Application
Posts tagged Pixi Sheer Base Oil Free (Foundation)
Many, many moons ago, straight out of make-up school I started working part time for Pixi at their boutique in London. Whilst working there wasn’t exactly the high light of my working career, I did leave with a new found respect for many of their products. It was actually an introduction to their products, as I had never even used any of their make-up prior to the job.
Along with the lovely cheek gel-stains and lip glosses, I discovered their moisturising foundation was simply AMAZING. In shade no 5 it was the perfect colour match for my skin, and gave a beautiful healthy glowy natural finish, with decent coverage. The texture on my skin was beautiful, as it was natural finish, almost undetectable yet my skin looked perfect whilst firm, if that makes sense? Admittedly, you had to have good skin in the first place to wear this foundation as if my skin was a little on the extra dryer side or I’d imagine if I had acne skin this product would look awful on, but with good normal skin, the occasional spot perhaps, not too many lines, it was beautiful.
So a few years down the line, long after I ceased working for them, I decided I’d buy this foundation again as I was getting bored of the brilliant Mac Face and Body. Off I go into the store and to my horror they’ve discontinued shade no 5 in that range, so I was advised to get shade no 5 in the OIL FREE version of that foundation, as it was still for all skin tones but generally better for people with oilier skin (not me) as apposed to the moisturising one. Hmmm, I wasn’t happy about this as I knew the oil free version was for a matte finish (albeit, natural matte finish) but thought I’d give it a try anyway..
So here it is..
It comes in a glass bottle, with a white plastic lid and is pump action. At £24 it is not the cheapest of foundations for a small brand but not unacceptably expensive.
Initially when I first bought this I would apply it with my fingers, as the other moisturising foundation I’ve previously tried of theirs applied well that way. I’ve since discovered this foundation is applied far better with a good foundation brush, I use a Bobbi Brown foundation brush. This product, like their other foundation, is quick setting, you literally just paint it onto your skin and it sets to a beautiful flawless finish.
Being natural finish, it wasn’t cakey or clumpy like another foundation might be. It just really improved the texture of your skin, without being overtly matte or dewy. This is actually my favourite kind of finish in foundations, but is a rarity to find (or the sales assistants don’t really understand what natural finish is, they often just think it’s simply ‘light coverage’) so I usually just end up asking for dewy.
Verdict
Whilst this foundation applied extremely easily, and set to a nice finish without having to use powder (for those with oilier skin, sure, you can use a powder on top!), I found it didn’t last very long on the skin as it wasn’t really for dry skin (despite claiming to be for all skin types). It would look amazing as soon as it was applied, but my skin would literally just absorb it within a few hours when I wore it out. I could sometimes feel it being tight on my skin, most likely due to its oil absorbing properties.
Admittedly, when I tried it on again more recently for this review, it lasted outstandingly longer whilst I was just pottering around in the house, over a good six hours it was perfectly (and comfortably) in tact before I took it off to go to bed. This could be because I applied it with a foundation brush, as opposed to fingers, straight after thoroughly moisturised skin – possibly makes it last longer on dryer skin? Who knows, but I’m not sure it would fare as well if I actually spent a good day outside running around, busy, maybe dehydrated, as of course make-up wears off quicker out and about as opposed to say, sitting still indoors surfing the web!
So in conclusion, whilst I loved the look this foundation gave, if you have dryer skin I wouldn’t advise it. If you have normal to oilier this a perfect foundation for you (providing you like the finish it gives and don’t want the heavy cakey matte look). Having said that, if you want to buy it, you gotta buy it quick! As I think they’re discontinuing it as it’s not on their website anymore, as is neither any of the moisturising version either. I think ASOS is selling only three shades of this oil free one for half price! So if you want it, be quick!!
Here are some pics:
