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What are your must-have high-end complexion products?
Too Faced Hangover RX, Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder, Cle de Peau Concealer, Fenty Pro Filt’r.
— Christine
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Guerlain Lingerie de Peau BB cream, KORA Organics Noni Glow Face Oil (I mix it with the Guerlain BB cream for stunning skin), Estée Lauder Doublewear (one drop spread across my fingers and pressed into my skin is the closest I’ve ever been able to come to foundation looking like real skin), Sisley Phyto Cernes Concealer (a brand new favorite, I have been unable to find a concealer for the past five years and everyday I am so pleased to discover it works on the crepey skin under my eyes), Lancome Absolue Radiant Smoothing face powder (my go-to face powder), Lorac Porefection Baked Perfecting Powder (I apply this with a dry black beauty blender and it completely erases my pores), and Guerlain Meteorites (for finishing powder). I use primers and setting sprays but have not settled on favorites in these two categories.
Thank you Tammy, I will be purchasing the Sisley Concealer and maybe the Lorac Powder as well.
Brenda, I would not want you to be disappointed by the Sisley. I recommend you research it and buy it from a store that accepts returns. It is an expensive product and if it doesn’t work for you, I wouldn’t want you to be stuck with it.
Thanks Tammy, I know how expensive Sisley is and I will research it. But I have been searching for a long time for something for under my eyes and if this will work I will pay anything (well almost!) lol!
I understand, Brenda, I was ready to spend the money to get a product that actually works.
That Sisley concealer is amazing for aging under eyes. Crazy expensive but I love it.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who is enjoying the Sisley corrector.
Becca First light primer, Marc Jacobs Coconut Primer or Too Faced Hangover Rx Primer, Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer (apparently I super love primer), Hourglass Illusion Skin Tint, Marc jacobs Genius Gel (but I think it’s being discontinued) and Too Faced Born This Way Powder is a current must have (but I’m looking for something different).
LaMer – The Powder (original version. Have not tried new version)
Estee Lauder – SIP Double Wear
All of my primers are high-end and I have such a variety that I love, so to pin-point on high-end primer is a little tough, but I’d have to give it to my Laura Mercier hydrating primer, NARS tinted moisturizer as foundation, Bare Minerals stroke of light eye brightening concealer, tarte shape tape, Laura Mercier loose translucent setting powder, and UD chill setting spray.
Laura Mercier foundation primers: Blemish-Free and Protect
Cle de Peau concealer
Laura Mercier Oil Free Primer
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light
Diorskin Airflash Spray Foundation
Cle de Peau radiant creamy foundation,concealer, and eyebrow pencil
Marc Jacobs Beauty Bronzer, Blush and Gel Eyeliner
Tom Ford Eye Color Quad in Nude Dip
Estée Lauder Double Wear Zero Smudge Lengthening Mascara
Tom Ford or Clé de Peau fluid foundation with Guerlain Météorites finishing powder.
KGD aqua. I’ve found that meteorites need not be strictly a finishing powder. They can give some translucency and tweak benefits to powder foundation during, rather than after. Works with Antonym, which does not look good in all light, plus Antonym Rose, plus meteorites, in a blend. It puts some life back in, so can look more like skin, less flat. HE depends on where you draw the line. I have zero UHE m/u, like Lutens, Chantecaille, Loubou, and only 1 TF:Stavros.
Weird, but 2 are foundations! All because each has been an HG for me for different climate conditions. Lancôme Teint Idole 24H Foundation and Fenty ProFilt’r Foundation actually have not just the level of skin color, but both of these have the UNDERTONES down! I also cannot go without MAC Strobe Cream to mix a little with my Lancôme foundation to give my skin a fresh, slightly dewy appearance. A big plus is that it doesn’t break down my foundation or make it wear off at all!
Nancy, what color do you wear in the Fenty? Curious about that one, and my skin tone is close to yours (just a touch lighter in the winter). I will have to mix some strobe cream with my Teint Idole to check out the finish.
When the Fenty line debuted at Sephora, 2 different SA’s matched me and actually gave me 2 DIFFERENT samples! One was for 260, the other 290. Oddly, 290 seems lighter than 260, and more neutral. I’m not entirely sure which other shades also run more neutral olive, though. I hope this info helps, Tammy!
It definitely gives me a starting point. I have to mix Teint Idole Bisque 320 and 370 in the winter to get a shade match, but in the summer 370 becomes too light, so I know we aren’t too far apart in shades. I wish I had gotten color matched in Chicago when I was there last week.
