I'm not saying this foundation is amazing but if this were a beer commercial - it would be Heineken Carlsberg (thanks BBB :)).
Probably the best foundation I've ever tried - and I've tried EV. E. RY. THING.
I had a photo shoot this week. You may notice I'm not big on having my photo taken. I am the Chandler Bing of blogging. I think I look good, I smile - and then I see the results and want to throw myself out of the window - and throw the camera at someone's head. I'm just not photogenic. End of.
After the shoot I resolved to admit defeat and beef up my current base to an ACTUAL foundation. I've personally always hated the feel of foundation - you know when you apply it and you can feel it sitting there? Ugh.
This La Bella Donna base is SO gorgeous that I'm tempted to keep it to myself and pretend that my glowing skin is just that - my skin. Meh. My gift to you this rainy Friday?: La Bella Donna.
The official blimph - with the odd usual helpful comment on the side from yours truly:
'Ultimate Pure Perfection an aqueous texture with unrivaled qualities that respects the skin.
- Visibly corrects and lifts the skin so your face appears healthy, smooth, luminous and radiant - HELL YES
- Contains moisturizing agents to provide hydration and comfort, due to marine extracts that boost cell energy to enhance natural radiance - HELL YES
- Botanical extracts stimulate cell activity and regeneration wile maintaining anti-inflammatory properties to nourish the skin - FEELS LUSH
Focus ingredients and the benefits:
- Sodium Hyaluronate: tissue repair, contributes to tissue hydrodynamics, movement and proliferation of cells and participates in a number of cell surface interactions - SCORE!
- Aloe Barbeadensis Leaf Extract: reduces the appearance of dry or damaged skin and restores suppleness - WHO DOESN'T WANT TO BE SUPPLE?
- Ficus Crica(Fig)Extract: calms redness, a superior antioxidant - DEFINITELY CALMS REDNESS
- Squalene: gives a soft smooth appearance, a natural component of human sebum
- Thymus Valaris (Thyme) Extract: moisturizes a boosts skin tone. Stimulates cell activity and regeneration, assists in regulating hydration
- Cicumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract: moisture binding, soothing, tightening, anti-inflammatory properties, nourishes and softens the skin
- Rosa Canina Fruit Oil: excellent tissue regeneration, reduces scars(trauma and surgical), reduces wrinkles
- Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract: calms redness, anti-inflammatory, stimulates circulation, promotes healing of all skin challenges
- Jaminum Officinale (Jasmine Oil): moisturizing, soothing
- Hedera Helix (Ivy) Leaf/Stem Extract: antimicrobial, excellent for any skin issues, soothing, calming benefits'
There are other items in the range - the Mineral Eraser (concealer) is also the dog's bollocks - and I cannot wait to try the rest. Apparently its predominantly sold in the US in dermatologists offices and spas etc so that women who have had invasive treatments can cover up straight away afterwards without risking irritating their skin. I totally get that.
My skin feels better wearing it than it does without it - and I have NEVER said that before.
La Bella Donna is sold exclusively at Beauty Works West. Prices start at £15.00 and the foundation in question is £44.00. And worth every penny.
*purchase
*no affiliate link
Ah Caroline, I've bought so many great things on your recommendation (thanks) now I'll want this too. Is it suitable for those of us who are oily skinned?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely.
DeleteThank you. Have been using the LM one but dying to try something new.
DeleteIt looks gorgeous - but how do you work out what colour you need? I'm a 20 in suqqu and nude in LM TM but I get really confused with the colour terminology!
ReplyDeleteHi Caroline, what shade do you wear?
ReplyDeleteI'm Marta. :)
DeleteThanks.
DeleteWith all the hype surrounding Armani's Maestro Fusion Foundation, would you consider reviewing that (or look at the inci list and tell us what you think - whether or not you'd even consider trying it) even though you obviously just found your favorite foundation ever?
ReplyDeleteThe first time I tried Mastro Fusion I had some kind of allergic breakout, tried it a month later and found out it was not the cause. It is a reasonable lightweight coverage suitable for quick finger application in the morning, however not as worthy of the hype out there. I have dry skin so its oil base works well for me and absorped quickly----so quickly that it actually worries me because I don't know what they added within to make it so.
DeleteI bought #4 colour but did not like it afterwards, it gives me a greyish/ashen/yellow tint and looks unhealthy.
I also have the luminous silk foundation from Armani and it is definitely better than Fusion Mastro for me, both the feel and the end result.
Right,, just ordered.
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel...I am also NOT photogenic. It's extremely depressing sometimes.
