Reviewed by Joey

I loved Nutra-Lift Foundation in warm beige ($24 inc shipping in the TIA shop).  As I mentioned, I have been using Bare Escentuals for several years and wanted to try something new.  I have not used foundation per se in years. The most I used was tinted moisturizer by Laura Mercier for the past 10 years.

The Nutra-Lift Foundation goes on smoothly and does not accentuate or settle in any of my facial lines. It looks very natural. Since it is summer and my skin is slightly tanned, I would have probably chosen the darker shade. However this was my true shade. It matched perfectly.

We are currently offering 20% off Nutra-Lift Foundation. Click here and use the coupon code FOUNDATION20.

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Fans of Nutra-Lift, rejoice! Your love of Nutra-Lift’s natural ingredients and visible benefits has made this line one of the best sellers in the TIA Shop. Last month, we added Nutra-Lift’s 89% Organic Foundation (very favorably reviewed by Laura) to the TIA Shop, and now we’re offering a 20% off promotion. That means Nutra-Lift Foundation can be yours for less than $20. Did we mention that you’ll also get complimentary shipping?

Nutra-Lift’s foundation is available in ten different shades, from vanilla beige to cream mocha. The consistency is lightweight and easily blendable. The ingredients speak for themselves, with 89% coming from organic sources. As an added bonus, the foundation provides SPF 18 protection with the dual physical sun blockers zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Get yours by visiting Nutra-Lift Foundation in the TIA Shop and entering the coupon code FOUNDATION20 at checkout.

Ingredients:

Aloe barbadensis (certified organic aloe) juice, simmondsia chinensis (certified organic jojoba), iron oxide, mica, titanium dioxide, natural emulsifying wax, natural mixed tocopherols (vitamin E), hyaluronic acid, vitamin C ester, alpha lipoic acid, zinc oxide, phenoxyethanol (organic derived compound), dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), stearic acid, CoQ10, limnanthes alba (meadowfoam), daucus carota sativa (carrot extract), methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), konjac glucomannan (mannan), rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary extract), azadirachta indica (neem extract), tetrasodium edta, citric acid.

Active SPF Ingredients: Titanium dioxide 9%, zinc oxide 1%.

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Regular TIA readers know about Marta’s love for Nutra-Lift products. Their lotions, shampoos, conditioners, face washes and serums are sold in the TIA store and are beloved by our readers for their natural, earth-friendly ingredients and effectiveness. I bought a friend their White Chocolate Body Butter and happily held onto the sample of their Non-Soap Cleanser that came with it for myself. My only complaint is that their packaging seems hopelessly outdated (very early 90’s), but that’s no reflection on what is inside of the bottles.

When I saw that Nutra-Lift makes makeup products I was eager to try one, so they sent a few free samples for us to choose from. I selected the “Natural Nude” tone, which is a light color with a distinctly pinkish tone. I’m afraid it’s a touch too light for my just-getting-a-suntan skin, so it’ll probably be a winter choice for me.

It’s got a thin consistency, even after shaking the bottle, and it blends onto the skin easily. I apply with fingertips as opposed to a sponge (dirty makeup sponges gross me out) after my moisturizer has had a few minutes to sink in the morning and had no problems with absorption. I only wear a little bit of foundation to cut shine and lightly cover up freckles and undereye circles so can’t speak to how well this covers up bigger flaws like pimples or scars but it feels fairly thin and I’m not sure it’s up to the challenge. It didn’t feel heavy or oily like the Almay Pure Blends I’ve been using all winter. More about that later.

I love the ingredients. It is 89% organic, paraben free and has SPF 18 (from zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) built right in. Aloe has amino acids and is soothing meadowfoam encourages skin moisture and hyaluronic acid is another super-moisturizer. Neem is another TIA favorite as it is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that combats free radicals. I reviewed a sunscreen with Neem oil for TIA last summer.

If I adopt this, it means I’ll be ditching the Almay Pure Blends makeup that I have been using all winter. I’ve not been overly pleased with it. It was inexpensive and the ingredients are overally good for a drugstore brand but I find that it separates too easily in the bottle in spite of shaking and is a touch too oily for my liking. It was fine for dry winter climates but moist NYC summers do not make me inclined to use anything that’ll ultimately add shine to my face.

At $24 for .3 oz, Nutra-Lift’s foundation costs more than I’ve ever spent on makeup before but since I’m trying to rid improve my cosmetics collection piece by piece, I think it’ll last a long time and be worth the change.

