I once tweeted that if I were to only be able to use one liquid foundation for the rest of time (unthinkable!) it would be the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation. That caused quite a stir I can tell you. Bourjois isn’t a terribly popular brand, nor is it available in Malaysia yet (sorry folks!) but I stand by what I said. This is a liquid foundation I’d be loathe to give up.
The Healthy Mix Serum foundation is the lighter version of the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation I reviewed before. I like that one too. I could use them interchangeably and be absolutely happy about it. What differentiates the Healthy Mix foundation from the Healthy Mix Serum foundation is the fact that the serum foundation is supposed to have a more gel-like texture. To be honest, it just feels like a normal light foundation to me, just a bit lighter than the normal version, but not that much lighter.
Being a gel textured foundation, it feels very light on the skin and once blended in, feels almost barely there as far as I’m concerned. Coverage wise, it has a light-medium coverage which is buildable but what is notable is that the foundation has this incredible stretch to it, so a little bit covers quite a large area. It is surprising to see this in what is essentially a drugstore/pharmacy brand foundation.
Because of the “elasticity” in this foundation, I find that I don’t need very much. I apply it with my fingers, and it covers up redness and masks some marks but it does not hide them totally. You still need to use a concealer. At least I do. However, if I’m not too fussed, I sometimes just layer on extra foundation as concealer where I need it and this one does the job very well, especially for the under eye area.
The pump is very responsive and controllable so you can control how much you get. I do find that one pump does the job to cover my whole face and if I’m economical with it, more besides if I’m using fingers. I usually use about half a pump. Once applied on my skin, I find that it blends right into my skin and stays there for pretty much all day.
I noticed on the bottle that it claims 16 hours radiance boosting even, revived complexion. I don’t think I’ve actually worn it for 16 hours, but it does stay on without getting oily or melting right off my skin. I must say that it definitely makes my skin look like my skin but a lot better! Unlike the Clarins Everlasting foundation which also promises 16 hours of wear, this one isn’t matte or flat in any circumstances. It just makes my skin look better and I’m not sure how else to describe it.
Colour wise, I take it in #51 Light Vanilla which is the lightest shade available. In Singapore where this can be found, there are 3 shades available – #51, #52 and #53. In the UK, there are about 8 shades available.
(1) Dior Forever Foundation 010 Ivory (2) #51 Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation (3) Lancome Maqui Miracle Blanc BO-01 (4) Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Hydrating foundation 010 Ivory (5) #51 Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation
As you can probably tell from the swatches (I hope) the Bourjois Healthy Mix foundations are noticeably neutral in tone. I’ve swatched them alongside foundations that are noticeably warmer (Lancome) and cooler (Dior) so you get an idea of its tone. As I can quite comfortably wear all these foundations shown here in varying degrees of intensity of course, you may therefore have an idea of what colour you could wear.
In a nutshell
My favourite liquid foundation to date alongside the regular Healthy Mix foundation and one I’d happily repurchase over and tell you to 😛 The texture is light on the skin and does not settle in lines, accentuate dry skin nor make the skin feel and look oily. It lasts all day on my skin and is non drying. It makes my skin look like my normal skin but better. Its awesome!
Pros: Nice elegant compact glass bottle, Light texture, Not drying, Does not make skin look oily, Lasts all day
Cons: Limited colour selection in Asia, Unavailable in Malaysia yet
If you have read my earlier review on the Healthy Mix foundation, you will notice that I commented on the strong fruity scent. The same scent is in this version, but it is lighter and less invasive to the nose. The fact I’m able to forgive this foundation its scent tells you a lot about how much I like its texture.
