The foundation is also spiked with soothing and hydrating ingredients usually found in serums: glycerin, aloe vera juice, and sodium hyaluronate, which is a form of hyaluronic acid found naturally in your skin and helps plump lines, according to cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos.
For application, I turn to my trusted highlighter brush technique. I start off by dabbing the foundation onto the four quadrants of my face with my finger before buffing it inward with the Real Techniques Setting Brush. By the time I’m done blending, my skin looks gorgeously dewy, and dare I say, happy.
My complexion falls into the oily, acne-prone category, and it typically despises foundation. So many formulas just uncomfortably sit on top of my skin like wet papier-mâché and beg pools of oil to form. Foundation tends to annoyingly crease up in every nook and cranny of my face and emphasize any lines or marks.
With Essence’s new oil-free foundation, though, I forget I’m even wearing any complexion products. It only looks like my usual skin-care lineup and eye makeup are in action. And if all of this weren’t enough, the foundation stays put — even in my sweltering, ancient radiator-heated apartment and after filming a TikTok with my sister. See, how could I possibly want to use any other foundation?
Starting today, January 13, you can shop the Essence Pretty Natural Hydrating Foundation in 16 shades for $7 on ulta.com. You’ll have to wait until February 2 all 31 shades it comes in will be available on essencemakeup.com.
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