You guys, I found the BEST foundation, and, GASP! — it’s full-coverage.
I KNOW! Who am I…? What happened to Karen??
I almost never wear full-coverage because full-coverage usually means full-effort. You’ve gotta blend and stipple and buff and blend and blend so that your skin doesn’t go all cake-face. But with this liquid foundation by Wander Beauty, I literally do a 60-second slapdash job with my fingers, and my skin looks even-toned and natural.
Wander Beauty is an up-and-coming makeup line you can find at Sephora (and also on the Wander Beauty website). Their whole shtick is makeup for the busy makeup-lovin’ lady-on-the-go, or really anyone who likes put-together makeup but doesn’t have all the time in the world for complicated looks. (Remember Bobbi Brown before Bobbi left? It’s kinda like that, but with more of an emphasis on the whole travel angle.)
And that pretty accurately describes the payoff for Nude Illusion Liquid Foundation. Effortless, simple, elegant. You can put it on in a moving car while you’re half-asleep. A one-ounce tube is $40, and it comes in 12 different shades for all skin types.
I put it on this morning, then took pictures of it throughout the day. First thing this morning, I swiped and dotted the foundation all over my face with the large doe-foot (it’s similar to the applicator that comes with my beloved Neutrogena Hydro Boost). Then, I blended it in with my fingers and — surprise! — that was that. Didn’t even have to buff it down with a Real Techniques buffing brush or anything. I just left it as is! No powder, no nothing. It looks natural and lasts all day long.
The finish? I love it. It’s satiny, so a little bit of light reflects off the skin, but it’s not full-tilt dewy like Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter or MAC Face and Body.
Come to think of it, this is very much like NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint, but with more coverage. Bottom line: It’s matte with a low-key pearl and looks very skin-like and just plain gorgeous. Plus, bonus — it also blurs pores ever-so-slightly.
Your selfies are gonna thank you because Nude Illusion looks so good in pics, too, especially in real-life lighting situations — indoor light, outdoor light, full-sun. It’s all good!
Do you know that feeling?
The one after you’ve been sick for a while when you finally stop hating food?
Well…it’s not like I despise food when I’m sick, because yeah, I’ll still get down with a can of Annie’s chicken soup, but it’s not like I enjoy it or anything. Because when my nose is stuffed hard as a rock, I can’t taste anything.
Anyway, today was the first day I felt good hungry in more than a week, so Connor Claire and I headed to Creekside Bakery, our favorite lunch spot in Novato.
I had a cup of black-eyed pea soup with collard greens and bacon that was to. Die. For. It was filling and — dare I say — quite fibrous, ha ha! Connor and I also split a savory scone (with cheddar cheese, leeks and MOAR bacon). We also got a sprinkle cookie, but Connor refused to share it with me… I can’t blame her, LOL!
Side note: Is anyone else extra picky about their scones? I don’t like when they’re super dry and hard and hurt the roof of my mouth, but the ones at Creekside are juuust right.
By the way, the white toy horse in these pics is named “Applesauce,” in case you were wondering, and according to Coywolf, he’s actually a unicorn, but he has a very short horn.
There’s a bridge by the bakery that crosses a creek, so we took a quick walk and looked for squirrels afterward.
Didn’t see any today, but we saw plenty of leaves, though!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Karen, you make me want to buy all your recommendations bc you look so beautiful in all your pictures! I just bought foundation and have more to finish but this is on my list.
Hi Kate,
There’s a LOT of great stuff out there to love, especially in foundations, these days. Which one did you just buy? I’m always looking for new stuff to try!
I bought the original bare minerals powder foundation after seeing a YouTube rave from Emily Noel and Shelby. I used it maybe 12 years ago but didn’t know what I was doing with makeup then. It definitely gives me a luminous finish. I don’t wear foundation most days so I feel like they go bad before I finish them. That’s why I have to restrain myself. But I also want to get the MAC face and body and Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer (a la Megan Markle).
I’ve used that same powder foundation and yeah, definitely luminous. I really wasn’t a fan of how it emphasized my pores though.
