Best. Foundation. Ever. Chanel Vitalumiere
November 13th, 2009
Author: The Makeup Mole
This is a big call. I mean, how do you choose the best of something that is so specific, and so personal? After all, it is supposed to replicate the skin you’re in. And whilst this is my Number 1, (and 2, and 3) foundation in my kit because of how it meets the demands of my work, it may not be right for you.
But I do want to tell you why I love it so. For a start, it’s nice and dewy, just like gorgeous healthy skin should be. It blends like a dream and doesn’t get dry or cakey. I use this on everyone – models on shoots, real people, for the red carpet, for the shows, straight beauty, advertising – I can hardly think of a job I DON’T use it on. You can sheer it out or beef up the coverage, go all over or just where needed, use it with a brush or a sponge or your fingers. Sigh. Can you tell I’m still enamoured after all these years?
Oh sure I’ve toyed with many other foundations – in fact I have a drawer full at home! Even other Chanel foundations don’t rock my socks off like Vitalumiere. I flirted with Teint Innocence and had a brief decamp to Pro Lumiere (too heavy for winter, doable for those who like a more matte finish), but always, always I go back to my trusty VL (I’m Australian so we abbreviate everything, even things that shouldn’t be abbreviated, like Chanel products). Anyways…
It does have its drawbacks however – if you have very oily skin it might be too glowy for you. For me it doesn’t matter because I’m always there to top up with powder to keep the shine at the right level, but equally if you live in a hot or sunny climate (Australia and the American South, I’m talking to YOU!) it’s probably going to move around too much and be a bit heavy. In which case can I recommend something lighter like MAC Face and Body, or Chantecaille’s Oil Free Future Skin?
Chanel Vitalumiere only comes in 7 shades in Europe, so it’s great for lighter skintones, not so ace for black or mixed race people – this is the only downside of this foundation for me. So I keep Bobbi Brown and Becca foundations also in my kit to cover all the bases – so to speak!
Vitalumiere gives your skin the glow it wishes it had, and every makeup artist I know has this in their kit. For me as a makeup artist, it’s the Best. Foundation. Ever.
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I wish this came in darker shades. I’ve read so many reviews that it just makes me mad that I can’t get my hands on it now!
I love the way it looks but the overpowering perfume irritates my eyes!
please help me!!i have a foundation dilemma!!i tried mac face and body foundation as i heard alot of celebrities wear this lol.it said it was a sheer foundation and i thought this would be great as i have good skin but just need to even out my skin tone and cover a bit of redness..but it only worked if i put concealer underneath the foundation..and i found it to be very disappointing when i took pictures…it was sooo shiny (and i have dry skin) and it was very whitey (colour C3).
Then i brought mac satinfinish in nc30 because i like a glowy look but this too was a bit disappointing as it looked too yellow and shiney and only looked good when i put alot of powder!!
so was wondering why isnt mac working for me?lol…maybe im not getting the right shades.
i usually wear lancome photogenic make up which i love but it also needs alot of powder to set it in!so im going to buy this chanel one soon and see how this turns out!wish me luck!
thanks
xxxxx
Hold off on getting the Chanel for the moment, as I think the foundations you’ve been buying are too glowy for your skin type. Don’t feel bad that the MAC foundations aren’t right on you – you aren’t the only one! Their colour range isn’t great on everyone, so I’d try another range if I were you. Foundation is such a personal thing and you have to get the colour AND the finish right for your skin, so it’s tricky without me seeing you in person, but I’m going to suggest a few to try, and then if I were you, I’d go to the counter and either ask for a sample to try at home, or at the minimum get the counter staff to put it on you so you can see it in natural daylight. It’s almost impossible to buy a foundation without trying it on, and it’s such a waste of money if it lives in a drawer instead of your makeup bag!
