Stila Hide & Chic Fluid Foundation Review

Remember when I told you that I’ve always had difficulty finding foundations that match? Well recently most of the products I’ve been sent to review look amazing on my skin! I don’t know if it’s because beauty companies finally understand the value of incorporating more women of color but things are definitely improving for girls in the medium range of the color spectrum.

I was matched with Stila’s Hide & Chic Fluid Foundation ($51.00) in the shade Tan/Deep 1 and decided to test the formula on date night. I had pretty good results with Stila’s Lingerie Souffle Skin Perfecting Color and if this one didn’t work, I knew my husband wouldn’t call me an oompa loompa over a candlelight dinner...he’d wait until we got home and let me down gently.

Hide & Chic is described as “a magic elixir” infused with botanical ingredients that smooth, blur, refine and even the complexion. I love makeup enriched with skincare and this golden bottle contains plant collagen and vegetable extract to firm and tone, baobab tree root for moisture and Irish sea moss.

What I love most is the customizable coverage. The consistency is light and very liquid-y so the color blends effortlessly and provides a natural, skin-like veil that is long-wear, flexible and humidity-proof. It is also very buildable so you can easily go from medium to full-coverage with no trouble concealing blemishes and discoloration.

The foundation is quite runny so be careful when using the pump dispenser. Yesterday a stream of it shot across my vanity and ended up in a drawer. 

Fortunately this shade makes my complexion look flawless. I used my beauty blender for quick, seamless application and it spread beautifully!

The swatches below show the texture of the foundation blended and unblended (FYI, my face and forearm are different colors and this photo was taken in direct sunlight).

I always set my liquids with powder and after a full night of fun at the fair, my skin wasn't greasy at all! There was no transfer (my hubby occasionally complains about makeup on his shirt) and the color didn’t oxidize in the sun – no harsh red tones. A little goes a long way so use it sparingly. If you wear too much it may look cakey and pasty.

The silica coated pigments create a bouncy, breathable finish that feels silky, hydrating and smooth. I didn’t experience any irritation and the formula is suitable for all skin types with the perfect balance of matte and dewiness. 

There are 30 shades to choose from and about half of them are in the tan, medium and deep range.

If you’re looking for a great foundation that makes your skin appear healthy and luminous, I definitely recommend trying this one. Stila is available at Sephora, Shoppers Drug Mart and beauty.shoppersdrugmat.ca.

Stila Cosmetics Holiday Makeup

Yesterday at the mall I saw holiday decorations alongside Halloween costumes and got a little excited. I love gift-giving, trimming the tree and getting dolled-up for parties and not just because my birthday is on Christmas Eve and I get double the presents.

Recently I received some new makeup from Stila that is perfect for creating glamorous holiday looks worthy of the runway.

The holiday season is a busy time but even if you neglect your skincare routine, Stila’s One Step Primer ($47.00) has your back. The swirled helix serum contains a crystal clear base with a blend of conditioning silicones that create an even canvass for makeup application. The lightweight, silky texture minimizes pores and evens skin texture to help you achieve a flawless finish while the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants nourish, repair and moisturize dry skin.

When you’re out late, sipping champagne and celebrating with friends the last thing you want to worry about is your foundation fading, sweating-off or transferring. Stila’s Stay All Day Foundation and Concealer duo ($52.00) has a high-definition, oil-free formula resistant to water, perspiration and creasing for incredible durability. The texture is quite rich so one pump is usually enough to cover the entire face and I like that it does not have hash undertones.

There are a variety of shades to choose from including fair, medium and deep and the velvety formula is buildable and customizable for natural looking coverage with a shine-free matte finish. The foundation alone is enough to cover blemishes and provide a luminous, healthy glow but for more camouflage there is a matching concealer under the cap.

The cream concealer blends seamlessly to neutralize under eye circles, imperfections, hyperpigmentation and scars. I have the shade Tan 13 which matches well when first applied but the color tends to darken when layered heavier. I set it with a flesh-tone powder from MAC and the MUFE Ultra HD Translucent Powder.

The Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow ($31.00) in the shade Kitten Karma might be the only pigment you need to make a bold statement this holiday season. Channel your inner diva while coating your lids in lush, luminous sparkle that instantly enhances the eyes. The formula glides on full-coverage and highly saturated with beautiful shimmer that dances in the light. Once dry, the color stays put for hours of mess-free wear which is more than I can say for most glitter products.

After you’ve glamorized your eyes, move onto the face and make those cheekbones pop! The Heaven’s Hue Highlighter ($42.00) in the shade Kitten emits a golden sheen that compliments the shadow beautifully! The light diffusing particles provide a soft, candlelight glow that brightens and illuminates without streaking or scattering.

Finish the look with a powerful lip color that promotes confidence and jingle-bell cheer. The Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick ($29.00) in the shade Chianti is a deep, vampy burgundy – totally trendy and super edgy with an intense, creamy formula that lasts for hours. These lipsticks are some of my all-time favorites because the finish is ultra pigmented and sexy.

