Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24hr Foundation

.... is my new holy grail foundation. Since finishing my acne program, my skin has been looking clearer than ever (with a few exceptions) and the need to switch to a lighter coverage foundation has landed on my shoulders. I have been using Estee Lauder Double Wear for a few months, and even got several tubes for Christmas. Although the Double Wear Maximum Cover was excellent for covering my acne, rosiness and skin pigmentation it was just too heavy for everyday wear and was creating more problems than it caused. Estee Lauder and MAC products are well known for containing titanium dioxide, which is a known acne irritant. Funny how I learn this after finishing my acne program!

I have trialed the Laura Mercier Silk Creme foundation (read my review here), Chanel Perfection Lumier (still runs orange and oxidizes on my skin through the day despite being recommended by the media for oily/combination skin types), MAC Matchmaster (disaster review here) and many other drugstore foundations on the search for a new lighter coverage foundation that lasts all day. I saw the ad claims for the new Lancome foundation in Stylist a few weeks ago, and went to John Lewis Oxford Street to test it out. I was given shade 05, which was too pink but the consistency and longevity of the foundation really blew me away.

Wearing the Lancome Teint Idole 24hr Ultra foundation, mascara and brow pencil

In the knowledge that this foundation may really be a saviour for me, I went to a selection of counters from Selfridges (who gave me shade 07, which is just beyond wrong), to House of Fraser and Debenhams who correctly matched me to shade 001. I collated a total of 10 foundation "samples". This seems really cheeky, but when you're on a student budget and the foundation that might save your life costs nearly £30, measures must be taken. Second to that, my ever changing skin needed more than a few days to get used to the product.

Overall, I must congratulate Lancome on creating this excellent foundation. It works great for my combination/oily skin by being 'watery' enough but also having excellent setting time. I did powder my T Zone several times using the Natural Collection powder, but it has broken me out like crazy (and has done the same to several other beauty gurus on Youtube) so I have ditched that. I don't feel the foundation needs a setting powder, but I would prefer one. It works excellently with my YSL Touche Eclat, but not so much with MAC Select Cover Concealer, but I think that is pretty rubbish anyway in terms of staying powder.

4.5 out of 5. Cost being the only downside. There's an amazing array of shades, and Lancome's staff are incredibly helpful in helping you determine the correct shade.

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