Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer - Redness Correcting Primer, Radiant Primer Yellow, Smoothing Primer

Press samples.

GWP at Sephora.
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My first experience with primer was the classic Smashbox formula, and it turned me off primers for a loooong time. The thick texture and super slippy silicone texture felt strangely creepy and medical-grade (the product equivalent of Jeremy Irons in Dead Ringers *shudders*). Despite the way it disappeared once applied, my skin somehow still felt smothered. I've found others since then that I do love, and that are much more suited to my needs, but I'm still leery.

I also tried the old Make Up For Ever primers, and while they definitely had a more palatable texture - lotion-like rather than slippy - I can't remember being particularly blown away. I generally love MUFE as a brand, though, so I was hopeful about the recently relaunched version and jumped on the chance to test run a couple.

The major advantage and selling point for the Step 1 Skin Equalizer (43$ CAD) series is that the range addresses a variety of needs. Rather than billing one primer as a one-size-fits-all solution, MUFE has ten different options on the table - there's something here, theoretically, for every skin type, texture and tone. Better yet, they can be combined for optimal performance. (They suggest combining the redness correcting or radiance boosting primers before the mattifying or smoothing ones, and the  hydrating and smoothing before the correcting or radiance ones. My skin is a crazy topographical map right now, so I apply what I need in specific areas rather than layering them, but it's all up to you, which is the beauty of this concept.)

I've only tested three - the Redness Correcting Primer, Radiant Primer Yellow, and Smoothing Primer -  so I can't speak to how the texture of each primer varies, but these feel rather similar to each other.

The Radiant Primer Yellow and Redness Correcting have an identical texture: lightweight and a bit creamy, but with that disappears-into-the-skin finish that is the hallmark of a sophisticated silicone formulation. The Smoothing Primer feels a bit thicker, and reminds me of the Benefit Professional - which makes sense, since it needs to have a bit more weight to smooth down those pores and rough edges. It does a similar disappearing act, however, and bypasses that gross, overly slippy feel of the Smashbox type primers.

I would say the colour correcting is fairly subtle. (It's primer, not concealer.) The Redness Correcting does indeed tone down the redness, as does the Radiant Primer Yellow, to some degree. I do prefer the latter, however, as it also boosts the warmth in my skin, whereas the green tinge of the former emphasizes the olive tones. With foundation overtop, it's not a huge deal, and if you really prefer to negate the redness and aren't prone to looking sallow, the Redness Correcting Primer will probably be your pick.

The Smoothing Primer does reduce the appearance of my pores, and helps to minimize the texture of skin around blemishes. It's not quite photoshop, but it definitely helps to create a more even base for my foundation. It also mattifies slightly, though it doesn't control oil much better than any other primer I've tried.

What I especially like about all these primers is how smooth and soft my skin feels after applying them - not tight or flaky, like some primers can leave it feeling. All of them are excellent for getting foundation to apply super evenly, and it nudges up the time-frame for flake-free, shine-free wear.

Smoothing Primer, Radiant Primer Yellow, Redness Correcting Primer

And since it's hard to talk about the effects of a primer without showing some results, here's the stuff, on my face.

On the left, my bare skin, with some moisturizer that was applied about 45 minutes before the picture. I've been having some kind of skin reaction to skincare samples I was testing (waaaaayyyyy too many at once, hence The Red Spot of Rage).

In the middle, I have the Smoothing Primer applied to my nose, forehead and my inner cheek area. You can see the mattifying effect, and the way the pores are less obvious. The slight texture in my undereye area is also softened. I used the Radiant Primer Yellow on my cheeks, jaw and chin, and some of the redness is attenuated.

On the right, I've applied one layer of foundation (MUFE Mat Velvet, with a tiny drop of Ellis Faas to cut through the matte finish somewhat), with a bit more dabbed over the TRSoR. As you can see, the application is really smooth and even.

And the full makeup...

Are any of you trying these new primers out? What do you think? I'm quite tempted to give the Mattifying and Hydrating ones a go, down the line. In case you're thinking about making a Sephora order soon, you can choose between four deluxe sized samples with the code MUFESKIN (with a 35$ CAD minimum purchase, I believe).

