Shiseido has just launched 11 new shades of the Synchro Skin Lasting Liquid Foundation SPF 20 ($45) which is avaliable at Sephora online. I picked up my bottle at the Shiseido counter in Macy's. I wanted to throw out an honest review of this foundation as many bloggers and YTers have received it as a press sample.
My shade is Golden 3. I could have pulled off Golden 2 which matches NC20-25, but the sun is ever evolving me to NC40.
From Sephora.com:
"An innovative, oil-free, and long-lasting foundation with medium buildable coverage that beautifully enhances your complexion by harmonizing with your skin for a natural-looking finish.
Flawlessly undetectable like it belongs to your skin, this foundation feels uniquely airy and silky on skin. It helps maintain the skin's clarity and minimize shine, creasing, and fading all day, while Advanced Sensing Technology dynamically synchronizes with your skin's unique condition for a beautiful-looking complexion. It’s formulated with SPF 20 broad spectrum protection to help prevent skin roughness and damage caused by oxidation."
Flawlessly undetectable like it belongs to your skin, this foundation feels uniquely airy and silky on skin. It helps maintain the skin's clarity and minimize shine, creasing, and fading all day, while Advanced Sensing Technology dynamically synchronizes with your skin's unique condition for a beautiful-looking complexion. It’s formulated with SPF 20 broad spectrum protection to help prevent skin roughness and damage caused by oxidation."
I want to be clear that this foundation checks all of my boxes. Its medium coverage covers up the majority of my pigmentation and redness without looking too excessively heavy or sheer/lacking in coverage. The satin finish means that the product looks like skin, and its lasting power pulls through 9 hours with minimal fading and absolutely no patchiness.
Another huge plus: the shade range caters to cool, neutral, and warm skin. I do think that they need a wider range of color from porcelain to deep, as this range covers only the majority of light to tan tones. I still think that Golden only increases in orange pigment as it deepens, and Golden 3 seems to be a match for NC25-30.
Finally, this foundation keeps my t-zone matte but doesn't dry up my cheeks. The "sensing technology" included seems to guess my skin type well and adjust accordingly.
From left to right: Bourjois HM in Vanille 52, D&G Perfect Reveal Lift in 110 Caramel, UD Naked Skin in 4.0, Dior Forever (2015 formulation) in 21, Shiseido SK in Golden 3. These swatches are in indoor natural lighting.
These swatches are under direct sunlight.
These swatches are under flash. It's definitely much more neutral than my olive foundation (UD Naked) or the yellow toned Dior and D&G bases. Still, the foundation looks like a good match to my neck and decollete. It definitely looks like it could flash back in photos due to the SPF.
One pump is the perfect amount of product and it can be applied with a buffing brush or damp sponge with no problems. Here is Synchro Skin on moisturized skin and no primer. Remember to shake well!
Another view. It does a great job with blurring pores and fine lines and provides just enough coverage to look presentable.
Here is the product set with my Urban Decay Naked skin loose powder for a little more coverage and pore blurring.
In more direct lighting, you can see that the textural issues (whiteheads? clogged pores?) on my forehead is covered but not exactly diminished. My skin is not flaking at the moment, but this foundation does not cake up or bunch on my dry nose. It does look a little dry under the eyes so moisturize well if you don't want creasing.
Shiseido foundations tend to be too drying on my skin, but this release has highly impressed me. I think that this foundation is best for those who want to put on their base product and not have to worry about touch ups throughout the day as its longevity knocks a lot of my other foundations out of the park. Again, I don't think very dry or oily types will get along with this one. It's best for normal to combination skin.
xo Be