The MAC face and Body is super sheer and sounds like insufficient coverage, and too me sounds like you have dry but shiny skin (sounds weird but I have the same thing, so I know it’s possible!) You want a foundation that covers redness, looks like skin but is not going to look too shiny on, so I wouldn’t recommend Chanel Vitalumiere for you – it’s going to be look greasy. I would actually try the Chantecaille Future Skin foundation (that’s what I use myself) as it doesn’t add more oil to the skin. The Armani Luminous Silk is also a nice option with a good colour range, but it may be too greasy for you as well (but worth a try if you have an Armani counter near you). You could also try the Bobbi Brown Smooth Skin foundation – I haven’t tried this one myself but it sounds good on the website for skin like yours and her colour range is fantastic. For powder I am currently loving the La Metiere de Beaute one, or as always, Laura Mercier Translucent powder. My top pick for you to try would the be Chantecaille Future Skin which you can get at Space NK. Let me know how you get on, and good luck!
hmmm didnt think my skin was shiny..but maybe thats the case…i prob dont use the best powders so should change that first!!
ooooooooooh really like the sound of chantecaille future skin and armani but i live two hours away from a armani counter!!damn
i dont know why but im itching to try the chanel foundation ..i have a problem lol
will def update you on my progess
thanks for this
xxxxxxx
Sorry, I must have misunderstood your question – I thought if all the glowy foundations were too shiny then perhaps your skin was already quite sheeny! But if not then the Chanel Vitalumiere would probably be OK. Do get them to test it on you at the counter first though, and go and have a coffee or something while it settles and you can decide if you like it. The Armani counter does sound like a bit of a trek! Good luck with it.
Hey, would you recommend the Vitalumière for dry skin and what is your preferred method of applying it? Also, is it necessary to set with powder if I have dry skin anyway? Does it photograph well? Thanks!
Yes, Vitalumiere is a great foundation for dry skin as it gives a lovely glow. I use a sponge (or sometimes a brush), to dab it on only where needed, ie patches of redness, around the nose etc. You only need to set with powder if your skin appears more shiny that you would like, and you don’t need to use the powder all over – just through the t-zone is fine. It is a good idea however to set your under-eye concealer with a powder, which I like to do with a small, fluffy brush and a nice loose translucent powder (currently either Laura Mercier Translucent or La Metier de Beaute loose powder). I love the way Vitalumiere photographs – in Europe it’s my principal foundation for photographic work. I hope that helps!
Thank you very much, that was helpful! I will definitely check it out.
how about the best powder foundation with dewy or luminous finish?
To be honest I’m not big on powder foundations as I don’t particularly like their finish on the skin, so I haven’t tried that many (and the ones I have tried I haven’t liked!) However Chanel have just released the Vitalumiere in a powder version, and although I haven’t tried it I imagine it has the same glowy properties as the liquid. It might be worth a look?
I just got this foundation in 20! It is lovely!! I have the weirdest thing though, I’m not sure if it’s the result of sun or what (because I NEVER sun tan). But my face is fair and pink toned, but my neck and shoulders are more yellow toned. It’s quite annoying, and I find myself leaning towards foundations with more of a yellow base to even up my neck and face. It doesn’t look unnatural because I find that there isn’t much of a tone difference but more of an undertone difference, so my body isn’t much darker than my face, just a different undertone.
This foundation is great though, I feel like it covers and neutralises a bit of the pink in my cheeks and face, and makes me skin flawless.
Thanks for the review! I’ll probably write a review soon too, with my own experiences!
Strangely enough, bodies do tend to be more yellow than faces (I don’t know why). The Chanel Vitalumiere as a range does tend to be on the pinker side – Bobbi Brown has great foundations for yellow-er toned skin. I look forward to reading your Chanel review!
Yeah what with Bobbi Browns philosophy about yellow undertones. We have the most gorgeous department store here in South Africa and the Chanel counter is right by a massive window, well the whole place is glass, so it was great to be able to see exactly how the colour looks in daylight. I think the fact that the Chanel’s aren’t too yellow is a good thing, I don’t want to completely change my undertone, but rather match it up.
The 20 really is perfect, although they were out of stock because they said women come in there and buy it buy the crap loads, they said it’s by far their best seller.
So I managed to get it from another department store a while later. That break was good because it allowed me to wear the foundation that they applied for a day and see if I still liked it.
It’s always a good idea to wear the foundation for awhile to see if you like it (especially checking it in the light outside!) I’m glad you like the Chanel, it’s still my Number 1 foundation.
I have the palest shade but it’s still to dark for me… What would you recommend mixing it with to lighten it?
I would use a little bit of MAC Face and Body foundation in White to pale it up a bit – it’s a water based foundation so it mixes well with most foundations. In future, for very pale skins I love the Becca range of foundations – they not only do pale foundations but a range of skintones within the pale range. It’s well worth looking at. I hope that helps!
