I can tell this is a great year for me. I believe it in a childish way because I had an absolutely fantastic time at IMATS LA.
I had great purchases from dirt cheap brushed to powder to liquid transformers. It is a great opportunity to have girls day out (only if they are make up obsessed as much as you are) and to discover what is out there. In fact, in events like this, I stay away from well known brands unless they have crazy deals. I focus on brands I have never tried before.
My recent discovery is Graftobian. I am ashamed to say it but I also purchased Sigma Brushes for the first time.
It feels like I am recommending a new foundation every month but I can not help it. Promise of healthy, rested, flawless finish is to me equals to looking like Candice Snawepoel or even better. I am almost 34.5 years old now and I am really into perfecting skin rather than panda looking smokey eyes. Back in my early twenties, even putting eyeliner was a wow effect now the tails go up to the sky.
Anyways, I should stay focus. Graftobian. The HD cream foundations are quite popular even used on Kim Kardashian. Of course, I had to get it.
The palette's complete name is HD Glamour Creme Palette and I got the one in Warm. I am a light to medium beige tone.
Hard Core Facts:
1) Professional degree foundations, designed to last and photograph beautifully.
2) A suitable cream foundation for oily skin types. In fact, you need to use a serious moisturizer. I only use Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre prior to this. Could you believe? I mean if I do this with any other foundation.... Stay away from drying primers. For this one, you need moisture.
3) With a good moisturizer, the product glides on like a dream. It is light weight and leaves an amazing finish. BUT, has to be set with a powder to stop gliding.
4) I called it professional for this reason: you may not be used to work with this kind of texture. The finish is amazing but it is not stable. So, you need to powder. But, if you used too much of the cream product, it is going to cake up on you and make every single pore visible including the hairs on your skin. Even two layers is a lot for this foundation. Many people prefer to mix little bit of this product with their moisturizers to thin it for everyday use.
5) It is suitable to use everyday. I am personally against using powder to my face everyday and this product can not last without. I used it almost everyday until I figured out how to use it and have not broken out once. But for everyday, I still prefer Neutrogena foundations.
6) It does not have spf in it.
7) Many people use this to highlight and contour. Which is okay but to me contour colors need to be more on the toupey side. Using these foundation to contour is like using bronzer to contour.
8) Palettes retail for $80 and individual colors retails for $20. In palettes you get 18 shades and you can mix to find your exact color. So if you have yellow undertones and if your skin color changes dramatically from summer to winter like me, palettes are great buy.
What I did wrong?
I tried using this as a contour palette. It went all wrong. I used a color for my entire face, another color to highlight and another to contour and then Graftobian HD powder foundations to set. I sprayed Skindinavia setting spray. The finish was incredible. But then I looked at the mirror and it was like I had a mask on from 16th century. I felt wasted.
Doing it right finally.......
- Moisture heavily. Stay away from t-zone primers
- Buffing brush works best
- You have to use one layer of foundation. If you want to use it as a highlight and contour, remember to use sparingly and keep it one layer
- Use translucent powder to set everything. The finer the better. Ben Nye works good.
- Also use a setting spray. And use lots of it.
Having said that, you need to do your eye make up following face make up which is another story.
