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I haven’t done a foundation review in a long time, so let’s ease in with the L’Oréal True Match Nude Plumping Serum (which goes by a slightly different name here in Germany), which at least by name evokes the thought of skincare as it proudly features the 1% Pure Hyaluronic Acid on the label we all associate with hydration and other skin benefits. (More info: The benefits of Hyaluronic Acid in skincare explained)
Just to be clear, I don’t think you should expect much skincare benefits from a foundation no matter the name, as you usually apply it last in your routine and it has an entirely different purpose – a foundations focus is to make your skin look better, not be better, so although there could be some additional benefits, I wouldn’t bet on it.
Why I have repurchased it twice already, what the advantages and disadvantages are and how it works on my skin, which is for reference combination, acne prone and 45 years old is what I want to talk about today.
What the L’Oréal True Match Nude Plumping Serum claims
A tinted serum that hydrates and illuminates the skin while providing sheer, natural-looking coverage.
Prize and size
One dropper bottle contains ml and is available for around 12 € in store and online here. I assume the dropper is used to play into the skincare theme, but I admit I am not a fan, as I find it to get messy very quickly, no matter how careful I am. Oh, and I never use the dropper directly on my face anyway to avoid contamination.
Coverage and staying power
The coverage is very sheer and evens out the skin a little without covering areas of redness or pigmentation, when I apply a second layer it is enough for food skin days, but any areas of concern will need a separate concealer. The finish is very natural, not glowy, but I still prefer to powder down my t-zone.
The light coverage and 9 different shades to chose from should make it possible to find a match – for reference I use 0.5 – 2 “Very Light” and it works both in winter and in summer.
With foundations that are so light in coverage, it is always hard to tell how long they actually last on the skin, but for me the six hour mark is when I notice changes when I look into the mirror, starting usually in the chin area that I apparently most frequently touch. From there it starts to disappear all over, but in an elegant way, and is completely gone at around 9 hours, at least on my skin.
For me it is enough to carry me through a work day when I don’t have any special appointments or plans afterwards.
How to use the L’Oréal True Match Nude Plumping Serum
In terms of application I prefer using a dry sponge like the one from Real Techniques, as a damp one will sheer out the coverage even more while a buffing brush, at least on my skin, had a tendency to push it into the pores and accentuate them. And if you are old fashioned like I am: Yes your fingers will work well too, it will just get even messier with the bottle.
Despite the name and the claims of hydrating the skin I actually didn’t find it to be very hydrating at all. If I had dry patches in the colder months or my skin was getting a little flaky, I found it to accentuate that rather than smooth it over and definitely needed a good moisturizing base. The feeling on the skin is incredibly lightweight though, there is no tackiness so you can basically apply it and go about your day as if you had put nothing on, and that makes it a firm favorite for me in the warmer months.
Does it live up to its claims?
Yes and no.
It gives illuminated skin and has sheer and natural looking coverage, but I didn’t find it to be particularly hydrating.
How does it compare to…
essence instaperfect Foundation
I reviewed that one in 2018 and am not sure they still make it, but if they do, you might enjoy it. It feels lightweight, has a natural finish at the start that gets considerably more dewy over the day and is buildable from sheer to a good medium coverage. On top of that it is affordable and lasts a full workday, meaning 10 hours plus.
You can read my full review of the essence instaperfect Foundation here.
The Ordinary Serum Foundation
Now this one is discontinued for sure, but maybe you treid it and want to know how it performed on my skin compared to yours. I liked the hydration and lightweight feel of this one, but found it to disappear much too quickly on my skin, within 2-4 hours, and also get way too dewy too quickly, turning me into a greaseball.
You can read my full review of The Ordinary Serum Foundation here.
L’Oréal Perfect Match Foundation
Same, same, but different. When I read back my 2018 review, I remember why I repurchased this foundation quite a few times as well and only stoppen when the pandemic hit and I didn’t feel the need for foundation anymore. It is pretty similar to the L’Oréal True Match one in finish, feeling and staying powder on my skin, but with more coverage.
You can read my full review of the L’Oréal Perfect Match Foundation here.
MAC Studio Waterweight Foundation
This review goes back all the way to 2015, so click on the link and see how young I looked back then. Reading it back, the formula in how it behaves on my skin reads almost identical to what I describe here, with the caveat that 9 years ago my skins need were probably different to what they are now. It is still available, so I might get another bottle to see how I like it today.
You can read my full review of the MAC Studio Waterweight Foundation here.
Would I repurchase and which skin types do I recommend it to?
Most likely yes. Even if it doesn’t last through my work day, it is still a great option for when I simply can’t be bothered to do much. Despite the name I wouldn’t recommend it for very dry skin, and it certainly isn’t for those that are looking for heavier coverage. If you want your skin to look just a little bit better without feeling suffocated or turning into a glowball, or if your main concern is a natural look that is near to impossible to mess up, then it is a great choice.
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