It took a few years, about 15 to realise my skin is better with cushion compacts. Last year however I wanted to try to find a less plastic packaging alternate. I kissed a lot of foundation, cushion compact and BB cream frogs. Thankfully I’ve found cushion compact that works well for now, MeloMELI which I’ll share in a later post. Today I’m sharing the frogs that weren’t for me. And sadly all the unused products and plastic containers.
As usual I have a few requirements when it comes to cosmetics and all things beauty. Be cruelty free world wide. No saying we don’t test on animas in Europe but test on animals in other parts of the world. Contain no animals ingredients I know of. Honey I’m okay with as being a bad vegan I eat honey (yes, every vegan has to let you know they’re vegan). Snail slime, royal jelly, birds nest spit, crushed cochineal bugs no thank you. I prefer products not to contain petroleum derived ingredients, parabens, SLS, phthalates etc. With skincare this is easier. Makeup it’s harder to find makeup that hasn’t got a few nasty ingredients in so they’re the exception to the rule as below. It’s easier to go for cruelty free makeup and keep the nasty ingredients to a minimum. I also avoid if I can products containing palm oil. I prefer orangutans living happy in a rainforest, not in a sanctuary due to their habitat being cut down for palm oil plantations. I’m also reducing my coconut use too for a similar reason. Deforestation for plantations. My skin type is oily combination, concerns ageing, acne and acne scar reduction.
Nude By Nature Sheer Glow BB Cream 02 Soft Sand, 03 Nude Beige
The Sheer Glow BB Cream instantly enhances the complexion, providing light coverage to even out skin tone, minimise the appearance of fine lines and imperfections for a natural, luminous finish with SPF8 protection.
The all-in-one formula helps fight visible signs of ageing with active natural ingredients, including native Australian Kadadu Plum known for it’s abundant Vitamin C content, Quandong and Desert Lime. The lightweight, non-greasy texture is enriched with moisturising Aloe Vera, Phytomoist and Desert Date Oil to benefit the skin and perfect the complexion.
I discovered Nude by Nature while visiting my Mum and Dad back in the UK last year. I was so excited to find brand that didn’t have too much crap in. And in Debenhams of all places! Light weight and silicone free! I knew a lot of Australian brands are more natural so I was game to try. I prefer BB cream and cushion compacts to foundation so I was curious to try them.
02 Soft Sand ingredients
I preferred the coverage of 02 Soft Sands. It evened out my skin however concealer was needed so don’t expect it to cover red marks and spots well. I really enjoyed using it, however it was too pale and pink for me. I go for neutral undertone coverage as opposed to pink or beige coverage. As I liked the coverage I wanted to try the next shade up. There’s only 5 shades in the range so that should have been a warning in terms of colour. Debenhams only deliver within the UK, however FeelUnique ships internationally.
Soft Sand additional ingredient sleeve
03 Nude Beige couldn’t have been anymore different if it tried. The coverage was minimal, covered nearly nothing. As for the colour, it was so orange and way too dark for me! I couldn’t even use it for running in. It also felt a lot thinner and more liquid to apply and felt dry on. 02 Soft Sand did have a sleeve on the box saying new and improved formula so maybe 03 Nude Beige was the previous formula. However I won’t be repurchasing either due to shades, coverage and it only had SPF 8.
Shade swatch. Soft Sand and Nude Beige
Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Youth-Boosting Perfect Skin Foundation SPF15 03 Fair
For perfect looking skin that is protected, instantly illuminated and feels smoother and more hydrated, enriched with a botanical alternative to retinol and ceramides.
Charlotte Tilbury: When it comes to foundation, I have one simple rule: Perfect coverage in a light-as-air, breathable formula.
Me: When it comes to foundation, BB cream that isn’t full of crap, I have to kiss a lot of frogs to find one that’s a great shade match.
The ingredient list I ignored. Why? Well, I wasn’t happy with my current cushion compact, I’d heard lots of good reviews of Charlotte Tilbury products, Charlotte Tilbury had finally arrived in Spain in Sephora. I wanted in.
