longwear Archives - Irish Beauty Blog Beautynook

Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation

Am I right in saying the Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation has had a bit of a moment since it’s release? Some may say blogging is dead, but I 100% wanted to try this foundation because of all the hype online.

Now I will say I have seen some not so great things said about it. But sure balance is key in this industry and not everything can work for everyone (generally). We’re all different, looking for different things and different results. It’s one thing I love about this beauty world.

I picked up the Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation when ASOS were having a 20% off everything sale. I had gone in to buy it a couple of times in Brown Thomas, but they never have my shade. It’s also important to note too, Nars counters never give out samples, which I think is a load of baloney! But sure didn’t I buy it anyways 🙂

So what do Nars say about this foundation? They say it has:

‘Liquid texture.
Luminous finish.
Fade resistant for up to 16 hours.
Available in 33 shades’.

I colour matched myself to the shade ‘Mont Blanc’. And it’s a pretty perfect match.

My thoughts on the Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation are kind of contradictory if I’m being completely honest. I love the packaging, it’s very sleek. I love the formula. In my humble opinion it’s has really good coverage, but not oh shit, I’ve just put plaster all over my face, good coverage. Although you can definitely build it up.

I wouldn’t call it ‘luminous’, although it’s not flat on the skin. There’s definitely a bit of a satin sheen to it. It blends like an absolute dream. And when I first apply it, I could probably say it’s one of my favourite foundations ever. The term ‘weightless’, I can 100% get on board with though! However, there is a ginormous but! Saying it’s a fade resistant for 16 hours foundation in my very humble opinion is just plain madness. I did google other opinions on it because obviously I would have more oilier skin, and people with combination and even drier skin types were of the same opinion. It just doesn’t last. On me, it starts to break down after probably the second hour. Considering I use two primers, powder and setting spray, its just not cool! Where I’m more combo, it lasts a little better. But still, at the end of a day wearing the Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation, I look super greasy.

Here it is in action in video form:

I want to love this foundation with all of my heart. Dramatic much Gemma? I love the finish, the application and the coverage. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t last the test of time for me, even with all the makeup accoutrements 🙁 In all honesty I probably went for the wrong Nars Foundation. I should have went for the All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation. Lesson learned!

Have you tried it yet? I would love to know your thoughts on it.

xxx

September 14, 2018/by Gem

Makeup

L’Oréal Infallible Blush Paint

Now normally I wouldn’t be posting about something right after I get it. Unless it’s a new release and I want to show you swatches and up close pictures. The L’Oréal Infallible Blush Paint Longwear High-Intensity Palette, kind of falls into that category. And I will not be calling it it’s full name throughout this blogpost, it’s too bloody long 🙂

I wanted to get a post up about it quickly because well they are new. But, they are also on special in Boots at the moment. A few people were intrigued when I showed this one I got on social media. So, I thought I would rustle together a quick post showing you it in action.

There are two shade ranges in the L’Oréal Infallible Blush Paint Palettes to choose from.

A more orange, peachy toned one called ‘Amber’, that looked a little dark for me.

I picked up the ‘Pinks’ one, just because I thought it would suit my complexion more.

Obviously this can’t be a full on review, I haven’t used the product enough. But I can give you a first impression and thoughts. Off the bat, the powders, yes they are powders, the name is a little misleading. They smell like sweets. If sweet scents isn’t your thing, this could be a deal breaker. You get 5 powdered blushes within the palette, totaling up to ten grams of product.

The pans are approximately a third bigger than a standard single Mac eyeshadow. Not the easiest to get a brush into, but it is doable.

Here they are swatched on my arm from left to right:

‘Ballet Dream’:

‘Despinkable Me’:

‘Poeny Rose’:

‘Fuchsia Afterhours’:

‘Flamingo Dance’:

On first swatch and application, I think the blushes are really nice. They feel soft, have good colour pay off and blend nicely into the skin too. The lighter colours need a bit mroe building then the two intense shades. I am OK with that, it means I am in control of the amount of colour I apply. And they do build up nicely. I also think I personally will get use out of all five shades in the ‘Pinks’ palette. That’s an added bonus as sometimes there is one of two that just wouldn’t float my boat. Now as you can see not all the shades are pink, there is a couple more of a peachy tone, but we won’t split hairs 🙂

Ballet Dream

Despinkable Me

Fuchsia Afterhours

At the moment the L’Oréal Infallible Blush Paint palette is available from Boots in store and online here for €10.99 and L’Oréal are on 3 for 2. That’s why I wanted to get this post up now, as this palette normally retails for €16.99. So, if you like what you see, get shopping 🙂

xxx

March 22, 2017/1 Comment/by Gem

Bargain Buying, Makeup

L’Oréal Infallible Total Cover Foundation

It is no secret that I am a big fan of L’Oréal base products. Their Infallible 24HR Matte has become one of my holy grail products. I have a review of it here. As has the Fixing Mist. (Review here). When I saw the Infallible Total Cover Foundation being released, I needed to try it.

There has been alot of hype around the Infallible Total Cover Foundation. It claims to be full coverage, matte, long lasting be easy to blend and have a weightless feel!

