked nice under natural lighting and still gave a little bit of "glow". 

The nightmare happened after maybe 2/3 hours of wear? This oxidized on me horribly! My face got oily in the T-zone, but I didn't think it's that bad. I just couldn't believe how orange it turned. This was taken under indoor florescent light. I had to return the foundation. 

I didn't want to give up on this foundation yet since Ckey beauty reviewed and liked it. I thought I would give it another go, so I picked up a lighter shade from CVS. This time instead of shade 2 Natural which looked a bit too reddish tone from the bottle, and I was afraid it might oxidize again. I decided to pick up the lightest shade from this foundation which is shade 1 Creamy Vanilla. To my surprise, this is not for pale/fair complexioned people at all. It's very yellow! I thought it's a decent match to my MAC NC20, but it's still slightly too yellow which made me look boarder line "sick" looking and flat. With some blush and highlighter, I can maybe get away with wearing this shade. If you are anything paler than NC20, you will have to mix this lightest shade with a white base or lighter foundation. I will even mix a bit of corrector with this to balance out the yellow undertone. 

This was taken under indoor light with no flash upon initial application. Again, I liked the finish of this foundation since it's very natural. I used slightly damp beauty blender too apply this on top of the same hydrating moisturizer I used for shade 3. I think maybe that's why this looked natural on me instead of matte/semi-matte like other reviewers said. I will try this without a hydrating base but a primer or maybe nothing underneath to test the finish/longevity. I will update soon. My mum kept telling me how smooth and flawless my skin looked after I applied this foundation. That's rare, and she said it more than once. I guess if other people can compliment on how flawless your skin looks, it must be pretty good. Therefore I will keep using this foundation since I got $8 off of the original price I paid for, and it's a total steal/bargain in this case. I won't complain and will try to make this shade work for me.

With flash, and there's a slight glow/sheen in my T-zone area. Set this with a powder or blot with blotting paper, you should be fine. Again, this could be due to the hydrating moisturizer underneath.

After few hours of wearing, there's a bit more glow/sheen on the forehead, but it still looked natural. I didn't apply blush or any face products afterwards so you can see this made my face look a little flat as my mum put it. Like I said, I will update this blog post after I wear this with no base and with blush/lipstick. 

It covered most imperfections, but I could still see a little bit of redness peaking through the sides of my nose, and some really stubborn acne scars were hard to conceal. I didn't go back and use this to conceal anymore because I don't like to pile on makeup, but this does claim to be a foundation and concealer. I guess you can always go back with a little bit more, but I would just use a more full coverage concealer to pin point conceal instead. 

YSL Touche Eclat Blur Primer/Radiance Awakening Foundation

No flash and in regular daylight

With flash

Under direct sunlight