Foundations For Pale Skin: Pale Test #6 Mac Prep+Prime BB Beauty Balm - Extra Light

I get asked on an almost daily basis which foundations and concealers are the best for pale skin tones, and this series is going to explore all different types of  products from varying brands and at all price levels which will hopefully help you to make a decision on which foundation and concealer is right for you! 

In universal skin tone terms.. I'm an NC15 in Mac. However, Mac isn't really doing it for me at the moment, so i'm on the hunt for a replacement that will be the perfect foundation for My Pale Skin. 

Product: Mac Prep + Prime BB Beauty Balm - Extra Light

Price: £24.00 

Packaging:  The Mac Prep + Prime BB Beauty Balm comes in a sparkly plastic tube which a screw on lid. The lid is made out of standard Mac matte black plastic ... the material that no matter how much I try, I can't seem to get away from. The packaging doesn't really have the wow factor, but it is functional.

Coverage: The product gives a light coverage, it can be built up to a certain extent, but if you're looking for a product that will fully cover blemishes without the need for a concealer, this is likely not the product for you.

Colour:  The Mac Prep + Prime BB Beauty Balm in Extra Light is on the warmer side of the pale spectrum as it has a slightly beige/pink undertone to it, make sure you check it in daylight if you have yellow or cool undertoned skin.

Finish: This product gives a luminous dewy finish that naturally blends into the skin without looking heavy. It enhances the skin, and I find that on my pale skin it gives it more life and stops it looking dull.

Final Verdict: I wasn't sure what to make of this product at first as it's so different to anything i'm used to wearing. The Mac Prep + Prime offers a similar amount of coverage to a tinted moisturiser, and is the perfect product for hot summer days as it offers 35spf. It's light, easy to apply and the finish is natural enough to look like you aren't wearing anything at all. However, if you're looking for a product which will cover blemishes or dark circles then you may be disappointed with this one as you will need to pair it with a full coverage concealer to mask any problem areas.

In regards to colour, i'm pleased to report that it has PASSED the pale test, although if you have cool toned skin, make sure you check it in daylight for peace of mind. The one major downside with this product I do have to warn about is that if you get it in your eyes - it stings like crazy! So make sure you take your time when applying near the eye area. Quite a few times I had to bathe my eyes after getting a bit happy with the foundation brush... I do think this product is worth a shot if you're prepared to stump up the £24.00 and if you're on the fence, ask for a sample to try it out before you buy!

As Always, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this foundation or what you'd like me to try next, let me know in the comments.
Em xxx

Foundations For Pale Skin: Pale Test #4 - Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream (31)

I get asked on an almost daily basis which foundations and concealers are the best for pale skin tones, and this series is going to explore all different types of  products from varying brands and at all price levels which will hopefully help you to make a decision on which foundation and concealer is right for you! 

In universal skin tone terms.. I'm an NC15 in Mac. However, Mac isn't really doing it for me at the moment, so i'm on the hunt for a replacement that will be the perfect foundation for My Pale Skin. 

Product: Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream* is a product I often see discussed on twitter.  Famed for it's ability to even out skin tones and give a 'lighter than air' coverage.

Packaging:  The foundation comes in a plastic tube with a screw on cap. It doesn't feel lux, but the lid shouldn't come off in your bag as it screws on quite tightly.

Coverage: I find the Product gives a light coverage. If you have dark circles or break out areas, you will need to pair this with a good concealer as it it very unlikely it will cover any problem areas.

Colour:  The Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream* is available in 4 shades from Boots. I've been testing out the lightest shade from the range which is Shade 31 - Ivory. However, as I've found with nearly every Bourjois foundation or concealer i've tried - the colours are off. For some reason Bourjois make their base products in an extremely limited colour selection which is a shame, as I've heard so many lovely things. I wasn't too surprised to see that shade Ivory, was more natural beige.

Finish: Bourjois have added some light reflective pigments to this foundation which really does give a lovely dewy glow to the skin.

Final Verdict: At £9.99 it's a great dewy product, however if you have Pale Skin like me I wouldn't bother. Unsurprisingly, Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream* has FAILED the pale test. I'd say that from an NC25 and above, give it a swatch, and make sure you check it in daylight. But sadly, it won't be one i'll be using.

As Always, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this foundation or what you'd like me to try next, let me know in the comments.
Em xxx

Concealers For Pale Skin: Pale Test #3 - Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - Fair. (1)

I get asked on an almost daily basis which foundations and concealers are the best for pale skin tones, and this series is going to explore all different types of  products from varying brands and at all price levels which will hopefully help you to make a decision on which foundation and concealer is right for you! 

In universal skin tone terms.. I'm an NC15 in Mac. However, Mac isn't really doing it for me at the moment, so i'm on the hunt for a replacement that will be the perefect concealer for My Pale Skin. 

Product: Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer is a product I often see popping up on various blogs.  Famed for it's great coverage and low price point it's a product which many find themselves binning their high end products for.

Packaging:  The concealer comes in a sturdy plastic tube and has a wand applicator. The packaging has the brand name printed onto the exterior and after a few uses, this does wear away. After a few weeks uses I found the tube to have completely lost all the print.

Coverage: The Product comes out fairly thick as you can see in the swatches above. A little goes a long way with this product and I have found the best way to apply it on my skin is for it to be dabbed in small areas and blended, building it up where needed. I find it great at covering my under eye area, as it masks dark circles well, however I've found that break outs need a few more layers to cover well.