I’m a huge fan of MAC Face and Body and LM’s Tinted Moisturizer, and you can’t go wrong with either of them. 🙂 Thing is MAC Face and Body has a very specific application process… Did you know about this? It’s not hard but you just have to know how to work it. I have a post around here somewhere, let me know if you want me to link ya to it!
Such a good foundation, it looks so skin like. I am on a hunt for medium coverage non caked foundation. May be I should give it a try. Loved the eyeline you are using on your upper lash line and lower lash line. It is opening up your eyes and they look so well defined!!
Hi Roma,
Thank you so much for noticing the liner because I’m actually writing a post about it soon, LOL! It’s a drugstore gem, and I think you’ll like it. 🙂
Thanks!! Waiting for it ? Thanks fir finding the awesome gems for us. It helps me a lot. Whenever I am about to buy something and I am in doubt I always check if you have reviewed it, and if I find a positive review from you then I just go for it.
I’m at the point where all I want to do is talk about the stuff I absolutely love. I don’t wanna waste my time on things that are just OK, ya know? Homegirl doesn’t have time for that anymore, LOL!
I just got back from dinner with a friend and convinced her to try the liner too, ha ha. You know it’s love when you want to get your friends (both in real life and on the internet) to try it. 🙂
Your co-pilot is adorable…as always! She’s getting so big!
Aww, thanks Donna. I don’t know how this happened but somehow, in the blink of an eye, she turned into a little girl. Seems like only yesterday when she was just a tiny peanut in my arms.
Happy holidays to you!
Wow, Karen, your skin looks amazing! I have been using the Benefit Hello Happy Foundation, but when I run out, I am definitely getting the Wander Beauty foundation. That Bakery sounds amazing, too. Wish we had one here in Georgia!
Hi Daphne,
I use that Benefit on occasion for those “apply with fingers” days, too! I like that it’s lightweight and easy to blend. Do you ever set it with anything? I usually wear it by itself.
Thanks for the recommendation! I’m always on the lookout for new foundations. This looks great on your skin.
That bakery looks like such a pretty lunch spot! The sprinkle cookie looks declicious. Hope everyone on the household stays healthy for the holidays.
Hi Ruchita,
You’re welcome. The foundation is very robust in the mid-tones, so I think you’ll be able to find something. I tried on Tan, Golden Medium (which was a little too neutral) and Golden Tan (a little too warm for me), and Tan fit me best.
What are you guys doing for the holidays? Are you traveling anywhere or staying close to home?
Thanks for the color recommendations! I will have to look for these next time I am at Sephora.
We are hosting Christmas this year for around 10 people. My parents will be there and my in-laws and nephews. This is the first time I’ve hosted a group like this, but I’m excited. To make it easy, I’m getting some parts of the meal catered and cooking some sides. I’m off work between Christmas and New Years so I’m looking forward to relaxing!
Will you be hosting this year? Hopefully Tabs has been staying on Santa’s nice list. 🙂
You’re welcome. 🙂 If you find a counter there also look for their lipstick/liner combo in On the Mauve. It’ll look good on you.
Good luck hosting this year! It’s fun and a learning experience but also exhausting. Is everyone staying at your house?
This year we’ll be going out to my parents’ place; my brother is doing the main dishes and I’ll be bringing the sides!
Luckily everyone is local, so no overnight guests! Everyone is pretty laid back, so I’m hoping for a fun, casual gathering. I am doing my best to plan ahead and make things in advance so I can just pop stuff in the oven on Christmas day.
Sometimes I like doing sides more than the main dishes! I’m trying a new recipe for a sweet potato casserole with candied pecans.
Are you having Filipino food at your gathering? My mom is bringing a dish called biriyani. It’s like an Indian chicken and rice casserole. Then we’re having some roast meat, mashed potatoes and some other sides I haven’t decided on yet. 🙂
That’s smart. I’m going to do the same thing (planning ahead) with the sides. Since we didn’t have Thanksgiving at our house this year (we went to a restaurant), I’m going to unleash my Thanksgiving sides on Christmas, LOL!
