In this global age of e-commerce, I’ve never quite understood the need, nor desire for there to be region-exclusive products. Skincare perhaps, but not makeup. Why? Answers on a postcard please.
I say so, because this Bobbi Brown Skin Nourishing Glow Foundation, that is really, quite a nice product for drier skintypes, that many in the cooler countries will appreciate, started out being Asia-exclusive. I’d been sitting on this for a while (ok, almost a year. My bad!) and thus far, I’ve only seen this go as far as Australia and New Zealand. Perhaps, this is an Asia-Pacific exclusive?
As part of the “skin nourishing”, this foundation is supposed to contain a collagen enhancing ferment, that helps boost the production of collagen in skin. Higher collagen = more plumped skin. I suppose, if you use this exclusively over long periods, there might be something there. But this being makeup, I’m a little more sceptical about whether there are any real long-term benefits to the skin. I’ve had a discussion with someone before, and I’ll share my views in a separate post 😉
As for the “glow” bit, there are supposed to be powders in there that reflect light and restores radiance to the skin. This makes you look perky even if your skin looks peaky 😀 But what I really liked, is the texture, for those who have drier skin and don’t really want a foundation that leaves you looking like an oil slick, nor feels like a mask 😀
The texture of the Bobbi Brown Skin Nourishing Glow Foundation is really quite lovely. Formulated for normal to dry skin types, you probably don’t want nor need this one if you are of the oily-combination skin variety.
The texture feels creamy, and pumps out looking a little thick. However, it goes on skin feeling very light, and that is something I like. Coverage is also fairly high, so a little product goes quite a long way. If you prefer a lower coverage product, then this may not be what you’re looking for, because even with just a little product, I get a fairly high coverage.
What I like is that the high coverage does not come with dryness nor cakiness. The foundation spreads easily and it claims to offer moisture to your skin to prevent it from feeling dry. It may, it may not, but I can attest to it feeling lovely and comfortable even for long hours.
The shade selection however, I find a little strange because the shade I use – Warm Porcelain 0.5 – doesn’t match Warm Porcelain 0.5 in the Bobbi Brown Intensive Serum Foundation. If anything, it looks even deeper and more peachy in tone than the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation which I take in Warm Ivory 1.0.
Despite the peachier tone, I do find that it blends out well, so it suits my skintone quite perfectly when worn. It’s just the swatches that throw me for a loop!
In terms of texture and coverage, you can see how the Bobbi Brown Skin Nourishing Glow Foundation has higher coverage than the Skin Foundation and even the Intensive Serum Foundation. I happen to really enjoy using both these foundations, but when worn, I can see a significant difference in coverage. The Chanel Les Beiges foundation and Estee Lauder Futurist Aqua Brilliance Foundation, both of which I also enjoy, have a fairly high coverage, but you may notice that the texture is somewhat drier than the BB one.
While boasting of a creamy texture, I don’t find the Bobbi Brown Skin Nourishing Glow Foundation sinking into pores, nor turning oily through the day. It really does sit well, but I do have drier skin and since this is pretty much made for someone like me, I can say that it ticks all the right boxes!
Here is the before-after using this foundation, un-retouched, as per usual 🙂
While the shade looks strangely peachy on my arm, it is a good match for me on the face, and in fact, even has a slight brightening effect. This was when my skin was a little bonkers and dull with breakouts as you can see around the chin area. With the foundation, these minor blemishes are covered, and skintone is more even, while looking very natural.
As further testament, I wore a thin layer of this foundation, with concealer and a light dusting of powder to an event, after a poor night’s sleep that left me with dull skin and dark eye circles. I was told by some people I hadn’t seen in a while that I looked so fresh and glowy. I wasn’t sure what to think at first, because I was half-asleep on my feet, but on hind-sight, it had to be this foundation. I was otherwise feeling like a pile of crap LOL! 😀
The bottle is glass and has a lovely heft to it. I know not everyone appreciates this, but I do. The size also makes it portable, and because it’s a little squat, more stable. Does it matter? No, except I’m less likely to swipe it off the table by mistake LOL! The pump is well constructed (unlike that damned dropper in the Intensive Serum Foundation) so you can control how much product you get. I usually use about half a pump each time. It’s about right. If I wanted something a little more, 1 pump does the trick, but I do end up cleaning off more than necessary from the back of my hand, so half a pump makes more sense.
I like this one. If you have drier skin, I have a feeling you might too! I can’t tell if it’s similar to the BB Moisture Rich Foundation – not having tried that one – but I think it’s different. More like the Intensive Serum Foundation, but better, and in a damned sight better packaging! 😀
IN A NUTSHELL
The Bobbi Brown Skin Nourishing Glow Foundation is a creamy but light textured foundation, that offers some skincare benefits alongside it’s makeup properties. It isn’t drying on skin, nor does it settle into lines and pores. While creamy, it doesn’t turn oily on me, and it lasts through the day. I do find the light lavender scent (similar scent to the Intensive Serum Foundation) a little disconcerting but it dissipates. This one is definitely one for those with drier skin who may appreciate the moisture and glow properties, that doesn’t weigh your skin down, nor turn it into an oil slick in the name of moisture and glow.