Colour:  Although the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealers are made in a limited shade range, It's so pleasing to see that the lightest shade - Fair, is actually a light shade. I find that it has just the right level of neutral undertones without photographing or wearing yellow. As an NC15 girl, the colour is bang on.

Finish:  The concealer has a smooth finish that is meant to be a 16hr wear although I find that towards the end of a work day it has slightly worn off, even after setting it with some pressed powder. Upon reapplication it does not leave a cakey finish on my skin, but this is likely down to the fact that I'm building up on it in small does, rather than going straight to it in one shebang.

Final Verdict: A drugstore concealer that covers dark circles, doesn't cake on my skin, comes in a shade suitable for ghosts and costs less than £5?? It all sounds too good to be true, but I'm so pleased to have finally added this product to my make up collection. The Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer has Passed  the pale test with flying colours and it has even replaced my Mac Studio Finish concealer! I've fallen in love with this product and I've been wearing it every day since I've bought it without looking back.

As Always, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this concealer or what you'd like me to try next, let me know in the comments. xxx

Foundations for Pale Skin: Pale Test #2 - Rimmel Match Perfection 100 IVORY

I get asked on an almost daily basis which foundations are the best for pale skin tones, and this series is going to explore all different types of foundations from varying brands and at all price levels which will hopefully help you to make a decision on which foundation is right for you! 

In universal skin tone terms.. I'm an NC15 in Mac. However, Mac isn't really doing it for me foundation wise at the moment, so i'm on the hunt for a replacement that will be the perefect foundation for My Pale Skin. 

Product:  Rimmel Match Perfection is a product I often see popping up on various blogs.  Famed for its dewy and radiant effect it gives to skin, It was one I was very much looking forward to trying. I chose the  shade that was available in my local Boots 100 - Ivory.

Packaging:  The foundation comes in a a sturdy glass tube, It's fairly tall,  so if you have a small make up bag for your handbag it may not fit in there, just as a word of warning. The bottle has a pump applicator which is a good start, although the lid isn't the greatest, as it just pops on or off, so it's likely to come undone easily if it's loose in your bag. 

Coverage: It's a light to medium coverage foundation that is actually fairly runny when it pumps out of the tube. Be careful with that... I only wanted a small drop in my picture, instead I ended up with a lake.

Finish: I'd say the foundation leaves a dewy finish on my combo skin.

Colour:  Well, I don't know about you, but the only place i'd wear this foundation is to the bathroom... to wash it off. 
It's so unsuitable It hasn't actually made it onto my face. Why it's called Ivory I don't know... I'd class this more as a natural beige or a beige. 

Final Verdict:  I think it's safe to say that no further tests are needed on the Rimmel Match Perfection foundation. It has FAILED the pale test... miserably... without a shadow of a doubt.  At least it was only £6.99, it could have been a lot worse...

As Always, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this foundation or what you'd like me to try next, let me know in the comments. xxx

Foundations for Pale Skin: Pale Test #1 - Revlon Colourstay 150 BUFF.

Welcome to the very first post in my new series - Foundations for Pale Skin. 

I get asked on an almost daily basis which foundations are the best for pale skin tones, and this series is going to explore all different types of foundations from varying brands and at all price levels which will hopefully help you to make a decision on which foundation is right for you! 

In universal skin tone terms.. I'm an NC15 in Mac. However, Mac isn't really doing it for me foundation wise at the moment, so i'm on the hunt for a replacement that will be the perefect foundation for My Pale Skin. 

Product:It seemed most fitting to start with a bloggers favourite, the Revlon Colourstay Foundation. Colourstay is often referred to as a dupe for Mac Studio Fix Fluid which i've worn for many years. The two lightest shades Revlon sell in the Colourstay range are Ivory -110 (which is Pink undertoned) and Buff - 150 (pictured) which is yellow/cool undertoned.  As i'm cool toned I picked  up the Buff 150 foundation for combo/oily skin. 

Packaging: First impressions of the product are great, it's in sturdy bottle and has a decent lid. However, what it is lacking badly is a pump. I tried to hack it by attempting to screw on a pump from Mac, however that was a no go as it didn't fit. You're then left with two options for getting the foundation out, pour it and risk the wrath of the foundation gods by having waaaay too much product come out onto the back of your hand... or transfer it to another pumpy bottle. I went with the tipping onto the back of the hand option (in case you were wondering) as I like to live a little dangerously. 

Coverage: It's a medium coverage and quite a good one at that! A little goes a long way and you can certainly build up some layers with it where you need it which is always a good thing. I've noticed that i don't feel cakey wearing it and it doesn't make me oily at the end of the day.

Finish: I find this foundation quite matte on my skin compared to the studio fix fluid which has a more dewy finish for me.

Colour:  Revlon Colourstay in Buff - 150 was the closest match from the two palest foundations for my pale skin, but sadly it's just a little bit too yellow. I can make it work by teaming it with my NC15 concealer, but it's not quite perfect and requires more blending to make it work.

Final Verdict: Although the Revlon Colourstay foundation came very close to failing due to the overly yellow undertone... it has just scraped by to PASS the test. By spending more time blending, I can make it work for every day use however, I wouldn't recommend it for a quick fix.

Thanks for reading the first installment in this series and I'd love to hear your thoughts on this foundation in the comments xxx