Today's Special: The Best $60.00 You Will EVER Spend

After a certain *ahem* age, a complexion product becomes a necessity for most women. The appearance of an even skin tone is the main reason that foundations for the face were created. Women need/want their skin to look it's youngest and best possible with minor effort. In my 20's I got by quite nicely with a tinted moisturizer (aka:BB Cream today) and a bronzer.  After 40 what I realized is that I was missing out on a most magical product. Why had I wasted so much time avoiding foundation?

I know exactly why. I hear the reason almost every day in my store. Foundations got a bad rap for years because of one simple thing. Everyone remembers a girl from high school that always had that tell tale line of demarcation at her chin. Definition: her foundation was too dark for her skin tone which resulted in what we call "floating head syndrome". Two dramatically different tones from head to neck. And if that wasn't enough to make you swear to all that is holy that you would never look like that-said girl from high school ALWAYS wore a white shirt that left a foundation smear all over the collar. Amiright?

Women always say, "I don't wear foundations because I don't want anything heavy on my skin."

I get it-believe me I do because I feel exactly the same way. But trust me when I tell you-foundations have come a long way since the days of that girl from high school. Somebody must have clued the major brands in on this syndrome because technology has perfected the product into simple, subtle, beautiful and LIGHT WEIGHT foundations for all skin types. Matching to your own skin can be tricky but mastered using a simple swatch test at the counter. Once you have chosen the perfect formula for your needs, choose three colors that you think are close to your color and swipe them in a stripe next to each other on your chin. Blend in until you find one that disappears. This is the winner!

Vincent Longo has created one of the best foundations on the market today. Water Canvas Foundation is a creme to powder foundation like no other-and here's the crazy thing-I'm not recommending this as your only foundation. I am recommending this for finishing areas and for touch ups. This product is the most perfect compact foundation to carry in your purse. And it's simply the best $60.00 you will ever spend.

I know you are thinking 'She's crazy! I'm not spending $57.00 on a foundation to carry in my purse.' My response to that is once you try/buy/fall in love with this product you will agree with me. I apply my regular foundation (Kevyn Aucoin Liquid Fondation) with a mineral powder and bronzer for the day-then I use the Vincent Longo Water Canvas around my eye area (on the lid and under the eye area) and my nose and chin WITH MY FINGERS. Yes ladies-I use my fingers.  Can you believe it? I'm not recommending you use some $20-$35.00 tool to apply this product. The fingers that God gave you are the perfect tool to apply this product flawlessly. One to two swirls (do not dig) of your finger over this creamy, pliable product applied to the face is damn near perfect. And here's the BEST thing about Vincent Longo's Water Canvas Foundation, use it mid day, with your fingers for a touch up around the eye area, nose, cheek and chin area and blend outward for the freshest, most flawless touch up EVER!!!!

Call me a liar.
Call me whatever you want-but I challenge you to not try this product and love it.
It's the anti- "Floating Head Syndrome" product for the most curious foundation lover.

SHOP VINCENT LONGO WATER CANVAS NOW
These are the most popular colors:
Bisque #5
Warm Beige #6
Sandy Beige #7
Golden Beige #8

Today's Special:Ready For Prime Time

*this one's for the ladies. Sorry Fellas.

I'm more than certain, while out shopping for a new foundation, you have come across a foundation primer. Yes? No?

And I'm also more than certain if you did come across one, that you pondered whether or not you needed to add this extra step into your already, jam packed, beauty regimen.

Why?, you probably wondered. Do I really need it?

My answer to that is do we ever really need anything? But I can tell you definitively that if you wear foundation, you really need a good foundation primer. Women wear foundation for two simple reasons: to even out skin tones and for coverage of skin imperfections. Most women apply foundation once a day, in the morning, and hope that their foundation will last for the entire day. By wearing a foundation primer, a woman can almost guarantee that her foundation will look almost as fresh as when she first applied it, all day long.

Guerlain's Meteorites Light Diffusing Perfecting Primer is my first choice for priming excellence. What makes this product so great is that it's easy pump formula is made to smooth out skin, control color imperfections and slightly camouflage blemishes. The small pearl beads you see reflect light and give the skin a luminous glow. And its easy; two pumps smoothed over cleansed skin and you're ready to go. It gives foundation the perfect base to do it's job.

Next up: Smashbox's Photo Finish Primer

Smashbox is quickly becoming a favorite line of mine because of it's product excellence. My mom introduced me to it, as she is the Queen of QVC, and I have to admit being a bit of a snob about it at first and slow to try it.


Boy, was I wrong. So much so, that I am seriously looking into adding the line to my store. Yes, I love it that much.


Photo Finish is no exception. This gel based foundation primer is loaded with antioxidants like green tea and is rich in vitamins A and E. Not only is it good for your skin, but it fills in fine lines and wrinkles and provides a smooth, flawless canvas for your makeup. It can also be purchased in a similar formula with an SPF 15.

I also love Kevyn Aucoin Primer.

I sell this product and the entire Kevyn Aucoin Line at my store. This small, skinny pump bottle packs a serious primer, that is portable, which makes it perfect for travel. If you have the chance, swipe a bit onto the back of your hand and feel how smoothing and supple this product leaves the skin, when applied before foundation.

Bottom line, if you wear foundation, I recommend the one two punch of a primer/foundation combo. For long lasting wearibility, smoothing of fine lines and wrinkles and keeping foundations color true, a primer is your key component.

It will leave you ready for those "close-up" moments.....Mr. Demille.