rimmel wake me up foundation and concealer

Note: Picture is without powder.

I thought it was about time that I reviewed the Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation as I've now been using it for quite a while (as you can see from the bottle it's been well loved) and so I feel that I now truly know what my opinion is on this foundation: I love it.

The Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation claims that it visibly reawakens and illuminates skin with a radiant glow and a flawless, natural-looking finish. Now, I'm sure most of you are like me and read these things and are a bit sceptical. Surely there's only so much a foundation can do to even out and illuminate your skin tone? However, Rimmel you convinced me! When I wake up in the morning and I haven't had much sleep, I reach for this and it instantly makes my skin look not only look more even as you would expect from a foundation, but also glowing and healthy, as if I've had a good snooze. I'll also add that I have quite large pores by my nose and I feel as if the foundation actually reduces the size of them - fab! I use a flat top kabuki to apply one and a half to two pumps of this to my face which gives a medium but natural looking coverage. However, this foundation can be built up for a more full coverage if that's what you're after.

The foundation lasts well on my skin, which isn't particularly oily, although I do normally very lightly powder my t-zone to prolong wear. However, after seven or eight hours my chin does need touching up but this happens to me with all foundations (and annoyingly this is the only place I get any blemishes wah!)

I've read quite a few reviews of this which comment on the 'radiance pearls' as Rimmel call them, AKA little tiny bits of glitter. While I can see them in the bottle and ever so slightly when applied to my hand, I've never had a problem when using this with my face appearing sparkly. I actually just grabbed a mirror to have a look again - no, still not visible to me in natural light.

As for the packaging, while I like the fact that the bottle is made of glass, I'm not particularly keen on the bulky orange lid, but for the price and how good the foundation is, I'll let that go. There are definitely worse foundation bottles on the high street. I also love love love to have a pump which makes it not only so much easier to get the product out of the bottle but also not to waste any.

Now on to the negatives. There aren't many but nothing is perfect hey! In regards to the range of shades, there are only six colours to choose from, the lightest being not that pale and the darkest being incredibly light in my opinion! For example, I'm reasonably pale and wear the lightest shade, 100 Ivory. However, not only is this the tiniest bit dark for me (although unnoticeable when buffed in to my skin), but I also know a lot of people that are even paler than me. As for people with more olive to darker skin tones - I really think you'll struggle to find an appropriate shade which is a shame as this is a fab foundation. Part of the whole Rimmel London advertising campaign is ooh look how cool and London and British you can be... Um, London is a fabulously multicultural place and I just don't understand how so many British cosmetic companies can ignore so many of the varying skin tones that we have in this country. Anyway, don't get me started - basically the shade range is poo.

Another thing which people might view as possibly negative is the fact that Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation has an SPF of 15. This is great for everyday use as it will protect your skin but perhaps something to consider if you're going out at night or somewhere special where there will be lots of flash photography. No one wants to look at their pictures on Facebook and think they looked like a ghost! (Detag...)

The Wake Me Up range also contains a concealer which I picked up as part of the Boots 3 for 2 about a week ago. Rimmel describes the product as a full coverage concealer that visibly awakens and illuminates under the eyes and is also good for hiding spots and other blemishes. This again has some glittery bits in but as with the foundation I can only detect them in the tube.

My usual concealer of choice (like many people's) is the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer, but since buying the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer, my Collection 2000 one has seen less use. The Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer, as it claims, is great for illuminating under your eyes and covering any dark circles. It definitely makes me look more wide awake, however, I still prefer my Lasting Perfection Concealer for hiding any blemishes as I just worry (perhaps unnecessarily) that the invisible 'radiance pearls' may draw more attention to any spots.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer lasts under my eyes all day without wearing or creasing, does not look heavy or cakey, and in my opinion sits very naturally on the skin. However, as with the foundation the shade range is truly dreadful, with only four to choose from, but this is exactly the same with the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer.

The Rimmel Wake Me foundation is £8.99 for 30ml and the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer is £5.99 for 7ml.

Sorry this post is so long but hopefully at least one person will have found this helpful! Do you like the Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation and concealer? What's your everyday go-to foundation at the moment?

xx

PS. If anyone's interested, I've also got on Clinique Instant Lift for Brows in Soft Blonde, Bourjois Volumiser Mascara in Black and on my lips MAC Creme Cup and Barry M Lip Gloss in 11.