Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer Review + Swatch

I seem to be having quite the love affair with Kevyn Aucoin products, recently. To begin with, the brand didn't really catch my eye, but since trying a couple of their items, I'm pretty impressed. I've just raved about the Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder in my August 2013 Favourites and I've already briefly mentioned the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer. Now, however, it's time to give this little pot of pigment-packing-punch, a real going over.

One thing that I'm not quite so keen on, is the texture of it. After using it for a couple of months, I'm used to it now, but I do find the creamy formula to be sticky feeling and even on the skin, it remains rather tacky. With most full-coverage products, they usually dry down to a matte finish, but this one stays dewy. If that puts you off, then you can obviously powder over the top of it, to tone down the sheen and set it all in place. But, the inclusion of oily ingredients means that it may not get along with oily, blemish-prone skin. My skin type is oily/combination in Summer and mine can just about handle it. On my face, it will not budge, even through holiday heat, humidity and some serious sweating, but I have to set it with powder. If you're skin is very oily, then the enhancer may need some extra upkeep throughout the day, to maintain the flawless finish that it gives. Unfortunately though, I have noticed that if I have any fresh blemishes that are slightly raw and haven't dried out (sorry, TMI), the silky concealer refuses to cover them, which can be frustrating. On the other hand, if you do have drier skin or any rougher, flakey patches, then this product glides over them and doesn't cake, whilst clinging on for dear life. Pretty impressive for a heavy-duty, base perfecter!

I've tried many full-coverage foundations and concealers in my time and, aside from those formulated to cover scarring, very few come close to this one, in terms of masking a multitude of sins. This is serious stuff. A little goes a very long way. It can easily get out of hand and, put into the palms of those who don't go lightly, it can have disastrous consequences. The most minuscule dab of this on your brush or finger, is sufficient to cover a complexion minefield, and then some. I've genuinely never seen anything quite like it. Covering to such a high extent does mean it can end up blanking everything out, though. So, in order to keep skin looking like real skin, you need to blend your heart out and, depending on where it's used, add some colour back into the face, to bring everything back to life. Considering how much of a camouflaging effect it can have, it can still look incredibly natural, if you take the time to apply and blend it well, which is unusual for a high-impact, base product.

Being sold as a multi-use product, the skin enhancer can be applied in a variety of ways: mixed in with moisturiser to create a lighter tint, as an all over foundation, as a heavy-duty concealer, or to highlight/contour, by using a significantly lighter/darker shade than your skintone. Rather than diluting it down or any of that business, I prefer to keep it simple and use it neat, as an intense, precise concealer, when my skin isn't playing ball. With it being basically opaque in coverage and having such a thick, silky consistency, I'd steer away from using it over my entire face. I don't like to hide absolutely everything and I don't fancy unnecessarily aggravating my skin and gaining any unwelcome blemishes. As of yet, this product hasn't broken me out, but I have spotted an ingredient or two on the back of the box, that may put the fear of God into some, namely mineral oil and fragrance. They haven't been a problem for me so far, but if your skin doesn't agree with those components or is particularly sensitive, then you may want to proceed with caution.

The shade selection for Aucoin's miracle pot is extensive, with sixteen different depths and tones available, of which I purchased shade SX03. With the price heading towards the £40 mark, you might think that you're being royally ripped off for just 18g of product. Let me remind you, this stuff is potent. I doubt I'll ever reach the bottom of my tiny tub. But, that's a bone of contention for me; why do brand's insist on putting their concealer type products into pots such as this? It isn't hygienic, creates messy, sticky fingers and you can't control how much you take out, as easily as with a tube. But, that's a minor issue and the mind-bendingly, high-coverage-but-doesn't-act-like-it product, that's inside, hits the nail on the head.

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer SX03 Swatch

Have you tried Kevyn Aucoin's Sensual Skin Enhancer?

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