Physicians Formula Youthful Wear Spotless Foundation Review

Serum foundations have been creeping their way into the foundation market. I heard of this one from ItsJudyTime when she was doing a comparison between this one and a similar Bare Minerals foundation in a video (linked here) and I just had to give it a go.

The Physicians Formula Youth Wear Spotless Foundation is a serum foundation that is supposed to reduce the appearance of spots and help with signs of ageing. It comes with a matching brush, which is just terrible. It's stiff and scratchy. Don't use it. The product itself is in a weight glass container that makes it feel really luxurious. It comes with a dropper to help apply the product.

I will admit, application is messy. At first, the applicator seems like a glass rod because the tube itself is clogged with product. I had to use a needle to poke a hole through the congealed mess to actually use the dropper how it was supposed to be used. The product also need to be shaken really well before you start to draw product into the dropper otherwise you end up with a strange oily mess. But no matter how hard you try, whatever you squeeze out of the dropper will have a thicker consistency to whatever sticks to the outside of the dropper.

The first thing I noticed about this foundation is the scent. It has a strong plastic stench to it. I'm not terribly fussy about the scent of a product, but even this one got to me. And it lingers a little as well, not noticeably enough for everyone to be able to smell your face, but enough for you to smell your own. The second thing I noticed was that the foundation was too dark, even for me. I had to double check that I picked the right shade. Yep, it's the shade Light. But it's too dark for my NC25/30 skin and definitely more pink in tone. So this is one to steer away from if you have pale, yellow-toned skin.

This foundation is best applied with fingers. Because it's oil based, it tends to stain brushed and sponges, rendering them useless. But once blended into the skin, it gives quite a high coverage finish. Almost like your skin has been photoshopped. I feel like the finish is quite unique. It's quite matte, but so matte that you lose the dimensions of your face. It feels quite powdery on the skin as well, nothing like the liquid you just applied. It's also quite lightweight in texture, so it doesn't seem to heavy on the skin, which is great considering the coverage it gives. Longevity is decent as well, and I don't get too shiny throughout the day with this foundation either.

I'm pretty on the fence with this one. I think the concept and coverage of the foundation is great. It doesn't seem to dry out my skin either, but it's probably not one for the oily-skinned girl. However, the scent is something I struggle with. 

Perhaps I should give the Bare Minerals one a go. I've tried that one in store and it feels the same without the ridiculous plastic aroma.