(Items provided by the brand, aside from the GWP sample from a Sephora order. This post is not sponsored or compensated.)

L'Oréal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream: Anti-Fatigue and Anti-Redness

I don't want to begrudge the cosmetic scientists who no doubt work long hours over at l'Oréal RnD their due. I'm sure they had a lot to do with the awesomeness of the brand-new Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream.

But let's be honest about what really made the difference here.

SORCERY.

Like many of you, I tend to greet the release of yet another BB cream with a jaw-cracking yawn. Skin-smoothing, tone-enhancing, wrinkle-blurring - you and I have heard it all. Do we really need to hear it again and again with every new season?

In the case of the Magic Skin Beautifier, YES. Also, HELL YES.

This formula comes in two versions, one claiming to work against signs of fatigue to awaken the complexion, and the other to reduce the look of redness. Both of them come out of the tube distinctly coloured  - one a sherbert orange, the other pale mint green - and transform to a peach tone when rubbed in. (In the swatches below I applied the Anti-Fatigue one a little more thickly, so it's showing darker and more opaque.)

I have to say that I wasn't particularly overwhelmed with the Anti-Fatigue version - on my skin it gives my skin a subtle bronzed glow, which is certainly welcome, but not game changing. If you have deeper skin in need of perking up, or skin with a washed-out, grey cast, it might be right up your alley.

The Anti-Redness one though, is purely amazing. Here are some before and after pictures to give you a better idea...

The first picture is bare skin, with just some moisturizer.

The second picture is with a thin layer of the Anti-Redness Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream. You can see that through some strange alchemy, it's easily taken care of the redness I had in my cheeks, around the top corner of my eyebrow, and on my chin. It even muted some of the darkness below my eyes, cancelling out the red in the violet shadows. Where I applied it more heavily by mistake (just under my eye) it shows up a bit more yellow than the rest of my skin, but otherwise I don't feel like this looked visibly peachier or darker than my skin tone, despite what it looked like when swatched on my arm. (And unlike tinted green primers, it does't leave my face looking strange and ghostly.)

I suspect that if you're very pale, or you have a lot of redness to cover and thus need to apply the product more heavily, it might look more obvious. If you're using it purely as a BB cream, chances are you probably don't need a ton of coverage. If you do, then I suggest using it as a primer instead. It feels comparable to a mix of the Hourglass Mineral Veil and those new-fangled second-skin foundations, with a very liquid, silicone texture and a quick-dry, natural matte finish. Like both those products, it can look powdery and cake up over dry areas if you apply a lot, so I would suggest going with a thin layer, and using foundation, concealer and/or powder, if needed, overtop. That said, I think you'll be surprised at the amount of coverage this has, and how little of the other products you'll need to use afterward.

The third picture is with my full makeup applied on top, to test whether it would wear as a regular primer would. And it did. I applied my Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation with a moist sponge (which would normally give me negligible coverage), misted down my face with a floral water, then dabbed some Maybelline Dream Lumi Highlighting Concealer under my eyes, a bit of Nars Light Reflecting Powder, and that was it for the face.

I am incredibly impressed with this product, even though I really don't understand how it works. So in the long tradition of humans before me, I'm going to ascribe its wondrous properties to the dark arts, and call it a day.

Availability: Should be showing up very soon (possibly now) at your local drugstore, with a suggested retail price of 16.99$, though of course that can vary with vendor and promotion.

(Item was sent by the brand/PR to be considered for review. Opinions are my own, and I am not compensated.)

Cover Girl TruMagic The Perfector, TruMagic The Sunkisser and TruMagic The Luminizer

One of the more interesting recent launches from Cover Girl is their set of three products in the TruMagic line-up (which debuted alongside their re-formulated and expanded TruBlend base range). This line features a "skin perfector", a bronzer and a luminizer, all in silicone-cream formulation.

I'm always pleased to see drugstore lines getting more experimental with their products and formulations. The concept for the skin perfector is not unique or original to Cover Girl, of course, (Mally has had something similar out for a while, and Stila came out with their own version this past year) but it's refreshing to see a brand branch out.

