It’s the end of a weekend and the end of a trial for me. I tried the “No Foundation Foundation” from Perricone MD ($50us). You may be familiar with the name Dr. Perricone, he has been a continued guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show and is featured on Oprah.com. Perricone MD products can be purchased through select retailers or through the brand’s site click here for their specials.

Product Claims:

• Instantly reduces the appearance of wrinkles, lines and pores.
• Provides non-chemical SPF 30 broad spectrum UV protection.
• Corrects skin undertones.
• Quick-absorbing.
• Moisturizes. Skin appears smooth and naturally dewy.

I decided to try the the product out on the weekend because I wasn’t too sure how it would work for me. I had guessed the “No Foundation Foundation” would act as a tinted moisturizer, meaning I had to be ready for a “no makeup” look. I personally don’t like to pair bare skin with a smokey Kim Kardashian eye, so I knew I would only pair this product with a little mascara, and translucent powder to achieve a Kardashian Fresh Face.

A few things you should know about me while reading this review:

• I have tan skin: I’m Black, Korean, French, and Lebanese.
• I live in a humid climate.
• I have oily/combination skin (oily t-zone, normal to dry everywhere else).
• I don’t have perfect skin but I’m not suffering from acne, major sunspots, and hyper-pigmentation. In fact, I normally get complimented on my skin which is why I’m not including a photo of me using the product. And basically this product is your skin, fine-tuned.
• The only preconceived idea I had prior to getting the product was that Eva Mendes liked it and I wanted to like it. I didn’t research it prior to trying it out. In fact, I never heard about it, I thought it was new, it wasn’t. But you can read other reviews such as from Makeup Alley.

With that said, here is my journey:

I honestly first tried the product because Eva Mendes uses it. I know, I know, but she is gorgeous. She mentions the product in the August issue of Allure; “Perricone’s No Foundation Foundation saves my life . It has a little tint in addition to moisture and SPF”. Plus, I was intrigued by her cover with her having bare looking skin with liner and pink lips. I was SOLD!

I read the directions and applied to clean skin as directed. My first inclination when applying this to my face to to run to the bathroom and wash it off; this was no regular tinted moisturizer, in fact, the directions state you can put this over moisturizer but it was so thick I’m glad I didn’t. If I had to compare the density and feeling of this product on my face, it would be to sunblock. Which surprised me because it didn’t look or feel as thick on my hand prior to applying. But I went ahead and rubbed it into my face. I waiting a good ten minutes for the product to dry  but it didn’t. At that time I noted that I enjoyed how my skin looked healthy, radiant, and moisturized. I did not however like the slightly greasy look to it. I applied a translucent powder only at my t-zone because I really wanted to see how the product did by itself.

Long story, short. The “No Foundation Foundation” did lose the “grease-factor” within the first hour and it really did commit to the “No Makeup” look but it also complimented my skin. I generally don’t like products that claim a “No Makeup” look but is packed with noticeable shimmer, which was what I was expecting but, like my favorite liquid foundation, NARS Sheer Glow, my skin just looked smooth, satiny, and shimmer-free, like I was glowing from within. Unlike my NARS Sheer Glow, the “No Foundation Foundation” offered no coverage, so if you are concerned about covering acne scars or pigmentation issues, this is will not help. However, if you have dry to normal skin, are not experiencing pigmentation issues with your skin or don’t care about them, then this might be a product you might like if you can get over the “grease-factor” from the application process. At the end of the day I looked into the mirror before I drove home, where I would normally see that my makeup even with primer has made fine little lines, I saw nothing. In fact I only remember touching up my nose and forehead with a pat of powder around lunch time when I normally touch-up a few times more than that. I found myself thinking “my skin looks nice, I like this product”.

Overall, I could see some people hating this product but, I know a few people who would love it. And I don’t mind that, everyone has different skin, and I feel if I had more mature skin, lived in a drier climate, or had drier skin, then I would reach for this product when I want to show my skin off instead of my foundation. The product does what it claims, and although it’s not what I’d reach for every day, I would use this product again and love everything but the initial application.

Quick List:

Pros:

• Work’s for all skin tones
• Has SPF30
• Has a very natural look
• It’s from Perricone MD, a brand which generally caters towards skincare and is shown in this product by it’s ingredients.
• Product does what it claims.
• This product can be reapplied. This is great for people who workout or for those who want a little makeup for the beach. (I’d rather go Kim Kardashian Style with oversized shades than full face makeup at the beach).
• For those with fine lines and wrinkles this product could take years off your face because makeup has a tendency to settle into lines making them more obvious.

Cons:

• At $50 it can be costly but you only need a little per use
• It’s rather thick and greasy upon application. Which may concern those with oilier skin but it does absorb leaving your skin smooth and not excessively shiny.
• It can an off-putting smell to some.
• Not for those looking for more coverage.

Final Thoughts:

I don’t think Eva Mendes was lying when she shares her love for this product. I can see why she loves it but, I can also see why others may skip it. Would I purchase this product again anytime soon? Probably not. But I would happily use what I have left on days where my skin is what I want to show off and on days where I only have two minutes to put on a face I feel confident about and head out the door. Overall, Perricone MD’s “No Foundation Foundation” compliments your skin, not covers it. And isn’t that what we’re looking for in a product when we’re going for that “No Makeup” Look?

I was not paid to do this review or affiliated with Perricone MD or Brands mentioned.

Share On Facebook