FOTD - Arbonne Review

Firstly, I just want to apologise for being late with this post.  [-X  The past week has been a total write-off because I have been a tad under the weather!  :-<  The dreaded flu finally caught up with me and I was bed ridden for a few days.  :-&   (well as much as that is possible when you have two little pip squeaks at home  :-j  LOL).  So yeah, while feeling as sick as a hundred dog’s I was unable to keep up with everything, so much to my dismay, even my blog had to bear the consequences :-O   

Arbonne FOTD - Flash

Anyway, onto the good stuff  ;)  When Heather from Arbonne asked me if I wanted to trial some Arbonne Cosmetics products, I must admit I was more than just a bit excited, hehe!   \:D/  ;))  I mean it’s not very often I get asked to test drive makeup and lets face it, who doesn’t LOVE makeup, well at least I know I sure do! :x  Due to my oily skin, I was keen to try the Arbonne FC5 Mattifying Powder, which is actually part of the Arbonne FC5 Face skin care range, but it also really does go hand in hand with cosmetics.  Based around that, we decided that I should also test out a foundation, concealer and blush along and in conjunction with the primer and lipstick that I already own, it covers the basic daily makeup products I need to create a simple but elegant FOTD (Face of the Day). :)  Here are the products I used to create my look. :D 

Arbonne Makeup Primer 

This product is the star of the range, (*) definitely my kind of primer, yet I must admit, like with most primers, I was sceptical about how it would team up with my oily skin. :-S  I soon found out that it was actually a pleasant surprise, with the ability to achieve impressive results, making me intent to use it again and again.  I like primers with lots of slip, like this one has, with its silk-like finish that is incredibly lightweight, creating an airless film on my skin, delivering a super soft, smooth canvas, ready for my makeup.  It comes in sleek, stylish packaging (that looks very flash on my vanity) with a pump-style applicator to ensure ease of application.  Enriched with vitamins, this primer has a clear, unscented, gel-like texture that is non-greasy and doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin or cause breakouts.  Unlike other primers, this formulation isn’t too rich or heavy, so instead of causing my skin to get all greasy, it actually helps to mattify my complexion, keeping my oily skin shine-free throughout the day. It does everything a primer is supposed to do, such as filling in pores and fine lines, disguising imperfections and ironing out the surface to improve the overall appearance of my skin, which then allows for flawless makeup that remains looking durably polished.  I also noted that this primer works perfectly with both liquid and mineral powder foundation, but the key is not to go overboard as a little goes a long way, just a pea sized amount is sufficient for my whole face.  This powerhouse primer preps my skin, hides my flaws and extends the life of my makeup, all to my advantage for a smooth, beautiful complexion.  I would highly recommend it. =D>  

Arbonne Primer

Arbonne Perfecting Liquid Foundation SPF15 

I have trouble with many liquid foundations, which can my face too shiny, settle into fine lines or appear all cakey. ~X(  This foundation, in the shade of 'Honey Beige', comes up trumps to meet all of my criteria. B-)  The lightweight formulation glides over my skin, blending with ease and complimenting my skin tone perfectly to create a super smooth, flawless, natural-looking finish.   Presented in a classy, pump-action glass bottle, this multi-tasking blend also allows my skin to breathe, while protecting against UV damage, with the zinc infused, SPF 15 barrier.  The non-comedogenic, paraben-free foundation provides a medium to full coverage that hides my imperfections and really does stay in place without transferring onto my clothing or sliding off in the heat. I love that it also boasts anti-ageing properties to target prematurely aged skin, battling against the ‘maturing’ progression, by firming facial contours, whilst softening and relaxing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, so rather than accentuating my flaws, my skin looks immaculate.  This foundation is ideal for my oily skin as the built-in light reflecting technology diverts attention away from my defects, providing a healthy, luminous glow without being all greasy-like.  The nourishing formulation does however, still deliver adequate hydration to keep my skin from feeling taught or dry. In my opinion, it absolutely lives up to its ‘Foundation Botox in a Bottle’ claim by promoting a youthful, airbrushed appearance with a subtly radiant complexion.  This foundation benchmarks the junction between skin care and makeup, to not only meet my desired skin concerns, but it also suits my lifestyle with its ability to withstand the humid, Queensland summer days and that is saying something!  ;)

Arbonne Perfecting Liquid Foundation

Arbonne Crème Concealer 

Because this concealer only has three shade options, 'Light', 'Medium' and 'Dark', I wasn’t overly confident after selecting the 'Medium' that it would suit my complexion. :-?  Not to mention, that I have never really had much success, previously, when I have tried using a cream-style concealer on my oily skin. :-/  Well, I needn’t have worried, because I instantly loved this concealer, with its petite, little square-shaped compact boasting a sturdy snap-shut lid that features Arbonne’s signature, elegantly chic presentation.  As it turned out, the medium shade was a perfect match for my skin tone and the thick, smooth, creamy blend goes a long way, with just a smidgen being ample to hide my visible demons,  >:) drying within seconds to a lightweight, powder-like finish.  The medium coverage works well on my minor imperfections, yet I found it does require a bit more careful layering to completely camouflage any major flaws, (think enormous, volcano-style zits :-O  :)) LOL).  So, while not exactly a full coverage concealer, it’s definitely buildable and matched with exceptional staying power, even on my oily skin, I admit the formulation is quite spectacular and wears beautifully.  I am growing rather fond of this master of disguise.  >-)  ;)) 

