Review: Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation and Elastic Mascara

Monday 23 January 2012

This is going to be a really quick review piece about a couple of new items I picked up on my run to Boots at the weekend.

First, a disclaimer: I'm never going to be an in-depth reviewer, with swatches of all the different shades and comparisons galore. I'm just an ordinary girl, speaking about the products I've tried and what works for me. I think make up is so personal, it's generally the case that you'll never really know until you buy it-but opinions can be very useful to guide you there!

So, Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation- lets be clear, this is the foundation and not the lighter coverage Healthy Mix Serum they've just brought out.

I've been wanting to try this foundation for a while. I normally wear Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse for a working day, and Chanel Vitalumiere for the evening if i'm going out. Both are lovely and suit my skin, but I was on the lookout for something lighter than the mousse- which can sometimes feel overly dry-that isn't as pricey as Chanel.

After reading many 'wow' reviews on blogs and Makeup Alley, Healthy Mix sounded just the ticket.

I haven't tried any Bourjois foundations for a while as I've never been overly impressed with them. I did have brief love affair with one they did that came in a built in brush, but it was too expensive for what it was and ran out very fast as there wasn't much product, so after buying a few times I moved on.

The first thing that struck me about this foundation was how liquid it felt- after being used to a mousse it seemed quite runny. I ended up putting small pumps of it on the back of my hand and picking up with my foundation brush from there.

It goes on smoothly and smells gorgeous. On the skin it feels nice and fresh with a low- medium coverage that really seems like its letting your skin breathe. I felt it gave a pretty dewy finish that looked very healthy.

Staying power- its about even with my mousse- it doesn't quite go a full day (7am-7pm in my case) but then not many do! I had to use my pressed powder fairly often during the day on my nose which was really shiny, but then that's a trade off with it making my forehead lines look less prominent than the mousse.

I have seen many postings from those with really dry skin stating they found it left dry patches- I didn't have this, but my skin is normal with an oily t-zone. I think this foundation would be a dream if you also used a primer to mattify a little first.

Smooth even coverage that seems to blend well. I picked shade 53 Vanille which looked the perfect match in the shop. When I first tried it on my face it seemed way too pale, but blended in to a seamless finish when it was on. All the Bourjois foundations seem to have very yellow undertones which suits my skin but may not help a cooler toned girl.

Overall, I am pleased with it and felt it did make me look more radiant. It doesn't steal the crown from my Dream Matte Mousse as must have product but it's a great complement and alternative that gives rested looking skin. I'm going to wear it for a night out on Friday and see how that goes.

As an unexpected bonus, Boots was also running a promo where you got a free full-size Coupe de Theatre or Elastic mascara (worth £9.79- so quite a saving!). I actually needed a new mascara, so I was very pleased.

I went for Elastic as it had a plastic brush which I always prefer to fibre. My current favourite mascara is Maybelline Volum'Express One By One and this isn't as volumising as that.

I always prefer mascaras when they have dried out a little so perhaps this will grow on me! At the moment the formula seems a little too thin and wet. It's very dark black on the lashes. It gives a nice, separated appearance suitable for day wear. It doesn't flake or smudge during the day, which is great. I like it but not enough yet- it just doesn't have enough va-va-voom for my big lash tastes, but it's a pretty nice product.

I will be using both products for my big night out look on Friday!

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