Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Foundation Review

I think the best way to start off a foundation review is to tell you a little bit about my skin type. I have combination skin, I get quite oily in my T-Zone, my cheeks are fairly normal and I also have dry patches on my nose and chin. I am also quite prone to breakouts from new products as well as hormones.

I picked up the Estee Lauder Double Wear Light in Intensity 1 while I was away on holiday in the UK. I had heard great thigs about the longevity of the regular Double Wear foundation but I wanted something lighter and more natural looking for everyday wear. I was colour matched at Selfridges in London, I first though I would be the lightest colour, which is intensity 0.5, but this was a very yellow based colour and did not match me well. Intensity 1 has more of a pink undertone which I generally am not too keen on but this colour matched me well in store. After wearing the foundation a few times, although the colour matches my face very well, I wish there had been a more neutral colour between Intensity 0.5 and Intensity 1 to match my body a little better because my body has a slightly warmer colouring than my face. But this problem is easily fixed with a little bit of bronzer.

In the pictures below, the first picture is my bare face with no products. The second picture is with only the Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Foundation on and the third photo is with a full face of make up.

Before and After Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Intensity 1

Estee Lauder Double Wear Light claims to wear for 15 hours, I have not worn the foundation for 15 hours but I have for a full 12 hour day and it hold up very well. I have no issues with the foundation breaking up or rubbing off. I sometimes lose some foundation from around my nose but this is only if I have been frequently blowing my nose.

The foundation also claims to control oil and resist smudging. I definitely agree with this statement. I often have problems with other foundations rubbing off onto the collars of black jackets but this foundation has not done so. As for oil control it does the job well. With a non oil controlling foundation my face will be shiny with oil within an hour or two, with this foundation I don't even need to powder and I am left oil free for at least 6 hours and even then I do not look greasy but my skin has a healthy glow and is no longer matte.

This foundation does not feel heavy on the skin but I feel as though you can tell you are wearing foundation from the look of it. This may be just because it has such a matte finish that it does not look skin like. This is not a problem for me because I like to be able to add shine in the areas I want it.

Applying the foundation is fairly easy, I choose to use a Real Techniques Buffing Brush to apply mine because I don't like using my fingers. If you are having trouble blending this foundation, try applying it with your fingers because the warmth of your hands helps it to blend seamlessly into all areas of your face. I do find if I am not careful when applying, the foundation can exaggerate some of my larger pores around my nose. Also once the foundation sets it can grab on to dry patches, for me this was only an issue when I had a healing spot that meant flaky skin.

With Flash

I do find the Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Foundation is not the best with flash photography, most likely because it has an SPF of 10. It doesn't look too bad in this flash photo but I have had worse photos also. I find that you can counter the flashback look by useing bronzer and blush to give your face shape and leave the centre of your face bright. I wouldn't recommend this photo for occassions with flash photography but I also wouldn't avoid flash photos if I was wearing it. That doesn't really make sense but I'm trying to say the flash back is not that bad but if you knew there were to be a lot of flash photos, maybe avoid this foundation.









On the rest of my face, I used some Maybelline Fit Me concealer in the colour 15 Fair under my eyes and Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer in the shade 1C Light on my blemishes. I used Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Translucent to set under my eyes and on my lids. I used Rimmel Natural Bronzer in 022 Sun Bronze around the perimeter of my face and under my cheekbones, I also put a little bit of the same bronzer into the crease of my eye. I used the Top Shop Cheek and Eye Duo in Bitten Cherry on my cheeks. I used Jordana Eyeliner in 20 Taupe to fill in my eyebrows,  Nutrimetics Defining Waterproof Eye Pencil in Charcoal in my tightline and Rimmel Wonder'full mascara with Argan Oil in Extreme Black on my lashes. On my lips I used Nutrimetics Perfecting Lip Pencil in Nude and Collection Work the Colour Lip Butter in Vintage Rose. Finally I finished with a dusting of Nars Albatross on my cheek bones, brow bones and nose.

Overall I would recommend this foundation to anyone that has oily skin and struggles to keep their make-up looking good all day. This foundation lasts all day for me without powder, if its really hot or I know its going to be a long day I will powder for extra protection. It does not break me out which is wonderful. Its not ridiculously expensive at $69 although I would recommend trying a sample before committing to spend that much money. It feels weightless to wear and is easy to forget that it is on at all. This foundation is not full coverage but you can build the coverage by adding a second layer, although i fell like this is when it starts to look less natural on the skin. I prefer to do one layer and then pin point conceal the areas that are still showing through.

