This Skin Tint Foundation Is My Go-To For Minimal Makeup Days

Every good makeup routine has something in common: they start with a great base. This is expressly why I feel like it's my life's mission to find only the best of the best complexion products and try as many new formulas as I can. As a beauty editor, I've come to realize that not every new foundation launch is created equal; I've been fortunate enough to try some great products because of this role, but in turn, it has also made me hypercritical.

I've been given a firsthand look at the way the beauty industry blatantly continues to disregard deeper skin tones in this category, and because of that, I tend to latch onto the brands I already know and trust. This is why when Estée Lauder, creator of the iconic Double Wear Foundation ($49), added a new formula — the Futurist Skin Tint Serum Foundation ($53) — to its portfolio, I jumped at the chance to try it. Read ahead for my unfiltered review of the brand's latest launch, the Futurist Skin Tint Serum Foundation.

Double Wear Foundation

From

$49

$49 at Sephora

Futurist Skin Tint Serum Foundation

From

$53

$53 at Sephora

Immediately, I loved the "slip" that this foundation had on my skin when applying. There wasn't as much resistance as there typically is with the original Double Wear or other full-coverage formulas. In that sense, it felt like a true skin tint versus a lightweight foundation. Additionally, this formula builds on itself nicely — so much so that I would actually refer to it as a light to medium coverage instead of just light. Whenever I wear it, my skin looks dewy and radiant, just how I like it.

I also appreciate the packaging. Or more specifically, I like the droplet applicator, as I can just press some product onto my brush or the back of my hand and swipe it on my face with ease.

My application method is pretty straightforward. I squeeze about a half pump of product onto the back of my hand and use the Morphe V100 Flat-Top Brush ($19) to buff it into my skin. When I was first applying the foundation, I thought the color that I chose (5W2 Rich Caramel) might be a bit too light, but as I blended, it warmed up to my skin nicely, and that's where I saw firsthand how it behaved like a typical skin tint. This is also why I think it's a bit more forgiving than your traditional foundation formula; you can likely wear a shade above or below your usual color, depending on the match you're going for.

While the foundation itself is forgiving, with 29 shades, the range isn't as expansive as it could be and might not be for you if you're looking for something to match every nuance in your skin perfectly. For example, my undertones can veer more neutral, and if I were looking for a foundation that I wanted to match my deep caramel skin tone and my undertones, this wouldn't be it. Not only would I need a shade between this one and bronze (the shade before it), but it's also too sheer of a formula — parts of your own skin color are going to show through, which negates trying to have it match, say, the undertones on your neck as you would with a full-coverage foundation.

I originally chose one shade darker than what I thought I would be, and I should've stuck with the original plan, because this foundation does oxidize on the face. It's not a drastic difference, but it's enough to note, so keep that in mind when choosing a color match of this product.

The Estée Lauder Radiance Serum Powered Foundation is available at Sephora, on the brand's website, and at Ulta Beauty.

Rating
★★★★☆