If there’s one thing I’ve learned since discovering beauty, it’s that even though I’ve found my Holy Grail product, I am always looking out for something that might topple the HG product from it’s pedestal. It’s almost as if I challenge the product everyday. And you know, there are so many new things popping up every other day! One of the latest foundations I was quite interested in was this – the Shiseido Sheer and Perfect Foundation. I wanted to see how it measured up to my Holy Grail foundation and my Holy Grail No. 2 (because I rediscovered the latter and promoted it)
I happen to like sheer and light textured liquid foundations. It’s what finally sold me onto wearing a liquid foundation, because the thick mask-like textures of liquid foundations of yore scared me away. This one ticks the light textured box.
What the Sheer and Perfect Foundation promises is to even out your skintone and give you a glowing visage. Shiseido says that this foundation has light correcting qualities to colour correct your skintone automatically so it looks more even toned. I was told by the makeup artist that this is semi-matte and not as full coverage as the Perfect Refining Foundation which happens to be my favourite Shiseido foundation. In this regard, I have to agree. The texture is lighter but the coverage isn’t bad. I’ll show you how it looks below, but I discovered a fly in the otherwise perfect ointment.
The packaging is small which belies its 30ml size. Don’t be fooled by the diminutive size. It’s in fact a little larger (taller) than the Perfect Refining Foundation and has sleek minimalist packaging.
Like most Japanese based foundations, you have to shake it up before squeezing out product. If you don’t, you will find that the liquid that comes out is thin and runny. Shaking it up mixes up the product and gives you the texture you need for your foundation application.
My shade is I00 – Very Light Ivory which is the same shade I take in all Shiseido liquid foundations so far. It has a slightly pink base which suits my colouring better. Remember I said I ran into a snag? The snag is that this foundation oxidised on me.
It actually starts out very promising. The texture is sheer but easily buildable. If you use the Perfect Foundation Brush, dabbing on the product where you need more coverage gives you the coverage you need. You do still need concealer for best coverage though. If you prefer something lighter, just brush it out instead of dabbing. Or you can even use your fingers to spread it out for a thin, light coverage.
In this before-after picture you might be able to see that the skintone is indeed evened out, dark circles and redness are a little more concealed but it couldn’t do much about the blemish marks on my cheeks. Lighting is a little off – it doesn’t look as white in real life but just natural. The makeup artist doing the colour match for me had to agree because the next shade up was far too yellow and dark.
So, it starts out well, but I realised that as the day wore on, my skin started looking dull. This doesn’t happen to me with Perfect Refining Foundation which stays the same shade all day. However, it did happen to me with the Radiant Lifting Foundation so I was watching out for it, and knew that this would go the same way.
The other thing is that oil control isn’t impressive. Remember, it gives your skin a glow and products that give your skin a glow don’t often have good longevity. So if you have oily skin I don’t think you’ll like this very much as it might slip off your skin in a few hours. If you have drier skin or live where the air is drier, then it will be a bit better, or if you don’t wear foundation for long hours then you may like it if it suits you.
Here is the colour swatch and comparison with other sheer foundations I use (links go to my previous reviews, if there are any):-
(1) RMK Liquid Foundation #201 (2) Shiseido Sheer and Perfect Foundation I00 Very Light Ivory (3) Shiseido Perfect Refining Foundation I00 Very Light Ivory (4) Lunasol Skin Modelling Foundation OC01 (5) Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation 1.0
Texture-wise, the 2 Shiseido foundations and Lunasol have a similar texture. Rather like a light lotion. You may notice that the Sheer and Perfect Foundation is a little lighter in texture than the Perfect Refining Foundation, but just a little. It has a texture very similar to that of the Lunasol but has a little more pink tones than Lunasol. The UD Naked Skin Foundation is also nice, but a little more sheer. The RMK foundation has the most pink tones and the lightest texture because it is water based. Next to the Lunasol, it also performs the best on skin.