I feel like this review was all over the place, if I missed anything or you have any questions, please comment below.

Day 25 - Nutrimetics Hair Serum Review

Nutrimetics Essentials Hair Serum with Ginger and Virgin Coconut Oil 40 ml for $22.

I would just like to be fair to this product and mention that my hair is extremely dry at the moment because I spent a lot of time in chlorinated water over the weekend, so it is soaking up moisture like crazy.

I will do a little comparison between this and the only other hair serum I've used the Dove Nutri Oil Serum which I reviewed here and before and after photos here.

This serum is a little bit thicker and more gel like. It also is a little bit heavier on my hair and I feel I have to use less to get rid of frizz. I also notice that it takes awhile to absorb in unlike the Dove which is almost instantly absorbed. If I apply a little too much of the serum, it will absorb over night and leave my hair silky the next day.

This serum has a much stronger smell than the Dove which has barely any scent. This serum smells very strongly of Ginger which I guess is because it is one of the main ingredients. You can smell it on your hair.

I think that I prefer this Serum slightly more over the Dove because it is slightly heavier and for my dry hair I feel it does more to repair my hair than the Dove does. I do still like the Dove and if you have already quite good hair and just a few flyaways to tame I would definitely recommend the Dove over this Serum.

If I know I am going to wash my hair the next day or in the evening I will apply a generous amount of the Serum to the length of my hair and braid it, then leave it in throughout the day or overnight. Then when I wash my hair it is nice and healthy.

Because I find this product does absorb into your hair, you don't get a build up of product. On second day hair I will sometimes add an additional pump to smooth any frizz that has appeared over night.

The first photo is my hair air dried overnight and brushed through, the second photo is my hair with two pumps of the serum which is normally enough for my hair but today my hair was so dry I used a third pump which is my hair in the last picture.

Excuse my really bad roots but I am trying to grow out my natural colour.

Day 24 - Product Empties

Here are a few products I finished up this month.

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser 250 ml I got mine for around $20 from Farmers. This is a cleanser that can be used on your face or body. It is extremely gentle which is great for my sensitive skin. I can't say that it is a miracle product that cleared up my skin but it does not make my skin worse. It cleans my skin without causing a reaction. It has a gel cream texture. I feel as though the Cetaphil, the Comfort Soothing Creme and also the Skinfood NZ Cleans All are all quite interchangeable. They are all gentle cleanser that clean my skin with out causing a reaction or drying out my skin. I would re purchase this cleanser but I am currently trying out a new cleanser.

Orly Nail Lacquer Remover Non-Acetone Formula 473 ml for $19.99 from Farmers. Being a beauty therapist, especially one that loves doing nails, I use up quite a lot of nail polish remover. I always choose to use acetone free formulas because I do have some clients that get acrylic nails. This nail polish remover works just as well as the other acetone free formulas that I have used. But like most acetone free formulas it does take a little extra effort to remove metallic and glitter polishes. I would re purchase this.

Orly Cutique Cuticle Remover 9 ml I think I got mine for around $12 at Farmers. As a cuticle remover this is great, it softens the skin on the nail so you can use a cuticle stick to scrape it off. It is also a great nail stain remover. I don't find that this dries out the skin too much as long as you wash off the product and use a cuticle oil or hand cream as part of your manicure routine. I would re purchase this.

Nutrimetics Comfort Soothing Cleansing Creme 150 ml for $33.01. This is another gentle face cleanser. It has a cream texture and is part of the sensitive skin range from Nutrimetics. The Comfort Skincare range is supposed to be on par with the Clinique Sensitive Skin Range but I have not tried the Clinique, so I can't say whether this is true or not. As I mentioned above, although this is a great cleanser that doesn't make my skin react or dry out, it is interchangeable with the other two cleansers I mentioned. I don't think that I would re purchase this cleanser because it is more expensive than the Cetaphil and I feel as though they have the same effect on my skin.

Nutrimetics Comfort Gentle Toning Lotion 200 ml for $33.01.This is a toner for sensitive skin, a lot of toners I have tried before are too harsh and break me out as well as drying out my skin. This toner is alcohol free and doesn't dry out my skin or break me out. I like to use a toner to remove any excess cleanser on my skin and to make sure that all makeup has been removed. If my cotton pad turns foundation coloured, I know that I haven't washed my face properly. I haven't found any other toners for sensitive skin so I have already re purchased this product.

Nutrimetics Nutri Rich Oil 25 ml for $30. I have already done a review of this product which you can read here. I love this product as a night cream and I have already re purchased this item.