I really like the sound of the chanel make up. I used to wear mac for about 2 years but decided it was too heavy for my skin. I have a lot of redness and some breakouts so need good coverage but hate using anything too thick. I have tried bare minerals, dior, and estee lauder double wear which is quite good but doesnt look great. Like i said i dont have brilliant skin and it tends to become shiny during the day but dry in the morning?!? Any advice would be great!! Thanks
Without actually meeting you in person it’s always hard to give makeup recs, but it sounds to me like you are on the right track of looking for a lighter foundation. With any type of problem skin, the natural inclination is to go for a heavy coverage foundation (like Estee Lauder Double Wear). Unfortunately this often looks too heavy and mask like, so I would definitely recommend something lighter. The Chanel Vitalumiere could be a good option, although I’m a bit concerned it might be too shiny if your skin tends to get shiny during the day. Get them to try it on you at the counter at Chanel and see how it wears, but another good option would be the Armani Luminous Silk foundation. It has good coverage with some sheen in it, but less than the Chanel VL. I would recommend a good oil-free moisturiser (Clinique do a good one), and only apply the foundation with a sponge where needed. Finally you will need a good palette concealer (like Becca or Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage) which you can dab on spots with a brush (MAC make good brushes that aren’t super expensive). Finally a good loose or pressed translucent powder you can apply later in the day with a powder brush will solve the shiny problem.
I know that probably sounds like loads of products, but if you were a face in my chair, that’s what I would use. It sounds to me like you are looking for a more natural finish to your makeup, whilst covering what needs to be covered, and that’s what I would recommend to do it.
Thissounds lovely, I currently use Armani Luminous Silk – but find that it has virtually disappeared by midday – also I have been using this for abotu five years – and in the meantime my skin has developed very bad pigmentation – which I feel the foundation doesnt quite cover – However I still really like to have a natural look! Am I wanting the impossible? Or do you think this foundation could be the one…?
The Armani Luminous Silk is lovely, but I know other people who have had that problem. There is no guarantee that the Chanel Vitalumiere wouldn’t do the same thing on your skin, as they are both reasonably similar foundations (although the Chanel VL is a slightly heavier weight foundation).
As you have some pigmentation issues, I would actually recommend that you invest in a good concealer (like Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage), and apply with a small brush on the affected areas. Then you could use a nice lightweight foundation just on areas that get a bit red, like the chin and around the nose I really like the Myface MyMix foundation at the moment and will be posting on it soon. It’s like a heavy tinted moisturiser, so it gives enough coverage to make your skin look radiant, without being heavy. But without the good concealer, you’ll never be able to cover your pigmentation, no foundation would be enough. A light foundation and a good concealer I think you will find will do the job.
(The other bonus about Myface foundation is it’s twelve pounds, as opposed to thirty!)
I recently bought Vitalumiere in the lightest shade available where I live: #10 Limpide. I LOVE the texture and finish of the foundation, however it is still way to dark for my pale, warm NC15 skin :( Silly me, I normally do the daylight test but I was so exited to get it lol.
I’ve read online that there is an even lighter shade called ‘Diaphane’ but none of the Chanel counters here seem to have it. Do you know if it would be a more suitable match for me and if it is available in Europe?
Thank you!
It is such a shame that Vitalumiere doesn’t come paler than Limpide – I haven’t heard of the paler shade that you speak of. However it may be an Asian exclusive, and you could try enquiring at the Chanel counter at Selfridges in London (if that’s convenient for you), as that counter is an international one, and they may stock it.
Otherwise you could try paling up your Limpide with some MAC Face and Body in White – this will make it paler but it may still be too pink for your skin tone. Bobbi Brown’s new range of Skin foundation has a similar finish to Chanel Vitalumiere but is more on the yellow side, so that might also be an option. Foundation is one of those things that is a real trial and error process.
Hello,
I ended up ordering the lightest shade available (Diaphane 0.2) from Saks 5th Avenue. They had this lighter colour only in the reformulated version of VL available in the States called ‘Moisture-rich Radiance Fluid Makeup’. However, it not really like the ‘Satin Smoothing’ version of VL – very disappointing. Also, my skin has changed from being super dry to combination-oily so I switched to the Pro Lumiere and I am in love with it! (Although it is still a tad too dark in Limpide, I now have a tiny bit of a tan and can get away with it).
