I'll be perfectly honest and say that my hair is probably the least cared for when it comes to my beauty grooming and treatments. Luckily, I have been blessed with fairly healthy, straight and silky hair and it doesn't need much if any attention at all. I do feel a little guilty sometimes though and let it soak overnight with some Argan Oil or Almond Oil once in a blue moon, but all I really do on a regular basis is wash it every three days, let it air dry and keep it in a bun until I have to wash it again. I also trim and dye my hair 3-4 times a year and use a at home box dye. The only issues I can claim to have is greasy roots and some hair loss which is probably hormonal and stress related other than that Alhumdulillah my hair is pretty healthy and hassle free.

Around 2 months ago when it was time for me to colour my hair again, instead of using my usual hair dye; (the Soft Sheen Carson Dark & Lovely in either Brown Sugar or Brown Cinnamon), I decided to change it up a little and tried a different brand of hair dye and used the Schwarzkopf LIVE Intense Colour + Lift in Vibrant Espresso. The colour was a lovely change and the tones made my hair look extra vibrant and shiny but it left my hair feeling awfully dry and brittle which I've never had to deal with with my Dark & Lovely hair dyes. It was very worrisome as I thought I had badly damaged my hair since I've never experienced such dryness or weakness in my hair before (it was probably my own doing as I left the dye a lot longer than what was specified -rebel me!). 

It was only a week after that when I was approached by Reem of Rematural Organic Beauty to try out some of her organic hair care products in exchange for my honest review. This was a proper coincidence as that was the most perfect time if any for me to try out hair pampering products as my hair was definitely in dire need of some tlc. 

About the brand :

My experiences and review

I was sent three products to try, the Hair Treatment Oil for Strength and Growth, the Hair Elixir Nourishing Dry Oil and the Hair Butter for Ultimate Moisture. Before I commence my review can I just mention how absolutely STUNNING the packaging is for all of the products, they have most certainly brightened up my vanity and I'm always mesmerised when I see them.

Hair Treatment Oil 100ml £22.00

Housed in a glass black bottle with a gorgeous contrast of colourful flowers, the Hair Treatment Oil is a thick, rich amber coloured liquid and is dispensed via a pipette. When opening you'll first notice the distinctive earthy, herbally smell which I think is the mixture of Neem Oil and some others, I'm not really keen on the smell to be honest but since it's a treatment oil meant to be used before washing the hair I'm happy to use it and it's the benefits we're after so it's all good. You have the option of leaving it in the hair for 2-3 hours or overnight, I've been using this twice a week and prefer to leave it in overnight for optimum absorbency and efficacy.

The first time I used this I made sure to apply it to my whole scalp as well as coat every strand of hair, but I think this was way too much for me (I have a lot of hair) as even after washing with shampoo twice I couldn't get rid of the distinctive smell, the smell was also on my pillowcase even though I used a towel over it. What I do now is apply it to my scalp only and massage it in with my fingers and then lightly go through the length of my hair with whatever's left on my fingers. After using it only the once, it significantly reduced the dryness my hair was experiencing because of the Schwarpzkopf hair dye. Now after almost 2 months of regular use my hair has practically gone back to it's usual healthy, silky condition.

Also just last week I was brushing my hair and realised that my hair could do with a trim which really surprised me as I had only trimmed my hair in mid-May when I coloured my hair (I usually trim my hair before colouring). My sister had also noticed how quickly my roots had grown since I coloured it, which is crazy because my hair grows pretty fast on it's own anyway (around 1/2 an inch a month). I'm pretty sure it's grown 2 inches since my last trim and it's only been a month and a half. I think this'll be brilliant for anyone wanting to replenish their hairs' health and improve sluggish hair growth.

Hair Elixir Nourishing Dry Oil 50ml £25.00

Probably my favourite and most used product from the set, the Hair Elixir comes in a bright yellow glass bottle with the same beautiful floral pattern and a pipette dispenser. Including a blend of Organic Argan, Virgin Marula, Kalahari and Moringa Oil and some essential oils it smells a lot nicer than the Hair Treatment Oil, which is to be expected as this is a leave on treatment not meant for washing out, it has a pleasant fresh, citrusy zingy scent. It's also a lot lighter in texture and consistency than the Treatment Oil which I find most agreeable with my hair.

I mainly use this after washing my hair when it's 80% dry to ease combing and to add some extra conditioning and softness to my lengths. Even though this is a dry oil I apply only 1 drop as my hair strands are quite fine and become saturated with oil easily, I put a drop in my palm and rub both hands together to spread the oil on my hands and then run it through the lengths of my hair. I've used 2 drops before and it's a bit much for my hair. I also use this for detangling my hair and use as much as needed to loosen the knots. I also really enjoy using this on my cuticles and hands when they are feeling dry, the oil relieves the dryness instantly and absorbs wonderfully.

Considering how often I use this I've got tons and tons of product left still, a little bit goes such a long way so this product is going to last ages! Alongside the Treatment Oil I feel like both products have helped with restoring my hair to its usual health, the Hair Treatment Oil has helped with growth and the Hair Elixir has softened my hair and made it stronger.