When it was released in America first. Bloggers and vloggers feedback on it seemed very varied. Actually most people didn’t seem to like it. But, like the makeup addict that I am, I needed to experience it for myself 🙂

I am 11 Vanilla in the 24 HR Matte, so I picked up the shade 10 Porcelain in the Infallible Total Cover.

They are pretty similar shades, so it is a good match for me. It has a thick consistency, but it is deemed full coverage so that is completely OK, I think. You can see the product through the packaging and it seems to separate when it is left to settle.

I have seen claims online that it is meant to conceal tattoos. On the packaging however, it says it covers redness, marks and dark spots, I did put this to the test on my Snapchat, when I picked up the foundation first. I layered it up over the tattoo on my wrist three times. It did make the tattoo less noticeable, but you could definitely still see it through the product.

On my skin, the coverage is good. I find the formula a little harder to work, but you do get there with it and it does blend out. I personally prefer to use a brush over a damp sponge to apply it.

Just a little disclaimer. I picked the worst days to take these pics. I wasn’t going anywhere and I woke up with really sore eyes. So, I just added primer, foundation and powder. None of the other bells and whistles 🙂

Here is my skin before application. It’s been somewhat behaving itself of late:

Here is one layer of the foundation applied:

My skin after about two hours:

Then, after three hours of wear:

The formula is matte and sets quite quickly too. I don’t find it great if you have larger pores that you want to fill in. If you have dry patches too, it will cling. You also have to work the product quite hard into the skin, so that movement disrupts any dry patches aswell.

The longevity of this foundation is what really lets it down, in my humble opinion. I am fine with the application and with the coverage. But, it seems to break down really quickly on my skin. I have a super oily t zone. But, I use an oil free moisturiser, a good primer and then set everything with powder and setting spray. With the Infallible 24 HR Matte, I can get four hours before shine is a problem, sometimes even longer. With the Total Cover within an hour, the oil starts to break through. I can feel it on my skin too, it’s definitely not weightless like they suggest on the packaging. And on me, it gathers in pores and fine lines, which is not a good look either.

I think it’s safe to say the L’Oréal Infallible Total Cover Foundation just isn’t for me. It doesn’t perform or last how I want it too. Give me the Infallible 24HR Matte over it any day 🙂 You can find it instore or online here from Boots. It’s priced at €10.99 and comes in seven shades.

Have you tried it?

xxx

March 1, 2017/3 Comments/by Gem

Makeup

Mac Pro Longwear Eyeshadow Uninterrupted

I wouldn’t be one for harping on about a single eyeshadow. It has to be very special one for me to dedicate a whole blog post to it. I think the Mac Pro Longwear Eyeshadow in ‘Uninterrupted’ deserves to be one of them.

Now I know looking at it in the pan, you’re thinking what the hell are you on about Gemma, but hear me out! 🙂

Uninterrupted is such a unique colour.

My description of it would be a sandy mustard colour, not very articulate of me but they are the colours that come to mind. In short though it is a medium matte brown with a yellow undertone…that’s a bit more of a logical description.

Uninterrupted is so pigmented and smooth even on bare skin without a shadow underneath which is impressive for a matte eyeshadow. It blends beautifully too.

It is such an unusual shade that you do not see everyday, that’s why I think it deserves to be spoken about on it’s own.

It’s more interesting than you’re usual taupe shades for transitioning colours in a smoked out eye look. It’s gorgeous on the lid just on it’s own. And it looks fab blended under the lower lash line. Uninterrupted is the perfect shade for creating the 90’s looks that are loving at the minute. It works on all eye colours too which is pretty impressive.

The Mac Pro Longwear eyeshadows are €22 a pop from Brown Thomas instore or online here. It’s a lot of money for just one shadow. I will say they are bigger than the standard pans (3.4g) though. The colour is a reason to splurge on one though. I am so glad I listened to the hype and pick Uninterrupted up. The next time you’re browsing in Mac give it a swatch and have a look for yourself. I bought mine in Brown Thomas.

Do you own it? Do you own any similar shades to it?

Let me know.

As always thanks for reading. If you want to keep up to date with Beautynook, don’t forget to follow me on social media. Or you can subscribe to the blog to get a notification every time I upload a new post 🙂

xxx

June 8, 2015/1 Comment/by Gem

Posts

So what do Nars say about this foundation? They say it has:

‘Liquid texture. Luminous finish. Fade resistant for up to 16 hours. Available in 33 shades’.

Have you tried it yet? I would love to know your thoughts on it.

xxx

I wanted to get a post up about it quickly because well they are new. But, they are also on special in Boots at the moment. A few people were intrigued when I showed this one I got on social media. So, I thought I would rustle together a quick post showing you it in action.

It is no secret that I am a big fan of L’Oréal base products. Their Infallible 24HR Matte has become one of my holy grail products. I have a review of it here. As has the Fixing Mist. (Review here). When I saw the Infallible Total Cover Foundation being released, I needed to try it.

‘Liquid texture.
Luminous finish.
Fade resistant for up to 16 hours.
Available in 33 shades’.