One of the best things of being a beauty addict is that it’s never boring. The thing I love most is seeing the innovative and intriguing things companies come out with. I love to see new formulas emerge and I love even more checking them out and testing them. Now, foundations with added benefits aren’t exactly new – just have a look at the slew of ‘alphabet creams’ (BB, CC, EE etc.). A while ago, serum foundations came out and had a major moment. And then Armani launched their Crema Nuda foundation that is actually skincare and foundation combined and housed in a gorgeous frosted glass pot.
Foundations with added skincare benefits
That approach isn’t that new to be honest. There’s Estée Lauder’s Perfectionist Youth Infusing Makeup (with skincare ingredients from their Perfectionist Serum) or La Mer’s Treatment Fluid Foundation. While those offer the benefits of a foundation with added skincare goodies (like BB, CC, EE creams), Armani says you don’t need to apply any skincare products when you use Crema Nuda. A combo product that you can slap on after cleansing and sunscreen and you’re good to go? Well, outside of Asia I haven’t seen anything like it.
Related to the fact that you’ll be saving a lot of time in the morning is the reason why that kind of product works incredibly well – ideally, skincare sinks into the skin without a trace. Add some pigments into that mix and you’ll have a very thin layer of pigments on your face, while everything else disappears. As somebody who absolutely hates the feeling of heavy foundation sitting on my face, that’s awesome. There’s only one downside of those kinds of foundation – the price. Ouch.
I tried the Crema Nuda and vowed that I’ll get it if I ever win the lottery. In the meantime, I had a look at the ingredients and came up with a simple recipe for you to pimp your foundation so that it gives you the same hydrated, glowy look that those foundations are supposed to give you. Get out some measuring spoons and an empty container and let’s start mixing!
The ingredients
Here’s what Armani says about the new Crema Nuda:
“The new generation of tinted cream: (…) Transparent pigments suspended into a waterbased texture allow the skin to reflect light in multiple directions for an enhanced glow while blurring imperfections. The (…) formula contains (…) anti-aging complex (…) to improve skin radiance and reveal younger looking skin. Hyaluronic acid and mannose complete the formula by adding deep hydration with a weightless feel.“
Ingredients:
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Propanediol, Diisostearyl malate, Boron nitride, Alcohol Denat, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Rhamnose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetylated glycol stearate, Trehalose, Magnesium sulfate, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Trihydroxystearin, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polyglyceryl-3-Diisostearate, Silica silylate, Salicylic Acid, Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide, Synthetic fluorphlogopite, Mannose, Linalool, Benzyl salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Alpha-isomethyl ionone, Parfum, Geraniol, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia, Sodium stearoyl glutamate, Methyl methacrylate crosspolymer, Citronellol, Aluminum hydroxide, Hexyl Cinnamal, CI77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77163, Mica
Let’s have a closer look at all this info, shall we?
First we have a hint to the texture – it’s water based. Then comes the famous ‘glow’ (if I’d just get a penny every time I hear or read it in a beauty related context!) – the texture reflects light while blurring imperfections.
Then there’re the ingredients that belong to the care complex: anti-aging and hydration. That’s because of hyaluronic acid in the formula. There’s also a tiny bit of salicylic acid in the original formula that evens the skintone.
To pimp a normal foundation to super-foundation-with-skincare-benefit levels we concurrently first need a water based foundation. Then we need something that reflects light while blurring imperfections – the best description of a light reflecting primer if I ever heard one. Then we need a hydration boosting serum, best one with hyaluronic acid. If you want to add some anti-aging components to your mix, add a serum with retinol and some peptides. Also, don’t forget your sunscreen (put it under your lovely new foundation)! All the anti-aging products in this world won’t help to retain that smooth skin as diligent sunscreen application.
Let’s start mixing!
I looked for a water based foundation in my stash and came up with Yves Rocher Youthful Glow foundation. It’s one of the best and cheapest foundations I own, and I chose it because it’s not only water based but also gives full coverage with two layers. I didn’t want something too watery because we dilute the pigment when we start to add serums etc. to it.
Now look for a light reflecting primer in your stash. Examples would be the Estée Lauder Illuminating Primer, the Estée Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher or the Smashbox Photo Finish Luminizing Primer. I used Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer combined with MAC’s Lustre Drops in Pink Rebel because I don’t have a reflecting primer at home.
Lastly I added a few drops of my Hydrating B5 Serum by Skinceuticals, which is basically hyaluronic acid with a handful of other ingredients. You could also use Ren’s Keep young and beautiful or Dermasence Hyalusome Konzentrat.
If you’ve got extra-dry skin add a drop or two of your favourite facial oil (I used Pai’s Age Confidence Facial Oil) and we’re good to go! Put your mixture into a little pot and remember – rather mix small batches of this! It’s just more hygienic. I’ve worn this mixture quite a lot lately and it looks lovely, if I may say so myself!
I’d love to know if you tried mixing your own foundation with the skincare benefits you especially need. Or would you rather spend some money on a pre-made product?
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