The Wedding Makeup Trials | Foundation

My wedding is less than five months away (yikes!), and since I decided I'd be doing my own makeup, I'm really starting to take stock and think about what products I'm going to use on the day. I thought I'd start a series where I talk through all the products I'm considering, one category at a time. I'm also definitely going to be writing a post on the makeup I did wear when the time comes, so I won't leave you hanging on that, either. First up is foundations, aka the thing I'm stressing most about (makeup-wise, anyway).

When I think of my perfect bridal foundation, I want something that will make my skin look flawless, but will also still look like skin. I'm on the dry side, so I'd love something that gives a bit of glow, but it can't get greasy throughout the day. Luckily we've opted for a Friday evening wedding, so it doesn't have to be quite as long-lasting as it would if it was earlier in the afternoon.

The top-recommended bridal foundation that I've seen is Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk. I have it, and I do absolutely love it. It's my go-to when I'm wearing a full face. I only ever wear this for a few hours at a time, so I'm going to have to take it for a spin for a full day to see how it wears - I've heard it lasts amazingly on some people, while it breaks up on others. 

Another one I've been considering is the Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation. It leaves the prettiest, skinlike finish, and it's another one of my go-to's. We went to a friend's wedding last summer, and I wore this one through the hot outdoor ceremony as well as reception and afterparty. It still looked good when I came home. I'll need to test this one with a full face to see if it looks flawless enough for me in photos. I also really love this mixed with the Luminous Silk, so that's always an option, too.

Speaking of mixing, I think it's really likely I'll end up mixing together some bases instead of using just one. A new favorite mixture I mentioned just the other day is the Cover FX Natural Finish Foundation mixed with the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Foundation. My sister suggested I try this when I told her the Cover FX was getting a little shiny on me throughout the day on its own, and she is a genius. Mixing in the Fenty keeps that in check and also extends the weartime. It could be quite the winner. I'm also going to be trying to mix in a few of my lightweight favorites to see if I can get a more skinlike look that still has longevity. I can't be without Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint or bareMinerals Complexion Rescue on a daily basis, so I almost feel like my makeup isn't "me" if I'm not using one of those.

I'm also going to be giving a few forgotten favorites another try to see if they make the cut. NARS Sheer Glow used to be my go-to, and I loved it, but I haven't worn it in awhile. Maybe compared to my new favorites it won't be as good, or maybe it will surprise me. The Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Stick is another one I always loved wearing, and I remember it always looking great, but the last time I wore it, it ended up breaking up weirdly around my nose. I'll have to give it another try and switch up the primers I use it with.

What's your favorite foundation for special occasions?

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Best of Body Care

I don't talk about body products enough, but this winter my skin sure has taken a beating. I've been slathering myself in all kinds of oils and lotions in a desperate attempt to keep my skin smooth and flake-free. Here's what's been keeping the rest of me from turning into a lizard.

In the shower, I like to make sure I slough off any leftover dead skin and then wash with oils instead of drying soaps. I've been using the Meant Wonder Polish* since the summer, and it really gets the job done. It buffs away dead skin using coffee grounds and has an uplifting, citrus-y scent that actually blends with the coffee in a nice way. My one complaint is that I have the hardest time trying to squeeze it out of the tube, but once I get there, it's great. For in-shower oil washes, I turn to both L'Occitane and Glossier. I've always loved the L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil, hoarding samples of it every time Sephora offered them as 100-point perks, and I was sent the full size when working with L'Occitane over the holidays. I haven't cracked into it yet (because of the hoard of samples), but I'm so excited to. It feels so rich and moisturizing on the skin, and it smells like sweet almonds. The Glossier Body Hero Daily Oil Wash is similar, but it feels a little bit lighter and froths/lathers up more. It also has the most beautiful orange blossom neroli scent. I prefer the feeling of the L'Occitane but the smell of the Glossier, so I keep them both in the shower and use whichever one I'm feeling that day.

My legs are extra extra dry (to the point they get so itchy I'm in tears and scratch them until they bleed), so I always like to layer a body oil with a body cream. The order of application depends on the consistencies of the products I'm using. I love using the Fresh Rice Dry Oil* first thing out of the shower. It sinks in immediately and leaves me feeling moisturized, but not greasy. I also like the Meant Absolute Balm* - like the Wonder Polish, it takes a little bit of work to get it out of the tube, but it's so incredibly nourishing on the skin. This one is a bit heavier, so I like using it as a last step and lounging around in my robe to let it sink in.