I overlooked the parabens, silicones, plastic for lightweight and honestly should have left it on the shelf. If you have dry skin and don’t mind the ingredients I think this would work. If like me you have oily combination skin I don’t think it’s a good match. It wasn’t the greatest coverage for being light weight, oxidised and within a few hours I was shiny like I hadn’t applied anything. Shade matching it was okay however also quite drying at the end of the day, with a dry skin asking ‘clean me’ feeling. Will I repurchase? No.
Nude by Nature Soft Sands, Nude Beige and Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder 03
Pixi H2o Skintint. Tinted Face Gel No 1 Cream
Water-based tinted face gel evens out skin tone and gives complexion a flawless no-makeup look. Hydrating, long-lasting and water resistant. Contains antioxidant-rich green tea, moisturising rose water, soothing English chamomile, and relaxing lavender. Paraben and fragrance free. Suitable for even the most sensitive skin. Not tested on animals.
Pixi Beauty as I’ve learnt isn’t as natural as it appears. Comes across natural, however once you get into that ingredient list! Sephora Espana had only just got a few Pixie products shortly before I visited my parents and this was one of the few products they had in. It’s a brand I’ve wanted to try for a long time. So again all sense left me and I wanted in! I’ve since learn to walk alway no matter how much the hype.
The gel is nice and thick. Not watery and blended okay. The colour is a good match. If I’m honest I can’t 100% place why I stopped using it. I think I had a bad run of blackheads and put it down to the silicones blocking pores. There’s so many different types of silicone in it! Lesson learnt the expensive way. Would I buy again? No. Don’t go buying things just because you’re on a holiday and caught up in hype! It’s okay to be the black sheep!
Nude by Nature, Soft Sands, Nude Beige. Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder 03. Pixie H2O Skin Tint Cream
Pixi Skintreats. Beauty Sleep Cream with Mango Butter and Chamomile Rich Night Treatment
Beauty Sleep Cream. Night recovery cream with 100% natural mango butter to protect and nourish the skin while you sleep. Rich in vitamins A, C and E to combat free radicals. Fast-absorbing, nutrient-rich, gentle and soothing. For all skin types. Use PM daily. Apply a think layer onto cleansed, toned skin on top of serum.
I’m on holiday so all sense leaves me buy! My skin in the mornings looked so smooth with this. So smooth so quickly it got me really looking at ingredient lists and avoiding the bad ones. This has a little too many petroleum derived ingredients for me. My skin looked so much better so quickly within few days I knew something was up. So I stoped using it. Some products you can see improvement but know it’ll be a long term thing as skin takes about 30 days to renew. Immediate overnight 180 improvements something’s up as it’s to good to be true! It was almost like it literally glossed over lines covering them up. It would be a great cream if it didn’t have the petroleum derived 2nd, 3rd generation ingredients in. I’ve been using Kora Organics (available in Spain in Douglas) and Frank Body products for a while now which are natural, no nasties and my skin’s improved so much I’m avoiding petroleum, parabens etc. It takes longer, you see slight improvements in a few days, but subtle feel good improvements you know will get better in time. Or maybe I’m just being a snob wanting more natural ingredients.
Pixie by Petra Flawless & Poreless Primer
I usually avoid primers as they’re filled with silicone to give a smooth even texture appearance which can clog pores resulting in blackheads and spots. At the time I didn’t want to use powder and decided to try a primer to maybe stop looking so shiny. Pixie was the cleanest cruelty free primer I could find. I think it was a Marks and Spencer buy as it’s cheaper there than in Sephora.es. The ingredients are okay, however I didn’t like how it felt on my skin. I was less shiny yet my skin didn’t feel like it could breath. Less is more when it comes to my skin. Ingredients here as I forgot to photograph them. Would I buy again. Maybe for the summer when my skin gets shine crazy.
So there you have it! About 6 months of foundation, bb cream trials and only one I’d repeat buy. If you’re tried any of the products featured, please share your thoughts. Different skin, different results!