Can you recommend me a good setting powder? I was thinking Laura Mercier or Chanel (does the poudre cristalline have actual glitter particles in it?)?
Also, can you put powder blush directly on top of liquid foundation? I did this and it does not work that well and sometimes ends up blotchy, I am thinking it might be the quality of the blushes (MAC) or I am using the wrong brush… Could you give me some tips regarding this and do you have any favourite brand of powder blushes and blush brushes (I have quite a small face so I can’t use any big brushes).
Thanks and I hope you don’t mind me asking all those questions!
Anna x
PS: Is there any chance of you starting a youtube channel?
I’m sorry to hear that you weren’t happy with the Chanel Vitalumiere. The Pro Lumiere is definitely a better choice if you have oily skin. I’m glad that you’ve found a foundation that you like!
For setting powder I would use the Laura Mercier loose translucent powder if you have oily skin. The Chanel Crystalline is good under the eyes or for people with dry or dull looking skin. If your skin is already on the oily side, the Crystalline powder will make it look shinier in the T-zone (where you want to be matte).
In terms of blush, you can definitely use powder blush over liquid foundation, and in fact powder blush will last longer on oily skin. It sounds to me like your brush could be the problem. I would go for something with a small domed head, like the MAC 109 Small Contour brush. Then smile, and apply softly to the apples of cheeks and blend out with a clean sponge or another soft clean brush. MAC blushes are quite good, but the colour may be too strong for you if you are quite pale. Switching to a softer version of the same colour can be good. I love Chanel powder blushes, they are my favourite and come in lots of beautiful colours for us paler ladies. You can tap the brush head on the inside of your wrist first to get rid of most of the colour – it’s easier to apply a little bit and then build!
I have been thinking more of late about a Youtube channel – can I ask what you would like me to cover if I started doing them? Thank you – your input would be most helpful! I hope all that helps.
I would like to know which shadow in Vitalumiere foundation is best for someone
who prefers subtle yellow or orange subtones, and Iam not very dark, just medium.
Thanks for your answer
Without meeting you in person it would be very difficult for me to say – I don’t know what the undertones on your skin are or what type of skin you have, as Vitalumiere is not for everyone. If you can get to a Chanel counter for them to colour match your skin that would be best, although I know that’s not always possible. In my work I tend to use Vitalumiere in 20 and 30 the most (depending on what country I’m working in). Sorry I can’t be of my help on this.
I’ve found your post very helpful so thank you! I was just wondering (I have generally dry skin) you say in one of your reply’s that you recommend setting concealer with loose powder – would you always recommend this? Also the Laura Mecier translucent powder you mentioned; is it Laura Mercier loose setting powder or the compact one and what brush would you recommend?
I’m glad you found the post helpful! Setting concealer with translucent powder is usually good because it helps it stay, however if you don’t seem to have trouble with it creasing and moving throughout the day (which you might find is OK if you have dry skin), then it sounds like you don’t need it. I use powder only to cut shine and to stop cream products (like concealer) moving.
If you did want to get a powder I recommend loose if you use it at home, and a compact if you want to pop it in your handbag to use during the day (it’s a portability thing really!) For brushes I like the Ruby and Millie Enhance Brush in 10mm that comes in a short and long handle. Let me know if you have trouble finding the Ruby and Millie in your area as it’s a UK brand, and I can recommend something else. It’s my favourite though, and works well with loose and pressed powder.
Hi there,
I have just discovered your page and think it could possibly be my most fav page ever!! You explain things in such a way that everyone can understand you!
I too love Chanel foundations and started using Mat Lumiere in 20, but have found that it is too matte for my skin, and leaves my skin looking flat rather than with a nice glow. I have oily/ combination skin and thought this would be perfect as I find it hard to find a foundation that will stay on my skin, hence why I look for long lasting foundations. I have tried every foundation under the sun at the moment I am testing out DiorSkin Forever Extreme Wear, which I am finding is quite good, but not my holy grail foundation! I would love to try Chanel VL, which Chanel foundation would you recommend for me, and which powder do you think would work best over it for my skin type?
Thank you so much!
Thank you, that’s lovely of you to say! I’m so glad you find MM helpful.
