The Estee Lauder Double Wear line is makeup that's meant to last a long time, and there are some real winners. The regular Double Wear foundation is Estee Lauder's best-selling, and I love their new mascara.
And now there's a new great product that I absolutely love, and wear all the time: Double Wear Light Foundation.
It's got the coverage of a tinted moisturizer (meaning sheer to light) but it goes one step further: it stays on all day! Even if you have oily skin, you'll see that this does not break down or turn orange on the skin. It just wears and wears. Also, you don't need to apply powder on top of it because it sets to a matte finish, and you can almost look like you're not wearing foundation at all.
If you have normal to dry skin, I would definitely recommend moisturizing beforehand so that it doesn't stick to any dry spots. This foundation is going to be especially useful in the hot and humid summer months.
If you want it, head to your Estee Lauder counter soon, because it's been selling quick!
You may also be interested in the whole review of a gamut of tinted moisturizers that I've tried, and the review of the Estee Lauder Double Wear Powder Foundation and Estee Lauder Double Wear Eyeshadow Base.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
New! Estee Lauder Double Wear Light
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
The Search is Over
If you've visited Canadian Beauty over the last week, you know that I've been working on a project - the tinted moisturizer search. I went out and tried to sample as many different brands as I could, making sure to at least cover a couple that are easily available and a couple that are known to be cult favorites. The tinted moisturizers I tested were:
It's so difficult to pick a favorite because they were all good products! The ones I didn't like as much, however were the tinted moisturizers that felt as if they were just light foundations.
The MAC Select Tint, and the Duwop Revolotion Face definitely felt the heaviest to me so I would recommend them if you were looking for something with a little more coverage. The La Mer tinted moisturizer was the lightest in both feel and colour - it was truly a tint for your skin rather than something that one would use to cover slight imperfections. The MD Skincare tinted moisturizer was a good one, but I felt that the colour match was still too "off" for me to really love it. Though I said that I got used to the colour by the end of the day, I'm still not sold on the product. As for Stila - too moisturizing and not great coverage. Laura Mercier? Great product, fabulous colours but just too moisturizing for me. I may try the oil-free version some time in the future to see how that one compares so look for an update on that.
Best of the Bunch:
That leaves Lancome Aqua Fusion Teinte and Clinique Moisture Sheer Tint. Both were great products! I really felt that they both struck just the right balance when it came to moisturizing your skin yet still offering a bit of light coverage. Unfortunately both of these are also offered in only three colours which means that very dark skins will likely be excluded. Still, if you can find a shade that blends into your skin seamlessly, I'd definitely recommend getting one of these. They offer light moisturization and both include in SPF factor so that there's less of a chance of burning in the sun.
Final thoughts on the tinted moisturizer project:
I have to say that I'm very impressed with all the cosmetic companies whose products I tried over the last week. Without fail, each and every one included in SPF in their moisturizers so that their customers would truly be able to multi-task, which is the whole point of using tinted moisturizer in the first place!
Secondly, it was also great to see that there are options for those with dark skin tones! If you have a hard time finding a foundation or even concealer in your own colour, make sure you check out the MAC, Laura Mercier, and Stila counters since they do have very dark options in their tinted moisturizers so they have not forgotten about that whole demographic.
I hope you all enjoyed this project as much as I did! Feel free to let me know which tinted moisturizer you'll want to pick up and what you thought of the project.
Also, remember that today marks the official launch of L'Oreal Fashion Week, and Canadian Beauty will be there to give you the scoop on what the hottest looks from the runway are. Stay tuned!
Monday, March 12, 2007
La Mer SPF 18 Fluid Tint
Could it be that after reviewing a slew of amazing products, it was inevitable that I would be disappointed to the tinted moisturizer that I was most looking forward to reviewing?
It's not that this is a bad product - not at all. This tint was the sheerest of the tinted moisturizers I tried and had a hint of colour but hardly any coverage. It really is a tint. The moisturization was nice but not heavy which may be a good thing if you're looking for something basic. I was surprised that this had an SPF of 18 because it felt like nothing going on, though I did have to wait for it to soak into my skin. Once on, however, this tinted moisturizer looked pretty natural, though I had to make sure that I had blended it into my skin very well.
The three colours offered are decent with there being a large difference between the "medium" and the "dark." which means that someone is going to get left out when looking for a colour match. Still, if you believe in the quality of La Mer products, then you'll probably love this foundation too.
Final Verdict: Very light with a hint of tint and almost no coverage. This is for those of you who insist on wearing a tinted moisturizer when you really don't need it. It would also be a great product for evening out your skin if you have patches that are slightly lighter or darker since this will add colour without obvious coverage.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15
What's great about the Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer is that it comes in 10 colours so if you've had a hard time finding a match for your skin colour, this is a brand to go to. Stila is already known for its great neutral foundation colours and the tinted moisturizer certainly does not disappoint in this category.
Though this one went on sheer like the MD Skincare and Clinique Tints that came before, but it packed more of a punch when it came to moisturization. Just a tip: when you first spread it on, it looks a little white. Wait a minute and then rub it into your skin. You'll notice that the whiteness fades and the colour starts to come through.
