This review delves into the Smashbox Studio Skin Full Coverage 24-Hour Foundation, a product boasting impressive claims of weightless full coverage, oil control, and waterproof wear. Priced at $36 and available in 40 shades, this foundation enjoys considerable popularity, garnering a 4.1-star rating on Sephora. We examine its unique, non-silicone formula, highlighting key ingredients like kale, clay, and hyaluronic acid, intended to provide both coverage and skincare benefits. The review explores application techniques, wear time, and the overall finish, assessing whether this foundation lives up to its promises.Our in-depth analysis covers application methods, focusing on the impact of using a brush versus a sponge. We assess the foundation's coverage, longevity, and transfer resistance throughout a wear test. We also examine its performance in different areas of the face, noting any inconsistencies. Finally, we offer an overall assessment, considering both the foundation's strengths and weaknesses, including its tendency to cake and settle into lines and pores, ultimately providing a balanced perspective on its performance and suitability for various skin types.
Pros And Cons
- Cruelty-free
- Available in 40 shades
- Weightless
- Full coverage
- Oil and shine control
- Waterproof
- Sweat-resistant
- Does not look cakey
- Good for normal, dry, combination, and oily skin (according to the brand)
- Contains kale, clay, bamboo powder, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E
- Long-lasting (according to the brand)
- Can look cakey up close
- Can settle into pores and fine lines
- Can be difficult to blend perfectly if not applied quickly
- Coverage can be inconsistent
- May transfer after setting
- Can be drying for some skin types
- May not fully cover redness in some areas
- Can look heavy on the nose for some users
Read more: Hydrating Foundation for Dry Skin: Top 5 Picks
Packaging and First Impressions
The Smashbox Studio Skin Full Coverage 24-Hour Foundation comes in a sleek, standard-sized tube (30ml/1 fl. oz). The packaging is simple yet elegant, typical of the Smashbox brand. Initial impressions are promising, with the brand claiming it's weightless, provides full coverage, and offers oil and shine control, alongside being waterproof and sweat-resistant.
It retails for $36 and boasts an impressive 40 shades, catering to a diverse range of skin tones. The foundation received a 4.1-star rating on Sephora with 484 reviews at the time of this writing, indicating considerable popularity among consumers.
Formula and Ingredients
Unlike many other foundations, the Smashbox Studio Skin Full Coverage Foundation isn't silicone-based. The ingredient list features a notable presence of copolymers, making it unique in its formulation. It is free of sulfates, parabens, formaldehydes, phthalates, and several other potentially irritating ingredients.
The foundation also incorporates skin-beneficial ingredients such as kale, clay, bamboo powder (for oil control), hyaluronic acid (for hydration), and vitamin E (for antioxidant protection). This unique blend aims to provide both coverage and skincare benefits.
Application and Coverage
The instructions recommend starting with one drop and blending it quickly, as it sets within 60 seconds. The reviewer tested application with both a damp sponge and a brush, noting that the brush offered slightly more control and prevented cakiness compared to the sponge.
Coverage is described as medium to full, effectively concealing redness. However, the quick-setting nature of the foundation requires a rapid application process, working in small sections.
Wear Test and Longevity
The initial application showed promising medium coverage. The foundation sets quickly, and once set, it remains mostly in place. However, the reviewer found it slightly less effective in certain areas such as around the nose and upper lip, where redness showed through.
Throughout the wear test, the foundation demonstrated surprisingly good transfer resistance. Even after several hours and activities, minimal transfer was observed. However, cakiness and a tendency to settle into lines and pores remained an issue for the reviewer.
Final Verdict
The Smashbox Studio Skin Full Coverage Foundation performs well at a distance, offering a smooth and even complexion. However, up close, the foundation shows its limitations, particularly its tendency to cake and settle into pores and lines. Coverage is uneven in some areas despite the reviewer's efforts.
The quick-setting formula, while promising long wear, makes application challenging. Overall, it's a foundation that looks great from afar but may not offer the flawless finish up close, especially on dry or mature skin. The reviewer gives it a C+, indicating average performance with room for improvement, especially with proper application technique and skincare prep.