If you have read any of my reviews in the make- up category you may recall that I have been gradually changing over to using natural products. This has been easy in certain areas but more difficult in others, and I can certainly admit to purchasing some products which have not performed as well as their mainstream competitors, especially in the foundation and mascara categories.

Lily Lolo is a UK based company that I have recently discovered. I read some excellent reviews about their products, especially in relation to their mineral foundation range. I have been using Elysambre foundations for some months now- a French make, which are cream based and have been pleased with the results. These are medium priced and perform very well, and I will certainly purchase again as they are attractively packaged and ethically produced. However, it was the mineral range of foundations made by Lilo Lolo which really interested me, and so I decided to purchase some a few months ago from their superb website at www.lilylolo.co.uk.

What I love about this website is the ability to watch product tutorials. There are many to choose from, and these are so useful as they offer help and guidance on the basic use of their products. There are also more comprehensive instructions as to how to create looks for many different occasions, be these celebratory or everyday when maybe you are looking for a natural and understated look.

As well as the detailed advice given in these video presentations, the company offers trial samples of their foundation in handy little pots. These make perfect containers for travelling, as well as for making choosing the correct shade so much easier. These retail for just £1.29, and contain enough for several applications so you can really be sure you have chosen the correct shade before deciding to purchase the larger pot which is £12.49.

I really like the way the shades are presented on the website. You can choose to look at all the shades at once, or you can choose by colour- for example fair, light, light-medium, or tan. All together there are nine shades- Porcelain, Blondie, Sugar Cane, Warm peach, Barely Buff, In The buff, Popcorn, Cookie and China Doll. As with all foundations the trick is to apply to the chin level, and if it disappears into the skin then it is the correct shade. For me that was Blondie, but I also tried Sugar Cane which was almost right, and certainly looked natural, so I think with these mineral foundations you can get away with a slightly lighter or darker shade without looking unnatural. However with the cheap little sample pots you don't need to be too worried about finding the perfect shade, as it will not break the bank in the process.


Delivery is very quick with Lily Lolo- my order came within 48 hours and you can also order through Amazon. I also really value the fact that they allow customers to review their products on the website, as this becomes a valuable resource for customers wishing to purchase items, as they can gain knowledge based on real life experience of others using the product. You can really learn a lot from these reviews as both negative and positive points are covered which presents an overall balanced view.

To apply the foundation the ideal method is to purchase a special brush called a Kabuki Brush, which they sell on the website. I have my own brushes and so far haven't bought this, and I have found my foundation brush works really well. To use you simply pour a little powder onto the lid of the jar, and then let the brush swirl round a few times before tapping off any excess. Then you simply apply to the face in quite firm circular motions. I found this so easy and was really pleased with the coverage I obtained. I am over fifty now, and thought that I could have trouble using this product, but it gives a natural coverage which looks even, and the light reflecting attributes mean that there is no - " you look wrinkly" result. You don't want to be too heavy handed as you can always build up colour if you find areas which need extra powder.

I think if you have pale skin the Blondie shade is a good place to start - indeed it is their best seller. The product is free from many harsh chemicals including parabens and talc, synthetic dyes, fillers, fragrance and preservatives. It is also water resistant and the titanium it contains acts as a natural sunscreen. It is never tested on animals and is suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

Before I switched to Lily Lolo foundation and indeed Elysambre, I was using L'Oreal Morphose which is a mousse foundation. This is a beautiful product and the look is equal to that provided by the other two natural products, but because it is not a natural foundation, and because I am not confident about L'Oreal's animal testing operations, I no longer feel I can purchase it. Now I have viable alternatives for similar prices it doesn't seem a problem to me anymore. Before I found the natural alternatives I had tried some which just were not as good as the L'Oreal, and I didn't want to look less then my best if I could help it, so I continued to purchase, but was always searching for alternatives. I certainly found one in this Lily Lolo product.

What I really like about this product is that it can be taken on holiday so easily, and for weekends away you can take it in your hand luggage on aircraft. I even buy the tester pots to use for travelling as there is ample in them for a three night stay away and they weigh so little.

Although this product goes on as a powder it settles on the skin to give a moist creamy appearance. This is exactly what I had hoped for as I don't like powdered looks which highlight lines and flaws. I think this is what had put me off purchasing for so long as I was worried about the look I could achieve with this. I like a fresh dewy complexion and this settles into the skin picking up the moisture underneath, and the result is a really soft and young looking skin.

One small point which is common to all the mineral foundations and that it you should allow your moisturiser to dry before you start to apply the foundation- ideally for about 10 minutes. This gives the best result. You can use powder and concealer if you wish as well. I don't use powder but do use the concealer in the areas under my eyes and either side of my nose which need a little extra help.

I think in conclusion this is a superb foundation for a very reasonable price, and with the ethical nature of production and the freedom from harsh chemicals, this is perfect for me and I highly recommend it.

This review is also published on Ciao under my user name Violet1278