The question is - were they a worthy addition?

TruMagic The Perfector 

This is the one I was most intrigued by, since I had been lemming the Mally version for over a year. Essentially a silicone product in balm form, it can apparently be used alone as a mattifier, under foundation as a primer, over foundation as a finishing step, or throughout the day to refresh the look.

I was really eager to receive this, and imagined I would have a few days of testing and get a review up shortly. In reality, I found myself testing and using this over a few weeks, loving it and being bemused by it in equal measures.

The biggest win for me is using it as a mattifier. I love, love, LOVE how quickly and easily this provides a shine-free finish to my skin, without adding an ounce of weight or any added texture or cakiness. The key is to not use too much, just dabbing the provided sponge into the product and lightly dab/rolling it over the skin. This is especially important when applied overtop foundation or powder, as using too much product or a rubbing motion will only succeed in eroding the makeup. I made that mistake several times, with rather disastrous results.  Applied with a light hand, it is absolutely fantastic. (And is a great option if you don't love the look or feel of powder.)

Another great benefit is the way this blurs minor imperfections, like dilated pores and fine lines. It's not going to fill in wrinkles or make major dents vanish, but it does wonders for making the skin look fresher and smoother.

Below is a before and after of my forehead (that is the area with the most noticeable shine at the end of the day). In the before shot I am wearing a BB cream and powder, applied 15 hours earlier.

Pretty good!

It does fumble for me as a primer, however. It has an instantly smooth, silk-like finish, which would seem ideal as a base. In practice, I just couldn't get my foundations to blend over it without some patchiness and flaking. I tried applying more or less, and it just didn't seem to work too well. I think because of its mattifying function, it just exacerbates my dry areas, which become amplified once foundation is applied overtop. If you have no dryness at all, this might work a lot better for you.

Another thing to note - after using it almost daily for two weeks and intermittently for a couple more (so let's say about 20 uses), I've already hit pan! That is really, really unusual for me. I don't think I'm being especially heavy-handed when applying it, so I have to assume there just isn't a ton of product in here, at least not for the kind of application that would be the norm.

TruMagic The Sunkisser

I honestly had no expectations for this, and was very pleasantly surprised. It has the same silcicone/balm formulation and silky, seamless texture as The Perfector, and applies beautifully over bare skin or foundation. It's not a cream, so there's no dewiness or drag, and it's not a powder, so you don't have to worry about blending out edges.

The shade is a little too warm for me to use as a contour, but it's awesome for adding a layer of warmth and a true tan finish. It can be applied with the sponge provided, but I actually preferred using a synthetic buffing brush to hit the perimeter of my face and a bit over my cheeks for a really natural, bronzed effect. It blends out so easily, making it virtually goof-proof. Although it's not in any way a dupe for the Soleil Tan de Chanel, it's a nice, budget friendly way of trying out that kind of product. I found it lasted well throughout the day as well.

Really, really like this one. My surprise favourite out of the three.

TruMagic The Luminzer

I'll say right off that this guy probably isn't for me, at least not used conventionally. Same formulation and feel as the previous two, though this one is a slightly gold-toned clear base loaded with a ton of gold micro-glitter. And I do mean glitter, not shimmer. This is not a subtle highlight by any means. For clubbing, or a stronger look, however, it might be just right, and it does share the convenience of application with The Sunkisser - it can be dabbed on over makeup without adding weight or disrupting the finish underneath. For the right look, and especially over deeper skin tones, it can be fun. On fair to medium skin, the gold tone can come across a little yellow, however.

Alternatively, I do like dabbing it on the eyelid as a finishing touch for an extra bit of sparkle. A nice advantage is that the glitter stays put.

Left to right: TruMagic The Luminizer, TruMagic The Sunkisser swatches heavily and blended in.

Have you guys given these a try yet? What do you think?

Availability: At all major drugstores and select grocery stores, as well as Wal-Mart and Target. Also at well.ca. Prices vary, but 9$ to 12$ CAD is about average.

