TikTok Won't Shut Up About This Foundation, so We Covered Our Faces With It
Welcome to Internet Famous, a monthly series in which we ask our Instagram followers to vote on a viral beauty product that's taken social media by storm. Then the beauty team will take the winning pick for a spin and share their reviews—pictures included.
I recently did the fun thing of going through old Facebook photo albums. I'm not sure what I was looking for or what I was expecting to uncover, but I basically cringed my way from photo to photo, questioning my state of mind all those years ago. Obviously, I now know that foundation is the rare makeup product you don't want people to see, but did I know back then? Photo evidence makes me think not. Maybe it was the quality of the camera? Or the foundation? Formulas have come a long way since I was a teenager...
Case in point: Charlotte Tilbury's Beautiful Skin Foundation ($44). This stuff is no joke. The shades are spot on and make your skin look like a straight-up filter. Man, if this had been available when I was in high school, I wouldn't be painfully looking through old pictures of myself wearing what looks like a mask.
The skincare-infused formula is made with hyaluronic acid, which hydrates and revitalizes the skin, a rose complex, which helps reduce visible signs of fatigue, and Bix'Activ, which helps minimize shine and blurs the look of pores. What that means for you is this: You've stumbled upon a tube of magic.
I only had to bounce my makeup sponge a few times across my face to see this foundation's true power, and wow—I understand why TikTok won't shut up about it. My fellow beauty editors feel the same, so we decided to show you what the foundation is really made of and share our thoughts. (We have many.) Keep scrolling for everyone's take.
Aniyah Morinia, Associate Editor
"Full disclosure: I'm not someone who typically reaches for foundation on a regular basis. I hate the feeling of a cakey face and reach for lighter beauty products when building out my everyday makeup look. I am pleased to report that this foundation is far from cakey and feels super lightweight on my skin. For me, the elements of a good foundation include evening out skin tone and ensuring that my skin looks like skin. This foundation definitely passes the test. It doesn't feel like I'm wearing foundation but is buildable enough to give me the coverage I need. This is a big statement for me, but I could see myself wearing foundation on a day-to-day basis as long as it's as dewy and lightweight as this one."
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Erin Jahns, Senior Beauty Editor
"I'm a huge Charlotte Tilbury stan. Like, I could exclusively wear the brand's products until the end of time and feel 100% satisfied. And to get even more specific, the brand's Airbrush Flawless Longwear Foundation ($44) (which launched a few years ago) is one of my all-time favorite foundations. The only reason I don't wear it each and every time I wear makeup is that it almost makes your skin look too perfect—fab for selfies and anytime you'll be onscreen or in front of a camera, but a little much for day-to-day wear (in my opinion, at least). But that's where this new foundation comes in! I typically look for medium-coverage foundations that are buildable, and this one offered the perfect amount of coverage with just one layer. My skin still looked like skin but way smoother, more even, and glowy. This foundation stayed put all day long (I did use primer and setting spray), and unlike a lot of foundations I've tried, I didn't need an ounce of powder. It retained the perfect ration of radiance without veering oily as the hours wore on, and it also didn't crease, crack, or smudge. I'm not sure how well this formula would layer (it might start to look a little thick and overly shiny), but for people who want a little more than a tinted moisturizer and a little less than a full-coverage foundation, it's absolutely perfect. My pores and redness were completely camouflaged, but the foundation was light enough to allow my skin to breathe and take in the formula's hydrating benefits. I'd give it a 6/5!"
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Caitie Schlisserman, Beauty Director, Branded Content
"Full disclosure: The first time I tried this foundation, I wasn't a fan. But I blame my impatient self for that. I was so excited to receive the tube in the mail that I literally ripped it from the box and applied it straight to my face. Yeah, I didn't properly prep my skin, and it definitely showed. The following day, I did my usual skincare routine and slathered my face in Magic Cream ($64), warmed the foundation in my hands, then rubbed it on my skin and blended it out with a beauty blender. The outcome was so much more satisfying. My complexion was smooth and glowy but still looked like, well, my skin. The best way to describe the formula is to imagine a tinted moisturizer and a full-coverage foundation having a child: It's probably too heavy for regular wearers of tinted moisturizer (like me!) but just right for those who want a little less than a full-coverage foundation.
"I can see myself using this for special events because once it was set, it literally stayed put for hours—no creasing, cracking, or making my face feel absurdly tight. I actually really liked how the formula set into my skin over time. The longer I had it on, the better it looked to me."
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Shawna Hudson, Associate Beauty Editor
"I got this in the shade 10 Warm Chaud. It's not a bad foundation, but I'll admit it's not my favorite formula ever. If you have texture or acne, this is not the foundation for you. It doesn't cover much, and you'd have to use quite a bit to build up more coverage. On the other hand, if you like a lighter formula that just slightly enhances the skin and adds a bit of warmth, it's great for that! To be honest, since my skin does have some texture and acne spots, I most likely won't be reaching for it every day."
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Sarah Yang, Managing Editor
"I rarely wear a full face of foundation because I don't love the heavy feeling, and I'm all about an effortless, no-makeup makeup look. This is partly due to laziness, partly because I don't really go out that much these days, and partly because I've always preferred a low-maintenance makeup routine. So normally, I just add concealer or color corrector to the spots that need it, and that's it. But I think this foundation is going to make me want to wear a full face at least a couple of times a week! The formula is so lightweight and goes on so smoothly. It doesn't take much effort to blend it all in for a natural look. And the best part? It leaves the most amazing, radiant, and glowy finish. Seriously, my skin was glowing the whole night! I loved it so much I even wore a full face of foundation the next night, which is absolutely not on-brand for me."
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Katie Berohn, Associate Beauty Editor
"I am honestly so impressed by this formula. I used the online shade-matching tool, and the foundation matches my skin perfectly. Every time I've worn this, I've gotten tons of compliments on my skin because it just looks natural. It doesn't sink into my pores or look cakey at all. It really is a skin-finish foundation, and I'm already dreading running out of it since it's quickly become my go-to."
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Next: It's True: Every Single Beauty Editor Owns This Viral Drugstore Mascara
Caitie Schlisserman is an L.A.-based executive director with over a decade of branded content and editorial experience. She joined Who What Wear in 2014 as the first branded content editor and has worked her way up to overseeing a team of talented branded content editors and the beauty department of the media revenue team. Before Who What Wear, Caitie helped launch FabFitFun's first subscription box and worked at a beauty startup where she assisted in successfully launching the editorial department.
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