‘I tested four classic foundations that’ve all just had upgrades – here’s what I thought’
It’s always a worry when a staple of your makeup bag get reformulated – will it really be better? Our beauty director put a batch of newly tweaked foundations through their paces
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There’s something afoot in the beauty world when it comes to classic foundations. Three of them have had complete reformulations and an icon of the skincare world has updated its formula to become a foundation. Intriguing. Here’s everything you need to know about these new bases and my verdict on whether they’ve been improved or should have stayed as they were.
The ‘your skin but better’ base
Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, £47
The original was launched 25 years ago and instantly became a hit with makeup artists and beauty editors for its ability to deliver medium coverage while still leaving a luminous, lit-from-within finish to the skin.
Fans of the original Armani Luminous Silk Foundation – and there are many, as it’s the brand’s best-selling makeup product – probably didn’t feel that it needed any improvement. However, surely even great products can always get that little bit better?
What’s new?
Skincare ingredients have been added – hydrating glycerin and sebum-balancing, skin-refining niacinamide – to help improve skin tone and plumpness.
The shade range has been extended from 26 to 44 colours, making it far more accessible for a range of skin tones. Plus, the shades now contain ultramarine and green pigments, which may sound scary, but in fact help mimic natural skin tone far more realistically.
The texture feels exactly the same: it glides on and blends in, whether you use fingers or a brush, giving the same results as the original.
My verdict
I have gone through countless bottles of the original formula so I’m relieved that they really have improved on perfection with the new one.
It glides on like, well, silk and feels hydrating, without being overly moisturising, which can make oily skin (like mine) more prone to shine.
However, the standout element is the pigment tweaks to the shades. I used to wear shade 4, which I thought was a good match for me. I am now wearing new shade 4.1, and it is like applying a second skin.
The OG tinted moisturiser, now in stick format
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue Luminous Skin Tint Stick, £33.50
When Bareminerals launched the original Complexion Rescue back in 2015, there was simply nothing else like it on the market – a makeup-skincare hybrid that offered light to medium coverage in 20 flexible shades, SPF 30 protection and superior hydration. People loved its ability to swiftly create gorgeously dewy skin.
What’s new?
It now comes in a handy stick format, ideal for travelling and on-the-go touchups. Don’t worry, the original cream version still exists, but this is an alternative. Available in the same 20 shades and with the same hydrating skincare ingredients, the other differences are the addition of blurring ingredients to create that slightly filtered effect and the removal of SPF protection.
My verdict
I rarely like foundation sticks – their solid nature means they feel drying and heavy on my skin. I’m not sure what magic Bareminerals has used here though because this gives the same finish as the original cream, and also feels as hydrating as a moisturiser.
And I cannot emphasise enough how easy it is to use. Thanks to the flexible shades and the light coverage, you don’t have to be too precise about blending it in if you’re in a hurry. That said, I like buffing it in with a brush for a more polished feel.
It’s a shame it doesn’t have the SPF but that may have compromised the luminosity of the finish.
The full coverage icon
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup, £39.50
It’s a risky move to reformulate the UK’s best-selling prestige foundation. Created back in 1997, Double Wear became known for its serious staying power, impressive shade range and a ‘matte but not flat,’ finish.
However, as makeup technology has evolved and given that many women now don’t want to wear a heavy base but still want good coverage, Estée Lauder made some tweaks to make this look and feel more contemporary.
What’s new?
They’ve included skincare ingredients, some hydrating ones but also oil-balancing niacinamide and brown algae extract.
There are still an impressive 60 shades to choose from but the pigments have been altered to create a more multi-dimensional finish that looks more like natural skin. The texture is lighter and more breathable so it’s easier to blend and work into the skin.
And they claim it can now last 36 hours, up from 24.
My verdict
I wore the original Double Wear on my wedding day 14 years ago because I wanted a foundation I could rely on to stay put throughout a long day. And it delivered. However, it was never the base I grabbed for my everyday look. It felt and looked a bit heavy for my low-key style.
The new version is lighter than the original, but it is still a long-wearing, high coverage foundation. I can’t vouch for the 36 hour claim because I can’t stay up that long these days!
If you prefer light coverage, one pump is all you need. That’s how I wear it, and it covers my pigmentation patches and redness while allowing my skin to shine through. But if you do prefer a heavier coverage, a few more pumps, layered up, will be perfect.
It doesn’t feel as drying or heavy as the original, but once it has set into place, there is no budging it, so I think fans of the original will still be happy.
The cult serum that’s now a foundation
Clarins Double Serum Foundation, £49
One of the original serums, Clarins Double Serum, £92, was first created in 1985, and now one bottle is sold every three seconds. It has gone through nine formula changes, incorporating new skincare technology to ensure it targets the demands of modern-day living on the skin.
But there was one thing the OG Double Serum couldn’t deliver, and that was instant transformation. Until now.
What’s new?
The new iteration of this cult product (this exists alongside the original rather than replacing it) incorporates foundation alongside the serum, so you can now get all your skincare results and coverage in one pump.
It comes in the same striking dual-chambered bottle as the original, and cleverly, you can twist the lid to increase or decrease the ratio of foundation to serum, allowing you to adapt the product to deliver more or less coverage. There are 37 shades.
The serum isn’t quite identical to the original, but contains lots of skin-caring ingredients, including anti-inflammatory turmeric and lots of antioxidants.
My verdict
As someone who frequently adds moisturiser to foundation to make it more sheer or to combine two steps to save time, this new version of Double Serum really appealed to me.
The first thing that you notice is how beautiful it smells. It has the signature floral spa-like scent of Clarins skincare, which is a delight to experience in a makeup product.
The serum part sinks into the skin really quickly, so it doesn’t look shiny when applied. In fact, once the foundation dries down, it creates a velvety matte finish. And I was surprised by the level of coverage. I assumed it was going to be quite light, given that it has so much skincare mixed in, but even when the dial is turned to the lowest level, it delivers medium coverage.
Could you swap this in place of your daily serum? Maybe. I’m such a serum obsessive that I wouldn’t feel like I was getting enough of the good stuff on my skin, but to know that my foundation came with a double-whammy of active ingredients to use on top of my other serums makes me very happy indeed.
