I Tan Profusely

And as a result I am already to dark for my Custom Blend foundation. Now bear with me while I give you some background info- Usually I have my Custom Blend foundation that I used from my eye brows down, but because my forehead is darker, I like to use a darker foundation so that I don't get that mask-y look on my forehead. Usually that shade is Real Chestnut in Prescriptives' Flawless Skin formula. Well since I've gotten a bit "toasty" I've decided to try using the Real Chestnut all over my face with ill results. There was something about it that didn't look right. Perhaps it's an issue with the Color Family. Prescriptives organized their color and face products by Color Families which refers to a variety undertones. There is Yellow/Orange, Red/Orange, Red, Blue/Red. You find out what Color Family you belong to by being Color Printed. I am Yellow Orange, but as most people redden when they get in the sun, I would probably be a Red/Orange or Red by now. The problem arises when there is no shade deep enough for you in your Color Family and you have to go to another Color Family for a match. That's the case with Real Chestnut, which is Blue/Red, aka, WAY off. I was unwilling to get another Custom Blend Liquid Foundation for the summer, which brings us back to the present.

I went to a local Prescriptives counter to see if there might be some other options in the ready made foundation formulas rather than having to go through the trouble of Custom Blend. The first Sales Associate listened to my concerns, then passed me off to the black Sales Associate, who I've spoken to in the past and she was friendly with me. That day she had a tremendous attitude and was completely unhelpful. I won't get into all of it here, but the experience was so bad that I sent comments to Prescriptives. My friend encouraged me to talk to a manager, but I just wasn't in the mood for that.

So I left Dillards pissed and upset that I didn't have a foundation, because honestly, what can you do if you don't have a matching foundation? NOTHING! Left with no other option, I went to MAC. In the past I have been aganainst using MAC foundations. Studio Fix has a tendency to go on heavy, and gets oily really quickly, on me at least. And Studio Tech is horrid! It's a supposed to be cream-to-powder; more like cream-to-crisco. No offense to anyone who absolutely loves Studio Tech and Studio Fix...
In the past I swore that I would never trust a MAC face product, but that began to change in the last several months. I got hooked to their Blot Powder, Sheer Mystery Powder, Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, and most recently, Mineralize Loose Foundation.

I think the primary reason some people think MAC artists look like their wearing drag makeup (and yes, I have heard this from several people) is the look of the caked on foundation. But in terms of shade selection in ready made formulas, you really can't beat MAC. I decided to give it a chance. A HELPFUL Artist assisted me and we decided on Select SPF 15 in NW47 (I am NW45 normally). It's medium coverage which I like.



She applied it a bit heavily with a sponge and I liked it, but I tried it at home with a brush and a lighter hand and I loved it! It was my skin, but better. So MAC, I have to hand it to you, this foundation is fire! And it was cheap, only $25, which isn't bad in my opinion. I'm used to dishing out $60 for Px CB Foundation and $40 for CB Tinted Moisturizer. I might still get a CB Tinted Moisturizer later in the summer, but right now, I am rocking this MAC Select. I might even replace the Px Flawless Skin with this as my forehead foundation when Fall and Winter roll back around. NW47 is a tad rid and a tad dark, but I have a yellow based bronzer that evens that out, and it gives me some room to "tan into" it.

The lesson learned here - Never Say Never.