Ingredients:

Aloe barbadensis (certified organic aloe) juice, simmondsia chinensis (certified organic jojoba), iron oxide, mica, titanium dioxide, natural emulsifying wax, natural mixed tocopherols (vitamin E), hyaluronic acid, vitamin C ester, alpha lipoic acid, zinc oxide, phenoxyethanol (organic derived compound), dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), stearic acid, CoQ10, limnanthes alba (meadowfoam), daucus carota sativa (carrot extract), methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), konjac glucomannan (mannan), rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary extract), azadirachta indica (neem extract), tetrasodium edta, citric acid.

Active SPF Ingredients: Titanium dioxide 9%, zinc oxide 1%.

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I recently got my hands on E.L.F.’s Mineral Lip Gloss in Au Naturale ($3). What I really love about this lip gloss is it is said to be 100% mineral based with no parabens, preservatives, or chemical dyes. Instead, they have moisturizing coconut oil and antioxidant protection from castor seed oil. It also contains vitamins A (in the form of anti-wrinkling retinol) and E plus UV blocking titanium dioxide. Additionally, it has hydrogenated polyisobutene, which is an excellent emollient that also prevents water loss.

The color is a pretty sheer tint. This one specifically (Au Naturale) has a little shimmer in it too which is spring/summer perfect. I have to reapply ever few hours since it doesn’t have the best staying power, but for $3 it’s a bargain you won’t have to feel guilty about.

E.l.f. mineral glosses are available at eyeslipsface.com.

Ingredients

Mineral Oil, Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) Oil, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Mica, Silica, Tocopherol Acetate(VE), Retinol(VA), Titanium Dioxide （CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Mica (CI 77019).

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As mentioned in Marta’s review of Arbonne’s new RE9 line,  the company also launched their brand new, full-range cosmetics line last week. They say that it uses “optilight technology”, which works to diffuse light to create a soft-touch effect while still letting the skin breathe. Their Perfecting Liquid Foundation ($40) and Sheer Finish Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15 ($36) were my introduction to the line, and wow – I don’t even know where to begin singing their praises!

First a quick look at some of the ingredients. The active ingredient in both is sun-protecting zinc oxide. They also have a slew of anti-aging forces including polypeptides, buddleja davidii extract (which we noted in an earlier review, has wound healing phenylethanoids, antioxidant flavenoids like the powerful quercetin, and anti-inflammatory saponins) and marrubium vulgare extract, or white horehound, which also protects against UV damage. Additionally, they hold bragging rights to the anti-wrinkling sugar molecule ribose which prevents skin tissue breakdown. The tinted moisturizer also contains sodium PCA, a naturally occurring humectant which absorbs and locks in moisture from the air, and ethyl macadamiate, a plant based alternative to silicone from the fatty acid of macadamia oil. All great anti-aging and moisturizing ingredients expected from the botanically-based ethos of Arbonne.

Furthermore, tests were conducted to measure moisture and breathability, and they found that the moisture content increased 30% with the foundation and 57% with the tinted moisturizer and both were found to be as breathable as naked skin.

Now for starters, I’m not much of a tinted moisturizer OR liquid foundation gal…and that’s totally not because I have perfect skin (boy, I wish!). Rather, tinted moisturizers end up being not enough coverage, and on the other end of the spectrum, liquid foundation feels too cakey and heavy to me for everyday wear. That’s partly due to the mineral makeup craze when I switched over to powders. After finding that the powders really weren’t a great color match for my tan skin though, I was already too adapted to the light coverage to go back to liquid. Instead, I had relied on a small balmy concealer and not much else.

So, when I received both full sized products, I was a little skeptical. I decided to start off testing the tinted moisturizer. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was a perfect mix of a light moisturizer without skimping on the coverage. The ones I’ve used in the past just felt like they wouldn’t stay in place throughout the day – not this one. It not only felt like it gave me a smoother canvas (goodbye visible pores), but it was sheer enough to give me a brighter, dewy look. Incredible.

Now with way more confidence in the products, I moved on to trying out the foundation on days when I felt I needed a little more. The foundation spread easily and didn’t feel heavy at all. In fact, it really felt as ‘light-as-air’ as the company touts. Also, happy to report that I had no breakouts from either products as I’ve experienced in the past – including the one time I broke out so bad from a drugstore liquid foundation, I had to make my very first appointment with the dermatologist. Not fun.

I can honestly say I never felt so comfortable in liquid makeup as I have with these two products from Arbonne. They have found a long term home in my makeup cabinet!

