*This post contains affiliate links
**I was gifted The Foundation but I am under no obligation to write anything about it. As always, all opinions are my own.
When I first heard that Lisa Eldridge was working on a
foundation, I was beyond excited. As someone who has admired her artistry
for years, I trusted her more than anyone else to create a beautiful
foundation. From what I can tell, makeup artists seem to make the best brand founders and creative directors because they have so much experience in the beauty industry. They work with so many people, skin tones and
types and so many different scenarios whether it's makeup for film, television, red carpet or photography. They have also tried every product on the market. It's a wealth of
knowledge that I'm sure is invaluable when creating your own brand and
your own products.
My Skin Type and Preferences
After four months of trying it out, I am finally writing my review of The Foundation by Lisa Eldridge. I've been wearing it a lot since I received it in December and I've spent the past few months trying it out in lots of different ways to figure out what combination of products works best for my skin. I should probably preface this review with a short description of my skin type and my preferences just in case there is anyone reading this who hasn't read any of my other reviews. I'm 35 and I have normal/ combination skin. My skin finally seems to have settled after 7 months of ups and downs since having my daughter last August. It was particularly dehydrated this Winter and it finally seems to be back to how it was pre-pregnancy. My main skin "concerns" (not that I'm actually concerned about them) being in my mid-thirties are that I'm starting to see fine lines, more dehydration and loss of elasticity. I also have some pigmentation and redness but I'm very lucky that I don't have anything I'm too self-conscious about. I haven't had any procedures done but I do like to take care of my skin and make sure I keep it well hydrated and protect it from the sun. I think it's important to note these things in a foundation review because having Botox/fillers/facial treatments etc. is going to have an impact on how products look on your skin. I feel it's important to disclose anything like that just so that you're not giving a false idea of what a product can do. That's why I've included before and after photos and close-ups. So that you know what my bare skin looks like and what the foundation looks like on it.
The Shade Range
Let's get into the foundation itself first. It comes in 40 numbered shades across five shade categories, Light, Light-Medium, Medium, Medium-Deep and Deep. There are an array of undertones available including neutral, rosy, golden, peach, olive, red, terracotta and different combinations of these undertones too. There are ten sample cards that feature four shades on each. At the moment the four lightest ones are out of stock but they should be restocked soon. You can get one free with a purchase and any additional ones are €3. I love that Lisa decided to do this. Her products are only available online at the moment as her pop-up shop in London was only open until the end of December last year. So if you want to buy The Foundation and you can wait for the re-stock of the sample cards I think that's the best option. From what I have seen on social media Lisa's team are always happy to assist with any queries and if you are looking for help with matching I would suggest getting in touch with her team. To launch your first foundation with 40 shades is a huge achievement as so many long-established brands don't have that many shades in any of their foundations.
The Packaging
I could write a whole blog post on the packaging alone. It is, in and of itself, a work of art. The teasers on her Instagram were truly cinematic. It felt as if I was watching the trailer for a film with one of the great cinematographers. The glass bottle and gold lid and pump evoke a vintage feel but the frosted and matte finish combined with the smooth, minimal shape lean towards a more modern but almost retro-futuristic aesthetic. It brought to mind the Denis Villeneuve film, Arrival, for which production designer Patrice Vermette created an oval spacecraft unlike any we've seen in cinematic history. I know Lisa is a fan of Romanian/French artist Constantin Brâncusi and I definitely can see how the packaging may have been inspired by his work if even in a tiny way. The way the bottle lies on its side makes me think of the sculpture, Sleeping Muse. There is no escaping its minimal beauty and I can only imagine the amount of thought and consideration that has gone into its design. It is quite literally breathtaking.
The Formula
The formula is described on Lisa's website as "a customisable medium coverage that can be dialed up or down". It is self-setting and gives a soft focus effect. It also contains a mesh-like ingredient that fuses with the skin after blending. The finish is skin-like rather then dewy or matte. It is advised to apply the foundation in thin layers and build up to your desired coverage, you can also use it as a concealer. The formula is cruelty-free, vegan and free from fragrance, alcohol, parabens, talc, essential oils, nylon 12, microplastics, SPF, D6 and D5. It is also suitable for sensitive skin. You can read about the Key Active Ingredients in full on the Lisa Eldridge website, but in short, the formula contains ingredients that are hydrating, elasticising, antioxidant and skin tightening.
My Experience
When I placed an order in October for some of the new products I got a sample card for free, I paid for a second one because I was thinking I would either match shade No. 1 or No.5 as they are both neutral. Although I have some pink/ redness in my skin I usually choose a neutral foundation as that tends to match my neck better and evens out my skin tone too. I have quite pale skin and freckles so my overall skin tone can look slightly darker than it is. I tried shades 1, 2 and 5 and I could make all three work. However, overall 5 was the best. No. 1 probably matched the lightest areas of my face but when I applied it all over I looked quite pasty whereas No. 5 made me look more healthy and fresh. 2 also worked but just leaned slightly more pink which didn't match my neck as well as 5. I'd usually be the lightest shade in most foundation ranges so the fact that I'm No. 5 in this one should be an indicator that you might be able to go darker than you would think. I will usually always look for the lightest neutral shade so I figured I would be 1 or 5 and I'm delighted that there is a shade for skin tones lighter than mine because that rarely happens as I'm sure is the case with the deeper end too.
