beauty blog

Chanel Vitalumiére Aqua in BR12 / Beige Rosé

I am honestly, truly, deeply, madly, etc. in love with Chanel Vitalumiére Aqua foundation. You probably heard me raving about it in my April Favorites post previously, but it deserves a post all its own. (To watch me apply this foundation, check out my latest "Get Ready with Me" post) I wear the lightest cool-toned, pinky shade (BR12 - Beige Rosé), though it is still a little dark for my skin. It's incredibly frustrating when I hear about an awesome foundation, only to find the lightest shade too yellow (*cough* NARS Sheer Glow *cough*) or too dark. In this case, I just have to be very careful to blend down my neck and to use very little product overall. As it oxidizes on my skin, I can see a distinctive, orangish line around my jaw if I am not cognisant to blend, blend, blend! Nevertheless, it literally looks like skin and gives the perfect light coverage where I can still see all my freckles on my nose and cheeks. Likewise, imperfections still need concealing. The SPF 15 is an added bonus for daytime wear, but I really wish they had an SPF-free formula for occasions with flash photography. SPF in foundations causes your skin to appear whiter in flash photography, in case you were unaware (and probably looking like Casper all over Facebook). I look white enough already, I don't need any sun protection making it worse! I am thinking about trying out MAC Face and Body, probably mixing the lightest with the white version, and Illamasqua Skin Base, same situation here, for a flawless, night out foundation sans SPF.


I wear this foundation with a NARS makeup primer (with SPF 20 PA++ -- a discontinued formula, actually) during the day and a Smashbox primer when I don't need the extra SPF (sometimes I even forego all primers!). I have pretty oily skin and I do find that my oils definitely break through this foundation within a couple of hours, even with an oil-control setting spray and apply some of my Smashbox Photo Finish Setting Powder on my T-zone. Perhaps if I tried an oil-control primer it would last longer? I don't even care that there's a paraban in the ingredients because it's just that amazing. R.I.P. Para-ban 2012. It's $45, which I find to be a typical price for a nice foundation, so I couldn't recommend it enough. Walk.. run.. no, SPRINT to your nearest Chanel counter and get a sample today!