| Product: |
Marks and Spencers in general |
| Date: |
20/08/03 (184 review reads) |
| Rating: |
 |
Advantages: Quality, Price, Effectiveness
Disadvantages: I may spend too much, Local branch is limited, They might discontinue it
Does My Face Look Yellow In This?
Over the last year or two, three of my favourite foundations have been discontinued by three different make-up manufacturers. Imagine my disappointment each time I go to buy a replacement, even taking the almost empty bottle or jar with me to make sure I get exactly the same product, only to find the entire make-up range has been updated and my much-loved product has been dropped?
Consequently, because I’ve needed a foundation immediately I’ve bought an alternative brand but somehow they just haven’t had that ‘something’ that I want and need in a foundation. My criteria is price, no more than ten pounds, even coverage with a light touch, moisturising but not greasy, staying power and very importantly the shade-absolutely no pink!
It was knickers and bra purchasing time so a visit to Marks and Spencer was looming. My local branch of M & S is small, carrying a very limited fashion range but the underwear section is adequate. My intention was to buy my lingerie in M & S then drop across the road to Debenhams and browse the beauty counters. I was bracing myself for this, determined not to be put off by the exquisite creatures from another planet who gaze out from behind their counters at mere flawed mortals like me. Possibly one of the reasons I needed to take a deep breathe before facing these icons of perfection and serving behind the make-up counters is that Morty has just bought a digital video camera and the moving images of me on our TV screen has seriously undermined my confidence! Somehow, I’m not the cool faced beauty I thought I was-more rather round, pink and shiny! I need a good foundation and my confidence back fast.
The beauty and fragrance section in my local M & S was small enough to miss entirely, especially as I don’t associate M & S with make-up, but fortunately it was right next to the lingerie section so I stopped to have a leisurely b
rowse.
Lately, whatever brand of make-up I’ve bought from whatever price range the packaging and the containers are always predominately black trimmed with gold. Therefore it was pleasing to see gold topped jars and bottles with matt gold boxes trimmed with burgundy. One foundation leapt out at me. M & S ‘Enhance’ Line Minimising Foundation. There were six shades complete with nice clean testers. I say that because some testers look more like messy cess pits! The shades ranged from the usual porcelain, ivory, beige, sand, biscuit and a deeper shade suitable for darker complexions.
Experience has taught me to use a yellow based foundation, and now having seen myself on video, even more so. I selected the Sand tester and tried it on the paler skin on my inner wrist. Yes- very good indeed. The texture was creamy and moist and the coverage seemed superb. The outer box informed me that M & S ‘Enhance’ foundation was medium to full skin coverage. That it was moisturising with light reflecting particles the help minimise the appearance of fine lines. It is long lasting and transfer resistant. M & S ‘Enhance’ contains UVA and UVB sunscreens with an SPF of 15 as well as being Hypo-allergenic. All these get a big tick from me and so far fit my criteria for a decent foundation. What about the price? M & S ‘Enhance’ was priced at £9.00 for a 30ml jar and funnily enough M & S also display the price per gram-how cute is that?
However, when I got home and opened the box I wondered if I’d made a bad mistake. This must be the first foundation I’ve bought in years that isn’t a pump action or a squeezey tube- its in a screw top jar. When I opened the jar and saw a mass of yellow coloured, thick gloop I was a little disconcerted. I was even more alarmed when I put an experimental blob on my fingers and then on my face as it looked kinda jaundice like. Oh dear me! Nevertheless, my fears
were soon allayed because as soon as I began to blend it over my skin then the transformation began. M & S ‘Enhance’ covered my uneven complexion and blended beautifully. It neutralised the high tones making my complexion look even toned, cool and moist. The scary yellow had magically gone. I also liked the fact that it looked good with or without a setting of translucent powder leaving me with a choice of glowing or matt.
This may seem contradictory, as my aim is to tone down my high complexion, but I also bought M & S ‘Enhance’ powder blusher in Cinnamon in a smart old gold compact complete with brush for £6.00. Now I have an even toned ‘face-canvas’ I am able to place my blusher where I want it in order to define my cheekbones rather than the two natural rosy apples on my cheeks as seen on the dreaded video. One application of the blusher was perfect for daytime. It went on evenly and I use a second application for a very effective look for the evening . In fact, I was so pleased with my new look I read the video instruction book in the vain hope I could set the camera up and film myself in order to get my much dented confidence back, but after reading the first paragraph I decided against it.
I was very disciplined in M & S and only bought these two products but there was plenty more to tempt me. I am impressed with my M & S ‘Enhance’ make-up range and shall return for the body lotions, hand creams, bath and cleansing products. As expected from Marks and Spencer, all my criteria were fulfilled and I am impressed with the quality and price ranges as I took my first tentative steps into their beauty department from the knickers and bras department and not an intimidating and exotic creature from another planet in sight.
Summary:
|
|