I also find Chanel Mat Lumiere to be an incredibly matte foundation, and if I have a client with oily skin, I tend to use Chanel Pro Lumiere instead. It is not so shiny as Chanel Vitalumiere (which I wouldn’t recommend if you have oily skin) but it is definitely lighter than the Mat Lumiere. Bobbi Brown’s Natural Finish Long Lasting foundation is also good for oily skins. Using a good Oil-Free moisturiser is also key – I like Clinique’s Oil-Free moisturiser. For powder my favourites are Laura Mercier, La Metier de Beaute loose powder, and if it’s summer Shu Uemura Face Powder Matte applied with a brush (for sheer coverage), or a rolled up puff and pressed into the skin (for real staying power and shine control).
Thanks for a great site – you give such a wide range of useful advice!
I am particularly grateful for your articles on foundation. I am in my 40s and loathe wearing makeup as it just seems to give me spots :( However in order not to look totally hideous I sometimes use Prescriptives tinted skin fluid as it is very light. But, horrors, my local department store has stopped doing it.
Do you have any recommendations for older skin that needs something to make me ‘smoother’? I am pale and freckled with blue eyes. And if I use foundation do I need powder too? I usually give myself a dusting of the Benefit powder – think it’s called dandelion.
Thanks for your time
I’m so glad you find it helpful! Yes, sadly Prescriptives is no more so you will need to cast your foundation net a bit wider. The foundation I am recommending a lot at the moment, particularly for older skins and people who like light coverage, is Myface foundation (not sure if you’re in the UK though?) You can buy at it at Boots chemists in the UK, and it’s a fantastic foundation – I’m due to do a review on it very soon. It has a lightweight, silky texture and really mimics skin. Just use it on red areas or where your skin needs it, and you can easily apply with fingers.
In terms of powder, if your skin doesn’t get shiny I wouldn’t worry too much, but you may need some in summer when the weather is hot (most people do). Benefit Dandelion although it’s called a face powder I would consider to be more of a blush, and I would recommend you use that on your cheeks as it’s a lovely blush colour, and switch your powder to Laura Mercier Loose translucent powder if you feel you get a bit shiny sometimes.
hello,
I am thinking about changing foundation (I currently use MAC studio fix liquid in NW15) as I think it is often too heavy and I am considering Chanel.
what do you think would be the best shade for me to get? I like being pale and I NEVER tan, also I’ve heard so many reviews of Chanel not being pale enough. could you give me some advice please? thank you!
I think the Chanel Vitalumiere could be a good option for you, however the palest one (10, Limpide), is not as pale as I like for my palest clients. You can mix in MAC Face and Body in White into it to pale it up a bit (but this means buying two foundations), or the other liquid foundation I like is Armani Luminous Silk, and they have a better selection in the paler colours.
Hi,
Well after reading this page I am off to the channel counter, i normally use estee lauder double wear lightweight, which is good for full coverage (i have uneven skin tone and acne scars)but when my friends come round fresh faced I sometimes feel like i have to much make up on, i have tried many other foundations, but not channel, Im looking forward to my make up counter trip, thanks to everyone on the site for questions and advice :)
I’m glad MM has inspired you to try something new! Just make sure that the Chanel Vitalumiere is a good colour match for your skin (there are some skin tones it’s not great on, so I carry other foundations in my kit for those tones). Also if you are switching to a lighter weight foundation (like the Chanel), you might want to look into getting a heavy duty concealer to just conceal where needed, like your acne scars, as the Chanel won’t give you the heavy coverage like Double-wear does. But it will certainly make your skin look better! My favourite heavy concealer is the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, which you apply with a small brush. Have fun in the makeup hall!
hi..am getting married and am looking for the right foundation.I am asian and i have a yellow undertone.i have a combination skin.i dont have any marks or blemishes to hide just few lines and uneven skin tone.I am looking for a foundation that will not crack and last for the whole day and i really want great pictures..i tried few products but the pictures are coming too white like am a giesha and i dont want to look so caked up or too shiny..please can u suggest me sumthing.
