I have never been a foundation girl. Even when I started wearing makeup at around 14 years old, the thought of putting it all over my face simply did not mesh with my lifestyle. I never cared for the idea that I needed to be careful about touching my face or trying on a top in a store, just so that my makeup wouldn't rub off.
Clean skin is my ultimate jam, and due to genetics, I've been blessed with a relatively clear, even skin tone, which I do like to play up. When I'm putting on makeup, my base consists of a moisturizer or sunscreen, plus a little concealer under my eyes and on any spots of hyperpigmentation I have.
It's not that I have anything against foundation per se — I just prefer not to wear it, because I like my skin to look as natural as possible. But sometimes (especially if I'm wearing a particularly bold eye look), I like to put it on. Even then, I won't use something that's super full coverage.
But look, when Rihanna comes out with a makeup product, I'm going to try it, and when Fenty Beauty announced the launch of its Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Foundation, I knew that I would soon be adding to my meager collection of base products.
The Pro'Filt'r Soft Matte Powder Foundation (I use shade 360, which is described by the brand as a "medium-deep with neutral undertones") comes in pressed powder form. Besides the mirror in the lid, when you open the compact, you'll notice two compartments — the top one holds the pan with the powder and beneath it is a sponge you can use for application.
After washing my face with the Fenty Skin Cleanser, applying my usual serums and eye cream (La Roche Posay's Hylau B5 Serum, Strivectin's Super-C Retinol, and Mutha's Up All Night Cream), and my favorite Black Girl Sunscreen, I dotted some of the Too Faced Born This Way Concealer in Butterscotch under my eyes and blended it out. I did my concealer first because I didn't want to add a liquid product on top of a powder. I swiped the sponge across the powder a few times, then got to applying it around my mouth, working my way to my cheeks and forehead.
The product itself is described as having buildable coverage, so you can start applying as much as you want to get the finish you're looking for. Given my typical aversion to foundation, a light coverage look was more my speed.
The coverage is indeed quite buildable. I had to add about two layers to get what I would comfortably consider "coverage," which was still pretty light — just how I like it. I typically go for a dewy finish, but I don't mind a soft-matte moment, especially since I realize that as the hours pass and the product sinks into my skin, it will look a little dewier. I didn't want to leave the house with only my base, so I lined my eyes, applied mascara, and dusted on a little bit of blush to complete the look.
Besides the color being a good match for me, I noticed that the foundation didn't go all over the place as the hours passed. That day, I headed over to view some apartments and took a walk around Queens, all while wearing one of my Lele Sadoughi masks, which have adjustable straps so they can fit snugly. I wear mine pretty tight, for obvious reasons. When I finally took it off, I noticed that bit of foundation did rub off on the mask, but not a lot. I didn't feel the need to reapply, but if I wanted to, I could tell that a few pats would have done the job. And as for the fate of my stained mask? The foundation came right out in the wash.
Fenty Beauty's Pro'Filt'r Soft Matte Foundation is available in 50 shades for $36 at fentybeauty.com and in stores and online at sephora.
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Source: Read Full Article