So far, of the 5 featured here only the new Sheer and Perfect Foundation oxidises on my skin. The rest remain looking as fresh as the moment I put it on. I therefore can’t say I’m a fan of this new foundation. If it did not oxidise or turn oily it would be something I’d use but it is by no means anywhere near as good as it’s older sibling, the Perfect Refining Foundation nor either of my HG products.
In a nutshell
The Shiseido Sheer and Perfect Foundation is a new, light textured, sheer liquid foundation by Shiseido. It is supposed to contain colour correcting properties so it automagically neutralizes redness or darkness in skin to give you an even toned, glowing visage. In terms of colour matching, the shade is the same as other ranges of Shiseido liquid foundations so you can take the same shade. Texture wise it is light and has sheer but buildable coverage. It looks natural on skin. On my skin however, it oxidised (even over a base) so I find that the colour deepens through the day and dulls my skin. It starts out promising but doesn’t impress me as the day wears on. Also, the oil control isn’t very good so those with oily skin may want to avoid, or you have to apply mattifying powder over. I tried, but it still didn’t do a good enough job. So I’d put this as being for someone of normal to dry skin. Oily skins beware.
Pros: Light comfortable texture on skin, Sheer coverage is easily buildable without looking cakey, A little product goes a long way, Compact packaging
Cons: Oxidised on my skin, Turns oily through the day
Who will like this: Anyone who likes a light-textured, sheer liquid foundation that has buildable coverage
Here is the ingredient list for the Sheer and Perfect Foundation for those interested.
Have you tried this one or does it interest you? Do you have a foundation you like but experience oxidising?
I wonder if I’m alone in experiencing oxidization because no review I’ve read so far mentions it. I love the Perfect Refining Foundation so in a manner of speaking, all other Shiseido foundations have had a lot to live up to, and thus far, they’ve just been missing the mark. Pity, the textures have been very good!
Paris B
Shiseido Sheer and Perfect Foundation Price: RM135/30ml Availability: Shiseido counters
Thanks for this review! The bottle packaging sure got me interested. Having said that, I find most foundations from shiseido and the maquillage range oxidize on me. I also personally find the Perfect Refining Foundation too matte for my liking. Seems like I gotta forgo thid and stick to my YSL le teint touche eclat as my favourite lightweight and glowing foundie ^_^
The packaging is really compact which I like and the plastic too makes it portable. The thing is, it’s so hard sometimes to tell what may oxidise and what won’t eh? I never had a problem with Perfect Refining which I love (I only use a very light layer of it) but the rest of the Shiseido foundations seem not to work so far. Sigh… I haven’t tried the YSL one – haven’t been able to find a good colour match yet 😛
Most liquid foundations oxidize on me, so I still to powder mineral foundations.
Good to know mineral foundations work for you 🙂 For me, I tend to get breakouts a lot with that one or a poor colour match. Still, can’t deny the coverage can sometimes be pretty good!
before reading your post I was already attracted to its packaging. after reading your post, I’ll take a pass 😉 thank god…
Hahah! Yeah, oily skin, no go!
I’ve never tried this, and I can’t seem to find a good match in Shiseido foundations. I tested a few and all of them oxidized on me. I expected to find a good match in Japanese brands, just like my faves from RMK and Lunasol. Surprisingly, Lancome actually makes foundations that really match me – and it’s great that we get those made in Japan.
I need to work on using my foundations but my skin has been behaving so well, I don’t need anything more than some concealer under my eyes. I guess it’s a happy problem?
Yep, that’s a happy problem indeed 😉 Shiseido foundations are a bit tricky. I find I00 is a touch light but it will even itself out. The problem is that it doesn’t stop until it’s a shade darker for me LOL! But I think one shade up which is I20 I think will be too dark for you. I find Kanebo/Lunasol foundations have a better colour match. Try OC shades if you have more neutral skintone. BO shades are a bit too yellow 🙂 I can’t wear Lancome foundations because they bring in the yellow toned ones and then I look a bit too erm… jaundiced 😛
oh i happen to like this! i have it as well and it doesn’t oxidize on me so i guess it differs from person to person. i fully agree that it doesn’t last long though – sometimes i blot at midday and a lot comes off on my tissue. i like the texture though.