Hair Butter 100g £10

I was really excited to try this one as the name Hair Butter just sounds intensely rich and moisturising and the product is exactly that consisting of Avocado Butter, Brazilian Butter, Virgin Coconut, Mafura Butter and a myriad of other ingredients! It comes in a lovely black plastic jar with a helpful separate internal cover to prevent leakages. The texture and colour is that of ghee (clarified butter), it's a pale yellow, solid buttery emulsion which melts with body temperature. When I received the products my tub was solid but because of the heatwave we had here in the last few weeks it has melted into an oil (just like ghee). This has a sweet lemon sherbet fragrance and is really refreshing and pleasant to use.



I've used this a few times and find it a little too rich for my hair, I find I need to use this very very sparingly or else it weighs down my hair or I just use it as an overnight treatment. In fact my other half has nabbed this off me, he has wavy hair that is prone to frizziness and enjoys using hair butters and creams to help tame his unruly hair. So technically this is his review haha, he's been using the Hair Butter for the past few weeks now and said that it definitely controls the frizz and leaves his hair feeling very soft, he also uses it on his beard hair and it helps to soften it somewhat and keep it in place. This tub was filled to the brim so you can see how much he's used!


What I've noticed from both of our experiences is that his hair being a little more drier seems to handle oils and creams better, he is able to use a lot more product than I can and it absorbs a lot better than mine and doesn't get weighed down as quickly, whereas my hair gets greasy and saturated with product really quickly and turns into a clump of oily hair. From this comparison the Hair Butter is definitely suited for those with dry and frizzy hair, if you have thick, coarse and dry hair I think you will love this, it's intensely moisturising!


These products have been an absolute treat for my hair and have thankfully nursed my hair back into it's normal state, it's most certainly made me want to pamper my hair a lot more now. Thank you to Reem for sending these gems my way, I definitely recommend them if you're looking for some quality products to treat your tresses and I think these would also make fabulous gifts with the beautiful packaging.

Check out Rematural on their Facebook account here and their Instagram page here and also be sure to read their blog here which provides more detail on the products as well as the ingredients used and their benefits. As always I hope you enjoyed this review and found it helpful.

*These products were sent to me for review purposes, please read my disclaimer for more information.

What MAC say:

An ultra balmy fluid infused with nourishing ingredients and opalescent microspheres for a youthful glow that looks lit from within. This sheer tinted cream can be used under or over foundation, or to bring a translucent luminosity to skin. The cushiony, smoothing texture glides over skin, diminishing the look of imperfections and fine lines, while moisturizing and protecting skin. Skin looks immediately retouched!

Shade & Oxidisation

I managed to get a few samples in the shades Medium Plus, Medium Dark and Medium Deep and have tested them all. I was really hoping MAC would make these wearable shades for me but part of me just knew that the shades wouldn't be olive or yellow enough. I was right, unfortunately even though these are sheer tints none of these shades work for me, the undertones are so warm and peachy and make my complexion look orange, even the medium plus surprisingly. It really doesn't work for me but I don't understand who it would work for because it gives my skin a strange orange tint. It's a pity because I really like the product and concept itself. I haven't noticed any major oxidising as it is a sheer product but I feel it deepens a little more orange. Even when I've tried it on top of another base, it alters the shade a bit and I really don't need that, it's hard enough finding base shades that work for me so I don't need to make it more difficult.

I've taken pictures of swatches alongside my most yellowest foundation Nars ADLW Stromboli in various lighting so you can get a better view and understanding of the shades. In the swatches you can see how dewy and glossy the formula is.

Texture

This has an interesting uber smooth gel texture, it's really light, it's balmy and has a whipped elasticy consistency. The texture is almost a mix of primer, lotion and oil. I would say this texture and formula is best for those with dry dehydrated skin, it's emollient, hydrating and comforting and gives the skin a plump and hydrated feel. I reckon if you have oily skin this will be too emollient for you and will most probably make you feel and look greasy. Again this has used similar technology as the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation, the Urban Decay One & Done, the Estee Lauder Double Wear Nude and the Clinique Beyond Perfecting foundation. This formula seems to be getting more and more common, perhaps because it's so skin perfecting and lightweight but keeping the finish so skin like and natural. Compared to the others this offers the most lightest of coverage and is the most emollient and hydrating.

I've used both a brush and a sponge to apply and don't mind either. The sponge I find is not only faster to blend but it gives a smoother poreless finish but does absorb product and sheer it out a little which isn't ideal because this product is quite sheer already, I tend to use a sponge when I want to apply the NTN all over my face and am not too worried about over consumption of product. I like to use a brush when I want to apply a tiny amount for proper no makeup / invisible looking makeup and want to use the NTN sparingly and strategically because the brush doesn't absorb as much product as a sponge, both work fine it just depends how you want to use it. If you want to use it on its own then I suggest you use either a brush or a sponge but if you want to use it over foundation like MAC have suggested then I recommend a sponge as it doesn't disrupt the makeup underneath and gives a smoother finish than a brush.

Finish & Feel
On bare skin the NTN feels lightweight and hydrating like a light emollient moisturiser. It's a little bit tacky but does set and dry a little after a while. It does have an emollience to it which is why I think this'll be more suited to a drier skin type. But this emollience is more detectable when you use this atop of another product. I've used this on top of my Nars ADLW Foundation and it makes it feel obvious that I have something on my skin when the Nars ADLW is quite lightweight, it's the emollience that gives it away. Which is why I wouldn't want to use it as a base top coat, it's lovely and lightweight on it's own.

