High-End Makeup I (Probably) Won’t Repurchase

Today I want to talk about a few high-end makeup products I will probably never repurchase. The reason why I didn’t title this post “Misses” or something along the lines of “Not Worth The Splurge” is because I genuinely feel that most of these products are likely worth the splurge for some people, just not for me. They haven't worked out either due to my pale warm olive skin tone (NC10) or due to my oily skin type in reactive and dehydrated condition, prone to breakouts, redness (rosacea) and seborrhea. I’ll present them in order of application.

BECCA ULTIMATE COVERAGE 24-HOUR FOUNDATION in SHELL

Description 

With brand new packaging, fresh shades and the same best-loved formula, BECCA’s Ultimate Coverage 24 Hour Foundation has got you covered all day, every day. Virtually weightless, the formula has been painstakingly developed to strike the perfect balance between coverage and breathability; with 21 percent pure pigment and 22 percent water, this melts into skin and blends seamlessly for a natural, airbrushed effect. Available in a spectrum of 24 shades, the creamy fluid is suitable for all skin types (even oily and congested) with light and skin tone-correcting pigments to match and flatter your natural colouring perfectly (30 ml/€36.32 at Cult Beauty).

My experience

Out of all the products I'm going to talk about today, this has been the most disappointing one, and it's the only one I will definitely never ever repurchase. The reason why I bought it in the first place is because of the oh-so-promising description and the ingredient list (no alcohol, which is truly rare in long-wearing foundation formulas, and a must for my reactive skin). Is it full coverage? Yes. Does it look or feel weightless? No. Does it have a second-skin finish? Heck no! I know I'm not supposed to expect a true skin-like finish from any full coverage foundation, but usually you're able to sheer a formula out or mix it in with other foundations to make it look and feel more natural, but I cannot get this one to work with my skin for the life of me. I've tried using it on top of different primers (silicone-based, water-based, and even oil-based). I've tried mixing it in with other foundations as well as adding a drop of oil (The Ordinary Squalane - I've talked about it in my Minimalist Summer Skincare Routine). I've tried applying it with different brushes, a beauty sponge and my fingers. Did any of it help? Unfortunately, no. Immediately upon application it sinks into every single pore and line I have, and it breaks down right before my eyes into a cakey mess visible from outer space. The only upside to this product is the shade. I got it in Shell which is possibly the best match for my skin tone at its palest that I've ever encountered. And it doesn't oxidize! Have you ever tried this foundation? Did it work out for you? Please let me know how, otherwise this has been a complete waste of money for me, and I'm sad to say I cannot recommend it to anyone.

BY TERRY TOUCHE VELOUTEE in PORCELAIN

Description

A full-coverage concealer to correct the under-eye area, By Terry’s Touche Veloutee feels featherweight and blends seamlessly, to subtly illuminate and in turn, disguise dark circles, camouflage pimples and counteract signs of fatigue. Enriched with 6 potent phyto-ingredients to combat shadows and tell-tale puffiness, alongside ‘soft focus’ pigments to create a naturally flawless effect – this unifies uneven tone without migrating, caking or settling in fine lines. Oil-free and non-drying, dab directly on spots to create a flawless canvas or apply to outer-corners of the eyes to help fake ‘wide awake’ in an instant (6.5 ml/€43.67 at Cult Beauty). 