Happy to hear from someone who likes this one Germs! It definitely does differ from person to person because I know this gets a lot of raves everywhere. The texture is absolutely lovely and I like how it is sheer but buildable. If it didn’t oxidise, it would have been great 🙁
I LOVEEEEEE sheer foundation! I am currently in the hunt for higher end foundation that gives me the my skin but better effect 😛 Just hope it doesn’t oxidize on me.. I am currently using Naked from UD 😉 Did you check that one out?
Yep! I like the UD Naked Skin foundation 🙂 Sheer but nice. Give this a go. I don’t know if they have samples at the counter, but you can always get them to try it on your skin and walk around and see if it oxidises? I think the texture is very nice and the way it evens out skintone despite being sheer, is admirable.
I have been waiting for your review on this for a long time! I do like the texture a lot but my dry dry skin tends to grab on to my foundations before I can blend them out properly, even our HGs, Lunasol Skin Modelling Foundation! So I end up with a patchy mess, even with my silicone-based moisturiser which SHOULD in-theory act like a primer.
I didn’t try this on long enough (got some sample sachets) to see if it oxidised on me. I think I am actually in between OC01 and OC02, I don’t like pink-toned foundations because it doesn’t match my neutral undertone. I wish they had a shade which had OC01’s lightness and OC02’s undertone.
Hi Firn, it’s tricky right? Have you tried mixing the foundation with some serum? I like doing that to make foundations more liquid and it applies more easily too. I’m also wondering aloud if something like the Beautyblender that allows you to “bounce” the product on your skin might make application easier? Does BO1 work for you?
B01 is unfortunately too ashy on me. Bleh.
Anyway I did a little experiment last night, mixing my Lunasol foundation with Shiseido’s Perfect UV Protector: much much easier to spread and blend out! And no oxidation! Maybe you can try this with the Sheer and Perfect formula to combat oxidation, or any other formulas that may be too yellow. I guess it’s better for daytime use unless you don’t use too much sunscreen as a mixer. I also mixed some foundation with the Multi-Defense protector as a highlighter since the sunscreen base is whiter and more opaque. 🙂
I will try your serum mixing tip but my serums are very watery and may not mix as well as an oil-based one. I had great results mixing Armani Maestro with Caudalie’s Vinoperfect but the serum broke me out. 🙁
I use a damp sponge (regular rectangular one) to pat-blend my foundations.
Oh boo on BO1 🙁 That’s interesting, mixing the foundation with the sunscreen! I’m going to try it, and hopefully it stops the oxidisation thing 😀
Nope you are not alone. I experienced the same as yours. It’s nice on my face after application but turns dull by mid day. My colleague said I looked darker, which I am! Too bad. I kinda like this one 🙁
Oh good! I guess I was spoilt by Perfect Refining Foundation which behaves like a dream. The texture in this one is very nice though.
Awwwww I was so excited to read this review but so disappointed to hear that it oxidized! For some reason foundations that don’t oxidize on anyone else would oxidize on me (hi Boujois Healthy Mix) so I am especially cautious about that.
On a side note, have you tried the Shu Uemura Sheer Refining Mousse Foundaton? It comes out in a foam texture like the BB Base, but after wearing it for a day and then removing it, my skin was so dry it was actually scaly to touch, especially around the nose and chin. And I have combination-oily skin to begin with. I had my doubts when I was applying it since it smelt a bit of alcohol, but it felt okay going on and even wearing it… Le sigh. I have still yet to find a holy grail foundation!
