Over the next 9 months, I’ll be wearing a foundation a month and testing it out with various primers, application techniques and post my review here. I’ll also mention any issues when the foundation is used with cream-based products such as blusher or highlighter. Before we continue, I have oily skin, a few fine lines and the occasional issues with breakouts. I don’t have an issue with dry skin so if you do you might find we have very different results from the same foundation.
The four primers I’ll be using are, Illamasqua – Hydra Veil, this one is a water-based gel primer. Evelyn Ion Cosmetics – Green Tea Primer, this one is a water-based dream primer. The Body Shop – Instablur Primer, this one is a silicone-based primer. Revolution Pro – Prime Oil, this one is an oil-based primer. I’ll also go without a primer to see how it performs without any help.
Other variables include using fingers, sponges or brushes to apply the foundation to see if it makes any difference in the finish or performance with these methods. I’ll also use cream, powder and liquid blushers and highlighters to see if there are any issues too.
Revolution Conceal and Define Foundation
The Conceal and Define Foundation costs £9 from Revolution Beauty or Superdrug. It has 23 ml of product and has a 12-month shelf life once opened. It’s vegan and cruelty-free.
This foundation has a cult following so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I ended up loving this foundation with the right primer. It’s got a smooth, skin-like finish that lasts all day and by all day I mean a 13-hour work shift.
This one has a doe foot applicator and I really like it. It does get out a good amount of product and I found on a daily basis that this was the perfect amount for the day. I have read some objections to the doe foot not being quite as hygienic as the squeezy tube but if you’re only applying it to yourself that’s not a huge issue. The only issue I had was a little spattering when I pulled it out of the tube. I got it on my trousers a couple of times but it’s not a huge issue, although if you’re wearing something nice I’d say be extra careful or put something over your clothes.
So which one is the best primer? It’s anything water-based. It played well with both the Hydraveil and the Green Tea Primer. These help with the application and the longevity of the foundation.
Do not use this with silicone-based primers. It was hard work getting it on with smooth coverage to start off with no matter which application technique I used. Then it came off almost as soon as I touched my skin even after it had been set with powder.
It was okay with the oil-based Revolution Pro Primer Oil. As I’m oily, myself I found this made it go shiny much much quicker. Although given how oily my face was I was very pleased with the staying power, which was over the 5-hour mark.
It does work well without a primer but did sink into my pores and fine lines easier without the primer. It’s still a good foundation with great staying power but works so much better with a primer.
I preferred to apply it with a wet sponge for the most skin-like finish, although that did mean that when I wanted full coverage I had to use 2-3 dips of the wand. It works well with a brush and this gives a slightly fuller coverage. If you want the best coverage fingers are really good for that, I did need to work a little harder for a skin-like finish using my fingers, though the same result can result from a sponge with a couple of layers.
Ultimately I love this foundation. They’ve recently extended the range which is great to see. Sadly there is still none for very pale olive tones but I can hope that one day us redheaded celts will be remembered by a brand.
The Conceal and Define Foundation costs £9 from Revolution Beauty or Superdrug. It has 23 ml of product and has a 12-month shelf life once opened. It’s vegan and cruelty-free.
ISODODECANE, AQUA/WATER/EAU, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, DIMETHICONE, SILICA, ISOBUTYLMETHACRYLATE/BIS-HYDROXYPROPYL DIMETHICONE ACRYALATE COPOLYMER, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, CETYL PEG-PPG—10/1 DIMETHICONE, ISONONYL ISONONANOATE, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, QUATENIUM-90 BENTONITE, SORBITAN SESQUIOLEATE, C30-45 ALKYL DIMETHICONE, SODIUM CHLORIDE, PHENOXYETHANOL, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, METHICONE, LECITHIN, POLYHYDROXYSTERIC ACID, ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE, ISOSTEARIC ACID, POLYGLYCEROL-3 POLYRICINOLEATE, [+/- TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, 77492, 77499)].