My experience 

Unlike the foundation I mentioned before, this product truly feels and acts like a luxury makeup treat. Before I get into any details, I have to mention one of my favourite makeup artists Petra Sušanj aka The Brush Stash because if it hadn't been for her, I would probably never even bat an eye at By Terry products, let alone this concealer. Petra raves about it in her review (in Croatian) as the best under-eye concealer bar none. Thanks to her, I also found out that the person behind By Terry is none other than Terry de Gunzburg - former creative director of YSL Beauty and the creator of the legendary Touche Eclat. After Terry left YSL, she launched her own luxury brand By Terry, and came up with Touche Veloutee, an illuminating under-eye concealer which is supposed to offer the best of both worlds - the coverage of a concealer with the illuminating power of Touche Eclat. Did she succeed? Absolutely! Never before have I tried an under-eye concealer which feels more lightweight and which remains illuminating after 8 hours of wear. Though, I have to disagree with the full coverage claim. It's medium at best. And I definitely disagree with the claim that it can be used to camouflage pimples. You can try, but like with most illuminating products, it probably won't look flattering. Since this is an illuminating product, you have to make sure to prep the under-eye area really well, otherwise it will bring attention to any texture issues you might have. It's also a fabulous product to layer over correctors or other concealers which offer more coverage. At first glance, it's more expensive than YSL Touche Eclat, but when you compare how much product you get from each (2.5 ml vs 6.5 ml), you'll quickly realize which one is way more cost-effective. So, if I like it so much, why the heck am I probably not going to repurchase it?! The reason why I don't plan to repurchase it is solely because of the shade range. Only 4 shades?! C'mon, Terry, you of all people should know better... The lightest shade Porcelain is light enough for me, however it's too cool-toned for my warm olive undertone. The next shade seems to have a better suiting undertone, but it looks way too dark for me to be able to pull it off on its own. I know I can try to mix the two shades together, but at this point I just can't seem to justify spending almost €90 on an under-eye concealer combo and hope to completely use both of them up before the six-month expiration date ends.

CHARLOTTE TILBURY AIRBRUSH FLAWLESS FINISH POWDER in FAIR

Description 

A micro-fine finishing powder, Charlotte's Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish stars nano-blurring particles to disguise imperfections without suffocating skin. Ultra-lightweight and breathable, the soft, velvety-textured formula has a beautiful, brightening effect (with no risk of 'caking' or migrating as the day wears on). Think: pure, face powder perfection (8 g/€38.56 at Cult Beauty).

Note

Before I dive into my impressions about this product, I need to point out one simple fact that I haven't been aware of for a long time - not all powders are setting powders. Now, I'm not talking about powder foundations, I'm talking about different powder formulas people use for the same purpose - setting their foundation. There's actually a difference between setting powders, finishing powders, and HD powders. This may seem obvious to some, but I know there's a lot of people like me who aren't aware of this fact, including many popular YouTubers and Beauty Bloggers who talk about this particular powder. Makeup artist Simona Antonović explained the differences well in her blog post Everything There Is To Know About Setting Powders. Unlike a true setting powder which is primarily used to set foundation, a finishing powder is mainly used to create a certain finish. In theory, it can be used to set foundation, but that's not its basic purpose. Now that that's out of the way, let's talk Airbrush Flawless Finish, darlings. 

My experience 

If you haven't already heard about CT's Airbrush Flawless Finish, you must have been living under a rock. On a different planet. In a galaxy far, far away. All jokes aside, this powder is one of the most talked raved about high-end makeup products ever since it launched in 2013. Dry skin beauties from all over the world still swear by it as one of the few powders they can use on their skin. As an oily skin girl with dehydration issues, I can somewhat see why. Is it micro-fine? Without question. It's the silkiest, most finely milled powder I've ever touched. Is it ultra-lightweight and breathable? Yes, if you apply it correctly - with a very light hand and the right tool. Does it have a blurring effect on pores and fine lines? The most blurring one I've ever seen. What's the problem, then? On my oily skin its beautiful blurring finish lasts up to two hours tops. Bear in mind, this is a finishing powder, not a setting one - which I wasn't aware of until pretty recently. So I would pile it on once again all over my face after a couple of hours, and I used a damp beauty sponge instead of an ultra lightweight brush (Wayne's Air Brush would probably work wonders). Suffice it to say, regardless of blotting prior to reapplying, the powder would end up mixing in with my tenacious natural oils into a gross texture-emphasizing mess. If you don't need oil control from a powder, this one will probably work like a charm. However, if you need the tiniest bit of oil control, I would suggest to skip finishing powders altogether, and just stick to regular setting ones. If the most praised one out there doesn't do the trick, frankly, I can't see how any other can.

Have you ever tried any of these products? How did they work out for you? Has any HE product ever disappointed you? Tell me all about it the comments below.

Yours lovingly,
Minnie

 

Image credit: Cult Beauty (Becca, By Terry, Charlotte Tilbury).This is not a sponsored post.
The post does not contain affiliate links. The things I've linked are there simply for your convenience.