Sheer Finish Tinted Moisturizer Ingredients

Water, cyclopentasiloxane, zinc oxide, isododecane, hydrogenated polydecene, polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate, polymethylsilsesquioxance, glycerin, HDI/trimethylol hexyliactone crosspolymer, popanedial, dimethicone, hydrogenated castor oil, magnesium sulfate, ribose, avena sativa (oat) kernal extract, camellia sinesis leaf extract, alaria esculenta extract, buddleja davidii extract, thymus vulgaris (thyme) extract, marrubium vulgare extract, hexapeptide-10, tocopheryl acetate, retinyl palmitate, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, aminobutyric acid, caprylic/capric triglyceride, sodium hyaluronate, sodium chloride, ethylhexlglycerin, caprylyl glycol, phenoxyethanol, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, titanium dioxide, iron oxides.

Perfecting Liquid Foundation Ingredients

Water, cyclopentasiloxane, zinc oxide, ethyl macadamiate, glycerin, polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate, oleyl oleate, propanedial, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, polyglyceral-3 polyricinoleate, magnesium sulfate, zinc stearate, ribose, hydrogenated castor oil, camellia sinesis leaf extract, buddleja davidii extract, thymus vulgaris (thyme) extract, marrubium vulgare extract, hexapeptide-10,glyceryl dibehenate, tribehenin, glyceryl behenate, tocopheryl acetate, retinyl palmitate, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, bisabolol, sodium PCA, sodium chloride, ethylhexylglycerin, caprylyl glycol, phenoxyethanol, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, titanium dioxide, iron oxides

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I’ve always been slightly irritated by brands that go for part symbol/part word/weird spelling approach so I’ve never looked too kindly on Per-fékt. However, I recently read a review of the Skin Perfection Gel ($17.50) that suggested it might be worth checking out as a lightweight, barely there foundation.

I chose Luminous (since I have fair skin) and went through a dizzying range of reactions when I tried it out. First, it was much more pigmented than I thought it would be. Then I rubbed it over my face and found myself loving the silky (even if it was created an entirely artificial silicone) feeling of my skin. Again it was darker than expected and it looked dry and grainy. Not good. I was about to dismiss it entirely when, before my eyes, it virtually disappeared to look like my skin but better.

Given that the dominant ingredient is isododecane, it isn’t surprising it should behave this way. Isododecane is a hydrocarbon ingredient most often used as an emollient in skin care products. Thanks to its low viscosity and density, it leaves a weightless feeling on the skin and evaporates easily.

Per-fékt follows this up with vitamins E, C and A and alpha lipoic acid. Called thioctic acid, alpha lipoic acid is an antioxidant used in cosmetics, personal care formulas, and anti-aging products because of its ability to scavenge free-radicals which lead to premature aging and wrinkling. Thioctic Acid is “readily transported through cellular membranes and helps to recycle other antioxidants.

Per-fékt may have over-complicated its name, but its Skin Perfection Gel is refreshingly simple and effective.

Ingredients in all shades:

Isododecane, Polysilicone – 11, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Retinyl Palmitate, Thioctic Acid.

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Vogue magazine’s beauty column a couple of months ago was devoted to tips from several well-known make-up artists for aging skin.  Possessed of an aging face myself (I’m 54), I read it avidly.  Sadly, there were few revelations—I’d already figured out that using loose powder only makes matters worse, and that nothing is scarier than lipstick ooze—but one of the experts touted Cle de Peau’s concealer ($78).  And any online search reveals that it gets lots of raves generally.  So I made a note of it.

I had never tried Cle de Peau—and only recently learned that it is Shiseido’s high-end line.  But while I almost never leave the house without mascara and lipstick, concealer comes in a close third in terms of can’t-do-without.  I am self-conscious about thin skin around the eyes and rely on concealer to cover under-eye circles, lighten the skin on the side of the bridge, and serve as a base for a little eye shadow on the lid and crease.  (And, of course, occasionally camouflage a spot or two.)

By way of background:  I’ve used Chanel makeup products for years, and wasn’t unhappy with their newer concealer product.  It comes in a tube with a brush at one end; rotating the mechanism at the other end releases a dollop of product onto the brush.  (That was a big improvement over the older, lipstick-format stuff.)  And when I read about Tarte’s The Eraser on Truth in Aging last year, I hurried to try it, too.  And I liked it a lot:  it’s certainly comparable to Chanel’s (same delivery format, though less sleek design), provides very good coverage, and, at $19, is half the price.

Cle de Peau, on the other hand….I found the $70 price tag somewhat stunning.  (Though I’m still dying to try their $55 lipsticks, assuming the recession ends in my lifetime.)  But I persevered.  The nice lady at the counter assured me that it was full of beneficial ingredients, including, I think, vitamins C and E.  After a lengthy comparison between the ivory and beige tones (it comes in four shades), we concluded that the beige was the better match.

