Beauty Product Reviews

Finest Quality Japanese Brushes at a Great Price

Having sensitive skin, I find many makeup brushes to be too stiff or more needle-like when they hit the skin, instead of soft. I own mostly mid-range synthetics, some about ten or so years old, and I decided it was time for an upgrade. After much research on craftsmanship and reviews of Japanese brushes, I purchased the Wayne Goss Anniversary Set due to its combination of quality and affordability. They are phenomenal. It's true that the 01 brush sheds a little, but from experience, that's typical of the first several applications with natural hair brushes, so it didn't bother me. These brushes give me a fine, airbrushed finish for naturally flawless-looking skin. I own a couple Chikuhodo Z series brushes and the performance is about the same.

Not for very oily skin

I was excited to try this product, as my skincare regimen consists primarily of products by The Ordinary, and not having blemishes, I was looking forward to the possibility of wearing a lighter feeling foundation. I purchased shades 1.1N and 1.2N.

Unfortunately, from the moment of application, this foundation looked blotchy and oily on my chin, cheeks, nose, and forehead - everywhere I have oily skin. I applied the foundation using different modes of application, thinking perhaps it was simply incompatible with the foundation brush I use (Bobbi Brown), so I also tried my BeautyBlender, and my fingers. The result was still a slick mess. I tried both the 1.1N and 1.2N, again - same result. I initially used The Ordinary's own silicone primer, since I expected it to have the greatest compatibility. I subsequently attempted application over different sections of my face, using different primers - Hourglass's Veil, Cover FX, and Smashbox Photo Finish (my staples for long-wearing hold on foundation) - and the result was still awful. The foundation was uneven and refused to fill my pores, and instead gathered around them, accentuating them. I tried everything, but could not get the foundation to make my face look like anything other than a blotchy oil slick. My skin looked far better bare!

I also noticed that, after application, the foundation looked more yellow-orange because the product had oxidized. It also did not layer/correct well. If you attempt to fix it with powder or to apply a second layer of product, it just cakes.

For the record, I can apply my Estee Lauder Doublewear Light, Armani Luminous Silk, MAC Studio Fix Fluid, Chanel Teint Lumiere, Clinique, Tarte BB, and La Roche-Posay BB creams with my fingers and still get a flawless finish over any one of my silicone or non-silicone primers. They also all set well with loose powder (Laura Mercier).

What the foundation did work well on was the skin on my neck and jawline near my ears. However, even there I found it to be highly transferrable.

I think this product does genuinely work well for people with largely flawless, drier skin. The coverage is light to medium (neck test), definitely not full coverage or even a strong medium. If you have very oily skin, it is highly unlikely to apply properly, let alone stay on your skin. It's disappointing, but at least the product was not at all expensive.