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17 Oct
The French invent a whole new base category and it’s très, tr
ès bon
If you’re someone who likes the coverage of a foundation, the plump hydration of a tinted moisturiser, the smooth finish of a primer and the soft focus effect of a blur balm, then you are going to flip your lid over this. It’s Givenchy’s new balm foundation and I can’t think of another product quite like it.
According to Givenchy, the USP is in Teint Couture’s Hydro-Magnets – polymers formulated to help maintain water at the skin’s surface. The foundation’s polymers have hydro-magnetic properties, which capture water and bind with keratin in the skin to retain moisture. Righto. All I can say from my own point of view, is that someone in the lab got something very, very right.
Firstly, the application is a dream. I was expecting the distinctively silicone texture to peel or gather over dryness, but it glides absolutely beautifully with fingertips (making it a more practical travel foundation than say, Suqqu, which needs a brush or sponge), and you get plenty of playtime for perfect blending before it sets. The finish, likewise, is gorgeous. It certainly blurs and softens fine lines (I applied it everywhere, including around the eyes, straight over moisturiser), gives the entire face a more smooth surface, and can easily stand in for both primer and foundation. I often find silicone balms can dry to a slightly dull, chalky texture, but this does nothing of the sort. Instead, you get an ever so slightly dewy (not shiny), healthy looking glow (and yes, those three words ARE overused, but here they are absolutely warranted) that lasts all day. Also long-lasting is Teint Couture’s comfort. It feels moist and weightless for hours – much more like a tinted moisturiser than a heavy base.
Curiously, Givenchy describes this new generation base as having “more coverage than a BB, less coverage than a foundation”, but I can’t say I agree. It has as much coverage as many a proper foundation and I’d be as happy to wear it on a night out with a full face of other make-up, as I would for a casual day of mooching about. It evens out discolouration beautifully and covered up the two red blemishes I’d sprouted after testing a rubbishy cleanser. That said, I’ve also been testing the accompanying Teint Couture concealer, a cover-up stick split into two tones – yellow for covering, pink for correcting and highlighting. It’s gorgeous and creamy and I like it enough to have popped it into my personal makeup bag, but it hasn’t blown me away to quite the same extent as its big sister.
Teint Couture Balm Foundation is suitable for any skin type within a caucasian / pale Asian skin tone spectrum. The yellowy shades go unusually pale for a French brand too – I’m a 3 or even a 4, which is frankly unheard of. Its light texture and dewy finish may appeal to young women, but I think women of 35 plus will particularly appreciate its soft finish. The tube packaging is fairly uninspiring but is as practical as the product itself. In all honesty, I think this is the first foundation of 2015 to which I can genuinely award a 10/10. Absolutely bloody brilliant.
Givenchy Teint Couture Balm, £29
The post SALI LOVES: Givenchy Teint Couture Balm appeared first on Sali Hughes Beauty.
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