Over the years, I’ve tried tons of different foundations and I’ve played around with different coverages, too. The first foundation I ever tried was an amazing one from Yves Saint Laurent. It was my school picture day in year 10 and as a treat, my mum let me use her fancy foundation. I was so excited to try it, and just like any other girl trying ‘proper’ makeup for the first time, I was amazed at how brilliant it was.
Since then, not only have I developed a dangerous love for premium brand beauty, ive also tried and tested lots of different foundations in a quest to find out what works best on my skin. The result? A light coverage with a lovely dewy glow. I don’t like to mask my skin - I’m quite happy with the look of my skin and so I’d prefer to enhance it than to hide it away. A few of my favourites are the Nars Sheer Glow, MAC Face and Body and the Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder.
Right now though, I’m taking a break from foundation, and replacing it with something lighter and more moisturising. Sometimes, particularly when it’s warmer, foundation just feels like too much. Although I always opt for lighter coverages, I think it’s nice to have some time out from foundation and to let your skin breathe naturally. So, I’ve been using a tinted moisturiser instead.
Oddly enough, tinted moisturiser is what I always used before trying my mum’s fancy foundation, so I guess it’s kind of ironic that I’ve gone back to it all these years later. The only difference is that I now have the money to buy these things myself, and the one that I'm using is more of a high-end product than the one I used back then.
So, what am I actually using instead of foundation? I've mentioned this product briefly in another post not too long ago, but the product that I have replaced my foundation with is the Stila All Day 10-in-1 HD Illuminating Beauty Balm - and honestly, it's just amazing.
It takes a lot for me to stick with one product. Being a beauty blogger and someone who has genuinely been so passionate about beauty for such a long, long time, I've always got another 'better' product to compare the one I am trying with. I'm very quick to pick up on the negatives with products as I do have so much experience in trying these things out, but honestly, with the Stila Illuminating Beauty Balm, I genuinely have nothing bad to say. It's just fab.
Before completely replacing my foundation with this, I was actually mixing the two together to try and get used to looking at myself without my regular full pump of foundation. I was surprised by how much I liked the coverage, and how fresh this made my skin look, which is why I decided to take things a step further and use the tinted moisturiser on its own.
Of course, wearing a tinted moisturiser and no foundation isn't for everyone. However, as someone who tends to prefer a more natural, dewy finish anyway, I find that it actually works really well for me. In the summer, I do get quite a lot of freckles (which always surprises people for some reason, but it's true!) and I'm really looking forward to these shining through my makeup, rather than getting masked over and hidden away. It feels really refreshing to wear something so natural on my face.
The list of things I love about this product is honestly endless. The texture is amazing (the term 'balm' fits perfectly, really) - it's almost like a creamy gel, if that makes sense? I love how easily the balm blends into my skin and the tint works well on my skin no matter how tan I am, which is good news for anyone who's going on holiday or likes to use fake tan.
In terms of how much of this product I like to use, I find that a pea-sized blob is enough to cover my entire face. Depending on the coverage/finish that you want to achieve, you may wish to use more or less than what I recommend, and that's fine, but I would say, as a top tip, try to refrain from using a brush or beauty blender with this. Instead, give your hands a good old wash and apply with your fingers instead. This product feels like a skincare product rather than makeup when it's applied, and I find that brushes and sponges absorb way too much product. It's up to you, but if you want to avoid waste, feel free to take my advice.
Before I round things up, I'll finish off by talking about value for money. The Stila All Day 10-in-1 HD Illuminating Beauty Balm comes in at £26, placing it in the luxury/high end beauty category (and you guys know just how much I love my premium brand beauty!) But, is it worth the splurge? The answer, quite simply is 'yes'. This product has fast become one of my biggest holy grail beauty products and I could honestly go on forever about how fantastic it is. Sure, there are cheaper alternatives available, but with all the skin-loving benefits this product prizes, I'd recommend this to anyone.
I really hope you all enjoyed this blog post and I can't wait to share more with you soon!
Lots of love,
Grace x
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