Foundation Review: L'Oreal Magic Nude

It's rare that I find a product that I am just DYING to blog about but this one fit that description to a T.

These days I've streamlined my makeup routine quite a bit and generally sport the "no makeup" makeup look.  Foundation that is light enough to look like my natural skin but gives me just enough coverage to blur the sun damage and even out the ruddiness in my cheeks and redness around my nose.  Add some eyebrows, a sweep of lipstick, blush and masacara, then I'm done.  Ready in 5 minutes or so.
I have a few requirements for a light foundation.  It can't set in my fine lines or enhance my dry patches, the color needs to reasonably match, it can't break me out, and it needs to wear down nicely.

I had run across some reviews of the relatively new L'Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder foundation ($12) and was eager to test it out.  It has been described as a dupe for the Armani Maestro Fusion foundation ($64), and since both are owned by the same parent company, entirely possible.

Since it was brand new I didn't have a good feel for what color might match me (MAC NC25-30ish) so I picked up shade 318 Natural Buff and 320 Natural Beige.  318 worked well for me during the winter and as I get a little color this summer I'll use the 320.
Here's what the blurb on the website says about it:
"Get the ultimate un-makeup look with Magic Nude Liquid Powder Bare Skin Perfecting Makeup with SPF 18. Revolutionary liquid transforms on contact, leaving a soft powder like finish. This foundation is so amazingly lightweight it's like wearing no makeup at all! Just shake and apply – it’s magic!" So how does it live up to that bit of fluff?  Ladies, (and gents out there)  it fucking does.  It has a super lightweight feel to it and blends into your skin like nobody's business.  It sort of has a bit of that silicone primer slip to it, and does seem to get a powdery feel without a powdery LOOK once you've blended it into your skin.  Magic folks.  MAGIC.

You are not going to get a full coverage look to this, and even medium coverage is pushing it.  However if you are looking for just a light-medium evening out of your skin tone, this is your lucky day.  If you have blemishes or really dark circles, concealer will be needed to cover those.

You can see the splotchy cheeks and redness around my nose.  I can't emphasize wearing sun screen enough ladies, the years in the sun will turn you into leathery shoes if you aren't careful.

Some tips on application, shake it well.  Then shake it AGAIN.  The formula can be streaky if you don't shake it up really well.  I usually don't bother with a primer, but DO moisturize first, and wait a few minutes for that to sink into your skin before applying.  This doesn't cling to your dry areas too much but if you are flaking all over the place, any foundation will look awful.   Apply it with your fingers.  I know I know, some of you out there hate using your fingers to apply foundation.  Wash your hands well first, and USE YOUR FINGERS. 

The texture of the foundation is REALLY runny.  I nearly spilled it all over the place the first time I used it, so be careful.  Why this doesn't come in a pump I have no idea.  Pour just a dime-quarter sized amount into your palm and that should be plenty to cover your whole face and blend down your neck a bit.

Dot it on your cheeks, forehead, nose and chin.   Blend it into your skin in circular motions, and areas you need a teeny bit more coverage you can pat a bit on, but don't go overboard.  It's supposed to be light coverage remember.  

It isn't a long wearing foundation but it fades evenly by the end of the day so you don't have weird patchy areas that sometimes happens with the long wear kinds.  I have combination to oily skin and by the 8 hr mark I have a bit of a glow to my T zone but nothing that screams to be powdered or blotted away.  

This is a really nice every day kind of foundation to have.  I love that it applies smoothly and looks great without any work required.  Pretty in natural light dontcha think?

Packaging: C+

Color Match: A+

Longevity: B

Finish: A+

OVERALL GRADE:  B+

DISCLAIMER:  I bought this with my own money and am not affiliated with L'Oreal at all.  All opinions are solely my own.

Battle of the Top Coats: Seche Vite vs Out the Door

So I've been a die hard fan of Seche Vite (~$8-10 at your drugstore) for years.  It is the top coat I return to time and again after straying and trying to find a cheaper yet equally awesome alternative.  There are a few unique characteristics of Seche Vite that I haven't found in other brands. 

You apply it while your polish is still WET and it bonds to the color and smooths out any ridges and leaves a wet shine like no other.  It lives up to its name and dries fast within just a few minutes, and if you leave it to cure for at least ten you won't have any issues with smudges. 

One of the problems with Seche Vite is that the formula thickens up really quickly in the bottle.  I never get more than half way thru a bottle before it's so thick that it gets tossed or needs Seche Restore to thin it out.  So that's another $8 to keep it from getting goopy.  For someone who buys nail color on impulse and usually sticks to the cheapo $1.99 Sinful Colors polishes, I hate shelling out that much for a top coat.  However since I do use cheap ass polishes, they start chipping before even a day is out.  Thus the catch 22.  Use a good top coat to squeeze out a couple extra days from a manicure.

This time a top coat that I'd read from a beauty blog that might compare to Seche Vite was Out The Door.  I'd never heard of it before and was immediately intrigued.  I found it at my local Walgreen's for only $4-5 and had to try it out.  Just to test with some of the most chip prone polishes I own, the color is Oceanside from Sinful Colors.

Upon first application I could see that the Seche Vite side leaves you with a thicker glossier top layer.  All the ridges that happen when a polish doesn't auto level well are nicely disguised and  the color just looks better.  The drying time was very similar though and I didn't have any issues with smudging in the hours after application.  

After 5 days of wear, both showed chipping but there was a definite improved wear on the Seche Vite side.

I would normally change my mail color after 3 days and Out the Door might work in a pinch but Seche Vite still wins the Battle of the Top Coats over all.