I love empty product posts because if you have finished the whole product then I feel like your opinion has had plenty of time to form, although sometimes you instantly hate a product and never use it so it will never make it to an empty products posts. I guess that's what products I regret buying posts are for. Only four more days of February Fun to go.

Day 19 - Nutrimetics Lip Apeel Review

 Today I am doing a review of the Nutrimetic Lip Apeel. It usually costs $32 but is on sale at the moment for $24.90. I recieved this free for selling/buying a certain amount of products.

Here is what Nutrimetics says about the product; "Two-step treatment instantly smooths and plumps the appearance of thin, dry lips. Step one of this innovative treatment gently polishes away dry, rough skin and removes lipstick build-up, while step two plumps fine lines, leaving lips softer, smoother and looking younger."

I have taken before, during and after photos so you can see the results for yourself. Click on the picture to enlarge.

Before I started I thought my lips weren't really that bad, on my naked lips I didn't see a lot of dry skin. I decided to apply a lipstick that accentuates any dry skin, so that it would show up better in a photo. In case you are wondering the lipstick is Australis Colour Inject Mineral Lipstick in Honky Tonk.

As said in the quote above, the Nutrimetics Lip Apeel is a two step product. You start with the bottom segment of the jar, which is the white paste. Before I put this on my lips I gently removed excess lipstick with a tissue, I didn't scrub my lips with the tissue because I didn't want it to do the job of the Lip Apeel. I applied a layer of the line peel to my lips then let it dry. Once it was dry I rubbed the majority of the product off my lips with my finger and then removed the rest with a moist cotton pad.

I did feel a slight tingle when using step one.

Step two is called the lip nourisher, it supposed to be a plumping lip balm. It smells like oranges. I applied this to my lips quite generously. This step was a lot more tingly than step one but nothing too bad.

I didn't notice that my lips looked any different after completing the two step process but my lips did feel smoother when I rubbed them together.

Before taking the after photo I dabbed off excess lip nourisher with a tissue then applied the same lipstick that I used in the before photo. I noticed that the lipstick did glide on a lot smoother. I'm not sure if you can tell in the photo but the lipstick still settle a little bit in the lines of my lips but they are a lot smoother than in the before photo.

I didn't notice much plumping, but if you look at the photos it looks to me as though the lines in my lips are deeper in the before photo.

After seeing the photos, this product definitely works. I am not sure whether it is worth its $32 price tag just because I feel as though the same out come could be achieved with a homemade sugar scrub or toothbrush, although I haven't tested this out.

The lip nourisher (step two) itself is a nice balm. They recommend using the balm when needed and the line peel (step one) once a week or so. I feel like this product would last quite a while if you were using it once a week, but if you were using the nourisher more regularly you may run out of it before using up the line peel.

If you can pick this up on sale or you have a problem with chapped lips, or your lipstick not going on smoothly I recommend giving this a try. I haven't seen any similar products before, if you have let me know.

Day 17 - Nutrimetics Dramatic Lash Mascara Review

I finally managed to take some photos of something to post about. Yay me!

I am reviewing the Nutrimetics Dramatic Lash Mascara, I have it in Black.

When I first got the mascara I was surprised by how big the tube was, it looks like a jumbo mascara compared to my others.

The brush is also quite large and spiky. It definitely hurts if you poke yourself in the eye with the brush, I suggest not to do this.

The formula is quite wet at first and then dries up a little after the first few uses. This is not a bad thing though, I feel as though you get more dramatic lashes when the formula thickens up a little bit.

This mascara adds thickness, length and also a little bit of curl on my lashes. You can see this in the before and after pictures on the right.

Once this mascara is dry my lashes are still flexible and the mascara does not flake when you touch them. I also do not notice any of the mascara transfer to my lid throughout the day like I often find with other mascaras.

I apply two coats to my lashes, one to each eye and then go back to apply another coat. You can add more if you want even more dramatic lashes. I don't think my lashes look clumpy but you can judge that for yourself in the photos.

I also think it has quite a good price, especially when you can get it on sale. It is on sale now until the end of February. I have had mine for about three months, I should probably be replacing it soon, but it still works perfectly well.

I sometimes find it a little difficult to remove this mascara with my Simple Eye Make Up Remover but once I wet my face it does come off a lot easier. I don't have to scrub at my eyes to remove the mascara once it is wet.

You can find it in the Nutrimetics February Special E-Brochure on the third page and in the 2014 E-Catalogue on page 11. Regular price is $33, current sale price is $22.90.

What is your favourite mascara?

