Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Review: Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Foundation

I'll be doing several reviews over the next few days. I've got some new favorite staples and a few fun things to talk about so be sure to return to my blog frequently to keep up!

I thought I'd review my favorite foundation, Lancome's Teint Idole Ultra. Teint Idole Ultra is a liquid oil-free foundation that comes in a glass pump tube. I have been using this foundation for the past five years. It's a staple in my everyday makeup look. I have oily acne-prone skin. My skin can be very sensitive to products. I use Retin-A so I have to be careful what sort of products I put on my face.



With Teint Idole Ultra, I do not use a primer. Instead I use Coppertone Oil Free Faces Lotion in SPF 30. I don't think you need a primer with this foundation unless your skin is dry and/or you want to fill in lines and wrinkles first. It is a personal preference. After using sunscreen, I either apply the foundation with clean fingers or the Sonia Kashuk skunk brush. The best thing about this foundation is it's ability to blend and the amount of coverage. I would describe the coverage as medium; you can build up to a full coverage look with more layers. Personally, I prefer medium coverage because you can hide imperfections but forego the "pancake" look. You can easily cover blemishes, marks, and lights scars with this foundation. I can even skip concealer under my eyes if I'm in a hurry. It does not cover acne scars fully. You will need a concealer for that and I recommend Laura Mercier's Secret Camouflage.

The foundation is easy to apply and a little goes a long way! The finish is some what matte. Teinte Idole is not a foundation that will give you a "dewy" or "glowy" look. Instead, it deemphasizes pores with a shine free finish. I find that using this foundation plus a good concealer you can achieve an airbrushed look! If you want a more glowy look, try pairing this foundation with a shimmery blush or highlight shade.

And yes, this foundation does wear well! I do not know if it lasts 14 hours since I've never worn it that long but it does last at least 8 hours without touch up. It doesn't even sweat off when I'm at the gym. I have never experienced any break outs from the foundation. That's why I've been coming back to it for five years!

This foundation is expensive, priced at approximately $40.00. I know this is a lot to spend on a foundation but the good news is Teint Idole performs amazing well and lasts quite a while. A bottle usually gets me through four months and I wear makeup almost every day. Since you don't need to touch up, you won't be using as much makeup. If you are worried about cost, try mixing this foundation with your favorite drug store foundation to save money (learned this trick from the lovely Panacea81)!

Lancome's Teint Idole Ultra comes in eighteen shades. I wear Ivoire 2C and it's the perfect match for my skin tone. For reference, I am a MAC NW20.

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Pros: Long wearing, build able coverage, wide color range, easy to blend, oil-free
Cons: Expensive, may be too matte for some wearers

I highly recommend this foundation to anyone who struggles with acne and blemishes. I have been through the ringer with skin issues and this foundation has never failed me!

Of course, I can not promise it will work for you but I put my confidence behind this product. If you've tried Teint Idole Ultra, let me know what you think! Do you prefer another liquid foundation?

2 comments:

Cathy Santarsiero, "The Christmas Corgi" said...

I've been looking for a new foundation with mega sunblock. I may just check this one out. Thanks for the tip! Have a lovely weekend. Warmly, Cathy ^..^

MC said...

You're quite welcome! If you got to the Lancome counter, be sure to ask about SPF in the foundation b/c I don't think my version as any. It does mix well with my everyday sunscreen.

Thanks Cathy!