Foundation Friday Over 50 | #17 | YSL Touche Eclat, Laura Mercier Candleglow, Tarte Rainforest of the Sea

Apparently I was under a black cloud this week where foundations were concerned. I tried 3 NEW Luminous Hydrating foundations and pretty much hated them all… Lesson learned! Luminous hydrating foundations are just not for me. They may be your best friend if you have super dry skin, so if you love any of these 3 I’m happy you’ve found something that works for you!!

Rather than doing separate posts on each of them, here’s my short take on YSL Touche Eclat Le Teint Radiance Awakenig Foundation, Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation, and Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation.

YSL Touche Eclat Le Teint Radiance Awakenig Foundation ~ $58 for 1 oz. ~ 22 Shades

Formula: SPF 20 from 6.8% octinoxate, water & silicone formula, drying alcohol free. Light flowery fragrance.

I got B40 “Sand”

YSL calls their foundation “8 Hours of beauty sleep in a drop.”

I wore this twice, the 1st day with no primer, applied with fingers. I had friends over to color easter eggs so I wasn’t filming it, I just assumed since it was the famed YSL Touche Eclat that it would be perfect and I’d look great all day! Au contraire! When I finally looked in a mirror at 11:30 pm I couldn’t believe my eyes… I looked hideous! It was a shiny, waxy striped mask.

The 2nd day I tried primer and applied with a sponge.

It provides sheer to medium coverage with a luminous finish that’s more of a hard shine. The shine was bearable to start, but it got VERY shiny as the day wore on.

It immediately settles into wrinkles and looks waxy and mask like, and accentuates wrinkles and pores.

Within 2 hours it was sliding around and streaky, gathered up by the sides of my nose, wearing off.

So I washed my face, and washed my hands of YSL!

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation ~ $39 for 1 oz., ~ 12 shades

Formula: Spf 15 all mineral sunscreen, water & silicone formula with SD alcohol #10 on list (not a deal breaker for me).

I had 4 sample shades that came with a Sephora 500 point perk.

Tarte website: “Deliver the ultimate in hydration-boosting coverage with tarte’s 12-hour water foundation. The concentrated, full-coverage fluid formula features 20 percent water to quench dry skin as it covers and masks any redness, dark spots, and uneven skintone while softening the look of pores and fine lines.”

I used it 2 days, the 1st day with no primer & applied with fingers. For the 2nd day I tried a mattifying primer to emulate dryer skin and used Tarte’s recommended application method which is a brush.

It spread easily with the fingers, but went on a little smeary, it was hard to blend with the brush. It didn’t provide even coverage either way and looked broken up on the surface and it surrounded small patches of skin weirdly. It settled into every wrinkle, especially the tiniest ripples.

Did not provide full coverage or cover redness or dark spots or soften the look of pores. The finish is VERY shiny, and oily looking. Looked mask-like and waxy. Slid around, settled into wrinkles.

Wear time was super short and it was a mess within 2-3 hours even with primer.

Looked dry and greasy at the same time (truly a feat)!!

Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation ~ $48 for 1 oz. ~ 24 Shades

Formula: A water based moisturizing formulation with lots of mica to provide the “candle glow”, drying alcohol and fragrance free.

I was “matched” to “Dusk” (too dark for me)

From LM website: “This mica mélange mingles with refreshing purified water to give skin a burst of hydration and help foundation glide onto skin for lasting smoothness and natural luminosity. colour stays true without the formula settling into fine lines, wrinkles or pores. Sheer to medium buildable coverage.”

I tried it 2 days, the first day I applied with fingers, the 2nd day I used a mattifying primer with a brush for fuller coverage.

It easily applied both ways and didn’t react with sunscreen or primer. The coverage is sheer leaving tonal issues and blemishes visible but it is buildable and I did get better coverage out of it with the brush.

The luminosity is more of a hard shine than a soft candle glow. It accentuates pores and surface ripples. It does settle into pores slightly giving some polka-dot areas (cheeks) but didn’t settle into wrinkles too badly.

The wear was disappointing, lasting less than 5 hours before becoming really shiny, sliding around, and wearing off.

Laura Mercier Candleglow at the 10 hour check-in… can’t wait to wash my face!

All-in-all- a very disappointing week. I’d say the Laura Mercier Candleglow was the most successful of the three and I suppose those with super dry skin who like a shiny finish may like this.

And so the search continues. . .

Shopping Links (I included my fave Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet in case you’re looking for a good foundation):

FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are always 100% honest and my own.

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