GOSH Natural Touch foundation & Velvet Touch primer

From the very first time I stepped into my local Superdrug and saw GOSH cosmetics display, I was drawn to it. Aside from me being super excited that I could actually TRY the drugstore brand (unlike where I lived in US, where you can only try expensive brands from the department stores), the whole range was just screaming "ME" to me. But I didn't pick anything up then... or any other time I went in. I did play around with makeup every time I came in, of course, especially with their primers. I just loved the silky skin feeling I got after testing it. Fast forward almost 1.5 years. Yes, this is how long it took me to FINALLY pick up the much coveted primer, as well as one of their foundations.


About a month ago I picked up their Natural Touch foundation in Vanilla and Velvet Touch foundation primer. After using both of them for couple of weeks I decided that Vanilla might not be the right shade for me, so I went back and got Pearl. I've been using Pearl for a week, but at the end I went back to Vanilla.




Velvet Touch Foundation Primer
 I actually don't have anything to compare it to, since it's my first and only primer.  However, overall I'm very pleased with it. It does leaves my skin feeling silky and smooth, and I believe helps the foundation last longer.

"Gosh Velvet Touch Foundation Primer is a perfect base for all makeup. It fills in fine lines and deep pores in the skin, creating a uniform, matt and silky soft surface, enabling the easy and smooth application of foundation.

The primer can be used after daily moisturiser or on clean skin. The formula is perfume and preservative free and contains Aloe Vera."

It is clear in color, and you can't see it once it is blended in. It dries very fast too, although I would have no idea how fast other primers dry since I never tried any other ones.

It is hard for me to judge the price, since although I live in UK, I still get paid in $US and so I am very much affected by the exchange rate. However, I think that £13.00 is pretty reasonable (for UK) for 30ml/1oz of product. I've been using it nearly every day for the past month and barely put a dent in it. I would eventually repurchase it, but only because I want to try other brands that UK has to offer first. 

I actually bought this primer in the GOSH Primer gift set currently available from Superdrug for £14.99. Pretty good deal considering that primer alone costs just £2.00 less, and you also get a lip gloss, eye shadow quad and an eyeliner. 

GOSH Natural Touch foundation 34 Vanilla and 32 Pearl

"An amazing light foundation that gives the skin an even and perfect look. So soft and effective with its lightweight texture, it is almost invisible on the skin but still gives a natural and flawless look. Light formula, contains Sweet Almond, SPF 8 and colored with mineral pigments."
 

As I mentioned earlier, I picked up Vanilla first but later went back and got the lightest shade from the range, Pearl. Just to give you an idea of how pale I am, here is a picture of me without any makeup, looking quite angry at the world for some reason.

At the first glance  it looks like Vanilla is too dark for me, but Pearl is a perfect match. 

 But after some blending, I am not so sure. In fact, according to these swatches Pearl is too light and Vanilla is too dark! 

I find that on my face they look much better. I used Vanilla on the left side of my face, and Pearl on the right since I wanted to see how they look side by side. Can you see the line on my forehead? :)

So what do I think? Well.... Pearl is definitely a much better match, maybe even perfect. Vanilla makes me look more tanned, but still pretty natural. Even so, it doesn't make me look like I have a mask on. 

 I didn't realize that I had those red spots until I saw the pictures :(

My thoughts: I absolutely love this foundation! It blends very well and disappears into the skin that I'm mostly not able to tell I'm wearing foundation.  The formula is very liquidy, and blends very well. It also doesn't dry instantly, so I have plenty of time to blend, blend, blend. Once it's dry though, it stays on for a long time. 

It gives me a little bit of glow without looking over the top. It is also light enough coverage that I'm still able to see my freckles (and I love me some freckles). I will recommend it to friends, and will repurchase after I tried other foundations that UK has to offer.

I have a love/hate relationship with Pearl. On one side, I LOVE the shade! I think it's almost perfect, if not THE perfect shade for me. On the other side, I HATE the way it applies and the way it looks on my skin! Can you say ashy? That's the only description I can think of.

Once applied, it just sits on top of my skin without being absorbed.... not pretty. You can't see it very well in these pictures, but here is a close up of my nose where you can see the foundation. EWWWWW! 

At first I thought it was me and my lack of knowledge/experience on how to apply foundation. I changed brushes. I tried using my fingers. The result is still the same. I do not know how it is possible for two shades from the same range to have a completely different final look? Shouldn't they be the same (glowing, smooth, blendable) just in different shades? Not only does it not sink into my skin, it is also easily rubs off any time I touch my face. Seeing your foundation on your fingertips is not the prettiest sign.(For some reason Vanilla doesn't have that problem, it does not rub off not matter what I do and I've tried).

I wish it would apply the same way as Vanilla. I would love it so much then! But as of right now, I don't even know if I can recommend it to anyone. What if I just got unlucky with that particular bottle? Did anyone try this foundation? If yes, what are your thoughts?

Overall both of these foundations stay on pretty well on me, and I usually wear makeup for 10+ hours a day. I do not get too shiny, so I can't comment on how well they control shine.  I'm back to using Vanilla because I like how it gives me that healthy glowing look without being over the top. The price is reasonable too, £8.99 for 30ml/1oz and SPF8 is a welcome bonus. Nothing too great, but I think pretty good for British winters.

*** I bought these items with my own money ***