(These items were provided by the brand/PR to be considered for review. I am a #BeautyUnited blogger. As part of my affiliation with this group, I receive products and special access to P&G events. The opinions on this blog are my own.)

Benefit POREfessional and POREfessional Agent Zero Shine

I have pores. Everyone does, obviously, but some folks are more "blessed" than others. Mine aren't huge craters worthy of expeditions, but they're certainly more present than I'd like them to be, courtesy of teen acne and oil production that went into overdrive.

Enter Benefit's POREfessional. Once limited to a primer (or balm, as Benefit calls it) that promised to minimize the appearance of said pores, it is now joined by a shine reducing powder, the POREfessional Agent Zero Shine.

Like all things Benefit, these guys nail the kitschy-cute factor. (Whether that's an appealing aesthetic is, well, up to you.) What's more impressive is that the design for the POREfessional Agent Zero Shine is as clever and practical as it is adorable.

This is a loose powder packaged in a shaker-like tube, with a cap on the top and a hidden compartment on the bottom for a travel-sized kabuki brush. The top cap comes off to reveal the shaker perforations, which can be opened or closed with a twist.

As someone who prefers loose powder to pressed (less binders and oils being added to your face = less caking), I love the fact that this is a travel-friendly version. I don't have to worry about spills at all. The brush is a nice add-on, though I do find that's both a little small and a bit stiff to be a true replacement for a good powder brush. That said, it's a great thing to have when you need it, far more useful and ergonomic than the vast majority of brushes included with compacts.

In terms of performance, the POREfessional Agent Zero Shine takes the the promise of no-shine seriously. I took this powder with me to Barbados during my recent vacation and, let me tell you, I was more than impressed by how well it held up to the heat and humidity. When all the other ladies were forgoing face stuff for fear of the inevitable melt-down, I was gleefully spackle-ing myself like cheap drywall. My skin looked matte for a couple of hours after application, progressively taking on a satin finish as the sultry night went on. My makeup stayed intact throughout.

The texture is fine, lightweight and dry, making it a really great mattifying powder indeed. It doesn't cake up, and because it's a loose powder you can re-apply without it building up. The texture may be a too drying for some skin types, but I didn't notice this calling attention to my fine lines. I used it to set my concealer under my eyes, and it worked perfectly, without emphasizing any creasing.

It comes out as a light yellow powder, but it blends out without any perceptible tint on the skin - at least on my light-to-medium skin tone.

Now...what about those pesky pores? The back of the bottle indicates that this "pore perfecting" but truthfully I didn't notice a major difference in terms of minimizing the look of pores. Unlike some powders that boast a blurring effect, I think this one's strength really lies in its oil-control capacity. (Though presumably pores that aren't producing as much oil will also look less dilated.)

The POREfessional primer, on the other hand, works specifically at smoothing the appearance of pores. A beige-tinted silicone cream with an immediate silky-powdery dry down, it smooths the surface of the skin quite efficiently. I don't personally love it on areas that are showing age (I prefer a more hydrating primer with a lot of slip, designed for mature skin), but in the t-zone it's perfect. It fills in pores and creates a more matte surface, and helps foundation adhere and last better.

Availability: At Sephora, as well as select Murale and Pharmaprix locations. Price is 36$ CAD for each.

(These items were provided by the brand/PR to be considered for review. This post is not sponsored or compensated. All opinions are my own.)

Clarins Opalescence Spring 2014 - Blush, Lipstick, Eyeshadow, Base

The Clarins Opalescence Collection is probably one of the most delicately beautiful Spring 2014 collections out there. I am coveting the limited edition eye and face palettes with the passion of a thousand suns, and I will pick them up as soon as I can spot them.

The collection also features some new additions to the permanent line-up, as well as some all new products. They are as delightfully spring-like as the limited edition items in the collection, and while I did have a chance to test them out before my holidays down south, they are an even more welcome respite from the horrifying winter now that I am back.

The Multi-Blush Cream Blush is a cream-to-powder formula that contains a mix of Rose, Mimosa and Sunflower waxes to keep skin hydrated, and a "Light Optimizing Complex" to boost radiance.