ReplyDeleteHey dear! I have a question! I have been trying so hard to finally get my winter skincare rountine in order.. I used to have acne prone skin and really oily skin was I was growing up..and now my skin has changed a lot. I feel like I have normal area's on my face, but I have wierd white heads on my nose, my cheeks sometimes get white heads, they're also oily, my whole forehead is oily, and i have the wierdest dry patch near my eyebrows, every where else on my face isn't really oily, it seems to be more normal. i noticed a big change in my skin after turning 18. I was just wondering if the products I have here so far (some are blank because i am still researching what is best for my skin) are good enough or right to use for skin, and i was just wondering on your opinion. thank you if you do reply. :)
ReplyDeleteMy Winter Routine:
Morning:
1. Cleanser: ?
2. Toner: Sjal Mineral Kalla Tonic
3. Serum: ?
4. Eye cream: ?
5. Daytime Moisturizer: 1) Hydraluron 2) Origins Make a Difference Plus Rejuvenating Treatment
6. Sunscreen: ?
Evening:
1. Makeup Remover: Bioderma Créaline H20
2. Cleanser: Emma Hardie Amazing Face Lift and Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm
3. Cleanser: Perricone MD Nutritive Cleanser
4. Toner: Alpha-H's Liquid Gold ( Only twice a week, bare shiny only;stop and don't use serum, eye serum, eye cream..etc) / Zelens PHA+Bio-Peel Resurfacing Facial Pads
5. Serum: Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair
6. Eye Serum: Alpha H Absolute Eye Complex
7. Eye cream: Lierac Diopti Calm Anti-Fatique Balm & Mask / Perricone MD Acyl-Glutathione Eye Lid Serum
8. Face Balm: ?
9. Evening Moisturizer: Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturizer / Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins Oil-Free
Exceptions:
Face masks:
- 2x Aesop Parsley Seen Cleaning Masque
- 1x F10 Smooth & Renew Mask (Also Exfoliates)
Face Oils:
- ?
Dry Patches:
- Mario Badescu Control Cream
I am unsure what my face needs:
- Wild Rose Beauty Balm
Pimples:
- ?
Exfoliate (Once a Week):
- 1x REN Clarifying Toning Lotion: Whenever skin is very dull/congested.
Clairsonic:
- Twice a Week
- Never on days where I use my Exfoliaters
uuuuh bought it already.. just hope that the shade will match :) you never fail to get me hooked onto things, dear mrs. hiron! :) exciteeeed!
ReplyDeletehow would you rate this against Chantecaille ?
ReplyDeleteBetter to look good in real life than in a photo. Or that's what I tell myself anyway. x
ReplyDeleteGlad you tweeted this...I was going to get the by Terry Sheer Glow (same price) but I think I'll give this a go instead. xx as usual.
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteLa Bella Donna should be available at Beauty Works West in London....just happen to see on their web page.
Thanks for putting a "light" on a good product.....
Best,
Suzanne
Beauty Works West is THE most frustrating site to buy from ever
Deletesorry to hear that Beauty Works West is a frustrating site.
Deletei live in the US and it is widely available.....just happen to see on the La Bella Donna site....maybe Thompson Chemists in nyc can ship?
it is a great product ....get it any way you can.
Suzanne
Thanks Suzanne.....it's on order! Can't resist a Caroline recommendation :-)
DeleteLOVE YOU! Not only are your posts entertaining you find things like this - I know I am yet to try it but your words of wisdom don't often fail me! Will be getting onto this ASAP, I just hope its not one of these posts where the product now runs out of stock!
ReplyDeleteHilarious once again! I have to save money to buy such a foundation, but hey Caroline Hirons recommended so what can a girl do? save the coins
ReplyDeleteWhat a pity this foundation has a pathetic colour range. Seeing as I'm brown, there is only one option and I'm sadly not optimistic. :(
ReplyDeleteSince I know you previously got your sunscreen from your foundation, what are you using now as a sunscreen? Do you (or anyone else) know a good serum with sunscreen? I am quite happy with my moisturizer which -sadly- does not contain any sunscreen.
ReplyDeleteCaroline, im always hestitant to do the exfoliating toner stage when wearing foundation. I think foundation will seep into my pores easier if i glow tonic(before moisturiser and foundation). Should i skip toner on days i will wear foundation?
ReplyDeleteSorry to butt in, but as long as you're adequately hydrating your skin afterwards (spritz of hydrating toner, hydraluron, moisturiser etc) this shouldn't be an issue.
DeleteWhat Hannah said
DeleteThank you for the review. I love to use make up when I go out, the question is how healthy it is. Do you recommend using it every day?
ReplyDeleteThis is like wearing a face cream - foundation protects your skin - nothing wrong with that! :)
DeleteI was looking for a foundation that would give me a natural look with medium coverage. I am a current user of Shu Uemura Face Architect Smoothing Fluid Foundation, but I just couldn't resist a Caroline Hiron recommendation. I'm definitely going to pick this one out and see if I can have alasting relationship with it.
ReplyDeleteP.S I just noticed one of the tags for this article was "dogs bollocks" and I just had to laugh out loud. :P
Can you recommend a foundation for oilyish skin that is light, but not porcelain, with pink undertones? Would love to try the La Bella Dona, but it says yellow undertones on each shade!
ReplyDeleteSqualene is a comodegenic product, so those who are prone to acne should probably avoid this.
ReplyDeleteI'm acne prone and this is absolutely fine. Its extremely light and non-comodegenic - so far!
DeleteI'm close to your skin tone and am very interested in purchasing this product; what shade do you wear if you don't mind my asking?
ReplyDeleteOn your recommendation Marta I've tried out this foundation and I have to agree it's excellent. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi Caroline, love your blog and find everything very helpful. Wondering if you ve heard of the Arbourne range and if they any good?
ReplyDeleteHi Caroline!
ReplyDeleteWhat's the coverage of this foundation? Light, medium? Is it suitable for a skin with breakouts, enlarged pores, blackheads, acne spots etc.? cheers x
Hey Caroline!
ReplyDeleteCould you post a photo with the full list of ingredients?
thanks