This review will be a bit different to others, because it’ll give you both our perspectives on Fenty’s Soft Matte Powder Foundation. We’ve very different skintones, different skintypes, and usually like different foundations – will Fenty be the one we both like?! On to the Fenty Powder Foundation review – both our impressions.
What is it
(…) a longwear, light-as-air powder to deliver light to full coverage in a non-cakey soft matte finish in 50 shades for all. It’s fast, flawless, easy.
Fenty Beauty
Longwear, light-as-air, no flashback
Blur Filt’r complex to deliver the ultimate, blurred finish
Sweat-, humidity-, and crease-resistant
Buildable, light to full coverage formula that loves to be layered
Won’t settle into fine lines, clog pores or cake up
Reduces the appearance of shine
Chic, portable powder compact fits in hand.
9.1g/0.32oz for $36. FIFTY shades.
The base line
Before the pandemic, I was attached to my cushion foundations, while Astrid’s HG was Armani’s LSF Foundation. But a glowy foundations means setting powder, and lots of it, under masks and face coverings. Sure, during summer I used my HG mineralize powder foundation, and Astrid turned to MAC’s Mineralize Skinfinish. But powder foundation seemed to be of another era of makeup – something our moms would use. But maybe this could be a 2 in 1 product?!
Shade matching
Astrid: Dorit tried it first, and she also suggested trying a shade lighter, so I went with her advice (plus I felt like Fenty 330 is too yellow for me most of the year as well). Shade-wise, 300 works really well for me. I was shade matched to 330 for the soft matte one, as you can see on my post about the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r foundation one here. I must add that right now I’m not as tanned, so perhaps that’s why shade 300 works perfect for me now. While 330 is really yellow on me now.
To me, the shades 300-310-330 differ more in the undertone than depth. Based on the Fenty foundation chooser I should be either 300 or 330. I can see that 310 leans too pink on me. (Tbh I’m never 1000% sure… even after 20+ years of wearing foundation, so if you’re confused, I can totally feel ya!)
Dorit: Uff. My Fenty shade is usually 140 (“light with warm yellow undertones”), so I ordered the powder in the same shade. While the match isn’t bad, it’s also not ideal, especially because it leans very yellow, and second, that intensifies the more you build up the coverage. If it would’ve been possible to swatch in store (we were under lockdown when I ordered it), I guess 150 might’ve turned out a better match. Astrid was able to reap the benefits from that experience!
Application
Different tools will determine the coverage. A loosely-bound powder brush will yield a powder-like effect (duh): think a tinted powder, with a light, but noticeable coverage. (My Physician Formula CC Powder has a similar coverage, with a coarser and duller texture.) A kabuki-like brush is both our go-to tool: you can still determine if you want a higher or lower coverage. That you can’t with the little sponge the powder comes with. That yields nearly full coverage, and if you don’t wash that after every use, you’ll get a hard cast (of oil) on your powder REALLY quick. Don’t.
What I found really effective to achieve a very smooth finish was applying a finishing powder BEFORE applying the Soft Matte Foundation. Also, it’s not a product that’ll diffuse flaws in your base, whatever it is. Sunscreen patchy? Primer flakey? The Soft Matte Powder will not help with that – the better the base, the better it’ll look.
Effect
For me (Dorit), the powder is able to hit that sweet spot where it looks really good only if I don’t build it up (the more I build it up, the more cakey it’ll look when the day progresses, and the more yellow-leaning it is), and about between hour 2 and 5 after applying.
Like Astrid says, it clings unrelentingly to dry spots. On the plus site, if you’ve got combination or oily skin, it’ll mattify like eff – at least during the first few hours.
With a softer powder brush, the result looks more natural. The powder tends to accentuate the dry spots, and if you have dry skin living in a dry climate, not a very good idea. On the other hand, it works really well to combat the shine.
Worth it?
We were both looking for a lightweight foundation that, while it gives some coverage, does wear well under masks. We both found that. And while we both didn’t find that it fulfilled all claims, it fulfils some. For me, it’s a product whose flaws I clearly see – contrary to claims, it does get cakey – but it’s nice. It works.
Please note that this post is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods or money for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.
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