What’s new in Elizabeth Arden’s beauty arsenal? Part 1

If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know I grew up loving two brands (mostly due to hand-me-downs from my mom!) and those were Estee Lauder and Elizabeth Arden.  Whenever I smell Estee Lauders Pleasures it reminds me of my mom and all the wonderful memories I have of growing up and playing around with her makeup. Then, when I was a teenager I discovered Elizabeth Arden and promptly began a love relationship that hasn’t waned over the years. Even my husband has fueled the fire by often buying me their festive season bumper pack. So when I received some products from Elizabeth Arden, I was a kid on Christmas because this is a brand I have loved for as long as I’ve been obsessed with makeup.

With time Elizabeth Arden haven’t slowed down or been drowned out by newer brands flooding the market. They have consistently been releasing innovative, high quality products loved by women of all ages. So when they launched the #DramaDefined range and I saw the collection, I knew this was going to be no exception. And then they added the Everyday Perfection Bouncy Makeup. This product has caffeine and ginseng in it, people! Need I say more?

I simply have too much to say about the #DramaDefined range and the Everyday Perfection Bouncy Makeup, I’ve decided to split this post into two parts! The more the merrier. So for some of these products, they are not full reviews yet because I’ve only used a handful of times each. But, it’s been enough time to give first impressions, thoughts and comments. So we’re starting with the Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Everyday Perfection Bouncy Makeup!

Flawless Finish Everyday Perfection Bouncy Makeup

I love powder foundation! I never wear it exclusively but I find it helps tremendously for oily T-zones and for when your makeup starts wearing off throughout the course of the day. I’d actually never tried an Elizabeth Arden powder before I received this one. Two of the brands that I’ve always purchased my powder foundation from are Estee Lauder (Double Wear) and MAC Cosmetics (Studio Fix). These are both powerhouse brands when it comes to foundation, so I had high standards for the Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Everyday Perfection Bouncy Makeup.

So you’re probably thinking this product’s name sounds so bizarre, what it is even about? Well according to the creators over at Elizabeth Arden:

This weightless, unique foundation awakens, energizes and revitalizes skin. Ingredients including Peppermint, Ginseng and Caffeine deliver a refreshing sensation to wake tired, dull skin, the bouncy-gel formula perfects skin’s texture and tone for a flawless complexion.

Simone from An Ordinary Gal commented on the scent of this product in her review, and it was also one of the things I noticed. You can smell the caffeine and some other ingredients too. The smell is only detected when it’s in the compact though. So not to fear!

As I mentioned before, I’ve always found Elizabeth Arden products quite innovative and this is no exception. The product has been formulated with their 3D Gel-Network. The elastomer 3D Gel-Network seals pigments, essential oils and antioxidants to skin while brightening and blurring imperfections. These polymers also mimic skin’s natural movement. The unique bouncy formula is a hybrid of a powder and a cream in a gel format, leaving skin with a soft, naturally luminous finish.

Finally, a dynamic pairing of hydrating hyaluronic acid plus jojoba oil works to rebalance moisture.

 What did I think?

The texture is incredibly soft and smooth and definitely makes your skin look smooth too! I can totally see the “blurring” effect that they are talking about. I find some powder foundations settle in the lines of your face and can actually highlight them. Who wants that ?!

I always wear powder on top of my liquid foundation, so I can’t speak for the coverage. However, I personally feel that powders are not for ladies that desire high coverage. They are perfect for finishing off a look, making it more polished and holding all the foundation in place. But if you’re looking for a high coverage, dewy look then this would not suit you. But for me, I loved this on top of my foundation. I felt like my skin looked so smooth and flawless! When you touch your skin, it’s also really soft.

It is long wearing and will stay put throughout the day. I’ve been using this for the most part of two weeks, and I must say by the end of the day my skin doesn’t look oily around my T-zone which is a great sign!

What is the formula like?

So the formula is really soft. But the strangest part about this is the “bouncy” part – and that is where the product gets innovative. The unique bouncy formula is a hybrid of a powder and a cream in a gel format, leaving skin with a soft, naturally luminous finish. When you push it in, it sinks in. Then when you look back a few minutes later, it’s back to normal.

While the formula is very soft, it doesn’t cake or look like you’ve been brushed with baby powder either. This must be due to the gel-cream formula. So it has a bit more moisture to it which I like.

Key Ingredients:

• Jojoba Oil: Helps rebalance skin by mimicking its natural processes.
• Peppermint Oil: The fresh menthol scent is invigorating and leaves skin feeling refreshed.  
• Ginseng: Rich in antioxidants and leaves skin feeling revitalized.
• Caffeine: Known stimulant to help energize the skin.

Elizabeth Arden Everyday Perfection Bouncy Makeup Shades:

Ideal for all skin types, Flawless Finish Everyday Perfection Bouncy Makeup is available in 14 skin-perfecting shades, specially curated by Rebecca.

Porcelain 01, Alabaster 02, Golden Ivory 03, Bare 04, Cream 05, Neutral Beige 06, Beige 07, Golden Honey 08, Warm Honey 09, Toasty Beige 10, Golden Caramel 11, Warm Pecan 12, Espresso 13, Hazelnut 14

What will this set me back?

It costs R485 from Red Square, Woolworth’s or online