Stila Oil Free Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer SPF30

Of course this is now being discontinued - why? And replaced by a tinted moisturiser with less SPF and less shade range

This TM is the bench mark by which I measure every other TM that I try hence my little series on tinted moisturisers for one day my stash will run out.

This product is quite thick in texture, and more like a sunscreen with a tint rather than a moisturiser with a sun protection factor and a bit of colour to it.

So whilst thick in texture it can be sheered out.

Cue my face without makeup

I have slapped this on as can be seen in the collection of product in my nose pores (!) but it covers sufficiently and on a good day with a following wind I can dispense with the concealer. I use this in fair (light 01) which is the lightest shade and has a slightly pinky hue, light 02 is more yellowy, but still very light. This is still available from cheapsmells for £5.95. 

Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturiser SPF 15

Another day, another tinted moisturiser. This one by Clinique is a bit ho hum really and again it is mostly to do with shade, but also SPF15? to me that is too low.

So the lightest shade is 01 swatched on the hand.

Which doesn't look too bad here, probably the exposure on the camera, but in reality it is not quite right for me.

To me the texture is really more like a light foundation and not a tinted moisturiser. It is quite liquid and needs a good shake before application, and although the words "moisture" and "surge" suggest some sort of dewier texture and maybe a moisturising quality, I found the texture of this to almost set after application - I could spread it easily enough and then suddenly I couldn't, and my skin is definately combination/oily.

So here we go again, open pores, thread veins - my bare skin below

And here is it applied

The coverage suprised me if I am honest, as it really isn't too bad here. It lasted all day and only began to pill a bit on the forehead after 4+ hrs which is not bad. But the shade, I picked 01 which is the lightest shade and it just had a bit too much of the peach to it. Now doubtless for some, the hint of warmth is flattering but on my skin it just emphasises my ruddy porcelainess, the photograph really makes it look very pale but that is not what I see in the mirror.

Would I buy again? Er no. Currently £21 at Boots

Hissy Fit Saving Face SPF50

I first heard about this from Meeta at makeuppicnic. I was amazed that here was a brand I had never heard of.

This is marketed as an all in one high SPF with a tint. Now frankly I am completely confused about sunscreen and SPF, do I rely on my day moisturiser with SPF whatever number which I apply at 5.45am only to have its sunprotection properties depleted by midday when the sun comes out and I am outside? And the same goes for any product with an SPF, if it is applied in the morning it is unlikely to still be effective on the journey home at 5.00pm with the sun streaming in through the window of whatever mode of transport is one's wont. I know that one is advised to reapply during the day, but how practical is that:  6.00am apply SPF15 day moisturiser, TM SPF30, powder. 10.00am breakoff from what one is doing to reapply SPF cue bloody mess.

However this product with its tint could conceivable be reapplied maybe at intervals.

Unfortunately the lightest shade available in UK is nude which is yellow, (in the US there is an alabaster tint which I think would be better for me) and a dark yellow at that here it is swatched on left and rubbed in on right, I think that is gangrene at the top of my wrist on the right.

The texture is thicker than say Laura Mercier TM, this is more of a cream texture. There is no sunscreen smell that I can discern.

And as for coverage - well it is not bad.

Here is my skin sans any makeup cue open pores blackheads and thread veins.

And here it is on my face, no other makeup ie concealer.

So there is some coverage, not loads but then it is a TM, but it calms everything somewhat - I do tend to look a bit darker than I would want.

I used this today as something to slap on in order not to frighten the horses when I went for my morning constitutional and believe me I don't stroll but go at a bit of a lick, cue sweaty face on return and this product coped with this and there has been no breakup or piling. I think that this is pretty good for days when I need to do something but nobody other than the family are likely to see me.

This is not the easiest of products to track down in UK but Escentuals have it, as does some branches of HoF 

Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint Bare 01

I don't think that I have been as excited about the launch of a new product for a long long time, I have had dreams about this product.

I have been using it for a week and bought it on advanced orders from Liz Earle direct

I was delighted to find out that Jane Bradley is the Makeup Artist working with Liz Earle and the new makeup range, I have Jane's makeup DVD Lips to Lashes and it is invaluable

Here is what came in the post:

Information and sample sachets of the 3 shades to try before committing to the full size, which if sent back unopened will be exchanged for the correct shade, I knew that I would be bare 01.

Ingredients

I am not a huge fan of the colour of the packaging - it is a very dark granite blue and in most lights verges on the black, but the tube is squeezable and not too ridgid, which is a bonus.

I expected a good, high quality product but have honestly been amazed at how I have enjoyed this product and how well it has performed.

So here is it blobbed on my wrist - I have tried to show the glossiness of this but please do not think this is oily or greasy.

Now there have been some fabulous and helpful reviews by more illustrious beauty bloggers than myself but I wanted to see how this would perform on my aged, reddened, open pored and blackhead prone skin - see below sans makeup:

And applied:

I have found that this is a very forgiving product, I tend to apply a garden pea size amount over the centre of my face and across my cheeks and then apply a little more over problem areas, however if I accidentally am thinking marrowfat as opposed to garden the product in no way looks cakey.

The product is moist to enable slippage, but dries (but doesn't feel tight or drag) to leave an almost primer like finish.

I have applied this at 6.30am in the morning and it has lasted a 10hr day, I have applied it before my morning yomp and I have come back sweating buckets everywhere other than my face. I can use this around my eyes and I do not need concealer, infact I can dispense with concealer all together.

Do I like this product? Oh yes. Will I buy again? Most definately.