Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Sponge-On Foundation

I have been searching for a new foundation because my old ones just don't do it for me anymore, as you get older less is more but I still need good coverage to cover redness caused by my LUPUS.

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I recently purchased this Elizabeth Arden foundation in Vanilla online.  I applied it dry, directly from the sponge included and I didn't like it.  It was thick, went on cakey, collected in my pores and creases and looked patchy and greasy after a while.  I though Sheesh I just wasted 50 bucks!! Shoved it in the TOO HARD basket and forgot about it.

I then received a sample of this foundation in Toasty Beige, which I believe is their most popular shade.  I was mucking around with my Sigma F80 brush and thought I would buff a bit of this on my face to see what it looked like.

Toasty Beige  ~  Vanilla
elizabetharden.com.au

Damn!!  Its Good!!  Toasty Beige is a little dark for me, makes me look tanned.  What I did was evenly buffed a little all over my face and then I got out my Vanilla and added a layer to places I wanted to lighten up, forehead, cheeks, nose and chin.  My skin looked great and I didn't even have to use powder to set it.

Toasty Beige  ~  Vanilla  ~  Mixed 

These swatches were applied dry for photographic reasons but you can see how thick they are, adding some moisture sheers them out but you lose none of the coverage.

The trick is, throw away the sponge and grab your favourite buff brush.  The Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki is perfect because of its short dense bristles.

Spray a little hydrating mist ( I used Kosmea hydrating rosewater mist ) to dampen the brush, swirl it through the foundation (Toasty Beige), and then buff your face.  The mist helps the foundation to blend more sheer with your skin so you don't use as much product.   Give it a few minutes to oxidise and then swirl your brush again through the foundation ( I used Vanilla this time ) and go over the areas that need extra coverage or lightening.

Toasty Beige  ~  Vanilla  ~  Mixed
All three buffed out, sorry bit fuzzy hard to photograph but you can see how sheer they get
matillysthisnthat.blogspot.com.au

All my redness was gone.  I used a little extra of the Vanilla to conceal under my eyes and around my nose by patting it in with my finger.

Using a damp brush or sponge and less product makes all the difference for a perfect base.

Contains micronised diamond powder to reflect light and diminish flaws.  Very hydrating without being oily and leaves you with a healthy glow and great coverage all day.

elizabetharden.com.au

The sturdy Gold and Iconic Red Door Compact with a full sized mirror is just gorgeous.

I don't think I would go and buy these two separate shades again, next time I will look for a better match in-store instead of purchasing sight unseen online, usually the lightest shade is a perfect match for me.  Not this time!  That might be something you need to take into consideration before you purchase this foundation too.

Have you tried this foundation or have a favourite, do you have to mix shades for your perfect colour?   Please share and leave a comment below.

Jac x0x

The Importance of Exfoliating Mature Skin

All skin types can benefit from exfoliation but more so as we get older.

As we mature our metabolic cell renewal process slows down, dead skin cells build up leading to dull, lifeless, sagging  skin.  Just to give you an idea, young skin regenerates approx. every 14 days, mature skin approx. every 30-40 days.

Regular exfoliation tricks your skin into renewing cells more often, which leads to smoother, brighter, firmer skin with less wrinkles.

There are two ways you can exfoliate, chemical exfoliators which help dissolve dead skin cells and manual exfoliators which removes the top layer.

I find a mixture of both yields the best results.

Chemical exfoliators which include ingredients such as Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids, Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Fruit Enzymes and Retinols etc.....can be found in any number of skincare products which can be incorporated into your daily routine.   They gently boost the skins natural ability to replace old skin cells at a faster rate.

Manual Exfoliators include facial and body scrubs, micro-cloths, sponges, loofahs etc...anything that you can physically use to slough off the old surface layer of skin.   DON'T use buffing grains with sharp broken edges like crushed nut shell, sand or pumice stone as they can tear and damage your skin.

I think your skin tells you when it needs manual exfoliation.  It starts to look dull, feels rough, you may notice flaky skin around your nose.  With my dry skin I find I only need to exfoliate once a fortnight, your skin needs may be different depending on your skin type.

Next are some products which have worked well for me and I now include in my routine.  I think everyone is different and skin care needs change over time but this is working for me so far.