And as it turns out, there’s some there here.  The concealer comes in a slim stick, with a lipstick-like mechanism.  It goes on smoothly (I actually apply it with my finger, but I do that with the liquid, brush-on products too); covers well but is not cake-y or heavy; is creamy (but not oily, and doesn’t make mascara run); has a nice, powdery finish; and doesn’t dry or settle too much into those little eye lines.  Most of all, I think it lasts better than the other products I’ve used, and that, along with its creaminess, may be its biggest advantage over Tarte, especially for those of us with older skin.  And that $70 stick should last a long time.

Ingredients in Cle de Peau Concealer:

Squalane, Cyclomethicone, Kaolin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Paraffin, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Polyethylene, Sorbitan Sesquisostearate, Carnuba, Mictocrystalline Wax, Water, Dimethicone Copoyol, Cholesteryl Hydroxsterate, Glycerin, Boron Nitride, Polysilicone-5, Tocoppheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Fragrance, Aluminum Hydroxide, Aluminum Disterate, Simethicone, Methicone, Ascorbyl Dipalmiate, Soy Sterol, Sodium Acetylhaluronate, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Iron Oxides

Ingredients in Tarte The Eraser Concealer:

Aqua, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceide, Dimethicone, Bentonite, Isododecane, Cetyl Dimethicone, Cetyl Dimethicone Copolyol, Glycerin, Ethylene Brossalate, Butylene Glycol, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Polysorbate 20, Propylene Carbonate, Sodium Benzoate, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Sodium Chloride, Gluconolactone, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ceramide 3, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cholesterol. (+/-): Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Mica.

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Francine Porter, the lovely and clever founder of Osmotics, makers of a good eye cream and my best yet body lotion, thinks that the quickest way to look younger is to get out the makeup remover. This is a woman after my own heart. I contend that all but the sheerest foundations, such as my new find from Suki, make me look older. On the other hand, there are days when I need more than a touch of concealer. So what’s a girl to do? The answer is in Osmotics Inner Light Instant Complexion Enhancer ($35 in the TIA shop).

This pinkish cream is based on spherical pigments that, along with some silicone, plant oils and vitamins, create a light-defusing layer. I wouldn’t say that it gives me a porcelain look, but then I have a rather ruddy and freckly skin tone to begin with. But I do look smoother, clearer and I would even say dewy. Inner Light definitely smooths out wrinkles and imperfections.

Osmotics claims that it is suitable for all skin types. Well, I inadvertently put this to the test when discussing it with a makeup artist, Karen Duncan, who happens to be African American. She took my tube and smeared some Inner Light on the back of her hand. She was absolutely taken aback. As she says, light diffusing products can appear ashy on dark skins. Not so this one. Her skin looked (and felt) wonderfully satiny.

I wear it all over my face and just use a dab of concealer if and where necessary. Die hard foundation junkies can mix it up with a little of their favorite war paint.

Purified Water, Cyclomethicone, Prunus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Cetyl Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerol Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glycerine, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Panthenol (Vitamin B-5), Citrus Sinensis (Orange) Oil, Allantoin, Polysorbate 20, Carbomer, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Tin Oxide, Red Iron Oxide, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Disodium EDT, Tromethamine.

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I don’t usually like tinted moisturizers as they seem to be a full of chemicals and ultimately a compromise that doesn’t really work. I’m not wild about foundations either, finding that they are too thick and matte and make me look old and dry. Because I rarely give up on a good prejudice, I have decided that Suki’s Tinted Active Moisturizer ($45.95) isn’t a tinted moisturizer at all, but a sheer foundation with things that are good for you.

Sheer is the operative word, at least with the Natural tint that I chose. Suki is no cover up, but my skin looking rather better by being a bit more evened out. And for me, who finds most makeup tantamount to being forced to wear a rubber mask, the greatest pleasure is that it is so featherlight as to not be there. This is makeup for people who don’t like makeup.

There are all manner of nice oils, including antioxidant grape seed. But I particularly like the inclusion of borage oil, proven by German scientists to reduce skin redness and wrinkles. Willow bark is useful too as it is often used as a natural (though weaker) alternative to salicylic acid, because it controls sebum production and provides anti-acne properties. Hazelnut oil is a good emollient, while lecithin improves the homeostatasis (the ability to regulate itself) of the skin.

The only thing I don’t like is sodium borate. It is extremely toxic. Before people knew better and thought it was OK to clean wounds with something you’d clean the floor with, the unfortunate patients would frequently die. Infants are especially prone to borax poisoning, but thankfully it is no longer used to clean nurseries. Spillage on the skin will cause blisters and red rashes. I imagine Suki has used a miniscule quantity.

