Wonders of Beauty: Sample

Sample Arrival: Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H..♥

Hey beauties!

If you weren't already aware, Lancôme launched their brand new foundation yesterday! It is called Teint Idole Ultra 24H. This is a long lasting foundation and is meant to last 24 hours! Unfortunately I wasn't able to get their 7 day trial because every time I went into Boots, the lady on the counter wasn't there and she's the only person who could give out samples. Yesterday I happened to be in town again and luckily the consultant was there. The very lovely and friendly lady sat me down so that we could look at different shades in order to find a match for my skin tone. When trying to find a match using her colour chart, we were stuck between #11 Muscade and #13 Sienne. Eventually we settled for a sample of #13 Sienne but as she brought out the bottle, I knew it would be too dark. #13 Sienne looked the slightest bit darker or around the same colour as my Estee Lauder Double Wear in Truffle (which I already have to mix because it is too dark for me). I then asked to see the bottle of #11 Muscade. This definitely looked like more of a match so she gave me a sample of #11 to take home instead.

I was with my friend, it was very cold, we were running short of time and she also wanted to try a sample. We are around the same skin tone so the consultant gave her a sample of #11 and a large sample of #13 in case I got home and decided that #11 wasn't my match (my friend and I live together).

I used my sample today and so far so good! My friend also tried her sample as well. Initially she tried #13 but she said it was too dark for her so she had to take it all off and use #11 which was a good match. She's left #13 in my room because she doesn't like it. I am still yet to try it though I am happy with #11. As this is my first time using this foundation, I cannot really go into a review yet but I'll let you know how it goes and give you full details on it later.

I'm hoping it can live up to my Estee Lauder Double Wear because I'm getting a bit bored of mixing it with a lighter foundation for a better match.

Swatches

Has anyone bought this foundation yet or tried out a sample?

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Foundation - 22:45

Sample Arrival: Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H

Sample Arrival: Lanc ô me Teint Idole Ultra 24H.. ♥ Hey beauties! If you weren't already aware, Lanc ô me launched their brand new ...

Review: MAC Matchmaster SPF 15 Foundation..♥

As you are all probably aware, I went to get a sample of MAC's most recent foundation some time last month from my local counter. I have worn it a few times now and I think I'm ready to give it my own personal review.

Though I have tried a range of MAC foundations, I've never really found one that I would say I loved. They had spent quite a while developing the technology for this foundation so I thought I'd try it out.

"With our all races credo, we’re redefined what a perfect match should be with new Matchmaster Foundation SPF 15 technology, using translucent pigments to create a formula that enables a fully personalized finish influenced by the subtleties of your own skin tone. Adding to Matchmaster’s true-to-life appeal is its moisturizing demi-matte finish, medium buildable coverage, and line-reducing soft focus powders. Add the fact that this formula reduces excess shine-creating oil, and who could resist?"

Coverage:
As described by MAC, I would agree that this foundation has a medium coverage but I would say it was more on the lighter side of a medium coverage. If you are somebody who likes a full coverage and would like to cover imperfections such as scars, blemishes or hyperpigmentation, you may find that the coverage of this foundation isn't enough for you. Though it may cover some blemishes to a certain extent, I don't think it will cover everything.
I found that when using Matchmaster some of your natural skin does tend to show through which is expected as it is only a medium coverage foundation. Because it isn't too heavy, it looks very skin-like. It is great for those who maybe just want to even out their skin-tone but still want a natural look.

Finish:
This foundation has a very natural demi-matte finish but I usually finish my face using a powder. It can definitely be worn without a powder to sustain the demi-matte finish.

Texture:
One thing I will credit this foundation for is the texture. It is liquid and has a lovely texture which is very blendable. I've never had a problem with blending this foundation into my skin. Once applied, it looks very smooth as well.
The texture is a bit thicker than some foundations that I currently own but this isn't a problem once applied.

Staying Power:

I have worn this foundation for up to 10hrs and as with all my other foundations, it seemed to stay on my face pretty well. My only problem is that I found myself looking shiny after around 5hrs and would need to touch up a bit to keep my makeup looking fresh. When used with the Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Powder, I found that it took longer before I needed to touch up and looked good for about maybe 7hrs.
I like my makeup looking fresh for the majority of the day and this foundation just didn't do that for me. I hate shine and having to touch up during the day so I'm not too sure about MAC's claim that this foundation "reduces excess shine-creating oil"

Colour Range:
This foundation comes in 14 different shades. 1.0 being the palest and 10.0 being the darkest. The shades have been labelled differently to MAC's original labelling system.

Below is a rough conversion of shade numbers:

♥ 1.0 - NC15

♥ 1.5 - NW15

♥ 2.0 - NC20/NC25/NW20

♥ 3.0 - NC30

♥ 4.0 - NC35/NC37/NW30

♥ 5.0 - NC40/NC41/NC42

♥ 6.0 - NW33/NW35/NC44

♥ 7.0 - NW40/NW43/NC45

♥ 7.5 - NC50/NC55

♥ 8.0 - NW44/NW45

♥ 8.5 - NW46/NW47

♥ 9.0 - NW48

♥ 9.5 - NW50/NW55

♥ 10.0 - NW58/NW60

All the shades in Matchmaster have a neutral undertone.

I normally use NC50 throughout the MAC ranges and though MAC claims that with this new technology, the foundation shade should adjust to your skin tone, I didn't find 7.5 was a perfect match for me when the foundation was originally applied but I guess throughout the day, it did adjust ever so slightly though the match still wasn't fantastic.

7.0 was too light and 8.0 was too dark.

Price:
This foundation is £24.50 and costs more than most MAC foundations. In comparison to their Studio Fix Fluid (which is £19.50), the Matchmaster costs more because you get 35ml worth of product and Studio Fix Fluid has only 30ml of product.

Availability:
This foundation is available from any MAC counter or anywhere that stocks MAC products such as Debenhams (online).
Click Here to purchase it from the MAC website.

Overall Thoughts:
To be quite honest, I was expecting much more from this foundation and I don't know why. I think because I was so desperate to find a foundation in MAC that I loved, I was hoping that Matchmaster would be the one. Don't get me wrong, this foundation is still lovely but I am not blown away to the extent where I'd rush out to purchase it. There really isn't anything that it does for me, that most of my other foundations can't.
The claim that it adjusts to your skin tone may work better for others but I didn't find it great. All in all I was quite disappointed with this foundation because I had such high hopes and expectations from it.
As far as I am aware, it didn't make me break out or anything but my friend who got a sample at the same time that I did, suffered from break outs and therefore stopped using it.
For now, I don't think that I'll be purchasing this foundation but I will continue using the samples (me being cheeky, I got two) that I got from the counter until they run out.

Here I am wearing MAC Matchmaster 7.5