I also like that the Healthy Mix Serum foundation comes in a slim glass bottle unlike the bulkier plastic bottle of its predecessor. It just feels more elegant – I have a penchant for things that come in glass bottles 🙂
I wish I could tell you to run out and get it now, but since I can’t seeing as its not available here in Malaysia, I’d tell you to place this on your shopping list for the next time you hit up a Bourjois counter. I don’t think you’d regret it one bit 🙂
If you have access to Bourjois, have you tried the Healthy Mix Foundation or this serum gel foundation version? Do you like it? I love this and I’d happily declare this my Desert Island Foundation! If I could only bring one foundation with me to a desert island, this would be it – I won’t even have to think about it 😀
Paris B
Ingredients: Aqua (water), Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Alcohol Denat, Parfum (fragrance), Panthenol, Aluminium Hydroxide, Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract, Silica, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Pantolactone, Punica Granatum Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbic Acid [+/- May contain: CI 77007 (ultramarines), CI 77019 (mica), CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI77891 (titanium dioxide)] 10BMT001-1
Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation comes in 8 shades and retails at £9.99 each or S$33/30ml. Pick them up when they go on sale. Its not available in Malaysia at time of writing but you can try StrawberryNET.com which carries a limited selection of Bourjois products
Mine would be the Clinique Superbalanced hehhee! It works great on me, yay!
Awesome! 🙂
I keep hearing so many good things about Bourjois. I must try them since they’re a sub-brand of Chanel!
Yes! I read that they are one of the oldest cosmetics brands from France (since the 1800s!) and they have a lot of similarities with Chanel – blush, eyeshadows etc. Someone even told me they prefered this foundation over the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua and I think that’s saying something!
How awesome! I unfortunately have more flaws than you *sob* so I need more coverage. I’m naturally curious about their nail polishes. Heard they are comparable too!
Ahem! The power of concealer! 😀 But honestly, I don’t like the feel of a heavy foundation so I usually go for lighter foundations and then cover blemishes with concealer. It looks more natural too 😀 I have also heard that their nail polishes are good but I haven’t tried them.
This is my favourite liquid foundation to date too. I love the consistency, and you really don’t need a lot of it on the skin to have lovely flawless skin 🙂
Oh hurrah! 😀 And yes, you only need so little of it – I love this one 😀
I swatched this on the back of my hand recently and really liked it 🙂 Will check it out in Paris, from what I recall, prices were less steep over there 😉
Yep. just double-checked – Healthy Mix Serum retails in France at 15.50 Euros, which is 27.15 SGD 🙂
If you wait till the 20% off for Bourjois in SG, its about that price too 😉
I LOVE mine. I got it when Priceline had a sale and got it for about $16.00! SCORE! I’ve been using mine everyday and I love it. Strangely, this morning when I applied it, it gave me a powdery finish – I didn’t even have to dust my face with loose powder. Am I going bonkers?!
I don’t get a powdery finish but then after the first few times, I didn’t get a powdery finish with Diorskin Forever either! 😛 I just get a nice even finish that’s semi matte. Maybe thats why you feel there’s a powdery finish? Some days I don’t even dust loose powder over it 🙂
time to make a trip to the place with new tv, so i could test this foundie too 😉
Yes yes got a few new things to test 😉
I tried the Bourjoise Healthy Mix Foundation after hearing some raves about it and also after reading your review. For an affordable foundation, its lasting power is fantastic, infact even better that some of the higher end brands. And I am someone who does not believe in using primers so that really speaks a lot! I find that its comparable to Boobi Brown Long Lasting Foundation which gives a sheer to medium coverage whereas Bourjois’ gives a medium to buildable coverage. I guess I am lucky to have Bourjois counters available in most places in Singapore 🙂
I’m glad you’re liking this too Sharon! Well the Healthy Mix version anyway 😀 I think this is comparable to many high end foundations and not only that, is better than many high end foundations because it delivers the same effect at a smaller price tag. Lucky you to have Bourjois in Singapore! 😀
yeah and although the packaging is in plastic i like that it allows me to see how much of it i have used so thats cool! well if u like i could get your shades for you and mail to them since its more easily accessible to me 😉 or if u happen to come over to sg one day maybe we can hang out eh 😉
anyways its been a pleasure to read your blogs, keep up the good work! 🙂
That’s very sweet of you Sharon, thanks for your offer! 😀 As of now I’m pretty much set in terms of both the Bourjois foundations and I do go down to SG off and on but never have the chance to meet anyone there because its always a whirlwind trip! There are so many lovely girls in SG I’d like to meet – perhaps some day 😉
This is my favorite drugstore foundation besides Revlon ColorStay!! They have discount of 20%+5% discount in Watson Singapore last week which make the price much affordable. 🙂
Oh yes! When I’m in Singapore and I see Bourjois on sale, that’s when I go over and take a look at the new stuff on offer. Otherwise, Bourjois can be a wee bit pricey
Wow, its available in Singapore> I was going in Watson’s and Manning’s for a healthy dose of Bourjois but found none!!! Where can I find these??? LOL!