With regards to finish this has a smoothing, dewy, poreless, plump, glowy finish on the skin. I love this aspect to it hence why I'm a little annoyed about the shade issues, I love me a glowy skin smoothing base. On it's own it emits a nice amount of dew to the skin and I'd only powder strategically. On top of a matte foundation it does add some luminosity and glow but I'd only want to apply it to the parts of my face where I want to look glowy and not everywhere. I think this would actually make for a nice tinted moisturiser or to use in place of your moisturiser, it's definitely hydrating enough.

Coverage & Build-ability
The NTN offers light barely there coverage to the skin, it's like a proper skin tint. It's called Next To Nothing and correctly so, it can get away with being completely undetectable on the skin so if you like that kind of product I think you will really like this. It simply perfects the skin, takes down redness and evens it out ever so slightly whilst emitting a glow. I reckon if you have fabulous skin with not much to cover and you're a little on the drier side, this'll be your best friend. Anyone with problem skin looking for coverage will find no use for it unless you wanted to use it as a primer or wouldn't mind layering it as a dewy top coat.

I find building the NTN increases the coverage a teensy but it does increase the dew too and you can end up looking a bit greasy if you over do it. I would say be careful of applying this over a foundation because I found it disrupted my makeup underneath and made me look a little cakey and patchy. For a product that is so undetectable and skin perfecting it really isn't worth it for me, I personally think one layer of this on the skin is the best way to get the most of this product. I would also use this as a hydrating primer, it's perfect for those that need a little extra hydration and smoothing under their bases.

Longevity
In terms of longevity I find the NTN does have a setting factor where it sort of settles itself on to the skin, but I think you can't really judge this product for longevity as it's such a sheer barely there product if you get what I mean. I would set the 'dew' with a light dusting of powder and that too strategically on the face just to keep the natural luminosity of the product. I think if you have oily skin this'll just melt off your skin after a while though perhaps if you were to set it with a powder then it'll obviously last longer. Equally if you don't have oily skin I would recommend using a powder like perhaps the powder that they released with it just to keep the synchronicity of the products in that line.

Overall Thoughts
I love the concept and the formula, it's perfect for the days when you want to apply something light and barely visible to perfect the skin a little. MAC have described it exactly how it performs. People with dry skin or looking for some glow will really appreciate this formula. I do wish they had a yellow shade to offer, I actually wouldn't mind an uncoloured version either as the smooth, plump and glowy finish is lovely on it's own, hence why I like it as a primer! I personally don't see the benefit of using this on top of another product because it doesn't really work for me but I suppose if you have a matte base that you like and wanted to add some radiance and glow then this would be the product, that's if you don't mind layering, I would just buy a foundation that does all of that in one to be honest instead of layering. I think this is a nice addition to MAC's lineup of base products, it's the better version of Face & Body for me as I much prefer the NTN's finish, it's just a pity that the shades don't work for me. That's it folks that's all I have to say about the Next To Nothing, as always I hope you found this review helpful.

Pros
- Exactly as MAC have described it to be
- Hydrating
- Skin smoothing
- Dewy finish
- Lightweight
- Very natural
- Best for drier skins

Cons
- Colours are too warm and orange
- Not ideal for oily skin types
- Not ideal for problem skin that need coverage
- Not super long lasting (but not really meant to be..?)

Picture and description taken from Giorgio Armani website

What Giorgio Armani say:

POWER FABRIC is a new liquid foundation that teams full coverage with a matte, lightweight second skin finish. 

POWER FABRIC is a concentration of oils with no greasy effect, which delivers a velvet matte finish. To achieve perfect full coverage foundation, powerful pigments were selected and then shaped to obtain extremely fine pigment particles with a quality of color beyond reproach.

POWER FABRIC combines full coverage with an ultra-light formula. Upon application, the texture melts into the skin, effectively blurring imperfections with an incredibly lightweight matte veil that feels like you're not wearing make-up at all. With a SPF 25 filter, power fabric offers effective daily UVA and UVB protection up to the promise of broad-spectrum SPF protection.

Because every woman is unique, POWER FABRIC foundation comes in 20 shades to suit all skin tones. The formula is adapted for each shade to deliver optimal coverage without cracking or dulling.

Coverage: 

✔ Full 

Skin type: 

✔ Sensitive 

✔ Normal 

✔ Dry 

✔ Combination

✔ Oily 

Finish: 

✔ Matte 

✔ Natural 

SPF: 

- SPF 25

Shade & Oxidisation:

The shades 7.5 (Tan Golden) and 8 (Tan Warm) are too neutral pink for my skin, I can just about get away with shade 7.5 but not shade 8, but neither are ideal. I've seen swatch comparisons of the Power Fabric in shade 6 (Medium Warm) next to the Luminous Silk Foundation in shade 6 (Golden Beige) (review here), which if you remember was a perfect match for me and they are quite different, Power Fabric shade 6 looks a lot more neutral warm. I'm curious as to how it looks on me compared to shade 7.5 but other than that I am disappointed that the shades don't run similar to the Luminous Silk range as the shade 6 in Luminous Silk was an impeccable match for my olive skin tone. 7.5 is actually the only shade in the medium range described as golden so I'm wondering if it's the only shade that'll work for me. Here's the link to the really helpful swatch post by the Beauty Professor. 

