Review| Buxom Show Some Skin Weightless Foundation

The Buxom Show Some Skin Weightless Foundation ($34) didn't capture my attention right away. First of all, I was going through an all matte/heavy coverage phase of life. Second, I didn't want to pay more than 30 bucks for something with sheer coverage. Third, I heard mixed reviews. 

Ever since the move to Northern CA, however, my skin has not been cooperating with matte foundations. Furthermore with less sun exposure and a better skincare routine, my dark spots have mostly faded and I only have minor redness on my face. The most aggravating detail is that though my skin is more even toned it's still tanner than I have ever been living up here and much drier! 

Enter a floundering search for a lightweight, light coverage, and hydrating (*hint, very important) foundation that actually matches me during the summer. Some foundations like Bourjois Healthy Mix, MAC Face and Body, and L'oreal True Match Lumi came to mind, but they are all not specifically hydrating nor the most yellow foundations on the market. Yeah, I'm Marge Simpson yellow. 

So, I set foot to Sephora to pick the Buxom foundation up knowing full well it has very yellow shades and promises to deliver on hydration. Who knows, maybe those bad reviews came from oily skinned people who thought adding extra glow and moisture to oily glands was a good idea!

Here are the claims. It's supposed to plump up your face, feel like nothing, and lasts for eight hours?! Damn. You also get 1.5 fl oz of product as opposed to the traditional 1.0 fl oz bottles that foundations come in. 

It's excellent for those with: 

1. very minor spots and scarring to cover up or those who don't mind taking the extra step of applying a separate concealer.

2. very dry to normal skin, unless you want to set your T-zone. 

3. very little time to apply separate things like a moisturizer, SPF, and then foundation. 

It's actually very similar to Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow, though I can't find a match for NC35 in that range. 

And here begins the journey to my face up close. Abort mission now if you're afraid of monsters. For the entire process I skipped on moisturizer and setting powder to showcase how the foundation performs on its own. There are some slight red spots still hangin' out on my cheeks and my nose is permanently red from small broken capillaries. My face is also tanner than my neck and matches my chest.  

Here's a "pearl sized" glob of it on my face. I love how yellow it is, and "You're a Natural" is clearly labeled as a warm shade for medium skin tones in stores. I could have gotten away with "Dim the Light" but at the time of purchase I had three months of summer ahead of me. 

I didn't notice any offensive smell to this foundation, but the offensive part was not being able to use my buffing brush with this product. It isn't *that* runny, but I found that using a brush left streak marks. Perhaps a BeautyBlender would be harmonious with the consistency.

Here is two layers on the left side (your right) of my face. They are right, the coverage is sheer to light when you have one coat on but since the texture is so runny you can get away with building another layer. Notice how my skin is no longer red yet still looks like skin.

And when I say it looks like skin, I mean it. If your pores are slightly bigger this foundation won't do much to hide it. This is why I strongly emphasize that this isn't for combo or oily skin.

Here is two layers built up on the face. Very natural, wouldn't you say? It's not as "luminous" on camera, but looks almost shiny in person. Two layers even slightly covered my forehead wound (hit my darn head on a sliding shower door going to the bathroom in the middle of the night...fail..)

Those with oily skin will consider it greasy as opposed to dewy but I enjoy the finish. After the foundation, I went in with an orange corrector under my eyes and Laura Mercier translucent setting powder just in that area to set. 

Here is the finished look. 

Pro Tip 1: Do NOT, in a rush of excitement, remove your current makeup to slap this on. You will see oxidation. For the past three weeks of consistent use I've yet to see this oxidize the way it does after makeup remover wipes had touched my skin.

Since the finish is so ....wet even sans moisturizer, I think this foundation was marketed to be an all in one product for the lazy types. After all, it does contain SPF 30 and tells you to "show off" your skin as if it's already flawless. I found that this lasted the entire day without a setting powder, even if it did get shiny. 

Pro Tip 2: You may see glitter/shimmer on your face in broad daylight if you look very closely. I'm guessing this is what gives the foundation a fresh and glowing look on the skin.

Does it live up to its claims? It's very luminous, hydrating, and lightweight as they say. I also enjoy the warm toned options and how easy it is to build up several layers like MAC Face and Body without looking cakey. Since I have even skin that's on the drier side I think this product is a miracle. It's more coverage than a tinted moisturizer in my opinion but feels much more moisturizing. 

I think there's a small niche out there who enjoys this foundation, and I am in that niche. 

xo Be