This review dives deep into the Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous Foundation, a product boasting a $38 price tag and a promised luminous finish. We explore its performance across various application methods, using both brush and sponge, examining its coverage, texture, and longevity. Particular attention is paid to the foundation's shade matching accuracy, a crucial aspect often overlooked in reviews. We investigate whether the hype surrounding this high-end foundation lives up to expectations, comparing its performance to a more budget-friendly alternative.Our in-depth analysis covers the initial application, including texture and blendability, and follows the foundation's performance throughout a full day of wear. We assess its oxidation, which can significantly impact shade matching, and observe its tendency to crease and cake after several hours. Ultimately, we weigh the pros and cons, considering the foundation's initial beauty against its shortcomings, to determine whether its luxurious price point is justified by its overall performance and longevity.
Pros And Cons
- Easy to blend
- Spreads easily
- A little bit goes a long way
- Feels cooling
- Looks luminous and natural
- Medium coverage that builds nicely
- Feels thin and comfortable
- Doesn't dry down fast
- No artificial fragrance
- Oxidizes quickly, darkening significantly
- Shade selection may be inaccurate
- Requires setting powder to prevent slipping
- Creases around the mouth and eyes
- Looks cakey and textured after several hours
- Can look oily on the forehead
- Doesn't hold up well throughout the day
Read more: Hydrating Foundation for Dry Skin: Top 5 Picks
Shade Matching and First Impressions
The Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous Foundation retails for $38 and comes in 50 shades. I chose shade 140N, described as fair with neutral peach undertones. However, I found the undertone descriptions to be inaccurate and could have easily gone a couple of shades lighter.

The foundation comes in a standard glass bottle with a pump. The initial application felt cooling and spread easily, with a little product going a long way.
I applied it using both a brush and a sponge, noting the difference in application and coverage. The brush application provided better coverage and used less product.
Application and Oxidation
One noticeable aspect was the oxidation; the foundation visibly darkened within the first 30 seconds of application. This might necessitate selecting a lighter shade than your usual match.
The foundation felt lightweight and had a slightly slippery, velvety texture, similar to the original Maybelline Fit Me foundation. It didn't dry down quickly, allowing ample blending time.
Both brush and sponge application yielded a luminous, medium coverage. However, the brush application resulted in slightly better coverage and less product consumption.
Longevity and Creasing
The foundation needs to be set with powder to prevent slipping and creasing, especially around the mouth and forehead areas. Creasing became more noticeable after several hours of wear.
After approximately six and a half hours, the foundation had darkened further and began to look cakey and textured in certain areas, particularly around the mouth and forehead. The overall finish became less luminous and more oily.
After ten hours, the creasing worsened significantly, and the foundation displayed cakeyness and separation. The product's wear noticeably declined.
Final Verdict and Comparisons
While the Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous Foundation initially provides a beautiful, luminous finish, its significant oxidation and creasing after several hours diminish its appeal. The texture felt similar to the more budget-friendly Maybelline Fit Me foundation.
Compared to the Maybelline Fit Me, the Anastasia foundation offers a similar luminous effect but lacks the longevity and performs poorly on oily skin. Other drugstore foundations may offer better staying power and less creasing.
Ultimately, while initially impressive, the Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous Foundation's poor longevity and oxidation make it less worthwhile than comparable, more affordable options.