Nars All Day Luminous Weightless Stromboli, Power Fabric 7.5, Power Fabric 8

With regards to oxidisation, I haven't noticed any major oxidising to be honest, I mean the undertone and shade are already a little off so it's hard for me to notice any further changes, but I don't think there is a lot of change. I've done some swatches 5 minutes apart and it deepens a touch but it's not a lot.

Texture

The texture of the Power Fabric is a normal liquid foundation consistency, not too thick and not too runny. In comparison to the Luminous Silk it's a little more thicker but still fairly lightweight. This formula blends really effortlessly into the skin. I've used both brushes and sponges and have noticed the finish is a lot nicer with a sponge and surprisingly there isn't a lot of product absorption. Usually I like using a brush for thin-ish formulas but the finish is a lot smoother and flawless with a sponge. I would agree that this formula is best for combination skin types, it's not at all drying nor is it highly emollient, it's a very easy formula to work with, but I suggest anyone with oily skin use a mattifying primer as I don't agree that this is a very matte formula and I would also suggest that you start off with a flake free base as this can sit around dry patches, I would also say that this is an easily adaptable formula so you can tweak the finish with the appropriate skin prep etc. I've been using my Boots Time Delay Radiance Booster (mentioned here) and love how this foundation sits on my skin when using this as a primer, it blends smoother and looks smoother too.

N.B. This foundation kinda smells faintly like washing up liquid, kinda fresh and clean but it's not overpowering at all.

Finish

Giorgio Armani describe this as a matte foundation, which I kinda disagree with, it's more of a natural satin-matte finish or a matte finish with a glow, it's not dewy but the skin does bounce light off the face in areas. I actually adore the finish to this foundation, perhaps more than the Luminous Silk, it's quite radiant but not at all in a greasy way and it doesn't highlight all the texture on the skin the way Luminous Silk can do all whilst looking quite natural. It gives the skin a nice smooth and soft appearance, it fills the pores just enough and doesn't exaggerate texture too bad, though saying that my skins texture has improved a lot in the past couple of months (alhamdulillah). I would say you can easily achieve a undetectable finish with this foundation as it definitely has a second skin like finish.

Feel

This formula is very lightweight, it doesn't feel or look heavy whatsoever, it sinks in wonderfully into the skin and becomes one with it. It doesn't feel overly emollient or drying, it's a very very comfortable formula, even more comfortable than the Lancome Teint Idole Ultra (review here) and even more natural looking too. If you have oily skin I highly recommend you use a mattifying primer and set well as your oils may make the foundation feel heavier after a while but on myself (combination dehydrated skin) this sits and wears really comfortably and I can barely feel it on my skin. I would say this is quite hydrating too as even by the end of the day my skin doesn't feel dry nor does it look parched.

Coverage & Build-ability

The Power Fabric in my opinion offers medium to medium full coverage, not quite a full full coverage. Using little product you can achieve a decent amount of coverage so you know a little goes long way. I personally don't have a lot of marks or anything on my face to cover, just some typical Indian girl hyper pigmentation around my mouth and some darkness under the eyes,  I use a 5p dot on my forehead, a 5p dot on each cheek and the nose and 4x5p dots around a colour corrected mouth and I get decent amount of coverage, you can still vaguely see a couple of faint PIH on my cheeks peeking through so I've dabbed a little more foundation on and it's covered them well. It builds really well and doesn't cake up at all, it remains smooth and seamless. I've also tried building up coverage on my dark circles but it still doesn't quite cover them, so you'll probably need some concealer as well. I also use some concealer around my mouth for a little extra coverage there as it's my main problem area. 

Longevity

I actually adore the way this wears on my skin, it looks better and smoother as the hours go by. It doesn't separate or disintegrate on myself and it remains looking pretty and natural. It still looks like  the way it does when I first apply it, it really does move with the skin. I have quite prominent laugh lines and foundation can sink into them quite easily but I've noticed this foundation doesn't do that too much if at all, I've even had long naps with it on and have noticed very little wearing away, I've tested this with and without setting with powder and I'm quite impressed, without powder it does last a decent amount of time and I don't get hideously oily considering how radiant this is but it does and can transfer quite easily, if I needed this to last and stay in place I would definitely set with a light dusting of powder as I wouldn't want to compromise the pretty radiant finish too much. Definitely set with well if you have oily skin as I can imagine how oily the radiant finish will leave you after a few hours.

Overall Thoughts

I've actually come to adore this formula very much, it's a pity that they don't have a lovely olive golden shade for me as I think I like it more than the Luminous Silk Foundation. I would even say it's the updated better version of Luminous Silk, it offers more coverage, it's just as lightweight, it wears better and longer. Power Fabric is just slightly more matte, so Luminous Silk is better for those with slightly drier skin. The Power Fabric is such a comfortable and easy formula to use and you get such decent amount of coverage with such little product, I adore how this looks, feels and wears on me and really appreciate the thought and technology that has been put into this formula, you can really tell a difference with how foundation technology is advancing as time progresses. I want to get my hands on shades 6 and 6.5 to see if they're better matches for me compared to 7.5. Other than that apart from the premium price (£40) I don't have any other qualms with this foundation, it's probably my favourite matte foundation formula as of yet, it's been an absolute pleasure to sample and I'm happy the formula's worked really well for me.