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Reviewed and recommended: Suki’s lemongrass exfoliating cleanser

Five Best foundations

Ingredients

Purified water, organic sunflower seed oil, beeswax, organic grape seed oil, organic jojoba seed oil, hazelnut oil, borage oil, cetearyl alcohol, shea butter, standardized willow bark extract, organic food-grade non-gmo lecithin, vitamin c + retinol liposomes, sodium borate, organic rose extract in food-grade ethyl alcohol, organic food-grade acacia catechu gum, organic food-grade xanthan gum, fragrance (made only from pure, steam-distilled essential oils) [may contain: titanium dioxide, iron oxides]

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Lip products have always been my most innocent guilty pleasure. The others- namely coats and bags- require ample credit cards and closet space. To satisfy the insatiable thirst of my pout, all I need to do is pass by a cash register and pick up the first lip gloss, balm, or salve I see on the counter. When I did just that many years ago and realized that I had purchased a so-called plumper called Lip Venom by DuWop, my feelings were conflicted. I sincerely wanted fuller lips…but not at the cost of subjecting them to torture. I simply could not tolerate the uncomfortable burning sensation and disposed of my short-lived lip plumper for good.

Fast forward many years later, and my outlook on lip plumpers has evolved. I have in my hands Hydropeptide Lip Plumper, a very different product from its predecessor. Instead of a spicy sting, this plumper treats my lips to a refreshingly mild tingle and strawberry taste. The texture is neither too sticky nor too wet, and the color is a natural pink without overdoing the shine factor. My lips appear noticeably fuller and smoother. And it’s no trick of the eye with light reflectors (which is how a product like Be Fine Lip Serum effectively works), but a visible volumizing effect that lasts as long as the gloss stays on my lips.

According to Hydropeptide, the plumping effect lasts even longer than that. Independent studies over an 8-week period involving thirty-six women ages 21 to 65 showed both immediate and long-term results. Within 10 minutes, 97% saw smoother-looking lips, while 100% indicated that their lips felt fully hydrated. Within 5 weeks, 100% said that their lips were healthier and 89% younger-looking. These are some pretty powerful testimonials, which I can’t honestly corroborate since my lips are typically well-nourished and moisturized. But that’s not to say my lips haven’t benefited from the intelligent ingredients brimming in Hydropeptide’s formula.

With the exception of BHT, nearly all of Hydropeptide’s ingredients have a very good safety profile. Isononyl isononanoate is a gentle emollient that forms the base of the formula and imparts a silky feeling. Known for its penchant for peptides, Hydropeptide uses a relatively unique one, Tripeptide-29, which has not made an appearance in any other products we’ve reviewed. According to literature online, this peptide has shown to build and repair collagen, which would fill out thin lips and fill in the cracked skin of damaged lips. The product gets its mild tingle from menthoxypropanediol, a cooling derivative of menthol.

The vitamins and botanical extracts present in the formula deliver different sorts of plumping actions. Lemon fruit extract helps maintain healthy capillary walls, resulting in better blood circulation to the lip area, which is also the effect of lactobacillus/capsicum frutescens fruit ferment extract. Benzyl nicotinate (a vitamin B derivative), otherwise known as niacinamide, naturally dilates the blood vessels in the lips, producing a rosy color and increased volume. Finally, meadowfoam estolide, an edible oil extracted from the seeds of the meadowfoam plant, provides lubrication without a greasy feeling and reduces transepidermal water loss.

Perhaps the formula would benefit from the inclusion of hyaluronic acid or Matrixyl, but alas, you can’t have everything. My lips appear to have all they need for now with Hydropeptide’s plumper.

Related Posts:

What to look for in lip plumpers

Five Best lip plumpers

Hydropeptide’s new complete Eye and Lash Restoration Kit

Hydropeptide Eye Anti-Wrinkle Dark Circle Concentrate

Hydropeptide Eye Extreme Dark Circle Concentrate- Reader Recommended

Ingredients:

Isononyl Isononanoate, Polybutene, Flavor, Isopropyl Palmitate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Polydecene, Meadowfoam Estolide, Tripeptide-29, Lactobacillus/Capsicum Frutescens Fruit Ferment Extract, Benzyl Nicotinate, Sodium Saccharin, Titanium Dioxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Castor Oil, Polyquaternium-37, Iron Oxides, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, BHT, Red 6 Lake, Red 7 Lake, Trideceth-6, Menthoxypropanediol.

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