It’s very difficult for me to give you a direct recommendation without meeting you and seeing your exact skintone and type, however I can point you to some makeup counters that will hopefully be able to help – you do want great pictures on your wedding day! For clients with more yellow skintones, I find Bobbi Brown is a great brand. Her whole makeup philosophy is based on the yellow tones of the skin (as opposed to the traditional pinker bases from the European houses, like Chanel and YSL). She has a lot of great foundations in her range that you could try, just make sure that you check it in daylight with a mirror to ensure it’s a good match and disappears into your skin. I would think Chanel Vitalumiere would be too pink for you. The other brand that has yellow-ish foundations is MAC in their NC range of tones. They also have a whole range of foundations. The last one is the Armani Luminous Silk foundation which I use quite a bit and have used in the past on bridal clients. Good luck!
Also I don’t know where you live, or when the wedding is – climate has a lot to do with foundation choice, so that info would be useful to help you.
thanks for your suggestion.i live in dubai but i will be having my wedding in december in my village which is in himalayas(middle of no where lol)so its going to be pretty cold.i wont get anything there so i have to buy or order everything well in advance.i have tried gurlain n mac studio fix foundation powders but i still look so caked up..i am going to Bangkok now so i can get hold of bobbi brown or armanifoundation so can u please suggest me what type I should exactly buy.tinted or full coverage or matte.
That’s very helpful, thank you! I think the Bobbi Brown Skin foundation would be good – it’s nice and light, but you may need a concealer for under the eyes or any blemishes. Bobbi Brown have a great range of these as well. Or the Armani Luminous Silk foundation could be good also. Ask at each of the counters for either a sample, or try at the counter by putting some on your jaw, then take a mirror outside into daylight and check it. This is where you will be able to see whether the colour is right for you.
I wouldn’t recommend a powder foundation for you based on what you have told me, so I’m not surprised you are finding them cakey, they are way too heavy and dry for your skin. And a good moisturiser first will make your skin glow!
Hi, just wondering how vitalumiere compares to diorskin nude if you’ve tried it. Both seem to be marketed similarly but I can’t find a perfect colour match with Dior. I’m asian so I have quite a yellow undertone.
I have only seen someone else using the Diorskin Nude, and it does seem to be pretty similar to the Chanel Vitalumiere (although in a pinch I’d say the Diorskin seems to be a slightly heavier foundation). A lot of the European prestige brands don’t do foundation for yellow undertones so well – I’d recommend you check out the Bobbi Brown counter, as she does yellow toned foundations, and also Armani Luminous Skin. I particularly like Bobbi Brown’s Skin foundation from her range at the moment.
Thanks for the suggestion! Would you say Bobbi Brown is good for quite dry skin? That was one of the reasons I was excited about VL.
Bobbi Brown has a couple of really nice foundations for drier skin – the two I particularly like are the Moisturizing Cream Compact which is lovely for heavier coverage (and particularly in colder climates), and the Tinted Moisturizing Balm. This is one of my favourites – be warned though, it adds A LOT of moisture and glow to the skin (so it’s great for dry or mature skins, not so fab for those oilier types out there). It’s more of a lightweight balm so provides less coverage though.
Hi!is VL suitable for normal/combination skin?i wanted a foundation to make my skin glowy..do you think it could work for me?loved the way you described it!!
This is great for giving glowy skin and is best suited to people with dry or normal skins, and best avoided if you’re oily (as it just looks a bit greasy, sadly). You do need to be careful to check that it’s a good colour match for your skin though as there are some skin tones it’s just not right for.
Hi there,
I am so impressed by the thoughtful and details replies here so I thought I would join in! I am 38 and have combination skin. i am currently using Revlon Coulorstay which is fine but not fantastic and I am looking to spend a little more and get something that will really work for me. I have some uneven pigmentation – fairskin but with redness and broken capillaries etc so am looking for reasonable coverage but definitely not something heavy. A friend recommended the Chanel to me but she has very different skin so I am wanting to make sure it will work for me as well.
I haven’t tried the Colourstay foundation yet, but if you’re looking for something higher-end, I do love the Chanel Vitalumiere (but not if you have oily skin). Oilier skins do well with the Chanel Teint Innocence, or for more coverage, Chanel Pro Lumiere. You do need to keep an eye on the colour match with your skin for Chanel, as I find yellower skins are better with Armani Luminous Silk, or something from Bobbi Brown (she has lots of nice foundations). Thank you for your kind words, I do try to take time to answer everyone’s questions as best I can!
PS Also if you do get shiny just on the t-zone, a light dusting of a good loose powder (like Laura Mercier) should sort that out. Use a soft fluffy brush for the best finish.