Pros

- Very Lightweight

- Little goes a long way

- Medium - Medium Full Coverage

- Very comfortable on the skin

- Best for combination skin types

- Pretty smooth and soft finish on the skin

- Natural looking and second skin like

- Wears well on my skin

- Not drying

- Natural Satin - Matte finish

Cons

- Not ideal for very oily skin - will need good skin prep

- Can sit around dry patches

- Shade range isn't olive / yellow enough

- On the pricier premium range

- Not as full coverage as described

I found a sachet sample of the Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation in a magazine a while back when they had newly released. It was in the shade 09 Neutral and I managed to get myself a decent few uses by squeezing the contents into an empty pot (proper efficient me!). I noticed Clinique were handing a lot of shade 09's out in various places, they're still available to this day on eBay actually, in the hundreds! I suppose they thought it'd be a good in-between shade for dispersion to the public! I've tested this formula out a good few times and well... I think I'm in love!

What Clinique Say :

A foundation-and-concealer in one for a natural, beyond perfected look that lasts all day. Lightweight, moisturizing makeup covers thoroughly without clogging pores. Skin breathes comfortably, colour stays true, even through sweat and humidity. Due to the rich pigment level that enhances this flawless coverage makeup, shades may appear deeper when first applied. Leave the foundation to settle just for a few minutes, this will allow the high pigment in the formula to adapt to your skin tone which is why you get such a flawless perfected finish. Suitable for ALL skin types.

How to Use

- Using the large backside of the wand, sweep foundation across your forehead, cheeks, and chin. Then use the angled tip of the applicator – that has a slight dip in it to hold more product – to cover down the bridge of the nose and across the jawline. Blend well with fingers.

- Finish by using the pointy tip to spot conceal any trouble areas – under the eyes, around the outside of the nose, on top of blemishes. Pat and blend well with fingers.

Benefits

- Moisturising

- Works for all skin types

- One dip of the wand gives you a full-face application. Spot-conceals, too.

- Slow-dry formula makes blending easy.

- Dual-sphere particles absorb oil and add hydration.

- 12 hours of full-coverage wear from a flexible formula that moves with skin.

- Natural-matte finish

- Full Coverage

- 20 shades available

- Oil Free

- Fragrance Free

- Ophthalmologist Tested

Packaging

The Beyond Perfecting Foundation comes in a see through, weighty cylindrical glass bottle and the applicator is a mahoosive doe foot. I personally really like the applicator, I find it's a cool and convenient way to apply the foundation directly to my face as it keeps the hands or fingers from getting dirty. Though I have heard complaints from some who (most likely are germaphobes or have very acne-prone skin) aren't too fond of this type of dispensing as they find the re-dipping unsanitary, it's understandable but there are so many cosmetics out there with similar types of packaging and dispensing, like your typical concealer and concealer wand right? Same thing ain't it? Anyway, I like it!

Shade & Oxidisation

The shade 08 Golden Neutral is exactly as it says, it's a golden neutral shade, a smidge more pink and neutral than Nars Sheer Glow in Stromboli but it's the fact that it's a lot more yellow than Neutral that makes it so much more wearable for me, I don't love it and a part of me really wishes it had more golden olive tones in it but I actually love the finish way too much to care enough, it's a good enough match! I've heard majority of the shades in this range are pink which is typical of Clinique's bases, so I don't think there are many options for those who have yellow undertones outside of the NC37-42 range as I've seen a lot of people on YouTube in this range wear Golden Neutral that just about get away with it and even they mention that the shade range could do with some expanding. Also I noticed the shades don't actually go dark or light in chronological order, they seem to jump up and down throughout the 20 shades so it's best you go to the store and test it.

Nars All Day Luminous Weightless Stromboli, Nars Sheer Glow Stromboli, Clinique Beyond Perfecting 08 Golden Neutral, 09 Neutral, Urban Decay One & Done Medium, Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation 7

Another plus point is that it doesn't oxidise, it stays true to its' original tones which is another claim in Clinique's description. Being rather pink toned already shade 09 Neutral could've looked worse on my oxidisation prone skin but it didn't, I kept glancing at my face every now and again to check if it was starting to look inappropriate but it was still completely in the safe zone. I highly believe it was mostly the finish and coverage that made it look so amazingly and surprisingly great, not only the tone adapting pigments, because if it looked the slightest bit cakey or drying it would be a whole other story, but obviously more on the finish later...! It also doesn't make the hyper pigmentation around my mouth look atrocious, but I do use a couple of swipes of Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Caramel to help bring some warmth back to that area.

You can see how yellow/olive Nars All Day Luminous Weightless Stromboli is to the rest and how pink/neutral Clinique Beyond Perfecting 09 Neutral actually is!

