If you’re like me and easily influenced by people you trust in the beauty community, then you know that once someone you trust tells you they have found the most amazing foundation after just one try – you instantly buy that foundation.
So after watching Tati’s YouTube video where she tried the Smashbox Studio Skin Full Coverage Foundation and claimed it was the “best foundation she ever tested”, of course I had to order it (and so did a lot of other people, judging by the comments section). After initially trying it out, I was perplexed at how the hell she could make that statement, because this foundation looked terrible on me!
At first, anyways…
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What Does Smashbox Studio Skin Full Coverage Do?
Smashbox claims Studio Skin Full Coverage foundation is:
“A comfortable, 24-hour full coverage foundation that weightlessly glides over skin. It controls oil & shine & has a blurring effect. It’s also waterproof, sweat & humidity-resistant, won’t look cakey or cause acne.”
Smashbox advises that a little goes a long way with this stuff (very true) and that the matte formula reveals its true colour within 60 seconds and sets quickly – and by quickly, they mean within seconds.
It’s also made with kaolin clay and bamboo powder to control oil and shine, as well as hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and light scattering spheres to blur imperfections and is cruelty free.
I have the shade 0.3 – fair, with neutral undertone, which was way too light for me at the end of summer, but works on me now that I’m into full-on albino mode for the winter.
The texture of this foundation is very thick – you can hold it upside-down in your hand and it will not budge one bit. I don’t detect any noticeable fragrance in it.
First Impressions Of Smashbox Studio Skin + Struggles
As mentioned earlier, I originally hated this foundation.
The first time I tried Studio Skin Full Coverage, I applied it with my Real Techniques foundation brush and it looked heavy and cakey as all hell! My first thought was…this has been a terrible mistake.
I then tried applying it with a damp makeup sponge, which was a THOUSAND times better, but I still found it looked heavy on my skin and was hard to blend, even with a smoothing primer underneath.
But I’m not a quitter, so I decided to add a couple drops of my Beauty Creations primer oil, which made Studio Skin apply flawlessly with my damp sponge – it truly looked gorgeous! However, after a few hours, the foundation would start to cake up and look terrible once more, possibly because of the added primer drops? Not sure.
I also tried mixing a small drop of it into my other foundations, which didn’t help much either.
Feeling quite dejected with Studio Skin Full Coverage, I stopped using it for a while, but decided to pick it up again after switching over to a heavier morning moisturizer for the winter…and that’s when things got a lot better.
I decided to skip the primer drops and applied a half-pea sized amount all over my well-moisturized and primed face using a damp makeup sponge (the Avon x The Face Shop Ink Lasting silicone primer and my NYX Pore Filler primer work really well under this foundation).
And behold! I was able to blend this foundation out to a flawless finish. Although Studio Skin Full Coverage sets really fast, I still prefer to set it with powder and finish it off with a little spritz of my Thayers rose petal toner/setting spray, as this foundation is quite matte on its own.
Finally – this combination worked and I was able to get a flawless complexion that lasts me all day – finally! I should also mention that my skin texture smoothed out a lot during this period, so the foundation wasn’t bringing out my pores or bumps as much as it used to.
In my opinion, Studio Skin Full Coverage doesn’t have any blurring properties like it claims – in fact, the flat-matte finish made imperfections stand out more and without a good smoothing primer, it would sit in my pores and highlight them.
Pros, Cons and Application Tips for the Smashbox Studio Skin Full Coverage Foundation
Pros:
- Full coverage with very little product
- Buildable in thin layers
- Feels lightweight on the skin
- Doesn’t need to be set with powder
- Long lasting wear with no smudging or patchiness (I set mine with powder)
- Good for normal to oily skin (I get slightly oily throughout the day)
Cons:
- Definitely not for dry/flaky skin, in my opinion
- Super matte finish (although this can change if you use more moisturizer as a base)
- Can bring out pores and texture on the skin unless well primed
- Will highlight dry patches
- Sets within seconds
- Needs to be applied onto a well moisturized/primed face, especially if you have mature skin
- Can easily look cakey/heavy if not blended out well or heavily applied
Application tips:
- It sets fast – don’t dab dots of it all over your face, work in small areas instead
- Start with a small amount and apply it in thin layers – build as needed
- Apply it with a damp makeup sponge
- Prime and moisturize your skin well
You can see this foundation in action on the poreless complexion of Tati below (which is what made me buy it, of course):
pin me for later!
Is The Smashbox Studio Skin Full Coverage Foundation Right For You?
Overall, if you have normal to oily skin and don’t mind prepping your skin a bit before applying this foundation, then the Smashbox Studio Skin Full Coverage foundation might work for you.
If you have dry, flaky skin or skin with a lot of texture issues (e.g. very large pores, bumpiness, fine lines) – this foundation might be a bit too cake-prone and flat-matte for you.
BUY IT: SMASHBOX | SEPHORA
Tip: Before you shop, apply for a free Rakuten account and get a percentage of your online purchases back in cash! I’ve gotted $147 back in cash so far! You can read more about how Rakuten (formerly ebates) works here.
Both Sephora and Smashbox are Rakuten-qualified vendors.
Looking for more full coverage, long lasting foundations or application tips? Read:
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Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation
-
Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer
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10 Foundation Mistakes You Might Be Making (and how to fix them!)
-
5 Reasons To Set Your Foundation With Powder
Will you be trying the Smashbox Studio Skin Full Coverage 24 Hour foundation?