Stila Cosmetics is available at Sephora, Shoppers Drug Mart and online at beautyboutique.ca

Stila Stay All Day Brow Gel Review

Gone are the days of over-plucking because right now it’s all about thick, defined eyebrows that beautifully frame the face. My brows can get a bit bushy but I make sure not to go crazy with the threading sessions and I don’t usually leave home without filling them in.

I prefer gel fillers because the formulas are usually easy to blend and smudge into sparse sections for a natural, long-lasting effect with no flaking or smudging. The goal is to create a nice shape without making yourself look comical or perpetually surprised and brow gel is great for adding color and increasing thickness.

The Stila Stay All Day Brow Gel is available in all your basic shades including: blonde, caramel, medium brown, dark brown and black. Even though I have black hair I usually opt for deep brown hues as black can often appear a bit unnatural and I still use a brow pencil for extra definition. The dark brown by Stila has an ashy undertone which isn't the intense tint I expected but it is still usable and quite fade-resistant.

The innovative long-wear formula is designed to sculpt and create volume with a slender tube that dispenses the perfect amount of product. I find it difficult to extract the gel and though I usually have to squeeze very hard the color builds nicely for customized saturation. 

The gel comes with a handy dual-ended brow tool with an angled sculpting brush on one end and a spooley on the other to comb the hairs and keep them in place. The Stay All Day Brow Gel retails for $44.00.

On my face: brow gel plus a bit of face contouring and highlighting with the Stila Shape & Shade Custom Contour Duo check out the review- HERE

Stila’s spring collection is now available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Murale and Murale.ca 

*Press samples featured

Stila Eye Shadow Trio Review - Gold Glow

Today you might want to grab your beverage of choice and pull up a chair because I am featuring a brilliant gem by Stila Cosmetics that will make an eye shadow fan out of the most color hesitant beauty shoppers. This year Stila has released some brilliant shadows but the Gold Glow Trio will bring out your inner goddess.

Designed for both wet and dry application the baked shadows are housed in a beautiful domed palette that unites a gorgeous intermingling of gold, copper and ivory. The shades can be worn together or individually to create a variety of stunning effects and the quality is excellent!

The best thing about these shadows aside from shades that are suitable for every season and a variety of occasions is the amazing pigmentation! One swipe across the lids produces rich, luminous color that is smooth, non-chalky and vibrant. The saturation is excellent with or without a primer and you don’t have to work hard to increase the intensity for dramatic looks.

 

The texture is smooth and silky and although the finish is quite metallic and contains shimmer there is minimal fallout and no creasing. Due to the close proximity of the colors they can mesh together and overlap in the palette but they provide dazzling, full coverage for a glamours yet soft effect. These hues are suitable for all skin tones and the range of light medium and dark is useful for lids, crease and brow bone highlight.

 I am definitely impressed with these Stila shadows and the trio is also available in: Bronze Glow and Rose-Gold Glow. It retails for $28.00 U.S / $32.00 CAN and is available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Murale and Sephora.

**Disclaimer: product was provided for review

Stila Stay All Day Vinyl Lip Gloss Review

This summer Stila has released some great new products including the Stay All Day Vinyl Lip Glosses which are among my favorite items. Although these ravishing beauties are categorized as “gloss” they definitely go above and beyond. I was expecting shiny, light to medium coverage but what I got was vibrantly bold, long-lasting color!

I would describe these products as lip crèmes because they are rather thick, creamy,  full-coverage, and opaque. They offer high shine, hydrating texture and a solid lacquer finish. The glosses also nourish lips with seaweed extract, and organic green coffee oil.

Not only does the formula glide on velvety smooth it is easy to work with and increases elastin and collagen production. It also helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and seals in moisture!

06 Vinyl Nude may sound rather tame and nude gloss is not particularly my favorite color, but this shade is wonderful! Unlike some nudes that blend into skin and create a washed-out, sallow appearance, this shade is more on the mauve side of the color spectrum. It contains hints of pink and purple undertones for a pretty finish. Instead of looking flat and boring this color makes lips pop without having to wear an extremely bright pigment. It is perfect for all seasons and a variety of makeup looks.

When I swatched the shade 02 Melon Vinyl I gasped for joy. This may be a sign that I should voluntarily admit myself into Lip Products Anonymous for people with addictions or it could just be that this color is amazing! I have been wearing this shade since the sun came out and the flowers started to bloom this summer. This pink is bright and electric with the perfect mix of light and medium tones.

The glosses smell pleasant but do leave behind a slight stain. If I apply them heavily they also tend to make my lips stick together due to the thickness of the formula. 

The glosses are available at Shoppers Drug Mart and Murale stores across Canada. They come in 6 beautiful shades and retail for $32 each.

**Disclaimer: These products were provided for review. All opinions stated in this review are my own and based on my experience with the products. Results may vary based on individual use.**