Illamasqua New Skin Base Foundation

Hey you guys, so I was lucky enough to be sent some samples of the new Skin Base foundation from Illamasqua and I just wanted to give you guys some of my thoughts so far on the product and show you some pics, too.

So, the product was inspired by the cult Asian market bb creams (beauty balms.) Illamasqua describes it as "easily blendable, it effortlessly creates a perfect complexion, and like the entire Illamasqua range, is undetectable in a professional HD environment. Suitable for all skin types, it smoothes, softens and conditions your skin whilst providing natural, buildable coverage."

Let me start by saying that I personally love the Illasmasqua line. Everything I've been impressed with everything I've tried so far. But this blows me away. Hands down, without a doubt, this foundation, in my opinion, is the best thing I've tried from the Illamasqua line.

I'll start with a pros and cons list.

PROS:
-beautiful, even coverage
-this foundation is medium coverage, I would say, but has the capability to be full coverage. It builds really well. I can cover my hyper pigmentation in 2 layers. That's amazing you guys. I'm serious. No foundation can do that for me, I always need concealer to do most of the work. Now I just spot conceal on the places I think might start to show the day wears on, for extra insurance, but it's not necessary. And it doesn't look cakey or fake when you build it up.
-feels so comfortable on the skin. Not greasy at all, but moisturizing. It feels like I'm wearing a healthier, happier version of my skin.
-the wear time on this foundation is so good. I always wear a primer under my foundation (it's like a security blanket for me...even if it doesn't work it just makes me feel safer), and this foundation is outlasting a lot of the ones I've been using lately.
-it looks like skin, but better. On me it looks like what my skin should look like. A natural look, not glittery or too glowy. Um...how do I explain it. It's like you know I'm wearing makeup because you think too yourself, no one can have skin that nice. But it doesn't look like I've caked on the makeup to try to achive that look.
-this one is a big one for anyone who takes a lot of photos or ever goes to the clubs, has a picture taken of them and they have major ghost face...no SPF or whitening ingredients. Yay! My moisturizer already has SPF in it for the daytime, but there are times when you don't want any on so it's nice to have the option to apply it before your foundation (or after if you use the powder sunscreen.)
-makes my skin look better, and I mean when I'm not wearing the makeup. It seems to have had a great effect on my skin. I've noticed that my skin doesn't seem as dry as it usually is and I have eczema that pops up every now and then (not all over my face but just above my top lip that pops up every so often) and had it was flaring up when I just received the skin base and instead of settling into the dry patches, it kind of moisturized it enough to look like the rest of my skin (I applied it after I applied my medicine to the spot...I did not use it in place of medicine, but it looked great compared to how it did before with other foundations!)
-lots of colours. Thank god someone out there with a brain decided to make a bb cream in more than one colour.

CONS:
-availability. I live in Canada where unfortunately we don't sell Illamasqua. Sephora is Seattle would be the closest place to me that carries Illamasqua, but they don't carry this product yet
-the price. In sterling pounds, it's not that bad. But converted to Canadian and then adding the shipping it going to put a major dent in the wallet. Somewherre in the region of $50 canadian. Yikes. Will this deter me from ordering it? Heck no. In fact, I placed an order for my skin base foundation colour the day after I started using it. Haha. And I'm already planning on picking up an extra bottle in the shade I use and a shade lighter for the fall.


Just so you guys know how I use it, I'll let you guys know the method to my madness. this is how I apply my "full faced" foundation:

1. I start with a clean, moisturized face and then apply primer.
2. I apply one layer of the Skin Base using a pointed foundation kabuki.
3. Then I mix 1/3 skin base, 2/3 liquid concealer (1/3 MAC pro long wear concealer in NC35, 1/3 NC42.) I mix this concealer with the skin base so it gives that same healthy sheen, otherwise it looks too matte for my liking. I stipple this on using a small foundation brush, Illawarra,as qua's highlighted brush actually.
4. I apply a little bit of mineral powder foundation (MAC's loose mineral powder) using a fluffy kabuki brush.
5. Continue on with bronzed, blush, eye makeup...

Overall thoughts:

As if you haven't heard enough of me yet, here's a bit more. Haha. I love this. I have tried a lot of foundations in my day. Like thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars...in the last 5 years alone. I'm fickle. I like it for a few days and then I get bored or find something wrong with it by the end of the week (usually before then). So I took my time trying this one. I'm in love. The colour matches are so good for me. There is an amazing range of pink tones, neutrals, olive, yellow, golden, olive neutrals...if you've got issues finding the right shade of foundation for you, this will be a godsend. My skin looks better. My husband noticed. This is the same man who didn't notice I shaved half head for 3 weeks for goodness sake. People on the street notice. I've had a LOT of people say that I must have had my kids too early because I look too young to have a 5 year old (I was 24 when I had her!) I had a LOT of people clock my age in at 21-22 lately (look closer ladies...I'm 30.) I attribute it to the fact that this foundation just fills in the lines, covers the yuckies and makes me feel better, which probably makes me look better.

Before this foundation I was using the MAC mineralized liquid foundation and I think it was trying to give the same effect as the skin base. Anise skin with a sheen but the coverage was lame, it had fine glitter in it, and it was greasy as hell. And that's from a dry skinned girl. I couldn't figure out why my mascara kept smudging making me look like Po from Kung Fu Panda. It was the oils in that foundation cuz I have no problems with the same mascara now.

Now as I just said,these ramblings are all from the diary of a dry skinned gal. So oily skinned ladies, take notice: Unfortunately I cannot give you the review you're probably looking for. While the summer and after effects of using the MAC foundation has given me the greasies in my t-zone, I can't vouch for the wear time, the way your skin will react or how it wears on oilier skin. Sorry :(

But now for the pics. Bear with me, I'm still testing out this iPad and how it takes pics. I hope they're clear enough for you to get the picture (pun intended).

Here are foundations swatched (bottom: sb10 / middle: sb12 -mycolour / top: sb 13)



Get ready for the next pic...but I want you guys to pay attention to my hyper pigmentation and how much ONE layer of this foundation covers. PS. I covered the side that is worse:




This next pic is right after a full face was applied. Btw, those of you asking what my hair looks like parted on the other side? This next pic is for you:






Taken an hour later outside:







And taken 11 hours later outside...well sorta. In my car. Haha.






What do you guys think? Anyone out there tried it? What are your thoughts?


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