The texture of the Beyond Perfecting Foundation is thick, creamy and dense, almost whipped gel like too. It doesn't really drip or budge from its' place, very much like the Milani Conceal & Perfect, which I heard is meant to be a dupe. I've used both brushes and sponges to apply it, I use my favourite H&M BB Cream Brush and do a pat pat, swipe motion like usual and it blends in really well and smooth, it doesn't leave streaks or get cakey. The smooth angled flat top and density of this brush works well with the denseness of the creamy liquid and I get optimum coverage. It's pretty much the same with a sponge, just a little sheerer as the sponge does absorb some product, so I do end up using a bit more, though the sponge does give a smoother finish. What I do sometimes is blend most of it with a brush and then go over really lightly with a sponge to smoothen it out a little more. Clinique recommend using your fingers, I haven't tried this nor would I do this as I'd prefer not to get my hands dirty.

I feel this formula would work for combination to normal to slightly dry skin types as it's quite creamy and moisturising, they do mention that it's for all skin types but I suggest if you're oily then use a mattifying primer and powder well as this formula may be too emollient and radiant for you. If you have dry skin you may find this too thick a formula and it may sit on and exaggerate any dry skin and texture.

This texture works very very well for my skin surprisingly even though I usually prefer my lighter consistencies. Like the Urban Decay One & Done, the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation and the Estee Lauder Double Wear Nude this has a thick creamy whipped texture that coats my skin with a definite layer of product and smoothens it out, the same technology has been used between all of these formula's but this one is definitely my favourite.

Finish

The finish is what totally blew me away! I don't think the shade 09 Neutral would've worked if this finish or formula was any different to what it is. The Beyond Perfecting foundation gives my skin a luminous, deliciously youthful, plump and poreless finish. It's a glowy, satin finish, not at all greasy, but not quite matte either, the light simply reflects off my skin in all the right places. It honestly looks so creamy and luscious on my skin it's as if I drink over 2 litres of water daily, as if I eat well and balanced every single day, as if I exercise regularly and as if my bodies natural Hyaluronic Acid reservoirs haven't started declining yet, nor that I'm a day over 20! It's AH-mazing!

This is the finish I get on my dehydrated combination skin. Though my skin has been behaving well lately and alhamdulillah (all praises to God) is in a much better condition than usual, so I'm not too dehydrated and my texture isn't too bad, I find this formula smoothens my skin and fills in my pores really well, better than most that I've tried so far. My skin type has both the capability  of looking utterly parched or stinkingly greasy and being a dewy skin admirer it's difficult to find a formula that has the right balance which lets me achieve that pretty polished glow that I've always yearned for, without it highlighting every single bump on my skin or looking unflatteringly shiny. I always say bumpy shiny skin is unattractive but I may have just found the perfect formula for me.

I wouldn't say this formula is the most undetectable in finish, it is a thick formula and it's kinda obvious that you have makeup on, but I'd still classify it as a natural finish because of how incredibly smooth and seamless it looks. I know you all know that I like my natural second skin like bases but this formula looks flawless on me without it looking a bit thick or cakey and that's my selling point. I don't mind looking like I have makeup on but it can't be cakey, it needs to be skin enhancing and it needs to look good and this formula looks pretty darn good! Since it's a full coverage foundation you can easily reduce the amount you use to achieve a lighter undetectable coverage, I would definitely do this too but I also think I'd keep this specially for the days for when I want more flawless coverage as I already have other bases that are a lot more undetectable and more natural in finish.

The Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation is very similar to the Milani Conceal & Perfect in terms of their claims and texture but the way they behave on the skin over time proves that there are major differences in the formula which truly set them apart. If you've read the review, you'll know the Milani starts off looking great on me, very smooth and poreless but then turns horrid after a few minutes, it sinks in to all my fine lines and pores and really ages my skin. Whereas the Clinique stays the exact same and in fact makes me look a lot more youthful. I remember I would actually keep checking the mirror every now and again to see if the Beyond Perfecting also decided to do a U-turn but it didn't, it still looked flawless hours later.

Coverage & Build-ability

The Beyond Perfecting Foundation is pretty much a full coverage foundation, it's a pigmented formula, a little goes a really long way and it's definitely build-able so you can start as sheer as you want, which is what I love about full coverage foundations, the coverage is totally adaptable to your desires. I find it astounding how such a full coverage foundation can cover so much yet not look horrendously cakey at the same time and look so natural too. It covers everything! I don't have a lot to cover, some faint marks from old spots, general brown girl uneven skin tone and some mild redness. I use 1 doe foot application and get full coverage, though I do use my orange colour corrector on my problem areas as usual and this keeps it from looking ashy or grey, I can either go in with a couple more dabs of foundation or a little bit of concealer around my mouth if I want more coverage there.

With regards to build-ability I find it builds really easily and smoothly, as mentioned in Clinique's description this doesn't dry or set too fast so you have plenty of time to build and work the foundation into the skin, though I doubt you'd need any more than two layers of this pigmented formula at the most.

Feel

This isn't the most lightweight or thinnest of formula's but it's not super heavy either. As it's a pigmented product you really don't need a lot of product to achieve coverage but I'd say the creamy emollience would be the only give away. The Nars All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation, which is a powerhouse of pigment, is what I'd call lightweight. The Beyond Perfecting Foundation does feel ever so slightly tacky/moist on the skin at the beginning but a good dusting of powder sorts that out. I find this formula is rather hydrating, I love how nourishing and moisturising it feels and I can feel it continually hydrating my face through the day, the finish can vouch for this fact also as my skin looks hydrated too. Some foundations can end up looking very dehydrated in certain areas of my face like around my mouth after a while, but this foundation doesn't do that.

