Let's get to business, girls. Here's my view on the Star System Foundation by Neve Cosmetics: can a full coverage foundation be vegan, petrolatum-silicone-paraben free? Read on to find out.
NEVE'S STATEMENT:
The foundation for a movie-star skin.
From the dawn of cinema to the era of the selfie.
Star System is the revisitation of a classic in the history of motion picture makeup, the Hollywood pan-cake makeup. The rich and extra-matte formula of the pancake makeup made the complexion of the divas look flawless even under the most unforgiving stage lights. Neve Cosmetics brings it back in a modern version that is vegan, petrolatum-silicone-paraben-free, and super quick to apply, thanks to the handy stick with a built-in sponge. For a superstar skin in all situations, as much in the spotlight as in everyday life.
Star System is the revisitation of a classic in the history of motion picture makeup, the Hollywood pan-cake makeup. The rich and extra-matte formula of the pancake makeup made the complexion of the divas look flawless even under the most unforgiving stage lights. Neve Cosmetics brings it back in a modern version that is vegan, petrolatum-silicone-paraben-free, and super quick to apply, thanks to the handy stick with a built-in sponge. For a superstar skin in all situations, as much in the spotlight as in everyday life.
A magic formula?
Neve Cosmetics created an exclusive formula enriched with rice bran wax, baobab oil and olive oil, for enhanced skin tone and protection. This results in a sublime texture, ensuring full coverage while being extraordinarily light and easy to blend, and an extremely even, velvet-matte finish.
Star System is water resistant, but can be easily removed with the most gentle face cleanser.
A movie-star skin!
Apply Star System by gliding the stick directly over your face. You can then smooth it out using a blending sponge, a foundation brush, your fingers, or the sponge included in the pack. A thin film of Star System is enough to get extreme coverage, but it can be layered as desired. You can apply different shades and blend them directly on the face to get a subtle contouring.
Star System will come out into society on february 21st on www.nevecosmetics.it
9 AVAILABLE SHADES:
- Fair Neutral - Very pale shade with neutral undertones. Fair Neutral is our palest shade of foundation. Perfect for natural blondes who never tan, lovers of the gothic look and those with very pale alabaster complexions. We created it for those who struggle to find a very pale, but completely natural-looking foundation.
- Light Rose - Pale shade with pink undertones. The pink shade for Nordic skin with cold undertones. This colour looks very natural on pink and fair complexions (but not very pale skin - Fair Neutral is better for that!). It's especially perfect for blondes and natural redheads with delicate skin that goes red easily and burns instantly in the sun. If most foundations look too yellow on your skin, you're probably a Light Rose.
- Light Neutral - Pale shade with neutral undertones. For pale, natural-coloured skin with no yellow or pink tones. Light Neutral is the foundation that's famous for suiting almost everyone, especially during winter months. If you're of Caucasian origin (blonde to chestnut-coloured hair) and your skin is pale and doesn't tan easily, then this is probably your colour.
- Light Warm - Pale shade with warm undertones. The foundation for fair but not cold skin tones: unlike Light Neutral, it has amber undertones that make it perfect for pale Mediterranean skin. If most pale foundations look too pink on your skin, you're probably a Light Warm.
- Medium Neutral - Medium shade with neutral undertones. For medium-coloured skin that's neither pale nor dark. Perfect for brunettes who tan easily but don't have a very Mediterranean skin tone. If your skin colour could be called "normal" (neither pale nor tanned, neither pink nor olive), your colour is Medium Neutral.
- Medium Warm - Medium shade with warm Mediterranean undertones. For medium (neither pale nor dark) golden skin tones that tan easily. Perfect for Mediterranean skin with slightly olive undertones.
- Tan Neutral - Dark shade with neutral undertones. The natural colour for tanned or dark skin that doesn't have golden or Mediterranean undertones. Also perfect for darkening a foundation that's too pale.
- Tan Warm - Dark shade with warm Mediterranean undertones. The colour for dark, tanned skin with warm olive undertones.
