This Cult Skincare Brand Launched A Foundation And It’s Not What We Expected

2018 has seen tons of foundation launches, and I’ve been super impressed with the results. Naturally, when I found out cult skincare brand Sunday Riley were delving into makeup with the launch of a foundation, I was excited to try it out. I’ve always found their skincare to be amazing, so I had high expectations for their foundation, especially with a name like The Influencer.

What it is: A long-lasting, medium to full coverage foundation with a natural, satin-matte finish. The formula is best for normal, oily, and combination complexions and is available in 20 shades from fair to deep. It’s also formulated without synthetic fragrances, talc, or parabens.

What it does: The formula is designed to conceal redness, pores, and dark spots (with one pump), without looking cakey, while it can also be layered for extra coverage. It’s also designed to balance the appearance of oil and soothe skin with Canadian willowherb, northern truffle extract, and bisabolol.

What I liked: Despite there being only 20 shades, I was really impressed with the inclusivity of the shade range and how deep and fair it went. I also think the packaging is really nice, and I love how travel-friendly it is. I found the coverage was good when I applied it with a dense round brush, although it was more difficult to blend to an airbrushed finish than usual. I used a few pumps with my brush and then used my beauty blender to get a smooth finish – the result was matte, and it covered my imperfections without showing my pores. That said, I think if you have acne, pigmentation, or dark spots, you will need to layer this using a brush to get good coverage.

What I didn’t like: I found there was a bit of a jump between shades, so it could be a bit of a struggle to find a match. The foundation also oxidized slightly, so keep this in mind when choosing a shade, as the final result will be a little darker. From feedback from my team, I was advised against using a primer and I did feel as the day went on that it looked a little blotchy. However, my skin type is dry/normal, so it could be that it clung to the drier areas of my face, as the brand claims it’s best for other skin types.

Application tips: The first thing we noticed in the office was that this didn’t work well with silicone primers, so if you’re a die-hard Benefit Porefessional kinda hunny, put it away. Stick to something silicone-free like Laura Mercier, Too Faced Hangover Primer, or Farsali Unicorn Essence. Instead of using a primer, Sunday Riley recommends prepping the skin with their Tidal moisturizer or Good Genes lactic acid treatment to get a super smooth canvas. I wish there was a little more direction on the best application method and whether this needs to be set with a powder or not.

The verdict: I’m a full coverage foundation fan, so for me, this isn’t something I’ll be reaching for. That said, this does have some nice ingredients and I feel like it would work well for someone who’s a BB cream lover looking for something with more coverage.

Price: $42

Shop it here.