Considering my reservations about the formula, you may wonder why I accepted a sample for review. Well, I will admit to being curious as I've been impressed with all the other Kevyn Aucoin products I've tried so far and I do have a penchant for tinted moisturiser type bases. I also thought it would be good to challenge my silicone snootiness for once.
I have surprised myself by really liking this tinted moisturiser and I have worn if almost constantly for the last three weeks. It offers good coverage (it's similar to the NARS Pure Radiant tinted moisturiser) and it evens out my skin tone without looking like I'm wearing foundation. It has a cream rather than fluid texture but feels very light on my skin. It provides a more satin finish than either the BECCA or NARS, but as with all tinted moisurisers, I do get a bit of breakthrough on my T-zone by mid-afternoon.
One thing I don't love so much about it is that it seems to accentuate the sebaceous filaments on the sides of my nose as it leaves an 'empty hole' over them. I have a feeling this is something to do with the silicone base.
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I have been using the Sensual Tinted Balm in the shade SB02. There are a total of four shades and although I hesitated between the SB01 and SB02, the SB02 is a good match for me. You can see swatches of all four shades side by side on the Beauty Professor. From these swatches, I would suggest the range is currently suitable for only fair to medium skintones.
As I've mentioned the BECCA Luminous Skin and NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturisers, I thought it would be useful to include some comparison swatches. The BECCA Luminous Skin I have is in the shade Sand and the NARS tinted moisturiser is in the shade Finland.
Left to right: NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser in Finland, Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Tinted Balm in SB02 and BECCA Luminous Skin Colour in Sand.
One final word of caution about the packaging. Don't be a heavy handed klutz like me. I broke the plastic casing on my first use, mistakenly assuming this to be a twist off cap. It's not, it's a pull off cap. Oops!
The Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Tinted Balm costs £35 for and is available from Mise Beauty.
Disclosure: PR sample
I had a play with this in SpaceNK and it did feel very lovely and I like the packaging too.
ReplyDeleteIt does have a nice feel and I don't think it feels as slippery as some silicone heavy formulas. The packaging is nice which makes me even more gutted that I spoiled mine on its first outing!!
DeleteSounds like it's worth a try. I do like the Skin Enhancer even though I bought a shade too light by accident (I use it as a pre-foundation concealer).
ReplyDeleteHi Karen! Although I've not tried the Skin Enhancer, I should imagine that if you like it, it's worth trying the tinted balm.
DeleteI've been interested in this but I've been concerned about fragrance. His foundation was gorgeous on but I couldn't take the smell. Do you notice it with this?
ReplyDeleteThere's no perfume to it as such. However, it does have a slight rubbery or product smell as you first apply it, is that what put you off the foundation? It's not as strong as the MAC Studio Scuplt for example which was like putting Dulux emulsion on my face!
DeleteHis other foundation, the thick one, made me gag from the smell. I guess I better wait til I can try it in person. Thanks for the answer.
DeleteThank you for the mention/link :) its such a shame that it didn't agree with my skin as I really thought the finish it gave to the skin was wonderful, I gave it to my mum in the end and she really loves it, so at least it wasn't wasted :)
ReplyDeletexx
That's good that your Mum has been able to make use of it. I do like the finish and it makes a nice change to my more dewy TM favourites.
DeleteAs a random aside, I've become quite obsessed with using the RBR Time Defying foundation sample in Quinoa Cream. I used the Linen Cream first as I thought that would be my best match but the Quinoa is better (I wouldn't have guessed it from the pot). I've finally been able to do that magical 'thing' of applying foundation only where I need it without it being obvious where foundation ends and bare skin begins. I do wish the finish didn't vary so much on my skin though, otherwise I think it could have been an absolute winner! Have you tried samples of it? xx
I've heard a lot of good things about the RBR, but I wasn't too sure that I would get on with the ingredients, I might try it at some point though I am very happy with my omorovicza base. I need to get the newer RBR shadows really, seems wrong that they have stuff out that I haven't bought...must restore balance... ;) xx
DeleteExcellent review. I have the same aversion to heavily silicone laden base products. I like the way that this looks, but I am not wild about the idea that it accentuates, rather than conceals, sebaceous filaments. xoxo
ReplyDeleteThis foundation sounds like something worth looking into! I might have to wear a primer with it as you mentioned it accenting your pores. I have trouble with that and my large pores. Great review! :)
ReplyDeleteI came to read about the make-up and ended up learning about sebaceous filaments too! Now I understand my skin a lot better. Thanks!
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