- Dark Warm - Our darkest shade for very tanned complexions, dark skin tones with warm undertones.
INGREDIENTS:
CAPRYLIC / CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, OCTYLDODECANOL, RICINUS COMMUNIS SEED OIL / RICINUS COMMUNIS (CASTOR) SEED OIL, CANDELILLA CERA / EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX, KAOLIN, ORYZA SATIVA BRAN CERA (RICE BRAN WAX), COPERNICIA CERIFERA CERA / COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX, CETYL ALCOHOL, ADANSONIA DIGITATA (BAOBAB) OIL, OLEA EUROPAEA FRUIT OIL / OLEA EUROPAEA (OLIVE) FRUIT OIL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, TOCOPHEROL, BENZYL ALCOHOL, DEHYDROACETIC ACID, POLYHYDROXYSTEARIC ACID, STEARIC ACID, ALUMINA. MAY CONTAIN: C.I. 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE), MICA, C.I. 77491 -77492 - 77499 (IRON OXIDES).
THE PACKAGING:
The Star System Foundation is contained in a lilac, plastic tube with a double lid: on one end we have the actual product, on the other end a small, pointed beauty blender. Neve's logo, and the explanatory writings are written in their standard font, coloured in silver. I find it really cute, they're really going for it with the pastels hey! I find they're the most pleasant looking shades, and they definitely reflect the brand's delicate, natural style and philosophy.
Star System comes right after the Creamy Comfort foundation, which was described as "a foundation for those who hate foundation". This light base alternative, also available in the same 9 shades, was perfect for girls who couldn't stand the feeling of cosmetic products on their faces.
This new member of the Neve's family is for whoever had felt left out from the previous launch, especially for girls suffering from imperfections, redness, acne scars. Quite thoughtful from the team at Neve Cosmetics, thanks for this little gem for us who tend to privilege a higher coverage.
APPLICATION:
Do not forget to moisturize before wearing it - it's not a liquid foundation, remember? The smoother the face, the easier it will be to put on. I'm talking to you, dry-skin-type girl I can't relate to, haha!
Now, given that I did not like the little sponge coming with the stick, as too small, for first application, I can't say it wouldn't be useful for on-the-go retouches during the day (although I haven't needed that yet).
First of all, I always tend to grab my beauty blender when testing out new foundations, only because it's my personal favourite way to do it. However, I believe it took a little while before I was completely happy with the result I got. It just wasn't as easy to blend as I assumed, so I decided to change my strategy. I tried the Azalea Flat Brush, and guys. It. Took. 2. Mins. It was also the best option for adding layers on top of the first one.
Something else I've also tried, was applying it with my fingers for when I have no time to waste, and that works too, it evens out the skin, giving it a lighter, medium coverage I would say.
Being generally oily, I automatically felt the need to set the base with powder, and you might need to retouch 1 or 2 times a day if you are the same. It's great on its own for dry to combination skin. When I put it to the test on a random day where I also worked out, I noticed it needed powder only after a good 6 hours. It didn't move.
MY EXPERIENCE:
My face has acne scars and I took the next picture on a bad skin day (PMSing, ya know what I mean), where you can also see a couple of spots. Not only I realized I got my shade wrong (my Creamy Comfort shade is Light Warm so I went for the same with this one), it was actually Light Neutral, but I could clearly see the difference the foundation made while editing the collage below. I love it. It doesn't look in any way possible cakey, it covers everything and stays on for long.
CONCLUSIONS:
I love the way it looks on my face, I love that it's a natural, silicone free foundation what works amazingly well. It didn't break me out, and I don't have to worry that it will make it worse when I already have zits, it's got SPF 15 and feels light on, as if you had a simple moisturizer. I'm excited to see more shades coming out, because this one's a FREAKING YES from me. What I haven't done so far is using darker shades for contour, but seeing how easily blendable it is, I'm sure I'll rock the next Instagram looks, so keep your eyes peeled!
What is your favourite foundation? Let me know in a comment below xx