Longevity

Which brings us to longevity, this honestly holds up really well, the first few times I tested this I didn't use any powder, not only was it because I adored the radiant glowy finish but because I obviously wanted to see how the foundation stood up on its own and what the condition of my skin would be as the day went on. I wanted to see if the amazing "glow" would turn on me throughout the day and end up breaking up the foundation or settle in any lines but it stayed put, like they mention it moved with the skin, it was still smooth and poreless. The radiance/shine had increased a little after a few hours but it wasn't as bad as I was expecting, since this is quite an emollient and radiant formula I was anticipating a hell of a lot more grease but it wasn't bad at all. Yet another truth in their claims.

This isn't transfer proof so I highly recommend setting with powder, though there seems to be a film former aspect to it where it sort of settles itself on the skin. I would also make sure to set under the eye if you use it as a concealer there, since it's a creamy formula it'll most probably sit in the creases. On myself I would definitely set with powder if I needed it to last the day but if I don't need for it to last long I would happily stick to the foundations own finish and glow for as long as I could and powder only when I desperately needed to.

Overall Thoughts

I love this formula, I never knew I could get addicted to such full flawless coverage, I think I may have found a new Holy Grail product here! It's very rare that I buy a base that quick after only a few trying it a few times so you know it must be good! It's brilliant that they've managed to meet most if not all of their claims, not many products can do that. This formula has simply worked so well for my skin type and my skin concerns, I never thought I'd rave about a product so much but it's true, I'm in love! I obviously can't guarantee that everyone is going to share the same opinions as mine or have similar results since everyone is different but I definitely recommend you check this out if you like full coverage, skin smoothing, radiant foundations, perhaps pick up one of those 09 Neutral samples from eBay haha! I really wish they expand the shade range so that more people can benefit from this wonderful formula, this is definitely the better version of the Milani Conceal & Perfect Foundation which even though was made as a dupe, it really doesn't compare. This is utter perfection! It's Beyond Perfecting!

Pros:

- Full Coverage

- Gorgeous radiant satin finish

- Very pigmented so little goes a long way

- Easy, convenient packaging

- Skin smoothing and pore filling

- Hydrating and moisturising

- Lasts well on the skin

- Doesn't get unbearably oily on my skin

- Ideal for combination - dry skin types

Cons:

- Not ideal for very oily skin

- Not everyone likes the applicator

- Most of the shades are pink

- Not the most lightweight of foundations

- Not the most undetectable or second skin type of foundation

- Can transfer easily if not set

If you've tried this foundation let me know! I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Photo Credit +Lancome USA

Hey lovelies! I'm reviewing the Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Foundation today which the lovely Sal at Ummbaby Beauty was kind enough to give me a sample of a while back. I've used it a good few times and am ready to share my thoughts. I'm also going to try and downsize the length of my review, keep it short-ish and sweet but cover all the areas that need to be covered. So without any further ado lets get started!

What Lancôme say:

Our first 24 hour* liquid foundation gives you an even, flawless looking complexion. No need for touch ups. With a blendable fresh texture and a smooth finish. This long-lasting foundation provides the perfect coverage. Foundation can be layered to create a heavier coverage look.

Available in 22 shades.

*Self-assessment by 109 women.

Benefits

Long lasting wear, flawless complexion

How to apply Teint Idole Ultra 24h

Dab a small amount of Teint Idole Ultra 24H to well-moisturised skin, starting on your T-zone, then moving to your forehead, sides of the nose, cheeks and chin. Using a foundation brush or your fingertips, blend the foundation out towards your hair and jaw line to achieve a natural, flawless look.

Packaging

I obviously don't have the full size but I've seen it plenty of times, the foundation comes housed in a sleek, black capped, frosted glass bottle and certainly exudes the elegance of the luxury french brand. Also comes with a pump which is always appreciated. The bottle has recently been renamed and redesigned but still looks very similar to the original. One thing I need to mention is the scent of the Teint Idole, it smells absolutely beautiful, if I were to describe it I'd say it smells of a delicate, slightly floral, fancy french perfume with a hint of TCP :D :D :D (who else likes the smell of TCP?). I love the fragrance of this foundation and would happily bottle this scent and wear it! I find it really comforting.

Shade & Oxidisation

The shade 045 Sable Beige is unfortunately the complete wrong undertone and shade for me, it's quite pinky beige toned and really clashes with my skin, which I'm not too surprised about as french brands tend to have a lack of yellow shades in their ranges and are mostly pink or beige undertoned. It also oxidises on me into a pinky peach tone, it's rather fascinating as I can see the colour change on me. If it stayed pinky beige I could've possibly made it work but the odd match really shows on me and it's one I can't get away with. This is one of those type of shades that actually make my hyper pigmentation look absolutely horrid even if I've colour corrected. (UPDATE: New shade 050 Beige Ambre now swatched HERE)

The swatches are pulling more beige neutral which it is but on my "turmeric" yellow skin it looks more peachy pink

A point to mention is the difference between the shades and shade numbering in the UK and US websites, the US seem to have a lot more shades and they're named and numbered completely differently. Also the UK website mentions the availability of 22 shades but only 8 options are given. With the recent packaging and name relaunch the US have supposedly have launched more shades and now have a total of 40. Will the UK follow pursuit? I hope so, it's all so confusing as the UK website is still the same, I do hope they have a better shade for me as I actually really like the formula.