Clarins Multi-Blush in 04 Rosewood

The Multi-Blush actually reminds me a lot of the Chanel cream blushes, with that ultra-lightweight texture, and non-powdery "powder" finish that resists looking too matte. (The Chanel is a touch creamier in the pan, and the Clarins goes one more sheerly.)

I wouldn't say the finish is radiant, but it looks very, very natural. As you can see from the swatches below, it blends beautifully into the skin, leaving behind no edges or discernible texture. I do find that it dries quickly, so while most cream blushes do very well when applied with fingers, this one definitely benefits from application and blending with a small, dense but fluffy brush, like the Real Techniques Contour Brush, or the MUFE 152 Medium Highlighter Brush.

It has an airy quality that makes it easy to sheer out for a delicate flush, but it can also be built up. Wear time is ok - about 5-6 hours before I noticed fading - but will need a touch-up if you want it to carry through the day. What's nice is that it doesn't seem to suffer when re-applied over powder product.

There are 4 shades available:

• 01 Peach 
• 02 Candy 
• 03 Grenadine 
• 04 Rosewood

I received it in the shade Rosewood, which is a lovely, slightly dusty rose that should suit most fair-to-medium complexions. It's a softly romantic, pretty shade that's perfect for spring. (I'll have to pick up the coral-leaning Candy for summer!)

Clarins Multi-Blush in 04 Rosewood - heavy and blended out

There are also three new additions to the Joli Rouge Perfect Shine Sheer Lipstick range:

• 19 Tropical Pink 
• 20 Coral Tulip 
• 21 Pink Orchid

These are meant to have a shiny, transparent finish, and a hydrating formula. I personally find them moisturizing, though with a thinner texture than most gloss/lipstick hybrids. The finish is translucent, but there is still enough pigment to markedly alter the colour of my lips - sort of a stained glass or cellophane effect.

The bullet is a weighty silver metal with an oval shape - which means precisely nothing, but I do appreciate the small ways in which a brand chooses to distinguish themselves from the pack. Like most Clarins lipsticks, it smells sweetly fruity, and not in a light handed way.

Clarins Joli Rouge Perfect Shine Sheer Lipstick in 21 Pink Orchid

I received the shade Pink Orchid, which is a shimmery warm pink, just this side of watermelon. It's fresh, juicy and spring/summer perfection.

Clarins Joli Rouge Perfect Shine Sheer Lipstick in 21 Pink Orchid

Clarins Joli Rouge Perfect Shine Sheer Lipstick in 21 Pink Orchid

If you've followed this blog, you know that I've bemoaned the reformulation of the Clarins single eyeshadows. The older version are deeply pigmented and buttery smooth. The new Ombre Minérale are a wet and dry formula, which didn't impress me upon initial swatting when it first debuted. I don't know if they've since tweaked the formula, or if this new shade somehow different (or my expectations have changed in the last year), but I actually really, really love this Ombre Minérale.

Applied dry, it is indeed sheerer, but it's not as dry as I remembered. It has a soft but dense, slightly creamy feel (though not as buttery smooth as the previous incarnation). The pigmentation is reasonable, and it blends very well, though I had to be careful with some shimmer fall-out. Applied wet, however, it was perfectly lovely. The payoff was stronger, and the shimmer took on a more metallic cast - and stayed in place without any problems. I'll stand corrected on this one. It might not be true love, but I can appreciate the flexibility a dual formula like this can offer.

The two new shades are:

• 17 Smoky Plum (Vibrant Light on the US site, for some reason)
• 04 Golden Rose

Clarins Ombre Minérale in 17 Smoky Plum

I received the shade Smoky Plum, which is very aptly named. It's a plummy silver-taupe (AKA The Most Perfect Colour Ever), with a ton of shimmer. Beautiful as soft wash (wear primer to control the fallout) or as part of a metallic smoky eye.

Clarins Ombre Minérale in 17 Smoky Plum

The last all-new item is the Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base. This promises to smooth, correct and illuminate the complexion with Katafray Bark extract and a a "High-Lumitech" Complex.

