BFTE Foundation in Alabaster

Disclaimer: I recieved this product free for review, however the review i have written is entirely truthful based on my own experiences.

Out of the amazing package i recieved from Crystal of Beauty From The Earth for review this powder foundation is what surprised me the most. I had never tried a powder foundation before and, stupidly i now realise, didn't imagine that the coverage would be any good. I guess i just expected a loose powder foundation to be similar to a loose setting powder... I was DEAD wrong!

I think this is probably the best foundation i have ever used. I have quite good skin so didn't start using foundation at all until about a year ago, i like a matte look but only need light coverage and have dry skin. I think i can get a good look with liquid foundations but probably haven't got the full hang of them. I usually end up applying too heavilly and cant do it all with brushes without getting a streaky look and i am so pale and pink i find it really tricky to find a good match anyway.

This, to me, is pretty much perfect. I just have to buff a little of this on with a powder brush, the way i would with any powder, and i'm left with a really even, flawless and matte look. It conceals all of my redness and discolouration but doesn't look cakey or overly made up and i don't need to use any setting powder. It usually lasts me almost the whole day but in this really hot weather i sweat a lot and i need to reapply after a few hours.

Wanna see for yourself?
Before:

 

 

 

 

 

The little sample pot i recieved lasted at least 5 full faces plus some light re-applications. The colour Alabaster is the very lightest shade available and is absolutely perfect for my skintone. I also recieved 2 other shades of foundation which both work just as well as this one, but the shades do not match me quite as well.

A sample jar costs $2 and a full jar is $12 for a full jar (not sure of the amount you get as i couldn't find that info on the website). I will definately be buying a full jar once i use up some of my other foundations.

Illamasqua Week - Loose Powder review

Usually you can only buy about 3 shades of loose powder (pale, medium, dark) at the most, or in a lot of cases only one, a one-shade-suits-all 'translucent' which is usually pale and so perfect for me and my pale caucasion buddies but can make darker skins look ashy and odd. Illamasqua sell loose powder in a fantastic array of shades, they have the usual 'translucent' but then a shade of powder to match basically every one of their foundations. The colours range from snow white to pure black, with shades for tones from very pale to very dark and with different powders to match different undertones. 

However the one powder i own (LP 005) isn't a skin shade at all, it isa pale, candy-floss pink colour. The idea behind this strange coloured powder is that the pink shade lifts and brightens your skin tone and it really really works.

 

It was really hard to try and capture the difference this powder makes on camera. To get it to show up at all i had to use a much, much thicker layer than usual so my skin did take on a slight pink tinge, usually you wouldn't be piling it on like i did so the pink does not show up.

 

 

My face with just foundation and concealer, no powder.

  

With a thick layer of powder over the top.

So I don't know if you can actually see much of a difference at all, but in real life, when used properly this evens out my skin tone brilliantly. Shadows, redness and imperfections blend in with the rest of my face and it imparts this brilliant 'brightness' to the face. I really don't know how to describe it, but it just makes my skin glow and look a lot healthier. It is also matte, getting rid of any shine, and will set your foundation just like any other powder.

The pink powder is incredibly soft and finely milled. It has a slight scent, basically like baby powder mixed with... something i can't put my finger on. Usually i only use this very lightly and it does just make my face light up somehow. I prefer to use the powder puff that comes with it than a powder or kabuki brush as i find i have a lighter touch when using the puff and with this stuff you really only do need the tiniest bit.

The powder comes in some more practical, classy, but not particularly innovative packaging. A clear, round pot with a black lid and a nice quality white, velvety powder puff in the normal Illamasqua black box. The powder has a sifter which does seem to let a bit too much powder out in my opinion, but is basically your basic powder pot. 

 

My only problem with the product is the price. This stuff is pretty pricey for a powder at £19 for 15g, but it is a unique product and you get a lot for your money. I also don't imagine this would work as well on people with dark skin tones, however they do other colours that would be suitable. 

So it is expensive, but i am happy i own it.