Usually I’m not a fan of full-face makeup. I do love a bold eye shadow (generally reserved for evenings and weekends), I am certainly a frequent flyer with the blush brush, and I’ve even recently delved into the world of pigmented lipsticks. But when my super long days meet a full face of foundation and powder, it ends in a cakey oily mess that is so not work appropriate.
It’s usually around this time of year though when I’m coming out of winter hibernation that I crave something more for my skincare routine. When my pale winter face meets the springtime sunshine, I find myself looking for something to help even me out a little bit, and give me a bit of that summertime glow (sans tanning bed). In the past month, after doing my research (read: YouTubing product reviews), I decided to try the newest phenomenon to hit the drug store, the super-hyped Garnier BB Cream (more on what a BB cream is here). How did that work out for me? Terribly. I usually never break out from makeup products, and this stuff proved to be the greatest man-made disaster my skin had ever seen. I’m talking BP-oil-spill B-A-D. The sad thing was, I really liked what the product did in terms of coverage and toning, but I couldn’t bear to put my poor mug through that kind of treatment. So, I decided to shell out for a more trustworthy (ahem, pricey) alternative: Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer.
Since switching to this little gem, I’ve found the makeup of my dreams. Unlike regular foundations, etc, this doesn’t dry me out by the end of the day, but gives me enough coverage and colour to make me look like I’ve seen at least a little bit of sun in the past few weeks (which I haven’t… thanks Vancouver). Yes, it’s pricey at $55, but it’s far less oily than the Garnier BB cream is, and even better, it comes in more than two shades. I know, right. What’s even better is that the Laura Mercier moisturizer is totally buildable, and has a silky finish that feels a lot more like my skin than the Garnier could ever have dreamed of. If you have any sort of oil in your complexion, you’d totally hate the Garnier.
Although my pockets are a little lighter after this little splurge, I feel comfortable knowing that my previously troubled skin is in good hands. A wise friend once told me that even though skin products are sometimes pricey, if they make you look and feel like a million bucks, they’re well worth the investment. The way you feel about yourself plays such a huge part in your day-to-day social and professional lives, and I’m now able to rest assured that I’m not only putting my best foot forward, but my best face too.