Hi Terry, aww sorry to hear Bourjois oxidised on you. That one is so amazing and I heard it’s been discontinued! Yikes! I haven’t tried the Shu mousse foundation but I had tried their mousse base primer thing. UV Underbase? Something like that. Very very drying on me too! I couldn’t use it at all! Do you have Rimmel? I’ve read some good things about their foundations and they are affordable, although I haven’t yet tried any 🙂
Pity it didn’t work for you, otherwise Sheer and Perfect in a Foundation would be great. I have not graduated to liquid foundation at the thought of technique, brush and having the mask like feeling. On top of that, oxidization is my greatest concern. I went for a few makeovers before this and went around looking like crazy orange. Horrifying for both myself and the poor strangers who crossed my path 😛 But the RMK and Lunasol sound promising 🙂 One day…soon!
It is a pity I agree, because I loved the texture! To be honest, the new liquid foundations are very lovely. No more masky feeling and they all feel like nothing on skin but yes, sometimes, oxidisation is the killer. It might explain my orange face after a makeover once too. Sigh… So horrible right? There you are, thinking you look like da bomb! and in fact you look like a suntanned clown 😛
The shade swatched orangey. However, it looks alright on your face. I have this ‘problem’ too of wanting to challenge my holy grail base products ALWAYS. It’s an obsession? And there are just so many that i want to try out next. The Lancome Visionaire Foundation, the Shu Uemura lightbulb, the Koh Gen Do’s foundations, the Jill Stuart Jelly Foundation (I can’t resist ‘jelly’) …… the Armani’s Maestro Compact. Argh… and i actually have only one face.
It does look a bit warm when swatched but evens out well on skin. I think the texture is good, so my quarrel is with the oxidisation. Pity eh? Oh and I’ve heard a lot about Koh Gen Do’s foundation and that Shu Lightbulb is everywhere! I have been a little put off by Shu lately so didn’t bother checking it out. From experience, I tend to have a problem with colour matching there too. Am awaiting the Nars Radiant Creamy Compact though. That looks amazing!
Currently I am using a generous sample of Benefit’s Hello flawless Oxygen Wow foundation. I got it in Sephora and its in a small pump bottle. I might be able to get 8 times usage in total out of it. Its great!
That’s the other one I need to try, Shay! I’ve heard a lot of good things about it and thanks for reminding me! I have a bottle somewhere LOL Oh dear. I’ll lose my head one of these days 😛
AWWWW this makes me sad! I wanted to get this as I LOVE the Perfect Refining one. Darn it! Thanks for the warning!
I did too Tracy! Here’s my suggestion – try to get a sample and see if it oxidises on you. It may not!
Reading the first paragraph, I was quite certain that THIS is going to be your top 3 HG foundation. What a twist to the story! hahaha
I remember you mentioned before that Vitalumiere Aqua oxidises on you. I thought this is an individual thing. But reading that a few other readers here also had the same problem with oxidation with this Shiseido foundation… I think I will pass as well. :p
haha yeah, texture is lovely, but I couldn’t wear it 🙁 Not to say of course that oxidisation will happen to everyone. It’s one of those things that are unique to individuals. Yes, Vitalumiere Aqua does oxidise on me as does almost every Chanel base product, even their powders. Just as well. One less brand to fangirl over 😛
I have been wearing this foundation since August and I find it to be the best foundation I have ever had. I don’t notice any change in colour or any fading. It stays on a long time for me. I have used Perfect Refining foundation too, but I like this one better because it’s more sheer but still covers up minor imperfections.
It’s great that it works for you Evie 🙂 I do like the texture, but it’s a pity that it oxidised. So when I want to use a Shiseido foundation now, I use the Perfect Refining and just do a very thin layer. I figure it works 🙂
I bought this during their event at MV. That time my skin was so dry & redness. It covers the redness which really got my attention. The texture is very light. But now I can only use if I would just go out for short period of time. Doesn’t last to cover my uneven skin tone and dark circles. If for whole day I will still use Dr.G for my daily routine.
Thank you.
*sorry for the late comment =)
Gotta agree with you Canny. It does cover redness well, and the sheer layer does help give a more natural appearance. Definitely not one for anyone who wants more coverage, but for those who only have a bit of unevenness to cover, it’s great 🙂