This moisturizer gives more of a glow to your skin rather than a matte finish and is also long lasting. Like all the other tinted moisturizers I've reviewed, this one also has an SPF which means that it's great for those of us who would like to multitask.
Final Verdict: Stila is the counter to go to when you're looking for good matches for darker skin. Not only do they even offer a great range of colours, but those colours are neutral and match the skin perfectly. If you want a tinted moisturizer that's sheer but still moisturizing, the Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer may be for you.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Clinique Moisture Sheer Tint
Because it's such a popular brand, the Clinique
Moisture Sheer Tint is probably one of the easiest to find so I was looking forward to trying it.
Let me begin by saying that once upon a time, I went to the Clinique counter and asked them to match me with a foundation (they were having a foundation event going on). Of all the different formulations that Clinique carries, the makeup artist was unable to find a single colour that matched my skin perfectly. I was surprised that such a large company that offered foundation in so many different colours still had nothing at all to offer me.
That said, Moisture Sheer Tint comes in 4 colours. The colour I tried didn't match my skin tone perfectly, like the MD Skincare one I reviewed, but I kept it on anyway and found that later on in the day I got used to the shade. I've decided that this is not a good thing and it may be the reason that some women are completely oblivious to the fact that they're wearing the wrong shade of foundation. They pick up the closest match thinking "good enough" and walk around with obvious mask-like coverage.
Still, I don't think that my face looked obviously like it had foundation on. I'm not sure what to think. Am I one of those women when I wear mismatching foundation? I don't think I am. Proof is that I went past a makeup counter the day I was wearing this tinted moisturizer and something compelled me to try a new foundation. I sat down in the chair and waited for the makeup artist to wipe my skin clean first. She didn't. She thought that I wasn't wearing anything at all. After gently informing her that yes, I was in fact already wearing a tinted moisturizer, I decided not to try the foundation after all and stuck with the Clinique Moisture Sheer Tint.
I think that says something about the calibre of this tinted moisturizer - it's a good one. The product is sheer in both colour and moisturization which makes it another excellent option for those with oily skin. I hardly used any powder with this tinted moisturizer and I found that its coverage lasted well throughout the day. My skin looked natural and I was happy to be sporting SPF 15 as well. Even after working out, I saw that my skin looked fresh and clean without much oil making its way to the surface.
Final verdict: I was very happy with the Clinique Moisture Sheer Tint. It is another great option for oilier skins with nice natural look and finish that's hard to beat.
Friday, March 9, 2007
MD Skincare All In One Tinted Moisturizer
Oily-skinned beauties, this one's for you.
I wouldn't have thought that MD Skincare would have a tinted moisturizer, but there it was on the shelf, whispering "try me!" So I picked up the All-in-One Tinted Moisturizer and gave it a test run. I was surprised to see that it was offered in six colours - that's pretty extensive for a skincare company. It meant that I was able to find a colour that was close to my skin tone and perhaps you will too.
When I put it on my skin, though, I was disappointed to see that the tint had a pinkish tone to it. It wasn't at all with the golden undertone I expected. I put this on my skin and very nearly washed it right off, because I didn't think it was a great match. Then, in the name of Canadian Beauty I kept it on.
I'm glad I did.
As the day wore on, I realized that the tint wasn't so pink. It faded a little throughout the day and started to look natural on my skin. I think that it was also partly that I got used to the colour and liked how my skin looked. The finish was quite matte and natural looking contrary to the more glowy finishes that some of the other tinted moisturizers have given me. Moreover, though my day was quite busy, my skin remained oil-free and fresh looking throughout the day.
This tinted moisturizer has a real tint rather than sheer coverage. It goes on smooth and cool like a light moisturizer and feels like nothing on the skin. I don't think that it would be moisturizing enough for those with dry skin. If you have dry patches, you may need to use another moisturizer underneath this tint. It also has SPF 15 and combined with the longevity of the finish, this is one that's great for when you're spending a lot of time out doors.
Final Verdict: If you have combination or oily skin, you're going to love the MD Skincare All-In-One Tinted Moisturizer - provided you can find a shade that matches your skin tone perfectly.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Lancome Aqua Fusion Teinte
Next on the list was Lancome's Aqua Fusion Teinte. Now, I'm already a huge fan of Lancome's Aqua Fusion Cream which offers lightweight moisturization that really works. This tint follows in the cream's footsteps. It's super-lightweight which means that it feels like nothing on. It spreads easily on the skin and sinks in quickly.
Coverage, on the other hand, is decent yet sheer. Though the tinted moisturizer is SPF 15, it doesn't feel heavy or leave a whitish cast to the skin. It also has the same refreshing smell as the regular Aqua Fusion moisturizer but it's light and fades quickly so it's not something that you're stuck with for the whole day.