Arbonne Creme Concealer

Arbonne FC5 Mattifying Powder 

This was the product I was the most excited about trying, because as anyone with oily skin would relate to, I am always looking for innovative new ways to combat my oily skin dilemma, which is particularly evident when I wear makeup and even more so in the humid conditions of our tropical climate.  I didn’t suss this product out too much before I received it, so you can imagine my shock when I discovered it was in fact green, EEK! :-O  Not someone who is easily deterred, I immediately tried it out as a finishing powder, which sets my foundation and concealer, however it can also be used prior to foundation as a primer, or even alone, to not only mattify, but also to reduce the appearance of facial redness, whilst soothing and comforting irritable skin.  I can assure you that it doesn’t look green at all, not one iota, once it is applied to the skin.   It is presented in a fancy flip-top compact with a mirror and velour puff, although I prefer to apply it using my normal powder brush, the pad-like puff is handy for touch-up’s on the go.  I have used this powder ‘every which way’, but my favourite method is dusting it over my makeup.  The lightweight, translucent powder doesn’t clog my pores or cause congestion and the amazing effect keeps my skin shine-free all day long.  If I do need to re-apply, normally only after exertion, it works like a charm to revive my complexion and quickly transform it back to a matte, refined finish.   This is a no-brainer, it suits my lifestyle and skin concerns to perfection, packed with lots of natural ‘oily skin-combating’ ingredients that I love, such as zinc and kaolin, all I can say is this powder is simply ahh-mazing!  :x   

Arbonne Mattifying Powder

Arbonne Blush 

I think that this blush, in the shade of 'Taffeta', is one of the prettiest colours I have ever seen.  It comes in the typical Arbonne-style packaging, which is sleek and attractive, with a sturdy clip-shut lid.  The compact doesn’t come with a brush, which is perfectly fine by me as most of the brushes that accompany blushers are shocking anyway, so I prefer to use my own. ;)  This particular blush is a bright, bold colour but is semi-sheer upon application with a gorgeous, lightweight, matte finish.  The smooth powdered blush blends easily with minimal fallout and a little goes a long way.  It provides a naturally ‘pinched-cheek’ look that compliments my complexion, staying in place all day without fading. This no-fuss blush is a gorgeous addition to highlight any makeup look.  :) 

Arbonne Blush - Taffeta

Arbonne Lipstick 

I have this lipstick in the shade of 'Scarlet', which I won in a competition a while back.   I am one of those people who just can’t wear red lipstick, because it simply doesn’t look right, LOL! :))  'Scarlet' is more of a deep, brownish red and while I still don’t think it suits me entirely, the colour is far more flattering than say a 'fire engine' red, so it’s the ideal red lipstick to go for if you can’t sport a true red lipstick.  It comes is an elegant, slimline gunmetal grey casing with an equally narrow tip, which makes for smooth, precise application.  I adore the botanical enriched formula of this lipstick, because while it provides a vibrant, semi-matte finish, it is actually rich and creamy so it doesn’t dry out my lips, nor does it have any scent or taste, which I find extremely appealing.  I personally think that the overall finish is much nicer if I prep my lips with a balm prior to using the lipstick as this prevents it sinking into any fine lines on my lips.  The full coverage, highly pigmented, blend with immense colour payoff doesn’t feather or slide out of the lip line and wears incredibly well, still leaving a distinct stain on my lips hours after first applying, even after eating and drinking.  The only downfall is the colour selection is limited and that is a shame as the maximum effect lipstick is stunning and I would love to try shades more suitable to my complexion. An effective lipstick that guarantees a perfect pout! <:-P 

Arbonne Lipstick - Scarlet

Overall

Arbonne Swatches

WOW, I really enjoyed trying these Arbonne products and I was indeed surprised at how well they performed.  They were a match made in heaven for my oily skin and the long-wearing, hard working formulas are ideal to use in our tropical climate.  I actually wore this makeup for the whole day, going about my normal daily routine, including eating and drinking and even took a Nanna nap (shh :-$ :)) ha-ha ) and still woke up with my makeup looking fresh and intact!  Price wise, yes they do they seem expensive initially, but they are certainly no more expensive than lots of other brands and are equally on par in terms of performance.  As the old saying goes, “You get what you pay for” and that absolutely relates to these Arbonne products. 

Arbonne FOTD - No Flash

As a person who has always been extremely budget conscious, I have learned that buying the cheapest alternatives are not always the most affordable option in the long run.  Based on my own personal experience, I have noticed, quiet often, that some of the more expensive options are more 'concentrated’ if you get my drift, therefore they last for so much longer, stamping out the need for frequent replacements.  I have no doubt that these Arbonne Cosmetics fall straight into this high-quality, luxury brand category, with the ability to utilise the smallest amount of product to accomplish the desired look, hence I would be more than happy to invest my $$$ into such effective and long-term economical solutions. :)  Have you heard of Arbonne or have you tried any of their products yet?  I would love to hear your thoughts! :) 

Although some of these products were provided for my consideration, ALL opinions in the above post are my own and were not in any way influenced by anyone else.

All images in this post are my own, other than the two advertising pictures below, where I have made reference to the source.

If you would like to find out more about Arbonne you can visit Heather’s website here. If you sign up as a preferred client, you will receive 2 ‘FREE’ products, or if you are interested in becoming an Arbonne consultant you get an incentive of over $100 worth of ‘FREE’ products to get started. 

Image c/o Arbonne

"Let me erase your wrinkles and your worries! 
Arbonne Can change the face of your future. 
Watch the following clip for a free gift."

http://www.arbonne.com/opportunity.asp

Image c/o Arbonne

“Join my team today, earn a free Mercedes, we are going straight to the top!” 

Here is a link to an Australian opportunity presentation

http://www.spiritwings.com/EYL/EYLNotesAU.pdf

You can also email Heather at botanicalskin@gmail.com if you have any questions, or would like to find out more