I don't know about complexes, Lumitech or otherwise, but this is essentially an ultra-smooth primer with a veil of colour-toning pigment and a demi-matte, naturally-luminous finish. It can be used under makeup as a primer, or by itself if you're one of the blessed few that don't need much in the way of face magic. It's not particularly hydrating by itself, though it does give a bit more of a boost than most regular primers.

The colour looks a little distressing when pumped out of the tube, but the texture is fine and applies very sheer. It's enough to blur certain tones while boosting others, but not enough to turn your face into, say, a pumpkin. (Which I may, perhaps, have been worried about when I saw the orange-peach blob I pumped out.) The texture and finish actually reminds me a bit of the CLarins BB Cream, albeit lighter and more liquid. It has that lightweight texture that disappears right into the skin (thanks, silicone!), leaving it simultaneously matte and radiant. It doesn't have any overt shimmer, so I don't know how it manages this feat. (I suspect witchcraft.)

It can be smoothed on with fingers or a foundation brush, all over the face or just in areas where the colour-toning action will be most beneficial. (Personally, I like applying it with the Glamcor Contour Brush.)

It comes in three shades, each meant to address a different concern and/or skin tone:

• 01 Rose – gives maximum radiance to all skin tones 
• 02 Champagne – corrects redness in fair complexions 
• 03 Peach – revives the radiance of tanned complexions

Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base in 03 Peach

Mine came in Peach, which, again, looked alarming to my hibernating paleness. Buffed in, however, it looked more warming than orange, and could conceivable be a good base for those of you who like to self-tan your body but not your face. If you have a medium, tan or olive complexion, however, this might be perfect. I suspect it would provide an especially nice boost if you tend to look more sallow and tired in the winter.

Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base in 03 Peach: buffed in, lightly blended, dollop

All in all, I'm quite pleased/impressed with these items from the Clarins Opalescence Collection. I can see myself getting a couple of the blushes, and I'd love to try the base in Champagne. Hopefully I'll have a chance to pick up the palettes as well, because Clarins does amazing blush/face palettes every year.
ence
What about you guys? Have you nabbed anything from this collection yet? Are there any other Spring items that you're already loving?

Availability: Mostly up on www.thebay.com and at The Bay, and in select Pharmaprix and Murale locations. Blushes are 30$ CAD, lipsticks are 27$ CAD, eyeshadows are 22$ CAD, bases are 37$ CAD.

(These items were provided by the brand/PR to be considered for review. This post is not sponsored or compensated. All opinions are my own.)

Annabelle CC Colour Control Instant Perfecting Base and Pressed Powder

If you thought BB creams were a craze, just wait for the storm of CC creams to flood the market. Promising to deliver all the skincare benefits in a lighter finish formula, plus colour correcting properties, they're set to become the summer's biggest thing.

I admit to being late to the BB party, but most of the ones I have sampled have ranged from good to absolutely terrific, so I was very eager to try the next step forward in the skincare/makeup hybrid evolution. Luckily, I was offered a chance to test the CC Colour Control Instant Perfecting Base from Annabelle Cosmetics - a drugstore option for those looking to dip their toes into a new product type, without sacrificing their wallets for the privilege of being an early adopter.

I have to say I was fairly confused by the product at first. With the words "colour correcting" in the name, I assumed a CC cream would actually have more coverage than a BB might offer. Since the North American versions of BB creams tend to have coverage equivalent to a tinted moisturizer, I assumed a CC cream would be akin to a medium level foundation, if not more. Sort of a concealer, in a featherweight formula. After consulting with my contact at Annabelle, and reading up online, I realized I was expecting the wrong thing - the purpose of a CC cream is not to offer coverage, per se, but to correct the overall tone and texture of the skin. The effect is meant to be both immediate and long-term with consistent use. The Annabelle CC Base in particular is meant to neutralize redness and the look of a dull and uneven complexion, reduce the appearance of pores and fine lines, and act as a primer for makeup.