Overall, I liked this tinted moisturizer a lot - I'd even say that I liked it as much as the Laura Mercier one I tried before. It lasts all day and adheres to the skin nicely. The only thing that isn't great is that it only comes in three colours and medium skin tones will probably use the darkest one. Still, the colours offered are neutral and natural looking which means that they blend into the skin seamlessly. Deciding between this foundation and the Laura Mercier one is probably just a matter of personal choice, though the Laura Mercier one is slightly more moisturizing so how oily your skin is will probably sway your decision.
Final Verdict: An excellent choice if you have oily or combination skin, and if your skin tone matches one of the three shades offered.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer
This moisturizer picks up where all the others left off. While some felt too heavy or too much like actual foundations, the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer literally melted into my skin when I was putting it on. The texture was that soft. The other thing that this tint has going for it is that it's offered in many colours and they are all very skin-true shades - a definite bonus if you've had trouble finding one to match your skin. The colour match that I had was a little off but it blended into my skin so nicely that it was hard to notice. My face still looked flawless and healthy.
As for moisturization, just because this tint feels sheer and light doesn't mean that it's not powerful too. The moisturization is there and feels weightless on. I would say that this would be a great moisturizer to use for winter weather even though it does have an SPF of 20. Only very dry skins might want to moisturize underneath too but those with normal to oily skins will likely find that unnecessary.
The moisturizer lasted the whole day and looked great as the day wore on. I sort of didn't want to wash this off at the end of the day because my skin still looked so fantastic.
Final Verdict: So far, the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer is the one I like the best. It goes on so nicely and you forget that you're even wearing it which is exactly what happens with real moisturizer.
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Duwop Revolotion Face
The second tinted moisturizer I tried was the much-talked about Duwop Revolution Face. This one comes in four colours and the last one is a dark tan which means that darker skin tones have an option too! The moisturizer also has an SPF of 15 which makes it a great multi-tasker.
Straight out of the bottle, the moisturizer is a little thick but warms up as you're spreading it on. It spreads easily and goes on nicely. Though it feels sheer as you're applying it, there is some colour there, so you notice imperfections being blurred out. Where the MAC Select Tint actually felt like a foundation, this tinted moisturizer feels like more of a heavy moisturizer.
After putting it on, my skin was immediately "glowy" which was in part due to the slight amount of shimmer, but mostly because of the heavy moisturizer that was added to my face. Throughout the day, the moisturizer wore well, but my face just kept getting shiny and I blotted several times with powder. At the end of the day, I sort of couldn't wait to wash this stuff off my face. It was just too heavy. It was way too moisturizing even for this winter weather.
The colours offered are great - they are skin-true shades and blend into your natural skin tone nicely. The two darker colours are especially good because they are tan without being yellow or orange based. They look very natural which is great coming from a company that doesn't really do foundation.
Final Verdict: As a tinted moisturizer Duwop Revolotion Face is best suited for someone with dry or very dry skin since it does moisturize to a high degree. I would also say that this is a true tinted moisturizer - it adds a tint and moisturizer yet does not cross into the foundation category.
Monday, March 5, 2007
MAC Select Tint
MAC Select Tint is what I tried first - this tinted moisturizer picks up where some other brands leave off since it is offered in so many colours. Like the rest of the MAC line, the shades are spot on and since this is a sheer tint, it's easy to find one that works.
If I had a bone to pick with this tinted moisturizer it would be that it's more tint and less moisture, meaning that it has more pigment in it than I thought it would. It's not sheer coverage - it's more light or medium-light.
Still, this product is nice because it goes on smoothly and helps even out your skin tone. I also like the bottle - you can get out as much as you need from the spout and the bottle itself is a generous size. The bottle could easily last a whole year since a little goes a long way. Also the addition of SPF 15 is a nice touch and though it does have sunscreen in it, the moisturizer does not feel heavy on the way that sunscreen sometimes can. Select Tint would work well for a variety of skin types but oilier skins will have to blot throughout the day or use a powder to set.
Final verdict: I like it but it's too heavy to be called a tinted moisturizer. Think of MAC Select Tint as more of a light moisturizing foundation.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Project!
I'm a girl who loves tinted moisturizer, and really, what's not to love? It evens out your skin tone without mask-like coverage. In the summer, you use make sure it has an SPF so that you don't need to use sunscreen, and in the winter you can choose one that's extra moisturizing to protect against flaking skin. But of all the tinted moisturizers out there, which one will I like the best?
Objective: To test drive a different tinted moisturizer for every day of the week. Reviews will be posted the following day. Luckily, there aren't a whole lot of tinted moisturizers out there to choose from. Rest assured, I'm pretty sure I'll find one I like.
Foreseeable Obstacles: Many companies make tinted moisturizers in only three colours - luckily since these colours are so sheer, and since my skin tone isn't extremely dark or extremely light, I'll still be able to find a colour that fits my skin. Why companies make so few shades is absolutely beyond me. Tinted moisturizer is something we all need!
Also, Lorac has come out with a new tinted moisturizer but it has yet to hit the shelves here in Canada, so I might have to just post an update when it is available.
Stay tuned. Reviews start on Monday.
