I've been interested in Christopher Drummond mineral foundation for a while, so I was very pleased to discover that the UK beauty etailer, JustBeautyDirect.co.uk, stock this line. They offered to send me a sample of the Veludo foundation and kindly also included a sample of the Finale finishing powder. (Pictured above, please note these are sample sizes.)
So, here's the bare faced before. You'll notice that I thoughtfully have an extremely red nose from my cold, and I've cultivated a spot on my chin underneath my lip (always happens when I'm ill.)
After applying RMS un cover concealer around my nose and on my dark circles, I brushed on the Christopher Drummond foundation and then the finishing powder. I didn't apply concealer to the spot, because I wanted to see how the Christopher Drummond could handle it, and it did really quite well indeed. I patted the foundation on to the spot with a clean fingertip to cover it. I still look half asleep (I haven't been well, okay?) but my skin is considerably clearer and more even.
And with eyes, lips and cheeks done:
What I like about the Christopher Drummond Veludo and Finale:
The shade Creme is a good colour match for my pale, neutral skin. It's the pinkest/least yellow mineral foundation I've seen. The Finale finishing powder in Branca (white) is also a good match for me.
It feels comfy and not at all itchy or dry on my skin.
You can just brush it on - you don't need to buff it into the skin, which is where I think some of the irritation comes from with other mineral makeup lines.
It doesn't make my skin look weirdly shiny or semi-metallic like Bare Escentuals did. The Bismuth in BE gives my skin a finish somewhat akin to Data from Star Trek. I know that many people love BE, but I personally didn't get on with it.
I like that you can buy samples to try the range out before you commit to full sizes. Although that isn't unique to this line, it's still a very good feature of a brand sold online.
What I don't like:
It's impossible to review Christopher Drummond thoroughly for me without talking about the price. For a mineral foundation line, it's bloody expensive. The foundation kit is £50 for an 8g glass jar of foundation, a kabuki brush and a smaller plastic container to decant into for travel. When you take into account the brush is included, the price is comparable with Inika, the only other mineral foundation line I've tried I'd recommend. I hope that JustBeautyDirect eventually stocks the option of buying refills, as offered on the Christopher Drummond US website, because it does seem a bit of a waste to pay for a new brush every time you need a new foundation. After I've finished the samples, I do think I'll buy full sizes of both of these products, and I'll report back to you if I do.
Disclosure: products were sent to me for consideration for review. I am not affiliated, and receive no remuneration if you click on the link in this post or any other.
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Eeeeeh. It looks nice on you, but seriously, £50 for 8g? That's ridiculous. Every mineral make-up company I know doesn't use bismuth in products, and this guy's ingredients are nothing special -
ReplyDeleteSerecite, Mica, Iron Oxides, Ultramarine Blue, Organic Cornstarch, White Kaolin Clay, Organic Lavender Essential Oil, Organic Lime Essential Oil, Organic Clove Bud Essential Oil, Organic Vanilla Extract, Organic Geranium Essential Oil, Organic Patchouli Essential Oil.
So that's mica, iron oxides which typically come in most wholesale micas, ultramarine blue and kaolin clay, both incredibly cheap and common, and then a few essential oils I could pick up at my local Holland & Barrett? It doesn't seem to justify the price tag, to me.
With mineral foundation, it's not like company X can use minerals from bits of rock that are vastly superior to the minerals from bits of rock that company Y used. It's fairly universal.
I'd love to see you try out some Aromaleigh Glissade mineral foundation, or Silk Naturals (which let you mix your own, custom colour) and compare.
Hey Anastasia - I know, I know! ;) I think I might give the Aromaleigh a go for comparison, blending my own foundation would just be a recipe for kabuki-like disaster on me. I do like that this one doesn't have TiO2 in it - it feels lighter to me than most I've tried that do have that in.
ReplyDeletehmm. It may be my monitor, but I'm not seeing £50 worth of difference between before and after. Or indeed any difference at all, apart from on the spot.
ReplyDeleteThe mineral foundation from Silk Naturals is one of my favourites. I too thought that it would be hard to mix my foundation but it really isn't. Silk naturals do provide a "recipe" sheet of sorts with your purchase and they do offer samples so that you can try it before you buy.
ReplyDelete50 pounds does seem like a lot of money for a tiny bit of product; even with the brush and travel jar included.
Have your tried Meow Cosmetics? They have a nice race of colours on three different formulas.
Btw, you look lovely in both the before and after picture.
I noticed it doesn't have titanium dioxide in, which is commonly used for whitening, so I suspect they use the mica for that, instead.
ReplyDeleteStill, there's absolutely nothing in that mix which justifies the price tag, it looks like another company jumping on the bandwagon and exploiting the mineral buzz to make a quick buck. The brush just looks like one from their ultimate line, too, which is carried at hundreds of different mineral sites online (although lovely quality) isn't exactly an exclusive luxe touch.
I hear great things about Aromaleigh's glissade. I'm quite chuffed as Beauty from the earth just sent me a sample of their new ultra-pale foundation, which really IS ultra-pale, and pink based! I'm far paler than NC15 and find foundation matches nigh on impossible.
Hey GreatShe - maybe I didn't look as bad in the before as I thought I did (or maybe I look worse in the after...) I don't wear foundation very often, perhaps I just don't need it that much on my skin.
ReplyDeleteHi Naomi - thank you :) Maybe I'll be a bit more adventurous and try a few different brands before I settle.
Hey Anastasia - you are determined to save me from myself ;) I will try some of the samples you've suggested, and thanks very much for your help. I do really like the feel of the Drummond though (although I wish it didn't have the essential oils in it - I don't care for fragrance in cosmetics, natural or otherwise.)
You looked fine in the before (call that a red nose?)
ReplyDeleteLovely face pics, even the before one. I wouldn't have noticed the spot if you hadn't mentioned it. The foundation covered up that teeny spot really well, I must say.
ReplyDeleteI can't take talc and Bismuth on my face. I break out and that's not a good thing. I use Jane Iredale foundations.
Thanks GreatSheElephant :)
ReplyDeleteHi Witoxicity - thank you. I've heard Jane Iredale is good - I'll have to a look :)
Wow that is a lot of money for a small jar of mineral make up :s I'd be tempted if it made me look flawless and like a supermodel though ;) LOL
ReplyDeleteYou look beautfuil in the before and after photos, you look like a supermodel x
Hi Jody - you really are being far too kind, but thank you :) It is expensive, but I am really enjoying how it makes my skin feel and look. I'll have to see what I think when I get to the end of the sample!
ReplyDeleteYou really look beautiful in both pics!
ReplyDeleteI own he Veludo foundation,branca finishing powder and Saude Pele Radiance Booster and have never been in LOVE so much with any other line! The Foundation is AMAZING. It just makes my skin Glow and looks very natural as well. Since you also don't use much of it, it lasts a while.I think it looks even better when i "set" it with a fine mist from a spray bottle (I have a self made facial spritz: purified water and a few drops of myrrh essential oil but I'm sure just purified water would work just as good). I have had mine for several months now and still have a good amount left.Also love the brush it comes with. Once I run out I'll definitely repurchase.