ColourPop

 Pretty Fresh Hyaluronic Hydrating Foundation

Most Helpful Positive Review

Very Impressed, a Hidden Gem

I've been testing out foundations for two years, and it's a (tiring) journey. The truth is, I want a Holy Grail foundation that is a one-and-done product, lasts all day, looks flawless, works with my sensitive skin, and comes in around drug-store prices---yes, it sounds impossible, but I'm an optim...ist (or just stubborn). That said, I'm TRULY impressed with ColourPop Pretty Fresh foundation, and I'm excited to keep wearing and testing it in all sorts of conditions. A few thoughts: --1) This formula is incredibly light-weight, but it packs serious pigment! I want at least a solid medium (but honestly, medium-high) coverage, and this delivers while still being weightless on the skin. It is truly one of the lightest foundations that I've ever tried. I've also never really had a foundation "melt into the skin" before trying this, but it really does disappear and looks incredibly skin-like while covering redness and pigmentation. Most foundations tend to settle into a few spots (particularly frown lines and smile lines), but this one miraculously does not migrate into my creases. --2) I have dry, acne-prone skin that gets increasingly oily throughout the day, but this foundation really endures. A good moisturizer is necessary for me with any foundation, but this foundation both stays put on my T-zone while still looking good on any dry patches (especially after it warms up and meshes with my skin, about 10 minutes after application). Even with humidity and sweat, it doesn't seem to break up or separate. I haven't tried it with a primer yet, but it's nice with a light spritz of setting spray, too. --3) My skin likes it! I've had no reactions or breakouts, which is always a good big concern. Also, it plays well with all my other products (skincare and makeup), so it's been easy to wear. --4) Picking a shade can be a bit tricky. It does oxidize about half a shade on my skin (which is good for my perfect match), but THANK GOODNESS for the samples in ULTA stores or I would have never guessed my correct shade. In almost all foundations, my shade is a light cool-leaning neutral---but in Colourpop, I'm in the "fair" category (the "light" shades were straight-up orange or bright pink on me). Fair30N is a great for my skintone, but I had to go to ULTA and swatch about 8 shades (and wait until they dried before comparing to my tried-and-true foundation swatches on my other arm while standing in the outdoor natural light) before I found my perfect match. I've never tried other Colourpop skin products so I don't know how the foundation compares in terms of tones, but a few free, in-store swatches saved me a lot of headaches. Overall, I'm surprised how much I really like this foundation because it really stands out in all the right ways--long lasting, incredibly pretty on the skin, and good coverage. I want something that looks natural while giving me confidence, and I've received several compliments on my skin with this foundation. Highly Recommend if you're in the market for something lightweight that still covers imperfections.