My experience is that it does most of this very well. I do have a significant amount of redness in my cheeks, and I felt like this did not mute that colour as much as I would prefer, at least not in comparison to the Marcelle BB cream that I reviewed previously. For me personally, I need more coverage than the neutralizing effect offers. That said, there was an overall diffusing effect that smoothed and brightened my complexion, and visibly improved the tone of the skin. I think if you have significant discolouration you will probably need to reach for some kind of concealing product as well, but this does create the look of more even skin. And while it has a slight tint, there is no perceptible pigment left on the skin, which means that it is truly universal. I found it helpful to think of the difference between staining a fence and painting it. One changes the overall tone and texture while allowing the natural grain and base shade to show through, while the other covers the latter to a significant degree.

Below is a swatch of the Base unblended, and then blended into the skin.

It has a very lightweight texture that disappears into the skin - there's no heavy, overly slick or faux-powdery silicone feel, just silky-smooth skin. My pores and fine lines were indeed blurred, and overt shine was taken down a notch without creating an overly matte finish. I do recommend making sure skin is exfoliated, because dry, flaky patches will get picked up. This was lovely primer under makeup, keeping my foundation from seeping into my pores as the day passed. I also liked that it didn't interfere with the satin finish I prefer for my foundation.

What I did find odd is that there is no sunscreen. Something claiming to correct skin colour falls a little short for me if it doesn't address the primary cause of unevenness in skin texture and tone.

I also had the chance to test the matching CC Colour Control Pressed Powder, which carries similar claims for neutralizing redness and dull skin, while caring for skin with antioxidants and vitamin E. The coverage is light and the finish is demi-matte - it takes down shine, but allows the skin to retain some natural luminosity. I believe the white strip actually has a very faint sheen that helps to maintain some of that glow. The powder itself is smooth and finely milled, and blends well into the skin. It can be worn by itself for some shine-control and light blurring, over the Base for a finished look with natural coverage, or to set your regular foundation without having an over-powdered look.

 Below is a swatch of the base colour and the white stripe, and then the two blended together.

Availability: At most drugstores, including Pharmaprix/SDM and Jean Coutu. Prices vary, about 15-18$.

Pros: Base has a lightweight texture, diffusing effect on skin texture and tone,  and is a nice primer, particularly for preventing seeping into pores. Overall, this works more like a primer-with-benefits than anything else. Powder has a fine texture and a finish that controls shine and looks natural.

Cons: Some confusion over what the "colour correcting" function is - if you are expecting significant reduction in skin discolouration or redness, this will not match up to your needs. Dry patches need to be prepped or they will be emphasized. Lack of sunscreen in both products.

(The items were sent to me by the brand to consider for review. This post is not sponsored or compensated.)

Marcelle BB Cream

Bb creams. We've all heard the criticism by now: the Western versions are but sad bastardizations of the Asian original, and not worth the hoopla. Fair point, and I do think it odd to use the same name for something that is qualitatively different. The thing is, it's only smart to adapt a product to the target market, and I don't know how well the "real" deal would play to a demographic that demands invisible finish and a range of perfect skintone options. Somehow I don't see a product with a generally thick texture and extremely limited shade options being terribly successful.

That said, I've been disappointed by BB creams that are really nothing more than repackaged tinted moisturizers. Not that those are bad products in and of themselves, just that with the immediate buzz a new product garners, I wish more brands would try their hand at creating something truly new and unique.

Like Marcelle did, with their Beauty Balm.

Not the usual background, because it's hella difficult to photograph white on white.

This is not a lightweight foundation, or a tinted moisturizer. It's a...tinted primer? Sort of? Make-your-skin-better cream thingie? I'm not entirely sure how to describe it, though I suppose the "skin enhancer" Marcelle calls it is spot-on.

In shade Light to Medium.

This will not cover a lot of skin sins - some redness, mild pigmentation, but not significant discolouration. What it will do is something akin to light photoshop blurring. Light will hit your face and bounce drunkenly away, diffusing those imperfections in its path. This only comes in three shades so far, but due to the sheerness, it should match up unless you fall into the very pale and deep range. (I'm perfect with the Light to Medium shade.)