Nars All Day Luminous Weightless Stromboli, 03 Beige Diaphane, 045 Sable Beige, 05 Beige Noisette Need I mention the obvious lack of yellow/olive in the Lancôme shades?

In the swatches it looks like 045 Sable Beige could possibly work for me but it actually doesn't, Stromboli's olive/ yellow meshes with my skin a lot better.

Texture

The Teint Idole is a creamy liquid texture, it'll run down slowly on the back of your hand. I find it's quite a lightweight and comfortable formula on the skin as described. It blends in effortlessly and sinks into the skin beautifully. This is a formula that sets and dries to a velvety soft powder finish, so you do have to work a little faster than usual, but it's not a difficult formula to work with whatsoever. I've used both brushes and sponges and it works well with both but the sponge does absorb quite a bit of product as this is a thin-ish formula, so I tend to go for the brush most of the time to avoid wasting product. This is a comfortable matte foundation so I would say it's best for combination to oily to slightly dry skin types. It's a very easy hassle free formula to work with and works rather well with my skin but I need to make sure I've prepped appropriately.

Finish

This has a natural matte finish on the skin, not a flat matte. Even though it dries to a soft powder finish it still exudes a soft subtle skin like glow. These formulas work with the moisture on the skin so the luminosity is adjustable with how you prep your skin. It's very skin like and you can easily achieve an undetectable finish. This is good for combination skin and can easily be altered to suit both ends of the skin type spectrum though those with really dry skin may find this not emollient or radiant enough, it may catch on to dry flakes and skin texture as well as sink into any fine lines and give an overall flat dull appearance to the skin.

On my dehydrated combination skin I just need to prep well (like usual) and set lightly with some powder. This gives the skin a soft matte finish and fills in pores just enough. I like the smooth radiant glow when my skin lets out its oils after a few hours, it looks so pretty. My skin has been behaving lately so this formula hasn't been highlighting too much texture but I can imagine it not working too well for those with dry skin fine lines or a lot of texture. This formula is similar to the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation but less glowy and more soft powder matte.

Feel

The Teint Idole is a very lightweight formula, you can barely feel it on the skin, it's really really comfortable and you can easily forget you have anything on. Even though it sets to a powder soft matte finish it doesn't feel drying. Even after a few hours when my oils start coming out it still feels really light. I think this is because the formula isn't very emollient so it doesn't weigh the skin down.

Coverage

The Teint Idole Ultra offers a medium to full coverage. I use 4 to 5 flat dots and get a medium to full coverage finish, I can easily get it to full coverage as I don't have a lot to cover. Those with stubborn or dark marks may need to use a concealer. I personally wouldn't cake layers of this foundation on because I love and appreciate the natural soft matte finish and how even it makes the skin look. I would definitely colour correct around my mouth though and perhaps go in with a few touches of concealer too for my hyper pigmentation if I wanted a more fuller flawless coverage. Like the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk it offers medium to medium full coverage with a moderately small amount but it's not a highly pigmented formula like the Nars All Day Luminous Weightless or the Too Faced Born This Way where a little goes a very long way.

Build-ability

This blends effortlessly into the skin, it also builds pretty decently with a sponge even though it sets to a powder finish it doesn't get cakey or patchy. But I'd recommend you work quickly when using a brush or it might get a little bit patchy as it dries.

Longevity

Now I haven't worn this for 24 Hours so I can't confirm whether this holds up for that long but I have worn this for over 8 hours. Like I mentioned earlier my oils start to come out after a few hours but I like the glow it gives to my skin. I don't think this is a super long lasting foundation -unlike the Estee Lauder Double Wear which adheres superbly to the skin- but it does seem to stay together and doesn't disintegrate or fade anywhere. I wouldn't say it's completely transfer proof either, I'd definitely recommend to set with some powder and also use a primer if your skin type allows you to prime as well as powder. Setting with only powder works fine for me but if I wanted to make it last longer I would use a teeny bit of primer too only in specific areas.

Overall Thoughts

I do like this formula, it's so easy to use and really really comfortable on the skin, I love how lightweight it is, you seriously can't feel any product on the skin. It's rather reminiscent of my beloved Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation. I've come to adore its' soft velvety glow on the skin. Unfortunately it's a case of lovely formula and an imperfect shade. I really hope the new shade launch includes some yellow olive shades as I really like the formula and adore it's lovely scent. I wouldn't say I absolutely love this foundation but I really truly can't fault it either, it was an absolute pleasure to sample. As usual I hope you found this review helpful.

Pros

- Lightweight and comfortable

- Ideal for combination skin types

- Undetectable skin like finish

- Soft matte finish

- Medium to medium full coverage

- Smells lovely

Cons

- Shade 045 is the wrong shade for me

- Oxidises

- Not ideal for very dry skin

- US and UK shade charts/ranges are confusing