And yes, we usually have a good number of Filipino dishes. Things like Lumpia (fried egg rolls stuffed with ground meat and veggies), pancit (a rice noodle dish with shredded chicken, shrimp and vegetables) and leche flan (a caramel pudding). I’ve had biriyani before and it’s delicious! Which of the items are you getting catered? All I have to so is thank goodness for grocery stores that do holiday meals now!
I have only tried lumpia, and all those other dishes sound so good! There is something special about Mom’s home cooking. 🙂
I’m getting some roast beef and roast pork from a local restaurant that does Amish-style cooking. My nephews are big eaters so I’m getting a lot of meat! LOL
I’m also getting a couple of pies from there – the banana cream is amazing and I’m trying coconut cream as well.
Then I’m going to make some homemade sugar cookies. There is a recipe blog I follow called Cooking Classy and there was a recipe for Christmas style Pretzel M&M Hugs. They looked really cute and easy so I’m going make those as well.
I’m going to try and brave the grocery store this Friday and then hunker down to cook and clean until Christmas. 🙂
All those dishes sound delicious. Honestly, I’m a huge fan of having someone else take care of the holiday meats. Totally takes the pressure off! (And that’s probably the reason why I passed it off to my brother, ha ha ha.)
Oh wow, good luck at the grocery on Friday! I’m going to go at the crack of dawn on Thursday morning. I’m not usually this last minute but I still have yet to decide on the sides (doing it tonight).
Your skin looks amazing in this pic!! J just bought Lancôme Teint idole longwear foundation but this might be calling my name too….
Side note are you still loving the Benefit concealer? I have a cold and noticed today that my undereyes look crazy dry with my Too faced concealer and so I bought the Benefit concealer. Fingers crossed!
Hi Jade,
Yes, I am still liking it. It’s more of a weekend, low-key concealer for me since it does tend to disappear after a while because of the creaminess. I don’t mind it though when my under eye area is extra dry. I’d rather look a little tired than have that area look dry and crepey, you know what I mean?
Yassssss agreed. It’s like searching for a freakin magical unicorn (not the one that Connor has so graciously shared with us). 🙂
LOL! Speaking of unicorns, I was at Target today and a young lady had a huge unicorn in her cart. I’m talking HUGE. Like it filled up her whole cart! I had to stop her to tell her that if my daughter was there she would just FREAK OUT. Ha ha ha!
Anywho, you might want to give the Benefit one a go. OR another thing you can do is mix either a small drop of your eye cream or a face oil into your current concealer, then apply to your under eye area.
What a great tip!! Honestly I might try both.
I Just got my niece a make your own unicorn pillow for Christmas. All of her school stuff is unicorns so I think she’ll love it. But she would probably love a giant unicorn more.
Oh, I don’t need another foundation but maybe I’ll get a sample of this and see how it works on my skin. It looks beautiful on you!
Can’t believe how big Connor is getting! She’s so freaking cute!
Hi Barb,
“I don’t need another foundation.” — story of my life! I actually want to try another one by Josie Maran, the Vibrancy Foundation. Have you heard of it? It’s supposed to be great for dry skin and a natural look.
And awww… thank you for saying that about Coywolf. She’s a handful but so much fun!
This looks lovely! I am so not full coverage, but it looks great. Did you prep with primer, etc? I have a pore-settling issue so that’s usually a must! I’m combo skin, but love a Josie Maran product I already have, so I’ll be looking for that Vibrancy Foundation review. 🙂
I will echo all the other comments and say your copilot is nothing less than adorable. The short-horned unicorn comment is cuteness overload!!!
A unicorn with a very short horn – yes, I can totally see that.
Your skin looks amazing here! And I love the name Applesauce. So glad you’re starting to feel better.
You look so gorgeous! I loved everything, from your glowing skin, to the eyeliner to the lipgloss!
So wish I could get this foundation here in Brazil so I could give it a go.
Alas, lately I’m trying the MUFE stick foundation and am actually liking it. Fingers crossed that my crazy combo/dehydrated/sensitive skin won’t rage war against it.
Lately the only thing that I can wear is the Missha BB Cream. Thank God it has decent coverage, because I’m a medium coverage kind of girl.
I heard good things about the Josie Maran vibrancy foundation. Nick from Pixiwoo always wears it and it looks great on her