Love it: RMS Beauty "Un" Cover Up Cream Foundation

Celebrity makeup artist and the organic beauty mogul behind rms beauty, Rose-Marie Swift (pictured above, centre) has been a make-up artist for over 35 years, so when I was given the chance to get up close and personal with her a couple of years ago I was beyond excited. 

Swift’s work has been featured in Vogue (French, Italian, American, Japan China, Russian) W, Harper's Bazaar, I.D., Self Service, V, Allure, Numéro, Marie Claire, Glamour, Interview, and Elle. Her make-up has appeared in ads for the likes of Diane Von Furstenberg, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and Louis Vuitton, and her photographic partners over the years include Mario Sorrenti, Peter Lindbergh, David Simms, Annie Leibovitz, Arthur Elgort, and Patrick Demarchelier. The words “industry legend” have been bandied about, and with good reason.

She visited New Zealand for the first time when we met as a guest of Mecca Cosmetica, who stock her products exclusively Down Under. After us she was flying to Australia and then on to Los Angeles, where she was to be a guest at supermodel Miranda Kerr’s wedding to tech mogul Evan Spiegel. I spent a morning speaking to her about her unique approach to makeup, which has that ever-elusive “glow” as its end goal, and came away with so many beauty hacks I felt like my brain was going to explode!

Clearly one smart cookie, the ageless beauty also gives some great insight into natural and organic beauty solutions, stressing that we mustn’t be so affected by marketing, product claims and brand names: “just get cleaner makeup”. All of which bring me to her line, rms beauty. It is essentially an original, pure, organic colour cosmetic line that performs and then some. Based on living and organic principles, each product is created to hydrate and illuminate vital, radiant skin and is the perfect choice for your best ever ‘natural’ look. rms beauty  is dedicated to transforming the way women use makeup, creating a product that is not only non-toxic, but actually heals and nourishes skin. Consider it skincare with mineral colour - giving make-up a whole new meaning.

RMS beauty already makes the most beauty editor-approved highlighter on the planet in the form of the legendary Living Luminiser, which I have been using in various shades since meeting its creator and absolutely adore. A subtle and shimmery highlighter, it  has reached cult status among beauty freaks, editors, and celebrities, thanks to the supremely dewy effect that it lends to the skin. Since then, I've used many products from the collection and have loved them all, so  when news reached me that RMS Beauty was launching its first designated foundation, called the "Un" Cover Up Cream Foundation, I was immediately intrigued. This is the second "Un" Cover Up product; the first being the original "Un" Cover Up  concealer and foundation hybrid that I have ploughed through numerous pots of. Would this new "Un" Cover Up Foundation be better, or different, and in what way? 

Well it’s safe to say that it is a winner in my books, a long-wearing cream foundation that offers the kind of light but buildable coverage with a luminous finish that so many of us desire. Suitable for all skin types, the formula features a blend of cold-pressed oils like Buriti, Jojoba and Meadowfoam Seed to improve skin tone, texture and overall hydration levels, and it has been an absolute godsend for my trans seasonal, unhappy skin that has been plagued by rosacea and dryness. 

The new foundation is much bigger than the original "Un" Cover Up, which makes sense, considering it's a true foundation. I love that a sleek little silver spatula comes with it, which is the perfect tool for scooping the perfect amount of product out of the jar. It keeps the formula bacteria free, and is small enough to pack in the tiniest kit.

My first impression of the new formula was how creamy it is, which as aforementioned, is amazing for drier skin. It offers a similar medium-to-full coverage finish to the concealer, and a little most definitely goes a long way. I have used a blending brush and a sponge to apply it, the latter delivering a more subtle finish that I think will be amazing for summer. I recommend that oilier skin types use a dusting of the brand’s “Un” Powder over the top for all day wear, and it also helps minimises the appearance of pores and reduces any unwanted shine on more humid days.

Being RMS Beauty, the new foundation formula is free of alcohol, gluten, sulphates, synthetic preservatives, synthetic vitamins, GMOs, nano-particles and soy, and most definitely gets the ‘clean beauty’ tick of approval.

RMS Beauty "Un" Cover Up Cream Foundation is available right now in store at MECCA and online at meccabeauty.co.nz, with an RRP of $89.00.