L’Oreal Infallible Fresh Wear Foundation

Is it just me or does it seem like every brand is coming out with their version of a 24-hour-wear foundation? Perhaps the longevity of makeup in general has become so good that this is the new standard. Or, it could be that brands are capitalizing on the shock value of content creators actually testing products for a full 24 hours.

At any rate, I find it an interesting concept, albeit one I’m not keen on testing from a literal standpoint. My breakout-prone skin is not the ideal candidate for such an experiment.

But 12 hours? That I can do. I recently put Catrice’s 24-hour foundation under the 12-hour ringer, and it made the cut. I was curious to know if L’Oreal’s new Infallible Fresh Wear Foundation would, too. I’ve actually been wearing this product for a good month now, so my opinions are based on a combination of this extended-wear test and all the other times I’ve used it.

The Details

Here’s what I love: It’s got SPF 25! Everyone let out a collective round of applause. I wish there were more foundations with SPF at an affordable price point. On that note, this product costs $14.99 for 1.0 fl. oz. of product. It is available in 30 shades (another round of applause), and provides medium to full coverage.

Packaging-wise, L’Oreal did a great job with this foundation. It comes in a glass bottle with a pump. Don’t we all love the convenience and hygienic nature of a pump? I like the aesthetic of the bottle, too. It doesn’t look like it came from the drugstore. It has a higher end feel to it.

The Application

I applied this foundation at 6:30 am, using a combination of my new Jeffree Star X Morphe foundation brush and a L’Oreal sponge. So far, so good. The finish is quite lovely. Matte, but not too matte. It feels comfortable, and I’m happy with the way it looks on my skin.

Since this was not the first time I used the foundation, I have to interject here. The first couple times I used this product, I was disappointed in the way it applied. In fact, I almost wrote this foundation off as a fail! I used my tried and true Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. It’s got shorter, denser bristles than other brushes I’ve used. Though I love this brush, it did not work for this foundation. The finish was patchy, and I could see brush stokes all over my face.

Next, I tried applying with just my L’Oreal sponge. This worked beautifully, and I started using the foundation all the time. It’s really important to give products a few chances and change up your application technique if something doesn’t work the first time. I own quite a few products that only work when using a certain tool or technique.

Just a couple weeks ago, I tried applying this with the aforementioned Jeffree Star X Morphe foundation brush. It’s got longer, less dense bristles than the Real Technique brush, and it applies this product like a dream. After using the brush, I bounce a dampened sponge all over my face to press the foundation further into the skin. The result is a full coverage base that still looks like real skin.

Around 6:30 pm, I checked how my foundation was holding up. I was relieved to see that it still looked pretty good. It was only when I held my face really close to the mirror that I could see it breaking up on my skin. From a normal distance away (as if I were having a conversation with someone), you couldn’t tell.

My Thoughts

I really like this foundation. As the pictures show, the longevity is great. It sits lightly and comfortably on the skin, and it doesn’t get that oily feeling foundation can have as it wears throughout the day. One of the more surprising things I’ve noticed is that it does not oxidize–at least not Porcelain, the shade I wear. Other creams and powders layer and blend easily over it.

Although there were some initial learning curves in terms of finding the best way to apply the product, I’m quite happy with the technique I landed on. If fussing around with that sort of thing is not your cup of tea, you might want to try a different foundation. The other potential negative is the smell. It is really strong, though it dissipates immediately upon application. I can get past this because I like the foundation, but those who are more sensitive to fragrance might not be able to.

Overall, I’m giving this a huge thumbs up and my stamp of approval. I’m excited to have a comfortable, non-oily foundation with SPF in my makeup collection–especially as we head toward warmer months!

xoxo Kelli