This foundation has fostered a great deal of hype ever since it was released, and since there is already a wealth of information and no shortage of opinions out there on it, I was debating whether to post this review or not. However, I pulled this out of my cupboard last week after months of unwavering devotion to my Laura Mercier Mineral Powder, applied it on my face, and felt a rush of nostalgia for the time when I first tried this last summer, and made the bold proclamation that it was the best liquid foundation ever. Was I wrong on that? I'm not so sure. But I think it certainly warrants a discussion.
Chanel says: "The tiniest drop of this new hybrid fluid creates a fresh, natural complexion. Skin looks refined, dewy, and feels refreshed, creating an exquisite makeup experience. The fluid formula has a soft, water-light texture, and comes in 10 shades that match perfectly to skin’s undertones, whether pink or beige."
Can there possibly be any truth to these claims? Yes and no. I definitely think that this product mimics the look of skin in a very believable way, and falls into the category of "your skin but better," which I think is ultimately what we all strive for to find in a base product. However, I don't agree with the statement that this is a glowy or dewy foundation; I have heard other people say that this is a dewy foundation, but I personally find it to be a semi-matte finish. Like I said earlier, it looks like skin, and that extends to the finish as well. For me, it evens my skin out by providing light to a slight medium coverage. When I was wearing this last weekend to a family friend's function, one of the other guests remarked to me that I had the "most amazing skin," and that it looked like I had never had a zit in my life. Now, I am not repeating this to brag, but rather as a testament to this foundation, as although my skin has improved greatly the past couple months or so, I had a few breakouts a few days prior to this compliment, so was surprised and flattered to hear this.
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| Top is B10 blended into my forearm, underneath it's unblended, and below is my pasty bare skin. Looks like skin, right? |
Are there any drawbacks? So far this sounds like the stuff that dreams are made of! The answer to that is yes, there are. First off, the price is going to put many people off, and at $45, it is on the pricey end of products, but recently I have noticed foundation prices creeping up in "less" high-end brands (for example, the Urban Decay Naked Skin foundation is $39, and the Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation is $42), so with that context and considering it is Chanel, I don't think it is too outrageous. Another slight drawback is the shade selection: there are only 10 colors, and the one I was matched to, B10, is slightly too dark and yellow for me. However, the other lightest option, BR12, was extremely pink. I will say though that if I take the time to really blend it in with my fingers, it seems to adapt to my skin tone well, and since it is on the sheer side, it doesn't really matter that it is not my perfect color. I have also heard some people complain about experiencing breakouts from this; personally, I have never broken out from this, and I have sensitive skin, but each person is different, and since this is fragranced and does contain a small amount of alcohol as one of its ingredients, I can see how it might be irritating to some people's skin. The only real problem I face with it is that I do find it to be pretty drying due to the alcohol component. This time of the year, it is fine, but last fall and winter I noticed it would cling to dry patches and make my skin feel tight, so perhaps if you have extremely dry skin, this isn't your best bet. Conversely, if you have oily or combination skin, this might work out well for you.
Since this has hit the market, it seems like there have been an increase of similar lightweight, skin foundations being released, and I have had samples of a few of them. Most notably, Estee Lauder has produced their Invisible Fluid Makeup, which is extremely similar, and comes in more shades at a lower price point. However, I found that the EL made my face look too flat and matte, and I experienced a bad breakout from it, so I was afraid to compare the two further. If you are interested in this type of product, maybe pick up a sample of both the Chanel and the EL, as I don't think you would need both, and you can see which works best for you.
Bottom line--is this my perfect foundation? No, it is not; I would like something more hydrating and with a better color match. However, it is the best foundation I have tried to date, and if you are someone who doesn't like the feel of foundation on your skin, and usually prefers a tinted moisturizer, this might be something up your alley.