It comes housed in a thick cardboard box, the base of which allows the bottle to be stored upright if the side-sitting packaging isn't convenient for your makeup storage. I like the glass bottle too. It's a high-end foundation so I would expect a glass bottle. As convenient as plastic is for traveling, I haven't been doing that much over the past couple of years so glass packaging isn't a factor. As much as I say I don't mind that packaging as long as the product inside is great, I do appreciate such carefully considered and aesthetically pleasing packaging. I prefer a pump as I like how hygienic it is and it disperses just the right amount of product.
I have tried The Foundation with and without primers and powders as those additions can be a big factor in how a foundation performs. I also wanted to be extra thorough and put it through it's paces as it's a high-end foundation so I wanted to make sure anyone spending their money on it would have as much information as possible about it first. The first time I use a new foundation I always like to try it on its own with no primer and without setting it to see how it works alone. The next time I will go in with my usual makeup prep products which include the Auric Cosmetics Glow Lust Radiant Luminizer, Glossier Futuredew Oil Serum Hybrid, Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops or the Lisa Eldridge Elevated Glow Highlighter in Cosmic Rose or Crystal Nebula. As this formula is not too dewy, not too matte, a Goldilocks kind of foundation, how I prep my skin really depends on how much extra hydration I need or how much glow I want. Most days I just tend to use the Elevated Glow Highlighter on certain areas of my face as it's a skincare hybrid formula and gives me just the right amount of added hydration and glow that I like. The key to this foundation is to use it exactly as instructed on the website, in thin layers. I would usually use just one pump all over and maybe go back and conceal
or add extra coverage with another half pump or so which is what I did
in the photos below. Most of the time one pump will be the perfect amount for the kind of light to medium coverage I prefer. You can build it up too, but again I would use very small amounts of the foundation in very thin layers. This will also help with how well it wears throughout the day.
As I mentioned above, it is a self-setting foundation, and the formula contains Bamboo Stem Extract which according to the website is naturally rich in Silica and "helps absorb any excess perspiration and sebum to give a fresh, soft finish without drying the skin." As my skin has been quite dehydrated recently I have found that I haven't needed to set my foundations as much and I definitely wouldn't set this unless I needed it to last all day (which I haven't needed in the past four months). It completely depends on your skin type but if you have more oily skin you might want to set with powder and if you have dry skin there would be no need. You might just want to make sure your skin is properly hydrated beforehand.
The first time I applied it I was quite struck by the soft, natural finish. Straight away I thought, this is a foundation that so many people will be able to wear. I remember looking at my skin at the end of the day and I genuinely couldn't believe my eyes. Most foundations become progressively worse looking on the skin as the day goes on but this time my skin looked beautiful. It wasn't coming away from my face or creasing and my t-zone, which is usually quite oily by the end of the day just looked glowing and healthy. It's something that surprises me every time I wear it and it's the quality that makes this foundation one that I think would be the perfect foundation for an all day event or a wedding. It's something that I have never seen before in any other foundation I've tried over the years.
As I mentioned above, I was very kindly and generously gifted The Foundation as a thank you. I had every intention of buying it myself after trying the samples and I will most definitely be buying it myself once I have used up this bottle. At the moment I am using it for days out or events when I want to look my absolute best. To be completely honest, I was so nervous when I first tried out the samples that I wouldn't like it. I kept hoping that it would live up to my wildly high expectations and I am so delighted that it does. In fact it far exceeded any preconceived expectations I had in my mind. It's completely unlike any foundation I have ever tried before in the best possible way. I think it's such a versatile product and I love how inclusive it is in terms of skin tones, skin types and ages. I have seen so many other people rave about it too and it seems to have quickly become a firm favourite in so many people's makeup bags. If you can get a sample card, I would highly recommend it because I strongly feel that this is the most beautiful foundation ever created.
The Foundation is priced at €53/ £44/ $61 for 30ml which is a standard foundation size.
Keep in mind, these swatches are much more concentrated than you would usually apply foundation to your face and they are not fully dry. This photo is more to give some kind of idea as to the difference in undertones. I can wear all of the foundations on the bottom row, some shades work better than others. The Foundation in No.5 is an almost perfect match for the skin on my face and my neck as you can see from the photos below. It's very hard for me to get a perfect match as I have several different shades on my face and neck like most people.
Bare skin in clouded daylight (just skincare)
Bare skin indirect sunlight (just skincare)
The Foundation over SPF in clouded daylight
The Foundation over SPF in indirect sunlight
Close up The Foundation over SPF
Full Makeup with just under eyes set
Products Used:
Ultra Violette Queen Screen Lightweight Skinscreen SPF 50+
*Lisa Eldridge The Foundation (No. 5)Fenty Beauty Match Stix (Amber)
Glossier Solar Paint (Flare)
Becca Cosmetics Under Eye Brightening Corrector (Light/ Medium)
Pat McGrath Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Concealer (L2)
Refy Beauty Brow Pencil (Medium)
Lisa Eldridge Liquid Lurex Eyeshadow (Liza)
YSL Beauty Crushliner Waterproof Eyeliner (5 Gris Tempete)
*Lancôme Lash Idôle Waterproof Mascara
*Lisa Eldridge Elevated Glow Highlighter (Cosmic Rose)
*Lisa Eldridge Enlivening Blush (Dante's Dream)
Lisa Eldridge Enhance and Define Lip Pencil (Muse)
Lisa Eldridge True Velvet Lip Colour (Velvet Intrigue)
Pat Mc Grath Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Under-Eye Blurring Powder (Light)
*PR Samples
I hope this review was helpful, I tried to make it as thorough as possible even though I can only give my opinion based on my skin tone, type and personal preferences. Please do let me know if there is any other information you would to know. I would love to know if you have bought this foundation or if it's something you'd like to try.
Emma x
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