I saw this in BHG bugis. Never actually saw this in the drugstore. 🙂 Check BHG bugis! 🙂
Its in Robinsons’ (Centrepoint at Orchard Rd) and BHG stores that I know of. Sorry you didn’t manage to check this one out Nikki!
I’m new to foundation… If i were to get only 1 foundation which should it be? This Bourjois foundation or the Guerlain foundation? Pls recommend. Which one do u think is better? Thanks!
Well since I’d take this one with me to a desert island, my vote will go to this. I do like the Guerlain Lingerie de Peau but if you are new, perhaps try the Bourjois first. At least it won’t break the bank if you decide you don’t like liquid foundation 🙂
This is a fab foundation! I got too dark for 51 so I sold it in a blog sale!! I should pick some more up!
For the price, it beats so many foundations flat! Lucky you to be able to have so many shades to choose from in the UK!
I wanted to get one after hearing so much raved but still not fully sold yet. Because it cost RM70 plus after conversion! Now its time to rethink. Pick up or not to pick this up.. hmmm :/
I do think this is one product worthy of all raves 🙂 But that said, much depends on whether you need another liquid foundation 😉
May I ask which one is better? The new mix serum foundation or the mix foundation? which one have better coverage?
I find they both have similar coverage although the Healthy Mix one (plastic bottle) may have slightly heavier coverage as it feels a bit thicker compared to the gel. Both are buildable though and very light.
Sounds wonderful! But too bad it’s not available here. 🙁
Bourjois is not in Italy? That’s a surprise! It is really a good foundation so the next time you happen to come by a Bourjois counter you could bear this in mind 😉
It’s not availablle in most parts of Germany, either. 🙁
Oh boo! 🙁 I thought it was widely available in Europe 🙁
Interesting! Should go run check if its available in SG!
Yes you should! You can find it at BHG not too far from where you stay and it usually goes on sale – 20% off which is the best time to pick it up 😉
I’m quite liking this foundation too! But I haven’t used it often enough to love it yet :p Still, thanks for recommending it! Despite the limited color range, I’m very surprised to find a match for my skin. Probably cuz it blends soooo well
I told you that you’ve gotten fairer, that’s why you managed to find a colour match! 😉 But I also think it does blend impressively well which might also be the other reason – glad it worked out for you too!
Heard many praises about Bourjois foundation. So far only 2 foundations has very good oil control for my super oily skin.
Revlon Colorstay and Clinique superfit. Both are excellent in oil control.
Hmm… good point. I’m not sure if this one works well on very oily skins. But good to know that you have found foundations that do! 😀
Bourjois is certainly the underdog brand and I love the Healthy Mix Foundation too. I think it has a lot of silicone in it that’s why it has that lovely smoothing/correcting effect on uneven skin tone…Haven’t tried the serum version yet…but sounds amazing! I heard the blushes are great too but the packaging is a real downer for me…
Looking at the contents perhaps the silicone does play a part in giving a nice finish to the foundation but I’m so glad that it does not have that strange silicone feel that some high silicone products have, if you know what I mean? The type that balls up between your fingers 🙂 The serum version is a little lighter than the regular version so its not that much different 🙂 The blush packaging and scent does turn me off, I have to agree but the new Intense eyeshadow singles are quite good!
sigh…alcohol denat….
BOO! 🙁