The texture is creamy but lightweight, with a liquidy but slippy silicone feel. It applies best when massaged into the skin with your hands, not so much with brushes. Unlike a lot of other BB creams on the market, this doesn't feel greasy or moist at all - it dries quickly to a nearly matte finish that still allows for some natural radiance. It can be layered lightly for some extra coverage, but I wouldn't overdo it or it can start looking patchy.

It does appear to have some primer-like qualities, and if you wish you can layer on your foundation overtop. I found the best combination was actually with a powder foundation, like MAC Skinfinish or Cargo Blu-Ray.

Below is a before and after comparison on freshly washed and moisturized skin.

  

And on a different day, in different lighting.

The after picture is just the Marcelle BB on the skin, with the Guerlain Turandot palette, Lancome Definicils mascara and Tarte SmolderEyes in Gunmetal used on the eyes, and Burberry Antique Rose on the lips.

Overall, I like this for my no-fuss days.

And of course, the Instagram version. ;)

Availaibility: At Jean Coutu and Pharmaprix locations, as well as the Marcelle website (which does ship to the US). Price is 22.95$ CAD.

Pros: Very lightweight, matte finish that doesn't look dry, diffuses minor imperfections and fakes the look of better skin without adding visible texture. Can be layered with other base products for increased coverage.

Cons: Won't cover anything substantially, if that is what you need. Dry skin may not like the finish.

(I purchased this item from Pharmaprix.)

Clarins Warehouse Sale

In the post previous to this I mentioned the Clarins warehouse sale that just passed. This was my first time going to this event, and my general impressions are mixed. I would consider it comparable to the l'Oréal sale versus the Lise Watier sale, in that the selection is very hit-and-miss - they seem to have mostly skincare and perfumes, especially sets, and very little makeup aside from recently discontinued products and past limited editions (and very, very few of the latter). I went on the FnF day before the general public days, so I imagine the selection just got worse, as the employees told me they did not restock. The lines were long but not unbearable - about 30 minutes or so.

That said, there were a few nice finds, and the prices were generally very good, between 50% to 75% off retail. I will definitely go next time, mostly because a Clarins SA recently told me that the mono eyeshadows are being discontinued this fall (SOB!) and I want to load up if they end up at the sale.

I'm putting up some pictures of my haul with price points, as well as a few quick and dirty swatches for some of the items, to give you an idea if this might be worth your time.

So. The makeup selection was paltry, but they did have all of their glosses in the old packaging. They're terrific, so I grabbed a few. Their current in-store versions are 20$ CAD, and these were 8$.

Left to right: Colour Quench Lip Balm in #15, #13, #2, #17

They only had a couple of LE palettes, including the Smoky Passion quartet that Rae from the Notice has blogged about. (I haven't had the time to swatch these yet.) Their palettes are usually around 42$ CAD. This was 13$.

Smokey Passion Eye Quartet Mineral Palette #07

They didn't have much in the way of staples, but they did have the Instant Smooth Line Correcting Concentrate, which was recently featured in a Pixiwoo video, so I pounced on that. As far as I can figure, it seems to be a line-and-pore filling wonder product. I'm very curious to try it.

A powder came along for the ride. Both are normally 32$ CAD, and were 13$ at the sale.

Poudre Douceur in 20 Natural beige, Instant Smooth Line Correcting Concentrate.

Then there was the Anna Sui makeup! I was not expecting that, so I was quite excited. I only walked out with a small sampling though. I have no idea what the retail prices for these items are, but the gloss and eyeshadow were 8$, while the polish was 5$.

Lip Gloss #603, Eye Accent #103, Nail Color N #305

And my surprise love from the sale, the Van Cleef & Arpels Collection Extraordinaire perfume in Lys Carmin. This is GORGEOUS. An intensely pretty lily/carnation, and I really regret not getting her Iris and Gardenia sisters. Retails for 185$ USD. It was 70$ CAD at the sale. 

Yeah, that's right. WIN.

So do did any of my fellow Montrealers attend the sale? If so, what did you snag?