As part of my daily skincare routine, I like to use Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream during the day and ROC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum at night.  Both these products contain Retinol a pure form of Vitamin A which helps stimulate collagen production, forms a protective barrier and reduces irritation.

www.neutrogenacom.au

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream contains Retinol, Vitamins B5, C & E.  SPF 15 for UV protection.  This is a great daily moisturiser,  a pea sized amount covers your whole face and neck, super moisturising, absorbs well and is a great base for foundation.

www.rocskincare.com

RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum can be used morning and night before moisturiser.  Contains Retinol, Magnesium, Zinc and Copper.  I am on my third bottle of this serum, I have noticed a big improvement in my skin's appearance.


Once a fortnight I like to manually exfoliate my face, two products that I am really enjoying at the moment are Dr LeWinn's Facial Polishing Gel and Kosmea Daily Facial Exfoliant.  I like to swap them around depending on my skin's needs.

www.drlewinns.com.au

Dr LeWinn's Facial Polishing Gel contains Jojoba wax micro-spheres, naturally polishes your skin without any harmful abrasive action.  I like to use this when I feel my skin needs more exfoliation, my skin looks brighter and feels smoother after using this gel.

www.kosmea.com.au

Kosmea's daily facial exfoliant is very gentle, contains crushed Chamomile leaves and ground Rose Hips to gently exfoliate, you can also use this as a soothing facial mask.  Contains Ground Rice flour and Kaolin Clay to help absorb impurities.

I like to use a Loofah once a week on my body.  Growing up, Mum always had one in the bathroom, reaches all those hard to get to places on your back.  Follow with a good all over body lotion.  One I reach for all the time is Urban Rituelle Mango Milk Body Balm, smells of Summer, just divine.

www.urbanrituelle.com.au

I have always looked after my skin and now in my 40's I appreciate anything that helps me retain healthier younger looking skin.

Please don't forget to comment, I would love to hear what works for you.

Kosmea Daily Skincare Review

Recently I purchased a Discover Collection from Kosmea, RRP $39.95.

The Discover Collection contains 6 mini products which are great for travel or if you just want to try some of their range before you purchase the full-sized items.

I received the following;

Skin Clinic™ Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil 20mL

Purifying Cream Cleanser 20mL

Clarifying Facial Wash 20mL

Daily Facial Exfoliant 20g

Hydrating Rosewater Mist 25mL

Replenishing Moisture Cream 20mL

If you order from the Kosmea website they have great deals where you can receive Free products and Free shipping.

I was lucky enough to receive a free bottle of Radiance 24/7 Youth Boost 20ml RRP $39.95.

Kosmea is an Australian Company which sells a range of organic skincare products which are all wonderful but a couple really stand out for me and I use them in my daily skincare routine.  Radiance 24/7 Youth Boost and Hydrating Rosewater Mist are the products I would like to review today.

Radiance 24/7 Youth Boost - this anti-oxidant rich oil contains Certified Organic; Rosehip oil, Seabuckthorn oil, Pomegranate oil and Camellia oil.  Kosmea claim that this oil "Smooths fine lines and wrinkles, preserves the moisture and elasticity of the skin, revitalises the appearance of the skin and protects against the visible signs of skin ageing."

Apply 2-3 drops to dampened clean skin morning and night.  This is a non-greasy oil that absorbs right into your skin, it is best applied on dampened skin because the moisture helps the oil to absorb more readily.

I have seen noticable results in the past three months since I have incorporated this oil into my daily regime.

My skin looks healthier and I would have to say it DOES look radiant.  The best recommendations of course are when others notice and tell you how well you look.

I don't think I have used it long enough to see if it will slow the signs of ageing but it has certainly improved my skin texture so far.

The other product I am really enjoying is the Hydrating Rosewater Mist Spray RRP $19.95 125ml. 

I use this product in conjunction with the Radiance oil after I have cleansed my skin.  The added moisture helps the oil to absorb into the skin more readily as well as tightening skin pores.  Smells divinely of Roses, cool and refreshing, this product can also be used to set make-up and refresh tired skin that needs a boost of moisture during the day.  Particularly good spritz to use with mineral makeup, a couple of spritz really freshens your look during the day without adding more powder.

I have already repurchased the full-sized Rose water, it is the best spritz I have ever used.

I recommend Kosmea products to all who want a natural skincare routine which really works.  Kosmea products are available internationally and they have wonderful deals on their website. 

www.kosmea.com