Thank you Nancy!
My only HE complexion products are foundations: Clarins Everlasting Foundation in Linen and the Chosungah 22 in Porcelain.
I tried the Laura Mercier Translucent powder and was really disappointed in the amount of product received for such a hefty price. It was a good product, but so expensive.
Koh Gen Do aqua foundation
Becca backlight priming filter
J.one Jellypack for primer
Too faced Born this way ethereal powder
This is my kind of question! For complexion products By Terry CC Lumi Serum, Clé de Peau Radiant Luminous Foundation, Clé de Peau Concealer and La Mer The Powder (new version) when I use powder., but I also like the By Terry Hydo Powder
My Beauty Blender and Clarisonic foundation brush, Guerlain Meteotites, Hourglass Ambient Lighting in Diffused & Dim Light, Mario Badescu Rosewater & Aloe facial spray.
I didn’t list a foundation or primer as I’m currently test driving several different ones.
Tarte Timeless primer smooths out pores AND wrinkles, Estée Lauder Double Wear Nude water fresh Foundation, Laura Mercier loose powder, too faced born this way pressed powder under eye, too faced born this way concealer, Smashbox finishing powder or hourglass finishing powder, Mac fix + then makeup forever setting spray.
Hopefully a ‘natural look!’ Lol!
MAC Fix+, Guerlain Meteorites or Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder (Diffused Light) for finishing. These are the only items that are truly irreplaceable; the rest of my makeup can be accomplished with anything from any range.
My Chosungah 22 foundation and Cle de Peau Radiant Beauty foundation but only in the dead of winter. I prefer the Chosungah . Cle de Peau concealer, Guerlain Meteorites, J One Jelly Pack as a primer, Rouge Bunny Rouge Diaphanous Silk setting powder and MAC FIX Plus. I have a lot of face mists and frequently use at least 2 every day but MAC FIX Plus is a favorite.
Urban Decay green color corrector, Glossier stretch concealer, and Too Faced Cocoa Powder Foundation (I use this as an under-eye/bad blemish setting powder when I need more coverage, otherwise I use RCMA). I don’t use primer or wear foundation, and I haven’t been able to find an all-around concealer to replace my beloved, but no longer cruelty free, Nars radiant creamy concealer. The rest of the products I use and love are drugstore/affordable (Nyx peach color corrector, RCMA no color powder, Wet n’ Wild photo focus concealer, Pixi glow mist, etc.)
I love my Bobbi Brown Skin Stick Foundation, my Bobbi Brown Corrector, my Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer, and my NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder. Your website is so helpful Christine!!! Thank you!!! xoxo
Shiseido – Ibuki Refining Moisturizer Enriched Cream
La Roche-Posay – Hydraphase Intense Legere
Milk makeup – blur stick (I think this is a high-end product, but I’m not sure)
Mac – studio fix fluid foundation
Tarte – Shape tepe concealer
Mac – fix plus
Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear foundation, with Bobbi Brown Sheer Finish Pressed Powder. I’m really enjoying the combination of these two together – the finish is matte but still skin like
Guerlain Lingerie de Peau and Baby Glow foundations, Becca Backlighting and First Light Filter Primers, Clarins Instant Concealer, Becca Pearl Highlighter, Hourglass Ambient Light Powder in Ethereal, Clarins Fix Makeup spray and, if blush counts in all of this, Dior Rosy Glow Awakening Blush (for the umpteenth mention!) and the LE Glowing Gardens Glowing Pink Illuminating Powder. I should probably include my Guerlain Meteorites in 02 and the LE but oh so fantastic Cruel Gardenia (I wish they’d repromote that one).
My serums. I am oily, and I have wrinkles, conventional moisturizer is too heavy. I use many different serums, layer them, then if I wear makeup, I just pop on my primer and apply my cosmetics. If I am going to bed, I use different serums, layer them like I usually do and seal them in with Dr. Jart Ceramidin (sp? too lazy to go look.). I use pure hylaronic acid at night in the winter. My chin, cheek, and sides of my nose get a little dry from my Retin A.
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer, Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet and MAC Studio Fix Powder.
Too Face Hangover face primer, Lancome Teint Idole 24H Long Wearing Foundation (looking for a cruelty free replacement that works as well — trying Kat von D Lock-It currently), Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick in Alabaster (I wish I could find a CF dupe that made my skin look the same. Till I do, I save it for special occasions.), and bareMinerals Mineral Veil in Original.