Day 10 - Eye Make Up

Yay I made it to double digits, I thought I would quit after a week. I even managed to get all the posts up while I was away. Anyway onto today's post, this post is a follow on from this post.

This is the makeup I apply after my go to face make up when I have a little extra time on my hands.

I fill in my brows with the Rimmel Eyebrow pencil in Hazel.

I lined my upper lash line with NC Defining Waterproof Eye pencil in Mahogany making the line slightly thicker in the outer corner. If I had little time time this is where I would stop but on this particular day I continued and smudged the line a little with the NC Colour Impact Eyeshadow in Forest, I also placed this into the crease in a similar shape to the liner that Lorde wears in her Royals video only less dramatic and defined. I also added NC Colour Impact Eye shadow in Copper to my lower lash line to bring out the blue in my eyes. I finished off my eyes with a few coats of the Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless mascara, which has a lash growth complex and also micro fibres.

On my cheeks I used NC Pure Touch Blush in Sienna.

And finally on my lips I am wearing NC Hydra Brilliance Lipstick in Flamingo.

Products Used:
Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil  in Hazel $9.99
NC Defining Eye Pencil in Mahogany $20
NC Colour Impact Eyeshadow in Forest $22
NC Colour Impact Eyeshadow in Copper $22
Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless mascara
NC Pure Touch Blush in Sienna $26
NC Hydra Brilliance Lipstick in Flamingo $26

You can purchase the Nutrimetics Products individually by browsing the catalogue here. Also check out the monthly specials for some good deals.

Day 8 - My go to Face MakeUp

Today's post is all about my go to every day face make up. This is the base for my daytime looks, I start with this base and then add my other makeup depending on how much time I have available.

This base takes me no longer than 5 minutes and looks great finished off with just mascara and lipgloss, maybe some eyebrows if you have fair brows like me.

Lets get into what I do. I start with my morning skincare routine, then I apply Nutrimetics Liquid Cover concealer on to any redness, blemishes or under eye circles and I blend this out very well because the shade I have is a fraction too dark for me at the moment. Next I buff on a layer of Nutrimetics Velvet Finish Mineral Foundation to even out the rest of my skin tone, you may notice in the first photo I have a lot of redness in my skin, I use a yellow toned powder to counter act this. If you have good skin, you may be able to skip the concealer step and just use the powder. And that is all. Simple and easy, two products and one brush is all you need. I used the real techniques buffing brush but you can use your favourite.

From here I add mascara, brows and lip gloss if I am in a rush, or I add more if I have the time. Today I had quite a lot of spare time so I chose to do a little extra, which you can look forward to seeing in a future post.

You can buy the two products I used here in a kit with a kabuki brush. I have tried the kabuki brush and it is not my favourite, it is not as soft as I would like. You can also buy these products separately but I can't find a link.
Edited to add you can purchase Nutrimetics products separately by browsing the online catalogue here.

Day Six - My Favourite Skincare Product

My favourite skincare product at the moment is the Nutrimetics Nutri - Rich Oil with Apricot Kernel Oil.

This is an oil balm that is one of those all in one products, you can use it as a lip balm, a cuticle cream, first aid cream, great for burns, a night cream and so much more.

I have been using it as a night cream for the past two months and I love it! When first applied it feels quite greasy on the skin which I thought I would hate since I already have oily skin but the product eventually starts to absorb and when I wake up in the morning my skin feels so soft.

This product also helps with my pimples, I find that since using this product as a night cream my pimples heal a lot faster and unlike most spot treatments it doesn't dry out my pimples leaving me with flaky red sores that are impossible to cover.

The only time you should not use this product is if you are going out in the sun, because it is an oil it will make your skin burn much faster.

You can buy this in 25 ml or 60 ml jars. I have the 25 ml jar which I have been using for the past two months and it will probably last me another month. I use a very generous amount every night as a night cream, so if you were only using this as a first aid cream or cuticle balm it would last you a lot longer. The packaging is quite heavy and for the size of the jar the area that holds the product is quite small, if that makes sense. They could have had much smaller packaging with the same amount of product, although the jar does look quite fancy and high end on your vanity.

If you are interested in purchasing I have linked the Nutrimetics website above, just click on the size you are interested in. It does mention on the website that this product is not for oily skin but I have very oily skin and still love this product I find that my skin is less oily in the morning when I use this product than when I use other products.

Final thing I forgot to mention is the smell, this product smells delicious. Like I want to eat my face when I am wearing it. I'm not quite sure what the smell is but it is sweet and wonderful.