I have to tell you this is one of the most exciting things to happen to my blog yet. My first ever Reader Review…YAY! Not a task to be taken lightly, this ambitious reader has taken a leap of faith and decided to share her most favoured product with the rest of the world. What a good girl she is. And you won’t be disappointed either. She has done a remarkable job and I think she has even sold myself on this product.

So sit back, relax and have a read of our very first Reader Review!

Now let me begin by mentioning that this is not a new product on the market, but since I discovered this gem in a jar over three years ago, it quickly established itself as my HGF (holy grail foundation) and not once have I even thought about road testing another foundation, which is a big feat considering before my HGF I would change foundations as soon as I finished the last bottle, happy with the product but knowing it could be even better. My HGF has survived stints in Sydney and London and the varying weather conditions in both cities, it’s survived when my skin is bad and when it’s great – So when I say “I heart this product’” I really do and I feel strongly that when one finds a HG product of any kind it is their duty to share the love with everyone!

But I digress, let’s kick off this review with the packaging and although you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, in this case you probably can as just like the product itself, the packaging manages to pack in loads of features. Small and easy to hold, the clear jar let’s you can see how much product you have, the built-in soft sponge allows for mess free application and the mirror on the lid is great for touch ups when you’re out and about. Now the product itself is a finely milled mineral foundation which is easy to apply with the sponge applicator, which I lightly puff and glide over my skin which disperses the mineral powder evenly and results in an airbrushed perfect finish- you know when you take a photo slightly out of focus and everything looks soft and pretty? Yes well that’s the effect this product has on my skin. Speaking of photos, no need to worry about the SPF giving you ghost face like some other SPF foundations do – in three years it hasn’t happened once and I’m known to be a bit of a paparazzi bandit on a night out!

So what else makes this my HGF? Well as a mineral foundation it’s kind to my skin, never causing a breakout, plus it’s easy to remove. It literally takes me less then a minute to apply, in fact I’m sure it takes me less than 30 seconds on average, which is great when I’m getting ready in a rush, which is pretty much ALL the time. It gives me a genuine flawless finish that is neither shiny or matt and is easily buildable, however I love that I can still see my Cindy Crawford beauty spot peeking through.
On a normal office day, it lasts me from 8-6 without touch ups, however as I’m prone to a bit of t-zone oiliness by the end of a working day I probably could do with a bit of blotting on the odd occasion.

Now because I adore this product and want you to as well, let me offer up some handy hints…

Don’t be put off by the sponge applicator becoming unsanitary after a few uses – it’s actually removable, so I wash mine with a cream cleanser and warm water and leave it to air dry – Easy! And if you’re in the US you can even buy replacement sponges. Alternatively, if you’re more comfortable applying mineral foundation with a brush you can screw off the applicator to access the product.

“Some users” ahem…initially may try to get product onto the applicator by slapping the applicator/jar on their face rather hard and found this uncomfortable… yes well I quickly discovered that by giving the applicator/jar a sharp tap on the corner of the lid, the product easily disperses onto the sponge and is ready to apply gently to my face – minus the uncomfortable face slapping. I then use the excess product contained in the lid as a concealer, by collecting some with my finger and patting on the spots that need a bit of extra coverage.

Try this if…

You’ve always wanted to give mineral foundation a go but have been put off by the messy application
Want a super easy and quick to apply all in one foundation, concealer, powder and SPF
Want natural coverage, that’s buildable and gives a soft glow.

I want…how much and where?

AU $72 RRP- Available in three shades (natural, beige and bronze) from Mecca Cosmetica in store or online. You can also order from the Philosophy US website where seven shades are available but international shipping is super exxy.

Give it a go – I hope you’ll love this product as much as I do!

PlastiquE, Sydney, Australia

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