The L’Oreal True Match Foundation has been on my radar for quite some time now, but I had a few foundations I wanted to use up before buying any more. However, since discovering that Cheryl (now Fernandez-Versini) has been wearing this on the new series of X-Factor (her make-up artist Karin Darnall tweeted), I was straight to the drugstore to see if I too could immitate the same flawless, radiant skin like hers! Too much to ask? Lets find out!
I am not usually one for drugstore foundations, preferring the likes of Nars and Laura Mercier but this $10 investment has definitely given those a run for their money! Firstly, the SPF active ingredient is Titanium Dioxide (a physical sunscreen), which gets huge brownie points from me being sensitive to chemical sunscreens which I cannot use without the fear of breaking out. It is actually a refreshing change to be able to use a foundation from the drugstore as more often than not they contain chemical suncreens so cannot even try them out!
There is an obvious packaging difference betweeen the US and UK version of the product. Even though they both contain the same amount of product, the UK version comes with a pump which I totally would prefer as it makes dispensing so much easier. It costs £9.99 in the UK and $10.99 (approx £7) in the US, but I would totally fork out the extra few pounds for the convenience. However, lets review the product I have!
I have the shade W4 natural beige which is a perfect match for my NC30-35 skintone. I am so happy with the colour match as buying in the US you cannot swatch, so I went with online recommendations. There are a whopping 33 shades (23 in UK) to choose from, which are split according to skintone, cool, neutral and warm. It makes choosing the right shade so much easier, as knowing I have a warm skintone, I was able to narrow it down to one or two shades before selecting the right one.
This foundation has a lovely light texture to it which makes it so easy to blend. I use the Real Techniques Buffing Brush to work it into my skin, which takes no time at all. It is the perfect medium coverage, and manages to hide my imperfections and blemishes so well, that I only need minimal concealing. It is oil-free and has a gorgeous semi-matte finish which is perfect for my combination skin, allowing a radiant finish without the need for too many touch-ups. It laso seems to have a brightening element to it, which is great for those days that your skin looks a bit dull and lack lustre.
It has been compared to the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation which I definitely agree with. Both have the same amazing blendable consistancy, giving a radiant appearance, but if I am totally honest I prefer the True Match. The finish on it it is ever so slightly more matte, making it more suited to my skintype and the colour match is spot-on, whereas the shade I have in the GALS (5.5), is more pink in tone and not as suited, and it doesn’t have as much staying power on my oily T-zone as the True Match.
So do I look like Cheryl Cole? Well, sadly not, but I definitely have a brighter, more radiant complexion which is honestly as flawless as I can personally get. I love this foundation, and am so happy to have finally found a foundation from the drugstore that doesn’t brake me out.
Available in the UK – here and the US – here.
Have you tried this foundation?
Come and join me!