PROS: Creamy texture is comfortable on drier skin, Lightweight texture does not feel like a mask, Not shiny despite the glow, Longlasting, High coverage, Comfortable to wear for long hours, Gives a subtle glow without shine nor shimmer nor glitter
CONS: Pricey, Scented
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who has drier skin types and want a medium to high coverage foundation that isn’t drying nor too shiny
PRICE: RM205 | AUD90 |NZD110 for 30ml – Comes in 9 shades
WHERE TO BUY: Bobbi Brown counters in Asia, Australia and New Zealand – worldwide availability uncertain
Have you tried or come across this foundation?
If you have oily or combination skin then this probably isn’t for you. But for those with drier skin, who might want a little more coverage, or just to add that bit of glow to dull skin (dry skin does tend to dull, sadly enough) without looking like an oil slick, this is one I feel, is worth looking at 🙂
Paris B
ingredients list? =)
Hi! I’m afraid I don’t have the ingredient list but I found a site online here that has a list although I’m not certain of its accuracy. Will update if I come across the full ingredient list somewhere 🙂
yes please! i’ve more than often not relied on the ingredient lists posted on your blog and reviews for skincare and base products to see if there’s anything that i would avoid in my purchasing decision ^^
Thanks for letting me know it’s useful! 🙂 Will update if I can get hold of the ingredient list 🙂
I’m half Japanese, living in Switzerland and I can tell you exactly why they will not sell this in Europe. Although we hear quite a bit about dewy finish and glow, my friends still wear matte make up. Even those who have dry skin. It’s a shame, really, because it tends to be aging.
Ah that made sense Maja! Thanks for sharing the input! 🙂 I’m still a little surprised, considering the amount of highlighting I’m seeing going on in the Western makeup world. You’d think it’d just be better and more healthy looking to wear a glowy base, than to go matte and then pile on the shine LOL! I suppose whatever rocks our boats eh? I do tend to agree with you about matte foundations being aging. I never got into them for that reason, but I think some people wear it in the belief that it lasts longer on skin without realising that it doesn’t look that flattering as the day wears on.
In Europe, it’s mostly about flawless make up (often high coverage and matte), while many Asian women want healthy dewy skin. I used to think that highly effective skincare is nothing but a marketing claim and a big fat lie… boy was I wrong, I am happy to admit.
When I went to London recently, I brought home more than a dozen skin care products for me, and two make up items for a friend.
I think it’s to do with what influences how we look. In Asia, it’s all about the Korean makeup look with the “dewy” look that doesn’t always translate well in a climate like mine LO! I’m glad you discovered that effective skincare is not a lie! 😀 It truly is the foundation of good skin, and makeup just gilds that lily 😉
This is one of my favourites! I recommended it to a few of my friends and they love it too. One of the few foundations I’d repurchase, that’s for sure.
It is definitely a good one! Kind to skin and yet gives enough glow to be flattering, without making us look oily 🙂 I saw you got the stick foundation! I love that one for the convenience. Was wearing it all of last week! 😀
Hi Paris! How would you compare this to the Chanel Les Beiges foundation?
Hi Natalie, I find Chanel Les Beiges drier and has a more matte finish on skin as compared to this BB one. For dry skins, the Les Beiges can sometimes pose a problem. But this one is perfect for drier skin. Depends really on what you’re going for and your skin condition 🙂
I was going to simply rant about how they create exclusive products for certain countries to avoid having to make the product more universal -I saw shades online and the darkest one it’s still light for me, as I was matched with a 4.5 in Bobbi’s range-.
However after reading Maja’s comment, I have to accept she has a point. Mexican women prefer matte faces as many opt to use only powder, in fact I live in strange country because of being next to the US. We got the highlighting craze but we didn’t really adopted it’s more for Americans.
So now I don’t know how much success this foundation will have here in Mexico, as many women when using liquid foundation add powder foundation so the dewiness would be counteracted.
Talking about exclusive products, do you get La Roche-Posay Anthelios mousse? I like the consistence and the touch of color.
Also if you are still struggling with acne try Avéne Triacneal, my sister and I have used for two weeks and results have impressed us. Better results that Effaclar duo.
I suppose because it’s Asia exclusive for now, the shades are a little light. But knowing how BB goes, they often expand their shade range over time to include deeper (and lighter) shades so if we hang around long enough, you’d find one! 😉 Until Maja brought up the difference in makeup preferences, it never quite struck me that that might be why different regions get different foundations or makeup products. Here, it’s all about light and sheer and natural makeup, merged with heavy, Instagram makeup LOL! I guess we’re drawing on both worlds thanks to the influence of K-pop and Hollywood/Instagram 😛 We unfortuantely do not get La Roche Posay here at all. It bums me big time!