I've got multiple favorites when it comes to creams, too. My first love was the Too Cool For School Egg Mellow Body Butter - this was originally sent to me by the brand, and I loved it so much I've since repurchased two tubs. It smells amazing (I can't put my finger on the scent, really, but it's a mixture of sweet and floral I think), and it feels super moisturizing without being heavy. It is a bit heavier than my other favorite, but it doesn't leave me feeling like I can't move/put my clothes on. My other favorite is the Glossier Body Hero Daily Perfecting Cream, of course. This one is lighter on the skin and sinks in instantly. It also leaves a beautiful glow that will be lovely come summertime when I actually have some skin showing and am not bundled up in 7000 layers at all times. It smells just as good as the Oil Wash, but maybe a bit lighter.

There's also a few extras I've been loving lately. Like I just said, every inch of skin stays covered throughout winter, but looking at the state of my pasty limbs can still get me a bit down. I've taken to mixing a couple drops of the Tan Luxe The Body Illuminating Self-Tan Drops* into my body lotion for a subtle glow. It doesn't make a stark change to my skintone like other fake tans would do, and that's what I love about it. It just makes me look a little more glowy and healthy. I've also been slathering myself in the Fur Oil* after shaving. It's a great blend of oils meant to condition your hair *down there* but I've been loving it all over my legs, too - it really helps to cut down on the itch after shaving. I've also been testing out their Ingrown Concentrate*, which is just the cutest little bottle ever! I'll report back once I try both of these more. I really admire the brand's message, and so far I'm loving the products.

What are your favorite body products?

Products marked with an asterisk have been sent to me for consideration, but all opinions are my own. Please see my disclaimer for more information. This post contains affiliate links.

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The Best Foundation for Dry Skin | Cover FX Natural Finish Foundation

For most of December I was pining away for a new foundation - I didn't necessarily need one, as I have two acrylic drawers full of them, but I just was feeling something fresh and new. I was intrigued by all the new ultra high-coverage options coming on the market, even though I typically never wear anything above a light coverage. I starting poring over Sephora's foundation page and reading all the descriptions, and I ultimately went with something that's been around for awhile and that I hadn't heard much hype on: the Cover FX Natural Finish Foundation.

The Cover FX Natural Finish Foundation boasts a range of 40 shades with four different undertones. The naming system is very easy to follow - a letter to signify the undertone (Pink, Neutral, Golden, and Golden Plus) followed by a number to signify the depth of the shade. I matched myself to P10, and I think it's probably the best foundation match I've ever had. It's an oil-free foundation with a hydrating formula that's meant to give a radiant, skin-like finish. It sounded right up my alley, really. 

Upon first squeezing it out of the tube, I was surprised and a little worried about how thick it felt - it felt like a thick cream. But once I applied it to my skin, it instantly seemed to thin out and spread so easily. A little goes a long way, and it blends beautifully. It gives a medium coverage right off the bat but does layer well if you wanted a fuller coverage. I was wary of amping up my usual level of coverage, thinking it would look and feel heavy on my skin, but this one doesn't at all. It feels practically weightless, and it looks undetectable on the skin. It is amazing for blurring over imperfections like mild texture and flaky breakouts - it doesn't even cling to those! It's basically flawless skin in a tube.

Longevity for me is great as well - it lasts through the whole day on me without breaking up. I will note that it gets a bit shiny on my T-Zone, so if you have anything near an oily skintype, you'll probably want to stay away. But if you're dry and you've been looking for something that won't catch on your dry patches, this is it.

I've documented before how much I love mixing products to get a whole new formula, and that's been no different with this. So far I've loved mixing it with the bareMinerals Complexion Rescue to sheer it out a little bit - it makes it the perfect everyday base. I've also tried mixing it with the Fenty Foundation, which extends its life even more and helps fix that shiny T-zone issue. 

I think I've found a hidden gem here for sure - I'm not sure why I don't hear more people raving about this!

What's your favorite foundation?

This post contains affiliate links.

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